No tricks, just TREATS!

I have the sweetest, most thoughtful boyfriend whom I don't blog about very often because we live almost 3,000 miles apart, so there's not much to share :( But about 20 minutes ago, the doorbell rang and FedEx dropped off a package with my name on it! Let me stop and say that getting mail in any form is my absolute favorite thing...but getting homemade goodies and super cute cards are definitely the way to my heart!


I made the tin a few months ago when I sent him cookies and he decided to return the favor and ship it back with some banana nut bread he made...and the card is just precious. The little girl really looks like I did when I was 3 or 4 years old and he wrote such an encouraging note on the inside.

Just wanted to share that with you! Now I'm off to enjoy one of my favorite treats :) This is one of the perks of a long distance relationship.

Confession...

...sometimes I use Photo Booth to put on my lipliner.


Speaking of lines, look at those huge crevasses under my eyes. Is this what aging looks like? I recently discovered the "retouch" feature of iPhoto, so I was curious to see what I would look like without those lines, so I took a typical smiling picture:


Then I did some retouching around my eyes, forehead and mouth. If you could flip the two pictures back and forth in a photo viewing program, you would see the major difference. I personally think the bottom picture has less life and depth to it, but that could just be my way of avoiding botox and collagen injections. As for the wild fly-away hairs, I'll have to leave that editing to the professionals.

I lost all of the hard work I slaved over to revamp the look of the blog. Now it's boring again...but at least you can read it!

Don't worry, Mandi, I still have the files and codes you sent me. This is not the end!

"Busting up a Starbucks" Mike Doughty

For today's Tuesday with a Twist assignment I ventured to Starbucks to try a Pumpkin Spice Latte. For many of you, there is nothing new about this, but I am not a coffee drinker and, I hate to admit, have never tasted a Pumpkin Spice Latte. But with the crisp 32 degree air this morning, even I was craving the season favorite.

(Picture courtesy of a Google search)

It tasted like all other coffee drinks to me and, though I like how the cinnamon added a comforting, holiday feel, I doubt I'll get another. I prefer to spend my money/calories on things I can actually chew, but today it did offer something exciting and different to my morning, so its purpose was served!

(I think I made the barista's day when I asked her to take my picture for a "project". Hey! It's sorta true...)

'You're my Cuppycake, Gumdrop" Strawberry Shortcake

I'm on the hunt for Atlanta's best cupcake and my first "contestant" was SugarMama's Cupcakery for Jen's 26th birthday celebration. We had Creme de la Creme, Original, Candy Bar and Red Velvet. Overall very delish (based on comments, I only tried one) She actually doesn't have an actual "cupcakery" and does them from her house (I'm assuming), I just emailed the order, she responded back and said to pick them up at Aurora Coffee in Little Five Points. Since I didn't actually have a bakery to visit, I like to envision her kitchen a beautiful "cupcake pink" with flavored wallpaper, gumdrop light fixtures and a faucet that pours icing instead of water. Yum!

Now, every great contest needs a rating system and I am going to award excellence in Sprinkles.

SugarMama's Cupcakery, your scores are as follows:

Customer Service--5 Sprinkles--Easy ordering and pick up


Presentation--3 Sprinkles--I liked the clear container because it displayed the variety, but it was nothing creative or exciting to report

Icing Flavor and Texture--3 Sprinkles--I happen to like really sweet icing and this was a little more whipped and light for my liking, but I'm sure it would suit many people!

Originality--4 Sprinkles--though we didn't try all of the offerings, there are so many unique flavors!

Since this is my contest, I can change/add the rules as I go. I already found a flaw in the system in that I actually only tried one of her cupcakes...that will not work from now on. Darn.

Extreme Makeover: Blog Edition

Other than the awful blue link color that blogger will simply not let me change at the present moment and how Safari does not translate the colors, how do you like the new new look?! I totally want wallpaper that matches the print of the background....for the house I don't have.

(Those of you who follow in Google Reader, sorry to inconvenience you twice in such a short period of time)

Another special thanks and shout out to the most amazingly creative and talented friend I have! This is the blog of my dreams (until I change my mind, of course)

All of this blog updating can really only mean one thing...the end of the semester is approaching and I am avoiding the piles of school work that are taunting me!

Back to "work"!

"I can scare you more than any ghoul would ever dare try" Michael Jackson

If you've known me long enough, you know about the utter terror I face every year around this time--Ric's Halloween decorating. I have to start by saying how much I really do appreciate the festive spirit because I love all holidays, but there's a (not so) fine line between spirited adornments for you house and evil-spirit welcoming decorations.

Allow me to walk you through what I live with...and then imagine coming home to this friendly scene when you get home from class at 9:30 and everything is dark--everything but red glowing eyes, that is!

Not sure which is scarier...her complexion or my lips (I don't put on lipstick until I get in the car...so this is me with nude-colored primer on...yikes!)

This guy is actually pretty amicable...

Look at that face!

A not-so-fortunate pirate.

This is the one whose eyes glow at night...


I have a close up of this guy, but I don't want you to have nightmares. It's like he's looking into your soul.

And here's my parking spot.

Is it November yet?

"Baby's got her blue jeans on!" Mel McDaniel

I am on the hunt for amazing jeans. I really want a pair that look great and keep looking great even after I wash them. All the jeans I own have the amazing ability to shrink only in length after the first time I wash them...and I am SO serious about having pants that touch (not drag) the ground; they are so much more slimming...and even a half an inch can make a major difference. Oh, and I love wearing heels. People, I have tried everything, so don't tell me not to dry them...I don't dry them.

I came across this website, though the jury is still out on my full endorsement.

So far, strike one.

At least it confirmed what seems to be the case....

"I'm proud to be an American" Lee Greenwood

Tuesday is my least favorite day of the week. I decided to go ahead and vote in an effort to make today more interesting. I also decided that every Tuesday I want to do something out of the ordinary...it could be as simple as taking a different route to/from work, but something that breaks the routine of the week and gives me a reason to anticipate Tuesdays.

Feel free to offer suggestions!

I've been searching for this video because I think it perfectly sums up the dramatization of infomercials...

On the other hand, I would like my own jar glove. It's genius!

"I've got a new attitude!" Patti LaBelle

The blog is singing a new tune today! How do you like it? Both the site and I need a Fall makeover, but this was the only one I could afford...

All props to Mandi (a.k.a. Artistic Amanda) for the new header. She's great!

"I am driving up 85 in the kind of morning that lasts all afternoon" John Mayer

Oh Athens...Great day with friends. Victory over Tennessee. Beautiful Fall day. Does it get any better?

I'll just let the pictures tell the story of another wonderful day between the hedges:

Before hitting the road...after a long night of laughs with the girls (Sorry your eyes are closed, Jen--maybe someone else has a better version. At least you're not posing like Game Day Barbie...I'm always so awkward when standing on the end.)

Not sure why this picture won't rotate correctly, but here are Matt and Sean putting out the flag while riding up 85...pretty tense moment.

Look who rode with us! Toby...remember him?

Jamie and I in the backseat

Matt and Sean selling the one extra ticket we had (after somehow ending up with 8 free tickets...what?)

About to head to the stadium

Pretty sure this was our first game together since 2004...so basically ever.

Our little friend for the afternoon...such a cutie (and a mess!)

No documentation of lunch at Inoko Express, but here were are at Barberitos for dinner...had to choose our restaurants carefully, so went for a couple of staples.

A little sketched out by the pink cheese dip...but anything for breast cancer awareness, right?

"then labor day came and went...and we shed what was left of our summer skin" death cab for cutie

October is off to a "Fallishly" great start...

Saturday I met Jen and Joni for a day in Piedmont Park...reminiscent of college days--Jen with her laptop, me with my text books and Joni...well, Joni was actually grading papers, but you get the idea. It was heavenly and I couldn't leave. Jen came back after taking Joni home because it was that great and we spent the remainder of the evening walking around people (and puppy!) watching and eating Italian ice, of course!

(Joni, when you left, I realized I did have my camera...bust)

Update: I forgot a took a picture on my phone! Hi Joni!

the view from our blanket!

Sunday was spent at the Cotton Pickin' Fair in Gay, Georgia...

All day together and I didn't get one pregnant picture of Mandy...oops!I'll get a pic for you soon...

I got a fabulous new apron...

...really dirty feet...

...and a picture that basically sums up the awesome weekend!