I made, er, attempted the Phish Food cupcakes in an ice cream cone last night, see this post for reference and link to the recipe on Glitter. They looked fine most of the way through baking but fell rather dramatically by the time the timer was done. I took some pictures of what they looked like when the were cooling. And the parts we taste tested were good, but very crunchy like cookies. I used regular Phish Food ice cream and white cake mix. What went wrong? I suppose I should ask what exactly I was to expect as well.

Last time I was frosting cupcakes, Scott mentioned something about Dream Whip frosting. I had never heard of this stuff, but I tried it last night and it’s fun! I made the regular whipped Dream Whip stuff (it’s a desert topping kind of like Cool Whip but not cold), and the frosting mixed with a package of instant pudding (makes a fluffy, shiny cake frosting) last night. While I can’t say it’s the most appealing thing, it apparently fits the Not Quite As Good As My Mother Used To Make But Still Appreciated category. I wonder how I got through an entire childhood in the Midwest without encountering Dream Whip.

How to make real corn tortillas at Digs Magazine.

The Spam museum opened! I must visit!

I love the television show Northern Exposure, I miss Northern Exposure. Last I heard the Hallmark Channel had the right to show it, but who has every heard of the Hallmark Channel? I signed the petition to get Northern Exposure on DVD (link via loobylu) – but I suspect signing up for notice of release at Amazon will do quite a bit of good as well. “You’ll also be voting for this release; we’ll let the studio know how many customers are waiting for this title.” I know for a fact that the number of people who sign up for pre-orders are watched (this is a bit of a longer story however). So go on, let Amazon know you’re interested.

It has come time – I’m going to use a self tanner for the first time. I want to wear knee length skirts, but my legs are so desperately pale even I don’t want to look at them. You can see my blue veins and any sign of leg hair growth, it’s not pretty. I went to the drug store to buy a cheap one for the first try – but they were all “deep” or “medium to deep” – none were light. Is this like the size of fast food french fries, there is no Small/Light? I definitely don’t want anything close to a medium, it would be ridiculously obvious. So what do I do? Leave it on for a shorter time? I read somewhere that mixing it with moisturizing lotion will make it lighter, would that work? And, while I’m at it, any brands you recommend (ones I could find at a Walgreens)?

I feel so un-girly when I come up against something new like this.

loobylu is making a fabulous bag, take a look

It’s a dream of mine too – a photo documented trip to American Science and Surplus!

an adorable way to waste some time at work – muffin films, my favorite is ‘feed me’. link via supah

Squib was kind enough to share a bunch of links to bead stores on the web. Say thank you, thank you!

Following the fake chocolate cake recipe from a few weeks ago and the talk about the Cake Doctor books, I’m thinking about trying this (last entry) suggestion in the Glitter boards. I *heart* Phish Food ice cream, and I wonder if I’d have the courage to let a whole container of it melt!

A few yards of denim waiting to be transformed into something + watching clips of Moulin Rouge = idea which will make me actually set up my sewing machine tonight! or tomorrow! I’ve been dragging. First it was getting the perfect legs for my desk (so it would be at kitchen counter height), then it was returning those and getting others, and then it was feeling like I should do all of my crazy change of address stuff. But, I really should just set myself up and move in and get on with it already.

For a while I was all about not having a serger, but now I’m wavering. Damn you Sew Wrong and Troutgirl, you put this into my head! But it would be so handy, no?

this is a test

I have a What To Expect question – it’s time to start test driving cars, so what do I do? Just go to a dealership and ask to test drive? Will they pressure me to buy? I despise salesmen and find myself getting very edgy and defensive at the slightest provocation, I only hope I can keep myself from storming out. Should I do a test run test drive at, say, a Saturn dealership? I’m so very dreading this whole car buying process. Eeek.

oopsie – I completely failed to put this here the first time she mentioned it! malika‘s sister makes the cutest jewelry – and the company has a great name, lucky bean. take a look at the fortune cookie necklace!

great idea – urban design used Burt’s Bees packaging to hold a little hanging plant – includes instructions, yay