Rainbows & Candy Corn

So, M's birthday was on the 13th! Birthdays around here are just like any other day. We usually try to cook something up yummy and maybe a small little gift. This year, things have been kinda tight, so we opted to do pizza. Well, I did. M didn't know anything about it until he was eating it!

I've been wanting to make a Rainbow Cake since like .. forever. So, I figured why not make M an extremely manly birthday cake this year! He was ok with it. I intended to use this recipe but then decided I'd just get white cake mixes. That's easier. Then I attempted this buttercream icing recipe that's on the same page. DISASTER! I don't know what I did wrong, but I did something. I finally manged to salvage it enough to use for the crumb layer, but I opted to use store bought icing for the outside. I'm in love with this cake, but I will try an easier way about it next time.

I also made him some Candy Corn Bark (recipe found here) and my dad just gave him a tub of Candy Corn. Can you tell M likes sugar?! And that wraps up M's birthday.

I'm currently working on a buffett that was my grandfather's. I've got it painted, just doing the finishing touches. I am also swapping around our living room furniture, which means that the house is a sight right now. God please don't let anyone show up at the front door!! Posts on those coming soon!

[EDIT] yes, i changed my blog again. i never seem to be quite satisfied, but i think this one will stick for awhile. but don't hold your breath. [/EDIT]

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Lame.

Because I'm lame and I don't update my blog except once in a blue moon (i'm trying tho i swear!) I decided to just share a little bit of Hershey goodness with you. Enjoy!

And because I'm even more lame, Youtube doesn't want to let me embed this. Well, it's probably more like an operator error, but I'm sticking with blaming youtube! So click this instead:

http://youtu.be/h8Ptx1IT2j0

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Strawberry Cream Cheese Cupcakes

 

Yesterday my family had a cook out for the holiday. Well, it turned out to be much more of a "cook in" thanks to all the rain we've been having. I suppose it was a good time. My family can be loud and obnoxious, all the time. I don't really do well in large groups of people, especially when there's a few who insist on being loud. Not to mention all the extremely unnecessary drama that goes on. I pretty much ate and then went back home. Social butterfly, right?

But, I did make some cupcakes! I have fallen in love with Betty Crocker's website. Everything on it is so easy to make and yummy. I've been wanting to make these for a while now, so I figured a cook out was a good time to try them. Delicious!! I recommend this 100%.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Cupcakes (via Betty Crocker)

1 box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® yellow cake mix

2/3 cup water

1/2 cup sour cream

1/3 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

3 tablespoons strawberry preserves

1 package (3 oz) cream cheese, cut into 24 pieces

1 container Betty Crocker® Rich & Creamy cream cheese frosting

Sliced fresh small strawberries, if desired

1. Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups. In large bowl, mix cake mix, water, sour cream, oil and eggs with spoon until well blended (batter will be thick). Divide batter evenly among muffin cups.

2. In small bowl, stir preserves until smooth. Place 1 piece of cream cheese on top of each cupcake; press into batter slightly. Spoon 1/4 measuring teaspoon preserves on top of cream cheese in each cupcake.

3. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until tops are golden brown and spring back when touched lightly in center (some preserves may show in tops of cupcakes). Cool 10 minutes in pans; remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

4. Spread frosting over cupcakes. Just before serving, garnish each cupcake with strawberry slices. Store covered in refrigerator.


I pretty much followed this recipe exactly, except that I used alot more than 3 tablespoons of the preserves. I just put a small spoonful on each cupcake. It makes 24 cupcakes and after everyone left yesterday, we have about 5 left! The only thing I'll do next time is double it!

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2 projects 1 post.

I think I am probably one of the worst bloggers to exist. I'd love to say that my lack of posting is because I'm living a really busy, exciting lifestyle .. but I'm not. I'm a housewife. A stay at home dreamer. But I do have a couple of little projects to share with you today. I have a few more that are in the works right now. Although for the last 3 days I have been diseased with some kinda horrid sinus plaque. Those 3 days have went like this: Wake up. Walk to my parents house and eat some mushy oatmeal. Fall asleep on their couch for 3 hours. Wake up feeling worse than before. Walk back home. Lay on the couch and watch cheesy daytime tv. Eat some crackers. Lay on the couch and watch boring nighttime tv. Go to bed. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. Tonight the hubby promised me a cheeseburger. I've wanted one the whole time I've been sick. We'll see how that goes, but I'm eating it!

Ok, so on to the projects. The first one is a owl statue. I have 2 of these and I got the idea that one would look cute painted. To use in our guest bedroom, I painted it a light blue color.

Next is the book case that I got from my parents. It's going in the guest room as well and I'm painting all the furniture white to help tone down the bright blue walls. I forgot to take a good before picture, so this one is while it's laying down being sanded. But you get the idea. :)

And now the after. TADA!

I actually didn't have any white paint, so I just used my Kilz primer. I figured since it was just for me, why not? Then I used silver rub n buff around the edges and creases. I covered the back of it with old book pages that I modpodged onto it. Then coated the whole thing with clear laquer spray.

Sorry for the lack of details and words. Hopefully I will become a better blogger. Especially once I've kicked this sickness to the curb. Hope everyone has an amazing holiday weekend!! :)

LINKING UP @ Miss Mustard Seed

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