Homemade Vanilla Cupcakes with a Vanilla Buttercream

So as you can tell from these pictures, I'm a little late posting about this birthday party we had back in August!  Whoops!  Time has definitely gotten the best of me, but I have been wanting to share this delicious cupcake recipe with you all for quite sometime. 

 

So Lily and her cousin just happen to share the same birthday so my sister in law and I wanted to throw a fun birthday party that the theme could be both girly and boyish at the same time.  So since their birthdays are in August and the weather is still HOT I thought a fun nautical party would fit the bill.  We decorated using pinks, turqoise's, and reds fitting both the girl and boy theme.  The day was so much fun that I forgot to take more photos of the decorations but we just hung a bunch of lanterns from the trees and called it good.

 

The cupcakes were definitely the hit of the party.  I got this recipe from my little sister and I think I had 5 different people ask me for the recipe.  They were so good!  We frosted them with a delicious vanilla buttercream and topped them with fondant anchors and stars.  If your looking to throw a party for both a girl and a boy I highly suggest the Nautical theme. 

 

 

 

Vanilla Cupcakes:

1 cup cake flour

1-1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1 cup sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)

2 eggs

1/2 cup milk (I prefer whole)

2 tsp. vanilla extract

 

Preheat the oven to *350.  Mix together all the dry ingredients in mixer for 2-3 minutes.  Add the butter and mix till dough forms small crumb like peices.  Add the eggs one at a time making sure they are completely mixed in before you add the next egg.  Slowly add in the milk and vanilla.  Fill liners 2/3 of the way full.  Bake for 17-20 minutes (checking at 17 min. with a toothpick for doneness)

Cool completely before frosting. 

 

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting:

1-1/2 stick unsalted butter (softened)

2 cups powdered sugar

1-1/2 tsp. vanilla

 

Mix all ingredients until smooth.  Frost cupcakes and enjoy. 

 

 

 (we also served these oreo cookies and s'more pops)

 

I think its safe to say the birthday kiddos loved the cupcakes :)









Girly Pool Party

This past weekend we celebrated my L.O.'s 2nd B-day party.  We had so much fun, despite the fact that it literally POURED RAIN an hour before the party, ruined half the decorations, and didn't allow us to have the party completely set up before the guests arrived.  Gotta love this Texas weather :)

I decided to do a pool party (cause lets face it, its so hot here in Texas I thought that would be a good way for everyone to enjoy themselves).  I wanted there to be lots of fun colors and treats but I wanted it to feel very girly.  I had my cousin take all the photos of the party so we could enjoy Lily and the Guests.  Seriously, check out her site she is one talented photographer! Thanks Hye Soo :)

If you have any questions about any of the decor or items in the photos please feel free to email me :)

Birthday Inspiration

I can't believe how fast time flies by!!! My little one is about to turn 2 in a few weeks and I can't even believe it!  It feels like just yesterday that she was born.  

So these last couple of days I have been thinking a lot about what kind of theme we are going to do for her birthday.  She loves the movie Tangled right now and the show Mickey Mouse Clubhouse so I've contemplated back and forth between the 2 of them, however, since we are away from most of our family and friends right now, there will probably be more adults at the party then kids, so I have come up with the idea of doing a pool party with a Girly Lemonade theme.  Here are a few photos of inspiration that I have found throughout the web of colors, treats, drinks, etc. that I am thinking of using.

We are planning on having a lemonade theme at the pool.  Isn't this so dreamy?!!

I am wanting to use these exact colors for Lily's party.

Loving the simplicity of these cupcakes. 

Love how they have this ice cream stored in individual little jars

Love the colors and all of the pretty candies in this photo.

I think it would be so fun to have an ice cream parlor. I just don't know if the ice cream could handle all this  Houston heat!

 All photos via The Hostess with the Mostess.  Seriously, if you are in need of great party inspiration check out her site!  She has so many great ideas and photos from all different types of parties. 

I will post pictures of Lily's party when we have it at the end of August.  I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that we will have good weather then so we can have it outside at the pool.  

Hope you all have a great weekend!!!