Grace in small things - edition seven

Dedicated to every day life. Nothing special. But nothing less than incredible.

1. Being free of the chains of smoking, nicotine and the need to light up. I do not miss the smell or the taste. But mostly, I am so thankful that it doesn't have it's hold on me. I don't have to smoke. I don't need to smoke.

2. Craigslist and my new find - Big Love. I used to watch this show when I had HBO.
It was my one free time away from real life. I got to feed my nosy addiction of
wanting to know what other people's lives are like. Even if it is a tv show.
I am deeply fascinated by others religions and cultures. I am on season 2
and working my way around to season 3.

3. Wine. A nice glass of wine after work, especially when I am sitting near the bbq
waiting for what will inevitably be a juicy steak, potatoes and corn on the cob.

4. Being in such a wonderful relationship that I totally forgot to go out and
watch fireworks, we were so enjoying our evening.

5. Feeling such goodness inside that I enjoy work. Even though I am working on a holiday weekend, I am still in such a good mood which transcribed to really good mood customers. Imagine that.

Martha Monday - summer cupcakes

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This week I had a craving for cupcakes.

Usually anything baked ends up being lemon flavored. That is just what I like, but since I did that with the summer cake, I thought I'd try a new flavor.

Strawberry Cupcakes with Cream Cheese frosting

(cream cheese frosting is Saint's favorite)


With mom's advice, I used the ice cream scooper to scoop the cake batter into the cupcake papers. Apparently this is good for keeping them all the same size. If, that is, you are not me. I don't have luck like this.


Then using a small spatula, use that to scrape the excess batter off the ice cream scooper.

If you ask me, you use your finger to clean the sides of the cupcake pan.




Oh, yummy. These smelled SO GOOD!
After I popped them out of the pan, cover them in oh so wonderful frosting.
See how cute my donna downey shirt is? She signed it at the classes I took!


I top it pretty high. Wasn't sure I would use all the frosting.


But yes, I did. Damn.



LINK UP!!
What has inspired you this week?

on the fourth

When you get home, make sure to walk by the bbq's and let me know if there are a lot of people out there. We can just go to mine.

Uhm, or we could grab a beer or two and sit outside to wait for a free bbq.

We could do that to.

Though you may have to talk to people.

No, not really.

The cons of living in apartment complexes.

• sharing bbqs and having to talk to people

Happy 4th of July

wordless wednesday answer from yesterday

In case you visited yesterday, the answer to where I was in my Wordless Wednesday post is -


And surprisingly, I didn't buy anything. We stopped in because we had to use the restroom. (lol) Yes, I work in retail and I still go into establishments and only use the bathroom. But that is what happens when I drink a full glass of water, tea and other stuff at lunch, then try to walk around the shopping center. Whoops, no way to drive home like that. Friends don't let friends drive home with a full bladder. (or mom's don't let daughters . . . )

It was so pretty and clean and spacious, I felt the need to take pictures. (uhm, Sacks I mean, not the restroom) Which I am sure the workers there thought was oh so uncouth. As I too wonder sometimes what people are thinking when they are doing some randomly weird, unexplainable thing in my store.

I honestly, don't think I have ever bought something at Sacks. Have you? I felt so much like in Holly in Breakfast at Tiffany's where she just wants to have some token from the place of heaven. Well, maybe not heaven, but man, is that a cool looking store or what?

I love this post, please go read for yourself!

A must read post -

Pour your heart out, 16th glass

Wordless Wednesday - guess where I am?

Check back in with me tomorrow to see the picture of where I am.

wordless wednesday

bachelorette - just another opinion

The most amazingly drama filled, crap loaded episode ever!!

Really?

The wrestler, Rater R has a girlfriend? Who cares? Yes, he is an ass. There is bound to be at least a few asses on this show. Not to mention, he is on tv. He is a professional tv wrestler. He had a girlfriend. HOW did the show miss this? (pause) That's what I thought. All tv ratings.

The drama with Ali and Chris, a bit over the top.

Who is Jessie? And how the hell has Jessie incorporated into this? And Jessica - his girlfriend, made up pretty much like she is ready for tv interviews. Ugh. Just gross.

HOW can a tv show, based on tv cameras, not catch the gy sneaking off for a call to his girlfriend???

I do however, give Ali the HIGH FIVES for going after the truth and trying to get Justin to talk about it. But it's live tv. When you're caught, who wants to be seen as the liar? He was out of there as fast as his bum leg would carry him . . . through the bushes of the hotel. And I gotta say, I never get tired of hearing a guy stutter when their trying to cover up a lie. It's quite funny.

I find it funny that Craig R would say that if you've already been married, then you wouldn't want to jump right back in. Oh uhm, yes, if you figured out what happened; what went wrong and what you want - then as the quote goes, "The minute you find the person you want to spend the rest of your life with, you want your life to start right now!"

Olive Oil wresting in Turkey? Do you think they use EVOO? I don't really get the Craig thing. I don't see a love connection with him. He would be great friends with Ali, but love? I just don't see it. (oh wait, SPOILER ALERT, he was not given a rose)

Every woman should have one of those belly dancing outfits in their closet! Forget wearing it for some guy (sorry Saint I swear I didn't mean it), but I want one because they sound awesome and make your belly look flat and beautiful. Speaking of which, where is mine?? lol

For a more in depth look at The Bachelorette check out this blog. She has great pics and lots of good dirt on the show.