Belated Birthday Blog Post

Even though our birthdays were two weeks ago, Brad and I just wrapped up the celebration this past weekend. I have always been really good at that somehow...stretching my birthday out, that is. Now that I have to share my day with the hubby, he just follows suit.
We kicked off the two week long party with dinner with friends at Boundry. It was delicious!!! A little out of our everyday price range, but hey, it was our birthday! We had big juicy steaks, potatoes and we even tried caviar as a part of an appetizer...it really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Overall, great food and pretty cool atmosphere.

As my birthday celebration continued, the ladies at work showered me with adorable gifts!! Sweet Stella decorated my hygiene room with flowers and gave me these pretty serving trays and necklace pendant.



Sweet Carol gave me the cutest set of stationary. It includes a journal, stickers, and different sizes of note cards...just adorable!!!



And finally, my secret pal at work gave me this cute slate to put up at our new house!!!

So, I know what you are thinking by now...and it's ok because I'm thinking it too...I am REALLY spoiled!!! But I am also really grateful for the sweet gifts, thoughts and birthday wishes!!
Brad and I both received many gift cards from his family and mine. We are sooooo excited and can't wait to use them on things for the house!!! Bailey also gave us gift cards for a date night...dinner at Olive Garden and dessert at Cold Stone = DELICIOUS!!! Brad got a Cardinals hat and koozie from Adam, tools from Brandi and a Titans rug from mom and Sam. Adam gave me a purse...I love it!!!! Brandi took me to get a pedicure. It was awesome!!! And mom and Sam gave me the Sookie Stackhouse series. I've already started the first book. We topped it off with a yummy ice cream cake. Unfortunately, I left my camera in Nashville this weekend, so I don't have any pictures, but we had a great time!!
And how could I forget my amazing present from Brad??? Tickets to the CMT awards at Bridgestone arena June 9th. YAY!!!! Still don't really know what to wear yet, but I guess I will have to figure it out soon. It's only one week away!!!
We both had a super birthday with wonderful friends and family. However, our younger siblings didn't hesitate to remind us that, as 26 year olds, we are now closer to 30 than we are to 20. Ugh!! :) Gotta love 'em though. You are only as old as you feel, right??!! We have a busy and exciting year ahead and we are ready to get it started!!

Cupcake anyone??

It looks like a cupcake, but it's really a chocolate dipped ball of red velvet cake and cream cheese icing topped with sprinkles and an M&M. Yum!!! I'm glad I found a good reason to try these sweet cupcakes!!

I decided to make some Mother's Day treats for the ladies at work since I'm the only "non-mom" there. It gave me the perfect chance to try a recipe from Bakerella. Originally, I was going to make cupcake pops, but I waited until the last second to go get ingredients, (imagine that!!) and I couldn't find all of the supplies at Walmart. So, instead, I made cupcake bites...almost the same thing, just not on a stick. They were a lot of fun to make, and I think they turned out okay for my first attempt!!

These cupcake bites were fairly simple to make. First, I baked a red velvet cake in a 13 x 9 pan. I just followed the directions on the box, and I used Duncan Hines for the cake and the frosting.



When the cake was done baking, I let it cool completely. Then, I crumbled it up into a fine, fluffy texture. Next, I emptied the can of frosting into the crumbled cake and mixed it together. I used the back of a wooden spoon and it worked fine.




Then, I rolled the cake and frosting mixture into balls. I put them in the freezer for a little while, not until they were frozen, but until they were a little more firm and easier to work with.



Then, I melted chocolate bark and spooned it into cupcake wrapper molds. I dropped a cake ball into each mold and put them into the freezer for 1 or 2 minutes...just long enough for the chocolate bark to harden. After a couple of minutes, they popped right out of the mold and they were ready to dip into tinted candy melts.




For the colorful cupcake "icing" I used white candy melts and tinted them with food coloring. Time for a dip...



Now for the final step...decorating!! I, like Bakerella, used sprinkles and an M&M on top. It only took a few minutes for the candy melts to set, and then they were ready to eat!!





These cupcake bites are not only delicious, but really cute, too. Mine didn't turn out as perfect as Bakerella's, but after a couple of tries, I hope to get the hang of it. I took these in to the office yesterday, and there are only four or five left. At least they were edible...and so much fun to make!!!

Mother's Day

I know that Mother's Day was yesterday, but it's never too late to recognize great mothers!! I have definitely been blessed with wonderful women in my family. I've been surrounded by them my whole life. I hope they all know how much they are loved and admired and missed, not only on Mother's Day, but every day!! Here are the special ladies!!

My amazing mom and me


My awesome step mom, Sherie and my dad


Brad and precious Memaw...Love and miss her soooo much!!


Me with my sweet grandma and pop pop


My wonderful mother-in-law and me


Brad's sweet grandma and me


All of these ladies hold a very special place in my heart and in our family. I am certainly blessed to have them in my life, and I hope they had a wonderful Mother's Day!!