Cupcake #1

C'est une petite gateau trés mignonne! Es un pastelito muy bonito! What a cute cupcake!

Since this blog is titled The Daily Cupcake, I have finally posted a picture of a cupcake. In fact, these cupcakes are so cute that they deserve praise in three languages (If anyone speaks--and can type in--any other languages, feel free to add the phrase "what a cute cupcake!" to this post in a comment). These adorable owl cupcakes are perfect for fall, and might even solve the sweet tooth problem--they're so cute you might not even want to actually eat them! If you want to bake these, their baking instructions are available on the site    http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/cooking-tips-techniques/baking/cupcake-decorating-ideas-00000000018322/page3.html  . As a general rule: the cuter the cupcake, the more quickly it'll disappear from the plate, so be on your guard!!
Enjoy! 

I Scream, You Scream, we All Scream for...

            Do you ever have that moment when you dig out a meticulously buried tub of ice cream from the freezer and realize that the only ice cream flavor is strawberry-banana? Does your stomach sink in dread, imagining the ill-flavored calories melting on your tongue, and prompt you to remember that a hungry family member devoured your delicious rocky road ice cream weeks ago? Or have you ever found the half-pint of Double Dutch Chocolate, assembled your arsenal of two bowls, two spoons, and a small pile of napkins, only to remove the lid to see a lonely, miniscule, shriveled morsel of petrified four-month-old ice cream? Or, are you one of the unfortunate few who, on a weekly basis, wrenches open the top of your favorite cookies and cream ice cream tub just to see that your mischievous little brother poured raspberry sauce all over it and stuffed it back into the freezer just to spite you?

This has probably happened to you at least once, or if not, it will in the future.  Fortunately, just as the chilly winter months are approaching, you shall learn to avoid this problem and never be left ice-cream-less again. And don’t even try to say that ice cream isn’t good in the snowy months. It is. And since I’m sure you’re so curious, it’s especially good in the middle of a blizzard.  Honestly; when I was at a tennis tournament, we went to a Baskin Robbins in literally the middle of nowhere, sat down at the little round table, and ate our cones as we admired the heavy snow falling down around the windows. Somehow it made the ice cream taste even better. So, since we all know that our ice cream supplies shall be subject to repeated plundering as summer draws further and further away, we have to be on our best guard for opportunities to stock up and enjoy the (arguably) most summery dessert of all. Here are three dessert-savvy resources to keep you forever free from the turmoil of not having enough ice cream, and to perhaps remind you that summer will not stay away forever (Please note: because Kent Denver is such a healthy institution, I simply couldn’t resist providing some coveted variety to our calorie-conscious lunch plans).

1. Little Man Ice Cream is located on 2620 16^th street in Denver (zip code 80221). It’s in the neighborhood of Highland, and—in case you can’t find it—has a building shaped like a metal ice cream jug (if, like me, you’ve never actually used many of these before, it’s a small building shaped like a round tin can with its name written on it.) The building’s cute, the ice cream is delicious, and it’s ridiculously popular. We were there on a Saturday night and the line was around the block, over 25 minutes long, and full of incredibly happy people. Proof that Little Man Ice Cream is worth the wait: of the fifty or so people who were in line for the ice cream, the only person crying or looking like he or she was impatient with the long line was a three year old girl, who was only upset because her older brother (yes, a four-year-old) got to order his ice cream before she did.

2. Dipper’s Ice Cream is a new ice cream shop on 932 Jersey Street in Denver (zip code 80220). To start, its logo is an adorable bear eating—no, it’s not Pooh slurping up a jar of honey—an ice cream cone. Don’t be surprised that bears like ice cream. From what I’ve heard they eat just about anything…. But anyways… Dipper’s has very rich, yummy ice cream that comes in many different flavors that you may have not tried before. Many of them you (hopefully) have tried—chocolate, etc.—but some other flavors are more rare and quite delicious. For example, if you like chocolate, try the Mexican Chocolate flavor—or the chocolate-cinnamon ice cream.  It’s a cute shop, so be sure to stop by with some friends and twenty minutes on your hands to hang out and have ice cream.

3. This last recommendation has little to do with ice cream. And by little I mean nothing (just to clarify). Big Fat Cupcake is in Cherry Creek, on 129 Adams Street, Denver (zip code 80206). It is a cupcake shop. It’s a cute little shop with display cases full of freshly baked cupcakes. While you all have your favorite flavors, I encourage you to try the shop’s daily cupcake or to let the owner pick one for you—do not worry, she’ll pick a good one for you to try! My favorite flavor was called Candy. Yes, I realize this needs little elaboration, but I’ll still let you know that it was a chocolate cupcake with vanilla frosting covered in M&M’s. It was huge—a Big, Fat cupcake, I suppose—and took me three days to finish (that includes the people I shared it with). Many of you are probably speedier cupcake eaters than I, but I challenge you to finish one of these within one sitting!

So there you have it. Now you all have no excuses to ever freak out that there is no ice cream in your freezer, because aside from the Coldstones, the Baskin Robbins, and the countless froyo shops that pop up every other week, you now know the exact locations and specialties of three superb dessert places. And a word of wisdom: only sissies don’t eat ice cream when it’s snowing out. If you get to any soon, be sure to post your responses in a comment!

Trivia: Who Can Guess the Song?

Who can guess which two songs these lyrics are from? Comment with your very best guess!

Song 1:
Trying to connect the dots
Don't know what to tell my boss
Think the city towed my car
Chandelier is on the floor
Ripped my favorite party dress
Warrants out for my arrest
Think I need a ginger ale
That was such an epic fail

Pictures of last night ended up online I'm screwed, oh well... Last--


Hint: This singer won the award for best "Music Video With a Message"


Song 2:
And then I saw her face
Now I'm a believer
Not a trace
Of doubt in my mind
I'm in love
I'm a believer
I couldn't leave her
If I tried
(then there's this little guitar scat...)
Hint: If you don't know this song, I feel rather sad. And this band had a song in Shrek--it was basically the only song in Shrek (with words).


Happy guessing! I shall post the answers later, and we'll see who got it right!


If all else fails, do try Google. Who knows? Maybe you'll get lucky if you type in lyrics and something will come up--not that I've ever tried it...
:):)

The Newbie Kind of Fruity Tutti

We've all heard of normal pasta, and many of us have at least glimpsed--or shied away from--whole wheat or spinach pasta. But have you ever tried fruit pasta? In case you haven't, it's delicious! Our favorite kind is from a brand named Papparadelle's TM THE FINE ART OF PASTA. And what a fine, tasty art it is. My favorite type of pasta from the selection of their Fine Arts is irrefutably the Fanciful Fruit Blend. It is a short rotini pasta (kind of like a corkscrew), and, best of all...colorful!! It's just so much more fun to eat things when they're colorful, don't you think? 

And it doesn't stop there; the pastas are made with fruit, and are the colors of the flavors that they represent (and, no, there is absolutely no food dye used in the process of making them). It's one of my favorite pastas because it's yummy, fun, pretty, and fruity! You can serve it warm, or--as it is delicious this way--you can cool the pasta and add chopped or sliced fruit into the bowl with it to serve. 
This pasta's good for summertime and spring, but it's also perfect for fall, too. The combination of the colored oranges, yellows, greens, and purples of the pasta mixed with the bright red of strawberries, the blushing sunflower color of peaches, or the pop of color of a blueberry is a yummy, upbeat way to add color, flavor, and fun to any meal! Please note: I have dressed this post in colors of the fruity pretty pasta. For emphasis, I suppose.


If you want to learn more about this pasta--or others!-- or even order some, the weblink is attatched here: 


http://www.pappardellesonline.com/servlet/StoreFront

We've always bought it at the farmer's market. Here's a picture for you! (It's in the middle)

On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!

Today I had my driving test. And guess what? I passed! And with only minor infractions to my name. So, my parents and I bolted over to the DMV as fast as possible and hurried to get in line. It was only slightly disheartening to pull the ticket numbered 57 and navigate the room, which was nearly as packed as the women's bathroom during intermission on Broadway. It is a very interesting experience to sit in the DMV and watch people talk, smile for pictures, and chatter rapidly in conspicuously foreign languages as they raced to memorize American driving laws. My favorite part, of course, was getting my license papers and smiling for my picture, which I am hoping doesn't end up looking like an unflattering mug shot. But there is a bright side. I was wearing my Snoopy shirt for the picture, and that can't get messed up no matter how much the picture lady decided she didn't like me. (In case you haven't noticed, the background image for this blog is Snoopy) :):):):):)
Another piece of good news: by getting my license today (yay!) and not tomorrow morning, I successfully have avoided one awkward experience. Tomorrow is SuperHero day at school. AKA I'm supposed to dress up as a superhero (I've had suggestions to be Posion Ivy from Batman. I'm still deciding whether to be flattered or furious). But I could envision myself, smiling up at that camera, a blue cloak billowing behind me and the bodice of a red and gold Wonder Woman leotard visible just before the picture frame cuts it off. On that note, do you think anyone is registered under the name of Wonder Woman?
Also, while we were at the DMV as I sat eating my cole slaw in a way that was an unawkard as possible I people watched. My favorite find was one of those slightly waspy and snooty businessmen getting his picture updated. Of course he had annoyingly short hair, and something either about his oversized watch or his pointy-toed shoes made me slightly angry, but he more than made up for it. Something about watching this man, who in any other situation would never even glance at the woman taking pictures, smile like a little boy at the camera as he clenched his eyes open for the flash really made my day! My dignity returning, I convinced myself not to laugh at him and instead smile at my cole slaw--and of course share it with you here.
So, in short, I had a very good day. I passed my driving test, got issued my driver's license, got my picture taken with my Snoopy shirt, saw a man smile, and, of course, had plenty of opportunities to thank my parents so very much for everything, and most of all for my car!! :) 
So, now I'm ready to hit the road! On my mark, get set, GO!

The question: Papaya or Mango?

Normally my answered to this question would be "papaya". Papaya is incomparably better than mango. It's a prettier orange color, tastes much better, and is way more fun to eat (yes, because you never need a plate. Ever). Mango is.... not. Except right now. Because this is not a normal conversation in which we debate the superiority of the superior fruit. We are talking, instead, about fashion. And the answer to this question is Mango, for the following reasons:
1). Mango is a freestanding clothing line, and there is simply no clothing line named Papaya (at least not yet, because I haven't gotten around to creating it yet...)
2). Mango would be my answer anyway if you had filled in the question format's blank (Is Mango better or is _____?) with the majority of other brand names.
3). Mango always has excellent fall collections and, according to me, your infallible weather woman, it is fall now. Or at least time to shop like it's fall.

Mango's from Spain and always has a clean, sleek, and spunky attitude. Their tees are always good; they range from loose-fitting or "relaxed-fit" styles to printed, embellished, or patterned shirts.

General Rules (aka shopping advice and preferences when shopping at Mango):
a). I love anything from that store with a bow on it.
b). Their "slim-fit sleeveless tops" are the cutest cami-type tops found anywhere; they come in fun colors, fit very nicely, have fun details, and look good with or without anything on over them.
c). Many of their dresses can be dressed up or dressed down. In Las Vegas, I purchased a shirt dress in a suede-ish beige color. It's cute, and I've so far worn it both out at night in Las Vegas and to school.
d). Try to only buy two things max at a time there. It's true that if I haven't yet broken this advice, I will, but I truly mean it! There aren't any Mangos where I live (it's not tropical enough--yes I'm SO funny), so the 10% of my closet that comes from there has been bought at the San Francisco airport! (No, I'm not ashamed. It's one of my favorite airports ever!) The result of buying my Mango clothes at an airport is that we can only get a few things at once--and only rarely--so they fit into the carry-on bags and the flight attendants don't throw a fit about safety procedures. Since I've had to pick carefully, I wear everything I've ever bought there, and love doing so!
e). Mango clothing goes with anything, and their clothes fit very well.
f).  I could go on through the entire alphabet advising you how to shop at Mango, but I won't. My last tip: check their sales! They're always good :)

My new dress :)

A "top". Super cute, right?

If you're interested in shoppping there now, check out the website:     shop.mango.com

Welcome to Las Vegas City Limits

We went to Las Vegas for a tennis tournament this weekend. We spent plenty of time in the car, driving down Sahara, and Paradise, etc. Now, I acknowledge that when most people think of Las Vegas, they remember such landmarks as the MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, and Excalibur. However, just this once, I beg to differ. From the excellent view provided by the car's windows, I discovered that Las Vegas billboards deserve the title of Landmark. Have you ever read them? They are hilarious, and once again remind me of my eternal puzzlement: do people ever call the number on a billboard?

The first iconic billboard that caught my eye was one for people with bunions.
It read something like this:
Hate your bunion?
Call now!
1-85-NOBUNION
Perhaps there is such a demand for bunion removal in Las Vegas because of the long, long casino hours in impossibly high shoes.

For about ten minutes, we went into an industrial part of the city with (GASP!) no traffic! The area was a bit sketchy, depending on how comfortable you are with literally no one on the road and very client-specialized stores. Literally as you drive down the street: Cabaret (apparently a night club of sorts, with pictures of six girls in amazing little clothing on the storefront), Envy's Girls (you can imagine), a type of Playboy shop (I'd never actually seen a real one before! Yes, SO exciting...), etc. There was an Adult Emporium right near the highway that exited into this industrial area of the city. What a unique billboard they had.

"Advanced Studies in Human Sexuality"
Come and meet our graduate students!
World's largest collection of sexual horrors
Excuse me. I do not believe I am old enough to legally meet your graduate students. And there's nothing sexy about that disgusting orange color used on that sign.

Even though the bunion add was my favorite one, there was another billboard that had a tempting advertisement for night school on it!

Night School for Girls (Picture of a 23 year old girl in a preppy plaid crop top sweater with perfect little pig tails)
4 Nights Every Week 4 You!
Classes Offered: Burlesque, Pole Dancing, lap dancing
What a professional institution! I'd heard that Vegas public schools aren't very good--now I see why everyone wants their children to go to private ones....
*Please note, these are approximations of what the billboards said. I doubt I got every word correct, but I did convey the central idea. If you go to Vegas, you can correct any incorrect billboard words I've written!