The Cupcake Bakery

Best Birthday Party Ever

2012-02-04T10:52:00.001-06:00

Yesterday was my birthday party, about a month after my actual 12th birthday. It was epic. There is this AMAZING chocolate store. They use all natural ingredients, and make all the chocolate and candy in the store. They offer chocolate tastings in the store, where you taste a bunch of truffles and other confectionary miracles. That was my birthday party. I invited six girls from school, and they all came. It was very awesome. The chocolate was awesome, too. Even though I said no presents were necessary, I got two books and a handful of cards. They were all nice, but my favorite one had a picture on the inside. The picture was from my 5th birthday party, that took place at Build-A-Bear. Really great card. At the end, we all got chocolate mustaches. We took pictures with them on, and it was so fun.

Not Really The Louis We Were Looking For

2012-01-25T20:00:00.000-06:00

My class just finished reading A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver, by E.L. Konisburg. It's about Eleanor of Aquitaine and her two husbands. If you don't know anything about her, she

married King Louis VII of France, and had 2 kids. When they got divorced, she
married King Henry II of England, and had 8 kids. He put her in prison.
her great-grandson was Louis IX, Saint Louis.

Today we were on Google in class, searching the Internet for pictures of her and other people and things mentioned in the book. The boy next to me searched "Louis VII" into Google images. He found portraits of the king, as well as a picture of a purse. He looked at the purse, and exclaimed, "Cool! Someone named a purse after him!"

When the girl on his other side and I looked at his screen, this is the

picture he was pointing at:

We laughingly explained to him that the purse was Louis Vuitton, and that Louis Vuitton is a designer.

I'm still laughing.

Penny For My Thoughts

2012-01-21T16:29:00.002-06:00

It's this new concept I've thought of. When people say, "A penny for your thoughts?" apparently it means "I'll give you a penny if you tell me what's on your mind."

So I figured something out: You can eliminate the asking part, and just tell someone, "Penny for my thoughts."

I've even worked out a scene that uses it, to show you how it goes.

Person A: Penny for my thoughts.
Person B: Okay.
Person A: I really hate Justin Bieber. There's nothing to eat at home, and I haven't been bowling in eight years. I need new shoes, and my toenails are too short. I have an essay on Mark Twain due yesterday. Who's Mark Twain? I threw up on a roller coaster when I was five. I'm a faster typist than you. My TV is broken, and my socks are hurting my phalanges. And yesterday I lost my voice. But I got it back. I met a fairy yesterday.
Person B: ...
Person A: You owe me a penny.

Great, isn't it?

Let me tell you about my Thursday.

My class went on a field trip... skiing. Super cool.

We don't live in a great area for skiing, but there's a place that makes their snow and has skiing about 45 minutes away from our school. So we brought gear to school, and we went on a bus ride to the place.

Skiing is awesome. It was a real workout, which is something I didn't know. I'd never been skiing before, so it was all really new to me. But it was the FUNNEST THING EVER.

We did ski school in the morning, even the people who had been skiing a ton. It took me a while to get everything down, but I finally got it and made my way over to where everyone else was skiing.

So much fun.

And now, you owe me a penny.

It's brilliant, isn't it?

Very American Stir Fry

2012-01-16T20:24:00.001-06:00

My family likes barbecuing. What family doesn't? We also like making stir fry. Who doesn't?

Have you ever tried combining them?

It's really fun. First we barbecue the meat, chicken, on the grill. When that's done we put it in a big pot and put vegetables on the grill. Today my brother chose to caramelize them, and it was good, but just a little too sweet. You don't want to use too much sugar, I learned. We used broccoli, carrots, celery, pineapple, peapods, and onions for the vegetables. When we were done, we put it in the pot too and put the pot in the oven. It baked a bit more and stayed warm until we were ready for dinner. Then we ate it with rice.

It's fun because I like barbecuing, and it's a teamwork thing. My mom prepares the food and sauces, and I helped her with that. Then Big Pain and I grilled it together, and it was a lot of teamwork.

Plus, it tastes great.

I'm A Klutz

2012-01-15T10:39:00.001-06:00

You've met my mother, the chief klutz at her blog, http://klutzcapacitor.com/.

People tell me I'm like her. She tells me I'm like her.

I am definitely as klutzy as her. I fell down three, count 'em, THREE times Friday.

Fall number 1: I was leaning against a pole. My feet slid a bit in the snow, but i kept my balance. Until I didn't. And then my feet slid straight forward, and I plummeted straight down. I admit, it probably looked really funny.

Fall number 2: (Only about 15 minutes later.) We were walking back to class, and I stepped up onto a rock, and I slid straight off. It really hurt, but two girls in my class helped me walk injured-football-player style to the nurse. There was a rip in the side of my pants.My leg really hurt and I had some really bad scratches.

My friends were REALLY nice, and they even helped me fix up my pants. We didn't sew it, but we took a few safety pins and used them to help pin together the hole. It looked really cool, especially because my pants were black jeans.

The third fall was really minor, just me slipping down a stair. No big deal.

I'm totally milking this "I INJURED MY LEG" thing.

Bet you're proud of me, huh mom?

All Bee'd Out

2012-01-14T07:52:00.003-06:00

The spelling bee was yesterday. I did okay, but I didn't do as well as I had hoped to. I got out in the ninth round, misspelling miscible. But seriously, what kind of a word is that? I think that they made up words in that round to get us all out.

A boy in the fourth grade won, and the runner up was the same fifth grader that got second place in the Geo Bee. I hope that this boy can win first place in a bee next year; I think he deserves it.

I'm sad that I didn't do as well as I wanted to in my last spelling bee, but I think it's really cool that fourth graders won both of the bees this year. It's really an amazing accomplishment.

At least I'll never misspell miscible again.

Spellin' Stuff

2012-01-12T20:47:00.000-06:00

The spelling bee is tomorrow and I'm not as nervous as I usually am. I haven't studied like crazy like I have in the past, and so I'm last-minute cramming words. I'm going to study on the way to school, too. Actually, we're studying right now at this very moment. I just spelled convalescence right. And harebrained, and guillotine. Potpourri, too. And now facsimile. Go me!

My mom got an email from my former teacher, who was assigning the order in which we would receive our words.

I'm going first. Three years IN A ROW.

Booyah.

C'est Mon Anniversaire!

2012-01-05T16:52:00.001-06:00

That's French for "It's my birthday!" Which it is! I'm finally 12!

It doesn't feel very different from being 11, but I'm really excited. Tonight my mom and Big Pain are going out for fondue. I'm excited because I haven't been out for fondue in a while.

My Bat Mitzvah day is exactly a year from today: January 5, 2013. I'm kind of scared. 365 days isn't very long, in the long run.

Wow, we're already 5 days into 2012. This is a great year!

School Starts For Real

2012-01-04T16:38:00.000-06:00

Today was my first real day at school. It wasn't the best day I've ever had.

I am incredibly, impossibly sore from gym class yesterday, especially from squats. We had to do more squats today, and I nearly screamed with all the pain. It is really hard to walk up and down stairs between every class when you have to wince with every step you take. Advil isn't helping my issue, so I just have to live with it. Oy.

My teachers don't miss a beat. Today we already have had a pop quiz in Social Studies and one assignment from each class. And I have a quiz on Friday in science.

Now, since I'm excited about my birthday and my legs, back, and right arm are at the point of falling off, I bid thee farewell, Internet.

PS: This is my 365th blog post! It took me 4 years to write the equivalent of 1 post a day for a year!

School Starts... Sort Of.

2012-01-03T16:08:00.000-06:00

Today was my first day back at school. Except not really.

A few weeks ago, we were informed that today would be the 6th grade's pajamas/read all day day. I was totally excited because the last time we had one of those I was in 4th grade.

For read all day days (more commonly known as RAD days,) you bring a few books, a pillow or two, and read all day. But ours was special, because in the afternoon we watched Despicable Me and ate popcorn. It was so much fun.

It really seems like so long ago we sat in the same classroom, eating different snacks and watching Elf. Really, it was only about 3 weeks ago.

The reading was great. I was halfway finished with The Help, and I got very close to finishing it and just finished it about ten minutes ago. It is a fantastic book.

I felt underdressed because I wore yoga pants because I don't have any pajama pants that I wouldn't freeze in. Not that I have a problem with sleeping in leggings or shorts, but it's still nice to have real pajama pants sometimes.

Overall, it was a lot of fun. Everyone liked my red streak, so I want to put in a picture of it.

Me, after I bleached it. My hair is too dark to work without bleaching it, and it turned out really blonde.

The finished product. The picture isn't great, and it looks better in real life. But you get the idea.

I hope the rest of the school year is as fun as today was.

Last Day of Winter Break

2012-01-02T08:33:00.001-06:00

Tomorrow I go back to school for my last semester in elementary school. When I finish this year, I'm not going back there in the fall. I couldn't be sadder about that. I'm also sad that winter break is over.

Bye the way, my mom is awesome. She finally let me get a streak in my hair. My cousin came over yesterday and helped me bleach the hair we were coloring REALLY blond and then we dyed it bright red. It took all afternoon but it looks really cool. I'm so excited!

First Post of 2012!

2012-01-01T00:04:00.000-06:00

I couldn't wait, and I'm sure you couldn't either. I just had to post as soon as the clock changed. It's so exciting! I'm going to be twelve in 5 days. Can you believe that I've been blogging since 2008? It seems forever ago. I was looking back at some of my old posts, and I realized how much I've changed since I wrote my first blog post on February 28, 2008. It was to introduce myself and express my love for Hannah Montana. Did you know that Hannah Montana is over? Yeah, she graduated high school, revealed her secret to the world, flew to Paris to be in a movie, and then changed her mind and went back to California to go to Stanford with her best friend.

Well, the new year is off to a great start. I hope it stays that way! Have a great year, Internet, and happy almost my birthday!

Afterthought: We are four minutes into 2012! Exciting!

Just One More

2011-12-31T20:04:00.000-06:00

I decided that I would write just one more post to close out the year. It's 8:04 right now and in 3 hours and 56 minutes it will be 2012. I know it already is in a large portion of the world, such as Jerusalem or Amsterdam. But I'm going to savor the last few hours of 2011 and make the most of them. Have a happy new year, see you in 2012!!!

Coming Home

2011-12-30T18:40:00.002-06:00

I just spent 4 days in New Orleans with my mom. We toured and shopped and it was great. The best part was the food. I'm going to dream about bananas foster and chocolate freezes for weeks.

When we got home, we waited in the airport because Big Pain's plane was coming in 15 minutes after ours. We stood at the exit of the gate waiting for him to come, and couldn't help noticing there was a large group of people waiting at the exit, including people holding signs, American flags, and there was even a woman holding a very new baby. At first we weren't sure who they were greeting, but we soon figured out that they were greeting a soldier. There was a TV camera and everyone cheered as he came through the exit. It was heartwarming.

It's nice to be home, and I hope that every soldier got a welcome that warm as the one we saw at the airport. Merry late Christmas and Happy (Even though it's over) Hanukka and have a great new year if I'm not on again before then.

Still No Snow

2011-12-24T09:51:00.001-06:00

The only time this year there has been snow in my area was in November or October, and it was a super-light sprinkle that didn't stick and did nothing for me getting a snow day. We have usually had snow at least one by the end of winter break, but the break is half over. We have no snow. It's cold, sure, but not cold enough for me to not wear short sleeves. I'm really sad. Everyone else gets snow! IT'S NOT FAIR.

My Dislike Of Certain Condiments

2011-12-22T11:06:00.002-06:00

My mom was eating something with mustard, and I was like, Eew. Mustard.

That was when I realized that I really don't appreciate--or enjoy--mustard.

I apologize to you mustard lovers. I am what I am, and I am a mustard hater.

Winter Break At Last!

2011-12-19T00:50:00.000-06:00

I am finally on winter break. I'm so excited! I think that these next few weeks of rest are well earned.

My mom's taking me to New Orleans for a few days. She went to college and law school there, so she's going to show me all around.

A few days ago I made latkes. You know, potato pancakes fried in oil that we eat for Hanukkah. I've had so many that I'm kind of tired of them.

Actually, I'm excited that I'm on break, but I'm sad because I only have one more semester at my school and then I have to leave and go to a secondary school. I'll be really sad but it's inevitable because I've been there for 8 years and my school graduates in 6th grade.

I've watched Toy Story and Elf to the point where I can recite the whole script. I've made latkes and spinach soup and I helped make cranberry bread.

One more thing that I forgot:

I'm going to the school spelling bee, again. (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) (See Jan. 15, 2011: "Can You Spell Awesome? I Can. C-U-P-C-A-K-E", as well as Dec. 14, 2009: "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!")

I made alternate in the Geography Bee (see Dec. 18, 2009: "More Smart Stuff"), meaning if someone is out sick or something I'm in. (See Jan. 16, 2010: "Wassup Internet?")

Feeling Saintly

2011-12-18T17:11:00.004-06:00

Today my mother and I went to Kmart. I have never been to Kmart before, and we weren’t even there to shop.

We went to the Layaway counter and paid off all but a few cents of two layaway accounts.

See, we read this article about a woman who walked into Kmart and asked to pay off layaway accounts. She paid for three, and they all included children’s toys.

That was really inspirational to us. And it wasn’t just us who was inspired to do that. People all around the country have done it. Three of them:

One of them

Another one

One more

When we went to the counter and asked if we could pay off layaway accounts, the woman at the counter was baffled. She didn’t understand what we were doing, but she went with it. The second woman to come to the counter knew what we were doing. She thought it was great, and called it “Secret Santas.” Strangely enough, as she was helping us, another Secret Santa came in to do the same thing. She brought us a list of accounts, and we chose two to pay. We left a penny on both of them.

I feel absolutely saintly.

So does my mother.

Christmas Movies For 6th Graders

2011-12-16T19:54:00.004-06:00

One of the best movies EVER is Elf. I've known about this movie since longer than I can remember, and I've enjoyed it for just as long.

See, what's so special about this movie is that it would be horrible if it didn't star Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf.

Today we watched it in class as part of our winter break party. My friend and I had been discussing how great it was previously, so we both started squealing when they announced that they were showing it. We knew so many of the best quotes, and we were so excited.

We weren't the only ones, apparently.

There were probably around fifteen kids in the room, and more than half of us hummed along to the opening tune and recited the code of elves. (Treat every day like Christmas. There's room for everyone on the nice list. The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.)

Of course, we all knew all the good quotes. Some of the best:

Buddy: [phone rings, Buddy picks it up] Buddy the Elf, what's your favorite color?

Buddy: We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup.

Buddy: I just like to smile, smiling's my favorite

Buddy: I passed through the seven levels of the Candy Cane forest, through the sea of swirly twirly gum drops, and then I walked through the Lincoln Tunnel. (A personal favorite of mine)

Buddy: [reacting to sign saying "World's Best Cup of Coffee"] You did it! Congratulations! World's best cup of coffee! Great job, everybody! It's great to be here.

Buddy: I'm a cotton-headed ninny-muggins.

Emily: So, Buddy, how'd you sleep?
Buddy: Great! I got a full 40 minutes!

Buddy: [after getting off an elevator with a man] Oh, I forgot to give you a hug!

I think you get the idea.

Book Fair Without Borders

2011-12-10T08:32:00.004-06:00

Last night I went to my school book fair at BARNES AND NOBLE. I had tried to stay positive, but

it was kind of crowded, and we couldn't move around as much
we were wrapping gifts for free, and I discovered that I'm no better at it than I was when I was six
the cafe wasn't as fun
they didn't have as much stuff
gift cards weren't going towards the school

But, it was still okay. Not as great, but still okay.

But I still miss Borders.

Winter Choir Concert

2011-12-04T14:15:00.003-06:00

Yesterday was my choir's "holiday" concert. It's mainly a Christmas concert but holiday concert sounds nicer.

My choir was the fifth group to perform. We were the last group before intermission and we sang our little hearts out. Not so little, actually. There are high-schoolers in the group.

During intermission, we (well, at least I did) practiced for our audience carol, Angels We Have Heard on High, in which all the groups come out to sing the finale when Angels We Have Heard on High is over. It was really fun.

My grandparents came, and so did my aunt and uncle, and the soldier that my grandparents met at the symphony once and kind of adopted. He's really nice. My music teacher came, too, because we had extra tickets.

According to my mother, this was the best concert I have been in in the five years I have been in the choirs. My only regret is that I did not get to see the younger kids perform A Charlie Brown Christmas. I heard it was really funny.

Barnes And Noble

2011-12-03T08:08:00.002-06:00

Yesterday my mom and I went to Barnes and Noble. I still can't get over Borders going out of business; it draws tears to my eyes every time we pass one of their former locations.

Moving on. Back to Barnes and Noble.

At one point, my mom said, "I wish there would be an annotated version of A Tale of Two Cities." My mom loves annotated versions of books. In response, I said, "It would be twice as long, and then it would be A Tale of Four Cities." Then I started cominng up with other funny things, like, "An abridged version of A Tale of Two Cities would just be A Tale of One City."

Mahna mahna.

No School Tomorrow!

2011-11-27T20:03:00.003-06:00

I have no school tomorrow! I'm really excited. My school doesn't have a ton of days off. I'm going to make the best of tomorrow.

Anyway, I feel compelled to put something else in this post. This is a picture I took at camp this summer. My cabin was seriously ten feet away from the waterfront and the racks where we stored the canoes and boards and everything. I got this picture, well, I can't remember when. But isn't it nice?

Yeah. Yeah it is.

I Am A Winner!

2011-11-25T21:22:00.003-06:00

For the past month or so, I have been laboring over writing a novel. Just about ten minutes ago, I met my word count. I haven't finished my novel, but I surpassed my word count goal.

See, November is NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month. People everywhere have been writing nonstop, including me, and right around now is when everyone is meeting their word count goals.

I'M A WINNER!

If you're interested in NaNoWriMo or their April play writing project Script Frenzy, I suggest starting at nanowrimo.org.

Now I must go throw confetti and have my own little ticker-tape parade outside as I celebrate my victory. Bye!

I Look Like A Dork, But At Least Everyone Else Does, Too

2011-11-19T15:01:00.002-06:00

My choir uniform is bizarre. Here is a diagram of it if you don't believe me.

The red robe is actually fun.

But what we wear under it is dreadful.

We wear white polo shirts with the choir logo in red. They aren't too bad.

The worst part is the skirts.

The boys are lucky. They wear pants. There is an older group that wears tuxedos and dresses. Those are cool. And the younger kids all wear pants and tuxedo shirts.

But the girls? Out of luck. We wear these horrible black skirts over black opaque tights. And we have to tuck the polos into our skirts. If we weren't all so darn youthful, we could look like we were in our 60's.

Today I had a mandatory dress rehearsal for our Holiday Concert.

After we finished, I was starving, so my mom took me to a grocery store to get something for lunch. I decided it would be fun to wear the whole uniform in, including the robe, and count how many funny looks I got while wearing it.

The thing is, people do look at you funny if you wear a polo shirt tucked into a long, ugly black skirt, and a red robe. Especially on a weekend.

It was fun.