Status Update: Bailey

It just occured to me that I have not even mentioned my dog Bailey in months! And as she is our first child, I thought I'd offer an update on the garbage disposal of a chocolate colored dog we call family.

She is a whopping 50 pounds at seven months old (gotta big girl on our hands!) and is in to anything and everything possible. We have to perform "open mouth surgery" on a regular basis to retrieve what ever hairbow, sock, shoe, piece of plastic, trash, toothpaste, hairbrush, tissue, phone bill, or piece of string she may have gotten a hold of.

She has sucessfully swallowed entire socks and pieces of tire (her toy) only to purge them later. She threw up no less than 14 times a few nights ago trying to get this tire out. Lucky for me, I was "asleep," and Nate begrudgingly followed her around cleaning up the mess until she had it all up. (Gross, I know, but I'm giving you an update - and this is life with her.)

Other than that, she is developing into the sweet little lab that we have grown to love so very much. She only has eyes for Nate, and thinks he is the greatest thing in the entire world. She's protective of her house at the right moments, and can enjoy (though few) rests with Mom & Dad on the couch.

Now if we can just get her to stop jumping up on visitors and attacking them with kisses when they come over...

Pack of Crackers and a Drink.

Breakfast, though the most important meal of the day, is not something I usually have. I wake up with just enough time to make it out the door and at my desk by 8:30 without seconds to spare, and eating is strangely the last thing on my mind. From time to time Nate will make me a sandwich or I'll heat something up, but usually it's something simple like a granola bar or nothing at all.

This morning, being dark and dreary as it was, had me in the mood for a pick-me-up, so I reached for a Coke (naturally) and then suddenly had a craving for a good cracker. Bland right? Well, while I was eating it, the sweetest memory came over me and I just smiled from ear to ear.

A pack of crackers and a drink seems like a simple little meal, right? But not when you share it with someone special.

My paw-paw was a wonderful man. The cornerstone of the family, and very fun to be around. He used to sing "Popeye the sailor man" to my sister and I on a regular basis, and I very distinctly remember a time when he kicked a chicken just so it would chase and flog me...a real hoot. (p.s. the chicken didn't actually catch up with me.)

Every single day when I was young, he would call me and my sister and ask if we wanted to "come have a party." Living only two houses down, it was rare that we couldn't come. This "party" involved nothing more than a Lance cracker and either a Mountain Dew or Coke. A nothing, a mere 15 minutes, just a cracker - but him taking time out of his day every day just to let his granddaughters know that he loved them is something that has stuck with me for over 15 years since his pass.

I relished my little Lance cracker and Coke this morning and it put me in better spirits. We should take every opportunity we can to show people just how much we care. Memories and traditions like these just don't fade, and can brighten even the dullest day!

Course 2: Complete!

Guys, I finished Course 2 tonight, and this is the final product!

Everything on the cake is edible! The basket weave technique on the side is beautiful, and I'm happy with the way all of the flowers turned out. I'm very pleased with it! Course 3 starts soon and that's an intro to fondant (which is what you see on like Ace of Cakes). That's what I really want to know how to do, so I'm looking forward to it!

I have a few weeks off from class so I promise to actually get back to writing about interesting topics (I definitely have a few in mind) and not so much about cakes. Happy Tuesday!

The Cake Boutique.

I created a website that's dedicated to my cakes only. That way I can give that website out to people rather than the link to my blog. Believe it or not, not everyone cares what I have to say... :)

Here's the link: The Cake Boutique. Feel free to check it out, but I'll still post some pics of my cakes on here too.

Catch up.

I must apologize for my absence this week. I was pretty busy and just didn't have time to do anything! But I'm back, and I'll try not to go so long without writing again!

The cake I did for my grandmother's friend on Wednesday turned out nice. It wasn't really my style, but I did exactly what they asked and apparently it was a hit! It's a very, very simple plain white cake with purple flowers and a raspberry filling. This is a picture of it taken from my blackberry so it's not exactly the best quality, and for some reason it looks wop-sided on the board, but you get the point!

I am going to start a new website, probably through blogger, that's just for my cakes. Of course, I will still post pictures of the cakes and keep you updated on here, but a lot of people (particularly at work) just want to see my cakes so I will appease my fans. :)

I'll post the link when it's ready. Annnnd now, I must go clean my house and then go buy my very own copy of Twilight. Woo hoo!

Ice Age kind of day.

In the past I have struggled with anxiety. It began in high school, and hit a peak right about the time I returned home from my study abroad in London. I could write some intense (and a little funny at this point) stories about that phase in my life, but I'll spare you. :) Thankfully, with a little help from God, my family and friends, I was able to overcome it. Of course, when I'm a little bit (or a lot-a bit) stressed it flares up again and I have to deal with it. It's not something I'm proud of, but hey! nobody is perfect.

During that time in my life I found little ways to make myself happy. Ways to get over whatever was bothering me that day, and just keep on going. Food helped, talking it out to my Mom helped, and strangely enough watching the Disney movie Ice Age helped. That little quirk eventually developed into whenever I was sick or just didn't feel good, I'd pop that movie in and just take a nap. Something about it just calms me.

I find that most of the time I don't even really watch it (i.e. it's on right now and I'm typing this) but the sound of it just relaxes me. I own and watch an endless amount of Disney movies, but it's just that one! I don't have anything huge to worry about right now per se, but I have some exciting things going on, and I just don't wanna mess 'em up!

Yesterday, I sold my first cake (Spongebob) and I have another one to make before Wednesday night. I am thrilled at the opportunity, but also a little overwhelmed by the amount of cake requests that are coming in. (I got two more today!) I absolutely, positively can take them all on as they are so spaced out, but it just excites me (and stresses me out) that something like this is working out for me!

So it's just one of those days, guys. Where I came straight home, put on some sweats and turned on Ice Age! Unfortunately, I have a ton of icing to make and I really, really need to practice for my Wed. night cake. At least I'm relaxed for a moment. Wish me luck!

Meet Spongebob.

I love him! This cake took about five hours to do - but I am so happy with him. My aunt will be purchasing this from me tomorrow! I'll try to remember to post a picture of my cousins with him before we hack him up. So sad, but it must be done! *Ohhhhhh, who lives in a pineapple under the sea...*

Facebook.

In the world that we live in today, facebook is a big deal. To the point that its most recent "face lift" made national news. National news, people.

Everybody and their cousin's aunt's sister's husband's uncle (twice removed) is on facebook. I am friends with teachers, people from church, co-workers, my mother-in-law...it's insane. After I got over the initial shock of people outside of the college world being allowed "in," I still wasn't comfortable with full-blown adults being on there. I never really had anything on my page that was incriminating, it was just weird for them to be there. I'm over that, I accept there is no going back, and I embrace it. It's a great way to keep up with my family, and friends and some folks that I would otherwise never talk to.

Since it is such a social place to meet these days (and you can literally be friends with your preacher,) it's time that I offer one of my infamous "lists" about what is or IS NOT appropriate for you to do on facebook. These rules generally apply for myspace as well.

Please spell things correctly. I can not...can not stand when people misspell things in their facebook and myspace updates. For instance, "extreamly happy" is wrong. There is no A in extreme. If you're not sure - open up a Word doc and check. It just makes you look dumb. (Of course typo's don't apply, because no one is perfect - I'm talking about people who spell things like they sound on a regular basis.)

Leave your baby-mama-drama at home. Again with the status updates - no one needs to know that you haven't gotten your child support check this week, or that you just had sex, or that you cheated on your girlfriend, or you hate that "triflin' ho." Just leave it.

Pictures. While I really enjoy looking at my friend's photos - their vacations, their children's first birthday parties, a few drunken nights at a bar - I do not want to see you half naked taking a picture of yourself in the mirror. This is the "myspace shot," and I'm over it.

Wall Etiquette. All I will say is: please remember that what you write on other people's wall, unless protected, is very public information. That goes back to the status updates - if you have private info, send it in a message.

Facebook and myspace are totally for fun, as they should be, but I just think that some rules should apply. And p.s. I'm a little upset about the new face-lift. I wish they'd just make up their mind and leave it be!

Ready to go!

Okay - that's it. I miss London.

My friend, Sarah, and her husband went to London this past weekend, and seeing her excited post about it brings back so many memories. London has a very special place in my heart. The city is so ALIVE, it's like missing a person. I kid you not. I know that may sound silly, but it has so much to offer, and ugh it's just wonderful.

Nate and I have been trying to decide where our "big" vacation will be this year. On the list so far are: a cruise or an all inclusive resort somewhere beautiful. Last night I got to thinking though, who says we have to go to a beach? I mean, we always go with our family at some point - so we're pretty much guaranteed to see the ocean this year, even if it is only Myrtle Beach. Nothing compares to a white sandy beach and clear blue ocean when it comes to relaxation, but Nate has never been overseas and I'm dying to show him!

There are so many places to explore, and I want to see them ALL! Does anyone have a suggestion for somewhere that I just have to (have to) go to? Within the States or out. I'm open for anything!

My Precious!

Ladies and gents, I now have in my possession a spankin' new lucious blackberry...and I am in love.

I just feel so...connected. To everything and everyone. Any time any one does any thing I'm gonna know about it! If someone comments on my blog - boom, I know! If I get an e-mail - wham, I know! If someone sends me a message on FACEBOOK, holy speedy-connections batman, I know!

It's fabulous, and it's my precious. I'm all tech-ed out! Yay!

Dreams.

Here lately I have had baby on the brain. Not quite sure why, it's just been on my mind almost constantly. A friend of mine last night said something along the lines of "once you know you know." Much like the concept of "knowing that you know" you're going to marry someone. I have given up on the idea that there is an "age appropriate" time to have a baby, because no matter what someone is always going to think I'm an idiot for having a kid - even if I were 35 and a millionaire. It's just human nature.

Well, after my dream last night I woke up seriously thinking that I was already pregnant. Y'all - I had the most intensely vivid dream about my baby - who was a girl (and like I already predicted, abso-freaking-loutey adorable). Of course it was a dream, so it was weird. It began kind of when I was close to having her. My belly was super round, next thing I know I've had her and am practicing feeding her, and btw she weighed 12 lbs at birth - twelve pounds. She wasn't fat, just looked like she was a month old.

Next thing I know my dream flashes back and I had just found out I was pregnant and was experiencing morning sickness. Y'all it was seriously the weirdest thing ever. I woke up holding my belly. I'm on birth control and we're not trying for a baby yet, but what the heck does this mean!? Ahhh!

FanTabuLous!

Though my body wants to curl up and a ball and go to sleep for some reason...today is a great day. It's Friday and it was WARM today. Melt away, snow! I even felt so froggy that I let my co-worker Heather talk me into going to get a Dairy Queen Blizzard. Yum! I'm ready for the cute dresses, bathing suits...ahhhh.

In cake news - I have made my first official sale! I will be making a birthday cake for a friend of the family's birthday party. :) Yay, happiness! I half expected a "oh just do whatever you think looks good" from the particular person that has hired me, but no. I am to make a raspberry-filled cake with a thistle stem as the decoration. Apparently the lady is very Scottish. I'm excited for the challenge, and it was really nice for them to know what they wanted. There are endless possibilities in the cake world. I've also managed to line up three more cakes by June. Cha-ching! :)

Thanks to Amber for teaching me how to make my blog cute! It's about dang time I figured that junk out. Ashley tried before, but apparently my brain didn't work that day!

Happy Friday, friends!

Selfish.

So I'm a little peeved at my cake class tonight. Mom & I showed up to start the Course 2 tonight, and low and behold there are 6 extra people there - people we've never seen (there were only 5 total in Course 1). Come to find out, Michael's had screwed up big time, and those 6 people were there for Course 1 with a different teacher. This "Course 1" had been cancelled and no one took the time to call the folks and let them know.

Instead of politely apologizing and telling them to just go sign up for the next class, my instructor told them that "they hadn't missed anything in the first class and that they could just catch up." The three of us who had just taken the first class were pissed.

We sat there idly while she "caught the others up" on things like mixing icing and how to fill a bag and how to put the tip on - all things you learn in Course 1. It was not fair to us at all. We literally were ignored for an hour and forty-five minutes. Eventually the three of us just started trying things on our own.

I could complain but it wouldn't really do any good, we need Course 2 and it started tonight and we're on a schedule and that's that. I just needed to vent. Apparently, the instructor is under the impression that we should all be on the same page next week - we'll see. I'm gonna go ahead and say no we won't, but whatever.

I really think, too, that the others are being gypped. They're always going to be a step behind, and not know how to do little things. Three of the people considered leaving, but somehow they got talked into staying. It just sucks all around for everyone, except for the teacher. What really happened: she saw dollar signs for having 10 people in her class and didn't want another instructor to have the money. Doesn't anyone think of others?

Tribute to the Tin Man.

The past two weekends my brother and the Union County Performance Ensemble have put on the performance of The Wizard of Oz. My not-so-little-anymore-brother played the Tin Man, and it was fabulous. I was a very proud big sister.

*Mom bought him roses*

I am telling you now to remember this silver face, because this young man is going to go far. Of course I'm biased, but he is super talented and others who are not related to him have noticed it too and sing his praises. He's a natural actor and suddenly has this amazing voice as well. I also need to give props to his girlfriend, Alexa, who gracefully played Glenda the Good Witch. I love her too, and expect her to go just as far!

Good job, little Jake! We're all very proud :)