Moustache On A Stick

I've always wanted to try these photo booth props with a photo session. I was looking at them on Etsy and decided they would be way cheaper if I made them myself :) Since I already had the card stock, all I had to do was buy the sticks and find some templates, which I got from here. I told the kids they could have these ones if they posed for a picture with them. They are simple and cute, and I can't wait to use them on some upcoming Fall Mini Sessions! Flipping through the photos on my camera after I snapped a few gave us all a pretty good laugh!

Ok, time to take the kids outside to play before bath/bedtime! 

~Susan

Fall Mini Sessions

For those who live in the Mat-Su area:

Super Moist Chocolate Cupcakes With The BEST Cream Cheese Icing

Yesterday I was in a baking mood. Sure, I had some things to return to the store, some clothes to drop off at the consignment shop and my tax form to fill out and return (for my photography business), BUT, I did make it to the gym, so why not counteract that small bit of productivity with some good ole chocolate cupcakes?!
I love searching the internet for new recipes. I was in the mood to make cupcakes and I wanted to make them from scratch. I checked the pantry to see what ingredients I had on hand and found I was stocked up on ingredients to make this chocolate cupcake recipe. I tried the frosting recipe that is included on that page and I didn't like it so much. It was REALLY sweet and didn't have a good consistency. So I searched some more for a better frosting recipe and came across a cream cheese frosting recipe, let me just stop here a second and say, MY OH MY, this is frosting heaven!!! It took a lot of self control to not eat this frosting by the spoonful, it is THAT good!
Anyway, the chocolate cupcakes came out super moist, almost like a devil's food cake; paired with this cream cheese frosting and topped with chocolate shavings and toffee bits, this is the perfect cupcake! Whose birthday is next?? I'm ready to bake some more of these bad boys!

I hope you enjoy! Try them out, they are super easy and very delicious! Don't have a piping bag or tip? Just use a Ziploc and cut one corner at an angle and now you can frost the cupcakes with a more professional look :) (That is how I frosted mine)

Here are the links to the recipes:

Super Moist Chocolate Cupcakes:

http://www.fortheloveofcooking.net/2010/12/super-moist-chocolate-cupcake-with.html


The Best Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe:

http://www.slashfood.com/2007/10/24/last-cream-cheese-frosting/


Here's my documentation; my little baking buddy loved being the taste tester!

Hmmm...

I think he approves!

How in the word he got the batter on his legs and socks, I have no idea!

This is what happened when I put the icing away...

But then he got the beater and was happy again

Icing on the left-VERY sweet buttercream, icing on the right-DELICIOUS cream cheese...as you can see the cream cheese is a better consistency too

Again, left is buttercream; right is cream cheese. I'm no cupcake expert, but pretty sure the right looks better then the left (I used the same method to ice them)

Final product...aren't those cupcake papers super cute? I found them at our local party store :)

Now, excuse me while I go scarf one of these down for breakfast...

Enjoy!

~Susan

Why Didn't I Think Of That?!?

Pinterest; for me, it's a love/hate relationship. I love it for the obvious: awesome ideas, yummy recipes, inspiring quotes, cute crafts and so on...I dislike it because it's addicting, it can make you question your own crafting skills, and it can really make you crazy with that constant "Wow, I really need to keep up with everyone else and try this {recipe/craft} like right now!" Do you know what I'm talking about? Also, how about that constant thought, "Why didn't I think of that?!"?
Well, I did find this super simple idea for me to do with my daughter that only required me to buy one thing, and would provide us an opportunity to work on something together :)
We made some mini lanterns out of Dixie cups and Christmas lights! That's it! Very simple and very cute! She enjoyed the project and the outcome, and most importantly, making something with mom :)
Here is what we came up with...now I know it would look WAY better with a string of white wire Christmas lights, but this is what we had, and, being 7, she really didn't care ;)

So, you take Dixie cups, mark an X at the bottom and cut with an Xacto knife and push light bulb through the X, and that's it! Cute, huh? These are the kinds of Pinterest ideas I love; simple, easy, inexpensive, creative and a good project to do with my kids.

What's your favorite new idea you have found on Pinterest?

~Susan

Summer Fields

Yesterday was a gorgeous day here in Alaska, so a few hours before sunset I took this special girl to a nearby field to capture some sweet moments. I love lighting just before sunset; it's so soft and natural. She definitely enjoyed some special one on one time, as you can tell :)

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

~Susan