
5 Minutes for Mom is hosting their annual Ultimate Blog Party. There are lots of great bloggers participating so I hope you can join us!
I’m so glad you’re here! This is my first blog party so please forgive me if I seem a little nervous! I hope you enjoy the refreshments! Would you like a glass of iced tea or raspberry lemonade? Please help yourself to the cupcakes!

Raspberry Lemonade
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1 cup fresh lemon juice (about 4 lemons)
3 1/2 cups water
1 container (10 ounces) frozen raspberries in syrup, thawed
3/4 cup water
1. Mix sugar and 1/2 cup water in 1-quart saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring once, until sugar is dissolved. Cool to room temperature.
2. Mix cooled sugar syrup, the lemon juice and 3 1/2 cups water in 2-quart nonmetal pitcher. Place raspberries in strainer over small bowl to drain (do not press berries through strainer). Reserve berries for making ice cubes. Stir raspberry liquid into lemon mixture; refrigerate.
3. Spoon raspberries evenly into 12 sections of ice-cube tray. Divide 3/4 cup water evenly among sections with raspberries. Freeze about 2 hours or until firm. Serve lemonade over ice cubes.

Pina Colada Cupcakes
1 box yellow cake mix
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon rum extract
1 can (8 oz) crushed pineapple in juice, undrained
3 eggs
1 teaspoon coconut extract
1 teaspoon rum extract
1 container (12 oz) whipped vanilla frosting
3/4 cup shredded coconut
1. Heat oven to 375°F (350°F for dark or nonstick pan). Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups. In large bowl, beat cake mix, oil, water, 1 teaspoon rum extract, the pineapple and eggs with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups.
2. Bake 14 to 19 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
3. Stir coconut extract and 1 teaspoon rum extract into frosting. Spread frosting on cupcakes. Dip tops of frosted cupcakes in coconut. Store loosely covered at room temperature. Makes 30 cupcakes.
Let me tell you a little about myself. I’ve been blogging for about a year and a half. My interests are cooking, reading, gardening, crafts, birdwatching, photography, health, and of course, blogging.
Quick! Look out the window. See the Cedar Waxwings eating the berries on our privet tree? A flock of waxwings visits our backyard every February or March to feast on the berries.

There are many cool prizes to be won at this year’s Ultimate Blog Party. Look here to see all the prizes and how you can win!

I’m a Watkins associate. I’m giving away an assortment of Watkins products. You could win my Watkins Spring Giveaway! Find out how here.
Thanks for visiting! Stop by any time!
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Hi. I came by from the party at 5 minutes for moms. Your blog is lovely. Thanks for the refreshments and the recipes. It looks very yummy.
Your cupcakes look/sound amazing! mmm…
nice to meet you!
What a beautiful site. Thanks for sharing and joining the party.
Cedar waxwings are my absolute favorite birds–and I have had them in my yard one whole time, in my holly tree, at my old house and never again! :*( But, I have had orioles nesting at my new house and lots of other fun ones. Thanks for the refreshments, they’re great.
Thanks for stopping by…
I love your blog, and your goodies were great!! Thanks for sharing the recipes! Have a great night…
Hi, it is my first time too. Great way to check out some other sites. Glad you joined and great to see your site.
Thanks for the treats! Yum! Great blog, I shall be back again for sure.
oh someone else was offering the same drink!!! it is so delicous!!! now i know i need that recipe!
It’s great to meet you! Thanks for stopping by, come again anytime
Your recipes look fabulous, especially the cupcakes, I have such a sweet tooth! I look forward to reading more here. Enjoy the party!
~Meshellyn
Pina Colada Cupcakes!!! Wow! Yum!
I’m inviting you to party with me!
Win some chocolate from my-sister-in-law and I…we blog about CHOCOLATE…me from Australia…and her from Michigan. Here’s the link: http://thechocolistas.blogspot.com/2008/03/ultimate-blog-party-2008.html
What am I doing in Australia? I married an Aussie…and moved to Brisbane, leaving my family and friends and all the right-side-of-the-road drivers in America.
Win a handmade pocket place mat from my blog Comfort Joy Designs. Here’s the link:
http://comfortjoydesigns.blogspot.com/2008/03/ultimate-blog-party-2008.html
Want to know more about life in Australia? Visit my A Cup of Joy site where I keep up with my family and friends in America. Here’s the link:
http://acupofjoy.wordpress.com/
Happy Partying!
Great treats. Loved your party..come on over to mine!
Thanks for stopping by my place and joining the party! You have a lovely blog, and I am definitely going to try those recipes. Yummy!
I need to try out those cupcakes, yum!
Thanks for letting me swing by! If you want to stop by the party at my place you can find it here!
Welcome to the party! What a great blog! Follow the link, so we can meet! Have a fun week partying!
Yum! Those cupcakes look so yummy, I’m so going to make them this weekend. And raspberry lemonade… you’ve won my heart! Mind if I slip off my shoes and stay a bit?
beautiful site. what cupcakes!
thanks for visiting my party! glad i stopped by and got to know a bit about you.
i’m a bit of a photography fanatic myself too.
loved the lemonade and cupcakes. yum!
Thanks for dropping by my blog and leaving me a really great comment. I know you have visited a lot of sites, but mines might be different as I blog about my three Chihuahuas.
You would have to have a wonderful recipe site. Those cupcakes are calling my name.
I just visited your site to meet new friends, so I will not be participating for any giveaways.
Hope to visit with you soon.
Kathryn
Thanks for stopping by my party! Great to read your blog! Have a great week!
ohhh what a great party! the cupcakes look DELISH!
Thanks for stopping by to give thanks. I hope you have a great time at the party!
The cupcakes look delicious! I will have to try that recipe. My hubby loves Pina Coladas and simply can not find one here in the states that tastes anything near what we had in Mexico. I know that cupcakes will not compare either, but they still sound delicious.
Thanks for stopping by my blog and happy partying!
Yay! A food blog! =D
Hey there! I’m having such a good time perusing all the party’s wonderful blogs! I can’t believe how many of us there are! Stop by my blog, The Love List @ http://love-list.blogspot.com , and leave a comment on my party entry for a chance to win a “Blog Botox” package from Poppy Seed Design!
Party On,
Jess
Thanks for stopping by.
Mmmm, those Pina Colada Cupcakes look yummy!
Thank you for stopping by my party!
You have a beautiful site! I ‘may’ be interested in purchasing advertising space here. I have one question first though. How much traffic do you receive daily / monthly? Also, can one pay for space on a month by month basis? Thanks a bunch! I love meeting people through this party!
Nice to meet you! Happy blogging to you, and thank so much for the scrumptious looking recipes.
peace to you!
Sheila
Thanks for stopping by my blog! Do you mind if I bookmark yours, as I love reading blogs with lots of food ideas.
Those cup cakes look excellent! Yummy!
Thanks for the hospitality, come by and party with me if you get a chance. I look forward to coming back!
Thanks for the cupcakes!
Still hopping from blog to blog… my goal is to post at each blog at least once. Nice to meet you. Happy blogging!