High Heel Cupcakes!

This weekend was my best friend Liz's 21st birthday.  I love to bake, so I wanted to make something special that fit her personality (think princess/shopoholic/diva).  When I came across these cupcakes on Pinterest, I knew I had found the perfect birthday treat.

high expectations

After a very long day of classes, work and meetings, my friend and I trekked to Stop and Shop to pick up the supplies.  Shout out to Kathryn for driving to the store at 10 p.m. and helping this girl out!

Two hours late at approximately 12:05 a.m (officially Liz's birthday!), these puppies were born.  Although they don't exactly match the picture above, we were very happy with the outcome.

We used regular white cake for the cupcakes, and red food coloring to make pink icing.  For the sole of the shoe, we cut graham crackers on an angle and covered it with melted white chocolate/red dye.  Then, we outlined the sole in white decorating icing.  After refrigerating the graham crackers, we shaved off a small piece on the side of the decorated cupcakes and inserted them into the cake.  Finally, we attached Pepperidge Farm Pirouettes to the back of the graham crackers with melted chocolate to complete the shoe.  

Liz loved the cupcakes and we got SO many compliments on them!  In the future, I hope to make them again and use different color icings/toppings.  I'm sure craft and baking stores like Michaels or Sur la Table have cute decorations and holders for more personalized cakes and cupcakes.  Depending on the amount of time you have, you can make these as detail-oriented as you want.  Maybe next time I should  make heels with red backs to look like Louboutins ;)

Netflix's "House of Cards"

Over the last two years, Netflix and I have become the best of friends.  Most weekends (and even some weeknights), I can be found curled up in bed watching my favorite shows and movies for hours at a time.  There is just an indescribable feeling about pressing play and watching television in a marathon form--especially with shows that you haven't seen on live TV.   I think I would have had a heart attack if I watched Breaking Bad over five years time rather than five weeks!   Okay, maybe more like three weeks...

This week, Netflix released its first original series "House of Cards."  The 13 episode political drama directed by David Fincher stars big name actors such as Kevin Spacey and Kate Mara.  Personally, I think this was an excellent strategic move by Netflix.  Primetime television is extremely competitive, and capturing a steady audience is no easy task.  In creating content specific to their website, Netflix appeals to the "binge-watchers"-- people like myself who wish to watch several episodes in one sitting.  If "House of Cards" proves to be successful for the company, additional and continuous "exclusive" content may increase Netflix membership.  

  

This spring, my Public Relations Case Studies course requires its students to choose a company to follow and analyze over the course of the semester.  Ironically, I will be "managing the reputation" of Netflix.  I cannot wait to see if my predictions surrounding the "House of Cards" comes true.  I must say, I watched the first half of the season and I am hooked.  Kevin Spacey's character confessionals paired with the show's social media incorporation is fresh, relevant and smart.  I am looking forward to finishing the season this week (before the SuperBowl, perhaps?) and following the success of the show.  

For more information or another perspective on the launch of Netflix's "House of Cards," take a look at Brian Stelter's article:  http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/01/business/media/netflix-to-deliver-all-13-episodes-of-house-of-cards-on-one-day.html?_r=0.