New Blog!

Hey ya'll, I'd LOVE to introduce you all to a new amazing blog. She's an amazing writer, and very encouraging to read (yes, yes, I know that's the opposite of me ;) ). She's a most Amazing friend. EVER. :) Check out her blog here: www.stopandsmelltheroseshere.blogspot.com 

Anywho, new post coming soon.

Also! I remember now, I'm supposed to fill in your mysterious filled brains. :)
Why did I make the cake pops? ...... Because...... they were for a surprise birthday party for an amazing friend! And I wouldn't want her to know, just in case she saw that post, that there was a surprise in store for her.
Anywho, that's it. Wasn't so huge now was it?

P.S. Curiosity killed the cat..... just to let you know.

Cake Pops!

So, today, with a friend, I made: Cake Pops!
First of all, we started out with a cake pop maker.


First of all, it doesn't make such a perfect little cake balls as this picture shows. But, they are pretty good. I'd say they're better for doughnut holes.
Anywho, we did about half the cake pops with this machine, then we decided to make the regular cake pops. Which is where you bake a cake, crumble it, mix it with icing, and freeze it until firm. Then you roll the little cake balls. Then you freeze again. Then you can dip it in icing.
And let me tell you, they're..... Devine! Delicious! And simply Wonderful! (Don't tell my friend I've already tried one... let's just say it was kinda messed up)
Click Here to see the blog that helped me through this amazing cake pop art.
This time, we did all white chocolate. There was a white cake mix, and white icing, with white sprinkles. Really, though, I'd rather go for chocolate. Dark. (Mmm)
If you wanna hear why I suddenly up and decided to make cake pops, then.... I'll have to tell you some other time. Because That's a secret. ;)
Until next time where you're mystery filled brain will be filled in,
Later alligator!

An Old Irish Blessing

Ever since I saw this, I've Loved it! And whenever guests come into my room (well, not all the time), I like to write it on my picture frame/dry erase board. So! I thought I'd share it with you! (You must be very special or something)



P.S. Apparently this is a song.
P.P.S. I should look it up.
P.P.P.S. You should too. Maybe.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

May Your New Year Be Happy and Bright! [always]

Mocha Cupcakes and Wedding Showers

 So today is BAKE day for one of the showers for Vanessa, my sister. It's a cupcake shower, which is awesome, and I'm making some! (woot) This recipe looks Awesome! So a friend, Haley Long, and I are making it, and we'll just have to see if it's actually as good as it looks. :)  We're gonna have to (ahem) test the icing too. ;) Maybe you could try it too, cuz you know I pick awesome recipes.

See, doesn't that look delicious??

Mocha Cupcakes

Yield: 12 cupcakes

Prep Time: 15 minutes Baking Time: 17-20 minutes

1-1/3 all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup whole milk
½ cup strong brewed coffee
1½ teaspoons espresso powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup light brown sugar
1 egg, at room temperature

1. Mix the espresso powder into the brewed coffee until dissolved; set aside to cool to room temperature.

2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a standard-size muffin tin with paper liners.

3. Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

4. Beat the butter and both sugars together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Add the egg and beat until combined. In a measuring cup, combine the milk, brewed coffee mixture and vanilla. Slowly add the flour mixture, alternating with the coffee mixture, ending with the flour mixture.

5. Divide the batter evenly between the 12 liners. Baking for 17-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting cupcakes.

(Cupcake recipe adapted from My Baking Addiction)

Espresso Buttercream Frosting

Makes enough to frost 12 cupcakes

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2½ cups powdered sugar
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
1½ teaspoons espresso powder

1. Mix the espresso powder into the vanilla until dissolved; set aside.

2. Using the whisk attachment of a stand mixer, whip the butter on medium-high speed for 5 minutes, stopping once to scrape the sides of the bowl. Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the powdered sugar a little at a time, waiting until it is mostly incorporated before adding more. Once all of the powdered sugar has been added, scrape the sides of the bowl and increase the speed to medium-high and whip until fluffy, about a minute or two. Add the espresso and vanilla mixture and continue to mix at medium-high until it is completely incorporated, scraping the sides as necessary.

*Note: To make the swirls on the cupcakes, I used a 1M decorating tip.

From colds to Laryngitis

     Just the past week I did something that's never happened before... I lost my voice. Through this traumatic time, I learned several useful tips, and I hope to pass them on to you. 
     So, I've been really into nutrition, natural oils, and home remedies recently. And I know what you're thinking, "NO! Not this! Not some girl who comes along and find something works and suddenly wants to pass it on to random people all over the world, who really don't feel they need it, but JUST maybe they know it's... TRUE!" Yes, like others, I read minds. I don't like to brag about it though. So on to the real jeeeuicy stuuuff. 
   If you've found yourself in the same predicament as I was, NO voice for 3 Days, then Here's something that seriously helped me. ALSO if you do not have Laryngitis, these are still very good and cleansing for ALL!! (get it? Got it? Good.)


    Cayenne pepper. You're like, Whaaat? And I say yes. Some say to put 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper to a tablespoon of pepper. I really put about 3/4's teaspoon of cayenne pepper in with the honey. That was more than enough for me. Stir it around a little bit. I Dare you to take it. Cayenne pepper will help bring junk out from your throat. Apparently cayenne pepper kills prostrate cancer cells, stops heart attacks, nourishes the heart with vital nutrients, removes plaque from the arteries, helps rebuild flesh destroyed or harmed by frostbite, heals hemorrhoids, re-builds stomach tissue, heals stomach ulcers, fortifies your overall health, and allays the most straining of diseases. So it sounds like anyone can benefit from this cayenne and honey mixture.
P.S. Have a big glass of water on hand after holding the mixture in the back of your throat for about 30 seconds, and swallowing.

      Next is Apple Cider Vinegar! THIS one really helped. I found my voice was sooo much better after gargling for as long as you can, and spitting it out (do this morning and night, before you go to bed for several days). I did an 8 oz. glass of water with 2 tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar. Some put 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper in with it too. But I decided to go with the honey and cayenne pepper mixture above. Now for those who still don't have Laryngitis, this is still awesomely good for all of you. Some are diabetes, high cholesterol, heart health, cancer, and best of all, weight loss! Some take 2 teaspoons a day with juice, or whatever. Or it can be applied externally. But be careful. It's highly acidic. You might die. Ish. 
P.S. It's really disgusting ish, so be ready. Though maybe I shouldn't have told you that.



   NOW, for people with Colds, or sore throats, I've found several helps. Well, lots. 
    #1. Oregano oil! (woot woot) This also helps with Laryngitis. And so much more too. Such as, destroying organisms that contribute to skin infections and digestive problems. Strengthening the immune system. Increasing joint and muscle flexibility, and improving respiratory health. What I do, is three drops under the tongue, and three drops at the back of the throat, or somewhere in the mouth you feel it needs (like a tooth that hurts from infection, or some such thing). Hold the oil there for 30 seconds (DO NOT swallow during that time), and then swallow. Annnnnd have a big glass of water ready and waiting. It may feel like burning, but that's ok. It means it's working. Apparently there's two different kinds, one that can be taken internally, and ones that can be applied externally, so look that up before you get some.
P.S. It's a realllllly good germ killer! ;)
 
     #2. Clove oil. THIS one seems awesome. Because it helps with Dental (!), infections, skin care, Stress (!!), headaches, respiratory problems, earaches, nausea, blood circulation and purification, diabetes, immune system..... etc! I just put a drop of clove oil (JUST 1) on a big spoonful of honey. Be sure to have a glass of water on hand. To look for proper doses for some of the things listed, just look it up. My dose helps with colds, sore throats, and internal infections. 


Ok, so you're probably really bored by now. But these Seriously help. Trust me. I know. And stuff. 

Life has come together into one big Kablam. This is why I have not written for such a long time on here. Because of big Kablams. So, with Summer, there came hardly any break. And I'll fill you in. 
     An older sister got ENGAGED! in May, and the wedding is set for October. This is the first person in our family to get this close to marriage. ;) And the first time I'll be a bridesmaid!
    This Summer a brothers' seizures suddenly picked up to having grand mauls (the biggest kind of seizure you can possibly have) at least once a week. The medication did not seem to be helping at all, so finally the doctor changed just the other week. Since then, though there have been several alarms, no seizure has occurred! Prayers have certainly helped.
     Also, several piano competitions had the audacity of letting me perform. I can say I did pretty well in all of them, but some of the judges didn't seem to think so highly of myself. (They're always like that) A friend and I, who've felt like we've been playing in competitions all Summer, have decided to write a book. It's called: "What Not to do Before you Play at a Piano Competition: Horror Stories From the Experts". It's still in the writing stage (actually we haven't really started), but we feel it's going to be a best seller. And we can get rich. And stuff. 
    So, what I've learned so far. 
Seizures: I've certainly learned how to deal with them. One thing to do? DO NOT call an ambulance if a person has a seizure, unless a serious injury has occurred because of it. And, when a person is having a grand maul, always put a cushion under their head, and roll them onto their back so they won't hurt themselves. See? I've learned. 
Weddings: .................................... Just trust God, ok?
Piano competitions: I'm the Bestest out there! No doud aboot it. 
So yes, I've really learned. 


Oh, and I've read a lot of books. Which means I'm awesome. And you can be too. If you read. And if you can't read this, that means you probably need to learn. Before summer's over.