Cake Pops--The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

So, I decided to try my hand at making cake pops. I saw them online and I thought, "Oh those are cute! I bet I could do that!" Silly me for thinking I am more adept in the kitchen than I actually am!

The first part was relatively easy. Bake a cake (from a mix, after all I'm no Bakerella!) Check. Crumble said cake. Check. Mix in some frosting (from a can, see cake reasoning.) Check. Form into little balls. Check. I'm feeling pretty confident at this point, rocking the whole cake pop thing, go me! I stick the cake pops in the freezer and begin melting my chocolate chips. I start by trying to make a make-shift double boiler. (Insert metal mixing bowl into a pan with some water at the bottom. Yes, I am definitely no rocket scientist. Thank you for asking.) The chips begin to melt but they are really thick and not a good consistency for covering cake balls. Crud. Okay, plan B. Stick them in a microwave-save bowl and start melting. But not thinking straight I have forgotten to melt them at a lower power level. The results? My white chocolate chips have turned brown. Not so good. I dump the chocolate mess in the garbage, put the cake balls in the fridge (I was warned not to freeze them too long in one of the online baking sites), and go to bed.

After a run to the store the next day for new chocolate chips I try again. This time I go straight for the microwave but at less power. I successfully melt the chips take my cake balls and sticks and attempt to dip them. The first ball falls off the stick into the chocolate. I salvage it from the chocolate, manage to get it back on the stick, sprinkle crushed candy cane and voila! I have my first cake pop.

I spoon the chocolate onto most of them but like a dunce I try dipping every now again after my first attempt. (What is the definition of insanity again?) Anyhoo, I finish them and notice some interesting things happening. First, there are little brown cake snakes coming out of some of them.


Second, some have what look like icicles hanging from them.


Third, some slid down to the bottom of the stick.


But despite my set backs, they turned out pretty good.



All those baking websites that tell you cake pops are easy are LYING. But then again, if I am able to do it in spite of my clear culinary deficiencies, then you probably can too!

Happy Baking, my dear readers . . .

Old Navy Workout Wear

So, I recently had the great pleasure to receive a coupon for me (and one for a friend) for free workout wear from Old Navy! We tried out several of the options and finally picked these! I've worked out in them a few times. One word . . . LOVE! The pants hug nicely and are amazingly comfy. And the shirt is made of that fabric that wicks away sweat! I highly recommend this line, Compression tanks and pants. Cute and well-made! Now, maybe I'll work out more! lol!

Five and Fabulous!

My sweet Aubrianna turned 5 years old today! This morning while waiting for breakfast she said to Matt, "Am I really five today? 'Cause I don't feel like it. I feel like I'm still four." But by the end of the day she was feeling much more like a five year old. That may be because to every person she saw today she said, "I'm five today!" And her teachers gave her a special crown (pictured below) with a glittery #5 on it. :)

She enjoyed a wonderful birthday starting with a yummy breakfast (blueberry muffins), a trip to McDonald's for lunch, sharing chocolate cupcakes with her preschool class in honor of her birthday, a special birthday dinner (complete with all her special requests: "chicken bones," corn on the cob and raspberries), birthday presents and ice cream for dessert.

Happy Birthday, my beautiful daughter, we love you more than you could possibly know!

*More pics on the dropshots account from today and the past couple weeks!