ara batur....

another blog.

wow! can you believe it? today is an absolutely lovely and incredible day in nashville. the sun is shining. and not a breeze to be felt. i suppose ill soak it up, because it will be gone in the blink of an eye.

isn't it funny how days off turn into more work than actual work? my day off today has consisted of me sitting at starbucks, using megans computer and putting of chores. i need to buy laundry detergent. grocery shop. clean house. but, i dont want to. my friends katie and daniel are coming in for the night and staying at my house, so perhaps that will give me motivation to do what i need to do....we'll see.

halloween was good to me this year....i was lucy!!

boyfriend and i carved magical pumpkins. can you guess where i got my inspiration from?

for those of you that know me, you know i have an unexplainable love for iceland. everything i talk about revolves around the little country. quite honestly my true love for it, came from the band sigur ros. i remember the exact moment. i was watching the sigur ros documentary [heima] with tears streaming down my face. it was full of such pure beauty. and i was overcome by it. since then, my lifes dream has been to travel to iceland. i LOOOOOOVE it. sigur ros' music has changed my life. it brings such beauty and pain all at the same time. it is mezmorizing.

when i met my twin megan, i felt like i had met my icelandic soul mate. we truly bonded over everything icelandic. music, the people, the country. ahhhh. so, when i found out megan was moving to florida we decided to embark on a forever friendship....tattooes.  

it pays to know the right people. or rather, take care of the right people at starbucks. my newest buddy, matt, from icon tattoo, or otherwise known as quad espresso, hooked us up for nothing at all.....

my tattoo is on the inside of my right arm, on the other side of my poppies. it comes from the sigur ros song ara batur. it is icelandic. and is by far one of my favorite tattooes i have. it says:

"and it was you who let everything into my heart. it was you who awoke my soul."

i love iceland. i will travel there someday. and join in the beauty...mark my words.

i love you all.

oh, fall.

it is a chilly fall day here in nashville. a perfect day for a 

soy misto. a starbucks porch. my toms. a cozy sweater. and the tunes of the everybodyfields. ive been wearing my cozy winter hats lately. they have been keeping my head warm and keeping me from doing my hair. i could get used to this. the leaves are red and orange. i am pretty sure i loose my breath everytime i look outside. i am in love with fall. the vibrant colors. the chill in the air. i can only dread winter now. i feel it creeping in.

 i wish it could be fall all year....if only.

it has been almost one whole year since i have blogged about anything. yet alone baked anything delicious. life has sent me on some crazy ups and downs....but, i am fully content with the things God has done in the past year. i have learned so much about life and love. i have learned how to live off of ten dollars and scrape by until my next pay check. i have learned how it feels to actually have some money and be at peace. but, most of all. i have learned how to be happy.

[here is a short recap of some of the years events]

1. i found and fell in love with the sweetest, most incredible man that God created for me.

2. my niece grace started kindergarten. [wow.]

3.  i moved into a perfect, quaint little house.

4. i lost friends to other countries and states. 

5. i gained the most amazing friends. [including my twin!!]

just when i start to get down on life, i realize how blessed i have been.

[wow.]

boyfriend and i went to the zoo on monday. i made a new friend! i like to call him goat buddy.

[here is what albums have been on heavy rotation lately:]

1.[ radiohead] in rainbows. [how the heck did i listen to this album for months. not realize how amazing it was and put it away for a year? this album is seriously incredible. listen to "all i need" it gives me chills everytime.]

2. [the volcano choir]  a side project from my musical boyfriend bon iver. simple. classic. epic. music. could possibly be a soundtrack for my life.

3. [tegan and sara] by far one of my favorite bands ever. their new album is very different but, its growing on me. the song alligator tears is the song of the moment for me.

4. [the mountain goats] isnt it amazing how music can take you back to a place in time in your life and flood back all the memories of that exact moment? track seven is that for me. it is epic. brings back my grandmothers death and all of the emotions i felt.

5. [hank williams] duh! no need to really explain. just good ol' country music. 

6. [where the wild things are sountrack] whats better than karen o of the yeah yeah yeahs and little kids? nothing. this record is on my record player as we speak. i cant get enough of it. 

7. [scarlet johansen and pete yorn] i am embarrassed to admit that i am a fan, but this album is growing on me. i cant help it. i am a lover of old jazz voices. maybe its because my voice is similar. but, i love a little rockier she and him. dont judge.

i have infinate plans of baking bliss! i promise i will be baking lots of tasty treats soon....i cant wait to share them with you! until then, im off to carve pumpkins with boyfriend!!!!

it has been a good year.

[ps. i missed you.]

[my heart is happy.]
let me tell you the reasons why....

1.i played my guitar today. i sang. i wrote.

2. my best friend stephanie is here. and it is perfect. i sipped coffee with her today. and it was perfect. we laughed alot. and it was absolutely perfect. and i get to hang out with her until monday. perfect.

3. it is amazing how someone can feel like home.
[she feels like home.]

4. within the next two weeks, i will be seeing abi. funky. and possibly dustin. three of the people i have missed the most.

5. i am eating a nerd rope and drinking dr. pepper.

6. my cupcakes are becoming quite the hit. i think rock and roll cookie dough is picking up speed....
[i came home to find these pictures on myspace.]

[christian. chad]

this is the exact reason why i make cupcakes.

the end.


ps. i am listening to nick and noras infinate playlist. [amazing.]

rudolph the red nose.

[i wear flowers in my hair.]

[this one care of one of my favorite ladies.]

[thistinylife.esty.com]

it is raining in nashville. it makes me want to do nothing more than lie in my bed, watch amelie. and sleep. and sleep. and never wake up. but, alas...i have to work at ten in the morning. so, at some point, i will have to wake up and make lattes. 

this past tuesday marked the one year anniversary of my grandma passing away. my heart is still heavy thinking about old times and thinking of how new times fly by. it is amazing to think of all that has happened in one year. of all the heartbreak and tears i could have shared with her. of all the joys she could have par taken in. she would be so proud of my baking. i think it would make her overjoyed to know that i finally have direction for my life. that i have found a passion. that i finally know what i am going to do with the rest of my life. to know that i am just plain happy would make her happy.i wish we could have baked just one more time together. 

one of my best friends in the world is coming home from germany tomorrow for one week. i wish there were words to describe how much i miss her. i wish there were words to explain how genuinely happy i am that tomorrow at six in the evening i will be hugging her. i cannot wait. it will be a day to remember.

christmas is coming soon. and christmas at starbucks is coming even sooner. this week to be exact. tonight we had our annual holiday meeting and i was commisioned by my store manager to make cupcakes. i guess word is spreading....i decided to live it up. so....i made rudolph the red nose reindeer cupcakes. he sure is a cutie. i would totally be his friend. 

i stuck with the red velvet theme, seeing as it is christmas and all. but, this time i added nutmeg to the mix! it added such a good spicy holiday flavor. these are by far my favorite red velvet cupcakes ive made ever. i topped them with a cream cheese frosting. i also added some nutmeg to the frosting just for an added kick. i think the frosting was everyones favorite part.

ok....now for the fun stuff. i made rudolphs nose out of red blow pops. two of my favorite things. cupcakes and candy. the nose was huge and really got the whole rudolph theme out in the open. i made little smiles out of red food coloring. eyes out of chocolate chips. and antlers out of pretzels. these little buddies turned out super cute and super delicious. if i was a cupcake, i would want to be friends with these buddies. 

[pre baking. 1950's style.]

[like a light bulb.]

[super buddies.]

[the only apron i could find.]

[it says partner of the month.]

[i wear it with pride. even home alone.]

[work clothes. work meeting. work cupcakes.]

[saving these for someone.]

i have been listening to the mellowist of mellow music lately. maybe it is the heartache. maybe it is the change of seasons. maybe it is the fridgid cold. maybe it is just who i am. 

rudolph the red nose reindeer playlist:

1. all and everything ever written or recorded by  [mindy smith] 

[listen to down in flames. it is the new theme song of my life.]

[listen to hurricane. you'll feel it in your bones.]

[listen to one moment more. i cannot listen to it without crying.]

2. my newest love....[bon iver.]

[listen to re:stacks. it will bring you to tears. intensely beautiful]

[listen to skinny love. so simple. so lovely.]

[listen to bon iver. the most beautiful. intense. emotional music ive heard in a long time.]

ps. i miss you.

highschool music cupcakes.

it has been rainy for the past two days. ive enjoyed it for the most part. except for the fact that i had to work at seven in the morning today. if you know me, you know that waking up before ten is a huge endevor for me...yet alone when it is cold and gloomy outside. my alarm went off for about twenty minutes before i even heard it. and when i opened my eyes and saw the rain outside, i hit my snooze button about five times. needless to say, i was a zombie at work and looked like i had literally just rolled out of bed. it was one of those days where you work for about three hours, finally get a bathroom break, you look in the mirror and to your dismay you have smeared mascara all over your face and your hair is a knotted mess, with pieces sticking up everywhere. thank you co workers for telling me i looked like an idiot. except....not really, because you didn't say anything. good thing i dont embarrass easily. 

i went to goodwill today. i got a plaid dress and three belts for two dollars. what a deal. i went in search of an outfit to wear to my friend johns 30th birthday party. i looked high and low and came up with nothing. BUT, when i got home, i went searching through my closet and found the most perfect outfit. im not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing.....you know, having a dress from the 70's that ive warn out several times. well, if you ask me, i think it is a good thing. i will own my outrageous style and not be embarrassed.....see above paragraph :)

now onto tasty goodness. the above mentioned john actually turned thirty on wednesday and i decided to suprise him at work with his favorite kind of cupcake....red velvet. so, i made a new batch of red velvet cupcakes and these ones were delicious! i actually went to the store and bought cocoa powder, so i left out the coffee this time. i also left out the buttermilk. these little guys turned out fluffy and moist and SOOOOO GOOD! i thought a nice touch for 30th birthday cupcakes would be highschool musical toppers. so, i made some. and they were a huge hit.  we definately all got a good laugh out of them. maybe i should finally watch the movies....on second thought, no thanks. zach effron....what a total hoop dude babe. awwwww.....

[im totally crunching on zach.]

[not to be confused with crushing.]

[anchors. cardigans. cupcakes. good combo.]

[omg. they are totally dating in real life.]

[totally cooooooool.]

[hey guys.]

[the boy of my dreams....]

[well, not really.]

all in all, good job adri. these were a big, delicious hit....want some cupcakes? just ask. ill make you some. in fact, i would love to.

highschool musical / rainy day playlist:

1. collin hay [i just dont think ill ever get over you]

2. ray lamontagne [jolene]

3. editors [munich]

4. taylor swift [hey stephen]

5.  mxpx [secret weapon]

6.  the new frontiers [the day you fell apart]

7. bon iver [skinny love]

8. blindside [the way you move]

9. slow runner [trying to put your heart back together]

10. feist [1,2,3,4]

[the end.]

poop cupcakes.

im watching a documentary on TLC about the worlds heaviest man. it makes me want to make about 12 more batches of cupcakes and ship them to him...i bet  he would like some cupcakes. but, then again, who wouldnt?

i had today off. and thank goodness!! ive been so exhausted lately. i was at work last night until one thirty. slept until twelve. grabbed coffee with my friend eric. laughed a little bit. and then went to the laundry mat with roomate. it was an eventfu l day but relaxing at the same time. after i took roomate to work, i came home to experiement on some cupcakes.i found a recipe from paula dean for red velvet cupcakes. what a cute lil southern lady...seriously. her recipe was good, but i decided to modify it a little bit. 

i opened the cabinet and found that i was out of cocoa powder. so, instead of adding cocoa powder, i added ground coffee. i know what youre thinking...ewwww. but, no. it was sooooooooooooo tasty. but, since i work at starbucks forty hours a week, i might as well expiriment with coffee. so, the end result was red velvet coffee cupcakes. tasty. ive been adding buttermilk to my cupcakes. it gives them kind of a cornbread muffin cupcake texture. im beginning to like it more and more.

ok, now onto the frosting....i thought i would stick to the coffee theme. so, i made a butter cream frosting and added some ground coffee to it. it tasted delicious. and the little random bites of ground coffee really added to the texture. but, one big problem. it ended up looking like poop. the color, the texture, the consistency. this frosting is a work in progress. 

all in all, the red velvet coffee cupcakes with a butter cream coffee frosting were tasty. but, i need to work on the frosting a litte bit....stay tuned.

[ps. see picture below...i need an apron.]

poop cupcake playlist:

1.timmy curran-[horses on the range]

2.bernard fanning - [watch over me]

3.damien rice- [cannonball]

4.jupiter one- [countdown]

5.postal service-[ grow old with me]

6.fischerspooner- [never win]

7.the cribs- [hey scenesters]

8.we are scientists- [inaction]

9.paolo nutini- [these streets]

10.iron and wine-[ waitin for superman]

11.AM- [city syndrome]

london fog.

today was an eventful day at starbucks. i definately have some classic stories. if you want to hear, or just want a good laugh, just ask.....needless to say, i couldn't wait to come home and bake until i dropped. to me, baking is the calm in my storm. it never ceases to relax me. it rids my mind of the worthless crap that seems to bog me down, and brings me to much happier times....like baking with the moms and my grandma. i always like to imagine the looks on peoples faces as they try one of my creations. will they be all smiles or have looks of disgust? i hope it is more of the first.

london fog. two earl grey tea bags. vanilla syrup. no water. steamed soy. i love making these at starbucks. i love love love they way it smells. for some reason, i am drawn to earl grey, so when i found a recipe for earl grey cupcakes, i was sold!! i modified the recipe a little bit to kind of throw my own spin on it... i used four earl grey tea bags instead of the suggested two. [i found that the flavor was alot bolder] i also squeezed and entire orange into the batter instead of the orange oil. [it ended up giving it a very clean, sweet taste]

topped them with an orange cream cheese frosting....mmmm...mmm.....tasty.

they actually ended up turning out to be muffinish cupcakes. the

 best of both worlds. i will say that i think i needed to add a little more liquid to the mix because they ended up a little dry. but, for my first time, they turned out amazingly delicious.

i also made a batch of gluten free earl grey tea cupcakes by using gluten free flour. [well, duh!] ok, two problems....i filled the cupcake pans too full,so they ended up expanding hard core and just not looking pretty. and also, they turned out very crumbly and dry. dont get me wrong, they were very tasty and my anti-gluten roomate seemed to love the uniqueness of these tasty treats. i need to continue to work on mastering gluten free pastry arts. all in due time......

wanna know what music i listened to while i made these tasty earl grey cupcakes? well, i was feeling very british.

the london fog playlist:

1. bloc party [signs[

2. tigers that talk [i am nothing]

3. kent [ colombus]

4. emiliana torrini [at least it was]

5. pilot speed [into your hideout]

6.idlewild [make another world]

7. scanners [in my dreams]

8. the more assured [all in your head]

9. frank hamilton [you your cat and me]

10. the answering machine [time]

11. the anomalies [kid riot]

12.reindeer section [your sweet voice]