Daddy's "Back"

After working like crazy on his various jobsites ("real" work, not side work!), we're happy to have our Daddy back in the evenings! No one can resist piling up and snuggling:-)

I love all those precious little round faces. All my blue eyed Bolgers!

Studious

When he's not allowed to play the Wii, he spends his time "reading the case".

Dog Cake

A friend asked me to make a cake for their little girls party, which is today. She asked me to put a dog on top. I immediately had a little vision, for a small dog's head (round cake), and then just decorate it for the face and maybe have floppy fondant ears coming down or something. Then she sent me a pic of what she wanted done...an old english sheepdog...the entire body! I told her I wasn't sure if I could do it. I am by NO MEANS an artist of any sort. Anyone knows I can't even draw stick people! But, as a people pleaser, I didn't want to let her down. I had to figure it out!!

Making the dog, using fondant, and (drum roll please)...a garlic press!!

I pressed little balls of fondant through the garlic press, and then applied all the little tuffs to the fondant dog I "sculpted". It really looks a little more like a bear in it's face, but the point is made. I think you can tell it's supposed to be a dog. In any case, it's cute, right?!

Bake and stack 8 cakes (4 per tier). We have lots of people to feed! The lower tier is chocolate with raspberry buttercream, and the top tier is vanilla with raspberry buttercream. Then do the crumb coat. This is always the hardest part for me...doing the sides. I have never taken a cake decorating class, I just wing it!...but I think formal instruction would greatly help me here. This is my first tiered cake. I used dowel rods in the bottom layer to support the top and keep it from sinking. Dontcha love how I do my experiments, not knowing if and how it will turn out, on things for other people. It's all about the confidence. I just knew I could do it. And thankfully I could! :-)

Crumb coated

Covered in pink fondant

Let the decorating begin! In this case it was pretty simple, they wanted a bow, polka dots, and I added the little 2's for her age. I thought it was cute:-)

Cute, right? I was very happy with how it turned out! It still has aspects that I consider not perfect, but it's an acceptable job...nothing I'm embarrassed by anyway!

In two weeks I will be making a similar cake (cake wise, 2 tiers), only it will be a princess castle for a 5 year old! Stay tuned for pics!

aw, he's smiling at me:-)

My Favourite Things

Lets get Naked folks! At Costco, you can get 64 oz of Green Machine for 6.99. At my store, this is the only flavour they carry in a big size. These little guys usually go for 14.49 (again, at Costco), however, they put out Costco coupons, or you can use a manufacturers coupon to bring the cost lower. I recently got the multi-pak (10, 10oz each), for 10.99 with coupons. This is nice, as this juice is a treat...to expensive for me to buy on a regular basis. However, it is healthy and delicious. The Green Machine one is actually my favourite flavour, and includes ingredients like broccoli, barley green and garlic! If you know me, you know I wouldn't eat it if it wasn't completely good! It is one "processed food" that is very natural (it is pasteurized, but there are no other additives), which is so nice in our current "high fructose everything" world.

Anyway, I'm sure you've all tried a Naked juice at least once, but if not, see if you can get a coupon and treat yourself!...or buy a very overpriced one next time you are stuck in an airport somewhere:-) OR, if you like Naked juice, (Green Machine, 6.99), and do/would purchase it on a regular basis, Costco has the best everyday price on it, hands down, so shop there!

Notice how my favourite things are kind of like ads, lol. I just hate to highlight something I love without telling you how you can get your own!

Peepshi

I saw this adorable idea online a little while ago, and I mentally filed it away for the Easter season. It's like dessert sushi...made with Peeps. So Peepshi! It's the only kind of sushi I will personally eat (not a fan, but Brian likes it). Anyway, here's how you do it!

Make a batch of rice krispie treats, and lay out in a very thin "sheet" (not thick like you would for the squares). Then let it set (harden up) for a little while. Cut into little strips.

Buy Froot by the Foot, or Fruit Roll Ups. Cut into strips if they aren't already.

Start by murdering your peeps. Decapitation is really the quickest way. Ignore their cries and pleas. Just get it done.

It does not help with Kenna standing next to you, saying in her best birdie voice "no! no! I beg of you. I beg of you!". Yes, she really did. Talk about guilt!

Dead Peeps

Take some peep appendages, and wrap in the rice krispie treats. Then wrap the Fruit Roll Up around everything to secure it, and you're done! This is pretty sticky. Keep some butter handy to use on your hands!

I made lots of different kinds of Peepshi, I wish I knew what the real sushi names were, so I could come up with cuter alternatives.

I cut up only 3 peeps in each colour. This, and a regular recipe of krispie treats will give you about 4 plates worth of Peepshi (like the dinner plates I used). So it's a little time consuming, but really cute and fun!!

Weekend Update

Nothing better than hanging out on a gorgeous weekend doing pretty much nothing except enjoying each others company!

Izzy the Lizzy in her "terrarium". There is an umbrella for shade, a rock to climb on, and a real plant, for food:-)

Testing out a flavour combo, and making sure my raspberry buttercream recipe is awesome...made these little gems for a friends party. He is one of Brian's very best friends in the area, and is about to be deployed for a year. His departure in a few weeks will leave Brian very close to friend-less (local close friends anyway), as almost all his best buds are deployed. Sad. Brooks also has a special bond with this particular friend. We'll miss him!

At the going away party - a tree fell over in their yard! So glad we were all in the house and safe! There was a storm, high winds and tornado watches/warnings!

Nothing like sleeping through a sermon:-) Yes, I know he's too big for this old seat...I keep it in the trunk and use it, because he will sleep in it anywhere. It's great!!

pic from my phone

Picnic time with all the stuffties! Kenna is really getting into playing restaurant, taking orders, serving and clearing dishes. Cute! I remember doing that when I was young too:-)

Shoeless Joe...

no more! Look who is over his phobia of shoes! He's in a toddler size 5, and that 6 is not far off as some of the 5's are pretty snug!

Wearing one of Brooksie's shirts (4T)!