Sweet Escapes - Desserts in Jars

Hello all!

So for this week's Sweet Escape, I thought I'd introduce you (in case you don't just spend hours of your valuable time of Pinterest like I do) to the new realm of DIY Gifts - Desserts in a Jar.

I plan on doing this for pretty much any and all birthdays, Christmas etc. Honestly, who do you know who wouldn't want a mason jar filled with either a) cake b) pie or c) cheesecake ? All done up in a nice little bow, and the mason jar is an adorable keepsake after the treat inside is eaten. Here's just a few that I have on my list, ready and waiting for the lucky birthday guy/gal to enjoy.

1. Smores Cake by How Sweet It Is

Sometimes I think I should just tell you all, at the onset of every post, to check out this blog. Really. Every time I do a "Sweet Escape" Post with actual food, she's got a recipe for it. This is a great gift for the summer, when s'mores is on everyone's list, but I'd be perfectly content getting one of these in any other season too. I personally love how much marshmallow there is and the contrast in color you can see in the jar when you move from graham cracker, to chocolate, to marshmallow. 

2.  Pie in a Jar by OurBestBites

Now this is the kind of pie I would want to bring to Thanksgiving! Imagine sitting around the table, after engorging on turkey and stuffing, to be offered this beautiful, delicate pie in a jar as dessert. No messy cutting and everyone gets the same size. I love the cutouts and the lattice top. I also love how the recipe gives you the option to make these, then freeze them unbaked! If you have a hankering for pie, just take it out of the freezer, stick it on a pan and into the oven it goes...and then..poof! The perfect single serving of pie. 

3. Cheesecake in Jars by The Italian Dish

I told you there'd be cheesecake. Cheesecake Factory eat your heart out. Now I can customize my cheesecake and keep it all to myself in this adorable little Mason Jar. I just adore how all of these recipes allow customization by the baker, and they look like so much fun! Not to mention, they make quite the impressive photo shoot (as you can see here by all of these lovely blogs' photos). If you really want to impress your friends, have them over for dessert one night and whip these babies out. They'll never want to leave.

4. Cupcakes in a Jar by Glorious Treats

This was the first post I saw with the infamous Mason Jar. Glorious Treats switches it up a bit by baking the cake separately as cupcakes, and then slicing and layering it with frosting inside the jar. This allows for more decoration to be had, and more fun with the piping. Oh how I wish my piping could look like that! But I guess I can practice by making these cute little gifts with extra cupcakes!

5. Chocolate Dream Ice Cream Cups by TheYummyLife

And now, I can even have my ice cream in a jar. I always want to experiment with making my own ice cream, but without an ice-cream maker I'm usually at a loss. Now here's a recipe that does not require one, just mix it up, freeze it, and voila! Ice cream in a jar. Who knew? The jars look so neat with the frost on the outside as well, and these would be great to make in the summer with any little ones you might have lying about, bored because they're not learning anything awesome (I know I'm the only one who sees it that way but to each his own right?).

This has been this week's Sweet Escape! Hope you enjoyed seeing all of the exciting sweets and treats you can keep in a jar. Keep a lookout for a post on Snickerdoodles this week. This lazy blogger finally got her butt over to the grocery store and the result? Cinnamon-y and delicious!

Sweet Escapes - Fun Finds for the Kiddies

Hello all!

As I sit here stranded in my college apartment from extreme flooding courtesy of Hurricane Irene, I reminisce on how, when I was little, I entertained myself with so many things that did not require electricity. I was lucky enough not to lose power during this, but family and friends of mine did and I could only think "what would I do with myself if I couldn't get on Pinterest or browse my favorite blogs?"

How sad is that?

But if I was a kid, well I could be roaming through a jungle or playing "the floor is lava" and jumping from couch to couch or pretending to be a famous chef in my play kitchen; which got me thinking... this week's sweet escape could be about play food!

And where else to look for the neatest and cutest in fake food but - Etsy!

Felt Play Food (well for me anyway) is a relatively new phenomenon that I think is a fantastic idea. No bad chemicals from the plastic, and they are soft so even little toddlers can play with them. Customization is a fabulous perk as well, and the DIY patterns make the toys fun as a craft to do with your tykes as well.

Felt Cookbook and Bakery DIY Pattern Set - $3.99 Sweetie Pie Bakery

Here's a DIY that would be so entertaining on a rainy day with your little wannabe baker. For $3.99 you receive an e-book pdf full of patterns to create these adorable little bakery items and recipes to fill the cookbook pattern. It lists supplies needed as well as patterns for a felt cookbook, flour/sugar canisters, measuring cups and sweets like pie, brownies, cinnamon rolls and macaroons! 

Fun to make, and fun for hours of playtime after. These are the kind of projects that make me want to be a mom so I can do this with my own little kid....well, almost. Maybe not quite yet but you get the idea.

Assorted Felt Eco-Friendly Foods - $8 - $16 BugBitesPlayFood

These are a bit pricier than I would like to spend, but the seller states everything is made from eco-friendly, post-consumer products and are even machine washable. Not bad for a child's play toy (definitely could not machine wash plastic). 

I LOVE this one - pre assembled so no sewing required, but left in pieces for the child to put together themselves and create their own little apple pie! Precious.

Felt Sweets - Pre-made and DIY - Sweetemmajean $6 - $16

Again, I love the pre-made pieces (for those who who perhaps do not like the idea of sewing parts of toys) but the ability to assemble and customize left to the kiddie. These ice cream treats are perfect for summer or if your little boy or girl is just in the mood for faux frozen treats! Plus Black and White Cookies are just plain adorable. 

So next time you are looking for a fun arts&crafts idea to do with your child, think of creating your own toys! If your child is a bit older and with your supervision, you could even use this as a way to teach her how to sew. I know I loved embroidery at a young age, and arts and crafts can keep kids occupied for hours. 

This has been this week's Sweet Escape; keep an eye out for more fun foodie finds next Monday!

Sweet Escapes - Soapopotamus

Hello all!

So for this week's Sweet Escape, we will journey to my absolute favorite online marketplace - Etsy.

Now for those of you who are not familiar with it, Etsy is home to a ton of little internet "storefronts" for anything and everything handmade. I actually found out about Etsy when my boyfriend and I ran a little handmade clothing company out of his garage in high school. As you can imagine, we were thrifty entrepreneurs, and so we discovered Etsy because of its economical advantages. It's a great place for a start up if you're low on funds, or if you are looking for a market of buyers who love handmade items. The way Etsy works is that there is no fee to register or hold a storefront, just to list an item and a small percentage of your profit on each listed item. Definitely cheaper than owning a physical storefront, it is home to a veritable pantheon of fun, irresistible, handmade goodies.

Now, let's take a look at a shop who's entire inventory is on my wishlist: Soapopotamus.

Cinnamon Roll 6 Pack - $8

Yes, these are soap. Goat's milk soap to be exact, which I have heard fantastic reviews about. I have really sensitive skin, and almost all of her soaps are goat's milk, which is supposed to be uber gentle, and uber nourishing. What better way to wake up in the morning with a nice hot shower and a cinnamon bun?!

Carrot Cake Bar - $5.50

I am seriously stumped as to how she made the cake look so realistic. I'm always on the hunt for nice Fall scents (if I could I'd live in perpetual autumn) so I would love this to go with the cozy feeling of the chilly season.

Blueberry Muffin - $5.50

Not only is this the size of an actual muffin - she even made little blueberry soaps and suspended them throughout. So neat - and really shows dedication in my opinion on the part of the seller. Bravo.

Half Dozen Glazed Mini Donuts - $8

These little soaps are listed under her "Mini Food Guest Soap" section, and seriously, I would LOVE to be able to give a friend one of these to use while she stayed over. Just picture your friend's face when you pull out this little donut and go "and here's your soap!" Shocked and awed, I'm sure. And I would be perfectly content with smelling like a donut. (Maybe you think that's strange, and that's fine. No judgment. But I'm telling you, there are worse things to smell like than a glazed donut my friend.)

Rice Krispie Treat 4 Pack - $5

I saved the best for last. No joke - you have now just witnessed a rice krispie treat in soap form. You didn't think such an item existed did you? Well, now you can go and buy these and impress (or concern) your friends with your love for sweets. My roommates have already seen my fake food jewelry collection, so this probably wouldn't phase them much. Though, this would be in the shower, which might be a bit disconcerting. Or funny. Your pick. :D

Soapopatmus has plenty more where these came from. So if your prefer, oh, I don't know, chocolate cake, toast, or strawberry cupcakes, please make sure to check her out. I can't buy handmade all the time, but I like to do so when I can because you get your money's worth and your supporting small business; which, in my opinion, is always good. 

I hope you enjoyed this week's Sweet Escape! Be sure to check back next Monday for a look at more handmade treats for sweets - DIY Cakestand Designs.

Disclaimer: all photos featured are from the Soapopatmus Shop. Please link her and cite her shop appropriately if using these photos!