Happy Days

I Hop Inspired Cupcakes
Last night I went to a bridal shower for a high school friend. Liz (Nick's mama), asked me to make some fall themed cupcakes for the desert. It's so fun to be back in my hometown making cakes and cupcakes for childhood friends!

I found this acorn idea online (Hershey's Kisses and mini Nilla Wafers). Yummy AND really cute! When I saw it, I knew I had to try it!

Here is a picture of the whole display. I can't take credit for the set up of the stand and adorable decorations though : ) . That was done by Sharon Smith, and friend of the Leonard family that is quickly becoming a good friend of mine! She is so kind and talented.

So here is why I call them I HOP inspired cupcakes. Nick and I ate at I HOP when I went to see him in Rhode Island. I ordered pancakes that had cheese cake pieces baked into the pancakes, and oh my it was DELICIOUS. While we were eating I kept thinking of how yummy it would be to try that with cupcakes. So I did. I bought a frozen SaraLee cherry cheesecake. Graham Cracker crust and all. I cut it into chunks and dropped it right into the batter! Looks good huh? It was!

Since the vanilla cupcakes had a surprise hidden inside, I decided the chocolate ones should too. I used some left over Chocolate Peanut Butter S'more cookie dough (recipe a couple posts down). That was a pretty big hit as well. It was such a nice shower, and I was so happy with how the cupcakes tuned out. Inside and out : ).

And just incase you are wondering what's going on in our life right now...

We just moved to a HOUSE! This is so fun for us. We just decided we are done with apartment living for now. It's so much fun to live in the same town as out parents too. Danny loves to see Grandparents and aunts and uncles so often. He has four Grandmas in this town, so that means lots of great babysitters for me ; ). We are planning on staying here until September when Nick will hopefully start grad school. That's the plan anyway. Until then we'll just enjoy being close to family.