There are piles of junk everywhere and all I want is to find a pair of clean pants!

There are piles of junk everywhere and all I want is to find a pair of clean pants!
Yep. Last week I actually said that. Out loud.

Living in someone else's home has been interesting. I am so grateful that my grandmother is letting us stay here while we wait to leave for Poland, but having so much of my stuff in two rooms with the amount I need to accomplish is making me CRAZY!

All that aside, as soon as it came out of my mouth I realized it was such a metaphor for my life right now. There is so much clutter and so many things screaming for my attention that I am finding it difficult to see through the mess and find what I really need.

I want, so badly, for this season to be spent making wonderful memories with family and friends. In my effort to do special things with everyone in our lives, it seems all I am accomplishing is wearing myself out. So I've made a decision. No more crazy "last time I'll ever...". I'm just going to enjoy each day as it comes. I'm going to do the things I always do. Enjoy my current routine. Soak up all things familiar. I don't need to go somewhere or do something extravagant to make memories. I can treasure the everyday and leave with sweet memories.

Since as we have gotten closer to our departure date I have had a growing sense of dread over all the goodbyes. No more. I'm going to focus on enjoying the time I spend with others instead of spending it nervous and filled with emotion over that time being over. I much prefer "See you next time." to "Goodbye".

So as the nerves mount and the piles of things that need tending to grow, I am going to find my clean running pants and hit the pavement. Because honestly, who can freak out while trying to remember to breath???

Cupcake Wars

Everyone who knows Carlie, knows that she LOVES to bake. She will spend hours creating in the kitchen and decorating them to look like fancy dishes that you might find in first class restaurants. So, when I suggested we have our very own episode of Cupcake Wars for her birthday party, she was excited!

First we had to make sure everyone had lots of snacks for energy

We created our very own Cupcake Wars pantry

Each team had a 3-tiered cupcake stand to decorate as their display. We also had lots of cupcake liners, vanilla and chocolate cake mixes, strawberries, bananas, raspberry jam, honey, vanilla frosting with flavor packets, butterscotch pieces, chocolate chunks, oreos, sprinkles, glitter icing, and tons of candy!

We had plain canvas aprons and fabric markers so everyone could make their own customized Cupcake Wars apron.

When the girls arrived, they got started making their aprons

Then they came in for pizza and watched an episode of Cupcake Wars for inspiration. Unfortunately, it was the all vegan episode, so I'm not sure how much help it was. It definitely got their minds turning and left them excited to begin baking.

We drew names from a hat and split into two teams. Each team had 2 big girl helpers. The rule was that the big girls could only help. All the ideas were from the party girls! the teams were going to be scored based on Taste, Decoration, & Overall Display. Each team came up with a team name:

 Sweet Tooth

 Batter Warriors

Then the baking began! I had adult helpers but they weren't needed. These girls were pros and they had amazing ideas.

The results were wonderful!

Sweet Tooth's Cupcakes

(What the team wrote about their own cupcakes) This is the ChocoNature cupcake.The base is a moist chocolate fudge cake filled with delicious raspberry jam. Iced with mocha buttercream icing and vanilla buttercream. For decoration there is an oreo cookie crumble and a juicy, fat gummy worm.

 This is the Strawberry Wonder cupcake. A delicate vanilla cake with strawberry and banana pieces inside. Iced with strawberry buttercream icing. To decorate there is a crisp strawberry wafer straw, strawberries, bananas, and sprinkles with a sweet, fine touch of shimmering gloss.

Sweet Tooth's full display:

Batter Warriors Cupcakes

 This is our Butterscotch Chocolate cupcake. It is chocolate cake with butterscotch chips and hand whipped vanilla icing. Pink chocolate balls and a M&M top it off.

 This is our Gumball Cupcake. It is a vanilla cake with hand whipped cotton candy strawberry shortcake icing. We also added a gumball on top.

 Batter Warriors' full display:

Each team presented their cupcakes to our panel of judges

After much deliberation the judges brought their decision:

Sweet Tooth won best cupcake for their ChocoNature Cupcake

Batter Warriors won for best overall display

We sang 'Happy Birthday' and she blew out the candle. Then everyone enjoyed the fruits of their labor - Yummy Cupcakes!