Bubblegum Cupcakes and Someone Turns 21…

Happy Birthday to me, happy birthday to meee…..

Can you believe that toothy little girl is now twenty-one years old?!

Same cheeks. Almost same hair (though opting for side-swept bangs versus my entire-childhood of a straight, thick fringe). Same smile, just with more teeth.

Still loving acting like a princess. Still love cheesin’ for the camera. Still love pink and sparkles and daisies. And sweet, I’m even rocking stripes as a kiddie. I love stripes. In case you didn’t know, 96% of my closet is nautical. I love me some stripes and sailor!!

I know 21 isn’t old, but I feel “old.” Or maybe, older.

I mean, I can’t get away with the same stuff I could as a kid. Certainly can’t acceptably play with Barbies anymore which is a shame because now they’re cheaper (at least, I think so–as a kid, $10 seemed like a lot) and she has better clothes. Then again, I did have the Spice Girls and Mary-Kate and Ashley Barbies so I’m pretty sure my Barbies were superior to whatever-Barbies of today.

Also, since I’m an adult now and can drink and vote and attend all-you-can-eat-crab-feeds on Fridays at the casino WITHOUT a guardian (ahem, lame-casino-who-denied-my-right-to-crack-crab) and need to have a grown-up job, I certainly can’t do this anymore:

At least, mom won’t pay for it anymore.

PS–everyone says I look best with my dark brown hair, but I think I looked pretty adorable with green, don’t you?

Obviously, a lot has changed since then. I don’t take pictures of myself anymore like a conceited teenager obsessed with Myspace; I switched it up and now only photograph cupcakes in front of scrapbook paper. I stick with colored eye shadows rather than colored hair follicles, and I have to say, I am soooo glad I’m not fifteen anymore.

Twenty-one ain’t so bad. I am nearly finished with college, I have an awesome blog, a pretty sweet job, an AMAZING boyfriend, a great family!, super sweet friends, an even sweeter dog, and a pretty damn good life.

So cheers to being 21!! Today, I plan on spending it with Jessie and my mom for some shopping and manicures (uh, mom and I for manis–Jessie is apparently too manly for nail polish) and later, a family dinner. Then bowling with friends. And probably a couple martinis in there somewhere. And maybe a margarita.

And YES I know tequila makes my clothes come off, I need to drink PLENTY of water and stick to one type of alcohol. And have a DD. Done, done, done, done. Now time for FUN!!!!

But first: Cupcakes.

K, so I’m aware most of my stuff looks really appetizing and appealing to the masses. Chocolate, fudge, cupcakes, cookies… all relatively “normal” things to eat, right?

Well, this one is a little wacky. It’s perfectly fitting for the wacky birthday girl, if you ask anyone who knows me.

But I. Love. Bubblegum.

I’ve told you this before so it shouldn’t be a major shock. But since it’s my birthday and I am the Queen for ever the day I decided I’d make a cupcake fit for ME.

My ULTIMATE CUPCAKE.

And uh, it tastes like bubblegum.

Obnoxiously so.

Like, your mouth begins a series of confusing chews, thinking it’s actual gum.

To me, the gum lover, this is PERFECT. I LOVE IT.

In fact, I may or may not have licked both the batter and frosting bowl clean. And may or may not have eaten two or three or five frosted and heavily sprinkled cupcakes the day before my actual birthday.

…..okay, I did. And just so you know, while I love sprinkles on my cupcakes, I actually prefer my cupcake on my sprinkles.

I’m a little obsessed with sprinkles. So much so that, when I worked at a yogurt shop, I would put about 80% sprinkles and 20% yogurt. I love the crunch. Cannot. Get. Over. It. And when I worked at the cupcake shop and had to dust off empty trays of cupcakes, I’d sometimes dust all the sprinkles into a teeny little cup and eat them. Raw sprinkles. No biggie.

I may or may not also have downed an entire bottle of rainbow non-pareils while decorating and smiled at myself in the bathroom mirror, flashing an attractive new tooth color: murky purple.

LOVE MY SPRINKLES!!

So: obnoxious blue bubblegum cake plus hot pink bubblegum frosting plus insane amount of sprinkles and a gumball on top? Perfection has a life form. Being chewed up in my mouth. And it tastes like sprinkles and gum.

Bubblegum Cupcakes 

1 box white cake mix, plus ingredients on back of box subbing unsweetened applesauce for oil*
3 drams bubblegum oil, found HERE
Pink and teal food gel coloring
Bubblegum Frosting (recipe & ingredients follow)
Unhealthy amount of sprinkles, gumballs & Blow-Pops, if desired

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 muffin pans with 24 paper liners. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, prepare cake mix according to package directions, subbing the unsweetened applesauce for the oil. **it makes the cake moister and definitely healthier, in my opinion–and no, it won’t taste like apple. Stir in ONE and A HALF drams of bubblegum oil until blended. Add in teal food coloring until a desired brightness is achieved.
3. Portion batter among muffin tins, about 2/3 full and bake for approximately 14-16 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs. Allow to cool completely.

Bubblegum Frosting (oh boy)

1 pkg (8 oz) fat free cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
Remaining 1 & 1/2 drams of bubblegum oil
About 6-7 cups powdered sugar
2-3 Tbsp milk, if needed

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the cream cheese, butter and oil until blended and creamy. Begin adding powdered sugar gradually, about one cup at a time, until a stiff yet spreadable consistency is achieved. Frosting should be light & fluffy. If needed, use milk to thin out a too-thick frosting.
2. Color frosting pink to the shade of your choice. Pipe or spread onto cooled cupcakes, and top frosted cakes with tons of sprinkles. My faves are obviously the non-pareils, but jimmies and shaped sprinkles are always fab.
3. Garnish with a blow-pop or gumball and enjoy!!

OMG, I saw blow-pop AND birthday cake martinis on Pinterest. Someone fetch me some bubblegum and cake vodka and rim my glass with sprinkles!! I’m thirsty.

Have a great Tuesday!!

xo, Hayley

Linked to: Trick or Treat Tuesdays, Crazy Sweet Tuesdays, Cast Party Wednesday, Dwell On Friday, Mrs. Fox’s Sweet Party