"i knew you were trouble when you walked in..."

"i knew you were trouble when you walked in..." yes, this is a song i frequently sing to my little guy. the other day i turned around and he was on top of our coat hanger... i scolded, "Gunther get down! but not until i get a picture!" he got down alright, but only because it toppled over from all his squirming :) oh how i love this kitty!  

must reads.

stir your brain. think. contemplate. enjoy these reads today! 

1.  Darling Magazine: Reclaiming Delight
2.  Growing Up With Two Moms: The Untold Children’s View
3.  The Gay Community and That One Time Jesus Called Me the ‘N-word’
4.  Water For Camels

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strawberry cupcakes with lime buttercream frosting.

happy tuesday, lovelies! here is the recipe i promised. i made these cupcakes for Easter Sunday... the strawberry and lime flavors are perfect for welcoming in spring (btw spring, where are you? winter has overstayed his welcome). this recipe is very simple. 

i made the frosting first so i could refrigerate it while preparing the cupcakes. i think cold icing is easier to manipulate onto the cupcakes. 

lime buttercream frosting:

• 1 package of cream cheese
• 1 stick of butter
• 3 tbsp of lime juice
• 4 cups of confectioners sugar
• 1 tsp of almond extract 

beat the cream cheese and butter together until mixed. add the lime juice. gradually add the confectioners sugar, about one cup at a time, waiting to add the next cup until mixed. add the almond extract. once frosting is smooth and creamy, put in fridge to chill. 

strawberry cupcakes: 
(makes 24)

• 1 box of white Duncan Hines cake mix
• 1 box of strawberry Jello mixture
• 3 large eggs
• 1/2 cup of oil
• 1/2 cup of diced fresh strawberries

preheat oven to 350 degrees. combine cake mix, jello mix, and oil into mixer and beat. gradually add the eggs, one at a time. add diced strawberries. once mix is completely smooth with no bumps (and a pretty pink color), add your mixture to some pretty cupcake liners and bake for 18-22 minutes. once cupcakes are baked and completely cool, add your frosting.

{yes, i did in fact eat one for breakfast this morning. in the words of kate spade and her merchandise, "eat cake for breakfast." i happen to like this motto very much.} 

have a beautiful tuesday!

Easter Sunday.

I hope everyone had a beautiful Easter Sunday! We had a quiet, intimate day, just the two of us (or "three" if we're including the kitty). We started the morning off at church and came home to do our Easter basket hunt. Every year we hide Easter baskets filled with candy for one another and every year it takes me forever to find mine, while that boo of mine finds his right away. Well this year we are living in a much smaller space, so finding creative hiding spots was much more challenging. And I am proud to say that for the first time, this lady right here found her basket first!

 

The Easter Bunny even brought something for our little Gunther! I wasn't sure if Gunther would be too interested in the things in his basket (let's face it, giving him a basket was more for our benefit and entertainment), but he really was! He spent a good while playing with a new toy and eating kitty treats :)

 I decided to splurge on an unhealthy dinner, being a holiday worthy of celebration and all ;) Lately we've been pretty strict with our diets throughout the week, eating plain chicken breasts and plain sautéed veggies...no butters, cheeses, salts, or desserts. But for Easter, I made chicken cordon bleu, creamy corn, and other fresh veggies, with berry cobbler, and strawberry lemonade cupcakes with lime buttercream frosting (recipe to come). 

We have lots of leftovers, not to mention all of our Easter candy, so it may be awhile before the diet resumes ;) We are so blessed with all we have, but most of all for the life we have in Christ. His resurrection is the basis for how all believers ought to live out their lives. 

Happy Easter!!