Happy Anniversary

It's the one year anniversary of A Cupcake Chronicle. I didn't have time to blog today, so this picture of a cat wearing a hat will have to suffice...actually...I'm going to write, goddammit, even though i'm tired because this blog is THE BEST.

A Cupcake Chronicle started with a notebook.

Now it contains silly posts on cupcakes filled with obscene vulgar language from yours truly. I've thought about toning it down a little bit because, you know...my mom reads it and all and I'm trying to start a little baking business...but who the hell cares! It's been great to have a creative outlet, especially with writing since I was only used to writing papers in college and angst-y journal entries in high school.

Stay tuned for more cupcakes and other exciting happenings. I've been going on some baking adventures and I'll document them soon. Thanks, readers, for a wonderful fabulous blog year!

<3<3<3

Vacay!

I flew down to Atlanta to visit Adrienne & Nate for a few days to get out of grey Chicago and enjoy the sunny south with some sunny friends. So, I got up at 4:00 am, ran to the bus, got on the el, got on the plane, sat next to a lady reading a book written by Russell Simmons on how to get rich, and hopped into a car with beautiful Adrienne blaring Best Coast.

I WAS STARVING.

But Adrienne is awesome and she took me straight to the ORIGINAL Soul Veg on the south side of Atlanta. I went BALLISTIC.

LOOK AT THAT. QUICHE. CORNBREAD. MAC. YAMS.

After Soul Veg, hugging cats was on the agenda.

Baby Rar

And Baby Perl.

Livin' in their baby world.

Singin' all their baby songs.

About noooooooobody.

And nooooooothing.

We also went to a gallery opening where Adrienne's friend, Aubrey, had his amazing embroidery work exhibited.

I finally finished my super secret sewing project! A "Welcome" garland for Nate & Adrienne's new home! There are two panels for the cats - Baby Perl (the timid cat) & Baby Rar (the mean cat), a Ru Paul "W", a mushroom "E", a hand "L", a cupcake "C", a donut "O", a bling monster "M", and a button "E". It took a lot of love, time, work, and felt to complete this project. Please click on the picture to see the enlarged picture and all the detail I included! I'll make you one for $$$...seriously.

Adrienne and I went to The Center for Puppetry Arts. We saw a puppet show called, "The Body Detective" and made skull puppets with the children. I got to see puppets that were in the Labyrinth and saw a display on the show Dinosaurs (that show was legendary!). Ah! That place was so amazing and if you're ever in Atlanta, you have to go!

I HAD to go get some vegan sweets while I was in Atlanta, so Adrienne & Nate took me to Southern Sweets. Their strawberry shortcake cake and chocolate raspberry mousse cake were out of this world.

I love my friends.

Happy Vegan Birthday to Me!

Today was my vegan birthday. I'm four, ladies and gentlemen, four vegan years old. I found this picture that was recently taken at my friend's valentine's day party, and I feel like it's very representative of my vegan birthday. First of all, i'm wearing a big bow that says "I'm 4" in puffy paint, also, i'm holding a cat wearing a fucking bow tie. Yep, that pretty much sums up my journey thus far as a vegan.

Brenda and I celebrated my vegan birthday by making some vegan shrimp cocktail...well...not really...but I guess I just don't know what to call it. We mixed tomato, onion, cilantro, lime, valentina hot sauce, kethcup, tvp chicken, and avocado and placed it all on top of a tostada. It was really good...I ate 4...which is a lot, but I had to because I'm 4 vegan years old.

I also made myself cupcakes to share with my friends...it also gave me an excuse for people to sing me happy birthday and to blow out a candle and make a wish. If having an extra birthday wish isn't enough of an incentive to become vegan...I don't know what is. I made a chocolate cupcake with coconut whipped cream and shredded coconut topped with a chocolate almond cluster. It was pretty damn good.

But in all seriousness, it has been an awesome 4 years. I've learned a lot, volunteered a lot, figured out my niche of activism, met a ton of amazing people & animals, and have eaten/cooked a crazy amount of amazing food. If anything, I've become more aware of my surroundings - discovering the impact that my food choices have on myself, those around me, the animals, the earth, and other social justice issues. I've been enlightened by so many animals - particularly those I've nursed at shelters, visited at farm sanctuaries, and my own domestic animals - and I can't wait to meet more inspiring animals that provide me with a humbling perspective.

Enough sentimental yip yap, i'm gonna go eat a cupcake.

Want s'more pie?

puns..make the world go round..so does this freakin' pie.

Now this is what people should be eating around the campfire.

Last night, the dream boat had a pie party and there was this giant bag full of vegan marshmallows and I got to take some home. Since I've never made anything with vegan marshmallows, and pie was on the brain, I decided to make this smores pie tonight. It's pretty yummy, but the marshmallows are like chewing through a freakin' leather shoe...so i might just chop them up and sprinkle them on top next time...or use some of that marshmallow creme they probably sell overpriced at whole foods.

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