Pretty, pretty cupcakes.

This upcoming weekend I have about three separate events where my baking services have been requested. Therefore, I’ve decided some time during this busy, busy week I will find time to make an army of cupcakes. My mom taught me how to bake. She also is a great cake decorator but I’ve always envied how easily all-things-artistic are for her. Though I don’t have time to bake (and good thing for my waistline) I do love browsing recipes, pretty pictures, and other ideas for fun. Here are some lovely inspiration photos to get me ready for the task at hand this week:

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10. All photos were found on weheartit.com – hundreds more of cute cupcake photos can be found there!

Also, if you’re a foodie and/or just love cupcakes, check out these notable blogs:

• Cupcakes Take the Cake
• Bakerella - one of my favs :)
• Cakespy - adorable!

Some yummy bakeries in central Ohio you could visit:

• Bakery Gingham
• Pattycake Bakery – a vegan bakery!
• Mozart’s Bakery – in North Market
• And of course, The Pink Cupcake Bakery – found in lovely Mount Vernon. :)

Happy Cupcaking to all of you! :)

(this quick “sweet” post is dedicated to my best, Drea, who is probably now drooling which is just another reason why I adore her :))

10 little things you may not know about me:

1. My full name is Michelle Elyse Clark. (You’d be surprised how many people don’t know that. Also, I love when people “tactfully” ask something along these lines: “Surely, your real name isn’t Micki?” Uhhh…)
2. I could eat peanut butter by the spoonful, straight out of the jar. Hence the reason I try to rarely buy it. :)
3. My current running list contains a few songs that will be played at our wedding, including the song I will be walking down the aisle to. On more the one occasion, I’ve teared up a little on the treadmill, mid-run, when imagining walking towards Troy.
4. I’m lactose intolerant. It used to be worse than it is now but I’m still a big fan of soy substitutes.
5. Pet peeves related to my senses: the feel of genuine cotton balls, the smell of burnt popcorn or body odor, the sound of fingernails being clipped, the taste of Red Bull or bleu cheese, the sight of littering (especially when it’s from a car driving right in front of you!).
6. I will most likely not retire as a high school English teacher. Too many other things I want to do in the realms of education and art.
7. I have a freckle on my big toe and in junior high I was very self-conscious of it.
8. I’m scared of things related to getting old – immobility, forgetting people, and dying.
9. I have panic attacks – like elephant-sitting-on-my-chest and go into total-freakout mode ones. They’re triggered by stressful or unknown situations mostly. I’ve struggled with them since 6th grade and also used to be very self-conscious of this. I cover them well. Except to Troy, who handles them even more well than I do. Is he a keeper or what?
10. The name of my blog is based on a Cat Power song that I’ve always liked.

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What’s something most people don’t know about you?
Ciao, bellas.

I missed out on Miscellaneous Monday yesterday with the busyness of going back to school. I think I could have used another week of vacation. But, goodness, I’m so grateful for the two week hiatus! Plenty of time to take a break from teaching (and even technology). Lots of visiting, wedding planning, gifting, crafting, crocheting, reading and movie watching. :)

A day late but here are ten random things I currently and/or particularly love:
1. Pretty painted nails:

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2. Lanterns:

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3. My new Canon camera bag and Pandora bracelet (Christmas/birthday presents from my man).

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(source - mine is gray leather with a cool braid looking bead!)

4. Crocheting chunky scarves and blankets with a size P hook – huge loops of extra thick soft yarn.

(find this one etsy!)

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I’m making a hooded cowl next, like this one:

Also, check out this etsy shop – I love her hand knits!

5. Oranges (I’m averaging 2-3 a day…I’m adddddictedd to the citrus!)
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6. Music by The Welcome Wagon, William Fitzsimmons, and Vampire Weekend (seeing them at the Wexner in February!)

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7. My future in-laws  – they’re amazing and I’m so EXCITED to be officially part of their family.

8. This quote from our book club book The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell (*note: this is maybe the first science fiction type of books that I’ve read by choice and I’m actually enjoying it – very spiritually infused and a great pace of plot. Trust me, it’s an unexpected blend of science and religion in this book  and, though, the theology may not always be sound, I appreciate the glimpses of God the author provides):

“The past weeks had been suffused with revelation. At home and in the Sudan and the Arctic, he had seen acts of great generosity, of selflessness and abundance of soul, and feel close to knowing God at those moments. Why, he had once wondered, would a perfect God create the universe? To be generous with it, he believed now. For the pleasure of seeing pure gifts appreciated. Maybe that’s what it meant to find God: to see what you have been given, to know divine generosity, to appreciate the large things and the small…”

9. SNOW and watching Tilly play in it (even though Columbus Public never gets snow days!). Tilly looks like a little crack puppy. My dad told her to just say no to drugs!

10. The movie Invictus – a feel-good movie with lots of rugby and tidbits of history. I teach the book Cry, the Beloved Country so I’m partial to anything apartheid/Mandela/South Africa related.

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Stay warm, friends. Bundle up! :)