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So I finally baked something off my Sweet, Delicious Cravings list! Although I was supremely exhausted from the lack of sleep from the night before. I was determined to get these baked.

What did I end up making, you ask? I started my baking endeavor with Martha Stewart's Strawberry Shortcake Cookies. (see my picture above, taken after the cookies had cooled, and placed in tupperware to send off to little sister) :)

Unfortunately, the cookies came out a little soggier than I imagined (i didn't envision any sogginess at all, actually). I figured the strawberry mixture had too much water/liquid that had accumulated while mixing the cookie dough, and I probably should have strained the mixture before adding to the dough. Oh well, you live and you learn. Next time I'll know better :)
(They still TASTE pretty damn good if you ask me.)

Time for Tea

photo courtesy of www.mightysweet.com

Do you know the TeaCake Man, the TeaCake Man, the TeaCake Man? Do you know the TeaCake Man who works in ChinaTown?

Another trip down Food Memory Lane for me. When I was little, my family would come to the "city" (New York City, that is, for all you NON tri-state area residents) every Sunday for Dim Sum (We will talk more about my LOVE for Dim Sum in a separate future post). Our usual haunt was a place called HSF near where Krazee lived (in the Kips Bay area), but on nice summer days many times we'd venture down to Chinatown (where HSF eventually moved to) and walk around after lunch. Here, we would ALWAYS bump into the "Tea Cake Man" (that was my name for him then, and continues til this very day). He makes small little cakes in a mini Ebelskiver cast iron pan. Hot off the presses, 15-20 mini cakes for $1 in a little wax paper baggie, to munch on while you explore Chinatown.
We stopped our Dim Sum ventures as Little Sister and I got older, but I have returned to my dumpling ways along with my buddy, OH. And we have found our beloved TeaCake Man, soaking in every warm simple bite of the mini air cakes as we digest our delicious. scrumptious meal.

I Need a New Attitude...

So I REALLY need a new haircut.  A new style, something.  I think I've had the same hairstyle since I was 16.  No matter what I do, or what "celeb pic" I take with me to the hairstylist, it still looks like this (see pic to the right). Sorry I look so unhappy...I was trying to figure out the screen snapshot off my Mac while taking this.  Wasn't sure if it actually took a picture. (Plus I had one too many last night, and have not had enough fried foods to sop up the leftover liquor).

Anyhoo...So 5 years ago, I had FINALLY found a great stylist who charged me UNDER $100 (she charged me $50, in fact) in NYC, and even though my hair always looked somewhat the same when I came out of there, I still felt...brand new :)

Then she moved to Japan.  Back to square 1.  OH recommended her hair stylist who she just LOVED LOVED LOVED.I met him, and I will have to admit--I LOVE LOVE LOVED him too.  Except he charge me about $150 a visit (new prices for new clients apparently, and this was not inclusive of tip).  SO although everyone LOVED my hair every time I walked out of his salon, I didn't feel new.  I felt like I was being charged 3 times what I normally paid, for the same haircut I always got.  He's an amazing stylist, and if you can afford it, I definitely recommend Mario (www.mariodiab.com).  Mario is so wonderful, has a great vision, and is just so amazingly cultured.  But at $150, I can only go to him once a year, and he's not too happy with my hair when I go in.

My little sister, being back in NYC for a matter of 6 months, found a very hipster fab stylist...in Brooklyn.  And although I do love Brooklyn, I think it's been over 2 years since I last was there (I'm not counting the 3 hours OH and I spent in October doing our own Cancer Walk in Prospect Park, as everyone else walked in the other direction).  I know I'll never get my lazy butt down there, thus, again, only visiting the salon once a year.

And the reason why I've had the same haircut for almost 15 years...I'm scared to do anything different.  I'm scared something shorter will make me look chubbier.  Something too trendy will make me look silly.  Something too "normal" would make me look like I've aged 50 years.  I don't know what would suit me besides the above shot as per this afternoon. And I feel THAT look is just weighing me down.

Last night, after the 4th or 5th Grey Goose & Diet Coke, I came home and couldn't fall asleep.  I was thisclose to getting the scissors and just lopping off my hair.  I even started "measuring out" my bangs with my fingers. I decided I didn't want to wake-up King of Written Street and Polar Bear who were visiting this weekend by trying to find the scissors out in the living room.

So I have two dilemmas--finding a new stylist in NYC who won't charge me the same amount as a new pair of shoes, and a new hair STYLE period.  Please help.

Randomness of the Day

So, on Facebook, a "note" has been going around called: 25 Random Things About Me. It's actually quite interesting and fun (but, of course, I love that kind of stuff). So I thought, why not post my list of 25 on here, and then everyday post something random about me or that I'm thinking of (along with my "Train of Thought" post), as I have PLENTY of random thoughts about myself and the world. So, let's start today with the initial "25 random thoughts about me":

1) I had written this whole thing out, and my program decided to shut down on me before I could save it. Aargh. Of course, I did it again immediately. I love this stuff.
2) I am SUPREMELY neurotic
3) My little sister is my soul mate -- connected through all of our lives, past, present, and future
4) But my husband is the love of my life -- my strength, my calmness, my laughter, my tears, my annoyance, my hugs, and everything in between
5) The one regret in my life is quitting dance. I started taking classes at age 3, until age 12, when I contracted a major case of stage fright. Still have it.
6) I love to write, however I find I write in rambles. Thus blogging and I have really connected. Check mine out at browniesugar.blogspot.com
7) I wish I were wittier. I think I might have been at one point.
8) Josh Duhamel is #1 on my celeb "to do" list ;)
9) I really wish I was more like Heidi Klum as she's #1 on my husband's list :)
10) Shopping is my drug of choice
11) Baking is my activity of choice. And now I bake from scratch! (No more boxed mixes for me, no sir!)
12) I want to see the world
13) I speak Hindi-English and Spanglish. One of these days, I'll actually start speaking fluent Hindi and Spanish
14) I want to go back to school to get my masters. I just wish I knew in what.
15) I already have names picked out for my future daughters. I can't think of any boys' names I like. This just means I have to have all girls :)
16) I dream in color -- very vivid, very real dreams
17) I majored in psychology due to my extreme fascination with "why we are the way we are" -from birth through the college years. I'm still fascinated by this.
18) I sing in the shower, and think I sound amazing (only in the shower)
19) I incessantly stare at my bare, non-existent abs (aka pooch) in the mirror
20) I play out every worst case scenario in my head of any and every situation that comes my way, whether is has anything to do with me or not. Sometimes I do the same thing for situations I see on tv.
21) I am insanely competitive, thus avoid playing any games to avoid having a "Monica" moment (see "FRIENDS" ep "The One With All The Poker"). I hate when people know more about pop culture than I do. But I'll keep that to myself ;)
22) I used to see 4-5 movies at the theater, in one month, growing up. I now see that many in a year.
23) I love monkeys. The cute curious george, chimp types. Not the crazy baboons with the red butts.
24) I need sleep.
25) I don't know how to swim

When Life Hands You Lemons...Make Lemon Tarts!

So I have decided that since I'm not much of a cook...I'd like to become a baker. I LOVE coming up with new sweet ideas to concoct for get-togethers and guests. I started at the wee age of 12, baking with my sister (the boxed variety)....My Mom loved to cook, but my sister and I were more interested in the sweets region. Since I was not very experienced in cooking, BAKING from scratch scared me. But lately something has come over me, and I just decided -- it's so much easier to control what goes into the mix when you make it all yourself. I started last November with a MASSIVE Autumn care package for my sister who was away at college. (the theme: PUMPKIN)...I made Pumpkin mini muffins, Pumpkin bread with cream cheese frosting (thanks LawRose for the recipe!), Pumpkin scones, AND the "piece de resistance" (anybody know how to put accents in a blog?) -- Oreo Cream Cheese Balls. (I know, no pumpkin, but AMAZING. Thank you to Mama's friend for this one...pure genius.)

Anyhoo...from time to time, I'll post recipes or pictures of stuff I've baked that have received good reviews from my personal taste testers. I'll also post stuff that LOOKS really good to me. (I'd like to send a shout out to the girls of Cupcakes Take the Cake--you ladies are an inspiration. Thank you! http://cupcakestakethecake.blogspot.com)

I'd also LOVE to get your recipes or pics of yummy baked goods. I'm always looking for something new to try, or to post works of artistic deliciousness. :D

(This post was inspired by my sudden craving for a Lemon Tart...I can't find one ANYWHERE!!)