Dana Jayne

Moving....

2009-07-17T09:40:00.001-04:00

So I'm moving - over to wordpress. Blogger hasn't wanted to post my posts for a while now and it's quite annoying. One cool thing is that I am able to transfer all my blogger posts and comments over to my new wordpress blog.

I'm still setting everything up, but I won't be posting anything new on this blog.

Head over to http://djw209.wordpress.com

test

2009-07-17T09:14:00.000-04:00

test to see if the blog will publish anything!

Bake Me a Wish

2009-07-10T22:35:00.004-04:00

Emilie over at Baby Loving Mama is giving away one of the singular sensations from Bake Me a Wish. What's awesome about Bake Me a Wish (other than their fantastic prices and shipping costs) 5% of any cake order goes to Bake Me A Wish!’s Operation: Birthday Cake!!!

Together with their partner Soldiers’ Angels donates birthday cakes each month to soldiers overseas who are having a birthday. See more on this cause here. What a fabulous way to build our troops morale!

Go here to enter this giveaway - ends July 19.

Penny Pinchers Club book

2009-07-10T16:02:00.001-04:00

Check out this great book giveaway over at I Am A Money Magnet

This novel sounds AWESOME!! I hope I win 1 of the 2 books she's giving away!!!

Off PowerPad Lamp

2009-07-10T15:27:00.002-04:00

Mosquitos love me, I hate them. When I started dating Danny, we did a lot of camping, eating outside, and just being outside. And this became a problem for me because I would spend most of my time smacking the mosquitos off my arms, legs, face, whatever. And then I had bites all over and it just didn't look good professionaly. And they didn't feel good personally (duh). So, along came OFF!'s invention of the PowerPad Lamp - my lifesaver.

So when I saw that Felicia over at gograhamgo was giving away one of these lamps, I had to enter. I use these daily in the summer...honestly I do. At my wedding wedding reception we didn't have candles on the tables, we used these lamps so I didn't have to wear bug repellent.

Go here and enter this giveaway!!

cupcake!

2009-07-10T15:09:00.002-04:00

I just love everything over at Tristine's etsy shop, Stay Home Cupcake, especially the keychains!!
Take a look at her crocheted mini dessert set for kids!! I LOVE this idea - no sharp edges to hurt kids when playing and they are just so adorable! So if you want to win one of Tristine's cupcake pincuchions then go to Bra ndy's blog and enter her giveaway!!!

Brownie Fun by Wilton giveaway

2009-07-10T13:02:00.000-04:00

Frugal Mommy of 2 Girls has a giveaway for a book, Brownie Fun by Wilton.

Click HERE for details.

Ends July 17 - go enter!!!

BluFrog BluGamer Giveaway!!

2009-07-10T10:39:00.003-04:00

BluFrog Energy drink is giving you the chance to win one of 5 a wonderful experiences. For those who don't know, BluFrog Energy Drink gives you an extra boost. Plus, compared to other energy drinks BluFrog Healthy Drink has only 68 calories and 17 grams of sugar compared with other energy drinks that have up to 140 calories and up to 31 grams of sugar.

If you haven't entered the BluFrog contest go do so now. Contest ends July 17th so go now and enter and don't miss out!! These are the experiences you can win:

Happy Blu-Year: Win a New Years Eve trip to NY
You and a friend will be flown to New York City to ring in the New Year!!

Blullapalooza: Win a trip to Lollapalloza in Chicago
Go to the Windy City and attend the world's most famous music festival, Lollapalooza in Grant Park, Chicago.

BluStreak: Win a Richard Petty Racing Experience
Like speed? The you want to win this trip to try the Richard Petty Driving Experience. If you like to drive fast, this one is for you.

BluGamer: The Ultimate Gaming Package
Not much of a traveler and more of a gamer? Then enter to win an Xbox 360 Elite Gaming System with a Rock Band 2 bundle to boot? SWEET!

XtremeBLU: Win a trip to the Winter X Games in Aspen
Get extreme and got to the 14th Winter X Games from ESPN. It might be cold but it'll be fun!

I entered and want to win the Ultimate Gaming Paackage because it comess with Rock Band 2. I got to play Rock Band last year at a conference in Boston for work and I had a blast. Danny and I just recently bought a Wii and we are having so much fun each night bowling...last night I tried out the baseball game on Wii Sports and I kicked butt! So I know that Danny and I will REALLY REALLY enjoy jammin together!

It's easy to enter. Just go on their blog and tell them which prize you want to win. Send a tweet. Or write a blog post. Three chances to win one of the AWESOME giveaways!! So what are you waiting for? Ends July 17th. Go visit the site and enter for yourself. Plus, look around BluFrog because they have all this other cool stuff there.

Psalms 13-17

2009-07-02T12:39:00.003-04:00

I am heading to PA tonight and not returning to the office until Tuesday July 7. One of the things that we'll be doing is celebrating my Grandfather's 80th birthday on Friday!! I'll also get to see my Grandmother in her new apartment!

Since blogger isn't letting me create posts now and have them posted over the weekend (it's a known bug and they are working on it, but it's frustrating to no end!!) here are the verses I'll be reading while in PA (July 3-7)!

Psalm 13

A David Psalm

^1-2 Long enough, God— you've ignored me long enough.
I've looked at the back of your head
long enough. Long enough
I've carried this ton of trouble,
lived with a stomach full of pain.
Long enough my arrogant enemies
have looked down their noses at me.

^3-4 Take a good look at me, God, my God;
I want to look life in the eye,
So no enemy can get the best of me
or laugh when I fall on my face.

^5-6 I've thrown myself headlong into your arms—
I'm celebrating your rescue.
I'm singing at the top of my lungs,
I'm so full of answered prayers.

Psalm 14

A David Psalm

¹ Bilious and bloated, they gas, "God is gone."
Their words are poison gas,
fouling the air; they poison
Rivers and skies;
thistles are their cash crop.

² God sticks his head out of heaven.
He looks around.
He's looking for someone not stupid—
one man, even, God-expectant,
just one God-ready woman.

³ He comes up empty. A string
of zeros. Useless, unshepherded
Sheep, taking turns pretending
to be Shepherd.
The ninety and nine
follow their fellow.

⁴ Don't they know anything,
all these impostors?
Don't they know
they can't get away with this—
Treating people like a fast-food meal
over which they're too busy to pray?

^5-6 Night is coming for them, and nightmares,
for God takes the side of victims.
Do you think you can mess
with the dreams of the poor?
You can't, for God
makes their dreams come true.

⁷ Is there anyone around to save Israel?
Yes. God is around; God turns life around.
Turned-around Jacob skips rope,
turned-around Israel sings laughter.

Psalm 15

A David Psalm

¹ God, who gets invited to dinner at your place?
How do we get on your guest list?

² "Walk straight,
act right,
tell the truth.

^3-4 "Don't hurt your friend,
don't blame your neighbor;
despise the despicable.

⁵ "Keep your word even when it costs you,
make an honest living,
never take a bribe.

"You'll never get
blacklisted
if you live like this."

Psalm 16

A David Song

^1-2 Keep me safe, O God, I've run for dear life to you.
I say to God, "Be my Lord!"
Without you, nothing makes sense.

³ And these God-chosen lives all around—
what splendid friends they make!

⁴ Don't just go shopping for a god.
Gods are not for sale.
I swear I'll never treat god-names
like brand-names.

^5-6 My choice is you, God, first and only.
And now I find I'm your choice!
You set me up with a house and yard.
And then you made me your heir!

^7-8 The wise counsel God gives when I'm awake
is confirmed by my sleeping heart.
Day and night I'll stick with God;
I've got a good thing going and I'm not letting go.

^9-10 I'm happy from the inside out,
and from the outside in, I'm firmly formed.
You canceled my ticket to hell—
that's not my destination!

¹¹ Now you've got my feet on the life path,
all radiant from the shining of your face.
Ever since you took my hand,
I'm on the right way.

Psalm 17

A David Prayer

^1-2 Listen while I build my case, God, the most honest prayer you'll ever hear.
Show the world I'm innocent—
in your heart you know I am.

³ Go ahead, examine me from inside out,
surprise me in the middle of the night—
You'll find I'm just what I say I am.
My words don't run loose.

^4-5 I'm not trying to get my way
in the world's way.
I'm trying to get your way,
your Word's way.
I'm staying on your trail;
I'm putting one foot
In front of the other.
I'm not giving up.

^6-7 I call to you, God, because I'm sure of an answer.
So—answer! bend your ear! listen sharp!
Paint grace-graffiti on the fences;
take in your frightened children who
Are running from the neighborhood bullies
straight to you.

^8-9 Keep your eye on me;
hide me under your cool wing feathers
From the wicked who are out to get me,
from mortal enemies closing in.

^10-14 Their hearts are hard as nails,
their mouths blast hot air.
They are after me, nipping my heels,
determined to bring me down,
Lions ready to rip me apart,
young lions poised to pounce.
Up, God: beard them! break them!
By your sword, free me from their clutches;
Barehanded, God, break these mortals,
these flat-earth people who can't think beyond today.

I'd like to see their bellies
swollen with famine food,
The weeds they've sown
harvested and baked into famine bread,
With second helpings for their children
and crusts for their babies to chew on.

¹⁵ And me? I plan on looking
you full in the face. When I get up,
I'll see your full stature
and live heaven on earth.

Psalms 12

2009-07-02T12:38:00.002-04:00

Psalm 12

A David Psalm

^1-2 Quick, God, I need your helping hand! The last decent person just went down,
All the friends I depended on gone.
Everyone talks in lie language;
Lies slide off their oily lips.
They doubletalk with forked tongues.

^3-4 Slice their lips off their faces! Pull
The braggart tongues from their mouths!
I'm tired of hearing, "We can talk anyone into anything!
Our lips manage the world."

⁵ Into the hovels of the poor,
Into the dark streets where the homeless groan, God speaks:
"I've had enough; I'm on my way
To heal the ache in the heart of the wretched."

^6-8 God's words are pure words,
Pure silver words refined seven times
In the fires of his word-kiln,
Pure on earth as well as in heaven.
God, keep us safe from their lies,
From the wicked who stalk us with lies,
From the wicked who collect honors
For their wonderful lies.

Shabbysheebus

2009-07-02T12:26:00.003-04:00

So my blogging friend, Jess, over at Wrong Week is doing a give away in honor of her husband (whom I went to high school with) being in the Army for 10 years!!! What an awesome achievement! She has recently been posting pictures of her husband and her "non-husband" jumping out of a plane!!! AWESOME!

So her giveaway is a $25 giftcard to her etsy store, Shabbysheebus. Go check it out - she is soooo crafty!

I LOVE all her purses and bags!

If I had a little girl I'd buy out all her barrettes too! So Jess, keep making all these things so if and when I have a daughter I can do her hair up in your adorable barretts!

This is my favorite bag up on her site currently, the Wanda Clutch Paisley! It's the perfect size for going out to dinner and then drinks!

Psalms 12

2009-07-02T07:27:00.000-04:00

Psalm 12

A David Psalm

Psalms 7-11

2009-07-01T16:24:00.003-04:00

So Blogger isn't really that good at posting my posts. And I just realized that now.

Here are the Psalms daily readings from June 27 through today!

Psalm 7

A David Psalm

^1-2 God! God! I am running to you for dear life; the chase is wild.
If they catch me, I'm finished:
ripped to shreds by foes fierce as lions,
dragged into the forest and left
unlooked for, unremembered.

^3-5 God, if I've done what they say—
betrayed my friends,
ripped off my enemies—
If my hands are really that dirty,
let them get me, walk all over me,
leave me flat on my face in the dirt.

^6-8 Stand up, God; pit your holy fury
against my furious enemies.
Wake up, God. My accusers have packed
the courtroom; it's judgment time.
Take your place on the bench, reach for your gavel,
throw out the false charges against me.
I'm ready, confident in your verdict:
"Innocent."

^9-11 Close the book on Evil, God,
but publish your mandate for us.
You get us ready for life:
you probe for our soft spots,
you knock off our rough edges.
And I'm feeling so fit, so safe:
made right, kept right.
God in solemn honor does things right,
but his nerves are sandpapered raw.

^11-13 Nobody gets by with anything.
God is already in action—
Sword honed on his whetstone,
bow strung, arrow on the string,
Lethal weapons in hand,
each arrow a flaming missile.

¹⁴ Look at that guy!
He had sex with sin,
he's pregnant with evil.
Oh, look! He's having
the baby—a Lie-Baby!

^15-16 See that man shoveling day after day,
digging, then concealing, his man-trap
down that lonely stretch of road?
Go back and look again—you'll see him in it headfirst,
legs waving in the breeze.
That's what happens:
mischief backfires;
violence boomerangs.

¹⁷ I'm thanking God, who makes things right.
I'm singing the fame of heaven-high God.

Psalm 8

A David Psalm

¹ God, brilliant Lord, yours is a household name.

² Nursing infants gurgle choruses about you;
toddlers shout the songs
That drown out enemy talk,
and silence atheist babble.

^3-4 I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous,
your handmade sky-jewelry,
Moon and stars mounted in their settings.
Then I look at my micro-self and wonder,
Why do you bother with us?
Why take a second look our way?

^5-8 Yet we've so narrowly missed being gods,
bright with Eden's dawn light.
You put us in charge of your handcrafted world,
repeated to us your Genesis-charge,
Made us lords of sheep and cattle,
even animals out in the wild,
Birds flying and fish swimming,
whales singing in the ocean deeps.

⁹ God, brilliant Lord,
your name echoes around the world.

Psalm 9

A David Psalm

^1-2 I'm thanking you, God, from a full heart, I'm writing the book on your wonders.
I'm whistling, laughing, and jumping for joy;
I'm singing your song, High God.

^3-4 The day my enemies turned tail and ran,
they stumbled on you and fell on their faces.
You took over and set everything right;
when I needed you, you were there, taking charge.

^5-6 You blow the whistle on godless nations;
you throw dirty players out of the game,
wipe their names right off the roster.
Enemies disappear from the sidelines,
their reputation trashed,
their names erased from the halls of fame.

^7-8 God holds the high center,
he sees and sets the world's mess right.
He decides what is right for us earthlings,
gives people their just deserts.

^9-10 God's a safe-house for the battered,
a sanctuary during bad times.
The moment you arrive, you relax;
you're never sorry you knocked.

^11-12 Sing your songs to Zion-dwelling God,
tell his stories to everyone you meet:
How he tracks down killers
yet keeps his eye on us,
registers every whimper and moan.

^13-14 Be kind to me, God;
I've been kicked around long enough.
Once you've pulled me back
from the gates of death,
I'll write the book on Hallelujahs;
on the corner of Main and First
I'll hold a street meeting;
I'll be the song leader; we'll fill the air
with salvation songs.

^15-16 They're trapped, those godless countries,
in the very snares they set,
Their feet all tangled
in the net they spread.
They have no excuse;
the way God works is well-known.
The cunning machinery made by the wicked
has maimed their own hands.

^17-20 The wicked bought a one-way
ticket to hell.
No longer will the poor be nameless—
no more humiliation for the humble.
Up, God! Aren't you fed up with their empty strutting?
Expose these grand pretensions!
Shake them up, God!
Show them how silly they look.

Psalm 10

^1-2 God, are you avoiding me? Where are you when I need you?
Full of hot air, the wicked
are hot on the trail of the poor.
Trip them up, tangle them up
in their fine-tuned plots.

^3-4 The wicked are windbags,
the swindlers have foul breath.
The wicked snub God,
their noses stuck high in the air.
Their graffiti are scrawled on the walls:
"Catch us if you can!" "God is dead."

^5-6 They care nothing for what you think;
if you get in their way, they blow you off.
They live (they think) a charmed life:
"We can't go wrong. This is our lucky year!"

^7-8 They carry a mouthful of hexes,
their tongues spit venom like adders.
They hide behind ordinary people,
then pounce on their victims.

⁹ They mark the luckless,
then wait like a hunter in a blind;
When the poor wretch wanders too close,
they stab him in the back.

^10-11 The hapless fool is kicked to the ground,
the unlucky victim is brutally axed.
He thinks God has dumped him,
he's sure that God is indifferent to his plight.

^12-13 Time to get up, God—get moving.
The luckless think they're Godforsaken.
They wonder why the wicked scorn God
and get away with it,
Why the wicked are so cocksure
they'll never come up for audit.

¹⁴ But you know all about it—
the contempt, the abuse.
I dare to believe that the luckless
will get lucky someday in you.
You won't let them down:
orphans won't be orphans forever.

^15-16 Break the wicked right arms,
break all the evil left arms.
Search and destroy
every sign of crime.
God's grace and order wins;
godlessness loses.

^17-18 The victim's faint pulse picks up;
the hearts of the hopeless pump red blood
as you put your ear to their lips.
Orphans get parents,
the homeless get homes.
The reign of terror is over,
the rule of the gang lords is ended.

Psalm 11

A David Psalm

^1-3I've already run for dear life straight to the arms of God.
So why would I run away now
when you say,

"Run to the mountains; the evil
bows are bent, the wicked arrows
Aimed to shoot under cover of darkness
at every heart open to God.
The bottom's dropped out of the country;
good people don't have a chance"?

^4-6 But God hasn't moved to the mountains;
his holy address hasn't changed.
He's in charge, as always, his eyes
taking everything in, his eyelids
Unblinking, examining Adam's unruly brood
inside and out, not missing a thing.
He tests the good and the bad alike;
if anyone cheats, God's outraged.
Fail the test and you're out,
out in a hail of firestones,
Drinking from a canteen
filled with hot desert wind.

⁷ God's business is putting things right;
he loves getting the lines straight,
Setting us straight. Once we're standing tall,
we can look him straight in the eye.

Princess Fiona

2009-06-29T14:11:00.000-04:00

After enjoying the festivities for Memorial Day, we all headed to the church that I grew up in for some water and pie, a fundraiser put on by the Women of the Church.

And along comes this girl. She is so stinking cute. But I recognized her from somewhere.

I'm sure you will recognize this girl too even if you have never met her in your life.

Doesn't she look like Princess Fiona from Shrek? Maybe Shrek and Princess Fiona's child?

I'm not trying to be mean because she is the most adorable little girl you will ever meet, but I have never ever in my life met someone who looks almost identical to a cartoon character. Apparently she's stopped A LOT by professional photographers asking for her picture basically anywhere they go. She's stopped in airports, amusement parks, even walking along the side of the road.

She and my Mom were partners in a church play not too long ago and became fast buddies.

I just want to squeeze her checks!

Maypole Dance

2009-06-29T12:55:00.001-04:00

The maypole Dance is a PA Dutch tradition where dancers dance in a circle each holding a colored ribbon attached to a pole; the ribbons are intertwined and plaited on to the pole itself.

It is tradition for this Dance to take place during the Memorial Day festivities in the birthplace of Memorial Day, Boalsburg, PA.

Getting the ribbon ready.

The dancers wore simple white dresses with a brightly colored sash.

Starting the MayPole Dance! It's danced to Polka music!

Here they are starting to wrap the poll with the ribbon - under, over, under, over

Now you can really see the dancers going under and over ribbon.

Happy Memorial Day!

Here's the pole wrapped up!

The Butterfly Garden

2009-06-29T10:36:00.001-04:00

Part of the Hershey Gardens is the Butterfly Museum. It's simply amazing to see all these butterflies up close.

Entrance to the Children's Garden where the Butterfly Garden is located!

A Monarch Butterly in top of another

Appropriately named, Zebra Butterflies!

"Mom there's a butterfly inside a butterfly!" Oh I loved these little girls.

More flowers

2009-06-26T13:00:00.017-04:00

While I was in PA over Memorial Day weekend, we spent some time walking through the Hershey Gardens. It was a typical hot and humid PA summer day - so we only walked through a small portion of the Hershey Gardens. I took a TON of pictures of the various species of roses.

I don't know what kind of roses they all are, so if you know any, please leave me a comment and I'll update the post with their names!

If you want copies of some of these pictures, then email me - I'll email you a better quality picture than the one I have posted on here (I reduced the quality of the image to it would be a smaller file, which makes it so much easier to post pictures online). Again, if you want to see a larger version of the picture, just click on the image! Enjoy!

**Edited - I've labeled the roses that I don't have names to, making it much easier for me to be able to label them later on!**

These are called Sunsprite Roses.

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#13

These are called Mardi Gras Roses!

#14

Cool scuplture in the middle of the Rose Garden!

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Chocolate Poppy

2009-06-26T09:28:00.003-04:00

My cousin Pam, over at Savoring the Sweet Life, is an amazing photographer. Today's post is all about the Coulter's Matilija Poppy. I told her that I would post a picture that I took while touring the Hershey Gardens last month of a Chocolate Poppy. I find it so amazing that the Coulter's Matilija Poppy and the Chocolate Poppy differ so much in color, but the petals are so simlar in texture!

Psalms 4-6

2009-06-26T08:49:00.003-04:00

So I've been reading the Psalms each day this week, I make a post about them each morning and blogger doesn't post them for some reason.

I'm hoping that today it will allow me to post chapters 4, 5 and 6. I won't be able to post chapters 7 and 8 this weekend since I will be photographing a wedding on Saturday and Sunday I'm heading to the NASCAR race at Loudon, NH!!

Psalm 4

A David Psalm

¹ When I call, give me answers. God, take my side! Once, in a tight place, you gave me room;
Now I'm in trouble again: grace me! hear me!

² You rabble—how long do I put up with your scorn?
How long will you lust after lies?
How long will you live crazed by illusion?

³ Look at this: look
Who got picked by God!
He listens the split second I call to him.

^4-5 Complain if you must, but don't lash out.
Keep your mouth shut, and let your heart do the talking.
Build your case before God and wait for his verdict.

^6-7 Why is everyone hungry for more? "More, more," they say.
"More, more."
I have God's more-than-enough,
More joy in one ordinary day

^7-8 Than they get in all their shopping sprees.
At day's end I'm ready for sound sleep,
For you, God, have put my life back together.

Psalm 5

A David Psalm

^1-3 Listen, God! Please, pay attention! Can you make sense of these ramblings, my groans and cries? King-God, I need your help.
Every morning
you'll hear me at it again.
Every morning
I lay out the pieces of my life
on your altar
and watch for fire to descend.

^4-6 You don't socialize with Wicked,
or invite Evil over as your houseguest.
Hot-Air-Boaster collapses in front of you;
you shake your head over Mischief-Maker.
God destroys Lie-Speaker;
Blood-Thirsty and Truth-Bender disgust you.

^7-8 And here I am, your invited guest—
it's incredible!
I enter your house; here I am,
prostrate in your inner sanctum,
Waiting for directions
to get me safely through enemy lines.

^9-10 Every word they speak is a land mine;
their lungs breathe out poison gas.
Their throats are gaping graves,
their tongues slick as mudslides.
Pile on the guilt, God!
Let their so-called wisdom wreck them.
Kick them out! They've had their chance.

^11-12 But you'll welcome us with open arms
when we run for cover to you.
Let the party last all night!
Stand guard over our celebration.
You are famous, God, for welcoming God-seekers,
for decking us out in delight.

Psalm 6

A David Psalm

^1-2 Please, God, no more yelling, no more trips to the woodshed.
Treat me nice for a change;
I'm so starved for affection.

^2-3 Can't you see I'm black-and-blue,
beat up badly in bones and soul?
God, how long will it take
for you to let up?

^4-5 Break in, God, and break up this fight;
if you love me at all, get me out of here.
I'm no good to you dead, am I?
I can't sing in your choir if I'm buried in some tomb!

^6-7 I'm tired of all this—so tired. My bed
has been floating forty days and nights
On the flood of my tears.
My mattress is soaked, soggy with tears.
The sockets of my eyes are black holes;
nearly blind, I squint and grope.

^8-9 Get out of here, you Devil's crew:
at last God has heard my sobs.
My requests have all been granted,
my prayers are answered.

¹⁰ Cowards, my enemies disappear.
Disgraced, they turn tail and run.

Mercy - from MckMama

2009-06-24T08:49:00.003-04:00

I LOVE MckMama's blog, www.mycharmingkids.net. She is an amazing photographer and has 4 ADORABLE kids - and on top of all that, she's an amazing writer!

I've been following Stellan's story for some time now. And I LOVE the nicknames she's given her kids, Big Mac, MckNugget, Small Fry and MckMuffin (Stellan).

Yesterday MckMama posted about her husband's (MckMama affectionatly calls her husband Prince Charming) love for ice fishing and how all his ice fishing gear was stolen (even the bob house!!!!) when he left it on the frozen lake to drive a drunk man home.

You have to read the whole post to see how Prince Charming handled the situation.

http://www.mycharmingkids.net/2009/06/mercy.html

I would love to say that I would act the same way Prince Charming did in this situation, but I know I wouldn't. I would have let the police take care of the situation.

Prince Charming is a good man, we all have something to learn from this story!

15% Off at The Container Store When You Use Click & Pickup

2009-06-23T16:34:00.001-04:00

15% Off at The Container Store When You Use Click & Pickup

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Reading the Psalms this summer

2009-06-23T10:30:00.002-04:00

So my church has put out a challenge - to read 1 Pslam a day during the summer. We get most of our prayers from the book of Pslams so why not read 1 prayer a day! It's a cool challenge!

I thought that I would do this with everyone - so I'll post 1 Pslam a day until we're done. There are 150 Psalms, so I suspect this will take us well through the fall, but that's ok.

A few years ago for Christmas I received a new Bible from my Mom. This version is called "The Message" and it puts God's Word in an easily understood format. So that is the version I'll be using here. I really love this Bible, although this bible doesn't number each verse all the time, instead it says that this next passage is verses 1-6.

All the passages will be taken from BibleGateway.com

Since I started this on Sunday, I've read Pslams Chapters 1, 2 and 3...so I'll post those 3 Pslams in this post and starting tomorrow it'll be 1 Pslam a day until we get to the end of the book!

Psalm 1

¹How well God must like you— you don't hang out at Sin Saloon, you don't slink along Dead-End Road,
you don't go to Smart-Mouth College.

^2-3 Instead you thrill to God's Word,
you chew on Scripture day and night.
You're a tree replanted in Eden,
bearing fresh fruit every month,
Never dropping a leaf,
always in blossom.

^4-5 You're not at all like the wicked,
who are mere windblown dust—
Without defense in court,
unfit company for innocent people.

⁶ God charts the road you take.
The road they take is Skid Row.

Psalm 2

^1-6 Why the big noise, nations? Why the mean plots, peoples?
Earth-leaders push for position,
Demagogues and delegates meet for summit talks,
The God-deniers, the Messiah-defiers:
"Let's get free of God!
Cast loose from Messiah!"
Heaven-throned God breaks out laughing.
At first he's amused at their presumption;
Then he gets good and angry.
Furiously, he shuts them up:
"Don't you know there's a King in Zion? A coronation banquet
Is spread for him on the holy summit."

^7-9 Let me tell you what God said next.
He said, "You're my son,
And today is your birthday.
What do you want? Name it:
Nations as a present? continents as a prize?
You can command them all to dance for you,
Or throw them out with tomorrow's trash."

^10-12 So, rebel-kings, use your heads;
Upstart-judges, learn your lesson:
Worship God in adoring embrace,
Celebrate in trembling awe. Kiss Messiah!
Your very lives are in danger, you know;
His anger is about to explode,
But if you make a run for God—you won't regret it!

Psalm 3

^1-2 God! Look! Enemies past counting! Enemies sprouting like mushrooms,
Mobs of them all around me, roaring their mockery:
"Hah! No help for him from God!"

^3-4 But you, God, shield me on all sides;
You ground my feet, you lift my head high;
With all my might I shout up to God,
His answers thunder from the holy mountain.

^5-6 I stretch myself out. I sleep.
Then I'm up again—rested, tall and steady,
Fearless before the enemy mobs
Coming at me from all sides.

⁷ Up, God! My God, help me!
Slap their faces,
First this cheek, then the other,
Your fist hard in their teeth!

⁸ Real help comes from God.
Your blessing clothes your people!

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday - Poppy Seed Chicken

2009-06-23T07:24:00.003-04:00

My awesome cousin Jenn gave me this recipe a few months after she married Pepper and was pregnant with their first son (they now have 4 boys and live in ALASKA! In August they are heading to New Zealand for 6 months!). This easily became one of my favorites when I moved to New Hampshire in 2004 but I haven't made it in a LONG time! Mainly because hubby HATES sour cream.

Anyone have any substitutes for the sour cream in this recipe? He also doesn't like yogurt (which I put on my tacos and in chili in place of sour cream) or cream cheese.

I hope you enjoy this recipe.

Poppy Seed Chicken
3 Boneless skinless chicken breasts
8 oz. sour cream
1 can cream of chicken soup

Topping:
1 stack of Ritz crackers
1 stick of butter
2 T Poppy Seeds

Directions:

Place chicken breasts into a baking dish. Mix the sour cream and soup and pour over the chicken and sprinkle on the topping.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes (or until chicken is fully cooked).

I like to serve this over egg noodles with some string beans!

Trip to PA - Part 9 - Puppies

2009-06-19T06:39:00.001-04:00

My sister has 2 ADORABLE puppies, Phoenix and Paris. They are about 2 years old and came from the same litter.

After sister's race, we took the puppies down to the neighborhood park to run around and we let them go into the stream where Phoenix played in the mud and Paris actually ventured out into the water. We thought she got stuck in the middle of the stream at one point but sister was able to coax her back to dry land.

Here are pictures of Mom and Sister trying to hose off the puppies.

Sister and Phoenix before his bath.

It takes 2 of them to hose off Phoenix. He really hates the hose....Mom is holding Paris's leash who is over sitting by my feet.

Paris's turn! Mom did it on her own while Sister took Phoenix around the yard to dry off.

Puppies rolling around in the grass getting dry! Paris is the golden color puppy and Phoenix is white and tan.

And this picture was taken a few hours after their walk to the park and stream. Sister was taking a nap and Phoenix was protecting her. Last year when sister had her abdominal surgery, Phoenix would lay as close as he could to sister to protect her from anything - he knew she was sick and would just lay there to comfort her.

These dogs have been a real blessing to my sister. I love my niece and nephew!

iHeartFaces giveaway!

2009-06-18T08:37:00.003-04:00

I ♥ Faces is giving away a fabulous prize! It's the Kodak ESP*9 All in one Printer-Scanner-Fax!!!!

What I like about Kodak is that you can buy black in cartridges for under $10 and color for under $15!! Normally we'd spend like $50 per cartridge for my husband's current printer. It's almost cheaper to buy a new printer each time you need new cartridges!

Here are the printer's features:

Print, scan, copy and fax your documents and photos affordability with Kodak’s innovative system that offers the lowest total ink replacement cost in the industry (As compared to leading consumer inkjet printers using manufacturer's recommended ink cartridges.)

Enjoy advanced functionality with the consumer inkjet industry’s first 10” touch screen control panel, as well as an auto-document feeder and built-in duplexer.

Built-in Wi-Fi and Ethernet
Price: $299.99

Go read more about this fun giveaway, and check out some great photos while you're at it:

Trip to PA - Part 8 - Tracy's Race

2009-06-18T08:34:00.000-04:00

So I skipped a few things that we did while in PA - mainly the Hershey Gardens and the Butterfly house. I took so many pictures at the Gardens and the Butterfly House, that I will post them as I have time. Probably 5 pictures of various roses each post - and that will go on for a bit.

So on Memorial Day, we all took Tracy to the Boalsburg Memorial Day Race. She has been training with a friend, Cali, who is an awesome runner and coach. She's done many races with Cali in the past few months but usually Cali will ahead of Tracy, finish the race, then turn right around and go against the crowd to find Tracy, then finish the race with her.

I hope you enjoy the pictures - as you will be able to tell, Cali is short, Tracy is pretty tall.

Here she is stretching - it looks like my Dad is playing body guard. Last year my sister said that she wanted to run this race and my Dad said something like "you'll never finish it" or something. So my sister started training for it last year...but on Mother's Day last year she ended up in the hospital with severe stomach pains. Long story short she had abdominal surgery (through her belly button because the dr's didn't want to ruin her flat belly with long scars!) the week before Memorial Day and barely made it down to the festivities in downtown Boalsburg without Danny carrying her. So Tracy carried on my Dad's challenge to this year!

It was at this point that she was telling me she felt like it was a photo shoot. I just love the way she twists her bangs back for when she runs!

On your mark...get set...

GOOOOO!! If you click on this picture I circled Tracy so you can find her. But it was like finding Waldo standing on the edge of the course - my MIL found my own sister before I did in the pack!

Here come the race leaders!

Yeah!! Sister found Cali! He arrived at 8:29am and the race started at 830am!!

She's really a lot taller than Cali!

Look at them go - this was the start of the uphill part of the run. A lot of runners in the area don't run the Boalsburg Run because it's mainly uphill and so difficult.

Finishing up the race - they made it up the hill!!! She looks EXHAUSTED!

Go sister Go!!

Passing the old dude.

Play by play - heading into the finishing chute. Sister beat Cali - well he told her that she has to at least pass the old man....and then Cali slowed down and he finished right behind her!

Just after the race! It looks like she didn't even run the race!

Tracy and Cali

Cali after the race. He didn't even break a sweat because he was running so slow (for him - he runs the Boston Marathon so to run at my sister's pace it was like a walk for him).

Sister showing us how to use your arms to power through the hill!!

Yeah, she'll kill me for putting this pic up, but she's so beautiful and the scenery is beautiful I couldn't resist.

Drinking water after the race.

She has a super pretty profile!

Cali talking with Dad and MIL after the race, right next to the finish chute.

Mom and sister

Talking about something.

Smile one more time sister!

Trip to PA - Part 7 - Wilbur Chocolates

2009-06-17T06:30:00.001-04:00

So in my last blog about my trip to PA, we visited the Sturgis Pretzel Factory. Once we were done there we walked through the quaint town of Litiz.

We finally found the Wilbur Chocolate Factory after asking a very nice policeman and a few other tourists. After a bit we just followed our noses!

Don't you just love Barbie's hat?

Talking with one of the chocolate makers.

Getting the strawberry ready.

Dipping the strawberry into some yummy milk chocolate!

Gotta let it drip.

This carasol is 100% edible, except for the motor that made it turn!!

LOVED this chocolate frog!

The chocolate scupltures were just amazing, details unbelievable!

So quaint!

A Moose!

This lady was making dinner mints...first the order was for 250 pieces once a month and then the week before we toured the factory, the restaurant ordered 500 pieces a week! Needless to say, she has some serious job security as she is the only one that makes these mints!!

They had a beautiful collection of tea pots and tea cups.

I loved the clock right outside the chocolate factory.

But they wanted their picture taken in front of the Wilbur Chocolate sign- you really can't see the sign all that well.

Here is the group (minus me) around the clock. It's just beautiful!

Sorry....

2009-06-15T14:04:00.003-04:00

...I haven't posted in a long while. I was doing so good with my trip to PA but a lot of stuff has been going on since my last post on June 5th.

Unfortunately a wonderful woman that I sang with both in church and our community chorus died a week ago yesterday of Ovarian Cancer. Her Celebration of Life Service was last Thursday.

In February of this year she wrote her Celebration of Life Service which included LOTS and LOTS of AMAZING music, a lot of peaceful scripture and messages.

Elaine's favorite bible verse was Nahum 1:7.

The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him

That verse just speaks volumes to me that I had to share with you.

I promise to get back to blogging on a more regular schedule :-)

Trip to PA - Part 6 - Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery

2009-06-05T06:39:00.000-04:00

After Martin's we were off to downtown Litiz to visit the Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery. There we got to do a fun tour!

A diagram of how Mr. Sturgis used to make pretzels.

We got to make pretzel out of dough (not real pretzel dough) and mine turned out pretty good I think!

Aunt Robin and her pretzel.

Barbie and her pretzel.

Here are the ovens that used to bake the Sturgis pretzels - since their renovation, the pretzels are baked elsewhere.

Robin and Chris under a pretzel - this is the proper way to look at a pretzel. The large hole at the top represents the Father and the other 2 holes are for the Son and Holy Ghost.

The group outside the factory behind a fake pretzel!

For more information about the Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery, click here to visit their website.

Trip to PA - Part 5 - Martin's Pretzel's

2009-06-04T06:28:00.001-04:00

I LOVE pretzels...and when my Mom, Aunt Nikki, Aunt Robin, MIL and Chris (Robin's friend from California) said that they were heading to a few pretzel factories I was all in. Our first stop of the day was a Mennonite Pretzel factory, Martin's.

The ovens

The dough stretcher (I think)

Look at all that pastry flour!

This is where all the pretzel dough is made

No idea what this device is used for, but it's kinda cool looking!

This place didn't have a real tour, but the gentleman certainly told us a lot about their pretzel making - most of it I didn't understand. I really need to brush up on my German accent!

Oh, and I did buy a 3 pound bag of pretzel pieces. Martin's pretzels are my favorite and their pieces are delish!!

Tombstone Pizza that Pays

2009-06-03T10:58:00.003-04:00

This is so cool - if you send in 17 UPC codes from 12 inch Tombstone Pizzas to Tombstone, they will provide a $15 credit towards your choice of utility!!

http://www.kraftfoods.com/SiteCollectionImages/ImageRepository/7/TombstoneFlyer.pdf

There are usually coupons available online and in the Sunday inserts so this would be an ever better deal!

Trip to PA - Part 4 - Family

2009-06-03T06:30:00.000-04:00

The whole reason why MIL and I headed down to PA was so she could get to know my Mom's side of the family. She would have been able to have lunch with Aunt Kit and Uncle Richard but they went to the Jersey Shore with their grandsons so it turned out to be an Ansel event!

I finally got to meet Drew Christian (5 weeks old), Cassie and Jeff's son. Here is Cassie, Drew and Katie (Jeff's daughter).

Katie holding her little brother Drew

Arianna holding her cousin's son, Drew.

I went swimming with another cousin's son, Colin James (1 year old)

My Aunts, Rhonda and Robin.

Aunt Robin makes amazing jewlery...the necklace and earrings that Rhonda are wearing, Robin made. The large seed on the necklace is called a Sea Heart and she collected them off the beaches where she lives, South Padre Island, Texas. Here's the Sea Heart neckalce and matching earrings. Aunt Robin is making me a Sea Heart neckalce :-) So excited!!

Me and my Aunt Robin

My Mom and her sisters

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday - Mom's Famous Banana Bread!

2009-06-02T07:30:00.000-04:00

In honor of being in PA over Memorial Day weekend, I am going to share my Mom's FAMOUS banana bread recipe with you! I just LOVE it! Sisterr and I grew up eating this as an after school snack, for breakfast or really, whenever! It's good with peanut butter or cream cheese. But I believe it's best with nothing on it!

Enjoy!

Mom's Famous Banana Bread

1/3 c butter or margarine, soft-not melted
1 c sugar
2 eggs, room temp works best
3 ripe bananas (small to medium work best), mashed
1t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1/3 c milk
1t lemon juice or vinegar
2c all-purpose flour
1/2 c chopped nuts or chocolate chips (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350.
Liberally grease 9X5 loaf pan.
Add lemon or vinegar to milk and set aside to curdle.
Cream butter and sugar then gradually add the eggs one at a time. It's OK if the eggs turn some of the butter into small lumps but this won't happen if the eggs are room temperature. Beat until well combined.
Mix in the bananas then the soda and salt.
Add the flour and milk alternately.
Stir well after each addition.
Add nuts or chips if desired.
Pour into loaf pan and bake for 1 hour or until the bread springs back when lightly touched in the center.
Cool in pan on wire rack.

The bread will have a better flavor if allowed to sit overnight before eating.

Trip to PA - Part 3 - Amish Country

2009-06-02T06:30:00.002-04:00

First we went to Sonic and ate lunch - this was our first time at a Sonic!

Apparently I was having a good make up day on the Friday morning...

Then we came across Gram's chickens. She has chickens that don't lay eggs. I don't know if this chicken lays eggs or not, but when we saw this chicken it reminded us of Gram.

And a tree that MIL really really loved.

We saw lots of Amish tending the fields...this team of horses was being turned around to bring the hay back into the barns.

After we were done gawking at the Amish doing their chores, we stopped by a road side stand and bought 2 pies and 2 whoopie pies. Yummy!!

Next stop, the family dinner in Reading!

Trip to PA - Part 2 - Lancaster County in signs

2009-06-01T06:30:00.004-04:00

First they wouldn't let us into Virginville

Then we moved onto Bird In Hand

And then onto Blue Ball

Finally ending up in Intercourse

We didn't make it to Paradise like Mom said we would.

We bypassed Fertility.

But we did see Hooters.

Trip to PA - Part 1 - the drive down to Scranton

2009-05-31T06:30:00.001-04:00

My Mother in law (MIL) and I went to Pennsylvania for a long weekend over Memorial Day. We left on the Thursday night after getting a pedicure...one must always have nice toes when wearing sandals! The pedicure lady was quite interesting...she told MIL that "she too old be mother in law" so MIL asked how old she thought she was. Pedi lady said "fity-two" (52). MIL laughed and said, I'm 47. Pedi lady thought that we were sisters, at the most friends, but never MIL. We had a good laught at that.

We didn't leave NH until 8pm and finally made it to our hotel in Scranton, PA around 2am. But we would have made it there sooner if I hadn't been pulled over by a statie in CT. Yeah, around 1130pm thursday night I was caught doing 77 in a 55 - not too bad...so the police man came to Barbie's side of the car (I was driving and this was on I-84 southbound) and Barbie said to the policeman "Wow I've never seen a police office come to the passenger side of the car." and he responded "We like to think we're high tech in these parts." I gave him my license, registration and proof of insurance (eventhough in NH we're not required to have auto insurance) and he asked all sorts of questions like if I had any necular weapons, had any warrants out for my arrest, was on America's Most Wanted (but all in good humor). He then told me that he wasn't going to give me a ticket for going 77 in a 55 speed limit zone (a $290 fine) but rather a ticket for disobeying a traffic sign (a $75 fine).

Ok great - I'll still get a ticket, but he's saving me $215 - wonderful! I was speeding, I'll admit that, but really 12 miles over the speedlimit isn't worth the cops time - I was honestly not going with the flow of traffic...everyone else was going faster than I was. Oh well, I'll take the hit.

So he goes back to his car, another state cop car pulls up behind the original car and he gets out and starts talking with the original officer. No idea what they were talking with but after like 10 mintues, the cop comes up to our car, he gives me my fine and says that he's glad to find out that we weren't part of the Taliban or had any warrants our for my arrest. He then says "So you heading down to Penn State?" (My license plate says PEN-ST8) and we said that we were. Apparently he had a buddy that went to PSU. Awesome.

My MIL then asks the officer if we looked like sisters and the office didn't quite know what to say...and so we told him the story about the pedicure lady. He laughed and MIL showed him her toes.

We honestly believe that I got out of the $290 ticket because MIL was wearing short shorts. Nice.

Bar Mitzvah today!

2009-05-30T09:00:00.000-04:00

I am attending my first Bar Mitzvah today and I get to photograph it!

I'll post pictures of this event when I get a chance...but for now, let's all learn about this Jewish Ceremony!

http://www.myjewishlearning.com/life/Life_Events/BarBat_Mitzvah/Practical_Aspects/Guide_for_Guests.shtml

First Photography Assignment Part 4 - The Reception

2009-05-29T06:30:00.002-04:00

The first 2 pictures of this post aren't mine. I give credit to the other photographer for sneaking into the reception room before the Hindu ceremony for the cake picture and the table set up...

Their cake was beautiful! Take a look at the larger picture (just click on the image) and look at the piping details (the white icing above each red ribbon). My hand isn't that steady but I would love to make a cake like this.

The table set up were so simple - they handed out Coconut Curry Chocolate bars which were placed on gold chargers. The center pieces were glass bowls with floating candles all circled by red rose petals.

But the rest of the reception pictures are mine - and they really don't need much explanation. I'll put down a few notes as they are needed.

The couple's first dance as a married couple!

These kiddos danced the entire night!

Tom's sister and her husband.

Tom's parents.

Tom's other sister and husband.

Umm, this is what my husband looks like when he dances. I didn't take this picture on purpose, but it turned out really well showing the Indian version of my hubby!

I LOVE her bangles! They played lots of Indian music during the reception.

And this little girl danced all night long - she didn't care if it was a slow song or not...she danced and moved her body like she was made to dance! She was ALWAYS in the middle of a circle of dancing adults.

Tom and his buddies.

So that is the end of the dual ceremony wedding - Jennifer and I worked very well together and I will be helping her out more in the future...so stay tuned for more pictures.

Up next - my trip to Pennsylvania!

First Photography Assignment Part 3 - Hindu Wedding Ceremony

2009-05-28T15:16:00.007-04:00

So I wasn't able to be part of the Hindu ceremony as I had the daunting task of downloading all the images from the photographer's memory cards so she had more space for the reception.
But I am able to share with you some pictures that the other photographer took of the Hindu Ceremony.

I don't have any pictures of the Barat, when the groom rides either a horse or elephant (in this case, a horse) with his family dancing around to impress the bride and her father.

I do not know much about a Hindu wedding ceremony so I'll share some pictures maybe someone will be able to enlighten us all about the Hindu wedding ceremony!

Wow this turned into a post about everything I don't know or don't have - well the next post is about their reception, which I know lots about and have tons of pictures!

Tom waiting for Namrita in the Hindu Ceremony.

Here comes the bride (walked down the aisle by Tom's sisters, sister in law and Namrita's sister in law).

Look at the henna on her hands!!! Amazing!

The priest (not sure what the man in the white is called, but he presided over the Hindu ceremony) made 7 small piles of rice that the couple had to walk around.

Everyone involved in this ceremony had to take their shoes off...but we do get to see the henna on Namrita's feet!!!

Engraved Uniques by KK's Kreations

2009-05-21T11:48:00.003-04:00

I love personalized items and when I saw that Engraved Uniques is giving away 3 of her tiles, I had to share it with all 3 of my readers! Maybe one of us will win?

Isn't that tile just amazing? Even if I don't win this contest, I think I may order this for right inside our front door, whenever our house is built.

Check out KK's Kreations blog here, and her store here.

What talent!!!!!!

Wish Bone

2009-05-20T09:51:00.003-04:00

So I have been reading Busy Mom's blog for a few years and really enjoy all the antics of her family. She is having this awesome give away on her blog - you could win a $100 grocery gift card and a Wish Bone pack (valued at $46.10). Click here for more information about her giveaway and also check out her blog...you will so enjoy it!

The reason why I want to win this Wish Bone gift pack is because my husband will only use Wish Bone Italian dressing on his salad - nothing else. No other brand will do, only Wish Bone Italian (and the regular italian, not the robust italian dressing). So basically we go through this stuff like crazy. But I also LOVE to marinate chicken in italian dressing (although husband won't eat chicken that is marinated in italian dressing - even though I would use the exact same dressing he uses on his salad.

On Busy Mom's blog, she posted a picture of Busy girl (Busy Mom's daughter) making some recipes from the Wish Bone website. One of them included the Easy Mediterranean Pasta Salad which I MUST try!!!!!

I'll post the recipe here and when I get back from PA next week I'll give it a whirl!

Easy Mediterranean Pasta Salad

Serves: 8
Preparation Time: 20 Minute(s)

Ingredients:

3/4 cup Wish-Bone® Italian Dressing
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
8 ounces twist pasta, cooked, rinsed with cold water and drained
1 can (14 oz.) artichoke hearts, drained and quartered
1 jar (7 oz.) roasted red peppers, sliced
1 can (6 oz.) pitted ripe olives, drained
4 ounces sliced pepperoni, halved

Directions:

Blend Wish-Bone® Italian Dressing, parsley and black pepper in large bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Tempy My Tummy Tuesday - Kelly’s Chicken Enchiladas

2009-05-19T06:30:00.000-04:00

This recipe is another special one. My dear middle school friend, who moved to ABQ right before we started high school and then a year ago she and her hubby moved to Salem, Oregon, made this recipe for us on New Years Eve 2006!!

Kelly and Nathan were in PA visiting her oldest brother and decided to drive to State College for a quick visit with me and my family while we were in town for New Years. My Mom wanted to have a taste of New Mexico to go along with the PA Dutch food we were having that night.

This recipe has since been an old stand by and Danny LOVES to make it!!

Kelly’s Chicken Enchiladas

Ingredients:

4 Chicken Breast Halves (Boneless, Skinless)
2 Medium White Onions (Quartered)
4 Cloves Minced Garlic
1 Tbsp. Onion Powder
Salt
Pepper
4 cups (or more if you want) Cheddar Cheese (Shredded)
12 Corn Tortillas
Vegetable Oil
1 Can of Cream of Chicken Soup
1 Can of Cream of Mushroom Soup
2 Small Cans Chopped Green Chile (Optional - I HATE spicy food and these green chile's are NOT spicy at all, they add wonderful flavor. Also we use 1 large can instead of the 2 small cans.)
Milk

Directions:

Boil chicken in a large pot with onion, garlic, onion powder, salt and pepper for approximately 1 hour or until chicken falls apart easily when pulled.

Shred chicken by using two forks and pulling in opposite directions (set aside).

Heat a small amount of oil in a skillet and fry each tortilla one at a time for about 20 seconds on each side. Place tortillas on paper towels to drain.

In a mixing bowl, combine both cans of soup with the green chile (if using) and enough milk to slightly thin mixture to a sauce. (We don't drain the cans nor do we add the milk and this turns out just find).

In a 9”x13” pan, first layer 6 tortillas to cover the bottom of the pan followed by a layer of sauce, a layer of chicken, then a layer of cheese. Each layer should use about half of each ingredient. Once the first layering is complete, repeat the process for a second time to use the remaining half of the ingredients.

Bake in a 350o oven for approximately 30 minutes or until cheese is melted across the top of the dish.

Let cool for 5-10 minutes to set ingredients and enjoy!

Quaker Chewy Granola Bars Rip n' Go

2009-05-15T10:52:00.003-04:00

The Friday night before the wedding shoot in Boston, I headed out to Walmart (we all know that I prefer Target, but Walmart is in my town and I didn't have time to get to Target, sigh) to grab a few things for my B-I-L's and Gram's birthday celebration that would be held on the Sunday morning/afternoon.

While in Walmart I came across Quaker Chewy granola bars on an end cap. Normally I would have walked right past them, but these granola bars weren't in a box. Nope they were all stuck together by 2 stickers and you basically just "rip" them apart "n' go"! What a cool idea - no box to throw away...just tear off the bar you want and eat and then throw away the wrapper. They come in packages of 10 bars (in chocolate chip and chocolate chip with peanut butter chips I think) and the entire package of 10 fits into one of the side pockets of my camera bag. Perfect snack for the wedding photography job! Easy to eat, yummy and kinda sorta not really good for you. But I knew I'd need something easy to eat and not messy.

I searched all over the internet and I couldn't a picture of them...I know they exist because I have 2 bars left in the package sitting next to me...so if I took a picture of that, it wouldn't really show much.

But I did find this youtube video...it's not that great quality, but it shows just what I tried to explain!

I haven't seen them in any other stores except Walmart - so maybe it's a Walmart exclusive??

First Photography Assignment Part 2 - Boston's Public Garden

2009-05-12T10:04:00.004-04:00

Boston's Public Garden is just that, a public Garden. It was a BEAUTIFUL day so EVERYONE was outside enjoying the spring flowers, soaking up all the sun and gawking at Tom and Namrita walk by:

The photographer that hired me to assist her took lots of pictures but I managed to take a few with my camera...but it was a little hard as I was carrying 2 camera bags, a tripod and a duffel bag full of other photography stuff. We never used the stuff I was carrying, but we needed it just in case.

The trees were in full bloom and we really lucked out with the weather!! It was raining on our way down to Boston, so glad it cleared up in time for the outside pictures!

Trying to get "the" picture!

As my Dad would say, kissy kissy wooo wooo!

Her dress was simply amazing! Later I'll give you a close up look at the Henna on her hands and feet!

Just look at the way they look at each other - such a beautiful picture and you can just feel their love for one another!

The best man, Mike (Tom's brother) smelling Namrita's bouquet!

Mike and I had lots of time to hang out and chat. We were even part of the crowd control so we could try to at least get 1 photograph without the public in it. But I think pictures of the couple and the public makes it so much better...after all we were in the Public Garden!

Part 3 - The Hindu Wedding Ceremony!

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-12T08:38:00.004-04:00

I know this post is 2 days late, but I have a good reason. My Mom's present for Mother's Day was delivered yesterday to her office and she sent me pictures of it last night!

Every year I struggle finding something to give my Mom - her birthday is 1 month after Christmas so I spend the entire year thinking up things I could make or give my Mom.

A few weeks ago Danny and I were at a Church party and one of the guests brought a HUGE Edible Arrangement. And that was when I found my Mom's Mother's Day present.

My parents LOVE fruit and I wasn't sure if she had ever seen a fruit bouquet before. So I ordered her this simple Bloomin' Daisy arrangement. You can get the fruit dipped in chocolate and attach other items to the package, but I wanted a simple arrangement.

Here's the arrangement all wrapped up for delivery.

The arrangement unwrapped and ready to eat!!

I think my parents had fruit last night for dinner!!

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday - Nana's Wacy Cake with Peanut Butter Icing!

2009-05-12T08:07:00.002-04:00

**UPDATED - I just learned from my Mom that my Nana spelled it Wacy Cake, not Wackey Cake**

This is my entry for Tempt My Tummy Tuesday!!

My Nana (paternal grandmother) was a baker from what I understand. She died when I was very young so I don't have many memories about her, or my Pop-Pop but I do have her Wacy Cake recipe and my mom has Nana's handwritten recipe - which I hope to someday have a copy of!

I am using the spelling Wacy because that is how Nana wrote it on the recipe my Mom has - I know it's wrong, but this misspelling makes it all the more special for me!

I made Nana's Wacy cake with peanut butter icing to celebrate my husband's Gram's birthday a few weekends ago. And she LOVED it!! She said that the icing tasted like her peanut butter fudge.

Now, i have to share this recipe. I hope that this SUPER easy cake and icing makes you feel all warm inside, just like it does for me and did for hubby's Gram!

Nana's Wacy Cake
3 c flour
2 c sugar
6 T cocoa
2 t baking soda
1 t salt
2/3 c oil
2 c water
2 t vanilla extract

2 T vinegar

Spray a 9x13 pan and preheat the oven to 350. Mix all the ingredients together, except for the vinegar. Once everything is mixed, add the vinegar, give it a quick stir and quickly pour into the greased pan. It's OK if the cake batter starts to turn colors, it's the vinegar and baking soda reacting which will make the cake rise! Bake for 45-50 minutes.

Peanut Butter Icing

1 store bought tub of vanilla icing (I use Betty Crocker, but any brand will work)
1/2 cup peanut butter (I use Jiff, but again any brand will work)

Place ingredients into a bowl and mix until well combined. Spread on cooled Wacy cake and enjoy!!

First Photography Assignment Part 1 - The Catholic Wedding Ceremony

2009-05-11T16:46:00.007-04:00

It's been over a week since I photographed the dual ceremony wedding in Boston, but I have been super busy, and this week will be even busier for me (chorus concerts, plus 2 three hour dress rehearsals and some babysitting and chorus parties thrown in the mix)!

Anyway, since this was a dual ceremony wedding, I'll share pictures of the Catholic ceremony, pictures in Boston's Public Garden, try to describe each step of the Hindu Ceremony (along with a few pictures) and the reception.

So welcome to Part 1, the Catholic Wedding Ceremony.

We've all been (or participated) in a Catholic wedding ceremony, so I won't explain anything with this, just show a few pictures!

Mike, the best man, pinning on his brother's (the Groom, Tom) boutonniere before the ceremony.

Tom making sure that Mike's pocket square was just right!

Mike, Tom and their Mom!

Some of the guests entering the chapel - these women both read during the Catholic ceremony

There were a lot of little kids involved in the ceremony - all dressed in traditional Hindu outfits!

The Bride's Parents

The Groom with his parents

The bride walking down the aisle with her father!

Ariel shot of the Mother's lighting the candles on the alter

The wedding party

Ceremony musicians

Just about time to say the vows!

Tom putting on Namrita's ring!

Namrita putting on Tom's ring!

Lighting the Unity Candle

Singing after exchanging rings. This chapel was on the edge of the Boston Common and just beautiful. I really enjoyed the sculpture on the back wall. Just below it is a baptismal pool!

The kiss!

Ceremony #1 is done, now onto the Public Gardens for pictures.

Part 2 will be in the Public Gardens!

8 Things!

2009-05-11T13:54:00.000-04:00

I was tagged by my blog friend, Jessica!

8 things to which I'm looking forward
1. Singing in this week's Seacoast Community Chorus concerts (Friday and Sunday!!) We're singing songs from Broadway and TV!
2. Heading to PA over Memorial Day weekend with my MIL.
3. Selling our condo
4. Ground breaking of our house!
5. Moving into said house!!!
6. Being a Mommy (but not for a few more years!)
7. Getting back into my work out routine
8. Having all my craft stuff organized and accessible in said house!

8 things I did yesterday
1. Ate MultiGrain Cheerios on the couch
2. Sang in church
3. Ate brunch with my husband at a local eatery, Weeks.
4. Went grocery shopping
5. Took a nap
6. Went to the in laws house
7. Crossed the stream between my in laws house and our property (where said house will be built some day!!!)
8. Ate a chicken salad sandwich at my husband's grand parents house.

8 things I would like to do
1. Build our house
2. Pay off all our debt
3. Find a way to get to my parents house in less time driving!
4. Go to California again to visit my Dad's brother, one of my Mom's brothers and my senior year college roommate.
5. Live in Rome, Italy, again
6. Buy (and use) an around the world plane ticket - I would start in Boston, fly to London, take the Chunnel over to Paris, backpack around Europe (mainly France, Italy, Spain (the islands), Greece and Germany), fly from Europe to UAE, then onto Hong Kong, heading south to Australia and finally ending my flight in California where I would take a train from California back to New Hampshire!
7. Hire a house keeper
8. Make cakes and take pictures for a living!

8 shows I watch
1. Grey's Anatomy
2. Ugly Betty
3. The Office
4. 18 Kids and Counting
5. Little People Big World
6. Table for 12
7. The Hills
8. Keeping up with the Kardashian's

8 people I tag
1. Pam
2. Dawn
3. Kelly
4. MckMama
5. Nicole
So that's just 5 - anyone else who reads this can tag themselves if you want!

Preview

2009-05-06T12:38:00.000-04:00

So I told you last week that I had this amazing opportunity to assist a pro photographer at a dual ceremony wedding in Boston on Saturday May 2.

It was just an amazing experience. Both photographically and personally. I learned a number of things that enhanced my photography skills while experiencing a Hindu wedding ceremony. Just amazing!

I took well over 200 pictures and I don't have all my pictures, but they are coming from the photographer (as part of our agreement, the pictures I took are my property and can be included in my portfolio!!!)

So I don't want to post pictures of the days events until I have all pictures in one place...but I will leave you with a taste of what I did!

These cuties were involved in both Catholic and Hindu ceremonies!

Namrita, the beautiful bride! Check out her jewelry and the Henna on her hands and arms!!!

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday - Cinco de Mayo

2009-05-05T12:28:00.000-04:00

This is my first attempt at joining BlessedwithGrace's Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays!

I receive A LOT (and I seriously mean A LOT) of cooking newsletters. Now I don't do a majority of cooking (Danny does because he is entirely tooooo picky about his food) but I do LOVE to cook and read recipes.

This recipe came from Betty Crocker's latest newsletter.

Betty Crocker's Seven-Layer Bean Dip

1 can (16 oz) refried beans
1 package (1 oz) taco seasoning mix
1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1 can (4.5 oz) chopped green chiles
1 cup Thick 'n Chunky salsa (any variety)
2 cups shredded lettuce
2 cups shredded Cheddar or Mexican cheese blend (8 oz)
1 can (2.25 oz) sliced ripe olives, drained (1/2 cup)
1 medium tomato, diced (3/4 cup)
Tortilla chips, bell pepper pieces or zucchini slices, if desired

Directions:

1. In medium bowl, mix refried beans and taco seasoning mix. Spread mixture on large platter.
2. In another medium bowl, mix cream cheese and chiles. Carefully spread over bean mixture.
3. Top with salsa, lettuce, cheese, olives and tomato. Refrigerate until serving time. Serve with tortilla chips.

Personally, I HATE olives, so I wouldn't add them to this recipe. I think I would also try this recipe without the cream cheese but use plain yogurt. I prefer plain yogurt on my tacos so this would be a good substitute I think.

I think I might make this tomorrow night - I know it's the day after Cinco de Mayo but tonight it chorus rehearsal and we have our concerts in 1 WEEK! So our celebrations have to be postponed 1 day.

My husband HATES cream cheese, sour cream, yogurt and really only likes melted mild cheddar cheese on his tacos. So really this recipe isn't something he would eat. That's OK - he'll eat chips and super super hot salsa. He LOVES spicy food, while I can't stand it!

It's still April in New England!

2009-04-30T08:36:00.000-04:00

The quality of this picture isn't that great, but I had to document how HOT it was in Northern New England this past tuesday and all I had was my cell phone.

Not sure if you can see the temperature, but it says 102!!!

Last year we still had snow on the ground and our last snow fall was in May. Now we've had a number of days with late summer temps!

Saturday May 2...

2009-04-29T11:47:00.001-04:00

...I will be assisting a photographer at a dual ceremony wedding in Boston!

I was hired this morning!

My responsibilities at this wedding, along with assisting the photographer, are to photograph the groom and groomsmen getting ready, take wide angle shots upstairs during the catholic ceremony and to take candid photos during the Hindu ceremony and reception!

I'm not being paid for this job, but the fact that I get to work with a professional photographer and learn from her is AMAZING! I also get to keep all the pictures I take with my camera :-)

I am traveling down to Boston with the photographer but I am not needed until the afternoon, which means I have the morning to myself on Charles street. I need to remember to look up some stuff to do on Charles street.

I'm charging up all my batteries, clearing out my CF cards and practicing using the manual settings! Oh, and did I mention that I'll be shooting in RAW format?? Yeah, those image files are HUGE!!!

I will post some pictures from the ceremony but probably not until Monday as we'll be getting home well after 11pm Saturday night and Sunday I think we're painting the bedroom and celebrating Danny's grandmother's birthday (which I need to bake a cake for - Nana's wackey cake with peanut butter icing!)

Our weekend in a nutshell...

2009-04-27T09:59:00.000-04:00

We cleaned.

And no I didn't take any pictures, but I should have done before and after pictures. But then again, who wants to see yucky stuff not cleaned? I'll spare you - but this blog is long and doesn't contain any pictures. None.

Friday night I scrubbed the bath tub and shower curtain (they were orange. Praise God for Clorox!) and the toilet. Now the toilet is broken - Saturday morning it started to make funny gurgling sounds after the tank filled up with water. So the toilet was always running. I didn't take anything out of the tank or move anything, just used my trusty scrub brush and some soapy water in the tank. Now the latest chapter in the broken toilet saga started this morning - after the tank is filled with water the water line is shaking and makes a horrible rumbling sound.

But being my mother's daughter I've started turning off the water once the tank is filled so we don't waste any water :-)

My Mom has been "green" even before it was cool. We made our own library bags instead of using plastic bags. We used the washing machine's grey water to water our plants outside during draughts. We always had an organic garden and we ALWAYS used the compost pile. We even let neighbors put fresh food into our compost pile. One time a neighbor put brand new fresh fruit in the compost...uncut cantaloupe!!! So my Mom went out and picked it out of the pile, washed it and cut it up. Dad never knew!

Saturday I did all the laundry (I even folded the clothes right out of the dryer! This is amazing since I NEVER fold clothes as soon as they are out of the dryer. I just hate folding and putting away clothes. I don't mind washing them), cleaned the kitchen and ran the dishwasher a few times. Also donated an IKEA blue bag over flowing with shirts that Danny doesn't want anymore. I should have spent time outside on Saturday since it was 90 DEGREES out, but I didn't. We did go to a local park to watch the sun set and walked around where the Bellamy River meets the Piscataqua River (which then goes out to the Atlantic Ocean). The Piscataqua River is pretty awesome. Apparently it's current is rated as one of the fastest in North America and true to it's testament, there are a TON of freighters that use Portsmouth, NH as port! For more info about the Piscataqua River, take a look at this Wikipedia page.

Sunday we went to church but didn't go back to the Wiggly bridge - nope, we had to get home to do more cleaning. Yes, we finally cleaned our mold infested windows and sliding glass door. It took hours. Now we just need to paint using special paint so the mold won't grow back. I'll be painting the window grills tonight (hopefully at the same time my father-in-law is working on our toilet). I never heard of window grills until I moved to New England and I know that I DO NOT want them on the house we are going to build in the future (even if they are now placed between the window panes, I still hate them). Until then, I have to contend with removing the grills every time I want to clean the windows. And sometimes the grills stick to the glass which makes it an oh so fun time!

Phew, this post isn't fun to read, but I had a lot to say. If you made it this far, thanks for sticking with me.

And if you did read this whole post, then why don't you sign up to be one of my 7? I only have 1 lucky volunteer, but I could use 6 more :-) (ahem California Williams's!! You guys are the only people I know that read this blog other than my blogger friend Jessica).

80 Degrees?!?!?!?!

2009-04-24T11:45:00.000-04:00

Can you believe that it will be 80 degrees tomorrow? It's still April. Last year at this time we still had snow up to our bedroom window!!!!

Looks like the summer weather is coming in today and this 80 degree weather will stick around until next tuesday...but then next wednesday it will be in the 60's.

Oh flip flop season is so in!

Michaels 20% off Martha Stewart Crafts Coupon!

2009-04-20T11:44:00.000-04:00

Hi all,

I found a coupon online to get 20% off your entire regular price purchase of Martha Stewart Crafts that is good through May 17!!!

http://www.michaels.com/coupons/8340010064292420/coupon.html?cm_ven=2009AprilMayBanner&cm_ite=20EMSCCoupon

I hope you all are able to use it!!!

Twins!

2009-04-14T13:10:00.001-04:00

I have visited with my friend and her kids a few times since the girls were born. The first time was when they were 1 week old (March 31, 2009) up in Maine Medical Center. I stayed for about 6 hours with Nichole so her husband could go home (New Hampshire), pay some bills, get clean clothes and say hi to their 5 year old son (Collin). I took some pictures with my phone, but since it was Nichole who was the patient in the hospital and not the twins, I had my hands full with feedings, cuddling and diaper changing.

Then I got to spend an afternoon at their house on Good Friday, and what a Good friday it was!

I want to introduce you to the twins!

Allison Michelle (17 days old)

Jillian Irene (17 days old)

Big Brother Collin snuggling with Jillian

I was able to catch a small nap after the girls had their 4:30pm bottle, and I got to cuddle with them both! They LOVE to be all snuggly!

What a special treat - I hope to be able to share more pictures as these precious girls grow!

Wiggly Bridge

2009-04-09T16:15:00.000-04:00

Sunday Danny and I had some time between the 2nd service at church and a gathering at a fewllow church choir member's house so we decided to go down the street from our church to the Wiggly Bridge.

I knew my camera battery was low, but I didn't know how low until I got home and downloaded the pictures. I took a ton of pictures of 2 seagulls but they weren't great at all. I won't even share any here. They were that bad.

The tide was going out, and I really liked how the water flowed from one side of the bridge to the other and so I started snapping away. This was my favorite picture of the day.

I think I may print this and get it framed. I'm also thinking about making 4x6 prints of that image to put on the front of note cards.

What do you think - would you be interested in note cards with this photograph on the front?

The First Seven

2009-03-27T13:46:00.000-04:00

The First Seven

I found this over at a blogging friend's blog. I thought it was an interesting and different idea.

The first SEVEN people to respond to this post will get something made by me!

My choice.

For YOU.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
- What I create will be just for you.
- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
- You will receive your item before the end of the year.
- You will have no clue what the item is going to be. It could be a story or poetry. It could be a piece of handmade jewelry or a cheesecake. I may draw, paint, collage or crochet something. I might bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!
- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The catch?

Oh, the catch is that in order to receive a gift, you have to re-post this and make and send out seven surprises of your own, so if you aren't gonna follow through and make something for seven others, you get nothing from me. And you need to send me your mailing address!!Ready, set, create! :)

Em's Potato-Corn Chowder is AMAZING!

2009-03-26T10:14:00.000-04:00

I haven't done much baking recently...but earlier this week I made this AMAZING Potato-Corn chowder that I found on another blog, http://www.therepressedpastrychef.com/.

I highly suggest that you check out The Repressed Pastry Chef's blog - she has AMAZING recipes and pictures of every recipe she posts. I am going to try out her Oreo Pie that she made for Pi day (Pi = 3.14 = March 14).
http://www.therepressedpastrychef.com/home/2009/3/15/oreo-pie.html

Em, the Repressed Pastry Chef, has graciously allowed me to share her Potato-Corn Chowder on my blog, and for that I am grateful!!

http://www.therepressedpastrychef.com/home/2009/1/5/ems-potato-corn-chowder.html

Em's Potato-Corn Chowder

Ingredients

3 large potatoes
4 cups chicken broth – divided use
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 small onion, sliced wide
1 clove garlic, minced
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup shredded cheese
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 small can (11oz) whole kernel corn – divided use

Optional for garnish
Additional shredded cheese
Fresh green onions or chives
Crumbled bacon bits

Directions

Peel and cut the potatoes into small cubes. Boil in 3 cups of chicken broth until the potatoes are fork tender Drain the potatoes reserving the broth (you’ll probably have about 1 1/2 – 2 cups left). Set both aside.

In a large pot pour the vegetable oil and saute the onion and garlic until tender. Stir in the chicken broth reserved from cooking the potatoes, add the flour, salt, basil and pepper. Mix very well. Gradually add another cup of chicken broth, then the 1/4 cup shredded cheese and bring to a boil. Once the mixture is boiling, add the cornstarch and stir... the cornstarch will be lumpy and that’s okay... use an immersion blender to mix everything really really well. Add the milk, cream, half of the corn and half of the potatoes. Use the immersion blender again just for a short amount of time – about 10 seconds. Add the remaining corn and potatoes and heat through but do not bring to a boil.

Garnish with shredded cheese, green onions, chives and bacon bits if desired.

**I added 2 cans of corn and pureed most of the potatoes. I also LOVE cheese, so I used 1/2c super sharp cheddar cheese. I also used 1/2c lite cream and 1/2c skim milk and this chowder came out perfect! Maybe decrease the amount of pepper as Danny said it was a bit peppery. Oh and I also used or normal blender as we don't own an immersion blender and it worked just fine, just a little messy!**

And so it beings...

2009-03-26T09:59:00.000-04:00

...the baby boom of 2009. We knew that this was coming, but it still takes you by surprise.

Tuesday night my friend Nichole had her twin girls delivered via c-section sometime around 8pm. They named their daughters Jillian and Allison. I know Allison's middle name (Michelle) but last time I spoke with Nichole Jillian's middle name was a toss up between Grace and Irene. Both girls and Momma are doing well in Portland, ME!!

I then find out that my cousin Jen gave birth to her 4th son in Nome, Alaska yesterday morning at 6:59am AKDT (which is 10:59am EDT). His name is Justus Parker (Justus is pronounced like Justice and is German for Justin. It's pronounced YOOS-tus in Germany.) , Just like his brothers he will be called by his middle name so we will call him Parker. Originally his middle name was Pavian, but then they were told that Pavian means baboon in German.

Go ahead, google Pavian...the first thing you will see are pictures of baboons. I'll wait...

Yeah, so they didn't think that their son would like to be called a baboon for the rest of his life, thus the name change!

Now we're waiting for a ton more babies to come along - I believe the next one will be Baby Drew Christian - his Daddy is the Uncle of Parker!!

Just found out that this weekend we're heading up to Plymouth, NH to pick up a hospital bed for Danny's grandfather. Ever since he was released from his last hospital stay, he's been sleeping in his chair at home because he can't lay down flat. Needless to say, Grandpa isn't getting much sleep, so since we have the big truck int he family we'll go pick up the hospital bed and then buy Gram a single bed, so both beds will fit in their bedroom. Then we'll move beds around in their house until Gram is satisfied. It was a sad time for Danny yesterday because he said that by us going to get this hospital bed, it means that his grandfather is dying. He's known this since November 2008, but this was what solidified it for Danny.

New Look

2009-03-18T15:36:00.001-04:00

So I think I have found a look that I like....what do you think?

My first few cakes....

2009-03-11T13:16:00.000-04:00

It all started in early 2008 and me wanting to learn how to ice a cake. No matter how many tubs of icing I would buy at the grocery store, I was never able to cover a cake. Never.

So I went to my local AC Moore store and signed up for the Wilton 1 class...and boy did I learn how to do more things than just ice a cake!

I now LOVE making and decorating cakes. I haven't experimented with Fondant that much, but I hope to change that soon because I believe that once I get the hang on fondant, anything is possible!

This was the first cake I decorated in class. As you can see, this cake was made the same week that Zoe flew up to visit us!!! It's a yellow cake with chocolate pudding filling and butter cream icing.

This cake I made for my friend Nichole's birthday. Again it's a yellow double layer cake with chocolate gnache filling (YUMMY!!!!) and butter cream icing. I still need to work writing on a cake, but this cake was DELICIOUS!!!

I made this during our Wilton 1 class....I knew that Danny's grandmother LOVED clowns, so while I was at home I added "Happy Spring" to the cake since it was sooo close to it being spring time and then we delivered it to her house!

This is Danny's Gold Star cake I made for him after he won a sales award for work. He works so hard and is so good at his job that both the award and cake were well deserved. He now has 2 plaques hanging up in his office for his amazing achievements at his job!

I have a made a bunch of cakes since I started taking the Wilton classes. I've completed the first 3 classes, now I just have to find time to take the 4th class. Eventually, when we have our house built, I'll frame and hang up my Wilton certificates. It was a lot of hard work for both me (decorating wise) and Danny (because he had to taste test everything before I could submit the cakes in class!).

Little by little I'll share all my cakes with you, even the ones people paid me to make. I'd love to make more cakes and sell them but I don't want to make this a full time job to take all the fun out of it. Maybe just something to do on the side for fun!

Babies Galore and One Very Special Baby Shower

2009-03-10T16:45:00.000-04:00

I don't know if you have noticed or if it's just this time in my life, but I know a ton of people having kids this spring.

It all started with my cousin Lorah who had her first baby in November 2008 and Hailey is just adorable!

Then in January 2009 my other cousin Arielle had her daughter Aaliyah.

But the best surprise of all was when our friends, Scott and Nichole (and their 5 year old son Collin), told us that they were expecting...twin girls!!!! They are due towards the end of April but they will be delivered in the next few weeks.

I had the wonderful honor of hosting a baby shower in their honor in January, well before her due date because we were all expecting that she would soon be on bed rest (she had a tough pregnancy with her first child).

The theme was going to be "Two Peas in a Pod" and I decided I was going to hand make most of the items that we wanted for the baby shower.

It was quite an undertaking, especially since most of these items were made during the month of December, at the same time I was making my Christmas cards (approximatly 75 cards had to be made for me) and Danny's grandparents Christmas Cards (I made 50 cards for them) and we invited about 85 people to the baby shower.

As I find pictures of everything I made for the baby shower, I'll post them, but for now here is a list with some pictures included:

Baby Shower Invitations
(if you are interested in the template I used to print off the text on the inside, let me know and I'll email it to you)

Thank you cards (I used my Cuttlebug to cut out the Thanks line of text for the front of the card)

The message on the inside of this card said:

Thank you for the gift
that we will soon see.

Mom says it's really great,
and you picked it just for us.

Mom is sending this card of thanks
because we have yet to arrive.

And even when we do, we won't write good 'til we're five.

Cupcakes
as a Thank you for coming to the baby shower

Baby Sock bouquets
as center pieces

Baby Shower Bingo
(I created approximately 52 Bingo cards with 1 baby item on each square, no card was a like. If you want that document, let me know and I can email it out to you!)

M&M Guess Game
(Fill up a bottle (or as many babies as Mom is having) with M&M's making sure you count how many M&M's you use. Who ever guesses the correct number (or closest without going over) wins the bottle as a prize!)

Baby Shower Cake
This was a 2 layer half chocolate half vanilla cake with the baby heads made out of vanilla cake. I used only butter cream icing for the entire cake (including the filling) with Nilla Wafers as the ears. To make the bow and hair, I used a hot glue gun to glue yellow yarn and a pink bow to skewers and then pushed the skewer through all layers of cake.

The shower was a huge sucess and the parents received many things that they need for when their precious girls are born!!!

Fruit Pies

2009-03-10T16:00:00.000-04:00

I made my first blueberry pie in August 2005 probably because blueberries were on sale at the store (yes, despite living on the New Hampshire boarder with Maine, I didn't go blueberry picking up here until I met my hubby). I gave this pie away, but before I did that I was smart enough to take a picture of it!

I think it came out pretty good! I am sure that Nichole and Scott really enjoyed it.

Ever since I moved in with Danny (February 2007, we got married June 2007) I have been baking him (and our neighbors and his family) fruit pies like crazy.

I really don't like fruit, let alone fruit pies. But I do love picking fruit. Every fall we go apple picking at a local orchard and at the same time we usually pick up a pumpkin if Danny's grandfather hasn't given us one by then. In the summer we go blueberry and raspberry picking. We really can't wait to get our house built so we can plant fruit trees and bushes.

Danny reaching for a high up apple this past fall, 2008.

These pumpkins were carved on our first Halloween together, October 2006. We didn't carve any this year because we were so busy, but we did get a HUGE pumpkin from Danny's grandfather to put on our deck step!

New Idea

2009-03-10T15:42:00.000-04:00

I have decided that it is about time that I put pictures of the cakes I've created onto a blog so everyone can see them, not just friends on MySpace.

So little by little I'll place pictures of the cakes I've made along with other crafts I've felt inspired to make.

Comments are greatly appreciated!

In my life time

2008-11-21T13:40:00.000-05:00

I found this on someone's blog and thought this would be fun.

So here's what you do, copy and paste this into your own blog or send to friends.

Put in bold type all the things you have done in your life so far.

Here's mine!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band - sang in a church's praise band my freshman year of college
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower - again while in college
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland /world
8. Climbed a mountain - many times at camp
9. Held a praying mantis - again at camp!!!
10. Sang a solo - many many times!!
11. Bungee jumped - I did something similar...3 of us were placed in something that looked like a canvas hotdog bun...I was in the middle and a friend on either side of me. Nan pulled the rip cord...and then we plundged 100 stories straight down, then the bungee cord caught us and we swung back and forth until I caught the rope and the ride was over...this was when my hs choir went to Canada in a music competition.
12. Visited Paris - many many times!
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea - happened recently with my parents, sister and hubby while we were doing a cruise out to some islands off the coast of NH/ME. There was a tornado warning just 5 miles south of us!
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch - I look at pictures of stuff and always try to do it. Sometimes it works out, but most of the time it doesn't!
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning - oh yes, spring semester of my freshman year in college...
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty - did this with Lance and his town's homeschool group - it was awesome!!
18. Grown your own vegetables - we gerw veggies in our garden growing up, but that was my Mom's garden. Once we have our house then I can have a veggie and fruit garden!!!
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train - but I have slept on a train over night...just not an over night train.
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice - but my Dad and I did ride on a water taxi in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person - I went to college that was like less than 2 hours from the falls so we went there often!!
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors - Louisanna, France, Italy, England, Canada...
35. Seen an Amish community - lived down the street from an Amish community!!
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied - this happened in college, it was wonderful!
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person - saw it with my Dad!!
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke - in Spain no less
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance - Just about 1 year ago...
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie - Quick Change was filmed next door to my Aunt's NYC apartment and we can be heard laughing during the shot done at the apartment.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle/moped
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car - did that in Feb 2008 - I love my Pontiac G6!!
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day