Making my own vanilla extract

Finally got round to doing this. I suppose this makes sense given how often I bake.

To make your own vanilla extract you will need:

1 cup of vodka
3 split vanilla pods
Since my vodka bottle is 350ml I put in 5 vanilla pods.

Store in a cool dark place and shake once in a while. Use after 2 months! Can keep adding more vodka and used vanilla pods into the jar.

Yay!

Mocha cupcakes with mocha buttercream frosting

Revisiting 798

Mountain man and I haven't been back to the 798 art district since before I found out I was pregnant with Mountain Boy. Come to think of it I don't know why we don't go there more often. It's a gorgeous place filled with a vibrant youthful energy. Because we had to lug two kids we only covered a very small area but we will definitely go back there more often.

Salt dough fun

Thanks to my niece Shannon, mountain boy and I had a whole afternoon of fun with salt dough.

Beijing Badaling Safari Family Excursion

Highly recommend going there. But drive your own car in. The public transport isn't great and they really limit you to one seat per ticket. The kids and bags have to go on our laps.

But it was great because we got really close to the animals, and we even fed milk to the bears! It's great fun.

Furry friends

Despite my very elaborate efforts to get him to eat breakfast he still wasn't actually into the food as much as he was into the decorating and cutting.

Stay home activity 3

Cupcake garden made by mama n mountain boy.