Another wreath for spring

I think I'm making another one like this for my Mom.  She's keeps looking at the one I have hanging in my dining room.  Since her birthday is coming up next week I better get started.

I'm so ready for Spring!!!

Here are two wreath I made getting ready fro spring.  This one is on my front door. 

This one goes on the door at work. 

This one I made for a cousin.

Party with Papa John

My step-father turn 80 years old on Feb 24th.  Yesteday his daughter, my mother and I had a little celebration for him at my house.  Of course I say "little" with sarcasm.  We ended up having an open house instead of a party and the little turned out to be about 100 people. Yes, there were  100 people in by house between the hours of 3pm - 8pm.  Believe it or not there is still a ton of food left.  My job beside providing the location was to make cupcakes and sides.  For the side I made potato salad, pasta salad, fresh fruit salad with honey, lime and balamic vinegart dressing.  Relish tray and vegetable trays.   I was most proud of the cupcakes.  I made just about 200 cupcakes with buttercream icing.  The cupcakes themselves were "semi-homemade".  I used box mixes with a little added touches of my own.  But the icing was completely from scratch.  We had chocolate espresso with chocolate espresso kaluha frosting, vanilla with dreamsicle frosting and classic red velvet.  Thanks to my daughters Amanda  for helping with the frosting and decorating and Olivia her roommate Kayla for helping with the setup. 

Here are a few pics.

BTW, the cupcake stand is made from cake cardboard, scrap paper, and ribbon. 

Soooo much to do.

This month is my step father 80th birthday.  He's such a great guy.  My mom, his daughter and I are going to have an open house (at my house) to celebrate his birthday.  So far we've sent out over 50 invitations and expect to have about 100 people through the day.  We're going to have a small buffet and a dessert table.  Tonight I started baking the cupcakes we're going to serve.  There's going to be a mix of vanilla, chocolate and red velvet. I decided to make them ahead of time a freeze them.  I hope it's going to work.  Since the party is on a Saturday, I plan on taking them out of the freezer Thursady night.   We'll frost and decorate them Friday.  I working on a cupcakes stand in the a blue and brown color them.  I'll take pics of the stand when I start putting it together.  Plus the cupcakes when we start decorating them.  Wish me luck.

New Year,New Day.

Tonight was the first meeting of the year for our Weight Watchers meeting.  I missed the last meeting of the year but I made it tonight.  I was so sure I'd gained at least 5 lbs since I didn't count a since point during christmas.  To my surprise I lost .2lbs.  Makes me wonder what would have happened if I had paid more attention to my eating habits.  We'll see next week, won't we.

On another note.  My middle child heads back to college tomorrow from a six week break.  Our son will be an only child again.  Oh, BTW, his 16th birthday is Tuesday.   Can't wait for the stress of teaching him to drive with those size 14 feet.  All I know is he's not driving my Edge.  No way!!!

Resolutions - Here's to 2011.

Aahh, after the last post you'd think one of my resolutions would be to stop playing Angry Birds....NOT!

Here are my resolutions for 2011.
1.  Become healthier, ( I'd like to say lose weight but I know I'll fail at that.)
2.  Become more involved with church.
3.  Finish my degree program.
4.  Ask for a promotion prior to my next evaluation (which isn't until October).


Everyone has resolutions.  We all want to lose weight or stop some bad habit we have.  I just want to be a healthy happy person.  Here's to 2011.

Susan

Angry Bird

I have become addicted to that silly mobile game Angry Birds.  I blame my kids. They showed it to me and  now I'm hooked.  I fear it's going to interfear with the homework.  I'll play till my the battery runs out on my phone.  aaggghhh!!!! 

Paper Cone Wreath

Here is a wreath I've been working on for a while.  I kept running out of scrapbook paper and the only place to get my pattern was at Hobby Lobby.  Unfortunately it's not very close so I don't get there often.  I took two different patters and one solid color, rolled them each in cones folded the bottom and stapled then closed.  The green was cardstock and it didn't want to stay in a cone, but after some tape, hot glue and staples I got the cone I wanted.  After making all the cones, I glued them to in alternating order in a circle. I did this in three layers of cones and then glued a hydrangea to the center.  I thought it turned out really nice.
It's rather large but it works on the wall in the corner of my dining room.  I may move it to my stairway wall. 

For Christmas I had a little work done on myself.

I guess you could call it an early Christmas present.  I had a breast reduction.  You see, I was blessed on both sides of my family with extremely large mammory glands.  Extremely Large hooters.  I mean huge people.  I was spilling out of a DDD sized bra.  Too embarassed to get a bigger one.

Well one day I decided to go to the Dr and just see what it would take or what I would need to do to have surgery to reduce my size.  I though for sure I would be turned down by my insurance company because I'm not a small woman.  I'm 5'5" and weigh about 270lbs.  As a matter of fact the Dr did say at one time that losing weight would decrease by breast size but even that wouldn't decrease them enough.  The first thing she said when she came in the exam room was, "my you are big".  She was talking about my breast.... I think?? 

Anyway, long story short, insurance approved the surgery.  No co-insurance, no co-pays, nothing out of pocket.  However, I had until Dec 31st to have the surgery.  Not a good time for some people but perfect for me I guess.  On Dec 1 I had over 8 lbs of  breast tissue removed from my chest.  I'm not sure what size I'm going to end up at because I'm still pretty swollen but I love it so far. 

I'm going to try and get back to work by Dec 11th.  It seems there's always a little drama when I go out of town or take time off from work.  It's time I get control over my office and my life.

Why is it when I think I have things under control and everyone is content I'm wrong.  Maybe I'll get it figured out next year.  2011 here I come.

A sample of my indoor fall decorations

I add to my collection of pumpkins at the end of the season.  I love Hobby Lobby's selection and their prices are great.  Several of my ceramic pumpkins and gourds I got last season of $2-$3.  Even my husband can't complain about that.  He tries, but I don't listen. 

Here are some pics of my works in progress.

My collection of Hobby Lobby pumpkins.  You'll see some amber moon and stars dishes throughout the pics.  They were my grandmothers.

My display cabinet.  Most of the old glass and dishes are from my grandmothers collection and snow globes by mother who decided my husband needed to start collecting them.

(don't ask)





 I love my  fireplace and the floating mantel.  It's a  pretty good sized fireplace but the mantel isn't all that deep so I have to be creative.  You really can't layer anything without the risk of it falling off. 

These next few pieces of furniture actually belong to my sister in law.  They were her mothers (my mother in law).  Long story short they've been in my dining room for over six years (since we built the house) and will probablly be here as long as we are. 

Notice the coffee filter wreath.  Love it. 

In case you can't tell, I really love pumpkins.  They never go out of style.

More old dishes.  It seems my family thinks I like to collect old dishes.  Don't get me wrong I do like the dishes, some of them very much so.  But finding places to put them can be tricky.  I've got so much stuff in the buffett that the bottom has fallen out.  I need to downsize but I don't want to hurt anyone feelings.

Anyway that's just the start of what I want to accomplish.  I'm off to make another wreath I saw on another site.  Hopefully this one will be big enought to hang over the bed in our guest room. 

I'll take pics when I'm done. 

Shew, I'm definitely out of practice.

I've been so busy with school these past few months I haven't had a lot of time to post anything.  I just finished submitting my analysis paper for my first 400 level college course in 24 years.  Right now I'm taking a class on Roman's and Galatians.  The two page paper I wrote was on one verse in Galatians.  My fear is I won't sound as collegiate as my fellow classmates.  So far I'm a straight A student, for the very first time EVER!!! 
I'm hoping to start a few projects this week.  It's fall break here and I'm taking a few days off to spend with my son and husband.  I have plans for at least two wreaths and setting up the dining room table.  It took me two hours to get my mantle just the way I wanted it.  I'll post pics of that later too. 
I have so much to catch up on.  There are pictures to upload and photoshop, crafts to make and the table to set.  I may need to take an extra day.  Shew, I'm already tired.

Sometime we never know why.

Yesterday I recieved a call from my mother telling me that a cousin who is only four months younger than me had committed suicide.  He left no note.  Unfortunately that leaves a lot of unanswered questions.  He had three children, two of which live with thier mother.  The third is in foster care for reasons not completely known to me.  It's not my place to judge him or ask the why's or what if's.  I'm am so very sorry that he felt life was not worth living any longer.  I'm even more sorry that we lost touch over the years. 
Part of me is angery with him for leaving his young son an orphan and letting his mother and sister find him that way.  Now they and his two other siblings are left to clean up the mess he left behind. My prayers will be for his family and children, this is going to be a long and difficult road.  
What have I learned?  Don't lose touch with the ones you love. 

Goodbye Mark.

Homework and Spaghetti Mondays!!

I have two major papers to write tonight and have posted by midnight EST.  One I'll get finished the other I probably won't make the deadline for.  Dang it!!!  It's not that I wait till the last minute, it just took me four days to finish the first paper.  I have one class that usually requires three papers a week.  So I finish two a struggle with the third.  Oh well, I'll get it done if I have to work all night.  My son has a baseball game tomorrow night and family is first. 
What else is on the agenda for the week.  Candy making.  Another food related contest at work next week and I'm hoping to make the following:  Mini candy apples, candy corn fudge, cinnamon hazelnut toffee and smores chocolate cups.  I'll take pics of the process and post them.  Wish me luck.

Sanders Sundays

 I hope we've started a new tradition in the Sanders family.  They will be called Sanders Sundays.  This is the second Sunday and our first rotation.  The  idea behind Sanders Sunday is to save money and spend a Sunday meal with family.  Not just our immediate family but with our brother and sister-in-law, nieces and great-niece.  Last Sunday we had baby back ribs and my house and today we had steak at the in laws. 
Next Sunday we're have a taco bar back here on Eminence Pike.    It good food and great company.  I hope we get to do it every week. 

Way cool for me!!

Yesterday I was featured on Texas Monkey for the cakes I made and posted earlier.  They were a real hit and so easy to make.  Thanks for the idea.

It's been a really long time since I'm posted an  update.  I been so busy.  I'm in my sixth online class trying to finish my bachelors degree.  August has been real hectic because a few of my classes overlapped and it was really hard to stay on track.  But I'm only taking one class now and though I have to write several papers, I have an entire week to complete them instead of four days. 

I haven't had much time to do any baking to cooking but I hope to get back to it soon.  My husband and I are trying to cut down the amount of times we eat out.  We were hoping to go an entire month without eating out but I had to go out of town for three days and the boys (my husband and son) couldn't stay away from Beef O'Brady's.  They love that place.  Since my meals weren't provided on my buisness trip I ate out too. 

We've manage to convince my sister and brother-in-law into joining us in our cost savings plan and because of this we intend to spend Sunday eating together.  Trading off on who's house we go to for dinner.  This way we can feel like we've eaten out and not spent as much money.  Last Sunday everyone ate at my house.  We served babyback ribs, green beans, cheesy potatoes, and fresh corn, oh and fresh cookies for dessert.  It was much better and less expensive then going out. 

I'm looking forward to this Sunday.   Maybe I'll make another barrel cake for dessert. 

The cake takes the prize

I made another barrel cake to enter into a cake and pie contest at work.  The cakes were judges on appearance by local dignataries. I was lucky enough to take second place. 

Here is the cake (cupcakes) that beat me.  They were adorable and so unique.

Kids, fleas and baseball

Olivia is finally home for the rest of the summer.  Just in time to help fight the flee situation in the basement.  Sunday we get to bath cats. 
I"ve heard from several people that it's a bad flea season, well when  you animals are indoor/outdoor you sometimes have problems with fleas.  It not only ridiculus but tiring. 
Something else that's tiring.... sitting outside in the heat watching baseball.  Don't get me wrong, I love to watch Dan play but it get so hot and will wear you down. Maybe I can melt away some of this fat.
I did notice tonight that my left foot is swelling up along with both ankles.  Just wondering if it this is from my weight too.  Guess I'll need to make an appointment with my doc.

Shew, it's been awhile!

It's been awhile since I've posted anything.  I've been so busy with life here lately I have had time to think let alone write.  I started another class, this time in photography.  It's an elective for my bachelors degree that meets once a week for five weeks.  I'm hoping I'll learn how to use my camera and take better pictures. 

Besides school I made another cake, actually two, for a luncheon at work.  I was going to try and make a stack barrel cake but chickened out at the last minute and just placed the layers on separate cake plates.
 They were a hit and I brought a small piece fo the chocolate and a little less that half of the vanilla home.

Here are some pics of my creations.  I loved the idea when I saw it on Texas Monkey's site.  Props for the idea. 

On the left is a vanilla cake and

On the right is a chocolate cake

Both were filled with strawberry cream.

I think I'm going to take a little break from the party planning for awhile.  I need to focus on school and my family for a little while.   see ya soon.

a two fold holiday - my husbands 50th and July 4th.

We've been working for weeks getting the house ready for the 4th of July.  Cleaning the house inside and out.  It was all worth it.  You see the 4th of July is also my husbands birthday.  We went on vacation two weeks before the party (july 3rd) and had so much to do that it was ridiculous.  But it was all worth it.  We had a great turn out and everyone enjoyed the fireworks.  Here are a few pics.

Love my family and friends.

I heartfaces challenge - Pets

Check out of the fabulous pets on I heart faces - Pets.  This is Simba.  He's a big ole baby who wants to sit on your chest and purr in you ear.