destination lottery

I decided to take a trip to Malad today to try my hand at the lotto. It's something I used to do often that I haven't done in a long time. Here are a few pics from along the way.

Mint Morsels and Large Explosions

A cupcake a day keeps the doctor away. This weekend I didn't go the traditional 4th of July celebration route as a theme for my cupcakes. I opted for something easy, and this time, out of the box. Chocolate cupcakes with an Andes Mint surprise baked in the middle, mint frosting and some pink nonpareils. And while the cupcakes may have not fit the spirit of the holiday, the other photos should speak loud and clear. I hope you all had a happy fourth!

Little things.

Little things all around, growing into big things. Life is a splendid and beautiful thing, and comes in all shapes, colors and sizes. Andy and I planted a big garden in our backyard this year, and it has been so fun seeing things take shape and grow. I imagine it is much like watching a child grow in some ways. Day to day something just a little different. So here are a few snapshots of the 'little things' from around the yard.

She dreams in hues of Lavender

Just Like Peas in a Pod

Master of my Own Domain

What's the Dill-e-o

In a hurry

Has anyone seen where I put my brain?

So, it has been a rough couple months. Work has been insane and there has been no time to come up for air. Day's come and go, and quite frankly, as of lately, I don't seem to know the who's what's when's and where's outside of work. Needless to say, I did the one thing, I hoped I would never do. The one thing I am always hounding my brother about doing a better job at! I FORGOT MY MOM's FRIGGEN BIRTHDAY! The most awesome woman in the world, the female I most look up to, the best Mom a person could ask for, and I totally spaced her friggen birthday! If it had not been for her being the most understanding person I know and dropping me a hint, I am afraid to say, I probably wouldn't have recognized my ignorance until who know's when. She knew I was on another planet (metaphorically speaking) and she sent me the cutest e-mail letting me know, but assuring me, that it was no big deal, for she knew if I recognized my error a month from now, I would have been mortified! So, I took her special request and made her lemon cupcakes to make up for it. Unfortuneatly I don't have pictures of them, but they were lemon cupcakes, with Lemon Pastry Filling in the middle, Lemon Frosting, and to top it off, white chocolate flowers with mint chocolate leaves for decoration. She said that they were her favorite so far, and dad liked them too. Ah, Sweet Redemption. So, Since I don't have a picture of the cupcakes, I will post a picture of the two of us from a while back. I love you Mom.

This picture was taken a few years ago on our trip to Vegas to see INXS play. 'Twas a blast! **What the Eff is 411** ha ha ha, oh man, good times.

Birthday Flop!

So, there is a reason why I make cupcakes...it's because real cakes are not my bag. I attempted to make a kick ass cake for my Brother's Birthday, and well, it just didn't turn out. The middles kept sinking in, the possible causes of which were endless, and I was out of time. I should have known that morning the whole process was going to be a challenge, why? you ask... A) My mixer quit working in the middle of preparing the batter and B) the microwave BLEW UP! Like as in ZAP! BANG! BOOM! 'OMG there is a fire' sort of blew up. Needless to say, I had made plenty of batter, so after several failed attempts at making the tiers for my cake I resorted to what I know I am capable of...little miniature delights, it's a cake aint it? They were chocolate cupcakes with white chocolate buttercream frosting, topped off with a milky way mini. I had all the best intentions of making a phenominal first cake, but hey, what can you do? These little things turned out tasty enough, and the bro liked them...the most important part.

So here is the failed attempt at the 'cake'

And here is the 'cake' as it ended up. =)

Would you like one?