there's always a cupcake connection

going to memphis for my brother david's 50th birthday party was a weekend i won't soon forget.

david normally opts to stay in the background, taking it all in, so this was a tremendous time for us all to put him first and show him how much we love him. what a joy to honor him.

he was driven around in a stretch hummer limo, had courtside seats at the memphis grizzlies game (pictures of david and the cheerleaders to come!) and was treated to a spread of ribs and brisket at the rendezvous. he went to graceland and beal street, and ended the weekend with a huge family dinner, where we told stories and laughed until we cried.

seeing relatives from far-flung parts of the country was a pure delight. (david - in elvis glasses - is in the top photo, aunt ellie and cousin liz are in the second one).

i only wish we had had even more time.

and the cupcake connection? oh, yes.

i ordered the birthday cupcakes from muddy's bake shop in memphis.

you may remember kat, the lovely woman who owns this adorable bakery who noticed me raving about her online.

she brought me free goodies when she was in nashville, and even hand delivered an order of cupcakes to a memphis hospital where our dear friends' little girl was having brain surgery. (ava made a full recover, by the way!)

thanks, kat! the cupcakes were out of this world!

people, if you are ever in memphis in the midtown area, you simply must stop by muddy's! and tell kat the "blogofjoan" gal sent you!