Weekend's end....

Rick's parents invited us to join them to see a friend that left our church at one of his new church's functions. I'm always a little hesitant of things outside my normal realm so being a visitor at another church to watch a ventriloquist was a little concern of mine. I am SO glad I went. I have never, ever laughed so hard...what a great time!

My New Obsession: Cake Decorating

I have been wanting to learn to decorate cakes long before I think I even obsessed over this. Rick's mom made our wedding cake and I remember then how completely awesome I thought this skill was. Might I add how completely aswesome the cake tasted, looked and how grateful we were on our non-existance budget that she willing offered this skill.

Since we have gotten upgraded cable (The story behind that...Rick and I went without any tv for the first 3 months of moving into our new home so we could get adjusted to our new budget without unnecessary strain. Setting up cable and any kind of phone services are on my dreaded list of things to do so Rick took over this task to help me and we ended up with more than basic cable. His reasoning - I needed HGTV and Food Network....now I feel the need to watch tv but I do love him sometimes for doing these things because he really does know me).



I have been addicted to Food Network and Ace of Cakes (surprisingly considering how irritating Duff can be). I am also huge fans of Alton Brown and Iron Chef but those are things to discuss in another blog.


So, to stick with this year's new year's resolution to take one creative class each quarter, I have decided that I should elaborate on my desire to improve in this area. Lisa has already blogged about the dreaded complication to actually get registered and start the class. I should take this time to thank Lisa and Tony for sticking it out with me. It definitely wouldn't be as much fun without my great friends. Life is always better with a little sugar. Smooches. The first class lived up to my expectation thus far. So much so that I attempted to make Rick's birthday cake myself. I'm definitely going to need some practice. Well, not some but more like a ton. The cake started out white but after several failed practice attempts to make green stars and flowers (at the request of my man) I decided to add the green as a second layer. It was worth a shot. I'm going to need some help.....

ps. I got the box too. I love it. I have organized and re-organized it several times. Teehee!

BEFORE and AFTER

Anyone who knows me, knows my obsession with before and after pics. One of my favorite things is to take something from chaos and to create a sense of organization of it. If I could make a living by helping others get organized, well, then I would feel like I found my calling. I should see if I could find some organization that needs this skill.

BEFORE

I used to use my popcorn popper nearly daily. My first fried from overusage and my brother gave me this one one year as a gift (way to go Bradley!!). However, the spray butter overspray over time creates a mess.

AFTER

Some 409 and actually only a light elbow grease and in hardly no time it was restored to like new condition.

BEFORE

During the holidays I didn't pay that much of attention to Rick's room. Yikes. It started to show that he is on the road alot. The overall effect was off for me. So just a little invention was needed.

AFTER

A little furniture swapping and re-arranging took this room to new heights. It feels much larger and Rick is actually using it for the purpose I had arranged it, as an office. Ahhh --organization!

BEFORE

Again, the holidays attacked. I have never been quite happy with this closet. I always buy organizational items when school starts because they are on sale. Sometimes when I purchase them I don't even know what I will use them for but it's always worth the investment to have them on hand when the chore arises that you will need them. One of Rick's biggest pet peeves is looking for something, especially when he is sick. The way the closet was previously organized was still unacceptable to him. He never says it but if continually asks where the same item is located then I know it's not working. PLUS this drives me nuts so it needed to be remedied.

AFTER

I love organization! I like my linens in the same spot. Since I like to use matching towels at the same time so that way they are washed the same number of times and one is not a different color than the other, I keep them organized like that. I have since added the 3 drawer file. I have it sorted by medicines and bandages (Rick was soooo excited by this. It was tested the next night when he had a backache and knew right where to go and found his several items without one question. Ahhh.....organization! A simple way to save a marriage.), skin and hair care, and then "kits". I have always done this and have always been made fun of for this by my brother. I group things for ease of use. I keep everything I would need for nailcare/grooming in one "kit", everything I would need to prevent and treat poison ivy in one "kit", everything relating to my contacts in one "kit", etc. It's much easier when you are on the run and need something quickly to pull it out. Good thing too because last year my poison ivy kit got good use travelling and even better use being actually used. I think my brother always picks on me for this because secretly he thinks I'm a genius. He used to stop by my house in Clinton when he lived in the area during the work day for lunch and other various reasons but he always knew were to find things. He especially loved my first aid kit, my belly ache kit and my hangover remedy kit. Note: The closet has the same number of items in the before as there is in the after other than the purple and orange bath salts that were gifts. Isn't that a true test to organization? I have so much more room to use now. Oh...how can I fill it? Let me count the ways.

Vacation: Day 4 - Relaxing Visitation

Day 4 started with sunshine sneaking through the darkening drapes. It was beautiful but still chilly so we decided to do some antique-ing. However, because we never get to visit with Grandma enough, we decided to pick her up and treat her to lunch - her choice. Luckily she picked The Diner. After a filling lunch (I love their patty melts - yum) we headed back to Grandma's. The weather was beautiful and Grandma has an apartment with great views from her patio with 2 large pines and lots of bird feeders. We sat there for hours, literally, and chatted about everything from money exchange, espionage, embezzlement and birds. Before we could leave though Grandma gave us the best gift ever. She has a tradition of making baby quilts for all her grandkids once the arrival of their first born. Since Rick and I have remained opposed to the children front, Grandma decided to let us pick one of our own from the quilts she hasn't given away yet. What a nice surprise!! It wasn't even a disappointment to skip the antigue-ing. I love Grandma and the precious time we can spend with her. Thanks Grandma for the absolutely beautiful handmade quilt. We love you so much!!



We finished the night by being treated to dinner by Rich and MaryAnn for Rick's bday at Pizza House. Yum. The perfect end to a great simple vacation.

Vacation: Day 3 - Shop, Bake, Enjoy

Day 3 started with a lazy morning sleeping in and slouching around. Rick and I are always on the run so to wake up on our own (no bleeping alarm clocks) is a true vaction. We watched some tv and then instantly felt bored. We decided to do some quick shopping for a few key items then I decided to make a suprise for my dad.

As you already know, my dad has been unemployed for some time now. Unfortunately. He has taken a new approach to dealing with it. He continues to fill out applications, drop off his resume and search for a new job but he is also taking constant classes to get new skills to make himself more "marketable". Right now he has a class every Monday until June. He is learning a lot from the class and it's free. Which we are all very thankful. Thank you to the Church of the Nazarene for your participation. So halfway through his class they get a much needed snack break. I didn't realize that the class was so many hours in one night, almost like taking a college class and that they get a snack break. Hence, my surprise.

I have always loved following a recipe. I can't put together a decent dinner that often but baking is something I do enjoy when I have time and not pressured. So today was the day to break in my new cookbook. - Hello Cupcake! I have been collecting little candies to use as decorations and accents for several weeks now. It's been a challenge to keep Rick out of the goods but one episode of sugar overdose and it's been much easier.

I decided to follow a scrumptious recipe in the back of my cupcake book. Rick and I sampled the batter halfway through and pretty much drooled waiting for the baking timer to ding. We took one bite and literally spit the cupcakes out. They were horrible! I should have guessed by the how thick the batter was and their "before" appearance. I was absolutely befuddled on how I could have gone so wrong. So into the compost basket they went.

I started over making cupcakes from a brownie mix. I only got 9 out of it. Argh! So then sadly, my dad got lowfat cake batter which yielded enough to have a total of 20 with a few babies (one for my Lady Lisa as a surprise).

The baking process took nearly 2 hours in itself. Anxiously, I awaited their finish in order to start the best part, the decorating. I had decided to do a theme, of course. "Your next occupation". My cupcakes consisted of "a chef", "a cowboy" and "a police officer". Decorating took another 2 1/2 hours. Rick and I frantically rushed to get the surprise dropped off.

I had a nice discovery. I had purchased some powdered buttermilk recently after I notice several of my baking recipes called for it. I used it in my first recipe that was a flop. After actually reading the back of the canister, I discovered there was a conversion chart. Oppsie! I'll have to try that recipe again.

Vacation: Day 2 - Ski Trip

Are we there yet?

Ow! Ow! Ow! (stretch) Ahhhhh...

Sunday - Day 2 started feeling muscles in my body that I haven't felt for sometime. The most pain was felt in my inner thighs. Crossing my legs today was not going to be an option. Lots of stretching made everything feel, well, less sore. Strangely enough, I love that feeling. It means I did something that my body is not used to and needed. A little pain means more improvements.

We started with a carb packed meal. I'm embarrassed to say what I ate...but here it is. 1 pancake (Rick and I split a short stack), 2 eggs, 2 pieces of toast, 4 pieces of bacon and home fried potatoes. Plus Rick insisted I have a few bites of corned beef hash off his plate so I did. Yummy! We had already checked out of our hotel room. We were trying to determine where we should spend the day skiing. Drive back or hit the trails in Roscommon. I insisted that we should go back and complete the trails we didn't do. After all, we wouldn't make it back in some time (sadly) and I seriously doubt the trails near our hometown had the "tracks" groomed in place which I had become a raving fan of. We had did the easy trails on Day 1, although the Manitou was definitely the longest (5.7 km) and had 2 large hills. Now I should give my definition of a hill.

Hill = extra exertion of energy and loss of control on the downhill. If your bike or skis precede forward without assistance than that is a down hill. If there is resistance required to stop then it is a scray downhill. If falling would cause injury then the downhill = uncoordination.

Those that know me know the fear I developed after mistakenly getting wrapped around a tree completely entwined in my pedal bike on a easy bike ride on a sandy trail ( I had done a dozen times before) to get a gallon of milk. I used to love, LOVE, the feeling of the wind in my hair, cruising down a hill, rather on skis or on my bike. Not so much after my accident. Luckily nothing was broken, except maybe my pride and definitely my confidence. I had bruises and scrapes on both of my knees, one severely swollen knee that was hard to bend. I scraped both shoulders, elbows and twisted one wrist at a strange angle that made picking up anything over 2 oz. difficult for weeks but nothing broken. However, I looked like I was in a car wreck right before Kama's wedding. I was mostly healed and bruises concealed well by speciality cover-up for the wedding and all swelling not existent. My dress was 5 sizes to big (not an exageration so really the bruises were completely ignorable considering).

Anyways, so whereas fear exists, uncoordination follows. That's why I simply loved the trails groomed with the tracks provided. It takes some of the fear away because really it's difficult to jump the tracks. It's like riding a bike with training wheels. Day 2 we decided to do "Wild Turkey", "Adventure" and Rolling Hills" trails to say we did everything at that site - a total of 12.5 miles of trails. We started with "Rolling Hills" mostly because the name terrified me. I better do it while I'm still somewhat fresh. The weather to note was amazing. Rick halfway through stripped down to his long john shirt and over shirt- no coat. I was only in long John shirt, no sweatshirt but I still worn my coat. No scarf, no ear coverage whatsoever. AND we were warm! I wish I was strong enough to have gone all day, not just the 2 hours we skied.

"Rolling Hills" were rolling. We had some large uphills which I have learned to master after the mistake of skiing backwards once. Nothing is more scarier than a downhill that you can't see. Yikes! The downhills were taller than the day before. I actually went down fast enough to make my eyes water with the cold air hitting them. "Rolling Hills" however had turns partially down the hills. I don't know who thought this was funny but it wasn't. I jumped tracks 3 times!! The first time I did it resulted in a crash at the corner before a clump of mature trees. Apparently I wasn't the only one who did this because the snow was disturbed quite a bit. After the fear of injury had passed, Rick and I got a good laugh out of it. Rick had then decided on the hills he would ski ahead and tell me if the tracks were good to use or if I would need to do outside and actually ski. This took a lot of instruction and patience on his part but I did it. Two hills I had to do this. Both hills I fell but the second one I was almost successful and the fall was less elaborate. At the end of this trail I was ready for some flat surfaces.

SweetPea got lots of attention on the trails. There was a little wind that caused extra work but overall, I had the most fun ever. I would so do this again and actually hope do it again soon!!

After skiing, we began our trek back home. The wind had picked up and made driving difficult for Rick. Once we got in the area we decided to stop at Mejier of Zeeb Rd. and pick up some fish for our aquarium. We then finished the night with a nice dinner at Red Lobster. I had 2 Corona Lights and then came home to finish off the night with Food Network programming.

Now that's a vacation.