Bad TV

I will admit it. I watch a lot of what is considered to be "bad" TV. Not as in bad ass action movies, but bad as in horrible programming, how did this ever get on the air TV. While, admittedly I am not as bad as some (you know who you are Mrs. Never miss an episode of bad girls club) I think I rank up there. My latest? The Voice. This show sucked me in like any other reality show I get sucked into. The anticipation of whether or not the panel would press the button for the singers had me on the edge of my seat!
And speaking of TV, does anyone have any plans to wake up at some un-Godly hour to watch the Royal wedding? I really am dying to see her dress (guess it's those years in the fashion industry still making a curiosity seeker out me). But waking up at that time? Hmmm.
As promised here are a few little glimpses into our sad Easter. Don't mind the Christmas jammies Oliver is wearing! It was cold and they still fit!








Oh, and those little cupcakes? Well they were all I could muster, which doesn't compare to the Easter Bunny cakes I have been seeing...but let me tell you, they are soo good! They even have that little surprise on the bottom, as you can see! I can't think of a kid (or adult) that wouldn't like them!

Recipe:

paper liners for cupcakes (recipe calls for 24)
1 pkg (18.25 oz) plain yellow cake mix
1 pkg (3.4 oz) vanilla instant pudding mix
1 cup whole milk (but seeing as how I NEVER use this, I prob used whatever I had - skim?)
1 cup veg oil
4 large eggs
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 pkg frozen cookie dough (don't buy the cylindrical kind, buy the little square sheet)

1. Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350. line the muffin tin with cupcake liners. set aside.
2. Place the cake mix, pudding mix, milk, oil, eggs, and vanilla in large mixing bowl. Blend with elec mixer on low for 30 sec. Stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl. Increase the mixer speed to med and beat 2 mins more, scraping down the sides. the batter should look well blended. Spoon or scoop a heaping 1/4 cup batter into each cupcake liner, filling it 2/3 of the way full. Cut the frozen dough pieces in half to make 24 pieces. Place each frozen cookie dough piece on top of the cupcake. Place in the oven.
3. Bake the cupcakes until they are golden and spring back, 23-27 mins. Remove the pans from the oven and place on wire racks to cool for 5 mins. It says to take them out of the cupcake liners, to let cool awhile more. I left mine in the cupcake liners and frosted them.

I made cream cheese frosting to go (really basic recipe): but it makes waaaay more than you need, so you might consider cutting the ingredients down:

2 8 oz pkgs cream cheese - softened
1/2 cup butter - softened
2 cups sifted confectioners sugar (I have no idea about the sifted part)
1 tsp. vanilla extract

PS did you see the picture of Oliver's face when he got his Tonka truck? I die every time I look at that picture! My parents got him that and he hasn't stopped playing with it since.

How was everyone's Easter? Sad to say, ours was pretty crummy. What started with Oliver being sick, has inevitably led to all 3 of us being sick. No fun, I tell ya. I think we may have rounded a corner, but until then, I will share what little bit of easter celebrating we did later. I love looking around at all the blogs and seeing all the wonderfully creative and sentimental things people did and how they celebrated. Check out Bleubird Vintage (prob my favorite blog, right now) and Vintage is for Lovers to see some cute kids celbrating Easter. Isn't everything from the mundane day to day tasks to holidays sooo much more fun with kids??

hello there

I am feeling a little disconnected from blog land right now, and don't feel as though I have much to say.
A couple of things from around the web that are inspired:

A Cup of Jo's take on secretly wanting a girl or boy when you are pregnant...but most of all her perfectly sweet words about having a boy hit the nail on the head!
But maybe I am biased!



Design Sponge's list of southern music, plus the comments. Made me homesick!


Lastly, I never watch Saturday Night Live (I just can't stay up!) but I love how it is known to sort of ebb and flow. Sometimes getting panned by critics, and at other times headlines claim that it's back. While I certainly can't speak to that, I did see a rerun recently and lost it over new cast member Jay Pharoah. His impressions are spot on. Check it out here, here, or here. I am not sure, but his Eddie Murphy, Chris Tucker, or Will Smith are my favorites. Ok, maybe Chris Tucker :)

Stevie

I am obsessing over Stevie nicks the past few days....I look through images and just admire her awesome style (part victorian/edwardian, part mucha-inspired/and part gypsy) and that voice. There has been so much written about her over the years; you know the way she supposedly took coke, and that she is a witch.
I also found this little video on a couple different sites. It is from a Rolling Stone shoot. She just spontaneously starts singing and it's beautiful. Her voice is pretty perfect for something so impromptu! There are so many other songs and videos I was thinking I would post, but when I saw this, I couldn't pass it up. It's so pure and innocent - so unaffected.



The Bang Pop via youtube

hi hi hi

sorry I have been m.i.a.

My parents were in town and we had so much fun: discovered new things in my own town (!) and ate at new restaurants. Funny how when people come to see you it forces you to step outside of your normal routine. Of course my parents spoiled him (and us!) rotten, and he loved every minute of it.
But now that they are gone, and I am in a little bit of a funk...sad to stop and think about them living so far away, and Oliver having to get re-acquainted with his own grandparents each time he sees them. Breaks my heart, really.

for your littlest cook

I came across the cutest kids items at Target the other day - by a brand called Nordic Ware. I quickly snapped a picture with my phone to remind myself later of the name so I could look it up. Well, I don't have many complaints about target, but one of them is their website. I can never find anything! But I digress, I am just trying to explain my crappy iphone picture. ;)

These little kitchen gadgets are made for the kids that want to help you out in the kitchen. There is everything from whisks to measuring spoons and each one has been thoughtfully turned into something a little one would love. They also had zoo animal pancake pans and muffin tins on amazon that I could just hear my son oohhing and awhing over if I presented breakfast in this manner.

whale measuring set, caterpillar spatula, and giraffe whisk.



zoo animals muffin tin via amazon

Happy Friday!