Are you guys on Pinterest?
It’s such a fun site where you can consolidate fun things you see on the internet. You “Pin” the pictures to boards you make and you can share them with people. And you can follow others and see what they pin and vice versa.
Anyway, while it is fun and great and you can find all sorts of cool things it makes me a little crazy because there are so many talented people out there coming up with tons of things I wish I thought of!
BUT I learned at an early age not to be envious of what others have.
It was a hard lesson.
It involved sausage.
Would you like to hear?
Thought so.
Ok, the year was 1985. I was in the 5th grade.
I had a friend named Michelle. She was really a nice girl.
Well, we sat next to each other everyday at lunch. We both brought our lunches pretty much every day.
Her lunches were always awesome…everything was in its own reusable container…no plastic baggies for her. AND her mom always put in a napkin and a plastic utensil.
I asked my mom one day why she didn’t give me a napkin in my lunch box…
I will never forget her response…”That’s why we pay taxes, so you can use napkins at school”. Hmmm, really mom?
Moving on…one day Michelle pulled out her lunch and her mom had packed her a small little can. The label on the can read “Vienna Sausages”.
I sat and stared. It was such a cute little can with its own pop top. And it was from Vienna…where ever that was.
I looked down at my lunch…a tuna sandwich, Capri Sun, and applesauce. SO American. Not Viennese at all!
I watched her open the can and eat the little sausages one at a time…laughing and joking. Which translated to my 10 year old mind, “These sausages are so delicious and gourmet and INTERNATIONAL”. She may as well have been wearing a scarf and a beret smoking a long thin cigarette.
Of course I went home and told my mom that I MUST have Vienna Sausages in my lunch.
Mom: “Ack! No way!”
Me: “But MOM! Why don’t you want me to learn about other cultures? Sure, you take me to the Chinese Buffet…but what about EUROPE? I want to learn about Viennese people!”
Mom: “No way, they’re gross, like dog food.” (the sausages, not the people)
Me: “MOMMMMMMM! PLEASE! I need these Vienna sausages to learn about the world! You won’t buy me Bongo jeans and you say jelly shoes are bad for my feet..so PLEASE let me have the sausages!”
Well, she gave in. I suppose she decided that the Vienna sausages were less of an investment than the Bongo Jeans.
So I went to school proudly with my can of Vienna sausages for lunch. She even packed me a plastic fork and napkin. Embarrassingly enough I decided that on this day I would wear my black and white striped shirt, I assume to look like a gondolier…I apparently thought Vienna was in Italy.
Finally when lunch time rolled around I proudly removed my can of sausages from my box. I popped the top and stared down at the flesh colored sausages floating in water and promptly dug in.
I speared the first sausage with my plastic fork and took a bite. I guess I was anticipating something more along the lines of a hot dog but what I got was a mouthful of meaty, mealy grossness. NOT European.
I gagged as inconspicuously as possible and watched my friend as she ate her sausages one at a time, seemingly savoring each bite.
In hindsight I know why my mom packed me a napkin on that day…it was an escape plan. I aborted Operation Eat European into the neatly folded napkin and placed it back in my lunchbox.
When I arrived home my mother asked me how the sausages were? To which I replied, oh they were delicious.
I could never let her win.
It was in that moment I realized that while Vienna Sausages sound exotic and fancy they aren’t for me. I am neither exotic or fancy and should stick with tuna on whole wheat.
The end.
So while I browse Pinterest and see all the creativity of others I try not to be envious of what they have created. You wanna know why? Because as nice as they are they’re probably at home eating Vienna Sausages.
That, my friends, is a life lesson.
Now, with every rule there is an exception…because I found these delicious looking bars on pinterest and pushed my Vienna sausage fear aside.
I decided I must make them. Immediately.
These are easy and it all starts with a cake mix!
You need an egg, a cake mix, 1/4 cup of oil and 1/2 cup milk. I added in some white chocolate and marshmallows for good measure 
Then I baked up…simple!
And then I frosted them!
Thanks Six Sisters and girl meets life for letting me use your recipe!!
Ingredients
- 1 box vanilla cake mix (I used Funfetti)
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup mini marshmallows
How to Make
- Preheat oven to 350°
- Prepare a 9×9 pan with baking spray
- In a large bowl combine cake mix, vegetable oil, egg and milk. Mix on medium low speed until the ingredients are just combined. Batter will be dense.
- Stir in your chips and marshmallows until distributed evenly.
- Spread in your prepared pan.
- Bake for 25 minutes until center is just set.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter room temp
- 1 cup Marshmallow Fluff
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 Tbsp milk
How to Make
- Mix butter and Fluff until smooth on medium speed until smooth.
- Slowly add in powdered sugar with mixer on low.
- Add in milk and turn speed up to medium and mix until all combined and smooth.
- Color frosting if desired.
- Spread over cooled blondies
Hi! I’m Shelly and I’m an addict. Of the buttercream sort. I started this site a few years ago as a way to justify my sugary, buttery obsession with desserts. It has worked out well for me so far, because as it turns out you guys all love sugary, buttery desserts too! It feels good to know you are not alone, doesn’t it? 
i have about 10 white cake mixes in my pantry waiting to be used. This is a great idea
Oh my gosh, I’m crying laughing. The one time I had to suffer through those things, my Daddy handed me a sleeve of saltine crackers. We were on a fishing trip and I had managed to feed my peanut butter and jelly sandwich to the ducks when we ran out of bread.
Robyn | Add a Pinch recently posted..Mingle Monday {Labor Day Edition}
i can’t decide if i want the frosting or the blondies more… oh em geeeee.
Jessica @ How Sweet recently posted..End of Summer Chicken Skillet.
I totally just pinned this recipe! Thanks!
this is really not where I thought this sausage story was going. Then again…my mind is obviously in the gutter.
These cake batter blondies have that effect on me. Cold shower = me soon.
Joanne recently posted..Recipe: Green Posole
You, my dear, are WONDERFUL!!!
I love your sense of humor AND your sense of delicious!
Thanks!!!!
All of a sudden I am SOOOOOO glad I got Jelly’s and not sausages.
Those bars look AHmazing. Nummy in my tummy.
I was the same way when i was in elementary school!!!! Haha, I remember my thing I always wanted were the fancy Whole Foods lunchables or uncrustables….I never got either. Oh well, can’t win ‘em all
Lookin forward to trying those cake batter blondiess!!!! yumm
Casey recently posted..Something new for you to check out!!! PART ONE
I LOVE the blue frosting!! Good call…
Ashton recently posted..Man Catchin’ Chocolate PB Cookies
Yep…you just made me pee a little! I love this….and yes….I’m still telling people you are my BFF!
Shelly ~ you are an absolute gift . . . you lift my spirits, you make me laugh out loud and honestly, I get giddy whenever you have a new post cuz’ i know it’s gonna be a great day!! but seriously, vienna sausages??? even at 10 i knew those were baaadd!!
SMITH BITES recently posted..52 sundays; september 4, 2011
Ah man, I hate having to explain to my husband why I’m alone in a room giggling hysterically at my phone. “It’s just that awesome blog-lady again, Honey…no, I don’t actually know her but she cracks me up!”
Thanks for being an awesome blog lady
HA! Love that
Gorgeous blondies….melt in my mouth d’lish!!!
p.s. LOVE the blue frosting….YUM!
p.p.s. LOVE the red and white baking dish…oh, and the cake stand too!
avril recently posted..Rustic Blueberry Galette
p.p.p.s. – your “life lesson” you just shared with us was priceless…..I will NEVER be able to look at vienna sausages the same! Thank you for that.
avril recently posted..Rustic Blueberry Galette
Yum!!
Julie @ Sugarfoot Eats recently posted..Book Review: Joy for Beginners
OMGosh!! I really need to quit your blog lol….these look so yummy, Guess I will be running to the grocery store in the morning, I don’t have mini marshmellows or fluff. LOVE the blue!! Favorite color!! And for those nasty Vienna Sausages, they should be banned! NASTY!!
this gets a ZUUU EEE MAMA!! I spend so much friggin time on Pinterest….I blame my insomnia problem on that darn site! BTW I was inspired by your whopper brownies and made a whopper cake yesterday…..so good…so good.
Trisha recently posted..Tea Party Tuesday – Tea Party Sweets!
These look AMAZING, Shelly!!! Like, dangerous to my waistline amazing. Like, I must have one NOW amazing!
And, really, why *did* Vienna sausages look so tasty as a kid? I remember thinking they were so cool, too. I think you’re onto something with that flip-top can lid. And it’s been AGES, DECADES since I’ve eaten one, but I still remember their horrid texture vividly. Thank you for that.
Ha!
bridget {bake at 350} recently posted..Pea Pod Petits Fours
I had this pinned also! We must have the same taste!
Christy Denney recently posted..Caprese on a Stick
Ok, I think that is the funniest story I’ve heard in a long time!! I think I was probably in 5th grade the last time I had Vienna Sausages…
These look amazing. And I have major Pinterest envy. But I have already made a few great things that I discovered on there!
Deborah recently posted..Cheesy Ranch Potato Bake
Thanks you for reminding me about Bongo jeans and jelly shoes
Pinterest is indeed awesome and yet another reason why my butt stays permanently glued to the couch. I have a major crush on these blondies. They look amazing!
Kim recently posted..Fresh Strawberry and Vanilla Jam
I am laughing so hard… I can just picture this all happening and your mom totally had to know that you thought they were nasty little things! Too funny!
Kristen recently posted..American Express Gift Card Winner {Recipe: Easy Peach Dump Cake}
I love your Vienna story… I had to read it out loud to my kids! I am now pinning these cake batter blondies! They look yum!
Christina recently posted..Pink Princess #14- Tiara Princess
seriously just about peed my pants “Sure, you take me to the Chinese Buffet” that was about as much culture as i got as a kid. oh goodness i’m still laughing.
Lol…I was thinking about these in the grocery store the other day. They were on sale 3/99 cents so im thinking, “who in the heck eats these?” I had several theories….old people who don’t cook and that are on a tight budget, college kids (when the need protien with their carbs) and maybe babies? Well 1980′s babies whose moms didn’t know tons about nitrates and processed meats that did not omit pig guts etc….nevermind. so what your telling me is that the sausage is not always tastier on the other side? Ill commit that one to the permanant list of Callye-isms! You are so smart…meanwhile its midnight thirty and im craving blondies. So not good :-p
sweetsugarbelle recently posted..Pinterest Cookie-d {Chevron Cookies}
Oh that’s too funny! The grass is always greener on the other side isn’t it? Yup, I remember always longing for what other kids had in their lunches too.
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen recently posted..the language of food photography part 6 | finding your style with Meeta K. Wolff
Oh my gosh, that is hilarious! The dog food reference reminds me of the cans of Corned Beef Hash…just the smell about did me in. Thanks for sharing this fun recipe.
Vienna sausage sounds absolutely disgusting but I remember being jealous of what other people had in their lunches even if I had a good one.
Love these! I’m on Pinterest but am still trying to figure it out!
Lauren at Keep It Sweet recently posted..Cookies ‘n Cream Double Chocolate Cookies
lol the mom in me KNEW how that story was going to end! HAHA
Blondies look and sound MUCH better than the sausages! lol
TidyMom recently posted..Let’s take a little spin with the Whirlpool Duet Washer & Dryer #WhirlpoolMoms
These look delicious and I love the blue frosting!
Rachel @ Not Rachael Ray recently posted..Happy Labor Day!
Oh my word! You are PRECIOUS! and I dare say this would preach! Isn’t contentment the most beautiful gift!? I love your inspiring ideas and your witty commentary! I made the peanut butter and chocolate bugles and I would love permission to send the recipe on to the Sweet Potato Queens of Jackson, MS. If you are not familiar with the group you should check it out! They are right up your alley! Have a great day! God bless!
Vienna sausages ARE like dog food. And I don’t mean that in a good way. If there even is a good way to compare people food to dog food. Which there isn’t.
So, yes. Vienna sausage = puke.
Karly recently posted..Hot Fudge Sundae Oreo Brownies
Ok, I had to read this twice because the first time I read it, I couldn’t move past the fact that in 1985, when YOU were in 5th grade, I was a senior in high school. Gah!
I LOVE how you always have the best/funniest posts before your recipes.
OMG! You just made my day with this post! I’ve got a host of mental imagery of everything you wrote, down to the smell of the Vienna sausages! It’s amazing how we perceive others to be “cool” only to suffer from huge let-downs. But in the end- it’s the lesson that’s important. In my house, vienna sausages were reserved for serving with (meaning in) Spanish rice. We all loved it, but I recall my 1st experience with raw celery smothered in peanut butter and being astonished that Americans could eat such a thing. LOL! In the end-I had to get used to whatever the lunch ladies served- we also “payed taxes”. Thanks for the recipe too!! I’ll have to try it!-Raquel
I love your lesson…so very true! And Bongo jeans…I so wanted them too. I think I finally got a pair of Bongo jean shorts in middle school and wore them until they had holes in them!
JulieD recently posted..Spinach & Dubliner Cheese Egg Cups
going to ask the dreaded question..you think that I could use the sugar free cake mix for this recipe..My husband has diabetes, (recent) so I been snooping to change up recipes for him
I don’t see why not…there shouldn’t be too much of a difference
Hilarious childhood story… love the cake batter blondies!
Emily@SoDomesticated recently posted..Chicken Acapulco…
LMAO!! Great story!! And thank you for not getting so caught up in Pinterest that you start to neglect your blog, which I’ve noticed seems to be happening in the blog world
This is the best post ever involving Pinterest! I’ve only peeked at this new blogging activity as I know I don’t have the time to get really involved with it yet. However, I was involved with someone who ate Vienna Sausages, a lot! My ex-husband loved them. Having said that, he also believed that Newfoundland Screech was the best thing to hit the liquor industry since the end of Prohibition.
Paula recently posted..Spa Themed Cookies
So sorry, forgot to tell you how delicious your Cake Batter Blondies look
Paula recently posted..Spa Themed Cookies
Another very good recipe. Thank you. May I ask please, where is your cake stand from?
Thanks! I got that cake stand at Homegoods
My Mom used to give us cream cheese sandwiches with mayo and lettuce on white bread in our school lunches. I was so embarrassed since all the other kids had normal things like pb&j, cheese or tuna. Little did I know that would be the beginning of my love affair with cream cheese and mayo. Thanks Mom. Ok, back to the recipe at hand. Those things look amazing! A definite keeper!
Anne recently posted..Sweet in Pink!
Oh Shelly, You brightened my day!:) Love your spin on these~fabulous! I love Pinterest too!
Sue recently posted..Chocolate~Dipped Cheesecake Bars
I love this post!! I too have been suffering from Pinterest envy. But
i think your sausage story has cured me. Thanks! :0)
Robin recently posted..{Orange Creamsicle Cake}
haha this story cracked me up–thank you! I will never look at Vienna sausages the same way
I’ve made cake batter blondies…but never with frosting. YUM!
I am laughing so hard right now that tears are flowing down my face. I just read it out loud to my husband making me laugh / cry even harder. Thank you for that and this delicious recipe!
Belch….those sausages ARE just like dog food. I used to hide my dogs medicine in them but he got smart and figured it out.
Charlene Austin recently posted..Embellish Color Challenge – STRIPES
Hi I love your site web, tanks for make things delicius.
What a GREAT story…and you’re right – it was a life lesson! The blondies look deliciously easy! I’m glad you tried them!
Ann recently posted..Sometimes you gotta have a SANDWICH!
Love the bright colors! What a fun treat!
Maria recently posted..Talenti Gelato & Sorbetto Giveaway
I really want to try to send these to a friend who is going though a rough time…how do you think they would hold up in the mail??? The frosting makes me nervous….. Worse comes to worse I’ll just have to eat them myself! Thanks!
You don’t have to frost them…they are yummy even without! That would probably work better
I LOVE Pinterest! However, I do not eat those nasty little things haha Totally snagging this recipe and making these blondies this weekend. Yum!
I have a sausage story too… but that involved my boyfriend (now husband) offering to pay me $1000 to eat a jar of baby food sausages. I quickly realized that I would never win Fear Factor or Survivor, nor would I ever have $1000. The blondies look delish! How do you stay thin with all of the goodies in your house? Or do your neighbors just love you?
WHAT?! $1000 ?!?!?!? I would have sucked those things DOWN!
LOL that was an awesome story. I love Pinterest too and am very glad to be following you now!
Thank you so much for linking to our blog!! We appreciate the shout out so much!! We love your blog and all the yummy things you make . . . and your sense of humor has me rolling! I am a big fan!!
Camille @
SixSistersStuff.blogspot.com
Camille recently posted..Strut Your Stuff Saturday! Week 10
One word.. YUM!
Great story too
Jodi Hall recently posted..Finally Friday…
i’ll admit it–i loved those vienna sausages. i called them meat sticks, which now sounds really gross.
great bars, by the way–i love the coloring!
grace recently posted..roasting in more ways than one
Omg!! I love your cake stand. Can you share where you purchased? Thanks!!
I got it at Homegoods
$12.99!!
Shelly! You are da bomb! I’m a Texas (San Antonio, though) gal too and I just found your recipe for pumpkin dump cake on Pinterest and thought yum and that I could actually make that without struggle.
Then I stumbled upon your Candy Corn Bugle Blog and I about died laughing, I had to call my sister and read it to her…me being the person that gets dragged to exercises that kill me, her being the one doing the dragging! I know we just met but I can tell you are going to be one of my new besties in the cyber world.
I made Cake Batter Blondies last night for a friend at work and the results are in this morning, they loved them! Including me
yay! i always need a new bloggy friend!
and btw, I am DYING to have a 31 party! LOVE that stuff!
Ha! You had me at hello! Loved the story and can’t wait to try the recipe.
I just cried a little. =’( I found your s’mores whoopie pies from Pinterest and thought they would be PERFECT for my daughter’s indoor campout birthday party. So then I mosey on over to this page to find out how to make the marshmallow buttercream and find out it requires Fluff! They don’t sell Fluff down here in San Antonio – just marshmallow cream (not the same consistency)! PLEASE tell me marshmallow cream is an acceptable substitute!
Dawn recently posted.."Seuss"ical Celebration
yep, no problem! substitute away!
Hey babe! Glad you like the Cake Batter Blondies
I hate to be a pain, but would you mind linking my post as well? I’m almost positive the originate back to my post 
Thanks so much, I really do appreciate it! http://girlmeetslife.com/2010/12/cake-batter-blondies/