Latest California Adventure

 I recently went to the wonderful state of California to attend training for work.  How awesome is that?  It was pretty darn awesome.  I didn't get to do a whole lot, I was there for work you know, but I did get to squeeze in a few things that I'm going to share with you.

OMG. First visit to In-N-Out. It was freaking awesome. I am pretty sure I won't ever be able to visit the state of CA without having some of this goodness.

I also made a quick drive down the Pacific Coast Highway.  I'm so glad I did this.  I was a little scared of driving it by myself, but it wasn't bad at all.  And it was beautiful.  Seriously, you can't see this and not be in awe of how amazing it is.    

 I only snagged a few pictures because I had a wave of anxiety standing on the side of a cliff by myself.  Yes, I am completely neurotic at times.

 Of course I needed a self-portrait so you knew I was really there and not just stealing these pictures from the internet.

I also went to Cafe Rio after hearing all kinds of great things about it.  It sucked.  That's all I have to say about that.

 This was as brave as I could get to getting close to a Rodeo Drive street sign.  It was already painfully obvious that I wasn't from around those parts, so I didn't feel the need to draw any more attention to myself.

 I also had my first Sprinkles experience.  I'm not going to lie, I KNEW I was going to be disappointed.  All of the hype could only mean that my expectations were going to be ridiculous. 

While my expectations were absolutely ridiculous, Sprinkles lived up to it.  Best cupcakes I've EVER had!  I had to get a four pack -  red velvet, salted caramel, black and white, and dark chocolate banana.  I ate all of them and they were all fabulous.  Let's just say I'm glad there isn't a Sprinkles near by because I would eat my weight in cupcakes on a regular basis.

Overall, I had a wonderful trip.  I got in some awesome training that I'm hoping will really help me professionally and I got to have froyo in Malibu.  Cali FTMFW!

Guest Post from Emma the Joy!

Hello Lovely Lauren Leigh readers! My name is Emma from Emma the Joy and I'm thrilled to be here today! When Lauren asked me to do a guest post on anything I pleased, my mind automatically went to cupcakes. Baking is a favorite hobby of mine and there is nothing better than a good cupcake.

Low-fat {yes!} Vanilla Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:

1 1/3 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup buttermilk

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees and line a 12-cup baking tin with paper cups {recipe makes about 12 cupcakes}. In a small bowl, whisk together your dry ingredients until well combined.

In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until smooth. Add half of the four mixture, stir, pour in buttermilk, stir, and finally add the rest of the flour and stir until well combined.

Distribute evenly in baking cups, filling about 2/3 full. Bake for 16-20 minutes. Allow to cool completely before frosting.

Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Cream Cheese Frosting

{Makes enough to frost 12 cupcakes}

Ingredients:

8 ounces light {Neufchatel} cream cheese, softened

5 tablespoons butter, softened

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 - 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted

Beat cream cheese with butter and vanilla until combined. Gradually add powdered sugar. Continue to add more powdered sugar until you reach a consistency and sweetness that fits your taste.

My favorite way to frost cupcakes is to pipe the frosting on! My favorite tip is the Wilton 2D drop flower tip, which you can find here.

These cupcakes are delightful, the buttermilk makes them moist and delicious. Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from The Comfort of Cooking.