diff --git a/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/extensions.rb b/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/extensions.rb
index 7b541383..580dfc7d 100644
--- a/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/extensions.rb
+++ b/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/extensions.rb
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ module Middleman
         # @private
         def registered(app)
           app.define_hook :initialized
+          app.define_hook :instance_available
           app.define_hook :after_configuration
           app.define_hook :before_configuration
           app.define_hook :build_config
@@ -69,15 +70,19 @@ module Middleman
         # @param [Hash] options Per-extension options hash
         # @return [void]
         def register(extension, options={}, &block)
-          extend extension
-          if extension.respond_to?(:registered)
-            if extension.method(:registered).arity === 1
-              extension.registered(self, &block)
-            else
-              extension.registered(self, options, &block)
+          if extension.instance_of?(Class) && extension.ancestors.include?(::Middleman::Extension)
+            extension.new(self, options, &block)
+          else
+            extend extension
+            if extension.respond_to?(:registered)
+              if extension.method(:registered).arity === 1
+                extension.registered(self, &block)
+              else
+                extension.registered(self, options, &block)
+              end
             end
+            extension
           end
-          extension
         end
       end
 
@@ -133,11 +138,12 @@ module Middleman
           super
 
           self.class.inst = self
-          run_hook :before_configuration
 
           # Search the root of the project for required files
           $LOAD_PATH.unshift(root)
 
+          run_hook :initialized
+
           if config[:autoload_sprockets]
             begin
               require "middleman-sprockets"
@@ -146,6 +152,8 @@ module Middleman
             end
           end
 
+          run_hook :before_configuration
+
           # Check for and evaluate local configuration
           local_config = File.join(root, "config.rb")
           if File.exists? local_config
@@ -156,7 +164,7 @@ module Middleman
           run_hook :build_config if build?
           run_hook :development_config if development?
 
-          run_hook :initialized
+          run_hook :instance_available
 
           # This is for making the tests work - since the tests
           # don't completely reload middleman, I18n.load_path can get
diff --git a/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/front_matter.rb b/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/front_matter.rb
index 07fb328f..57044ce6 100644
--- a/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/front_matter.rb
+++ b/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/front_matter.rb
@@ -1,187 +1,55 @@
 require "active_support/core_ext/hash/keys"
 require 'pathname'
 
+# Parsing YAML frontmatter
+require "yaml"
+
+# Parsing JSON frontmatter
+require "active_support/json"
+
 # Extensions namespace
 module Middleman::CoreExtensions
 
-  # Frontmatter namespace
-  module FrontMatter
+  class FrontMatter < ::Middleman::Extension
 
-    # Setup extension
-    class << self
+    YAML_ERRORS = [ StandardError ]
 
-      # Once registered
-      def registered(app)
-        # Parsing YAML frontmatter
-        require "yaml"
-
-        # Parsing JSON frontmatter
-        require "active_support/json"
-
-        app.send :include, InstanceMethods
-
-        app.before_configuration do
-          files.changed { |file| frontmatter_manager.clear_data(file) }
-          files.deleted { |file| frontmatter_manager.clear_data(file) }
-        end
-
-        app.after_configuration do
-          ::Middleman::Sitemap::Resource.send :include, ResourceInstanceMethods
-
-          ignore %r{\.frontmatter$}
-
-          sitemap.provides_metadata do |path|
-            fmdata = frontmatter_manager.data(path).first || {}
-
-            data = {}
-            [:layout, :layout_engine].each do |opt|
-              data[opt] = fmdata[opt] unless fmdata[opt].nil?
-            end
-
-            { :options => data, :page => ::Middleman::Util.recursively_enhance(fmdata).freeze }
-          end
-        end
-      end
-      alias :included :registered
+    # https://github.com/tenderlove/psych/issues/23
+    if defined?(Psych) && defined?(Psych::SyntaxError)
+      YAML_ERRORS << Psych::SyntaxError
     end
 
-    class FrontmatterManager
-      attr_reader :app
-      delegate :logger, :to => :app
+    def initialize(app, options_hash={}, &block)
+      super
 
-      def initialize(app)
-        @app = app
-        @cache = {}
-      end
+      @cache = {}
+    end
 
-      def data(path)
-        p = normalize_path(path)
-        @cache[p] ||= begin
-          file_data, content = frontmatter_and_content(p)
+    def before_configuration
+      ext = self
+      app.files.changed { |file| ext.clear_data(file) }
+      app.files.deleted { |file| ext.clear_data(file) }
+    end
 
-          if @app.files.exists?("#{path}.frontmatter")
-            external_data, _ = frontmatter_and_content("#{p}.frontmatter")
+    def after_configuration
+      app.extensions[:frontmatter] = self
+      app.ignore %r{\.frontmatter$}
 
-            [
-              external_data.deep_merge(file_data),
-              content
-            ]
-          else
-            [file_data, content]
-          end
-        end
-      end
+      ::Middleman::Sitemap::Resource.send :include, ResourceInstanceMethods
 
-      def clear_data(file)
-        # Copied from Sitemap::Store#file_to_path, but without
-        # removing the file extension
-        file = File.join(@app.root, file)
-        prefix = @app.source_dir.sub(/\/$/, "") + "/"
-        return unless file.include?(prefix)
-        path = file.sub(prefix, "").sub(/\.frontmatter$/, "")
-
-        @cache.delete(path)
-      end
-
-      YAML_ERRORS = [ StandardError ]
-
-      # https://github.com/tenderlove/psych/issues/23
-      if defined?(Psych) && defined?(Psych::SyntaxError)
-        YAML_ERRORS << Psych::SyntaxError
-      end
-
-      # Parse YAML frontmatter out of a string
-      # @param [String] content
-      # @return [Array<Hash, String>]
-      def parse_yaml_front_matter(content)
-        yaml_regex = /\A(---\s*\n.*?\n?)^(---\s*$\n?)/m
-        if content =~ yaml_regex
-          content = content.sub(yaml_regex, "")
-
-          begin
-            data = YAML.load($1) || {}
-            data = data.symbolize_keys
-          rescue *YAML_ERRORS => e
-            logger.error "YAML Exception: #{e.message}"
-            return false
-          end
-        else
-          return false
-        end
-
-        [data, content]
-      rescue
-        [{}, content]
-      end
-
-      def parse_json_front_matter(content)
-        json_regex = /\A(;;;\s*\n.*?\n?)^(;;;\s*$\n?)/m
-
-        if content =~ json_regex
-          content = content.sub(json_regex, "")
-
-          begin
-            json = ($1+$2).sub(";;;", "{").sub(";;;", "}")
-            data = ActiveSupport::JSON.decode(json).symbolize_keys
-          rescue => e
-            logger.error "JSON Exception: #{e.message}"
-            return false
-          end
-
-        else
-          return false
-        end
-
-        [data, content]
-      rescue
-        [{}, content]
-      end
-
-      # Get the frontmatter and plain content from a file
-      # @param [String] path
-      # @return [Array<Thor::CoreExt::HashWithIndifferentAccess, String>]
-      def frontmatter_and_content(path)
-        full_path = if Pathname(path).relative?
-          File.join(@app.source_dir, path)
-        else
-          path
-        end
+      app.sitemap.provides_metadata do |path|
+        fmdata = data(path).first || {}
 
         data = {}
-        content = nil
-
-        return [data, content] unless @app.files.exists?(full_path)
-
-        if !::Middleman::Util.binary?(full_path)
-          content = File.read(full_path)
-          
-          begin
-            if content =~ /\A.*coding:/
-              lines = content.split(/\n/)
-              lines.shift
-              content = lines.join("\n")
-            end
-
-            if result = parse_yaml_front_matter(content)
-              data, content = result
-            elsif result = parse_json_front_matter(content)
-              data, content = result
-            end
-          rescue
-            # Probably a binary file, move on
-          end
+        [:layout, :layout_engine].each do |opt|
+          data[opt] = fmdata[opt] unless fmdata[opt].nil?
         end
 
-        [data, content]
-      end
-
-      def normalize_path(path)
-        path.sub(%r{^#{@app.source_dir}\/}, "")
+        { :options => data, :page => ::Middleman::Util.recursively_enhance(fmdata).freeze }
       end
     end
-
+    
     module ResourceInstanceMethods
-
       def ignored?
         if !proxy? && raw_data[:ignored] == true
           true
@@ -195,7 +63,7 @@ module Middleman::CoreExtensions
       # @private
       # @return [Hash]
       def raw_data
-        app.frontmatter_manager.data(source_file).first
+        app.extensions[:frontmatter].data(source_file).first
       end
 
       # This page's frontmatter
@@ -217,19 +85,132 @@ module Middleman::CoreExtensions
       end
     end
 
-    module InstanceMethods
-
-      # Access the Frontmatter API
-      def frontmatter_manager
-        @_frontmatter_manager ||= FrontmatterManager.new(self)
-      end
-
+    helpers do
       # Get the template data from a path
       # @param [String] path
       # @return [String]
       def template_data_for_file(path)
-        frontmatter_manager.data(path).last
+        extensions[:frontmatter].data(path).last
       end
     end
+
+    def data(path)
+      p = normalize_path(path)
+      @cache[p] ||= begin
+        file_data, content = frontmatter_and_content(p)
+
+        if app.files.exists?("#{path}.frontmatter")
+          external_data, _ = frontmatter_and_content("#{p}.frontmatter")
+
+          [
+            external_data.deep_merge(file_data),
+            content
+          ]
+        else
+          [file_data, content]
+        end
+      end
+    end
+
+    def clear_data(file)
+      # Copied from Sitemap::Store#file_to_path, but without
+      # removing the file extension
+      file = File.join(app.root, file)
+      prefix = app.source_dir.sub(/\/$/, "") + "/"
+      return unless file.include?(prefix)
+      path = file.sub(prefix, "").sub(/\.frontmatter$/, "")
+
+      @cache.delete(path)
+    end
+
+  private
+    # Parse YAML frontmatter out of a string
+    # @param [String] content
+    # @return [Array<Hash, String>]
+    def parse_yaml_front_matter(content)
+      yaml_regex = /\A(---\s*\n.*?\n?)^(---\s*$\n?)/m
+      if content =~ yaml_regex
+        content = content.sub(yaml_regex, "")
+
+        begin
+          data = YAML.load($1) || {}
+          data = data.symbolize_keys
+        rescue *YAML_ERRORS => e
+          app.logger.error "YAML Exception: #{e.message}"
+          return false
+        end
+      else
+        return false
+      end
+
+      [data, content]
+    rescue
+      [{}, content]
+    end
+
+    def parse_json_front_matter(content)
+      json_regex = /\A(;;;\s*\n.*?\n?)^(;;;\s*$\n?)/m
+
+      if content =~ json_regex
+        content = content.sub(json_regex, "")
+
+        begin
+          json = ($1+$2).sub(";;;", "{").sub(";;;", "}")
+          data = ActiveSupport::JSON.decode(json).symbolize_keys
+        rescue => e
+          app.logger.error "JSON Exception: #{e.message}"
+          return false
+        end
+
+      else
+        return false
+      end
+
+      [data, content]
+    rescue
+      [{}, content]
+    end
+
+    # Get the frontmatter and plain content from a file
+    # @param [String] path
+    # @return [Array<Thor::CoreExt::HashWithIndifferentAccess, String>]
+    def frontmatter_and_content(path)
+      full_path = if Pathname(path).relative?
+        File.join(app.source_dir, path)
+      else
+        path
+      end
+
+      data = {}
+      content = nil
+
+      return [data, content] unless app.files.exists?(full_path)
+
+      if !::Middleman::Util.binary?(full_path)
+        content = File.read(full_path)
+        
+        begin
+          if content =~ /\A.*coding:/
+            lines = content.split(/\n/)
+            lines.shift
+            content = lines.join("\n")
+          end
+
+          if result = parse_yaml_front_matter(content)
+            data, content = result
+          elsif result = parse_json_front_matter(content)
+            data, content = result
+          end
+        rescue
+          # Probably a binary file, move on
+        end
+      end
+
+      [data, content]
+    end
+
+    def normalize_path(path)
+      path.sub(%r{^#{app.source_dir}\/}, "")
+    end
   end
 end
diff --git a/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/extensions.rb b/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/extensions.rb
index aceabbad..1956bf6a 100644
--- a/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/extensions.rb
+++ b/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/extensions.rb
@@ -133,7 +133,8 @@ module Middleman
       end
     end
 
-    attr_accessor :app, :options
+    attr_accessor :options
+    attr_reader :app
 
     def initialize(klass, options_hash={})
       @_helpers = []
@@ -148,14 +149,21 @@ module Middleman
       yield @options if block_given?
 
       ext = self
+
       klass.initialized do
         ext.app = self
-        
-        (ext.class.defined_helpers || []).each do |m|
-          ext.app.class.send(:include, m)
+      end
+
+      if ext.respond_to?(:before_configuration)
+        klass.before_configuration do
+          ext.before_configuration
         end
       end
 
+      klass.instance_available do
+        ext.app ||= self
+      end
+
       klass.after_configuration do
         if ext.respond_to?(:after_configuration)
           ext.after_configuration
@@ -176,5 +184,13 @@ module Middleman
         end
       end
     end
+
+    def app=(app)
+      @app = app
+      
+      (self.class.defined_helpers || []).each do |m|
+        app.class.send(:include, m)
+      end
+    end
   end
 end
diff --git a/middleman-core/lib/middleman-more/extensions/gzip.rb b/middleman-core/lib/middleman-more/extensions/gzip.rb
index f5ff6d38..165161fe 100644
--- a/middleman-core/lib/middleman-more/extensions/gzip.rb
+++ b/middleman-core/lib/middleman-more/extensions/gzip.rb
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ class Middleman::Extensions::Gzip < ::Middleman::Extension
 
   def initialize(app, options_hash={})
     super
-    
+
     require 'zlib'
     require 'stringio'
     require 'find'
diff --git a/middleman-core/lib/middleman-more/extensions/minify_css.rb b/middleman-core/lib/middleman-more/extensions/minify_css.rb
index 7cec5461..87e5fafe 100644
--- a/middleman-core/lib/middleman-more/extensions/minify_css.rb
+++ b/middleman-core/lib/middleman-more/extensions/minify_css.rb
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ class Middleman::Extensions::MinifyCss < ::Middleman::Extension
 
   # Rack middleware to look for CSS and compress it
   class Rack
+    INLINE_CSS_REGEX = /(<style[^>]*>\s*(?:\/\*<!\[CDATA\[\*\/\n)?)(.*?)((?:(?:\n\s*)?\/\*\]\]>\*\/)?\s*<\/style>)/m
 
     # Init
     # @param [Class] app
@@ -46,26 +47,16 @@ class Middleman::Extensions::MinifyCss < ::Middleman::Extension
     def call(env)
       status, headers, response = @app.call(env)
 
-      path = env["PATH_INFO"]
-
-      if (path.end_with?('.html') || path.end_with?('.php')) && @inline
-        uncompressed_source = ::Middleman::Util.extract_response_text(response)
-
-        minified = uncompressed_source.gsub(/(<style[^>]*>\s*(?:\/\*<!\[CDATA\[\*\/\n)?)(.*?)((?:(?:\n\s*)?\/\*\]\]>\*\/)?\s*<\/style>)/m) do |match|
-          first = $1
-          css = $2
-          last = $3
-
-          minified_css = @compressor.compress(css)
-
-          first << minified_css << last
+      if inline_html_content?(env["PATH_INFO"])
+        minified = ::Middleman::Util.extract_response_text(response)
+        minified.gsub!(INLINE_CSS_REGEX) do |match|
+          $1 << @compressor.compress($2) << $3
         end
 
         headers["Content-Length"] = ::Rack::Utils.bytesize(minified).to_s
         response = [minified]
-      elsif path.end_with?('.css') && @ignore.none? {|ignore| Middleman::Util.path_match(ignore, path) }
-        uncompressed_source = ::Middleman::Util.extract_response_text(response)
-        minified_css = @compressor.compress(uncompressed_source)
+      elsif standalone_css_content?(env["PATH_INFO"])
+        minified_css = @compressor.compress(::Middleman::Util.extract_response_text(response))
 
         headers["Content-Length"] = ::Rack::Utils.bytesize(minified_css).to_s
         response = [minified_css]
@@ -73,5 +64,14 @@ class Middleman::Extensions::MinifyCss < ::Middleman::Extension
 
       [status, headers, response]
     end
+
+  private
+    def inline_html_content?(path)
+      (path.end_with?('.html') || path.end_with?('.php')) && @inline
+    end
+
+    def standalone_css_content?(path)
+      path.end_with?('.css') && @ignore.none? {|ignore| Middleman::Util.path_match(ignore, path) }
+    end
   end
 end