Hey, Cupcake!

Last Sunday was cupcake day. I spent about seven hours making chocolate cupcakes with vanilla buttercream and pineapple cupcakes with lemon buttercream. I am a little bias, but they were delicious.

The pineapple cupcakes were a new recipe from a cupcake cookbook I picked up a couple of weeks ago. The pieces of real pineapple made them perfect for the cookout we attended on Monday. The only complaint was that the batter didn’t go very far given my propensity for filling the cups almost to the top.

I find that it is hard to be unhappy when you bite into a cupcake. They are slightly messy and oh so tasty and completely take you back to your childhood.

Priceless

Hepatitis A Vaccine - $80

Yellow Fever Vaccine- $90

Typhoid Fever Vaccine - $65

Tetanus and Diphtheria Vaccine- $40

Office Fee - $30

Going to Africa and not coming home with any of the above - priceless.

Time Of Death

I had a full evening planned. I was going to run to the craft store after work. Pick up some dinner. Have a good night.

I walked from the Metro station to my car parked across the street from my apartment. I thought it was a little weird that the button on my key chain wasn't unlocking my car. Oh well, that is what they have keys for, right?

I unlocked the door and slid into the seat. I put my foot on the brake and the key in the ignition. Silence. I looked around the dash board. Nope, didn't leave the headlights on. Was it the anti theft acting up again? Then I saw it.

The switch for my hazard lights was on. D'oh.

Car Battery Time of Death - 6:37 pm.

Thursday Thirteen # 21 - International Travel

I finally booked my flight to Kenya. This will be the first time I'm travelling to another country. Here are my thoughts. 1. The longest flight I have ever been on was 4 hours from Ohio to LA. 2. I'm pretty much cringing at the thought of two 8 hour flights. 3. My layover is at London's Heathrow Airport. 4. I have always wanted to go to London so I am super excited. 5. We have a six and a half hour layover at Heathrow. 6. I'm investigating a layover tour of London that I read about in a New York Times article. 7. I am just incredibly worried that I will miss my connecting flight. 8. I'm still not sure how I'm getting from the airport in Kenya to the hotel. 9. I'm putting together a reading list for my trip. 10. I am going to get all my vaccines tomorrow. 11. I heard that the Yellow Fever shot hurts. Yuck! 12. I am sure that getting the Yellow Fever vaccine is better than actually getting Yellow Fever. 13. I need to make sure that I get my perscription for the anti-malaria pills tomorrow too.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Meet Jimmy

That's right, Jimmy is my new orchid. Van took the liberty of naming him.

The roses from Trader Joe's bit the dust. We accidentally left the window open one of those days last week when it was almost ninety degrees. I came home and the ends of the leaves were crunchy. I tried reviving it, but it was too far gone.

So while I was in Ohio, Van picked up this little beauty for me. I am hoping that it fairs better than my roses.

To ensure my success, I have been reading up on orchid care. For example, our little Jimmy is a Phalaenopis Orchid. I also learned that the redish color on the ends of the leaves meant that it was getting too much light. Whew - another plant disaster avoided!

Thursday Thirteen 20 - My Cousins

I'm flying back to Ohio tonight for my cousin's wedding this weekend. I thought I would do a Thursday Thirteen about My Cousins. 1. My dad is one of six kids so I have lots of cousins. 2. A quick run down of everyone - Morgan, Jason, Brian, Paige, Keri, Lisa, Erin, Ryan, Me, Megan and Adam. 3. Erin, Ryan and I were all born within six weeks of each other. 4. My brother is the youngest of all of the cousins. 5. Erin is getting married this weekend. 6. My cousin Megan was married last summer. 7. I caught the bouquet at my cousin Keri's wedding. 8. Most of my cousins already have kids. 9. My cousins live in cool places like Seattle, Boston and San Diego. 10. A big family makes for lots of celebrations. 11. Most of my cousins are also in their 30s. 12. My cousin Paige took us to South Beach on Easter Sunday. 13. My Dad is my cousin Jason's Godfather.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Weddings 101

As I have experienced over the years, there is a right way to have a wedding and a wrong way. I have seen everything from beautiful ceremonies and gracious hosts to complete disregard for guests and lack of planning.

I am, admittedly, slightly obsessed with being the perfect hostess. It explains my subscription to Martha Stewart Living, why I have read all 896 pages of Emily Post’s Etiquette and the fact that I will go so far as to monogram chocolate covered strawberries.

On the advice of Van’s sister and to appease my own obsession, I bought Emily Post’s Wedding Etiquette even before Van and I were engaged. I have, of course, already read it cover to cover and most of the guidelines have been committed to memory.

Armed with the bible of all etiquette books, Van and I began planning our wedding. Guided by such thorough explanations of decorum for every aspect of the wedding, planning has become a breeze. We know exactly how the bridal party should be seated at the head table, what type of bouquet will match the formality of our wedding and the exact wording of our invitations.

Following proper etiquette doesn’t make your wedding cost more. It simply ensures a pleasant experience for your guests and less stress for the bride and groom. Trust me, I know.