Today Show + Giada = Yummy in my tummy!

This Halloween was a little different from the rest. My boyfriend wasn't around for this one (that's not new) but I didn't have my friends from back home with me because I am now in a new setting. Doesn't matter though, I made the best of it. I invited a couple friends over and made some dinner and treats.

We played with make up and had a chill night. Literally. It has finally started snowing here and it made for some entertaining fun. Let's just say, I will not be sliding around on ice, again. Lol.

So, the treats for the night were some creepy crawlies.

Spider cupcakes! Yes, I know spiders have 8 legs, but I only had so many Pocky sticks!

So, I got the idea from watching the Today Show a few days ago. You just make cupcakes, add some eyes, and for the legs, you use Pocky sticks.

You can find these at your local grocery store in the ethnic aisle.

You snap a small portion of the Pocky stick off (preferably the bottom portion that isn't dipped in the chocolate) and then angle it however you want the spider leg to stick out of the cupcake and 'glue' it together with some melted chocolate. Lay the legs to cool on a non-stick surface and insert into your cupcake ☺

As far as the recipe goes, I used one of Giada's recipes (LOVE HER!) Here is the link to it:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/chocolate-orange-cupcakes-with-limoncello-frosting-recipe/index.html

And let me just say, it is DELICIOUS! The cupcakes AND frosting are just fantastic!

Enjoy! ☺

Thursday Morning (halloween) Tee

French Maid

Available at: http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?itemdescription=true&itemCount=80&startValue=1&selectedProductColor=&sortby=&id=19703800&parentid=W_APP_TEES_GRAPHIC&sortProperties=+subCategoryPosition,+product.marketingPriority&navCount=35&navAction=poppushpush&color=&pushId=W_APP_TEES_GRAPHIC&popId=W_TOPS&prepushId=&selectedProductSize=

TMNT!

Raphael

Available at: http://teenormous.com/t-shirts/Raphael-TMNT-Costume-Hoodie-by-80stees-428665

Ghostbuster

Also available at: http://teenormous.com/search/costume_t-shirts/page/12

Thing 1

Available at: http://www.8ball.co.uk/FancyDressT-shirts/CatintheHatcostumetee-Thing1.html

Superman



Available at: http://www.teesforall.com/superman_open_shirt_costume_white_tee_shirt-p-5572.html

I figured all of these featured tees could easily be a finished product with the appropriate accessories. My favorite? The TMNT hoodie!

Safety first, ladies.

Spain makes sure their prostitutes do not cause any harm to the public. Not how you may think though. They are ordered to wear fluorescent vests when walking the street as to avoid getting hit by drivers who cannot see them. If they do not wear the vests, they are to be fined 40 euros. That'll teach 'em.

Photo by REX

For full story:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/8086050/Spanish-prostitutes-ordered-to-wear-reflective-vests-for-their-own-safety.html

** Thanks for the story, Bran ;]

SKINS!

I totally love this show! It's a British teen drama. So, it involves drugs, sex, alcohol, comedy, vulgar language (makes for entertaining TV) and drama of course. I'm waiting for the fourth season to be released for purchase in the U.S.

I have recently seen some commercials on MTV announcing that there will be an American Skins version coming out in January. Apparently, it's the same producer and everything except the cast is the same. Everything was copied and pasted basically. So, it should be great, but I think I will end up liking the British version better.

If you haven't checked out this show, do so. Or wait until MTV airs the American version.



Mundane Mondays

Start your Monday off with a laugh ☺

Baby panda has the sniffles

Sugar-cake skull treats

A couple weeks ago, I was talking with one of my clients about my plans to make some cupcakes for my boyfriend's upcoming birthday. She then mentioned 'cake balls' to me.

Cake balls? What's that?

She explained it to me and it was just that, balls of cake. Simple. Immediately I knew I wanted to make little sugar skulls.

Sugar Cake Skulls
You will need:

• Frosting
• Cake mix or your own recipe
• 2 Large bowls (make sure one is glass)
• Cookie sheet and parchment paper
• Lollipop sticks
• Pot (to boil your water)
• Spatula
• Skull shaped candy bowls (for creating the skull mold)
• White chocolate chips for dipping
• Writing icing for decorating the skulls
• Ice cream scoop or melon ball scoop (depending the size you want)

Bake a cake. However you prefer. Out of a box, homemade, whatever. Once the cake is done, remove from the oven and let it cool a bit.

In a large bowl, start to crumble the cake using two forks (or your hands if you wish). Add your cake frosting and mix well. I made my cake out of a box and used the frosting out of the can, and used a bit less than 3/4 of it. Just make sure the consistency of the mix is just right for molding.

Now, comes the fun part: molding! I used one of the Skull candy bowls as my mold. I happened to find these at Target by chance. They were in the dollar section.

 I figured I could just cut one in half and use the front of it as just that. It worked!

I was initially just going to mold each ball by hand. Using the scooper of your choice, make a ball and then place in mold. Gently shake it out and place on cookie sheet. Repeat until you've used up all of the cake ball mix.



Now that you have made all of your little cake skulls, place them in the fridge to cool for a few hours. Mine cooled for about 3 or 4 hours. Make sure they are not too soft. Insert lollipop sticks in the bottom of them and get ready for dipping them.

In your pot, start to bring a couple inches of water to a simmer. Place the glass bowl over the pot (make sure the bowl is not touching the water). Place your chocolate chips in the bowl and begin to stir with your spatula. Stirring constantly.

Dip your cake skulls in the chocolate and place them somehwere to dry ( I had some styrofoam and used that to hold them while they dried completely) After they are all dry and cooled off you may start to decorate using your writing icing as you wish!

*I couldn't take as long as I wanted to decorate them because my boyfriend ended up coming home earlier than expected. Bummer! But, all in all, they were delicious and he thought it was very cool and creative.

Let me know if you make these and share some pictures! Enjoy!

I gave in (with good reason)

Since living in Alaska, I have been told that, being from Southern California, I have yet to experience a real winter. I believe it. I now realize how spoiled I was in many aspects. We don't have all the shopping, dining, entertainment, diversity and sunshine I was used to in California.

Anyhow, my first winter is approaching. After living here for just a couple weeks, your body gets used to the climate change. I found myself being comfortable in 62ºF weather in the summer and on the days the weather went up to the 80's I was uncomfortably hot.

The weather has been in the low 40's for a couple weeks now and I have been doing fine with a jacket or hoodie. Sometimes I throw on a scarf (mainly because I like it as an accessory). Which brings us to my latest purchase: a pair of sheepskin boots. Not 'Uggs' for the sake of not spending a couple hundred dollars on a pair of boots I know damn well I would not take that well care of.

I had never purchased a pair of these seeing as how in California, there would be no need for them. Although, many girls did wear them. Fine, they are 'cute' and I will admit that worn appropriately it was okay. But how many times had I seen a girl wear them with a skirt or pair of shorts? I mean, really?

This was sign in California that fall was approaching.

You're a walking contradiction

This is acceptable:

Cozy and cute

Now, I wear them with good reason. I actually need to keep warm. My decision is justified and my feet are cozy. ☺

Thursday Morning Tee

Fail

Hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle,

the cow jumped over the moon.

The little dog laughed to see such fun,

and the dish ran away with the spoon!

Like what you see? Purchase this tee on Threadless.com:

http://www.threadless.com/product/1344/Fail/tab,girls