April Showers Bring May Flowers

 April has been jammed full of adventure, studying, laughing, goofing around, dating, hiking, and enjoying life. It's the life of a college student, specifically mine and I LOVE it. So unpredictable, enchanting, and refreshing just like the weather of April...

A candid moment between Lindsay and I...it makes me giggle every time I see it!

It was a warm spring evening....

and we took every advantage of it....

Another favorite photo...Madi looks as though she is swinging bare bummed! Her response? #nopantsdontcare

Baby Animal Days was a success! Looking a little dreary with rain clouds we were nervous! It started off great however! The baby bun buns stayed nice and warm cupped in our hands.

Oh but wait...It's Utah and I'll be damned if it doesn't give you a little spurt of rain/downpour when you're least expecting it. 

These little cuties could go home with you for a price! However...I don't think Mother Teresa would approve, no matter how nice she may seem and no matter that price!

While raining on our poor little heads and no jackets...we waited patiently to see the baby bears inside! It was worth the wait to see those little balls of fur.

 Did I mention that a bunny snuggling up into your neck is the new therapy? But when that bunny starts to nibble on your hair and chews off a piece that bunny can go right back into its cage.

Every year my parents go to St. George in April for my dad to attend continuing education. It's great. I hadn't been in 3 years so I decided that a little weekend getaway was perfect to fix my school blues. If you have never stayed at The Inn at Entrada, I highly reccomend it! This view is right in your backyard of your "hotel" room.

Grammy decided to pick a fight...you should see the other guy!! No no, she picked a fight with the curb. Though this picture makes her seem as though she had been through the war and back...it's her blue eyes that steal the picture. In fact it's the first thing I noticed after the picture had been taken! She is beautiful no matter the black and blue.

No trip to St. George is complete without stopping at Nelson's for some custard! Look at these cuties!

Dad enlightened me with climbing up the "Dixie Rock". It was insanely windy! We enjoyed our 15 minutes of freedom from Mother T and Grammy E to explore the colorful rocks.

At this point I told my dad we must have a photo shoot! Well done pappy!

Me and Mother T at dinner honoring the eye doctors of the Utah Optemetric Association. 

I made the parents get up early Sunday morning before we left for home to hike in the beautiful Snow Canyon State Park. It could not have been a prettier day.

Oh hi dad...Where the hell did you get those socks? We'll work on that ok?

My grandma looks smashing in any color she puts on! I love her with all my heart and don't know what I'd do without her. (excuse the blurry Iphone camera)

Final photo...This is the moment I truly fell head over heels for the beauty of southern Utah. The colors of the bright orange rocks captivate me with the brilliant blue skies standing out in the background. I think I could get lost here for hours and be completely content with life.

Now back to the real world where college is still happening and finals still need to be taken.

Easter Hoppin'

Easter is always one of my favorite holidays...Between the Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs and Jellybeans those two things come close to crowing Easter on their own! 

This Easter Sunday happened to be a beautiful, wonderful, warm and blue bird day. The crocus flowers enjoyed themselves...

Dyeing Easter eggs...Even at age 19 I still make my mom wait for me to join in on the fun!

Easter seems to play the sweet music of spring time finally showing its wonderful change of weather...be it sunny and warm or raining/snowing in the next ten minutes! It's Utah.

This year gave me the chance to try out cute new baking cups (new favs) and a new yummy recipe. These cupcakes turned out deliciously moist and full of flavor with the perfect touch of smooth Cream Cheese Frosting. Also a healthier alternative to the normal cupcake, seeing this one has carrots in it. Go ahead, treat yourself to two for your veggie intake of the day! This recipe comes from Smithfield.com

The Best Ever Carrot Cake Cupcakes

Ingredients

• 4 eggs

• 3/4 cup vegetable oil

• 1/2 cup apple sauce

• 1 cup sugar

• 1 cup brown sugar

• 1 8-oz. can of crushed pineapple, well drained

• 3 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 2 teaspoons baking soda

• 2 teaspoons baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• Small pinch of ground cloves

• 3 cups grated carrots, grate on larger side of cheese grater

• 1 cup chopped pecans

• For Frosting:

• 1/2 cup butter, softened

• 8 oz. cream cheese, softened

• 3 cups confectioners' sugar

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Steps:
In a medium bowl, combine butter, cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Pile the frosting high on the cooled cupcakes and garnish with the toasted coconut if desired.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, beat together eggs, oil, apple sauce, sugars, pineapple and 2 teaspoons vanilla. Mix in flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and small pinch of ground cloves. Stir in carrots. Fold in pecans. Pour into muffin tin lined with beautiful paper or foil liners. Fill each liner 3/4 full. Bake in the preheated oven for 18-20 min. Let cupcakes cool completely. While cooling, prepare frosting.
Frosting: 
In a medium bowl, combine butter, cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat until the mixture is smooth and creamy.

I decorated the cupcakes with a large round tip and topped it off with chocolate shavings to represent a nest with two cadburry eggs in the middle.

They were a success! I would give this recipe a 10 out of 10 and encourage you all to try this delicious somewhat healthy cupcake! 

At the end of yesterday's beautiful Easter Sunday full of laughter, yummy food, gorgeous spring weather, and family I find myself grateful and feeling more blessed than ever! Here is a selfi-Sunday pic....Couldn't resist!