Giveaway!! {perfect dress?}

Spanish Steps

I recently retuned from a girl’s weekend and we got talking about having a “perfect dress”. A dress that can function for many occasion, dressed up or down it just fits. That is where Shabby Apple comes in.  Have you seen them? Awesome women’s dresses as well as the cutest little girl dresses! If only I had a little girl to dress!!

cider

I love SO MANY of these women’s dresses that I just couldn’t decide on one. So I picked THREE!!

 

Happy Talk

NOW is where the FUN begins!!!

MANDATORY ENTRY

Pop over to Shabby Apple and LIKE their FACEBOOK PAGE. Leave a comment here letting me know you did and which of the 3 dresses you’d like.

DON'T FORGET TO INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL IN YOUR COMMENT!!

EXTRA ENTERIES

1. Follow Mama Bird’s Nest

2. LIKE my Facebook page

3. Tweet the giveaway

4. Share on blog or your facebook

ALL GOOD FOR AN EXTRA ENTRY EACH 

USE COUPON CODE mamabirdsnest10off and get an 10% OFF your order!!

HOW FUN!!!!

GIVEAWAY will close midnight on April 5th and will be picked my random.org. I will post winner on blog as well as my facebook page. Good Luck. Happy Shopping!!

toodles- Mama Bird

Happy {40th} Birthday

Happy, Happy 40th Birthday to one of my bestest buddies ever!! Annette and I have been friends for like 15 yrs! Here is the PURPLE cake I made her. Purple is her fav color! It is vanilla, chocolate & cherry almond in flavor with a cream cheese butter cream frosting!

Thanks again, to J Panache Photography for snapping a pic of the cake!!

Toodles, Mama Bird

3rd place!!!

You read it right! Mama Bird’s Nest took 3rd place in the PROFESSIONAL category at Cupcakes for Cures  for BEST RETRO CUPCAKE. I made my Famous {if only in my mind} and now Award Winning Carrot Apple Cupcake with a blood orange frosting!  So proud, I was able to go against some of the great pastry chefs in Western North Carolina!!

How about my beautiful cake stand? Hand-made by my good friend Todd! It has an even larger base that can be added to hold tons of cupcakes!! His sweet wife came out to support Cupcakes for Cures and brought it!! LOVE

Here is me and my soul sister! Without her encouragement and friendship I don’t know how I would have made it the past 22 yrs!! Dang, we are old… Note my cute new apron!! Want one? Check back as I will be doing an AWESOME giveaway for a great Easter {womens} Dress, an Apron and a few other surprise!!

xoxo, Mama Bird

I'm Listed!!

I just joined Thumbtack! I am hoping this will be a great way to spread the word about Mama Bird's Nest Event planning services as well as amazing fresh baked cupcakes and cakes that I offer!! You gotta try it today!!

{Greek} Mac & Cheese

I saw this post on FB highlighting this incredible sounding Greek Mac & Cheese from the blog Eclectic Recipes . I am a new follower! YUM I love sun-dried tomatoes, spinach and feta ummmmm!!

Don’t you just want to grab a fork and dig in?

xoxo, mama bird

Weekly Roundup

WOW! A very busy weekend here at the Nest! 150 baby shower cupcakes, a barnyard/tractor birthday party and another baby shower!! I am exhausted! The week is just as packed!! Full of some super exciting things!!
Monday~ ZUMBA with Hickory Girls Fitness
Have you done zumba? Have you met Kat and Courtney? They are freaking amazing! Pop on over to their site check them out! You will not be disappointed.
Tuesday~ Fire on the Rock Chef Challenge
Do you love Iron Chef? OMG I am obsessed and I am going to see the best Western North Carolina has to offer and I can not wait!!! Ck back for my take on the event!
Wednesday~ Dirty Barbie Gets Organized my oldest friend, yes I have known her since we were itty bitty wrote another great play and I am going to the Lee Street Theater in Salisbury, NC to see her  preform! I am also popping by what has been described as “best place to eat in town” Mambo for dinner!!
Thursday~ Prep work for cupcake competition
Friday~ baking, baking and baking!! Heading to Grove Park Inn in Asheville
Saturday~ CUPCAKES FOR CURES!!! Then Girl’s Night Out!!! Woo-wee I am celebrating my birthday with my favs!! Can’t wait!!!
Toodles, Mama Bird

Dream…big dreams

The question I get nearly everyday…

when are you going to open a your own place?  bakery/catering/event planning…

the answer would be when

A. I win the lottery

B. my Fairy Godmother arrives

C. the economy gets better

Sadly, A and B have a better chance of happening than C.  I love to DREAM and as my Mom always sad to me (literally like everyday)
“Dream big dreams, reach for the stars and if  you  fall at least you will land in the clouds”
That being said if I could here is what I would want. I just LOVE Maxie B’s in Greensboro, NC. I feel at home when I walk in that place. It is so whimsical and I love everything about it.

Toodles- Mama Bird

CARS {2} PARTY ideas!!

With Cars 2 coming out June 24th!!!! I am thinking that this would be a great theme for Jack’s 4th birthday this August. I found Buckets of Grace AMAZING CARS Party!! See her FULL post HERE with all the great details. I had to highlight a few of the fantab details that I am most in love with!

THE CANDY TABLE!!!

Candy Labels - Posh Pixels

Banner - Gwynn Wasson Designs

Checkered Flag Banner and Table Skirt - Race Party Decorations

 Mrs. Mommy Mogul did this fantab table scape. I love the centerpiece with the monogram.

Cars 2 racing into theaters June 24th! I can’t wait to take Jack and his buddies!!

xoxo, Mama Bird

Mad Scientist Party

A good friend is planning a  Mad Science theme party for her son and I wanted to gather some really fun inspiration ideas!!






Pure Joy Events Mad Science Party had my favorite invitation and test tube party favors!!









Posh Party Cakes had some really, really wonderful “projects” to do for the party! I love it! I am a huge fan of activites for the kids to do and she just gave me the best ideas! I hope I can remember this for when Jack gets older!! Melissa got geyser tubes, instant snow mix, and slime mix from Steve Spangler Science. I also love how she did the slime and the smoke coming down the cake. FUN!!
Just found this cake that Judy over at Party Blog posted. I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS CAKE!!!

xoxo, Mama Bird

Coming up….

WOW, what a busy week this has been. Lot’s of work, zumba, party planning, guest prep, wedding cupcakes, birthday presents, baby gifts, wosh I am tired just typing it all!

Making some awesome monogrammed cupcakes to celebrate the nuptials of two great people!! Congrats to Will and Erika!!

Two other wonderful friends are going to be in town for the night on Friday. Sad to say I think the last people to use our guest room were in August for j’s bday. I have been using the room as my goodwill dumping ground. AHHHHHHHHHH  Gotta take it!! Fresh linens, love that smell.

Saw a sign in the neighborhood that was advertising a cleaning service, I am seriously considering calling!

Sweet Hadley is turning 4 and I ordered her an adorable t-shirt over 2 weeks ago and it still isn’t here! Crossing fingers it arrives today or tomorrow. Party is Sat morn!!!

What are you doing today??

xoxo, Mama Bird

Perfect Hamburgers

Typically I cook with ground turkey breast opposed to ground beef, but last Sunday was so beautiful that a cook-out was a must and a good old-fashioned burger was what I was craving! My burgers are good and they have a few secret ingredients that I will share with you!! The first is a splash of half & half, not that secret but, really adds something to the meat and the second is my fav bottled marinade EVER Thomas Marinade made right here in NC and the third is Richard’s seasoning another NC product it is a spice mix and can be found at The Fresh Market.

Here is my arsenal of ingredients: I don’t really measure just a few dashes of each a swirl around of Thomas’ and a splash of half & half.

And my cooking tip for the PERFECT burger is a charcoal grill. Gas will do in a pinch, if you are really tight on time. Stovetop will not do.
ENJOY!!

Mama Bird

Technorati Tags: Mama Bird's Nest,Best Hamburger,best burger,Hickory mom blogger,Hickory Food blogger

{My} Wedding Cake

Several of you have asked what did MY wedding cake look like? Now that I make cakes I look at them so differently! Thanks to my sis’ MIL Here it is….

and here is what I would do if I were doing it tomorrow:

Next week it may be different!

xoxo, Mama Bird

Rocket Ship Cake

When I received the email with the rocket ship “inspiration” pic I got really excited! Mini Boden is just an adorable catalogue and I loved that the theme was unique. Not to bash your baby shower but pale blue or pink, a little blah. This has character!

Here is the inspiration:

(image from mini boden catalogue)

TA-DA!

the cake!!

xoxo, Mama Bird