Seven Dozen Cupcakes

That is right. I made seven dozen cupcakes today. Apple spice cupcakes with maple cream cheese frosting (which I made last week but this time I added little apple chunks), pumpkin cupcakes and pumpkin chocolate chip cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, and snickerdoodle cupcakes.

 

My favorite part of making cupcakes is bring them to people I love. For instance, today I had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. I really mean bad. So I went to the park and walked around for a couple hours then I came home and baked for about 3-4 hours. So when I was done I wrapped a couple dozen up and delivered them to my aunt and cousins (one of whom had a birthday yesterday), a couple of friends who greatly appreciate my baking, and my dad, step-mom, and sisters. They all were very excited to receive my delicious desserts and that made me really happy that I could make them so happy with my baked goods. They made my day end on a very high note and I thank them all for that very much.

And for now, I am out.
xo Amanda

Dream Socks

When I was a little kid my best friend told me that if she wore socks to bed she would have nightmares (or something along those lines). I took that theory as I grew up a bit and tested it out and while I definitely have dreams without socks on it does always seem to be that my dreams are more vivid if I do wear socks. Of course, I don't think that always works. I haven't figured it out, but maybe one day I will try a more solid experiment with this theory. I'll probably just leave it a vague mystery though. It is more interesting that way.

xo Amanda

P.S. Those awesome Dead Head pajamas I am wearing are years old and have a large hole in the butt, but they are so comfy!

Apple Spice Cupcakes!

I made some delicious apple spice cupcakes with maple cream cheese frosting today.

I used this recipe for the cupcakes, but I added well, probably more like 2/3 to a cup of applesauce instead of the 1/3 it said. That may be why they fell a bit, but they were still pretty delicious.

Ingredients

• 1 package (18-1/4 ounces) spice cake mix
• 1-1/4 cups water
• 3 eggs
• 1/3 cup applesauce

Directions

• In a large bowl, beat the cake mix, water, eggs and applesauce on low speed for 30 seconds. Beat on medium for 2 minutes.
• Fill paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 350° for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

 
They make about 3 dozen actually.

I frosted most of them and sprinkled some of them with confectioner's sugar for my diabetic mom and my step-dad who doesn't like frosting. But here is the frosting recipe I used.

Ingredients

• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, room temperature
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar

Directions

1. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Add maple syrup, vanilla, and confectioners' sugar; continue beating until well combined and smooth. 

 

I hope you enjoy these if you try them out. Leave a comment and let me know how they tasted!

Carey Mulligan

If you know me then I am sure you have heard me talk about how much I love a little British show called Doctor Who more than any other television show out there. I highly suggest that you check it out. It was on this show that I was first introduced to Carey Mulligan. She starred in one of the best episodes of the new series ever called, Blink. I didn't take too much notice to her besides the fact that she starred in this episode that even the Doctor himself was barely a part of.

Until the past year or so when suddenly I started to see her face everywhere. I was totally excited because as I said she was in the best episode of Doctor Who. So a few months ago my sister bought An Education and it was brilliant. Carey was awesome in it and I was pretty blown away by her acting. I must admit I haven't seen her in much else yet, but I love her style and she is my current style icon. (My new hair cut was even kinda inspired by hers.)

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Also, today is the first day of fall. I know this is everyone's favorite season, but I would be lying if I said I was excited for it. I love summer. Fall just leads into winter which means I will be cold for the next eight months of my life and that is a bummer. But I do like fall, it just takes a little time for me to adjust.

xo Amanda

Hello Again!

I think I need to change one of my simple goals. From now on, create an etsy shop is BLOG REGULARLY! (even if I have nothing to blog about. I can make something up.)

In other news, I cut off all my hair. I love having this short hair. It is so easy and I have awesome bed head. It is really very fun. At first I kinda felt, I am not sure how to put it, but I wasn't sure if the style fit with who I am I guess, but that was silly because it does. It's sassy and I must admit I love being sassy.

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This semester I am taking History of American Architecture. I love residential architacheture and this class is so interesting. I am loving the Federal period of American Architecture. It is a very private and subdued style that is so delicate and graceful. The Octogon House is in Washington D.C. and its one of my favorite examples.