An Ode to Cupcakes

How is it that I don't really like cake but I can't get enough of these cupcakes?!?!

I lived in the D.C. area for years and never once went to Georgetown Cupcake, now the star of its own TLC show, DC Cupcakes. Now that I've moved out to the Seattle area, Groom 3000 and I can't get enough of these local cupcake boutiques! They're everywhere! 

So far, we've been to New York Cupcakes where we picked up a six-pack of day-old cupcakes (by far cheaper than buying them fresh and just as good!) The packs came prepackaged so we got a variety of yummy (and pretty!) cupcakes. 

We found Pinkabella by accident. While strolling through an outdoor mall, I saw a lady walking with a pack of cupcakes. I had to go find those cupcakes. The searching around the mall paid off--we found Pinkabella and enjoyed two of their super cute and super delicious treats--with milk, of course. The shop itself is a pink wonderland--like you'd imagine your grandma's kitchen to be, if your grandma made hundreds of cupcakes every day. 

A beautiful Pinkabella tower of deliciousness. 

Source: http://www.pinkabellacupcakes.com/?page_id=4

My favorite cupcake joint so far has got to be Trophy Cupcakes. Amid the Luis Vuitton and Gucci couture shops, there's this little cupcake place I wish I could call home. I had a salted caramel chocolate cupcake from this place (with some milk! Oh, 2% makes a cupcake go down soooo smoothly!) and I can't wait to go back. 

All this talk of cupcakes makes me really wish we'd looked into cupcakes as opposed to your standard wedding cake. I hear cupcakes are all the rage, but it all makes so much sense! You order the number you need, you can have as much variety as you want, and they're perfectly portioned! Did you know there's a standard size piece of cake? How do you cut the cake so precisely? Do you use a ruler? Gah! 

Before we moved, we met with Groom's stepsister's pastry chef colleague who baked us a mini yellow cake with chocolate icing in the cooking school kitchen. It made Groom3K so happy to have almost a whole cake to himself! Not only did we get a great deal on our cake (she only charges PER PERSON..not per size of the cake), we also got the flexibility to design our own cake. Chef drew up three sketches--a taller and narrower 3-tiered cake, a standard 3-tiered cake, and a tall 4-tiered cake. The dramatic shape of the 4-tiered version made it an obvious choice.  

Still, I can't help but dream of towers of cupcakes...

Source: www.pinkcakebox.com

Drooooooool. 

P.S. Countdown to the great dress hunt: 6 days!

Bride3000 is back in business, baby!

It's been SO long since I've last posted and let me tell you, moving across the country is no simple task! That's right, we made our move to Seattle in late July and after a month of adjusting, unpacking, and settling in, I think we're finally at a point where we can take a deep breath and relax!

We completed so much of our wedding planning over the summer on purpose so we didn't have to worry about it once we moved. Good thing--moving is a lot of work! So let's refresh--I'm Bride3000--I'm planning my Summer 2011 wedding in Maryland from my new home in Seattle, and Groom3000 and I just graduated from college in May. It's been a wild summer but I'll do my best to catch you up in upcoming posts. But before I do that, I gotta share that I'm shopping for my wedding gown IN TWO WEEKS!!! Mom and Dad 3000 are coming to visit and then it's one hardcore dress shopping day. Yea, that's right--we have one day to try on, pick out, and buy. Am I crazy???

I've made my appointments at three local bridal shops and pray that one of them has "it." You know, "IT." The one that will make me bawl my eyes out. Now, Randy on "Say Yes to the Dress" says "it" doesn't always happen--but I know myself. When I find the dress, I'll just know. It happened when Groom3000 and I found my engagement ring--I tried on other rings but my mind kept coming back to one.

I can't imagine what I'll look like in a wedding gown. I tried on two--not because I wanted to, but because we were in David's Bridal looking at bridesmaids dresses and mom "made me"--and I just didn't know what to feel except "SO. MUCH. FABRIC."

But now that the real Dress Day is coming, I'm getting more and more excited to begin (and finish) the search. I have a budget--no more than $1000. It's crazy how much you can spend on a dress you'll wear once for only a few hours! Unbelievable!

Luckily, there are designers out there who understand. And the dresses are beautiful! I think I'd love a lace dress, and I've found a couple I can't wait to try on.

There's this one from Casa Blanca Bridal (style 2004 from the Fall 2010 collection):

And these from Allure Bridals:

Style 8751:

Style 8764:

Style 8770:

(On a side note: I WISH my hair looked this good when it was down.)

Anyone else looking for dresses? Am I crazy to try this in one day!?!?