Cupcakes in Chicago

So one of my obsessions is cupcakes. I love dessert especially chocolate but besides chocolate I have a soft spot for cupcakes. In Chicago there are a ton of them and I am trying to go to all of them however because I have been visiting them sporadically and not always getting the same flavor it's hard to say which one is the best.

First up is Molly Cupcakes, which is at 2536 N. Clark St, which has been voted the best Red Velvet cupcakes in the city of Chicago. One thing I love about Red Velvet in general is the cream cheese frosting but Molly's makes it better with little heart sprinkles. Also at Molly's you can actually choose what type of frosting you want on some cupcakes. So for instance with the Red Velvet you can decide if you want cream cheese, buttercream, or chocolate. On top of that Molly's Cupcake is always busy but their atmosphere is really cute. They have a bar where the bar seats are swings tied to the ground and you can play Scrabble or Jenga while you eat your cupcake.



Next up is Sugar Bliss Cupcakes, which is at 115 N. Wabash Ave conveniently located next to work so when I am in a desperate need for a cupcake I don't have far to go. Sugar Bliss is not big to hang around inside but they are known for putting flowers at the tops of their cupcakes. They also have mini cupcakes and a flavor for the week. So the flavor of the week was Raspberry Lemonade which literally tasted like raspberry lemonade. The top as you can see has a lemon and the cake itself had some raspberry filling at the top. It was by far my favorite summer flavor cupcake. This week is Key Lime flavor and I am contemplating getting it or getting mini cupcakes so I can try more flavors.



Finally is Flirty Cupcakes, which you can find them all around Chicago because they are in a food truck (A possible new obsession). One of the best way to find where they will be is following them on @FlirtyCupcakes‎. I have been on a constant search for them and conveniently again they were outside my office. I decided to get the red velvet but couldn't help getting another one so I got the McDreamy which I am still dreaming about. It is a chocolate cake with some cream cheese and chocolate filling with random bits of chocolate chips in some bites. Both were amazing and I hope I find them soon for a new flavor.

Although I don't have pictures I have been to Sprinkles on 50 E Walton St which is a famous cupcake chain started in LA. They are good but I would say not one of my favorites compared to Flirty, Sugar Bliss, Molly's, and Sweet Mandy B's. Sweet Mandy B's (1208 West Webster Avenue) is not just cupcakes it is also a bakery. I have been their twice and have no complaints yet. Their selection of cupcakes are not as extensive as some but their cupcakes are delicious. I have had carrot cake and red velvet cupcakes and both are most cakes.

The one I am looking forward to visiting next is Magnolia Bakery. Magnolia Bakery is set to open this summer in Chicago. Magnolia Bakery is most famous for Sex in the City but it is a famous bakery in Manhattan and they have one in Dubai which I obviously am not traveling there to get one. So I am looking forward to when that happens.

Overall, as you can tell I have a thing for cupcakes but I can't put one above the other. Honestly I feel like I need to go to all the cupcake places and get the same flavor to determine which one might be the best or my favorite. No matter what cupcakes are the perfect size treat and one of my little lovely obsessions.

USA vs Spain Soccer Match

This is a late post but I need to do it anyways. I recently went to Boston with two friends to see the Unite States National Team vs the World Cup Champions SPAIN!!!! Although I am from America and would not consider myself at all fluent in Spanish I was rooting for Spain and purposely made sure our seats were on the Spain support side. Before arriving at the game Spain released the roster who was coming over for the trip which consisted of many of the members who started in the World Cup. The names in bold are who started for Spain and those in Italics came on as subs in the 2nd.

Spain Squad
Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Pepe Reina (Liverpool), Victor Valdes (Barcelona).

Defenders: Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid), Raul Albiol (Real Madrid), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Carlos Marchena (Villarreal), Joan Capdevila (Villarreal), Andoni Iraola (Athletic Bilbao).

Midfielders: Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Santi Cazorla (Villarreal), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Bruno Soriano (Villarreal), Borja Valero (Villarreal).

Forwards: David Villa (Barcelona), David Silva (Manchester City), Fernando Llorente (Athletic Bilbao), Fernando Torres (Chelsea), Pedro Rodriguez (Barcelona), Manu Del Moral (Sevilla), Alvaro Negredo (Sevilla)

Before the game my friends and I made sure we would get the full experience and tailgated in style.... with Lunchables!! Yes Lunchables which we have not had since probably middle school and looked oh so classy with alcohol.

While tailgating you could hear chants of USA in the background and see the people surrounding us in Spain and USA jerseys although I got a general consensus that there were more Spain supporters that USA supporters. After tailgating we made our way to the stadium with the whole crowd which was amazing because you could feel the excitement. When we got to our seats which were 32 rows back (not to shabby in my opinion) we found ourselves in a sea of red Spanish jerseys. :D Then the game started!!!

1st Half about to Start

Out of my 2 friends who were with me I was the one who was the most enthusiastic and knew what was happening. When I first found out that Spain was coming to the States I booked my ticket ASAP because how many people can say they say they saw the number 1 ranked and World Cup championship team? I figured they wouldn't start with most of their key players but was so excited when I saw Villa, Silva, Xabi, Pique, and Ramos starting. I was glad to see Pepe Reina in the goal but I was hoping that Iker would make an appearance later on in the game which he did!!

The beauty that is Gerard Pique

When the game started Spain just dominated and the US just looked terrible. I was honestly surprised most of the key players who beat Spain in the Confederations Cup did not start. I was expecting Donovan to show, although I later found he was sick, and Bocanegra, USMNT captain to play but no! Key players like Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley came on in the 2nd and sadly that made no impact either. The 1st half was spectacular for Spain where we scored 3 goals pretty much one right after the other. The first goal came from Cazorla ( 28th minute), Negredo (32nd minute), and then again from Cazorla (41st minute). Spain held possession for the majority of the game and made America look like tired little boys. America did not have many goal opportunities from what I can remember. Honestly, I do wish America had at least one goal to make it look like an interesting game where America put forth some effort.

Lining up for a corner with Torres in the

Iker!!!

When the 2nd half started it was not as interesting as the 1st except for the substitutes. Iker came on to cheers of IKER IKER and probably got the most cheers out of any player who was a substitute. Both Andres Iniesta and Fernando Torres made an appearance which made me happy. I personally got excited about Torres although he has lost his great striker ability since injury. He is now a Chelsea player too which is not the best thing since he hasn't performed as expected by only making one goal this season however he did perform in America. He scored a goal in the 73rd minute which was a complete shock to me but probably one of my personal favorite moments from the game. After Torres goal though the game died down but in the Spanish section someone came by with a drum and got the crowd rallying behind Spain in the final 20 minutes. When the final whistle blew the game ended and what was the one thing I was looking forward to you ask??? Taking off their shirts and exposing their great Abs but it did not happen and I was not happy!!! But Spain won 4-0 so I can't complain and it was an amazing game! Plus it was the most attended soccer event to date so that is exciting which is how I would explain the whole event EXCITING.

Final Score

Till the next game n DC next month (Barcelona vs Manchester United) where hopefully I will see some abs. A rematch of the Champions League final and a match I am looking forward to attending although I will not have that great of seats compared to this game.