Sending out Christmas Cards

Oh how nice it is to have talented children. (thanks, Jen for designing my Christmas card!) I know, I am shamelessly bragging about my kids, (who are all grown adults now) so bear with me for a minute. I am so proud of all of them. They are gifted and talented and thoughtful and respectful and kind. I thank God for allowing me to be their mother.

Nine years ago on Dec. 13th I had a massive heart attack. It was a day none of us will ever forget. I died. twice. and came back to be able to enjoy seeing my children grow into five fine adults. I have been given a gift beyond measure...and Christmas will always have a special meaning for me.

Dear Santa:

Um. Yeah. Well really Santa...all I want is a few more hours in a day. Or maybe you can help me with some time management. Because I'm really bad lately. I just don't feel like I can get anything done. Well, anything that I'd LIKE to do...I'm too busy doing the stuff that I HAVE to do. Now I just have to shift Christmas shopping into the HAVE TO DO column and I'll be all set.

Oh I know, I'm whining and that means a lump of coal in my stocking.
Off to do some dishes and laundry and making dinner. Harrumph.

So much to be Thankful for...

The bird is in the oven and this afternoon we will all be feeling as stuffed as Tommy Turkey feels right now. I'm looking forward to having all my kids back home. Traditions are the glue that bind families together. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Trying to capture the Christmas spirit..."it's a GOOD THING"

I know, I know...it's not even Thanksgiving yet...and we definitely need to celebrate all that we are thankful for...The turkey is thawing in the refrigerator, the cranberries and yams and rutabagas have been bought. I even made a little Thanksgiving vignette on my mantel...

But- the Hallmark Channel has been playing Christmas movies all.day.long. I guess one could call it commercialism...I mean, after all, it IS HALLMARK. It's what they do. But the movies are feel good movies of family and Christmas cheer and the true meanings of Christmas. How can anyone fault a channel that is promoting family values and goodness? As Martha Stewart would say, "it's a good thing"... and I decided I'm watching at least one Christmas movie a day. I've been feeling pretty down as of late...and ANYTHING to restore my belief in family values is a "good thing". Oh yes, most of them are predictable and Cheesball U.S.A. but they leave you feeling loving and charitable and believing in the magic of Christmas...

Only 33 days until Christmas. I haven't begun my shopping...after all, it's not even Thanksgiving yet.

Collaborative Cake Creation

My dear friend and walking partner has been planning a surprise 50th anniversary party for her parents for months. Since I have been taking cake decorating classes, she asked me if I would like to make a sheet cake for the party. Oh silly me, I suggested we make a tiered cake instead...of course, you only celebrate your 50th wedding anniversary once, why not make a little fancier cake? (Mind you...I have NOT taken the TALL cakes class, only the Basics and the Flowers and Cake Design classes.)

I asked her what kind of cake she wanted and she thought a chococolate/white marble would be the best option...but then me, being me...I suggested the top cake be white with raspberry filling just to add another flavor option. She decided to give me artistic freedom with the cake and said she'd pick it up on the 13th.

Jordanne offered to come over and help me and of course I welcomed her input and talent. While we worked on this cake until 11:30 last night and gave birth to this beautiful creation of confection, the sense of satisfaction I felt when it was all assembled overwhelmed me. In my heart and mind, I began to ponder that this cake collaboration was analagous to raising children.

As a parent, we provide the ingredients and build the foundation and basic structure with love and hard work, (albeit not without mistakes) She worked with the frosting; I gave her the decorators bag to go ahead and design... although together we decided on a basic idea of what we wanted the end result to be ... but as this cake began to take shape, together we worked, each adding our input and talents, neither one of us completely certain of the outcome, we worked long and hard to bring beauty and life and meaning to this creation.

Thank you so much Jordanne for working with me on this little project. It meant more than you'll ever know.

P.S. She just came to pick up the cake and absolutely loved it. I only charged her the cost of the materials but she insisted on paying us something for our time. I told her I would take Jordy out to lunch...what day are you free, kiddo?

Second course, Final project

This is my first attempt at chocolate ganache. I must say it is so easy to make and what a shiny impact on these cupcakes. I even filled these fall funfetti cupcakes with some whipped ganache.

This is my graduation cake final project (from my second Wilton course Flowers and Cake Design) We learned how to make all of these flowers and the basket weave technique.

I'm not gonna lie...this cake is filled with a peanut butter cream cheese whipped mousse and has started to slide...with all the frosting on the sides from the basket weave...the cake had a major earthquake crack in it...good thing it was only for our family. Note to self: do not fill more than one layer with this particular mousse. It was unstable to transport.


We learned how to make lilies,violets, apple blossoms, primrose, daffodils, daisies, roses and rosebuds in this class. I NEED LOTS OF PRACTICE. It looks like a garden threw up on this cake. haha.

It's not as easy as one would think...it's all about getting the perfect frosting consistency and perfecting the technique. It was a fun experience...I'm so glad we did it, I learned so much. I did realize one thing: the older you get, the harder it is to learn new things...gosh I felt so inept at times. I didn't know there was such a thing as "Cake Stress".

We're taking a break from Cake Decorating classes until after Christmas. Now I've got a few months to perfect my techniques. I did get asked to make a 50th wedding anniversary cake for November 13th and now I've got to decide what I'm gonna do...more cake stress.

More football, homecoming, and cupcake love...

Joshua, Jordanne and Jake...The NCC "Game to Remember" where the players had special jerseys made with the pink cancer ribbon on them. The players wore stickers on their helmets honoring loved ones who died from cancer.

My three sons and their dad after Joshua's college game. Looks like the "little" brother isn't so little anymore.

Jacob and Aubrey getting ready to leave for Homecoming. What an adorable couple they make.

You can't really tell, but the orange leaf is made from melted candy corn, rolled out, and cut with a small leaf cookie cutter.

...more Halloween cupcake love...and yes, those are supposed to be mummies.

Scrumptious cream filled cupcakes for the football team dinner...

...I know, this is a bit extreme, but hey, it was the week of homecoming...what can I say?

lots of football brownies were made that day...40 to be exact! I know this seems insane, but I look at it as practice. These brownies were so yummy. They were covered with melted milk chocolate and peanut butter. mmmm.

...Actually, I think of baking as therapeutic. It cheers me up when I'm sad...calms me when I'm stressed...it fills me with a sense of well-being. It's something that I can take charge of from start to finish...I control the outcome...and all is well in my little cupcake world. I mean, really...how can you not be cheered up by a cupcake?

...stay tuned for the cookies I have to make for the out of town football game on Friday.