Today was a long day. And I do mean that literally, because although in some people's minds, it is tomorrow, for me the day is not yet over. I have been cleaning. All. Day. Ughh... It's good though, my house looks amazing. I just hope we can keep it looking this good for the next couple weeks because next weekend I will not have time to clean and do all those lovely weekend things that mommies get to do.
I got up this morning and started on my bedroom. Then I moved to L & G's room. Then the hall. Then the living room. Then the play room... well, you get the picture. I systematically cleaned the entire upper floor of the house. I also did laundry and raked leaves (in the snow - I'm dedicated... not really, but I needed to finish it before the last pick-up, and since it's going to snow again tomorrow, I wanted them up before we get any surprise major dumpings of snow.) Came back in, made dinner for the family, cleaned the bathroom, did more laundry.
And then I get to my fun stuff. I had a great night. Yesterday I started making mini cupcakes for my MIL's Christmas party which is on Sunday. I wanted to show up with a little surprise for them, and this seemed the best way to go about it. So I made up the cupcakes, which since they're minis, cooked surprisingly fast. About 12 minutes or so, and they're perfect!
Then I decided, well, they need some icing.... (just kidding, I did plan this out in advance, I didn't just go at it for fun!)
But that still wasn't enough and as cute as they were, I felt they needed some more Oomph (is that a word?) But that needed to wait until the first icing set, and besides, it was pretty late by the time I finished the first round of icing. So today, I got to play a little in the kitchen and here's where they start to look really cool. :) I found a standard buttercream icing recipe online, since my vanilla icing recipe just doesn't make enough and I didn't want my chocolate buttercream (although it is my absolute favourite ever - if you don't include my mom's coffee buttercream which I could eat straight out of the bowl until it was gone, regardless of the stomach pains I'd get later!) But I digress... I found the butter cream recipe, coloured it green and Voila!
Aren't these just the cutest things ever? I've gotta say, that whole practice makes perfect thing seems to totally work... who knew that when I was working at Michael's, deciding to peek my head in for the cake decorating classes now and again, I never really expected the information to sink in! And now, having to make at least 4 cakes a year, I have gotten remarkably good with icing!
Alas, there were four innocent little cupcakes left over without trees... (why I must ask are there always 4?... specifically, every time I bake, or do something, there's always 4 left that I just cannot finish because I run out of icing, sugar, etc.)
So I found some little sugar creations that a friend of mine sent from England, shaped like little wreaths and gingerbread men and stuck them on top... not nearly as impressive but still cute. :) I'm sure J, L & G will love them all the same. L was desperate to help me make them, but since she's had a fever for the last couple of days, unfortunately I was without my little helper. Soon enough, it will be Christmas cookie baking season, and I will definitely need her help with that! I still don't know how many I'm going to make this year - but if it's anything like prior years, well.. you'll see!
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