AKA my first attempt at (cup)cake decorating - rabbits digging holes in a garden! They’re from the Hello, Cupcake! book. I won’t lie, that book is pretty much the reason I was inspired to run out and buy a bunch of icing tips, gel food dye, and baking supplies to try my hand at cake decorating.

Just call me Martha Stewart!

For the garden cupcakes, I dyed vanilla icing green for the grass (using Wilton’s gel colouring), and used a #18 Star tip to create the grassy-icing effect. I then decorated with mini eggs and spring (flower!) sprinkles. For the bunnies, I iced the cupcakes using the remaining vanilla icing and then dipped them into a bowl of Oreo baking crumbs until covered. I made the feet by hand using melting chocolate. You put the chocolates in a ziploc bag (easier clean up than the bottles!) and zap it for 30 seconds. Knead, cut a TINY tip off one corner, and voila! Instant drawing pen. The tail is simply a white Malteser (did you know those existed? I had no idea until I found them at Bulk Barn!)

I made these little guys for Easter dinner at my Grandmothers… they were a hit! I can’t wait to decorate more cupcakes - the only problem is, well, since I live alone I have no one to feed the cupcakes too once I bake them. Any takers? ;)

Me & our family dog Kodee

Back in December 2008, a fire destroyed the Humane Society of Durham Region killing more than 150 animals. 13 animals were saved by firefighters.

Sadly, the Humane Society has yet to be rebuilt - and the community’s support is needed to get a new (temporary! hopefully) home for the hundreds of cats, dogs, rabbits, and other creatures the Humane Society serves. During March Break, the Pickering Town Centre is holding “Raise the Woof!” to help fundraise for the Humane Society, and to raise awareness about what the Humane Society has to offer and the services it provides. If you’re in Durham Region - please swing by the Pickering Mall to check out the event and donate! If you’re not in the area, then you can do what I’m going to be doing and make a donation online. :)

No, not me - and besides; I’m not blonde anymore.

I’m talking about a very close friend of mine, someone I’ve known since I was a kid. This girl’s pretty amazing - she’s loved by women all over the world, is well travelled and well educated, drop dead gorgeous, owns more than a few mansions, and her shoe collection and wardrobe is to die for. She’s had an ever changing, and very exciting, career history. She’s been a fashion editor, a surgeon. An airline attendant, and an astronaut. She spent a few years in the Marine Corps, and a few with the US Air Force. She’s even been a formula one driver, a presidential candidate, American Idol winner, and an Olympic Athelete.

And now, she finally will get a chance to be a star (again) AND show off her geeky side.

Mattel announced this week Barbie’s 125th and 126th Careers: News Anchor and Computer Engineer.

Computer Engineer Barbie & News Anchor Barbie

I find this highly entertaining, since, well, I’m a Video Journalist, and my sister is studying to do computer programming! It’s like Mattel just knew.

But, can we please just focus on News Anchor Barbie for a second - and the following:

1. Her perfect hair (as The Boy said- “You sound jealous!” and yes, I am… I want her bangs! Hairstylist, take note!)
2. Her VIDEO CAMERA!!
3. Microphone
4. Clipboard (B News!)
5. Her black shoes with PINK BOWS (must have - do they make them in a human-size 8?)
6. Her… pink suit? (okay, maybe that was a little much).

From the accessories and description, I think she’s more a Video Journalist than a News Anchor (lets be honest, and no offense to her, but when was the last time Christine Bentley touched a camera?) Either way, MUST. HAVE! I mean, she’s retailing for $12.99 American (and I’m assuming that will make it about $16.99 Canadian, despite the fact our dollar is almost even right now - damn you lame retail conversions!) …how can you go wrong??

Sadly, News Anchor Barbie won’t be released until October (although you can pre-order her… which I’ll be doing: can we say “belated birthday present to myself” anyone? ;) but you can get Computer Engineer Barbie this Spring!

I won’t pretend to know a lot about football. I’ve picked up bits and pieces from my days in first year of painting “GO MAC” on my stomach and waving spirit sticks at college ball games; and from groaning about Sundays filled with hours upon hours of football with the boy. That being said, I still love to watch the Superbowl - boys in tight pants, a good excuse to have a few drinks, and an even better excuse to forget about the word “calorie” and eat an entire plate of nachos by myself (oops!).

Photo Courtesy Reuters

The game was a good one; and I’mnot even sure I have the words for the last quarter - I was actually fully captivated by the game at that point. I wish I had been on Bourbon Street last night! What a party that must have been: Mardi Gras season + Superbowl Win? Sign me up!

But the highlight for me was not the Simpsons Coke Commercial (where was the Polar Bear?), or seeing The Who perform at halftime.

It wasn’t seeing Drew Brees, the Saints quarterback, holding his adorable son on the field after winning.

And no, it wasn’t the Free-Willy-Meets-The-Hangover Commercial; nor was it the Bud Light “Lost” Spoof (despite the fact Lost is, hands down, the best thing on TV right now).

It wasn’t seeing the Superbowl Snack Stadium and wondering if I was enough parts Martha Stewart to make it (that experiment will have to wait until next year).

And it wasn’t even reading celebrity tweets during the game - seriously, Paris Hilton had a Superbowl Party? And why do I find this surprising?

No, for me, the  best part - and I do mean my favourite part - was a little commercial by a company that’s name has become a verb, and who I’m not even sure needed the advertising… but sure could afford it.

My heart melted. My eyes misted. And I’ll be damned if I didn’t admit I’ve probably watched it a hundred times since yesterday. It’s so incredibly simple, yet so poignant. As if I needed another reason to love Google - but damn, I love this commercial. ♥

**As a sidenote: If you missed any of the commercials (and I’d have to ask why - take your bathroom break DURING the game, people, not during the commercials! ;) you can catch them all here.

“Time for the weather report. It’s cold out folks– Bone crushing cold. The kind of cold which will wrench the spirit out of a young man, or forge it into steel.” –Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneider, “Northern Exposure”

It’s cold up here. Really, really cold. One of the first things I remember being told when I moved here (and being told many times over the last 6 months, by many different people) is: “It’s cold, but a DIFFERENT cold than Toronto. It’s a dry cold, not a wet cold like down south, so it doesn’t FEEL quite as cold”. I think this is somewhat true - or at least I did, until January 1st when the Olympic Torch Relay took place, outside, in -35 degree weather.

After 2 hours outside, my face was so frozen I couldn't physically smile. I was trying to SO HARD here!

I arrived, like a good media girl, at about 5:45 (though the relay didn’t start unitl 6:15, and didn’t reach my location - by the stage - until just after 7), and by 6pm worked up the courage to go outside and walk to the media zone… a good 5 minutes from where we parked. Granted, not THAT far… unless it’s -35 and you’re carrying a bunch of camera equipment.

I think my coworker Lydia said it best when I called her asking for advice on my Sorels - “Should I get the rated to -32 ones,” I asked her, “Or the rated to -40 ones?” She laughed, and gave me some true Northern Advice: “Lauren, it doesn’t matter whether it’s -32 or -40 outside… it’s still @#*$ing cold! So get the ones you like.”

So I did (and obviously, the ones I liked were the -32 degree ones or I wouldn’t have been asking… ;)

And she was right. The difference between -30 and -40 is really, when it boils down to it, not that big of a difference… either way, you don’t want to be outside for any longer than the run between your car and your house!

“I know it sounds crazy… but it wouldn’t be Timmins if it wasn’t -40 and freezing!”
–Shania Twain, speaking to the crowd at the Olympic Torch Celebrations in Timmins.

I’ve only enjoyed about… one and a half months of the lovely 5-6 months of Winter I’ve been told to expect - we had an unusually mild November, I’m told - but I’ve still managed to learn a whole whack of things I never even thought about before.

Winter Lessons!

1. Whether it’s -30, -35, or -40, it’s still freaking cold outside.
2. Yes, it IS possible for your car to get frost on the inside of the windows… apparently it’s a result of the snow that gets into your mats from your boots, and, of course, never melts (like it does occasionally down south) as it’s never warm enough for it to melt.
3. It’s really, really, REALLY hard to scrape said frost off the inside of your window.
4. Don’t forget to plug your car in. Just don’t.
5. No, you CAN’T drive over the snow bank the plow makes at the bottom of your driveway after a snowfall, despite the fact you did it in Toronto all the time - chances are the overnight snowfall was equivalent to a month’s worth in the city. Your car WILL get stuck, two men WILL have to spend 15 minutes having to help push your car over the damn thing, and your neighbour WILL faceplant into the snow bank that was under your car once it moves… sorry about that, by the way!
6. It’s a bad idea to let your car get below 1/4 of a tank - there’s a really good chance it will freeze up, yes even if plugged in.
7. Remote Car Starters are to Northerners like Fire was to Cavemen… essential.
8. Remote Car Starters ALSO cost an arm and a leg for installation in a ‘97 Chevy Lumina… which is what I drive. D’oh!
9. Add an extra half hour (or more) to your morning, to allow for possible snowfall, snowbanks, frost, etc you’ll have to deal with.
10. Don’t get excited when you see the sun in the morning - although it looks pretty, and the Vitamin D is nice - it feels way, way, WAY colder when the sun is out. I’m told this has something to do with the cloud cover “padding” the atmosphere and trapping heat in. I’ll take it!
11. Vitamin D supplements, Vitamin D supplements, Vitamin D supplements!
12. Kitty Litter: it’s not just for litter boxes anymore.
13. Invest in a loooooong  (and well insulated!) winter jacket. Your butt will thank you.
14. Bad hair days don’t exist in the cold - you won’t care if you’re ruining your perfect ponytail, curls, or straightened mane if the hat is keeping your head warm.
15. Heated blankets = ? (Thanks Gramsey!!)
16. No, after spending Christmas Week in balmy -3 to -10 degree weather and little to no snow, the pilot will NOT let you get back on the plane (no matter HOW cold and HOW windy it is) and let you go back. ;)
17. Yes, there is such a thing as “too cold to ski”… at least for me!
18. Put on those goofy snow pants, the ski mitts, the scarf wrapped around your head and face 10 times, and the 300 layers that make you look like a marshmellow… people will be staring at you if you DON’T, because they’ll be thinking “look at that stupid person whose not dressed for the weather!”