the littlest cupcake

Flavor: red velvet, cheesecake & peanut butter (not consumed by me, of course)

Cost: $2.00/3 or $0.75/each

Location: Tart and Tufo in Morristown, NJ

Have you ever not wanted to eat an entire cupcake? Of course not! What a question... let's try this again: have you ever eaten a cupcake when you weren't supposed to? Perhaps during swimsuit season? Well my friends- I have a solution for you: Poppers at Tart and Tufo in Morristown.

In case you haven't realized,

J'dore Tart & Tufo.

Cristofer and I decided to take a trip after lunch (and dessert) for coffee and dessert (part deux).

Upon arrival at the cafe, I was somewhat intrigued by a new display of mini cupcake look-alikes. And though I usually head straight for the cupcake counter, I opted on the poppers. Maybe because I had already had dessert or perhaps because I was looking for something different, Cristofer bought 2 of the bite-sized treats for me (1 for himself).

The good news: They were amazing.

The bad news: They were tiny.

I guess when it comes down to it, they are more than appropriate for someone who wants a treat without over indulging, though I can honestly say that's rarely the case for me... at least when it comes to cupcakes

Nom nom,

Kelly

the we meet again, cupcake

Flavor: Strawberry shortcake/ s'mores

Cost: $2.50 (each)

Location: Hey Cupcake! in Madison, NJ

I've been sitting here for literally 7 minutes typing, back spacing, typing, backspacing, etc. trying to figure out how I am going to start this.

It's like, when you breakup with someone and you see them for the first time after the breakup. Do you talk about your past relationship? Or just pretend like nothing even happened? I guess in this case, the least I could do is explain why it's been so long...

You see, my fellow cupcake lovers, I was gaining a bit (cough, that's kind of an understatement) of weight from enjoying a cup of cake EVERY night. Too much that I figured I'd better give myself some time to recover (especially since we are in fact, in swimsuit season).

Anyway, lately I have been dreaming about and craving a cupcake, so I've given in. A few close friends informed me of a local cupcake shop that opened in Madison this past Spring, and it wasn't until last night I decided to check it out for the first time myself.

Last night... or should I say more like last evening, Cristofer (he's kind of like my unofficial partner in cupcake crime) & I went out there for a post dinner treat. It was approximately 6:15 pm when we arrive at the door only to find the store CLOSED and that it had been for well over an hour.

A cupcake shop- A dessert cupcake shop- that closed at 5:00pm on a SUMMER NIGHT?! Is it just me, or does that seem like bad business?

I don't know, it seems rather early to me...

Needless to say, Cristofer and I were more then careful to arrive well before 5:00pm today (we went around 4:00pm) and I'm not quite sure if it was the rainy day or my pent up resentment of denying me my tasty treat last night, but I had a bad taste in my mouth about this place (metaphorically speaking).

I opted for Strawberry Shortcake and Cristofer chose S'mores.

Mine was ok. I keep forgetting I'm a chocolate-holic however, so we switched 1/2 way through.

Nom nom,

Kelly

the co-worker cupcakes

Flavor: Red velvet/cream cheese (mine), chocolate/chocolate (deana), vanilla/vanilla (amy)

Cost: $3.75

Location: Tart & Tufo in Morristown, NJ

Yesterday, my boss Amy made a comment about how good the cupcakes were at Tart & Tufo. Today, I brought her and my other boss Deana one each to have a 10 minute cupcake break during work. They were both very grateful.

The funny thing about Deanna and Amy is that they both enjoy polar opposite cupcakes: one vanilla and one chocolate.

I opted to treat myself to red velvet because it's been a while since I indulged in one of those tasty treats... and it was as delicious as I remember them to be.

We all shared pieces of our cupcakes with Amy's baby, who was on a sugar high every 10 minutes. Sweet day.

Nom nom,

Kelly

the british cupcake

Cost: £12.00

Location: The Design Museum in London, England

Ever since I was a little girl, I knew I wanted two things:

1. To eat cupcakes for the rest of my life

2. To go to England

This past January, I accomplished the latter goal on that list.

I went with my college to study Graphic Design, and without going into too much detail I very much enjoyed the trip.

One of our tourist stops abroad was the Design Museum. This particular museum featured graphic, industrial and architectural design. The exhibits themselves, in my opinion, were average... but the gift shop was awwwwesome.

I couldn't decide what I wanted to spend my money on because I pretty much wanted to buy everything. I settled on this coffee mug because a. I love coffee, b. I love cupcakes c. I love typography.

What does typography have to do with this mug? Simple. It's called "and cupcake mug" by design anonymous and on the opposite side of the cupcake, an ampersand is printed. Genius.

Anyway, it's made out of something called 'Bone China' which I soon realized means VERY fragile.

I haven't used the mug yet. I think I'm afraid to break it, and because I got in London it would be hard to replace.

When my mother saw me looking at it today she smiled and said, "There's that cherry again."

Nom nom,

Kelly

the cupcake I should have written about Sunday

Flavor: Chocolate Covered Strawberry

Cost: $2.00

Location: C'Mere Cupcakes in Hackettstown, NJ

As the title describes, this is a cupcake from Sunday.

I went to visit my best friend who lives in Budd Lake, and she told me about a cupcake place near by. I'm always excited to visit places that specialize in cupcakes.

After a ten minute drive, we found ourselves in the parking lot of C'Mere Cupcakes. The interior of the shop was welcoming, with tables and chairs and a cupcake pillow. Behind a display case, over 20 different varieties of cupcakes were showcased.

Chrissy quickly opted to go for the carrot cake, but I took a little longer to decide.

The girl working seemed less then thrilled (as most bakery shop employees are) with my internal conflict of deciding which flavor to go with. Perhaps also contributing to her sour mood was the fact that the shop was closing in the next 30 minutes.

Eventually, I settled on chocolate cake with chocolate icing topped with a strawberry.

We went back to Chrissy's apartment and indulged.

Surprisingly, the strawberry tasted fresh. The icing however, was a bit flaky and had that

'I've been sitting on a shelf for a few hours' texture.

The cake however, was moist and delicious. I would recommend this place to people in the area, but suggest you go an hour or so before closing.

Nom nom,

Kelly

the cupcake(s) for mark's birthday

Flavor: Chocolate/Chocolate

Cost: Free (homemade by my roommate Brittany)

Location: Mi Casa en Morristown, NJ

First, you may or may not have noticed there is no post from yesterday. This is because I have a new found interest in my life: Beer. I'm 23, and since recently I never really cared much for the taste of 'cold brewski.' However, lately I've grown quite fond enjoying a nice chilled Heineken Light, and yesterday my roommates and I decided to celebrate the beginning of summer... Needless to say I had two beers too many and my head hit the pillow before I remembered to blog...

But this is not a beer blog, this is a cupcake blog... so onto the desserts!

Today we celebrated yet again (this times sans the beer). It was my roommate Mark's birthday, so Brittany and I opted on homemaking some celebratory cupcakes for the occasion. Whilst the boys were all out at band practice, Britt and I decorated and baked in honor of our roommate.

He was very surprised, and happy.

We put M&M's as decorations on the treats because they were in Britt's Car (we told Mark, however, they were strategically picked out because his name starts with M).

The reason why the cupcakes in the title of this blog is plural (as opposed to my singular earlier formats) is because I had three.

1. Right of the oven, melted icing and all.

2. With the group (because everyone else was doing it).

3. After they had been sitting out for 30 minutes.

Each was just as tasty as the last, but I think, especially with swimsuit season coming up, I should just stick to one a day.

Nom nom (nom),

Kelly

the ice cream cupcake

Flavor: Chocolate

Cost: $2.99

Location: Camille's Cafe in Morristown, NJ

"What's that?"

I asked, directing my view to a tasty looking treat in a refrigerator. I was ordering a sandwich on my lunch break at a cafe across the street, and my attention was caught by something I noticed in a cupcake wrapper.

"That is a chocolate dessert, for the children," said the foreign man taking my order.

After I checked the perimeter for any nearby children who might also be interested in the sweet treat, I was fortunate enough to realize it was meant to be mine.

"I'd like it, please," I said.

The store employee laughed, and put it in a to-go container and a bag for me.

Once I was back across the street at work, I pulled my what I then thought was 'cake' out of the bag.

It was cold. Not just cold, frozen.

It then made sense. The man never did call it a cupcake....

After closer examination, I realized that it was a scoop of ice cream molded into a semi-circle. But the strange thing was that it was covered in a layer of what tasted-like, looked-like and shared the similar texture of cake.

Whatever it was, it was pretty amazing.

The eyes and ears of this little guy was made out of white and dark semi-sweet chocolate.

Nom nom,

Kelly

the postponed cupcake

Flavor: Vanilla/ Cream

Cost: $3.99

Location: Whole Foods in Madison, NJ (gift from Cristofer)

Last week, Cristofer had a big smile on his face. "I got you a surprise!"

The funny thing is, I somewhat assumed it would be a cupcake, and I smiled too. It was in fact, a cupcake.

The upsetting news: it was from Whole Foods, and it was seemingly sans chocolate.

There was, however, a pretty pink flower on top, but the dessert didn't look too tasty (to me).

With risk of sounding like a snob, I was avoiding eating it.

Everyday since, Cristofer would ask me "Have you eaten your flower cupcake yet?" or remind me "Don't forget you have that cupcake in the fridge at home to eat!"

Well tonight, I finally faced it, while he was out with his friends.

And to no surprise to me, I was less then thrilled with the taste. I debated on tossing the evidence and just leaving the empty wrapper on the counter, but I couldn't. I didn't want to lie to him. Therefore, I stood over the sink and continued to eat.

He came home while I was mid-bite, and asked me how it was.

I couldn't lie anymore.

"I don't like it," I admitted.

Cristofer smiled. "Then don't eat it," he joked, still smiling.

I gave him a big hug and thanked him for the gift, but explained to him I was less then impressed with Whole Foods baked goods.

Needless to say, he was very understanding.

Moral: Honesty ='s Good.

Nom nom,

Kelly

the purgatory cupcake

Flavor: Chocolate/Whipped Frosting

Cost: $2.50

Location: Swiss Chalet Bakery in Morristown, NJ

This cupcake wasn't bad. It wasn't good either, it just... was.

Nom nom,

Kelly

the end of the semester cupcake

Flavor: Espresso

Cost: $3.25

Location: Tart & Tufo in Morristown, NJ

A few things:

1. Today's cupcake was very special! My best friend called me on her way home and said "Would you like to get a cupcake with me?" So sweet! I haven't seen her in a while,

so it was really nice to meet up.

2. TODAY WAS THE LAST DAY OF THE SPRING 2010 SEMESTER! I took my French final and wrote my Art History paper, so naturally I wanted to go out and celebrate! I'm not a big drinker, so this was really my ideal way to unwind.

3. I know I've written about Tart & Tufo A LOT. But I can honestly say I think they have amazing cupcakes, and meeting up with my best friend deserved the best!

4. I've been totally wrong on the price! The employee there laughed, because he noticed on my blog I've been claiming they were cheaper then they are... oops! Trust me guys, the extra $0.75 they cost is TOTALLY worth it!

So, the whole lot of us (Chrissy, Cristofer and my two roommates John Paul and Mark) ventured into town for some late night sweet treats. Only Cristofer, Chrissy and myself got cupcakes, and Cristofer was kind enough to purchase all 3. They both decided Oreo was a good choice... I on the other hand, having written about Tart & Tufo about 4 times now, wanted to go for something unique and different. So I chose: Espresso.

It was fantastic (no surprise there). The chocolate cake, as always, was moist and delicious. The Espresso frosting was very sweet, but had such a unique flavor it really complimented the cake well. Also, an espresso cream filling was a nice surprise.

Even if you don't like coffee, I recommend this cupcake because it didn't taste like your average 'caffeinated flavored' dessert.

When we left, the kind employee treated me (pun intended =P ) to a complimentary cupcake! With risk of then having a bias on this shop (which I kinda sorta already do!), I decided to give my free treat to Chrissy to take home to her boyfriend, Sean. Sean, I hope you like it!

Nom nom,

Kelly

p.s. Thanks to Chrissy for helping me get this shot in focus! It's a great one, right?

the black cupcakes

Cost: $4.00

Location: Some sample sale shop in Englewood, NJ (that is no longer in business).

My stomach doesn't feel very well tonight. So despite the fact that there is a delicious cupcake in the fridge awaiting me to devourer it, I'll have to decline.

Instead however, I will share a story with you about last summer, me, and cupcakes.

Talking about the shop I used to work at in Englewood again, there was a sample sale store around the corner from the boutique I worked it. Every Thursday, they would receive new shipments of fashion accessories (mostly jewelry) and my co-workers and I would take extra long lunch breaks to go check out the stock.

It wasn't long before I came across these earrings.

Perfect, I thought. They were only $4.00 and the cupcakes were black! Now mind you, I've never eaten a black cupcake... but 50% of my wardrobe is black, so they'd pretty much go with anything.

Anyway, they look pretty silly on. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's the fact that they are black cupcakes? Maybe they just look cheap?

But even though I rarely ever wear them, I kept them. And look, they came in handy tonight... when I had a tummy ache.

Nom nom,

Kelly

the cupcake my sister made

Flavor: Red Velvet/Vanilla

Cost: Free!

Location: My sister's house in Morristown, NJ

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms that read my blog!

Cristofer and I attended a dinner party at my sister Kathy's house to celebrate with my mother, her husband, Kathy's boyfriend and his parents.

She made steak for the meat eaters (I brought my own veggie burger... yum!)

My mother had never tried red velvet cake, and ever since I started this blog she's been on a mission to indulge in the delicious dessert. With that being said, I made it my mission to get her that particular flavor cupcake.

Upon learning this, my sister decided she would bake cupcakes courtesy of Duncan Hines so everyone at the party could enjoy them.

The funny thing is, everyone there knew about my blog, and I felt seven pairs of eyes watching me as I took my first bite.

"It's good," I let them know.

Cake mixes are always a classic, and I very much enjoy baked goods from friends and family. The thing is, the red velvet mix didn't taste like the cake I was used to at local bakeries. It was good, don't get me wrong, but not what I expected.

The cake itself tasted like typical chocolate, and the vanilla icing was a good match.

I opted not to take any extra home (though it was challenging to decline the week's supply I could now own) because I want a little variety to my blog.

After all, at this point, how could I eat a cupcake and not write about it?

Nom nom,

Kelly

the surprisingly good cupcake

Flavor: Chocolate/Oreo

Cost: $1.99

Location: Quick Chek in Madison, NJ

When I was little, I rarely ever had a home-cooked meal. With no disrespect to my mother, there were a many a nights where my sister and I had to microwave kid cuisine dinners for supper. That being said, I don't exactly have a very 'refined' palate.

Case and point: dinner tonight. Cristofer and I were both working intently on papers for school when after hours of sitting in front of our computers we realized- we're hungry.

"Let's get sushi!" Cristofer suggested. I was less then thrilled with the idea, so we opted to both get takeout and eat together at home.

With all of the endless cuisine choices I had for dinner tonight you want to know what I chose? A sandwich. From Quick Chek. A sandwich from Quick Chek... yup.

Whilst I was in the convenience store waiting for my 'made to order' dinner, I noticed a rack of 'fresh baked goods.' Sure enough, a row of cupcakes sat on top.

Now mind you, do you really think any Mrs. Fields-type employees are in the back freshly baking desserts? My guess is most likely not. But with my blog in mind, I felt compelled to try one.

I opted for the oreo because it had chocolate cake, and I have learned that if you think it's going to be crappy... it's safer to go with chocolate.

Well, I'm not sure if it was my chocolate theory or what, but the cake was pretty good! The best part was the icing... it actually tasted like the cream in the middle of Oreo cookies... yum!

I wonder if it was actually the cream or just Oreo cream flavoring? I only ask because with two known brand names, Quick Chek and Oreo, does the store need permission to use the cookie's name/flavors in it's products? Hmmm, any thoughts?

Nom nom,

Kelly

p.s. the background is a chair we have in the living room... in my opinion, it belongs on VH1's I love the '80s.

the 180 cupcake

Flavor: Cannoli/ Cream Cheese

Cost: $2.50

Location: Tart and Tufo in Morristown, NJ

So when I wrote the line 'I don't eat a cupcake everyday' in my bio, I clearly didn't know what I was getting myself into.

I've been eating at least 5 cupcakes a week.

Lately, those treats have been sub par. But luckily, today's lunch time treat was the complete opposite.

Because I was tiring of being somewhat disappointed in my most recent cupcake purchases, I decided to go with a sure fire delicious dessert- one of my favorite bakeries... Tart and Tufo.

I opted for the Cannoli flavored cake with cream cheese icing. The chocolate chips were a perfect compliment to the creamy filling.

If you're in Morristown, I absolutely recommend checking this place out.

Nom nom,

Kelly

the beachy cupcake

Flavor: Vanilla

Cost: $2.00 (approximately)

Location: Swiss Chalet Bakery in Morristown, NJ

Hola friends! Today was probably one of my favorite days of the year! Why, you ask? Well because it's the day AFTER the busiest day of the year (for me).

I went to my newest job today (at the wedding invitation shop) and couldn't wait to start designing again.

When my co-worker mentioned a trip to the local bakery, I casually requested that she please bring me back a cupcake.

She asked me what kind, but I told her I didn't care and anything (not peanut butter) would be great. To be honest, I was just curious as to see what kind of treat she'd bring back for me.

Well, she brought back this festive dessert that is a small reminder of what's coming up real soon: summer.

If it isn't already summer (I'm pretty bad with the official start dates of seasons), it's right around the corner.

This semester is coming to an end, and I'll be able to dedicate more time to work! (yes you read that correctly, I'm actually happiest when I'm busy and at work... real work, not school work).

Also, Cristofer's family lives down in South Jersey, so I can't wait to go spend sporadic days lounging by his pool and going to beach. Maybe I'll make a second attempt at surfing? (Last year's operation get Kelly up on a board ended with two very bruised knees).

Does anyone have any interesting summer plans?

As for the cupcake, although my co-worker had rave reviews about the bakery, I was somewhat unimpressed. The cake was a bit dry and the icing tasted like that fake 'whip cream' that was just too 'fluffy' and not enough flavor.

Since I'll be working across the street from it all summer, I'll most likely give it another try later on. Maybe it's just one of those dessert shops that taste better in chocolate!

Nom nom,

Kelly

the factory cupcake

Flavor: Chocolate w/ Cream

Cost: $0.50

Location: Nameless Convenience Store in Bloomfield, NJ

Irony- Some of the best novels in literature history use a dose of the dramatic element, and Alanis Morissette wrote a whole song about it. But when it happens to you it can sometimes just be unfortunate. Case and point: today's cupcake (if you can call it that)

No more then 24 hours ago (!!!) was I blogging about my appreciation for bakers to put TLC into their delicious cupcake desserts... when what happens? I get one that sat on a shelf for months, I'm sure.

Today was the single busiest day of the year for the marketing company I work for. I remember specifically thinking

"whatever happens, make sure you get a cupcake SOMEWHERE today. No matter what!"

Well, I arrived to Bloomfield today for my work a half hour early, so I went across the street to a convenience store that looked straight out of the '90s. I think it was the faded posters in the front window and the fact that they were so proudly advertising an 'atm' that gave it that 'vintage' feel.

Obviously I wasn't going to come across some homemade gourmet treat, so I settled for what I could find: A Little Debbies chocolate cupcake with the white swirl design and cream filling. YUK.

I really didn't like those things as a child, and quite frankly I'm not sure why I thought I'd like it now... but to no surprise, I didn't enjoy it.

I took two bites, and couldn't even give the rest away to my roommates. I think it's the fake whipped cream in the middle.

I don't know how they even consider these things cupcakes! (According to the wrapper, they are labeled as so).

Sorry for anyone who likes these... they just aren't my bag, baby. And sorry for the drab entry... it's been a long day.

Nom nom,

Kelly

the cupcake that contributes to my reputation

Flavor: Chocolate and Cheesecake w/ Chocolate Chips

Cost: $4.99/6

Location: Farmers Market in Allendale, PA

This past weekend, my sister Kathy went to a farmer's market in PA. When I saw her, she had a big smile on her face.

"I got you a cupcake!"

At that point, I smiled too. For the second time this week, someone brought me a cupcake because of this blog! I really enjoy writing it, but getting cupcakes from friends and family... well that takes the cake =) (ok ok, the puns are getting out of hand I know)

Anyway, she told me how when she saw the 3 bakery tables she felt compelled to find a treat to take home for me. However, most of the tables looked like they were closing up, so she bought a 6 pack of pre-packaged cakes.

They were actually pretty amazing! Cheesecake is always tasty, and the chocolate chips were a nice bonus.

The pack was labeled with the brand Kiffle Kitchen, and after doing research on the web I read they create all of their baked goods from scratch. Although I have no confirmation this is absolutely true, I love how so many bakeries create cupcakes with TLC :)

Since my sister gave me 5 cupcakes (she gave one to her boyfriend), I came home and shared 4 with my friends. They too enjoyed the dessert.

If getting free cupcakes isn't great enough, my friend Lisa called me this weekend and upon hanging up she ended the conversation with "talk to you later cupcake!"

Having a reputation as a cupcake lover is sweet...

(pun again, sorry :x )

Nom nom,

Kelly

the r&r cupcake

Flavor: Pink Sugar (scented)

Cost: $2.50

Location: Luxe Face and Body in Hoboken, NJ

Have I mentioned yet my living arrangements? Well they are as followed: I currently share a room with my boyfriend in Morristown. We have two male roommates and one female roommate. Between the five of us, there is one bathroom.

Believe it or not, it's really not that big of a problem. Rarely is there ever a 'line' for use of the lavatory.

The problem resides in the cleanliness of the room.... (I do what I can, but it's not a little hard when it's not my personal toothpaste stains in the sink... eww!)

Any who, on First Street in Hoboken (where as I'm sure you're coming to find I spend a lot of my time) there is a small cosmetic boutique (that, truth be told, I spend a lot of my Hoboken time in).

The girls that work there are absolutely adorable, and they too are now aware of my cupcake addiction.

Upon my most recent visit to the shop, I came across this 'mini cupcake bath bomb'. This non-edible homemade treat by Feeling Smitten fizzles and dissolves in a hot bath releasing a sweet scent. (I highly recommend checking out the website! Some of them are just too cute for words!)

Also, I heard that the ingredients are great for moisturizing skin! Perfect for the hot summer months to come B) <~ me in sunglasses

So therefore, the point to my intro- Although I purchased it and CAN'T WAIT to use it... I'm going to have too. Because this is certainly not the bathtub for such a luxurious experience.

Nom nom,

Kelly

the free cupcake

Flavor: Banana Bread Chocolate Chip/ Chocolate

Cost: Free! (it was a gift)

Location: Sweet Freedom Bakery in Philadelphia, PA

I've been working at the same fitness center for over 9 years. Ironically, I generally don't work out. Even more ironic, the owner's daughter, Becky, is a baker.

Becky, however, is no ordinary baker.

She is a vegan who works at a bakery in Phillie that caters to the unique diet.

After following my blog, she was kind enough to bring me a delicious treat from her job when she came up to North Jersey this weekend.

"It kind of got messed up in the car because the frosting is very sensitive," said Becky.

Oh, I thought. I'll be careful not to tell any sarcastic jokes? Curious, I asked her what exactly sensitive frosting was.

"It's made with coconut milk," she informed me.

After further educating me about the dessert, I found that all of the baked goods from Sweet Freedom are free of:

• dairy products

• casein

• eggs

• gluten

• corn

• wheat

• peanuts

• soy

As a vegetarian myself, I wasn't overwhelmed with the restricted ingredients... but then what the heck are they made of?

Besides love (aww), the baked goods are created with organic coconut oil, agave nectar, and other natural ingredients.

(For more info, visit Sweet Freedom's website.)

In addition to being good for you, these treats are perfect for children and adults alike with dietary restrictions.

"Seeing the faces of kids who can't eat certain foods... like watching them get their first cupcake, it's amazing," said Becky.

(I imagine it looks somewhat like mine every time I sit down in front of one myself.)

When I came home today, Cristofer's band mate/vegan friend Rhett was over, and I couldn't wait to share my new 'animal friendly' dessert with him.

Well, we both loved them. Delicious and sweet... and with the exception of the texture of the cake itself, you really can't tell the difference in taste.

I'm not even a big fan of bananas... but it was a perfect blend of chocolate frosting and chocolate chips with a hint of banana bread flavor that didn't overwhelm the palate.

Nom nom,

Kelly

p.s. Thank you Becky for donating the cupcakes for today's entry... you are a fantastic baker!

the nostalgic cupcake

Flavor: Red Velvet/ Cream Cheese

Cost: $2.25

Location: La Dolce Diva in Englewood, NJ

First, let me start off by saying

I had the best.cupcake.ever.tonight. period.

It came as no surprise my dessert was so amazing, as I purchased it from a bakery that I had previously visited.

I found myself in Englewood this evening, a town in North Jersey I used to work in. During my visit, I made a stop into the local cupcake shop across the street from my previous employer (that is now out of business... can we say '*sweet victory'?)

This was the bakery I had gotten my first red velvet treat from, so naturally I opted for the one I knew I would enjoy. I think the saying is: if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I also purchased a cupcake for my best friend, Chrissy.

Oddly enough, Chrissy now lives in an apartment complex I lived in for a year with my mother. So obviously, there was a sense of Deja Vu driving out there as well.

Before Chrissy enjoyed the chocolate one I bought for her, I gave her her first taste of red velvet cake. Needless to say, she was quite impressed.

"I think the icing was my favorite part... I was not expecting [it to be] cheesy, even though you said cream cheese."

Success! Another red velvet neophyte who loved the cake.

Maybe that will be my mission? To share the joy of red velvet cake with EVERYONE. Hear that? Go try the cake. TRY THE CAKE. It's delicious. ;)

Nom nom,

Kelly

p.s. thanks to Chrissy for taking the photo of tonight's cupcake. She's a professional photographer, so I feel honored to feature her work

*jar

the second chance cupcake

Flavor: Chocolate/Vanilla

Cost: $3.99

Location: Whole Foods in Madison, NJ

Today was all about second chances and forgiveness. My cupcake story parallels events that happened in my life today, but I'm not getting into the personal stuff [sorry, you'll have to buy the book for that].

What warrants a second chance? Is it trying to replace an original outcome? Or do we truly just believe things will change and evolve to a better state? Take for example, my Whole Foods experience- part deux.

It was my recommendation that brought Cristofer and myself to the bakery of the organic health food shop again tonight. The same bakery that sold me the god awful 'cornbread' cupcake. Luckily, the original miserable shop-help must have had the evening off.

The lady working tonight was a little more polite and pleasant, and didn't seem to mind my above average time frame it took to choose my treat.

I opted to go for another ritzy one, though this time with chocolate.

As we drove home, I have to admit I was too tempted to not try it. Was it going to be the same ill-fated dessert experience as the last from Whole Foods?

I am happy to report, nay.

The dessert was tasty. Moist cake, sweet icing, fun sprinkles. Yum.

Note: I will admit the oreo cookie was subpar. As what happens to most, it wasn't crunchy anymore... possibly from sitting on top of a cupcake in a damp refrigerated display case. That probably has something to do with it, huh?

Anyway, I guess my point today is this: even though something doesn't work out the way you'd like it to the first time... you can always go back and make sure you get chocolate.

Nom nom,

Kelly

the cupcake for a cause

Flavor: Funfetti!/ Strawberry

Cost: $1.50

Location: Montclair State University in Montclair, NJ

Before I tell you about my cupcake adventure today, something very serious[ly funny] happened this evening.

Of course I had been making jokes about gaining weight with all of my recent cupcake binges, and what comes shortly after impractical jokes? Why a fresh dose of reality of course!

Tonight, while I was bending over to pick-up my phone, I ripped my pants. (Yes, like spongebob).

Right - down - the -middle.

Now granted, the jeans were a little worn, but can I really make excuses? =/ I mean, I have pretty much been eating a cupcake a day for over a week now.

I think I'm going to have to reevaluate the best way about continuing this blog before I can't fit through the door.

Anyway, here is the story about today's cake:

It was only a matter of time before I passed a bake sale table, and today was that day...

Right before my French class on the first floor of university hall, two young ladies were sitting behind a counter with, you guessed it- cupcakes.>

Even though it put me about $0.75 in debt to my bff, I was happy to donate to a cause.

The bake sale was for 'Team Nicaragua', and to my understanding they were collecting money to fund a trip to the country to educate themselves about the lifestyles of the locals.

It was loud in the hallway as the girls discussed the program, so I'm sorry to say I don't know more about it. But to be quite honest, right now I'm a little more distracted what with this big ol' hole in my pants. Anyway want to go shopping this weekend?

Nom nom,

Kelly

the cupcake with deceiving looks

Flavor: Vanilla/ Chocolate

Cost: $1.50

Location: C'est Cheese in Morristown, NJ

It was another one of those "I'll try not to have a cupcake" days... as you can see from the photo, that didn't exactly work out.

Earlier today, I was leaving for my lunch break at work when I casually mentioned to the two ladies I work with I was headed into town. One of them requested a cookie or something equally as tasty. It was only a few seconds later when the word cupcake popped out of my mouth, and both ladies turned around and smiled [even the one who said she didn't want anything to begin with... ahhh the power of cupcakes ;) ].

So, I was headed over to my favorite dessert place in town when I realized, I still needed to eat lunch!

Local sandwich shop C'est Cheese is only a few doors down, so I figured I might as well eat something that normal people consider lunch before I rock out with a treat.

As soon as I walked through the door, my eyes immediately spotted: you guessed it, the cupcakes. For as long as I've lived in Morristown and as often as I've gone into this particular eatery, I had NEVER seen a cupcake there in my life! I obviously felt obligated to try one.

I did feel somewhat bad, promising my co-workers beautiful cupcakes from a bakery and realizing I'd show up with these little guys that looked like they were made in someone's home kitchen.

I told my story to the girl behind the counter and she laughed. She then told me about a story where she once ate a cupcake that looked really good, but it was lacking in taste. Then she said

"these are made from scratch."

At this point, my curiosity got the best of me,

and I wasn't leaving without one.

After all, I did kind of sort of learn my lesson with the CORN BREAD =/ ....

I didn't have my camera at work, so I knew I'd have to wait until late at night to enjoy the sucker...

Well, I just finished it, and I can honestly say: it was worth the wait.

The poor thing took quite a beating today, what with me walking around town with it and sitting in my car for a while (hence, the distressed-looking cupcake in the photo). But despite the less then model-esque appearance, I give it an A on taste.

My favorite part was the icing. It was creamy and melty and absolutely delicious. The cake was pretty good too, though nothing to write home about.

Nom nom,

Kelly

the bully cupcake

Cost: $8.49

Location: Kohls in Little Falls, NJ

(I found this picture on my phone from a while ago... and figured it's good blogging material for a day I'm going sans a cupcake)

When I was in high school, I wore my fair share of graphic tees.

While browsing through Kohl's department store about a month ago, I was reminded of my early 2000 fashion when I came across a wall of assorted comic t-shirts. My eyes were quickly drawn to the one that had a picture of a cupcake and read:

MUFFINS ARE JUST UGLY CUPCAKES

Thinking my best friend Chrissy would enjoy it as much as I did, I snapped a picture and sent to her. I received the standard 'lol' text back.

Well, clearly a lot more people enjoyed this one because it's sold out.

But here's what gets me: Apparently it was scratch and sniff?!? On a t-shirt?! Had I have realized this upon my first encounter with the blouse, I think I would have purchased it right there on the spot [though would it have ended up in my 'cupcakes i'll never use' collection? I guess we'll never know].

I'm not a big muffin fan... at all. Why have a muffin when you can have a CUPCAKE? Sometimes, you don't have a choice. You know what I choose at that point? Nothing.

But now I feel like I'm just being a bully too. I mean, that is one tough cupcake* (pun intended).

So muffins, I apologize for this shirt. And although I'm not one of them, there are plenty of people out there in the world who will eat you. I promise.

Nom nom,

Kelly

*Jar

the celebratory cupcake

Flavor:Mint Chocolate Chip

Cost: $2.50

Location: Tart & Tufo in Morristown, NJ

First, let me say happy week-iversary to my tasty blog! Thanks to all of my loyal followers and those who pop over sporadically to take a peak. I really appreciate the support =) .

I can honestly say, for the past 7 days, I have looked forward to the 20 minutes I spend a night photographing and blogging about cupcakes as much as 7-year-olds look forward to nomming on them at their classmate's birthday parities. Ok ok, nomming on them is also one of my favorite parts too...

So, today was the last day of my internship in Manhattan. And although it was quite the learning experience, it is certainly a relief to no longer have to spend money to go somewhere I wasn't getting paid to be... for 8 hours... twice a week... since January.

Also, a side note, I finished a very demanding and involved art history project today that's due next week to get it out the way.

Any who, whilst on the train and forwarding my 'internship complete' text to a handful of friends, one of my roommates, Brittany, was the first to respond back.

"Cupcakes and champagne tonight." No question mark. No questions at all, the girl can read my mind.

After dinner, Cristofer and I made a trip to the local pastry shop. It was raining tonight, but that didn't stop the determination I had to get my treat.

It only took approximately 3 minutes of internal debating before I opted for a mint chocolate chip cupcake. No particular reason, I really just wanted to switch it up.

So tonight, as Britt, Cristofer and I pop a bottle of bubbly and snack on our yummy desserts, I dedicate this little minty cup of yum to the end of an unpaid internship, the completion of a project and the persistence of sharing my cupcake passion every night for an entire week.

Nom nom,

Kelly

p.s. it is completely coincidence that I happened to get my cupcake tonight from the same place I got my cupcake from last Monday... but who knows, maybe this will turn into some sort of Monday tradition ;)

the cupcake i'm probably never going to use

Cost: $6.95

Location: Sages Pages in Madison, NJ

Back to Madison today! This time I ended up in a small bookstore (j'adore local businesses). Right next to the checkout were little decorative notepads, and upon spinning the rack I came across an adorable cupcake edition. The actual notepad itself is plain white paper, post-it size. It's the outer case that appears to be a delicious dessert, with sweet decorative 'gum drop' accents and a clear coat of glitter glue. To top it off [literally] a dye cut cherry stands out as a 3D element. But after I spent almost $7 and I was walking back to my car, I looked down at my recent purchase.

Did I need this? No. But do I need any of the cupcakes in my life...? Hmm, that's debatable, but for the most part, no. Did I want it? Of course. But am I going to use it? Probably not.

I can almost say I determined I wasn't going to use it even before I actually purchased the thing. It's too impractical of a size for any daily writing I do, and the truth of the matter is I find it almost too precious to carry around in my giant handbag because I'm afraid it'll get bent or even worse, that the cherry would fall off.

So my question is this: whether or not you have a blog, does anyone buy anything they know they most likely aren't going to use, just for the sake of getting that sense of 'this is totally me?'.

I suppose one could argue that I technically just added to my collection.

Either way, I don't exactly regret the purchase, I just wish I wasn't afraid to use it.

Nom nom,

Kelly

p.s. has anyone ever noticed that on most depictions/illustrations of cupcakes, a cherry is used to decorate the top... yet when it comes to actual cupcake treats, how often is a cherry ever found anywhere on the cupcake? Hmmmm...

the cupcake that taught me a lesson

Flavor: ... Cornbread =/

Cost: $3.99

Location: Whole Foods in Madison, NJ

Do you know when you're younger and your parents teach you not to judge a book by it's cover? Or when you're older and it takes you a while but you realize... expensive labels and ritzy things aren't everything? I was reminded of those lessons today, cupcake style. And contrary to popular belief, it's pretty tough to walk away from a lesson in life you had to learn through a bad cupcake experience....

Where do I begin? Cristofer and I decided it was a nice enough night to go driving for a 'find the perfect cupcake' adventure. While I suggested the local coffee shop, he was up for a good 20 minute drive, which brought us to the Whole Foods in Madison.

The woman at the bakery counter was less than thrilled with my 10 minute picking-out-a-cupcake internal conflict.

Here was the situation -

To the left: a simple, chocolate cupcake, with chocolate shavings on top- exactly what I was looking for to suffice my chocolate craving.

To the right: a seemingly vanilla cupcake with a beehive and bees decorating the top. The decision was tough, especially because I said said earlier this week cupcakes all need a little chocolate.

I also made a specific point to ask the ill-tempered bakery mistress 'are any of these cupcakes specific flavors?'

to which she replied 'no. they are all either chocolate or white cake.'

But I decided to go with the unique latter of the two, mainly to take a good picture and show it off here on the blog.

When I got home [after the photo shoot, of course] I was almost too excited to indulge in my tasty treat. I took a bite and...

....

...

:x

...

realized it was not white cake. It wasn't 'cake' at all. Cornbread. The damn thing tasted like cornbread. I felt miserable and defeated and clearly had no interest in finishing it.

But now that I sit here and blog, I realize one thing: my first bad cupcake experience is over.

It probably won't be the last (I'm sad to admit) but by the same token, I'll be more prepared to handle the situation.

As for learning a lesson, I think moving forward I'm going to go with the cupcake I want... not the one that just looks cool for a photo [unless that's the one I want ;) ].

Nom nom,

Kelly

the corporate cupcake

Flavor: Double Chocolate

Cost: $2.25

Location: Starbucks in Denville, NJ

Happy Friday! After a long day at my unpaid internship, Cristofer and I decided we deserved to go out for a nice dinner date. But even more then the dinner itself, I was most excited about dessert. After depriving myself of my favorite sweet treat yesterday, it was hard to think about anything other then enjoying a cupcake today.

So after dinner, Cristofer and I drove around Main Street in Denville. After failing to locate a local bakery or dessert shop in the area, we popped into Starbucks after I remembered recently noticing that the coffee house now served cupcakes.

There was one double chocolate cupcake left sitting on the display plate, and I melted. Pink icing. The chocolate cupcake had pink icing. It was such a perfect looking treat, the only way I could describe the color of the frosting is 'pink icing.' The little detailed pearls were a great substitute to ordinary sprinkles. This was a chic-looking cupcake. And it was mine :)

I was excited the actual cake was chocolate, because as of right now

I think every cupcake should have a little bit of chocolate in it.

Unfortunately, the dessert did tasted a little 'hey, I've been sitting on this shelf for a little while...'. Luckily, it was only a little while (or so it only tasted that way).

I was a bit apprehensive about what a 'chain' cupcake would taste like. Could they really be able to perfect or even remotely make an honest attempt at the craft of cupcake creating?

And I'm happy to say I wasn't completely disappointed. To sum it up, it was no better, or worse, then expected.

Nom nom,

Kelly

the inked on cupcake

Cost: $110

Location: Tattoo parlor [unknown]

I've concluded that my body (especially with swimsuit season coming up!) won't continue to be so forgiving if I eat a cupcake a day. So today, I finally took a break from my sweet addiction. It was quite the challenge, but thus far my only withdrawal side effect is being a little cranky.

Today, I spent the majority of my time on campus at Montclair. A photography professor, whom I shared my blog with, made a comment that 'cupcakes were for adolescents.'

I couldn't disagree more!

What's juvenile about a little cup of happy goodness?!?!

Personally, I think if adults ate more cupcakes they'd be happier! While in the cafeteria today (avoiding the sweets) my best friend pointed out the back shoulder of a girl standing in line.

My eyes widened as I found myself starting at: a cupcake. An adorable illustrated PINK cupcake was right in front of me.

I kindly asked the young lady if I could photograph the tasty dessert that she had tattooed on her back. The girl, named Stephanie, laughed and said sure.

My friend Sean was kind enough to take the picture with his fancy digital camera. I asked her why she got that particular tattoo, and she said "it's an inside joke with some friends back home."

Now while some might think it's a little extreme, I don't know if I've ever seen a tattoo I've adored more.

What do you think?

Nom nom,

Kelly

Special thanks to Stephanie for showing off her ink and Sean for taking the picture =)

the misleading cupcake

Flavor: "Caramel"

Cost: I'm not sure... it was a business expense from my boss

Location: Anthony David's in Hoboken, NJ

Seriously, I wasn't even planning on eating a cupcake today! In fact, I said 'no cupcake today' when I woke up. That didn't work.

This morning I had a business meeting with my boss. She asked me to meet her in Hoboken at this little breakfast place near Washington. While we were taking a break in between discussing important business lady stuff, I casually mentioned my blog.

"You know they serve cupcakes here," Kim said.

Well that's all it took. At that point, I felt obligated to get one! (Obligated in a good way, of course).

I opted not to get red velvet [which was REALLY REALLY HARD] and try something new.

The woman at the counter recommended "Caramel". Now, I put "Caramel" in quotes because the "Caramel" was not "Caramel" at all. Despite her honest attempt to classify it as something rather then vanilla, I am using my best cupcake flavor judgement to dispute that assumption. Either the woman had never enjoy this particular cake herself, she was misinformed or her taste pallet is off.

All-in-all, to me, this little guy was seemingly butter cream.

It was VERY rich and almost TOO sweet, but I still managed to eat 1/2 of it at 10:00am. The other half was a perfect substitute for my too-busy-to-eat-lunch today meal.

Nom nom,

Kelly

p.s. I have to admit I am quite fond/proud of the picture I took today. What do you think?

p.s.2. That's Kim's chocolate cupcake in the background! Yum!

the short and wide cupcake

Flavor: Red Velvet

Cost: $2.50

Location: Legal Beans in Hoboken, NJ
Ok ok I know I blogged about a red velvet cupcake yesterday but.... THEY ARE SO DELICIOUS! I wasn't even planning on enjoying a cupcake today! However, when I came across one while in Hoboken I couldn't turn it down. This was no average cupcake, oh no. It was SHORTER AND WIDER. Strange for a cupcake! None the less, it was delicious. A fun part of my experience today was sharing my special desert with a new friend named Christine who is from Denmark. She was completely surprised by the taste.

"I thought it was [going to be] fruity,"said Christine.

Bah hah! For Christine and anyone else who doesn't know, red velvet is just a variation of chocolate cake.In fact, there's a whole history of red velvet cake for anyone who in interested.

Nom nom,

Kelly

p.s.- The photo from today was taken with my Canon Power Shot camera. I figure by taking the pictures with that you'll get a closer representation of how they really looked rather then the ones from the camera on my BB. =)

the first photographed cupcake

Flavor: Red Velvet

Cost: $2.50
Location: Tart & Tufo in Morristown, NJ
Red Velvet cupcakes are my absolute favorite!! I had my first one last summer when I worked across the street from a bakery, and needless to say I was hooked.
This little gem was $2.50 and had cream cheese icing and red sprinkles. Though I'm impartial to the sprinkles, the icing was perfect.
The cupcake was fresh and moist and even more delicious with every bite.
The best part is they gave me a customer loyalty card, so after I buy 9 the 10th is free! I wonder how long that will take...?

Nom nom,
Kelly