Dark Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut butter frosting.

I googled "best chocolate cupcakes" and found the following site: (Because we don't really keep cake mixes in the house) http://cakeonthebrain.blogspot.com/2009/07/best-chocolate-cupcakes-ever-chocolate.html

Then I pulled up the Sister's Cafe Peanut butter frosting recipe:
http://www.thesisterscafe.com/2010/09/chocolate-cupcakes-with-peanut-butter-frosting-2

And with their powers combined:

(actually this is a little funny since I wasn't allowed to watch Captain Planet as a kid...)

It was D-E-licious! I wish it made more than 12 cupcakes... it's a lot of work to just make one pans worth. Also, the kids ate them, but maybe don't appreciate the rich dark chocolate...

My cute room part 2

In my sitting room upstairs, I knew I wanted a wall of pictures. Most of them are of people/places I love. The vinyl I got at the dollar tree (sweet, right?) it says "Go Confidently in the Direction of your dreams. -Thoreau" And I love it. It makes me happy looking at it above my futon every day.

Veggie Bars

Last weekend I went to my sister's ward with her. Because I didn't want to go to Relief Society alone, I went with her to Young Women's where she teaches the 14-15 year old girls every other week. Last week was the other teacher's turn to teach, and she made these, which are DELICIOUS! I think I ate 5 of them that day. When I was invited to bunco night with ladies from my ward I knew just what I wanted to bring.

Veggie Bars

2 pkg. crescent rolls
1/4 c. sour cream
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese
6 Tbsp mayonnaise
1/2 env. Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix
3/4 c. each of following, chopped:
Broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, green onion, seeded tomatoes, green peppers (or whatever other veggies you have in your fridge)


Roll crescent rolls out flat. Bake 10 minutes until lightly brown. Cool. Cream together the sour cream, cream cheese, mayonnaise and the Hidden Valley Ranch dressing. Cut the rolls into 2 x 3 inch squares. Spread creamed mixture over rolls. Sprinkle chopped and shredded vegetables over rolls and press in. Cover with shredded Cheddar cheese.

Nom Nom Nom...

Crocheted baby blanket round two

Tiffany and I have been friends for as long as I can remember. I think it was 3rd or 4th grade when we were really good friends. When I lived in CO we got to hang out a few times and it was so great to catch up after several years! She is also expecting her first baby, a girl! And I, in my domestic stage, decided to crochet her a blanket. I searched for free patterns for a while when I found these two that I used and someday, when I have my own babies I will make them this blanket.
For the blanket part:
http://www.bernat.com/pattern.php?PID=4368&cps=21191
For the edging:
http://rosylittlethings.typepad.com/TiramisuBlanket.pdf
I love love love how it turned out, and my Tiffany friend also loved it, (and her husband thought I bought it; success!)
Look at that texture!

 It's not square... but it's pretty. And I know it's white... for a baby... but it's so pretty!

Who's having a baby next? I'll make you a blanket :)

[Bow]tie baby onsies

I found the directions for my following project on these blogs:

http://www.merrimentdesign.com/images/tie_onesie_bodysuit_kathy_beymer.pdf

http://www.merrimentdesign.com/sewn-tie-applique-baby-onesie-bodysuit.php

But first... look what I got me: Isn't it beautiful? I am a big fan. 

 My BFHS (Best Friend from High School) is having her third little boy any day now. I'd seen onsies with (bow)ties sewn onto them a few different times and at Joann's the other day I saw the following pack of fat quarters (at 50% off!) so I picked it up, along with a 4 pack of onsies.

 And made the following ties:

 They're all different, none of them are perfect, but I think they are so darn cute!

 I just put them back in the mesh bag they came in and shipped it off the other day. Now I'm just waiting for baby pictures/notice that she got them!

I was talking to one of my friends the other day and she paid me the best compliment: she said "I can't wait until you hit the point where you are a mom and you make the rest of us look like amateurs!" Maybe that's true, maybe not, but I'm going to practice making baby stuff till that happens for me. Then my kids will be the cutest in town!

My cute room part 1.

I do a lot of blog surfing. I like to see what there is out there, and pre pinterest I bookmarked them for further perusal and/or creating.
When I saw these:

I decided that I loved them and wanted to make some for me.
A trip to the dollar store for q-tips and styrofoam balls later, and some color inspiration from my shower curtain:

Brought the following results:

Cute, huh? And they're WAY easy, food coloring + water + q-tips = cute easy cheap 'flowers'

Featured!

I was looking at a fb post for one of the blogs I follow: Pressed down, shaken together, and I saw that the picture they posted looked very familiar. 

A few days ago I linked up to one of their link parties for cupcakes, and today they featured the Dr Pepper Chocolate cupcakes I shared on the blog a while ago! (I of course stole the recipe from Sister's Cafe, and gave proper credit.) But none the less I was on the top of the list!!

I feel special!

Check it out: http://shakentogether.blogspot.com/2011/07/month-long-cupcake-party-double.html

Also, I promise to blog this next week. I've done some pretty neato projects and they deserve to be seen!

I HAVE ARRIVED!

Today my boss was showing something in my room to the neighbor (which made me embarassed of the cluttered mess of my couch, which I cleaned up tonight.) I was in the midst of sewing throw pillows for the couch -- which turned out beautifully, I'll post them w/ links to the tutorials later-- and Leah (the neighbor, who I really like) said, and I quote:

"You are quite the 

Domestic Goddess 

now aren't you?"

That's right! Those very words.

Folks, I have now accomplished all of my significant life goals.

I can die happy. 

(Scratch that, in opposition to my previous Facebook post about never having children or puppies, I concede that I'll probably have to have one or the other, since I don't like cats, and living alone never appealed to me, so either I'll get married and have kids, or not get married and get a puppy, but probably one who will happily ride in a purse. I guess I can't die yet. Also, I think it would make my mom sad.)

Rolo Cookies

Today I needed some sheets put on my bed, and also a Dr. Pepper, but didn't want to go down to the basement for the 500th time in 15 minutes. So I asked B to go for me (I know, lazy). He told me yes, if I would make him some of "those yummy fudgy cookies you gave me and K at lunch the other day". He was talking about these.

Seriously, they are amazing, and not just for sentimental reasons, mostly because they are delicious. But they do make me think of this place:

and of these people:

And those are some very, very happy thoughts.

The cooks made us these cookies super often. Once a week maybe... Definitely not often enough! You should make these cookies, and then tell me how awesome they are. I, on the other hand, am going to be making these cookies with my kids this time (the last batch I made with my cute friend Meagan, and they were delicious, and I ate like half a batch by myself! And I have a hard time even feeling bad about it.)

Description:
YUMMY!!!

Ingredients:
2 1/2 Cups Flour
1 t. Baking Soda
1 Cup Butter
2 t. Vanilla
2 T. Sugar
3/4 Cups Cocoa
1 Cup Sugar
1 Cup Brown Sugar
2 Eggs
48 Rolos (You can also use the caramel filled kisses... I imagine that you could come up with some pretty delicious combinations I'm thinking the mint filled kisses....)

Directions:
Combine flour, cocoa, and soda. Set aside.   Beat sugar (both kinds) and butter until blended.   Add eggs and vanilla. Add dry mixture. Shape into small balls. Press Rolos in each center of ball and cover with dough.   Roll in (the 2 T.) sugar.   Bake on un-greased cookie sheet for 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees.

Number Of Servings:Makes 4 dozen (The number of rolos in a bag-- ish, convenient, huh?