This week’s fun find is Mary Esther’s Baby Cakes. I met Jessica, the owner, this past Sunday at Tami’s Sip and See. Jessica gifted each guest with one perfect Red Velvet cupcake. Mmmmmm, yummy!
Everyone loves red velvet cupcakes
And let me tell you, they were luscious!
Jessica is so special that she doesn’t have website, so I am letting you in on the secret – because I love you so.
Prices start at $15 for one dozen minis and you will not believe the variety! OMG, listen to a few of the types of cupcakes Jessica is baking up for you:
• Apple Chai
• Apple Pie
• Bailey’s Irish Cream
• Caramel Pretzel
• Chai
• Cheese Cake
• Choc. Covered Strawberry
• Chocolate Truffle
• Coconut
• Crème Brulee
• Cookies & Crème
• Cookies & Crème Cheese CupCakes
• Drumstick
• Kahlua
• Lemon Drop
• Lemon Meringue
• Margarita
• Mochaccino
• Molten Chocolate
• Nuvo Red Velvet
• Pecan FrenchToast
• Pina Colada
• Pink Champagne
• Pink Lemonade
• Tiramisu
• White Chocolate Mousse
Oh, wait – don’t see one you love? Jessica will custom bake your favorite. How fab is that? AND she provides FREE delivery in the metro Atlanta area. Ohhhh whee!
You can find Jessica and all the news on her Baby Cakes here on Facebook.
Um….did I just read Caramel Pretzel? Oh, yeah, I’ll take a dozen!
As promised, here is the behind the scenes story to supplement my article in this month’s Design Is Magazine in my column, Living The Ritz Life. A magazine only allows so many words, but on my blog, I can blather on forever. So, if you want to hear the whole story about our stay at The Lodge, here you go.
Imagine a place where all your cares melt away at the door. A place where the phrase “my pleasure” actually means “my pleasure.” Imagine a place that is a retreat for the soul as well as the body.
A short one and a half hour drive from downtown Atlanta takes you to such a retreat. The Ritz-Carlton Lodge at Reynolds Plantation is close to the big city, but a world away.
The Ritz-Carlton Lodge at Reynolds Plantation
Arriving on a sultry Friday evening, this lodge of the well-heeled looms into view only after turning off the beaten path of Interstate 20. At the front door, friendly valets dressed in ivy caps, knickerbockers and argyle socks, ala golfer Payne Stewart, greeted us. Check-in was seamless and the weekend was now underway.
As we entered the club-level guest room, a roughhewn box on the hallway table caught my eye. Inside the box were graham crackers, Hershey bars and marshmallows, all the fixings for s’mores at the complimentary evening campfire. There were also notes welcoming my husband & me along with a jar of delicious spiced pecans (with the recipe attached). The king-sized bed was dressed with crisp white linens and the softest down pillows. Two wooden chairs and a table on our balcony ensured a view of the lush greenery.
Eric reminded me that I had an inkling to start a blog when we were in Los Angeles. I thought you all might get a kick out of a couple of those vintage posts.
From November 23, 2008.
Tonight we finally made the pilgrimage to L.A. from Santa Monica to Pink’s Hot Dogs for one of their legendary franks. After standing in line for an hour and ordering up, we enjoy our meal alfresco – a pastrami-swiss dog with fries and a coke for me and a chili dog and a sauerkraut, tomatoes, mustard and bacon with onion rings and a coke for Eric. Consuming the dogs took no longer than 10 minutes, I’m afraid.
Of course we had to check out the bathrooms – they serve over 2000 hot dogs a day and I was feeling brave. Although I took no photos of the bathroom, it was spotless. This was a well run operation.
So if you are in Los Angeles and craving a piece of history and have at least an hour to kill, get yourself a spot in line at Pink’s Hot Dogs and remember – cash only!
From yesterday’s post you know that Sunday was fashion day. It ended with Victor’s fashion advice, but started with some lovely bags at a “Sip and See” hosted by my friend Tami at Talking With Tami. Tami always gives the most fun parties and since I had missed a few of them, I decided I could not miss this chance to see her at brunch, hosted by Parker’s On Ponce in Decatur.
We all gathered to fete Tami’s friend Lori, CEO of Mocha Moon, makers of lovely travel bags and totes. And you know I love a tote.
And brunch. How I love brunch. There were yummy mini quiches, luscious pastries and some of the most decadent whipped cream coffee I have ever had. Also super tempting was the sparkling pink lemonade (and if you know Tami, everything has to be pinktastic – and it was!)
As always, I met some of the most remarkable women. Dang, we have a lot of fab folk in Atlanta!
What a wonderful weekend we had! Friday night we had dinner at Shaun’s (more on that tomorrow), slept in on Saturday and went to have our passport renewal photos taken (lots of trips coming up!) and Sunday saw me at two events, which is unusual for me, but they were both so packed with fashion and fab folks that I couldn’t pass them up.
One of those parties was at the home of my fun friend Elizabeth. Our friend, style-maker Victor was there to give tips on what to do with those fashion pieces in our closets that stumped us.
But first, a tour of Elizabeth’s adorable cottage. It is so her – fun and sweet and whimsical. I loved it!
It’s still pretty warm here in Atlanta, but in the early morning, I can feel a bit of Autumn trying to peek out.
Which convinces me that Fall is just around the corner. Almost.
And Halloween. Halloween is less than six weeks away. Halloween means candied apples. This year it means Amy’s Gourmet Apples. Look at these babies:
Photo Courtesy of Amy's Gourmet Apples
They are huge! And there are all types to choose from. Oh my goodness. I need them all. Well, maybe not need, but want. Definitely want.
Sure, you could make your own, but if you have no inclination for dealing with the mess of piping hot chocolate, this would be much easier.
Wouldn’t they make a swell hostess gift? Or a gift for that hard-to-buy-for boss? Or for yourself? Or for me! Yes, they would make a lovely gift for me.
And since they’re apples, that must mean they are healthy! You can get one of your daily fruits in for the day.
Rationalization is a wonderful thing.
Now, excuse me, I must go purchase some of those apples.
xoxo, Patti
Today blogging to Glen Campbell and Bobbi Gentry – Little Green Apples
As you may have guessed, I am still recovering from the paella party. Still. My goodness.
Eric and I did make the time to sneak in a trip to the Dragon*Con Parade on Saturday, after a scrumptious brunch given by our friends, Carrie and Steven.
Today is a photo journey that I think you will really like. The parade just gets better every year.
I know a lot of you have been waiting patiently for the details of our paella party. Here you go!
The party started the day before when Vickie arrived and Jeff, Crystal and Teague joined us for some brainstorming about the fire and flow of the party. Pizza and beer followed. A pre-party is always fun.
Sunday we all woke early and Eric got the fire started. Early, y’all. It was blazing by 10 a.m. and was ready for the paella pan by 3 p.m. And then Eric cooked. And cooked. And cooked some more. We have realized that the paella still takes about 3 hours to prepare. But we were ready this time.
I hope you will allow me a hooky today to play with besties Vickie and Holly. We had our paella party last night and I will be back this week with all the details.
