B-day Month, oh yes it is!

OK...so it's July, and it's my b-day month. My birthday generally consists of me and my honey with a lot of champagne, too many cupcakes, and an amazing dinner. I want to go here....as TF is my TV boyfriend, but alas they are totally booked up unless we want to eat at 11pm 5 nights before or after my b-day. boo.

Then I got this in the mail.....It is a 15% off coupon to Anthro. Great, right? The creativity that comes out of that place baffles and inspires me all at the same time. I am already thinking of making b-day cards with candles glued on....All is well again in b-day month.

In Unrelated to my b-day news...here are 2 more shots of the living room. It is done, but now I gotta work on adding some more personal touches...it got too matchy. Note new linen Drapery and Hardware....

Here is also a bedroom preview...don't have a good picture of the peacock yet.

Rain Rain Go Away

Since it seems as though it has been raining non-stop nearly everywhere lately (and thanks to Cathy's recent post as inspiration) - a selection of rain inspired design goodies. Stay dry girls!

Little Black Raincloud

Soggy Sampler

Raindrop Gift Tags

Umbrella Notes

Boden Raincoat (yes please)

Umbrella Decal

Hunter Wellies (for Cathy)

Cloud Pillow

Artillery Basket - makes for a great umbrella stand.
Inspired by Missy's when she lived in Savannah.

What makes the rain all worth it - rainbows (and cupcakes)!
Yummy inspiration here.

Cupcake Break

It happened - after our discussions about cupcakes previously on this blog - I am happy to announce that Tucson now has a cupcakery! The Red Velvet opened right by the University on University Blvd. and Park. Today I met my sister and our friend Jenny for some lovely cupcakes as an afternoon snack break. I enjoyed an almond cake cupcake with chocolate icing. Jenny had a chocolate vegan cupcake. Erin enjoyed a lemon cupcake with coconut.

So fun! So cute! Yay for cupcakes!

Zucchini Cupcake...found it!

These have chocolate chips in them...but I love that combo.

Taken from Gourmet Magazine: September 2009

Makes 12 cupcakes

1.5 cups all-purpose flour
2 tbsp. unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
.5 tsp. cinnamon
.5 tsp. baking soda
.25 tsp. baking powder
.25 tsp. salt
.75 cup plus 2tbsp. sugar
.5 cup vegetable oil
.5 tsp. pure vanilla extract
.5 lb (or 1 cup) of coarsely grated zucchini
1 (6oz.) package of semi-sweet chocolate chips

Pre-heat oven to 350 with rack in middle
Whisk together flour, cocoa, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
Beat together sugar, oil, egg and vanilla in a large bowl with an electric mixer until thick and creamy (2 to 3 mins.)
At low speed, mix in flour mixture until just incorporated. Stir in zucchini and chocolate chips.
Divide batter among lined muffin cups and bake until tops spring back with lightly pressed, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool in pan 5 minutes, then turn out to cool completely.

Cupcake Recipes - Good and not to bad for you!

Coconut Lime Cupcakes

(makes 12)

From: Vegan Cupcakes take over the world (borrowed from my friend Jenny - thank you!)

Notes from Rebecca: Wonderful and delicious. Light and a crowd pleaser. I recommend doubling the recipe except for the Icing part.

Recipe found online here.

Espresso Banana Muffins

(makes 12)

From: Super Natural Cooking (get this cookbook now)

Notes from Rebecca: These are good for breakfast, as a snack, before working out...seriously you will love them. When it says toasted walnuts - basically this is just baking walnuts for a bit on a cookie tray in the over until they are "toasty."

Why recreate the wheel? Recipe is already posted here.

Those sweet little treats....

Cupcakes: Here are some thoughts on casual baking turning into urban industry.

San Francisco has a lot of these shops.. I am a Vanilla/Coconut Cream Cheese girl myself....what flavor do you guys like?

The latest and greatest cupcakery.....is this place. I think I have had one of their cakes before, but can not guarantee. They deliver to you in a golf cart. How awesome is that.

Just look at these....all from Martha...of course :) Seriously though I made some chocolate cupcakes from here once, lots of ingredients, but they were amazingly good...no one believed I made them!

I love cupcakes...

I really really do. And next time I make them, I want to use these. Swoon.

Updates

Update (1) Went to Denver for a wedding. We didn't really know many people there....including the bride. There were 3 things there that I loved... A LOT (Keith is here because he is cute, and holding a pinwheel)

a) Cupcake Bar (are you kidding????)

Just naked cupcakes with bowls of butter cream icing and sprinkles waiting to be made and gobbled up....I ate 2. They also had late-night cheese steaks and mac n' cheese.....seriously.

b) Amazing Libations
3 Big Glass Jars with Lavender Lemonade, Mint Juleps, or Sweet Tea (all spiked).....served in these.

c) Photo Booth.

These are just really fun. Our photos aren't even that good..but it was just so fun to be in there hammin' it up :)

Update (2) I have been a really bad post-er on this here blog and I am sorry. I have some ideas for a weekly series we could do, would you guys be into that?

Update (3) I just booked a girls overnight to LA for next Saturday...and I wish you two were coming with me! ugh.