National Coffee Day

Today is National Coffee Day!  Not that I drink black coffee...or any coffee at that matter.  I am more of an espresso girl myself.  My drink of choice, a caramel macchiato; freshly steamed milk with vanilla-flavored syrup, marked with espresso and finished with caramel sauce. Pretty much heaven in a cup if you ask me.

Other than that, today is not that exciting.  I am sick and that is not much fun at all.  It happens every year about this time.  The season change always gets me.  My sinuses can not handle it for some reason.  I stocked up on medicine and hot tea yesterday so I should be good in no time at all.  I am patiently waiting...With that said, I have been in my pajamas all day long.  I have not accomplished a whole lot but just enough to make me feel a little productive. I am now contemplating watching last night's Glee episode again on Hulu.  That episode was the best ever, I am obsessed with Britney, she did such a great job being B Spears.

Tomorrow is the OSU vs. Texas A&M football game.  Teachers think they are having class but in all actuality, they are not.  Parking will be a mess, tailgating will be in full swing, and students will not be going to class.  It's almost like a holiday!

Magrarita, Hold the Salt Cupcakes

Margarita, Hold the Salt Cupcakes

Ingredients:

1/4 cup lime juice

1 1/2 teaspoons lime zest (1 lime)

1 cup soy milk (plain or vanilla)

1/4 cup vegetable oil

2 teaspoons tequila

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup sugar

1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

2 tablespoons potato starch

1/2 teaspoon finely ground salt, either sea or iodized

1 pint fresh raspberries

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  Place 12 paper liners into cupcake trays.

2. In a large bowl, mix together lime juice, lime zest, soy milk, oil, tequila, vanilla, potato starch and sugar.

3. In a bowl, measure flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.  Whisk or sift together to ensure they are thoroughly combined.

4. Add dry ingredients to lime mixture and stir until just combined.

5. Gently fold fresh raspberries into the batter with a rubber spatula.

6.  Pour into paper liners.  Fill three-quarters of the way to the top.

7. Bake for 20 to 24 minutes, or until a toothpick placed in the center of a cupcake come out clean.

8. Let cool for 5 minutes and then place on baking racks.

Yield:12 Cupcakes

Tequila Lime Frosting

Ingredients:

1/4 cup salted butter, room temperature

1 tablespoon soy milk

3 tablespoons lime juice

1 tablespoon tequila

2 cups, plus more if needed, of powdered sugar

Directions:

1. Beat together butter, milk, lime juice, tequila, and 2 cups of powdered sugar until smooth and creamy.

2. If the frosting is too thin, wait for 5 minutes.   It will thicken.

3. Spread the frosting on cupcakes.

These are some of the best cupcakes that I have ever made.  I am also a fan of raspberries.  If you do not like them, you should substitute your favorite fruit or maybe use half of the amount.  I am really pleased with the results.

Tonight is the Britney Spears Glee!  I can hardly contain my excitement.  B Spears is one of my favorites of all time and I am not ashamed to admit it!  I don't really want to go to class, I hate that feeling.  I know I need to go, so I will.  However, it is such a pretty day I would like to be out enjoying it.

The Icing On The Cupcake

Saturday I purchased a book for my personal reading pleasure.  I am sad to say, but I have not done that in a while.  School textbook consumes most of my reading time.  Well, I came across this book and it just screamed read me!  I picked it up, read the back, and skimmed through the pages and I knew that I had to get it!

The book is called, The Icing On The Cupcake.  It's all about a southern belle, Ansley, who is trying to find her place in the world after graduating from college and a broken engagement.  I can relate to her a lot (minus the broken engagement of course) but the thing we share that is my favorite, the love of cupcakes!  At the end of each chapter, there is an amazing recipe.  I am going to add them all to my collection so I can try them.



With that said, yesterday while reading I came across her Margarita, Hold the Salt cupcake.  The only problem, I need tequila.  I decided that this recipe will be great for tomorrow night's glee watch party dinner.  So, this morning after class I made my way to the liquor store.  I have never been in one...I kind of felt like a fish out of the water.  I went up to the counter and explained my situation.  After trying to figure out conversion rates, I walked away with a tiny bottle of tequila.   My total cost, $2.15.  I think that is the cheapest anyone has ever walked out of that place.

A Latte On My Mind

There is something about Sunday that I have always loved. It's so relaxing, the one day you have no distractions and you can devote to whatever you please. I have a wilderness and ecology exam. Let's just say that I am not in any shape to take it at this particular moment in time. The test is strictly essay. Usually, those are the ones that I prefer but now I am a little hesitant. So today I am at Starbucks in my usual chair enjoying a latte preparing myself to get in the study mode.

Birthday Cupcakes and Cookies

Last night my baking adventure with Kristin was a success.  We made two dozen cupcakes for her dad's birthday.  It will be a great surprise for him.  Then we also made some wonderful cookies!  It was a lot of fun.

Today I got my hair cut and colored and I am ready to take on the world.  Actually, not really, I am in the middle of packing my bag to head home for the evening.  I am going to a football game with my mom and then tomorrow we are going shopping!  It will be a nice break away from everything.  I am so thankful that the weekend is here!

Pumpkin, Please

Last night I spent 4.5 hours at Starbucks. You have to understand my personality, for me, that's a long time to sit still and try to absorb ag policy. It was almost mind numbing at times. I did, however, have a wonderful study break.

 

I had a cinnamon dolce latte, a pumpkin scone and as if that was not enough a pumpkin cream cheese muffin. They loaded me up with goodies to try. After all, I am their #1 customer so it seems.

Today I spent more time at Starbucks in the exact same spot I was last night. Trying to fill my brain with last minute policy knowledge.  I think my test went well, I am just really glad that it is all over with!  Now I am about to wind down for the evening and make some cupcakes with my best friend Kristin.

Open for Business

If you have been reading my blog for a while, you know that I have an obsession with cupcakes.  To me, cupcakes are instant happiness.  How can you be mad when you see or eat a cupcake?  See, they really are a source of happiness.  Plus, you don’t feel guilty having two or three cupcakes.  On the other hand, having three pieces of cake?  That’s a different story…

“Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you!”

This weekend one of my good friends turned 21 and her family was coming into town to celebrate.  She asked me to make birthday cupcakes for her.  I was really excited, it was my first request!  Usually, I just make them without anyone asking.  I made two dozen yellow with chocolate icing and mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups on top!  Then I made two dozen strawberry cupcakes with a white frosting.  They turned out really well, I am happy with the finished product.  With that said, I am now taking orders for business!

Two of my biggest blog followers came to Stillwater this weekend, my aunt Lisa and little cousin Allie.  They all came down because Austin (my other cousin) took a tour of the OSU campus.  He is considering coming here this next fall. After his campus tour, we all had lunch at Mexico Joe’s, a Stillwater favorite.  Then, they went to the game, so I spent some time with my Aunt.  We hit up Starbucks, went to a few shops around town, then went to Louie’s and had a drink.  It was a low key evening but much needed in my book.

I have a big exam on Thursday in Ag policy and I am not looking forward to it one bit!  I cannot say that I feel any better either, I feel like I am getting a sinus infection or something of that sort.  So I am going to try to stay healthy and get plenty of rest when I can.

On Fridays We Wear Orange

It’s Friday!  Hip-hip Horary!  At Oklahoma State, there is a thing called Orange Fridays; it gets everyone in the spirit for game day.  Personally, this is a day that I like because a large section of my closet is devoted to this wonderful color.  I know that orange is not the most fashion forward color but come on people!  It just makes me sad when I see people who are not wearing orange or even worse, someone wearing an OU shirt.  Like really, do you have any pride?  Just put on an orange shirt, is that too much to ask?

Picture from last year's OSU vs. Baylor game.  This is Myriah, she is my Gbig!  She is awesome!

The other thing I really like about orange Friday, it is something that people continue to do even after they graduate.  Here are some of my OK state alumni friend’s tweets about orange Friday!

@myriahjohnson: It's orange Friday in Aggieland! Go Pokes!! #okstate

@chadcline: Rocked the #OKState orange this Friday in Aggieland. #TAMU. Like @jereddavidson did at OU Law today. Great minds think alike!

This week has drained all of my energy and I have no ambition to do anything tonight.  I might turn into a hermit crab and not leave my apartment all evening…and you know what?  I am perfectly okay with that at this point.  I have a feeling that ice cream and brownies will be involved at some point tonight.

Football & Deer Season, Happy Fall

It has been a while since I have last blogged, let me just say that life is in full swing.  There have been a lot of exciting things happening in the life of Lindsey.  This week I have two tests, one down and one to go!  I will be in much better humor on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. (It's 5 o'clock somewhere....)

I now have two new members in my Alpha Delta Pi family “world domination”. They are Lynna and Ciara and both are darling.  I am excited to get to know them better and hang out with them.  Also, on Monday, it was Kayla's (my little) Birthday.  She turned twenty, so I made her some birthday cupcakes!  They were delicious and there are not many remaining.

The 1st football game of the season

Football season is one of the best times of the year and it is here!  Words cannot describe how happy I am.  When there is football there is fall, nachos, tailgating, orange as far as the eye can see, Pistol Pete, pizza, boots, dresses and FUN!  I am ready for it to cool down and feel more like fall.  Good news, Starbucks now has the pumpkin spice latte, another personal favorite.

My little brother Jack (who is 7) got to go on his first hunting trip.  He was actually quite enough to get something, I figured he would scare all the deer away.  He shot a 10 point buck!  I do not think he has been more excited in his whole life.

 Look at that little stud muffin!

You can sure tell it is back to school season because everyone is starting to get sick.  I am not a fan of this whole situation because I get sick so easily!  I cannot stand it!  I think I am starting to come down with something so I am taking proper precautions, taking my daily vitamins and last night I enjoyed some hot tea.  That always seems to do the trick if you ask me.  Hopefully, I will feel better tomorrow because I do not have time to be sick…there are more important things on my to-do list at the moment.