Salted Carmel Cupcakes

Salted Carmel Cupcakes...

this just screams Starbucks doesn't it?

I'm pretty sure coffee flavors were what my Starbucks-lovin' husband was thinking when he was parusing my 'sweet treats' Pinterest board for his birthday cupcakes and came across these. 

It took all of 1/1,00 of a second for him to decide as soon as he saw them.

(Do you remember the Double Chocolate Chip Frappuccino Cupcakes he requested two years ago?)

My first thought about the Salted Carmel Cupcake pick?

Good choice. 

And indeed, it was.

Amber over at CrazyLittleProjects shared this recipe and I am so glad she did.

I love that the cupcake recipe uses a box cake mix to make it a little easier. You could very easily substitute your favorite chocolate cake recipe.

I was a little nervous about the homemade carmel sauce but it came out perfect. (Confession: I did buy a jarred carmel sauce... you know, just in case. I've had a few very unsuccessful carmel attempts in the past!)

The only change I made was to use flaked sea salt rather than kosher salt to sprinkle on the cupcakes. I just love seeing those pretty little flakes sitting in the sticky carmel sauce. 

Flaked sea salt on dessert just happens to be my new favorite thing.

Especially when they are sprinkled on these cupcakes!

Happy 31st Birthday to my favorite person.
(I can't wait to see what cake he picks for next year!)

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Graham Keegan- A Birth Story (4 Years Old)

A week ago, we sang 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY' to our first bundle of BOY joy!

We welcomed Graham Keegan into our family FOUR years ago.

A birth story....
July 29, 2009
I had a scheduled appointment at 2:30 on that Wednesday afternoon with another family doctor. My doctor was out of town for the week. I was torn between being COMPLETELY ready for this baby and wanting to WAIT a few more days so my doctor could deliver as he had done before.
My appointment went well and I was excited to say I had made the 40 weeks.
Tomorrow was my due date and we were ready to meet our son.

Contractions started at 5 that evening. They were bearable, and nothing like the contractions I had experienced with my daughter almost four years earlier.
Besides, who has their baby on the ACTUAL due date?
(I laugh now because I have delivered 2 out of 3 babies on their due dates.)

My husband was grilling hotdogs and I was cooking macaroni and cheese in the kitchen. As I was stirring the noodles, I had an intense contraction. I had Joel finish dinner and I rested on the couch. We decided to have my in-laws come get Reese and take her to Church with them. I packed an overnight bag for her, just in case.
I convinced my husband to let me labor at home as long as possible. NO pregnant woman wants to be told to 'go back home'. I wanted to make sure I was in labor.
At 8 pm we headed to hospital.

When we arrived, I was settled into a labor and delivery room where my water was broken and contractions quickly progressed. 11pm brought the epidural and smiles all around.

Delivery started at 1:30, after I rested, and our son arrived at 1:57 am on July 30, 2009.
He was 9 pounds 4 ounces and was 21 inches long.

His heart rate had dropped during delivery so Respiratory Specialists were called to come assist him after he was born. He had swallowed a lot of amniotic fluid and it was 20 minutes (which seemed like forever) until I was able to hold him.

Reese arrived later that day to meet and love on her new brother.

Our family for FOUR went home Friday, July 31st and have enjoyed every moment with our son since!

Graham,
You have brought such joy to our family. Thank you for your energy. Thank you for being all BOY and still wanting to play dress-up with your big sister.
We love you and enjoy seeing how you have grown. We pray you will live a God-honoring life and grow up strong and loving.

I went through my pictures of the last four years to include some of my favorites.
I laughed and laughed as I looked back and realized most of his pictures are of him eating or sleeping. (Two of his favorite things!)

{First Birthday}

{How many pacie's does one boy need?}

{Those cheeks get me every time.}

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Birthday Balloon Wreath

We recently celebrated a very special Little Boy's third birthday!
(More of Graham's 3rd Birthday coming soon! Plus, his 1st and 2nd too!)

To kick off the pre-birthday decorations, I made a birthday balloon.
I decided to keep the balloon colors gender neutral so I can use them for any birthday!

Here's What You'll Need:
A straw wreath (I bought a 14 inch wreath)
Balloons (I used about 300)
Floral pins (You'll need the same number of pins and balloons)
Ribbon for hanging

Here's How:

 One at a time, pin each balloon on the wreath using the floral pins folded like this...

Be sure to push the floral pins in as far as you can.

Pin the balloons close together for a full wreath. 

(I didn't want to see any of the straw wreath behind my balloons.)

And then keep pinning and pinning balloons!!! 

Turn on the Food Network, or HGTV, or your other favorite channel and the time will pass quickly! 

When I got to the top of the wreath, I hung the wreath on the ribbon and pinned the ribbon to the wreath using floral pins.

Ta-Da! How cute and festive, right?? I'm in love with my balloon wreath.
I can't wait until the next birthday to use it again!



This adorable idea can be found in tons of places!

This is the wreath that inspired me....

(via)



If you are hanging your balloon wreath on a glass door, I suggest covering the wreath with ribbon.
Did you notice the 'Thank You' for guests to see as they leave? Love it!

(via)



Having a balloon party? Make centerpieces too!

(via)

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February 12, 1983

February 12, 1983...

The 'Blizzard of 1983' was dropping tons of snow.

A young couple was anxiously awaiting the arrival of their first child. 

The soon-to-be-mothers' water broke in the middle of the night and excitedly 

told the soon-to-be-father, "It's time."

Their car (a white, 2-door 1972 Volkswagen Bug) was stuck 

in the snow outside of their quiet little home. 

The panicked soon-to-be-father ran inside to call for an ambulance. 

They arrived safely at the hospital and at 11:56 pm, 

the new parents welcomed a healthy baby girl.

(Me)

Although today is my birthday, and year after year, I am showered with love, gifts and family, I want to say a special

Thank You

to the parents that brought me into this world (and who sometimes threatened to take me out), parents who raised me with love and forgiveness and parents who continue to be the best parents that that little baby girl could have ever hoped for 29 years ago.

I love you Mom and Dad!

-Daughter

Now I should say, "Let the celebration begin!", but it already has!

It starts every year when I get my free Starbucks drink card in the mail.

:)

You can order ANYTHING you want. My choice this year? A venti decaf white-chocolate mocha.

(Love is right)

Speaking of LOVE, here's mine on my 'Birthday Dinner Date'.

My restaurant of choice... a Japanese Bistro.

I also got to pick what I wanted to do.

That was a no-brainer. The older I get, the more I love to shop!!!!

A mini shopping spree to buy new lamps and bedside tables for my bedroom re-do.

(Don't worry, MUCH more coming about that!)

And the babysitters (a.k.a. Nana and Pa) even left Krispy Kreme after babysitting!

The way "29" has started already, I can tell this is going to be a great year!

Praising the Lord that he has allowed me another birthday and I feel so blessed for my family and friends to help celebrate!

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A Very Happy Birthday

Today marks the birthday of someone that is very special to me.
My Mom.

This picture describes it best of how we feel about 'Gramma' around here.

(This was Reese when she was 2.)

Some of my favorite things that I have inherited from my mom are:
1. Her love for babies
2. Her love for organization and craftiness.
3. Her desire to give to others.
4. Her brown eyes.


I hope that I am as good of a mom to my kids as she is to me!

Mom,
Thanks for spending your birthday, 29 years ago, so very pregnant as you anxiously awaited the arrival of me. Thank you for showing me love, honesty, and how to clean.
I love you.
I hope that you have a terrific birthday! You certainly deserve it!
Love, Lins

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Tuesday Tip- Rapunzel Party

I had so much fun throwing this Tangled birthday party...

The Cake:

I made chocolate cupcakes and adheared them to a cake base with icing.
 

I iced half of the cupcakes with blue icing, to represent the water, and then sprinkled crushed vanilla wafers on the cupcakes with white icing, to resemble sand. 

(I used toothpicks to hold up the dolls hair out of the icing.)

Make a wish!

The Door:

Nothing says "Welcome to our Tangled party" more than hair on the door!

The Food:

Jello Boats

"Frying pans, who knew?"

Bread 'Braid'

I hung lanterns over the food and winded 'hair' (yellow yarn) down the center.

The Fun:

I bought a cardboard castle for the kids to color during the party.

Of course, it had Rapunzel's hair coming down from the tower....

(In the back, you can see the purple banner I made with yellow suns.)

The Game:

I made a wanted poster of Flynn Rider.

(I printed a coloring sheet off the computer and traced it onto a transparency sheet. Next, I traced it onto a poster board using a projector. Finally, I tore the edges and had my husband burn around the poster to enhance the 'wanted poster' look.)

And 100 hours later....

Pin the frying pan on Flynn Rider's face!

(Print your own frying pans here.)

The Party Favors:

Pascal Blowers

(Make you own party blowers here.)

The Birthday Girl:

Rapunzel showed up!

Happy 6th Birthday to my sweet girl!

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