But I did attempt to make the cake pops inspired by Bakerella this past weekend for a couple of holiday parties.

I’d say they are pretty labor intensive for a novice such as myself, but overall once you get the hang of it, it goes by really quickly. (I won’t even attempt to show you the first few I made. It was an embarrassment of sorts, to say the least.)

My take on candy-making? Read my suggestions below.

I used white cake mix and made cream cheese frosting from scratch. The combo was okay, but I will make them with chocolate cake next time. I had it my head that using chocolate cake AND the chocolate bark would be overwhelmingly, well, chocolate. But upon reflection, I don’t think it would be.

After you have mixed the cake and icing together, freeze your balls! I had left my out and they were not hard enough once I stuck them in the hot chocolate bark. Just pop them back in for as long as needed before you start the dipping process.

Speaking of the ole bark, I had never worked with it before before so I was not sure what to expect. The original plan was to buy white chocolate bark and use food coloring to make them red or green.

Once I added the color though, it turned the bark into a weird and unusable texture. Was this just me?! I still don’t know. I quickly realized I had to go with Plan B … the green and red sprinkles I randomly had in my pantry.

Also, everyone’s suggestions leaned towards microwaving a few pieces at a time, to prevent the bark from cooling too quickly. I stuck mine in for a couple of minutes, only to have them burn so badly my smoke alarm went off! I ended up using a double boiler, the old school way.

To give the pops their shape, I punched holes in an egg crate to allow them to chill as the bark dried.

In the end, they were a total hit. But be prepared! Once you make them, everyone will absolutely love them and quickly ask demand you make more … like my boss when he requested I bring more the following day and place some neatly on his desk before he arrives. I wouldn’t wait on that order …

Admittedly this post is a tad early, but I’m ready to get these holidays started! I’m actually not traveling this Thanksgiving, but I figured you might be traveling … even if it’s just be from Big D to Funkytown. (That’s Dallas to Ft. Worth for you non-DFWers.)

And what does a good road trip or plane ride need besides great company? Good tunes, man. So in honor of the turkey that sacrificed himself (or tofu for all you weirdos), here’s some tryptophanic tunes. Bon Appetit!

1. Half Way Home • TV on the Radio
2. Two Weeks • Grizzly Bear
3. Shiny • The Decemberists
4. Hideaway • Karen O and the Kids
5. Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want • She & Him
7. Turn a Square • The Shins
8. Albatross, Albatross, Albatross • Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band
9. Lisztomania • Phoenix
10. Dashboard • Modest Mouse
11. Shampoo Suicide • Broken Social Scene

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Want more mixed well? Check the archives here.

In honor of the fabulous Flight of the Conchords (whom I’m seeing tonight with Raquel and Alyssa) and Cinco de Mayo, I thought I’d create a new mixed well for you folks. Ya know, in case you want to shake your booty to some good tunes … perhaps with a margarita in hand …

5.5.9
1. The First Song • Band of Horses
2. Inner City Pressure • Flight of the Conchords
3. The Hex • Pavement
4. For Our Elegant Caste • Of Montreal
5. Blue Ridge Mountains • Fleet Foxes
6. Carry the Zero • Built to Spill
7. Devil’s Elbow • Colin Meloy
8. Kim and Jesse • M83
9. St. Joseph’s • The Avett Brothers
10. Pass This On • The Knife <———- My latest obsession!

PS: This is admittedly super random, but do you abbreviate margarita by saying ‘Rita’ or ‘Marg’? I’ve always went with the first options, until I was in L.A., when everyone was saying marg. Then suddenly, I feel like everywhere I go, it’s marg this, marg that. Did I miss this day in school, when we switched? So tell me, do you sit on your patio sipping a rita or a marg?

Me, at 28.

So what do I need to say?

THANK YOU! Really, from the bottom of my heart, thanks for all of the lovely surprises, deliveries, flowers, balloons, sweets and love on my 28th birthday. I truly appreciate each of you and have found myself more touched this year than many birthdays in the past.

Despite the fact that I was at work uploading this week’s content to our web site, I had a great day: Flowers came from my wonderful parents, Robert and Gwen … lunch at Village Burger Bar with Chance, Chris and Ramon the Mexican (who thinks he’s white) … a G I A N T cookie delivered from Tara (see pictures!) … and a homemade sheet cake from Kris Martin at work. And then after pulling a 13 hour day at the office, the cherry on top was the birthday cards from Raquel, Zoe and Pilar attached to a balloon and candy bar waiting at my from door.

Additionally, I had a million phone calls with well wishes, including one at 12:01 am from Alyssa, who was so proud to be the first to tell me Happy Birthday!

Tomorrow is pedis with Tara and dinner with my besties at Uncle Julio’s. I couldn’t ask for more and really appreciate all of my great friends in my life. 8•) It truly means so much to me. Thank you, thank you all, as I near closer and closer to 30!

Now here are some fabulous pictures of my day:

Flowers delivered from Mom and Dad.

A surprise cookie from (as she put on the card) TBax/Cag.

The sheet cake Kris Martin made for me and card from everyone in the office.

And finally:

A present at my front door!

Well, this is my blog, so bah! The new category is coyly titled mixed well. I’ll showcase my latest disc that I’ve scrambled together and share with YOU! (Don’t you feel special? Because you should!)

This week’s is titled: Song to Drive to with the Windows Down. No, it’s not the most clever title in the world, or as I apparently say all the time, “It’s not changing lives … or anything.” But it’s quick and to the point. And damn it: aren’t some songs just better when you’re flooring it on Central Expressway?

1. The Thrills • Don’t Still Our Sun
2. The Decemberists • When the War Came
3. John Mayer • Kid A (Radiohead Cover)
4. Silverchair • Straight Lines
5. Maroon 5 • Secret
6. The Shins • Spilt Needles
7. Snow Patrol • Run
8. Sun Kil Moon • Duk Koo Kim
9. Radiohead • All I need
10. Coldplay • A Rush of Blood to the Head
11. Death Cab for Cutie • Passenger Seat

Disclaimer: I just have a regular old CD player in the Civic. So, we’re looking at 700 MB’s tops. The average play list is probably only 10 – 12 songs, so don’t go all thinking I have a fancy MP3-playing-dealio in my car. Susie Civic is not that kinda gal.