I took a day away from the kitchen yesterday, yet still found myself with a cupcake in hand.  It figures-I’m never too far away from a sweet treat, whether it’s baked by me or one of my favorite Los Angeles bakeries.  

This mini chocolate raspberry cupcake is from Vanilla Bake Shop in Santa Monica.  It’s a chocolate cupcake with raspberry jam filling and a dark chocolate ganache frosting.  There seemed to be more jam than cake in this cupcake, but the frosting was thick, rich and incredibly delicious.  

Vanilla Bake Shop has the most darling array of mini cupcakes.  This is called Mom’s Birthday Cake.  It’s delicious, with golden cake and buttery chocolate frosting. All in flavors remind me of  something that would come out of my Dad’s oven- banana cake, red velvet cake, spiced carrot cake.  All the options are apporachable, and elevated with a clean and hip design.    Good things are happening at Vanilla, and at $5 for 3 mini cupcakes, these treats feel like a pretty sweet deal.

Besides cupcakes, I found the most delicious (oh how I wish they were edible) bath confections.

Lush is a Canadian based bath company that is changing the world with their creative and natural bath products.

These flower topped, cupcake looking beauties are actually bubble bath.. You brake off about half a chunk and throw it into warm running bath water.  The smell is just gorgeous!

Picture this- bubble bath with chocolate and honey.  Crazy right?  Well this bubble bath block is graced with the real stuff.  It leaves your skin silky smooth and smells heavenly!

I also treated myself to a super girlie face mask made from chocolate and aloe.  It’s called Cupcake, so I had to buy it.  I had no choice.  I’m sure you understand.  If you’re ever in the need for a foodie type, indulgent bath experience, these products are outta sight!

So to make a long story not very short, I stepped out of my kitchen for a glorious Monday afternoon shopping down at the beach.  The baking and the recipes will continue shortly.  I just thought you would rest easier if you knew that I smell fantastic!  Really fantastic.