10 Ways to Prepare for your Elf on the Shelf's Departure!

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First, let me start by saying, NO...I’m not joking.  I’ll be the first to admit that I’m already feeling pangs of separationanxiety at the mere thought of sayinggoodbye to our Elves on Christmas Eve. 
Elves have invaded thousands (if not millions) of homes around the world.  Along the way they’ve even stolen a fewhearts. It was over for me a long time ago...really...I never stood a chance. I look forward to the time ourElves spend with us ALL year long. I plot and plan and eagerly await theirreturn each year with an unreasonable amount of excitement. 
I know that not everyone feels this way. Maybe you’re one ofthose who will actually be happy to send your Elf packin’. The pressure of hosting an Elfover the holidays really gets to some people. It’s a BIG responsibility…trustme, I know. I get it.
 I totally understandthat my personal attachment to thesemagical creatures borders on, shall we say, unhealthy.However, I have also come to the realization that I’m NOT alone! There areplenty of other people out there Elf-init up over the holidays and that knowledge gives me immense comfort. I feellike a little less of a lunatic knowing that others share this crazy ELFOBSESSION!
Regardless of whether you have grown to love or despise your Elf,chances are your kiddos are going to be sad to see them go. Last year, actual tears were shed when mine realizedthat our Elves were really (REALLY) gone on Christmas afternoon. I have to admit, it even took me a fewdays to get over their departure….and by “a few days” I really mean 330 days, until we were reunited again. 
 Making magic is fun. Going back to folding laundry and washingdishes during naptime just doesn’t bring me the same amount of joy.
I am curious to see if things are different this year. My 4year old has really been testing the Elves and questioning the depths of theirmagical abilities. He’s also mentioned a couple of times that even though heloves our Elves, it isn’t nice to tattle. So who knows, maybe the kids will be relieved when the pressure of allthose tiny eyes watching their every move has been lifted.
For now, I’m going to move forward by emotionally preparingmy family (i.e. myself) for our Elves’inevitable desertion. If you’ve been fostering a borderline obsessive attachmenttoward the Elves in your life, this compilation of coping mechanisms mighthelp.

{10 Ideas to Help you Prepare for your Elf on the Shelf's Departure}
1.      Help your Elf prepare for his journey home.  Last year we gave Mack his own tiny littlesuitcase (made out of a vintage jewelry box with a pipe cleaner added as a handle).It was packed with a few goodies and treats to comfort him and help him getback to the North Pole safely. The kids liked doing something nice for theirElf, and it was a gentle reminder that he wasn’t going to be around the nextday.
2.      Write your Elf a goodbye letter. Let the kiddosdictate exactly what they’d like to say and then leave it out overnight. We didthis a couple of days early last year, that way our Elf posse had time torespond before they left for the North Pole. If you want to write your own…just from you…that’s okay too. Clearly, I’mnot here to judge.
3.      Start planning for next year! See a cute Elfidea, PIN IT! Find a perfect mini-sized whatever,stash it away! I have an entire box of Elf props that I add to throughout theyear. Then, when our Elves come home for the holidays we have our own bag oftricks to entertain them with!
4.      Have your Elf make a surprise visit once ortwice throughout the year! Last summer our Elves visited us twice. Each time,Santa sent a letter along excusing them from their duties at the North Pole andgiving them permission to take the day off. The kids were BEYOND excited! Oh and…it’s also the PERFECT way to keepthe kids on their toes. Nothing like a little reminder that Santa is watching….always, always…watching.

Elf-sized popsicles made out of Mike & Ikes...the perfect poolside treat!

5.      Ask your Elf to be your family’s Pen-pal whilethey are away! Our Elves have been known to send an occasional email or even ateeny-tiny handwritten letter. It’s nice to stay in touch J This is also anothergreat opportunity to remind your kids to walkthe line.

We've had TONS of fun with this! It's The World's Smallest Post Service and comes with everything you need to write teeny-tiny letters and make itsy-bitsy packages!

6.      Make some special mini-sized treats, or anentire meal, for your Elf and leave them out with Santa’s cookies on ChristmasEve. The kids have SO much fun with this. It’s a sweet way for them to saygoodbye and thank-you at the same time.

This is the meal we created to welcome our Elves home on Thanksgiving. The "turkey" was made using small bone-shaped sprinkles, topped with a piece of caramel. "Green bean" sprinkles and tiny rolls finished off the plates.

7.      Have your Elf leave a special present, just fromhim, for the kiddos to unwrap on Christmas Day. Last year Mack wrote a verysweet goodbye letter to the kids and sent them on a hunt through the house to findthe gift he left! 
8.      Throw your Elf a Going Away Party! You could useany of the ideas from our Elf Party…but really, it doesn’t have to beelaborate. Make a few elf-sized treats and a farewell card and call it good.The kids will love spending a little time creating something for their Elf toenjoy!
 9.      Go BIG or go HOME! If you have been waiting allmonth to execute the cutest little Elf scheme…NOW is the time! Just do it…whocares if it seems over-the-top orsilly. It might be extra work, and require you to do a little cleaning up (orwhatev)…but it could also be one of the best memories you make this year! Goingall out can be as much fun for you as the kiddos. My son still talks about someof the shenanigans our Elves got into LASTChristmas…and it just melts my Elf-lovin’ heart!

10.  This one is gonna rock your world: let the kids TOUCH the ELF! Wh-What!?!? I know this goes against the number one rule of hostingan Elf…no touching! Well…we’re gonna go rogue this year and try something new. Thekids are going to receive a letter from Santa that gives them permission togive each of our Elves ONE goodbye hug on Christmas Eve, before they go to bedfor the night. I think this will be a huge hit, and very special…we’ll see ;)

Want to make a letter from Santa super legit? Pop on over to Three Little Monkeys Studio to snag this adorable Santa letterhead for FREE!

I really could go on and on with this list…that’s how DEEPmy Elf-love runs. This time is SO short and the window of opportunity doesn’tstay open long. I’m going to keep making this magic for as long as my kids goalong with it. Maybe at some point they’ll be doing it for me instead.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go spend some qualitytime with the Elves in my life…while I still can!

If you want to keep up (or catch-up) with our Elf Family check these links:~ Details from our Magical Elf Party HERE!~ 2011 Highlights HERE.~ 2012 Highlights HERE. ~ My Elf Idea Pinboard HERE.~ My facebook page HERE.~ Feature at Elfshaming.com HERE. That's it...feel free to stalk them...what goes around comes around right!??!?
~Audrey
I'm LINKING UP!
You can find TONS of inspiration by visiting these WEEKLY LINK PARTIES!
I always do...and I'm sharing this project with them NOW!

Monday
Making Mondays Marvelous hosted by C.R.A.F.T. Made by you Monday hosted by Skip to My Lou
Monday Link Up Party hosted by Making the World Cute
Just Something I Whipped Up hosted by The Girl Creative
Market Yourself Monday hosted by Sumo's Sweet Stuff
Creative Me hosted by The Southern Institute

Tuesday
Get your Craft On Tuesday hosted by Today's Creative Blog
Take-A-Look Tuesday hosted by Sugar Bee Crafts
Show Me What Ya Got hosted by Not JUST a Housewife
Lil' Luna Link Party hosted by Lil' Luna

WednesdayWe’re Organized Wednesday @ Organize and decorate Everything
Penny Pinching Party @ The Thrifty Home 
We Did It @ Sew Much Ado 
Show and Tell @ Blue Cricket Design
Show off your Stuff @ Fireflies & Jellybeans
Show and Share @ Southern Lovely

Thursday
Strut your stuff @ Somewhat Simple
100 Ideas under $100 @ Beyond the Picket Fence
Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Chic Cottage 
Tablescape Thursday @ BNOTP 
Hooking up with HoH @ House of Hepworths
 
Friday
Feature Yourself Friday hosted by Fingerprints on the Fridge
Friday Flair hosted by Whipperberry
Catch as Catch Can hosted by My Repurposed Life
Pin Me Linky Party @ Diana Rambles

Saturday
Saturday night special @ Funky Junk
Check me out Saturday @ A vision to remember
Saturday Is crafty day @ Along for the Ride
Weekend Wrap Up Party @ Tatertots and Jello
Show and Tell @ Be Different Act Normal 
Your Great Idea Saturdays @ Or so she says 

Sunday
The Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming
Sundae Scoop at I {heart} naptime
Link Party on OINK! at Piggy Bank Parties
 
On-going

Chocolate Chunk S'mores Brownies.

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How To Hunt for Your First Apartment Together 101. 
1. When you walk in the door... does it feel like home? Can you imagine living here and making memories together? Hint: If you're already planning date nights of making dinner in the tiny kitchen, shutting out the world, and catching up on Once Upon a Time, with a couch against the wall here and the TV right there... the answer is yes.

2. Start a Pinterest board. Obviously.

3. Check out the closet situation. Preemptively claim 3/4 of it. 
4. The kitchen: can you bake cookies in this kitchen? Does it feel like home too? Is it bright and full of natural light? Does it make you want to bake banana bread, late-night s'mores, Christmas dinner, and pumpkin pies?


5. Remind your boyfriend that this is a model apartment. The flatscreen is just for show. Also not sure what you're looking in the refrigerator for.
6. Decide where will the Christmas tree will go. No, seriously.
7. This deck is cute... but can I photograph stacks of brownies out here without the neighbors noticing?
8. So... these bright orange accent walls. We can paint, right?
9. Allow yourself a full minute to panic over lease lengths, deposits, rent, square footage, and the fact that you no longer have an excuse to avoid the gym. 
10. Let's be honest: how close are we to a Starbucks?


Can I be honest with you for a tiny moment? Looking for an apartment can be completely overwhelming.

There. I said it.

You know what's not overwhelming?

Making chocolate chunk brownies on a lazy summer day.

Except, at the last minute, like the total adult you are, you swirl in marshmallow fluff and a handful of crushed graham crackers.

Just because.

I think we can agree... s'mores need no reason. Especially s'mores in the form of thick, fudgy brownies full of chocolate chunks, dark chocolate chips, swirls of marshmallow dreams, subtle, crunchy bits of graham crackers... and a crackly graham cracker top.

Impulsive baking. It's now a thing.



This is summer. This is easy-living. This is not an accent wall. I can handle this. 
Chocolate Chunk S'mores Brownies

Printable Recipe

1/2 cup butter, melted
1 cup granulated sugar2 large eggs1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/3 unsweetened cocoa powder1/2 cup all-purpose flour1/4 teaspoon salt1/4 teaspoon baking powder 3/4 cup chocolate chunks (I used a mixture of chocolate chunks & dark chocolate chips)1/2 cup crushed graham crackers1 cup marshmallow fluff
Preheat oven to 350°F. 
Grease or line an 8x8-inch baking dish with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, mix together the melted butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla until smooth. Mix in cocoa powder, flour, salt, and baking powder until well-combined. Fold in chocolate chunks and crushed graham crackers using a wooden spoon.
Microwave marshmallow fluff for about 10-20 seconds, give it a quick stir, then add to brownie batter. Fold in a few times until just combined. You want there to be visible ribbons of marshmallow cream throughout the brownies.
Pour into baking dish and spread evenly. Bake for 35-45 minutes, or until done and a toothpick inserted into the center of brownies comes out clean. 
Allow to cool completely before serving.

Pumpkin Spice S'mores Cracker Candy.

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Remember a couple summers ago when I made graham cracker s'mores candy? 

You know... chocolate and marshmallows melted over a layer of bubbling caramel and graham crackers?

It's been my summer 2012 go-to, last-minute, I've-been-at-the-beach-all-day recipe. Wait, we're going to a barbeque where? You said I'm bringing what? Tonight? 
Give me just one second. I need some graham crackers.   Well, this is that recipe... hunkered down for fall.

Graham crackers become cinnamon-sugar grahams.

Marshmallows become orange, pumpkin-shaped pumpkin spice mallows.




And white chocolate chips and toasted pecans replace the handfuls of Hershey milk chocolate squares and chocolate chips. 
Basically buttery, brown sugar, caramel-y goodness.  All in a pan, all for you.
P.S. Should I be worried that most of my favorite holiday recipes involve crackers? 

This.
This is what November tastes like.
It's pumpkin spice meets pre-game bonfires meets cinnamon-sugar s'mores, all together, during Revenge commerical breaks, in under twenty minutes. 
Seriously, these are so easy. If have butter and graham crackers, you're halfway there. 

If you have a new apartment, no kitchen table, no place to sit, one baking sheet, one spoon, and one pot holder, you're also halfway there. In case you were wondering.
Pumpkin Spice S'mores Cracker Candy
Printable Recipe 
12 sheets of cinnamon graham crackers3/4 cup butter3/4 cup brown sugar1 (8 ounce) package pumpkin spice marshmallows1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips1 cup toasted pecans
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 15x10x1-inch jelly roll pan with aluminum foil, leaving a 1-inch overhang over the ends, and spray foil with cooking spray. Line graham crackers up on the foil so that the sides are touching.

Toast pecans for 4-5 minutes on a baking sheet (I used a metal pie pan). Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, melt butter and brown sugar over medium heat, stirring constantly, until smooth and mixture comes just to a boil (about 4-6 minutes). Remove from heat and pour evenly over crackers. Bake 5 to 6 minutes, or until bubbly.
Remove pan from oven and immediately sprinkle marshmallows, white chocolate chips, and toasted pecans over the crackers. 
Return pan to oven for another 2-3 minutes, or until marshmallows begin to soften and puff up. 
Cool completely before serving. Lift from pan using foil edges; cut into bars and enjoy!
Source: Adapted from my graham cracker s'mores candy, originally from Stefanie's Cooking Spot.

Soft, Chewy White Chocolate Chip Gingerbread Cookies.

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The time is now. 
In two weeks time we'll be looking back on two thousand-twelve and making our New Year's resolutions. We'll be picking out glittery dresses, skyscraper heels, getting midnight kisses and/or high-fives, and putting rum and cake vodka in basically everything.

So I hear. I wouldn't know. I'll still be drinking peppermint coffee and eating gingerbread things.

I've been stress-baking my way through December, but it's time to face the facts: Christmas is in eleven days. Eleven. Days. No more I need to Christmas shop... but I think I'll make peppermint bark instead. I spent how much on Amazon? I really should make banana bread. My boyfriend and I can't decide where we'll spend Christmas... and my phone bill just came?

Sounds like a bundt cake situation to me.

Can we just stop? Put down the whisk and just chill?


My favorite Christmas moments aren't the ones I spend stressing about what needs to get done... they're the moments in between the Christmas shopping and present-wrapping. Sticking peanut butter cups in a peanut butter cookie. Driving around with my family with no purpose but hot chocolate and Christmas lights. That moment when there's a new present under the tree and I am 100% certain it's for me. Finding the perfect gift for someone. Hiding new ornaments on the tree while watching The Holiday so no one knows it's December 14th and I'm still buying cupcake and/or elephant shaped ornaments.

I think we should just skip New Years resolutions this year and make Christmas resolutions instead. Like... slow down, breathe, enjoy the season. Sing more carols. Watch The Santa Clause. Spend an afternoon hidden in a coffee shop with a half-finished good book and a stack of Christmas cards. Let's do all that instead.  
Wait. Work is calling? They want what?

Nope. Gingerbread cookies with white chocolate chips. I can't even deal.

Soft, Chewy White Chocolate Chip Gingerbread Cookies

Printable Recipe

1 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups dark brown sugar
1 large egg
1/3 cup molasses
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 package white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350°F.

In a large mixing bowl, cream together the shortening, brown sugar, egg, and molasses until smooth and creamy. 
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves until combined. Add to molasses mixture and mix until just combined. Stir in white chocolate chips.
Scoop onto an ungreased baking sheet at least 2 inches apart using a cookie scoop (or roll in tablespoon-sized balls) and bake for 10-11 minutes, until lightly brown. Remove from oven and let cool for at least three minutes, then remove to wire racks to cool completely.
Makes about 4 dozen cookies.
Source: Barely adapted from Hanging On by a Needle and Thread.

Top Ten Recipes of 2012.

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2012, you got in there and got it done. 
Somehow between moving, starting a new job, un-long distancing my relationship, traveling three times, always, always unpacking, watching and re-watching The Hunger Games, and figuring out just how to be an adult, I somehow found time to brown that butter, bake a whole lot of cookies, and put chocolate chips in basically everything. 
It was a good year... and you were there! I know this because all numbers point to you being just as obsessed with brown butter and chocolate as I am. What were you into this year? I'll totally tell you. 
10. Cheesecake Cookie Sandwiches Two Ways: Brown Butter Chocolate Chunk & Strawberry Shortcake

This year's go-to chocolate chip cookie sandwiched around a creamy cheesecake filling + the origins of my brown butter obsession. If you haven't put that rich, nutty brown butter flavor in your chocolate chip cookies, then I may have a New Year's resolution for you. 

9. Coconut Coffee Chocolate Chip Cookies

These cookies were inspired by my fleeting springtime obsession with mocha coconut coffee. Crunchy, toasted bites of coconut, mini chocolate chips, and a whole lot of coffee flavor.

8. Oreo-Truffle Swirled Chocolate Chip Cookies

Inside my head I'm constantly thinking a whole lot of crazy. Like ... what would Oreo cheesecake taste like swirled into a chocolate chip cookie? These cookies were brought to you by that kind of thinking. 

7. Cinnamon Pumpkin Spice Kiss Blossoms

The very best thing I baked this fall and the first thing that'll come out of my oven October 1, 2013: chewy cinnamon cookies rolled in sugar and topped with a pumpkin spice Kiss. 

6. No-Bake Coconut Graham Cracker Bars

These no-bake bars are a total picnic/summertime situation. A layer of graham crackers + a sugary coconut pecan pie-like filling + more graham crackers + a cream cheese frosting = the only kind of math I can handle during the summer.


5. Banana Monkey Bread Muffins

These were one of the only muffins I made during 2012... and they're the reason "make more muffins" is on my 2013 baking list. If you love banana bread and you love monkey bread, these muffins are basically the best thing ever... especially warm from the oven and freshly-glazed.


4. I Want To Marry You Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies made in a pot on the stovetop and full of oats, cinnamon, chocolate, and white chocolate chips. I may not have a ring on my finger... but these cookies got me whisked away to Monterey for a romantic weekend of ocean, sand, aquarium dates, one or four margaritas. 

3. Triple Fudge Oreo Crunch Cookies

Why are we all so obsessed with Oreos? I have no idea, but this is what last January looked like to me... the first cookies I made 300 miles from home.


2. Chocolate Crinkle Kiss Cookies

I posted these cookies just one month and they're already the second most viewed recipe of 2012. Did you put these in your Christmas? These were the cookies that got me through all of December, through the Christmas shopping, late-night wrapping, and those moments I'm not even ashamed of where I needed a cookie to just plain function.

1. Cakey Lemon Bar "Brownies"

Somedays these cakey lemon bar brownies are all I can think about... and I'm so happy they're your most viewed, most favorite of 2012 too. Thick and dense as a chocolate brownie, covered in a sweet lemon icing, and baked with a crazy good/totally necessary amount of fresh lemon juice and zest? Stop it. This is a "when life gives you lemons" situation I hope 2013 finds myself in.

Did you bake any of these this year? What was your favorite? What would you like to see more of in the coming year? Inspire me! 

Cupcake Bowl December 29th in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

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Thanks to my stepfather for letting me know about this! It's an end of the year cupcake event called Cupcake Bowl in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on December 29th from 12:30-2:30 p.m., benefiting ArtsQuest's Arts Education Programming Fund, at ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way:

Calling all cupcake connoisseurs! We're inviting bakeries and restaurants from throughout the region to show off their brilliant baking skills and compete for the title of Best Cupcake! Musical entertainment by Dan DeChellis Trio.

The public is invited to this first year fundraising event to enjoy and sample all of the yummy creations and will have the opportunity to vote to determine the People's Choice winner. Proceeds from this event will benefit ArtsQuest's Arts Education Programming Fund, which provides quality arts and educational programs and experiences for students from throughout the Lehigh Valley.

In addition, a panel of judges will sample all of the cupcakes to determine the winners in the Best Frosting, Best Cake, Best Decoration and Best Overall Taste.

Below are Santa and Christmas tree cupcakes by one of the participating cupcake companies, Cuddles' Cupcake Bar, via their Facebook page. They can be reached at cuddlescupcakes16 at gmail.com or 610-746-4398 or 347-306-2288. They make custom cupcakes and do delivery in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania as well as parts of New York and New Jersey.

Cupcake Activist Review: Butter and Me Bakeshop

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What to know what's torture? Buying cupcakes you can't eat for 1-1/2 days!
But sometimes that's what you gotta do to have cupcakes waiting for you when you need them.
When I was in Arizona last month, I scouted out several cupcake shops to reward myself for finishing an Ironman. That's what I like to do: burn calories so I can eat them. I was excited to find a few cupcake shops within a close distance of our hotel in Scottsdale. One of them being Butter & Me Bakeshop.

Butter & Me is a new bakery in the Old Town Scottsdale area. When I walked in I felt like I was in the middle of a homey kitchen. I loved the open space with only a countertop to separate the baking from the customers.

It was the end of the day when I stopped by, so they didn't have a large selection of cupcakes to choose from. I took one of each of the remaining flavors: Gingerbread with cinnamon cream cheese frosting, Blueberry lemon with blueberry compote, and wow, I totally forgot the third flavor (maybe chocolate & vanilla?). I guess that happens when my head is in a completely different place, such as mentally preparing for an Ironman the next day.
I'm not supposed to eat any sugar for a week or so before the race, which is why the tasting had to wait until the next day. BUT I might have taken a small swipe of frosting to get me motivated. Yum...frosting!
Keep in mind that I waited a day to eat these cupcakes. That being said, these cupcakes were a bit dry. The frosting didn't cover the entire top and all exposed areas were dry. I hate when that happens. Bakers just need to add more frosting! And I would definitely vote yes for more frosting because it was my favorite part of the cupcake (it usually is)! All of the frostings were very sweet, something I like on some cupcakes. Other people don't like this, but I think it works in the right situation. I love gingerbread cupcakes and this was my first of the season. The blueberry compote was a bit lacking in the blueberry lemon cupcake.
Overall: I have a positive vibe when I think of Butter & Me Bakeshop. They are new and have some kinks to work out, but I think they are headed in the right direction. I would definitely like to try them again earlier in the day so I can taste fresh cupcakes. I would also like to see what other flavors they offer and what other goodies they make. You should definitely check them out.


Butter & Me Bakeshop4014 N. Goldwater Blvd.Scottsdale, AZ 85251480-363-2859

Free cupcakes today in Chicago from Sweet Ride

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Get on over to Come to Michigan & Ohio in Chicago for free cupcakes from food truck Sweet Ride and hot chocolate from Hilton Chicago. I love freebies! Follow Sweet Ride on Facebook and @SweetRideChi on Twitter to keep up with them, and visit sweetridechi.com for more information. Via Eater Chicago. They also do pickup, delivery and catering, and some of their flavors are: Mocha (Belgian Dark Chocolate Cake and Espresso-Infused Frosting), Sea Salted Caramel (Moist Caramel Cake filled with Made From Scratch Caramel topped with a sea Salted Caramel drizzled Buttercream Frosting), S'more (Belgian Dark Chocolate Cake with a Graham Cracker Dipped Crust topped with Vanilla Marshmallow Buttercream Frosting garnished with a Mini Chocolate Bar) and Sweet Potato (Spiced infused Sweet Potato Cake and Cinnamon Maple Cream Cheese Frosting); see the whole list here. I'm not sure which cupcakes are free today, but below are a few photos from their Facebook page.