vanilla cupcakes

birthday cakes are fun but birthday cupcakes are more fun. to celebrate my mom's birthday, i baked this vanilla cupcakes for her.

Ingredients:

• 2 sticks butter, room temperature
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 4 eggs, room temperature
• 3/4 c whole wheat flour
• 3/4 c all purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 3 tsp vanilla
• 6 tbsp milk, room temperature

1. in a bowl, add all the ingredients (except the milk) & beat with a hand mixer.

2. pour milk & continue beating until smooth.

3. place batter in cupcake liners & bake in a preheated oven at 350F for 15-20 minutes.

as always, this recipe was inspired from one of my favorite blogs - baked bree. the original recipe should be topped with royal icing but i opted for vanilla buttercream frosting instead.

blowing the candles before midnight

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MoM!

vendor event IV

my fourth vendor event in augusta during
the bean & bacon days 2012.

this is my mom

my friend janine - selling her handmade trinkets

and our girl - handing out candy to the crowd

mothers' day photo contest

check out this article here.

and for winning the mothers' day photo contest, i received 4 movie tickets to carmike cinema, a fitness shirt & a $50 chamber gift certificate.

my dearest little girl (30)

two & a half...is that you already? you've hurdled another important milestone. there's been so much going on with you all the time. everyday is always a surprise - new words, new songs, new tricks, new expressions.

this month, i heard you say "my mom", "my dad" & "my grandma". this meant a lot to me. you're beginning to learn the concept of ownership & possession. i'm actually glad you didn't learn this early on. [ask me why....]

jumping non-stop from one rock to the next at phoenix park

with mom & gram

our new home

when one door closes, another one will surely open. for our case, it literally "closed & opened."

a couple of months ago [in the dead of winter], my family drove around searching for the perfect home. all house hunters will agree with me that finding the right one is not easy.

and after miles & miles of driving, we finally found it.

here's a look at our new home....

maple road

today, we bid goodbye to our home in maple road.

we have lived here for more than six years & we loved it.

we had a lot of happy memories.

but due to circumstances we can not avoid,

we decided to move out.

but life must go on &

we have to move on as well....

my dearest little girl (29 mos)

 

two weeks ago, i decided to be more aggressive with your potty training. no more diapers at night & every time we leave the house. a handful of accidents in the process but overall you did great. you've been pretty good with pulling your undies/pants down all the time. i make sure i constantly remind you to go. i'm happy & proud to say you're finally potty trained. it was such a big accomplishment for all of us.

  

and grandma's finally back! since she arrived, you're talking non-stop, dancing & singing all your nursery rhymes. your dad & i are just amazed & surprised because you're such a big show-off.

opening fishing weekend at lake chetac.