Thanksgiving Time

This past week was Thanksgiving which brings good food, drinks, family time and SHOPPING! I must say that I felt a little bit useless this year since I was so busy before hand. I think this is just because last year I hosted and this year I didn't but I still felt like I did nothing. I did make cupcakes and a delicious no-bake pumpkin pie. I also slept until noon on Thanksgiving and didn't even leave the apartment for the drive until almost 1pm!! I did love seeing my nephew this week though, I even got to babysit him for the first official time on Friday while my sister went to work. This was a little interesting since I had gotten up at 3:30am for shopping. I guess I am lucky that he is still a little under the weather so he was pretty chillaxed all day.

I was very disappointed with shopping this year though. I started at Target and only hit JCPenny's after. At target I was very surprised at how few people were there. I didn't wait in line outside I went in at the end of the crowd. I spent about 15 minutes walking around and really didn't find much. The DVD selection was the exact same as last year with maybe 5 new selections and I was highly disappointed with the amount of sweaters that were NOT on sale!! This explains my trip to JCP. I was primarily going there for a pair of boots in the add, but the location I went to had a very limited shoe department and did not have the style I wanted. I did get three sweaters at 60% off, a pink leather wallet and a black and white diamond accent penguin necklace at 70% off. Overall I was pleased that I didn't spend too much money however I got no Christmas shopping done!! What my family wants is too practical and day-to-day stuff to be on Blackfriday add. Oh well, I think next year I will do the four day add before Thanksgiving instead since they seemed to be better deals.

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cupcakes:
1 box spice cake mix
1 cup pumpkin puree, NOT pumpkin pie filling
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup milk
2 cups (1 regular size bag) semisweet chocolate chips

1. Mix all ingredients until smooth
2. Fill 3/4 full and bake at 350 for 15-18 minutes
3. Cool and frost
* I used a store bought cream cheese frosting but a chocolate ganache or buttercream would be good as well.

No Bake Pumpkin Pie:
1 can pumpkin puree
1 large tub coolwhip
1 large box instant vanilla pudding mix
1 tsp cinnamon

1. Combine all ingredients
2. Fill two graham cracker pie crusts
3. Refrigerate 1-2 hours to set
*I also did this in the classroom and instead of using pie crust I just put a scoop of graham cracker crumbs in a paper cup with a scoop of filling on top. The kids loved it and it doesn't have to set up then!

Moving!!

So I have been moving this past weekend as well as working and keeping up on homework. Today while I was figuring out my time-offs for next month in between assignments while I was cooling off after hauling dishes I realized I have a problem: I NEED to be overwhelmed!! Who in their right mind would plan a wedding while in college two weeks after Christmas and decide to move on top of all of that the week of Thanksgiving? As I am sitting here writing this I am thinking about what I am going to bake for Thanksgiving Wednesday in between school and work...I think I need help! My mother-in-law was right, I am going to be bored after the wedding with nothing but school. It will still be too early for kids so I am foreseeing lots of cooking, baking and crafts over the next year.

More Cupcakes and Good News!!

First my good news is that we are moving into a two bedroom, two bath apartment! I am so excited. There will be so much more room and we will have an office (2nd bedroom) for all of my school work and things I have started collecting for my own classroom. It is on the third floor and we don't have elevators, but luckily it is in the same building and the stairwell right outside of our apartment leads straight to the door of the new one!! How lucky!! I so can't wait for vaulted ceiling bedroom, two bathrooms (that means I get one to decorate girly!!), and office space.


I also received my bridesmaid dresses, well my mother in law did. She inspected them and said they were perfect!! So excited, 67 days until the wedding. I wish I had more to do, but now I have to start packing and cleaning so I guess that will work! This dress but in a pinky-coral color.


I also made another cupcake: Double Chocolate Chip with Oatmeal with Chocolate Butter Cream Frosting. These are a very rich cupcake and very chocolaty!! Still working on finding frosting I like. I think It might be that my recipes are calling for two much powdered sugar or the vanilla? Still pretty good for first time butter cream.

Double Chocolate Chip with Oatmeal Cupcake:
1 chocolate cake mix
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup oil
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup oats (instant works best, but I used the regular kind and they were delicious and had added texture)
1 cup chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350, prep pan with liners
2. Mix all ingredients until combined (batter will be shiny and very thick)
3. Fill liners 2/3 full
4. Bake 15-18 minutes

Chocolate Butter Cream Frosting:
1 stick of butter (8 tbsp)
1/3 cup cocoa powder
3 cups sifted powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
3-4 tbsp milk or cream

1. Beat butter until fluffy
2. Turn off mixer and add cocoa, sugar, vanilla and 3tsp milk.
3. Mix until combined and fluffy
4. Add the rest of milk if frosting is too thick or dry