SoDu Parents Posse
  • Blog
  • About
  • Want to sponsor SoDu?
  • SoDu Merchandise

Homemade Happy custom desserts

6/27/2016

1 Comment

 
Picture
My daughter told me about this dream she had about her birthday cake, a cake with a fairy that looked like her, in a forest with flowers... and asked, so sweetly, could I make it come true? Luckily, I knew who to call. My high school friend Tara Muller, who had recently been posting pictures of the delicacies she's crafted in her home for family and friends. Homemade Happy is Tara's home based bakery that sells show-stopping cakes for birthdays and special occasions, specializing in gluten-free and custom decorations. I asked Tara if the fairy cake was something Homemade Happy could do, and she said she loved such an adorable challenge! 

Picture
We tossed ideas back and forth and she asked lots specific questions to make sure she got the details right. She even double checked about my son's allergy, as their house is gluten free, so she takes allergies very seriously. When it came time to pick it up, I was on pins and needles with excitement. Her cake was exquisite, down to the very last detail. I mean, check out the tiny butterfly on the door, the tiny dandelion clutched in the fairy's hand, the lacy butterfly perched atop a spotted toadstool, the violets wrapped around the base. The fairy has the same hair color and eyes as my daughter and is wearing her favorite color! The moss on the top of the trunk was made of crushed graham crackers dyed green! Each slice was so moist and delicious that I didn't even stop to take photos after we cut it! (I'm using a lot of exclamation points I know, but honestly, it was that special.) My daughter was tickled pink by seeing her dream come true and has a photo I took of her with her cake by her bedside table. It truly made a special birthday even more so. (Check out the details below!)

Picture
As you can see, the best part about working with Tara is that the sky is the limit as to what she can do. She takes the time to find out your needs and thoughts and works hard to bring them to life with sugar and sweetness. Then at the end, you know that your cake was custom made with love just for you. Homemade Happy creates so many styles of desserts, from pies to cupcakes, from cookies to cakes, even a carved watermelon! Just check out some of the deliciousness in the slideshow below, like the...
  • BB8 cake with pearls and lace for a girl thats a Star Wars fan
  • cute baby boy onesie  and mustache cookies
  • the edible lace around the tarheel blue mothers day cake (and that rose!)
  • teacups and teapots into lovely delicate little cookies
  • thomas the tank engine cake
  • those perfectly shaped purple orchids for a cake 
  • olympics cupcakes!
  • jurassic park cake
  • pretty little flowers for cupcakes
  • linzer torte with freshly ground almonds, hazelnuts and homemade raspberry jelly to celebrate an 80th birthday!
I've also seen her make Minecraft birthday cakes, anniversary cakes with married cows on them, graduation cap cakes... I don't think there is anything she can't do! Send her an email at homemadehappycakes@gmail.com with your idea and she how she can bring it to life!

If you are in need of a dessert for your special occasion please contact Tara at Homemade Happy!
She would love to provide you with a fresh, tasty and uniquely crafted cake made just for you, with regular flour or craft gluten free confections. Tara says, "As someone with Celiac Disease, I understand the importance of preventing cross-contamination in the kitchen and would like to help kids who cannot eat gluten have both a safe and fun specialty cake during their celebrations that everyone else will enjoy too!"
So check out Homemade Happy, and make your sweet tooth dreams a reality!
FCC Disclosure for bloggers: In exchange for a blog post here, I received a free birthday cake in order for me to experience her services and review them firsthand. However, the opinions contained here are my own.
1 Comment

Larissa Rimkevicius presents Thirty-One... and cakes!

11/16/2014

0 Comments

 
Anybody else have trouble finding a good custom baker at a reasonable price? Well, look no more! SoDu member Larissa Rimkevicius, owner of Cakes by Lala, is truly amazing! She has made yummy stuff in all shapes and styles, from a Hello Kitty cake to Christmas light cupcakes, from a Murder Mystery Cake to delicate realistic flowers atop cupcakes. Just check out some of my favorites from her gallery at http://lalascakes.blogspot.com/...
Picture
Larissa started baking cakes just for fun, then it became a hobby, then she taught others to bake, and now it's a full fledged business. There's nothing she can't do! Perhaps the most impressive one of all is the game night cake she made, where each side has a different board game logo - it's truly masterful. Here's one pic, but you'll have to go here to see the rest for yourself!
While you're at it, why not "like" Cakes by Lala on facebook!


Picture
Now that I've gotten you hungry, let's talk about how hectic life can be as a parent. If you're like me, your minivan is a wreck, and the entryway to your home is a dumping ground. But how do you even start getting things straight? The multitalented Larissa is also a consultant for Thirty-One! She shares, "I am in the business of helping busy parents' lives  easier :) Thirty one is full of products to help you get more organized. From organizing bags, to purses, to thermals, 31 has something for everyone! I received my first Thirty-one bag as a gift when Jack was born. I then hosted my first party this past fall. I quickly fell in love with all their products. I ended up getting 31 gifts for almost everyone on my Christmas list and found my self having making a new wish list every time I looked at the catalog." 

What is Thirty-One? It's a company founded by a mom like us less than 10 years ago with the desire to empower women. Today it's the third most successful direct sales company in the country! Why? The quality of their products, certainly. I have many friends with Thirty-One bags that have stood the test of time. They are also incredibly nice looking products and they will personalize almost anything they sell. The prices are really reasonable (and for SoDu members even better... keep scrolling for Larissa's deal just for us!)

So what do they have? Well I couldn't help browsing the Thirty-One catalog through Larissa's SoDu Parents Posse online shopping party. Here are my two favorites:


Picture

I love the color and pattern of this "Deluxe Utility Tote" (plum purple it's called, by the way). It's perfect for putting in the back of the car, because it holds a lot, and is sturdy enough to hold up too. Plus I like the big handles. It would really solve my car organizing problems! How nice would it be to reach into your car to see this instead of random piles of junk?

Picture

I really like the "Perfect Party Set", which is in the thermal line. It is a carrying case for TWO 9x13 casserole dishes (or any similarly sized thing you'd like). The double zippers are handy and the padded strap is obviously built to last. I also love the Sunny Stripe pattern on this (which is being retired, so if you like it too, order now). So you're looking cute and put together while also keeping the food you worked so hard on either hot or cold, just they way you intended.

Picture
Larissa is generously giving SoDu Parents Posse members an amazing deal for the month of November. Larissa explains, "For every $35 you spend you can choose between the medium or square utility totes, only available in November for just $7! BUT I am making it an even better deal, when you place a $35 order you can get it for just $5! The first 5 people who order will get a gift from me  and everyone who orders will be entered to win a zip top organizing utility tote in navy. Also when you have a party of $400+, you will get a gift worth at least $70 from me!" Can't beat that! So go click on the link below, grab a cute bag or Christmas gift, and you'll be supporting a hard working local mom and your favorite FB group! 

Here is the link to the online shopping party:
https://www.mythirtyone.com/shop/eventhome.aspx?eventId=E5171486&from=MYEVENTS
And don't forget Cakes by Lala next time you need something custom, 
something delicious, and something made with love by a local parent like you!
FTC required disclosure: The above post is a sponsored advertisement. Some of the content, such as the images, are provided by the pardner for my use. I give permission for this blog post to be used in perpetuity by the pardner as they wish. May seem silly, but legally I gotta say it. Congrats for reading the fine print!
0 Comments

    About us

    SoDu Parents Posse was created in 2012 to build a community of families in Durham.

    Loading


    Picture
    Visit our sister site: Stir Crazy Moms' Guide to Durham! It's an invaluable community resource with links to reviews on everything from parks to restaurants!
    Picture
    Enter promo code SODUPARENTSPOSSE for a free domain registration (A $15 value)! And don't forget to say that soduparentsposse@gmail.com referred you!

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014

    Categories

    All
    1870 Farm
    3D Fiber Lashes
    Amy Arcos
    Amy Poehler
    Anna Carson Dewitt Photography
    App
    Art
    Ashley Rankin Collins
    Autism
    Baby Shower Cakes
    Bags
    Baker
    Bath
    Beauty
    Beer Flight
    Birds
    Birth
    Birth Announcements
    Birthday Parties
    Blood Drive
    Blue Dolphin Aquatics
    Body Butter
    Bonnie Hacker
    Book Club
    Bull City Art
    Bull City Studio
    Cake
    Cakes By Lala
    Carolina Friends School
    Carpe Diem Cleaning
    Carrie Richardson Fry
    Cary
    Chapel Hill
    Chapel Hill Schools
    Charity
    Chinese
    Christmas Trees
    Claire Heymans
    Clay
    Cleaning
    Color
    Cosmetics
    Coworking
    Cr2f
    Crafty
    Cupcakes
    Custom Art
    Custom Crafts
    Cut
    David Cobb Murals
    Dessert
    Diana Cathart
    Dichroic Glass
    DIY
    Dog Trainer
    Do It Local
    Doula
    Durham Art
    Durhamkingpin
    Durham Schools
    Earrings
    Education
    Elizabeth Hodgson
    Elizabeth Johnson
    Elska
    Emerge
    Erin Clayton Burnette
    Essential Oils
    Etsy
    Fabric
    Fairy Hair Flare
    Feeding Disorder
    Fine Art
    Flip4Kids
    Food
    Foreign Language
    French
    Fundraising
    Gardening
    Giveaway
    Glass
    Graphic Design
    Greens
    Grow It Yourself
    Growth Charts
    Gustafer Yellowgold
    Haircut
    Hair Salon
    Hand Sewn
    Hillary Bruce
    Hodgson Educational Consulting
    Holistic Health Care
    Hollow Rock
    Homemade Happy
    Homeschool Classes
    Honey Hive Home
    Hot Stone
    I9 Sports
    Invitiations
    It Works!
    Jabali African Acrobats
    Jamberry
    Jams
    Jennifer Rollman
    Jewelry
    Kellie Bellie's
    Kellie Walter Furin
    Kickball
    KidBright USA
    Kidpower Workshops
    Kids Clothing
    Kids Farms
    Kindness Calendar
    Knit
    Kristen Snyder Thompson
    Kylee Sollien
    Labor
    Larissa Rimkevicius
    Lauren Soignet
    Leanna Carter
    Learning Disabilities
    Life Coach
    Lindsay Handrich
    Lisa Mangino
    Little Bee Birth Partner
    Live Performance
    Lopa Patel
    Love Like Twine
    Marcia Martin
    Marcia's Best Dogs
    Mascara
    Massage
    Massage Envy
    Massage Therapy
    Memorial Day
    Merge Records
    Mini Sessions
    Mom And Dad Are Fighting Podcast
    Montessori
    Murals
    Music
    Nails
    Newborn Portraits
    Nicolle Lynch Hawley
    Nido
    Nursery Decor
    Occupational Therapy
    Old Mill Farm
    Organizer
    Ornaments
    Outside The Mom Box
    Pediatric Physical Therapy
    Perfectly Posh
    Personalization
    Pet Help
    Photography
    Photos
    Piedmont Wildlife Center
    Pilates
    Pillows
    Plates
    Pop Art
    Portraits
    Posh
    Postpartum
    Postpartum Hemorrhaging
    Preschool
    PT
    PT For Children
    Rebozo
    ReCharge Pilates And Barre
    Reclaimed Wood
    Red Cross
    Reenie Sue
    Relaxation
    Ronald McDonald House
    Salon
    School
    Sculptures
    Sears Farm Road Park
    Shea Davis Prospero
    Shopping
    Skin Facials
    Slate
    SoDu Parents Posse Blood Drive
    Soothing Soles Reflexology
    Southpoint
    Spanish
    SPD
    Speech Therapy
    Sponsored Post
    Sports
    Stella & Dot
    Stir Crazy Moms' Guide To Durham
    Summer Camp
    Summer Camps
    Sun Star Farms
    Supplements
    Swim Lessons
    Swim Team
    Tennis Camp
    Tennis Clinic
    The ArtsCenter
    The Garden Salon
    The Produce Box
    Therapy
    The Scrap Exchange
    Thirty-one
    Tinkergarten
    Toddler Classes
    Valerie Glassman
    Veterans Day
    Volleyball
    Volunteer
    Waka
    Wall Art
    Watercolor
    Wedding Invites
    Wood
    Woodwork
    Wraps
    Young Living
    Younique

Proudly powered by Weebly