The things we learn the hard way!

Okay... so I totally love to bake.... but I am still pretty novice in the world of making 'decorated' cakes, which was completely evident when I worked on making a baby shower cake and 5 dozen sugar cookies this past week for my friend Christy's baby shower. Although I was worn out and a little stressed by the time the baking and decorating was over... all-in-all, it turned out to be a pretty good experience and I managed to have a little fun! :) And, most importantly... I learned A LOT... some of which was learned the hard way.

Here are the top 5 things I learned.....

5.) There's a reason I had never used shortening when making icing before (I'm a butter girl myself). It's basically the pits... Yes, it does allow you to make almost snow white icing... but for some reason I found the shortening not meshing well with my food coloring. While piping on the Giraffe's fur (see pic below) it was almost like little white specs appeared.... weird. I'm sticking to butter for now on!

4.) Dark non-stick cookie sheets burn the bottoms of your cookies! All my life I have used the darkly coated non-stick cookie sheets to bake cookies... but I can officially say that's now a thing of the past. I had a Target gift card I had been saving from my Birthday in July and decided to spend it on a set of 3 air-bake baking sheets. Ahhhhh.. no more burnt cookie bottoms! To put it in perspective... I baked the sugar cookies for 5 minutes on the dark cookies sheets and 8 1/2 minutes on the air bake.... Although it took less time on the dark... time saving was not worth the burnt bottom result.

3.) Planning actually works! I made a 'schedule' for myself so I could properly manage my time baking so many cookies and a large two layer cake. Since I work full-time, work out for an hour after work each day, attend Bible study and attend Ross's soccer games, I did not have a whole lot of time left over for baking; therefore, each night I made a check list of things I needed to accomplish. (i.e. mixing the cookie dough to let it refrigerate overnight, baking, mixing icing, icing cookies, mixing cake batter, baking the layers, assembling the cake and decorating.) It worked for the most part... at least until I ruined 2 of the 3 cake layers (see 2. and 1.). Always schedule in time to fix your mistakes!

2.) Always have the right tools at hand. As most know, when you bake a layered cake it is important to bake the layer, remove it from the pan and cool completely (top side up) on a cooling rack; therefore, as any baker would, I removed it from the pan, plopping it on a large cookie sheet and then went to flip it back over so it was sitting top side up on a cooling rack.... of course, it did not work because I did not have a cooling rack large enough. I thought that just putting two racks together would work just fine.... obviously I was wrong (and I even had a little feeling that I was wrong before I even tried.) The end result.... chunks of destroyed cake all over the kitchen table (layer number 1 destroyed). Trust your instincts... and never flip a cake onto 2 separate racks that you are trying to hold together.

(This is what the cake looked like after I picked up all of the pieces off of the table and put them in them back in the cake pan.... at least it still tasted good!)

1.) Sliding a 12 x 18 cake layer on top of another 12 x 18 cake layer is a 2 person job! Alas, the most important lesson learned. If the cake is not centered when originally slid onto the bottom layer... there's no use in trying to make it budge. After baking layer 3 (which was to be the top layer) I turned it over to let it cool and of course, a small portion of the cake stuck to the pan. I managed to 'fix' that problem but faced an even larger one when I did a very poor job of sliding the 2nd layer on top of the first... it was crooked and falling apart, which certainly was not going to work. End result: layer number 2 (the 3rd layer I baked) destroyed and in the garbage. (I did not take a picture of this phase because I really was stroking out at that point.) Always have a helper on hand to call upon if needed!

(A picture of Christy's crib quilt that I mimicked the cake after... and a picture of the final product! Along with a picture of Christy and I at the end of her baby shower.... I think the day turned out to be a success!)

Triathlon

Okay… so I’ve been a bad blogger lately. I can only blame myself, but will use my hectic work schedule at the beginning of the semester as an excuse. Hopefully, I’ll now find myself back on the track of being a regular blog updater!

TONS of things have happened since I last posted. Sam and I went on another incredible vacation to Washington State. I will honor our trip with a blog posting of its own soon. I’ve been as busy as a bee with church, baking, housecleaning/organizing, work (of course), exercising, and spending time with the family.

One of the more exciting events that occurred was Sam’s (and Jamie’s) participation in an Adventure Triathlon. (I chickened out!) The boys were required to kayak 2 miles, run 5 miles and mountain bike 15 miles. THEY DID SOOOOOOO WELL!!! They completed it MUCH faster than any of us expected! It was great to cheer them on… it also made me regret my decision to not participate myself!

I am so very proud of both Sam and Jamie, especially Sam. I know how hard he as worked to get into shape. It’s a very gutsy thing to do when you’ve never done it before… He’d never run 5 miles at one time and only kayaked for the first time the Wednesday before.

Here are some pictures of the outstanding Adventure Triathlon Athletes in action!!!

Here they during the Kayak leg of the race… notice Sam is the only one in a tandem kayak… which weighed about 80 lbs more than the single ones! He said he borrowed that one to use so he and I could go for a paddle later on that day. (Which we did and I TOTALLY loved… we are now using our Can Collecting Fund to save up for a Kayak purchase!)

I was only able to take 1 photo of them running because they finished about much earlier than I expected! I took some photos of them on the moutian bike trail... but they did not turn out so well; therefore, I just included a shot of them riding to the finish! :)

Ray's many looks..

(The startled look and then the Koala Bear Look, as Sam likes to say.)

Ahhh... being an Aunt is absolutely FABULOUS!!! While celebrating Father's Day at Mom and Dad's this past weekend I got to soak up some niece and nephew time, which I always look forward to. Ray, being a little over 4 months old now, is sooo snuggly and cute. After hamming it up for the camera a few times, he ended up falling asleep in my arms... and I loved it!

(Hamming it up, then moments later sleeping like Aunt Amanda did when she was a baby.)

A Day of Digging....

Over the past few months we discovered that the bottom portion of the addition to our house (Sam's soon-to-be workshop) was being infiltrated by unwanted water!! The individuals who built the addition did not quite get the drainage squared away properly, which has resulted in groundwater and rainwater seeping through. Therefore, Sam took it upon himself to 're-dig' the drainage trenches, while the building people paid for the backhoe (sp?). I was actually surprised at how well Sam operated it! He would have been done in one day if large tree stump had not gotten in his way and slowed him up. Anyway - while we had the digging machine Sam thought that Ross might want to come and 'help' for a little while - seeing that Ross is the typical 6-year old boy that LOVES farm and construction equipment! Ross was in full-fledged concentration mode while he dug, scooped, moved dirt and navigated the backhoe around our backyard.

Fishing Derby

Have you ever heard of a Fishing Derby?? Well - being the daughter of a Fisheries Biologist in charge of a Fishing Derby, I was able to experience one first-hand this past Saturday. Basically, kids of all ages are able to fish for free (without a license) for a few hours out of the Hatchery's stock ponds. And let me tell you - kids (and parents) came from all over to partake in the fun-filled day of fishing. Since dad was in charge, he asked if I'd be interested in taking photos for documentation purposes... which I thought would be kinda fun.

Sam and I arrived at the Hatchery around 6:30am and witnessed the families flood in (btw, some were already there when we arrived - mind you the event did not start until 8:00). Nik and Jamie brought Ross, Hannah and Ray out for the occasion as well. I had to force myself away from them because once they arrived, I found myself only taking their pictures!!! :)

All in all, it was a really fun day. Ross and Hannah both won door prizes (fishing poles and gear) and Sam and I both decided that when we have kids and they are old enough to hold a pole, that we'll take them to the Fishing Derby too.

Celebrating 5 years...

(Pictures taken while hiking at Natural Bridge)

As many of us can attest, marriage is not always easy, it's not always fun, but it can definitely be one of the best things in life. I was fortunate enough to marry Sam 5 years ago in May and have had him by my side as my best friend ever since. Before I was married I used to lay in bed at night and wonder if I already knew (was acquainted with) the man I was going to marry.... it seemed so odd to me that I might be friends with, neighbors, in class with or perhaps had just passed the man on the street without even knowing that I would be spending the rest of my life with him! Those days are long gone and that question was answered long ago and now Sam and I spend each day discovering along side one another what life has to hold for us.

My FAVORITE thing about being married is the fact that I will always have someone to share my time with. Even though we certainly do not do everything together, we know that the option is always there. Fortunately, Sam and I do have a lot of common interests, even though we are VERY different in many aspects. Since we've been married we've both discovered our soft-spot for KY State Parks! We love them!!!!!! Therefore, I thought it would be fitting to visit a couple while we took a few days to get away, relax, and celebrate our 5th year anniversary! We had a WONDERFUL time.... :)

First 5K

(After the race - notice my really red face!)

This past weekend Sam and I completed a 5K race in Maysville. It was the first 5K I actually ran and the second for Sam. (I walked in one last August.) I am happy to say that we both completed the race and met our personal goals.

Mostly, I just wanted to actually run the entire race without walking at all. My second goal was to complete the race in less than 30 minutes. I am quite pleased that I was able to accomplish both of my goals! I ran the entire time and finished in 29 minutes and 50 seconds! I know that is far from a stellar performance, but for a girl who had never ran in a race before (or even really officially trained) I thought it was an accomplishment. I do have to say that I think I might become addicted to the racing scene now. There is some sort of excitement in the air on race day - I had felt a little of it before when going to races or marathon's with my Dad... but it’s a little different when you plan to participate yourself, rather than just watch and cheer.

It was a really great day (despite the rain at the end). It was great for Sam and I to do something like that together and I really enjoyed the fact that my Dad went with me. I could tell he was excited to have another runner in the family, even if it was just for the day. It was something special for a father and daughter to share:)

Tomorrow the Wellness Center is having another 5K - and Sam and I are thinking of participating in it as well.... I think the Maysville 5K may have been the start of an entire new exercising chapter of my life, which I think I'll enjoy.

(Sam, grinning like an opossum at the start:) (Me, cruising along and ready to finish!)

Mission Accomplished!!!!

As miraculous as it may sound, my painting project has been completed!! After two coats of paint on the ceiling, two coats of primer on the walls, two coats of green paint, two coats of cream paint, the purchase, sizing and installation of chair rail (plus two coats of paint on the chair rail), and installation of new outlets/light switches, the room is 98% complete!!!!! All I have left to do is paint the closet doors, window/door trim, and baseboards!!! All I can say is Hooray!

I almost cannot believe that we were able to get so much accomplished! Mom, Dad, Nik and Sam all helped with the project - and Mom has promised to help with the trim painting too! (That's her specialty.)

Now we just need some furniture...... lol


Per Angela's request (and because it's fun) you can see the 'before' pictures above and the 'after' pictures below!!!

Tagged...

10 years ago: I was 16 and had just gotten my driver's license. I was in my junior year, which turned out to be my least enjoyable year of high school. Speech team practice and competitions took up the majority of my time.... as well as being a member of the soccer and track teams. I loved to play soccer and spend time with my friends.

5 things on my list to do today: 1) Workout at the Wellness Center 2) Fix supper 3) Watch the Biggest Loser 4) Work on my Thesis 5) Go to bed early!

5 snacks I enjoy: 1) Dry-roasted unsalted Almonds 2) Toast w/strawberry jam 3) Plain animal crackers 4) Fruit (of any kind!!) 5) Whole Wheat crackers

What would I do if I were suddenly made a billionaire? Pay-off all of our debts (house, car, student loan, etc.). Finish all of our unfinished home improvement projects! Pay-off all of my family's debts. Open a Bakery (and subsequently quit my job as a FA Counselor!) Buy property in the great state of Washington. Invest! Donate to charities and set up endowments. (Ahhhh... how different life would be! haha)

5 places I have lived: 1) Morehead, KY. 2) Lexington, KY 3) Crescent Springs, KY. 4 & 5) Who knows where life will take us next! :)

5 jobs I have had: 1) Upward Bound Tutor Counselor (MSU) 2) Residence Hall Director (MSU) 3) Data Processing Specialist (NKU) 4) Enrollment Services Specialist (MSU) 5) Financial Aid Counselor II (MSU)

3 things you don't know about me:
1) I absolutely hate talking on the phone and always have - to anyone really (friends please don't be offended:). I love to email though!
2) I love to bake/cook and (as mentioned above) would love to open my own bakery. (I am obsessed with recipes - so if you have good ones, please send them my way!)
3) I get REALLY grumpy when I'm hungry! (I think I inherited that from my Dad!)

I tag: Leslie G.

Paint!

After over 2 and a half years of living in our house and knowing that I needed to paint our back bedroom, I finally went and purchased paint for the project last night. Of course, the only reason why I ended up doing it was because we had a $20-off coupon! haha Anything to save money I suppose. In my defense, I could never conjure up enough nerve to actually choose colors - knowing that I once I bought the paint I couldn't change my mind (unless I wanted to waste money - which is a no no).

I decided that painting (or having Sam paint) the back bedroom would be a perfect 'Spring Break' project. I have also decided that I might be able to solicit some help from my mom, as she will be off as well. All I know is that I need to get the room painted - right now it has purple and pink walls and a very pink ceiling. I am actually surprised that I have been able to survive having a room that color in my house for this long! (Of course, it is not really a room that we use at this point.)

Trying to plan ahead a little, I decided on painting the bottom portion of the walls 'Lyndhurst Spring Eve' aka a shade of sage green, the top portion of the walls 'Soft Cream', and the ceiling white (which one would think would be a no-brainer - but I don't think the previous owners of our home admired white ceilings because I the house has none.) I chose the colors so that if the room were to be used as a baby's room, it could accommodate either a boy or a girl. And, until a baby arrives, it can be used as a fairly neutral guest room.

When it's finished I'll post pictures - which will hopefully be in less than a month. (Knowing me though, it end up taking a little longer! :)