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What a Weekend, full of rats, cake bombs and more...

You never heard of a cake bomb? Well do you live under a rock or somting? A cake bomb went off in my kitchen this weekend.  It started like this.  With all my success of Cake making these days I was feeling like "I was all that"!!  The birthday cake for Kenzie birthday got big raves from the guests, the Rainbow Cake  was hailed by the crowds.  So I tell my friend who is hosting a baby shower {for our fearless Girl Scout Leader} I can make the cake...I'm down with that.  Have you seen my cakes lately..."I'm the bomb Chickca" I tell her.  Well check out this mess.................

well it turns out "I" was not the bomb making cakes but the Cake was a bomb and not in a good way.  I have the book Hello, Cupcake! by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson, which I love and has the greatest ideas in there for cute cupcakes. {you can see the cover in the top left hand corner of above picture}

 
I come across the Baby cupcakes I see inside the book and decide I can do that and then while I'm at the Cake Decor store I come across the Giant Cupcake from Wilton's {i know my neighbor has one I can borrow} and I decide to make a Giant baby instead of cupcakes.  I buy a fake bottle and a diaper pin so I don't have to make that and that will cut down on the time to make them/it. Plus making a giant baby cake is easier then frosting 15 to 30 cupcakes and decorating them.  While I'm there I see some Bavarian Creme...ahh yes..let's put Bavarian Creme in the middle...then I get another brainstorm, she is having a Safari Theme in her nursery so why don't I do a Giant Monkey..they look sort of like babies.  I can use some big wafer cookies for ears and brown frosting.for the fur and wa-la a Baby Monkey Cake.  On Friday I start making my 9 in cakes and my Giant Cupcake {for the monkey head} Everything is going good.  I wait for them to cool a good long time.  Pop the first layer out and put it on my cake stand. This is were the fun starts!   I add the Bavarian cream and then plop the second layer on top...it starts to crack and break apart into three pieces.  I yell at Mr. Incredible to come get the bamboo skewers to stab it.  It is no use, it starts to slide off the top. I scrap the top layer off and I decide to make another layer, maybe I did not cook it long enough and it's too soft.  I put that layer on top...it does the same exact thing. 

      here is the first layer

I feel like I'm in an I Love Lucy episode, where she is on the conveyor belt and eating all the candy because she can't wrap them fast enough.  I was trying to cover it up with butter cream frosting to stick it together, it just made it heavier, then I put the Giant cupcake on top and that did it...it slid off the top and on the counter..

I was now without a cake and I have a soccer game first thing in the morning and I hope...Cost-Co will save my butt and have a cake.  In the end, they do save my butt along with Martha Stewart.  I get a Chocolate Cake and add some Safari Stickers {Martha's line at Michael's} and call it "good".  A cake that I should of cost me about $20.00 to make, cost almost $70.00 bucks!!

Meanwhile....while I'm trying to "decorate" this cake my daughter comes in to tell me there is a rat climbing the wall....we have a brick wall in the back with and Orange tree so I assume she is talking about that wall behind the Orange Tree.  I go outside in my towel  {flashing the neighbors as this itty bitty towel doesn't cover all of me} and the bugger is not climbing the wall by the Orange Tree but climbing the wall of our house next to the back door.

"Mom, mom he is shaking!!" she is very upset. {the lover of all creatures great and small} The dog  and the cat, who by the way can't stand each other are at the bottom of the wall in cahoots in catching this creature.  Mr. Incredible finally comes home and rescues it and lets it go near the Orange Tree and we bring all the "killers" in the house.  The next day comes and I need to wash uniforms for the afternoon soccer games {since my daughter has pizza all over it from the night before from the Galaxy game we went to}I go to grab the tide and SCREAM!!  Mr. Incredible thought I was having a heart attack and walks to the garage.

 
I guess since It was my Birthday, Mudge {the cat} did not want me to feel left out and brought me a gift.  OH, ain't he thoughtful!   If you are still reading this Kudos to you.   What a crazy weekend.   Glad it is Monday so I can have some peace!! Want some cake?

thank you

 
What a great start to my Birthday weekend.  YesterdayI worked a half day and"my homies" at school bought me lunch and a cake to celebrate my 46th Birthday.  They are so thoughtful, even though I'm not really part of the staff at the school they make me feel like I belong there and am one of them.  It was a great lunch, I had Chicken Enchiladas, from the best Whole in the Wall restaurant in these parts.  When I got home..this is what greeted me on my Garden Bench....

 
Can you tell I'm in love with the Lady Banks climbing yellow rose plant?  It has a faintsweet smell to it.   And look at all the other goodies too...a cute shabby chic iron soap dish with a bar of Lavender soap.  Lemon lotion which smells so yummy I want to eat my hands when I put it on.  Thank you Renee!!  I love all my gifts...I can't wait to start planting, Spring is here!

and Thank you "my homies"!!  you guys are the bestest friends a girl could have!!  I'm really lucky to have such great friends..I really, really am. 

Somewhere Over the Rainbow....

Last week was a busy one for me, I worked everyday {as a substitute teacher} except Wednesday but that day I was busy with preparing for St. Patrick's Day festivities at the Mader household .  The day did not go as exactly as planned.  I got a text that they were changing practice to that night on account the fields would be closed on Thursday.  I had  a big Irish {by the way we don't have a lick of Irish in us} meal planned as I always have done every year since my girls were babies.  I bought my Corn-beef ,Cabbage, Red Potatoes and planned on making a Rainbow Cake in the spirit of March 17th.  We never got to sit down as a family to eat our traditional Irish dinner, boo hoo.  I did however grab a picture of the Rainbow Cake.  I got the recipe at Whatever { here from Meg.  }Blog.   Meg loves color and has a vivacious clan of 5 children, yes I said 5! Check out her recipe for Stuffed Shells, I copycat that too.   

To make the rainbow cake you need to use White Cake Mix {2 boxes} and the Icing Tints from Wilton's.  I goa variety box of all the colors you see above at Michaels for about 8 dollars using my 40% off coupon.  Using the tints instead of food coloring gives you a  very vibrant colorful rainbow cake. 

 
   {above picture from Whatever Blog} 

If you have the luck of the Irish and you have 6 cake pans you divide the batter into them evenly since I'm not Irish and lucky I have only two cake pans and had to cook them by 2's, let them cool and pop them out.  I will definetely be making this cake again and so I'll be picking up some more cake pans to make this easier..

 

Here is the outside of my Rainbow Cake.  I used Tracey's Butter-Cream Frosting Recipe  and added tiny green shamrocks on top.  It was very very delicious and moist. 

The day also contained the annual hunt for the "pot of gold".  Read the story here.

   

Spring Cup

Last weekend my daughter Madison's soccer team won Spring Cup in Anaheim, Calif.  They have not had a whole lot of wins this season BUT they really are a very good team when they want to be.  We are very proud parents and it is wonderful to see them win.

Here they are walking on the field for the championship game and high fiving the team from Las Vegas.  They beat out another team Chelsea to play in the championship game, who had only one tie and 13 wins the whole year , they are even moving up to Silver.  

to say the least, they were very happy winning that trophy..they were all fighting to see who was going to take it home...

Great job Ladies..we are very proud of you for your hard work and effort! Go United!!!!
  

Once upon a time...

 in a land far, far away in Bloglandia....Princessa Gabriella found her castle, er I mean her Country Farmhouse. 

Yes.. The Princess {meaning me} has found my castle {It's a Cottage Cutie Pootootie of a Farmhouse} ahhh but it is not for sale.

 
There are so many creative souls out in blog-land and sometimes clinking on link after link you come across a blog that stops you dead in your tracks, that happened to me last week when I found the above Farmhouse.  After clicking on link after link and one minute I was at The Nester's Blog  and the next I found myself at the above  Gorgeous Country Home  that made my heart go pitter pat when I saw it.  Sometimes I love the outside of a home but the inside will Not grap my heartstrings..this one gave me one huge tug and knocked me off my chair!!  The owners of this beauty  are a young couple that built this New {Old looking Farmhouse} from scratch.  Yes people they are that good.  The architecture plans they drew up themselves, talk about talent.  I love every single thing about it and I think you will too!!  Want to take a peek?  I knew you would.  Here are some of my favorite pictures from the owners...Thank you Beth for letting me share.  Not only are your decorating skills to die for, your jewelry making skills A one but your photography rivals any magazine.

 
Look at it's wide front porch above,  I think this could make the cover of Country Living Magazine, don't you? Can you see that chandelier up there? Love it!...I want to live on that porch. Do you think Beth would mind if I move there for the summer? 
or the back pergola which when they do some planting I could easily see fragrant dripping Wisteria hanging from the beams..while you dine on this rustic table and chairs eating a nice summer dinner. Blissful I say!!

 
I love the window box with the bump out window with beautiful flowers cascading down with shots of color.  

Rustic pealing paint plant with a variety of plants inside.

 See that small ironstone creamer without a lid..I have one..so I think it was meant to be..I should live here...I'll take that sink/butcher block counter any day.  I'm not a granite kind of gal.   You can have it. 

 
Garden Chairs even work perfect for a table set for the holidays...

Is that sconce not exquisite??? be still my li'l heart.

  Love the turqouisey rusty-crusty of the scale. 

Beth has a shop called Patina White , up in Minnesota where her Farmhouse is located but she sells her wares out of a tumble down building.  I wish she had an online store...I think she would do very well and I think I'd be her number one customer.  She has beautiful things she re-purposes from junk to treasures.  She makes one of a kind jewelry too.  These were just a few of the pictures I "stole" from her website but go have a look around..you'll love her Laundry Room and Craft Room.   She is the Queen of her castle. 

Thank you again for letting me share....I really love your humble farmhouse home, it looks so cozy and welcoming.  

Retail Therapy..it's good for the soul

You might of guessed from last post that it is not an easy decision and when I feel a bit "stressed" I head to the local antique store, Goodwill or Marshall's /TJ Maxx/Homegoods.  I don't think I go crazy...if I went off the deep end..I'd head to the nearest Apple store and pick up one of these babies in White , it doesn't matter to me so much if it has all the gadget, just as long as it is in my "signature color"...or really, really off the deep end I'd drive home in one of these in white too!!  But I think I'm relatively tame but that is all relative too in who is giving their opinion.  Here are some cute things I've picked up that have caught my eye and have me thinking  of my situation where I need to take the Lemons I've been dealt with and make some Lemonade.  Would you like some Lemonade too?

Some Ruffle cute Daffodils from Trader Joes..they are a bit spent since I got them last week and finally today I got a picture of them.  They sit in a Mint Julep cup, I got at the Goodwill awhile ago.  The M was a gift from my neighbor down the street .  The Crystal Lamp..was my Mother's and my absolute favorite of all my lamps.  These item found a new home sitting on my {MacKenzie's old } desk.  She got a vanity someone was about to put on the curb.  When I can move furniture and paint again..that puppy is getting a new paint job..the vanity that is not the desk I like it all chippy and creamy white.

 
This dusty old lamp I picked up at the neighborhood junk market {antique store} .  I thought the shade had a nice shape and I love the ruffles.  Not too sure about the print though..looks a bit dated. 

The base is very heavy and it's a nice distressed creamy white.  We do need more lamps in the house so it was good buy at 7 dollars.

While at the Antique store I was attracted to this mini Windsor Chair.   I have been slowly collecting mini chairs.  Do I see a new collection going on? I like these, especially the heart one and wouldn't mind adding one more or three to the growing Mini chair collection. 

I think this shabby chic bucket looks perfect on it with a pretty rose colored plant on it.

 Can you see the mini Adirondack chair under these new sunny yellow shoes? See I have 3 chairs so that must mean I have a collection of them, I also have a bench that need painting, it is a mini too. Those sunshiny shoes were so adorable and Ruffles are so in!!  Not only are those babies happy shoes they are comfortable.  I got them at Payless for 19.95 smakarooes.  They had them in silver too.  I would of liked them in other colors, maybe red or white. 

They have a cork heal and best of all I can walk in them!  I think when it is spring I'm thinking of the sun and am enamored with all thing yellow cause look what came home with me yesterday...

 An Apron!!  Not only did they have this cute Apron at TJ Maxx they had them in other colors, blue, green and some have aprons in vintage style prints. I was able to restrain myself and get the apron with some potholders to match.

It did my soul some good to get out and see the cute things that are in the shops for spring.   It did me good to do a little shopping.  Somethings we needed and other things maybe not so much.  Hope you can do a little "therapy" too when you need it....they say it's cheaper then a psychiatrist and I completely agree, don't you?  Where is your favorite place to go when you need a little pick me up?
 

Edited to add,  I'm McLinking up to Show and Tell over at Cindy's Romantic Home have a gander of all the blog goodness over there.  I love her sweet little embroidered pin cushion heart.

Struggling with a decision...

I know there is a lot of people out there that are going through Breast Cancer {BC} or have gone through it.  I know there are a lot of people who have wonderful advice and I welcome all of it.  I have heard of the Alkaline diet and I have been slowly incorporating more Alkaline foods in my diet.  I have switched to distilled water, I eat more strawberries and broccoli.  I have slowly made life style changes to accommodate this "bump in the road".  I have stopped drinking Alcohol {it has been shown in studies that BC and Alcohol are linked}.  I did have one drink last Friday night of Sangria at a Jewelry party at my neighbors's house.  That is it..since Christmas Eve I have not had a drink.  That is not my vice...Sugar is!!  I'm addicted to Sugar!!  I was doing very well until I got a "diagnostic" test back on Tuesday from my Oncologist.  Then every Girl Scout Cookies was eaten, Cake was devoured from Birthday party, Sugar Free Ice Cream Sandwiches vanished!!  Naughty, naughty.  

Back to the test, This test is called a Oncotype Test and it test 21 genes in your body, by the way this little test cost $4,000 dollars!!   Yep, you read that right.   What it does it places you in one of three categories, Low {you won't benefit from Chemo} Intermediate {both you and your doctor discuss it} and High {you will benefit from Chemo}.  Well..it was not so black and white..I fell into the Intermediate Level.  Which in a nut shell I have a 8% chance that my cancer will reoccur WITHOUT Chemo.  It's about 3-4% Less than that if I have it.  I was NOT at all thrilled with my Medical Oncologist {first time I met her}.  I sat there with my boob in my hand trying to take notes while she told me all of this IMPORTANT information.  She was very inattentive to my needs.  Like I said I pulled something in my surgical breast and it is very painful when not in a bra, I told her that.  Anyways...I have been talking with women who have had BC and what they did, every case is different so it's basically up to me.  I did not have it in my Lymph Nodes and my tumor is Stage One, Grade 3. {that is how hyper it is} on a scale of 1-3.  I am struggling with making my decision on whether to precede with treatment or not.  My oncologist would prescribe that I do this for 4 cycles of Chemo and 3 weeks.  So I would have treatment up until July.  It would be intravenous and you KNOW how I feel about needles...remember this post,   AND yes I would lose all of my hair and I'll blow up like a OOMPA LOOMPA because I'll be on steroids!!   If I wanted to be the next Weightlifter of America..I would have Gym Membership and go pump iron.  All that losing weight for nothing!!  Not an easy decision so IF you have some insight I would greatly appreciate it....leave a comment or email me I promise I read them all and I try to respond in a timely manner.    

I don't think I'll win any Cake BOSS challenges...

ha!!! Well here is the Cake I made for my Littliest one...she wanted a Funfetti Center with Buttercream frosting.  I had some cake tints in pink and turquoise leftover from last year when I made this cake .  I added some pearl colored perils on it for some added decorations.  I know it looks a little lopsided cause it is!  but it was delish if I say so myself.

Happy Birthday my Li'l One....