Cupcake Challenge: Week 27 to Week 37!

Hello Everyone! So way back in June or July, I took a break from my challenge due to customer’s request.  I have been back on my challenge for a while, but have been super busy that I haven’t been blogging. To make up the difference, below is the rest of the cupcakes I made in 2012 and the links to the original recipes.  Moving forward any cupcakes that I have made in 2013, I will write posts for.  I have been making two cupcakes a week to speed up the challenge, and finish it (hopefully before I leave for Australia in March)!

Week 27: Corona Cupcakes- http://www.ericasweettooth.com/2012/01/blue-moon-and-corona-cupcakes.html

Notes:  I used Corona in honor of my roomate’s birthday and its her favorite beer.  You can’t really taste the corona, but they do taste good.

Week 28: Smores-

Notes: I used a picture as my inspiration and used a previous chocolate cake mix and frosting. 

Week 29: Apple Cider Cupcakes- http://blog.lehighvalleylive.com/local-food-recipes/2011/05/apple_cider_cupcakeswapple_but.html

Week 30: Meat Loaf Cupcakes- http://firstlookthencook.com/2011/11/02/meatloaf-cupcakes/

Notes: I used my own personal family meatloaf recipe and added bacon, as its part of my recipe.  The idea came from a co-workers birthday request, and they turned out amazing!!

Week 31: Pumpkin Cupcake with Maple Forsting- http://www.housebeautiful.com/kitchens/recipes/ina-garten-pumpkin-cupcake-recipe

Week 32: Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes- http://bakingbites.com/2009/10/impossible-pumpkin-pie-cupcakes/#more-3834

Notes: This recipe did not turn out anything like the picture.  I will not make this one again!

Week 33: Chocolate Pumpkin Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting -http://www.phemomenon.com/chocolate-pumpkin-cake/

Notes: This was an intense recipe.  It takes time and I didn’t not make everything from the original blog post.  I recommend really reading recipe through a few times, and planning correctly!

Week 34: Dark Chocolate Raspberry Curd- http://javacupcake.com/2012/07/dark-chocolate-raspberry-curd-filled-cupcakes/

Week 35: Cinnamon Roll Cupcakes- http://www.pink-parsley.com/2009/09/cinnamon-roll-cupcakes.html

Week 36:  Peppermint Hot Chocolate- http://thecupcakeblog.com/christmas-hot-chocolate-cupcake/

Note: Candy Canes melt in the fridge!

Week 37: Salted Carmel Pretzel Cupcake- http://cupcakestakethecake.blogspot.com/2011/06/fathers-day-limited-edition-chocolate.html (epic fall on my part, never took picture of finished product!)

So in 2012, I was able to complete 37 weeks, only 15 more to go… Almost done!!!!  :)

Love always, aloterella :)

Happy New Years ... 2013!

Happy New Year Everyone!  I have been very very very bad lately with this whole blogging thing, but life is busy as always.  I started this blog post on new years eve, and here I am finally finishing and posting six days later. In a recent article, it said “Sex, money, career, kids, shoes… whatever you want you just have to work for it.  There are no substitutes for brains plus charm and hard work.”  This is very true and is what inspired a lot of this post.

Here are some of my 2012 Highlights the come to mind first:

*Got offered an amazing full time job!

*My knee finally healed!

*Moved into a Townhouse and my best friend moved across the street!

*Treated myself to Country Fest in Nashville as my graduation present!

*Graduated from Grad school with a Global MBA!

*Got to go to the UK!

*Got my first MacBook Air and don’t know why I haven’t gotten one sooner!

*Started my blog and cupcake challenge (not finished but getting there)!

*Roadtriping with my Grandma to upstate NY!

2012 was a very busy and life changing year, and couldn’t have asked for a better year.  I have always tried to live life to the fullest in my terms.  Living it the fullest in my eyes includes being happy with your life and doing what you want, when you want(within your means).  Everyone is in control of his or her own destiny, not anyone else. I feel like I can say that I am living life to the fullest.  In the same article I read, it also said “a job can be your love, your happy pill, your means to finding out who you are and what you can do.”  And I find this very true, as I have an awesome job, that couldn’t be more perfect for me.  It may not be the highest paying job out there, but I love going to work every day and gaining tons and tons of experience.  My bosses give me so much opportunity and challenges, and at times I may hate it, but in the end it is all worth it!   And honestly yes, some more money would be nice but I am doing fine and money isn’t everything (I just have to control my shopping addition a little).

Now what life isn’t complete, without some awesome friends to share adventures with.  I am surrounded by the best of friends who love, care and support me.  These friends have become my NH Family and I honestly don’t know what I would do without them.  They have showed me this past year how protective they can be, and at times it can be annoying but I love deep down in side love it!  Now, don’t get me wrong I love my family in NJ/FL but they aren’t here for everything and it’s hard sometimes, but my NH family gets me through it!  And as much as I love my NJ/FL family, I have learned that you can’t choose your family.  Your family is going to drive you crazy, but the craziness is what creates the memories!  I will admit the craziness sometimes helps makes NH seem pretty good! :)

I have also learned this past year that you can’t control what your heart feels.  You may want something to work but sometimes if the heart isn’t feeling it, then it isn’t feeling it.  You may want to force it, but in all honestly it’s not going to happen as the heart feels what it wants.  But learning this and coming to this realization wasn’t easy and took some time.  All I can do now is move on and forward! :)  A family friend did tell me over this holiday season that she thinks this is my year, we shall see!

So even if everyone doesn’t admit, we all set at least one new years resolution because it’s the thing to do with a new year.  Mine this year is to focus more on me and working on becoming and staying healthy.  I have started this by signing up for two months of boot camp at a local place.  It is expensive and I think for the price, it will hold me to it.  I so far have done three sessions in a row and it’s working! I am always sore leaving each session, but honestly truly love it.  It is exactly what I needed and am happy I did it.  The other thing I will be working is eating healthily, but not limiting myself, just making healthy choices (basically the weight watchers way, without doing weight watchers).  I am do this all because now is the time to do it and want to hopefully live to be at least 92 like my great grandma who’s 92^nd birthday is at the end of the month.  And if you don’t start now, you won’t ever!

My other new years resolution is to work on my networking skills, as it comes with the job.  I am not the best at meeting new people and finding things to talk about.  However, as the article also stated, “you cannot sit around like a cupcake asking other people to come and eat you up and discover your great sweetness and charm.  You’ve got to make yourself more cupcakeable all the time.”  I mean come on, how could this have not been meant for me, esp with the cupcake reference.  As the other quotes, its true and it is something I know I need to work on and will!

I am ready for this year to be another amazing year like the past two.  I am ready for what ever adventures come my way and can’t wait to see what else is to come in this year besides me list below!  Bring it on 2013!

2013 highlights to come:

*Doing more for myself…

*Student loan payments begin.. yippee, not!

*3 weeks in Australia with 4 great friends!

*Miranda Lambert and Taylor Swift concert!

*…and hopefully many more highlights to come!

Love always, aloterlla :)