Weekending: Cheers

Well Monday here we are once again!  I can't believe we are already halfway through June, time needs to slow down just a bit!  Linking up with Biana today to talk about my weekend.

My weekend started on Thursday night.  Absolut released their new bottle so I was happy to take advantage of the free drinks and fun!

Friday night I switched from vodka to tequila for our work happy hour.  One of the girls on my team set up a happy hour featuring Maestro Dobel tequila and yall, the drinks were SO GOOD!

After a quick dinner with friends I was definitely in bed by 10:30!  Saturday I got my butt kicked at a workout and maybe thought my lungs were going to explode.  Holy cardio!  I definitely wanted to take a page from Fat Amy's book

I had been wanting to try out a recipe for Dr. Pepper cupcakes so I thought Saturday was the perfect time.  After looking all over Pinterest I found this recipe and headed to the store.  Mine my not be as cute as hers but they did taste yummy!

I think I didn't add enough powdered sugar to the icing so mine was a little thin.  I'm still learning a lot about baking so if yall have any tips feel free to throw them my way!

Sunday I went to one last work event and headed to Hotel Zaza for their Sunday School party.  Sunday School is once every 3 months and it is a huge party in one of the hotel ballrooms.  I had never been before but always heard it was a blast so when I got offered a ticket for work I knew I couldn't miss it.

When we sat down we were offered carafes and carafes of mimosas and after an hour or so of drinking I knew I needed breakfast.  Thankfully they came out with trays of food.

It doesn't look like much but I promise it was all delicious!  After a few more carafes of mimosas, the staff comes in and takes almost everything off of the tables and then the lights go out!  All of a sudden a DJ starts playing and the staff reappears with bottles of champagne and sparklers that they pass out!  The music is blaring and soon everyone was up on their chairs dancing and waving around sparklers and glow in the dark wands.  It was a blast but at some point I hit my wall and knew I needed to go before the champagne hit me too hard!

Even though I am beyond tired today, the weekend was amazing!

Cinnamon Roll Cake

I mentioned yesterday that I made Cinnamon Roll Cake over the weekend.  I made this delicious treat last year for Easter brunch and everyone raved about it.  Usually when I find a recipe I always make a few tweaks but this one is perfect as is.

Cinnamon Roll Cake via On Sutton Place

For the cake

3 cups flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup sugar

4 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 cups milk

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

1/2 cup butter, melted

For the topping

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons flour

1 tablespoon cinnamon

For the glaze

2 cups powdered sugar

5 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon milk

What you'll do:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Spray a 9x13 baking pan with cooking spray and set aside.

Mix together flour, salt, baking power, sugar, milk, eggs and vanilla (I used my Kitchenaid but I'm pretty sure a hand mixer would work too).

Once everything is mixed together slowly stir in melted butter.

Pour into baking pan.

For the topping, mix 1 cup butter, brown sugar, flour and cinnamon until creamy.

Drop evenly over the cake batter then use a knife to swirl the topping through the cake.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until your knife comes out clean.

For the glaze, mix powdered sugar, milk and vanilla.

Drizzle over warm cake.

Enjoy!

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Weekending: The Ritz, Christmas Parties and Holiday Favorites

Yall I can't believe that Christmas is this week!  I mean....what????  I only have 2 more gifts to buy but other than that everything is wrapped and ready to go to Odessa Christmas Eve.  Linking up with the beautiful B today!

My weekend started on Thursday night when I headed out with a couple of friends for a girls night out.  We went to a great new restaurant called Henry's Majestic.  The food was great and the only mistake I made was not ordering one of their signature cocktails.  After dinner we headed over to the Ritz to have a glass of champs and toast to the holidays.  I had never been to the Ritz before and OMG I need to start hanging out in the lobby more often.  Everything was so beautiful and I felt a little fancy and almost like a real grown up.

After getting into the holiday spirit Thursday night I was ready for a Christmas Party.  My friend Karim and his fiance invited a few of us over and I couldn't have been more excited.  This was my first chance seeing A LOT of my old friends since I moved back to Dallas and the reunion was everything I wanted.  Lots of big hugs were given and everyone made me feel so great about being back in my city!  I can't wait for more nights with all of these people.

Saturday was very relaxing and I joined a friend for lunch and a mani pedi.  Good lordy I needed my claws done so badly.

Sunday I got up early and was probably one of the first people at the mall.  I managed to get all of my Christmas shopping done with the exception of 2 gifts which I can pick up tomorrow.  I headed home and gave my apartment a good scrub and then got down to one of my favorite holiday traditions-Christmas movies and baking.

I popped my favorite Christmas movie in the DVD player and got to work on a Cinnamon Roll Cake.

I may have already "tested" a corner piece.  Stop by tomorrow for the recipe!

Hope you all had a fabulous weekend and are ready for Christmas.  Only a few shopping days left yall!