The Perfect Summer Cupcake

What better way to celebrate summer than having a BBQ with your closest friends?! I'm heading to a luau themed BBQ and have signed up to bring dessert. These cupcakes are perfect for the theme, but can also be brought to any summer party! They are super easy to make and are always a crowd favorite! Check out the tutorial below to see how I made these adorable treats!

Here is what you will need to make these cupcakes:

- Cake mix (I chose Funfetti)

- Pink frosting with crystal sugar sprinkles

 - Fun cupcake liners (I used pink polkadots to match the frosting!) 

- Striped paper straws

- 1-2 limes

- Decorator bottle with open star tip from The Pampered Chef

- Not pictured: Paper drink umbrellas

First bake the cupcakes as directed on the box, using the fun cupcake liners.

While cupcakes bake and cool, prepare your decorations.

Take a couple paper straws at a time and cut into three smaller pieces.

Repeat until you have 24 small straws.

Using a butter knife, fill the decorator bottle with the pink frosting and apply the open star tip.

Squeeze the bottle while circling around the cupcake, 

starting on the outside and working towards the center.

Use the sprinkles included with the frosting, and apply a small amount to each cupcake.

Next, cut a lime in half and proceed to cut a few thin slices of the lime.

Cut each slice in half and in half again, creating four small quadrants of the lime.

Repeat until you have 24 small wedges. Layout the wedges between two paper towels and gently pat to absorb the lime juice.

Place a lime wedge on each cupcake, angled off to the side. 

Next, take one of your small straws and insert into the cupcake at an angle on the opposite side of the lime.

Lastly, take a paper drink umbrella and insert into cupcake at an angle, slightly behind the lime.

TA-DAA!!  

You now have the perfect summer cupcake! Enjoy!!

Let's get away...

Sometimes a girl's just gotta getaway with her best friends, so this weekend I'm gearing up and heading to the beach with my girls! For me, the beach is the ultimate summer spot. I love the sand between my toes and the sound of salty waves crashing on the shore. And what's a day at the beach without a stylish new bathing suit and a big straw tote!? I just bought an adorable black and white palm leaf printed bathing suit and a new embroidered beach cover up from Old Navy that I can't wait to wear. I also can't wait to break out my favorite beach bag! I love the woven pattern in it and the bright yellow color is perfect for a sunny beach day. Of course what's in the bag is just as important... check out the pictures below to see what I've packed for our weekend getaway and be sure to check out the details to see where you can find the items!

 Straw Tote Bag- TJ Maxx Similar Here 

Flamingo Print Beach Towel- Lilly Pulitzer for Target Here's a different flamingo towel! 

Gold Pineapple Sandals- Lilly Pulitzer for Target (available on Ebay)

 Floppy Hat- Forever 21

Bathing Suit- Old Navy

Beach Cover Up- Old Navy

Sunglasses- LOFT Similar Here

24 oz. Flamingo Tumbler- Tervis Tumbler

Pink Tumbler Travel Lid- Tervis Tumbler

Sunscreen- Neutrogena Ultra Sheer SPF 30

Reading Material- InStyle Magazine

Let's Flamingle

I'm not sure where this flamingo craze came from, but I do know that I am loving it! I have had a thing for flamingos for years and now they are more popular than ever. I can't get enough of them! Everywhere you look there are flamingo clothes, housewares, and accessories. They are the perfect animal to represent summer, and on top of that, they're PINK!! Check out the pictures below (taken by my friend, Lauren Yandow!) to see how I am sporting this playful trend and click on the details to see where you can find the items!

Cup- Tervis Tumbler, Lid- Tervis Tumbler, Straw- Kate Spade

Shorts- Lilly Pulitzer, Floppy Hat- Forever 21,  

Earrings- Kate Spade, Necklace- MyNameNecklace

 Bike Basket Liner- Cape May Beach Bums and Bags (no longer available) Similar Here

Beach Towel- Lilly Pulitzer for Target (no longer available) Try this one!

But wait, there's more...

Earrings- Kate Spade, Pool Float- SUNNYLIFE, Bathing Suit- Kate Spade, 

Scarf- Kate Spade, Purse- Kate Spade,

 Tumbler- Lilly Pulitzer, Maxi Dress- Lilly Pulitzer

Picnic in the Park

One of my favorite summertime activities is having picnics in the park! This white eyelet dress (now on sale!) and a crop denim jacket are the perfect picnic outfit.  It is effortless, comfortable and stylish- everything you could want for a warm summer day! I finished off the look with a big floppy hat and bright statement necklace. Of course, my outfit wouldn't be complete with out a Kate Spade purse.  I bought this wicker basket purse a few years ago and love breaking it out every summer! The bright orange handles and floral lining add the perfect pop of color to the white eyelet dress.  Plus the basket look is very appropriate for a picnic purse! Grab some fresh watermelon and delicious refreshments and you've got yourself the perfect picnic! I think it's safe to say that this is just the first of many picnics this summer!

Take a look at the pictures below- special thanks to my friend, Lauren Yandow, for taking the pictures! (She's the best!)- and be sure to check out the details at the bottom!

Details: Dress- Old Navy, Denim Jacket- H&M Similar Here, Statement Necklace- LOFT Similar Here or Here, Floppy Hat- Forever 21, Basket Purse- Kate Spade Similar Here, Bracelet- Alex and Ani, Nail Color- Fiji by Essie, Lipstick- Lancome

Back and Ready for the Summer!

After a long break from blogging, I've been itching to get back into it.  Now that I am home for the summer, I am excited to say that Kiss of Pink is back up and running!  I can't wait to share my summer adventures with all of you! I already have a few posts planned that I am looking forward to sharing.
Today my mom, sister and I spent the day doing one of our favorite start-of-summer activities...flower shopping!! It was such a gorgeous day that I couldn't pass up the opportunity to break out one of my new summer outfits!  I have a feeling that this black and white striped midi skirt is going to become one of my go-to skirts for the summer.  It is so comfortable and light weight.  It is perfect for a warm day like today.  I bought the crop top with the skirt to wear as a set, but it is so versatile and can be worn with many different high-waisted skirts, pants or shorts! I paired the outfit with some black sandal wedges, and of course, my favorite pink purse! Take a look at the pictures below and check out the details at the bottom! And be sure to keep checking back to Kiss of Pink throughout the summer as I continue to share more outfits, activities, and all other types of fun!

Details~ Skirt Necessary Clothing, Crop Top Necessary Clothing, Sandal Wedges Similar Here, Purse Kate Spade, Earrings ILYCouture, iPhone 6 Case Kate Spade

New Semester, New Dorm Decor!

After being away from school for a month over winter break, I felt like it was time for a change when I got back to my dorm room.  I have been following Holly Nichols Illustrations on Instagram for a while and absolutely love her work, so I purchased four of her prints from her shop on Etsy! I also bought a wooden 'S' at a craft store and spray painted it gold to add a little something to the frame collage. Lastly, I ordered a pink and gold tassel garland from Studio Mucci on Etsy to hang above the pictures! The tassels come in all different color combinations and lengths- it was so hard to choose just one! Check out the pictures below to see my new wall decor and make sure to check out Holly Nichols Illustrations and Studio Mucci on Etsy!

Details: Designer Alphabet Poster (currently unavailable), All The Glitters is Gold Print, Perfectly Preppy Print, New York Whimsy Print, The Pink Diary Tassel Garland

You're making me blush...

 I just can't get enough of the blush pink and gold combo right now!! The blush tone is such a versatile color for both winter and for the upcoming spring! Check out the pictures below to see how I am sporting the new "it" color and gold combo this winter! 

Details: Sweater Banana Republic, Watch Kate Spade, Earrings Kate Spade-Similar Here, Nail Polish Essie in 'Fiji', Faux Fur Vest Similar Here, Flats Aldo (on sale!), Knit Hat Similar Here, iPhone 6 Case Amazon