Pretty in Pink

   For the past few years I have been attending the Blossom Benefit that my friend Kim started.  It is basically a night for women to get together, drink some wine and give back to the community.  What started out as less than 10 people in her dining room has turned into one of our community's "hot ticket" raising thousands for women and children. 

   Last year Kim asked me if I would be willing to make some mini cupcakes for one of the wine pairings.  I made chocolate/chocolate buttercream and I thought they turned out pretty yummy.  Kim must of agreed because she asked me to make more cupcakes this year.  When I asked her what she wanted, figuring they wouldn't want chocolate again, she said, "pink and white".

   Okay so I took that to mean "fruity" and what's starting to show up in stores lately? Strawberries.

I did a little googling and found the recipe for Sprinkles Strawberry Cupcakes.  We don't have a Sprinkles bakery up here so I've never had one, but it looked simple enough so I gave it a try.  While the cupcake part was okay, the frosting is a WHOLE other story.  Light, fresh and just enough strawberry fruitiness. 

Springtime perfection.

Strawberry Buttercream (not exact Sprinkles recipe, but you get the gist)
1/2 C butter at room temp
2 1/2  C powder sugar (approximately, I just used what was left in the pantry)
1 t vanilla
1/4 cup fresh strawberry puree' (again approximate, it was a good two glugs of puree out of the blender)
Combine and once mixed, turn up mixer to medium high and beat for a few minutes to fluff it up
makes enough to frost 4 dozen mini cupcakes (give or take a few)
Enjoy
:0)

I'm Alive

Today I'm up and about and feel as though the worst has passed.

It is amazing what being out of commission for a few days can do to a house. 

Now I never claimed to be June Cleaver (oh lord, far from) but I was surprised to see what little I do (or at least try to do) is a lot more than I thought.  I'm unsure exactly how I feel about that, but I'm leaning towards positive spin.

Today the sun is actually out and I've already got laundry going and a head start on the kitchen.  I'm home alone for the first time in I think 2 weeks and I'm digging the quiet.  However if I am really going to get some work done tunes are a must. I have a play list on Grooveshark called Random Awesomeness (Hello, the 80's called and want their mix tape back)  The Knack, The Go-go's, Van Halen, the Who, Def Leppard, Meatloaf, Queen, The Plimsouls, The Babys... happy music for a less than happy task.

So in honor of less than happy tasks, a little happy music to help you get through

Happy Friday!!

Sick

 

"I cannot go to school today,"

Said little Peggy Ann McKay.

"I have the measles and the mumps,

A gash, a rash and purple bumps.

My mouth is wet, my throat is dry,

I'm going blind in my right eye.

My tonsils are as big as rocks,

I've counted sixteen chicken pox

And there's one more--that's seventeen,

And don't you think my face looks green?

My leg is cut--my eyes are blue--

It might be instamatic flu.

I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke,

I'm sure that my left leg is broke--

My hip hurts when I move my chin,

My belly button's caving in,

My back is wrenched, my ankle's sprained,

My 'pendix pains each time it rains.

My nose is cold, my toes are numb.

I have a sliver in my thumb.

My neck is stiff, my voice is weak,

I hardly whisper when I speak.

My tongue is filling up my mouth,

I think my hair is falling out.

My elbow's bent, my spine ain't straight,

My temperature is one-o-eight.

My brain is shrunk, I cannot hear,

There is a hole inside my ear.

I have a hangnail, and my heart is--what?

What's that? What's that you say?

You say today is. . .Saturday?

G'bye, I'm going out to play!"

 

This is one of my favorite Shel Silverstein poems.  Where the Sidewalk Ends always reminds me of 5th grade and Ms. Brimhall. However, unlike Ms Peggy Ann McKay, I am sick and I'm sooooo over it.  It started last week when Ben was diagnosed with the flu and now Sam and I have contracted some mild version of it (aka a cold).  So now my agenda for today is some cold meds and lots of hot coco. 

Happy Monday

It's Not Easy Being Green

Unfortunately the only green I will be wearing today is the green around my gills (aka I have the flu)

That's okay, I'm all snuggled up watching me some March Madness. 

I'm not a huge basketball fan, but I have a bracket so that makes it fun. 

My final 4 is still in tact and that makes me happy.

Something else that made me smile today was a cartoon that was posted on Facebook.

Happy Saint Patricks Day

:0)

Is it worth it?

This pretty much sums up how I'm feeling today. 

Is fighting the good fight worth it? 

How long before you realize you are out gunned and surrender? 

I'm having a tough time being an educator in parent clothing these days. 

For those of you who are not teachers, let me put it this way...

when you go to the docotor, how would you feel if they didn't wash their hands?

I'm not asking for much and that is what makes it all the more frustrating.