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