Notes from the Field: "The Candyshop Quartet"

"Growing up happens in a heartbeat. One day you're in diapers, the next day you're gone. But the memories of childhood stay with you for the long haul. I remember a place, a town, a house, like a lot of houses. A yard like a lot of other yards. On a street like a lot of other streets. And the thing is, after all these years, I still look back...with wonder."

 
On Friday night, friends gathered in my little apartment to enjoy cupcakes and champagne in support of the wonderful charity Christopher's Smile.  

Amidst tealights and gumballs, champagne punch and prosecco, we were veritable "kids in a candy shop", enjoying a group of sweet-inspired cupcakes sure to remind everyone of their favorite Wonka dreams. 

 

There was a "Crunchie Cupcake", a vanilla cake topped with a vanilla buttercream, homemade chocolate dipped honeycomb and a chocolate drizzle...

 

   

The "Wondercake", a chocolate cupcake topped with vanilla buttercream and mini M&Ms...

"Dirt Cupcakes", chocolate cupcakes topped with chocolate buttercream, Oreo cookie crumble and a gummi crawler...

  And the "Snickerdoodle", a peanut cupcake topped with chocolate frosting, toasted peanuts and a slice of Snickers bar.

Christopher's Smile, based in Lightwater, UK, was set up in October 2008 by Karen and Kevin Capel following the tragic death of their only son Christopher from medulloblastoma, an aggressive childhood brain tumour.  The charity aims to raise money to fund development of new drugs to treat medulloblastoma and other childhood cancers without devastating side effects. These drugs will provide an effective cure for all and save the lives of the 25% of children who currently do not survive their disease. 

But it wasn't all cake and bubbly.  To gain a little perspective on the focus of the night, guests were asked to ponder one thing during the party: What was your favorite childhood memory?  

There were memories of puppies, summer vacations, and birthday parties. Some remembered being comforted by mothers and grandmothers, and one was completely mesmerized by a box of buttons. 

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

But regardless of the nature, there was one thing that rang true in all memories: after all these years, each person held these glimmering bits of their own Wonder Years close, and was truly grateful for it.

Thank you for all of your support so far!  For more information, please check out my Sponsorship Page.