The time will change soon, decorations will go up and festive treats will be in order!
Fall is my favorite time of year and we love making it special. We like to make crafts and bake fun things like these Bloody Red Velvet Cupcakes ( No real blood required, lol ).
You make these cupcakes as simple or as festive as you want.
We’re keeping ours simple but if you really want to spice up Halloween you can add something fun like red sauce on top with some little hatchets or candy eyeballs, and cats.
While the name might sound gruesome. You can dig in with a smile knowing they are actually a devilishly fun take on the always popular Red Velvet recipe!
Check it out below!
Cupcakes For Halloween | Blood Red Velvet Cupcakes
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Cupcake Recipe:
- 2½ cups flour
- 1 tbsp. cocoa powder
- 1½ tsp. baking soda
- ½ tsp. salt
- ½ cup butter, softened, plus 4 tbsp.
- ¼ cup softened shortening
- 1 cup of sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1 TBSP Red Velvet extract
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tbsp. Red gel food color
Directions for Cupcakes:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Line cupcake tins with paper liners.
- Sift flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt altogether.
- Mix the dry ingredients with a wire whisk for 3 minutes
- In a separate bowl using an electric mixer, beat the butter, shortening, and sugar until it is light and creamy.
- Add the egg, vanilla, red velvet extract, and red gel food coloring.
- Mix well.
- Add flour mix and milk, 1/2 portion of each at a time, mix until completely combined.
- Spoon the batter into the lined cupcake tins until 2/3’s filled.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 20-22 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool for 10 minutes
- Remove from cupcake tins to a wire rack until totally cooled.
Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients:
- 1 C. unsalted butter softened
- 1 C. cream cheese softened
- 2 tsp. vanilla
- 2 C. powdered sugar
- 5 tbsp. heavy whipping cream
Frosting Directions:
- Cream the butter and cream cheese until creamy.
- Mix on low.
- Slowly add powdered sugar until blended.
- Add vanilla and heavy whipping cream and beat until thoroughly combined.
- Scoop the frosting into a pastry bag with a large frosting tip.
- Frost the cupcakes and place the icing transfer into the center of the cupcake
Blood Icing Ingredients:
- 1 egg white
- 1/4 tsp cream of tartar
- 3/4 C powder sugar
- 1/4 tsp vanilla
- 1 rubber bbq brush
- red gel food coloring
- 1 package of Wilton edible knife icing transfers
Blood Icing Directions:
- In a standing mixer, combine the egg white, cream of tartar, vanilla and powder sugar.
- Mix until white in color and stiff peaks about 7 minutes
- Mix in red food coloring
- Add a few more drops of red to get a deep shade of red, about 5 drops.
- If the icing is thick add in 1 tsp of water
- Place the cupcakes into an area where you won’t mind getting ‘blood’ on items
- Dip the bbq brush into the blood and shake the brush towards the cupcakes to give them the blood effect.
- Let dry for 10 minutes before enjoying.
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Enjoy!
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So you’re having a baby and wondering if you’ll be having a cute little boy or a sweet baby girl?
Well according to old gender Wives’ tales, there are some pregnancy symptoms that can tell you if you’re expecting a boy or a girl.
But it’s definitely not science and the only way to really predict this is with an ultrasound at the right time.
You can still make a good guess though. Even though these are old Wives’ Tales, a couple are based in Science.
So read on and play the guessing game with your baby bump because it’s good, clean fun!
This post may contain affiliate links at no extra cost to you.
Signs You May Be Having A Boy According To Old Wive’s Tales
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You’re Only Putting On Pounds Around Your Belly
It has been said by many that if you only gain weight in the front around your tummy that you’ll have a boy.
Of course, it really varies from pregnancy to pregnancy but a lot of times this proves to be fairly accurate.
It did for me and many women we have interviewed.
It may be due to differences in hormone levels. There IS a difference between hCG and oestrogens when having a boy versus a girl.
This may explain why a couple of these Old Wive’s Tales seem to have some merit.
Must Read:
- Mega pregnancy to-do list from first trimester to childbirth and beyond.
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You Carry Low
Boys are said to be carried low.
But in truth, your belly shape can change very often due to many factors.
Your baby can carry low no matter what if you’ve had more than one pregnancy because your muscles are more stretched.
And at the end of pregnancy, once your baby has dropped and engaged you will appear to be carrying low no matter what the sex.
Have you taken a Prenatal course yet? Well, you can take one online and learn everything you need to know in just 3 short hours. Here’s the most highly rated and well priced prenatal course you get online today.
Your Skin Is Glowing
Your mother or Grandmother may tell you that you are glowing and that means you a pregnant with a boy.
Or if your skin breaks out with cystic bumps that you’re having a baby girl.
This is another that seems to be true pretty often.
It was for me. My skin looked pretty great with both my boys but I did get terrible, irritating acne with my girl. It was not fun.
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And 18 Pregnancy Hacks That Will Change Your Life
And The 6 best Ways To Induce Labor Naturally At Home
Your Baby’s Heartbeat is Below 140
I have heard this one many times but as far as I can tell from research it’s a complete myth.
But still, it’s fun to ask and ponder.
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You Don’t Really Have Morning Sickness
Out of all the things we have listed here this one seems to be the most likely sign to hold some truth to it.
You do have higher hCG when you’re pregnant with a girl.
This is the hormone that will cause you to get sick.
If you have really bad morning sickness you may be told that you’re having a girl and they may very well be right.
There are always exceptions like I mentioned before but this one is often correct.
So if you’re pregnant with a boy you may sail through it without too much sickness. This is often the case.
You Crave Meat and Protein
This is another on the list that doesn’t seem to mean much other than someone decided it must be true and it spread from there.
You will have many cravings and lots of aversions too during pregnancy and none will have a single thing to do with the sex of your baby.
Your Hair Gets Thicker And Shiner
With boys, you may sport a thicker, shinier mane.
Not sure if this would be true but it could have something to do with the hormonal differences we mentioned earlier.
Some hormones cause the hair cycle to last longer while others will make your hair fall out more often.
And Some Funnier Things
There are some other Old Wives tales about pregnancy that are a bit out there. I simply cannot take them seriously and I doubt you will be able to either.
Things like Your partner gaining weight, your feet always being cold, laying on the left side while sleeping, your pillow facing North, and more meaning you’d be having a boy.
These ideas are just too far out for me, but entertaining nevertheless.
In The End….
While some of these symptoms seem to hold some truth when it comes to predicting the sex of your baby, most are just part of a guessing game that has gone on since the beginning of mankind.
It’s all just part of the fun when it comes to pregnancy.
The only way to really know the sex of your baby is to get a scan or blood test.
I hope this information allowed you to make a good uneducated guess about your pregnancy 😉
I wish you and your babe all the luck in the world!
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Feeling attractive always makes a girl feel good, doesn’t it? Especially after having a couple of kids.
But it’s not really about how you look. It has a lot more to do with the way you carry yourself, your confidence, and your emotional maturity.
Sure your actual face fits in there somewhere with being attractive.
But we all know pretty women who are downright ugly.
So it doesn’t always boil down to great bone structure or fantastic hair. It’s much more complicated than that.
There are things you can do to make yourself an even more attractive person to others.
I have read some posts like this online and I’m gonna be real with you. Most don’t get to the heart of the matter.
But that’s what we’re going to do today. We’re going to put aside being a mother for a second and concentrate on something for ourselves.
If you want to find out how to put your best self forward and be more alluring then read on!
Habits Of Very Attractive Women
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First, let’s talk about personality traits and then we’ll move on to more physical things.
They are healthy
Being healthy and strong is inspiring.
It says a lot about who you are. It says you respect your body and you want to live your best life.
That is a very attractive trait for anyone to have.
Good nutrition and enough sleep will make you look fantastic too.
It may be harder if you have children but you have to make time to take care of yourself.
Doing simple things like getting plenty of Vitamin A will make your skin bouncy and thick and staying hydrated will give you that moist glow.
So make sure you sneak workouts in and eat to live, don’t live to eat.
Self Confidence
Being confident and sure of yourself is very attractive. It makes you look like you know where you’re going and you know where you’ve been.
You can be more confident by setting yourself up to win.
Be prepared for life by knowing what you’re doing at work or preparing yourself for any situation you think you may find yourself in.
Make eye contact and speak with assurance. This will take you far.
Be Positive
Nobody likes a whiner. Or someone who spouts negativity all. the. time.
This is the worst, and on the top of the most unattractive traits of all time.
Always be the sunshine. Find the positive in everything and show gratitude.
People will respect you more and look up to you for this. Trust me.
It’s good for your kids too. It sets them up to be positive individuals as they grow.
True Kindness
Being kind and nonjudgemental puts people at ease. You’ll be the person everyone is drawn to.
They will feel like they can come to you.
Kind people have deeper relationships and more life satisfaction.
It shows a sense of emotional maturity that real men ( and women ) will find extremely attractive.
It will make you approachable as a mother to so you’ll have more ‘ mom friends ‘ and that’s awesome.
Supports Other Women
This is a bit like what we talked about above.
Always be kind, positive, and always support your fellow sisters and mamas.
Whining, talking negative, and cutting other women down makes you look like you have low self-esteem.
Being Open-Minded
Being Open-Minded falls under being non-judgemental. But it needs to be said again.
In a world with so many problems like we’re facing today, you need to go into life with an open heart.
People are all just these vulnerable individuals and deep down, underneath their inner child is still existing and watching.
You need to see behind people’s anger, hurt and hate and see they’re acting out as that child.
Look on with kindness, and non-judgment.
If you look into their eyes you’ll see that child. Smile deeply and comfort them if you can.
Being Witty
Being funny, quick with words, and having a sense of humor will make you the highlight of any gathering.
It makes you glow and people will always enjoy being around you.
A Great Smile
Smiling helps people put down their guard and feel at ease.
It also makes you feel happier too according to science.
So smile at everyone including yourself when you see yourself in the mirror.
And while you’re at it tell yourself ‘ I love you and appreciate you ‘ too.
A Passion For Life
Having hobbies, interests, and passions gives you more to say, and people like a well-rounded individual.
Just because you’re a mama now doesn’t mean you cannot still keep the side of you that’s just ‘you’ so don’t forget to do what you love.
Just being happy and singing a little helps too.
Wake up every day with appreciation and show it to the world.
Well Spoken
Being well-spoken is definitely attractive.
There are so many women in the world right now that say ‘ like ‘ every other word, curse all the time ( there’s a time and a place ;), and are generally just too loud and obnoxious.
This isn’t cute and it makes them look ignorant.
So just stop.
Speaking well and being considerate makes you look intelligent and attractive.
It also sets a good example for your little ones.
Mysteriousness
Mystery evokes curiosity and interest.
Being mysterious is hard to define but it means you radiate a bit of magic. It’s a bit of an aura that people can’t see but feel.
Just don’t let it all hang out all the time.
Don’t be so predictable.
Now let’s move on to the more physical traits.
Planning Your Outfits
Struggling in the morning to find something to wear usually means you throw something together and you don’t look your best.
But with a little planning each night before, you can look absolutely stunning daily at work or where ever.
This alone will give you a huge confidence boost.
Making An Effort
Get up early enough to curl your hair or take a shower AND get the kids ready.
Make sure you have time for you.
You’ll feel so much more pulled together if you do.
Excellent Skin Care
Taking care of your skin is a must if you want to look your best.
You can do all of the above that I’ve mentioned but if you have flaky skin and giant pores you won’t feel that good.
You’ll still be awesome, you just won’t feel awesome.
And skincare goes a long way as you get older.
Start using Retin A and sunscreen NOW.
Good Posture
Body language says a lot about people and the way you carry yourself is important if you want to be your best self.
Nobody looks confident all hunched over with their head forward.
Learn to stand up tall and strong always and hold your head up high.
Doing the tips I’ve listed for you here will help improve your confidence and appearance as well as how others see you.
In The End, You simply need to respect and love yourself and others.
I wish you all the luck in the world.
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S‘mores are so fun for summer and fall. They are the treat of the seasons and the kids love making them.
Around a campfire, or made in a microwave, we can’t seem to get enough of them!
But have you ever had S’mores cake?! It’s fantastic and creative.
I’ve created a really easy and delicious recipe that takes the pleasure of a S‘more and brings it to the fun of a cupcake to create a dessert that I know your family will love!
This Hershey S’mores Cupcake recipe is perfect for sharing with friends and family.
It’s great for Summer, Camping or Fall-themed parties too.
You’ll find our awesome recipe below the Pinterest Image!
By the way, this post contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Hershey S’mores Cupcakes Made Easy
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Let’s start by getting everything together. Here’s a photo of what you’ll need. Gather up your ingredients and let’s get started.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cup Graham Cracker Crumbs (about 12 full sheets)
4 tbsp melted Butter
1/2 cup Sugar
1 box Chocolate Cake mix + box ingredients
1 1/2 cup softened Butter
1 1/2 cup Powdered Sugar
7 oz Marshmallow Creme
1/2 tsp Vanilla
And Hershey Bars To Add On Top
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Line cupcake pan with paper liners. Set aside.
- Pulse graham crackers in a food processor to make crumbs.
- Add melted butter and sugar and pulse to combine.
- Equally, divide crumb mixture in the bottom of each liner and gently press in place.
- Bake 7-10 minutes.
- Allow cooling.
- Prepare cake batter according to box directions.
- Fill each liner about 2/3 full and bake 15-20 minutes until the toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Allow cupcakes to cool.
- Cream butter and vanilla with a mixer until fluffy.
- Gradually add in powdered sugar until incorporated.
- Fold in marshmallow creme.
- Transfer to the piping bag with a round tip.
- Frost each cupcake.
- Garnish with graham cracker crumbs, graham crackers, chocolate or marshmallows.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.
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One of the things I love about this Hershey s’mores Cupcakes recipe is that you get all the flavor without the mess!
These are perfect for dessert, a Birthday party during the Fall, or just for sharing at a picnic.
I hope you enjoy them!!
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Pregnancy is super fun but it also comes with some pretty gross side effects.
Your body just starts to do some really weird stuff, and you can blame it on the cascade of whirling hormones.
Below is a list of funny and gross stuff that happens during pregnancy.
Enjoy!
By the way, this post contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you.
Gross Stuff That Happens During Pregnancy | What To Expect
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Bad Breath
This is one of the first gross things that happen when you’re pregnant.
It pretty much shows up right after you get that positive pregnancy test.
It’s because Hormonal changes start hitting you hard and it really makes your breath stink. Ugh.
The fluctuation in the production of progesterone and estrogen in the body causes plaque on your teeth. The bacteria in the plaque produce sulfur which ultimately leads to bad breath.
It causes a metallic taste and it’s pretty unbearable and it smells like sulfur. Just have that sugar free gum ready AT ALL TIMES.
****Want Freebies For You And Your Baby? Get $330 Worth Of Gear! I have partnered with many companies to give you the best baby freebies online including Nursing Pillow, Pregnancy Pillows, Nursing Covers, Baby Leggings, Baby Clothes and so much more. You can find out how to get your freebies in this post right here.
Farts
There’s just no other way to put it. You’re gonna fart.
As your system produces more progesterone, it relaxes muscles in your body.
This includes the muscles of your intestine which in turn allows gas to build up.
These bombs will smell like sulfur too. I’m so sorry.
Have you taken a prenatal course yet? Well, you can take one online that teaches you everything you need to know in about 3 hours at a great price. Here’s the most highly rated course online today.
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Dandruff
Your skin will go through all kinds of changes during this special time.
Some women will be glowing while others will get cystic acne that can be seen from the moon.
I was one of those women.
Your skin may get dry as well ( like my humor ), and this will include your scalp.
I got giant, weird flakes that came off my head during pregnancy and that’s something that has never happened to me.
Thankfully it went away afterward.
It’s a pretty common occurrence due to all those pesky hormones.
Pimples
Some women get that lovely pregnancy glow as I mentioned before while others are not so lucky.
Pimples will often show up during the first and second trimester due to so many hormonal fluctuations.
If you have a history of cyclic acne during your period, chances are you’ll have this problem during pregnancy also.
You’ll Stink
Pregnancy takes body odor to a whole new level.
It’s really bizarre.
It’s like regular body odor times ten. You can shower daily and it comes back quickly.
It will get especially bad during the postpartum period. Your body is once again flooded with changes and it just creates a strong hormonal odor.
A strong deodorant can help a bit.
You’ll Have Discharge Non-Stop
Pregnancy discharge is known as Leukorrhea. It’s thin and milky white and has a light scent.
This is what you get instead of having a period during those nine months and it’s completely natural and healthy.
You get this discharge because of an increase in estrogen levels that cause increased blood flow to the pelvic area.
This stimulates the body’s mucous membranes, leading to an increase in vaginal discharge throughout pregnancy.
At the end of pregnancy, it can get thicker and even have blood streaks in it once you get ready to lose your mucus plug.
So having some pantyliners handy is always a good idea.
You’ll Be Constipated
Your digestion slows down significantly when you’re pregnant.
This happens so your body can absorb all the nutrients it can from food.
It also occurs because of all the extra progesterone loosening everything up. This can and will make your bowels slow down because they don’t contract quite the same as before.
It can be pretty frustrating and uncomfortable.
If it gets too bad your Doc will likely prescribe some Miralax which can help a bit.
You’ll Be Bloated
Do to all that constipation and water retention you’re gonna feel really bloated.
Plus there’s a baby in there and that doesn’t help.
It’s all just part of pregnancy so keep in mind that it will pass eventually.
Just keep the end game in mind and go ahead and buy those maternity jeans you’ve been eyeing so you’ll be more comfortable.
And Last But Not Least, You’ll Poop During Birth
You finally get to poop! Yay!
But unfortunately, it will likely happen in front of several people.
You won’t just poop a little either, it will be ALL ya got. Yay again!
But for some lucky ladies, they go when labor starts. They empty their bowel naturally to prepare for birth.
You’d think everyone’s body would do that, but no….
This is possibly the worst thing on this list and you may not believe it when I tell you, but you won’t care.
You may worry about it quite a bit before the whole event but when your big day arrives you’ll be too distracted to give it a second thought so try not to dwell on it beforehand too much.
Everyone working on the maternity ward sees it daily and if your partner sees, well, they will forget all about it when they see their new babe, so no worries.
So that’s it. That’s all the weird and gross stuff that happens during pregnancy. It’s not so bad and after it all you’ll have your beautiful little one and you’ll forget all about the awkwardness of it all.
We wish you the best of luck!!
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Let’s face it. We all need a mood boost these days.
Times are strange and sometimes it’s hard to look on the bright side.
Especially if you’re stuck home with small children and you feel like you have no one to talk to.
We all suffer from bad moods occasionally and sometimes it’s hard to snap out of ‘ The Funk ‘
So what can you do? You don’t have to sit idly by and simmer in misery.
The habits I have listed below are some things you can incorporate into your daily life that will help you change your mood to happy.
They really work! So check it out below.
How To Change Your Mood To Happy | 10 Daily Habits That Help Boost Your Mood
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Get Some Sunshine
Getting light first thing in the morning is just SO important.
It will reset your circadian rhythm, give you a big dose of vitamin D, and make you feel happier.
So take a moment to yourself and drink your coffee outside.
Or take your little ones with you and they can get a shot of sunshine too, because they likely need it as much as you do.
This is a great way to spend your morning and it will bring you satisfaction and quiet your mind.
Write In A Journal Every Day
Journaling is a really powerful tool.
It allows you to better understand yourself and your feelings.
It can be especially helpful if you’re feeling down. Writing how you feel can help you release pent up emotions.
It’s something you should practice every day but especially when you’re having a bad one.
We have a great 64-page Journal with all kinds of mental health prompts from weekly emotion trackers, anxiety and anger trackers, and negativity worksheets that help create permanent thought pattern changes. You can find it here.
Feel Gratitude
Taking a moment to think about how you’re blessed and what you’re grateful for can help shift your mood.
You can do this by simply thinking about it or writing it down in a gratitude journal.
You could do this after you journal your feelings like we talked about before.
Exercise Can Improve Your Mood And Energy
Getting exercise in the morning can make all the difference in how you feel.
Trust me and you don’t have to do it for long. Just get your heart pumping.
5 minutes will work but 10 minutes is even better.
Dress Up Nice Will Help You Get In A Good Mood When You’re Depressed
Putting on something nice when you feel bad can help you feel better.
Especially if you’re a mama who feels like a hot mess.
You’ll feel better when you’re pulled together nicely and it will boost your confidence.
So pull out something really nice and dress yourself up.
Eat Good Food And Drink Plenty Of Water
Eating good food makes you healthy and strong and that helps make you feel good.
Eating a protein-based breakfast with a bit of fat and a small number of complex carbs is the best way to fuel your body and brain.
Just make good choices. Don’t be afraid of fat.
It’s just so good for you and it will boost your mood and make you feel full so you don’t get hangry.
Make sure to pick healthy fats and skip the junk food.
Being hydrated is extremely helpful too. It will boost your energy and your brain.
So drink up.
Practice Some Self Care
Practicing some intentional self-care can make you feel better when you’re really down.
You could meditate for a few minutes or just drinking your coffee outside in the sunshine in the morning like I mentioned before can help.
When you get home take a walk or run a special bath. Just try to breathe deep and quiet your mind. That’s the point.
Do Daily Affirmations
Daily affirmations may sound silly but they work.
Pop onto Youtube and you’ll find a wealth of videos to help you.
They will help change the little negative voices in your head. Over time they can create permanent positive changes.
You can do it while riding in the car or while drinking your morning coffee.
Just start a practice and stick to it.
You’ll thank me.
Plan Something You’re Passionate About
This is important every day but especially on days when you don’t feel your best.
Plan something that you love to look forward to.
Don’t let being a mom drown out your passions. Don’t lose yourself in that one role.
Doing something where you can be actively creative is best but if there’s nothing you can do that particular day, just planning on binge-watching your favorite Netflix show can give you something to look forward to too.
Hang Out With A Friend
Being with A friend is a great distraction.
You can hang out or even vent a little about how you’re feeling. Talking about it can definitely help.
So plan a dinner date and then maybe she can stay over and watch that Netflix series with you!
Maybe she can bring her kids and you can have a double sleepover.
We all have bad days and sometimes we just have to push through.
But taking a few moments to think about it and actively trying to change the way you feel can be really helpful in shifting your day and helping change your mood to happy.
Good luck!
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