cupcake

While downtown last weekend I happened upon More Cupcake shop and decided to pop in.  I have seen their vans around, but hand't heard much about them.  It's a very small little shop - just shelves of cupcakes and a little spot to pay, nicely designed - clean and modern. We were in line when a large group arrived - the two girls working the counter had them wait outside till most everyone had cleared.  Once they were in, one girl proceeded to give her 'spiel' ... it was very fast and not very informative about the shop at all.  The only thing I took away from it was that they were out of their most popular cupcake - salted caramel - and that the cupcakes cost $3.50.  My friend and I asked a few questions about the cakes and the two girls behind the counter could not have been more annoyed by them.  But, um, this is our first time here and you have no menu describing your product... Anyway, we each picked up a couple and went on our way.

I got lemon meringue and chocolate caramel.  Of the two, I liked the lemon meringue the best - both had fillings inside the cake and that might have been the best part.  They do fall prey to my biggest cupcake peeve - imbalance. Too much frosting for the amount of cake.

Bottom line ... they were good, but nowhere near the best I've had and certainly not worth the attitude. Wasn't crazy about their packaging either - I got home with two cupcakes and had to open both boxes to see which cake was in which box ... the designer in me is screaming 'why?'

saturday stroll

My plans for the day got postponed due to rain this afternoon, so instead I got up and walked over to Hewn for a new loaf of aged cheddar bread and a brioche french toast!  I love morning walks around in my neighborhood, it's so peaceful, and I should really do it more.  After my treats, a cuppa tea and reading up on some legendary college basketball from my beloved KU, while sitting on the balcony watching the clouds roll in.  

10 on 10 { oct 2013 }

I remembered to do my 10 on 10 for the challenge today.  AND since I was out and about, you get to see what a travel workday looks like for me.  No two are alike, and today was quite the mix!  That said ... I failed to see that there was a theme for this month ... sorry no pumpkin spice today.  :( Phoned in from Columbia, SC.

[1] photo of the state house in hotel room [2] room service [3] caffeine [4] reviewing signs - and not liking them [5] walking the hospital floor-by-floor [6] skipped lunch and stopped into the Carolina Museum of Art to see the Annie Leibovitz exhibit (no photos allowed) and zipped through the rest of the galleries - loved these two coming from the ground [7] back to the job site to walk all exterior signs with the guys [8] obligatory palmetto tree [9] recharging [10] rockers at the airport - love the south [11] bonus photo of lake murray from the sky

moody skies

I got another row to myself on the plane tonight!  Snapped a few photos as the sun was going down - loved the colors - almost a rainbow at the horizon.  When I was playing with presets in VSCOcam, I went black and white and love how soft the horizon looks that way... what a difference! 

bulb fest

I drove up to the Botanic Garden today with my friend Marcey to check out blub fest.  It was the most beautiful Fall day for wandering the gardens.  They have loads of mums in yellows and oranges and strategically placed gourds here and there, a hay bale maze and gourd tower.  It was lovely. First tip - if you want bulbs (which I didn't - no yard to put them in) go on Friday or early Saturday or pre-order. They were very picked over today.  Second tip - don't expect very many vendors for fun fall goodies.  I picked up a couple of mini loaves of peanut butter cookie bread (yep, yum!) and some homemade marshmallows.  Marcey picked up some veggies and that was about it ... But it was the most perfect day to be out and about. Perfectly Fall! 

Rain drops keep fallin

Got caught in a crazy rain storm today. Had to snap a few shots while stopped. I just love water droplets in photos. And a bonus lightening strike!! What are the odds that I would catch that?

let there be light

This is my home office - where all the photo editing magic happens.  (ha!) It's also my KU shrine, but the newest addition to my desk is the amazing gold lamp!  I have been looking for just the right lamp for some time now.  I don't like traditional "desk lamps" and since I have that shelf above it has to be a very specific size.  Well, it's proven to be a difficult thing to find. I was watching the Today Show one morning during my staycation and they had a style segment that included this lamp.  I have seen similar for hundreds of dollars, but when she said this one was $39 at Homegoods, I had to actually rewind to make sure I heard it right.  I hopped in the car later that day and popped into Homegoods.  There it was!  For $39!  I love it when I find just the right thing for just the right price.

signature necklace

I have been eying the Brevity Jewelry signature necklace for a while now.  I have monogram rings and necklaces, and love them ... but the signature necklace, now that's unique and personal and fabulous! I spotted is on Fab.com one day and decided I'd go for it!  I signed a piece of paper and emailed it to the artist. She sent me a proof full scale so that I cold print and hold up to make sure I liked the size.  And then we wait... I was SO excited when this baby showed up in the mail.  It's hard to know how it's really going to look from a print proof, but I have to say I love it!  Really could not be happier!

clickin walk : phoned in

I met up with about 30 other women who are members of Clickin Moms for the 2013 Clickin Moms Walk.  I have only been a member of the group for a few months and, sadly, have not really taken advantage of the resources they offer.  But, I am always up for a photowalk so I met up with the Chicago group in Mary Bartelme Park for a walk to the river, union station and back.  I met some great ladies and am looking forward to their take on the city.  Here is a sneak peek via iPhone 5S!! 

staycation : six

stay : six podiatrist history @ the chicago history museum 95 floors above the city @ the john hancock observatory

Let me just start by saying... when I woke up this morning it was POURING rain.  Buckets of rain.  That is not at all what you want when you're on vacation.  Anyway, I had to get out and about and my first stop was the podiatrist.  (kind of goes with the anti-vacation thing to do) A quick analysis, a few x-rays and some ace bandages and I was out the door.  Apparently I have plantar fasciitis, boo.  This is how I walked out of the office ... it's a good look, huh?

A quick stop at home for a shoe change and it was back downtown with me.  First stop was the Chicago History Museum.  This is the one museum in the city that I have never been to before, so it was fabulous to finally pay a visit!  I didn't learn all that much more than what I have learned in my 18 years here, but they do have a very nice display of the "white city" and "chicago fire."  They had two really great exhibits - one of Ebony Magazine and the history of their Fashion Fair - and the other, the real reason for me being there, Vivian Maier's Chicago.  It was a small, but well done exhibit.  I really enjoy her work - she had a great eye for finding interesting subjects from very simple moments.  I even broke down and bought the book of her work!  Maybe someday someone will make a book of my photos - wouldn't that be something!?!

Enough about me... (ha!).. when I emerged from the museum, the sun had come out so I decided to run into the John Hancock Observatory for a few shots from above the city.  I prefer the view from the JH to that of the Wills because you really get the lakefront.  And on a day like today - with a little haze in the sky - it was perfect! Just look at that skyline would ya?