Cupcakes and Champagne

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Last night, my dinner was comprised of Champagne Cocktails and Cupcakes.

More Cupcakes is the best cupcake boutique in Chicago.

Yeah, I said it.

More is the BEST.  Perfect ratio of frosting to cake, perfect size, perfect level of moistness, perfect abundance of flavors…sheer perfection.  When I first moved to Chicago, I was taken aback by the amount of cupcake shops there were so I took it upon myself to try them all.  Hey, it’s hard work but someone had to roll up their sleeves (you don’t want them getting in the frosting after all!).  More and it’s Black and White cupcake emerged victorious.  With Molly’s in a close’ish second.

Anyways.

The Champagne Cocktail was a splash of Tomasello Blackberry Wine topped with some bubbly.  Ryan and I came across the Blackberry Wine one wine tasting Saturday at Whole Foods.  “Free Samples” always end up not being so free for us because we end up with a bottle or 3 after we are given multiple thimble-sized cups of samples.

As delish as this birthday meal sounds (and as selfish as I get with my cupcakes), I did actually share it with others.  A few dear friends whom I have been celebrating birthdays with for over 14 years came over to clink glasses and indulge in some sweets.  As it always does with best friends, the evening turned from one of those “I’m just going to stop by” sort of things into 3 hours, 4 bottles of champagne & wine and countless belly laughs.  In essence, the best birthday I could have hoped for.

I know every night can’t be filled with Cupcakes and Champagne but last night it was.  And that combination are the things happy birthdays are made of.

 

Rooftop Yoga

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Despite the threat of rain, I ventured to Whole Foods Lincoln Park tonight for a little rooftop yoga.  The event was hosted by the lululemon athletica in Lincoln Park and lots of other yummy vendors like Honest  Tea (Honest Tea-Honesty, get it?  I love it).  The weather held off so myself and 170 other yoga enthusiasts got our downdog on just as the sun set.

Have I ever mentioned my deeply rooted love for the Whole Foods in Lincoln Park?  Mind you, there is a Whole Foods downtown crawling with the most attractive 20-somethings you will ever see (note to single Chicagoans: go to the Whole Foods on Huron).   But Whole Foods Lincoln Park is an experience.  First off, it’s freakin’ huge.   I’m not sure how big but it’s big, man.  And in addition to lovely things like seafood soup bar, olive bar, trail mix bar and bath salts bar, there are actual bar bars in it.  A bar that has fantastic beer from micro-breweries and a wine bar to have a seat at to listen to whatever jazz trio is likely playing on any given night.  I’ve been known to suggest going to this Whole Foods like an event.  The night before Thanksgiving when my mom gets to Chicago, I suggest a little trip to Whole Foods.  Most people would have taken their mom to dinner or a play.  Not me–we go to the wine bar in a grocery store.  Man-Friend and I have had many a date night sharing a beer as we walk through the aisles, carefully selecting the dinner we will devour while listening to whatever guitar/cello/sitar player happens to be plucking their strings in the lobby area.  It’s the stuff romance is made out of, I tell ya.

Back to the yoga.

It was fabulous, it was a  gorgeous night, I caught up with a good friend and I  got to lay in savasana while looking at a clear blue sky.  Perfection.