A beautiful day in Burlington, VT

Rainy morning

I don't like waking up to the pitter patter of pouring rain. It makes me want to roll over and go back to sleep.

Rainy July

I love listening to the pitter patter of the rain when I lay down to sleep. It's calming and soothing. Good Night.

"How To" of the day

Wikipedia provides a daily "How To" highlight that I haven't been paying much attention to lately. I happened to notice it on my iGoogle page today.

This one, everyone needs to know "How To" make:

How to Make Smore Cupcakes

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Smores don't have to be created on an open fire and enjoyed between graham crackers. This unique and delicious recipe will create yummy smore cupcakes.

Ingredients

Cupcakes

• 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
  
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted
  
• 1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
  
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  
• 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
  
• 1/3 cup graham cracker crumbs
  
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
  
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
  
• 2/3 cup milk
  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
  

Chocolate Fudge Frosting

• 150 grams semi-sweet chocolate, cut into pieces
  
• 1/2 tablespoon butter, at room temperature
  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  
• 3 tablespoons milk
  

Marshmallow Frosting

• 1/3 cup cold water
  
• 2 tablespoons unflavored gelatin
  
• 1 1/2 cups sugar (you can just use 1 cup if you wish)
  
• 2/3 cup light corn syrup
  
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
  
• 1/3 cup water
  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  
• Vegetable oil cooking spray
  

Steps

Chocolate Fudge Frosting

1. Create a double boiler.
   
2. Add the butter, vanilla, and chocolate pieces in the top boiler. Mix all ingredients together until fully combined.
   
3. Allow to cool and use when ready.
   

Cupcakes

1. Combine the cup of graham cracker crumbs and 1/4 cup melted butter. Scoop a heaping tablespoon of the mixture into each cupcake paper. Press down to cover the bottom of the lining. Set them on the side.
   
2. Beat the 1/2 cup of butter on high speed until soft or for about 30 seconds. Add in the brown sugar. Beat on medium-high until light and fluffy for about 3 minutes.
   
3. Add eggs one at a time. Beat for 30 seconds after each. Set aside.
   
4. Mix the graham cracker crumbs, flour, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl.
   
5. Measure out the milk and vanilla in a separate bowl.
   
6. Add the flour and milk mixture to the butter and sugar mixture. Beat to combine.
   
7. Fill cupcake cups with cake batter; about 2/3 to 3/4 full.
   
8. Place muffin tins on the middle rack of a preheated 350 degree oven. Bake for 20 to 22 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through. Cupcakes are done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
   
9. Remove the cupcakes and let it cool down for 20 to 30 minutes.
   
10. Use a knife and cut a hole into the cupcakes. Fill each hole with chocolate fudge frosting. You can put the top back on to prevent the marshmallow frosting from seeping in.
    
11. Top each filled cupcake with marshmallow frosting with a greased spatula.
    
12. Decorate with chocolate drizzles and graham cracker crumbs.
    

Marshmallow Frosting

1. Pour the 1/3 cup of cold water into a bowl of an electric mixer. Sprinkle the gelatin and let the mixture soften for 5 minutes.
   
2. Place the sugar, salt, corn syrup, and 1/3 cup water in a medium saucepan. Cover with a lid and bring to a boil. Remove the lid and swirl the contents until the syrup reaches 238 degrees F on a candy thermometer.
   
3. Whisk the gelatin mixture on a low speed and slowly pour the syrup in a steady stream down the side of the bowl. Running down the side avoids splattering.
   
4. Gradually raise the speed to high and beat the mixture until it's thick, white, and almost tripled in volume. This may take up to 12 minutes to achieve.
   
5. Add the vanilla and beat for 30 seconds to combine.
   
6. Use the marshmallow frosting right after beating.
   

Tips

1. You can also heat a little bit of milk in a saucepan and then melt marshmallows in the hot milk, stirring frequently, to make marshmallow frosting.
   

Related wikiHows

• How to Make a Cupcake Cone
  
• How to Transfer Cupcake Batter from the Bowl
  
• How to Make Green Tea Cupcakes
  
• How to Make Nutella Frosted Cupcakes
  

Sources and Citations

• Original source of article, shared by Anjelikuh, Smore Cupcakes. Shared under a Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 3.0 license.
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Make Smore Cupcakes. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

TCHO

I could really use a TCHOspresso right now.

I think Pops would buy into this health plan: TCHO-A-DAY.

Alas, today, as with most days at this time, Swiss Miss hits the spot.

Dreamy napping spot

Near the Edgartown lighthouse. I swear it was just 3 o clock!

A and I are enjoying the Vineyard life this weekend!

Gummi O's

My favorite snacks of the week have been Gummi Bears (picked up at the movie theater and saved for later) and Trader Joe's O's (a lot like the Cheery kind, but different).

Have you ever really squished a Gummi Bear? I know we all squish them and pop them in our mouth, but have you looked at the squished Gummi Bear? It's so cute! When you squish the head down and the feet out, the tummy pops out. The Gummi Bears I bought had little paw prints imprinted on their feet. Adorable! I squished the ears down and it looked like a puppy dog. Cute little bear. The red ones are the cutest. I actually sat at my desk admiring different squished Gummi Bear positions. I took some pics with Pearl, but she couldn't focus well enough to produce a bloggable image. Just get some Gummi Bears and watch what happens when you squish them. You'll enjoy it. Try bouncing your fingers while squishing them...the bear becomes animated. Gummi Bears, a simply basic, excellent treat.

I've been snacking like a 2 year old on Trader Joe's O's this week. Today, my O's kept falling on the floor. I accidentally stepped on one leaving a squashed crumbly mess. Sam was worried the others who fell to the floor would be terrified by seeing the squashed mess. I agree. If you were an O, and you've taken a terrifying 3 foot fall to land by dust which was an O, wouldn't you be scared? I cleaned them all up, as best I could. Hopefully next week's O's won't be scared.

Drilled and Thrilled

A described his day on Wednesday as "Drilled and Thrilled". He started the day by having cavities filled at the dentist (drilled) and we ended the day by seeing Harry Potter 6 at the movie theater (thrilled!).

The latest Harry Potter flick is most excellent! My gripe with #5, which A and I saw on the night we were officially engaged, was that it went too fast. Each scene was action packed. I didn't have time to appreciate the characters or the significance of the scenes because the movie was so busy. #6 was much easier to appreciate. The teen relationships potrayed in the movie and the acting is scrumptiously entertaining. For a book considered gloomy by many people, the movie had the theater laughing most of the time. It was great! Go see it! I wish I lived in a magical world.

Scrumptious Crafts

Our pals Sam and Kristen are super crafty. I can now officially vouch for it since I've seen Sam's loft filled with the entire stock of a Michael's store. Well, they have sooo much fun with their crafts and are sooo incredibly good at everything crafty, they've gone into business. Check out
We are Kindred Spirits. They are just getting going, but if you need a new handbag, necklace, cabinet decorations, anything, they can do it!

I am experiencing symptoms of excessive Wii-ing. This includes soreness of all arm and back muscles used in throwing right hooks and left upper cuts.

We had a great time at S and J's Saturday night!

Tall Ships

The tall ships are in Boston this weekend from all around the world! The last time they were here was 2000.

A and I are about to climb aboard the Picton Castle.

Scrumptious Gardening

our tomato plants have tiny little starts of tomatoes!

the impatiens are flowering beautifully!

Mr. Basil is abundantly flavoring our meals!

Illy has a fuzz problem. I don't know what to do, but the flower part is all fuzzy and gross. I think an alien might emerge one day. It just needs a few more days to incubate.

Quacktabulous!

Last weekend, A and I flew to sunny California to celebrate Mom's birthday. Coincidentally, it was also the nation's birthday. We enjoyed a wonderful day in San Francisco:

• Dim Sum (yum!)


• a walk along the water from Pier 1 past Pier 39 to Fisherman's Wharf


• a tour on SF's Bay Quackers Peking Duck vehicle which included a ride in the bay with great views of AT&T Park during a Giants game and a lot of quacking (Quack Quack!)


• Kara's cupcakes and Ghirardelli ice cream sundaes (great combo!)


• chowder in a bread bowl


• strolling down Pier 39


• In N Out burgers


• a dual show of fireworks!!!


• more cupcakes

We couldn't have asked for better weather. We all had a great time with lots of laughs (and good eats). Photography credits for the below picture from Pier 39 go to my Sister. Thanks for strolling with me!

Boston Public Garden

most fun work outfits

We talked about the most un-fun jobs....

The other day I was walking behind someone in scrubs and thought. That would be a great outfit to wear to work everyday. comfy (maybe a little cold in some buildings), no thought involved in terms of style, just put it on and go.

I tried to think of something that would top this: a baseball uniform? yellow rain jacket and rain pants? the UPS brown outfit? hot dog on a stick colorful hat?

Nothing could beat it. I would most love to wear scrubs everyday (for work) and save my "stylish" clothes for evenings and weekends...

scrumptious updates

• As I've gotten to know Illy a little better over the last few days, I've learned a few things about her. She is a GREAT listener. She doesn't drink water very fast. She thinks Armando is hilarious. (He's the bamboo plant she lives next to). It's great to have Illy around.
• I just finished reading the book My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. What an adventure! I recommend this book highly. If you're an emotional person, or pregnant, make sure you have a box of tissues handy for the read.
• Jake stopped by and stayed at the Bartshire B & B during his Bike and Boat tour to Maine. It was a Bonanza! We hope he makes it to Maine and has a great 4th. We had a great time visiting with him last night. It was a great reason to try the Afghan restaurant we'd been meaning to get to. Well, the culinary arts school wasn't open for dinner, and the thai place is closed for the week, so all signs lead to the Afghan restaurant. We really have been meaning to try it, we just have a hard time passing up the scrumptious thai food next door. (I didn't even purposefully use the word Scrumptious there...it came naturally) The Afghan food was delicious. I had trout with eggplant and rice flavored with walnuts and dates. We shared an appetizer of pumpkin that tasted like candy!
• The Red Sox had a very troubling game last night. Sometimes watching that team can be stressful. I'll say this: They keep it interesting for their fans! (Red Sox lead the game against the Orioles with 9 to 1 in the middle of the 5th...After an hour and a half rain delay...in the seventh inning the Orioles powered through our entire bull pen! They scored two on Papelbon in the 8th to bring the score to 10 (red sox) to 11 (orioles). We couldn't recover in the top of the ninth. So tough!