A little much?

OK, maybe. But, it's better than what I'm working with.

Another day, another plan.

I have gotten a new, WONDERFUL trainer to set me up a workout plan (that is already kicking my butt) with one goal, to get ripped.

I'm really not into the whole beanpole thing. It does nothing for me and actually makes me quite sad to see how weak and unhealthy women are striving to be.

After losing my mom to pancreatic cancer, fighting my personal battles with skin cancer, watching my dear father-in-law suffer the pain of rhumatoid arthritis and standing by helplessly as my sweet, little nephew battles his way through the first few months of life with practically half a heart, I have come to realize that our bodies are so fragile.

It is now my mission to become as healthy and strong as I can be.

As my trainer puts it, 'If you don't take care of your body, where else will you live?'

(I know this post must seem funny coming from the girl that constantly blogs cupcake recipes and ideas, but, what can I say...making salads just isn't quite as fun.)

Swim bags

For all of you swim team moms or moms of girls that just love to swim, here's a really fun tutorial on making these. My girls are so proud of their custom bags.

Moving on,

Only seven more days until we start the move to our new house. Can you sense the excitement in my voice?:( It only took about a day before the joy of selling our house wore down to groans and angst over not having a bigger, better home to move into. This will be the first time that we have sold our house without a plan, that plan being a home that we have spent months materializing from dream to reality.

THIS SUCKS.

I know I sound spoiled. Maybe that is the lesson that I am being taught. So I'll move into the rental (while we make a 'plan') with a smile and anticipation for memories yet to be realized within those new walls.

PS- Have fun at Powell, Casey. Don't worry, I'll pack up and clean all 5000sq ft. of this house and have it ready to move out of by the time you get home:) No, really, have fun and you owe me!

I'm in love...

with these cupcakes!!

This is hard to say, coming from a cupcake lover, but sometimes I just don't want all of the heavy frosting that accompanies a good cupcake. For me, this cupcake, having a different texture and topping, was like a breath of fresh air, like a snickerdoodle cupcake.

Enjoy!

Cinnamon Sugar Puff Cupcakes

1 1/2 C unbleached all-purpose flour

1 t baking powder

1/2 t salt

1/4 t ground nutmeg

6 T unsalted butter, at room temp

1/2 C sugar

1 large egg, slightly beaten

1/2 C milk (any fat content)

• Heat oven to 350 degrees and spray inside of 12 muffin cups with nonstick coating.
• Sift the flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg into a medium bowl and set aside. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the butter and sugar until blended and creamy, about 1 minute. Scrape the sides of the bowl, as needed. Beat in the egg, mixing until smooth and thick. On low speed, add the flour mixture in 3 additions and the milk in 2 additions, beginning and ending with the flour mixture and mixing just until the flour mixture is incorporated and the batter looks smooth.
• Fill each muffin cup with about 3 T of batter, to about 1/2 inch below the top. Bake just until the top feels firm and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 16-18 minutes. Cool the cupcakes for five minutes in the pan on a wire rack.

Coating

6 T unsalted butter, melted

1/2 C sugar

1 1/4 t ground cinnamon

• Meanwhile, make the coating. Put the melted butter in a medium bowl. In another medium bowl, stir the sugar and cinnamon together.
• Carefully place the wire rack on top of the cupcakes in their pan. Protecting your hands with pot holders and holding the pan and the rack together, invert them to release the cupcakes onto the rack. Turn the cupcakes atop and immediately roll them in the melted butter, then in the cinnamon sugar mixture to coat completely. Yummy served warm but room temp is fine, too.
  (from the book 'cupcakes' by Elinor Klivans)