Life~

I always say Life is what you make of it and I do believe this to be true. I know from personal experience that when I am in a good mood and thinking positively better things happen to me. I also know when I am having a down day and I start dwelling on the annoyances of life, my day never seems to go smoothly. It does not have to be anything major, something as small as looking for a specific spoon that I can't find or I pick up a pile of papers and they fall all over the place. Some days are easier to get through being positive and other days circumstances around us seem to make it harder. Are those circumstances to blame for my mood digression...No! They shouldn't be, I have worked very hard towards a balanced life and when "life" gets in my way my goal is to learn how to change those circumstances into positives. Sometimes, I need to remind myself that it is ok to be sad or angry, those are real human feelings and it would be unhealthy if I did not feel that way from time to time. This past week has been a true test of my emotions and sometimes I find myself asking why are all these things happening at once and to the ones I love?? I want to help, I want to comfort and make everything be ok but first I need to take care of myself and make sure I am ok. This is my life and it is what I make of it, I have learned over time that it just goes better when I am in a healthy state of mind.

Cake Mania

This winter I decided to teach myself how to decorate cake with Fondant.  I took a Wilton class to learn the basic buttercream decorating and flowers and such.  But I really wanted to get a handle on fondant, it seems to be all the craze on TV these days and I want to know first hand what it is like.  So, I started reading tons online, got a few books and went crazy.  My family has not had this many cakes EVER!  I cannot believe how much fun I have had with it and the opportunity to be creative that I can share with others is awesome. It really has been so fun.  Here are a few of the ones I did...The most recent cake I did was for my Niece's 16th Birthday....

I am not a professional by all means, I did not make my first fondant cake until just this past February.  I thought it came out pretty good and I'm pretty sure she liked it too.  So here's the cake..

Last month I decided to try my hand at making a purse cake....

This one I made for my mom's 60th...

I am now thinking of what I can do next, I need some inspiration.....

I'm Poptart-isized

Have you seen the Pop-Tart commercials?  I am not one to get caught up in marketing schemes but seriously, I have not even thought of Pop Tarts in twenty years and now I just want to EAT them!  I found myself in the Pop Tart aisle at the store and next thing I knew there were 2 boxes of Pop Tarts in my cart...?  WHAT?  I do NOT eat Pop Tarts.  It's the commercials, I am Poptartisized!  They subliminally walked me to that aisle and in my subconscious state I put Blueberry and Hot Fudge Sundae Pop Tarts in my cart.  I became a victim of smart marketing, I can only imagine what the mom's have to deal with after their children see those commercials.  The Pop Tart people live in a beautiful Pop Tart world, in cool Pop Tart houses in their beautiful Pop Tart neighborhood.  They are all dancing around and life is just perfect.  I bet it smells so good there...

Holy Cat!

I brought home a Ragdoll Kitten back in March. She is now just 4 months old. Ragdoll cats are known for their docile behavior and dog like personality, they are also known for their gentle nature and non-hunting instincts. Which is why I chose this breed, having birds I wanted harmony between all. Ok, well so far the harmony part is not quite the case. She is very curious about my birds and at first it was almost unbearable, throwing herself at the cages. We have to lock her up anytime we are not able to watch her to make sure she doesn't "attack". I don't think she would actually hurt them but play with them "roughly" as if a toy. I am using the squirt bottle training method which I believe she thinks is a game. And now I really believe that to be true, this cat is crazy! I have been bringing her in the bathroom with me when I shower so I know she is safe, well she loves the shower! I have never had a cat act this way but she has decided that is her shower time too. She is so silly she jumps in and out of the shower with me! lol, no wonder she thinks the squirt bottle is a fun game. Here is a picture of Zoey in her favorite place to rest - my centerpiece...Awww, I love my kitty!

My Magazine Debut~

This past winter when it was so freezing cold, with mounds of snow all over the place, I received my January issue of Coastal Living. I love this magazine! It always takes me to another place, a place I one day hope to have my home....On the COAST! Living in the Midwest has been lovely but my heart is near the water (salt water) and every chance I get I make my way towards the coast. Last summer I was lucky enough to go sailing in the British Virgin Islands, living on the water for 10 days is amazing and the memories will last a lifetime. So back to my Coastal Living magazine...they were asking for beach vacation photos, so I starting going through my thousands of pictures. I decided to submit one of them and guess what?? Coastal Living loved it and advised me they will be putting it in their May issue...YAY! So, here's my magazine debut! lol!

Laughter~

As we get older are things just not that funny anymore? I use to laugh so much when I was younger, the smallest things amused me. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I do not laugh, I do. But as a child I remember laughing so hard my stomach would hurt and that would happen as part of my daily life. Today it seems that only happens once in a while...so, I ask myself, am I more guarded today than I was yesterday? Or is this a common theme that happens as we get older and wiser? Hmmm, just saying that sounds ridiculous, things should not be less funny just because we know more or are older....Am I alone with this feeling? Today I sit and wonder because, Jordan, only 6 months of age can laugh if the wind blows differently. The smallest things amuse him, he is so happy and innocent. The mere freshness of a baby, his laughter so pure and real, so sweet. It is absolutely amazing what that sound can do to my soul. He makes me laugh, he brings me to another place one that is raw and unaware of lifes stresses. At that same time it can make me cry, not from sadness but from the overwhelming feeling of love I have for my family and how I just want to hold on to those precious moments forever. My heart, my laughter and my tears are all shared with my family, my love. Thank you Baby Jordan for laughter.

You know that feeling?

I was going about my business this morning when I was taken back by a feeling. Do you know that feeling, I am sure you all have experienced this before. You are minding your own business and all of a sudden a smell of some sort stops you dead in your tracks. You look around, no one is near, you get the goose pimples and you try so hard to reach back for that smell, but it is gone. You almost want to reach out and hug the air, sit down and reflect on the past. But what was that? Was it your imagination? It not only stopped you in your tracks but it brought about a feeling from the past, something so familiar, something so deep it almost brings tears to my eyes. What was that moment I ask myself? What year was it from, why can't I wrap my brain around it? It may have been a familiar smell of a food mom use to prepare for dinner or possibly the smell of a lost loved one, maybe a scent of a room where you once use to hang out. I try so hard to go back to that time for just a minute but that smell is gone, where did it go? I know it was real, it is so familiar to me but yet intangible and so far from my world today. Just going about my business when something beyond my control lets me know it's still there. Now that is an ah-ha moment for me.

My 1st Post!

Finally a SUNNY day! Still chilly but at least we have sunshine! I found myself wondering this past weekend as it was gloomy and rainy outside...What else can I be doing? Hmmmm...why not a blog, another form of expression a way to connect with others and well something to do when it's gloomy, sunny or whatever outside. I have a long mental list of all things I want to accomplish this spring/summer and possibly with the help of self expression I can achieve my goals.

Going to the garden this morning to "weed" out the unwanted growth from the rain, I came across this beautiful bloom. A perfect heart (a string of hearts), a symbol of love & birth in my own garden...what a wonderful way to start my day.