They Say It's Your Birthday....

Ok, it's not quite my birthday yet. I have at about 6 more hours left in my time zone but since I am celebrating all week - why not celebrate here now?!?!


Not only is it my birthday, it is almost the 1 year anniversary of On The Tart Side! Yes, technically I started this blog in 2009 but four posts followed by over a year off does not a blog make. So in the tradition of sitcoms everywhere (as well as the graduation episode of Beverly Hills, 90210 - Thanks Ben & Whit for my gift of Seasons 1 &2!), today's post is a flashback episode to some of the biggest hits of the past year.

Top 5 Posts

#5 - Product Placement Wednesday - Surprise Surprise Bake Shop Cake Pops - If you live in the LA area and still have not tried these cake pops, what are you waiting for? Maybe I should pick up a few to celebrate with!

#4 - Happy Half-Birthday To Me! - FYI - if you are looking for a gift for me, all of these items are still available.

#3 - First Date Do's and Don'ts for Boys - This is just good advice. If you have yet to pass along to the guys in your life - do it.

#2 - Product Placement Wednesday - Trader Joe's Peach Pops - Tastes like summer. The Strawberry are also good but I still prefer the peach.

and the most popular post of the year BY A MILE....

#1 - Product Placement Wednesday - Trader Joe's Flower Pepper - This pepper must be REAL popular as I had three times as many hits on this post as on the next closest. It really is delish so jump on the bandwagon and check it out!

In the spirit of the birthday theme, here are a few other posts that tie in...

You Shouldn't Have! - A Guide to Gifting (and it's companion You Shouldn't Have! - The Wedding Edition) - Be the best gift giver EVER!

and on the flip side... Product Placement Wednesday - Amazon.com Wish List - Make it easy for people to know exactly which gifts to buy you (hence my new found BH9 DVDs).

People have also seemed to enjoy my wedding posts this year though the favorite for sure was Tacky Weddings!

This one about 10 Things That Make A Woman Undateable cracks me up.

There was also adventures in my neighborhood - pre arsonist.

Lots of great recipes - too many links to include here. I have so many more to share this year!

I could recap all night but I have got to keep the birthday train moving! Thank you so much for reading this year and I hope that you continue to enjoy the content in 2012!

Happy Half-Birthday To Me!

Today is my half-birthday and I technically was another half year older at 3.03pm ET. Growing up we always celebrated our half-birthdays. My brother's half-birthday is a few weeks after mine and we would have a cake at that time since my parents didn't want to create two half-birthday cakes. Too bad they didn't think of this idea at the time!

There is a great photo somewhere of me and my brother with our half-birthday sheet cake. We were each able to decorate half of the cake. Unfortunately this photo has disappeared into somesort of other universe since no one can find it. Most years (UNLIKE this year) my parents will still call me on my half-birthday just to wish me a happy half-birthday. It may seem silly but it is nice to get that warm birthday feeling when your big day is still very far away.

So that brings me to the point of this entry. We need to celebrate more half-birthdays! Half-birthdays are great for kids because they love getting older. Having a half-birthday mini-celebration reminds them that they are on track. Those of us that are not as thrilled with getting older can still celebrate! This is proof that we have MADE IT another 6 months - something that gets more and more important the older we get.

Presents are not necessary for the half-birthday but a half dozen roses or a half carat diamond are always lovely gifts. If nothing else, it gives your friends and family the six month warning that your birthday is coming up so they can start their shopping before all the good gifts are taken. Of course I know that you are all experts in gift giving since you read my previous entry on the topic!

With that in mind, please indulge me while I share a few items from my "wish list". These are all on the higher end but they would make great group gifts so start planning now! :)

Barbie Dream House

Guns N Roses Pinball

Savannah Cat

Not too much to ask for right? Okay, maybe a little bit out there. Maybe some cake pops from Surprise Surprise Bake Shop would be more appropriate for a half-birthday? What outlandish things would love to get for your birthday (or half-birthday)? Remember you do not need to be registered to post on this blog! I love hearing from you!

Product Placement Wednesday - Surprise Surprise Bake Shop Cake Pops

I realize I am a day belated for Product Placement Wednesday but unfortunately I was away from my computer all day yesterday (read: at Disneyland). Of course like when a birthday gift is belated, it always nice to be sure to give the recipient something extra nice. So I am going to do just that! There is a special bonus regarding this week's product! Read on to learn more....

Cake pops are not a new invention but continue to grow in popularity. If you have never had a cake pop, you are missing out! The basics - cake and frosting join forces to create a delicious round cake on a stick. It is then dipped in chocolate and topped with any number of toppings.

I recently had the great pleasure of enjoying some amazing cake pops from Surprise Surprise Bake Shop. I tried the Southern Red Velvet, Carrot Cake, and Snickerdoodle pops and they were all amazing. I don't even really like Carrot Cake but if it always tasted like this cake pop I would eat it more often! I am very curious about the Chocolate Nutella and Birthday Cake pops too. Ok, who am I kidding? I want to eat them all!

Besides traditional cake pops, I love that Surprise Surprise also offers a vegan version. With more and more people leading vegetarian and vegan lifestyles, I think that more establishments need to incorporate this into their existing menus.

Surprise Surprise does not stop there! They also offer cheesecake, brownie and cereal treat pops (Mom - Mocha Cheesecake Pops for your birthday next year?). You can also rent a tower to display your pops at your next gathering or have them create an arrangement on your behalf.

And now for the best part - Surprise Surprise is giving On The Tart Side readers three additional pops with any order! These are there new featured flavors so you will be one of the first to try them! All you have to do is mention On The Tart Side when ordering.

Be sure to let me know which flavor(s) you like best!