Three Little Cupcakes

so cute!
wrapped with love.

These are all the contents of the boxes.

How was your Valentine's Day?
What's the best Vday gifts you ever received?

Lemony Valentine's Day Cupcakes

I just wanted to share this recipe.

Source: Blisstree

INGREDIENTS:

cupcakes:

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) butter, at room temperature

1 cup dark brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

5 eggs

1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

zest of one lemon, plus juice of half a lemon

1 cup buttermilk

icing:

3 cups confectioners sugar

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature

8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

INSTRUCTIONS:
cupcakes:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two cupcake pans with decorative liners (or butter and flour tins if preferred).
2. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
3. Add the butter and sugars to the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. With the mixer on medium speed, mix until the butter and sugars are blended and smooth, about two minutes; scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula. With the mixer running on slow speed, add the eggs one at a time, mixing until each is just combined. Add vanilla, lemon zest and juice, stirring until just incorporated.
4. Add the flour mixture and buttermilk in three rounds, alternating ingredients.
Icing and decorating the cupcakes:
1. Sift the confectioners sugar into a bowl and set aside. Add the butter and cream cheese to the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until smooth. Add the confectioner’s sugar one cup at a time, scraping down bowl with a spatula between additions. Mix on medium speed until light and fluffy; add vanilla and salt and blend until thoroughly combined.
2. Using a knife or small spatula, spread a layer of frosting on each cupcake. (You can use a decorating bag and pipe the frosting on if you prefer, but the cream cheese frosting is rich; a thin layer is plenty.) Sprinkle a small amount of colored sugar, sprinkles, or decorative topping of your choice over the icing; allow to sit so that the frosting hardens a bit. Serve within 24 hours.
(The cupcakes themselves can last up to three days in an airtight container, but the cupcakes shouldn’t be frosted or decorated until you’re ready to serve. Frosting can also keep in the refrigerator for up to one week in a sealed container.)

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And here's another award and giveaway.

 My friend Pretzel is hosting her first blog giveaway.

  Do visit her blog and join.

http://pretzelgurl11.blogspot.com

  From: Ms. Vintage Makeup

Thank you very much! 

I apologize to those who asked me what's inside the box. I don't open it yet. Surprise!

Source: Etsy

 Happy Heart's Day!
 

Lucky Wednesday

Someone surprised me early in the  morning. I received two presents.

Thank you very much!

I won't mention your name as what you've said.

You know that it's YOU!
luv, luv....

By the way, Fern Li is hosting her mini giveaway. 

Interested lovelies around click here.

.

I would like to include these awards .

From: Ged & Mav

 

From: Yannie , Juicekodai & Yumiko

Lovelies, thank you very much!

Fiori Meanings

Valentine's Day means romantic dinner, chocolates and of course flower.

 The type of flowers you give on the day is important decision. In deciding on the type of flowers to give, let this serve as your guide

for choosing the perfect flower that conveys the message you want to send to your loved ones. 

Red Roses
Represents: true love
Says: "I love you."
Also Says: "I'm not very creative and didn't put much, if any, thought into this buying decision."Striped Carnations
Represents: refusal
Says: Sorry, I can't be with you.
Sunflower
Represents: purity, lofty thoughts
Says: "I'm not going to put out."
Burgundy Roses
Represents: unconscious beauty
Says: "I can't see your beauty. Because it's underneath the surface. Beauty is only skin deep. You have inner beauty? Er, I like watching you sleep."
Daisies
Represents: innocence, loyal love, and faith
Says: "These are delicate with a hint of spontaneity, just like you."
Peonies
Represents: shame and bashfulness
Says: "I cheated on you."
Mint
Represents: suspicion
Says: "I bet you're cheating, but we can agree that these flowers smell damn good."
Yellow Tulips
Represents: hopeless love
Says: "Please, please, please, please be with me. Please."
Bird's-Foot Trefoil
Represents: revenge
Says: "You'll pay for these flowers."
Orchids
Represents: refined beauty
Says: "I am either pretentious or trying really hard to be."
Yellow Poppies
Represents: wealth and success
Says: "I love you for your money."
Pink Carnations
Represents: a mother's love
Says: "No, I don't have Oedipus Complex, but, yes, these flowers should have gone to Mom."
Coriander
Represents: lust
Yellow Roses
Represents: joy, friendship, apology, jealousy, dying love, infidelity, and heartbreak
Says: "I have no idea what I'm trying to say."

To make the Valentine's gift presentation more special, present the flowers with other precious gifts;)

Lovelies, what flower would you prefer to receive on Valentine's Day?

Tool Update

Tweeze it baby!

Beautify your brows with this whimsically decorated beauty tool.

FotoSource: Pinkmelon.de

  These are miniature-sized slant tweezers adorned with the cutest creature in the garden.

Dragonfly

Bumble bee

Ladybug

This tool comes in a portable size for on-the-go grooming.

Price:15,00 Euro

Available from March 2011 in selected perfume shops, department stores and twin outlets.

Hamburg

I went to Hamburg last summer for a weekend trip. There was a big exhibition that time, hotels were fully booked so I spent one night  @ Krupunder Hotel outside Hamburg.

The next day I changed to CPH.

This hotel is just 10 minutes walk to Hauptbahnhof.

I really enjoyed my stay here.

I walk around. I was curious to know the history. This is the city hall. It's very beautiful inside.

Hamburg is a very affluent city.

After sightseeing, I went to this place.

This is a street in Hamburg's St. Pauli called "Reeperbahn". It is the city's red-light district.

 Then I went to Heiligengeistfeld.

 I enjoyed the rides and went back to the hotel.

The following day, I took the "Hafenrundfahrt".

Two hours was not enough for me to see all. 

For me Hamburg is one of the most beautiful city I've seen.

I'll be back again.

Thank you for reading.

Praline & Vodka

These are gifts from our russian visitors I've got last week.

I'm very thankful. 

I like praline and vodka very much.

Inside are 21 bite-sized pieces of chocolate candies wrapped in lilagold foil with crushed peanuts and hazelnut on the top of the dome. 

It reminds me of Hershey's kisses. But of course this is very special one.

Beluga gold line is one of the most luxurious vodka in the world.

 The malt spirit is produced in Russia and fermented with natural enzymes, not with the synthetic additives. 

All ingredients are 100% natural.

The cork is sealed with wax and a hammer is supplied to remove the wax.

The bottle includes a beluga fish metallic label.

And here's Beluga Silver. It is prestigious vodka.

The whole process is done in an environmentally clean and safe area in Siberia.

Artisan Siberian water is used and the fermentation process takes place only by the natural enzymes.

The vodka is poured into a bottle of French optical glass.

Thanks Igor, Vladimir and Olga!

Na zdorovje!