<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/claire-cake-1.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1367" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/claire-cake-1.jpg" alt="first birthday cupcakes" width="500" height="331" /></a>A little while back, I proclaimed to be done with baking until after we have settled into the chaos of being parents to 2 wild and crazy girls, but my friend Brandy (of www.windywilsons.blogspot.com) made me such a great offer that I couldn't refuse.  She is the ideal baking "client" as she made very few specific requests.  She wanted cupcakes with white frosting and sprinkles.  Done.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/claire-cake-2.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1368" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/claire-cake-2.jpg" alt="rainbow cupcakes" width="500" height="331" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">After seeing how cute these rainbow sprinkles could be on O's special cupcake at Melissa's wedding shower, I decided they were a good starting place.  And what better to go with rainbow sprinkles than rainbow wrappers.  These were delicious, adorable and seriously one of the easiest baking projects I have done in quite a while.  It was exactly the kind of project I needed to take my mind of the drab, dreary winter but not over exert myself at this point in my pregnancy with only a week left before the big Cookie Monster Bash.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/claire-cake-3.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1369" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/claire-cake-3.jpg" alt="rainbow cupcakes" width="500" height="331" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">This type of wrapper is the most basic: not customizable, available for instant download (thus eliminating the need to plan very far ahead), and the most affordable.  I found this one on Etsy.com as usual in the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/111503665/the-rainbow-party-collection-cupcake?ref=favs_view_1">FabulousPartyDesigns</a> shop.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/photo-2-001.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1370" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/photo-2-001.jpg" alt="birthday cupcakes" width="463" height="500" /></a></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;">As usual, O was chomping at the bit to get at these cupcakes long before we even made it to the party.  Her current method of consumption involves licking only the frosting, as if it were an ice cream cone, and discarding the cake.  A girl after my own heart.  Who needs the cake?  (I've been playing around with filters on photos that I have taken with my phone.  My iphone 4 is so outdated that the pictures rarely turn out well, especially when shot indoors in a low light situation.  Filters can save a pretty sub-par pic.)</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/photo-3.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1371" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/photo-3.jpg" alt="smash cake" width="500" height="368" /></a></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;">One of my favorite ways to show O that I love her is to cook or bake something just for her.  It is something intrinsically maternal, and Brandy feels the same way about motherhood.  She made this simple smash cake, and we coordinated perfectly without even discussing it!  Baby C was so delicate in the destruction of her treat, focusing only on the frosting and rainbow sprinkles.  She was uber calm, as she went about this sensory experience, so calm, in fact, that she was not at all disturbed when her big brother climbed into her chair to give her a hand.  She smeared the frosting sweetly on his face and hers until they finally decided that they had had enough.  LOVE.</p>