Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

On Saturday, I had the itch to bake. I found some yellow cake mix in the cabinet, but didn't feel like making your basic cupcakes. I saw this recipe for peanut butter and chocolate chip cupcakes and wanted to adapt it by using the cake mix instead. So did a little Google search and found the perfect recipe. I also had some leftover dark chocolate candy in the house and incorporated it in the mix. And I have to say they came out pretty good. 

Peanut Butter Cupcakes 

Ingredients:

• 1 package yellow cake mix
• 1/2 cup chunky peanut butter (I used creamy peanut butter)
• Chocolate chips (I added this to the recipe)

For the chocolate I used what was left of the Godiva chocolate gems (there was about 14 pieces) and rough chopped them. This probably yielded about a 1/2 cup. Of course if you use chocolate chips you might want to use 1 cup to get maximum chocolate goodness. 

For the frosting, I used this chocolate buttercream recipe and added 2 tablespoons of peanut butter. Ever since I started making my own frosting, I can't go back to canned frosting. It's way too sweet and with making it yourself, it's easier to control the sweetness factor. 

I want to get more baking done before the weather makes turning on an oven insufferable. Hopefully my next recipe will come from the Milk Bar cook book I got for Christmas. 

Quick and Easy Pumpkin Cupcakes

One thing that immediately reminds me of fall is pumpkins. I love it pie, latte, and even in ice cream. So when I came across this pumpkin cupcake recipe on Pinterest, I immediately had to try it. The cool thing about this recipe is that it doesn't use any oil or eggs. It's just cake mix and pumpkin puree.

Recipe adapted from Big Red Kitchen.

Ingredients:

• 1 box of yellow cake mix
• 1lb can pumpkin puree
• 1 1/2 tsp of nutmeg
• 2 tsp of cinnamon
• 2 tsp of vanilla extract

 Directions:

• Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees F if you are using a non-stick/dark baking pan. Pre-heat to 350 degrees F for a glass/shiny baking pan.
•  Add all ingredients to a bowl and mix. 
• Bake for 30 minutes.

Once the cupcakes are cooled you can either sprinkle powederd sugar over them or frost them with some cream cheese frosting. I used this frosting recipe from Paula Deen, but I cut the powdered sugar to 2 cups because it made it less sweet. 

There you have it, some wonderful pumpkin cupcakes that you can make during the fall season. 

Getting Preppy With It

Polo and eyelet skirt: Old Navy

Sandals: Payless

Necklace and Ring: Forever 21

Lipstick: Sephora Rouge in Hot Tango

I used to wear polos a lot in high school. Then I just grew out of them and no longer part of the style I wanted to go for. However I had to wear one for work today and I had to buy one since I got rid of all of my polos. 
So I prepped it up today complete with gumball sized pearls.

Also broke out the red lipstick today. Does it look too bright? My mom think it does but maybe because I don't wear lipstick a lot. Now I'm on the hunt for the perfect pink and coral lipstick. A field trip to Sephora is in order. 

I also made these for work. Very yummy!

Just Another Saturday

Top: Walmart 

Skirt and Flats: Old Navy

Necklace: Forever 21

Some of the things I did today....

Had a wonderful Margaritaville cupcake from Truly Madly Sweetly

Tried on some things at Forever 21.

Didn't get any clothes, but I did get some sparkly bracelets.

I also went to the Apple store to check out the iPad2 which I still want to get. I was also supposed to go to the library, have the Hunger Games series on hold, but when I got there it was closed. Due to a bike race that was going on earlier that day. Blast, I wanted to start reading it. Oh well, it's not like I have a ton books I still have to read. :P

I think tomorrow I'm going to watch Rango and do a DIY project.

What are your weekend plans?

No More 3x5's

30x30 Items:

1) Charlotte Russe Striped Top

23) Old Navy Skinny Jeans

29) Old Navy Flats

This is actually an outfit repeat from last week. But since I didn't get a photo of it, I'm wearing it again. Today I went to my friend Rachel's house where we made red velvet cupcakes, Semi-homemade style. Used a box cake mix, but made our own cream cheese frosting. They were so yummy. I will always love cupcakes, even when they become passe in the foodie world.

We were so proud of our creations. Hehe. Afterwards, we watched (500) Days of Summer. Rachel never watched it before, (gasp!) but she enjoyed it (yay!). She too was enamoured with Summer's outfits in various shades of blue. I'm thinking once my 30x30 is over, were going to have a little shopping trip.

I also have to give props for being my photographer for today. 

She even took this picture of me doing the ubiquitous jumping shot. 

Yay for being original. Hehe.

Today's 30x30 post title comes from the song 3x5 by John Mayer

The Brenton Stripe Cha Cha

Brenton Stripe Top, Ruffle Skirt and Flats: Old Navy

Necklaces: Forever 21

I once had a co-worker who every that would always say "strip-ed" instead of just "striped". She would also do the same thing with the word plaid, but I would never razz on her about that because I'm pretty bad a pronouncing words too. Just ask my sister who always corrects me, which I know she will when I visit her in NYC in May.  

But anywhoo, here's my take on Brenton stripes for Everybody, Everywear. I missed out on the Gingham assignment, so I didn't want to do the same with this. Plus I love a classic stripe. It something that you can wear with anything and any style. 

 Also in honor of Everyday, Everywear I made some cupcakes. Reese's Peanut Butter Cupcakes to be exact. It's a chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting and a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup inside the cupcake.

It's so mind-numbingly good. I wish I can do some virtual taste test, but since our technology isn't that advance, (yet) I will be doing a recipe post for these tasty little peanut butter and chocolate wonderment's soon.

Thank You for Being a Friend

Velvet Dress: Forever 21

Blazer: Target

Bag: Old Navy

Necklace: Express

Tights: Target

Today I spent very in due girl bonding time with my friend Kathleen. While we may only live 30 minutes from each other, the last time we hung out was at a No Doubt concert in August of '09. So we met up in Downtown Riverside and for the next 4 hours we talked and got up to date on the goings on in our lives over coffee, (hazelnut lattes from The Coffee Bean are very good btw), wandered around downtown and had some yummy cupcakes. I had a great time hanging out with Kathleen and we plan on hanging out again much sooner next time.

First off we went to the Riverside Museum with the intentions of checking out the Star Trek exhibit, until we found out the exhibit is at a different location. Oops! It's open until February 28th, so we still have time to check it out. But we still explored their current exhibits.

We then made our way to the antique market which was a candy land for me. There's four floors full of jewelery, furniture, clothing and cute tchotchkes. We spent a good hour and a half wandering around the different booths.

I ended up picking up two brooches of a banjo and a cat and a little Betsy McCall figure. I picked the one where she's holding the microphone, but I liked them all.

Afterwards we filled our tummies with cupcakes from Casey's Cupcakes. The last time I was in the area the shop wasn't finished, but when we walked in it was all pink and girly. They had a lot of varieties of cupcakes. It took me a few minutes to pick one, but I ended up getting the cupcake of the month, Casey's Confetti Cheer while Kathleen picked the Scrumptious Cinnamon Sugar.  I heard their Razzmatazz Raspberry is good, but of course it was sold out when I was there. All the more reason to go back and try it.
Also random trivia about the shop.
The owner Casey Reinhardt, was in season two of Laguna Beach.

On the agenda for next week, my first visit to the LACMA. :)

Black Friday

30 for 30 Items:

Old Navy Striped Shirt and Black Jeans

Payless Black Mini-wedges

The Icing:

Forever 21 Necklace

Another 2 outfit post only because I've been working during one of the busiest weekends of the retail season. I'm just so glad it's only one month out of the year. If this was every month, I'd be even more exhausted than I am now.

 I knew that I'd be running around a lot on black Friday so I kept my outfit fairly simple. Jeans and t-shirt. Plus I had to wear this work issued lime green hoodie. Maybe I'll post it, maybe not. :P

By the end of the night, my jeans were covered in lint, I got Creme Brulee Latte on my shirt and I was tired and delusional. Then I had to do it all again 8 hours later, (got off at 2am and had to be back at 10am) while waking up to a very stiff and sore body.

30 for 30 Items:

Old Navy Grey Sweater and Polka Dot Top

Reflections Brown Boots

The Icing:

Forever 21 Necklaces

Old Navy Tights

Yes, I did wear the lime green hoodie with this outfit and I did not get any funny looks from it. Plus these are some of my items that are currently not in the laundry pile. But I do like the pairing of the different blues. Although I should have worn comfy socks under my boots. Combined being already tired and constantly running around, my feet were definitely barking. Just being able to sit down during my break is nothing to be taken for granted.

Also for Black Friday, my work had a potluck and of course I made cupcakes. I made my standard red velvet cupcakes, but I also tried my hand at French Toast and Bacon Cupcakes. I got the recipe from Life With Cake and I have to say, it was a hit with my co-workers.

I think I made the buttercream a little too sweet which I'll take down a notch the next time I make it. Plus I think I'll add more bacon to the batter, which I added to the recipe.

Oh and I shopped...

for myself.

Yeah...

More about that later...