New Website!!

I wanted to give an update that I have a new WEBSITE now!! This blog will stay up and running as long as possible.  I am noticing that some links won't let you download right away.  If you need to access a file please follow the prompts to ask for permission.  It will automatically send me an email, I'll approve it and then you'll get an email with the file you're able to download.  I am hoping to go through all my old links and update them so you won't have to do that, but it does take time so please follow the prompts until then.  I check my emails regularly so I should get back to you ASAP.  If you need a file quickly the best way to reach me is through Instagram.  While you're there I'd super appreciate some support with a follow!  You can find all my latest links including my LTK, Tik Tok and more HERE!

If you have time to pin, share, mention my blog or Instagram posts, etc. it really does help so much and makes a big difference.  Thank you!!

If you'd like to stay up to date on all things RuthAnne Strong please head on over to ruthannestrong.com, I'll still share all the fun we had over here and hopefully even more!! Recipes, Bake Shop recipes, handouts, church lessons, parties, family updates, traditions and more! Thank you so much for supporting me and my family!

Halloween Decor

I can't believe I'm saying this but I am LOVING this Halloween decor.  Usually I'm quite a Scrooge when it comes to Halloween but this year I'm completely embracing it.  I can't get over this cute chalkboard sign.  I'm so obsessed with how it turned out.

I totally love using items that can be used over and over again for any season.  Like my chalkboard, wreaths and three tiered tray! Here's a few ideas to help inspire you to use the things you have on hand to decorate for each season.  For my wreaths I added a simple bow.  The three tiered tray I added all my little holiday decorations that I usually don't have a place for, I propped a few of them up on mini cake stands.  My chalkboard is easy to customize each month with chalk markers and different garlands if I have them for that season or holiday.  I love this one my sister made for me a few years ago!  

I've learned that I can't have candy out on the counter like this.  Super cute but Dallin and I and even Olivia kept eating it until it was gone-in record timing I might add!  I've switched up a few decorations including taking away most of the candy bowls and containers, also the Back to School sign I left up (Face-palm!), and a few other things to make it look a little better.  

Lots of these pictures were taken in stages as you can probably tell.  I couldn't stop thinking how my wreaths looked so plain and blah.  I later added bows to them but before this is how it looked and my candy was full. haha!  I made the bow from ribbon my cute mom had on hand, it was super easy!

Love that my space is slowly becoming the space I've always wanted it to be.  It's crazy how a few simple decor items can help so much!

I mean is it even fall/Halloween if you don't have Harvest Cadbury balls, candy pumpkins and candy corn?  I'm just missing pumpkin taffy! My favorite!!

Sorry for the real life in some of the pictures.  That's just how it is when you're trying to capture little things through real life.

Here's where I found everything!  

I'll link or share where I got it if I can't find a link for everything below.

Wreaths

Chalkboard

Halloween Banner-Made by sister

Three-tiered tray

Small pumpkins-Target Dollar Spot

Small wood decor-Found at Wood Connection, painted by me

Mini cake stands-Target Spot

Mini cauldron-Target Dollar Spot

mini pumpkins-Target Dollar Spot

wood bat-Target Dollar Spot

pumpkin runner-Target Dollar Spot

Open Shelves-Etsy

White cake stand

Orange pumpkins

Wire pumpkins-Target Dollar Spot 

Pumpkin Witch-Walmart (Won from TCL Giveaway!)

Witch with orange dress-Walmart

Wood ghost-Found at Wood Connection, painted by me

black tree-Target Dollar Spot

pumpkin table runner-Target Dollar Spot

chevron place mats-Target Dollar Spot

Light above table

Shelf/coat rack-Etsy

candy corn garland-Target Dollar Spot

Hello Pumpkin sign-Handwritten Harper

As you can tell I love the Target Dollar Spot!  All of these items were from last years Halloween items in the Dollar Spot.  Sometimes they come back, sometimes they come back a little different and sometimes they don't come at all.  So there isn't a link for them it's something you have to just find in store if you're lucky.

This post may contain affiliate links, but all opinions are my own.

Coconut Lime Cupcakes

Coconut and lime is an unexpected, but super sweet flavor combination!  The inspiration for this cake comes from the lovely Cake by Courtney and her Coconut Key Lime Pie Cake.  It's a bomb recipe, I just wanted to see if I could make it a tad bit easier.  And to me that means a cake mix!

Baking can already be so tricky and time consuming.  I love to take simple steps to make baking easier and faster.  I've always been known to doctor up cake mixes and make a pretty stellar cake, but I've always followed others recipes.  Until now!

I created this recipe! I'm so grateful for awesome bakers that share their talents and hopefully I can do the same.  Without further ado lets dig in!

I started with a base of a boxed white cake mix and added all the lovely ingredients that made Courtney's cake so fabulous.  I tweaked the amounts, and added a few more things to make sure it would work out just right.  I even added the graham cracker crust and lime curd filling to wow the guests at the baby shower I took these to.  Boy did they wow!  Topped with the most smooth coconut cream frosting and toasted coconut, these rosette cupcakes were a show stopper (and incredibly easy from the cake to the decorating... Shhh!).

I made the lime curd a couple days before so I had one less thing to do on party day.  I'm all about party prepping!

Coconut Lime Cupcakes

Graham Craker Crust

1 1/2 C. graham cracker crumbs

1/4 C. and 2 T. unsalted butter, melted

1/4 C. granulated sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line cupcake pan with liners.  Crush graham crackers well then mix with butter, sugar and salt.  Place about 2 teaspoons in the base of each cupcake liner.  Press with the back of the measuring spoon.  Bake for 5 to 7 minutes.  Let cool while making cake.

Coconut Lime Cake

3/4 C. cream of coconut

2-3 tsp. coconut emulsion

2/3 C. sour cream

4 egg whites

1/3 C. coconut oil

1 tsp. vanilla

1 box white cake mix

1 1/2 T. flour

2 tsp. lime zest

Combine wet ingredients.  Once combined add cake mix, flour and lime zest, just until combined.  Fill over graham cracker crust using a small cupcake scoop.  Bake for about 17-20 minutes until a toothpick comes out mostly clean.  Let cool before you frost.  

I then toasted about 1 C. sweetened coconut in the oven while watching continuously.  Let cool.  After the cupcakes and coconut were cool, I cut a cone shape out of the middle of each cupcake (this is on my wish list now though!!), and cut off the tip of the cone.  Don't cut too far because you will hit the crust.  I then filled the hole with THIS lime curd and put the rest of the cake on top.  I then topped each cupcake with a simple rosette design using a 1M Wilton tip and THIS delicious frosting.  It's just like a regular cupcake swirl just think reverse and start in the middle while working your way out.  

I just had to share the cake that I made as well for the baby sprinkle.  

This technique is also super easy to complete.  Make a vertical row of frosting dots.  Use the back tip of a icing spatula to gently pull the middle of the frosting.  Continue with the complete row of dots.  Then just keep piping rows and rows and keep pulling.  The last row can just be dots. 

This post may contain affiliate links but all opinions are my own.