Bella and The Cupcake Cafe - Lake Havasu City, Arizona

 While on our trip cross country, I found some wonderful shops and met some great people.  Over the next week, I'm going to let you inside these shops - all of which are places you must see if you are ever close by! 

 

First up is Bella and The Cupcake Cafe, owned by Anita Fluke, located at 171 Swanson Avenue #102 in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

Before I even start I have to say I loved meeting Anita!! What a kick! Her energy and enthusiasm is infectious! When I entered her shop and introduced myself, she welcomed me with opened arms, offered me a cool glass of water and before I knew it, there was a delicious cupcake set aside for me!

I first read about Bella and The Cupcake Cafe when the stores were featured in the article "Sweet Shop" in the August 2011 issue of Romantic Homes magazine.  While nearing the California-Arizona border, I checked the map to see how far off our route Bella would be - only 20 miles off the main highway AND the London Bridge was there - another sight we wanted to see. The side trip was well worth it!

Anita created beautiful graphics for her store - The Bella logo you see in the first picture - it is painted on a wall above her wrapping station for the gift shop.  The Cupcake Cafe logo you see here is painted on canvas and hung in a prominent corner in The Cupcake Cafe- a separate area in the same building!  She came up with a great idea to have a place to gift shop and a place to grab a sweet treat, when a group of regular customers like to linger in her shop!

We got to the store an hour before closing and we were lucky to get a cupcake at all as she was just about sold out!  This is the cupcake display case - the front panel of the case is a salvaged window she turned on its side.

The window makes a beautiful display!  

The pom-pom trimmed banner adds a whimsical touch!

Cupcake towers, pedestal dishes and boxes sit atop the display cabinet waiting to fill orders to be delivered - Boxes all receive a sticker with "The Cupcake Cafe" logo before going out the door!

A signature decoration at the Cupcake Cafe is the floor to ceiling "Cupcake Tree".

The flocked tree is decorated with pink feather boas and of course, lots of cupcakes!

But cupcakes aren't the only reason people visit Anita's shop!  Bella, the gift store side of the shop, is filled with fabulous European and shabby chic treasures displayed in creative ways by Anita. I love her display of bangle bracelets displayed on a cupcake display piece - a perfect marriage of cupcakes and gift ware!!

A queen size bed anchors the space filled with luxurious linens!  I love the sign "The Queen will NOT be accepting an audience!"

Soaps made from lavender and olive oils fill the old postal cubbies - I love the green color she picked to paint the wall - it subtly tells shoppers the soap are 'all natural'.

A combination of industrial galvanized boxes and wire baskets anchor this tabletop display - note the Romantic Homes magazine in the middle basket - it is the issue the store is featured in!

Apothecary jars sparkle with their decorative stoppers.

 

 A shabbied vintage cupboard displays Cavalleni postcards, stamps and note cards.

 A lavish Louis XVI dressing table shows off purses well. 

I just love the vintage clothes rack!

 

Anita carries lots of vintage and European inspired jewelry - This weathered cement statue sums up how I felt about my visit to Bella and The Cupcake Cafe - Satisfied and relaxed!  I recommend a stop by this wonderful shop on your travels!  You can contact Anita at (928) 855-PINK (7465).  Anita and her friend, Tammy, also have their own online shop www.pinkfunnyfarm.com where they sell vintage and European inspired gift ware.

And don't forgot to visit the little European landmark as well!  A billionaire moved the London Bridge to Lake Havasu City brick by brick - the gorgeous bridge features ornate street lamps and there is a English Tudor style tourist town built at the base where you can even pick up some fish and chips! Next post - a find in Amarillo, Texas . . .

Mystery Object: Help!

Ok - I've been a little busy lately and fell behind on my blogging but I have many posts in the works so stay tuned!  But until then. . . I made my monthly trek to the Sacramento Antique Fair Sunday with newbies Sandy and Ashley 

and came home with quite a few treasures and one mystery item!

First - here are the treasures!!

This dainty little flower cart will be put to good use for display at my next affair!

How could I resist this charming pillow - 

the little dog's face captures the thrill of that first catch!

These vintage bottles lured me with their jewel tones shining in the sunlight of the morning!

 Pitchforks in good shape are hard to find since they are one of the workhorse tools on a farm - I had to get this for my husband - not sure where we will hang it but I will take a picture and post it when I do!

        This was Ashley's first time to the Antique Fair under the freeway in Sacramento! 

I love this picture because you can really see it truly is under the bridges of the freeway. Check out those vintage suitcases!  I could go crazy . . 

Now who's in on guessing what the mystery item is? 

  

 

Here it is!  The girl I bought it from said she used it to store her paints and brushes with her brushes in the center section and the paints all thrown in the outside portion! 

What do you think it is?  Leave me a comment below with your guess.

It will be fun to see what other readers think!

 

Have a great Tuesday - and remember to Cherish Everyday!

                                                                                                                                                              

Sara's Vintage Baby Shower

Frogs and snails and puppy dog tails - that's what little boys are made of!
This vintage themed baby shower is full of creative uses of vintage treasures!

 A group of friends and sisters pooled their creative energy 
to stage a gorgeous shower on a beautiful Friday evening, for my niece Sara,
who loves all things vintage, and is having her first baby!

  The gift table welcomed guests as they entered the garden setting at a friends home.  A vintage suitcase is ready to receive cards for guests who chose to go in on the group gift.  The "Gifts" sign is clothes-pinned with a lace doily to the suitcase, which is lined with a vintage napkin.

photo courtesy of Lacey C. Photography

A vintage baby scale sits at the other end of the gift table.

Above the gift table, a clothesline of vintage hankies fluttered in the soft summer breeze.

 

Guest of honor, Sara, was beaming as she arrived for the shower.

A shabby yellow service cart from the fifties, holds the vintage green plaid ice bucket and the canning jars until the guests arrive.  Another vintage napkin with floral embroidery details formalizes the otherwise casual cart.

The glassware was moved to this table when the guests arrived.  A white metal bucket was given a floral decal to match the sunny floral tablecloth.  

Photo courtesy of Lacey C. Photography

 The vintage berry baskets hold the beverage napkins nicely and the daisies came from Sara's parents home.

Vintage glass shower dishes were stacked in piles on another vintage cart.  Sara's mother, Janie, and Sara's sister-in-law, Carianne, provided all the vintage floral tablecloths. 

The hydrangeas in the yard were at different stages of bloom, but added the perfect punch of color to the garden setting!

The dessert buffet was lined with a mix of vintage dishware and shabby serving pieces - from Jadite to LuRay, they sit at attention waiting to receive their subjects!

Seating was around round tables dressed in white rented tablecloths 

with vintage tablecloth toppers.  

Centerpieces were large mason jars filled with roses, hydrangeas and daisies.

 The stage was set for the special guest to open her shower gifts.  A vintage chair was draped with a soft throw, and Jessica hand made a paper garland announced "It's a Boy" in the vintage nursery colors: seaglass, mustard yellow, taupe and cream.

 A wire basket holds game supplies ready and with a vintage kitchen scale,

adds to the theme.

Bamboo poles stuck in rock filled buckets, 

held the banner aloft over the mom-to-be's chair.

Ribbon streamers, tied to the ends, gracefully danced in the slight wind.

A vintage stroller was positioned next to the chair and seemed to say,

"Come on out boy! We're ready if you are!" 

 

Jessica and Lacey pause for a picture before starting the games!

While the guests were arriving - the desserts were set out. Even baby Caleb arrived sporting a vintage romper - he can't wait to meet his new boy cousin!

A sweet feast awaited the guests!  The dessert buffet included double chocolate pecan brownie bars, individual blackberry tarts, shortbread cookies topped with cream fraiche and strawberries, caramel brownies, and neighbor Dianna's famed Serendipity - a luscious chocolate cookie crust bar with whipped cream filling and a chocolate glaze.

Lacey and her sisters made Cake Pops and decorated them in Sara's nursery colors!

Beverages included ice cold water with cool cucumber slices and a strawberry lemonade punch.  The large glass decanters fit perfectly on the yellow cart with the canning jar glassware moved to the table.

Guests filled their plates and ate the decadent treats while Sara opened her gifts.  This little guy, Karam, sure enjoyed his cake pop!

My favorite dessert was the individual berry tarts.  The crust was a perfect blend of sumptuous flavor and texture, the berries were absolutely perfectly ripe, and the little crust heart tucked into each tart added the perfect finishing touch!

One look at this picture and you can see why they are called 'showers' as Sara is clearly 'showered' with gifts for her new little boy!!

A vintage doll stroller for the nursery decor!!

As Sara opened gift after gift, no doubt the older guests thought back to their own showers and the younger guests thought about the showers that would be held for them in the future. 

 Sara poses with the shower planners - Julie, Lacey, Jessica, Dianna, MaryAnn and Carianne.

 With the gifts opened it was time for Sara to enjoy a cake pop!  

The baby shower is a cherished tradition and it won't be long until 
Sara has her new bundle of joy whom she will cherish as well!