Richmond has Enough Summer to go Around

My AC is working again! This is excellent because now I can tinker around the house without feeling guilty. Richmond's heat wave has been intense with temperatures around 102 degrees and all the humidity that comes along with those temperatures in the South. AC's (like my own) have been struggling to keep up, the time of beautiful Spring breezes that you find in May and June ended abruptly Wednesday with stagnant hot heavy air and haze from the North Carolina Wild-Fires. It's been a brutal change normally we have until July to get ready for this mess.

In my apartment we've been fighting this weather with summer salads, freezie pops and little movement under the fans. Today though the AC has caught up, sadly blinds are closed, but it definitely feels like summer with dark cool spots to hunker down with a good book a glass of iced tea or maybe a  good project and some iced coffee.

On a quest to seek out just such a project I found one so fitting for my situation that I had to share. Richmond has enough Summer to go around so I figure what better way to share than a Summer post-card swap. First off I can get down with a swap as I've said before ... it's always lovely to find an unexpected surprise mixed in with the bills and grocery inserts. But this one looks especially wonderful I'm drooling over covering my walls with Summer.

So if you're interested her deadline in June 15th. You can find the swap at Hula Seventy here. I am going to have to start planning what part of Richmond's Summer I want to share -- because I would love for some of the cool air in Portland to travel this way ...

Birthday Cake(s)

This is a short and sweet post (literally) to say thanks to a wonderful friend of mine even if I was a complete baby about my situation.

My birthday was three weeks ago and this is my first year without a cake. Now to some people this is not a big deal but your talking about the lady who has had themed out cakes for years right until my last birthday when Spongebob and Patrick bobbled atop my Knakal's birthday sheet cake.

Even at work I was without cake and in an office that's full of cakies (it's kinda like a trekkie but without spandex and hand signs its still very involved) I was left cakeless. I felt sort of like Elaine wondering why all the cakes and awkward afternoon coffee breaks, but then regretting wondering when I didn't get my own Cosco cake and awkward afternoon banter.

In fact I've long hinted about this cake crisis but to no avail until Sin told me to stop by Ellwoods today and claim my prize. What I got was more than a cake but THREE different cakes all vegan. Strawberry, lemon berry cake and chocolat cupcakes with chocolat icing and sprinkles. The cupcakes alone make up for the missing birthday cake but he hit a hat trick with three great pastry finds.

Another thing it made me realize is I really need a better camera -- and er um -- some help from some of these foodies on shooting lovely images like from Smitten Kitchen. Now imagine my cupcake photo like that. Better huh! 

Anywho I just wish Sin was here to share them with me ... but since he's not I'll probably finish the rest of my milk off the one I've started. (I know the irony of vegan cupcakes with milk). Honestly I LOVE vegan carrot cake and it was a treat to try these other guys -- the icing I find is a lot lighter and the cakes are a bit more dense -- I'm sterotyping here -- but I can vouch that the chocolat was wonderful.

Thanks Sin! Isn't he great!