Random Ramblings From the Middle West...

Video that makes me stupid happy...

2006-10-08T14:55:00.000-05:00

OK, for some reason this just puts a big dumb smile on my face whenever I watch it. I think it has something to do with him skipping around in a strapless crocheted dress...

What's funny is...

2006-09-17T00:19:00.000-05:00

Later tonight, completely coincidentally, after posting the cake pics earlier under that particular title, Tom and I watched Eddie Izzard's "Dress to Kill," which is where that line came from. I love those little synchronicities...

Cake or death?

2006-09-16T19:28:00.000-05:00

Here's a quick rundown of all of the other cakes I've done since the first post...

This was the "package cake" that I did for my class...

These are the first and second iterations of the cake that I made for my aunt's birthday. Overall, this little project did not go particularly well. The filling that I used gooped out the bottom when I had first covered the cake with fondant. Then I took the fondant off and made up a batch of buttercream, but for the life of me I could not keep the crumbs out. Then I did it with the yellow flowers on top, decided that I wanted to do something more, and added the yellow sotas and the blue flowers. Which looked pretty good. And then something dreadful happened in the car, and the whole thing was smooshed up against the side of the carrier when we got to her house for dessert. Such professionalism...but still yummy!

Then there was the final cake that I made for the fondant class, which was also my first ever tiered cake. I was very happy with how this turned out. I was obsessed with those roses!

And this one is the latest, and the one I'm probably happiest about so far. It's taken from a book by Collette Peters, cake-decorating goddess of NYC.

It's feeling really good---in this area in particular, but also in other artistic endeavors---for the results to be turning out like what I think they're going to be. Like...my mental images of what I should be able to do are getting more and more accurate.

The next couple of weeks will be busy ones with this stuff... Janice and I are getting ready to enter a contest that could mean a big boost to the professional plans should either one of us be able to win. Pictures from that to come I'm sure...

It's official...

2006-08-30T15:34:00.000-05:00

I am now a Missus, courtesy of a trip to the SSA, the DMV, and then back to the SSA, because apparently anything involving the government must also involve such shenanigans. It kind of takes the wind out of the romanticality of it all (I still think you should just be able to check a box on your marriage license, then voila), but it's another formal step in cementing the bond, so I'm all for it. Now I'm able to do all manner of other name-changing paperwork, with the bank, and all of the utilities, and credit cards, and on and on. Hot diggity! Although I think that's going to be a long, slow process. Basically I just need to make sure that the bank will recognize either name (or both names), as I kept my maiden name as part of my official, legal name. So yes, it's another happy step in becoming a married couple, but I think it'll still just take a little more time to mentally transition to it. I had 31 years with the original name, I think I get a bit of a learning curve...

Picking out a puppy...

2006-08-27T23:17:00.000-05:00

So we helped my parents pick out a new dog this afternoon. They're getting one that's half cockapoo, half shihtzu, so all kinds of good stuff in there. And freaking adorable. We really should have taken some pictures, but goodness knows we will when she gets home. My dad wants me to name her since I named the first two dogs, which I think is extremely sweet. So far I'm liking Bella and Stella most of all. Molly is cute, too, although I like that for a possible baby name, so maybe that should be on reserve. Although, man, it would be really cute for her. Hmm. Heidi is good. Also Annie and Lucy. Will run these by the folks. Yay for puppies!

The Vacant Lot on YouTube!

2006-08-27T23:06:00.000-05:00

OK, I loved this stuff and totally remember it from years ago, basically word for word. Awesome.

Blinded By The Light
Slept On His Arms Last Night
Knee Slap

Just getting into the swing...

2006-08-23T00:07:00.000-05:00

Hmm. I'm starting this one so that I can post pictures. Let's see how this puppy works.

Since I'm all cake-decorating obsessed at the moment, I'll put up some pics of the cakes I've done.

Here's the first one that I did with bags and tips and all that fun stuff...

And here's the one that I made for my friend Kris when he was leaving for China, also my first fondant cake. The Internet tells me that those symbols mean "good luck" and "good fortune," all that kind of well-wishing stuff...

I'm taking a fondant class and have another one from that to put up, also I'd like to add pictures of all of the flowers that I've learned how to make. Plus next week is our final cake, so I'm looking forward to working on that.

The plan is to exchange web design services for private cake decorating lessons with the teacher of the class that I have now... Can do... :)