Ugly Prom? Cute Cupcakes

I have fun friends ... in case you hadn't figured that out by now? This weekend we had tons-o-fun together! We had a beer tasting on Friday night (a full blog recap to come once I get pictures from Dave), the 4th Annual Ugly Prom on Saturday night, and a day by the pool and dinner at Ted's on Sunday night. Whew. E-X-H-A-U-S-T-I-N-G. But it was so delightful!

Saturday I managed to steal the WHOLE morning and most of the afternoon to myself, which of course I used for baking. Alone time is hard to come by these days, but I guess that's just one of those adjusting-to-married-life things that comes with time. I love my husband a lot, but sometimes it feels like the only space I ever have to myself is when I'm cooking in the kitchen. Though usually when I'm cooking I ask him to come sit in the dining room so we can talk and spend time together while I cook. Oh, the newlywedded bliss!

So Saturday morning, I set to work on the "space cake" for Ugly Prom. (Ugly Prom is exactly what it sounds like ... we dress up in ugly prom outfits and have a party. It's really a lot of fun.) This year's theme was SPACE! Thus, I was tasked with the making of a space-themed cake.  I decided to go with my tried-and-true Chocolate Stout Cake, but used a Young's Double Chocolate Stout instead of my usual Rogue Chocoloate Stout, and it made a huge difference. So delicious ...

The flavor decision wasn't nearly as difficult as choosing a decorative theme, because you can do a lot with space. So I decided to do space cupcakes featuring sugar cookie stars and planets. Perfect! So I made 48 cupcakes, an 8" round cake to top the cupcake stand, 60 sugar cookies, and oodles of buttercream. The end result?

So fun! And of course, to go with the cute cupcakes, we ugly-ed it up for Prom. You know you want to see what we looked like ...

I went with a classic Ugly Prom dress ... short, tulled-train to mid-calf, gold butterflies appliqued all over:

Do you need a close-up? I think you need a close-up to fully appreciate the awesomeness:

Price matched the Space theme of the evening, in a borrowed Star Trek Uniform. Nerdy, I know...but kind of awesome?

Such a fun night! And if I do say so myself, I had the best prom date ever!