First Look at Cupcake Books: Martha Stewart's Cupcakes and Cupcakes from the Cake Mix Doctor

I had wanted to do another product review post first, instead of posting about these cupcake books, but it would seem I've been blocked from some sites and my internet is shaky, so I didn't want to risk spending all that time and effort posting and then have it not go through or something. So I'll post on these two books first to let you know that I'm not quite dead yet.

I'm a bit too lazy to put up the cover pics, so you can google or refer to my previous cupcake post.

Martha Stewart's Cupcakes: I really liked how this book has a picture of every single cupcake. I know a lot of people are like "well are you buying the book for the pictures or the recipes?" but honestly, to a total amateur like me, the pictures really help because now I know what it is that I'm supposed to be striving for. It'd help more if it had pictures of every step too, but I guess that's asking too much. I was really upset that I didn't see the recipe for the cupcake on the cover of the book. It's probably just a devil's food cake with a chocolate frosting, but I would've liked to see it say somewhere in the book "this is the cupcake on the cover" because that's what made me want the book. I'm a sucker for packaging. That's what makes me want to buy something. On TV it's not the strange ads that makes me want to buy the burger, but the picture of the juicy burger itself turning and sizzling *drools*.

Since I'm not an avid baker, it didn't make sense for me to buy the whole book since I'll probably not like half the recipes (they'll be too sweet for me). So I checked it out of the library (I found out that my library card still works after 3 years and that I had a $1 fine from 2007, lol). Then I just took pictures of the recipes that I thought I would like. Some of these included the Triple Citrus which was just so cute looking, Ginger and molasses (I've started developing a liking for the ginger's kick- but I hope the molasses isn't too sweet), and the Roasted banana (again, the decorations >.<). And she also has this one magnificent looking strawberry cupcake. The icing is swirled on top like it would look if you had strawberry softserve ice cream. Definitely gonna try that.

And one last thing that I appreciated about the book is that the recipes for the frosting all say how much they make. It sounds like a given, but seriously, I am grateful.

I didn't realize what "Inspired Ideas" meant until I read a description of one of the cupcakes. I guess MS just took cupcakes that she learned from various bakers and put them in here too.

Cupcakes from the Cake Mix Doctor


This book has a lot of yummy looking recipes. I also like how the author puts in little boxes with ideas. Like if you were going to have a little girl sleepover party, all these other foods would be good on the menu. She also tells you how to store everything, which is super helpful.

The two things that really bothered me was that for some reason the directions looked super long. Even if it starts off with a cake mix. Martha Stewart's were all basically just one page. A lot easier on the eyes. And the  other is that there weren't pictures of that many cupcakes. So I had to use my imagination. which is defective. The pictures that she did have though made the cupcakes look absolutely wonderful.

I'm excited to try her red velvet with peppermint candy and white chocolate curls cupcake. It's the pretties thing ever. She also has a number of others that I took pictures of (since the paper's not glossy, I didn't have to worry about flash, hehehe). I wanted to make the trifles (strawberry and a blackberry one I think) for my fellowship group, but they both call for whipped cream, and I guess that wouldn't last through 2.5 hrs. Guess I'll just eat that myself.

Oh! And something that's really fun that she included is cupcake horoscope! I thought it was just gonna be a really super general one, but I was surprised that mine was pretty accurate, well up until the cupcake suggestions (I did not think those sounded appetizing). Give it a try! Click to make readable.

Calling All Freebie Lovers!

I'm excited to share with you my experience with PGBrandSampler.com. Months ago, I've even forgotten when, I signed up for this program and saw that they had a current offer so I thought, "why not?" and picked out my choice of the revamped pantene line. Today, I was told, "you have a package downstairs". A package? Who from I thought? And it turned out to be from the sampler program! XD Imagine my surprise. I'd completely forgotten that I signed up for this, but here they are, my 1.7oz conditioner and shampoo samples.

Many people don't like pantene, and I personally don't buy it when given a choice, but a freebie? hey I'm not one to turn down a decent freebie.

I've yet to try them and at first I was like, "why did I pick the one for thin hair?" and then I realized, oh it was probably because I was thinking my hair is more damaged? I dunno.

They also customize it so that your name appears on the ad brochure insert. wow, lots of money to spend I guess. When I think about it, P&G makes a lot of products that we use. From chips (pringles) to detergent, to shampoo!

Something I like is that they don't spam you with emails or something like other companies do. At first I was hesitant to sign up because I thought that would happen, but I think I've only gotten 1 email or so and it was about the revamped hair care line.

One thing though, don't expect to get them anytime soon, as I said, it was so slow in coming that I forgot about it O.O.

AND IT'S BACK!! Review: Clio Blushes

Hi Hi! So after a long long wait, here I have it! My review of two Clio Blushes that I got in my GMarket Haul. Last night I decided to retake pictures after viewing the old ones because I just thought they didn't do them justice at all.

There's just something about blushes in cute packaging that gives you a sense of joy when applying them. Well, it makes me feel like a pretty princess anyways.

The blushes come with the plastic protector and brushes as pictured above. The Clio brushes imo are a little bit softer than the Banila Co ones (review to come later also).

The blushes themselves both have glitter sparkles so if that's not your thing then you'll want to give these a pass. #2 is a super pigmented cool shade, you seriously won't need more than a little dab for each cheek. The #4 is a dusty rose color with the sparkles being the gold part. #4 is much less pigmented and the more you try to apply the more you'll just cover your cheeks with golden glitter. All in all, I'd have to say that #2 is my favorite of the two (like many other buyers have found), but I also still really love #4 at the same time. Even though it's not as pigmented, it gives a naturaler look and is good for the summer glow look (perfect because it's summer here right now).

Something that really surprised me was that one day I accidentally flipped them over in my hand and the whole block of blush just fell right out! I was like O.O and quite stunned. Still, it didn't bother me much because I just popped it back in and the blush was still as usable as always. ;)

These are one of my happy buys and I highly recommend them for your collection. 

Pics: I took them with flash and it's sooo hard to get the color to show, it all got washed out. I even covered my whole cheek in a thick layer of blush in an effort to get it to show the color somewhat.

#2 I glomped on. In real life I look like the sunburnt baby of a clown.

#4, has a much more natural look- hard to mess up. If you look closely you can see the sheen from the glitter. I just want to note that it is visible in real life- the color. The Banila Co. blushers on the other hand would look like this picture in real life, just a sheen and not much color.I'd say the colors of both are a lot closer to real life if you look from the bottom of your screen upwards (makes the color darker)

Slice of My Life

Sorry that I've been away for so long, and yay for readers. As much as I want to deny it, having people read my blog really does make me happy and encourage me to blog.

So my pics for my other half of reviews are stuck on my laptop which has internet issues, my apologies. Therefore, I thought it might be kind of interesting to do a random gathering of stuff happening in my life.

For instance, CUPCAKES!!! I absolutely suck at baking, to the point where my parents have banned me from their kitchen (my family has a thing about not wasting, so even if it comes out inedible tasting you still have to eat it, and they're sick of eating my strange creations). But apparently I do ok with box mixes. Not sure what it is, but I guess the makers of boxed cake mix have figured out some super secret formula that allows you to succeed no matter what. Or at least that's my theory. I actually am not a big fan of boxed mixes though because I always find the cakes to be too sweet. I hate things that are too sweet- I don't eat the icing on cupcakes. Salt all the way, yay yay! BUT as they're about the only thing I can make (along with boxed brownies, can we have applause for Ghiradelli?), I've become obsessed with making cupcakes.

I haven't actually made any yet in a while, but I watched so many youtube vids (It started from wanting to make fondant cakes- then I remembered how bad they taste, then the related vids led me to cupcakes) that I've practically brainwashed myself.

I started from wanting to decorate cupcakes really pretty, which sent me to oogle at books like Hello, Cupcake! to wanting them to taste good and look pretty. After about two days, I've finally narrowed down my cupcake book wants to 7 of them. They came out to be about $100 (little less) so I decided to see if my library has them, and they have like 3 of them! but the only thing is that 2 of them are already checked out. I wanted to scan them so I can have recipes for when I get back to school.

The book I'm MOST interested in right now is 101 Gourmet Cupcakes in 10 minutes. They always use a cake mix box as a base, so I should be able to pull it off. And it seems like they have a lot of yummy recipes, like the Pink Lemonade cupcakes, which I know you can find online, but I figure it'd be easier just to get the book and have the whole lot, it's like $10.

And exciting! the book Cakes to Celebrate Love and Life went down $3 since I put it in my shopping cart! It's supposed to be really good, but annoying with the units. We'll see.

I'm planning on making some about September..worlds away, but I'll definitely post on how it goes. If you have any of the below books, let me know how you like them!

I was going to put more in this post, but then...I've forgotten them all X_X got too excited about cupcakes.

These are the books I'm interested in: on the hello cupcake cover, I'd prolly go ahead and peel the small cupcake so that people can just eat it without having to take it off and peel it. That's just me though

Enjoy your day!

Shopping at Loehmanns and Goldfish Sadness

     I thought I'd take a break from product reviews and do a slice of life post. So I went to Loehmanns a little while ago to take advantage of the Birthday discount. While I was there, there was a sizeable line of people waiting for dressing rooms. As I was standing in line waiting, I observed for about 5-10 minutes the actions of various customers, and they truly appalled me.

    People handed the dressing room workers clothes which were turned inside out, upside down, and every which way.  Clothes would often be handed to them without hangers. Swimsuits especially grossed me out. Just thinking about how people wear those things naked, then hand them back to you in such a way as to force you to touch the parts that came in contact with who knows what. One lady handed an employee something that looked like a bra, but could have been a swim top or something. The way how she handed it back- it could've been a dirty used bra from the looks of it- the clasp was undone, and it was just nasty. The employee asked her, "This didn't come with a hanger?" to which the woman replied that it did not. Personally, I find that a bit hard to believe, unless she had just picked it up in the dressing area itself. The employee also handled it like a dirty piece of laundry, with two fingers, and rightfully so. My eyes are still a bit scarred from that incident alone.

     Then there are customers who try to lie their way in, saying, "Oh i'm just going to my friend in there" with a handful of clothes. When it's revealed that their friends aren't in the dressing area anymore, their true motives are revealed and end with "Oh, well i'm just going to try these on".

    That day I also forgot to print out my coupon which made me incredibly sad. Luckily though, when I got to the cashier, I found that they could apply it if you just give them your phone #/ membership information. yay!

And onto the Goldfish sadness. The family goldfish of 11 months finally passed away one day suddenly. I suspect it to be a combination of the bowl being too small (it grew quite a bit), being fed too much, and forgetting to add water conditioner drops into the water. That's 14 fish that we've killed in the past 2 years. I think Peta must be getting ready to take me out.

I want a betta. Right now, there's memorial day sales too on them! The only thing is, I'm not too sure my parents would allow me to get one. With the tanks, foods, water conditioners, filters, heaters, etc etc I think it would rack up quite a price...and if it just up and died too...well that would be really sad. I also like the Black Moor Goldfish, I think is what it's called. The almost dark black ones look so wonderful. Only thing is they require quite the large aquarium, and I just don't have that much room.

Oh, and quick note about aquariums. If you only want a tiny classic goldfish bowl type, don't buy them at the pet stores, they're extremely pricey (~$8). Instead go to a craft store and get them for $4. They're made of thick glass. I didn't buy one for our fish since I'd already gotten it a bowl. but just for those out there who are looking.