Lemon Cupcakes W/ Lemon Buttercream

Last year I made some lemon cupcakes from scratch. I wish I could say they were okay, but they were so dry, they could choke a horse. This year I wanted to improve them, because I really like lemon cupcakes! Here is the new improved version that I put together.

*Important tips: if you use salted butter, skip the salt and if you don't have a fresh lemon, you can substitute bottled lemon juice. Fresh is best, but I hate stressing out over cupcakes!

*I was going to put candied lemon zest on top of the icing, but was too lazy to do the work, if you want to try, here is the recipe. Otherwise I ended up turning it into a lemon topping that I spread on top of the cooled cupcakes before frosting them. It gave them an extra oomph of lemon flavor that worked well.

Lemon Cupcakes With Lemon Buttercream Icing

CUPCAKES

2 1/2  cups all-purpose flour
1  cup sugar
2  teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2  cup canola oil
1 stick (8 tablespoons) of unsalted butter
2 eggs
1/2 cup fat-free milk
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest
1  teaspoon lemon extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

ICING

1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter
2  tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest

*LEMON TOPPING (optional)

Zest of 2 lemons
4  tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
4  tablespoons sugar

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two 12-cup muffin pans with paper liners.

2. To prepare the cupcakes: Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Combine the oil, eggs, milk, lemon juice, lemon zest, lemon extract, and vanilla extract in a separate bowl. Add to the flour mixture and stir until smooth.

3. Spoon the batter into the muffin cups and bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until lightly golden and the cupcakes are springy when gently touched. Place pan on a rack and let cool for 5 minutes. Remove the cupcakes from the pan, transfer to the rack, and let cool completely.

4. To prepare the icing: Combine the confectioners' sugar, butter, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a bowl and beat until smooth. Spread some of the lemon topping over each cupcake with a small spatula and frost and add sprinkles after that. Makes 24 cupcakes.

Here's that lemon zest topping spread on top of the cupcakes...

This is where I practice my piping skills...

A little crystal sugar and snowflake sprinkles...

Hope you'll try them! The cakes were moist and the frosting/icing wasn't too sweet, but with a hint of lemon. Yum-o. Husband and I are taking them to a New Year's Eve party. I hope you all have a Happy New Year!

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow...

Here in the Midwest, we always anticipate the first snowfall. But even better than that, is the first snow day. A day where Husband (the teacher) can also stay home, where there is no planned "to-do list" and where sledding and snowman-making becomes our childrens' top priorities.

Yesterday, Snowstorm Brianna hit and we all hunkered down for the 6 -12 inches of snow that was predicted to fall. And it did, with a vengeance and with 40 mile-an-hour winds.

I'm happy to say I spotted around six snowmen as I dropped off the kids for school this morning. It made me remember this snowman family our littlest built a few years ago...

This will probably be my last post before Christmas break (with all the activities that surround the season, including a trip and a wedding, we will be very busy!) So I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas! :)

O Christmas Tree, How I Hate You

You know the saying "less is more?" What I've discovered this year is that "more is more" when it comes to decorating a Christmas tree.

(Well, that is unless you want a Charlie Brown tree, and that's the look you're going for, then less is more, because, less is less, right? I'm confused.)

Isn't this one from Sweet Something Design just gorgeous?

Anyway, with our move to the lakehouse, I wanted to go for a more "natural" look with our tree, the problem was: A) we have an artificial tree (around $80 clearance from Target after Christmas sale six years ago,) that is sparse and you can see the individual levels and B) going "natural" can be costly even if you are shopping the sales (i.e. burlap garland runs between $9.99-$11.99 a roll!)

As usual, I decorate on a budget, heck, there isn't even a budget for Christmas decorating, more like I decorate as cheaply as possible.

So back to my story, I put up my tree, trimmed it, had a housewarming party, and hated how it looked, so instead of shopping (Husband would die) with the exception of a few rustic ornaments that I bought for a dollar a piece, I decided to just keep adding and adding all the ornaments, ribbons, etc.,  I've ever owned until I filled that tree up so you could not longer see the gaps between the levels.

Ahh...that's better. Let's call this "chaotic tree trimming."

I mean we have all sorts of crap whimsical trimmings here like candles, glass ornaments, ribbons, homemade star ornaments and those little sparkly green rattan balls (which I didn't bother to hang, I pretty much threw them in there and let them land where they may! Ha!)

So how does it look? It looks fantabulous! Well, let's not get carried away...

I think it will do, for this year anyway. ;)

Christmas Wreath On Chalkboard

It didn't surprise me that the day after Thanksgiving, people were outside decorating for Christmas. There's something about this season that makes people want to prolong the happy tidings. I'm all for it, by the way...

Inspired once again from Pinterest, (where I get all my ideas,) I basically did this:

Homemade chalkboard + old wreath + Christmas ribbon + chalk writing = a new Christmas decoration!

 

Another tip from Pinterest was to use a push pin behind the frame to hang the wreath. Genius, I tell ya.

Happy decorating!

Giving Thanks

This morning is the first morning I don't have to get up early, but because of habit, here I am awake at 5:30 am with my cup of coffee next to me. I actually had a chance to read some mommy blogs and was stirred by all the "thankful" blog posts out there. It was really nice to read. :)

I don't know if I ever wrote a thankful post, but I really should. It's been a whirlwind of a year (a move to the lake house, new clients, raising our 3 kids etc.)

Husband and I talk a lot about gratitude, and as we look out our windows, it's hard not to see why.

It took us awhile to find our "home," with several moves under our belt (and we're not in the military) I wondered if we would ever settle down. It's hard to create a haven for your family when you keep thinking "where are we going to next?"

With that being said, I am so thankful for where we are now. We call our home the "lake house." And even though it will take us years to make it into "ours," little by little we are filling this house with the things we love and experiences we hope to cherish.

I hope we are all taking the time this Thanksgiving to share what we're thankful for.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

If you were to visit the local retail stores, it would seem that Christmas has come upon us! I'm guilty of adding to that premature Christmas cheer, seeing as I've spent the last two weeks getting Christmas displays up for several of my clients.

"Do you really want Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving?" I asked.

"Yes, yes we do." *sigh*

So here's a little pre-Christmas inspiration and a look at what I've been up to!

What a wonderful Christmas Advent Calendar idea from Pinterest!

How about this rustic table centerpiece I found and has been repined 714 times!

Other than Christmas merchandising and displays, I've been dealing with a lot of cupcakes again, this time for a client's anniversary event. These cupcakes were just beautiful!

Both of the above cupcakes were made by Angela at Angel Cakes It was fun taking photos of these masterpieces!

As I was setting them up, I felt like I was on Cupcake Wars! Hurry, hurry...

But who's complaining? I was fortunate enough to taste some great cupcakes from 'Amanda Cupcake,' she made sparkly cake pops for the event and I got to try her red velvet cupcakes and her vanilla, cranberry-filled cupcake! Yum-o! (Nothing says 'holidays' like sugared cranberries!)

Other than work, (and a bad cold - cough, cough) I've been trying to share the love, but not the cold, with my family. I made them some Pumpkin Pie French Toast for breakfast this morning and Husband and I shopped for our Thanksgiving festivities today. Hello Mr. 12 lb. turkey!

And if you must know, I put up my outdoor Christmas lights. Oh well, "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em!" ;)

I'm sure everyone is as busy as I am, so if I don't see you before Thursday, have a Happy Thanksgiving! :)

There's Always Room For Cupcakes

I keep forgetting how busy the school year is for me, maybe because Husband and I were so busy with the kids all summer! Anyway, I've got two birthday celebrations under my belt and one left to go before  Thanksgiving. Phew.

I made these super cute and delicious homemade cupcakes and frosting, adapted from this recipe I pinned on Pinterest. They're a "hoot," hehe...

The owl cupcake liners and owl toothpicks I found at TJMaxx for $6.99. Very cute for this Halloween-themed birthday party.

Remember all the preparation for our youngest daughter's birthday party? Here's her red and white cupcake. Cupcake liners were from Michael's.

Husband's birthday is up next, and I'd love to make a mini cake, something like this, only not in those colors!

To make these Ombre Mini Cakes you can find directions at  Glorious Treats.

Do you have a favorite cupcake or cake recipe? Go ahead and share the link in your comments! Thanks!

Why Moms Don't Sleep (Much)

This week I made an awesome raspberry vinaigrette, baked homemade brown sugar cupcakes (which will be frosted with a salted-caramel frosting later this week) and decided once in a while, fast food is okay. Every supper can't be a Pinterest supper, right?

Other than that...well, let's just say I've had a busy month. Someone once told me (when I was pregnant with our first child) that I would never sleep again. I do sleep, just not so much. Here's my Instagram overview:

1) Cleaned and organized my craft room (aka the laundry room) 2) Got our eldest daughter ready for Homecoming 3) Bought an iPhone, dumped my dumb phone 4) Learned more about Instagram 5) Made sure our 2 younger kids made it to soccer practices and games on time 6) Oh, they're on the swim team too... three times a week 7) Carved pumpkins, baked pumpkin seeds (an annual tradition) while listing to 'Monster Mash' 8) Baked cupcakes for two October birthdays 9) Redesigned a client's website.

Not pictured: Studying Facebook analytics for a client, merchandising a store, marketing meetings, scrubbing windows, doing laundry, huffing and puffing on a treadmill and coffee time with Husband five times a week at 5:30 am. <3

So on that note:

"It is not enough to be busy; so are the ants. The question is: what are we busy about?"

-Henry David Thoreau

It's all good.

Goodbye Dumb Phone, Hello iPhone

It's no secret that I've fallen in love with my new iPhone which I finally got last week. It's my first smart phone and I love that I can sync my whole 'Apple family' together.

As I say goodbye to my dumb phone, I'm giddy with excitement about all the accessories and apps I get to nab. (Here comes my weekly ode to Pinterest...)

- Thank you Pinterest for my free apps:

- For the assortment of amazing iPhone cases I get to pick from:

- For the cute and sensible idea of labeling my iPhone charger:

- And for the inspiration to bake 'Apple' cookies in the near future (okay, not really, well maybe.)

Do you have an iPhone? What are your best tips/tricks/advice for a newbie like me?

It's A (Birthday) Movie Party!

As I sit here typing, I have a group of 8-year-old girls watching Barbie's "Princess and The Popstar" in our living room. My youngest daughter and I scoured Pinterest for party ideas and came up with a movie-birthday party theme, complete with a concession stand!

I purchased mini candy bars, individually wrapped Twizzlers, small soda cans and popped popcorn.

I had designed some "ticket" invitations that the girls had to bring in order to be admitted into the movie:

We stuck to a red and white color theme and added balloons and streamers. We also made cupcakes, of course!

On Pinterest, I found a way to make boxed cupcakes taste homemade! They actually turned out pretty well. My mom and I found this pretty (and reasonably priced) cupcake stand at Target:

I also found cute popcorn boxes at Hobby Lobby to use as goodie bags.

Hopefully she will remember this party and how fun it was planning it! :)

I Don't Know How She Does It

On the second day of school, I took a vacation.

After three months of Husband, three children and Juno (the slobbery English Mastiff) being home ALL summer, quiet time was certainly overdue.

I embraced that time by finally renting the movie "I Don't Know How She Does It" starring Sarah Jessica Parker. I rented it for two reasons; one) Husband is sick of my chick flick choices and two) This movie is my life (except I don't make that much money, we don't have a nanny, we don't live in Boston and we have three kids instead of two.) Other than that, pretty much art imitating life.

I was surprisingly happy with my DVD choice because if it was a rotten one, no one would roll their  eyes at me and say "well, that's another two hours of my life I will never get back..." (Words never muttered by Husband.)

I think all the juggling she has to do is realistic and don't even get me started with the pressure of baking for school! My biggest fiasco (other than forgetting that it was my turn to bring in a class snack) was the time I spent hours making cupcakes that were supposed to look like ground hogs, but looked nothing like ground hogs. If there was a 'Cake Wrecks' for cupcakes, I would have made the cut.

As a former SAHM and now basically a Jane-of-all-trades freelancer, there are very few luxuries in my life, and scheduling one day off is a HUGE luxury.

Anyway, I liked the movie, I think all moms and dads should watch it. If you did, tell me what you thought!

It Happens Every Year...

That one of my kids is home sick. So I'm doing quiet things, like designing and printing my youngest daughter's birthday invitations:

She wanted to have a movie-themed birthday party, so I'm getting all creative and scouring Pinterest for ideas on how to make it fun!

Speaking of Pinterest, because I speak of it often...here are my latest 'pin feats' and only one 'flop.'

I've made ALOT of Banana Bread recipes, but this one was the bomb! (The frosting really made it that much better!)

On the healthier side, I made this Coleslaw recipe using all fresh ingredients from a friend's garden.

But in case you were thinking this was a Pinterest-brag session, no worries, not everything works out the way I might want it to. Especially if you don't read the directions ever so carefully...

Not all matches are matches. Did you know that? Well, if you make this homemade craft (or the one using the mason jar, which I did, make sure to buy "STRIKE ANYWHERE" matches. Because the ones I bought from the dollar store that came in a box DID. NOT.WORK.  (and of course the crafter said this in her post, but I was too excited to make it and didn't bother reading the details.)

*sigh*

How are your Pinterest pins coming along? Make anything neat lately? Let me know! :)

Beautiful & Inspiring Designs

Many times the graphic designer in me needs inspiration. Here are some of my favorite designs and packaging ideas I've found thanks to lovelypackage.com:

Designed by: Lina Sponberg

Designed by: Cubic

Designed by: Leo Burnett Dubai

Designed by: Puigdemont Roca

Designed by: Jake Dugard

Back To School ~ Baking Bars

It's that time of year when I feel like baking so I can put a little special something into my kids' lunches. Here are some recipes that look appealing:

PB& J Bars

I've made Martha Stewart's version before and they are a huge hit with the kids!

Blueberry Bars

Since there are some blueberries still around, it might be a good time to make these.

Date & Nuts Bar

Taken from the Pioneer Woman's friend's recipe, you'll have to trust that this is yummy!

Austrian Raspberry Shortbread

The Smitten Kitchen always has amazing recipes to share.

Nanaimo Bars

I have yet to make these, but when I had them in Vancouver, BC, they were my favorite!