just trying to keep cool

this weekend I have class and with temperatures over 100 degrees

and the classroom air only getting so cool

let's just say I was pretty miserable all day

it is pretty bad when you realize that not only are your neighbors

sweetly fanning you

but your professor is too

so tonight the family and I spent some time swimming

and baking cupcakes for tomorrow

because in just two weeks from today

one of our great friends, and classmates

is getting married in beautiful Santa Cruz, CA

so tomorrow

 in the afternoon stretch, when you think you just can't handle any more curriculum talk

we will be taking a little sugar celebration break!

a good reason to get together

in my family we love celebrating birthdays

as I've gotten older I realize that not everyone still celebrates "grown-up" birthdays

but now I just think that is silly

because no matter how many times you have gotten to celebrate another year

bottom line, you deserve a special day

and a birthday in my family is just a good reason to get together

1. meg is 23  2. flowers in mason jars, always  3. just another reason why I love target  4. the balcony, their new favorite place  5. unicorns & cat donuts  6. I think the cupcakes were a hit  7. good end to the day

meg is 23!

today my little sister turns 23

yesterday we celebrated with friends and family

but for now, I'm off to the city to take meg back home

so I'll just leave you with this

and yes, she is that fabulous.

stars & stripes and everything in between

yesterday the husband & I celebrated our independence day

and for the first time in a while

we didn't host a b.b.q at our house

but instead, upgraded to a yard with a pool and joined in with my family

and brought our friends too

I guess you could say we had our cake & ate it too

if you are stateside I hope you also enjoyed our wednesday celebration!

oh, and the cookie cake recipe was a hit - try it out for yourself here

may showers bring wedding bells

I do enjoy spring showers

especially when they are bridal showers

yesterday I got to spend the day relaxing and eating

two of my favorite Saturday activities

and most importantly, we celebrated the upcoming wedding of our friend Erin

a fellow teacher who I met in our undergraduate program

continued on and got our credential together

and now, we are even getting our masters together

apparently we really like being in study groups together!

welcoming spring

yes it is true

it has been spring for a while now

but last sunday my family

[sans the husband & sister]

soaked up the sun

and officially welcomed spring to our little corner of the world

we enjoyed cake pops that I had the opportunity to make with my cousin the day before

an easter egg hunt where the age of the participants ranged from 16-27

that's how we do in our family

you should have seen the four of us trying to find the last two eggs in our grandma's yard

sure there was $20 in the egg

but all the same, it was pretty entertaining

I got to open my easter basket that had some surprises I'll be sharing here soon

and let's just say I was pretty sugared out by 5p.m.

perfect saturday afternoon

It's been a while since I've had a day all to myself.  So, after some school work, house work, a trip to target, and an amazing discovery on pinterest, I rounded out the afternoon with some fall baking.  The husband has been asking for some pumpkin treats, so when I came upon a recipe too easy to resist - I just had to try it, and I will make a man very happy when he gets home from work.

All you need is a 15 oz. can of pumpkin & yellow cake mix (apparently spice cake mix can also be used for a little extra kick - it will be my next venture).  I did also add a little pumpkin pie spice to mine, but you don't need anything else, which makes these awesome!  Bake at 350 for 20 minutes and you are done.  I tried mine, pretty yummy.  Can't wait till they are all the way cool because pumpkin baked goods always taste even better completely chilled.

oh - and did you spy my newest pyrex find?  Yes, that is a 3qt. Designs bowl I picked up while thrifting after work this week.  I am SO in love with it, now I have the pair, and they rock.

So, a big thank you sweet verbena for this recipe - and to pinterest for allowing us to share all these wonderful little things.

cupcakes in a jar

These have become quite the hit.  All you need to make them yourself is some shiny new mason jars.  I use the half pint size & they are perfect.

When it comes to making the cupcakes I like to choose two different flavors, but it would work with just one flavor as well.  Make sure when baking your cupcakes to fill up each cupcake wrapper only 1/4 of the way.  Also, with the cupcakes being so small, baking time typically seems to take about 5 minutes less than the regular instructed time for cupcakes.

Once your cupcakes are cooled, unwrap & start layering.  When using two cake flavors, whichever flavor is going to be layered twice should be the smallest cupcakes (mostly so you have enough for the jars).  In between each layer goes a small layer of icing.  I just use a gallon size plastic bag with a small cut in the corner & a large icing tip.

On the top layer pipe a little more icing & maybe even some sprinkles and enjoy!

I think tying a spoon on the outside like I did for the fourth of july makes them pretty darn cute!  Hope you try them too.  With two cake mixes you can easily make up to twenty jars!  For last night's get-together I didn't need that many so I decided to freeze the left-over cupcakes which will make cupcakes in a jar much easier next time!

well, because I like them both

      

                                                                                                 

a little something for everyone.

of course the first 24 went in the trash

clearly, I can't hear my timer

the husband thought they were salvageable

until we couldn't get the wrapper off the cupcake

well, at least I try

so after 5 dozen - I think I'm ready for tomorrow

happy mom's day

rainbow cupcakes, yes please

mmmmm....

Spring

Just another reason for cupcakes.