RECIPE- Easy Neufchatel Frosting (Red velvet and salted chocolate cupcakes)

I used a box mix, so I could test out the frosting and I have to say it is AMAZING.. I used Duncan Hines and it's moist and flavorful.
For the frosting here is the recipe..

Ingredients

• 4 ounces butter softened
• (SECRET) 3 ounces Neufchatel cheese, softened. ( Neufchatel cheese is very similar to cream cheese, you've probably stared at it in the dairy display saying "what is that". It's basically the same thing as your classic cream cheese, it's named after is birth location in Normandy. It has less fat content (33% vs 23%) and higher moisture. It's flavor is almost indistinguishable from cream cheese though I will say it is a bit milder and I think the texture is more granulated but only ever so slightly. I have grown quite found of it.)
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• also a small dash of salt... BOOST THAT FLAVOR! 

Directions

In a large bowl, beat together the butter, cheese and extract with an electric mixer or whisk. Slowly add in sugar 1/2 cup at a time until smooth. Place in fridge while cupcakes cool. Grate some chocolate (this is MUCH easier if the chocolate bar is frozen) place chocolate in small bowl and mix with another dash of salt, maybe a pinch, you be the judge)

 I put my icing in a gallon zip- lock and snip a corner to pipe a small swirl onto the cupcakes. Dust tops with salted chocolate powder.  VOILA! (it's ok.. the frosting and salted top is so good friends will think the whole cupcake is from scratch.... your secrets safe with me.)

  

*DIY* ENTRY WALL IMPACT for under $30

I have a small wall facing you when you walk in the front door to my house. I could hang some photos or a mirror or something to that affect but I wanted something different. Something with a POP! The wall is small enough where I can get away with something a little more unique and its not facing the main living area so I thought... WHAT THE HELL... why not!

Now what to do.. I wanted somewhere to hang keys, maybe an umbrella. I also wanted a shelf, for some reason I thought maybe adding a 3 dimensional collection of items would draw some attention and could be changed out for holidays. Hooks, Shelf... I couldn't put a bench or shoe holder on the ground as it would block traffic to the laundry room and I thought I'd save my shins some damage.

My next thought was paint... dark paint maybe, or a pattern. Something GRAPHIC.
I SUCK at painting... so the more I thought about polka dots or a grid or plaid painted affect the more my confidence weakened in my ability to pull it off. Ok, so dark paint I though, then it hit me... CHALKBOARD PAINT!! Of course......it's dark, has a good texture, its a flat finish and I can write quotes or lyrics as the seasons change. The other obvious is THE GIRLS WILL LOVE THIS!

Chalkboard paint has come a LONG way from school green or slate black. The new paint I purchased can be tinted to any one of 12 colors.. Now I just had to do all this on my budget for the more POP, I could get.
                    Here's what I got.. 

Command Hangers. I bought 2 packs of these.. so 4 total hooks. 

They were $3.49/pack at Walmart

Floating wall Shelf.. I got this at Target.. it was about $10.50. I will say this was NOT the easiest thing to install. But for the price what do you expect. I needed to engineer a way to anchor it better so be advised. You can easily find a shelf 6"wide x24" at home improvement stores and by the corner brackets. Just won't be a "floating" look.

Rust-oleum Chalk Board Paint. There are 12 colors you can have the paint department tint your can to. My quart size can had a MoonStone color which was like a Mossy Gray so I choose that. (colors vary) This was $13.47 at Home Depot. 

You'll also need general supplies for the painting and installation. Bubble Level, Screw driver, painters tape, foam roller and brush.

Tape off your area for paint, make sure its CLEAN and smooth. Paint your wall. (I did 2 coats)
Once dry, hang your shelf hardware. Attach clips for hangers and ENJOY.  Wait 3 days for paint to fully cure, condition it by rubbing chalk over the entire surface then wipe away.

You could do so many variations. Stripes of different colors, mirrors, plants etc. I can't wait to really have fun with this.

**RECIPE** Sugar Puff Almond Muffins

Sugar Puff (cuz they PUFF) Almond muffins

3/4 cup sugar
 1 large egg
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
 2 tsp baking power
1/4 tsp salt
 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
 1/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup milk
 1 tsp almond extract
You'll also need melted butter and sugar for the tops.

 Preheat oven to 360F.
Grease a muffin pan with butter or oil spray.
Beat sugar and egg until creamed together.
 In a separate bowl mix wet ingredients then pour in vegetable oil, milk and vanilla extract.
 Divide batter into 24 mini-muffin cups, filling them about 3/4 full. (Tip_ I put the batter in a gallon ziplock, snip a corner and pipe the batter in.. LESS MESS!)

 Bake for about 11-12 minutes until golden brown on top and a tester stick comes out clean. Let them cool a minute before removing from pan, melt butter and roll tops in a bowl of sugar.. (TIP_ I put the sugar in a coffee filter so I can roll them without the sides of a bowl getting in my way)

 Makes 24 Mini Sugar Puffs! PERFECT for breakfast with maple syrup or brunch with the girls.. just add coffee.