Birthday Cakes Part Two

In the interest of being the "Best Mother Ever" I decided to make cake for my children on their birthdays. In the interest of being the "Laziest Best Mother Ever" I used a mix. Don't judge me. They were on sale for a dollar each. In January I promised Miss Kate she would have pink cupcakes. All through her horrible hospital visit which included a catheter and x-rays. But when I started making the mix I realized I didn't have 2 cupcake pans. So rather than make a little cake or just make 12 or anything else approaching rationality, I decided to use a bundt pan. I liberally doused it with ozone killing Pam. But apparently that wasn't enough. Not to mention we only had 5 minutes before we were supposed to leave and I had to get the damn thing out of the pan NOW. So it fell apart. All over. But I would not be bested. I made "cake crumbles" and we went on with our ever so joyous celebration. My children ate the crumbles. That's all that matters. Now they are affectionately called "Kate crumbles" and we all have a hearty laugh. Except Kate sometimes tells the story for no good reason, except possibly that she will need therapy as an adult, and she proclaims the cake was "crummy." Well, yes it was. But not to be deterred, I so lovingly agreed to make a cake for Miss Emma's birthday yesterday. I gave myself plenty of time and a shot of tequila. Not really, but it would have made it much more entertaining. This time I stayed far away from the bundt pan. I still have not forgiven it. And the cake actually turned out, complete with Funfetti! Funfetti always makes it better. I have redeemed my good name. Only one more to go this year.

If you like laughing at baked goods and other people, you should check out Cake Wrecks. I can only say I'm glad my cake crumbles were not submitted. But I would totally submit your cakes if they were bad enough and made me laugh.

I Feel Blissy

You may have noticed I added a little button to my blog. My first blog button ever. I like saying blog and button in the same sentence. Anyway, I added a "Domestic Bliss" button because 1. I imagine it's a lovely place, though I've never been in to the actual store but have partaken of their yard sale, which was fab; 2. I was registered in a drawing for a gift card. Domestic Bliss is a shop in cute downtown Mesa with pretty (breakable ) things. This is why I have yet to visit. It's hard to get away without the little destructive band I affectionately call "children." I keep telling Sara we should go by ourselves but we have yet to take ourselves up on this offer. But we did make it to the yard sale. If that was any indication of the goods for sale in the store, I will so be there as soon as I talk trick my husband into watching the monkeys. We woke up early on a chilly Saturday morning for the garage sale and I took $100 and a dream of buying something awesome for my house. You see, I spend so much time surviving I give little thought to decorating. So as a consequence we live in a very drab, nearing institutional, hacienda. But I am on a mission to change that, one unfinished project at a time. I saw so many cute things. But I kept saying, "What will I do with this? Where will I put this?" There was this little white metal antique chair with a red tasseled seat and I stood there for five minutes trying to picture it in my house. Then I heard a rumor that Lin Sue Cooney (you would have to watch Phoenix news to know who she is) was interested and I almost just bought it right out from under her. But alas, where would I put it? So as I was perusing I came across the cutest quilts ever. I have a friend who is pregnant and for some reason I have the urge to buy things for her everywhere I go. Maybe it's the baby thing. I don't know. I just know I had to buy her a little baby quilt, whether she likes it or not. I then had to buy one for myself. Or actually for Kate's room. She has a little pink/black Parisian/shabby chic thing going on. And I have so many ideas and unfinished projects for her room. But I thought she could hang this on the wall (well actually Aaron will be doing the hanging but you know):



This was made by Sweet Baby Jamie, who has an etsy shop with all of her other cute stuff. She was such a nice lady, especially so early in the morning. And she just stood there patiently while I argued with myself (occasionally Sara stepped in) about which quilt I should buy. If you need a gift for a baby shower, consider a handmade quilt. Because even though you didn't make it, you care enough to find someone to make it for you.

The other item I purchased is currently hanging in my living room. It has generated much conversation already. This is an example of seeing something and just knowing you have to have it. I didn't think about where it would go, what is was, or if I would be able to get it home. I just grabbed it and threw my money at the seller.



Please do not adjust your screen, it is that lopsided in person. Which is why I kind of love it. I don't know what it is or where it was used but it is obviously handmade (without the use of a square, as my snorting father and husband pointed out) and it is now the only thing hanging in my living room. Now we just have to plan the rest of the room around it. That should only take five more years.

Addendum to Previous Post

OK if you are physically frightened by crafts you DO NOT have to make something for someone else to participate. Just sign up and let me make something for you. LET ME MAKE SOMETHING FOR YOU!

I Don't Know Why I Do It...

I just do.

This is an awesome idea from Hen House Diaries:

You make something, anything, for five people and they have to pass it on. Here are "the rules" (with my comments in italics):

- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make. Very Important in regard to the things I will be making!
- What I create will be just for YOU.
- It will be done this year (2009). It''s only March right?
- It will be something made in the real world and not something over the internet. Pay no attention to that etsy tag. No, I will follow the spirit of the challenge.

In return, all you need to do is post this text into a blog of your own and make 5 things for 5 other people.

Make sure to comment here that you are interested in my little gifty and then post it in your blog.

Void where prohibited, use only as directed, for a limited time only, store in a cool dry place.
Let's keep it going!

So there it is. I know only about two people read this blog, probably less now that I've become such an irregular poster, but I can wait all year for five responses. I'm good under pressure. Now go out and make!

I Have A Lot of Work to Do

Who would believe my office area could be worse than the first picture I posted? Well believe it. After clearing out the closet of everything but clothes, I have quite a pile of crap to contend with. Now where am I supposed to shove all this stuff? Oh, I'm supposed to go through it and throw it away? You mean like all my notes from high school? OK I am willing to go through them but I will not throw away the best ones. They only take up one small box. And they occasionally make me smile. I am looking forward to having a clean work area but where do I start? Better read up on Regina's advice. She will make it all better and manageable. Now if she would only come here and do it for me.

I'm Officially "Kreativ"

Thanks so much to Marie at One Year to an Organized Life for bestowing upon me this:



No one has ever called me kreativ before. And now I feel like a real blogger. So now I'm supposed to pick 8 blogs to pass this on to. I love fashion, design, and baking blogs so this shouldn't be too hard. Yikes.

My good friend Sara at My Little Batch of Sky has an aptitude and love for baking. Plus she gives away citrus fruit! She is an example of someone who saw her friends blogging and thought, "I can do this too." And she does.

Heidi at Hen House Diaries raises chickens and makes her own cheese! Plus her blog introduced me to Daring Bakers, which I signed up for this month. I'm sure her entry will be yummy.

Turtle Taylor is such a cute site from a fellow MOMS Club member. I'm no longer in MOMS Club and I'm sad we don't see each other more. She also has an adorable etsy shop. Now if she would just sell those cleaning gloves.

And that's it for the people I actually "know" on my blogroll but I have more to share:

Tip Junkie is seriously addictive and it makes me feel like I could do wonderful, marvelous crafts (if I could just use a sewing machine).

Recipe Girl is another food site. She takes great pictures and makes some yummy stuff. Please befriend me.

Today's Creative Blog takes all the work out of finding crafty sites on the Internets. It's full of pictures and so many links. You could spend all day here.

That should keep you busy for awhile. I know that's only six but I hear whinging and tormenting from the next room so I should probably check to make sure the house is still standing. Whew, I'm glad to get this done. I was really stressing about finishing this. Hopefully you'll discover something you love.