Event Recap: The Sweet Life

Perfect Pink's Cupcakes & display
(copyright The Cupcake Critic)

Ahh...la dolce vita or 'The Sweet Life' as this tour is aptly named. The Sweet Life is a collective pop-up shop of 10-12 local vendors selling their yummy treats to the hungry masses in Alexandria, Woodbridge, and Manassas, VA between now and August. A proverbial pavilion of tasty treats, sweet eats, and smiling faces.

Lovely Sweet Life hostess serving M&M's
(Photo courtesy of Claudia Johnson)

The creator of The Sweet Life is Tammy Freeman of Pink Dot Concepts. Her mission behind The Sweet Life is to end the recession one treat at a time with no crumb left behind. With such a bold mission statement, The Cupcake Critic was happy to be a featured guest and media partner for the event along with Washington Eats. 

The Cupcake Critic with photogs  Claudia & Julia
(Copyright  The Cupcake Critic)

My first stop on the tour was the Perfect Pink Cupcake table where owner, Markies Hart, was on by serve up his red velvet and banana mini cupcakes. Event goers lined up for their banana cupcake minis and marveled at the perfectly pink table and display.  

Red Velvet Cupcakes from Perfect Pink 
(Photo by Claudia Johnson)

Cakes from the Hart showed off their creative prowess with cakes fashioned into a Chanel and a Luis Vuitton bag with a matching shoe! You know that The Critic was in heaven...ooolala

Luis Vuitton shoe & purse cake by Cakes from The Hart
(copyright The Cupcake Critic)

Chocolate martini samples and other chocolate infused treats were provided by Essala Lowe of Dove Chocolate Discoveries. I really enjoyed the chardonnay brittle and cinnamon dusted almonds with chocolate centers. 

Sweet Endeavors/DCD table displaying all their treats!
(photo courtesy of Claudia Johnson)

Chardonnay infused brittle and cinnamon dusted chocolate covered almonds.
(photo courtesy of Claudia Johnson)

Tweets' Sweets was on the tour with her sweet potato and banana pudding cupcakes. Tweets Sweets' little ones were also on there and sold their own cake pops and chocolate chip cookies. 

Tweets Sweets & The Little Sweets
(copyright The Cupcake Critic)

(copyright The Cupcake Critic)

  Kaylie of K&M Cupcakes were on deck serving up choco-cherry watermelon cupcakes and cupcake cones. They also had samples of their granola protein bars, nutella and chocolate vegan cupcakes. 

Kaylie of K&M Cupcake
(copyright The Cupcake Critic)

Cupcake Cones & brownies by K&M Cupcakes(copyright The Cupcake Critic)

 The Lollipop Chef brought her 'A' game with a display from Bride's magazine and lots of treats on hand. Serving lollipop brownies fit for a bridal shower, wedding, baby shower, or any special occasion. I had the opportunity to taste their cream cheese brownies and-wowzers! 

The Lollipop Chef serving up brownie goodness
(copyright The Cupcake Critic)

 Owner Sultaneh Riley of Eat Your Heart Out Bakery, and her husband, served up their sample minis in: pineapple upside down cake, apple cinnamon, chocolate strawberry and vanilla.  

Sultaneh Riley and hubby, owners of Eat Your Heart Out Bakery
(copyright The Cupcake Critic)

Strawberry-chocolate minis by Eat Your Heart Out Bakery
(copyright The Cupcake Critic)

 Last but certainly not least was Cake Bee who specialize in wedding cakes, specialty cakes, and cupcakes. Cake Bee owner, Sally, let me take home a peach green tea cupcake, a green tea cupcake, and a chocolate strawberry cupcake. She also showed me her collection of handmade cupcake toppers which were too cute! She had poodles, purses, bears and puppies. You could eat them up- literally!

The owners of Cake Bee
(copyright The Cupcake Critic)

Cake Bee Cupcakes in assorted flavors
(copyright The Cupcake Critic)

Also, I got to see people whom I usually interact with online and on the blog such as: Sharia and Adrian of Socialite Events. Overall the day was filled with laughter, goodies, and smiling faces. Check out the next two tours slated for August in Woodbridge and Manassas, VA. You won't want to miss it!

Me & my sister Shelby: the best assistant & PR person :-)
(copyright The Cupcake Critic) 

                         

Treat Yo’Self

DJ Keenan Orr Spinnin' (Copyright The Cupcake Critic)

Earlier this month I attended Treat Yo’ Self! which is the collaborative efforts of One Love Massive and Crunkcakes.  The name is a spin-off of a popular story line from the NBC comedy, Parks & Recreation. The artisans’ market was held at the Mellow Mushroom in Adams Morgan and featured DJ Keenan Orr.  Drinks were poured while warm stuffed pizza flowed on every bar corner and eager buyers looked through the wares of the many talented vendors.

The Crunkcakes Table

When I walked in, I was immediately greeted with vendors ranging from food to jewelry to art work. To the left were the ladies of Crunkcakes and their new treats, The Biggie Smalls. I bought two cuppies; one buttery nipple (my favorite) and the maple bacon (hmmm…bacon). The salty and sweet mixture was awesome!

Original artwork by B. Doty

Original artwork by C. Cafferty

In the corner was original artwork by Brittany Doty and Caroline Cafferty; budding artists who were more than eager to share the inspiration for their artwork. Many of the pieces ranged from vampy re-creations of Blondie or Marilyn Monroe, to dark pieces that could rival Tim Burton’s best films. Next door was DC Patisserie whom my sister (and Critic in training), purchased a dozen of their macarons from and enjoyed thoroughly.

DC Patissiere Macarons

DC Patissiere Vendor

On the other side of Crunkcakes, I spotted K &M Cupcakes. They offered cupcakes, red velvet heart-shaped brownies and cookies. Fab Fete is a new-comer who offered homemade hummus, caramel corn and a variety of gluten-free cookies. Although The Critic has no issues with gluten, I appreciate vendors who cater to a diverse digestive track. My sister bought two containers of hummus while I purchased the cranberry and oatmeal cookies – they were umm-umm good!

K&M Cupcakes

Square in the center with an ornate display was DC new-comer Chica Bom Bom. They were selling brigadeiros, a Brazilian treat similar to a caramal bon bon and made with condensed milk. The owner explained to me their process of making them and had coconut, nutella and chocolate samples available.

Chica Bom Boms

Hazelnut, Nutella, Coconut and Chocolate Brigadeiros

Doubling back, I spoke with Rachel Pfeffer of Rachel Pfeffer Designs. The daughter of a jeweler, her collection had some awesome pieces including silver and brass statement necklaces and natural mineral rings to the tune of $113 and up. Despite being an all-cash event, many vendors accepted credit cards through portable scanners. Overall the event was awesome and the people of One Love Massive have outdone themselves again.