Saturday, October 31, 2015

Fall Confirmation


I started making this confirmation cake by making the cross and the scroll with Joshua 1:9 on it.  In the middle of my day when I had just finished up the scroll, I got a call from the school nurse telling me that my daughter was in the office and had hurt her arm during recess.  I quickly brushed the cornstarch and powdered sugar off my shirt and sweatpants and jumped in the car.  I'll spare you the details, but she ended up with a cast on her left forearm.  While we were waiting for Xrays, I showed her a picture I'd snapped of the scroll and she read it.  We discussed how this was one of those wonderful promises from God that we could cling to during bad times like this.  We really can be very courageous when we know that God is with us wherever we go.  She especially liked the cake because she got the first preview of it and the verse was a good fit for her situation.

My neighbor, who was confirmed on Sunday, ordered a cake in one of my favorite flavor combinations: lemon with raspberry cream filling.  Her favorite color is red and she opted for something a little more unique than a typical white background, so I incorporated the beautiful colors of the season with red flowers on a fall green palate.  I have to admit...I kind of love it.


Congratulations, Nicole!  May you be strong and courageous, not discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.  He loves you!



Saturday, October 24, 2015

Cars, not Trains

We finally finished up the last family birthday this year.  By the time I get to October, I'm partied out.  I like making the cakes.  I love it, but when I've got dinner and gifts and table setting and the entire party to throw, even if it's just family, by the time I get to the cake, I'm out of all desire to do anything else.

My son had been asking for a Thomas the Train cake for weeks, but I didn't want to make it.  I knew he'd be asking where is Percy and Gordon and Diesel and James and every other stupid train that's on that stupid show and I didn't want to use 45 different colors of fondant and have to make a dozen little engines and I knew I'd miss one.  Then  he got this great idea for a Paw Patrol cake. (I shut that one down right away)

So, nice mom that I am, I googled a bunch of Cars cake pictures and convinced him that he wanted a cake with Lightning McQueen ("Li-a-queen" as the 3 year old calls it and he argues with me as to the correct pronunciation.  He can actually say the real name, he just thinks it's wrong).  It's a measly three colors - so much less work than a colorful little train engine (or 12).  I patted myself on the back and went to work.  I think he was still a little disappointed that it wasn't Thomas, but in the end, he liked the cake and wanted to watch the movie the next day.

Here's the idea I knocked off from someone...



It was a fun party and he was a little mad when he ate the front of the car because he couldn't pretend to drive it any more.  I didn't feel bad for him.  I was sad that he destroyed my car.

His sister made him a 3D paper car with a sock monkey driver.  We were all impressed.

 Happy Birthday, little guy!  Welcome to 3. 



Sunday, October 4, 2015

a very tiny party

I could not have been more thrilled when my tiny girl wanted a tiny party for her 7th birthday.  She had never had (nor really wanted) a party with school friends before this year and she invited just 5 of her special friends. She is such an appreciative child, never expecting special treatment, but reveling in it when it comes her way.  She loves feeling special, so she had a wonderful moment of thrill when each of her 5 friends RSVP'd that they could come.  She anticipated for months and planned with me for weeks with her ideas.  The day finally came!  So, to make you all think I'm extra amazing and wonderful and all, I share with you her special day.

tiny welcome


tiny cakes



tiny table decorations

 tiny place card, tiny forks and spoons, tiny party hat

tiny hot dogs, cookies, french fries, Rice Krispy treats



tiny balloons

 tiny party games

tiny craft


BIG FUN



Happy tiny Birthday, sweet girl!



Sunday, August 2, 2015

a very hungry birthday party

I got to make a cake for a super cute themed birthday party for a sweet little boy's first birthday.  Like almost every mom, she wanted to make her first baby's first birthday an occasion big enough to match the love in her heart for this little person who forever changed the way she sees the world (as if that were even possible). To help celebrate the big day, I had the privilege of making the cake and when she told me what she wanted, I was pretty excited.  And it just so happened that she picked my favorite cake: devil's food with cookies and cream filling, topped with super buttery buttercream.

GOOD HEAVENLY DAY, what a fun cake it was to make! (has that expression taken off yet? GHD!)  Here he is!  I introduce to you...

A Very Hungry Caterpillar

details:





Friday, June 5, 2015

Best Story EVER

I love that my daughters are learning so much at school.  I love that I'm not responsible for their education. It's all I can do to keep tabs on what they're learning, be involved in their school as much as possible, pack them a lunch, sign all the forms and remember what day it is.  I think the teachers can vouch that I maybe stopped caring a month ago.  I'm pretty sure the teachers were counting the days along with me.

I was going through the gigantic pile of crap (and by crap, I mean wonderful, heartfelt projects) that came home all year long. It took me forever to go through it because it included not one, but almost two full school years' worth of writings, art projects, you-name-it.  At the very bottom of the pile I came across a treasure. So, in honor of the end of the school year, I'm going to share the favorite of my findings with you. I'll translate in case you're not familiar with kindergartners' spelling.

It's pretty much my favorite story ever written.



the Smile fase
(The Smiley Face)
by Gertie (3/12/15)
Once upon a time, there was a smiley face that had no parents.

The smiley face found a cave and the smiley face wanted to live in it. So he did.


The smiley face went in the cave. Then the smiley face found a bear.  The bear ate the smiley face.
The End.



hapee summr!


Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Open Letter To Home Improvement Stores (and many grocers)

Dear Home Depot, Lowes, and Menards,

I've been pushing my cart through your stores pretty often lately. We are there almost daily now grabbing something for my bathroom remodeling project. Monday it was a sheet of drywall and roll of insulation. Yesterday it was a light fixture. Today it was an electrical box.

You probably know me and my 2 year old son by now and you probably cringe when we arrive. You hear him screaming as I wander up and down the isles to find what I need as quickly as I can. You see me give him the angry whispers in his ear to which he responds by yelling “NO!” and crying even more loudly. You watch as I shove snacks and a sippy cup at him to try to shut him up. You mock me as I buy one of each in every size so I can decide at home and then I return what I don’t use simply to save time in the store with the screaming child.

But I blame you, Home Depot, Lowes, and Menards.

You see, my son is in the best of moods when we arrive at your store. We walk into the entrance to get a cart and then in happens. He sees your car-shaped shopping cart. The cart that is so huge and clunky that no normal human being has the capability to maneuver it without knocking down every excess display in the store. My son sees the car cart and he must ride in that cart. When I calmly and resolutely tell him that we are using a regular cart, the fun begins. He goes limp. He melts down. He yells. He cries. He doesn't stop crying. I even stoop to making deals with the 2 year old telling him that he can ride on the end of the cart if he calms down (despite Home Depot’s public warnings about children and shopping carts over the P.A. system). He will not be pacified until we leave your store and the memory of the giant car cart has faded.

I’m writing this letter to you, Home Depot, Lowes, and Menards, to ask beg you to please, please, PLEASE remove these horrible wretched toddler time-bombs from your stores. They are a parent’s worst nightmare. Unless you really enjoy screaming toddlers, then, I suppose, keep them.

Sincerely,

Snarky Dabbler

PS. I hate "open letters," but I didn't know what else to title this.