Dough-A-Deer {Tasty Treats Thursday}

Have you heard, 2011 is the year of the doughnut! Since this is our first "Tasty Treats Thursday" of 2011 I thought it most appropriate to introduce to you all Nicole Anderson from Dough a Deer. I am absolutely thrilled to find out more about Dough a Deer as I am seeing Nicole's little doughnuts pop up everywhere! I had the opportunity to ask Nicole a few questions and here is what she had to say:

What inspired you to start selling donuts? 

Well it's sort of a funny story...One night I wanted one and I thought
krispy kreme was open late still. I was disappointed, I won't lie. lol.
So i went online and figured out how to make my own and Dough a Deer was
born! They don't taste like krispy kreme but they are pretty good!

Is it donuts or doughnuts?

Doughnut is the "proper way" and by proper I mean the British way...my
husband is English so I tend to spell everything the British way like
favourite, colour...etc. Donut is not wrong by any means, it's just the
American spelling ;)

What is your best seller?
Definitely my original flavor...it's my favourite too! Cinnamony
goodness with white chocolate topping is what I make the most of :)

 What makes your product stand out from all the other goodies out there?
Well for one, no one else does what I do yet! Plus, my doughbabies are
baked, not fried which brings out the flavors in the doughnut unlike
when they are fried. They are tiny which makes them fun and an easy add
to dessert tables and as favors for events and weddings!

 

At what age did you start baking?
Oh, I have been baking all my life! My mom is a big baker too and I
love it! I used to do cupcakes but I started seeing them EVERYWHERE so I
decided to move on since I like a challenge :)

Who inspires you?
I find inspiration in everyone important in my life. My parents are so
strong and business owners themselves and I've seen them struggle
together and triumph together and I hope one day to be EXACTLY like
them! My husband is SO inspirational because he excels at whatever he
sets his mind on! He also moved here on his own from England when he was
only 17 and completely changed his life! Lastly, my friends who support
me and love me and love what I do...I couldn't do anything without
them!!

If you could bake for one celebrity who would it be?
OOOOOO good question! I would have to say Robert Downey Jr....not
because he likes to bake or anything, just because he's hot. HAHAHA!!!

I am happy to announce that Dough a Deer has recently hit the 500th fan mark on Facebook!! So to celebrate Dough a Deer has graciously offered up a prize here on Party Starters!!!
Here is what one lucky person will receive

The Donut Book is filled with recipes for fried doughnuts and tells the history of doughnuts! Such a delicious prize for anyone who loves these TASTY TREATS! 

Here is how you can enter
1. Leave a comment here telling us which celebrity you would bake for if given the opportunity.
2. Head on over to Dough a Deer's blog and leave a comment telling her which doughnut flavor you prefer.
3. Become a fan of Dough a Deer and Party Starters if you aren't already
4. Come back here and let me know all the ways you have entered, so I know how many times to put your name in the drawing! You have until January 14, 2011 at 11:59PM MST or G-7 to enter. I will announce the winner on Monday, January 17, 2011 as part of our Motivate Me Monday blog post!


OH WAIT that is not all folks... EVERYONE will receive 11% off all orders purchased through Dough a Deer's Etsy Shop until January 20th. Please use coupon code = DOUGH11

Thanks for stopping in today!!
Hugs,
Pam

Check out Dough a Deer
Store Website Link- www.doughadeer.com
Blog Website Link- http://doughadeer.blogspot.com/

Aly's Milk and Cookies Birthday Party {Real Party}

I have mentioned earlier that two of my three kids have birthday right after Christmas, so we celebrate their actual birthday with my side of the family (which consists of my parents and two brothers). Then in the Summer (spreading things out a bit) we throw a large 1/2 birthday party with my husband's side of the family and our kids friends. For Aly's 6th birthday a couple of weeks ago we celebrated with a low key "Milk and Cookies" party all done up in PINK of course! 

Who doesn't love milk and cookies, especially when you can glam up the way you serve your ice cold milk. I used inexpensive plastic margarita glasses adorned with a party circles tied on with the Twinery's "Cappuccino" twine. I then topped off the glass with a scalloped shaped gingersnap cookie.  I carefully sawed 1/3 of the way through each cookie so that they would sit on the rim. NOT and easy task as they snap easily, so if you try this make lots of extras!!! I think I went through half a box to get 8 cookies...although it was worth it, cause DANG they turned out cute if I do say so myself. LOL!

I was so lucky to have my little brother in town from California for the holidays. He is a baker, and a good one! So he took Aly one afternoon and baked cookies for the party. Aly of course loved all of the attention and even used her new Martha Stewart baking set she got for Christmas! SO sweet!! We also included "Wafers" which come in the perfect coordinating colors for this collection, pink, cream and brown as well as Sugar, Peppermint and Pirourette cookies.

Just because this is a Milk and Cookies party doesn't mean we could leave out the cake. I used mini cupcakes, so that we would have something to stick the birthday candle into and to show off the cupcake toppers!

 Using recycled Starbucks Frappuccino bottles I wrapped the bottles with a label then filled each bottle with milk.  I taped a banner piece to a lollipop stick then with a glue dot adhered it to the inside of each bottle. A unique way to display a sentiment or in this case, the birthday girl's name.

I think the item I love most on this table have to be the "Milk Carton" favor boxes filled with small cookies. These will be a new item showing up in my Etsy shop SOON!! 

Here is Aly posing again, she made sure her outfit matched her decor! Thanks Aunt Nana for the perfect birthday outfit!!

This party would work out perfect for a baby shower, toddler birthday or heck why not Valentine's Day!

I hope you had fun looking today. I am SO excited about tomorrow's "Tasty Treats Thursday" blog post...one word...ok two words...Dougnuts and GIVEAWAY!! Oh yeah Dough-A-Deer will be here with a fabulous Surprise!!

Thanks for stopping in today.
Hugs,
Pam

*I created the "Milk and Cookie Pink" printable party collection for Sanqunetti Design using Judy Sanqunetti's artwork which you can purchase HERE

**COMING SOON to Party Starters' Etsy Shop, finished product from Milk and Cookies the pink collection!** If you have any questions or you are interested in this set please feel free to contact me!