Boardwalk Empire

Monday Sunday night was the premier of Boardwalk  Empire on HBO. 

For those of you who don't know - its HBO's newest series that takes place during prohibition-era Atlantic City.  It's the story of "Nucky Thompson," based on real life gangster Nucky Johnson, and his reign over Atlantic City.  

Last night's episode was very good.  I won't go through the play-by-play.  The acting is really good and the cinematography is excellent.   Although what else would you expect with Martin Scorsese directing?  I'll definitely be setting my DVR for Boardwalk Empire. 

Ok, so it's pretty cool to watch it and see sets that look like home.  Because while Atlantic City has changed a lot over the past 90 years, somethings about a city never change.


Update: 9/21 - Glad to see I wasn't the only one who liked Boardwalk Empire.  HBO has already ordered a second season of the show.  

New Layout Design

Got tired of my old design.  Trying this one out for a bit.  What do you all think?  Let's see how long this one lasts. 

Long Week

Sorry for the lack of blogging.  Last week was really really long week.It started last Sunday, when we got an email from our building saying the power would be out hour an hour. 12 hours later, at 4 in the morning, we finally got our power back.  Needless to say, I didn't sleep at all that night. 

Now for some life updates:

Wedding

• Save the Dates: I was finally was able to pull together addresses so we can send the save-the-dates.  Benjamin should have his addresses soon as well.  Yay for checking this lingering thing off our plate!
• Alcohol:  While our caterer does provide bar services, we aren't required to use them.  Considering their bar pricing was outrageous, we have been looking for better options.  This weekend, we found our bar service.  Basically, we just need to check and make sure they aren't gonna overcharge us for glassware and then we can send in the check!  
• Invitations: We've narrowed it down to two invites.  Who knows which one we will pick.  You'll find out when it appears in your inbox. 

Life in General

• 10K Training:  This is still going on.  I'm not running quite as much as I would like, but I'm getting there.  This weekend Ben and I went for quite a long run.  It sucks, but was awesome at the same time. 
• Baking:  Last week I attempted the blueberry maple cupcakes that Val suggested.  They were fantastic!  I frosted 1/2 with the maple frosting, and 1/2 with cream cheese frosting.  Ben preferred the maple frosting; I liked the cream cheese.  I want to play with the recipe a little bit.  I think the batter needs more sugar and definitely needed more blueberries.  Next up: chocolate chip cookie dough cupcakes

Farmer's Market

Maybe I was inspired by Val's most recent blog posting.  Maybe it was the fact that Ben and I have been talking about how much we miss going to Eastern Market on the weekends.  But today I decided to venture off and try the Crystal City Farmers' Market.

It was a cute little market.  The options are, obviously, not as plentiful as Eastern Market.  But it was a pretty good market! 

For $12.00 I got:

• two nice sized white peaches
• two yellow nectarines
• a large french baguette
• more spinach than I think i could ever eat
• an eggplant

Not sure what I'm going to do with the eggplant.  I'm not a huge fan.  But the guy who I bought the spinach from threw it in at the end for free.  I'm not sure if Ben likes eggplant.  Its not something we ever buy.

Ok, I'm gonna do it.  I'm gonna try the eggplant.  How should I make it?  If you were to make me my very first eggplant dish - what would it be? 

Labor Day!

To celebrate Labor Day, Ben and I traveled home for the long weekend.  We left Friday night (got in about midnight) and got back this evening.

Saturday we woke up and went for a run on the boardwalk.  Ok, so mine was more of a walk/run than a solid run.  But whatever.  We went from my house to Albany ave, and then ran interval sprints back.  It was just under 4 miles.  So at the end of the day, it was still a good work out.

We spent the night having a fabulous mommy-cooked dinner, playing cards and picking out wedding invitations.  Maybe.  We still have some samples coming in the mail, and the ones we picked were a little pricier than what we originally wanted, but they are really nice.  We have a few details to work out first, but if we got the ones we picked out Saturday night, I would be a very happy bride.

Sunday, Ben and I got up and went to the beach for a bit.  Then we headed over to my Aunt and Uncle's house for a wonderful celebration - it was my niece Shannon's birthday (she's FOUR!!!) and my cousin was home from California with her newborn, Delia.  Delia is such an adorable, well -behaved baby.  I'm so glad I got to meet the  baby!

Me and the birthday girl!!

Today, we woke up and headed to the outlets in Atlantic City.  I got some great tops and a skirt that I can wear to work.  Ben got some clothes too.  Very successful shopping trip on all fronts. 

How was your Labor Day?

Mystery Ingredient

As its just after the first of the month, Sweetest Kitchen has announced the Mystery Box Cupcake Challenge for September.

This month, the mystery box challenge does not focus on an ingredient.  Instead, it asks bakers to create a cupcake based on a memory: childhood.  Sweetest Kitchen writes:

"this month you will need to create a cupcake that is based on your favorite childhood memories – this could be a particular flavor, or perhaps your favorite childhood dessert"

I've decided to participate in this month's challenge.  Because making a cupcake based on a childhood memory sounds like such a fun, creative experiment.  I'm not quite sure what I'm going to make, but I've got some ideas floating around in my head.  

If you were to create a cupcake from your childhood, what would it be?

Oreo Strawberry Cupcake

I told you I've been inspired lately. 

After Ben was so nice as to turn on "Cupcake Wars," I really had an itchin for some baking.  Ben mentioned that he loves the oreo/strawberry combination and *poof* I was ready to start baking.

I started with the oreo cupcake from Beantown Baker. I know you're not supposed to eat batter, but this batter was FANTASTIC.  And the cupcakes were pretty easy to make.

I topped the cupcakes with strawberry frosting from Cupcakes Take the Cake.  I must have done something wrong with the frosting, as the consistency wasn't quite right.  It was a bit too watery, but it tasted fantastic. 

Overall, the cupcakes were definitely a success!  I'm prob gonna take some into the office tomorrow (cause otherwise Benjamin and I would eat all 24 of these babies....)