Happy Mother's Day!!

Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing mamas out there!  I hope that your day is relaxing, beautiful, and filled with love and sweet treats (of course).  What could be more perfect than a chocolate cake with vanilla bean creme filling with lots of pink ruffles to top off a wonderful meal? 

How are you celebrating Mother's Day this year?  If you haven't quite figured out dessert yet - check out the recipe for my creamy Meyer Lemon Tart on the Pure Joy Events blog (Part I // Part II)!

Unfortunately, my sister and I will not be able to spend Mother's Day with our mom this year; instead we'll be on a little road trip, driving from Missouri to Boston.  Definitely looking forward to getting home to give my mom a great big hug, and remind her just how much she is loved :)

Pssstttt - only a few followers to go before I reach 100 - which means that my give away is going to happen soon (see this post for a few details...)!

Spring Macarons and a Ruffle Cake

We're just a few days away from spring - and it's finally feeling like winter is over here in the northeast (I hope I didn't just jinx it!).  I felt inspired this weekend to make some treats in pretty colors.

My first treat - french macarons.  The pink macarons are vanilla with vanilla cream filling; the yellow macarons are filled with an amazing marscarpone lemon cream filling.  I have to say - these are the best macarons I have made yet.  A wonderfully thin shell, soft, slightly chewy interior, and nice feet!  They were delicious right out of the oven - and even better after a day in the refrigerator.  Yum!

My second treat - a pink ruffle cake.  Seems like I've been seeing ruffle cakes everywhere lately, and decided I needed to make one myself! Pretty pink buttercream ruffles adorn a chocolate cake filled with cappuccino cream.

Happy (almost!) spring!