Do I feel dirty? Only if I haven’t showered (which happens now and then when Abby’s demanding). How about old? Well, yes, and no. It’s a little getting used to when the decade changes. I remember feeling proud when I could say I was in my twenties. I even remember teasing the hubby years ago (because he’s that much older, haha, just kidding) when he turned 25. I kept saying how he was a quarter century old because that sounded so old back then.

Boy, time does fly.

I told myself that by the time I was 30, I wanted to be married, have a house and have a baby. Done, done and done. I also have a dog, so I’m one up on myself :D

So, some notable moments from the last 30 years (yikes):

• Grew up (though try convincing my parents that – they still tell me how I should dress up warm)
• Went to Disneyland
• Got my driver’s licence
• Did hairdressing (and got my hair cut, coloured, permed… etc.)
• Went to uni and got a BSc in Information Systems
• Met my husband
• Went to the lighthouse at Cape Reinga and finally visited the South Island
• Lived in a city apartment
• Went to Las Vegas
• Moved cities
• Became a programmer
• Did more travelling, including a European tour (and saw the Eiffel Tower among other things, and had stuff like escargo, and mussels in Brussels)
• Bought a house
• Bought a brand new car
• Got married
• Made a wedding cake
• Got a dog
• Started a blog
• Sold some paintings
• Became a mother

My 30th birthday yesterday consisted of Mc Donald’s(!), popcorn, ice cream and the movie Boy. We planned to go out for a fancy dinner but then decided to come home and rescue Abby from the grandparents. Good move because she was super grumpy that night as she’s teething and my parents are not good with sticking to routine, or allowing her to sleep by herself.

Today I got two surprises in the mail. An East Day Spa voucher from my naughty husband, and an adorable cupcake cake (a huge cupcake or a mini cake cake?) from my sister in law. She does awesome cakes so if you’re in Palmerston North and need one, I’ll hook you up :D

The cake survived being posted even though I found the package on its side despite having a ‘this way up’ note on it. A couple petals broke off and there’s a crack in the pink icing but I’m sure that has no impact on its deliciousness. Time for a cuppa and cake methinks!

Yum yum

As much as I’d love to share my freshly baked cupcakes with everyone, sending them in the post isn’t going to happen (they’ll get probably get eaten on the way to the post office anyway).

The good news is I’m giving away one of my cupcake paintings to celebrate the release of the first paintings for this year.

To enter, browse my cupcake paintings then leave a comment here about which painting(s) you love (and why would be useful to me). You can even include any sold or reserved paintings as I can recreate them if the winner chooses. If you win, you can choose any painting from my shop as there may be new ones yet to come :)

For an extra two entries, mention this give away or the Eggshell Green shop (http://www.eggshellgreen.etsy.com) on your blog and include the link to your post when submitting your comment.

Lady Red

• Competition is open to everyone!
• Entries must be made via a comment on this post.
• Entries close on Monday 19 April 2010. The date of your comment will be indicated when it is posted, and all valid entries dated before and on the closing date will be accepted.
• Entries must include which painting(s) you love.
• Only one entry per person, unless you qualify for the extra two (meaning you get three entries total).
• Winner will be contacted by email so please ensure you enter a valid email address.
• Winner can choose any cupcake painting that is available on the shop.
• Winner chosen at random and announced on Tuesday 20 April 2010.

My belly button now looks like a moon crater with raised edges.  I wonder what it will do by the end of this trimester…

On Sunday I had my baby shower. Thanks to my cousin and Ms Constantine for organising things, and everyone who made it there.

Of course I had to make cupcakes and opted for the favourite black forest. I also made a lemon coconut flavour so I could make use of the dessicated coconut that I finally got around to getting (although I only used it on the icing).

Baby shower cupcakes

I opted to ice the lemon cupcakes by using a layer of butter cream and then plonking a giant marshmallow on top. A sprinkling of coconut made them look extra fluffy. Some royal icing helped to cement the teeny fondant flowers on top to complete the baby girl look. Lazy but quite effective I thought. I also learnt that I need to use more butter cream because the marshmallow may look like frosting but doesn’t give the same moistness and finger licking quality as frosting :)

The hubby made some cookies that I put away in Chinese takeout boxes for the guests.  Mmm, chocolate cherry, and almond and white chocolate…. He thinks he may have missed an ingredient from the chocolate cherry ones because they turned out rather flat and floppy, so apologies. I think they still tasted good.

The baby shower was great fun. We also got a lot of useful stuff that will help us get started when the baby arrives. Baby clothes, especially girls’ things can be unbelievably cute! Can’t wait to use everything.

We also had our first antenatal class last Wednesday. It’s quite scary learning what is going to happen. My cervix is apparently going to expand to nearly the size of a compact disc and that’s before I can start pushing the baby out!

Vanilla cupcakes with lemon icing

Chocolate cupcakes with chocolate flakes

Bright vanilla cupcakes with strawberry and apple flavoured icing

Vanilla cupcakes I made for my hen's tea party with Malibu, Cointreau and Kahlua icing

A selection of cucpakes for Ms Constantine's birthday

Blue Obama cupcakes (not the obscene version)

Well, we’re not American, but Obama’s presidency gave me an excuse to be silly with cupcakes. If you want to know what I mean, see my post on Cocktails and Obama Cakes.

Dark chocolate cupcake with lemon icing

Trial cupcakes for the brother-in-law's wedding

The 72 cupcakes we made for the brother-in-law's wedding. Flavours were chocolate, vanilla boysenberry and lemon, with vanilla or lemon icing.

Dark chocolate black forest cupcakes with fresh brandy cream

All my cupcakes are variations of the basic Scout’s Cupcakes recipe (see my Tea Party Essentials post) – the most simple, fail proof recipe for light, fluffy cupcakes.

Water Balloon in a G-string bites off more than he can devour

Thursday 12 March 2009

Wilson $3 parking. Look closer. It’s for half an hour. And what kicked me in the guts more was that on a Saturday Sunday I parked here assuming (stupidly) that it was one of the Wilson $3-all-day weekend parking lots. Nope. At least I only forked out $6 that day – imagine if I had stayed the whole day!

Cheeky signage! Grr.

Friday 13 March 2009

We go to Bowlarama in Newtown after work for a couple games. I get a strike on the first bowl of the evening. That is in no way a reflection on the rest of the game.

Bowling balls at Bowlarama

Saturday 14 March 2009

We head to Palmie this morning. As usual I don’t get up early enough for breakfast, so it’s Mc Donald’s for breakfast. No complaints though.

Mmm healthy

Sunday 15 March 2009

My sister-in-law’s Jack Russell had puppies last month. They are uber cute. I would’ve taken this big ball of kawiiness if it wasn’t already taken. Instead I am adopting the runt – the less psychotic of the other two.

Awww!

Monday 16 March 2009

Time for some more cupcake paintings.

Painting in progress

Tuesday 17 March 2009

It’s bowling night with work again. This time we go to Bowlarama (seeing as it’s two games for one on Tuesdays). It’s a fine night and I walk home in a calming sunset.

View from outside my house of the hills in the Eastern suburbs

Wednesday 18 March 2009

We decide it’s time to do some grocery shopping. The weather decides it’s time for some rain.

You can stand under my um-barella

My Eggshell Green shop on etsy.com is ready for your browsing pleasure.

Bejewelled cupcake painting

Thursday 26 February 2009

Shooters after work for some drinks, nibbles and pool. One of my nicknames is monkey, so I had to take this picture of their cocktail menu.

Is the menu trying to say something?

Friday 27 February 2009

I adopt a new soft toy at work. I name him Ping and he wears a head band that says “Ichiban” on it (meaning “Number one” in Japanese).

Ping makes his home on my desk

Saturday 28 February 2009

We fly to Auckland for a three-day weekend. Before we leave, I cut the hubby’s hair in a hurry. I also cut my finger for the first time ever while cutting hair. Ouch. I now have a nice v-shaped flap, which is slowly healing.

"v" for "very silly"

Sunday 1 March 2009

My friends Ryan and Nicola have their engagement party today. It’s an afternoon tea with lots of goodies including these little cupcakes that someone made. I’m quite impressed by the buttercream roses.

Delectable pretties

Monday 2 March 2009

On the last day of our Auckland weekend, the hubby and I go to Lilliput Minigolf in Mission Bay. This is where we had our first date almost eight years ago.

You missed the hole...

Tuesday 3 March 2009

Bowling with workmates at the Lanes today. There are lots of nibbles and by the time I get home, I don’t want much for dinner. I decide that a cob of corn freshly picked from the garden would be good. And it was :)

Nom nom nom

Wednesday 4 March 2009

This is what happens when cherry tomatoes cross with beef steak. You get mini beef steaks! They are so cute.

Not quite big enough for your sandwich

Thursday 15 January 2009

I finally wear a skirt to work today – first time for years. Usually it’s too cold inside with the air conditioning, but we’ve fixed that so hooray! Awful photo.

Yay for skirts and warm weather

Friday 16 January 2009

The four of us take off after work to Napier for the weekend. I make the husband stop the car when we spot some miniature horses. This one reminds me of Kurt Cobain.

If Kurt Cobain came back as a mini horse

Saturday 17 January 2009

The weather is fantastic in Napier today.

We go shopping in town, have lunch at a pub (where I am asked for ID, boo!), and visit Hastings where the shops we want to visit are unfortunately closed.

In between Buck’s Fizzes (and beer for the boys) there is some hacky sacking – the most exercise I’ve had in a while!

One of the good old summer sports

Sunday 18 January 2009

The weather is not so fantastic in Napier today.

In between the intermittent downpours we get some lunch that includes some fresh cream donuts and lamingtons – yummy!

Too hot for tea, but not for tea cakes

Monday 19 January 2009

We harvest some peas, courgettes and beans from our garden when we get back from Napier.

A little reward from nature

Tuesday 20 January 2009

Hubby reminds me I need to use up the cream in the fridge.

I make some chocolate cupcakes and ice them with Malibu lemon icing.

Delicious, yes.

Wednesday 21 January 2009

There is a power cut this morning and I have to take a cold shower.

I get to work and find I can’t take any lifts up from Lambton Quay to the Terrace. I walk up Plimmer Steps and notice crowds of people unable to get inside and up to their buildings. The power cut is more wide spread than I first thought.

The power is back by the time I arrive at work, about an hour and a half since the cut began.

Traffic lights out at the intersection of Wellington Road, Kilbirnie Terrace and Hamilton Road

I had been wanting to make black forest cupcakes for months but hadn’t gotten around to it – mainly because they have fresh cream instead of icing so it was best to wait until there was an occasion where the whole lot would be eaten in one day.

Finally I decided that our last barbecue of the year would be a great time to test these out.

Black Forest cupcakes

I based the recipe on my favourite for Scouts Cupcakes and made a few alterations. They turned out great and I will definitely make them again soon :)

Update 30 August 2009:
I’ve adjusted the flour and cocoa ratios to eliminate the need for two types of cocoa, and yet still get a rich but fluffy cupcake. The extra 1/4 cup of dry cocoa makes up for the juices in the cherries. Also, use cherry liquer in the cream if you have it.

Black Forest Cupcakes

• Break 2 eggs into a cup measure and fill to the top with fresh whipping cream.
• Pour into a large mixing bowl and beat on high with electric mixers for 1 minute.
• Add 1/4 teaspon of vanilla essence and 3/4 cup caster sugar.
• Beat for another 3 minutes.
• Stir through 1/2 cup of Morello cherries (you get these tinned or in a jar). Cut them up roughly first.
• Sift in 1 cup of standard flour plus 1 1/2 tsp baking powder and a pinch of salt.
• Sift in 1/4 cup Dutch cocoa.
• Fold to combine taking care not to over mix.
• Spoon into 12 cupcake cases.
  Usually I end up with a couple extra – if you are making a double batch, you can get 30 cupcakes.
• Bake for about 12-15 minutes at 180 degrees Celcius until a skewer comes out clean.
• Remove from tins (they can be quite fragile for a few minutes after baking) and cool on wire racks.
• Whip some fresh cream with a dash of cherry liquer or brandy and pipe onto cupcakes.
• Decorate as you please.
  I used real chocolate hail, red sprinkles, and white chocolate drops. Maraschino cherries or shaved chocolate on top woud be good too.