tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63362390293637174762024-03-08T06:18:57.112-05:00Ideas to the TouchA collection of ideas beautiful and lovely, inspired by the sense of touch.Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754786147954803118noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6336239029363717476.post-12865204950959775702010-11-10T15:51:00.003-05:002010-11-10T15:59:39.738-05:00Legally Baked is on Facebook!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/TNsGqe1Zs1I/AAAAAAAAAPQ/TiQO8YxZ18o/s1600/Legally%2BBaked.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 255px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 274px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538027493683475282" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/TNsGqe1Zs1I/AAAAAAAAAPQ/TiQO8YxZ18o/s400/Legally%2BBaked.bmp" /></a><br /><div>I give in. Uploading photos and getting followers on Facebook is a lot easier than it is on Blogger. So, my official new cupcake business, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bay-City-MI/Legally-Baked/161963787160211">Legally Baked</a>, is now on Facebook. All my recent baking pics, cupcake flavors, prices, and adventures are now over <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bay-City-MI/Legally-Baked/161963787160211">there</a>. Thanks for checking in!</div>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754786147954803118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6336239029363717476.post-90090857101874128882010-10-14T15:00:00.004-04:002010-10-21T13:52:38.581-04:00Ludington State ParkSome of my favorite images from our September trip to Ludington. More to come in a few weeks after our long weekend at Orchard Beach.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/TLdT4zhbkFI/AAAAAAAAAPI/PcILuqHb0Lc/s1600/Ludington+141.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527979302988779602" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/TLdT4zhbkFI/AAAAAAAAAPI/PcILuqHb0Lc/s400/Ludington+141.jpg" /></a> This was a view from a precarious perch on a half-submerged, half-decayed birch log off shore about 2/3rds of the way up the Island Trail. We hiked a 4+-mile loop Saturday morning and I can say it actually pained me a bit near the end! Okay, so the biggest pain was a blister betwixt my two far-left toes, but I also felt like this was one of the most vertical hikes we've ever done in Michigan. The views, the natural textures, colors, light & shade, birds & critters, were all so incredible it's hard to select just a few pics to share.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/TLdT4lyU7GI/AAAAAAAAAPA/DAyp6eFGt70/s1600/Ludington+058.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527979299301551202" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/TLdT4lyU7GI/AAAAAAAAAPA/DAyp6eFGt70/s400/Ludington+058.jpg" /></a> We arrived at the park Thursday night. Our reservation was originally Friday-Sunday. But spontaneously, Thursday morning I called to extend an extra day and we left work early, in dire need of an extra day away from the office. Best decision EVER! Not only did we get the most gorgeous Lake Michigan sunset all to ourselves, but we also got a great table at Sportsman's Pub for pizza without any wait ;-)<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/TLdT4NCIAeI/AAAAAAAAAO4/cy5wjlKnh5Q/s1600/Ludington+047.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527979292656927202" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/TLdT4NCIAeI/AAAAAAAAAO4/cy5wjlKnh5Q/s400/Ludington+047.jpg" /></a> Ah... This is why a 3-day weekend at Ludington State Park has the same soothing effect as a week-long vacation in the Caribbean. </div></div>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754786147954803118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6336239029363717476.post-17905756095946760592010-09-06T20:11:00.006-04:002010-10-21T13:52:11.616-04:00Flavor BraintormingPeople keep telling me I should write down all the cupcake flavors I've made and the ideas that randomly pop into my head, so here goes! The flavors I haven't actually <em>made </em>yet are noted as "in the works".<br /><br />In addition to the flavors listed below, your ideas are happily taste-tested. Let’s make something special for your event!<br /><br /><u>Ladylike Lemon Vanilla</u> (Mom's Fave): Lemon-zested vanilla cake, filled with lemon curd, frosted with vanilla-lemon Swiss Meringue buttercream<br /><br /><u>Neapolitan</u> (People’s Choice!): French vanilla cake, filled with fresh strawberry puree, frosted with rich whipped chocolate ganache icing<br /><br /><u>Obscene Cookies & Crème</u> (People’s Choice!): Double-dark-chocolate-chip-fudge cake, frosted with Oreo-studded cream cheese buttercream<br /><br /><u>Breakfast on St. Patty’s Day</u>: Coffee-chocolate cake frosted with real Bailey’s Irish cream buttercream (Adults only!)<br /><br /><u>Mexican Fiesta </u>(Baker’s Fave!): Orange-scented cinna-vanilla cake frosted with Mexican HOT chocolate buttercream (cinnamon + cayenne)<br /><br /><u>Peppermint Paddy Latte</u>: Mint-chocolate cake with mocha buttercream (whip cream center, optional)<br /><br /><u>White Christmas (a/k/a Rick's Birthday Cake)</u>: Snow-white cake with a coconut-crème center frosted with almond meringue buttercream and topped with coconut, inspired by the amazing creation at Captiva Island's Bubble Room<br /><br /><u>Bugs B's Fave</u>: Light & fluffy carrot cake topped with a thick swirl of white chocolate, Carolina cream cheese icing (with or without nuts)<br /><br /><u>Boston Cream</u>: Golden butter cake filled with vanilla custard and topped with bittersweet chocolate ganache<br /><br /><u>Elvis’s Fave</u>: Chocolate-chip banana cake topped with peanut butter buttercream (Elvis recommends deep-frying this one!)<br /><br /><u>Fuzzy Navel</u>: Orange-zested sponge cake frosted with peach-nectar buttercream<br /><br /><u>Pina Colada</u>: Coconut cake frosted with pineapple-rum buttercream<br /><br /><u>Strawberry Daiquiri</u>: Strawberry-lime cake topped with a shot of vanilla-rum buttercream<br /><br /><u>Peach Berry</u>: White cake studded with fresh raspberries & blueberries, frosted with peach buttercream (an accidental summer leftover success!)<br /><br /><u>Reese's PB Cupcake</u>: Chocolate cake filled with a whole Reese's pb cup, topped with milk chocolate & peanut butter swirl buttercream<br /><br /><u>Caramel Apple</u>: Cinnamon apple cider cake filled with apple butter, topped with salted caramel Swiss meringue buttercream icing<br /><br /><u>Raspberry Truffle</u> (in the works): Dark chocolate cake filled with raspberry mousse and topped with rich chocolate ganache<br /><br /><u>Wine & Cheese</u> (in the works): Pink champagne cake filled with sweetened cream cheese, topped with a swirl of bubbly buttercream & sugar pearls<br /><br /><u>Cookie Dough</u> (in the works): Chocolate-chip golden butter cake, filled with a ball of FOR-REAL! Tollhouse cookie dough, topped with brown sugar buttercream and mini chocolate-chips<br /><br /><u>Strawberries & Cream</u> (in the works): Fresh strawberry cake topped with Carolina cream cheese icing<br /><br /><u>"M" Fanfare</u> (in the works): Only available during Michigan football tailgates! Blue velvet cake frosted with a tall swirl of maize Carolina cream cheese icing.<br /><br /><u>Candy Cane</u> (in the works): Snow-white peppermint vanilla cake studded with real candy cane bits, topped with cool vanilla-mint buttercream and candy cane sprinkles<br /><br />Also: Vanilla, Chocolate, and any combination you dare try!Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754786147954803118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6336239029363717476.post-83027615351522705002010-07-27T11:00:00.008-04:002010-10-21T13:52:54.484-04:00Congrats to the prettiest Grad ever!!!<div align="justify">Our family hosted my adorable cousin <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/HeathaBOO4?ref=ts">Heather's </a>high school graduation party at my grandparents' cottage on Wixom Lake. And I was appointed to be in charge of dessert! (Okay, so I maybe appointed myself.) Anyway, Heather's school colors are orange & blue, so of course I made her a sweet little 4", 3-layer cake decorated especially for her:<br /><br /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/TE70yipTHFI/AAAAAAAAAN4/dYjqGjACcDo/s1600/Heather%27s+graduation+001.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 376px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498601344196615250" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/TE70yipTHFI/AAAAAAAAAN4/dYjqGjACcDo/s400/Heather%27s+graduation+001.jpg" /></a> And a MILLION cupcakes for everyone else! Our family is WAY fun, so I used cocktails as inspiration for the cake & frosting flavors.<br /><br /><div align="center">Strawberry Daiquiri<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/TE72rx8jtNI/AAAAAAAAAOg/DyBGXbQZuM8/s1600/Heather%27s+graduation+042.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498603427068097746" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/TE72rx8jtNI/AAAAAAAAAOg/DyBGXbQZuM8/s400/Heather%27s+graduation+042.jpg" /></a> Strawberry-lime cake with rum-vanilla buttercream and the prettiest sprinkles on the planet (which Rick picked out ~ he's honing in on his metro tendencies.)<br /><br />Mudslide (the hands-down FAVORITE!)<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498603418150277906" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/TE72rQuYkxI/AAAAAAAAAOY/T2m9UfLxZOU/s400/Heather%27s+graduation+049.jpg" /> <div align="justify">Chocolate-chocolate-chip cake with a tiny, itty-bitty hint of mint, Baileys and coffee extract) frosted with mocha buttercream. I can't even describe the rich luciousness....<br /><br /><div align="center">Pina colada<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/TE72q5ga8iI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/YZOE-nZ6l0k/s1600/Heather%27s+graduation+039.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498603411917697570" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/TE72q5ga8iI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/YZOE-nZ6l0k/s400/Heather%27s+graduation+039.jpg" /></a>Pineapple-Coconut cake with rum-vanilla buttercream.><br /><br />and Fuzzy Navel<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/TE72qS5lD9I/AAAAAAAAAOI/BumVtBLo9rQ/s1600/Heather%27s+graduation+038.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498603401554235346" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/TE72qS5lD9I/AAAAAAAAAOI/BumVtBLo9rQ/s400/Heather%27s+graduation+038.jpg" /></a> <div align="justify">Orange-zested peach cake (yellow cake flavored with real peach nectar & orange zest), frosted with peach buttercream. These were painfully sweet, but for some reason they enticed me the most. I have to do them over again and work on making them less sweet. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Rick and my cousin Matt helped set up. They were so darn cute! Of course, they also tried to take all the credit for the cupcakes in the end and helped themselves to a couple that wouldn't (conveniently) fit on the table, but I wouldn't have changed a thing.<br /></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/TE7443yObWI/AAAAAAAAAOo/6oVOtoebc1I/s1600/Heather%27s+graduation+057.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498605850996927842" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/TE7443yObWI/AAAAAAAAAOo/6oVOtoebc1I/s400/Heather%27s+graduation+057.jpg" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754786147954803118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6336239029363717476.post-67903381697142420892010-05-31T12:16:00.004-04:002010-10-21T13:53:05.682-04:00After a week of obsessing....We have blue & white cake, a SH*& TON of Wilton's famous fluffy white "buttercream" and a chocolate chip island. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/TAPhBoyFvnI/AAAAAAAAANw/4LJq_8Qxelg/s1600/Pirate+Cake1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477468990056283762" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/TAPhBoyFvnI/AAAAAAAAANw/4LJq_8Qxelg/s400/Pirate+Cake1.jpg" /></a> The island cake took almost an hour to bake. After the 10" layers came out (about 40 minutes at 325), I turned the heat down to 310 until a skewer came out of the pyrex cake clean. Oh, and if you ever want to know how to divide 2 boxes of cake mix (different flavors, of course) into three different-sized baking vessels, ask Rick, whose physics major (& math minor) came in WAY handy on Saturday!<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/TAPhBVi0-tI/AAAAAAAAANo/D1C0eQCLsKI/s1600/Pirate+Cake2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477468984891996882" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/TAPhBVi0-tI/AAAAAAAAANo/D1C0eQCLsKI/s400/Pirate+Cake2.jpg" /></a>Since Rick was so invested in the baking project, I decided he deserved to have some fun and help me put the decorations on the frosted cake. Other than putting one of the coral pieces on backwards and one sideways he did great ;-) (He's watching me type and just grated his teeth.)<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/TAPhA2xoUpI/AAAAAAAAANg/JqpRyKRe820/s1600/Pirate+Cake3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477468976632582802" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/TAPhA2xoUpI/AAAAAAAAANg/JqpRyKRe820/s400/Pirate+Cake3.jpg" /></a></div></div><br />I used four straws (ordinary drinking straws courtesy of Mickey D's) as structural supports under the island. Pretty proud of meeself, I yam. The ONLY thing I was disappointed about was the waves... I wanted them to be more white than blue, but the two colors of frosting really combined in the piping bag, rather than streaking the way I'd hoped.Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754786147954803118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6336239029363717476.post-50955696964840906642010-05-31T12:11:00.004-04:002010-10-21T13:53:19.106-04:00It is DONE!!!Rick was a trooper! His steady hand and abundant patience was absolutely necessary to sprinkle on the graham-cracker-crumb-"sand" at the very end. I would've gotten it all over the place (and not just the floor like Rick did ;-) What would I do without my trusty assistant? Rick - you earned your Soux Chef merit badge this weekend. *muah*<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/TAPgCot9rvI/AAAAAAAAANY/Lr11wXHgR3c/s1600/Pirate+Cake4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477467907707219698" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/TAPgCot9rvI/AAAAAAAAANY/Lr11wXHgR3c/s400/Pirate+Cake4.jpg" /></a>And the finished product.... Jack Sparrow's island.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/TAPgB07d9EI/AAAAAAAAANQ/11v4gLCAgT0/s1600/Pirate+Cake5.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477467893805216834" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/TAPgB07d9EI/AAAAAAAAANQ/11v4gLCAgT0/s400/Pirate+Cake5.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>The Chocolate Pearl.<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/TAPgBUvor2I/AAAAAAAAANI/bQJn8q2VEDM/s1600/Pirate+Cake6.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 356px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477467885165653858" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/TAPgBUvor2I/AAAAAAAAANI/bQJn8q2VEDM/s400/Pirate+Cake6.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754786147954803118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6336239029363717476.post-91466371400320371172010-05-26T15:13:00.006-04:002010-10-21T13:53:35.875-04:00Is this unfair?...To decorate the "2nd Grade Desert Island" cake (read below to understand that I am not suggesting we ship all second graders to a deserted island. Although.... ) I decided to play it a little safe. At the suggestion of a fellow <a href="http://laundralife.blogspot.com/">blogger/baker/friend</a> I found these great seashell candy molds at Michaels. They also had chocolate pop molds in pirate-themed shapes. The shells will go all around the bottom tier and in a little pile on the top of the island. The skull & treasure chest will be the cake toppers, surrounded by some royal icing grass. I'm skipping out on the palm trees I originally envisioned. Too much risk, too little reward (this time). <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475660767723747874" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/S_10dPq3eiI/AAAAAAAAANA/vCnts9RmgoU/s400/Tropical+decorations2.jpg" /><br />I love the seahsells! I think they'd make great little gifts for Hallmark Holidays.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/S_1zFZIwvFI/AAAAAAAAAM4/5UcROSzub08/s1600/Tropical+decorations3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475659258436566098" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/S_1zFZIwvFI/AAAAAAAAAM4/5UcROSzub08/s400/Tropical+decorations3.jpg" /></a>Now, the coral and seahorses are another story... I free-handed the seahorses on waxed paper with a tiny parchment paper cone filled with melted yellow candy melts. They're so cute! For the coral I started with a plate full of corn starch (because I swear I've seen that technique used on Food Network). I dipped a sucker stick in the cornstarch to make little channels for the chocolate to sit in, then piped it in and dusted it with yellow sanding sugar. I can't wait to see how they look on the cake. I couldn't be happier with the way they turned out.<br /><br /><div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/S_1zEpKaa4I/AAAAAAAAAMo/E_vY1pT6uew/s1600/Tropical+decorations1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 330px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475659245558590338" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/S_1zEpKaa4I/AAAAAAAAAMo/E_vY1pT6uew/s400/Tropical+decorations1.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754786147954803118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6336239029363717476.post-33512879791730338632010-05-26T14:53:00.005-04:002010-10-21T13:53:48.459-04:00A Real Cake!Well kids. It's now or never. I have my first Real Cake order. For someone else. To serve to other people. FORTY - 4.0. - other people. Yes, all of my nails have been bitten to the quick.<br /><br />The occasion: 2nd grade tropical-theme class party.<br /><br />The ideas: a million. I scoured the interwebs and, with my mom's help, found a million and seven ideas. Flip flop cakes, surfboard cakes, pirate ships, sharks, fish ponds, boats, Hawaiian shirt cakes (which I might have to do for Father's Day), and more. After a couple days of considering the options (and my extensively-limited skill set and complete lack of experience) I circled back around to my original idea - a deserted island. The idea just takes me to a beach with Captain Jack Sparrow, digging up his bottles and exclaiming, "Why's the rum ALWAYS gone?!?!" (My favorite movie line of all time.)<br /><br />Here's the concept I drew up:<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/S_1vcUcrfTI/AAAAAAAAAMg/v5t2HkTXmgc/s1600/Tropical+Theme+Cake+drawing.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 391px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475655254268411186" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/S_1vcUcrfTI/AAAAAAAAAMg/v5t2HkTXmgc/s400/Tropical+Theme+Cake+drawing.jpg" /></a> Two-tiers, 10" round bottom, 8" pyrex dome "island" on top. Bottom tier will be white & blue vanilla cake with blue vanilla buttercream. Top tier will be yellow cake with mini-chocolate chips and brown sugar butter cream "sand" icing. The decorations are almost all molded chocolate. I have some great pics of those that will come next.<br /><br />Cross all your fingers & toes for me!Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754786147954803118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6336239029363717476.post-53630515527707730892010-05-11T19:30:00.004-04:002010-10-21T14:01:42.265-04:00Cinco de Mayo!Thanks to <a href="http://cupcakerehab.com/">Cupcake Rehab</a> I made these last week:<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/S-no2AXB7NI/AAAAAAAAAMY/aERTN6L2lgA/s1600/Cinco+de+Mayo+Cupcakes.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 336px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470159236925353170" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/S-no2AXB7NI/AAAAAAAAAMY/aERTN6L2lgA/s400/Cinco+de+Mayo+Cupcakes.jpg" /></a> Orange-cinna-vanilla cupcakes with Mexican-hot-chocolate buttercream. I loved that icing so much I could shed a tear, or sweat a little from the heat of the cayenne pepper. Those little pics with the chile pepper and sombrero were a fun add, considering the cupcakes were for a party in our building. The red hots were a logical decoration, too, wouldn't ya say?! I will so SO so make these again ~ and hopefully sooner rather than later. If nothing else, just to have a bowl of that icing to eat with a spoon ;-) Recipe is <a href="http://cupcakerehab.com/2008/09/cinnamon-vanilla-cupcakes-with-mexican-hot-chocolate-buttercream/">here</a>.Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754786147954803118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6336239029363717476.post-28020458033280890302010-05-04T17:08:00.004-04:002010-10-21T13:54:28.716-04:00Swoon!Two new fabulous blogs I stumbled upon today while searching for the perfect dessert to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, <a href="http://www.bakeitpretty.com/">Bake it Pretty</a> (for all kinds of baking schwag):<br /><a href="http://www.bakeitpretty.com/images/bip-logo%20new.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 327px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 123px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.bakeitpretty.com/images/bip-logo%20new.gif" /></a><br />and <a href="http://cupcakerehab.com/">Cupcake Rehab</a> (where I should spend my whole summer, anyone want to join me?):<br /><div><a href="http://cupcakerehab.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/newlogotop.png"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 368px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 327px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://cupcakerehab.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/newlogotop.png" /></a><br /><br /><div></div></div>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754786147954803118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6336239029363717476.post-55566170603955016982010-04-28T21:00:00.005-04:002010-10-21T14:01:59.853-04:00Happy Belated St. Patty's Day!Top o'the Mornin'! Okay, so it's April. What can I say, I've been a tad busy. Anyhoo, better tardy than never, true? These..... darlin's<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/S9jbObgtTgI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/f02RAnTlHds/s1600/St+Pats+Cupcakes.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 179px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465359188763692546" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/S9jbObgtTgI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/f02RAnTlHds/s400/St+Pats+Cupcakes.jpg" /></a> <div></div><div>These chocolate-coffee-and-Bailey's-irish-buttercream cupcakes were a wicked way to celebrate the St. Patty's Day parade. Wicked, I tell 'ye because they were about 80-proof! Unfortunately I tried going low-fat with the cupcakes and used a WW secret "pop cake" shortcut and it was a bit of a Fail. The cake was too crumbly and fell apart out of the paper wrapper. The buttercream was too heavy for it, too. One shot was definitely enough! I'll rework the recipe and make them again, though. You betcha!</div><br /><div></div>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754786147954803118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6336239029363717476.post-3621472366758119442010-02-13T16:36:00.004-05:002010-10-21T13:54:54.045-04:00Bakesale!Swiss meringue buttercream SUCCESS! I received my first offical "order" for cupcakes last week from R's future-daughter-in-law who was throwing a baby shower for a friend. FANTASTIC! I made white-white and double-chocolate cupcakes (dark chocolate with mini-chocolate chips) and a humungus vat of <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/07/project-wedding-cake-swiss-buttercream/">Smitten Kitchen's Swiss meringue buttercream</a>. And after exercising super-human self-control (and not taking the mixing bowl to the couch with a spoon) piped some of the most elegant frosting I've ever seen.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437845613025001474" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/S3cbxivFgAI/AAAAAAAAAL4/0i1VcyCJr6k/s400/Lemon+Vanilla+Cupcakes.jpg" /><br />The lemon filling was a homemade concoction of frozen lemonade, sugar & cornstarch cooked until thickened. Not bad, but I won't make it again. I'll probably use a jarred lemon curd next time. My mom suggested the lemon zest decorations and I think they were perfect.<br /><br />The double-dark-chocolate cupcakes were awesome just as they came out of the oven, but to add insult to injury, I mixed some of the leftover buttercream with some cream cheese and folded in some chopped, frozen Oreos. Since there was no chance the lumpy stuff would come out of a piping bag, I just plopped it on in obscene quantities, almost like a scoop of ice cream. They were ridiculous! I will make them again for sure.<br /><br />A new business is born: Legally Sweet - Kupcakes by Kristi. Call me!<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/S3cbyBI0_OI/AAAAAAAAAMA/b5TTp53DaBA/s1600-h/Cookies+%26+Cream+Cupcakes.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 182px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437845621186034914" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/S3cbyBI0_OI/AAAAAAAAAMA/b5TTp53DaBA/s400/Cookies+%26+Cream+Cupcakes.jpg" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /><div></div></div>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754786147954803118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6336239029363717476.post-62347270130988002452009-07-08T11:05:00.003-04:002010-10-21T13:55:26.037-04:00Love in a Pan<div align="justify">Oh my ever-lovin' goodness. I am so ridiculously proud of myself this time I can't contain it. I made <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/">The Pioneer Woman's </a>cinnamon rolls and orange marmalade rolls this weekend. Can I just brag for a minute about how "okay" I was with the crazy mess this made of my kitchen? You would be, too. It's the most delicious mess I've ever seen and it made me giddy.<br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 396px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356105927027040962" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SlS19nfPosI/AAAAAAAAALQ/doNnPesPJUA/s400/PW+Cinnamon+Rolls1.jpg" />And I think that picture was taken <em>after </em>R & I licked up half the sugary-orange-y-melted-butter off the island. See that streak up the middle? A finger swipe.<br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SlS1-Zya-bI/AAAAAAAAALg/SejBLhNgZf8/s1600-h/PW+Cinnamon+Rolls6.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 276px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356105940529248690" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SlS1-Zya-bI/AAAAAAAAALg/SejBLhNgZf8/s400/PW+Cinnamon+Rolls6.jpg" /></a> Because PW's recipe says to cut off the uneven ends, I did what she said. So would you if you followed her blog! And because I'm such a frugal gal, baked up those uneven, untidy, messy-looking, not-pretty-enough-to-serve-to-company pieces of rolls, and ate half of them meeself to test the recipe (gave R the other half - arent' I a saint?) Uh, Ree? You're my new BFF.<br /><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SlS1-H15iAI/AAAAAAAAALY/66jrHAoOQGQ/s1600-h/PW+Cinnamon+Rolls2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 222px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356105935711995906" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SlS1-H15iAI/AAAAAAAAALY/66jrHAoOQGQ/s400/PW+Cinnamon+Rolls2.jpg" /></a> After greasing and sugaring them down, rolling and slicing them, they rose for about a half hour on the range, out grazing with Marlboro Man's Mustangs. Uh, sorry, mind wandered. And actually, the orange rolls didn't rise that much. Hm. Not exactly sure why. Was the dough too warm by then? The cinnamon rolls rose just fine, though. I made two pans of cinnamon and then one orange marmalade, and I thought I rolled the dough for the first pan of cinnamon too thick, and so then I rolled the dough for the orange ones too thin. Grrr. Over compensated. Since this is my first experience with actual yeast-raised homemade dough, I gave myself a little slack. Even after using a 1/2 cup too much flour and forgetting the salt. Jeez, when will I ever be able to follow a darn recipe?<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356105947812088338" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SlS1-06yShI/AAAAAAAAALo/L-bwbkWOKyE/s400/PW+Cinnamon+Rolls4.jpg" /><br />But, not even the extra flour or missing salt could ruin this dough. It was amazing. I could hardly get my camera out while there were still rolls in the pans (one of the cinnamon roll pans was already empty, except for the delicious sticky yumminess in the bottom). Oh, and for those folks who have or will actually make this recipe, I reduced the temp to 375 per the advice of Ree's guest blogger, Deb from <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/">Smitten Kitchen</a>, and baked them for a full 18 minutes, if not a bit longer. Soft, gooey, golden on top, and freakin scary awesome. It was a very good thing that we had ten hungry souls at home that morning to share them with. Or I'd be buying R & I (and our dog, Breezie) a whole new wardrobe. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 188px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356105953857612306" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SlS1_LcJqhI/AAAAAAAAALw/MwSt_4JAhyU/s400/PW+Cinnamon+Rolls5.jpg" />Breezie helped with the dishes, as you can see. She's such a sport. It was the maple syrup and coffee in the frosting that got her to help, I'm sure. Thank you, Ree, my new BFF. (HUGS from Michigan!)<br /></div></div>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754786147954803118noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6336239029363717476.post-76969970394276034732009-06-25T16:19:00.005-04:002010-10-21T13:55:58.693-04:00Hoping for a Green ThumbFor the last couple months, R & I have been feeling kind of frustrated about our law practice transition being stuck in a rut so, in an attempt to do something productive, we went a little nuts at the greenhouse. AND we had a million yards of fill brought into our backyard to extend our lawn into the swampy abyss we inherited from the previous owners. Anyway, I'll get better pics soon but here's a sample of what it looked like before: <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353533495311993570" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SkuSWYk6CuI/AAAAAAAAAK4/aDwqtIgNrd0/s320/Before+sample.jpg" /><br />And during (that's R tossing some dirt around with my awesome general contractor who I fondly refer to as "Dad"):<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 285px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353533499344506386" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SkuSWnmVThI/AAAAAAAAALA/XFhYsisESx8/s320/Landscaping+sample.jpg" /><br /><a href="http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs106.snc1/4605_1104715231179_1625703693_252230_1752231_n.jpg"></a>For a splash of color, we planted all pinks, whites & greens throughout the backyard - verbena, impatiens, coleus, sweet potato vine, dusty miller, petunias, some white verbena-like thing, and some random ivy-looking creeper not pictured here. The tri-colored pink petunia "waterfall" in the corner of our pool deck is really spectacular and looks amazing in contrast with the aqua pool. Aahhh, soothing. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 285px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353533505669311666" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SkuSW_KSLLI/AAAAAAAAALI/4Ark0n-CnAk/s320/Pink+flowers.jpg" /> In front we went all out orange - when the sun starts to go down the begonias are almost electric! These two planters on either side of the garage include coleus, licorice and dracena. Oh, and more dusties (because somehow we ended up with a thousand of them.) Along the driveway we went with a huge contrast to the house and planted all blueish-whites and they ended up being my favorites.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 275px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353531471355700402" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SkuQgkwH5LI/AAAAAAAAAKw/laqeKHt0usI/s320/Front+Planters.jpg" /> We also planted a whole slew of herbs including three different types of basil - yes, three - you should see them all. Helllllooo spaghetti pesto! What's in your garden/window boxes/hanging planters this year? Oh, and if you're in some lush tropical setting, please refrain from commenting about all your delicious exotica because, remember, I'm in Michigan, and my one lone rubber house plant likes being an only child, hogging all the skylight sun for itself. Thank you. xo ~ KKristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754786147954803118noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6336239029363717476.post-88901791371032471842009-04-14T11:42:00.003-04:002010-10-21T13:56:14.409-04:00Negril, Jamaica<div align="justify">R & I took our first extended vacation together in March and I'm just now feeling confident in my ability to select the *best* photos to post here. Every moment of the entire vacation was amazing, and the pictures turned out so incredible it was a tough choice. Here are just a few. I highly recommend taking a trip to Negril if you ever have the chance. The food, the people, the sunsets, everything exceeded my expectations. </div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SeSvACoyR8I/AAAAAAAAAKo/yALpl1Q_jE4/s1600-h/Negril+Sunsets.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 138px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324573074701567938" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SeSvACoyR8I/AAAAAAAAAKo/yALpl1Q_jE4/s320/Negril+Sunsets.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SeSu_w4jUxI/AAAAAAAAAKg/oR8-4NakMrI/s1600-h/Negri+montage1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 318px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324573069935858450" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SeSu_w4jUxI/AAAAAAAAAKg/oR8-4NakMrI/s320/Negri+montage1.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SeSu_hUsnEI/AAAAAAAAAKY/Wzr1US47NgM/s1600-h/Negril+Montage2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 314px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324573065758940226" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SeSu_hUsnEI/AAAAAAAAAKY/Wzr1US47NgM/s320/Negril+Montage2.jpg" /></a>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754786147954803118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6336239029363717476.post-49667856693785893942009-04-09T09:31:00.008-04:002010-10-21T13:56:47.256-04:00Bake Sale Today!<div align="justify">Last night my mom & I decorated our latest batches of baked stuffs for her office Bake Sale today. Mom took the Wilton Beginner Decorator Course last month and came away with some amazing SKILLZ! I'm so impressed. Especially after I actually tried my hand at some of the techniques and decided I have no natural ability to pipe, and an attention span of about forty-one seconds. My dark-chocolate-white-chocolate-bird-nest-cupcakes turned out pretty cute, depsite my initial reaction ("DAH - FAIL! AGAIN!") to the concave shape of the cakes when they came out of the oven. I won't be using that recipe for cupcakes again (from the Cupcake Deck - chocolate cupcakes with chocolate buttercream). While they taste amazing, and the batter is so good it's worth making just to eat it out of the bowl, in three attempts they just never rose. Mom said it's because I used the wisk attachment to my mixer; I should be using the paddle? (Anyone? Anyone?)<br /><br /><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/Sd34x5GEAJI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/5haIQfjDTN4/s1600-h/Bake+Sale1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 227px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322683870645321874" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/Sd34x5GEAJI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/5haIQfjDTN4/s320/Bake+Sale1.jpg" /></a> </div><div align="justify"><br /><br />We loved my little baby three-tiered cake! My mom's was a 6", mine was 4".</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br /><br />In the pics below, you'll see that my mom had the ingenious idea of using a wine bottle for a rose-pic-holder (to the shock and awe of all her dry, un-fun Wilton classmates), and that her cake (on the lower right) is REALLY FABULOUS while my cake (lower left) is REALLY LAME. Luckily she let me use one of her early practice roses as a topper. The leaves I piped around it totally ruined it. I shudder at their sliminess. My dot edge isn't too terrible, but it's nothing like her shell edge.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 226px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322685503896157474" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/Sd36Q9bZ_SI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/Z5a33KVPgc0/s320/Bake+Sale2.jpg" /><br />I bet all of my mom's co-workers detest her this morning for bringing in such lovely creations. ;) Jealousies. (Evil laugh.) </div>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754786147954803118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6336239029363717476.post-19561478489650319262009-04-06T13:30:00.006-04:002010-10-21T13:57:03.141-04:00Ignoring the April SnowstormAnd pretending it's still sunny & 60 like it was on Saturday. The dogs received a much-deserved field trip to the beach this weekend and I still have warm-fuzzies from the joy it brought us all. Evidence:<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/Sdo87QQ8rFI/AAAAAAAAAJw/XAfqtjyUBok/s1600-h/Tawas+040409+004.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321632898367663186" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/Sdo87QQ8rFI/AAAAAAAAAJw/XAfqtjyUBok/s320/Tawas+040409+004.jpg" /></a> Maya in heaven - look at that amazing stick!<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/Sdo87JDdtdI/AAAAAAAAAJo/8TTHk2Oj-bg/s1600-h/Tawas+040409+022.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321632896432059858" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/Sdo87JDdtdI/AAAAAAAAAJo/8TTHk2Oj-bg/s320/Tawas+040409+022.jpg" /></a> Isn't that the most painfully sweet Westie face you've ever seen? I can't believe I got it on film because it never lasts more than 0.2 seconds. It is followed almost instantaneously by sloppy kisses and wet dog tongue up one's left nostril. Love from Nory, take it or leave it.<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/Sdo867lSrcI/AAAAAAAAAJg/LFrqhbsp5ZU/s1600-h/Tawas+040409+006.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321632892815846850" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/Sdo867lSrcI/AAAAAAAAAJg/LFrqhbsp5ZU/s320/Tawas+040409+006.jpg" /></a> Breezie on the prowl.</div><div>PS ~ I'm getting the hang of this cheap digital camera while my Canon is in the shop. Or, at least in a box ready to go to the shop while I muster the courage to send it away. </div></div>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754786147954803118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6336239029363717476.post-60055884415460416682009-04-03T13:42:00.004-04:002010-10-21T13:57:20.449-04:00Bakesale!I love any excuse to bake things and give them away. So my mom's invitation to join her in making stuff for her company's fundraiser next week inspired me to no end. These are the cupcakes I made at Valentine's Day. Cocoa-spice with chocolate buttercream. AWFUL! Tough, hard cakes with t00-sweet frosting. FAIL in every sense of the word. But, I am not deterred. I'm anxious to retry for the bakesale. Wish me luck! <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SdZMLzJ0WyI/AAAAAAAAAJY/F7zUJN2go1I/s1600-h/Spice+cupcakes4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320523775378479906" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SdZMLzJ0WyI/AAAAAAAAAJY/F7zUJN2go1I/s320/Spice+cupcakes4.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SdZMLmlfvXI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/im1Ul7uj2EE/s1600-h/Spice+cupcakes2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320523772004908402" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SdZMLmlfvXI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/im1Ul7uj2EE/s320/Spice+cupcakes2.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div></div></div>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754786147954803118noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6336239029363717476.post-71076022559048950402009-01-31T14:02:00.007-05:002010-10-21T14:02:22.049-04:00February Tablescape<div align="justify">Pinks & reds just would not go in our decor, so this Valentine's Day I decided to go orange. Here's what's on our table.</div><div align="justify"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SYSge0TH-rI/AAAAAAAAAHo/LSi3CE14gg4/s1600-h/February+Tablescape.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 236px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297535512989924018" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SYSge0TH-rI/AAAAAAAAAHo/LSi3CE14gg4/s320/February+Tablescape.jpg" /></a> That fabulous runner is from Amenity (mine is Pier 1) and the votive holders (similar to mine, but mine are smaller and more amber-colored than orange). The tulips were $6 at Meijer. Beachstones were free, collected on several trips to Lake Michigan.<br /></div>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754786147954803118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6336239029363717476.post-32045240217937607482009-01-14T14:49:00.004-05:002010-10-21T13:57:34.739-04:00Winter Photos<div align="justify">Northern Michigan on a macro- and micro-scale, January 3, 2009 ~ the first sunny day of the year... amazing how the blues dominate the landscape...<br /></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SW5CnO3WBHI/AAAAAAAAAG4/WBF_C_UgAtE/s1600-h/Winter+0809+228.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291239853979468914" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SW5CnO3WBHI/AAAAAAAAAG4/WBF_C_UgAtE/s320/Winter+0809+228.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SW5CmRdKIaI/AAAAAAAAAGw/h0thQ1544cU/s1600-h/Winter+0809+225.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291239837495075234" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SW5CmRdKIaI/AAAAAAAAAGw/h0thQ1544cU/s320/Winter+0809+225.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SW5CI005zSI/AAAAAAAAAGo/FV6u-xaK3ko/s1600-h/00610022.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 212px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291239331593833762" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SW5CI005zSI/AAAAAAAAAGo/FV6u-xaK3ko/s320/00610022.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754786147954803118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6336239029363717476.post-53520223547646603212008-12-23T15:22:00.004-05:002010-10-21T13:57:46.246-04:00Award!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SVFLRE3Y3gI/AAAAAAAAAGg/UdHWuBn9A7c/s1600-h/Award.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 149px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 185px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283086594618220034" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SVFLRE3Y3gI/AAAAAAAAAGg/UdHWuBn9A7c/s320/Award.jpg" /></a><br /><div>I got tagged! Thank you <a href="http://bridechic.blogspot.com/">BrideChic</a> for the Fabulous Blog Award! What an honor.</div><br /><div>Here are the rules: List 5 obsessions/addictions that you have, and tag back to the person who gave you the award. </div><br /><div>Post the rules. Tag 5 more people!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Here are my obsessions:</div><br /><div>1.) Facebook. Update your status, people!!!</div><br /><div>2.) Puppies. The breath, the antics, the deeeeep sleep, and the kisses.</div><br /><div>3.) Anything uber-soft and preferrably furry (faux, of course) and ideally in the form of a pilliow or blanket. </div><br /><div>4.) IM'ing my brother funny stuff, theories of physics or philosophy (mostly those philosophies which can be analogized by snack foods), nonsensical, overly-analytical movie lines, or just simply random junk (and captioned pics from <a href="http://www.ihasahotdog.com/">http://www.ihasahotdog.com/</a>).</div><br /><div>5.) Food and wine, in virtually any form, any meal of any day or any celebration, any time of year, but especially at the holidays (yes, this counts as a mere One obsession!)</div><br /><div></div><div>Here's who gets this Fabulous Blog Award now!</div><br /><div>1.) <a href="http://snippetandink.blogspot.com/">Snippet & Ink</a></div><br /><div>2.) <a href="http://nicholkruppphotography.typepad.com/">Nichol Krupp </a>Photography</div><br /><div>3.) <a href="http://1iopen.blogspot.com/">One Eye Open</a></div><br /><div>4.) <a href="http://www.weddingbycolor.com/retro248">Retro48's </a>WeddingByColor Blog</div><br /><div>5.) <a href="http://www.blackstarfarms.com/blog/">BlackStar</a> Farms</div>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754786147954803118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6336239029363717476.post-34252512778109676712008-12-10T15:07:00.005-05:002010-10-21T13:58:02.923-04:00It's beginning to look a lot like CHRISTMAS!Especially in the living room. These pictures do not do it justice, I apologize (damn cheap-ass digital P.O.S., the CanonEOS Rebel Ti slr is now at the top of the wish list)... Oh, and Santa? Can we have six more weeks of holidays, please?<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SUAhyXeiHjI/AAAAAAAAAGY/4U1tCaPxlC8/s1600-h/Christmas+Decor+-+Hutch.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 229px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278255912457477682" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SUAhyXeiHjI/AAAAAAAAAGY/4U1tCaPxlC8/s400/Christmas+Decor+-+Hutch.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SUAhyPUU3SI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/a_gpFjmg_nI/s1600-h/Christmas+Decor+-+Living+Rm.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 335px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278255910267182370" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SUAhyPUU3SI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/a_gpFjmg_nI/s400/Christmas+Decor+-+Living+Rm.jpg" /></a> <div>Who doesn't just LOVE a good soft teddy mouse and an old fashioned rocking horse? To me that is the epitome of Christmas. </div></div>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754786147954803118noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6336239029363717476.post-65214747818217469532008-12-10T14:53:00.005-05:002010-10-21T14:00:57.347-04:00Black Tie OptionalDespite the goofy grin on my face, I thought the outfit was successful for the Studio 23 Black & White Affair. Especially love the clutch I found at Charlotte Russe for $18! I wish you could see the boots - Ann Klein on huge sale at the outlet.<br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SUAgv2gJfOI/AAAAAAAAAGI/zlJqVE9Siaw/s1600-h/Black+Tie+Optional.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 284px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278254769734515938" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SUAgv2gJfOI/AAAAAAAAAGI/zlJqVE9Siaw/s400/Black+Tie+Optional.jpg" /></a> (The Gallery event was the opening of the exhibition of Harry Ahn's portraits. Amazing! I highly recommend seeing him if you get a chance. I have yet to find out if I bought anything at the silent auction and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the two orange & ivory horse paintings which will inspire an entirely new office decor.) </div>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754786147954803118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6336239029363717476.post-76664553237188497482008-11-20T12:13:00.005-05:002010-10-21T13:58:24.893-04:00Thanksgiving decor<div align="justify">Mmmm..... orange & white fluffiness. Picture a tall, hourglass-shaped orange glass tower vase with a cluster of orange roses, snowy peonies, white amaryllis, and gold silk oak leaves cascading down. It is LOVELY! However, it is a mere <em>inch </em>from touching the bottom of the dining room chandelier. Too tall? I'll have to post a real pic soon. </div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SSWa8hMT1mI/AAAAAAAAAGA/Lig7DziW_wo/s1600-h/Orange+%26+white+flowers.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 210px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270789303399863906" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SSWa8hMT1mI/AAAAAAAAAGA/Lig7DziW_wo/s400/Orange+%26+white+flowers.jpg" /></a>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754786147954803118noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6336239029363717476.post-20145938869598673732008-11-18T10:57:00.003-05:002010-10-21T13:58:39.012-04:00Holiday TablescapeFOUND IT!!! Tah-Dah.... the holiday tablescape:<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SSLmJEzazAI/AAAAAAAAAF4/o9h3pUgCnTk/s1600-h/BW+Tablescape+by+Perez+Photography.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270027557559520258" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oojkUOeiUY8/SSLmJEzazAI/AAAAAAAAAF4/o9h3pUgCnTk/s400/BW+Tablescape+by+Perez+Photography.jpg" /></a> Photo by Perez Photography, posted recently on projectwedding.com.<br /><div></div>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00754786147954803118noreply@blogger.com0