Weekly Cupcake Making: Cat Cupcakes for Emily!

Week Seven of (Nearly) Weekly Cupcake Making brings you:

Cat Cupcakes!

Cupcake & decorations: Hello, Cupcake cookbook
Icing: Vanilla & Chocolate Buttercream

These are from the Hello, Cupcake! cookbook, our fav. We made them for my sister Emily's birthday, which was July 6. She is particularly more edgy than a cat cupcake, but even she likes cute things. I hope. :)

So, they are just chocolate cupcakes, from the Hello, Cupcake made-from-scratch recipe. No link. Doing all the different colors of icing was probably the most complicated part, honestly. I made a big batch of vanilla icing, then mixed part of that with chocolate chips to make a separate batch of chocolate icing. I made orange and gray from the white icing. Then a bag of brown with half of the chocolate. After I iced one brown, I made some black icing and added it to the brown bag to make the tortoise shellish cat, then after the brown was pretty much out of the bag I did the black cat with the part orange face. It was a lot of different bags and mixing and really messy.

So here they are just iced.


The fish on the belly were made by Holly, with melted almond bark, which is the stuff you use to dip pretzels and strawberries in. She said it was harder to do than she thought it would be. They broke when she tried to take them off the waxed paper, but I think they looked great once they were stuck on the cupcake.


So on to the faces and paws and such. We had the bright idea to go to the candy store in the mall this time, since there were so many things we needed. Buying whole boxes of candy adds up. We got everything we needed (minus a few things we already had) from Mr. Bulky's for just one dollar.


Above is one of the cutest cats, I think. Here's the candy/etc used:
Eyes: mini M&M's (brown & green)
Eyebrows: Black licorice laces
Nose: Strawberry Runts
Cheeks/Muzzle: Cream-colored M&Ms. Originally, these were supposed to be Mentos, but I thought that sounded gross on a cupcake, and I knew the candy store had those big dispensers of different colored M&Ms. Unfortunately, they were out of white (cause it was close to the 4th, maybe?), but cream worked just as well.
Tongue: Red Starburst, rolled out (see below)
Paws: Mini marshmallows, cut in half, with a black icing claw (see below)



So here are the rest of the finished cats up close!

So You Think You Can Dance: Top 12 Perform

Eliminated Last Week: Karla & Vitolio. Both their original partner's were eliminated last week, so I'm not surprised. I'm disappointed, though, cause I really like their Quickstep.



Just a note: my girlfriend doesn't like that I ignore her during SYTYCD to blog, so this week I will only be commenting on the dancing and not mentioning the judge's comments. Which I'm sure is fine.

Melissa & Ade



Performance 1: Disco by Dariana Sanchez

I thought it was a fun disco. Some good tricks. Melissa's hair was fab-u-lous!

Performance 2: Waltz

That was entertaining, but I don't think it was anything particularly special. As far as waltzes go, though, I liked it a lot.

Kayla & Kupono



First Performance: Contemporary by Mia Michaels

It's about addiction, and Kupono is really upset about it.

Okay, second favorite piece of the season. Beautiful. The performances were great. It was almost scary, with Kupono's face and how he kept putting his hand on her face. I couldn't see her face before, but I really like that she's barely wearing makeup. That was amazing.

Performance 2: Broadway by Tall Girl Joey

This is strange, but I just grinned the whole time I watched that routine. Adorable. I can see what they meant about them needing to dig in a little more, though. But I think they'll be safe, since that routine was cute, and the other one was amazing.

Caitlin & Jason



Performance 1: American-Style Foxtrot

This is going to be la-a-a-me.

Her dress is hideous. I'm not even watching. The dress cuts her in half. Holly watched - she said she didn't like it as much as she usually likes foxtrots. Looks like the judge's liked it. Okay.

Performance 2: Lyrical Jazz

The only thing I liked about this routine were the little ticks that Caitlin did with Jason's hands at the beginning. Very cool. But it looked like every other jazzy contemporaryish love story routine. Now, in my third season watching this show, I just get bored more often.

I agree with Mary, that something was missing and it just wasn't memorable.

BTW: Mandy Moore, the 80's Princess, chose a song from the Tom Cruise movie Days of Thunder from 1990. :)

Phillip and Jeanine



Performance 1: Russian Folk Dance

Well I, like everyone else, knows nothing about Russian folk dance. I said to Holly, Oh are they going to be on the floor kicking!? And Phillip did! I thought it was really cool, really exciting to watch. The little tricks and kick things were really fun! I enjoyed it. Also, I didn't see Twitch & Joshua do their Russian thing so I don't have it to compare to.

Performance 2: Jive

Oh dear. Okay, so it was cute, but I don't think it's enough to keep them out of the bottom. Phillip always seems like he's faking to me.

Randi & Evan



Performance 1: Hip Hop with Nap & Tab

Pregnancy dance! Weird.

It was cute, but they just weren't hard hitting enough. Also, it looked like every other Tab & Nap routine. The lifts were cool, and the "halo" trick where she went through his arms was cool also.

Performance 2: Samba by Pasha & Anya!

I think Evan looks like a UPS driver. lol. I didn't like it at all. It seemed too awkward. I can't believe Tyce talked about Danny & Lacey's samba. That's one of my favorite routines of all time, and definitely the best samba.

Janette & Brandon



Performance 1: Argentine Tango

Okay, so I don't love tango unless it's done by professionals, and I loved that. The footwork was awesome, the couple of lifts were impressive. It never got boring at all. There's never that much footwork.

This is a great time to be doing perfect performances, but could it be an early peak? Also, if they do a shitty second performance, this one isn't going to matter, since it's ballroom.

Performance 2: Jazz

What is the story here? Did they tell us? Is it a heist? Okay. I didn't love it. Not gonna lie.


I checked the Wiki page for this season to find out who hadn't been in the bottom three before - looks like Melissa & Ade, Randi & Evan, and Jeanette & Brandon have been safe every week.

I think, this week, the bottom three will be Phillip & Jeanine, Caitlin & Jason and possibly Melissa & Ade, only because I think Randi & Evan have too much of a following, and the others did great.

Also, if you like SYTYCD reviews, check out Pat & Carolyn's videoblog review at A Blog About Things. It's my second favorite part of SYTYCD. :)

Bad Movie Weekend (Movie Reviews)

The lady at Family Video talked us into renting three movies and getting one free, since we were getting new releases. Unfortunately, none of the movies we rented were particularly awesome.


We put this on our list of Oscar-nominated movies to watch. But it was boring. I can see why it was interesting, I guess. And Anne Hathoway's performance was really great. But 10 minutes of awkward speeches about an engaged couple, then 10 minutes of loading a dishwasher? I'm sorry. I'm just not buying it.

Their playlist may be infinite, but I did not want this movie to go on forever. There were definitely some funny moments, I'm not going to lie. And a realistic sex scene? And real non-flamboyant gay men? Thank you! But the music wasn't as good as I wanted for some movie about playlists. I've loved Michael Cera since Juno and Kat Dennings since Raise Your Voice. But this movie didn't live up to my expectations.

This was adorable, as expected, but not as funny as it could have been and not nearly as funny as other Disney/Pixar films. Also, I spent 30 minutes trying to figure out who the voice of Bolt was (John Travolta), after spending 5 minutes deciding whether or not the little girl was Miley Cyrus. It was hard to tell, because somehow they got rid of her lisp.

When you make a Chuck Palahniuk book into a movie, you just can't win. They did a good job, but it was so watered down that I couldn't enjoy it.

This just makes me laugh. I realized I hadn't seen it, though, so we're watching it right now. Late 90's/early 2000's movies will always have a special place in my heart. Love the Harvey Danger song that was popularized after being used in the movie. Also, I love that James Marsden looks EXACTLY THE SAME 10 years later! I hope I age like him!

Next To Normal

I want to write a rock musical. Unfortunately, I can't write a "rock" anything. But here is a clip from Next to Normal which is rock musical and is also amazing. It won three Tony awards this year.

So You Think You Can Dance: Top 14 Dance

Eliminated Last Week: Asuka (Vitolio's partner) and Jonathan (Karla's partner). So this week's new couple is Vitolio & Karla.



1. Janette & Brandon: Cha Cha



Mia Michaels is a judge. I don't know why, but I had a feeling she would be. I'm glad. No Toni Basil!!! :D

Her hair is really puffy and he looks super gay. I don't love this. I think the dancing is good, but I'm not going to want to come back and rewatch it later.

It looks like all the judges liked it. Mary put them on the stupid effing Hot Tamale train which I can do without. Mia said she's been hard on Brandon because she sees he has talent, and that she has changed her mind and likes him now. Holly said he cried. Wow.

2. Kayla & Kupono: Pop Jazz by Sonya



Vampire thing from Sonya. Awesome. I wanted it to keep going. I love loved it. I wished Kayla would have been a little less goth-y, honestly. Good stuff.

The judges seem to like it too. Mary said some stuff that doesn't make any sense. I think Kupono got really really lucky getting paired with Kayla, honestly.

3. Randi & Evan: Broadway with Joey (someone I don't know)



I didn't particularly like the routine, but I think they danced it really well. It was cute.

Randi has a million of makeup on... like weird stage makeup on her nose...

Nigel: Disappointed in Evan.
Mary: Fun dance.
Mia: They didn't take it to the level it needed to be at. Expected more from Evan.

I'm a little worried that the judges didn't like it. Makes me wonder if people won't vote for them.

Also, can I say that I'm so tired of these super long shows. I would like for it to be top ten soon...

4. Caitlin & Jason: Pop Jazz



So she is an alien, coming to earth to find the only man alive to procreate with. This is going to be weird.

OMG they put her in a costume. I wish she had just been wearing some fun costume. Holly says this sounds like pinball music. I agree.

Holly says that was interesting. I agree. Weird. She definitely took charge though, which was fun.

Nigel called Caitlin a dancing condom. Cat said, "Safety first, Nigel. Safety first."
Mary: Didn't think it played to their strengths.
Mia: Cool to have something that's out there.

5. Phillip & Jeanine: Hip hop by Tabitha and Napoleon



Hip hop routine with a chain. It wasn't awesome. The hip hop routines this season have not been good, I don't think. I guess it was danced well though.

Everyone loved it. It was impressive, yes, but I just didn't love it.
Mia said the chain was distracting. I just realized that. I was mostly just watching the chain.

Lots of funny banter stuff during the panel - Phillip threw away the key, then Jeanine said something about lots of chains that I guess was a funny innuendo that I didn't get. Oh well.

6. Melissa & Ade: Classical Pas de deux



So this is a ballet dance. Lucky Melissa, getting her own style. When it's like the first time ever they've had anyone do ballet on the show. Classic Romeo & Juliet story.

That was cute. Good lifts, good stuff.

I agree with Mia, I was really excited to see a black and white Romeo & Juliet.

7. Karla & Vitolio: Quick Step



That was so great! Fav routine of the night, definitely. I can't even remember any other routines. I don't know much about technique but I thought it looked really good. A lot of times it can look really labored, but it looked good. And it was so fun!

Who is this douchey looking kid in a big ear flap hat behind Jean Marc? Lol. Hilarious.

Bottom Three:
Caitlin and Jason is the only couple I'm sure about...
Maybe: Melissa & Ade, maybe Randi & Evan, maybe

Weekend Road Trip to STL Pride!

We headed to St. Louis Friday night for Pride on Saturday and Sunday. It wasn't the coolest event I've ever been to, but it wasn't horrible. It didn't help that the heat index was something like 110. But overall, we had a really good weekend.


Pork kabob!


This was our "pretend this is more fun than it is" photo.



And now we're done pretending. lol.




Probably the most interesting thing on Saturday: "Wheel of Queerdom".



These are late 90's Spice Girl shoes. I always wanted a pair. So jealous.


And a free slap bracelet. Late 80's, I believe.



Josie showing her pride! She comes on all our road trips with us.


At the parade on Sunday, getting super burnt.



Pride parade.


We love Planned Parenthood everywhere!


Gay rodeo! Yeah!


Sandra Bernhard.

Alyson Stoner

I'm not going to post about MJ's death yet. I need some time.

Instead, here's another dancer, 15-year-old Alyson Stoner. We watched Camp Rock the other night (don't ask) and she plays the fun friend of Demi Lovato.

I didn't recognize her at all, but Holly was quick to notice that she plays the dancing little sister in Step Up. I looked her up, and apparently she's a Disney kid like all the rest (big shocker). However, she also was the tomboy little sister in Cheaper By The Dozen, which I think is a cute series of movies.

So, all that is pretty boring, honestly. I mean, Hilary Duff is also a Disney kid and also in Cheaper by the Dozen, so no big deal, right?

Wrong. She's the dancing little girl in the Missy Elliot videos! You know the one I'm talking about, the one that always showed up in all those weird Missy videos. See the videos if you don't believe me. I can't find Work It online. The link is to Gossip Folks, and she's also in I'm Really Hot.


She also, like most of the Disney ladies, has her own YouTube channel, TheRealAlysonStoner, where she vlogs.

Here's the one video I'm going to post here, only because it also relates very loosely to SYTYCD. This is a video post-rehearsal of Step Up 3-D, which is in production currently, and set to release in 2010. Alyson Stoner is in it, although I don't know if she's a lead or not. Rumors were that Twitch, Joshua and Katee from SYTYCD (Season Three's top three dancers) were also in it, and low and behold, Twitch is Alyson's video. Yay! :)