Dark Chocolate Cupcakes with Marshmallow Cream filling and Malted Chocolate frosting and the end of a pregnancy

**My thoughts and prayers go out to Oklahoma. I cannot imagine what it would be like to live through what some have experienced. I have lots of family in OK, and they are all safe. Seeing the tragedy at the school breaks my heart. I pray those affected will find peace and comfort!**

First things first. Since everyone is asking and it seems to be everyone's business (am I making it that way?) Here is your official pregnancy update:

Yes. I'm still pregnant.

Yes. My due date was the 20th.

Yes. I'm miserable.

No. There's been no "change."

No. I am not planning to be induced.

Yes. It IS normal to go overdue (contrary to popular belief and comments I've received).

When is the baby coming? Heck if I know! If it was my choice, he would've been here last week. (though I also chose not to be induced)

There, now you know so I don't have to answer any more questions. Here is, hopefully, my last belly shot. Taken on my due date. I know, I look thrilled. But thank you, I also think I look pretty good too. I've worked really hard and done a great job of trying not to explode, though some days I feel huge. Generally speaking, I'm proud of myself. I know it's not all about pounds, but when I deliver this baby, I will officially be 18 pounds less than when I delivered Blake. This I know because I have not gained an ounce in the past almost 2 weeks, despite eating like crazy, and according to my Doctor's scale I actually lost almost 2 pounds. 

Enough pregnant talk. I'm done with it. Let's chat CUPCAKES!!!!

A couple weeks ago one of my amazing and talented baker friend's stopped by with a surprise slice of cake she made for herself for Mother's Day. I thought the picture she took looked delicious, but I was completely floored when I tasted it! Best. Cake. Ever! Aside from maybe my wedding cake, although my wedding cake was not chocolate, so this one may actually have won. 

Anyway, she passed along a link for the recipe and I decided it was too much work to make a full six layer cake. So she informed me there was in fact a cupcake adaptation on the same website. Thank heavens! After my due date came and went, I decided it was time for cupcakes. 

What part of Dark Chocolate, Toasted Marshmallow Filling, and Malted Chocolate Frosting does NOT sound good? None of it. 

Toss in 3 cubes of butter, some heavy whipping cream, a splash of buttermilk, more sugar than flour, even more sugar in the icing, a few toasted marshmallows, a bar of Ghirardelli chocolate, and you have near cupcake perfection. 

My little man helped sample all along the way. Don't worry, he had a bowl of cereal for breakfast and cupcake filling and icing for his 9:30 am snack.

Although the recipe looks slightly intimidating and labor intensive, it is worth every second of time you will spend. And it really is not that hard if you take it one step at a time. 

For the link to the original pictures, recipe, and blog: Click here

Here is a copy and paste of her recipe for easy access (my changes at the bottom). Please, check out her blog. Her cakes are beautiful and amazing!

Campfire Delight Cupcakes

Yield: 12 standard cupcakes

Ingredients

For the Cupcakes:
• 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons (110 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (200 g) white sugar
• 1/3 cup (60 g) dark cocoa powder (I use Cacao Barry Extra Brute)
• 1 teaspoon (6 g) baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon (3 g) baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon (2 g) salt
• 1/2 cup (120 mL) buttermilk, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup (120 mL) brewed coffee or espresso, hot
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) vegetable oil
• 1 egg, room temperature, lightly beaten
• 1-1/2 teaspoons (7.5 mL) pure vanilla extract
For the Toasted Marshmallow Filling:
• 8 large white marshmallows
• 1/2 cup (63 g) icing sugar (confectioners' or powdered), sifted
• 1/2 cup butter (113 g)(1 sticks), at room temperature
• 1/4 teaspoon (1.25 ml) pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 jar (107 g) marshmallow cream (such as Marshmallow Fluff)
For the Malted Belgian Chocolate Frosting:
• 1 cup (2 sticks)(227 g), at room temperature
• 2 cups (250 g) icing sugar (confectioners' or powdered), sifted
• 1/3 cup (38 g) Ovaltine Classic (brown in colour)
• 1-1/2 teaspoons (7.5 ml) pure vanilla extract
• pinch of salt
• 4 oz (125 g) quality Belgian chocolate, chopped, melted and cooled
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) whipping (35% fat) cream
• Note Frosting will become a slightly richer brown tone a short while after making. If you are using a malt powder or Ovaltine that is not brown in colour, you can add an extra 3 oz, or so, of melted chocolate.

Instructions

For the Cupcakes:
1. Preheat oven to 350° F and line a muffin/cupcake pan with your favourite cupcake liners.
2. In the bowl of electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, sift flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
3. In a medium bowl or measuring cup, combine the buttermilk, coffee, oil, egg and vanilla.
4. Add liquid mixture to dry ingredients and mix for 2 minutes on medium speed (you may need the plastic splashguard that comes with mixer), Divide batter among (2/3 full or just less) liners. Batter will be liquidy, and cupcakes will rise.
5. Bake for 15-17 minutes, or until toothpick or skewer comes out with a few crumbs. Try not to over-bake. Carefully remove cupcakes from the pan immediately (it's hot!), and place them on a wire rack until completely cool.
For the Toasted Marshmallow Filling:
6. Place marshmallows on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Place on lower rack of oven, and broil marshmallows until nice and brown on top, between 30-60 seconds. Remove pan from oven and gently turn the marshmallows over, and broil until they are golden brown. (Be sure to keep an eye on them--they burn very quickly.)
7. In an electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment, combine butter and icing sugar on low until blended, about 1 minute. Add vanilla and mix on med-high for about 3 minutes.
8. Add marshmallow cream and toasted marshmallows, and mix on lowest setting for about 1 minute.
For the Malted Belgian Chocolate Frosting:
9. In a bowl of stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, combine the icing sugar and butter and beat on low speed for about 1 minute.
10. Add malt powder, vanilla and salt, and beat on low until well combined. Add the melted chocolate and beat on medium speed until smooth (about 2 minutes).
11. Add whipping cream and beat on med-high speed for another minute.
12. Best used right away.
Assembly of the Campfire Delight Cupcakes:
13. Once cupcakes are cool, cut a cone shape hole from the top center of the cupcake downward, using a sharp paring knife or small spoon.
14. Using a small spoon, or piping bag fitted with plain round piping tip, fill the cupcake hole with Toasted Marshmallow Filling until it's level with the top of the cupcake.
15. Fill a large pastry bag (18") fitted with Ateco #887 (or the decorative tip of your choice) about 2/3 full and swirl the Malted Belgian Chocolate Frosting in a circular motion, beginning on the outside rim of the cupcake and moving inward. Gently release pressure when you reach the top of your swirl.
16. Top with real chocolate sprinkles and chocolate malt candy, such as Whoppers or Maltesers.
17. Cupcakes are best enjoyed the day they are made, but these keep particularly well in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days (however, I've been known to eat them up to a week later, and they taste great!). If you do refrigerate, serve at room temperature.

***Karissa's changes: I don't drink coffee, so I used hot water per my friend's recommendation. Also, I used 2 oz. of 60% cacao and 2 oz. of milk chocolate Ghirardelli bar. Yes, I bought Hershey's special dark cocoa powder as well. The Ovaltine I used was "chocolate malt" flavor since I didn't see an "ovaltine classic" flavor. The chocolate icing made enough frosting for probably another dozen cupcakes, in addition to the 15 I was able to get. 

Hair and Makeup Faves

So when you're 9 months pregnant, there's not a whole lot you can do to make yourself feel attractive.
And actually, it may start even earlier than that for some!! For me it did.

If you've been pregnant, you know how it goes... None of your cute clothes fit. You get tired of the same 4 maternity shirts. You get sick of wearing the same skirt or yoga pants each day. You start seeing stretch marks and extra cushioning in new places, etc etc. I know that I have a hard time feeling pretty when these things start happening!!

However, two things changed this pregnancy...

1. Good Hair
2. Good Makeup

When I was pregnant with Bubs, I thought it was a "great" idea to dye my blonde hair back to brown. With a box. In the winter. When I couldn't possibly be tan. Bad idea. The color was flat, I looked washed out, and I felt worse. Eventually, after some time, I got it back to blonde, but it took awhile. I also never really wore great makeup. The combination of the two was not awesome.

So when my birthday rolled around a month before my due date, I decided to spend my money on non-clothing items, more specifically, good quality makeup. I can't really say what made me want to do this, but I was tired of my old makeup, tired of poor eye shadow colors, tired of cheap drug store mascara, tired of $1 eye shadow that didn't last, tired of eye liner that smudged off by 2 pm. I did some research, talked to some friends, and went shopping.

Wanna see what I found?

1. Urban Decay Cannonball mascara

A friend recommended this mascara, and when I walked in the store I heard the employees talking about it too. I asked, and they highly recommended it. I have not been disappointed! It lasts through tears and showers, so I imagine it'll stay on at the pool too! It also makes my lashes look long and beautiful, which I've been needing! Love this mascara.

Waterproof mascara

2. Urban Decay Naked 2 palette

I originally thought I'd purchase a palette for less than ten bucks. Then it didn't have good reviews, so I searched a little bit, asked some friends, and tested things out in the store. I could not believe how buttery soft and smooth this eye shadow is! Not too mention the high pigmentation. I got the original Naked palette and decided the colors were a little too warm for my skin tone and preference. So I exchanged and got the N2. I love it. I use it every single day and every single time I'm impressed, and I feel pretty!! Plus, it's super fun to try new combinations every day. It's a pricey palette, but I imagine it'll last me for several years, which is worth it. Also, individually, each color is about $20, so really it's a steal.

Eye shadow palette

3. Benefit, They're Real! mascara

I received a sample of this mascara at the store for my "birthday gift." The first time I tried it, I literally gasped and my jaw dropped. The brush bristles grab your eyelashes and really make the mascara stick. I've never worn a mascara that truthfully looked like I had false eyelashes on. This one does (I used a couple coats). It also has tremendous staying power, thought it's not technically "waterproof", it sure acts like it is. The only reason I like the Cannonball better is because the texture and feel of the mascara on my lashes by the end of the day.

Falsie mascara

4. Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner.

I also got this eyeliner as a sample with my other purchases. I have been seriously impressed! It stays on better than any eyeliner I've ever worn except the Mac Fluidline eyeliner (in a pot). Though this is not technically waterproof, it also stays on very well and doesn't smudge easily. 

Serious eyeliner

I have realized after purchasing and using these higher quality makeup products that cheap makeup is pretty worthless. I always thought I was saving money by using cheap mascara, but in reality, I couldn't ever find one I loved, so I'd toss the bottle halfway through and buy something else. That adds up!! The only one I sort of liked was half the size of the Cannonball and half the price, so, essentially equivalent. I also realized the $1 eye shadows do not stay on well and don't look awesome even an hour after application, so you use more time and product re-doing and re-doing your makeup all day. It makes sense to me to spend a little extra on something higher quality that lasts longer, looks better, and makes me happier!!!

....I'm sure some of you who have already figured this out are giggling. I'm still learning here :-)

Now back to the hair. 

After that last bad hair dye job I did when I was pregnant with Bubs, I swore I'd never go brunette again, and I've kept true to that promise! It is truly amazing to me what a difference a fresh highlight can make in the way you feel. I feel lucky to have a good friend who lives right below us that does hair. And she does an amazing job with blonde, which I'm really picky about. So when she called this week and offered me a special opening to throw some highlights in before the baby came, I jumped all over it! I didn't realize how bad I needed color until I saw the end result!

As far as hair products go, I'm no expert in that realm. I bounce between cheap stuff and expensive stuff, depending on timing. If I had a bigger wallet, I would certainly use Pureology 100% of the time. My friend uses it when she does my hair, and it always looks and feels amazing for days without washing. No other product has done that. 

All in all, having good hair and good makeup can really make a girl feel better about herself! At least for me, especially when I'm pregnant. Now that you know some of my favorite products, what are some of yours?

Gift from the Retail Gods

So we all know pregnancy is hard. For everyone. In their own special way.
For me, this time around, gaining weight and getting bigger is hard. Very, very, excruciatingly hard.
More on that someday later.
Now that I'm 23 weeks along, I'm suddenly not fitting into my normal clothes as well.
Especially my jeans.
I tossed my skinny jeans about 3 weeks ago and I've been squeezing into my other jeans, sans buttoned button, only for special occasions. Otherwise, it's yoga pants, leggings, or sweatpants. Every day.
My maternity jeans are still uncomfortably big, so I'm stuck in this weird, awkward, uncute feeling stage of life.

Thus, I decided to go shopping.
Since our budget is minimal, (I was using Christmas money), I always hit up Marshall's and Ross before the mall. Usually one is better than the other and for me it's usually Marshall's.
On this particular day, I browsed around for a minute before coming to a random rack placed in a random area that contained random clothes in random sizes.
Right on the end a beautiful, long, dark grey, maxi skirt caught my eye.
Of course I grabbed it, I've been dying for one.
It happened to be the softest material I've felt in awhile and it was also Express brand. I thought for sure it'd be over $10, if not closer to $20.
Imagine my surprise when I found the tag that said "$5.99". Into my cart that went.

I meandered about keeping my eyes open for anything else that looked cute and fun and right as I rounded a corner, something definitely caught my eye!
The exact faux leather jacket I have been pining for since October!!!!
I found it in the mall before we took family pictures and couldn't find my size. I decided to search around to locate my size, but after Black Friday, it suddenly went missing. And by it, I mean all of them. Everywhere. So I waited. And waited. And waited. Then I decided I would probably never find my perfect jacket again and I would just have to ooh and ahh at everyone else who had a cute leather jacket.
Imagine my surprise again when they had several in my size! Into my cart one of those went.

I kept looking around thinking maybe I ought to try on some jeans just for kicks. However, they had no maternity section and I was a little unsure about what size to try and if I would actually find something that worked.
I found a relatively cute pair of boot cuts in the juniors section.
Then I thought "women's sizes are usually a little more curvy, maybe I should look there?"
So I did.
After one glance through a bunch of too-high-waisted skinnies, I almost gave up.
On my way to the dressing room I checked the other side of the rack just to make sure and out popped a super, duper, ridiculously cute pair of skinnies. In a size 6. In a sweet brand. With a great price.
I grabbed them and headed to try stuff on.

Now, when I say the following has never happened, believe when I say: "THIS NEVER HAPPENS!!!"

I slid on the skirt. Perfect fit.
I slid on the jeans. Perfect fit. 
1 pair of jeans. 1st pair I tried on. Perfect fit. Pregnant. Non-pregnant jeans.
THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN.

Even when I'm not pregnant and at an ideal body shape, it takes me about 25-50 pairs of jeans before I can find one that sorta, kinda, feels almost right. (just ask my hubby, he'll agree)

Of course I bought all three items with a huge grin on my face wondering how in the heck I got so lucky.
One of my most successful shopping trips of all time.
I fully believe that when you're pregnant, if you dress cute, you'll feel cute and it will lessen the blow of feeling huge and pregnant.
So now I feel a little more cute and a little less huge and pregnant.

Although, after a week or two of craving, and satisfying those cravings, of chocolate, sugar, treats, late night snacks, potato chips, and pizza, I decided this week to start:

"Tracking my food so I consume the appropriate amount of calories in a day versus consuming about 4,000 calories a day"

*which probably actually happened...on the night we had a normal, good, healthy, dinner and then had fries, frosty's, and a JBC at 9:00 pm. Oy. Did I mention the Wendy's 2,000 feet from our door opened? Not good.

I know I shouldn't be concerned about dieting and losing weight while I'm pregnant, and I'm not. But I should be concerned about what foods, and amounts of food, I put into my body, which I'm trying to do. The healthier I am pregnant, the easier it'll be to bounce back! Right?
Now if only I could find some motivation to exercise...oh wait, it's 19 degrees outside.

Happy Monday and thank the Retail Gods for a little wardrobe update!

Here comes another BOY!

Christmas was fabulous.
Scott's parents, sister, and sister with her family came to visit.
We hung out, made gingerbread houses, toured the Science Center, drove around Forest Park, ate food, talked, saw the train exhibit at the Botanical Gardens, shopped, opened presents, and enjoyed each others company.
Of course, right before everyone came, Bubs got sick along with his cousins who live here. The day after everyone arrived, I got sick too. So it was lots of going and playing and trying to act like I was feeling alright, which I was, sometimes.
Then the day after everyone left, I started feeling much better. At least it didn't last long! (I attribute it to chiropractic care, downing vitamin C, taking calcium, sipping apple cider vinegar, eating 4 grapefruit, not eating treats, chugging water, and trying to rest)

The most exciting part about this past week? We found out we're having another BOY!!!

I'm 20 weeks along now. I've been feeling great for about 5 weeks. The first 15 weeks I was more tired than I've ever been in my life and nauseous all the time. I only threw up 2-3 times, which isn't bad, so I consider myself lucky. Now I'm feeling wonderful, as I did in the 2nd Tri with Bubs, but I'm still fighting the mental battle. I started feeling the baby around 15 weeks and now I feel him all the freakin' time! I don't think he ever stops moving.

I'm really excited to have another boy. Although there are some things I'm a little distraught about, it's nothing to worry about right now. I love having a boy and I have had so much fun with Bubs! He will absolutely love having a brother to play with (and so will I!). I'm also grateful it's a boy because it will be so much easier financially: we already have tons of boy clothes, along with all of our other baby stuff, and toys. Plus, I don't know that Scott could restrain himself from spoiling a baby girl, so it's better to start with boys when we have no money!

I also feel confident that I can raise boys well. I feel like we've done an amazing job with Bubs, though we still have a long way to go, and although every child is different it'll be easier raising two boys than switching to girl mode. Though I will admit, I really want a girl for our third, whenever that happens!!!

It's taken me quite awhile to be really excited about this pregnancy, but now I can honestly say that I'm thrilled and SO excited to have another baby!

I found this little gem while searching through pictures to put on our walls. I just love both of their faces!
Yes, Bubs was about 7 months old and yes, they are going down a water slide.
Another reason I love my BOYS!!!!!