Winter Depression

I fight really bad depression every year around this time. You’d think it was weather induced, but really it’s far more juvenile than that. You see, my mom and dad are “Snowbirds” and right now they are living in one of those elegant rv parks in Yuma, Arizona. She has orange trees that sit right outside her bedroom window. So close that she can literally open her screen, reach out and pluck fresh fruit! That sounds so nice.

I talk to my mom everyday. I always have. So when they are in Arizona, they live on their cell phone, and to protect their minutes, I only get to call them in the evenings. Evenings are hard around here with getting 4 kids fed, homeworked and off to bed. So it’s turned into and every other night call…and sometimes even longer. And I can definitely feel the ‘blues’ creeping in!

Dani’s Cake

Do you want to see what I made this week?

This was the cake I made for Dani’s birthday.  The bottom item in the photo is her destressed leather Dolce & Gabbana handbag that I copied to make the cake at the top of the picture.  It was a TON of work, but it turned out really cute.

Her friend that was at dinner with her decided that she wanted a cake to.  She didn’t know what for but knew that she was more a “shoe” or “watch” girl than a purse girl.  So she’s going to have to decide between a Manolo Blahnik shoe box or one of the Luminox watches cakes. Of course she’s heading to England for the next few months, so she may just change her mind before she gets home!

Seat Lifts

I have to laugh, I was writing that last post when I was unceremoniously dumped out of my chair! I gave out a startled “whoop” as I slid to the floor, and my two little ones burst out laughing. it seems that this little office chair of mine comes complete with one of those handy seat lifts you see sometimes. I didn’t know this. I knew there were buttons and knobs and hoses and such down below, but honestly, I just sit on the thing. Well, my two little ones were just bored enough to start fiddling with things, and I guess they figured it out!

I think most of the stuff around me could be far more useful than I think they are. I mean, we have cords and wires coming in through every wall and floor–and I have know idea what they are all used for. I’m sure if we took the time to figure it out we’d have an amazing surround sound home theater system or fabulous internet connection…I’m just not sure where to start!

Kid Fun

The other day my kids and I were left in the car while my husband ran into the store for some last minute items for dinner. Have you ever been left alone in a car with 4 kids? It can get pretty crazy! So I decided to use that time (and the strip mall signs around us) to play the Alphabet Game. You know, you have to look at signs and find all of the different letters of the alphabet. We did great! I was amazed-every single letter was available right in front of us on one of the storefronts. Well, except the letter “X” we had to find an exit sign inside on of the stores for that one. But find it we did. The kids thought it was a great game, and it kept them completely occupied until dad came back!

Pig Or Bear

Did I tell you about the second cake I was supposed to make this week? It was for my son, and he wanted a fully carved Pig out of red velvet cake. You know, so that when you carve into him he “bleeds”. Yes, the humor of a 9 year old!

Anyway, not really wanting to carve anything out of red velvet I started trying to talk him into ANYTHING else! I have the 3D stand up Teddy Bear Pan, and I’ve made that thing into every animal imaginable (the Easter Bunny and the Puppy at the top of the page are both using this pan). So I try to talk him into a sitting pig. I was going to go so far as to put him in one of those tuxedos you see waiters wear. He said no. So I ventured into the “Biker” side. A Leather pig complete with a heart tattoo on his arm that said “Mom”. Nope! So I started settling into my pig carving fate, when I thought I would show him just what you can do with this type of pan…and then he saw what he really wanted–and I got to change that carved, red velvet pig into this…

Is he honestly not the cutest thing EVER!!  He matches the hockey puck (above) cake from last year!  Good Choice my boy!

What A Week

This week, after two cakes, 12 strawberry cupcakes and 36 red velvet cupcakes…this body is definitely in need of one of the best weight loss supplements out there! It was NOT the week to start a new diet…so tomorrow, we begin again!

I do have to say though, both cakes turned out absolutely awesome, and the cupcakes were YUMMY–so I’m really not complaining! However, my scale will bellow when I step on to it tomorrow morning! Wish me luck!