#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨
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Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Wordless Wednesday

January 11, 2012 · Narrative

Today I am punting the regularly scheduled Eat.Live.Be. post for a little bit ‘o Wordless Wednesday.  I have a toothache, and both kids went to the dentist today.  I don’t have it in me to be wordy or inspiring tonight.  I really just want to head to bed and catch some much-needed zzz’s.  My Eat.Live.Be piece will be here tomorrow.  Swear.  In the meantime, how about a few pictures?

A local cupcake store recently started offering “savory cupcakes” for lunch, so I grabbed one today to check them out. Bourbon Pulled Pork in a Cornbread Cupcake. BBQ sauce tends to fall into three categories: sweet, spicy, or smoky. This was definitely sweet, so as long as you like that, you’re golden. It definitely hit the spot, but was a teensy bit too sweet. My mom got the Macaroni and Cheese one. It had a great crust on it, but absolutely needed salt.
Savory Cupcake Lunch

O'Malley Barber Salon
I love me a man with hidden talents, I thought as Mystic cut Nick’s hair last night. Ever better that it saves me a few bucks. Dinner was a fair trade.

Homemade Chicken Pot Pie
Dinner which was a homemade chicken pot pie. Total comfort food. Nick picked at it, eating the carrots and the chicken. Surprisingly, Madeline ate her share, nearly every last speck. Original recipe, but I don’t think it’s a wow. It was solid, but not stupendous, so likely this picture is all you get unless I tinker with it more.

Nick at Dentist
Nick was very brave and tears only sprang when that darn Novocaine needle came out. Poor thing. Madeline, my brave soul, pretty much cried through the whole check-up and cleaning, but dried her tears enough to ask for a sticker when the dentist was done. She was shocked, shocked that they didn’t offer lollipops. As if.

Did you guys notice the new Sweetnicks’ banner? I wanted to find a way to incorporate Madeline’s “Love. Love Big” statement (coined here, and already brought to life here), but keep the same general look at feel. I pretty much love it.

Alright my loves, more tomorrow. For now, sleep.

xoxo

Review: Ava’s Cupcake Shoppe & Cafe, Rockaway, NJ

September 12, 2011 · Narrative

Front of Store of Ava's Cupcakes
I have exactly four cupcake shops to review for you. That means two things. One, I’m really behind. And two, if you like cupcakes, you should continue to hang out here.

Today? Ava’s Cupcake Shoppe & Cafe in Rockaway Borough.

The first time we went there was a few weeks ago for a mid-day can’t-believe-summer-is-almost-over pick-me-up. Which is one of the very best kind of mid-day pick-me-ups one can have, don’t you think?

Located on a side street off the small downtown section, there is ample parking right in front of the store, on the street, or in a nearby parking lot. The inside of the store is cheery and bright with a retro, 1950s style vibe to it.

Interior of Ava's Cupcakes

There are several tables and chairs for you to sit and enjoy your sweet treat, although there was quite a bit of grab-and-go foot traffic while we were there.

The cupcakes are $3.00 each, and if you buy five, the six one is free. I think it’s about average for cupcake pricing. Let’s face it, folks, cupcakes are not really a huge bargain, but in the terms of splurge snacks, it’s right there with your Mocha Frappuccino. Oh wait. That might be just me.

There are a number of cupcake places within a five mile radius, and several are higher priced than Ava’s. I think only one is lower. Ava’s perk of the sixth cupcake free is a nice bonus.

Wanna know another fun bonus? Ava’s delivers. I think we need a moment of silence.  Only cupcake shop in the area to stake that claim and I can think of nothing more fun at the moment than a cupcake delivery, can you?

Cupcakes on Display
…

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨

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