Music and Cupcakes!
I have been listening lately to just a very select list of songs.
Edith Piaf (I will learn French and this is always wonderful music to tune my ear to)
Katy Perry’s I kissed a girl (what fun music!!)
Coldplay’s Viva la vida
Britney Spear’s Piece of Me
CUPCAKES!!!!
As Regina has already mentioned we have gone to Fresco, Crushcakes and to Sprinkled Pink Cupcake Couture. As of yesterday I went to Sprinkles in Beverly Hills with my lovely mum.
My reviews are as follows:
Fresco’s
Red Velvet cupcake was a horror! The blood red cake which tasted like nothing, no flavor, albeit it wasn’t dry. BIG DEAL! The frosting was gross. It was supposed to be buttercream, but it was not sweet. It tasted like something that would come out of a Home Depot tool…yuck! I have to try their vanilla cake with chocolate frosting, but overall I was disappointed with that tasting!
Crushcakes: I have enjoyed this place the best. Overall, their cakes are a bit dry, but the frosting makes up for it!
The crushcake: Red velvet cake which is yummy, although it is a bit dry. The sour cream frosting is yummy, but sometimes it can be too sweet. One accidental bonus: if you leave the cupcake in the car warm it up in the microwave the chocolate hearts melt and it adds a burst of chocolate! This is really one of the yummiest cupcakes they sell.
Strawberry Blush: Vanilla cake with strawberry frosting…yummy frosting. It tasted so fresh and like one of those mexican ice cream bars of strawberry cream. It was not too sweet, and had just the right combination of strawberry bits with a creamy smoothness.
Special Mojito: Didn’t like it, couldn’t finish it. It did taste like a mojito…a really sweet mojito but I don’t think I like the idea of an alcoholic drink reinterpreted as a cupcake. I wasn’t convinced.
Special 50/50: I love the 50/50 ice cream bars. They are one of my favorites, but I wasn’t crazy about this cupcake. It had great frosting and a cream filled center, but it was too sweet and simply didn’t make me want to eat more.
Sprinkled Pink Cupcake Couture: That’s mouthful!
What an experience! I understand that this place is supposed to be whimsical, but it’s on the verge of being a just plain nuts. It reminds me of not like the Original Willy Wonka film with Gene Wilder which was so nostalgic, and fun. It was like the New Willy Wonka with Johnny Depp. Odd, creepy and weird. Well, I liken this place to the new Willy Wonka because the music is just creepy and odd. It sounds like they do have oompa loompa’s cranking out the music from behind the huge counter. The counter was looked cool and like a child’s dream, filled with rainbow sprinkles and toys! Also, i’m sure kids go nuts over the neon green frosting on a cupcake, for me, not so much!
Whipple Scrumptious: Red Velvet with cream cheese frosting. What a tasty treat! It had a wonderfully moist cake! Just right! AND it had tasty frosting. It was really quite great! I enjoyed this one a lot. I think it merits a taste test with a Crushcake! It’s on!
Chocolate cake with Vanilla frosting: This one was good. Although it didn’t have a cool name. I enjoyed it. I should have been more adventurous.
Sprinkles Cupcakes
I went with my mom and she was simply shocked by the prices….poor lady doesn’t understand the value of a good cupcake nowadays. She thought they’d be a quarter a piece!! =) She’s funny and cute! We got a half dozen, so you can only imagine her sticker shock as she handed over the $20 bill! HAH! I paid for lunch later! I’m not such a brat!
We had a sample of different flavors and later researched these cupcakes at home with OD, Tato, Tio Rene and my mom. I’m sure this is why they think I went to college.
Lemon: I thought the cake was fine, the frosting was too sweet. But my family insisted it was delicious and had the perfect amount of sweetness and lemon flavoring. They enjoyed it.
Black and White: Dark Belgian chocolate cake, vanilla frosting. It was good. It wasn’t super moist cake, but it was one of my favorites for it’s rich chocolate flavor and the vanilla. Tato agreed.
Red Velvet: cream cheese frosting….yummy. The cake was good, they aren’t really moist but the cakes aren’t too dry. Good taste!
Vanilla: Good cake! It wasn’t everyone’s favorite because it was just vanilla! I knew I should have gotten coconut vanilla!!!
There you have it! Now I have to go to some other locations in LA and Ventura (Savory Bakery and Cafe)
The vacation is nearly over!
It has been a glorious few weeks. I have been going to Los Angeles meeting up with people from my old school days in Junior High and High school. It was been a treat, thanks facebook! I must say too, that I have enjoyed these outtings with people mostly because I really feel happy with my life. I am at a point where things are really positive! Of course there ARE issues, but I feel as if they are all points that I can control…hahaha, I am such a control freak! But it’s true, I might want to get a new job, so I’ll find one. I might want to learn a new language in a foreign country, so I might do it in the near future. All these possibilities and very little to stop me. I’m happy!
My relationships are pretty good too! This summer OD came back from his travels in Europe and my grandmother came to visit LA for a 6 weeks. It was great!!! I spent a majority of my vacation in LA and as a result I feel I became closer with my OD and grammy. OD in fact said he really liked Hugh because he’s changed me for the better. I’ve grown and matured! =) I must mention he is 21! I didn’t want to burst his bubble and tell him that while this is certainly true, he has done the same.
I have managed to read quite a lot too this year and I hope to read more. I was hoping to start reviewing books and films I’ve watched as I have always wanted to do, but I have gotten lazy!! When I’m on vacation I’m in neutral! =)
Film Review: John Adams, HBO Miniseries, Disk 1 (***1/2 stars out of 5)
Very interesting, but more so if you are into history. It can be very overly dramatic, but I can only imagine that those days when they were drafting the declaration of independence, this was the biggest dilemma the continental congress had dealt with. It was very informative and the characters are a bit dry. The strongest and most interesting character is Abigail Adams. A strong, clear thinking, intelligent woman who is always counseling her husband. It is a film that keeps your interest but again, if you aren’t into history it wouldn’t keep your interest for too long. Disk 1 focuses on “The Boston Massacre” 1770 and the Declaration of Independence (1775) process. We need to watch Disk 2.
Also, OD suggested I watch Weeds, so I hope to get into that soon! Perhaps after John Adams! =)
BOOK REVIEW: Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen (**** stars)
Entertaining book. It is a wonderfully written book with a lot of twists in the plot. It keeps your interest and you won’t want to put it down. It was also full of great details in regards to the circus life which at times was a bit confusing only because there was terminology I was unfamiliar with. However, the whole story was full of great characters, genuine friendships and unassuming evil villains. Unassuming, because you would never think they would be the villains in the story from reading the impression the main character, Jacob has from them at the beginning. It was a great read. You finish the book with so much food for thought, especially since the author decided to weave in the past with the present. Jacob as a 90 year old widow living in a nursing home, dealing with a mind that is beginning to be touched by age and an existence unfamiliar to what he’s always known. It makes you wonder what you will be remembering years from now and who you will be telling, a bunch of nurses at a home or with your family. 4 stars for being captivating and thoughtful!
I am now reading Middlesex by Jeffrey Euginides
I love TV!!!
Ok, I am now on my 3rd day of vacation and so far so good! I spent the day yesterday in a real classroom with my awesome mentor teacher, Janet. I love her teaching style and inspires me to want to get into teaching. I discussed some of my fears of being a classroom teacher and she relieved me of my fears. We went to lunch at Via Maestra. A wonderfully, authentic (as if I know, but the owner is Italian) Italian eatery that offers great food. It’s great!
Anyway, I am currently hanging out, planning things for the rest of the year. I want to learn Italian, French and really bone up on my Spanish literature. I wish I could get a job or go to school to learn languages. That would be awesome. My next BIG travel destination will be Italy and Greece. So I want to learn Italian and eventually some Greek. SOOOO….YES!!!! I have been watching A LOT of Travel Channel! =)
But have you seen “I LOVE MONEY”???? What a hilarious show!!!!! It has all the great people from I love NY, Flavor of Love. Two awesomely bad dating shows. I think it’s a hilarious show because they do ridiculous challenges and THEY are ridiculous. I love it! Anyway, I have shows to watch, languages to learn and money to save!
hasta pasta amigos!!!!!
This is hard
I didn’t realize that keeping up with a blog would be difficult. The past couple weeks have been hectic. They have eaten up my weekends!!!! My sacred long weekends! Two weekends ago, I went down to Rosarito for a wedding. That was a major weekend sucker, because I didn’t even return to work until Tuesday afternoon. I was totally off schedule. I pride myself on being organized and that week, I was on a different planet!
Last weekend, I spent it with Hugh’s family. Although I did manage of course to visit my own family. OD returned from Europe and told us all about his wild trip (it’s wild because he’s wild, I don’t think normal people experience europe as he does, or maybe it’s because he’s still really young) He snuck into some schwanky hotel in barcelona, swam in their pool, lounged in their bathrobes (which he later took) and hung out in their jacuzzi…not once, TWICE!!!!! He’s hilarious really! I was so glad to be around him and go out to El Taurino, one of our favorites. My parents and I have been going there since the early 80′s! It’s a LA staple! And also, my sweet grandmother is in town, so we had some time to hang out and talk like a family!
Saturday, I spent the entire day with my lil sister, Nirel and OD. It was awesome. We drove around LA, ate Pinkberry and Lahmajune’s and peruvian food at Don Felix’s. What a day!!!! Then OD and I went over to Hugh’s parents house and that was a blast! OD talked and everyone was entertained!!!! Then OD, Hugh, Celia (H’s sister in law) and I went over to visit my grandmother and mum. It was awesome. Looking through old pics, talking about el salvador and whatnot…it was wonderful! I had a good weekend and I was looking forward to returning to my last week of work at the City College. And guess what, today was the final exam and I already graded (all but 1) exam….WHOO HOOO!!!!! Not WHOO HOO at the time because the only reason I was able to grade was because one of my students took FOREVER…but hey, i can already turn in grades by tomorrow. That’s when the vacation BEGINS!!!!! Guess what I’ll do?!?!?
1. Turn grades in.
2. Clean my car, get gas, and vaccuum the interior.
3. clean my HOUSE…it’s an absolute mess!
4. hang out with my friends….eat, walk, shop….ooooh!!!!! i can’t wait until my first 3 are done!!!!!
Watch out for my phone call. I’m ready to socialize!!!!
PEACE!!!
By the way…
I had a pretty relaxing evening considering the honky tonk music. Hugh and I went out to dinner with my good friend, René. We went to the wonderful and scrumptious, Arigato. I had never been, but believe me, I will be back. I finally tried sashimi and it was delicious especially with the sauces. We also ordered some sushi rolls. Unfortunately, we had to leave pretty quickly because they closed early due to the fireworks. I would have loved to have taken longer and soak up the new experience, but we had to get out. We caught a couple fireworks but I wasn’t feeling too festive considering the state of things only miles away in Goleta.
Anyway, folks, my by the way comment is that I’ve been rolling in some new wheels as of last week. I have a brand new 2009 corolla. No more junky old car. It’s wonderful to drive in a car that I know looks lovely. I know I tend to drive into things or slightly nudge other things but with this car I will be EXTRA SUPER DUPER careful! Yay!
Well I will try to remain up to date about the “goings-on” in my life! Many exciting things happen to me on a daily basis. It’s great!
Honky Tonk!! Yee HAW!
Hello blogworld!!!!! I am finally joining in, on what seems to be old news, but I’m blogging. Since my friends are all over the US I figured; WHY NOT!?!?! Anyway, currently I’m listening to some honky tonk music my neighbors are playing at their 4th of July party in their backyard. It’s great! I wonder why anyone would be outside with all the ash in the air. It’s not healthy and after being in Goleta this afternoon I’m more worried about the people and the Gap fire. It’s scary!
Well I will peace out with this because I just got the new Laurie Notaro book, The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death: Reflections on Revenge, Germophobia and laser hair removal. She’s a hilarious author and I have read all her books. Summer reading…how great!!!!
