salted caramel cuppycakes

Martha Stewart's Chocolate Salted Caramel Cupcakes

The Cupcakes
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
3/4 cup buttermilk
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup warm water

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line mini muffin tin with paper liners. Whisk together flour, cocoa, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. With mixer on low speed, add eggs, buttermilk, oil, extract, and the water; beat until smooth and combined.

Spoon the batter into liners about two-thirds full. Bake approximately 15 minutes, or until tester comes out clean. Transfer tins to wire racks and allow to cool for 10 minutes; turn cupcakes onto racks and let cool completely. Cupcakes can be stored overnight at room temperature, or frozen up to 1 month in air tight containers.

To finish, use a paring knife to cut a cone-shaped piece (about 1/2 inch deep) from the center of each cupcake and throw away the pieces. Spoon 1 to 2 teaspoons warm Salted Caramel Filling into each hollowed-out cupcake. You will notice the caramel will sink into the cupcake a little, just fill it up a bit more. Sprinkle a pinch of sea salt over filling.

Use a pastry bag with a medium open-star tip (I used Wilton #1M) and pipe Dark Chocolate Frosting onto each cupcake, swirling tip and releasing as you pull up to form a peak. Garnish each cupcake with a pinch of sea salt. Cupcakes are best eaten the day they are filled and frosted. Store at room temperature in airtight containers - do NOT refrigerate. Enjoy!

Salted Caramel Filling
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups sugar
2/3 cup water
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
2 1/2 teaspoons sea salt, preferably fleur de sel

Directions
Heat sugar with the water and corn syrup in a heavy saucepan over high, stirring occasionally, until syrup is clear; clip a candy thermometer to side of pan and stop stirring.

Cook until syrup comes to a boil, washing down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush as needed. Boil, gently swirling pan occasionally, until mixture is caramelized and just reaches 360°F. Remove rom heat and slowly pour in cream; stir with a wooden spoon until smooth. Stir in sea salt.

Use immediately; if caramel begins to harden reheat gently until pourable.

Dark Chocolate Frosting
Ingredients:
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon boiling water
2 1/4 cups (4 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 pounds best-quality semi-sweet chocolate, melted and cooled

Directions:
Combine cocoa and boiling water, stirring until cocoa has dissolved.

With electric mixer on medium-high, beat butter, confectioners' sugar, and salt until pale and fluffy. Reduce speed to low. Add melted and cooled chocolate, beating until combined and scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Beat in the cocoa mixture.

Frosting can be refrigerated up to 5 days, or frozen up to 1 month in an air tight container. Before using, bring to room temperature and beat on low speed until smooth again.

mimosas, martinis and memories....OH MY!

I cannot even begin to tell you how amazing my day was! I spent ALL DAY with my very bestest and sweetest friend ever! We started the day off enjoying breakfast at Chaps followed by boutique shopping, martinis at Twigs, Nordstroms, Starbucks, more shopping, all topped off with a night at the Onion! Good thing calories don't count! I feel so very blessed to have such amazing people in my life! Don't know what I would do without them....

Thanks again for my amazing day! I will cherish it forever!
P.S. CHAPS IS THE MOST AMAZING RESTURANT EVER! I ADORE IT!

I am so glad you are here. It helps me to realize how beautiful my world is.
-Rainer Maria Rilke

why not you

This is so very true. So many of us need to ask ourselves that question, including myself. Because as you say, we are so quick to ask it about others but never about our self. Many of us, again myself included, tend to put ourselves last instead of first when it comes to the most basic things around us, especially our health and well being. If we were to put ourselves first more often, how much better would we feel? How much healthier would we be? Thanks for another great insight, Jillian.

big grateful sigh

this is happiness. and, you know what happens at twenty-eight? you quit wishing for specifics. my wish is broad and beautiful: just happiness. ...and love.

...and so far, my wishes are granted.

I heart you, all of you
perhaps i saved orphans in a previous life. because karma just so has it that i feel very, very blessed.

big grateful sigh.

retro, funky, unique

So...I have this new obsession and it's all Jill's fault! I gave in and purchased this fabulous green dress that just so happened to be on sale and I simply cannot wait for the brown elf to deliver it to my flat! I can't wait to twirl in it this summer! I think it's so me! Retro, funky, unique, YES PLEASE! Coffee dates, weddings, picnics, yes it will get some wear for sure!

Everyone go check out http://www.shabbyapple.com/ you wont regret it at all! They even have amazing swimsuits, darling girl clothing, and even maternity wear!

business cards take 2

alright you know when you are so excited about something you have accomplished then you turn it over to someone else to finish it and it comes back and you are so disappointed and feel like you have done nothing but wasted your time? Yeah, that just happened to me! I worked so hard getting my business cards just how I wanted them then turned them over to the printer and when I received them they were faded and distorted. I was a very sad girl. I just emailed the company and now I have to wait for them to send me the return mailing envelope and then the process will start again. super frustrated! Here is a sneak peak of what the look like! Of course they are being printed on metallic diamond cardstock, you wouldn't expect them not to be would you?! anyway hopefully this time they will nail it and I will be excited!

some girls were just born with glitter in their veins

sunshine

I know that spring is just right around the corner and I must say I can hardly wait! My heart melts for the coral colors that are starting to blossom in stores! I have a feeling I will end up with quite a bit of it in my closet! I guess I can't complain, I do think it goes quite nicely with my new blonde pixie hair!

memories

on my starbucks cup this morning...

"The way we get to live forever is through memories stored in the

hearts and souls of those whose lives we touch. That's our soul print.

It's our comfort, our emotional nourishment at the end of the day and

the end of a life. How wonderful that they are called up at will and

savored randomly. It seems to me we should spend our lives in a

conscious state of creating these meaningful moments that live on.

Memories matter." Leeza Gibbons

I thought it rather fitting after my last post.

here's to leaving our soul print. our mark.

to creating memories

happier

I miss writing (geez.  then write, Kirsten.). While I feel happy, I have come to the conclusion over the last several weeks, that I am even happier when I write.  Blogging the everyday is like therapy.  It is a way of talking to myself.  making sense at the end of the day of all that which doesn't make sense.  weaving magic into the mundane.  finding significance in the insignificant.  giving order to the random.  remembering what I have.  remembering who I am.  and the whole creative process of it all is incredibly exhilarating - I've gotten more sleep since my blogging has taken a hiatus, and yet, am more tired now, than when I stayed up late finding exactly the right words for what I was feeling at that moment.  I feel more confident when I write, even if my words indicate otherwise - because there is something courageous about putting your thoughts out there as though you think you have something to say...not worrying about what anyone thinks - like what if your photos suck, or if you're writing poorly. 

I think I just jinxed myself.
I should have knocked on wood.
Because all of a sudden, I am incredibly tired.
So much for incredibly exhilarating.

More tomorrow....

flutter on by

Again I had been honored by being asked to help plan another first birthday party! This is the first draft of the invite before I even show it to the mom! I think its darling but still have more editing to day! We shall see what she thinks! I love the butterfly theme and I want it to be super whimsical and fun! I can hardly wait to see this special day come together to honor little miss ava!

Valentines Day!

I'm so lucky!!!! My husband is the most amazing man in the whole wide world!!! He is funny, smart, and he treats me like a princess, yet puts me in my place when needed! I just adore him!!!!! Happy Valentines Day babe I love you to the moon and back, forever and ever!

The end!

oh happy friday

So today was a fabulous day for three reasons!

(okay more than that but these are 3 of my favorite reasons...)

 

Reason #1
I decided to try a new salon and it really ended up paying off! Blades was amazing! My designer was great. (Thank you Kelly) and I didn't know this until I went in today, but every service comes with a massage, scalp, neck, shoulders, and back! OMG it was great! I almost melted!

Reason #2
I got to spend the day with 3 of the sweetest littles ever! Tate, Tanner and Addie! We had a blast together! Dancing, a tea party, lots of books, and tubby time! I love and adore these kids! The bond that the twins have is just so beautiful to see! I remember when I first met these two handsome boys they were wearing shirts that said womb mates, still cracks me up! It's been so fun watching how much they have changed. And Addison, wow she is a fun loving spunky girl! I adore her! She tells the greatest stories and we just have a great time together! She cooked me spaghetti today to have at our tea party. Belle was also in attendance!

Reason #3

Sprinkles Cupcakes! Yes, I am one lucky girl! For Christmas the Wolff family got me two mixes to try! I'm excited!

Massage, Littles, and Cupcakes, that my friends is a great day in my book!

*-

Volkswagen Super Bowl XLV Ad: The Force

Favorite and by far the best commercial on during the superbowl!

Baby Dreams

　
So there it is! My dream nursery! I don't want it to be too babyish or something that I would get sick of. I was dreaming of it to being pretty simple with bold pops of color! I have to say I do love how it turned out!

The changing table would be a dark cherry wood to match the most amazing piece of furniture I have, its an actual clothing armoire! (I got it for a fabulous deal at a upscale furniture boutique that was going out of business, but it doesn't match our black bedroom furniture! BABY SCORES!) The crib will be either the hot pink if its a girl or turquoise for a boy....This has been a fun project I've been working on in between checking Facebook status updates! No, we aren't expecting just is fun to play around and decorate a littles room! Someday this room will belong to either baby Gabrielle or Beckett!

Thanks to Etsy, Layla Grayce, and Serena and Lily for the great inspiration!

PS I am in LOVE with the name Oliver, my husband isn't so fond of it however we know I will win and at least get my way of having it be a middle name! That's where Ollie Pop comes from!

SWAGGER WAGON

This is so dang funny, I will never be a minivan mom but I do know a few!

So, we go big....

Parties are my thing. I thrive on planning them. Used to throw an annual Halloween bash that was hard core and rocked my world during the three months I planned for it. But I don't throw many these days...except when it comes to celebrating the moments that the littles have entered my world!  Because I can't think of anything better to celebrate so big than a birthday. A Birth Day. The Birth of love and wonder and goodness like no other.

I came across this darling owl birthday party that was put together for a five year old, I love it! Every single little thing about it! I have definitely been inspired and will remember all of the sweet details used! Way to go Jenny! Such an amazing mommy!


With no further ado...many fabulous parties are in the works!


So, we go big....

so there is this boy...





So there is this boy.

He kinda stole my heart.

He calls me "auntie"

Greyson waves goodbye to his mom who has left for California yet again. :( (this is the last week, hopefully this is true this time...) Not to worry though, we have a fun filled week planned! Another week of chasing a 16 month old around! This week holds many coffee dates, play days, and a Valentines day photo shoot! Of course I found him a hot pink polo for the special day! G man will look fierce with a popped collar! Goodness I have the most amazing job being an aunt! I wonder what treasures I will find in the shower this week!?

.....off to chase a busy little boy around, and make dinner, and do laundry!

Super Bowl

I don't know much about football. I know what a running back is, what a quarterback is, and I know that thick spandex stretched across a grown man's backside makes for a nice tight end. Not that I'm lookin'.
And I certainly don't have to like football to like the idea of the celebration of people all coming together to root for something. There's an infectious energy that wafts about the party as guys clink glasses, spill beer and shout their approval. And we cheered with them! To be honest, I don't really care who wins. I just like the big to-do of yet another occasion that brings people together for a common cause...to celebrate.

We did a lot of that this weekend.
I wanted to share with you a little recipe. Something that will make your tummy happy. And I promise these will make it very, very happy. They only take a few ingredients and you don't even have to bake them. Best part? They taste just like Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Seriously, they'll make you swoon.
No Bake Reece's Peanut Butter Bars

1 1/2 C graham cracker crumbs
1 lb (3 1/2 C) powdered sugar
1 1/2 C creamy peanut butter
1 C (2 sticks) real butter, melted
1 12oz bag chocolate chips (milk, semi-sweet, or dark, you pick!)
2 tsp peanut butter

In a large mixing bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, powdered sugar and peanut butter and butter and beat until combined. Press into a parchment (or waxed paper or foil) lined 9x13 pan.

Place chocolate chips and 2 tsp peanut butter in a microwave safe bowl and heat in 30 second intervals, stirring after each one, until melted and smooth. Pour chocolate over peanut butter mixture and spread out evenly. Place pan in the fridge just until chocolate is set and then cut into bars. Tip: If the bars chill until the chocolate is too hard to easily cut, use a sharp knife and score the cuts first, then gently cut through. Can be stored in the fridge or at room temp. They will stay firmer if stored in the fridge.

Meyer Lemons and baby Curtis

 38 weeks!

Oh goodness how I love doing the airport run! Maddie (my sister) has been going back and forth to Burbank California for work for the last five weeks and so I have had the pleasure of not only keeping my nephew overnight for the last weeks but every Saturday I get to go and pick her up.  Honestly I don't mind it if the flight is on time. Today of course would be that day that I didn't work out the way it was suppose to. (sad face.)

It was simple. We had big plans for the day. Pick Maddie up and head downtown to celebrate with one of the greatest friends at her baby shower at a Leftbank Wine Bar ( I KNOW MY KIND OF GIRL!)  Well of course the plane broke down, they had to wait for a new plane to come in, blah blah blah. No Shower for us...

We will have to celebrate with Hilary another time. Luckily I did get some of the meyer lemons Maddie smuggled from Cali, and with those, I will make Hilary cupcakes. I know it's not the same, but I swear it will make me feel better. We have a miracle to celebrate. (name still unknow, I call him baby Curtis)

I love them! And I can't wait to meet Curtis!

my dog ate my blog.

the end.

at peace...

my life is messy right now. so many decisions to make.
overwhelming at times. but honestly, I really do feel peace.
wishing you the same...
g'nite.

Fillings

i hate going to the dentist.
there. i said it.
so, i was there this morning for what else but another two baby fillings, and by the time i sat down in the chair, my knuckles were white.
my anxiety was apparently more than obvious as the sweet southern hygenist literally patted my shoulder and rubbed my cheek through the shot. i strangely suddenly wanted her to be my mom.
i stared at the fake cloud inserts in the drop ceiling and tried to make out shapes but all i saw--and heard--was a drill.
they offered me a blanket.
i took it.
they offered me headphones.
i took them.i scanned through stations, trying to zone out the drill and the tools and the trillion cotton wads stretching my mouth twice its size. i tried not to imagine what I looked like to everyone peering down.
something relaxing...something mind-wandering...i passed over hotel california, the boys are back in town, celine dion. until, strangely, i found comfort in some bootie-shaking Kesha song. i closed my eyes and suddenly found peace in choreographing my dance routine for you think you can dance. and i'm not kidding. i planned the whole thing out...and my imaginary self had some crazy moves. like this one. and i'm pretty sure there was one of these. i was good...my form was outstanding...and just as the audience was rising to their feet in my mind, tears in their eyes, feriously clapping and screaming for an encore, the filling was over.
so there. i've discovered what works. who needs laughing gas?

Everyone Needs a Little Petunia

Guilty Addiction!
Alright so I have to admit this really brightened up my gloomy cold day, Petunia Pickle Bottom released the new spring 2011 line! I am loving the new additions and the colors. I don't even have a child and I am obsessed with these bags! I have a few of the clutches and whenever I carry them I get many compliments, they are fun practical and many of them just wipe clean! Hope you enjoy the new line as much as I do! Pretty Petunia

Love you Petunia.....

Frozen Over

Dear Summer, I miss you!
this is the time of year when I most miss feeling warm air on my skin and going outside without dressing like I’m preparing for some sort of battle. Today is quite frigid, with the wind they are saying it feels like
-13 and they aren't kidding! 

So, I thought I would shate with you some of my favorite summer memories! The Liberty Lake farmers market, pool time, iced coffee, pink lemonade, picnics, flipflops, oversized sunglasses, fresh flowers, Coeur d' Alene lake....Oh the list goes on! Just a few warm images that remind me of Summer!
　
　


snuggled under a blanket....