Can we try this place, pretty please??

8oz Burger Bar

The best deal here is the trio of sliders and suds for $16. I was expecting the burgers to be 2 inches across, but these are only slightly downsized from the regular, in other words, just about perfectly sized. You get one each of lamb, beef and wild boar (yay!), though you'd have to taste the burgers bare in order to really tell the difference between the beef and the boar. The lamb's sweetness gives it away. Each is paired with a small glass of beer, but don't necessarily be a slave to that combination: Have some fun mixing and matching.

Read the LA Times Review HERE.

I'm just getting hungry looking at these pictures!

And now for something really exciting...

500 Cupcakes! Get ready for some more yummy treats floating through the intra-web, and if you want to get in on the goodies... Um. Yeah, actually it's more of a right time, right place kind of thing. If you want to get in on the goodies... be a Spyglass Intern :-p

Thank you B, I <3 the gifts! ΚΤΓ All the way! I'm a Cappie girl :)

Fake Tarts

My Auntie sent the Decoti sets and boy are they cool! Here's the first batch of yummy fluffy decorations, they look good enough to eat!

Dark Chocolate Bacon Coffee Cupcakes

This one has been a long time coming. Again, please refer to my slacking as my excuse. And so finally, I present to you the great...

Dark Chocolate Bacon Coffee Cupcakes!!

Yes these suckers were every bit as amazing as I thought they'd be. The strong coffee and chocolate flavors toned down the meaty smokey bacon taste, but adding just a few crumbles on top did the trick. Salty and sweet, it's making my mouth water just thinking about them. That said, they were only a hit with the select few who were adventurous enough to hide their gag reflexes enough to find out that yes, they really did enjoy these treats.

CUPCAKE INGREDIENTS

12 slices bacon

2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

2 cups white sugar

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

2 eggs

1 cup cold, strong, brewed coffee

1 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup reserved bacon oil

1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder, for dusting

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside.

2. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, 3/4 cup cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Make a well in the center and pour in the eggs, coffee, buttermilk and reserved bacon fat. Stir just until blended. Mix in 3/4 of the bacon, reserving the rest for garnish. Spoon the batter into the prepared cups, dividing evenly.

3. Bake in the preheated oven until the tops spring back when lightly pressed, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool in the pan set over a wire rack. When cool, arrange the cupcakes on a serving platter. Frost with the Chocolate Bacon Buttercream frosting and sprinkle reserved bacon crumbles on top. Dust with additional cocoa powder.

CHOCOLATE BACON BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

1 box powdered sugar

1 stick of butter softened

1 tsp reserved bacon fat

1 pinch of salt

2 tbsp cocoa powder

Whipping cream

1. Whip on high speed the butter, slowly incorporating the powdered sugar, bacon fat, salt & cocoa powder. Use just enough whipping cream to soften the frosting into a spreadable consistency.

I even got these cute little boxes to present the cupcakes in!

Why we love Fun Bobby!

From Urban Dictionary: FUN BOBBY ~ A guy who is only fun when he is drunk. Often a reference to an episode of the sitcom "Friends" where Monica dated Fun Bobby, who was not only boring, but downright depressing when sober.

That's not quite how I remember Fun Bobby... I think one of his relatives had just passed away turning him from Fun Bobby into very Sad Bobby. Regardless, we use "Fun Bobby" as a term for that guy (and you've all seen him out) who will randomly start a dance party, loves to high-five, and in general turns the entire area around him into the happening place. Generally highly intoxicated, this rare breed is a wonderful spotting and will generally lead to amusing morning after photos.

While at my birthday this past weekend, we encountered a full blown Fun Bobby out in his natural habitat, lurking by the bar so he can get his drink on.

This Fun Bobby who my friend nicknamed "Chad" first cornered my boyfriend with a shared Ukrainian love, as he described his supposedly smoking hot Ukrainian finance he conveniently left at home. Afterward, he then tried to get S to quit his job to make millions programming with "The Russians." (No joke. That's what he said)

He then joined the rest of my party, asking new people if they were here for "Nicole's Birthday" and introducing himself as one of the gang. After a few awkward stares, and some laughs on my part, I'd have to pull away my friends and explain, that no, I do not know Fun Bobby, but that yes, he is drunk, seems to keep buying people drinks, and loves to give high-fives which kept me highly amused for the rest of the night.

So thank you Fun Bobby.

I'm sure you had a massive hangover Sunday, and an ginormous credit card bill, but that's OK, "The Russians" can pay it all off for you.

I love kogi!

How I spent my lunch break... instead of reading. Wish the color printer was working tho... If you want to make your own, you can find the graphic here.

Slacker...

I know I know... and it becomes apparent when reading my blog to notice that recently it's merely a collection of funny videos and pictures, because, let's face it... I've become a blog slacker. #14, I think I did you proud. At least 4 a week, minus my birthday week?

It's not that my life is entirely boring and the only bits of cherished wisdom come in the form of techno dancing dogs, I've just been busy. It's no excuse, but there you have it.

Officially my list is over and done with... having only completed 17 of my 20 goals by my 25th birthday.

4. This I still plan on doing at some point. I even have the idea all sketched out in my head. It's the ultimate "sheet dress." After the post-coital moment of bliss passes, and you find yourself running to the restroom to take care of business, wrapping yourself in a wrinkled sheet (preferably with a very high thread count) only adds to your disheveled sexy appearance, and I've heard it from a few sources, nothing's better than imagining what's lacking underneath.

So taking that 'tude towards a simple yet chic dress design, ripping apart some old satin sheets into a side swept gown is indeed in my near future. That is whenever I can make the time.

5. Also still on my list... but damn me if I was going to pay $90 just to cross this one off the list. Anyone have a Segway I could borrow for an afternoon?

6. And finally, Write a screenplay. I've started many, finished 0. When it comes down to it, and I know this is so cliche, I'm an idea person, not a writer. That said... this is also still a goal. Just one that wasn't happening by yesterday.

And speaking of birthdays... I sincerely have to thank "Chad" for making this one memorable.

My name is Dug. I have just met you and I love you.

Pixar's Behind the Scenes with Dug.

Good Idea.

If I were Martha... I'd make these all the time!

Summer Soiree

RSVP @ the Link Below.
http://nicolemiizuka.pingg.com/SummerSoiree

I respect that, if I were a veggie burger I'd eat myself too.

NYC Prep on Bravo, we love you.

Favorite Moments ~

Really parents? You let your 16 and 18 year old kids live in the city BY THEMSELVES? I see good parenting awards being handed out left and right.

"No relationships until you're ready to be a dad." Ok player boy. That's good thinking.

Note to headband girl. Could you try to be original? Just a little?

Who is the creepy guy fondling Taylor's hair? Jealous much?

PC - "If you were a veggie burger, I'd eat you."
Stupid brown haired girl who's name I don't care to remember - "I respect that, if I were a veggie burger, I'd eat myself!"

Jessie. Um. Fugly? Really PC, I thought you had better taste than that.

And in the previews for the season... did they kill someone?

You can watch the first episode on Hulu.

Jean-Paul Hévin

While the Del Monte 007 Pops would fill some of my ab licking desires... Jean-Paul Hévin has hit it squarely on the head with his newest line of chocolates.

All sugar free to keep the sculpted abs firmly in place, they come in 4 delectable choices. "Fitness" "Pecs" "Muscle" and "Curl" to keep you begging for more. They describe the chocolate as "powerful, manly and intense."

The other incredible? A chocolate stiletto, perfect for any of your friends out there with a wandering foot fetish...

Partly Cloudy

Just because. You can watch it here.
*The mini short that plays before Pixar's UP*

** Oh Sadness. The Copyright Monsters have eaten up this video. **
But you can buy it for $1.99 on itunes I think...

Amazing Just Happened

My favorite part is watching them dry themselves off in slo-mo.

Ice Sculptures of Melting Men by Nele Azevedo

Simply Amazing.

"Melting Men is a series of art installations from the Minimum Monument project created by Brazilian artist Nele Azevedo. Since 2005, Azevedo has been setting up her Melting Men is various countries around the world. Although originally intended as a critic of the role of monuments in cities, environmentalists around the world are adopting her work as climate change art."

Click here for an interview with the artist.

The Perfect FML Watch

So I have a friend... who's real name you're only privy to if you've made it past the fiery rings of hell (or you buy her many yummy drinks). My friend, let's call her Dance Biscuit for the sake of amusement, never wears a watch, but can always tell the time by glancing at her wrist.

A gift you ask?

"Today, I went out with this girl I really liked and she came back to my place. Things were heating up and we ended up having sex and I was on top. I was really into it and in the middle of it she held up her wrist and said 'oh, look at the time, I gotta get home'. She wasn't wearing a watch." FML.

Anyway, I bring this all up because I found DB the perfect watch. None of that bulky wrist goo, with all the flair of a good o'le Bond flick. The Timex TX54.

Now, when she needs to escape the doldrums of boring sex, "I gotta get home." turns into a legit excuse.

Finally, one dream can come true.

There's an age old question, if you were to wake up as the opposite sex, what's the first thing you'd want to do?

For guys, and their dirty minds, it immediately jumps to sex. Or to be more specific, self pleasure, because really, they wouldn't want to do it with another guy unless that's what they were already into...

Us girls? Peeing Standing Up.

Now, we don't have to wait for scientific invention, thanks to Female Freedom, us girls can get the experience of writing our names in the snow!

Enjoy!

V. Confused. Am I clean or do I want to lick myself?

And no I'm not a cat. Continuing the trend of fun things from the land of the crazy, my relatives also sent in my care pack some bath salts, for that oh so wonderfully relaxing spa experience.

So after another rigorous day at Rockreation with M, my shoulders were in pain, and my arms, jelly. I complained to my cousin who suggested the perfect cure, a long soak in a boiling hot bath, complete with the soothing and relaxing minerals extracted from the spa gods of Japan.

However, in place of normal calming scents like lavender and jasmine, she'd sent me, Chocolate Cake, NY Cheesecake, and something pink (anyone have any guesses?)... After reading my choices to M, I decided on trying the Chocolate Cake.

It smelled delicious, turned my bath a silky light brown, and left a wonderful, yummy happiness long after I'd rinsed off and was snuggled in my bed. I didn't know if I was contently clean, or wanted to nibble on my arm some more.

I think maybe I'll just have to track down some Del Monte 007 pops to quench my desires.