A Cupcake Sunday

The other day while lurking around some of my favorite blogs, I came across this 'new' to me recipe on the blog Hello my Name is Heather. So of course, I had to try it out. You use a cake mix, any flavor, I used vanilla, some people might say white, but really which sounds yummier?? And you use instant pudding, a flavor that will be compatible with the cake mix. I topped it with a butter cream frosting to which I added a small amount of strawberry jam. They turned out delicious. The frosting makes the cupcake, any frosting, any cupcake. A cupcake without frosting is nothing, boring, ho-hum little piece of cake, something that could be used as packing. Anyway, here's the recipe, hope you enjoy it!!

Easy Gourmet Cupcakes
1 box cake mix - any flavor
1 small box pudding mix
4 eggs
1 C. sour cream
1/2 C. water
1/2 C. oil

Choose a cake mix and a pudding mix with compatible flavors. Mix this stuff all together and bake as instructed -- till toothpick comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack, then add frosting.


Butter Cream Frosting
1/3 c butter
3 c powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
about 2 Tbs milk
Blend butter and sugar. Stir in vanilla and milk; beat until frosting is smooth and of spreading consistency.

I left out the vanilla and added maybe 1/2 cup strawberry jam.

Baby Hands At Work

Is there anything cuter and more adorable than chubby little baby hands?? I don't think so, especially when that baby is my grandson Jackson. Jackson and his parents were here for a visit last week and it was a little slice of heaven. I just can't get enough of that little boy. He lives in a land far away so we don't get to see him very often. When he is here though, I can't keep my hands off his sweet squishy little body.

Jackson would carry this spoon around and not put it down for anything. He would play with toys all the while holding on to the spoon. I don't know what the deal was, I guess you could call it his security spoon.


Oh, the sweetness of the little feet! Jackson had a lot of new territory to explore at Grandma's house and these little feet did not let him down. He was everywhere all at once.

One evening, while Jackson was here,we had popcorn and watched a movie. I was sitting on the floor and every so often Jackson would come to me to get a bite of popcorn. Several times he would put his spoon in my bowl and give it a stir and popcorn would go flying through the air. While I would be caught up in laughter he would quickly grab a handful of popcorn with his other hand and smoosh it in his mouth. I guess he decided he didn't want those itty bitty pieces I had been giving him, he wanted a mouthful. He knew what he wanted and he had a plan...and he got it. Next time he visits, he just might have his own bowl AND then I'll get my spoon....

A Flea Kind of Week End

The way I see it, since Christmas is over, the new year has begun, the snow needs to just go away NOW. The weather has been so nasty at times, we just don't want to go anywhere unless we really need something. Well, when we heard the flea market was going on, we said, " Yeah, we really need something." Who could resist this old doll head? Jennifer's daughter thinks it's CREEPY, but what does she know??? I think she is adorable and will be more so after she gets her crown(which she has totally earned).
The round tin is from Swan's Down Flour company. My sister 's first job was At Swans Down in Fort Worth, Texas where she filled grocery orders. I love this tin! I plan on using it in my craft room to hold cute stuff, of course.

In 1957 you could get one full year (6 issues) of Figure & Beauty magazine for 2$. Wowie Zowie, sign me up,because I want to learn about those "brilliant and revolutionary techniques for acquiring allure...glamour...charm."

My weights will now be known as....Glamor-Bells, thanks to Figure & Beauty magazine. But, I won't be caught dead using my Glamor-Bells in my swimsuit and heels. No, I don't think so. Did you know Glamor-Bells can glamorize your legs??? How does that work when you use them with your arms? Maybe, in 1957 it was different. Anyway, Glamor-Bells are an investment in charm and beauty AND since they are finished in Venus Pink Enamel, they are an ornament to your room. What more could a girl want!??

We also found an assortment of vintage cards, report cards, maps, and whatever that thing is from the Lloyd Dress Company. You can never have too much whatever.
Here's to hoping spring is just around the corner...AFTER this next storm that is headed our way.

Meanwhile, we shall be in our craft rooms doing what we do with our....whatever.

Inspiring words for the New Year

A page from Boho magazine

I think that we all have a well deep inside of us filled with dreams and ideas that we have pushed aside and think, oh, someday. "Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans," to quote John Lennon. It's time to listen to that still small voice and pull out one of those dreams from the well, work hard on it and make it happen. My dream is to be more creative, to not be afraid to stand alone with my ideas, to use the talents I have been blessed with and to hopefully touch someone's heart with what I do. The following is also from the magazine.

Walk with the dreamers
the believers,
the courageous,
the cheerful,
the planners, the doers,
the successful
people with their
head in the clouds
and their feet on the
ground. Let their spirit
ignite a fire within
you, to leave this
world better than
when you found it.

Wilford Peterson

I hope that these words from the magazine will ignite the creative spirit in us all and we will allow our dreams to float to the top of the well. May all of our dreams become reality in this new year.