Sunday Sweets: Be My Valentine

Ahhh, love is in the air, my friends! Can you smell it? It's kind of a mix of roses and chocolate and really gigantic cupcakes:

By Cakes by M3

 Mmmm. Lovely.

Or, if you prefer more traditional red roses:

By Nicky Grant

 Actually, I guess these aren't quite traditional, since they're made of sugar. That makes them superior to real roses, though, because they'll never wilt, they don't have thorns, and, of course, they're the best kind to carry in your teeth while doing the Tango. (NOMZ)

Plus, look at the shine on that chocolate! Wowza!

Speaking of chocolate, doesn't it look great with baby pink?

By Sarah Louise Cakes

And all that piping! Sarah has a seriously steady hand.

This cutie-pie first birthday cake may have the most perfect edible bow EVER:

By Cakes by Dusty

I can't decide which I want to do more: wear it in my hair or eat it. :D

But if a whole cake is too much for you, then how about a few elegantly iced cookies?

By My Little Bakery

Every time I look at this, I pick a new favorite. First it was the cross-stiched heart with the lace trim. Then the swirly heart on the lower left. But now I just spotted the brush embroidery on that winged heart back there, ooh! And look at the little heart next to it with the intricate scrolly bits!

Now here's a funky cool modern design:

By Choice Cakes

 The structure of this cake fascinates me, and the lilies are totally playing tricks on my eyes: are the ones on the cakes painted or 3D? The center stamen *look* 3D, but I can't tell!

This is just about the sweetest, cheeriest bouquet you could ever ask for:

By Crowning Cakes

I would hang a picture of this cake on my wall in a fun scrolly picture frame just so I can stare at it and smile all day. It's that cheerful.

And, what's this? ANOTHER perfect bow?

By macesicnada

WOW. And I'm digging all the scrolly details inside the hearts - and those little heart buttons! Ack! SO CUTE.

And look at this red, white, and black beauty:

By Torte di nadia

So many great techniques here: the lace trim, the tufted quilting, the dripping streamers...!! I don't just love this cake; I am IN LOVE with this cake.

And I'm over the moon for this fabulous design featuring Cupid's bow and arrow:

By Precious Taarten

I suddenly want to see Katniss Everdeen dressed up as Cupid. Hee! Except, wait...Cupid doesn't wear anything, does he? Whoah, that got awkward fast. NEVER MIND.

And finally, I think it's only fitting to end with a LOVE-themed wedding cake, don't you?

By nice icing

SO SWEET. From the old-style typography to the blue birds to the double heart topper to those colors, I am completely smitten!

Hope you guys are, too - if only with this cakes! - and that you have a wonderful Valentine's Day!

*****

P.S. Anyone want to bring vintage style pins back? Because this entire set of 7 lovelies is only $12:

7 Pc Women's Brooch Set

OooOOOooh. I think the owl is my favorite. And the peacock. And the dragonfly.

10 Superb Owl Cakes For Super Bowl Sunday

It's Superb Owl Sunday, y'all!!

Though I have a confession to make: I only go to Superb Owl parties for the food.

(By Crazy Cakes, Czech Republic)

And yes, you can eat this owl. I mean, I suppose technically you could eat ANY owl, but this one is cake and therefore tastes better. Plus, look at the sculpting! The painting! Incredible.

(By Les Sucrés by Rose, Bangkok)

This one is still pondering the ramifications that all owls are technically edible. I like how his eyes glow when he's deep in thought on his Thinking Branch. So cute.

If we're talking superb owls, though, then one clearly flies above the rest:

(By Cakes By Ying, Malaysia)

HEDWIG! Best postal carrier ever, am I right? Though she misplaced a very important letter for yours truly a while back, and I'm still not over it.

This owl understands:

(By Klobouckovic Dortiky, Czechia)

See, she looks both snuggly and like she's about to say something devastatingly snarky, which is really the best combination.

And if I'm being honest, there IS an owl I love more than Hedwig, and that owl is... DAVID BOWIE.

(By Saccharine Obsession)

That line makes sense if you grew up in the 80s. Also this barn owl flew right out of Labyrinth to serenade me with As The World Falls Down, so give us a moment.

(And yes, cake! It's cake! AHHH-MAZING.)

This precious pastel patchwork is prettier than a peck of posies:

(By E Só Um Bolinho)

I dare you to read that line out loud and not spit all over your keyboard. I also dare you to find a better candidate for a plush toy - 'cuz YOU WON'T. (I want her as a pillow!)

Bringing it back to Harry Potter again because this cake topper is making me melt:

(By Tiny Plaid Sheep)

That seller only makes the topper part, not the cake, so I'm cheating by including this here.

Cheating, and not sorry. Look at the wands holding up the bunting! Eeee!

I noticed a lot of owl cakes look the same out there, so I made a point of specifically finding one with an owl wearing sneakers:

(By Cakes By Lorna, Slovakia)

You just don't see enough of those. Also the balloons are fantastic, I love the soft shading.

This pudgy lil' guy looks like a steampunk ringmaster, which is really the best aesthetic for an owl cake:

(By Bloom Cakes, Cambodia)

Buttons and bunting and bug-eyes, oh my! THIS IS SO CUTE.

And finally, the owl cake that will make you wish all owls - cake or not - came with bright teal and purple feathers:

(By Natalia Salazar, North Carolina)

Also Pixar eyes. And a one-to-one head-to-torso ratio. And itty bitty toesies. And a cutesy-pootsy widdle nosey-wosey OK sorry I'm done now.

Hope these make your Superb Owl Sunday a little more super, minions, and that your week is extra Sweet!

*****

P.S. This crossbody bag is one of my all-time favorite purses, and comes in 36 different colors:

Crossbody Tassel Bag

It's surprisingly lightweight while feeling high-end, with a butter smooth zipper and beautiful crisp stitching. Most "medium" purses are too small for me, but this one is super roomy for all my gear, and has a handy front zip pocket I use for my phone. (Which fits even in my giant phone cases!)

The style works for dressing up or everyday, and I looove all the color options. I have the orange, which is currently sold out, but the kelly green and lemon yellow are next on my wish list. They also have hot pink, denim blue, red, and of course more neutral options. For less than $20, it's hard not to buy a bunch!