How to Make Pinterest-Worthy Unicorn Cake Pops

How to Make Pinterest-Worthy Unicorn Cake Pops

{Notice - I am in no way shape or form a professional baker. I am also not affiliated with or paid by any of the brands listed below to write this recipe/blog.}

When your daughter wants a Unicorn Birthday Party and you go onto Pinterest to find all of the cutest little unicorn cakes, cupcakes and cake pops - not sure about you all - but I simply HAVE to at the very least attempt to make them. 

They turned out so cute and really didn't take a terrible amount of time to do!

Check out the details of Daphnie's Magical Unicorn Birthday Party HERE!

Here's what I used and where to find them:

1 -  Box Cake - I used Pilsbury Funfetti (makes the cake pops look fun inside). 

1 - Can of Frosting - I used Pilsbury Cream Cheese fosting.

2 - 10oz Bag of White Chocolate Ghiradelli Melting Wafers (Target)

Food Coloring

Icing - Decorating Bags

Small Star-Icing Tip (Michaels)

Cake Pop Sticks (I used Cookie sticks by Wilton from Michaels)

1 - Wilton Edible Marker - Black (Michaels)

1 - 4.4oz Wilton Preferred Fondant in White (Michaels)

1 - Wilton Pearl Dust - Pink (Michaels)

1 - Wilton Pearl Dust - Gold (Michaels)

1 - Small Food-Safe Dusting Brush (Michaels)

1 - Cake pan

1 - Large Spatula or mixing spoon

1 - Cookie Dough Scoop (Oxo brand from Target)

Parchment Paper 

Instructions:

1. Bake the cake per the box's instructions. Let cool.

2. After allowing the cake to cool, crumble it into a large mixing bowl. 

3. Scoop out approximately 1/4 of the can of frosting and mix it into the crumbled cake. You should be able to form the mixture into balls. Be careful to not add too much frosting or your cake pops won't hold shape very well. 

4. Using the Cookie dough scoop, fill the scoop with the cake and frosting mixture, release it into your hands and roll into a ball. 

5. Place the ball onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet or platter.

6. Releat steps 4 and 5 until all of the mixture is gone.

7. Refridgerate the cake pop balls for about an hour. 

Decorating Preparation

1. While you are waiting for the cake pop balls to cool count out as many of the chocolate wafers as you have cake pops and set them aside. Put the rest of the wafers in a decently-narrow but tall microwave-safe dish - set aside.

2. Take the rest of the frosting from the can and mix with food coloring if desired.

3. Prepare your icing decorator bag with the tip and fill with the colored icing.

4. Using the white fondant form ears and horns for each cake pop. Lightly dust the inside of the ears with the Pink Pearl dust using the dusting brush. Dust the Unicorn horn with the Gold Pearl Dust. Set aside.

5. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Take the Chocolate wafers that you counted and set aside and place them flat-side down on the cookie sheet about 3" apart from each other.

Dipping the Cake Pops

1. Take the cake pops out of the refridgerator and prepare to start dipping. You want the cake pop to be chilled, but not frozen or too cold - the chocolate will crack if it is too cold.

2. Take the melting wafers in the microwave-safe dish and place them in the microwave. Microwave for 1 minute, stir, if there are still large pieces of unmelted chocolate, microwave for 10-second intervals until the chocolate is smooth.

3. First take a cake pop stick, dip it first into the chocolate and then into the cake pop. I usually do about 5 of these first before I start actually dipping the cake pop - it gives the chocolate a chance to harden and hold the cake pop on the stick better.

4. Dip the cake pop into the melted chocolate being sure to cover the entire surface with chocolate. Quickly but carefully place the cake pop - stick up - onto the un-melted wafers placed on the parchment-lined cookie sheet. This helps to create a base for the cake pop which will help keep them straight and will keep them from falling over.

5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until all cake pops are dipped.

6. Let the cake pops sit until the chocolate has hardened.

Decorating the Cake Pops into Little Unicorns

1. Using the black edible marker, draw closed eyelids with lashes onto the cake pops. 

2. Using the colored frosting, make the unicorn mane by squeezing small bits of 'star/flower' shaped frosting onto the top of the cake pop, all around the stick. 

3. Stick the horn and ears into the frosting mane, don't push too hard, you only want them to stick into the frosting, not the chocolate shell.

4. Carefully use the pink Pearl Dust to dust small circles on the Unicorn's cheeks as if it is blushing. 

5. Enjoy!

For another adorable UNICORN treat that I made for her birthday party, click HERE!

Child Modeling 101: What to Expect After Signing with an Agency

You did it! You evaluated your child and your situation, applied to an agency and are now a proud parent of a signed mini model! So what now? Well, there are a few things you have to do and most likely your agency will have already gone over some of this with you, but just in case you were too mesmerized with your mini model and day-dreaming of all of the amazing things he/she will soon be out doing, I'll cover a few of the most important things you need to do as well as what to expect now.

The Legal Stuff

Each state is different on what it requires you to do/have before your child can start working. At a minimum your little will need a work permit in the state that he/she will be working in. You can check your state laws on your state's labor website, your agent should have told you this when/before you signed so check your paperwork.

The next most common thing is a Trust account. Your kiddo is making the dough and some states (such as New York) believe that they deserve at least 10% of that dough that you are requierd to put into aTrust account. I am personally all about this rule and even when Daphnie does work outside of a state that requires it, we still deposit all of the money she makes into her very own bank account. She saves all of the money that she makes modeling and spends her allowance, pretty fair trade I think.

Okay so work permit and trust account - if required in your state, you must have these two things before you can work, so get it to it!

Headshots

Not all agencies require that you have professional headshots. Personally, I think they are a must. You can read about how to find a great headshot photographer and watch Daphnie's latest session from just last month with an amazing NYC photographer here! Child Modeling 101: Headshots

Direct Bookings

Direct bookings are where a client chooses your child among a sea of photographs and wants to book them for a job without going through an audition. These are like rainbows, whereas they rarely happen - but when they do they are amazing! For us these are the best since the closest modeling market to us is 5 hour drive one way. Which means we travel 10 hour-round-trips two to four times for a single booking:  audition, call-back (sometimes), fitting (sometimes), and then the photoshoot. 

Daphnie at an audition for American Girl™ 

Castings/Auditions

You will go to far more castings and auditions than your child will actually book. That's just the name of the game. Don't say I didn't warn you, I totally covered it in my first Child Modeling 101 post. But it's not a bad thing, the more jobs you audition and the more your child is in front of the casting directors, the better! And don't forget to take your compcard!

Booked it!

Your kid landed their first job! Here are a few tips:

- Read every email from your agent fully from top to bottom. Every word. There is important information on there from where you need to go to what you should bring.

- Typically there isn't a ton of room, so only one parent and the model should attend the shoot.

-DO NOT be a stage mom. Don't. I know it's hard, trust me...but once your child is there for work, they need to be fully focused and zoned in on what they need to do. No distractions or mom telling them to 'smile pretty' from the sidelines. {I've heard that moms actually do this.}

-Always check to make sure it's okay before you snap any behind the scenes pics, some clients/photographers don't like it.

Daphnie hanging out at a shoot for American Girl™ 

Most Important of All...

Have fun! Let your child be a child! Don't put too much stress and pressure on them. There will be some shoots where they may need to be super high-fashion and serious and other times where they want your little to have fun and be a kid! After all, they are most likely shooting children's products geared towards kids!

Mother's Day Gift Guide - What Mom Really Wants for Mother's Day

As a mom for almost seven years now, I feel like a veteran {just kidding, I know I'm no where close...those teen years may do me in}.  In these past seven years I've been so blessed in the wonderful gifts that I've received. I have seen and heard of a fair share of pretty awful gifts to other moms though, so I thought I'd help you all out with a little gift guide for Mother's Day this year!

Mother's Day is on May 14th, 2017 this year which is only TWO WEEKS from today! So you should definitely start planning what you are going to do for those special Moms in your life. 

No matter what you do or buy for your Mom {or Mom of your kiddos}, she will love it and smile warmly just knowing that you thought of her. {she may be the one person where 'it's the thought that counts' actually pertains} It's not always about what you buy but sometimes what you do for her. 

Here are a few ideas:

Breakfast in Bed

As a mom, there is nothing greater than waking up to a fresh cup of coffee and breakfast already made!  {just remember - don't leave a huge mess in the kitchen, it's her day - clean it up!}

Brunch

Take her out to her favorite brunch spot and maybe plan to invite other Moms in the family! {who doesn't love breakfasty-lunch with a mimosa!? *bonus - no mess to clean up!}

Here is a great Mimosa recipe if you would like to do your own brunch, here.

Delicious Mimosa Recipe from InspiredTaste.net

Give Her a Break

Moms like to just sit and relax too! {we just don't get a whole lot of time to do that} Let her spend the day doing whatever she wants, you take over the cooking/cleaning and child care for the day. {don't worry - it is only ONE day}

Plan an Adventure

I don't know about other moms, but I like to go on Adventures and try new things! Plan a day to take the family out on an adventure. Don't make her do all the work though, you have to make the plans and prepare! {snacks...whatever it is, if you have kids - you need snacks}

Gifts are never a bad thing...unless you buy her something that is really for you, or a household appliance that she didn't explicitly ask for... {we are not in the 50's - no vacuums please!} Here are a few gift ideas that are sure to make this Mother's Day special and memorable:

Photo Gifts

Photos are always a great gift, {and budget-friendly} - you can get almost anything made with a photo on it and she'll have it forever! Check out the options at Shutterfly here! My personal favorite is the Photo Book. And speaking of photo books - check out ChatBooks which you can make in just a few minutes and right from the photos you already post to social media. We use instagram a lot {here!} so these books are great to put those images in a book to have on the coffee table or to give as gifts!

Spa Packages

Every mother out there could use a nice relaxing day at the spa! Pick out a great spa package, and either surprise her with a gift certificate for her to use any day or schedule it for a day that is free {for both of you - because someone has to watch the kids!} 

Flowers

I don't know a mom out there that doesn't like flowers! So beautiful and fragrant, they make any room look complete. And they don't have to be cut flowers, if she likes to garden or loves house plants then buy a flowering plant that she can enjoy for years to come! Try 1800flowers.com or one of my favorites ediblearrangements.com which are cute fruits cut and arranged in a bouquet as if they are flowers. {super cute, right?} 

Or if you are willing to splurge a little {mom is totally worth it} then check out these beauties over at Venus et Fleur they come in amazing boxes and last for at least a year! 

Jewelry

I know, predictable, right?! Well there's a good reason for that - you can literally never go wrong with jewelry. Just pick out something that is simple and timeless. I've received rings, necklaces and even a watch for Mother's Day - all really great gifts! 

I hope this helped you on your quest to Mother's Day success! Let me know in the comments if you are a mom yourself and what your favorite Mother's Day present was!