We have been doing a lot recently trying to bring some new things to the table. From filling orders, to blogging, tweeting, getting the new site up and running, and a few more tricks we have up our sleeve…..we’ve been pretty busy. So, we decided to recruit some help.

Meet our newest team member Alicia! Yes, she is my sister. Alicia is 21 and mother to my beautiful niece Adrienne. She is a wonderful Mommy and full time student. She is just getting her feet wet with this whole cupcake universe and I think she will quickly realize how amazing and popular these goodies are. Alicia will be handling a lot of the “paper work”. She will be introduced to the world of Tweets and blog posts and will be answering your emails and helping with deliveries! We are super excited to have her on board and know she will bring some great things to the table. We would love it if you sent her some words of encouragement to show her how amazing this cupcake community is.

Be sure to keep checking back with us as many exciting things will continue to unravel!

Last week we had an order for some too cute cupcakes. Little Adam was turning 2 and his mom wanted cupcakes to match the party decor (plates/napkins, etc.). How fun! So we worked out all the details and she sent over a photo of the decor. Here’s what we came up with:

This was my first time attempting to swirl the icing colors…it was a little heavy at first and I feared there’d be kids running around with dark blue tongues (which I’m sure they’d love). We did 3 dz cupcakes, each with swirly blue frosting (the “water”) and chose some cute elements off the plate to decorate each cupcake with. We were very pleased with how they turned out! 

“Thank you for the yummy cupcakes! They were definitely a big hit!” 

Tiffany…Adam’s mom

First, can I say WHAT A YEAR! One year ago this month I embarked on the journey that is cupcakes.

While yes, a majority of the business was in my hands, from baking, decorating, and flavor concepts, to marketing, blogging, and even clerical….by NO means did I do it alone. I’ll try and make it quick, but here is where my gratitude lies: I am blessed to have help from my NUMBER 1, my husband. Thanks for ALL the PATIENCE and SUPPORT. My now three daughters Alicia (3), Anabelle (2), and Angelica (1 week)….they have no idea what lies ahead in the cupcake world! My Mom and sisters who have been there to help with baby sitting, taste testing, and creative ideas. My Dad, who is my voice of reasoning. My genius of a brother and sister who help in all creative aspects from packaging, marketing and website design. Ruth my beautiful model. Kitchen Couture for partnering up with us to bring you a couture line of aprons exclusive to Two Parts Sugar. Sugar Cat Studio for partnering with us to bring you couture cupcake wrappers. Dan Silberstein for getting us in last minute for last year’s LA Cupcake Challenge. The ENTIRE Super Delicious Team, Food Network and Ren Messer for believing in me! Katie B for graciously extending a hand to someone in need. Andy Ortega Photography for some amazing photos. The awesome bloggers out there….Zen Cupcake, Bake And Destroy (Natalie),Cupcakes Take The Cake, The Cupcake Activist, and anyone else who has helped spread the cupcake word. The CUSTOMERS……without you we would not have a place in the kitchen! Thank you to anyone and everyone who has crossed our path and helped to get us where we are today! 

So, as I was saying….This time last year we launched our website and life has been madness (in a good way) ever since. I have to admit, being a wife…no wait, a coach’s wife,  raising 2 children (now 3) and running a business is no easy feat. There were many times I wanted to give up, but my stubbornness wouldn’t allow me to. In the past year we have whipped up lots of cupcakes, cakes and treats, and have learned lots along the way. Our favorite moments of the year include participating in the arthritis walk to help spread the word about amazing kids like Faith who suffer from Juvenile Arthritis. Almost as rewarding, our blog was featured in the OC register, we took second in the LA Cupcake Challenge in the best traditional category, and auditioned and earned a spot on The Food Network’s CUPCAKE WARS (due to air December 27)! Needless to say it has been quite a BIG first year of baking for us!

This post is just to let all of our supporters, customers, family and friends how much we truly appreciate EVERYTHING! Also, to let you all know we are NOT slowing down! We have lots of aspirations for 2010! Some of our newest features include….a “make-over” for our website, new packaging exclusive to Two Parts Sugar, our “shop” which will include couture aprons and cupcake wrappers, new gourmet treats added to our menu, and much, much more! Events where you can find us: The Food Network’s CUPCAKE WARS, air date December 27, 2009…..The LA Cupcake Challenge, February 20, 2010…..The Arthritis Walk May 16, 2010! Please keep checking back for the latest, and if you have an event you’d like us to participate in or would like to place an order let us know!

twopartssugar.com

That’s right all you cupcake enthusiasts…WE HAVE AN AIR DATE! The Food Network’s Cupcake Wars will air on December 27th! We do not have a time yet but will keep you posted! For those of you who don’t already know, we were fortunate to be one of the competitors on the show. SO, tune in on the 27th and watch what happens!

So many things going on in the next month!

This week we have a 3 tier Yo Gabba Gabba cake, a Colette Peters inspired 3 tier Sweet Sixteen cake, a 3 tier chocolate wedding cake with 2 dz coordinating  cupcakes, and 12 dz gourmet cupcakes! A lot of work, but can’t wait to work on each order!

We are also working to revamp our image, just a bit. We are working on updating our site with lots of eye catching elements…including new flavors, packaging and a few other new things Two Parts Sugar will be offering. We are truly excited to be in the process of all of this. All just in time for our big 1 year anniversary! Yes, we have been at this cupcake madness for 1 full year this December!

That being said, December holds A LOT of BIG milestones/events we will be experiencing….new image, flavors, and other goodies…our 1 year anniversary, the airing of The Food Network’s CUPCAKE WARS, and Two Parts Sugar owner Monica Serratos will be welcoming baby girl #3 Angelica! We will keep you posted on all things to come and hope you all like what we’ve come up with!

New packaging!

We welcome all feedback! If you have any questions or comments feel free to contact us here!

We have been working extra hard these last few months coming up with unique designs and working on some things you will be seeing here shortly. I can’t tell you the struggles, long hours (and I’m talking LOOOONG hours…like way too many overnighters), and set backs we have been faced with….but along with that has come some AMAZING opportunities. As many of you know we have been cast on The Food Network’s Cupcake Wars and couldn’t be more honored. While yes, that is probably the high point in our careers thus far, there are more things that we are proud to have been a part of. Even the smaller things…..from having the opportunity to create cupcakes for customers with AWESOME themes, to being featured on different blogs, to learning about and participating in the Arthritis Walk, just to name a few. We value every order that comes through our kitchen and truly appreciate all the well wishes and support from EVERYONE! That being said…we couldn’t be more thrilled to see our Sex and the City (which I have never seen and actually called it Sex in the City until I googled it!) cupcakes featured on Zen Cupcake! Be sure to check out the post and read the very kind words that were written about Two Parts Sugar.

Here’s what Selena (our  customer) had to say:

Hello! I requested these Sex and the City cupcakes from Monica. I’m telling you…I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect cupcake for our themed party! Not only were they adorable, they were OH SO tasty! Even the NY skyline was tasty.  Monica, you are so wonderful! Your talent is such a gift. I will rave about these for a while. 

Thank you Selena for the kind words! Wishing you the best with your first born…Sam!

We’d LOVE to hear your feedback…or if you have any questions or would like to place an order you can reach us here.

So much buzz about Cupcakes Wars….AND WHY NOT!?!?! Everyone seems to have the cupcake bug and we are NO exception!

Cupcakes Take The Cake has recently posted a few things about us…from our casting call phone call to a recent Cupcake Wars cupcake we made! HOW COOL! We absolutely LOVE to share our work and experiences with fellow cupcake lovers and were thrilled to see these posts! A super big THANK YOU to Cupcakes Take The Cake for the support! You can read more about our entire experience here!

I recently posted about an opportunity we had with THE FOOD NETWORK….just an interview, a chance  of a lifetime that could potentially catapult our cupcakes to the next level….well, WE DID IT! We were cast to be a part of a show that should be airing within the next couple of months. I haven’t posted anything until now because of very strict confidentiality rules. But, one of our favorite blogs, Bake and Destroy has posted a little tidbit, so we figured we’d give you all just a taste. 

I know my posts can be lengthy, so I’ll try to adapt this to those with even the shortest attention span. I will first say OMG….I can’t believe we were blessed with such an amazing opportunity! I mean this is the FOOD NETWORK…win or loose…this is HUGE for us! I have to mention everyone working on the show from the fabulous judges, to the friendly contestants, to the AWESOME production crew…they were all so down to earth and friendly. I have never been surrounded by SO many fun, energetic, kind people all in one place at a time! From the actual casting audition, the call back, the long hours and intense hard work and the time that goes into something like this is just unreal. All in all it was an AMAZING opportunity and such a fun time. You can read more about Natalie’s (from Bake and Destroy) experience here and find out a little more about the contestants and judges. 

For now I will have to keep all that I have experienced a bit more confidential….but will keep you updated! 

This past week has been a whirlwind and I couldn’t have done it with out my partner (and sis) Maria, she really  pulled through for Two Parts Sugar. Also, OF COURSE my loving, supportive, PATIENT husband, who without I would be completely LOST! My girls (although they may not have known what all was going on) for being such troopers. My mom for her unconditional support and willingness to drop whatever she had going on to accommodate to my schedule. My sister Alicia (who has a 6 week old) for babysitting my two little rascals. My dad for his handy skills and willingness to guide me through the process. My big brother Juan for also dropping what he was doing to help guide me, support me, and bring out my best and most creative ideas. Katie B for being available to me LAST minute and willing to work with my budget and schedule. Also, to the entire production team…you all ROCK and were a pleasure to work with…I will remember you all forever. Thank you to all our loyal customers and everyone else who has crossed our paths in the last 10 months since our journey in the cupcake world began. I can’t express how truly blessed and appreciative I am of every single one of you!

A couple weeks back we were contacted by a mother who wanted to get cupcakes for her son who was turning 2. She was throwing his party at a petting zoo (too cute) and wanted cupcakes to go along with that theme. We ended up doing pigs, chicks, and cows (a female and male version of each) and #2s. She ordered 6 dz minis for all the youngsters, which seems to be more of a trend lately (the minis that is). So, we delivered her cupcakes and she and her husband were thrilled. Then, as a tribute to National Cowboy Cupcake Day…..Zen Cupcake featured the cow and bull cupcakes we did on their site!

 

Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!  Your cupcakes were one of the highlites of the party!  Everyone cound not stop raving & eating the cupcakes! And unfortunately for us, we did not have any leftovers!!!

- Suzy

Thank you Suzy for the kind words! Zen Cupcake, as usual you rock…thanks for the post! If you have any comments, questions, or would like to place an order you can reach us here.

A couple months back we were contacted by one of the members of the Renegade Rollergirls (SO CAL) for a cupcake order for a huge event they are having on Sunday, June 28. These girls are CRAZY (in a good way)! For those of you unfamiliar with roller derby here’s the rundown (according to Wikipedia):

Roller derby is an American-invented contact sport—and historically, a form of sports entertainment—based on formation roller skating around an oval track. In past decades, roller derby had been primarily a professional or paid sport for both women and men. Contemporary roller derby is international, predominantly female, typically operates on an amateur       (or unpaid) circuit, and has a strong do it yourself ethic which often features both athleticism and a satirical punk, third-wave feminism aesthetic.

I have to admit, I am very intrigued by this sport. In fact, if I wasn’t pregnant, didn’t have 2 kids, or a business to run, I would SO OWN THE RINK! 

So, this event they are having I believe is a fundraiser type event that looks to be fun for the entire family. The so called “Battle of the Burrito” is a rematch between the Renegade Rollergirls SO CAL (who were defeated in the last match) vs. a San Diego team. The event is Sunday, June 28 from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. Held at the SO CAL street hockey roller skating rink at 11700 Knott Ave., in Garden Grove. Admission is FREE and there will be a D.J., moon bounce, face painting and more! The main event…THE REMATCH, is at 2:00 pm. Be sure to check them out!

So, for the cupcakes, we wanted to make sure the represented the attitudes of these ladies…Senious, Raw, and IN CHARGE! We went with, of course a roller skate, it is roller derby…a skull with a bow, their style is rockabillyish and we thought that would fit right in…..a band-aid, after all, this is a FULL CONTACT sport….and a grenade, cause these girls are lethal! We placed each decoration atop a fondant circle outlined in pink (to keep it girly) and added some camouflage in the middle to match their web page. Here they are:

Please, let us know what you think! If you have any questions or would like to place an order you can reach us here.