Sweet Snippets

The past few weeks have been a bit unusual for us around here, because Mr. Sweetapolita and I are preparing to move houses and have been organizing more than one couple should ever, ever have to in one existence. Can you imagine my baking tools so neatly organized and put away that I'm afraid to move them or use them? I'm feeling a little out of whack without flour and sugar floating through the air, and towers of mixing bowls in the sink (I'll be back in the kitchen this week), but I'm better for it. It's truly given me a sense of order and harmony, and I'm ready for our new phase. That being said, my iPhone is almost always in my clasp, so I thought I'd share some snippets of what's been going on in my world via Instagram--my most favourite method of photographing sharing the candid and more intimate moments of life through my phone (you might remember this post). I think what makes this method of photography so special, is how random and, well, instant it is--like peeking in a tiny square window into others' worlds and vice versa (except much less creepy than I just made it sound). So many millions of moments that used to float away uncaptured, are now not only captured, but they offer a glimpse into real life. (And from a photography point of view, because you can't crop in Instagram, it's a fabulous exercise in improving your composition skills.) The past few weeks were filled to the brim with everything from pink to periwinkle and treats to tractors, and I have the Instabits to prove it:

There were more cupcakes than usual . . .

Some sprinkly . . .

And some deep, dark and injected with homemade salted caramel sauce, followed by some serious sweet & saltiness. (As much as I love cupcakes, I should tell you that the next few weeks are layer-cake filled (stay tuned).

There were several pink candy popcorn moments--it turns out that not all slices of heaven come from the oven . . .

But rather retro circus-inspired boxes (a circa 1950s Canadian treat).

There were sweet invites followed by a lot of baking party prep.

There was a pink vintage ballerina clad cake for one very special 5-year-old birthday girl (you might remember her as one very special 4-year-old birthday girl).

And where there is pink frosting, there is often pink batter (and other magical pink things).

And where there are baking parties, there are often hundreds and thousands of pretty cupcake liners.

How else do you make sweet hand-strung baking party garland? (Made with love by mommy & birthday girl Reese.)

There was homemade strawberry jam made with the unsurpassable vim and vigour of 6 excitable little girls armed with mashers and aprons.

And a little more for good measure.

Baking party and beyond, there was the typical flurry of sugar and flour in our kitchen, which I try to keep tidy and accessible in these glass counter jars (Heritage Hill Jar with Glass Lid).

My cakelets have recently become obsessed with collecting (and using) candy-coloured nail polish--a collection I love to raid whenever possible (especially this Ice Cream Nail Polish Set ).

They've also taken to wearing my tees to bed, which I find kind of the cutest thing ever.

There were some candid after-bath evening moments.

And bright-eyed upside-down and oversized glasses moments.

There were even some random-passerby-taking-a-photo moments. Okay, well, there was only one of those, but I'm sure thankful for it.

There were more homemade marshmallows than I expected, like this pink pastel cherry batch and these cloudy delights (thanks to this fabulous book).

And not as much chocolate frosting as usual, but I will soon fix that.

Most recently there was a visit to the in-laws in the country, where stacks of pastel food photo props await (and fabulous company, of course).

Along with whimsical foliage-filled bicycles . . .

Blue retro tractor rides with Grandpa . . .

And one charming retro rotary phone that I am seemingly fixated with. Yell-o?

There were many mommy-cakelet photos, as this is often where the miniest of cakelets can be found, along with one beloved sterling silver whisk pendant. (Now, on my wish list is the 18k gold dipped version. Love.)

And daddy-cakelet photos? A must.

And what do Burberry, Barbie and bass have in common? Put them together and it's what made Reese's recent cottage weekend and first fishing experience complete.