Laughter, Joy, and Sprinkled Cupcakes

My best friend, and best brother, are celebrating birthdays, today and tomorrow.  Here, for your delight, are photos of my favorites:

Anna, my bestie, is 30-years-young today.  While my baby brother, my only brother, Patric, is 17 tomorrow.  

(FYI:  I'm right behind Anna.  I turn 30 in five months.)

And I'm wishing for the pair, because I love them so, happy days filled with laughter, joy and sprinkled cupcakes.  

(PS - I feel like Patric should still be three.  Where's the time gone?)

Justin Rosé and the Golf Club Sandwich

Tomorrow, in honor of this year's British Open, I'm preparing my golf enthusiast husband a hole in one meal.  It's un- FORE -gettable...

For lunch, I'm serving:

Gillian's "GOLF CLUB" Sandwich

Recipe yields 1 serving

Ingredients:

3 slices bacon

2 slices Ciabata bread, pressed

2 tablespoons avocado with sea salt, black pepper and evoo

½ ounce alfalfa sprouts

3 slices (1 ounce) cooked deli turkey breast

3 slices (1 ounce) cooked deli honey ham

2 slices tomato

Red onion, thinly-sliced

Directions:

Place bacon in a heavy skillet.  Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown.  Drain on paper towels.

Spread each slice of Ciabata bread with avocado.  On one slice, place bacon, alfalfa sprouts, tomato, red onion, turkey and ham. Then top with the second slice of bread.

In keeping with the golf theme, I'm also serving "chip it in" chips with sweet chili and sour cream.  However, if you'd prefer a more healthy side, you could offer lightly-dressed greens instead.

For dessert, I'm serving:

Martha Stewart's "TEE-TIME" Cupcakes

And as a treat for myself, for working so hard, I think I'll have a glass (or two) of  "JUSTIN ROSÉ."

Have a great weekend!

Open Your JAWS!

In keeping with the week's beach theme, I decided I would get my toes wet... in the kitchen.  And, this recipe was just perfect!

That said, open your JAWS for a sweet summer BITE, or two...

The only variation to the recipe, aside from using boxed cupcakes and store-bought buttercream icing, are the gold sand sprinkles I used in place of graham cracker crumbs.  I prefer the crunch!

Easy-to-make and fun to decorate, these seaside cupcakes will keep your hungry lil' sharks at bay!  Happy SUN and SAND!

 

The Sister of Sam.

Let me introduce Aksel's lil' boy chum and BFF, Sam.  You might also recognize handsome mister as the partner in baby crime at the top of my blog.  Regardless, he's adorable!  But, Sam has a sister...

First of all, I must explain why I'm writing about Sam and his sister.

To start, I talk about all things BOY, blog in and blog out.  What you don't know is that I'm something of a girl's girl, and I hope with all my heart to add a princess to our family mix.  Someday, that is.

(As a side note, I can feel my husband's discomfort at the second baby mention.  Also, if I only ever have boys, I'm one lucky lady!) 

Back to what I was saying though...

So, I need and want to share a little GIRL talk (or photos), and I can't think of a more gorgeous girl than Abby, the sister of Sam.

By the way, Abby gives the best hugs!  Her energy is infectious, too!

PHOTOS by Jabberpics

The Princess and the Frog...

A vote would really make my day!

I ♥ Cupcakes!

I confess:  confections, cupcakes, and candies cloud my conscious thought, day in and out.  So pardon me for saying, this one's SWEET!

I mean, my giveaway:  i ♥  Cupcakes!

This week's prizes are designed locally (in Charleston, SC) by Lulu's Market.  These and additional products available at Sprout Boutique.

Rules for submission below.  Enter now to win...

(1) I ♥  Cupcakes Onesie

This adorable Lulu's Market selection is in a 12 months size.

(1) Too Cute Cupcake

This cupcake is a Lulu's specialty.  See more felt food here.

Words for the contest-wise...

Don't be polite.  Satisfy your craving, and gobble this one up! 


TO ENTER:

* Up to four ways to enter (leave a comment for each entry):

1. "VOTE" for Baby Talk without the Babble by clicking on the TopBabyBlogs icon below:

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          Remember:  You MUST leave a comment after each entry!

• Contest will be open until Midnight EST on March 20, 2011.
• Contest winner must have a US or Canadian mailing address.
• The winner will be randomly selected (from random.org) and announced online. Please check back to see if you won, or leave your email address with comment. The winner will then need to provide their name and shipping address by contacting: babytalknobabble@gmail.com

Judy's 'JUST-THAT-EASY' Icing!

As I said earlier, my get-fit mind has been in the CUPCAKE gutter this last week.  So, I thought it only appropriate I purge my sugar sins by sharing GRAMMY's divine frosting recipe.

Bear in mind, I'm new at this whole cooking thing...

Judy's 'JUST-THAT-EASY' Icing!

Ingredients:

1 c. milk

1 small pkg. vanilla instant pudding

¼ c. powdered sugar

1 8 oz. Cool Whip

Directions:

Mix milk and pudding on low for two minutes.  Add sugar ~ then Cool Whip.  Remember cake or cupcakes need to be refrigerated.

I hope you enjoy Grammy's Cool Whip quickie.  I know I did!

Read more food here.

Aksel misses his Grammy & Pop Pop already!



Sweet Dreams

I'm inspired by candy.  ROCK candy, no less.  I love the colors, the crunch, the taste.  This talk of confections leads me to a dream...

I want, in my lifetime, to throw a PARTY in a candy store!  And, what a SWEET one it'll be!  I envision cocktails rimmed with sugar treats, cotton candy by the pound, and frocks in shades of Wonka hues.

In Candyland...

We'll mingle with some Nerds, and then sit for a feast of saccharine delights.  Candles glowing.  Bottles popping.  Flowers in our hair.  We'll celebrate 'til our tummies hurt.  'Til our teeth ache, gloriously!

It all seems silly, right?  But, that's the point just there.  SILLY fun!  While I'm at it, I think I'll watch this classic to up the candy ante...

Oh, and before I forget, sweet dreams!  Thanks for reading mine!



Please vote!

Basmati Rice Rice Baby!

My boy loves Indian food!  He's my basmati rice rice baby.  Since I'm on the subject of rice, I have a few additional thoughts to word. 

Not rice.  Same food zeal though!

Bear with me, I've been thinking!  Here goes nothing...

Being a good wife and mother really boils down to knowing your strengths and weaknesses.  So, I'll share a weakness.

For one, I can't cook.  I mean, I don't cook...

But really, I shouldn't ever cook!

I made rice once, and my husband reprimanded me for stirring it.  Then, for not putting the the lid on.

Funny enough, I even read the instructions to be safe.

As a side note, I'm thinking this might not be the best admission, seeing as we own a restaurant, but thankfully, my husband is a natural.  Besides, when he's not feeling motivated, there's a whole kitchen full of eager chaps ready to create my plate's desire.

Enough now with the weakness bit.  On to a strength..

Frankly, I'm most kitchen inspired by the colorful displays at Williams Sonoma and cupcake decorating kits.  

This leads me to a talent... PARTY PLANNING!

For one, I'm great at outsourcing.  I'm also crafty, but really, I know and realize that true beauty lies in the detail, and let me say, I respect the details.  Too much sometimes.

PHOTOS by Jabberpics

For party planning tips:  babytalknobabble@gmail.com