New Blogger!

So Callie and I finally got our mom to start her own blog!! Check it out! You can get to it from the link on the side of my blog. I know I haven't posted for a while. I'll do a real post after finals are over!

New Craft Idea

I saw this craft on a blog the other day and I thought it was a cute idea so I decided to make it. I always have trouble figuring out ways to store my jewelry and it seemed like a creative way to do it. It was really easy to make and it only cost $2.00! You can get to the full instructions here.

My new favorite dessert!

I was browsing recipes on the internet the other day and came across this recipe for Cookie Dough Cupcakes. They sounded interesting so I decided to make them and I was SO glad I did! (I think Tyler and Colton were too!) I know they sound kind of weird but they are seriously so good! (not exactly healthy, but still really good!) I wasn't sure how the cookie dough in the middle didn't cook in the oven, but the trick is to freeze the cookie dough first so it stays soft. Here is the recipe if you want to try them:

Cookie Dough Cupcakes with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

Ingredients:

Cupcakes
24 paper liners for cupcake pans (2 1/2-inch size)
1 package (18.25 ounces) plain yellow cake mix
1 package (3.4 ounces) vanilla instant pudding mix
1 cup whole milk
1 cup vegetable oil
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 package (1 pound) frozen cookie dough

Chocolate Buttercream
8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
3 to 5 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F. Line 24 cupcake cups with paper liners. Set the pans aside.Place the cake mix, pudding mix, milk, oil, eggs, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds. Stop the machine and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat 2 minutes more, scraping down the sides again if needed. The batter should look well blended. Spoon or scoop a heaping 1/4 cup batter into each lined cupcake cup, filling it two thirds of the way full. (You will get between 22 and 24 cupcakes; remove the empty liners, if any.)

Cut the frozen dough pieces in half to make 24 pieces. Place a frozen cookie dough piece on top of each cupcake. Place the pans in the oven.

Bake the cupcakes until they are golden and spring back when lightly pressed with your finger, 23 to 27 minutes. Remove the pans from the oven and place them on wire racks to cool for five minutes. Run a dinner knife around the edges of the cupcake liners, lift the cupcakes up from the bottoms of the cups using the end of the knife, and pick them out of the cups carefully with your fingertips. Place them on a wire rack to cool for 15 minutes before frosting. They may sink a bit in the center.

While the cupcakes cook, prepare the Chocolate Buttercream.

Place the butter and cocoa powder in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed until the mixture is soft and well combined, 30 seconds.Stop the machine and add the confectioners' sugar, three tablespoons of the milk, and the vanilla. Blend with the mixer on low speed until the sugar is incorporated, one minute. Increase the speed to medium and beat until light and fluffy, one minute more. Add one to two tablespoons more milk if the frosting is too stiff.Place a heaping tablespoon of frosting on each cupcake and swirl to spread it out with a short metal spatula or a spoon, taking care to cover the tops completely. The cupcakes are ready to serve.

Store these cupcakes, in a cake saver or under a glass dome, at room temperature for up to three days or in the refrigerator for up to one week. Or freeze them, wrapped in aluminum foil or in a cake saver, for up to six months. Thaw the cupcakes overnight in the refrigerator before serving.

Update

I know it's been a while since I've posted on my blog. But that is mostly because I haven't had much to post about. This has been my life for the last few months:

Seriously. School has been insanely busy lately. This is by far my hardest semester so far. I'm definitely regretting that last minute decision to add a fifth class to my schedule! But I did find out a few days ago that I got accepted into Business school! I was really excited because it is so competetive and I didn't know if I would get accepted. It's nice to see all my hard work pay off!