February Birthdays

No cupcakes this month, just cakes. And it's okay, I like baking cakes. Really I do. No, really, believe me, I swear, really, really, really! Okay, fine....you got me. I like baking cupcakes more! But it's okay - REALLY!!!


It was a Happy Birthday - Poker Night celebration for my sister-in-law's nephew, RJ, last February 8. The birthday boy turned 30 and by Filipino standards, he's finally legal! Just kidding :) He's been let loose for some time now.

And for the Ben10 birthday people, hope you all enjoyed the red velvet cake. See you next month!

Happy 2009

What a year 2008 was! It had it's high points and EXTREMELY low points for me. But, like we always say, we just try and pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and move forward once more. I'm going to try my best to focus on all things positive and not let the minor (or major) inconveniences throw me off course. Easier said than done but I'll damned if I don't try!

So, I'm off to a good start with my good friend (and former boss :D), Bob Doucette and longtime partner, Tom, commissioning BluRuby, for their upcoming wedding in August this year! Yay! Another cupcake tower looming in the horizon. I'm honored to be a part of this wonderful union.

Just last week, I started back on the 3rd Season of Chowder at Cartoon Network. Yay! I'm employed, at least for now. Hopefully, CNS will be generous enough to keep giving the show it's support and keep us out of trouble :)

And most recently, I had just launched my cupcake merchandise on Etsy.com. Check out my little cuppies (nothing edible this time) on http://bluruby.etsy.com. Tell me what you think and while you're at it, shop if you see anything you like.


I pray that 2009 will be a good year for all of us. But like I said, no matter what the year ahead may bring, let's all stay optimistic, it's still a better choice than the alternative. At least, that's how I'm choosing to be.

BUSY BAKING MONTH!!!

Well, well, well.......finally a peep from yours truly. Been a while, I know but what can I say, life has been extremely challenging for me and my family these past months. But all is good, life is as it should be, and the baking was resurrected this month.

As a present for two cute nephews, an Elmo cupcake tower was requested. Like the push-over aunt that I am, of course I had to oblige!
SATISFIED CUSTOMERS!!!

The following weekend, Oct. 18, was my friend Angie's baby shower. It was a fun afternoon with the gals. The highlight for me though was mistaking Angie's lantern for the baby shower pinata and smashing it to pieces - oops! I still owe them a paper lantern :( By the way, she gave birth to her daughter the following Sunday, Oct. 26, 4 weeks early!!!


On the same day was my friend Bev Chapman's website launching party. Of course I couldn't go because I was at the baby shower, but my cupcakes did!



The next day, I little boy named Elliott celebrated his 3rd birthday. His mom wanted a dinosaur themed cupcake tower for his party and so here's how it turned out.


Hmmmmm............T-rex.........How precious does that face look???

Finally, this past weekend was the 18th birthday of the daughter of a family friend. This time, the mom wanted a cake instead of a cupcake tower for the special occasion. Check this out:



October's over tomorrow - and I'm done baking for now. Happy Halloween eveyone!!!

Few and far between

I'm back and I know, it's been quite some time since the last posting, which also means, the last time I baked. The day job, I'm afraid has been taking up more of my time, not to mention, some occasional freelance. It's really difficult to balance animation and baking as both are labor intensive. However, I did make some exceptions along the way for special customers like Helen and Richard Smitheman's daughter, Holly, who celebrated her 12th birthday back in March. Holly is into elephants and bees (cute combo I thought) so here's how her cupcakes turned out.




And, of course, I'm always available for my studio's cupcake needs and so here are the cupcakes for the Ben 10 Wrap Party at the House of Blues in April.

Finally, as a special request from a friend's daughter, who wanted her favorite band on her birthday cupcakes, here's what we came up with. An homage to My Chemical Romance! Rock on, Jade!

HELLO 2008

A blessed and very Happy New Year to all! It's quite some time since my last posting and I apologize but I have been busy with my day job. (and that's good ;D) Nonetheless, I did some baking from time to time to honor the commitments I made to friends earlier last year so here are some of special ones .

Happy 8th Birthday, Trina! She had her ice skating party at Pickwick in Burbank.



Congratulations Serapio and Jill on getting hitched!


And Thuy, I hope your nephew's first birthday was a blast!!!




A fairy tale of a holiday party for the Tinkerbell Crew of Toon Disney, hosted by Jim and Mary Shellhorn.

Toying with Merchandising

So I think in the near future, BluRuby will go into a few practical accoutrements to sell. Here's a product sample with my personal motto "I said, I'M SWEET!!! NOT SAVORY!!!" mug design, courtesy of the very talented Millet Henson - BluRuby's official artist in charge of merchandising.

The history behind this quote started back in April when I volunteered at the UCLA/LA Times Book Festival. The coordinator of the cooking stage was questioning my ability to saute and kept cautioning me about overcooking my mushrooms. Resenting the fact that the "aforementioned individual" was being a bit condescending to someone who was there volunteering her weekend, and having already been informed that I am a PASTRY CHEF and don't do much "savory cheffing", the only thing I can think of in response was - what's now on my BluRuby mug.

My friend, Ben, thought it would be a good idea to put it on a t-shirt. So with that suggestion, I thought I'd try it on a mug for starters. I think it turned out preeeetty cool!

Just Dreaming

If BluRuby ever goes a step further (some time in the future) I hope my delivery trucks look like these! Not bad for a packaging idea as well, right? (heavy sigh).........Well I can dream, can't I?