Are You In For A Treat?

If anyone is interested, there is a delightful giveaway on my other blog, Sweet Indulgence Cupcakes.  You could be lucky enough to win some FREE strawberry shortcake flavored cupcakes (pictured above). Go check it out.  You won't be sorry you did!

This post authored by Amber

One Year Older (And Wiser, Too)

I love birthdays, even if they come with the expense of getting older. I mean, what other day do you get to sleep in while somebody else fixes a pancake breakfast? Jason even gets extra credit for attempting the heart shape!

I got in a great Zumba workout in the morning before my shower and I followed that with a little cupcake baking. I experimented to create a lovely piña colada frosting. Once the thirty-second and final vanilla cupcake was topped (one for each year of my life), I took a nap. Yes, I said NAP! Oh, lovely day! I woke refreshed and ready for a night on the town with family. I was craving the pineapple shrimp salad with mango salsa from Bajio. Perhaps I was subconsciously tapping into my "inner islander" with all of that exotic and tropical food (and my Shakira hair, as my sister-in-law calls it). My "inner islander" was thoroughly satisfied.

And just the way I like it, the celebrating was drawn out over the course of a week with a cupcake (or two or three) a day, a bit of online shopping for new clothes, and having our family treated to lunch at The Brick Oven by Jason's parents.

It's just a horrible shame I have to wait a whole year before I turn thirty-three!

This post authored by Amber

For Auld Lang Syne

We filled our final day of 2009 with errands and activities, and just like the past year, we made the most of every minute together. And while we didn't take pictures of the errands (tidying the house, taking down Christmas lights, shopping for medicines and a new calendar, etc...), we did snap a few shots of the activities. And now for your viewing pleasure, I present our New Year's Eve:

Early Morning Sledding

Recent snow storms have created the perfect conditions for a favored past time of our family. We "hit the slopes" early and enjoyed fresh powder and minimal crowds. Brevin invited a friend to come along and join us, and we all had a fantastic time.

A Trip to Tepanyaki

In order to beat the dinner rush, we ate dinner at about 5:00 p.m. Whether I was hungry by that time or not, I was able to easily down a plateful of shrimp, chicken, steak, noodles, and vegetables. This may be the traditional locale for ringing in a new decade. (We were at the same place ten years ago ushering in Y2K, sans children. Remember all the hype and hysteria surrounding that New Year's Eve?)

A Toast to the New Year

After dinner, we came home for a Wii party and to don our totally awesome, handmade glasses. Yes, with our sparkling white grape juice in hand, we exude nothing but sophistication and refinement. Wouldn't you agree?

Happy 2010 everyone!

This post authored by Amber