A cake decorator, I am not

I am sooooo not a cake decorator, I'm more of a 'Frost By Numbers' kinda gal, you know stick a star shaped nozzle on a piping bag and fill in the indents on the cake left from the pan, so when I read the directions on what to do I take them quite literal, I may question in my mind but then will go on to shrug my shoulders and think to myself "Well Mr Wilton said to do it this way".

Tuesday was Reagan's turn to take snack into school, I remembered mid morning on Monday, I had already done my grocery shop for the week and did not want to venture out again so I started blog surfing for some inspiration and came upon these little darlings, cute huh ? First off I couldn't figure out why only 16 cupcakes when a box mix states it will make 24 on the box and I've always gotten 24 out of it, and I needed 22 and I wasn't going to start on another box of mix just for 6 more cakes. Well I don't know what happens to batter when you divide it into 6 bowls and add food coloring but the amount decreases, it's true, crazy but true, yet if you divide it into 3 bowls you're good to go, if you don't believe me try it, it's weird. So my cupcakes only ended up with 3 colors, but the kids didn't know and what you don't know won't kill you (usually). Then I got creative, I hate the taste of cake mix from a box it's just kind of 'icky' so once the cakes cooled all the way I poked holes in the top and poured orange jello onto them and let it soak in, creative huh ? Then I put them in the fridge AND FORGOT ABOUT THEM until 1hr before they were due to school Tuesday morning, "S%^& " Open up the pantry no canned frosting, look for powdered sugar, didn't have enough. Panic set in and so I started blog surfing again and I found this blog where Supermom had made these same cakes ... though she'd only made 16 so they had the perfect 6 colors, WHATEVER !!! She gave all the directions and then 'frosted' CoolWhip on top, oh they looked so cute and guess what ? I had Cool Whip, So I took it from my freezer, waited for it to thaw a bit and then started 'frosting' , OMG, what a disaster, 'SuperMom' failed to add that she had to have added something to her CoolWhip to make it stay or she cheated and used Cool Whip from a can to get the perfect swirl because let me tell you, CoolWhip from a tub is not the consistency to frost with, even if you get a perfect swirl it will quickly drip and become a gloopy mess even if you put them in the refrigerator immediately... don't believe me ? Take a peek at this gloopy mess and yes the pic sucks I was rushing like a mad woman, freaking as to what to do as 22 kidlets were waiting on Ms Penny's snack and no all the cakes aren't there because after too many attempts I realised this was a big time FAIL

So I snapped a quick pic and hauled some serious butt to the 'Mart, where I sprinted down the aisles like a crazy woman and snatched up a much coveted can of Redi Whip and ran to the school where I entered the classroom and exclaimed " Who wants  messy cup cakes ?" and up shot a dozen hands eager to please Ms Penny. I LOVE those sweet 6 and 7 year olds, they're so forgiving, so around I went handing out 'Messy cupcakes' with the teacher on my tail prettying them up with the Redi whip and Reagan adding a shower of sprinkles and all was well in the world again. So take it from me, if you want to frost something w/ Cool Whip and keep it looking pretty BUY A CAN and squirt those swirls, they won't let you down.

Grandad's words

Growing up just down the street from my Grandparents meant spending many many hours with them. Some of my fondest memories are sweeping Grandad's garden path, watering the gardens by dunking the watering can into the water butt and filling it up with rain water, trimming his hedges with scissors, really anything that had to do with gardening. I vividly remember him shaking his head when he would see neighbors going crazy planting gardens in early spring and saying "Ne'er cast a clout 'til May be out" He would just click his tongue and continue with his pottering and once again I am reminded of him and his ways and his sayings as we experience a crazy, crazy Spring here.
Last week it hit 80 degrees, it was warm and sunny, fingers were getting itchy and thoughts of fresh produce growing in the garden came to mind, the desire to run out and plant vegetable seeds and flowers was at the fore front of my mind, but I refrained, Grandad's words echoing around and around in my head and boy am I glad I did, look what we woke up to today. Yep, I think I'll heed Grandad's words and won't start planting "'Til May be out"

This is what happens...

 When I tell Reagan I want to take pictures of her new haircut. Love this girl, she cracks us up on a daily basis.

Dress #2 and a thankyou

Many thanks to those of you who have both donated money and fabric. As of right now 14 little girls will blessed with new dresses.
If there are still some of you out there who would like to help then please either leave a comment here or send me an email.

In Like A Lion

We were awoken on this first full day of Spring to an early morning thunderstorm, doesn't get a whole lot more lion'esque' than that.

I used to think I was a Summer girl and don't get me wrong, I love the Summer, but I think that maybe, just maybe my favorite season is Spring afterall. After all the dark cold days of Winter we awaken one day to the sound of song birds once again, the cold bare branches on the trees start to come back to life with small green buds of leaves that will one day soon shade us from the hot summer sun. The dead grass suddenly springs back to life with it's hues of green, the sun shares it's presence with us for longer periods of time bringing with it a welcoming warmth and the promise that one day soon we can trade shoes and socks for flips flops and bare feet.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a hater of Winter, to sit inside and watch the quiet snowflakes fall, or to go for a brisk walk and come home to hot chocolate and marshmallows is wonderful too, but spring brings with it a feeling of renewal and promise and makes the heart a little lighter and happier.

Spring Pools by Robert Frost

                                     These pools that, though in forests, still reflect
                                     The total sky almost without defect,
                                     And like the flowers beside them, chill and shiver,
                                     Will like the flowers beside them soon be gone,
                                     And yet not out by any brook or river,
                                     But up by roots to bring dark foliage on.
                                     The trees that have it in their pent-up buds
                                     To darken nature and be summer woods --
                                      Let them think twice before they use their powers
                                      To blot out and drink up and sweep away
                                      These flowery waters and these watery flowers
                                      From snow that melted only yesterday.

Whole Wide World

I can't listen or watch this video without finding my eyes brimming with tears by the end of it. Maybe it's because I am a mom of 2 wonderful daughters who are getting ready to explore the world in ways only they can. Victoria is 19 and is looking at a life in the Marines, she's dedicated and more determined to do this than anything else she's  ever   set her sights on.
Reagan is 7 and wants to be a rockstar, a gymnast, an artist, a cook and a teacher. She's full of spunk and loves life like no other child I've known.
If you're a follower of NieNie you'll see some familiar people.

Dress #1

If you have ever thought about making these pillowcase dresses but then shy away because it's dressmaking, don't do it again. These things are so easy to whip up. This dress took me a total of 30 mins and that included cutting it out. These can be made by the most novice of sewers, PROMISE.

This dress really is even, I just tied the shoulder a little off and so it's sitting wonky, hard to tie a shoulder strap when it's not actually on a shoulder.