Hey Kids!
Just wanted to pop in and say hi! It is incredible how time flies! ... And when you're doing tons of stuff...especially stuff like moving to a new home...it's so easy to lose track of your last interactions with friends.
So finally, we are now 99.999 % out of the old apartment . Remaining are Aaron's 10,000 books that are still in the garage. Yes, he is an over the top Book Maniac, Bibliophile, Literature Addict. He never leaves the house without at least 5 books. I kid you not! Why does one need 5 books annnnd 2 marble notebooks for a 5 minute ride to the corner store?!
In our last place we/he had books on the kitchen table, under the kitchen table, behind the kitchen table, on the chairs, in the bathroom, on the arm of the couch, on a little stool next to the couch, and oh my goodness...also under the bed, next to the bed...and completely filling up his vintage cupboard... barely leaving any space at all for his fake teeth, wigs, kazoo, harmonica, Mexican wrestling masks, 3d glasses, and other weird Aaron things. Despite our busting-at-the-seams-existence...Aar has no plans to shed any of his wacko props...he's always referencing possible future films we may make and how these items would be indispensable. Though he is going to let go of the majority of his books...he realizes that they are more obsession than collection. He is willing to surrender to the Nook.
The house is certainly feeling more like home these days. Even though there are still boxes to the ceiling in most rooms, we are able to have actual family dinners, and watch movies together on the couch. When we considered the pros and cons of this move, a big pro was the fact that we'd be forced to let go of so many of our obsessive/control freak behaviors. In the past we'd never be able to actually relax sitting in a room full of cardboard boxes. We're learning to let go and chill. Living with my little brothers certainly helps in this respect.
And speaking of chilling...I've been doing lots of cooking and baking (one of my fave forms of chilling) ...
Here's one quick and super yummy and fun recipe I made last week...and will be making again and again. I found this on pinterest of course...
And how on earth could I go any longer without baking Magnolia Bakery cupcakes in the new oven? My lil bro Walt had been begging me since we moved in. (he LIVES for Magnolia Cupcakes!)
They seriously are the most delicious vanilla/yellow cake recipe ever. It is so so worth the extra steps and time. The cake is incredible all on it's own! But who am I kidding...this vanilla buttercream frosting is killer! They baked up PERFECTLY. I didn't know what to expect with this big old crazy industrial oven. Well ... it totally proved itself! :)
Walt has eaten about 10 cupcakes over the past 2 days. Lunatic!
Here is the recipe:
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups self-rising flour
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups sugar
- 4 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Directions
- Line 24 muffin tins with cupcake papers.
- In a small bowl, add the flours; stir to combine; set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter using an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth.
- Add the sugar gradually and beat for 3 minutes or until fluffy.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Add the dry ingredients in three parts, alternating with the milk and vanilla.
- With each addition, beat until the ingredients are incorporated but do not overmix.
- Spoon the batter into the cupcake liners, filling about 3/4 full.
- Bake in a 350° oven for 20-25 minutes.
- Cool the cupcakes in the tin for 15 minutes.
- Remove cakes from the tins and cool on a wire rack before frosting.
- Frost with tinted Vanilla Buttercream.
Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 6 -8 cups confectioners' sugar
- ½ cup milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups unsalted butter
- 8 -10 cups confectioners' sugar
- ¾ cup milk
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
For 24 cupcakes or Two-layer 9-in cake
For Three-Layer 9-in Cake
Directions
- Place the butter in a large mixing bowl.
- Add 4 cups of the sugar and then the milk and vanilla.
- On the medium speed of an electric mixer, beat until smooth and creamy, about 3-5 minutes.
- Gradually add the remaining sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition (about 2 minutes), until the frosting is thick enough to be of good spreading consistency.
- Note: You may not need to add all of the sugar.
And oh yeah...a little SALE for any shoppersIt's Super Bowl Sunday, it's quiet, calm..pups are snoozing, Walt and his girlfriend Val are celebrating her dad's birthday, Jason is out and about, and Aaron and I are working on some suuuuper fun NEW things while watching the game, and eating pierogis! Hope you all are enjoying your day!
If you feel like doing a lil shopping...we have a Super Bowl SALE over in the shop! Use code: GAMEDAY for 25% off your entire order! :)
I'll be back super soon with some Show & Tell!
xo Jenny