May Thrift Finds

Do you ever pick up thrift store finds and wonder who the previous owner was? I always do, especially when the items are quirky and strange like these little cuties. Who else wanted puppy (dachshund?) suncatchers and why would they discard them??

T and I have been taking nightly walks around town now that the weather is nice since I'm always itching to get outside once I'm home from work. We're also loving the easy exercise and I'm loving that there are several thrift stores within walking distance of our apartment.

I always walk up and down each of the bric-a-brac sections of thrift stores because I love housewares. These two suncatchers were just hanging on a lone hook next to a dog leash and I nabbed them immediately. They're so darling!

Can't wait to find a home for them! For 95cents, how could I turn these little guys down?

Anyone else pumped for warmer weather and flea market season? I know I am!

Want your own neon terracotta planter? Follow the link!

Chocolate Banana Cupcakes

For as many recipes for sweets that I put together, I rarely eat any of them. I'm not a huge sweets kind-of girl, but like anyone I do have my vices. Cinnamon, pie, cookies, but not really cakes. I have to admit that I make these Chocolate Banana cupcakes all the time, I get a lot of requests for them, but I don't think I've eaten one since I came up with the recipe a few years ago. But my taste-tester boyfriend has never turned down a chocolate cupcake, so he makes sure to make sure they are up to par. And we're off....

Chocolate Banana Cupcakes

Yields 24 cupcakes

1 1/2 granulated sugar

1 1/2 sticks of unsalted butter, room temperature

3 eggs, room temperature

2c flour

3/4c cocoa powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1/8 tsp salt

2 tsp vanilla extract

1c buttermilk

2 bananas, mashed with a fork

Preheat over to 350 and place liners in a cupcake pan.

Cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, Combine. Add vanilla.

In a separate bowl, sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add dry mixture to the butter mixture, alternating between dry and buttermilk. Only mix until combined so you don't overmix. Overmixing= dry cupcakes.

With a spatula, fold in bananas.

Fill each cupcake liner 3/4 full. Bake for 15 minutes until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cool completely before frosting.

Chocolate Buttercream

Yields enough for 24 cupcakes

1 stick of butter, room temperature

2 1/4c powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

3/4 cocoa powder

a few tbsp of milk

Cream butter and vanilla with an electric mixer.

Slowly add powdered sugar and cocoa powder. Add milk until buttercream is desired texture, several tbsps

Using a soup spoon or offset icing spatula, spread the buttercream on each cupcake. Place a dollop buttercream in the center of each cupcakes, then spread to the outside in a circular motion. Top with banana chips or chocolate chips.

Impress all your friends!

Need more of a chocolate fix? How about Toffee Crackers, Chocolate Mint Cupcakes, Chocolate Potato Chip Cupcakes, or Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes.

Spring Fever

Do you ever get spring fever? That burning desire to drop everything and have a picnic in the park? Clean for entire afternoons? Take out all your summer clothes and tuck away your winter coats? Fill your home with flowers and house plants? Breaking out your sandals maybe a little too early? Sit in your house and wish you had something to do outside to enjoy the weather?

yes. yes. yes. yes. yes. yes.

Working in an office with a window gets harder during the warmer months. All I want to do is be outside in the sun. But that's how life goes. This spring and summer are going to be different in the best possible ways. The changing of the seasons is always something to be excited about in my opinion. I love consistent change and as much as I love warm weather, living somewhere without seasons would get old for me after a while.

My hopes are high for this spring, and so far it has been very lovely. On the horizon I'm looking forward to long days at the shore, BBQs, and weekend vacations. I'm excited to see some larger projects done that I've been putting off. Let's just say, my expectations are high.

What are you looking forward to now that the weather is nicer?

Happy weekend! Make it a good one!

Currently Reading: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

I've been seeing Mindy Kaling's book, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, everywhere and always found myself very attracted to the cover. The wallpaper, the expression on her face, her pink sweater...it just looked so darling. I finally picked up the book and it did not disappoint. This book is a riot. Very fun and a super easy read that made it very enjoyable to read during my lunch break or after a long day. I was a fan of The Office for a long time and catch Kaling's new series, The Mindy Project, when I realize it's on so I enjoyed reading about Kaling's life and how she got where she is. It's also filled with pretty funny antidotes and lists of different things she's learned or decisions she's come to. I actually laughed out loud multiple times while reading!

The book is very lovely. I'm partial to reading about those who follow their dreams, but take an unconventional path to get there. And I find it most interesting when that person is a woman and the path she takes is full of hurtles and diversions. My only regret is that I wish I would have saved the book for the summer, because it would be a perfect beach or pool-side read!

Let's Talk About Cats.

It's not a secret that I might be a crazy cat lady. I actually have to tell myself that our house, my office, and my wardobe cannot be 100 percent cat stuff because people will start thinking I'm nuts. As I am writing this, I'm wearing a cat blouse, there are about four kitty knick knacks, and staring at a calendar with photos of my own cats (made by my darling best friend last Christmas). Let's just say, I'm a cat enthusiast and leave it at that.

But it's so easy to fill your life with cats when people are designing such lovely feline stuff right now! Here are a few of my current favorites!

1. Meow for Measuring Cups, 2. Paul & Joe Cat Collection Blusher Sticks, 3. Picasso Cats Scarf, 4. You've Gato Call Phone Stand, 5. Cat Printed Mary Janes, 6. Animal Clothes Hangers, 7. Handmade Kitten-printed iPad case, 8. Stay Home Club T-Shirt, 9. Meow's the Time Heels in Pink.