Kindle Touch

Amazon.com

I have had a Kindle since its 2nd Generation model in 2009.  Its original model was one of Oprah's favorite things, and even in this world of smartphones and tablets, it is still one of MY favorite things.

I've had my eye on a new Kindle for a while, because I could see the improvements in it...  clearer e-ink, larger screen, smaller/thinner body, faster page turns, better interface.  But my Kindle 2 was still kicking and I couldn't justify the purchase.

A lot of people have been talking about the Kindle Fire, Amazon's new tablet.  But I just don't consider it to be a true 'Kindle' e-book reader.  It's a tablet, it's backlit, and you can watch movies on it.  I love my quiet Kindle, how it rarely needs charging, how it lets me read books without bells and whistles.  I don't get eye strain because it's not a glaring screen; it mimics a page.  I don't read books on my laptop or iPhone.  I love my Kindle.

Back in 2009, I paid almost $300 for my first e-reader, but it paid for itself in savings on the books I bought through Amazon.  It made me a convert, even as a former library employee and lover of old, smelly books.  But now you can get a Kindle for under $100.  Brilliant.

So I bought the Kindle Touch for $99, and I love it.  Its size is awesome, and I can toss it into a purse easily.  It took me a little while to pick up how to navigate the touchscreen, but it is sensitive enough to work well, and I notice the improved speed.  I have already read three books on it in 48 hours; it inspires me to read more, like my first Kindle did!  It's be latest gadget and beloved toy.  Even if I get an iPad, I'll still read on my Kindle.  It's light, soft, and not flashy.  And I like it that way.

My old Kindle is still on my account, so I gave it to my Mom so she could read all of my books.  I'm passing on the love for Kindle to another.  It will continue to be loved!


P.S.  My ONE gripe about the new Kindle Touch?  It only comes with a USB charger, without the additional clip-on charger for an outlet.  BOO.  You'd have to pay an additional $10 for the power adaptor.  Come on, Amazon.

Cupcakes with Friends @sweetpeonyblog

When I was in 2nd grade, my best friend was a adorable girl named Nicole.  I always thought she had the prettiest hair and clothes, and it really surprised me that she wanted to be my friend!  We braved the playground together daily, and I am sure we shared many secrets.  We remained best friends through 3rd grade, until Nicole's family moved away from Korea, as military families tend to do.  From then on, we stayed in touch through letters... move after move, as our handwriting improved each year, we were loyal pen pals.  But then, through no fault of either of us, the letters just stopped.

I'd always wondered what Nicole turned out to be like as an adult.  My Mom would sometimes ask me, "Are you still in touch with Nicole?"  Randomly, after college, I decided to search for her on Facebook... and after looking through tons of photos, I finally found her.  I knew it was her!  Turns out, she'd gone to college in Georgia, even gotten married in Savannah at a beautiful mansion I drive by frequently.  We'd had these entire lives apart, but it was so cool to reconnect and look at photos online of each other.  How neat to see how these little girls turned out!  To this day, it is my favorite Facebook connection story.

Nicole has a gorgeous baking blog, Sweet Peony... and my favorites are her cupcake recipes.  Even though I haven't seen her since we were little kids, I feel connected to her because we both share this love for making sweet goodies!  Wanting to take some cupcakes to work, I decided to make her Brown Sugar Cupcake recipe...  as I baked, I thought about how at some point, she had gone through the same exact steps.  (It was a very Julie & Julia moment!)  Maybe someday we'll get to bake a little together.  :)

Brown Sugar Cupcakes by Nicole at Sweet Peony

makes 12 cupcakes

Ingredients:

My decorations are from Walmart!

For the brown sugar crumble:
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup flour
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold & cubed

For the brown sugar glaze:
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon water

For the cupcake:
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup milk

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Line a cupcake pan with liners.

To make the crumble:  In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients using a fork, pastry cutter or your hands until it resembles coarse crumbs.  Set aside.

To make the glaze:  Combine all ingredients in a small bowl, whisking until smooth.  Set aside.

To make the cupcake:  Combine flour and baking powder in a bowl and set aside.

In the bowl of an stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer, beat butter and sugar on medium-high until lightened in color and fluffy, about 3 minutes.  Lower speed to medium and add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition and scraping the bowl as needed.  Add vanilla and mix until combined.

Reduce mixer speed to low and add the dry ingredients in two batches, alternating with the milk and mixing just until incorporated.

Fill the cupcake liners about 2/3 full.  Top with the brown sugar crumble & lightly press the crumble into the batter.  Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Poke holes in the tops of the cupcakes & spoon on the brown sugar glaze (some might drip down the sides but that’s okay).  Transfer cupcakes to a wire rack to cool completely.

Frost and decorate as you wish!  (*Note from Aubrey, I sprinkled Cinnamon-Sugar on mine!)

When friendships fade away...

credit

Friendship is easy when you're a kid.  You ring the doorbell of your friend's house, ask their parents, "Can Susie come out to play?" and then you're off.  You see each other at school, sit at lunch together, and play at recess.  You don't have your own phone/car, so sleepovers are orchestrated by your parents.  It takes little effort, and it's glorious to have such a great buddy.  A LOT of buddies.  And friendship makes life better. 

But then you grow up... high school, college, and beyond.  And it gets harder and harder to remain close friends with someone.  People move, have kids, change interests.  I've found that I have far fewer close friends as I get older, through a seemingly natural attrition that occurs over time.  It hurts to realize the girls on your sports team in high school weren't really that into you after all.... it hurts to not get a wedding invite from someone you considered to be a friend... it hurts to see your local friends go places/have get-togethers on Facebook when they haven't responded to your offers to go out.

Friendship offers us some amazing benefits, especially as women.  We respond better to stress when we have friends; we even live longer.