Nailed it!

I am not a crafty person. I'm just NOT. I can't draw a straight line with a ruler, I hate arts and crafts, and I think baking is a pain in the ass. At every party or school event, I always sign up to bring something easy, like chips and dip (store bought!!), or soda, or even napkins. 


Pintrest just stresses me out. For the longest time, I didn't get it. Friends tried to convince me to check it out for ideas. Ideas for what? Ways I am failing at being crafty??? How much I suck at being an adorable stay at home mom? 


 I eventually did sign up for Pintrest and I do like to browse my friends "pins". However, I find myself wondering whether they like the ideas because they're cute ideas or because they are actually going to attempt to do them. If it's the latter, then I'm impressed. Homemade centerpieces? Cards for special occasions decorated with your child's handprints? Adorable baked goods? Who the hell has time or energy for that? I'm lucky to get dinner on the table by 7 every night. 


This is how much of a slacker I am. This year, I didn't even bother to do valentines with my son. Why not? Because he doesn't go to school on Tuesdays, and this year, V-day fell on a Tuesday!!!! Mother of the year- right here! 


To defend my stay at home mom honor, I feel I should mention that A and I did bake cupcakes together on Valentine's day. It was the first time I've baked since he's been old enough to help. Now before you get all excited, you should know that these were cupcakes from the box. But boy did I think I was awesome. It was just like a picture out of a magazine. My son was standing on a chair "helping" me crack the eggs, pour the cake mix in, and stir. I even let him lick the spoon. I know, I know....salmonella, but I just couldn't take that memory away from him. I still have fond memories of licking the spoon whenever my mother baked brownies or cakes (from the box too I might add!). 

With that being said, something possessed me to do the unthinkable this year for A's birthday: BAKE AND DECORATE THE CUPCAKES MYSELF!!!!!! What was I thinking? Every year so far, I've taken the easy road and ordered his cake from Publix. It's usually expensive and I end up with a ton of leftover cake, but it's easy. 


This year, my son is turning 3 so I decided he's old enough to tell me what kind of party he wants. Of course, he told me he wants an animal party. After ordering all the party supplies and decorations online, (you better believe I'm not crafty enough to make my own, sorry!) I started browsing Pintrest for cupcake ideas. I found the most adorable jungle animal cupcakes from Betty Crocker and fell in love with them. So much that I made the mistake of showing the picture of the cupcakes, along with the" how to" video, to my son. He freaked out and even asked to watch the video over and over again. Shit. I'm screwed now.


After the 4th time through the video, I decided the cupcakes didn't look that hard. I emailed it to my mother because she's coming to help with his party. I expected her to love the cupcakes as much as I did and to tell me that we could do it! Instead she said, (in her Long Island Jewish accent), "Caah-ra, why don't you just buy a friggin cake? What do you want to deal with that cupcake headache for anyway?"


We all know when our parents tell us not to do something, it makes us want to do it even more. Even when we're in our thirties. So here I sit. Two weeks before the party and already stressing about the damn jungle animal cupcakes. Somewhere deep inside of me, I must think that if I can pull off these cupcakes then I will finally be that adorable, crafty stay at home mom people always picture when they hear the term "stay at home mom".                 


All the stress and nail biting led me to decide to do a practice run next week. Don't worry, just in case they don't turn out as planned, I have a backup plan: Zoo animal cupcake picks. Cheap and easy! Just in case...
                                        . 


Here's hoping I NAIL it and my cupcakes don't turn out like this poor momma's: 


PS: That makes me laugh til I pee my pants EVERY time I see it.