Thankful: Job, Family, Pets, & Pie

Since I haven't been blogging as often as I was, and I'm not on twitter all day like I used to be, I have gotten a few emails from readers asking me how I'm doing and basically just checking in on me.

That means a lot to me. It's nice to know that I'm missed, especially when the internet is so expansive and there are so many things that could distract you from my absence.

Here's a quick update for you.
The reason I am not blogging or tweeting as much is because as you know, I no longer work from home. My new job is great, but it keeps me busy all day and there is no way I could get away with blogging during business hours. My coworkers are great (hello Diana) and have been really supportive since we got the news about my mom.
This brings me to the next part of my update...
My mom started her chemo treatments a few weeks ago. She is so brave, and it is so hard to watch her go through this. She inspires me every day to just do what I need to do and not to let fear hold me back. I try not to spend a lot of time at home on the computer. While it's a great distraction from the stress/pain/anxiety it's also a waste of time that I could be spending with my family.
(Not that I think this blog, or my readers are a waste of my time. I hope you know what I mean.)

Jazzy is doing well. She enjoyed her first Thanksgiving very much. TOO much, because she just had her 7 month check up and she weighed in at 8lbs 2oz! She's getting so big. She's still about half the size of Petey though. I hope she stays tiny. She wore an adorably ugly sweater on Thanksgiving. I promise to post a photo of her soon.

Well, that's all for now. Stay tuned for some amazing recipes stolen from friends and coworkers that are sure to impress your holiday guests. Can you say "mmmm pie"? After trying my recipes, trust me, you'll be saying it a lot.

Changes

A week from tomorrow I have to change my header. I will no longer be a 27 year old wife. I will be a 28 year old wife.
Should I keep the header the same and just edit the text, or do you think it's time for a whole new look?

Let me know what you think!

Book Review: The Gift by Pete Hamill

This is a short book so I'll try to keep this short as well.
At 153 pages this was a quick easy read for me. It was easy to get sucked in to Peter's world. The descriptions of Brooklyn in December during the Korean war were vivid and realistic. Peter is a character you feel like you know. He's the kind of guy girls would have a crush on and men would want to be friends with. He reminded me a lot of boys I knew when I was younger and I couldn't help but wonder if he was anything like my relatives. There is so much we don't know about our families. Our mothers, our fathers. People we share a mirror with every day yet know very little about.
This heart warming tale is perfect for the holiday season. Grab a cup of tea or cocoa and five yourself an hour or two to enjoy a great Christmas story about a young Navy boy home on Christmas leave.

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Wilton Cake Decorating Basics: Week 4

This is my grand finale cake. The Wilton Cake Decorating Basics class was a lot fun. I met some nice people, and learned some new techniques all at the same time. This cake isn't perfect. I have not perfected the leveling and icing of the cake itself. I'm still very happy with how it turned out considering that these were the first roses I ever made. Practice will definitely help and I am excited about what my next cake will look like.
I plan on taking the next two classes as well, so stay tuned for more Wilton Cake Decorating.

Wilton cake decorating basics: week 3

I was mistaken when I said we'd be making Cupcakes like the one in the book. That's what happens when you don't read the lesson and only look at the pictures.
For what it's worth, I made more Cupcakes after these and was much happier with the outcome. Practice is important here.

The Wilton Cake Decorating Basics class isn't quite what I expected it to be, but I'm enjoying it a lot anyway!

Tomorrow I learn how to make roses and I do my "Grand Finale" cake. Are you excited?? I know I am!

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Christmas 2010 Television Schedule!

What a great idea! I am always upset when I miss one of my favorite holiday specials. That's not going to happen this year!

Click HERE for a list of all of the holiday programming. As more of the schedule is released the site will be updated.

I wish I had though to put together a Christmas TV Schedule list ! I'm totally adding this to my control journal so I don't forget about it.

I've already watched Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas this year. I can't wait for the "A Christmas Story" marathon, and/or A Charlie Brown Christmas.

What do you look forward to watching every year?

Last Minute Thanksgiving Craft/Hostess Gift Idea

I hate going to a holiday dinner/gathering empty handed. I am always looking for cute little things to bring with me.
This year I'll be bringing my Wilton Cake Decorating Basics finale cake to dinner but since everyone won't have the time to make a fancy cake like that, I thought I'd look for something for my readers to take along.

I found a super quick and yummy treat idea over at Organized Christmas. This website has been amazing to me this year and I am so glad I found it. Ignore the part that says Christmas because it's also got things for Halloween and Thanksgiving, the holidays that lead up to Christmas. Stay tuned next year when I attempt to follow their plan from August through New Year's Day.

What's great about that link is that they not only provide the ideas, they also give directions and free printable tags.

Thanksgiving Blessing Mix Recipe

Ingredients:
2 cups Bugles brand corn snacks
2 cups small pretzels
1 cup candy corn
1 cup dried fruit bits or raisins
1 cup peanuts or sunflower seeds
1 cup M&Ms-brand chocolate candy

16 Hershey's-brand chocolate kisses
free printable blessing mix gift tags or bag toppers.
Directions:
In a large bowl, gently mix all ingredients except Hershey's Kisses.
Place 1/3 to 1/2 cup Thanksgiving Blessing Mix in small cellophane treat bags. Add one Hershey's Kiss to each bag. Close bag with chenille stem or twist-tie.
Print 4 copies of the Thanksgiving Blessings Mix printable gift tag or or bag toppers, or hand-write your own tags with the wording below.
Cut out tags, and attach one to each bag.
Makes 16 Blessing Mix gift bags.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanksgiving Blessing Mix
Bugles: Shaped like a cornucopia or Horn of Plenty, a symbol of our nation's abundance.
Pretzels: Arms folded in prayer, a freedom sought by those who founded our country.
Candy corn: Sacrifices of the Pilgrims' first winter. Food was so scarce that settlers survived on just a few kernels of corn a day.
Nuts or seeds: Promise of a a future harvest, one we will reap only if seeds are planted and tended with diligence.
Dried fruits: Harvest gifts of our bountiful land.
M&Ms: Memories of those who came before us to guide us to a blessed future.
Hershey's Kiss: The love of family and friends that sweetens our lives.


What are you bringing to the Thanksgiving Table this year?

Me? Stylish? Why thank you!

I've got to thank one of my favorite bloggers for giving me an award that I have not received yet. It's super cute and totally cheered me up. It's as if my blogger buddies just know when I need an award to help me smile. Everyone go check out her blog...

7 Things About Me:
-I believe zombies are a very real threat.
-I hate doing the dishes.
-I have taken viola, piano, guitar, and saxophone lessons.
-I think I'm the reincarnation of Queen Victoria.
-I only like to eat the top of the cupcake but ever since a childhood friend's mom told me that was rude, I force myself to eat the bottom too.
- My hair has not been 100% my natural color since I was 15.
- I have fibromyalgia.

I'm now supposed to pass this on to 15 bloggers. I hate this part so I'm totally going to cop out here and say that I only follow stylish blogs and only stylish people follow me sot herefore if I follow your blog, or if you follow mine this award is for you!

Sneak Peek - Wilton Week 3

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The Before....

Cupcakes are baked and ready to be decorated at class tomorrow. I'm about to mix the icing colors now. Are you excited? I know I am!

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Blogger App test

I'm testing an app that will hopefully let me update more often. if you have an android and use an app to access Blogger please share!

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Wilton Cake Decorating Basics: Week 2

At this week's class we got to move on to a cake.
YAY!
I had an exceptionally long work day on Tuesday and was in no mood to bake my cake for Wednesday so Lord Hill, being the awesome hubby that he is, baked the cake for me. Double YAY!

In case you don't remember, you can check out THIS post to see what this cake was supposed to look like.

This is my before. Notice that there are not that many crumbs in the frosting. If I were smart, I would have done a second coat of frosting over this, but to be honest, I was way too tired and way too lazy. The secret to not getting crumbs all over your cake is quite simple... Don't let your spatula touch the actual cake. It should only touch the frosting/icing. This means use more frosting than you think you need. It will look great, and taste delicious so the extra calories will totally be worth it.

 Before.

Now, I am aware that my cake did not come out quite as nice as the picture but I think with some practice I could definitely do it. Also, my icing was still cold from being in the car and was not quite as soft as it should have been so it looks a little lumpier and was a little harder to do than it should have been. All in in all I am still happy with my final product.

"LOTE" is not a typo. It's a "thing" with Lord Hill and I. I figured since he baked the cake I would make it special for him.

Stay tuned for next week's post where I show you my attempt at making cupcakes that look like this:

Wilton Cake Decorating Basics: Week 1

Okay so this post is about a week and a half late. I appologize for that, but there is a lot going on in the Hilliverse these days.

The first week of the course you don't actually decorate a cake. You decorate cookies. Which I, being the lazy gal I am, waited till the last minute to bake and then totally forgot about them. This is why it's good to take the classes with a friend. My good friend Linda brought enough cookies for us to share.

Let me give you a tip before I show you our cookies....
The Wilton 50 piece caddy does NOT have everything you will need for Cake Decorating Basics. I wound up spending quite a bit more on individual things that I needed because the lady at register was mistaken when she told me it would be fine. Personally, I'd rather have the caddy and all the extra pieces b/c I will use them all eventually, but it was a bit annoying to not know I'd have to spend more money in the end.

Cookie porn anyone?

The practice board.

The K is me and I made a cookie for Sara over at Who Bakes Cupcakes

All of my cookies. The W is for Lord Hill. I didn't leave him out.

Linda's cookies. She got fancy - look at her cursive L!

At this week's class I attempted to make this cake: (this is the photo from the course book)

 Stay tuned...

Wow. So many posts in my head....

And no time to get them on to the blog.

Teasers:
I've completed 2 of the 4 Wilton cake decorating classes. Pictures coming soon.
I can finally see my bedroom floor. Pictures coming soon.
Someone called me a genius at work, and I actually enjoy my job. Details coming soon.
Jazzy is now over 7lbs and adorable. I got her a whole wardrobe for less than $20. Pictures coming soon.
I got a new cell phone... Review coming soon.
I also promise to post pictures from Halloween.

CSNStores.com contacted me about doing a review for them. I'm very excited about this and that is coming soon. Definitely before Thanksgiving so please stay tuned.


Tell me at least one thing that has been going on in your life this past month.

Halloween 2010 PREVIEW!

I feel like this is the best photo taken of me in years. Is that bad? LoL
This was one of the best Halloweens ever. I felt like a teenager. More pics to come soon.

Can you guess what our theme was? I *might* no promises here people, have a prize for the first person to guess correctly. If you already know what it was b/c I told you, or you were there, you are not allowed to play!