Inspired Cupcakes

I had planned a visit to my friend Pam today as she has been laid up with a bad back. Cupcakes! I thought, sure to cheer anyone up.

I was also very happy when wondering how to transport them, I found some cake boxes that I had ordered from the Kitchen Krafts www.kitchenkrafts.com catalog. If you've never looked through it you find all of this great stuff you never knew you needed. But how cool to have a baker's box to put the cupcakes in. Who cares how they taste (although they are great) the presentation is a perfect 10!

This sanding sugar is from Market Basket. In the bakery section they have a little stand with the most BEAUTIFUL colored sugars. Blue and pink and light green. (yes, you can go to Williams-Sonoma and pay double for your sanding sugars as I have in the past - sorry, Peggy! - or you can pay two bucks at the M.B.) If you are into this kind of thing, if you are a baker, then colored sanding sugars really get your attention. I just bought it because I couldn't resist the color and thought putting it on the strawberry cupcakes would be like eating a little piece of Spring.

Ok, the whole while I am listening to Adele's new CD, "Rolling in the Deep". Where do I begin? As inspired and transformative as any songstress I have ever heard. She is amazing and today she inspired cupcakes.

A Friend Indeed

Celebratory pink roses given to me by a real cowgirl. Long may we ride!

Underground Railroad Quilt

In Mrs. Lydecker's 4th grade class they have been studying the Underground Railroad. It's not underground nor is it a railroad, as my son explained. The reasons why they were quilting is because they learned about quilt patterns such as "drunkard's path" which would throw the slave catchers off and "bow tie" which means dress in your best clothes so you can blend in when you escape.

It was like a secret language used through quilt designs. Moms brought in their sewing machines and guided the kids in putting together their quilting squares.

Here is a selection of the designs which included monkey wrench, bear's paw, flying geese and log cabin which when on a house, meant it was a "safehouse".

At the end Mrs. Lydecker gathered the class around her table and sewed some squares for the kids who were absent. "Go really fast!" they shouted...and she did.

First Day of Spring

Happy, happy.

Joy, joy.
Melt, melt.
Fast, fast.

Feeling Blue?

the after school snack of champions. I know, I should be ashamed to post this...but he is 18 and there are colleges that want him ; )

A little damage done at Macy's

It happens every so often, to all of us, right? Not a big shopping trip, maybe just a quick browse. But for some reason the guilty pang doesn't kick in and on top of that sticker shock goes out the window. It just seems like it's all good. Had it happen to me at Macy's this week. First I picked up this great leather slouchy bag. I loved everything about it. It's a weathered grey metallic with a little copper running through it. It will get better with age.

The next handbag aisle over I saw these cute cross-body bags in a million colors. I liked the pearl color, has just enough sheen to it to feel dressy even with jeans. It's long enough, it's deep enough, and it has lots and lots of pockets.

I was almost back out to the Mall entrance and on my way to the car when these peasant blouses caught my eye. Hmmm...I thought...it probably won't fit...probably won't look that great...I will try it on and it will be all pulling on me and I will regret trying it on. But hey, ya know what? It looked very cute so I bought it in black, too. So in conclusion, Macy's is having a great sale and as you can see I jumped right in and 3 days later haven't had a twinge of guilt ; )

An Irish Blessing

'Tis better to buy a small bouquet,
And give to your friend this very day,
Than a bushel of roses white and red,
To lay on his coffin after he's dead.