LA Cupcake Challenge 2010

This past weekend, Nancy and I attended LA's Cupcake Challenge 2010.

40 Cupcakes - 20 Bakers - Only 1 Winner!!

Our Goal: To sample all 40 Cupcakes!

Since this is not our first go around at this event...We had an idea of how to make sure we did a great job at scoring all the cupcakes. The key is to take small bites of the mini cupcakes!

There was all kinds of cupcakes this year; Key Lime, Lavender Vanilla, Rose Pedal, Car Boom, Pig on Top (Bacon cupcake), Pretty Women, etc...

We went around and collected about 10-12 cupcakes at a time. Our plan was to take home one full set of cupcakes and only sample one set at the venue. So, we would both collect the same cupcakes...Pack one in a bag and test the other. We cut the mini in half and then just took a bite of that piece. After 38 cupcakes - we were good!

Note: The reason we didn't try the other 2 was because they were BIG size cupcakes and we just didn't have it in us to try the BIG cupcakes.

Nancy and I with Naught and Nice Cupcakes...Nancy said they were given out correct! I had Naught and she had Nice. I let her believe that...lol.

Us with the Bunny!

Our Pick for Best Traditional: Big Man Bakes - Red Velvet.

Big Man Bakes was by far the BEST of the traditional cakes...and we tasted a lot! The cakes was moist and the frosting complimented the cake, it never over powered the cake.

Big Man himself!!

Our Pick for Best Original: Fairy Cakes - Pumpkin White Chocolate

Fairy Cakes really did a GREAT job with this one. I love pumpkin - not a big fan of white chocolate, but it wasn't anything that took away from the pumpkin...It was great together.

Our pick for Best Overall: Polkatots - Lucky Charm

Once again Polkatots is my favorite! I still remember last years Dulce de Latch and was excited to see them on the list again this year. When I first saw "Lucky Charm" I thought...Hmmm...What did they do with cereal? It wasn't until I tasted this cupcake that I realized it was pistachio! It was amazing! There was a few that were close to touching it, but in the end...Nothing compared to Lucky Charm!

Little Penguin was good too!!



Here is our left overs - PLUS we took home 4 dozen to share!

The new thing this year must be Bacon Cupcakes! Three companies put in Bacon cupcakes...here they are below. I was not impressed with the Bacon cupcakes, but Ron said the one with the flag was alright. It was actually a pancake flavor cupcake, maple frosting and bacon...Kinda like breakfast!

I can't wait until next year to see what will they come up with next!!

NBA All Star Game - 2010

For Christmas, I gave Ron a Trip to Dallas, TX to go and see the NBA All-Star Game. We were suppose to leave out on Feb 11 for a fun filled NBA weekend. On Feb 11 - I got a call from American Airlines that my flight was cancelled because DFW was getting to much snow. They couldn't get us on a flight to DFW until SATURDAY morning! Thank goodness all the events I paid for were on Saturday - Sunday! So, we took the first flight we could take and spend the weekend among THOUSANDS of NBA fans.

Saturday - We went to the NBA Jam Session @ the Dallas Convention Center. It was CRAZY! There was tons of people. We walked around for about 5 hours and got some really good autographs and photos.

I was the more "aggressive" autograph getter...lol. I would follow the players around and jump in front of them to get the autographs. All those trips to Disneyland were I would stock Mikey Mouse worked in my favor this weekend...lol.

Nate Robinson - Slam Dunk Winner!! Got his autograph!

Sunday - We went to the NBA All Star Game @ the Dallas Cowboy Stadium. Now...Anyone who knows me, knows I am not a big fan of Basketball, but I do love me some football...Especially Dallas Cowboys and especially Miles Austin. I have been a fan of Miles Austin since I first met him in 2008 here at Point Mugu when the Cowboys stopped for autographs. I have been watching his career even before game 5 of this season! I have been waiting for the day his Jersey hit the sleeves...Which I got this past Christmas....Thanks Mom.

So, you know I was more excited to be in the stadium that Miles plays in every week....So, to my surprise he was there! Not only was he in the stadium when I was, but he was RIGHT in front of me. I hit Ron on the arm and froze! It was Miles...Right in front of me!! I have hugged this man in the past, but that was a couple of years ago. Miles went into a room and we walked away.

As we took our GREAT seats for the game, I looked to my top left and it was the Cowboys suite! J. Jones, Emmet Smith, Dion Sanders and Miles Austin all in the same room! I went and took photos of them.

Miles Austin - #19 on the Dallas Cowboys.

Doesn't the guy next to him kinda look like Mr. Belding from Save By the Bell?

Once my excitement was over from Miles Austin, it was time for me to enjoy Ron's favorite sport...Basketball. The pre-show was of Usher and it was pretty good. I loved the way the plays entered into the stadium! The game went on and it was fun to watch. Ron said it was by far the best Christmas present I have ever given him!

Game from our seats.

East Team going to court.
Ron's Favorite player - D. Wade!!

Ron and I going into Stadium

Snow Days

In January ( I know I have been slacking on the updates!!) Ron and I took the girls to Frazier Park for a Snow Day!! We had about 10-12 inches of rain in our area and the mountain towns had more in SNOW! In some parts we were walking in knee deep snow...It was so much fun!

Kehau LOVES the snow and the look on her face once we got to the small town (about 1 hour away) was like, "Oh...I like that white stuff!" She was built for this type of weather!

Izzy was okay in the snow and LOVED to play in it, but she little legs would shack and she would get into the street or sidewalk that was clear of snow when she had the chance.

Mountain Side Road

Kehau running in fresh snow!

The girls trying to decided which way they wanted to go.

My little family!!