The Latest: Cupcake Edition

Dark Chocolate Cupcakes with Cookies and Cream Buttercream

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Buttercream

Carrot Cake Cupcake with Cream Cheese Buttercream

I made these cupcakes for a baby shower this weekend. Today I'm talking all about the most important thing when it comes to cupcakes...the frosting.  You can't have a good cupcake without great frosting. In my opinion, the cake is the easy part and the frosting makes or breaks a cupcake.  Lucky for you, today I'm sharing two of my favorite frosting recipes.

The first one is my cookies and cream buttercream.  To be honest, it is always a hit. This recipe generously frosts 12-15 cupcakes (as pictured). If you don't want to use as much frosting per cupcake, it would probably frost closer to 18 (or more).

12 Oreos (crushed)

1-2 tbsp. milk

3 cups powdered sugar

1 cup butter (softened)

1 tsp. vanilla

Mix the butter and vanilla first then slowly add the powdered sugar and milk as needed.  Last, stir in the Oreo crumbles. 

FYI- Piping is a little more difficult with this type of frosting because of the cookie chunks.  It won't look quite a perfect/smooth as with other frostings.

The next frosting (that is one of my all-time favorites) is cream cheese buttercream. This recipe frosts about 12-15 cupcakes also, but I used much less frosting on these than the cookies and cream so I don't think you could stretch this recipe to frost any more than that.

1/2 cup butter (softened)

8 oz. cream cheese (softened)

3 cups powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

Mix the butter, cream cheese, and vanilla then slowly add the powdered sugar. 

I recently started using these reusable piping bags and they are a GAME CHANGER. I used to use the disposable Wilton plastic piping bags (which also work great) but I was sick of running out and having to buy more. However, I was not looking forward to having the clean it each time, but it cleans off so easily and it wasn't a big deal at all. If you are looking for the best piping bag, look no further! They come in different sizes and I got mine from Sur la table. They only have the one size online, but I'm sure you could find all the sizes in the store.

Thanks for stopping by!

XO,

Sarah

Maroon Maxi

Dress, Faux fur wrap similar here, Belt, Boots

I love this maroon maxi and at this price, you can't pass it up!
It was so nice to have a long weekend with an extra day off. I can't believe February is almost over! Time is flying.
Hope you all have a great week! Thanks for stopping by!

XO,
Sarah

Red Lace Dress

Dress (similar sleeveless version here), Shoes, Bag, Bag strap, Faux fur wrap

I wore this look over the weekend for a Casino Night fundraiser for Zach's school.  This dress would also be perfect for Valentine's Day. It comes on another color as well - a deep purple which is also very pretty. It is currently 40% off too! I have the version without sleeves and I LOVE it, so I figured I would give this one a try too. It's perfect for winter events or when you need a little more coverage.

I'm surprised to say how warm this faux fur wrap is! It was FREEZING this day (like 18 degrees without wind chill) and this wrap really kept me quite warm when we were taking these pictures. I'm definitely the kind of person that is always cold, so I kept the wrap on most of the night and it is SO soft and cozy (and such a great price)!

I got a few questions about my bag also while I was carrying it. I added the strap on myself. I love how fun the faux fur strap is. It easily clips on and can be added to any bag. It is a little on the pricer side (for a strap in my opinion), but I got it last year and I'm so glad I did. I've used it a lot and love that it can go on a lot of different bags I have - a great alternative to buying a whole new bag!

We have another snow day today - I can't believe how many we've had (but I'm certainly not complying!).

Thanks for stopping by!

XO,

Sarah

Top Beauty Faves

So this is a newer product to me, I have only ordered it twice (and just finished my second bottles), but I really have liked it so far. It is an all-natural product which makes you feel great about using it! You can find the shampoo here and conditioner here. 

These are the bomb.com. They are so hydrating for your lips and they give you a little bit of color, but not too much (almost between a gloss and lipstick).

This is my favorite foundation I have been using for the past couple years. I get the light/medium and the medium and use different combinations of them based on the time of year and my skin tone. It is super lightweight and provides great coverage. It lasts all day, and I can't say enough good things about it! I have the Cosmakery buffing brush as well and really like it for application. 

I love a good rose water spray and this is the one I have been using for about the past year. I don't use it everyday, but it's great to have on-hand. I also love this translucent powder and have been using it for years and this highlighter. Not sure why I didn't photograph the other two, but I love them!

I don't know what I did before this product! I always have to have it on-hand. It's the best brow product out there. It also has a brush on the opposite end which I like.

These are my three favorite mascaras. Mascaras are the one thing I feel like I get sick of. I usually rate these three and try to have at least two of them on hand at all times.  It cosmetics Superhero mascara here, benefit they're real mascara here, and Chanel mascara here.

This cleanser is SO good. I also love their day & night cream but I currently need to reorder it. I've been using these two products for a few years and I absolutely love them. The cleanser I can't live without. The day & night cream is wonderful also, but sometimes if I run out I use other products. 

This isn't quite beauty, but thought it was related. I've recently gotten into essential oils after ordering the Young Living Starter Kit. I definitely have a few favorite oils including lavender, peppermint, lemon, and thieves. I love diffusing them throughout the night and while cleaning the house. I also love trying new combinations of oils!

I've recently gotten a few new products to try which I am excited about, but I wanted to share the products I've been using for years. They are my holy grail products. I'm definitely the kind of person that sticks with products I love opposed to always trying new ones. 

Thanks for stopping by!

XO,

Sarah