My trust was with you, 100%

Believe in me, like I believed in you that day...I lost myself in the softness of your eyes and the touch of your hand...my faith lies within you, and that I can't retrieve...don't let me down baby, you helped me find myself, the parts of me that I lost so long ago...you and I are perfection, and you and I know that I am the one to save you, but the next step; its yours to take... trust me when I say I'll never let go <3

One Tree Hill Quotes...

Truth is still absolute. Believe that. Even when that truth is hard and cold, and more painful than you've ever imagined. And even when truth is more cruel than any lie.

Lucas: Because it´s only when you´re tested that you truly discover who you are. And it´s only when you´re tested that you discover who you can be. The person that you want to be does exist, somewhere in the other side of hard work and faith, and belief and beyond the HEARTACHE and fear of what life has.

Lucas: My name is Lucas Scott. I'm a senior at Tree Hill High School. Tree Hill is just a place somewhere in the world. Maybe it's a lot like your world. Maybe it's nothing like it. But if you look closer, you might see someone like you. Or someone like my best friend, Haley. If you're married, a senior in high school, and not sure if your husband is still alive, then I'd say your world is a lot like Haley's. Today was supposed to be the best day of her life. But it's amazing how things can change in the blink of an eye. Or, in this case, in 29 minutes.


Lucas: (voiceover) Does this darkness have a name? This cruelty, this hatred.How did it find us? Did it steal into our lives or did we seek it out and embrace it? What happened to us? That we now send our children out into the world like we send young men to war, hoping for their safe return but knowing that some will be lost along the way. When did we lose our way? Consumed by the shadows, swallowed whole by the darkness. Does this darkness have a name? Is it your name?

Much as some of us fight it,
Our parents have a mystical hold over us,
The power to affect out thoughts and emotions,
The way only they can.
It's a bond that changes over time, but doesn't diminish,
Even if they are half a world away .....
....or in other world entirely.
It's a power we never fully understand,
We're left only to wonder that when our time comes,
What kind of hold will we have on our children ?

"If you could go back and change one thing about your life, would you? And if you did, would that change make your life better? Or would that change ultimately break your heart? Or break the heart of another? Or would you choose an entirely different path? Or would you change just one thing, just one moment? One moment, that you've always wanted back."

"There comes a time when every life goes off course. In this desperate moment, you must choose your direction. Will you fight to stay on path? Will others tell you who you are? Or will you label yourself? Will you be haunted by your choice? Or will you embrace your new path? Each morning you choose to move forward or simply give up."

"There comes a time when every life goes off course. In this desperate moment who will you be? Will you let down your defenses, and find solace in someone unexpected? Will you reach out? Will you face your greatest fear bravely? And move forward with faith. Or will you succumb to the darkness in your soul?"

"Someone once said; 'It’s the good girls who keep diaries. The bad girls never have the time. Me… I just wanna live a life I’m gonna remember. Even if I don’t write it down."

"T.H. White said; perhaps we all give the best of our hearts uncritically…to those who hardly think about us in return."

And when you thought that no one knew what you were thinking, I saved you.

Wicked Cool Packaging

 And Sometimes you deserve everything you've always wanted <3

Sometimes in life when you get what you want, you end up missing what you left behind.- Scrubs

Be with who makes you happy, even if it means you're always running back.

When you really care about someone... you have to be willing to be hard on them. The truth will always hurt but not as bad as the knowledge of the lie later on.

But there's a story behind everything. How a picture got on a wall. How a scar got on your face. Sometimes the stories are simple, and sometimes they are hard and heartbreaking

I realized I had just entered an interesting chapter in my life. I had outgrown the boys of my past and not quite grown into the men of my future. -Sex & The City

"Just wait and be hopeful. " I was hopeful though, perhaps this was what I had wanted all along. To wait forever. -Andre Aciman

If there's one thing I've learned over the years, it's that you make your own family.

The best relationships were the ones where both sides went out of their way to make sure the other wasn't disappointed.

People say love's complicated but it's not. be good to your partner: fight for him not with him. And above all, be honest. - instant star

Who wants that? I'd rather choose to fall in love and be hurt. Sometimes I can't even sleep because I love someone so much. And there's always sadness in our lives. It's that sad feeling that keeps us going. Because if we can overcome that sadness, we can hope for happiness in the future -House

Randomly she bites her lip, hiding the picture in her mind. Randomly she smiles, she remembers every word you said that night.

Loving someone makes you forget the difference between right and wrong. -Desperate Housewives

Sometimes we wait too long for things that are never going to come.

Well, love is insanity . The ancient Greeks knew that. It is the taking over of a rational and lucid mind by delusion and self-destruction. You lose yourself, you have no power over yourself, you can't even think straight. - Marilyn French

The love of your life might not actually be someone with whom you could spend a lifetime with.

It had taken her years to understand, but now she was a firm believer: Love was that way. You could not render it in black and white. It always came down to the strange, blended shades of gray. -Jodi Picoult, Picture Perfect

You know that feeling? That feeling when you just want the right thing to fall into the right place, not only because it's right, but because it will mean that such a thing is still possible? I want to believe that.- Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist

Sometimes I think I am out of my league, and then sometimes I think I can dream. Sometimes I wish I could be the one fish that you choose out of all in the sea. -Hellogoodbye

After a break-up, certain street, locations, even times of day are off-limits. The city becomes a deserted battlefield, loaded with emotional landmines. You have to be very careful where you step or you could be blown to pieces. - Sex & The City

Remember tonight, for it is the beginning of always....

But there's another kind of love, Amanda. One that gives you the courage to be better than you are, not less than you are. One that makes you feel that anything is possible. I want you to know that you could have that. I want you to hold out for it...
(Nights in Rodanthe)

You think I'm better, truth is I'm only better with you.... (Me)

Feels like home to me... (How to lose a guy in 10 days)

And we listen to the songs that say what we feel inside.... (Me)

Wake up and see just what, what could be. My life as, as good as it ever be, ever be... (Follow Me, Kid Cudi)

Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure....

You gotta take some chances, you gotta risk losing it all, you gotta close your eyes and leap because it just might be worth the fall....

This life is what you make it. No matter what, you're going to mess up sometimes. It's a universal truth. But the good part is, you get to decide how you're gonna mess it up.... (Marilyn Monroe)

People say that bad memories cause the most pain, but its the good ones that actually drive you insane.

The real world, whether we like it or not, is right here, right now. All of this, every day, is important. Everybody matters. Everything we do has an effect on other, directly or indirectly, whether we realize it or not.

And while I don't need anyone else but myself, life is worth while because of these girls....

Used to carry the weight of the world, now all I wanna do it spread my wings and fly....

And I'm beginning to think it was my fault that I fell for every word....

I can't figure out what's worse. Remembering the memories, or trying to and realizing that they're so far away and not being able to remember them. -Hannah

And tonight darling I wont sleep I'm going to try my best and prevent those dreams of you.

It was amazing, really, just how much pain the human heart could take. -Nora Roberts

And the truth is, I need you more than I've ever needed anyone.

Her heart was ripped in two and she was struggling to breathe, but somehow she knew that if she had the choice, she'd go back and do it all again. That's how pathetic she was.That's how weak-minded and desperate she had become.

And If heartbreak is a compliment, then I must be amazing.

***How can you tell me time after time, I'll take care of you, You're amazing, You're Beautiful, I'll make this work you've seen nothing yet, believe me I won't hurt you...and all the while I was falling into those eyes and farther into your heart, with my smile whispering you can have me forever, and the same time, my head was screaming no.

I hate this feeling. The whole I need you to breathe feeling. . . it's so overrated.

I had gone so far out on a limb with my feelings but I didn't realize I was standing out there alone. -Sex & the City

You know how people say 'It'll be fine. Everything is going to be ok'? They say that because they cant think of anything else -Michael Robotham, Suspect

This is how I spent my summer-- wanting you, but I was too afraid to tell you. -One Tree Hill

If he's dumb enough to walk away be smart enough to let him go.

Have you ever woke up from a really good dream & just tried to go back to sleep? Or had the flu & you promise yourself that you'll appreciate normal so much more if you could just get back to it? That's the way I feel; I just want things to go back to the way they were -One Tree Hill

An ending with no explanation...

Something going so perfectly and just stopping for no reason...or you telling me how much I mean to you and how perfect I am over and over and that you will never hurt me, and then just letting it all go....

<3>

Things to make you go......

WHAT THE F !

Sometimes I feel like I have nothing better to do than sit around and look up retarded shit....but I came across this recently and felt it worthy of a post....

Weird that I keep finding strange gadgets lately.....
Like the Cuchini...


Now its.......

The Kush

Providing relief for side sleepers everywhere, the Kush is an "anatomically contoured accessory" that fits between your breasts to prevent boob crushage while you snooze. We think that the chick in this video looks like she's got a dildo nestled between her bosoms, but that's just us.

ahahahahahahhaa


XOXOX

SImplicity....

Absolute Beauty in the little things......

Things to make you go......

WTF !


Really now......

The Cuchini

There's only one kind of cleavage that's hot (or two, counting toe if you're into that sort of thing), and the cooter kind is not one of them. Which is where the Cuchini comes in. It's a pad that slips into your undergarments to "smooth the ridges of a woman's mons pubis area." That's technical jargon for fix yourself, girl, you've got a cameltoe. So the next time you, like the women in this video, shimmy into your fave pair of too-tight spandex shorty-shorts and hike them up to your chin, at least have the decency to "seal your lips" with the Cuchini.

It's almost as if.......

...the little girl inside me doesn't want to give up the dream of what she thought her life was going to be like, what she thought her life was supposed to be like.

But if I don't let go of her dreams, I may never find that mine could be a million times better.

I love where my life is these days, I learned to let go of some of my past and take the risk of actually stepping out into life alone....Your parents aren't the only thing that keep you tied down....I've been happier these past few months than in a long time.....
and I'm loving it.

So if you're ever afraid to take a risk, don't be.....
Everything will be just fine :)
<3

Never think about the future - because it comes soon enough.

FAV photo shoot EVA !

This was one of my favorite assignments EVER
....Sophomore Year
I shot my friend Syd as a Rich, Dignified, Classy somewhat perfect woman.
The underlying theme was, Just because her life seems perfect doesn't mean it is.
Things aren't always as they appear !

The true story is Syd (the model/character)
is hiding her true self under her perfect image.

She is Beautiful, Poised, Intelligent and Classy.
She is very rich and envied by everyone.
Every man both eligible and wed, wishes he was the one to steal her heart.

But for those who can't see the true Syd.....

She is battered, beaten, hooked on drugs and alcohol
and often uses prostitution as a way of income.

Goes to show you....Life isn't as perfect as it may seem.

XOXO

Meg<3>

Who wears SHort Shorts !!!!

I LOVE Short Shorts and I think everyone does...BUT....
When is it NOT okay to wear short shorts !


Well a job interview for one....
Meeting the boo's parents, not a good idea....
When you're going to an amusement park....dont pull out the super short guys, some lines go up stairs, hence there will be people beneath you....
HAHA


You don't have to wear short shorts to be hott !
These aren't short shorts but their still SEXY !


Anyway you get the drift....
Now....you can wear short shorts without being tacky....
For example, I have played volleyball for the past 13 years of my life, and my legs definitely show it....I have crazy often man like looking legs.....Heels !- not my friend, they just bust even more !
Haha, now to the opposite sex, this is a good thing, however being a girl, you want toned legs and trust me their toned, but if I work out that day, Ewe....
THERE IS SUCH A THING AS OVERLY TONED !
HAHAHA

Anyway....moral of the completely boring scenario....I wear short shorts !
And I work it !

1. I have the legs.
2. I have the butt
3. I am under 30
4. I love the stares from my boy ;)

And from one lady to another...keep it classy and if you've got it FLAUNT IT !

XOXO
<3

Faux Dreads....

A Fashion
DO or DO NOT ???

Personally I think that Faux dreads are super hott on the right person.....
Like Jessica Szhor for example, her inspired dreads are perfection.....
Plus she has the face frame that can virtually pull off any hairstyle.....

Deliberation.....

I LOVE IT <3

BRING IT BACK !

MY new FAV date game......
an old favorite of alllll....

TWISTER !!!!

Have a Twister night and spend some time with good friends laughing
As always Sydders McGee and I planned a fun night, to only in turn be told by the boys* we're too tired....
Well what I have to say to them is don't stay up so late and spend so much time with the boys and you wouldn't be tired for us !!!!
Stop playing penis hockey and maybe you'll get laid !

Ps. Twister leads to calorie burning laughter and bedtime giggles with your man ...

Things to make you go......

WTF !

Now I love props just as much as the next girl....but I found these ideas in a magazine the other day.....not so sure if I would EVER.....

and after having a convo with the girlfriends...they all agreed their hookups/BF's would opening thank us for not attempting !!!

HAHA...

To all the rest...GO forth and happily play :)

Do something unexpected with toys you already have lying around the house.

Hairbrush: A hard-bristled hairbrush is perfect for scratching his skin.

Rolling Pin: Push and Roll this baker’s basic over his back and thighs during an erotic massage.

Blush Brush: Skip the pricey feathers you find at sex shops, and use this to tickle his neck, chest, arms, and package.

XOXO

Ice.....

Is your lust life on the rocks? It should be...!

1. Begin with a slightly melted ice cube in your mouth. Kiss your guy and pass it back and forth. As it gets smaller and smaller, hide it in different places so he has to try to find it with his tongue.

2. Use the ice cube to trace a chilly path along his naked body and then follow it with your tongue. The temp change will heighten his pleasure, while the anticipation of watching where your lips go will send him over the edge.

3. Put the ice in your man’s hand and guide it so that he draws circles around the outside of your breasts, slowly working his way toward your nipples.

4. While giving your guy oral, alternate putting your lips over his penis and lightly rubbing his shaft with the ice cube. The combination of your warm mouth and chilly temperature will make his jaw drop.

5. Ask him to touch you with it over your thin-skinned spots: wrists, inner elbow, behind your knees. Stimulating those sensitive areas feels so sensual.

6. When your guy is going down on you, have him alternate between lightly touching your clitoris with the ice and using his mouth and tongue. If you’re extra-sensitive down there, try it with your underwear on.

7. Place the ice cube between your breasts and run it back and forth so that your skin feels cool and wet, then guide your man’s penis between them for a hands-free massage.

8. Have him lightly run the ice cube along the soles and the perimeter of your feet. Believe it or not, the area of the brain that processes touch down there is nearby the zone that registers sensations to your genitals, speeding up your arousal.

9. Give your guy a sexy scalp rub with one hand and use the other to trail the ice along his hairline and temples, all the way down to the base of his neck.

10. Post-sex, slowly move the ice cube across your guy’s back for a frisky cooldown, then ask him to return the favor.

Read this....LOVE IT

Bad girls are legendary — a guy who’s been with one practically passes out from bliss when he talks about his experience. You might be thinking, “Who, me? Be a bad girl?” But any woman who wants to can wake up her hibernating vixen...and have a damn good time doing it!

See, bed-devil status is about a fearless attitude, not how much sexual experience you have or whether you wear leather. “Guys dig when women are unbridled and uninhibited, push their own boundaries, break the rules, and ask for what they want,” says Barbara Keesling, PhD, author of The Good Girl’s Guide to Bad Girl Sex. So we boiled down the naughty qualities that make some women stand out, then came up with seven audacious ideas for putting them into play. These tips and tricks will forever crank up the heat in your sex life.

DARE: Be the Boss in Bed Tonight

A wickedly sexy woman knows how to deliciously exploit the power she has over a man. Tell your guy to lie down on the bed, then use handcuffs, scarves, or a necktie to tether his hands together so he can’t touch you. (If you're not game to use real restraints, you can simply hold his hands over his head.)

Next, "you want to torture him playfully with your teasing,” says sex expert Candida Royalle, author of How to Tell a Naked Man What to Do. “Slowly kiss your way down his torso, and just as you get to his pelvis, move back up to his ears and neck.”

As you tantalize him and he strains to touch you, ask him to tell you why he wants you so bad, explaining that you won’t let him free until he convinces you. Once he’s pleaded his case, release his hands, roll onto your back , and allow him to take over. After building up the erotic anticipation, it’ll be like setting a windup toy loose on your body...and hearing him describe how hot you are will turbocharge your experience too.

DARE: Slip Into a Naughty Costume

To infuse your sex sessions with more attitude, sometimes all it takes is looking the part of a true temptress. “One of the ways a woman can really show off her sexuality is by playing up different sides of her erotic personality,” explains Jamye Waxman, author of Getting Off.

If you’re feeling like a flirty, girlie tease, put on a white cotton undie set or pale pink lingerie and pull your hair into a ponytail, or don a schoolgirl-like plaid miniskirt with an oxford shirt tied above your navel. To become an X-rated seductress, wear something red or black in sheer fabric or lace, then add crimson lipstick and nails. “Outfits not only help you get in the moment, they also give him a visual turn-on and inspiration,” adds Waxman.

Just standing there in your flimsy finest may be enough, but a few teasing lines will definitely get the ball rolling. When playing the innocent card, say it’s your first time, and ask him what you should do. As a seductress, whisper all the different ways and places you want to touch him.

DARE: Learn to Talk Dirty

Moans and sighs (Oh! Oh!) are easy. It’s the dirty dialogue that really puts a triple-X stamp on your sex sessions. “Talking dirty heightens the whole experience, keeps you both present, and turns you on even more,” says Royalle. “Plus, men actually like being told what to do in bed because it helps them get it right.”

First tell him how freakin’ good he feels. (Tongue-tied? Try no-fail lines like “You feel so/You make me [adjective]”; “I love it when you [verb] my [body part].”) Then you’re set to show him the way to send you soaring, with something like, “Oooh, almost there. I need your [noun] on my [body part], just like this.”

DARE: Watch Yourselves Having Sex

Body confidence and carnal curiosity are key traits of a sex goddess, and both are on full display when you make a sex tape. “Seeing yourselves midact gives you a voyeuristic thrill, almost as though you’re peeping into your own bedroom. It feels taboo,” explains Royalle. “You also get to see how your partner is responding and how you look when you’re getting off.” If you’re worried about becoming the next Kim Kardashian, skip the tape and just hook the video camera directly up to a television in your bedroom — without recording — and watch yourselves while you’re going at it.

Since missionary doesn’t exactly make for good TV, get into racier positions where you’re facing the camera. Go for doggie-style so you can both see the action or girl-on-top so you can watch exactly how you move. And definitely get shots exchanging oral sex so you can see the orgasmic effect you have on each other.

DARE: Summon His Buried Bad Boy

Bad girls are known to capture a few prisoners in the sack, but a bold bedroom chick also enjoys enacting her own fantasies, shame-free. And one of women’s top fantasies is to be taken. “It’s a turn-on to feel like he wants you so bad, he just can’t help himself,” explains Keesling. “Plus, when he’s being aggressive, you have to fully give up the reins, which can help you be even more in the here and now.”

Instruct your guy to hide behind the door and “surprise” you by taking charge when you get home one night. He can either have his way with you right in the foyer or pull you into the bedroom. Or let him know that you’re in the mood but want him to conquer you, caveman-style, even if it means playfully wrestling you to the bed as you try to slip out of his grasp.

DARE: Give Him a Jolt

Breaking out of your touch-here-then-lick-there routine adds a lusty layer to the erotic experience. And fearless sexual playmates know that unexpectedly intense sexual maneuvers are even more exciting. “A forceful touch snaps your guy into the moment and heightens every sensation that follows,” says Royalle. “The spontaneity also keeps him anticipating each touch, magnifying his excitement.” Plus, the implied roughness invites him to tap in to his primal, wild sexual self.

Grip his butt hard while in missionary, scratch his chest and the sides of his torso while in girl-on-top, or yank his head toward you to give him a passionate, damn-straight kind of kiss. If those moves elicit an excited response, firmly spank his butt, lightly bite his shoulder, or tug his hair in the act, you devilish thing.

TFLN

In need of laughter.....
or having a bad day....i advise you click below...... and do so...NOW !

CLICK !

CUtest Party Idea EVVVVVA !

Soooo who DOESN'T LOOOOOVE Lollipops !
This idea is the cutest for a little girls birthday or just a playgroup gathering :)
It's soooo simple and all inexpensive
The ideas are endless so feel free to comment extra ideas you may have.....
(above: lolli invites- a few cute cardstocks layered on a stick and tied with a ribbon) :)

Cookies on a stick, easy easy easy.....bake em, stick em on a stick and roll em in sanding sugars :)

Lollipops - Go figure :)
buy some super cute pops and do up some cute die cuts on the computer....
hole punch them and tie em on with a ribbon...

These above say... "THanks for being Sweet"
:)

Get super creative with this stuff PLEASE----I LOVE door signs !!!!
but they can get SOOO much better than this !!!!
:)

SOOOO CUTE !!!!
Cupcake tower :) Be sure to put cute little die cuts in them like this too :)

Not a fan of jello cakes but you can virtually do anything you want....
These MArshmellow pops are the easy thing ever and make cute decor for around the party...dip a marshmellow in chocolate and roll it in Sprinkles :)

LOVE LOVE LOVE IT !!!!!!
HAVE FUN


Ohhh totally forgot go check these out, they would make GREAT additions to a party like this :)

XOXO

BEHOLD ! The Frosting Shot......

So I'd heard rumblings about the availability of frosting shots, but hadn't really thought about it much. Turns out, it's true!
Select bakeries such a Babycakes NYC and Sprinkles do sell frosting shots.




Behold, the mysterious frosting shot.


Sprinkles has a secret menu with its 75-cent frosting shots !!!!!!

The blog Fast Food Maven has the scoop.



The shots come in mini-paper cups, and are pretty hefty — about 2-3 ounces. The frosting is, in fact, so thick that you can hold the shot upside without anything falling out— kinda like a Dairy Queen Blizzard. LOL

They even Have: a variety pack of frostings.
Now this is perfect for Frosting Lovers, but I MUCH prefer the cake....Im a frosting Scraper hahah.

Frosting menu: Flavors change daily, and are based on whatever cupcakes are being sold that day. For example, on Saturday the frostings are creamy vanilla, bittersweet chocolate, coconut cream cheese, fudgy milk chocolate cream cheese, cream cheese and strawberry.

Red Velvet cupcakes are sold everyday, so the cream cheese frosting can be ordered as a shot daily. The most popular frostings are cream cheese and dark chocolate frosting.

One tip: Don’t forget to ask for sprinkles on the frosting. If you don’t ask, you might not get any. For example, on the coconut frosting, I had them add coconut flakes on top so it replicated the look of the cupcake.

Read on for their frosting to cupcake comparison

I'm not sure if this cupcake shooter by Kickass Cupcakes counts but I think not, as it's described as a "beverage" and even super-creamy frosting can't really be called a beverage, right?

LOOOOVE IT !

XOXOX

If you can believe it....More Cupcake Kabobs !!!!!

This Time We Have Patriotic Kabobs----
This Trend is FABULOUS !!!!

Whhhhhat a great idea for the 4th !!!
This is an absolute MUST next year !!!!!
LOOOOOVE IT !!!!
Show me your ideas :)

The NEwest FAD !

CupCake Kabobs !!!

A major hit!
Especially with Strawberry Marshmellers :D


Chocolate, Vanilla AND Strawberry Cake Mixes
The ingredients listed on the boxes
Strawberry Mashmellers :)
Strawberry, Vanilla AND Chocolate wafer cookies
Frosting ( I just use vanilla on all the cupcakes but some people get all three)
Totally your choice :)
White Chocolate melting wafers
Kabob Stix

:D
Here we go !


Okay. So.
Bake Strawberry, Chocolate, and Vanilla muffins and bake them in mini pans.... (you will have a TON)
then you let them cool and frost them....
Then cut or break alllll the wafer cookies into thirds
(1/3 of the chocolate cookies- crumble them---this will be used as a cookie coating)
and dip one half of the marshmellers into melted white chocolate :)
Then dip it into the chocolate Cookie Crumbles :)
Layer a wafer, dipped marshmellow then cupcake then wafer then cupcake, wafer then cupcake then marshmellow then the last wafer....Making SURE that one Chocolate-Vanilla and Strawberry cupcake are on each stick ! :D

MOOOORE CuppyCake Kabobs <3

You can get the recipe for these fun cupcake kabobs.....made with Rice Krispie Treats, peanut butter frosting, strawberries and chocolate cupcakes, either below or from

I Heart CuppyCakes <3

INGREDIENTS

For one-bowl chocolate cupcakes | Makes about 36-40 mini cupcakes
1-1/2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cups unsweetened Dutch process cocoa powder (I used E. Guittard unsweetened red dutch process cocoa)
1-1/2 sugar
1-1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
2 large eggs
3/4 cup buttermilk
3 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup warm water

For peanut butter cream cheese frosting*
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter (I used creamy Reese peanut butter)
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened (I used Neufchatel cheese)
1-1/2 cup powdered sugar, sifted
1 tsp vanilla extract

Rice Krispies Treats recipe
strawberries, hulled
skewers

*I threw this frosting recipe together with the intention of adding butter and milk but I kinda liked it without. Go figure!

INSTRUCTIONS

To make cupcakes—
Preheat oven to 350F. Prepare cupcake pan with mini cupcake liners.

Using an electric mixer on medium speed, combine flour, cocoa, sugar, baking soda, baking power and salt. Reduce speed to low and add eggs, buttermilk, oil, vanilla extract and water.

Fill cupcake liners about 1/2-2/3 full. Bake for about 15-17 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cupcakes cool completely before frosting.

To make frosting—
In a stand mixer, fitted with a flat beater, cream the peanut butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy, about 1-2 minutes. Gradually add the powder sugar until well combined. Add vanilla extract.

Using a Wilton 1M star tip, pipe the pb frosting on each mini cupcake and set aside.

To assemble kabobs—
Cut the rice krispies treats into small squares. Alternate adding mini cupcakes, rice krispies treats and strawberries on a skewer.

ENJOY!

XOXO

5 Fun Cocktail Party Themes

Because surely you need another reason to drink.

All you need is a stocked bar and a little inspiration for a bash where the drinks are second to the scenery. We'll get you on your way with five surefire ideas for a fab shindig.

A Day at the Races
Why? The Kentucky Derby might only happen in May, but that doesn't mean you can't celebrate like the prize-winning horse owners all summer long.

Setup: Decorate for an outside picnic with red-and-white checkered tablecloths, give each table the name of a prized thoroughbred, and encourage women to wear fun hats. Put the TV or radio on a horse race and pass out faux betting sheets. The losers have to do the dishes!

Music: Crank up country tunes like Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, and Keith Urban.

Nibbles: Barbecue chicken fingers, tea sandwiches, and ramekins of mac and cheese

Specialty drinks: Mint juleps, of course! But if you're not a big bourbon fan, try mojitos (which are made with rum). You'll still get the mint effect.

Green Party
Why? Who isn’t going eco-friendly these days? It’s a great excuse to get your friends together and help the environment while you’re at it.

Setup: Turn your pad into a green scene. Serve food on biodegradable appetizer plates (BranchHome.com sells great sets) and light a bunch of soy candles. Ask guests to bring one thing from their home that they don’t use -- from clothing to DVDs -- and set up a “Recycle Table” in your living room where everyone gets to walk out of the party with a new gift!

Music: Go with artists who have green agendas, like Radiohead and Jack Johnson.

Nibbles: Organic fruit and crudite kabobs, specialties from your local farmer’s market

Specialty drinks: Serve eco-friendly beer. Brooklyn Brewery (BrooklynBrewery.com) and Belgium Brewery (NewBelgium.com) are both wind-powered, environmentally sustainable breweries.

Pink Slip Soiree
Why? We’re pretty much in a depression, so why not party like it’s 1929! Encourage laid-off pals to bring a “personal” business card so they can network with other guests. Whoever exchanges the most cards by the end of the night wins a bottle of booze.

Setup: In true ’20s style, turn your pad into a modern speakeasy. Have the women wear cocktail dresses. Hand out inexpensive pink boas, fake pearl necklaces, and paper fans. Men can don black suits with black or white ties. For a prohibition twist, fill your bathtub with ice and turn that into your bar.

Music: Play jazz icons like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Ella Fitzgerald. If you have an old-school record player, use it!

Nibbles: Dole out “stimulus packages”: Chinese take-out boxes filled with colorful candy, warm salted nuts, or gourmet potato chips.

Specialty Drinks: Pink Slip Slammers made with vodka, pink grapefruit juice, and a splash of simple syrup, topped with a raspberry

Modern Luau
Why? Everyone loves a luau. And, at this one, your guests don't have to look at the gross pig on a stick!

Setup: Think clusters of pineapples on the tables, mini tiki torches secured in buckets of sand, grass hula skirts as table skirts, and shells scattered about. Will people be cruising indoors too? Throw in a DVD called Riding Giants for some cool surf vibes in the background.

Music: Make a mix of steel drum music by Steelasophical, reggae by Bob Marley, and mellow Hawaiian tunes by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole.

Nibbles: Island-inspired faves like coconut shrimp and mini squares of pineapple pizza

Specialty Drinks: Piña coladas, daiquiris (don't forget the umbrella toothpicks), and fruity cocktails with names like Wailin' Marley and Kingston Night

Rolodex Bash
Why? It’s time to get off Facebook for a few hours and actually “friend” people in person. The premise: Ask each guest to invite one of their favorite people. Because who doesn’t want a larger network?

Setup: Have a camera? Take pictures of everyone who walks through your door. Midway through the party, upload them to your TV -- it’s a fun way for guests to check each other out. Before people leave, ask them to jot down their email address in a guest book. Each time you throw the party, it’ll get bigger and bigger because your new friends will be inviting their friends, and so on.

Music: It’s all about the community effort. When you send out your Evite, ask guests to submit their favorite song requests and download it for a fabulous mix.

Nibbles: Anything in bulk, from frozen taquitos to big bowls of chips and salsa. You have double the crowd you’re used to!

Specialty Drinks: Shots, of course…what could be friendlier?

YAy Fun !
Sincerely
XOXO
Alcoholic <3>

Stock the Bar !

A well-stocked bar is a valuable tool for entertaining guests, decorating the house, or dealing with visiting in-laws. So here's everything you need to create the ideal party tool/room accent/blessed sanctuary.

Liquor

The Basics
Liquor: You won't go wrong with 750 ml bottles of moderately priced brands (no more than about $20, sometimes much cheaper) that have name recognition -- Jose Cuervo, Jack Daniel's, Absolut, etc.

[ ] Gin
[ ] Vodka
[ ] Rum
[ ] Bourbon
[ ] Scotch
[ ] Tequila
[ ] Sweet vermouth
[ ] Dry vermouth
[ ] Cointreau

Wine: Have fun sampling several different kinds under $10 -- not all in one night -- then pick your two favorites and serve them as your house wines.
[ ] White wine
[ ] Red wine

Advanced Touch
Sippin' Whiskey: This spirit has always been a hit with professional drinkers, but after years of being eclipsed by vodka, it's coming back into vogue. Single-malt scotches and small-batch bourbons (both are types of whiskey) are particularly desirable.

[ ] Single-malt scotch (e.g., The Glenlivet 12 Year Old)
[ ] Irish whiskey (e.g., Black Bush)
[ ] Bourbon (e.g., Wild Turkey Rare Breed)

Mixers & Garnishes

The Basics
Juice: See? Drinking is healthy.
[ ] Cranberry
[ ] Orange
[ ] Tomato

Soda: Doubles as tasty drink accent and refreshment for designated drivers.
[ ] Cola
[ ] Lemon-lime
[ ] Ginger ale
[ ] Tonic
[ ] Seltzer

Maraschino Cherries: Get 'em with stems, since they're easier to pluck out of a glass. Plus, tying knots in them with your tongue is still one of the all-time great bar tricks.

[ ] Maraschino cherries

Olives: No martini is complete without them (unless it's a Gibson, in which case you'll need a pearl onion).

[ ] Green pitted olives

Lemons and Limes: Slice them up beforehand to save time when company arrives.

[ ] Lemons
[ ] Limes

Advanced Touch
Exotic additions: Feeling tropical? Feeling crazy? Then you probably have malaria. Still, you can't ignore your guests, who may be in the mood for a fruity island treat or an oddball drink that requires an unusual ingredient. Luckily, the ones here can be found in any supermarket or liquor store. Some ingredients should be fresh -- impress guests by pulling mint straight off a plant -- while others can be bought well in advance.

[ ] Cream
[ ] Coconut milk
[ ] Grenadine
[ ] Tabasco and Worcestershire sauce
[ ] Angostura bitters
[ ] Coarse salt and granulated sugar
[ ] Pineapple juice
[ ] Mint
[ ] Sour mix

Accessories

The Basics
Recipe Book: The Craft of the Cocktail by master mixologist Dale DeGroff provides 500 illustrated recipes as well as cocktail lore that, unlike a great martini, is never dry.

[ ] The Craft of the Cocktail

Ice Bucket and Tongs: A bucket with a lid and a liner keeps ice colder longer, and tongs keep grubby mitts where they belong.

[ ] Ice bucket
[ ] Tongs

Cocktail Shaker: Buy a Boston shaker -- a glass tumbler paired with a metal tumbler -- along with a Hawthorne strainer (the one with the coiled edge) instead of the more popular all-metal shaker. The setup is more versatile, gets colder faster, and makes you instantly look like a pro.

[ ] Boston cocktail shaker
[ ] Hawthorne strainer

Glasses: Remember, people who drink tend to drop things, so there's no need to spend a lot of money.

[ ] Highball
[ ] Lowball
[ ] Martini
[ ] White wine
[ ] Shot

Napkins: You don't want to find rings on your coffee table or olive pits in your plants.

[ ] Cocktail napkins

Advanced Touch
Bar Tools: Find a good-looking set that contains everything you need. Then display it for people to look at in slack-jawed awe.

[ ] Jiggers
[ ] Multipurpose opener
[ ] Corkscrew
[ ] Bar spoons
[ ] Wood muddler (for crushing herbs, sugar, etc. -- mojito, anyone?)