Blog Feed: Red Velvet Diaries

RVD is back...almost

Published on 2011-10-09 14:41:00

We're newlyweds! We have returned from our wedding and honeymoon, which was absolutely incredible. I have so many great memories and stories to share. Plus, we have other big news...we're buying a townhouse! And in even bigger news, we're moving in by the end of the month! Hence, you can say...life is a wee bit hectic right now.Therefore, I have the unfortunate news that RVD will continue to be on "break" for a few more weeks. I'm so sorry. I just can't manage maintaining it at this time, but pr [..]

See you in October!

Published on 2011-09-03 18:36:00

Red Velvet Diaries is closed until October. Be sure to follow us for updates on our Facebook and Twitter page! See you soon!

Bill's Bar & Burger Review

Published on 2011-09-02 07:10:00

The day has come...this is my last post until October. I'm sorry, but I just cannot maintain the effort required to keep the blog running during all the wedding and honeymoon festivities. On a brighter note, I promise to return with a bang! There will be plenty of new stories to share! I am leaving you with one last red velvet cupcake review, which comes to us from Bill's Bar & Burger located in NYC. This cupcake was found by our newest team member, Jim! He has been hired as our New Business A [..]

Getting mighty close

Published on 2011-09-01 06:40:00

We're about two weeks away from the wedding...holy moly! Part of me really wants it just be here already and the other part wants time to slow down, so I can enjoy the ride. So what's left to do? Well, not much, I'm happy to report! My final dress fitting is next Friday and we take the dress home the same day...woohoo! I need to make the finishing touches to the items I created. Sorry, no details, since I'm keeping them a surprise. Plus, there is the personal prep (manicure, pedicure, etc.). W [..]

Oh, come on, Irene

Published on 2011-08-30 06:30:00

Hi all! I hope you all made it through Hurricane Irene without much damage. Mr. M and I were just fine and only lost power for a very short amount of time during the middle of the night on Saturday. We were very lucky. Although, we were prepared. We had lots of water, candles, matches, a flashlight and radio that works by crank (not batteries), extra non-perishable food and more. The only somewhat scary occurrence near us was the overflow of the brook behind our building. This is typically a v [..]

Kona Grill Review

Published on 2011-08-26 06:30:00

Hi ladies and gents! As a reminder, RVD blog is going to be "closing" next Friday and will "re-open" in October. This is due to the wedding and honeymoon activities. Although the blog is closing for a few weeks, you can follow us for updates on our Twitter and Facebook pages! Try not to miss us too much! And now onto what makes life worth living, red velvety cupcake goodness. Today we are reviewing a cupcake from Kona Grill, which is a national chain. Mr. M and I have visited this restaurant a [..]

Tropical dreams

Published on 2011-08-25 06:20:00

I think Mr. M and I are in desperate need of a vacation. Life is a bit hectic with the wedding, plus we're in the process of buying and selling a home. Come to think of it, our last real vacation was during the holiday season. We had some long weekends, but they didn't leave us feeling refreshed. In short, we're pretty darn pooped.Thus, we are very much looking forward to our honeymoon in Hawaii. For the first few days, we have nothing planned, which is just how we like it. Our plans consist of [..]

Kids in a candy store

Published on 2011-08-24 07:20:00

My sister-in-law will be taking care of my hair and makeup on the big day. She is extremely talented and I trust her completely. In order to prepare, we decided to buy all new makeup at Sephora. Because, well, why not? It was so much fun! My mother and grandmother join us, as well, and picked up a few items of their own. We were like little kids in a candy store of fab-u-lous-ness. Luckily, I had a few Sephora giftcards. Money to burn, my friends, money to burn! I had turned in my Citibank Tha [..]

Igloo Cafe Review

Published on 2011-08-19 08:40:00

Happy Friday! Today Mr. M & I are going to get our marriage license. Yes, ladies and gents...this is actually going down. I like to tease Mr. M that he only has 30-something more days to run. And yes, I've already hid his running shoes... Today we are reviewing a red velvet muffin, which seems to be a new trend. Today's muffin comes from Igloo Cafe in Astoria, Queens. And this muffin seemed to be smiling at me, so I added a little smiley face to give it a little bit more character. "Charmed, I'm [..]

Nice catch

Published on 2011-08-18 06:10:00

This past weekend, Mr. M, my parents and I went to a Yankees game. And although, I loved the old stadium, I must say the new one is winning me over. There are so many concession stands with different food and beer options, since...let's be honest, that's the second best part about going to a baseball game. And while we were happily watching the game and enjoying the food, the game took a turn...for the better! Mr. M caught a foul ball! Unfortunately, he cut his hand while doing so, since he sc [..]

Speedys Deli Review

Published on 2011-07-04 18:16:00

Happy 4th of July! I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday. To celebrate, we are reviewing a red velvet cupcake from Speedys Deli in NYC.Speedys Deli ReviewTitled a “red velvet cupcake”, but this was as close to the other side of the "cupca

Leaving on a jet plane

Published on 2011-06-25 17:50:00

I'm traveling home today! Very exciting news and I'll be delighted to see Mr. M tonight. It's true what they say, "Distant makes the heart grow fonder". However, they forget to mention that it's just not worth it...no matter how fond your heart becom

Fashion found

Published on 2011-06-25 17:35:00

I consider myself a moderate version of a fashionista. My life was sprung open to the world of fashion while I worked towards my Bachelor's degree at the Fashion Institute of Technology. I always was conscious of my clothing choices, but I was not aw

Le Delice Pastry Shop Inc. Review

Published on 2011-06-25 12:22:00

Hi all! Apologies for the late review, but it seems that when I'm away I turn into a bit of a slacker with my blog. I'm slapping my hand as we speak.Today we are critquing a red velvet cupcake from Le Delice Pastry Shop Inc. in NYC, which Lexi visite

Pet peeves

Published on 2011-06-21 12:57:00

As I have journeyed through life, I have developed some pet peeves. I'm sure sharing them will backfire on me, since my friends will use them to annoy me, but that's the price I pay I suppose.These little annoyances drive me absolutely insane and I

Tough times

Published on 2011-06-21 12:50:00

Before my trip, I was only able to make enough drawings for one week. And since I am away from my scanner, I need to take a creative approach to my pastry people drawings for the next two weeks. Therefore, you will see me try different approaches and

Of Brooklyn Cupcakes Review

Published on 2011-06-17 11:16:00

Happy Friday everyone! Before I left for my business trip, I ensured that I had a library of reviews at my fingertips. One is "Of Brooklyn Cupcakes", which is a small little shop inside a pizzeria. Steph, our wonderful New Business Manager, finds all

Mr. Clean

Published on 2011-06-16 10:33:00

We're placing our condo on the market, since we're planning to buy a house. Mr. M said he will take care of business while I'm away, which means he will work with the agent on the listing and showing of our home. Now here's my fear, while Mr. M means

All a-boot it

Published on 2011-06-14 04:00:00

I'm leaving today to begin my Canadian citizenship. Well, not really, but spending almost three weeks there makes it feel that way. I'm sure I'll come back home ending each sentence with "ey?" and pronouncing "about" as "a-boot". I remember the fi

Stuffed Cupcakes Review - Part II

Published on 2011-06-10 08:50:00

For my bridal shower, my sister-in-law bought red velvet cupcakes from my favorite bakery in New Jersey, Stuffed Cupcakes. It was such a sweet gesture and really took me by surprise. And the best part, they were slightly different than the past red v

Over packer

Published on 2011-06-09 06:30:00

As I'm beginning to pack for my trip to Vancouver next week, I've begun to realize that I'm truly an over-packer. I like options, since my outfit typically reflects my mood. And the luggage fees add additional guilt to an over packing girl. $25 per b

Showered with love

Published on 2011-06-07 06:50:00

This past Saturday was my bridal shower. The surprise was let out of the bag, so I knew when it was, but I wasn't involved in any of the planning. I didn't even know the location. Mr. M drove me and on our way I kept asking "Are we close? Is that

Babycakes Review

Published on 2011-06-03 06:40:00

Happy Friday! Today we are reviewing a vegan cupcake from Babycakes in NYC. They also have locations in Los Angeles and Orlando.First let's stop to give a nod to acknowledge that the attempt to make a vegan red velvet cupcake is quite a feat, since t

Bed and Breakfast...and freshly baked cookies

Published on 2011-06-02 06:40:00

Mr. M has recently called us "Bed and Breakfast veterans", which is pretty accurate. At this point in our lives, we're stayed at quite a few and feel worthy of a perspective. For one, I've learned B&B's are typically visited by a particular breed

Good to unplug

Published on 2011-06-01 06:10:00

Mr. M and I went away for Memorial Day weekend. It was a great time and very relaxing, which I think was helped by one simple act...I decided to "unplug". I did not check my email...or look at Twitter or Facebook all weekend. I decided to take a mini

Ruby Tuesday Review

Published on 2011-05-27 09:30:00

I love that chain restaurants are embracing the red velvet cupcake goodness. However, so far, I haven't found one that impressed me. Yet, as I always say, the more red velvet love that is out there...the better. I came across a red velvet cupcake on

Big brother bear hug

Published on 2011-05-26 07:10:00

A few weeks ago, I spoke of my one crazy and very lovable brother. And I felt I should tell you about my other even older brother. There are ten years between us, which has made him my protector and my confidant. When there were some things that I co

All growns up

Published on 2011-05-24 06:20:00

As I mentioned last week, there's been a transition in my work life. Due to this change, I will now be in Vancouver for three weeks in June. In theory, this is fabulous news, since it a truly beautiful city. However, this cuts down my wedding prep le

Love At First Bite Review

Published on 2011-05-20 09:47:00

During my trip to San Francisco a few months back, I visited a cupcake bakery in Berkeley called Love at First Bite. A cute name for a sweet little bakery. Their business was adorable. It was small, but they had a wonderful display of cupcakes all ov

Real estate eye openers

Published on 2011-05-19 06:40:00

Entering into the world of real estate has been an eye opening experience for me. I now realize how lucky I am to have found a man who already owned a home, so I was able to put off these shenanigans until now. I consider myself pretty well versed in

Busy little bees

Published on 2011-05-17 06:40:00

Hi ladies and gents! Apologies for my absence last week! Life's been a bit more hectic than normal these days. For one, there's been a change in my work life, which was a surprise. The past two weeks have have been a transition period, which is now c

Think Coffee Review

Published on 2011-05-06 06:40:00

Hi ladies and gents. Today we are reviewing a vegan red velvet cupcake from Think Coffee in NYC. They have four locations, but we visited the one on 4th Avenue between 12th and 13th Street. Steph also really likes their coffee. Think Coffee ReviewAt

Cleanliness is next to godliness

Published on 2011-05-05 06:20:00

Besides red velvet reviews, I also sometimes do product reviews...but only utterly incredible and life changing products! As you know, we have a dog named Buddha. What's "special" about our little ball of fur is his constant shedding. He's a short ha

Flip-flop freakout

Published on 2011-05-03 06:40:00

Last week it was incredibly warm, which made me wonder, "What happened to spring?" I was beginning to worry that we had jumped from an extended winter straight into summer. There were some days where we hit 80 degrees, which forced Mr. M and I to tur

Bruce's Bakery Review

Published on 2011-04-29 10:50:00

Happy Friday! Today we are reviewing a red velvet cupcake from Bruce's Bakery in NYC, known as "The Baker to the Stars". Their cheesecakes look fantastic, but of course, we have a red velvet focus...so we must remain on the game plan.Bruce's Bakery R

No place like home

Published on 2011-04-28 06:40:00

I stayed at my parents' house for Easter weekend and it's funny how so many things that I took for granted growing up have now become special little treats. When I work up on Easter morning coffee was already done and breakfast was cooking, so all I

Animal house

Published on 2011-04-26 06:40:00

As I've mentioned before, I have a bunny, Butters. Mr. M has a dog, named Buddha. When Mr. M and I moved in together, we decided it wasn't best to have a bunny and a dog in the same household. His dog is a natural chaser, so I would not be able to le

The Bean Review

Published on 2011-04-22 06:40:00

Happy Friday and Happy Easter weekend to those celebrating! As part of our Friday tradition, we are reviewing a red velvet cupcake. This time we visited The Bean in NYC. I love part of their their mantra, which reads, "What we don't have: venti, frap

Brotherly love

Published on 2011-04-21 06:50:00

I haven't made fun of my brother in a while, so I thought it might be about time. Now first, I must say what I love most about my brother is his character. He is one of the most likable people you will ever meet. He makes you feel welcome and has thi

Manly shopping

Published on 2011-04-19 06:40:00

I've been trying to get Mr. M to shop for a tuxedo for the wedding, but it's been a bit challenging.I was so excited to go try on dresses and would go back, if I could! And understandably, tuxedo shopping is not as enthralling as dress shopping, sinc

Rodeo Bar Red Velvet Cake Review

Published on 2011-04-15 06:30:00

While part of the RVD team was out for some dinner and drinks at the Rodeo Bar in NYC, we noticed red velvet cake on the menu. Well, due to our vow to try every red velvet item we come across, we had to give it try. Apologies for the dark photo, but

Mini relaxation planning

Published on 2011-04-13 06:20:00

Mr. M and I are using a lot of our PTO days for our wedding and honeymoon. Therefore, we're limited on how many other vacations we can take this year. We thought it might be fun to take a few mini getaways to help break up the year. However, I'm curr

Yearning for some green

Published on 2011-04-11 06:50:00

Is anyone else going through greenery despair? I know it's still a little too early to begin planting flowers, but I really miss gardening. And by "gardening", I mean planting flowers in pots on our balcony. We don't yet have a yard, but one day...on

Cheesecake Factory Review

Published on 2011-04-08 06:40:00

Mr. M and I made a stop at The Cheesecake Factory after a shopping trip. My last visit was a few years back and I remember not being overly impressed. However, I've heard so many people give it rave reviews that I felt I must try it again. As we walk

eBay enlightenment

Published on 2011-04-07 06:40:00

Mr. M has recently started up an eBay store...of sorts. Did you ever notice how much random stuff you collect over the years and never use? Well, Mr. M has turned this into a business. At the moment, it has been only his items, but I promise to look

Bridal boot camp

Published on 2011-04-05 06:45:00

I’m happy to announce that I’ve been keeping up a good workout regimen! With less than six months before the wedding, I’m hoping to get my buns in tip-top shape. And it's all thanks to Netflix! I recently discovered that you can order fitness v

Society Bakery RV Whoopie Pie Review

Published on 2011-04-01 09:30:00

As you can see from my past reviews, red velvet whoopie pies are become somewhat of the norm. And they are seemingly popping up everywhere! I may have to set aside a section for just my red velvet whoopie pie reviews. Today we are reviewing a whoopie

A cry for fashion

Published on 2011-03-31 06:40:00

Hi all! I recently re-designed the background for our Twitter page. Check it out and let me know what you think! I haven’t had time to thoroughly “market” this blog, but I’m hoping that after the wedding I’ll be able to experiment with new

Character development

Published on 2011-03-29 07:30:00

I’ve decided to take a step back and re-look at my illustrations. I realized something...I’m rushing through them. I haven’t looked at my work through a third party perspective in a while, so a few things came to light. My main cupcake characte

Society Bakery Review

Published on 2011-03-24 06:30:00

During my time in Dallas last week, I found Society Bakery, which was voted "Top 10 Cupcakes" by The Ellen Degeneres Show. And I was curious what a red velvet cupcake would be like in Texas. Well, not only did they sell red velvet cupcakes, but whoop

Growing pains

Published on 2011-03-23 06:30:00

I've been thinking about something lately...about my personality. While I'm 30 years old and I'm supposed to be a full fledged adult, I sometimes don't feel like one. There are moments when I stop and ask, "Where did time go?" It's almost as though t

Little moments of hotel happiness

Published on 2011-03-22 06:30:00

It's good to be home. Although there are some things that make hotels highly enjoyable. For one, room service is incredible. If you're hungry and you don't feel like leaving your bed, just pick up the phone and order some food. The door bell rings an

Starbucks Red Velvet Whoopie Pie Review

Published on 2011-03-18 05:00:00

Hi friends! On my way home today. Whoopie! And speaking of "whoopies", today I will be reviewing the new petite red velvet whoopie pie from Starbucks. As you may recall, their red velvet cupcake received a 1.5, so I was hesitant about their whoopie p

Turning over the mic

Published on 2011-03-17 06:50:00

Hey all. I thought I would turn the microphone over to you, my readers. I’ve been babbling on for almost a year now and I wanted to see if there are topics or stories that you would like me to speak to or elaborate on. I’d like to make this a two

Fabulous-ness found

Published on 2011-03-15 09:00:00

Hi friends! I’m traveling this week for business and hoping I can squeeze in some red velvet cupcakes while I’m away. We shall see, although I will miss my tasting counterparts: Steph and Lexi.Ladies (and my Metro Males), I have an amazing produc

Red Velvet Hand Sanitizer Review

Published on 2011-03-11 06:50:00

I know, this is a strange review. Red Velvet hand sanitizer, really? And I went back and forth quite a while on whether or not I should include this on my review circuit. But every time I use it, it makes me what to share this with my readers. Bath &

Get a wedding planner, seriously

Published on 2011-03-10 06:30:00

In case you couldn't tell by my posts, wedding planning has taken over my world! It's funny, I recently looked at my blog archive and I said to myself, "Holy smokes! It's wedding central with a side of red velvet." I may have to change my domain name

Stupid germs

Published on 2011-03-08 06:30:00

I've had a cold for about two weeks now. It's awful. I wake up with a scratchy sore throat and a clogged nose...it's not a pretty scene. Luckily Mr. M has been fighting the same symptoms, so we're gross together.Germs are funny. The cold came on like

Burgers & Cupcakes Review

Published on 2011-03-04 06:30:00

Today we are reviewing a red velvet cupcake from Burgers & Cupcakes in New York City. First of all, I love the overall concept of their restaurant. I mean, it's two of the most delicious food items in world and what better to specialize in? They'

A bump in the RVC road

Published on 2011-03-03 06:20:00

I researched something, which I was hoping would expand my red velvet cupcake reach: cupcake shipping. There are quite a few non-local bakeries that I would like to try, so I thought I should check out their shipping options. Now I was ready to pay a

A fashion request

Published on 2011-03-01 06:30:00

This post is directed to my Mom... Mom, I know you're working hard on planning a secret bridal shower for me, which I appreciate wholeheartedly. And I know it will be wonderful, since you always plan the best parties. However, I have one small reque

Cupcake Vineyards Red Velvet Wine Review

Published on 2011-02-25 06:50:00

As a special treat this week, we will not be reviewing a red velvet cupcake, but red velvet wine. Cupcake Vineyards has created a red velvet wine, which was suggested to me by AnnMarie of Road to Sweetness. And considering Mr. M and I have become reg

Over caffeinated

Published on 2011-02-23 06:30:00

Another Christmas present that has become a staple in our house is the Keurig machine, which brews instant coffee, tea or hot chocolate. In the past, if we wanted a cup of coffee, we would put on a full pot. True, this isn’t a lot of work, but our

Ready for spring

Published on 2011-02-22 07:00:00

Come on, spring! Last week there was a mean tease of spring-like weather, which was shortly followed by more snow a few days later. Man, that was just plain mean. It was like Mother Nature wanted us to dance around in the warmth of an early spring…

Little Cupcake Bakeshop Review

Published on 2011-02-18 07:30:00

Hi friends! TGIF! I decided to take a day off from work today, so it's a wonderful four day weekend for me. Woohoo! And keeping to our Friday tradition, here's a new red velvet cupcake review. Today we are critiquing Little Cupcake Bakeshop located i

The good ol' days

Published on 2011-02-17 06:30:00

I've noticed that recently I can't quite "rock out" like I used to on the weekends. I used to stay out all hours of the night and now if I'm out until 1:00am, it's like, "Oh man, I really partied it up tonight!" And on top of it, I feel a sense of gu

Some people just know how to party

Published on 2011-02-16 06:40:00

As we're in the midst of wedding planning, there are moments when I have stopped and thought, "There has to be an easier way." There is so much work involved, so your free time is pretty well diminished. And then I watched the show, "My Big Redneck W

Stuffed Cupcakes Review

Published on 2011-02-11 06:40:00

Love me some Friday! Today we are going to review a red velvet cupcake from Stuffed Cupcakes from Nutley, NJ. Unfortunately, we forgot to take a photo before diving in, so we stole an image from their website. Stuffed Cupcakes Review Great cream che

The gift that keeps on giving

Published on 2011-02-10 06:40:00

Mr. M bought me some wonderful Christmas presents this year, but there's one that keeps on giving. It's a slow cooker and it has proven to be such a huge help during the week. You see, I have a sizable commute every day and sometimes I work long hour

Missing an old friend

Published on 2011-02-08 06:40:00

Why do we bestow emotions onto inanimate objects? And why does one item hold a special place in our heart, while another similar item has no relevance? Take old toys for example... I recently watched Toy Story 3 and without giving away too much of th

The Wave Review

Published on 2011-02-04 06:40:00

Hi everyone! Today is the first red velvet cupcake review from our New England Satellite Critic, Dani. She visited a bakery/art gallery, The Wave, which is located in downtown New Haven, CT. Yes, ladies and gents, the RVD reach is growing! The Wave R

Planning antics

Published on 2011-02-03 06:40:00

Over the past 8 months, I have learned that planning a wedding can be pretty stressful. The standard practices can turn any future bride and groom into full-blown businessmen. Now it's true, we decided to take upon the planning process on our own and

A New York Moment

Published on 2011-02-01 06:45:00

I had a real New York moment last week during the big snow storm. On Wednesday, it was snowing pretty hard and the idea of going out for lunch seemed like too much effort. My friend Dana suggested that we order sushi to be delivered. Everyone knows t

A homemade review

Published on 2011-01-28 06:40:00

In the past I've stated that I do not review homemade red velvet cupcakes. I decided this for a few reasons, which include:1. Anyone who bakes at home is a star in my eyes and should not be judged.2. I do not want to frighten my friends and family. T

We're going honeymoon-ing

Published on 2011-01-27 07:00:00

So our hard work has paid off and we booked our honeymoon! We're going to Hawaii!I'm very excited about our plans. We will spend six days in Kauai on Poipu Beach. Kauai, as a whole, sounds wonderful. I've heard it has the most amazing waterfalls, lus

Geeks and vacations

Published on 2011-01-25 06:40:00

I must say, it's tough being a geek. We've been planning our honeymoon for a few months now. It has taken longer than anticipated because we're research feens. I assume that a lot of people simply pick a location, find a hotel and book it. Simple and

Eatcake Review

Published on 2011-01-21 06:40:00

Okay, I'm throwing out my white flag to winter. More snow today? How is that even possible when it appears that all of the atmosphere's moisture is frozen on our lawn? Sigh. At least planning our tropical honeymoon is helping to keep my heart warm.An

Finale of the traveling adventure

Published on 2011-01-20 06:35:00

Ladies and gents, here is the conclusion of our traveling journey.So after eating on the run, we continued our drive. Around 7:00pm, we decided to link up to listen to the NY Rangers game. We used my netbook and Mr. M's Droid as a tether to listen to

Traveling adventure (part three)

Published on 2011-01-18 06:50:00

It's a new week...and yet our travel story continues.Last we left, Mr. M & I decided to drive to Florida, which turned out to not be an easy feat. We rented a car from National, since they allowed us to pick up the car in New Jersey and drop it o

Food Parc Review

Published on 2011-01-14 06:30:00

Happy Friday! Thus, concluding another snowy work week. I'm not sure if the giant piles of snow by our home will ever go away. It just doesn't seem possible. To warm your hearts, here is a red velvet cupcake review. We visited Food Parc, which is a n

Traveling adventure (part two)

Published on 2011-01-13 06:30:00

To continue our traveling adventure...The next morning, I woke at 3:30am to shower and prepare for the cab ride to the airport. I checked the flight status a bunch of times the night before and it remained on schedule. As we were closing up our suitc

Traveling adventure (part one)

Published on 2011-01-11 06:20:00

Hello friends! I'm back! I decided to take some time off from the blog to re-energize for the new year. Now I feel refreshed and ready to begin my 2011 red velvet journey. I hope the new year is treating you well. Mr. M and I had a bit of an adventur