Cupcakes!

Occasionally....okay, often....okay, very often....we use baking as a "project" to help pass the time and make us feel as if we're having a productive day. We do more of it when I'm pregnant...because I have cravings...or weaknesses.

However, putting the house on the market has brought big messy projects to a bit of a standstill at the moment. So, when Clinton woke up from his nap the other day and realized I had made cupcakes for us to ice and sprinkle, he was beyond elated!

Heidi Sage has yet to care much for the helping part yet...unless it comes to helping "put it away". She loves her some cupcakes.

So, while we were in the middle of our little project, I went to set HS up at the table with her cupcake. I came back to help Clinton finish the icing. As we were wrapping that up, I looked over to discover HS had inhaled her cupcake and was GLEEful.

As I went to snap some pictures of her, someone took it upon themselves to decorate the cupcakes with sprinkles...ALL the sprinkles. (And don't judge me for that can of frosting. When keeping a house spotless for selling, it's imperative to take shortcuts such as these.)

And while I think I know who the sprinkle bandit was, I'm not really one for pointing fingers.

You can tell when they're done, which cupcake belongs to who...Heidi Sage has nothing left of hers, and Clinton only eats the top off of his. Once the icing is gone, he's done. But Heidi Sage can sniff out Clinton's left overs and has no qualms about taking them for herself.

Amazingly, there are still a few of these left...but seeing as I eat one in the morning with my coffee, and Rodney can only seem to eat them in pairs, they should be gone soon...and then we shall bake again.

SPRINKLES!! (Shout-out to all my fellow MHS cheearleaders!)

Sugar-Free Sweetness

Have you had the Mango Smoothie at the Target deli? Clinton and I L-O-V-E the Mango Smoothie at the Target Deli. Upon entering the store we head straight to the deli to get one and we fight over -- I mean share -- it as we make our way through the store. It's pure deliciousness.

It's also pure sugar. And sugar turns to fat. And fat turns to my hips and thighs for a comfortable place to rest. And my hips and thighs are currently keeping me from my skinny jeans. And my skinny jeans make me feel good about myself.

So, the short of it is the Mango Smoothies actually make me feel bad about myself. But I needed a smoothie fix, so I started working on a version that only contained the natural sugars of fruit and and not the added sugar, or even scarier, high-fructose corn syrup. Gasp!

Here's what I came up with....

Mix one liter of club soda with one fruit juice concentrate. I used Apple-Cherry. Make sure it says 100% Juice, not Juice Cocktail.


Pour the juice into ice cube trays and put in the freezer.


Once they are frozen take them out and let the nearest two year old lick the tops to make sure they taste okay.


Put the frozen juice cubes in the food processor (or possibly the blender). If the juice is still a little wet it will probably process perfectly. If the juice is frozen solid, you may need to add a little water or juice as it is processing.


Put the deliciousness into the nearest cup with a straw (or spoon).


It's important to use the club soda rather than water because it freezes differently. Freezing water is too hard and won't break down like a Target smoothie.

Enjoy,