And the Masterpiece . . .

Told you I would be back to show off my masterpiece cake. It's a basic sour cream yellow cake again from Anne Byrn. Those of you that are interested in baking must have this book! Check out pages 404-5 for this great recipe. Take my word for it . . . you won't regret obtaining your own copy of The Cake Mix Doctor.

I am going to post the Wilton recipe for chocolate buttercream icing, though, since that's what I used. Here it is:

Class Chocolate Buttercream Icing

1 lb. powdered sugar

1 cup vegetable shortening

1 tablespoon meringue powder

1 teaspoon vanilla (or other flavoring)

5-6 teaspoons water or milk (depending on consistency)

3/4 cup cocoa powder

Add an additional 2 teaspoons of water or milk

Mine turned out pretty perfect, which sometimes is unusual. Icing can be pretty finicky. But, all of you out there that aspire to be cake decorators or even to make something fun just for you, give this icing a try.

I finish with pics of my final product. I am quite proud of it really. As if you couldn't tell. I signed up for the next set of courses, learning to work with gum paste and fondant, so keep checking for more recipes and baking adventures . . . oh, and pics of my beautiful little ones. I'll post one more just for giggles.

Cupcakes and the Kids

I just had to take pics of the cupcakes I made. Here they are.

May I just say they were also delicious! The recipe . . . again from The Cake Mix Doctor Anne Byrn we have Buttermilk Devil's Food Cake:

Solid vegetable shortening for greasing the pans

Flour for dusting the pans

1 pkg plain devil's food cake mix

3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/3 cups buttermilk

1/2 cup vegetable oil, such as canola, corn, safflower, soybean, or sunflower

3 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

The recipe called for white chocolate frosting, which likely would have rocked, but I didn't have all of the ingredients. We used her recipe for marshmallow frosting instead.

1/2 cup sugar

2 tablespoons water

2 large egg whites

1 jar marshmallow creme

To get the exact directions, check out Anne Byrn's book. I think I need to buy all of her books! She even has books for dinners and stuff. Anyway, tomorrow marks the end of my second set of cake decorating classes. We will make our masterpiece cake, and I will be taking pics. I'm making two recipes of chocolate buttercream icing, a yellow cake, and about 90 daffodils. I only have 36 done. Yikes. So I am going to stop blogging for now. Check back for pics of my hopefully beautiful cake tomorrow!

Okay. I know, you guys want to see the kids, too. Here's a few shots of fire truck day with Moms on the Move.

Sorry, turn your head sideways for that last one. I don't know how to fix it.

And here's one final one of my two favorite people in the entire world. Thank you, God, for our beautiful children.

Baking and Avery and the Calico Hearts

So I bought this new cookbook to add to my collection of cookbooks that sit on my shelf until I get inspired to make something from them, which sometimes takes a long time. But when time is lacking, so is cooking, so I don't blame anything but a busy schedule. This cookbook in particular is so fascinating to me because it contains recipes that all use a cake mix. I happen to love cake, so I happen to love this cookbook. I'm going to make something from it as soon as I get off the computer. Lol. With full credit to Anne Byrn, author of The Cake Mix Doctor, I am posting the recipe I am about to try.

Fiddler on the Roof Cake

Vegetable oil spray for misting the pan

Flour for dusting the pan

1 package (18.25 oz) plain yellow cake mix

1 cup (8 oz) sour cream

3/4 cup vegetable oil, such as canola, corn, safflower, soybean, or sunflower

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 teason pure almond extract

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 large eggs

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Oven to 350, beat cake mix, sour cream, oil, sugar, almond extract, salt, and eggs on low speed for 1 minute, scrape, beat on medium for 2 more minutes. Pour half of the batter into pan, and add cocoa powder to the remainder. Beat the last half on low for 1 minute. Pour it evenly over the top of the batter in the pan. Marbelize with a knife. Bake until light brown, about 60-65 minutes.

I'm going to make cupcakes, but I think it is actually for a cake. I'm not going to use the recommended frosting, simply because I have a lot of other frosting made already and don't want to make more. If you make this recipe, I hope you enjoy it!

Onto other things . . . my friend's daughter is on America's Got Talent this season!!! Aaahh! If you follow this show at all, look for Avery and the Calico Hearts, a three member girl group from Lubbock, TX. They are so sweet and cute!!! I mentioned that I have been following this show for a good reason, and they are it. They are so great that they made it to Hollywood!!! They will be on August 1, as I understand it, for America to vote for them. Please, if you read this blog, watch the show and cast your very valuable vote for Avery and the Calico Hearts. They need your vote, America!!! This now 4th grade girl is so amazing. I see her almost everyday at school when she comes to meet her mom, who works just down the hall from me. Avery's a great kid! You will love their performance. And someday when they are famous, I will tell everyone that I know the lead singer and her mama! Seriously, guys, just vote.

What is patience?

Patience is waiting for my Kindle to charge so I can download a new book to read.

Patience is cleaning up the chair and floor of Taco Villa after my two year old daughter has her third accident of the day.

Patience is rocking my 5 month old son to sleep and praying he'll make it to 3 AM before he wakes up to eat.

Patience is sitting for an hour at the salon waiting for my newly highlighted hair to dry.

Patience is playing a game that I can't seem to win no matter how many trips I make to United.

Patience is decorating a giant cookie while my hands are starting to hurt like crazy, and I have to stop every so often to give them a break.

Patience is uploading about a billion pictures from my camera and sorting through them.

Patience is not yelling when my kid throws a major fit in front of all my workout buddies and their children.

Patience is recording a TV show so I can catch a glimpse of a sweet fourth grade girl and her friends performing.

Patience is waiting until my kids wake up so I can go get my third coke of the day because I seem to go through them way too fast these days.

Yes, those are all things I've done recently. I haven't really been feeling patient lately, so I made a list of times when I actually have been patient this week. Sometimes it is so incredibly hard to be patient, especially when kids are involved. We've been potty training K since December, and most days she gets it and does well. But today has not been one of those days. I'm trying to keep my cool, despite my frustration, but it is not easy. I think almost every 10th word out of my mouth has been "Grr," because she either had an accident, got into something she should not have, woke up her sleepy brother, or refused to go potty when I tried to take her, which of course is shortly followed by another accident. Don't say she's not ready. She really is. She is an incredibly bright girl and does use the potty most of the time. Really. I see some people that interact with their children so well. They appear to never raise their voices, never spank their kids, and have these great ideas about parenting. Gag. Some days I have to remember that I can get really loud if I yell. Some days I yell anyway. I absolutely love my kids beyond a doubt. They are my sunshine, light of my life, my soul. I just have to remind myself of that sometimes. So this post is my promise not to get angry with my daughter for having an accident every so often. (I am going to set an alarm and take her every 15 minutes, though.) My promise that I will not be disappointed if my son wakes up all too early in the middle of the night. (Although I am still going to pray for 3 AM.) My promise that I will remember that kids are kids, and I have to understand that. Being a parent is the toughest role I have ever played, but I believe it is the most rewarding and beautiful one, too. So, parents, hug your kids today and tell them how much you really love them, despite the times when they try your patience and make you think you just might go crazy. I know I am going to hug mine.

Milestones

Cannon rolled over the day before yesterday! He also scooted on his belly from one side of my bed to the other, almost fell off, and was screaming when I walked in the room yesterday after nap time. I was so glad I got there before he actually did fall! At any rate, I am anticipating this could mean he'll crawl early. If he's already scooting like that, he might. I don't know that I am ready for that! I tried to give him his first tastes of cereal last week, and he literally screamed as I fed him. I tried again yesterday, and he did better. No screaming, but he didn't want more than like 5 bites. After that, he was really done. I'm going to start making his baby food this week. I keep saying I'm going to do it, but I haven't gotten around to it. I did finally buy him some applesauce, though. K kept asking if it was for her. LOL.

It is hard to believe so much time has flown by since February. Here we are at July 1, half of summer gone, and nearly 5 months since my beautiful boy entered the world. I thank God for him every time I look at him.

I end this post with a few pics of our little man. I'm including a couple of Keely, too. She's hit some milestones herself. At two years old, our girl can imitate the sounds of many animals, since all of her ABCs, count to 20, and use the potty (most of the time). She lights up our world in so many ways. I am incredibly proud of her.

A Random Thought about Sharon Osbourne

I was watching "America's Got Talent" last night, a show that I never watched until this season and probaly wouldn't if I didn't have a good reason to watch this season. The particular brand of show doesn't exactly appeal to me. In my opinion, the judges are often too harsh and quick to tear down contestants, and some of the contestants are what I would call questionable. But, for my own personal reason, I've gotten into it this season, recording and watching every episode thus far. I'm enjoying it for the most part.

Last night two boys, who looked like they were in maybe 8th or 9th grade but really are 17, came on with funky hair, claiming they were going to sing and dance. Usually when they interview contestants before they perform onstage, they make the cut. My first thought was, "Wow, looks must be deceiving." They didn't look like people that would make the cut. They looked like goofy kids.

The act starts. They are singing "Waterfalls" by TLC. The dance moves are cheesy and simple. The boys are really into it, though. It looked and sounded like something you would see in a junior high school talent show. No offense. Some people in the audience are making Xs with their hands, as if telling the judges to buzz. Piers Morgan does. His buzz is quickly followed by Sharon's. Howie is basically laughing at them. The act ends.

Piers speaks first and says that they were horrible. The white kids says into the microphone, "I don't think we're horrible." He's not angry, though, just a little defensive. Sharon's next and her words are the reason I am writing this post.

"You're not horrible. I think that you are adorable. You're great characters, but it's not . . ." She's interrupted by Howie, who makes the demeaning comment, "You're like Millie Vanilla." The black kid takes offense. Back to Sharon. "Um . . . well, I think you're adorable. It's just a bit juvenile, that's all." The white kid tells her he loves her. He really does. She repeats the adorable part and tells them they can come home with her.

For some reason or another, this stuck with me even after I woke up this morning and even now as I type. I stand by my comment that the judges on these types of shows are often too harsh. The contestants put themselves out there, just for the chance of being told they are even a little talented. I think that takes guts! It's not something I would ever do. Saying they are horrible may be true but it's not necessary, really. I applaud Sharon for making those kids' day. And I think we could all follow Sharon's lead and make someone else's day. If we all did ou best to make someone's day, the world would be that much better.

Incident with an Ant and Other Stories

So, it's been over a year since I last blogged. I find myself in need of a creative outlet these days. Writing has always been a sincere passion of mine, since I was in 4th grade and journaling in Eddie Fitzgerald's class, moments and a teacher I will never forget. I still have that blue spiral journal somewhere. My relationship with writing evolved into a much more complex one when I started teaching. Carl once told me that he didn't want to teach guitar lessons because having to teach other people the mechanics of something he loves puts a slight damper on its appeal. I understand what he means now. But, I owe it to my relationship with writing to at least write once in a while, so I am picking up with this blog once again.

I begin with a story. My daughter turned two a week ago Saturday. We were driving home from Taco Villa when she burst into these very real tears, screaming, "It bit me! The ant bit me!" I sort of freaked out, because she was obviously upset. I drove to my mom's house about 2 minutes away, parked, and got out. I gave her car seat a quick glance before getting her out of it. She was still screaming and crying about the ant. I tried to get her to tell me what hurt, but she just kept repeating the line about the ant. Finally, I got her to actually speak. "It's gonna get Cannon! On his seat!" she said through tears. I looked at Cannon, who was happy as a lark, and noticed a small fly on his seat. I sort of wanted to laugh at this point, but I held it as I tried to explain to K that there was no ant, just a fly that can't hurt her. She screamed as I put her back in her seat. K is just like me, according to almost everyone who knows her. I was afraid of flies until I was like 7.

A lot has happened in a year. We have a new addition to our family, a son named Cannon Van. He made me realize that moms and dads have this wonderful ability to love their children the same amount. When I got pregnant with Cannon, I remember being afraid that I couldn't love anyone as much as I love K. She lights up my whole world. But when Cannon came along, I knew there wasn't anything to worry about. He lights up my whole world, too.

I conclude today's segment with a few pics and the promise of more to come. I said I need a creative outlet, and this blog is a start.