Love Bug Mini Cupcakes

Over the weekend, I decided that it would be a really good idea to snuggle up with my favorite Pier One blanket, a pint of Haagen Dazs, and the Thorn Birds miniseries on DVD.

Bad idea.  Baaaaaaad.

Not the blanket or the Haagen Dazs parts of course (those are always good ideas DUH) but the Thorn Birds part because I am a horrible horrible person who gets mad at her husband after watching romance stories on TV.

See?  I told you.  Horrible.

Brat brat bratty.

And as if 8 hours of gut wrenching, heart-ripping-out Thorn Birds romance wasn’t enough, I decided to catch the end of The Notebook on ABC Family because I cannot say no to Ryan Gosling.  It’s just a rule.

By the end of the night, I was beside myself.

I mean, I always feel like my husband and I have a pretty good thing going on.  He’s sweet and massage-ish and tells me I look pretty every day, which are the main things I need.

And really, the fact that there is no drama in our relationship is a good thing.  We met 9 years ago and that was kind of that.  We were immediately inseparable and just  always assumed we’d get married.  There wasn’t a big surprise engagement, or a huge break-up-then-get-back-together mess.  We just kind of gravitated towards the conclusion that seemed obvious from our very first date. No huge wedding or  big fuss.  Honestly, I was just glad to be with the man I loved more than anything, and saw our wedding as a tying up of loose ends.

But then I watch the romance movies, which is the stupidest idea ever, and I’m all “Gah, why can’t you be a Catholic Priest who is forbidden to be in love with me?  Why can’t our love be forbidden?  Why haven’t we ever stayed on a private island?  Alls we do for our dates is go to Chilis so I can get a margarita and eat Queso.  Siiiiiiiiiiiiigh”

“Going to an island would involve flying in a plane over water or taking a boat, neither of which you’d ever do soooo…….”

“Also, if I lost my memory, would you read to me about our love story every night?  Would you stay at the Elderly Home with me and slow dance?”

“Yes, of course I would”

“LIAR.  I don’t even think the Elderly Homes have the Hunting Channel.  I can’t believe you chose the Hunting Channel over me.  I can’t believe you’re letting me stay in the Elderly Home alone, all confused about my identity, while you watch people shoot animals on TV”

I really need to be grounded from fake romance stuff.

Except for The Notebook.  I will never give that up.

With all that being said, I am all up in the Valentiney Business already.  Pink, chocolate, and hearts are happening around here, and I think they need to happen at your house too.  These cute little Love Bug Mini Cupcakes are really fun and simple, and are sure to make your loved ones smile.

(unless you were mean to your husband after watching a romantic movie.  If  that is the case, it may take more than a mini cupcake to mend that fence)

Aren’t these little Love Bugs too cute?  I used them as mini cupcake toppers because the size was better suited for a smaller treat.

All you need are Valentines Peanut M&Ms, large heart sprinkles (mine are Wilton brand and I bought them at Michaels), candy melts or almond bark, and a black food marker.

Using a dab of melted candy melts, attach a heart sprinkle to each side of the M&M.  Draw eyes and lines with the food marker.  That’s it!!

For the mini cupcakes, I used my standard buttercream recipe and dyed half of it red.  I piped on alternating colors using a 1M piping tip.

That’s it!!  Totally easy.

These would be great for a class party.  Enjoy and have a happy Monday!!