Life as Alex.: July 2011

Monday, July 18, 2011

Green Glass Garden

Today was a great Sunday! Although it pained me to sacrifice a day on the beach, I decided to enrich myself and take a trip to the Chihuly exhibit at the MFA. Chihuly is a glass blower who has some amazing brightly colored pieces. The three most fascinating things I found out about Chihuly today are that one, he has only one eye and wears and eye patch; two, he doesn't like using tools while he works and three, the reason why this show continues to impress and bring back so many repeat customers is because the art work does not have a specific way that it needs to be put together or a showing. Meaning that every time you come back for a different show, the exhibit will feel much different; I've provided an example below to fully understand. Here are some of my favorite pictures from today, not bad for an iPhone, forgot my camera in the car! (I'll post all of my pictures on my other blog specifically for pictures.) Check it out and definitely head over to the MFA, its worth it!!

I thought this piece reminded me of a burning bush! Look at how it looked at today's exhibit compared to how it has appeared in the past, a completely different display!

More photos here: Chihuly Exhibit

Saturday, July 16, 2011

No One Puts Babycakes in the Corner

I am so excited for my new baking gadget, Babycakes Cupcake Maker! I am so blessed to have such a generous family that my aunt bought me this just for kicks. I have had it for a couple weeks now but haven't given it much attention since I have been so busy. Sure enough the cute packaging was eyeing me down from across the room with that "No one puts baby[cakes] in the corner" look ... I knew I had to get to baking.

Essentially Babycakes is a company producing a line of "waffle-like" gadgets that makes baked goods quick and easy to whip up! The machine I have in my repertoire is specifically for cupcake making. According to their slogan, I can create 8 mini cupcakes in 8 minutes or under... What a great deal is that! This is absolutely perfect for the situation where using an oven is not an option or its a hot summer day and no one wants their house to be a furnace. All I can say is I know I am going to be extra popular next year in the Kappa house ... start putting in your orders sistas!

Last year I purchased a cupcake apron with matching oven mitts that I really have only got a chance to wear once. I love a good excuse for a new outfit ... I'll put cupcake baking on the to-do list. As you can see below the inside looks very similar to an apple-skiver machine, if anyone even knows what that is .. I alway seem to have random appliances popping up all over my kitchen, I blame Chef Linda. In other words, Babycakes Cupcake Maker seems very simple and straightforward to use, I am looking forward to this a great deal!

My Babycakes Cupcake Maker is a very dainty shade of lemon yellow. Right now the griddle is available in 3 or 4 different colors. I think that the red is also very eye catching and featured below. The exterior is very smooth with two helpful buttons on the face, one for the power and another to tell you when your treats are ready to eat!

See below the baking gadget in bright red! The large handle makes transporting or moving the Babycakes Cupcake maker around the kitchen hassle free.

Other Products in the Line: Cake Pop, Donut & Whoopie Pie Makers!

Stayed tuned for a blog on me actually using the machine in my fabulous cooking gear!!... I'll report back with lots of feedback and pictures!

xx Ciao Bella

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Time Flies ...

Boy do I really miss blogging! Even though I haven't actually been writing that much this summer, I have been keeping a list of all the things I want to be writing about... from cupcake trucks to new OPI collections, I have so much that I want to share with everyone!! I know I cannot keep making excuses for not having the time but now I have added ANOTHER summer course to my list of priorities, Applied Quantum Modeling ... "Appliedquatumwhosie-whatsie what?" is the common response I seem to be getting ... Work, staying fit, 2 courses, friends, family & boyfriend on top of trying to maintain some kind of decent olive toned pigment, I never want to be inside on my computer! I literally never go on my computer anymore now that I have the iPhone and the browser is just as great...

Well anyway, although I have been working a lot, there are a few perks to working at a Yacht Charter company, especially when the weather is nice! Here are a few pictures from my adventures this summer as an event planning and marketing intern with the firm I am at.

At the bow of 77' Yacht Belle. She is so gorgeous! Too bad we only had her in our fleet for the first half of the summer, she left in June for Nantucket where she spends the rest of the summer at the Westmoor Yacht Club.