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This marks another addition to the regular feature here at little Indiana: Indiana Blogs! If you are an Indiana Blogger, please use the contact form and send me an email. You may be featured right here on little Indiana.
Indiana Blogs: Sarah Lynn’s Sweets
Sarah Lynn’s Sweets is an Indiana blog with frosting-covered, sprinkle topped, tasty confections!
Are you ready to step away from the plain, frosting-topped cupcakes in favor of fun and funky creations? Then you will love today’s featured blogger.
She doesn’t just make yummy desserts–these sweet treats are a feast for the eyes…and your tummy!
Indiana Blogs: Sarah Lynn’s Sweets
Why did you start Sarah Lynn’s Sweets?
Sarah Lynn’s Sweets started just about a year ago. I was rediscovering my love for baking and decorating cupcakes, so I decided to start a blog. My interest for baking had resurfaced after joining Pinterest and finding so many great ideas and recipes.
I decided to start the blog to keep track of my ideas, share them with others, and document my journey as I grew as a baker and cake decorator. It is amazing how big of a change a year has made. After a years worth of baking and blog posts, I feel I have grown in both areas.
What about that name? Why Sarah Lynn’s Sweets?
I went back and forth about the name for a while. I was trying to come up with something clever and catchy, but anything I came up with I would find was already taken by a bakery or baking blog. I ended up deciding on Sarah Lynn’s Sweets. I wanted to stick with “sweets” instead of cake or cupcake because I hoped the blog would extend to other treats and desserts.
As for using my name, I decided that I wanted to keep it personal. My blog is not just about the recipes, but about the story behind it. Some posts are very focused on the recipe, but there are some posts where the background story and events surrounding the baked treat come through for the reader.
What are three of your most favorite posts?
My favorite post is called “Art Imitates Life – Change and Red Velvet Cake.” It is a really honest and vulnerable piece that I think a lot of people can relate to, plus it all ties into a recipe for red velvet cake!
My next favorite would be my Cup ‘o Joe Cupcake post. This post was my first attempt at developing my own recipe. Sure, it is still based on my favorite chocolate recipe, but I started making tweaks and experimenting.
My other favorite is my “Lions, Tigers, and Soccer Balls – Oh My!” post. I loved making the cupcakes for my niece and nephew to represent their soccer teams, and they loved them! It was also my first fondant tutorial.
What keeps you ready and raring to post? Why do you blog?
For me, cake decorating and blogging are a fun way to use my creative side and express myself. I got back into baking because of blogs and Pinterest, so I love the idea of sharing my stories, recipes, and decor tutorials with others.
I once found a post on a cupcake site asking for a cannoli cupcake recipe, so I was going to post mine from the blog. Then I saw someone else had already posted a link to my blog. It definitely made my day and reminded me why I keep blogging!
With a blog that focuses on sweets, what is your absolutely favorite type of item to bake?
Definitely cupcakes! I’m a huge fan of Cupcake Wars and love experimenting with flavors. I love testing new recipes or mixing and matching fillings, icings, and cake flavors.
Where did you get this love for cake decorating? Did you learn it from a family member or pick it up somewhere along the way?
When I was younger I took a baking class with a local 4-H club. I really enjoyed it and learned lots of tips and ideas for baking. I remember this one easy chocolate cake that I would make for my family and get excited about. As I got older, though, I kind of got away from it. I got so busy with school and other extra curricular activities, that I hardly ever baked anymore.
When I started working as an engineer, I found I needed an outlet for my creative energy. In school I had been involved in choir or theater, but I didn’t have that anymore. I joined Pinterest and found some creative cupcake decor ideas from the book, “Hello Cupcake.” I tried a few of the cupcakes and they were a success; I was hooked! I started following more and more blogs and cupcake sites and then eventually took the Wilton cake decorating courses.
Baking and cake decorating became something my then fiance, now husband, and I loved to do together as well. He enjoyed being my assistant and helping me with my creations.
As an Indiana transplant, is there anything that has surprised you about Indiana or did you discover something that you didn’t expect?
I was surprised by how much the land and area around Bloomington reminded me of Kentucky (where we moved from). My father is from more northern Indiana, so my picture of Indiana is of it being much flatter with a lot more corn fields.
As for differences, though, it is funny how even a neighboring state can have quite a few subtle differences. So far we’ve noticed it is a lot harder to find sweet tea and here you have the BMV (we call it DMV in KY). Of course one not so surprising difference is that UK basketball attire is not always welcome. My husband insisted on wearing it when we went to the IU/Bobby Knight themed restaurant in Nashville, IN. He got some good-hearted teasing over that.
Is there anything else that you would like little Indiana readers to know about you or your blog?
I continue to strive to find new and interesting recipe ideas and decor tutorials to share with others. I would love for others to check out my site. I’ve met some other wonderful bloggers through Facebook groups, or by just checking out other their pages. I love to connect with other bloggers, whether they be baking bloggers or not!
Clever and Creative Cakes
Sarah doesn’t just bake cupcakes and cakes, she makes mini works of art! Thanks, Sarah, for popping over to little Indiana today!
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