magicalness 1 : cupcakes.

magicalness 2 : steak & casual fun.

magicalness 3 : DISNEYLAND.

In order of magicalness this blog will be written.

(1.)CUPCAKES. On Wednesday Brett and I went to Crumbs! Crumbs it has been nearly a year since I’ve tasted you. The display in this store on S. Santa Monica was impressive. There were way more flavors than listed on the website and I was giddy happy over the sugarly colorful array of calories.

I bought the Fluffer Nutter (peanut butter marshmallow frosting with marshmallows baked inside) and the Coffee Toffee (vanilla cake with caramel inside and coffee caramel icing on the outside rimmed with toffee – Nana I thought of you when getting this flavor!). I made the mistake of eating a half of each in one sitting. sicky? a little. I was disappointed in the dryness of the cake, but the flavors were a blend of favoritism. Also, I think the sweetness overload, for once in my life, defeated me! I’ve realized now that Crumbs cupcakes taste better when they are picked at.

Now, it pains me to say this, but, I think my cupcake loyalty has switched to Sprinkles. I’ve written about this bakery before, and now again, I must praise, praise, praise their holy balance of icing to moistily meltable cake…each bite assimilates in my mouth and enlightens my tongue in SUGAR PERFECTION. I was lucky enough this past Friday (after a long meeting at work) to discover that there was a Sprinkles TRUCK (yes a vehicle that carries around these cupcake gems and delivers them to lucky street-goers) outside of my work, waiting for me to bombard it. Without much thought I got the lemon coconut. Sigh. so. yum.

Speaking of trucks…they are quite the popular thing in LA (and Portland for that matter). People at work have raged about the Nom Nom Truck and since it,too, was outside on Friday, I bought a little taco of pork, pickled veggies, lettuce, and spicy sauce. $2.50 for a perfectly gourmet tasting lunch from a kitchen on wheels!! I was thrilled.

(2.)STEAK. Food goodness continued that day when Brett and I went to take advantage of my Birthday entree at a Mexican restaurant in Westwood. Margarita Gigante, guacamole, steak, shrimp and chicken fajitas, AND fried ice cream. After this slew of food we bar hopped, met some people that wouldn’t leave us alone, met some Aussies or Irishmen (I don’t really know) and then crashed at home and slept in and had the most wonderful lazy Saturday accompanied with free FroYo (true B&A style).

GIGANTE.

Saturday night my boss/supervisor at work hosted a BBQ at her and her partner’s beautiful home. It felt like a true LA backyard shindig – gourmet cheese, wine, mini-crackers (haha), kabobs of steak and chicken, grilled mushrooms, pearl couscous, mac salad, asparagus, ribs, a huge cake…It was so nice to hang out with co-workers outside of BLT! This co-op has been the first in which I’m part of a real “team”. Go Marketing Team!! I love it and the camaraderie is great…totally helps pull you through those tough workdays.

(3.)DISNEYLAND. What more can I say? I fulfilled my childhood dreams that stem from watching the Disneyland-fun Sing-a-Long VHS almost every week as a 6 year old. My favorite parts consisted of the song at the Haunted Mansion, Pooh Bear failing at eating his honey, and the Canyon roller coaster on which all of the little kids in the video looked like they were having an absolute blast. Mom, you deprived me of this joy!!! How dare you?!

Anyway, I finally got to see Adventureland, Frontierland, New Orleans, Fantasyland, Toon Town, Tomorrowland, Main Street U.S.A… FINALLY. I gasped out loud when we came across the Haunted Mansion. I then started to recall the sing-a-long video…and so did Brett and suddenly our little kid excitement increased times twenty. We rode the tea cups, Space Mountain, Indiana Jones, Pirates of the Carribean….and mucho more!

We also waited in line with the other little girls to see the princesses! Jasmine, Mulan, and Belle (who I have a new found affinity for. So much to relate to – France, books, Felipe the horse, a loving Dad (miss you Daddy!!), and a beast (or a few)) were the princesses that we got to “meet”. Speaking of princesses, we also saw Tiana singing in New Orleans – she was so cute and fun!

We continued walking around, shopping, saw more characters…but what really impressed me overall was the seamless architecture and landscaping of the entire park. Everything was integrated and themed in such a way that made me forget I was in icky LA. I wish I knew the right architectural terms…but everything from the woodwork, ironwork, the plants, the small sets, the themed music, the displays as you waited in line, the cleanliness, the perfection and enchantment of every structure and composition was impeccably imaginative and indulgent for any mind from 2 to 22 and beyond. I was in love!!! I don’t think my mouth ever closed – constant awe and nostalgia in every street corner and ride…to say the least, it was magic at magic’s greatest. Thank you Walt Disney…over 50 years later…people are still falling back through childhood into your world of happiness :D