Taste of USA Recap

Announcements at the end...  

A brief and special hello to Funsies and Kristen... two of the newest readers joining us on Highlowaha.  We are glad you are part of our community.

Pennsylvania was great fun.  I think it was unanimous, we wish the whole lot of you could have been with us in Philly for our First Annual Taste of USA.  I have the difficult challenge of recapping some of our adventure, though I have asked for some help by the participants.  Hopefully each of the participants will check in at least once today, sharing a few of their own words about some portion of the weekend.  Between all of us, maybe will feel like you got a taste of the weekend.

Saturday morning started with me and Cheryl searching for a Starbucks.  We left the hotel with just enough time to get a coffee, before picking up cupcakes from the Flying Monkey and heading over to Temple University to set up the room.  Getting lost was not in the plan.  Starbucks never happened and we spent much of the day in pursuit of the elusive cup of coffee.

Amy, one of our Taste of USA participants agreed to pick us up at our hotel, bring us to get cupcakes, and then go with us to Temple to help set up.  Again, plan diverted after realizing my GPS still thought we were in Dallas and insisted in providing us directions all the way from 121 and Hall Johnson.  Thanks goodness Cheryl has some as semblance of inner compass.  Later than planned, I flew into the Flying Monkey and flew out with fun light bulb cupcakes in hand.

Onto Temple University.  Streets in the north east are not the neat little grids you find in cities founded after Manifest Destiny.  Don't exactly know why, but they're not.  Suffice it to say, we got turned around...again. 

At this point it's raining.  Not the torrential down pour we would experience at other points during the day, but still raining enough to make it inconvenient for unloading arm loads of treats and props.  Oh, and Temple was having their first home football game.  Which is to say... the campus was crowded and parking was at a premium.  We happenstanced on a a parking spot and a contractor gave us the secret low down on sneaking in the building via the kitchen.  Sounded good to us.  Desperate times, desperate measures

We convince ourselves... if we got lost and couldn't find parking so too would the participants get lost and be late.  Nope.  We were the only ones.

So, the fun began with participants helping us set up.  Finally we're ready and the fun begins.  We did a name game to introduce ourselves, played a few rounds of Family Feud to test our participants knowledge of HLA trivia, and loosened up our creativity with a small group activity.  A note about creativity activity...  My idea was to have the participants take two random items (brought by them) and use them to develop a blog topic I could write about this week.  Once the topic was developed, they had to whack it with a card from von Oech's Whack Pack.  Tune in Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday to see what they came up with.

I'll be working hard this week, as he topics are all over the place.  Pulling them together will be a good test of my creativity.

Now lunch time.  I had fixed in my mind we needed to eat authentic Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches.  My intent was to travel by subway to Pat's - the most infamous Philly Cheesesteak location in Philadelphia.  The rain put a literal damper on that and we ended up going, by caravan, to Geno's (another well known place in Philly).  This was a definite culture shock for all of us.  Geno's is part bar, part Philly Cheesesteak hole in the wall.  In the back... a dark bar pulsating with the bass of what I am sure is some very hip and very current rap music (about which I know nothing).  Beer lined the counters and refrigerator shelves, with a small non-descript soda machine tucked in the corner.  No room for tables and chairs... just a narrow walkway with a bank teller machine to accommodate the cash only policy.

Sandwiches were great (and BIG). Lunch was topped off with a Highlowaha cupcake picnic, a Ray Wattson scavenger hunt (with a fun t-shirt as the prize, and a fire drill).  Yes, you got it... a fire drill in the pouring rain.  Thankfully there was no real fire and we were able to drag our feet enough that we didn't end up having to stand outside.  Activity resumed.  In the afternoon we had show and tell, where each participant shared their "go-to" craft supply.  I took lots of notes and have a long list of ideas for future giveaways.

At 2:18 the very prompt Sue K. called and won our Random Act of Kindness package.  Everyone kicked in their home grown treat and Amy (our package-making goddess) orchestrated our packing it up.  The phone continued to ring long after 2:18 allowing us to also say hello to Heather and Stacie... all the while the phone beeping through with other callers. 

With creativity in full swing, we spent the next hour sharing ideas about how we can improve the highlowaha experience for our readers.  I have three large pieces of paper filled with ideas - all of which I will share with you over time.  For now let me tease you with phrases such as: regional coordinators; reader profiles; show and tell; and virtual dates. 

 

We topped off the experience with another cupcake picnic (thanks to Tera's fabulous chocolate filled cupcakes), a postcard exchange, a closing activity, and picture taking.

Even after the program technically ended, the fun persisted.  A group of us met up for dinner and laughed all night long recanting fun behind-the-scene stories from our decathlon - not to mention the no-nonsense waitress who took our orders.

The experience was great.  On a serious note, I am inspired that a group of people - bound only by their passion for creativity and community - could come together for a weekend and have as much fun as we did.  It affirms, in my mind, that we are onto something unique here and that your contributions matter.

Pictures from the weekend are forthcoming... just as soon as Tera and Treye (our photographers) work with Julie, our slide show coordinator, to pull something together. 

Announcements:

• Cake pan winner:  After much deliberation, the winner of our over-sized cupcake pan is Stacie W. from Louisville, Kentucky.  She proposed the next "must-have" big item that Amy and I should have is an over sized rubber chicken.  We agreed.  Congratulations, Stacie.
• TONIGHT! Countdown to the Super Bowl:  Tonight starts our Football Snack Throw Down at Struble Suds.  Brian and Richard are facing down with BACON as their secret ingredient.  Wanna make a prediction about who will win?
  
• Patchwork:  You may or may not know that Highlowaha has opportunities for you to win patches to be attached to something denim (jeans preferably; a jacket; a denim apron, or even a hat).  I have thirteen patches to be given away - one on each night of a Green Bay Packer Game.  The patch will go to whoever comes closest to guessing the final score of the game.  Inquiring minds want to know... how many of you have your patchwork apparel designated and already have a patch attached?  It's never too late to start.
  

Signing off until tomorrow...

See You at 2:18

I'll be quick.  

I tried to post last night and our connection was slow... at best.  I posted the winner of the fabulous book, Hello Cupcake and I don't think my post every actually went through.  So, at the expense of repeating myself...  Congratulations, Julie from PA!  I have a feeling your good friend Tera will be asking to borrow it.

Cheryl and I made it.  Other than our delayed flight our trip to Philly was thankfully uneventful.  We arrived here a little after midnight, unpacked the scores of treats we lugged across the country (covered in Aveeno Foam Cleanser that exploded somewhere mid-flight) and hit the sack.  We were tired.

We have lots of creative preparation to do in the next couple of hours, but not before we said, "hello" to you.  We wish you could be here too (though the the weather is not supposed to be great), but you will certainly be here in the spirit of #218.

Speaking of #218.  Here's the plan.  Be the first person to call my cell phone at 2:18 p.m. and win a Random Act of Kindness package.  The package will compiled by the 10 of us here in Philly and mailed to you on Monday morning!  Since we'll have you on the phone, we'll give you a quick low down on all our fun and games.

Got it?  Call at 2:18.  Be the first to get through and win a Random Acts of Kindness package, compiled by Taste of USA participants. Here's the number 502.523.0388.

Alright.  I'm off to take a shower and get this show on the road.

A word from Cheryl?  Ok.  Here she is...

Good morning!! It's finally here. The finale to the event to Taste of USA that we all created by bantering in the comments with Claudia early this past summer.  As Claudia's been typing away, I've ironed my shirt and donned my Patchwork jeans. They're so great but we definitely need to get some more events to win and earn more patches. I'm envisioning at least a leg full. 

Luckily, Claudia has an internal clock since I didn't get the alarm set correctly. Well, set but not turned on to go off. We still have a lot to put together this morning so I will run.

Wish you were here! Don't forget to call!

Free For All Friday: Cupcake Mania

And the winner of the drawing from yesterday's Taking a Stand and Making a Statement treat is... Kelly from Montana!!!  Congratulations, Kelly!  Be looking for it in the mail. 

Today is Friday.  But, not just any run-of-the-mill-Friday.  Today Cheryl and I leave on an evening flight to Philadelphia, where finally we get to top off our Taste of USA Contest.  For those of you new to our site... Taste of USA is a ten-week highlowaha contest that ran from May to July.  The challenge was to show your state pride, while having the largest number of people create the most compelling argument for why we should visit your state.  Philadelphia won and we are thrilled to be visiting.  Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches are in our near future.

Our dream would be to have all of you with us, but since that isn't possible, we've come up with a way to bring some of the experience to you.  Check in early tomorrow to find out how you can get in on a piece of the fun.

Today is a free for all, meaning... you the readers get to talk about whatever you want.  Let us help you brainstorm a theme, a gift idea, a decorating dilemma.  You name it.  In the spirit of "free for all-ing," I thought I would cap off our celebration of the cupcake with a hodge podege of final cupcake thoughts.  Here we go in no particular order:

Target: Right now.  This very minute.  Target has a line of bath products in their dollar bins (lotion, foot rubs, etc...) that have cute cupcake logos on top.  The packaging is great and the lotion flavors sound yummy.  Could be a fun party favor for your cupcake picnic.  They also have matching note pads.  I got one of those for each of the woman coming to my cupcake picnic (this morning at 8:45 a.m.).

Websites:  Should you think we are the only group of people who could talk about cupcakes for a week straight... WRONG.  There are, in fact, a couple of websites devoted exclusively to this topic.  One in particular is, Cupcakes Take the Cake.  All cupcakes, all the time.  Check it out.  It's fun, fun, fun.  You realize, of course, this means you can have a cupcake picnic in any state at any time.  Just check their site for the best shops around.

Hello Cupcake:  One night Richard and I were in Barnes and Noble killing time before a movie.  I spotted the book, Hello Cupcake, and got so wrapped up in it, we nearly missed the movie.  The pages of this book literally turn simple cupcakes into art.  One of the things that resonated with me is the recipes do not look completely unattainable (and that's coming 

from me... the woman who actually posted a picture of her horrible looking cupcake cake).  I immediately wrote away to the authors and asked if they would send me a copy to give away on my blog.  Kudos to them.  They said, "yes."  So, today I will away a copy of this book.  I might add, the authors also have a website and a blog.  They run a contest each month, allowing readers to enter their cupcakes into a Hello Cupcake contest.  I'm toying with the idea of how highlowaha can plug into their fun.  Check it out and let me know what you think.

Still thinking about how to give away the coveted book.  I'll figure it out before I sign off for the day.

Notecards:  Aaahhh, Peggy.  I love Peggy and her beautiful notecards.  We have been scheming.  Right after National Ice cream Month, I commissioned Peggy to make me a series of cupcake notecards.  She did and they are in my hot little hand, as I write.  It's hard, but I am planning to part with them today.  Last week I encouraged everyone to take advantage of Amnesty Day (the day you could simply post your address and I would write it on a postcard and put it in the Random Act of Kindness Box for you).  Many of you took me up on it.  You should be smiling right now, as I have decided to draw a name from the box to determine the recipient of the notecards.  And the winner is...  Sandy from Gainesville, Florida.  Congratulations, Sandy.  How about using one to invite another friend to a cupcake picnic? 

Pillars:  If you've spent any time around me whatsoever, you know one of my mottos is "Packaging is everything."  That's why I love these pillars.  These pillars elevate (literally) the simple cupcake and showcase them in a way a paper plate or birthday napkin can't.  I love the possibilities of these pillars.  Imagine one sitting on the desk of a colleague with a fun note or card.  For less than $5.00, including the cupcake, you could give a friend or colleague a meaningful birthday treat. So much better than spending $10.00 on something less thoughtful just so you're not empty handed.   I have a set of four pillars that I also intend to give away today.  Back to the RAK box.  Frustrated you don't have an address in there?  It's not too late... just write your address (name not even necessary) on a postcard.  Put a .27 cent stamp on it and mail to 4012 Harvestwood Court, Grapevine, Texas 76051.  We're never far from the next drawing, so don't waste time.  And the next lucky winner is... Crystal M. from Georgia!

Wedding Cupcakes:  Thank you, Tera for passing along this picture from her recent wedding.  ... Another great example of the beauty of a cupcake.

Oh, now for the book.  How shall I give it away?  Cupcake recipe?  Tell me about your cupcake picnic? First post of the day?  Last post of the day?  Gosh the possibilities are endless. How about using the word "cupcake" as a framework for sharing the highs, lows, and ahas of your week.  Submit one and your name will go in a drawing for the book... to occur from the hotel in Philly at 11:00 p.m.  As for me... 

• Celebrating cupcakes and my creative friend Amy (high)
  
• Unusually cool weather for September, on Thursday morning (high)
  
• Philadelphia here I come! (high)
  
• Chicago... the place where my husband had to be on business most of the week (low)
  
• Absence of any physical activity... all week! (low)
  
• Keeping mentally and physically fit takes effort (aha) 
  
• Everything takes longer than one expects! (aha)
  

Signing off until tomorrow...

Cupcakes That Take A Stand and Have A Message

First an Important Announcement (then more at the end):

I should start the day where I was supposed to leave off yesterday... telling readers about the opportunity to channel your creativity towards helping a member of someone in Sue's (a loyal reader) community.  In the virtual world, we are the spot on the map where creativity meets community.  This, therefore, seems like the perfect location for mustering up support.

The woman for whom this gesture was initially planned passed away two days ago, making it that much more meaningful and important to her husband and her children.  A silent auction is being held in her honor on Thursday, September 25.  Our goal is to create a basket to be included in the auction, reflecting the spirit of our blog and our blog readers.  Albeit short, Highlowaha has a history of using our creativity to enhance/support community.  We did it with Melanie's trip to Belize.  We did it again with our Random Acts of Kindness initiative, and then again with Make Your Mark.  Our holiday service project is looming, and I know through our collective efforts we can squeeze in this important gesture.

Sue, who is coordinating the project, is looking for either craft items (paints, hole punches, fun scissors, cookie cutters, etc...) or handmade creations.  Along with your donation, please include an outline of your hand with your name printed on it.  Sue's address is posted in the comment section.  Donations must be received by Monday, September 22, 2008.

Now to cupcakes that take stand and have a message...

Even cupcakes can make a decorative centerpiece if nicely arranged in a cupcake stand.  My mother purchased mine for me months ago.  I had no idea when I first received the stand how much I would end up using it.  But I have.  

That's the stand.  Now the message.

I love P.F. Changs, but what truly makes it magical (other than the lettuce wraps) is that the whole meal is capped off with the anticipation of opening my fortune.  It is, as Seth Godin would say - author of Free Prize Inside - the "prize inside."  The prize is the "...thing about your service, your product or your organization that's worth remarking on..."  

The fortune cookie is the "prize" to Chinese food in the same way the blue tin foil message is the prize to Promises candies.  I've always thought baking cups should bear fun messages to be found once the cupcake is gone.  While I've never seen one (someone get busy and create it), I've gathered a few thoughts on how we can give the tinker ever so slightly with the beautiful simplicity of a cupcake and give it that added prize inside.

• First. Add -a-Message Fun Pix.  Months ago I saw an article in a magazine suggesting this creative bridal party idea....  The hostess solicits from each guest a piece of advice for bride to be.  Then the hostess takes the words of advice and attaches them to slips of paper on toothpicks. The toothpicks are stuck in cupcakes and served in leu of cake.  I tried this yesterday in a no -frills kind of way.  Fun Pix, colored paper, and a pen.  I leave the possibilities for embellishment up to you and your imagination (fun scissors, stickers, etc...).
  
  
• Second.  Cupcake Fortunes: This is my own little creation (though I am sure it has been done before).  Yesterday was Whacky Wednesday.  So, how to combine Whacky Wednesday with the idea cupcakes?  I wrote twelve fun and whacky notes on slips of paper, rolled them up, and then wrapped them in small pieces of parchment paper.  Once the batter was in the cupcake tins, I sunk the fortunes into the center of the cupcakes.  It worked!  The paper was a little soggy, but the boys found their fortunes and agreed my idea was, in fact, whacky!

So you see, today we celebrate the utility of a cupcake - both as centerpiece and as messenger of fun fortunes.  Consider how you might liven up your next party by arriving with a dozen cupcakes stuffed with surprise messages for each guest.  In fact... let's use that as the springboard for today's giveaway.

To win the cupcake stand, Fun Pix, and baking cups share your ideas about the next group you could present with cupcakes and what the twelve messages might say.  For instance... Maureen, going to a Girl Scout meeting?  What could your fun messages read?  CSPgrad or Kelly from Montana... how about your next staff meeting?  Heather... want to treat your child care providers to a pick-me-up?  What are some creative ideas for messages you might include?  

The beauty of this is we can steal one another's ideas.  I'll get you going.  Some of mine from Wacky Wednesday read...

• Lucky you.  you just won a second cupcake.
  
• Tonight we will read our book from the last page to first
  
• Say the secret word and get 30 minutes of a cartoon, and
  
• Hugs, kisses and one extra book
  

Announcements, then your turn to get creative.

• Attending Taste of USA?  Click on the link in the top right hand corner to make sure you have everything packed.
  
• Yesterday's Winner:  My husband has a background in marketing and works in logistics.  I figured he was the best judge of the many ideas that streamed in during yesterday's challenge.  In the end he wouldn't pick a winner, but identified the people he believed most thought "outside the box."  They were Stacie, Heather, Nicole, Kat, and Katie.  I put all your names in a bucket and pulled out one.  And the winner is...  KAT!  Congratulations, Kat.  I will put it in the mail Friday, along with prizes for all the other winners.

O.k., let's see whatcha got.

Signing off until tomorrow...

Whack on the Side of the Head Wednesday: < .22 Cents

Our lives can be shaped by the simplest interaction with someone.  Maybe it's because, at the precise moment when two paths cross, what one has to say is precisely what the other needs to hear. Or maybe it is that, while living completely separate lives, our journeys feel amazingly similar.  Whatever the reason, it can be both memorable and affirming.

Such is the case with Wes, owner of Hey Cupcake, in Austin, Texas.  I think CSPgrad, my side kick for this trip, would agree.  I arranged to meet Wes for an interview, after participating in Leadershape at St. Edwards University.  The students proudly informed me that Wes was not only an alumnae of St. Edwards, but that he was a young entrepeuneur in the cupcake business.  I knew I wanted to feature a week of cupcake fun on Highlowaha and Wes seemed like as good an insider on the subject as any.  That's answers, why Wes.  That and the fact that the R.V., out of which he sells cupcakes, is located smack in the middle of town.  It is strung with Christmas lights and has a massive spinning cupcake on top!  The guy knows how to make a statement and I wanted to know more.

We spent about an hour with Wes, but within the first five minutes it was clear we were talking to a passionate guy, motivated by the thrill of thinking big and taking risks.  Cupcakes, by the way, are not his passion.  He fell into cupcakes while on a trip to New York (on business about bottled water).  He smiled explaining, "Most people think I love cupcakes.  It's not the cupcakes, it's the process of creating something."  Wes explained, that more than the cupcakes, he liked creating an experience - a place for people to go get away from what's going on in the world.  He got his whole operation up and running, by the way, in less than three months.

I guess it was at that point I felt like I could relate to Wes and what he was trying to do.  Create something that helped restore some sense of nostalgia or memory of when life was simpler.  He described the process of starting his business as amazing, insofar as each and every obstacle presented to him somehow worked itself out.  I tend to believe it was the "...universe conspiring", but Wes hadn't read the book, The Alchemist, so he didn't understand my insistence that cupcakes might actually be his Personal Legend.  

I think the icing on the cupcake came when Wes talked about how, he at times felt under siege (my words, not his) of his ideas.  He explained that frequently he calls a friend or family member to release the ideas running through his head.  Their job?  Take notes.  Katie and I couldn't help but look at one another and laugh.  We had just spent a three hour car ride - me spouting off ideas for Highlowaha and Katie generously taking notes.  Wes and I were connected by our enthusiasm for what we were creating - he cupcakes and me highlowaha.

It didn't hurt that Wes was inspiring.  He is truly visionary.  He took us on a tour of his expansion - a cupcake compound - and immediately rushed us over to a tree.  To me and Katie... just a tree with a few knots in the trunk.  But to Wes so much more.  To Wes it was Mr. Bubble Tree.  The knots were eyes and a nose.  Anchor an industrial sized bubble maker in the tree tops and immediately you've created the ultimate kid attraction, making Hey Cupcake way more fun than any old ice cream store.  I could go on about how Wes kept using the word "we" even though, when asked, he confessed there was no "we."  He said it seemed presumptive to say, "I" when there was no way he would be where he was without the help of others.   Wes is an all around good guy, a successful businessman, and a skilled leader.

But all is not peaches and cream - or icing and sprinkles - for Wes.  At one point during our meeting Wes talked about business expenses and lamented over the fact that every box they use to package their cupcakes costs .22 cents.  There's only so much profit margin you can eek out of a cupcake to begin with, so Wes is feeling the effects of costly packaging.  I began to think this was the perfect challenge for our creative highlowaha readers.

It's Wednesday, so why not jump in and whack Wes's packaging dilemma.  For those of you new to our community.  Each Wednesday we work with our friend von Oech to creatively problem solve.  He provides us with a creative principle and we work at applying it to whatever happens to be the week's challenge.  This week... less expensive cupcake packaging ideas.  Now for a little nudge from Roger von Oech.

Deck is in hand.  Fanning them out.  Feel the karma... reach for the left hand side of the deck.  Select a cluster of four or five cards.  Take hold of just one and pull.  

This was an uncanny choice of cards this week...

Substitute.  When you don't have a certain resource available (or want to change from ones you do), you substitute.  Indeed, much of human progress is the result of substituting one idea or thing for another: words for grunts, tools for fingers, money for goods.  If you've ever used a potato for a radio antenna, or created a knife out of a broken light bulb, you have this ability.  What can you substitute?  

I will, by the way, send Wes a compilation of all our ideas.

Oh, and what are you vying for?  A great looking, size large, Hey Cupcake t-shirt.  It's brown with pink writing.  On the front it says, "Hey Cupcake" and on the back it says, "Who you callin' cupcake?"  Trust me.  You want one.

Below is a picture I received from a fellow highlowaha reader.  Confirmation, that while I can bake a yummy cake in my Big Cupcake Mold, I have not even approached novice status in the decorating department.  This picture shows the true potential...  Thanks, Jessica!

Signing off until tomorrow...

Think Big Cupcakes!

Wake up!  Summer is over.  Labor Day weekend is over and Highlowaha is back in full swing.  It's September 2 and we are raring to go for the school year.  Good luck to my niece - who is an north easterner and who begins fifth grade today.  

If you took Labor Day literally and didn't do much of anything yesterday, including checking in with Highlowaha, take a second and at least read yesterday's announcements.  This is a big week of fun giveaways and you won't want to miss out.

Also, there's excitement in the air.  Cheryl and I are shoving out of Texas on Friday evening, arriving in Philly late Friday night.  Taste of USA is this weekend (a trip to visit some of our most loyal readers) and we expect to have ten people joining us.  We have lots of fun in store for those attending.  But if you can't join us, have no fear.  We'll give you a chance to get in on the action.  Check in on Saturday morning to find out how.

Now onto today's topic.  Cupcakes.  BIG cupcakes.  

I collect big things.  

It started when I was in college and my sister sent me an oversized converse sneaker to use as a door stop.  Somehow the idea stuck.  Think Big. Be bold.  Take risks.  After the sneaker it was a pencil, then a ruler, then a coffee cup, a salt shaker, and on and on.  So big was my collection of big things that I was actually featured in the Dallas Morning News in the late 90's as having one of the most fun offices in the city.  One could say, I hit it BIG time!

So you can imagine my reaction when a year ago I spotted an oversized cupcake cake mold in the Sur La Table catalog.  I told my husband right there and then that the only thing I wanted for my birthday was that cake - requiring, of course, the purchase of the cake mold!  It was the perfect combination of two passions - oversized items symbolizing the importance of thinking big - and baked goods.  Happy birthday to me!

Now my small reality check.  I love to bake, but I am no baker.  Or maybe I'm a baker, but I'm no cake decorator.  So, while I LOVE this cupcake mold, I am still learning the fine art of decorating it.   I tell you all of this, so you won't confuse my feeble attempt with its true potential.  You should remain interested and excited about the prospect of owing one of your own.  One of you, after all, will join me in owning your very own BIG Cupcake Mold.  

One more note before I tell you how.  I mentioned yesterday that this week is dedicated to my good friend - and constant source of inspiration - Amy.  Whether it be coincidence, great minds thinking alike, or kindered spirits finding one another, it just so happens that Amy has her own healthy collection of big things.  I've already sent her the big cupcake mold, but we're always in search of the next great item we just "have to have."  The winner of this cupcake mold will go to the person who sends us a link to a website displaying the next best big item we mutually agree is a must-have.

You can post your link in the comment section.  O.k.  that's it.  Happy Cup Cake Tuesday.  I'm off to enjoy a BIG cup of Starbucks coffee and a slice of my BIG cupcake.  Here's hoping my cupcake tastes better than it looks!

Signing off until tomorrow...

Cupcakes Make The World Go Round!

Happy Labor Day!  Hopefully you have a day off and you are celebrating by doing absolutely NO labor.  That's what I intend to do.  An important announcement at the end!  You won't want to miss it.

First an announcement for which many of you have been waiting.  Who will the lucky recipient of the First Day of School Table Cloth.  If I make you wait until the bottom of the post, you won't be fully focused and we don't want that on a day when we are kicking off such a fun and exciting week.  

So with no further ado... The winner of the beautifully sewn First Day of School Table Cloth goes to Katie M.  from Bedford, Kentucky.  Katie I hope you enjoy yours as much as my kids and I have enjoyed ours.  I will put it in the mail tomorrow.

Have no fear rest of you highlowaha readers!  This is going to be a week chock full of  opportunities to win great prizes. 

This week we celebrate cupcakes... the perfect treat.  I will dedicate this entire week of posts to my good friend - and the source of so much of my inspiration - Amy.  All I can say is... may you be lucky enough to know someone like her in your lifetime.  Thing of it is, she really is one of a kind.  Hmmm... I'm sorry.  You'll have to settle for knowing her through me (unless you're going to Philly for Taste of USA, in which case you'll get to meet her in person!!!!!).

I'll do my best.

Amy's family lives in Connecticut, so when I travel home to visit my family in New York, we try to connect.  Last winter we agreed to meet at the infamous Magnolia's Cafe, in Greenwich Village, for a cupcake picnic.  Amy's idea.

So we did.  We met at the famous, but unassuming Magnolia's Cafe, to eat cupcakes on Thursday December 27, 2007.  Everything about our picnic date was perfect.  Standing in line and soaking in the atmosphere; craning our necks to get a peak at our cupcake selections; and finally making it to the front of the line where we each ordered our personal box of cupcakes.  The experience was topped off when, with cupcakes in hand, we walked across the street to a quaint park and sat - jus

t the two of us - on an old wrought iron park bench.  We savored every bite, as appreciative for the delicious cupcakes as we are for our friendship.  I might add, the skies were blue, the air was still, and the sun was shining.  It was Amy's idea and it was meant to be. 

Amy is shy.  So, while we had a picture of the two of us, she conveniently neglected to email it along with the others.  Consider Amy like the Charlie of Charlie's Angels (dating myself, I know).  She's always around.  Always supportive.  But prefers to remain behind the scenes.

So to kick off our week of cupcake celebration, consider inviting someone you know to a cupcake picnic this week.  You can either meet at a local bakery or bake your own.  The point will be to take thirty minutes from you busy week and to celebrate the beauty and simplicity of a cupcake... and of a special friendship.  I already know who I intend to invite.  How about you?

This is a perfect example of the spirit of #218.  That is... making time for the small things in life, that without the gentle press of this supportive community, might get lost in the monotony of life's obligations.  ...The spirit of Highlowaha.  Catch it!

Announcements:

• AMNESTY DAY:  This day only!  O.k., it pains me that so many of our viewers don't have postcards in the Highlowaha Random Acts of Kindness Box (RAK Box).  Typically...  Send me a postcard with your name and address and it goes into the RAK box.  When I do a giveaway, or am just feeling generous), I pull a name from the box and whosever postcard I pull is the lucky recipient of the my gesture.  I am a stickler about the rules of the RAK box.  No POSTCARD, no entry into my RAK box.  Apparently putting a postcard and a .27 cent stamp on top serves as enough of a deterrent to keep the vast majority of you out.  Today.  This ONE DAY, I am granting amnesty.  Post your name and address and I will put it on a postcard FOR YOU.  Miss this offer and you'll have to mail it - snail mail - to Claudia K. Beeny, 4012 Harvestwood Court, Grapevine, TX, 76051.  Take me up on this, because you won't want to miss this week's giveaways.   
  
• Taste of USA Participants: Cheryl and I are descending on Philly on Friday night.  We are so excited and hope you are too.  You won't regret it, as we have some fun up our sleeves.  Continue checking the Taste of USA site this week, as we will continue posting updated information. 
  

Signing off until tomorrow...