Candied Apples and Unfrosted Cupcakes

Many thanks to all of you who wished me a happy birthday last week! My 26th was almost a full week of celebration, and I'm feeling very spoiled! I had a lovely dinner date with my AmeriCorps gals Abby and Evan on Wednesday, Peanut and I had TWO celebratory lunches on Thursday and Friday, Mom and Dad sent me an incredibly beautiful bouquet of flowers (pictured below, which Peanut placed next to Paw's picture) on my special day, and I spent a fantastic long weekend at home in Greensboro that included a large family meal, and excursions to Saxapahaw, Hanging Rock, and Winston-Salem (in a vintage VW bus) with James (insert extremely large smiley face here). You see? SO spoiled! I returned to Greenville yesterday feeling very loved, celebrated, and sleepy from a weekend of activity! I'm blessed beyond measure, friends.

Now, if that's not enough activity for you, it's on to the next event: Halloween! One of Peanut's favorite holidays. And I'm sure I don't have to tell you that she doesn't celebrate it in the typical way. Peanut does not pass out candy to trick-or-treaters. Cause that would be too predictable, yes? Instead, she hands out homemade candied apples and UNFROSTED vanilla cupcakes to kids in costume...in a purple wig, no less. Don't you worry--I'll post pictures. I want to see Peanut in a purple wig as much as you do! As far as the cupcakes though, I have no idea why they must be (as she insists) unfrosted. Maybe because they're less messy that way? Guess I'll find out. We've set tomorrow as our Halloween prepping day! And depending on how everything turns out, I'll post recipes here later in the week. Peanut wanted to buy boxed cake mix for the cupcakes, but for any of you who know me, I believe boxed cake mix is the cardinal of all sins. So, we're making them from scratch. I just don't know how they'll taste without frosting. Which makes me wonder, if a cupcake doesn't have any frosting, doesn't that make it a muffin? Hmmmm...one of life's deeper questions, for sure.

I'll leave you with this:

When I got back to Greenville yesterday, Peanut asked me to turn around so she could look at my jeans:

Peenie: KATY! You look like you've been poured into those things! How'd you get them on?!

Me: What? Do you think they're too tight on me, Peanut?

Peenie: No! I want a pair!