Cupcakes make everything better!

It's strange, but true, that in our household, cupcakes seem to make everything better!  After a hard day at school or work, my family love to be greeted with love and home-baked cupcakes.

Last week was no exception - one of my children was having to deal with a "situation" which was heart-breaking for me to watch.  I felt so helpless, but it was not something that I could actually step in and deal with.  So I did the only thing I could to make it a bit better...I made cupcakes!

Although it was 8.30pm on a school night, that wasn't going to stop me.  The resulting sugar high from bowl-licking and cupcake-scoffing just before bed is not really conducive to a quick shut-eye, but we didn't care.  All that mattered is that I was able to put a smile back on my cherubs' faces!

There's always something sweet and safe about being with people who love you.  This is the environment my hubby and I have endeavoured to establish in our home for our kids and each other.  We're very blessed in that it's also an environment that extends throughout our whole family, which is a great role model and safe haven for our kids.  That's why I love making the effort to have family "girly" days, in spite of the busyness of life - it's important to invest time into loved ones.  A girls' lunch at The Watergrill at Sydney Rowing Club over the weekend is an example of this...

One of my gorgeous nieces & Goddaughter!

Aaah, how sweet it is when you can't choose which dessert you want, so you get to try both!

Life is certainly very full for us at the moment and there always seems to be something exciting going on in the social calendar.  Speaking of which, we've got a dream family holiday to the USA coming up...and in case you didn't know already, I can't wait to get to New York!!  It seems that everywhere I turn, I'm reminded of this fact, even through food :)  Here is a "New Yorker" slice I just couldn't resist from my local (& very-much-worth-the-visit) bakery, Wattle Bakers:

But the sweetness didn't end there!  I also braved the rain and traffic to travel across the Anzac Bridge to meet up with some fellow dream-chasers at the delicious Cafe Sopra Potts Point - four amazing soul sisters, who I'm about to embark on a very exciting adventure with (so stay tuned)!  Great food, great company, great adventures...life really is like a cupcake - so sweet!

Beautiful fresh produce at Cafe Sopra...

Too many delicious dishes to choose from...

So we tasted a few...

Mini Arancini Balls to-die-for

Tasty Creamy Vegetarian Pasta

Zucchini & Fennel Salad (& I thought I didn't like fennel!)

Gigantic Meatballs

Banoffee Pie - way too delicious!

Tiramisu (a favourite even though I don't like coffee?!)

An adventure begins!

I also have to tell you about my practise walk over the Brooklyn Bridge...not sure what I mean?  I'll fill you in next post!