an aggregate of all things Johnson

My sweet, little puppy turns three years old today! We aren’t having much of a party, but he is getting plenty of treats.

Crusher has a strong personality – independent and demanding – but he is a great part of our family. He always wants to sit right between Travis and me on the couch and will only sleep if he can have the middle spot in the bed. He sits right beside me while I work at the computer each day and he knows when Travis gets home. He goes out to the living room each night to wait for him at six pm and does a squealing dance when Travis walks in the door. He loves it when we go out in the neighborhood to hunt for food (i.e. buy it at a shop while he waits outside) and proudly escorts our score back to our apartment with a little prance in his step. He takes his job as the protector of our apartment very seriously and he always wants to be a part of whatever Travis and I are doing. (Unless it involves wearing miniature top hats.) Basically, he is the best dog in the world.

Related posts:

1. Crusher’s 2nd birthday!
2. Crusher’s big day
3. happy, but sad

Love cupcakes, but hate the calories? Me too, so I was tickled to discover a new (calorie-free) iPhone app all about cupcakes.

My real life cupcake love has been on the back-burner recently. I just haven’t been able to bring myself to eat mounds and mounds of cupcakes – weird, I know – but I think I got a little burnt out from doing my previous reviews. It is sad. Which is why virtual cupcakes are so appealing!

The app is called Cupcakes! It costs $.99, and even though I don’t usually spend money on apps, I thought this one was worth checking out. I’m glad I did!

The app allows you to create adorable, detailed, virtual cupcakes. You choose the cupcake liner, the batter, the frosting, and the toppings. Then, you bake them, add candles, and “eat” them. There are nearly infinite flavor and topping choices, and you can save your creations in your “refrigerator” or save them as images to share on the web (like the ones above). It may sound silly, but the app is a fun and creative way to occupy your time, like when you are on the subway. You don’t need wifi or a cell connection to play. It is a cute alternative to the same old iPhone games.

I like making cupcakes so much that I bought the Cupcakes! Holiday Edition app, too, and I am thinking about getting the Sundaes version.

(And no, I was not paid for this review, I just really like the app!)

Related posts:

1. NYC cupcake review: Cupcake Stop Truck
2. nyc cupcake review: Crumbs Bake Shop
3. iPhone wallpaper

I am not a religious person, but I have an unshakable faith in the power of love.

…and in the power of sweets!

(I woke up in a terrible mood and I am doing everything I can to shake it, including doodling donuts running away with hearts…)

Related posts:

1. heart
2. shake shack
3. i love valentines!

I stole the idea for this fun exercise in positivity from a really lovely blog, Calico & Co, and thought it was appropriate since this is my 30th year of life on Earth…

Enjoy my list of 30 things I ♥:

I ♥ candy.
I ♥ coffee.
I ♥ sunshine.
I ♥ snail mail.
I ♥ my iPhone.
I ♥ Photoshop.
I ♥ sleeping in.
I ♥ the internet.
I ♥ my husband.
I ♥ pretty paper.
I ♥ video games.
I ♥ funny people.
I ♥ art museums.
I ♥ baby animals.
I ♥ Team in Training.
I ♥ tasty sandwiches.
I ♥ pre-war buildings.
I ♥ exploring NYC on foot.
I ♥ my little chihuahua dog.
I ♥ exercising and seeing results.
I ♥ parties and party decorations.
I ♥ ultra fine point Sharpie markers.
I ♥ real, delicious, healthy, whole foods.
I ♥ cupcakes! (Really, any cute dessert.)
I ♥ finishing a task and/or reaching a goal.
I ♥ my family (extended & in-laws included).
I ♥ fantasizing about my future dream house.
I ♥ sparkling water (acqua frizzante in Italian).
I ♥ uncompromisingly friendly and optimistic attitudes.
I ♥ chatting & laughing with friends (usually at inappropriate times).

…and just one more for good measure…

I ♥ the magical universe – hey, we exist!

Related posts:

1. teri’s baby shower
2. cute goings on
3. wedding wednesday

I have another installment of the NYC Cupcake Review in the works, but today I just needed a smile… so here is a cute photo of Crusher wrapped up as a burrito. Enjoy!

(I recently read a cool eBook about how to improve your blogging skills, and writing about how cute your pets are is definitely a no-no… oh, well. My blog may have to remain unimproved.)