Boat Race Saturday

I had been looking forward to going to the Boat Race this weekend for awhile. Every year the rowing teams from Cambridge and Oxford Universities compete in London. It's an all day drink-fest with tons of college aged kids and food and beer tents galore.. It was reported to have a quarter million people lining the Thames banks to watch this year!




Oxford was in the lead at the half-way! Boo. I was rooting for Cambridge! Oxford won. And the reminder of the night was full of pints and good times.

-katie

A Proper Girl's Night

What's the plan for the 4 day weekend ahead? After a brilliant idea from a girl in the office, most of the ladies agreed, it was time for a night out.. no boys allowed. Dresses, heels, and over five bottles of wine! Thursday night out is becoming my new fav. Can't wait for round two soon.





Friday was spent sleeping in and having the best hangover lunch on my own. BBQ for alittle taste of home. :)

-katie

Shop til you Drop!

My weekend plans were very straight forward. Shopping! I started early on Saturday morning to get ready for my day in the Oxford St./Soho/Bond Street areas.. My biggest goal, find and do some damage at Primark.

I had heard so much about Primark before even leaving the States (thanks to Taylor!) and I wanted to finally see what it was all about. Well, tip to any girl that likes to shop but hates the crowds and waiting.. DO NOT go on the weekend. That place was a zoo. Once I found some cute items that I wanted to try on, I figured I could find one of many dressing rooms. WRONG. One dressing room for over 100 ladies with carts of clothing. One look at the line and I gave up. Get me outta there.

I went to TOPSHOP, and loooved it. Found shoes I loved, bought them in a size too big (all they had left), then promptly returned them when I came to my senses. So sad.

Basically after 5 hours of nonstop shopping, all I came home with was a black jean skirt, a shirt, some black tights, and two realllly sore feet. But I loved it!

I'll remember to take pictures next time.. :)

-katie

Orange Wednesdays

I know I haven't updated in awhile, but no apologies here. I'm just out and about and living my life!

Last night I went to see a movie in the Canary Wharf area. All Orange cell-phone users in London get a 2 for 1 deal for movie tickets on Wednesdays, so it was packed! I saw I love you Phillip Morris. I haven't laughed so much in a long time! I LOVED it! I highly recommend it (to all non-homophobes)!




Any one else love this movie?

-katie

The Flat

Here it is... THE flat. I have taken pics to show off the actual place, and not just the apartment's website pics..

This is the entrance to my flat, a little hallway. Let's go for a tour..
Make a left to the unseen door if you need to use the loo


Next stop, my cute little bedroom..



Then my fav, the living room and kitchen..

Theres my place! Home sweet home for the next 4 months! :)

-katie

Week One in London

It's already been a full week of London living! I can't believe how quick that was! I can already tell I am going to LOOOOOVE it here.

On day one, I had a great taxi driver from the airport to my new residence. My flat, to my surprise, was even better than I had imagined! (And yes, it looks almost exactly like the pictures in my previous post!)

My first weekend was full of meeting new people, and exploring my small corner of London. hen a week of work, and I'm back to this weekend. Hooray!

Today I plan on running to a park close by, it's so cute, and watching the soccer players makes me wish I brought my cleats! Add it to the "Hey mom, could you mail me ......." list. I have a feeling this list will grow, so maybe I'll wait a week before any requests are made.

Later I have a thrift store shopping date with a new friend. She is also new to London, so fingers crossed, I have a great new friend to explore the town with.

I'll leave you with some pictures. The park I'm headed for right now, and the reason I am running there! yummm..

-katie

pack pack pack...

This weekend was fun, crazy, and a great time to see all my friends before I head acrossed the pond. Fun times at the bars, a girls night dinner party, and some shopping with the bestie. Great times, and even better friends!

I can't believe its this time already.. but my bed is covered in shoes and clothes. Packing day! I'm super proud of myself for starting this early. I have been guilty of waking up the day of my flight and just throwing everything I own into suitcases.. not this time!

I don't want to pack anything boring. Plus I want to have an excuse to buy all kinds of new stuff. But I caved yesterday and bought a new outfit to take with me.. I just loooved this jacket from Express!

I need to start saving my money for H&M and all the cute thrifty shops!

Back to packing... what absolutely needs to make it into one of my 3 suitcases??

-katie

Austin!

Went to Austin last weekend for a fun getaway with my friends. The second we were on UT's campus I was such a hater, but the people were nothing but nice, and the food and bars were awesome.

Highlights:
- the fun drive there with patty pants
- Round Rock Outlets shopping
- seeing Lew
- meeting new friends!
- Malaia! by far one of the funnest dance clubs I've been to.
- unplugging the dj at Malaia
- waiting for the E bus
- the themepark that is Whole Foods

(Yes the dance floor does have a retractable roof!)

Good times had by all! Now it's time to party Norman style.. then mayyyybe packing..

-katie

PS. Went to Burberry for THE jacket... they had it! only in sizes 12 and 14! boo :(

Prepping

So, with barely 2 weeks to go, I'm starting to go crazy with my London to-do lists..


1. Packing!.. No way, not for atleast 13 days..
2. Find a reasonable way to charge/pay for things. (My Discover Card will not be accepted most places there, and my debit card has ridiculous foreign currency fees!!)
3. Find a really cute trench coat for all those rainy days.
4. Cancel my phone's data plan, car insurance, memberships, etc.. for the next 4 months.

Ok, no one else cares about this.. but it's all I've been doing now that I have a plane ticket booked!



I want that! And it's my birthday soon, so please.. buy it..(for me!)

-katie

London Living!

So, I'm getting more excited everyday that I'll soon be on my fun work assignment. I'll really be taking one for the team by living in London for 4 months...

Here are the pictures of what my temporary flat looks like on the website. (*fingers crossed it will be like this in real life too..!)

2 weeks and 2 days.

-katie

Superbowl Cupcakes!!

I had a Superbowl party to attend this weekend, and couldn't show up empty handed! I wanted to make super cute toppers with each team's symbol on it, but the fleur de lis is next to impossible to make super cute with fondant...

The circles were not bad.. White and blue (vanilla on vanilla) for the Colts, and black/yellow (double chocolate fudge) for the Saints! yumyumyum! Enjoy :)

-katie

London Bound

In about a month I will be living and working in London! My wordless Wednesday a few weeks ago was my subtle way of being excited, but now I'm really really excited! Today I got my work permit approved, soon I'll get to buy a plane ticket and see pictures of my future flat..

Same company, same job position, just 6 hours earlier..!

Only thing I am NOT looking forward to... Packing!

-katie

Peanut Butter Twist Cookiecups!

I made miniature versions of the Peanut Butter Twist Cookie Cupcakes that I made a month ago. I thought 40 minis of these would last... not even close.

Click here for the recipe and pics. (And also one of my favorite baking blogs)

-katie

farr vah.. fav ra.. FAVRE.

Looks like I'm not the only one who loved "Pants on the Ground"!!

Wordless Wednesday

New Year, New Blog Direction

So the football season wasn't what we all expected, which it made it that much harder to keep posting about all the losses. The cupcakes were still made and brought to the office, but... the blog went under.. quickly!

BUT, it's a new year! And I'm keeping the blog. Hopefully sprucing it up, and we will see where it goes.

Happy baking and happy new year!

-katie

The 2009 CUP AND FOOT MOVIE AWARDS

Since the Sooners had a week off this last weekend, I too have decided to step out of the cupcake factory for the week. This week all awards are going to be movie based (since movies and cupcakes go hand in hand), I will give out the award and since I have been unsuccessful in contacting the recipients of the awards, I wrote out their acceptance speeches on their behalf (you’re welcome). It’s award time…”Bring it on!”

Matthew McConaughey would love to present this one, it’s the “How to Lose a Game in 10 Days” award. Accepting this award on behalf of the Miami Hurricanes is Canes’ quarterback Jacory Harris. “Hello, first off I would like to thank the academy for letting us have 10 days to prepare for a team and still be able to lose. I just wish things were a bit easier for us, ya know? Maybe if we could just run around on the beach without shirts filming movies (pause for laughter)…Anyway, we will be prepared to play the Sooners, we get a full 7 days this time, so we won’t be surprised (Look perplexed when there is more laughter).”

Now, for the “Varsity Blues—I don’t want your life” award. Accepting this award on behalf of Tim Tebow is Jesus. “The mightiest of the mighty hath suffered a horrendous fate. Whilst the angel I hath sent to protect the chosen one slippeth out to find a room of rest, the wrath of an unblocked linebacker and the knee of the unsuspecting shall thwart the progress of the head of the holy toward the earth. So I say unto thee fair Tebow, let not yourself be disheartened, find comfort in me and another trash bag in the hands of a trainer whilst young males in the Philippines long for your return so more circumcisions can be performed”… Thank you, thank you Jesus. Wow, what just happened?!? Not sure where that was going, but we’ll be right back after the break (pause with awkward smile at the camera).

Welcome back! Alright, here to present the next award is Jim Carrey. “Thank you, thank you. I reheheally am honored to be here. The winner of the “Dumb and Dumber…Harry your hands are freezing!” award is….the Penn State Nittany Lions! Accepting on their behalf is the head coach of Penn State, Joe Paterno, alrighty then!” Joe: “Well, I am trying to learn what Twittering is. I thought that was what happened when you see a girl in high school. Anyway, the white out didn’t work for us. We’ll see if we can’t find a way to pay everything back to our fans. Right now we have a suitcase full of IOU’s, those are as good as cash (look lost, push up glasses, walk off stage).

Finally, accepting the “John Wayne rough tough and not going to take sh*t from anybody” award is head coach of the University of Oklahoma football team. “Well, certainly, I don’t appreciate questions about Sam not going pro. I gave him all the information I could in regards to the draft and he wanted to stay. I’m not here to defend his choice. I find this entirely disrespectful, thanks for the award.”

That is all we have time for today, please look for the “standard” cupcake awards to return next week!

~Steven

Double-Dark-Double-Dip Peanut Butter Cuppies

Hi all you cupcake eating/football watching friends out there,

Thanks to this weekend being a bye week for our Sooners, I caught up on some much needed sleep. And bought some nifty cupcake gadgets! Like a new piping bag and new muffin pans! I know, exciting, right!?

Anyways, on to the good stuff. Last week’s treat for the office… The Double-Dark-Double-Dip Peanut Butter filled Cupcakes! Yum. They took some time in the kitchen, but worth it. Make sure you bring milk next time, ‘cause these were over the top chocolate. Some might say “too much, too much” (including me), but I got more positive feedback on these little cuppers than any before!

Let’s take a look at some testimonials..

“It was pretty fantastic.” – Adam

“omg! Freaking awesome job on the cupcakes!!!” – Steven

“This is the best cupcake I’ve ever had. In my life.” – Chaun

“Double-Dark Peanut butter filled cupcakes = Awesomeness in a paper wrapper!” – Crystal

And my fav… “those cupcakes are the dope bomb diggity! THX!” – Tribble

Excellent! Thanks guys!

DOUBLE DARK DOUBLE DIP PEANUT BUTTER FILLED CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES!

Ingredients

3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons cocoa powder (not Dutch process)
1/2 cup boiling water
1 cup buttermilk
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 sticks plus 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup creamy peanut butter
2/3 cup confectioners' sugar
1 cup heavy cream
8 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350° and position 2 racks in the lower and middle third of the oven. Line 24 muffin cups with paper or foil liners.

2. Put the cocoa powder in a medium heatproof bowl. Add the boiling water and whisk until a smooth paste forms. Whisk in the buttermilk until combined. In a medium bowl, sift the flour with the baking soda, baking powder and salt. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat 1 1/2 sticks of the butter with the granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the eggs and vanilla, then beat in the dry ingredients in 2 batches, alternating with the cocoa mixture. Carefully spoon the cupcake batter into the lined muffin cups, filling them about two-thirds full. Bake for 20 to 22 minutes, or until the cupcakes are springy. Let the cupcakes cool in the pans for 5 minutes, then transfer them to wire racks to cool completely.

3. In a medium bowl, beat the peanut butter with the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter until creamy. Sift the confectioners' sugar into the bowl and beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Spoon all but 3 tablespoons of the peanut butter filling into a pastry bag fitted with a 1/4-inch star tip. Holding a cupcake in your hand, plunge the tip into the top of the cake, pushing it about 3/4 inch deep. Gently squeeze the pastry bag to fill the cupcake, withdrawing it slowly as you squeeze; you will feel the cupcake expand slightly as you fill it. Scrape any filling from the top of the cupcake and repeat until all of the cupcakes are filled.

4. In a small saucepan, bring the heavy cream to a simmer. Off the heat, add the semisweet chocolate to the cream and let stand for 5 minutes, then whisk the melted chocolate into the cream until smooth. Let the chocolate icing stand until slightly cooled and thickened, about 15 minutes. Dip the tops of the cupcakes into the icing, letting the excess drip back into the pan. Transfer the cupcakes to racks and let stand for 5 minutes. Dip the tops of the cupcakes again and transfer them to racks. Spoon the remaining 3 tablespoons of peanut butter filling into the pastry bag and pipe tiny rosettes on the tops of the cupcakes.

Picture Time!!

Lookin good!

peaceloveandcupcakes.

katie

Coming soon: German Chocolate Cupcakes!! nomnomnom...

GameDay Fashion

We have a new contributor!! Introducing, the poem writing, blog inspiring.... Christine. She'll be keeping us all up to date with the best and worst in GameDay Fashion. So get ready!


One can go pretty much anywhere in Norman and find some sort of OU paraphernalia. Campus corner is like the Holy Grail for OU anything, for this post we’ll be focusing on the different attire available for Sooner GameDay.

All of the t-shirt stores on campus corner have the same boring options. Don’t get me wrong a t-shirt is perfectly acceptable if you’re a guy. But if you’re a girl like me, I prefer dresses and skirt options. A t-shirt will be fine if accessorized correctly, you can’t show up in a t-shirt looking like you just rolled out of bed. A t-shirt is cute if paired with a cute American Apparel skirt and adorable flats from Shoetopia. This girl, Krista White, got the t-shirt look right at the OU vs. BYU game in Dallas.


A t-shirt is also acceptable when it’s fitted and paired with a great pair of jeans, like Patti Zumwalt did in Seattle last year for the OU vs. Washington.

The first few games have much more options for apparel since the weather is warm. One can wear a dress, tank top, shorts, skirt, and sandals there are plenty of options. Here are a few of the best warm gameday outfits I have seen.




I unfortunately forgot to take pictures of bad gameday outfits. I saw so many, but felt bad taking the picture. I wasn’t sure I could lie and tell the person I liked their outfit and wanted a pic of it for the blog. So I’ll just describe to you what merits a bad gameday outfit. Shorts that are too short, a baggy t-shirt, a red that’s a little more orange than red, cowboy boots that are too tight around the calf (causing a calf muffin top), and sometimes jerseys. A jersey has to fit right and must be paired with something girly so as not to confuse the girl wearing it with a dyke. I’m sorry but you know if you saw a girl in a jersey, ponytail, jeans and tennis shoes you’d think the same thing!

Next time I promise to take pics of the BAD.

xoxo
Tine.

Tomorrow on cup/foot: Double-dark-double-dip peanut butter filled chocolate cupcakes! mmmmmmm...yumyumyum!

Cupcake Recap - Tulsa

Hello cupcakers,

Here is a recap of this last weekend in college football! As always, we start with the Sooners:

Landry Jones looked pretty good against a Tulsa defense that wasn’t stellar, but wasn’t that bad either. Landry racked up 6 touchdown passes as defenses across the Big XII gave a collective sigh. I’m sure they thought was OU would be crippled when Bradford went down, now they have seen the guy on the bench has the potential to have a statue on the east side of Memorial Stadium. 5 cupcakes Landry….5 cupcakes and Big XII player of the week.

Mr. Tennell, I know you don’t read this, but I feel for you. The coaches have seen something in you that we have not seen. The only thing you have treated the Sooner Nation to are dropped passes that could haunt you the rest of your career. Please pull out of your funk…or sit on the sidelines. You are frustrating all of us. ½ cupcake

Defense, oh defense…nicely done! You have recorded a nice little shut out for the second week in a row! A few things went your way (dropped passes), but you still held together. A shutout is a shutout, so let’s go ahead and award 4 cupcakes!

Now to the national level: First off…what a game for Nebraska! They did great and couldn’t stop a late minute drive to preserve the win on the road. Anyone nervous for the Sooner trip to Lincoln yet? What about going to Lubbock? Tech looked really good against a crowd of 100K shorthorn fans and a texas team that had not been tested all season. By the way...nice job texas, you jump out of the nobodies, play tech (get officiating help for the win), then jump right back in to stealing from the bakery (this week vs UTEP --the mighty miners), you get a doughnut, zero, zilch, nada.

Game with most hype that will not even be a game -- texas tech versus houston, in Houston. After grasping defeat from the jaws of victory in Austin, the Red Raiders will not be surprised by the Cougars (like maybe a team just north of Norman was). The crowd is smaller than it was in Austin and houston just does not have the athletes....this game gets the "Cupcake Mirage" award.

Best game of the week to watch will be the Miami vs Virginia Tech game. Virginia Tech is coming off a narrow and draining victory over the Cornhuskers just to welcome a Miami team (who has had longer than usual to prepare) to Blacksburg. I just don't think that Va. Tech will have enough in the tank and this one will go to Miami...which leaves the 'Canes undefeated heading in to their home matchup with the Sooners (and a 7 o'clock kickoff time that hasn't been announced yet). This one gets the "Last Bite of Cupcake" award (the last win for the 'Canes before losing to the Sooners).

Finally, I couldn't end the blog without a tip of the hat to the Huskies up north. Knocking off an SC team that god fielded himself was no easy feat (disclaimer: the view that "god" fielded the team in no way represents a deity at work, it is merely a reference to the fanatical love that ESPN gives to the beloved men of Troy anytime they beat a mediocre team). This game earns the "Gallagher Award" (for smashing the big ole' cupcake).


Until next week...
~Steven