Old Friends

There's nothing quite like a 20+ year old friendship to make you feel all warm and fuzzy.

I recently visited my longtime friends, Cherie and Dit, in NC for my husband's birthday trip.

It was nice to feel completely at ease and welcome. It's amazing to me how we've

lived in separate states for 12 years but the ease has never gone away. The mutual love

and respect is always there and we always pick up right where we left off... 

(all photos taken with my iPhone)

It was a really great trip. It's always good to see old friends and reconnect.

I loved seeing their babies and getting to know them better. That little Belle, she's a doll.

Lots of personality packed into a tiny, sassy baby girl.

I really look forward to going back or having them come here...( ahem, Poune!)

Love you guys!

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We came home to a clean house that smelled like apples and nothing could've wiped the smile off

my face when I saw what Jaclyne had done for me while I was gone...

I left the house with only my glittered maple leaves up in excitement for Fall.

But I came home to this!!

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We celebrated Eric's birthday with the kids when we got home.

Caramel Apple birthday cupcakes

Caramel Apple Cupcake recipe adapted from here

• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 4 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and chopped 

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Stir together first 5 ingredients in a large bowl until blended. Combine flour and next 3 ingredients; add to butter mixture, stirring until blended. Stir in apples. Place paper baking cups in muffin pans, fill with batter to about two-thirds full. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks, and cool completely.

Frost with your favorite icing. I chose a caramel
vanilla butter cream and added a swirl of caramel on top.

Enjoy!