In Flight In Flight In Flight

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Sweet Potato Cupcakes with Marshmallow and Caramel Topping

Fall's around the corner!
Last year for my birthday and because of my love for all things pumpkin, sweet potato or fall I baked Sweet Potato Cupcakes for my Rustic Owl Dessert Table.




Recently on a Hobby Lobby Facebook Wall Contest I shared my Cupcakes and received requests for the recipe.  I'm sharing that with you all today, but I can't take the credit for it...it's a great recipe from Better Homes and Gardens Magazine and I adjusted it by adding my own marshmallows and caramel for topping instead of the frosting that the recipe calls for.  I'm adding that recipe in here too for you to choose!





Sweet Potato Cupcakes

Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup butter, softened
1-1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 17.2 oz can vacuum-packed sweet potatoes (unsweetened), mashed
1/2 tsp. vanilla


Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line twenty four 2-1/2-inch muffin cups with paper bake cups; set cups aside.
2. In medium bowl stir together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
3. In large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar and beat on high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating on low speed after each addition until combined. Add sweet potatoes and vanilla, beating until combined. Add flour mixture; beat until combined (batter will be thick).
4. Divide batter evenly among prepared muffin cups. Bake about 20 minutes or until tops spring back when lightly touched. Cool in pan on wire rack for 1 minute. Remove from pan and cool completely.
5. Place Cream Cheese Frosting in large resealable plastic bag. Cut a 1/4-inch opening in one corner of bag. Pipe frosting on top of cupcakes. Sprinkle with orange peel. Makes 24 cupcakes.


For the Marshmallow and Caramel Topping -  Place a few small size marshmallows on top of the freshly baked cupcakes and drizzle with caramel topping.  Place back in the over for a few seconds to melt and give it a golden top.

For Cream Cheese Frosting -In large mixing bowl beat one 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened, and 2/3 cup butter, softened, with electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add 2 tablespoons bourbon or milk and beat until combined. Beat in 8 cups powdered sugar, about 1/2 cup at a time, until smooth and of a good piping consistency. Makes 4-1/3 cups.{Recipe from BHG}



~ Enjoy!

Monday, August 29, 2011

Tips for Starting your Own Business

As many of you know, I am starting and launching my own event planning and styling business, In Flight Celebrations LLC as a result of all the great joy that the blog has brought upon me.  

As I was going through all the feelings and decisions of  whether I should or should not venture into this business idea; I came across a great article in the very beautiful and inspiring magazine, Life: Beautiful {Faith for your Journey}




In the magazine's article, Susan Handley who is the founder of Beijo Inc. Handbags, shared with the readers great tips on starting your own business.  I want to share that with you today because it brought so much light and direction into my decisions and I think you will enjoy it as a business owner as well.


  • God will speak loudly and clearly if you cut out the background noise and just listen.
  • Surround yourself with people that believe in you.
  • Pray, pray, pray.
  • Create an advisory board of people with diverse backgrounds and varied expertise.
  • Stay flexible yet focused.
  • Recognize that every person you meet does not have your best interest at heart.
  • Educate yourself. Knowledge is crucial, especially if you lack experience and history.
  • Realize that not everything is going to happen exactly how you want it to. Instead, it will happen as God intends it to.
  • You are not 100% right 100% of the time. What you learn along the way will be priceless.
  • Do not quit! No matter how hard it gets, do something (anything!) to keep moving.
 
I hope you enjoy it, and that it helps you and allow yourself to take flight!!!
~ Mayra

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Sweet Bella Giveaway Winner Announcement


#7 ~ Linda
is the lucky winner to $25 Gift Certificate and Free Shipping 

Congrats Linda, enjoy! Please send an email to
sweetbellastationery@gmail.com
to claim your prize.
Thanks to everyone for entering and following!


Friday, August 26, 2011

Back to School Lunch




Celebrating every step of my kids lives it's what I'm all about, and I like celebrating with them the last day of school and I share in their tears when they come home on the bus that last day.  I celebrate and reward every great accomplishments from progress reports, reading levels to award ceremonies....More than anything, because they value that as much as I value their hard work and discipline.  Great parenting, participation in your kids education and motivation makes a great difference.  So, the first day of school it's just as important to encourage, to motivate, to celebrate the arrival of one more year, one more accomplishment and one more goal!









This is how I celebrated my kids this year, with a lunch!  Since our first day of school is usually only a half day, I was able to welcome them back home and hear all about it at lunch time. 






You can celebrate your new year of school with a breakfast, a lemonade stand when they come home and if you're a busy working parent, celebrating it in the weekend it's also a great idea!  It does not have to be a big production and involve a lot of money.  I used things here that I was buying for lunch boxes anyways, and I kept it healthy!!!  






For decorations I used things I had at home like the suitcases, and chalkboards, library books and flowers from .....the grocery store (great bargain!). I made the banner in front of the table with scrapbook paper I already had from past years.  The solid color and inexpensive tableware I chose match the colors of their schools, yellow and green for one....red "devil" for the other two!





I wanted to each one of them a surprise and picked up things for them that were not actually on their school supply list but they would enjoy having like neon colored pencils and fancy pens.







If you're not able to put together a party or small lunch, make them a baggy with few surprises or choose one day a week to surprise them with a special lunch in their lunch box, write a note and place it on the hard to forget agendas or stick it to their school snack....be a present and encouraging part of your child's education and their everyday routine and enjoy a great school year!!!



Sunday, August 21, 2011

Sweet Bella Stationery Feature and Giveaway






I recently received an order I had made with Sweet Bella Stationery  for note cards, stickers and address labels with my logo, they were gorgeous!  I knew I was going to be happy with my order, because not only is Lara really sweet but her products are beautiful and with a great quality.

I wanted to share my joy with my readers and give one of you a chance to discover the products of  Sweet Bella. And if you have used their products already, then you're in for a treat!  We are giving away a $25 gift certificate and free shipping to a lucky winner.  Check out some of the wonderful products you can get....


Birthday Banner Invitations


Wedding Thank You Cards


Teachers Gifts


Baby Shower Invitations
They also have favor tags, return labels and cupcake toppers available to match your design.
They can customize anything in the shop.

So, how do you get your chance to win a $25 Gift Certificate and Free Shipping?
~ Tell me what your favorite product is from the Sweet Bella Stationery Shop by leaving a comment on this post (Required entry)
~ For an additional entry visit and like Sweet Bella on Facebook and come back and leave a separate comment here letting us know you are now a fan!
~ And for a third and final chance visit In Flight on Facebook and leave a separate comment here letting us know you are now a fan!

Winner will be chosen by Random.org and posted here on the blog as soon as possible after Giveaway ends on August 28th at 9:00 PM EST

Good luck and have fun!


IF YOU'D LIKE TO LEAVE A COMMENT, CLICK ON WHERE IT SAYS 1 COMMENT BESIDES THE "POST WRITTEN BY MAYRA RIVERA" AND IT WOULD OPEN THE COMMENT SPACE FOR YOU TO LEAVE A COMMENT, I DON'T KNOW WHY BLOGGER IS NOT AUTOMATICALLY SHOWING THEM UNDER THE POST.  IF YOU ARE STILL EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE ON MY IN FLIGHT FACEBOOK WALL AND I WILL ADD IT FOR YOU HERE.  THANKS AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE.
~ Mayra

Thursday, August 11, 2011

A Vieques Island Wedding...Puerto Rico

I want to share with you a Wedding we attended in Spring this year at a beautiful location....Vieques Island, Puerto Rico {Voted Best Caribbean Island by Travel and Leisure}.  The tropical decorative touches and lavender colors were perfect for an afternoon ceremony and reception and coordinated by Tu Fiesta Perfecta - Wilfredo Encarnacion.  The couple  looked lovely at their beach wedding in a home at the prestigious W Retreat and Spa.  The hotel is listed on Travel & Leisure's 2011 It List and Conde Nast's 2011 Hit List.

Jennifer and Victor's Wedding





















I love this last picture!  It seems like that moment that you stop and take it all in...


Thank you for sharing your special day with us, Jennifer and Victor!
  Many blessings to you both!

~ Mayra

Monday, August 8, 2011

Late Summer Party Inspiration



I styled a little something inspired on Summer because no matter how much we want to think ahead for the Fall....it's still HOT out there!!! 


I find a lot of my inspiration on Scrapbook embellishments and stickers, and these fun summer stickers inspired the colors and the feel I wanted to carry through this small table...






Mini Lemon Drop Cupcakes (from my local Walmart)  in a jar!
Because eating out of the jar makes everything taste better...seriously, it's comforting!




This party would be perfect pool side....


On a budget friendly note: I just used a pool towel for tablecover {free}, leftover plates, straws and utensils from different other parties, and the only thing I spent on was cupcakes and drinks.



The cake truffles from Lollidreams are in tropical flavor...YUM!
Key lime pie, orange-mango and piƱa colada




You can style a table of your own with very few things that you already have at home, pick a color combination and look through your stuff!


Wooden utensils {leftovers from our Travelers Party} from Shop Sweet Lulu


Hope you enjoyed the post and motivates you to create a late Summer party of your own, please do share pics with us and have fun!
~ Mayra


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It all ends with these cupcakes...

Oh Harry, you will be missed...

well at least the looking forward to a midnight premiere movie. Because really around here...my kids are just too excited to put the books down and the movie marathon this summer has been fun.  Just as fun  and special was July 15, 2011, the day when 'it all ended'.  But before heading out to the movies to enjoy the movie that had me crying non stop long after the credits, we enjoyed some cupcakes at home in honor to the greatest movie of all and thanks to this wonderful printables from Frog Prince Paperie...