Logos, Sugar Cookies and a few more surprises

Well, we have been very busy this year although you would never know it from our blog activity! Not only are we putting your logo on anything that will stand still, we are introducing some new treats to the Just a Bite menu. Now, in additional to cake pops, we are offering sweet and special sugar cookies, just in time to send out something special to your clients over the holidays. Stay tuned for more treats (hint: you will want s'more!) Here are some we made just for us and the Dry Bar loves our logo pops to sweeten up their clients on the way out the door. Check out our custom logo and photo pops here

Is it too late to say Happy New Year?

It has been awhile since we have blogged. After a festive and busy holiday season, we are enjoying this first part of the year, adding new flavors, trying new designs and embracing 2012! We filled more corporate orders than ever during the 2011 holiday season, including client gifts for companies including Ippolita (this jewelry is amazing!), Periscope, Beyond20, CB Richard Ellis and KWall, just to name a few. We made glittering, jewel pops for Ippolita, custom koala pops for KWall and thousands of holiday themed colors and designs for dozens of others. Not to mention our seasonal favorites, Gingerbread, Eggnog and Chocolate Peppermint.

As we are in March already of 2012 (boy does the time fly!), we are making some exciting additions to our flavor selection. Though not yet finalized, we will be introducing some of the following flavors, Snickerdoodle, Strawberry Shortcake, Apple Cinnamon, Vanilla Latte and Chocolate Salted Caramel. Tune into Facebook to vote for your favorite to be added to our gourmet selections.

Brides and grooms are busy planning their summer and fall weddings and we have risen to the occasion. We have our always popular wedding selections on our website and we have added darling “Bride and Groom Flattops” to our selection. Add these to a custom colored assortment of our favorite flavors for your dessert table and these will literally take (the place of) the cake!

Don’t forget to like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter for new flavors and special promotions. Thanks for popping by … and Stay Sweet.

Trick or Treaters Wanted

Whatever happened to Halloween? And what the heck is “Trunk or Treat”? It sounds like something we should be doing with our significant others after the kids are asleep.

Seriously, does anyone else miss watching munchkins walk door to door, their plastic pumpkin heads filled with delicious goods? Spotting preteen Elvis’ and witches enjoying what may be their last year, carrying pillow covers sagging with loot. Do our children really have to settle for candy out of trunks in church parking lots and trick or treating at local malls?


And c’mon it’s not like you can trust everyone at church anyways. Yeah, I said it.

Let’s teach our kids we can have faith in our neighbors. And if you don’t want your kids to get overloaded on sugar, collect the candy and give it to charity. Or better yet, issue a snack out every once in a while, practice some control.

Let’s not make it so difficult. Look forward to Halloween, don’t be afraid, dress up your little pumpkins, grab some flashlights, sacks for treats and hit the streets.

Here’s the plan, pick the houses you want to visit, and don’t go to the scary ones. Spend time with your kids while you still can, they’ll be driving away in your SUVs before you know it. Have a Kit Kat and relax already, you’re gonna have a good time.
BTW trick or treating can be considered cardio.

Get in the spirit; throw on a funky hat or wig or something. Remember I’m not trying to change the world; just having a little bit of candy is all. It’s one night, enjoy it and get on with your life.

Save the real stress for Christmas, its only 70 days away and counting.

I Love the Smell of Pumpkin in the Morning

Am I the only one who waits anxiously all year for pumpkin flavored treats to pop up again? Does anyone else possess a peppermint palate or a gingerbread gusto? 

Let's face it the old standards are around all year long; chocolate, vanilla, red velvet, carrot, lemon...and don't get me wrong, I'm a HUGE fan of these flavors. And clearly there is a reason they are in for the long haul. But there is something sweet about an old familiar essence arriving at my local coffee house or favorite bakery. Boy am I thrilled the wait is finally over.

For instance, this morning I tasted my first Starbucks Salted Caramel Mocha and I was delighted, you can't get that at Eastertime. Admitting the free coffee postcard I received in the mail was addressed to a "Beata Cuffee", and she probably would have enjoyed the coffee as well as I did if she truly did exist. But as luck would have it, the card arrived at my house and my coffee nickname became "Bee" for the morning. 

I'm the type of person who will drift from milk chocolate in search of some seasonal savory. I'll pop an eggnog treat or two, and have even tried a fruitcake in the past. 

And I do agree that these periodic pals are more than welcomed, they are some of the scents and tastes that help define a season. Without the balance of nature, we'd be eating pumpkin muffins all year long and would have nothing to look forward to in the fall. I'll go along with it and I'll even raise my glass of spiked apple cider to prove it. 

Sweet Pops for your Sweetheart

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Don’t forget your Sweetheart, your Mom, your Nana, your kid’s class party or anyone else who deserves a sweet, savory something on February 14th.

Send a Sweetheart's dozen of Long Stemmed Cake Pops to your wife or girlfriend and you are sure to have a lovely holiday. One dozen of our classic Just a Bite cake pops in vanilla, chocolate, red velvet and carrot, on long stems. Deliciously wrapped, dipped in festive colors (purple, white, pink and red) and ready to impress your loved ones for only $30.00 (delivery charges extra).

If you are looking to impress a group, or want to wow the crowd at your Valentine’s event, order our Double Dozen of luscious cake pops. Two dozen cake pops dipped in festive, seasonal colors; purple, red, white and pink. Each order includes 24 of our classic assortment pops including red velvet, vanilla, chocolate and carrot cake. All of the pops are individually wrapped and displayed in a bouquet for only $75.00 (delivery charges extra).

We also offer a Red Velvet Only bouquet displayed in an adorable Valentine’s themed box. One dozen cake pops of our scrumptious red velvet cake and dipped in red, featuring two sweet cake pops in love. All of this for only $48.00 (delivery charges extra).

If you need to ship something across the country, we can certainly do that, just remember to give us enough time to send to your heart’s desire, all Valentine’s orders must be received by Monday, February 7th.

We look forward to hearing from you on our website http://www.justabitecakepops.com/ and Happy Valentine’s Day to All.

Rebranding Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has always been one of those holidays that is a little blurry for me. Growing up, my parents dragged my brother and I to some friends of the family’s house where we sat and waited (for far too long it seemed) to have a big meal and then there would be a lot of sitting, and talking, and then pumpkin pie, and then we would finally go home.

Once I left home and moved west, Thanksgiving was always a potluck of friends getting together and eating and drinking together. Having Thanksgiving away from home always caused a bit of anxiety about “where am I going to have Thanksgiving dinner this year???”.

Then our family had a rough Thanksgiving in 2006 … suffice it to say it was a tough year to celebrate. Since then, I have struggled to really get excited about the pilgrim patented, turkey touting, overindulgent holiday. I have found myself trying to figure out, for myself, what this particular occasion means to me, and how can I give it meaning for myself personally.

Which brings me to my personal goal for this season – to rebrand Thanksgiving. Rename it, retheme it, give it a whole new life… and I’m looking for suggestions. This effort is going to be based on a theme of gratitude. Gratitude for what I have, and for what I don’t. Gratitude for the ability to breathe deeply and love freely. Gratitude for my family who is so dear to me, though they are miles away. Gratitude for the gifts in my life that are too many to count.

I look forward to a week of personal celebration of this gratitude and even I am not sure how that will unfold. I know only that as I enter the season of giving, I am striving to do so with a peaceful mind, open heart and healthy body. I invite you to share with us how you will be celebrating your gratitude this week. As for my rebranding efforts, we will keep you posted. In the meantime, Just a Bite wishes you a grateful beginning to your holiday season.

Fancy Favors

Everyone deserves a little fancy. And what says fancy better than Tiffany blue? This past week, with the help of our special talents in color matching, we made over 100 red velvet cake pops with Tiffany blue candy coating and white sprinkles. The colors went so well together and really "pop". Our bride also requested chocolate pops with white candy coating, topped with chocolate jimmys. The wedding colors are blue, white and chocolate and her guests are going to love this yummy favor. We even boxed them in clear boxes with crinkle paper for a special presentation.

These unique treats are on a plane heading to Canada for a wedding this weekend. It’s always fun to have such a cool order and we would love to make these favors for your special event or party. Remember we can match almost any color and love a challenge. So let your imagination run wild and we’ll help you pull it off.

Taste of the Nation

Taste of the Nation Orange County was held at the Island Hotel on Fri April 23. What a fantastic event. All proceeds went to Share our Strength, an organization whose mission is to battle childhood hunger in the United States. A number of local chefs shared their talent with the guests, Marbella Country Club, the Montage, the Crow Bar, Bluefin and Sage, just to name a few of the featured restaurants. Just a Bite was excited to be the only dessert-only participant. Though the event ended at 9pm, we “sold out” a little after 8. We will take that as a compliment.

Enjoy the photos of our table as well as the group of talented chefs that participated in this event (as well as some of our pop fans enjoying their treats).

Next year, note this as a must attend event. Delectable tastes from some of the finest local chefs, live music, cocktails, the Island Hotel, silent auction… what else could one request for a night to remember.

Just a Bite at the Dry Bar, LA

Love the feeling of walking out of a salon? Wish your stylist was around to create that salon look in a pinch. Check out the Dry Bar (http://www.thedrybar.com/). Michael Landeau, owner, asked Just a Bite to make some pops for a Saturday afternoon at the Dry Bar earlier this month. This place is hip, chic and was literally Poppin a few weekends ago with 9 dozen Just a Bite Cake Pops. Next time you (and your mane) need a little TLC, check out the Dry Bar. Thanks Michael!

Make your Easter basket pop

Order your favorite flavors with your favorite colors this Easter. Only a week away so get your orders placed soon. Quantities are limited. Make it an Easter basket for only $12 more.

We love lululemon - the proof is in the pops!!

One of the things that I love about all this blogging and facebooking is that it provides a forum to talk about stuff that is just plain awesome... today we're talking rad clothes and accessories from lululemon athletica. My first pair of lulu groove pants were for yoga but they are now my most frequently worn article of clothing. Why do I love lululemon... let me count thee ways:

• bright fun colors
• flattering cuts
• excellent branding
• passion for the community and the practice of yoga
• innovative design
• inspiring quotes and ideology

What better way to honor lululemon than with Just a Bite Cake Pops. Check our most recent creation!

Green Pops bring good luck...

We haven't actually proven that yet, but let us know if it's true.
I have lived "out west" for 13 years now but before I made my move, I grew up in a fantastic little city in Ohio called Dublin, Ohio. As you might imagine from the name of our town, it definitely has an irish flair. Our school mascot was a Shamrock and there was a HUGE St Patrick's Day ever year where you actually got "arrested" if you didn't wear green. So, in the spirit of the celebration of the irish .... we proudly introduce our cake pop for the green season...

St Patty's Day Pops ($30/dozen)
Green (Vanilla) cake dipped in sweet white candy and dusted with green sugar

Chocolate cake dipped in shamrock green candy and topped with mini white sprinkles.

Please give us a week's notice so we can get your order ready for the 17th! Order Now.

7 ways to use your green St Patty's Day Cake Pops:

Have a green cake pop with your green beer.
Hand them out to strangers on the street to pass along good luck.
Give a dozen to your clients to create a great green impression.
Send some to your special someone to show you care.
Let the kids bring them to give to their friends at school.
Serve them at your St Patrick's Day Party.
Bring them on your St Patrick's Day bike ride (I know I will!!)

Pops for lunch?

We were proud to be the "edible" sponsor at this past Wednesday's ABC Orange County's coordinators' luncheon at The Dock in Newport Beach. Lindsay Longacre of LVL Events was kind enough to invite us. Not only did we have an opportunity to showcase our cake pops for over 40 bridal consultants but also met some other fantastic entrepreneurs in the industry.

Kristy McTaggart of Artiface created some beautiful custom nametags and menus to match the violet and red theme of the luncheon.

The colors were chosen by Larrissa Rehder, owner of Inviting Occasion, a floral and event design company. Her eye for art and beauty, and innovative ideas helped her win the 2009 Association of Bridal Consultants Trendsetters Award. This was Just a Bite's first coordinators' luncheon and Larrissa was happy to lend a hand (and several display elements) to help us create a table of pops for the coordinators to see and try. Thank you Larrissa! If you are looking for an artist, not just a "florist", please check out Inviting Occasion.

Capturing all of these memorable touches was Joel of Studio EMP. You will see some samples of his work in this blog. Thanks Joel for catching these great pop shots!

Hosting this elegant and festive luncheon was Christine Overstreet, owner of The Dock. Although I have not had a chance to dine there, the atmosphere was intimate and beautiful, right on the water. The hors d'oeuvres chosen for the event were divine, strawberries on a skewer with spun sugar, eggplant tempura topped with ahi and caviar, and ceviche served on a silver spoon. I can't wait to go back! My favorite touch was the candy bar Christine had set up for her guests to take a final treat for the road.

Cake pops have been very popular for weddings. They are often used as escort cards. In additon, cake pop bouquets make beautiful centerpieces and can be customized to match the flowers and linens.

They are a unique addition to candy stations or even a substitute for the traditional wedding cake. They can be used as a sweet treat to tide over your guests prior to the ceremony or between the ceremony and reception.

Also a great favor with a personal thank you note from the couple either packaged individually or in boxes of 2-4 pops labeled with the bride and grooms names and wedding date. Do you have an idea we haven't mentioned??? Tell us!

Just a Bite got Whisked Away in Phoenix

Maggie Norris, a dear friend of mine from Phoenix, Arizona has her very own home based cooking school, Whisked Away. She is an amazing chef herself and loves to share her knowledge and joy of cooking with others. A couple of times each month, she holds a kids cooking class and this month, I had the pleasure of teaching the little ones how to make cake pops. What fun we had! So much creativity in the group.

First, we read the recipe together and I did a demonstration so the kids would see what happens behind the scenes at Just a Bite Cake Pops in California. Then, they each had the chance to decorate a dozen pops of their very own. We had snowmen and candy apples and ideas I had never dreamed of myself. Maggie made the kids feel at home with M&Ms and hot cocoa, yet professional with an apron for each of them.

Whisked Away provides adult classes throughout the week that are great for a evening out with your special someone or just the gals. Also offering private chef services for dinner parties in your home. A fun way to learn to cook or sharpen your already savvy culinary skills.

Back in CA, Just a Bite Cake Pops is busy filling holiday orders and wishing Santa's elves would lend a hand. Thank you for your business and for spreading the word.

Stay sweet this holiday season.

'Tis the Season ... for Cake Pops

Holiday Package Selections
Packaged in blue and white or Christmas color holiday boxes

Peppermint Perfection - HOLIDAY FEATURED FLAVOR
Chocolate Cake/White candy coating with crushed Peppermint candy

$30/doz

Merry Selection

Chocolate Cake/Green candy with white sprinkles

Red Velvet Cake/Red candy with white sprinkles
Chocolate Cake/Peppermint candy with red sprinkles
$24/doz

Winter Classic

Chocolate Cake/Blue candy with white sprinkles

Yellow Cake/White candy with blue sprinkles
Chocolate Cake/White candy coating with crushed Peppermint candy
$24/doz

Christmas Classic Assortment

Chocolate Cake/White candy coating with crushed Peppermint candy
Chocolate cake/Green candy with Christmas sprinkles

Red velvet cake/Red candy with Christmas sprinkles

$24/doz

Gourmet Assortment

Carrot Cake with Walnuts

Peanut Butter and Chocolate

Chocolate and Andes Mint

Chocolate and Oreo Cookie

$30/doz

Our new home...

Just a Bite Cake Pops is going big time! We are moving Pop Central into a commercial kitchen space. I was lucky enough to stumble upon Ann Crane and Meyerhof's Fine Catering in Irvine. Ann, owner of Meyerhof's, has an amazing space that she was willing to share with Just a Bite Cake Pops. Meyerhof's is a full service catering operation that has been serving southern California since 1970.



I am so grateful and delighted that my cake pop venture has grown enough to warrant this next step.

Thank you all for your support and encouragement along the way. We are so excited to be growing in such leaps and bounds. Here are some sneak peaks of our new headquarters... the lovely young lady in the photo is Adrienne, my right (and left) hand in the kitchen. You will definitely be hearing more about her and her talents in the kitchen in the near future.

Thanks for popping by!

Halloween Pops are on their way!

Monsters and ghosts and goblins oh my.... pumpkins and eyeball pops make any halloween party POP.