My Level 1 cakes

Well, as you may or may not know, I've been taking cake decorating classes at Jo-Ann's. This month was Level 1...four classes, two hours each. I was able to attend the first three classes, having to miss tonight's last class because of the stupid G20 making my husband work longer than usual. Grrrrrr.

Anyways, I've had requests for pics, so here they are. Remember that I'm a beginner!!!

So this was decorated during the last 15-20 minutes of the second class. No joke on the time given to decorate! I think only 2 of us "finished" the darned thing, and I only finished 'cause I was determined to have something to show for the hours spent making all that different colored icing. Everyone had to do the same pattern, but obviously the writing and colors of the rainbow were different with each person.




This was decorated during the last 25-30 minutes of the third class. What is up with not giving us more time to decorate?!?!? This project could either be a cake or cupcakes. Most did cupcakes. As you can see, it was a serious rush job, but I am proud of one thing. The cake "pattern" we were working from showed only the two clowns on top. I added the third....





.....climbing up the back of the cake. He's a little squished from the drive home in the car, but you get the point. Creative, I thought ;)










This is the cake we were supposed to decorate in class tonight. White with pink pastel roses. Ummm, pretty but not really up my alley. I decided over the weekend that I was going to do the same thing (pretty much) but in black and white instead. The teacher did say we could be creative and change the, ummm, color of the roses. Ha! Oh well!





So I timed myself as I sat at the dining room table tonight, and I decorated this cake in 25 minutes. Unfortunately, tonight was the night we were really going to learn how to make roses, and I could have desperately benefited from the instruction. I hate to say that I kind of half-assed this, but I did. I just wasn't feeling it...probably due to not being able to make it to class :(





In the beginning, I was worried that a black cake (black icing as opposed to sleek black fondant) would look unappetizing, but I think it looks good enough to eat.










I'm looking forward to being able to take Level 2 in October...and then Level 3 in November and Level 4 after that. So anyways, if you'd like a free cake made by a beginner, give me a call. I want the practice...and how can you beat a free cake?!? :)

Speaking of cake, I'm off to eat mine now...

One more vid and pic

I took both of these tonight. We have a sick baby...lots of boogies...and a permanently implanted finger...


..but that doesn't stop her from playing pretend with Daddy and loving every second of it. :)

Vids for the fam

I plan on catching up with this blog thing later this weekend but thought it would be best to post all the Raina vids separately. So here goes....enjoy, grandparents!

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This is Raina playing her favorite game of "zshih zshu!" That's "Get you!" in adultese. This one also shows her love of kissing boo-boos. It's amazing how a kiss can make it allllll better. Also, that run she does towards the camera in the beginning...she does that a lot. It creeps me out...reminds me of a zombie :)

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For several weeks now, Raina has been able to count to 10. Maybe this is what all kids her age can do...beats me...she's my first, so I'm clueless!...but it never fails to impress me when she does it. I have to coax it out of her in this video, but she counts spontaneously ALL the time. For example, we went to the playground yesterday, and she had to count to 10 every time before she'd go down the slide.

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Nothing much happening in this one...just her cool hand motion for when she says "move" and then a glimpse into the daily struggle of understanding what the heck she's trying to say.

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Very rarely does Va-Va make an appearance in a vid, but here I am. Whoopee. Chris blames Raina's love of being tickled (in the good way, not the Chinese torture way) on me. I love a good tickle :) This vid doesn't show it, but most times when you tickle Raina, she completely zonks out...eyes get all glassy, posture totally relaxes...until you stop, then she's pointing to where she wants tickled, grabbing your hand, and saying "more."

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And now for pics...

Here she is with all her friends and the backpack we have to carry around in order to make sure they go everywhere she goes.











Here she is at the train tracks. She loves trains. Lucky for us, we live within walking distance of the T.















Here she is riding the camel at the zoo...

















...and playing in the zoo's Kid's Kingdom.

















She found this huge leaf at the zoo and wouldn't let it go.

















I make this face, too, when I'm really enjoying my ice cream :)

I love you, craigslist!

So, I sold 7 old art books for $50 the other day on craigslist. Old as in had since college and never used...not old as in ancient and thus valuable.

The day before making this sale, I saw this long ad on craigslist...

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This is a large lot of baking and cake decorating supplies. Right now I am selling the enitre lot together. It includes:

New in Box:
***5 piece stainless steel mixing bowl set- was given to me and box is a little smashed but bowls are still in plastic wrap and appear fine
***The Friendly Lion shaped cake pan- paper instructions/ideas guide inside the pan is ripped, Wilton
***Christmas Tree Cookie Treat Pan- plastic wrapping is a little ripped off, Wilton
***Cooks and Chefs 10 Piece Gift SIlicone bakeware & Rack Set- these items were bought from the HSN and that's the box they come in. It includes 5 pans/molds and 4 chrome wire racks for the pans. The 10th piece, a spatula, is missing.
***Nonstick Cake-Sicle Pan- box has been opened but item never used
***Wilton Dessert Decorator- box opended but item never used
***Wilton Singles- Tree
***Wilton Singles- Candy Cane
***Wilton Singles- Snowflake
***Baker's Secret- Santa face Pan
***Wilton Bunny Pan
***Pampered Chef Bread tube- flower
***2 Baker's Secret- mini swirl pan, 1 has tags still attached and 1 does not
***2 Wilton Jack-o-Lantern (pumpkin) Singles
***1 pack of 50 Cars cupcake baking cups
***Wilton Cookie Stamp- bunny

Used- no box:
***3 small terra cotta look "flower pots"- these can be used to serve dips, etc... but originally came w/ a bueberry muffini mix kit.
***1 large of the same thing as above
***set of metal measuring spoons
***8 inch plastic layer holder for layer cakes, Wilton
***1 small round cake board
***1 cake slicer/leveler- cord looks twisted but pulls tight when in proper position
***Sugar Plum Decorating Kit by Wilton- older cake decorating kit w/one 12in pastry bag, 19 tips, 2 couplers, and 1 flower nail- all older but defintiely useable. this was givne to me so I can't say for sure that everything that should be in this kit is in fact there. I've listed what is included.
***Wilton Pumpkin/jack-o-lantern pan- thin so best used for cookie cakes
***Wilton Mini Pumpkin pan- makes 12 muffins, cupcakes, brownies, etc...
***Wilton Foaming mug cake pan
***2 mini heart cake pans
***candy mold- turtles- needs to be washed well
***candy mold- small hearts with arrows- also could use a good wash

Used- in box
*** Mini Bake and Fill kit by Betty Crocker- used once

New- no box
***4 Wilton Show- N-Serve cake boards 14in X 20 In
***10 Wilton cake circles boards for 8 or 9 inch round cakes
***Wilton flower cake pan- never used but no instruction sheet inside
***about 20 small blue plastic favor holders
***2 packs (8 each) jar toppers kit
***about 20 clear plastic bags for candy
***Candy mold- Blues Clues- have instruction sheet/paper backing but it came off so I didn't list it as "in box"

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All for only $45.

$45, people. OMG. In case you don't know, I'm taking cake decorating classes and my bakeware (what little exists of it) sucks big time.

Check out what I brought home today:


That's what I'm talkin' about!!!

It's perfectly natural to feel jealous :P