in the spirit of valentines day

I have this thing, well actually two things. A weakness, that's the correct word I believe. My weakness is anything pasta related or anything blue cheese, so when I came across this and died a little bit. We were supposed to have this last week but with the sicklings and things getting rearranged we had it last night. Know how the washer always eats one sock? Well our fridge ate our heavy cream...we searched and searched and it is no where to be found. We had people over all last weekend, and some were scavengers..but heavy cream? Highly doubtful someone borrowed it with out informing us..luckily you can make your own..so off we went and made our own. This will not disappoint.

 It's SO simple to make and quick!

  Deliciousness. 





















After dinner it was time to get ready before friends came over and we started the evening..we have a tendency to keep the apartment at a cool 8o (so it feels), my father would not be a happy camper since he keeps the house at what feels like 5o. The heat plus blow dryers and hair straighteners results in a 1oo degree feeling house..so we had a brilliant idea that we would make up the frozen hot chocolate my mom had gotten for us and add a little butterscotch schnapps for a nice refreshing drink as we were sweltering..it was so good.

Tonight we may or may not have done something bad. Very bad. But good at the same time..we baked up some treats for all the Valentine's we have..not one, not two but THREE different treats. Opps..it's okay we are giving them all away tomorrow. The three of us are not much of Valentine's Day fans but our neighbor helped us dig Mariah's car out for a half hour, so we kind of owe him. Also I had a revelation, there are so many people and things that I love in my life, so maybe not the conventional ooey-gooey lovey dovey aspect of Valentine's Day, but celebrating all that I love in my life.


On the menu:
Red Velvet Cupcakes
Chocolate Caramel Cookies
Blondies with Chocolate Chips


We have wanted to make red velvet cupcakes for the longest time, why? I'm not too sure because it turns out none of us have ever even had red velvet cupcakes even though we pretend we have..We decided why not take a shot at it with some cream cheese frosting.

 We have a Babycakes Cupcake Maker that makes the cutest little baby cupcakes in about 5 minutes, it's great.

 The only problem with it is there is not a sufficient way to get them out, you have to just wiggle them out and use your fingers but they are HOT and I had a bit of a causality (surprise, surprise) I flung the cupcake out and tried to get it onto the plate but it landed in the batter instead. Bummer.

 We are serious bakers. Hence that little gadget. Mariah turned out to be pro so Emily and I got to sprinkle (I mean, the sprinks are the best part)

 

 My job was to unwrap the caramels..I swear they don't trust me to do any of the important fun things!

 um, yum.

 yep, those are indeed heart shaped.

 We got these great little heart shaped cookie cutters so I thought it'd be perfect to cut the blondies into hearts, I mean it is V-day and all..It was a great idea but it created lots of scraps and burnt fingers but they are so darn cute.

and finally..

don't you wish you were MEM's valentine? :)


and since I had a revelation..

i love my parents, my fays and myrtle beach, all three of these hold a very, very special place in my heart. 

i love my roommates, that goes without saying..but they have given my the best year and a half of my life.

 i love the feeling of sun shining on my back, the carefree life of summer, camp, tye dye and most importantly, tal.

  

i love food and family traditions.

 i love coffee and Dunks caramel lattes. thank you dear roommates for this addiction.

 

i love my best friend.

 i love taylor swift, especially taylor swift jam sessions, whether it be in the mel mobile with tal or in living room of our apartment with MEM. tay never gets old.

I love my ugg slippers, there is never a moment when I don't have them on. I wore my first I pair out but refused to give them up, good thing I got a new pair for my birthday. I passed my old ones down to Emily because I couldn't bear to throw them out.

I love reading and being warm. Alex commented on this picture and summed it up perfectly:

"this picture is so meli. she seems so perplexed reading her book. bundled in a towel and sweatshirt on a boat in a lake in the middle of the summer....."

I love Syracuse University and Syracuse Basketball (despite their mishaps lately.) This place is the best thing that has ever happened to me.

 So all in all, I suppose Valentines Day isn't that bad, minus all that gross lovey-dovey stuff.