Funfetti Time

I finally had some free time to relax, unwind and bake! I ended up baking Funfetti cupcakes. They were actually stars and stripes Funfetti, but the only available Funfetti frosting was the chocolate flavor. Anyway, how fun is it to bake Funfetti?!?! I had fun and they turned out sooo good!

This is how I have been feeling today...

I wish...

... I was on a beach in Hawaii with a drink in hand. 

Thoughts: 

I just thought about how I come back home in need of another vacation just to recover from the vacation I just had! I can never seem to pick up right away. I'm sure I'm not alone on that one. 

Some photos from my Hawaiian vacay during 2008 Thanksgiving break. 

   Taken on the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort side.

Diamond Head Crater

Waikiki beach at sunset

 

Little Lambs

Boo Boo always did remind me of a lamb. Don't you think?

Sense and Sensibility: Why Willoughby, why???

I just got through watching the 1995 film version of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility. It was on HBO while I was dabbing here and there with mechanisms I needed to know. It slipped my mind how much I enjoy this movie and it has been ages since I last read the book. Jane Austen books/stories sure have a way of making me fall for them, hook, line and sinker.

The pivotal scene when Marianne Dashwood slips and twists her ankle and becomes utterly enamored by the handsome, young and dashing John Willoughby who rescues her. Although her affections are precipitated by Willoughby, it is sad that he turns out to be the villain we love and hate in the end. Poor Willoughby will always be punished knowing he sacrificed his happiness with his one true love to the passionate, impulsive and high-spirited Marianne for money. Well, times were tough in the regency period if you have no fortune. But the heart is greatly warmed knowing the noble, honorable and older reserved Colonel Brandon can mend Marianne's heart in the end. 

I was thrilled to find out about Willoughby's Return  by Jane Odiwe. It would be interesting to find out the events after the marriages of the Dashwood sisters.

Here is the description from Amazon to the dramatic sequel to Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility:

Three years after the conclusion of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, domestic bliss is not always easy to achieve. Colonel Brandon's responsibilities for Eliza, the daughter of his first love, regularly take him away from home, and Marianne's passionate, jealous nature threatens to rock the foundations of their marriage.

Now Willoughby and his wife have returned to the West Country. When Brandon is called away, Marianne meets Willoughby at a dinner and feels herself once again succumbing to his charm. The more she sees him, the more she's in danger of giving in to her passion. Willoughby has everything to gain in driving a wedge between them. Will Brandon realize in time that his passionate young wife's feelings of neglect may drive her into scandal? Can Marianne find the courage to turn her back on her first love? Or is it too late to save themselves and their marriage?

Toasty Meerkats

"We are chilly!"


Photo taken from cuteoverload site.

F21 and John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.   - John 3:16 (KJV)

Ever looked at the bottom of a Forever 21 plastic bag? 

Every F21 bag has John 3:16 printed on it. I noticed this many years (more than a decade) ago, probably during my first purchase from the store. I'm bringing it up because as I was cleaning up, I noticed Morty was sleeping on top of the bag anad the John 3:16 was peeking out from underneath her big belly. I also read somewhere that In-N-Out Burger prints John 3:16 on the inside of the bottom rim of their cups and their hamburger and cheeseburger wrapper points to Revelation 3:20. 

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.   - Revelation 3:20 (KJV)

I'm sure all the Jesus haters out there are annoyed by the religion on packaging, but it clearly shows how deeply religious these owners are. So to believers out there, next time you unwrap that tasty burger, or sip on that refreshing beverage, or when you make that clothing or accessory purchase under $22.90, perhaps those subtle reminders can help to engage you in a moment to reflect on those important verses to yourself. 

Feline Wanted List

Have you seen these 3 hooligans?

THESE 3 CATS ARE WANTED FOR THEFT OF THE BASIC BLACK CAMI AND FOR LYING AND WITHHOLDING INFORMATION TO THE WHEREABOUTS OF THE BASIC BLACK CAMI THAT WENT MISSING ON MAY 15, 2009.

UPDATE: I am thrilled to report that my missing black cami was discovered today!!! I knew I didn't leave/drop it anywhere or lend it to anyone. I actually found it after one of the cats knocked over my tree bark pen and pencil stand and I was forced to clean up the mess. The cami was found behind my bookshelf actually tucked underneath the flat bracket of the bookshelf. The cats are directly responsible for the missing cami because they use the bookshelf as a ledge to perch themselves on the windowsill so they can scope out the birds or just be nosey. Not only do they use the bookshelf to assist them to the windowsill, but they love to sleep and play on the stack of books and papers I have sitting on the bookshelf. Often times I have a tendency to toss my clothes on top of the stack. I always see them wrestling on top of the bookshelf or knocking my books down and scramming all at once (even the ones not directly involved in knocking my stuff down). Well, cats will be cats. I'm just so glad that I have my basic black cami back. I have purchased 3 black camis since it went missing but none of them provided me the same comfort and feel as my beloved cami.

Purple Violets

"I don't want to be sad, 'cause being sad sucks." (quote by Debra Messing in Purple Violets)

One night when I was staying up late to study, I took a much-needed break to snack and zone out and turned on the television and started watching 'Purple Violets' a film by Edward Burns on HBO. The movie was the first feature film to premier as an itunes exclusive in 2007.

I LOVE this movie! I have my favorites and this is one film I would certainly not get tired of watching over and over again. I did like 'She's The One', but I like this Burns film a whole lot more and think (IMO) it's one of the best addition to his collection. I also enjoy watching Patrick Wilson films (the memorable Raoul from Phantom of the Opera, the pedophile in Hard Candy, and the Mr. Mom in Little Children), but it was the soundtrack that sealed the movie and made it to my list of favorites.

The soundtrack by P.T. Walkley and The Blue Jackets complimented the complex characters throughout the film while intertwining their lives into a story that flowed beautifully enough to get me hooked and made me forget I had to 1) refill the pet water bowl and 2) absorb some new information I had to study for. I don't have the soundtrack yet, but I really, really, really want it. It's kind of rare to find a movie and score that fits together perfectly like the movie 'Amelie' for example, but this is one of those movies that actually do find harmony between the two.

Here is the trailer for the movie:

May Birthday Celebrations

The month of May brought landmark birthdays for two of my favorite Geminis, Sonia and Marisol. And not to mention, it was also Morrissey's birthday!

Sonia

Sonia's Memorial Weekend Birthday started off early in the day over at Karel's followed by German Beer (Spaten beer for Sonia and I) and appetizers at The Red Lion Tavern in Silver Lake.  We then ran across the street to the Cha Cha Lounge in Silver Lake for their famous $3 bloody mary drinks. Then off we went to our dinner reservations at Red Corner Asia for some absolutely delicious Thai food and then wrapping up the end of the night at The Echo for Part Time Punk's special Morrissey night. I was beyond exhausted after that weekend but it was so much fun reuniting with the girls again. 

Sonia, Karel and me.

Birthday girl Sonia.



A scrumptious dinner with friends. L-R: Vik, Nina, Karel, Sonia, Sarah, Amy, Cari and me.

Viktor and Nina.


Equal parts off key, laughing, yelling and drunk singing Happy Birthday to Sonia. 

Coolest vending machine ever at Cha Cha Lounge Bar. Not only did they have Cyndi Lauper trading cards with a stick of gum and Teenage Mutant Ninja trading cards, but they also had rice cracker snacks *and* pregnancy tests. How fitting to sell pregnancy tests at a bar. I would say you are getting an awesome deal under $10 with $3 bloody margaritas and $6 First Response preggers test.


Marisol

The following weekend was spent celebrating Marisol's 21st birthday.  We started off with dinner and drinks at the Cat N' Fiddle Pub and Restaurant in Hollywood before dancing the night away at Bang. No sight of Morrissey for you hardcore fans, but I did enjoy my vegetarian shepherd's pie and the company that night. A few of us couldn't end the night without chowing down on some really late night Thai food. Yes, I know, Thai food again, but we were in Hollywood and you can count on Thai restaurants to be open late since we surprisingly were not craving bacon wrapped hot dogs or nachos.

Shown below: Mr. Cat and his fiddle.

L-R: Christian, me, Maria, Marisol, Albert, Toni and Olivier.
Probably dancing to Kanye, Lady Gaga, T.I. or Rihanna at this point.
Birthday girl Marisol and Albert.
Karel wanted a photo of her heels and another girl sporting wild animal print heels *and* black leggings = twins.
Karel and I out in the patio.

Christian and Karel.
Albert, Marisol, Toni and Olivier.

Mandatory parking structure photo op before going to Bang.

Xio and Froseen.
Group photo courtesy of Maria's new camera.