Puppy Bowl V

Can’t wait for Sunday…I will be curled up on the couch watching Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl V. I can’t even express in words how much I delight in watching the Puppy Bowl. The Tivo will be working overtime, as I blip back back to every cute moment over and over. One year there was a corgi and I almost died from cuteness. Dottie usually can’t figure out where all of the barking is coming from and her head tilts back and forth. Who needs to watch the Superbowl when the Puppy Bowl is obviously a much better TV option?

Jason Mraz

Lately, I’ve really started to like Jason Mraz. The fact that I found this video of him singing Kermit’s Rainbow Connection, makes me like him even more. The video is REALLY cheesy, but the song is great!!

20 x 200

One of my new favorite affordable art websites is 20×200. Here’s the story:

“As we see it, there are a lot of people out there who want to sell their art and a lot of people who’d like to buy it. They just have a hard time finding each other. The internet is the perfect place to bring those people together, and we’re exactly the right people to make it happen. We’re passionate about art and the internet at 20×200. We’re really excited about creating a place where almost any art lover can be an art collector.

We introduce two new pieces a week: one photo and one work on paper. Most images are available in three standard sizes.* The smallest size is reprinted in the largest batch – an edition of 200 – and sold at the lowest price – $20. Hence the name 20×200. (200×20 just didn’t sound as good.) We also offer bigger prints for bolder collectors – medium-sized editions of 20 for $200, and large-sized editions of 2 generally for $2000 (some of the large sized editions will actually be original pieces of art and prices will vary a bit). We will also occasionally offer editions at other sizes and price points. Every single print is delivered with a certificate of authenticity numbered by the artist.”

I really like Balloons by Juliane Eirich.

Happy Birthday Sam!!!

On Saturday, January 24th, the lovely, adorable Samantha Erin was born. Two nieces = twice the fun. I’m definitely in love and super excited to go home in February to see her!

Mochi For Everyone

Today, we celebrated a co-workers birthday with mango, strawberry, green tea, and chocolate mochi! I’m so excited to know that Trader Joe’s sells this wonderful goodness. Yummy!!

Wonderful

My Mom send this to me today….and I love it so much.

Bead Weaving

The other day, a woman at my office was wearing a gorgeous blue and green bedded necklace. When I asked her where she got it from, she said said makes them using a method called bead weaving or kumihimo. Now I’m obsessed with trying to learn how to make them. I love both of these necklaces (above) from Etsy seller LemonGrove as shown on Creature Comforts this week.

Red Alert

As I mentioned on Friday, I really wanted to try Amy Butler’s mother’s Red Velvet Cake recipe this weekend. After gathering all of the ingredients and a full bottle of red food coloring, I made a batch and they turned our REALLY, REALLY yummy!!! My husband who typically doesn’t like sweets even loved them. I think they were a success.

Warning: The fire engine red batter stained my spatula…but it was well worth it.

R.I.P. Indie 103.1

I’m sad…the only radio station I listen to, Indie 103.1, just went away.

Indie 103.1 will cease broadcasting over this frequency effective immediately. Because of changes in the radio industry and the way radio audiences are measured, stations in this market are being forced to play too much Britney, Puffy and alternative music that is neither new nor cutting edge. Due to these challenges, Indie 103.1 was recently faced with only one option — to play the corporate radio game.We have decided not to play that game any longer. Rather than changing the sound, spirit, and soul of what has made Indie 103.1 great Indie 103.1 will bid farewell to the terrestrial airwaves and take an alternative course. This could only be done on the Internet, a place where rules do not apply and where new music thrives; be it grunge, punk, or alternative � simply put, only the best music. For those of you with a computer at home or at work, log on to www.indie1031.com and listen to the new Indie 103.1 – which is really the old Indie 103.1, not the version of Indie 103.1 we are removing from the broadcast airwaves. We thank our listeners and advertisers for their support of the greatest radio station ever conceived, and look forward to continuing to deliver the famed Indie 103.1 music and spirit over the Internet to passionate music listeners around the world.

Red Velvet

I love everything Amy Butler, so this weekend I’m going to make a batch of  red velvet cupcakes, using her mother Ann’s recipe. The recipe is posted on Design Sponge. YUMMY!! I wish I could run home from work RIGHT NOW and make them.

Ann’s Red Velvet Cake

Preheat oven at 350

1 oz. red food coloring
2 Tbsp. cocoa
1/4 c. butter
1/4 c. margarine
1 1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/4 cup cake flour
1 scant tsp. salt
1 c. buttermilk
1 tsp. soda
1 Tbsp. vinegar

Mix coloring and cocoa together until smooth and set aside until needed. Do not stir.

-Cream together butter, margarine and sugar. ( be sure to beat the mixture long enough…… the butter, margarine and sugar should look white and creamy )

-Add eggs and vanilla and mix well.

-Add cocoa mixture and mix until well blended.

-Sift together two times: flour and salt.

-Add alternately with buttermilk and mix well.

-Place 1 tsp. soda on cake batter, then add 1 Tbsp. vinegar. Mix until well blended.

-Pour into 2 well greased and floured 9″ cake pans

-Bake at 350 for 30 minutes

-Cool and frost with French cream icing.

French Cream Icing

1 c. milk
6 Tbsp. flour
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. margarine
1 c. fine granulated sugar
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

-Make a thickening of 1 c. milk and flour. ( blend with hand mixer ) Cook until thick but not clumpy, more like a thicker sauce.

-Beat well to be sure it is very smooth. Take pan off heat and set in a pan of ice water to chill it.

-Cream together butter, margarine and sugar for 15 – 20 minutes. Add thickening and beat another 10 minutes. Add vanilla.

** Icing needs to be very cold. You may want to put it in the freezer for a bit to thicken and cool it.

Note from Kristina: If you choose to make cupcakes, this recipe yields about 36 of them.