Patriotic Cupcakes

Well I guess it worked. Roy said everyone loved the cupcakes. My favorite remark was from my daughter this morning. "Oh mommy! My cupcakes are so beautiful!" The look on her face was all I needed. I did them really simple. VERY simple. Just 1/3 red, 1/3 white and 1/3 blue with the flag on top. Less is more I guess. She was very excited to take it to school. I told remember 50 cupcakes for 50 bay leaves on the flag.

Second Day of School

Scene: Rashidah is sitting across from me at my office desk. She's playing with the paper we were using to practice her writing.

Me: So does your teacher know your name now?
Rashidah: (tearing bits of paper off with a ruler) Yes
Me. Does your teacher ask you any questions?
Rashidah: Uh-huh. (nodding her head in confirmation)
Me: What did she ask you?
Rashidah: "Rashidah please go sit down."
Me: Your teacher asked you to go sit down?
Rashidah: Uh-huh.

The End.

Some Li'l Creations

Well, I've finally compiled some pictures of Delightful treats and cakes that I've made in the past... in no particular order. Some definitely could have used some improvements. Others I can smile about. It's all amateur stuff but was definitely fun making and decorating.

Wedding treat left in the honeymoon room, the cupcake was covered with buttercream frosting, the white chocolate I made with some wedding themed molds. I love making chocolate. The first time I ever made chocolate was for a wedding for a friend of mine in Florida. Boy does that bring back memories.

Easter cup cakes. Simple but fun and fun looking. Who doesn't love a good easter egg hunt. Used jelly beans and peanut m & m's for these ones.

I called it the "Valentines Day Treat Box" it was an assortment of Cherry cordial cookies, coconut macaroons dipped in chocolate, cupcakes and my special brownies.

This was last years Christmas Treat Box. Again an assortment of Chocolate Pecan Cubes, Christmas Crispy Treat, Brownies, Cake, and Peanut Kissy Cookies.

Birthday Cake for a 3 year old simple yet yummy lemon flavored buttercream frosting on a moist yellow cake.

This was my very first cake order. The nanny ordered it for her son, and she knows I'm not a professional but my yellow cake is a favorite of theirs.

This Thank You cake was a very tedious cake to make. It's a lemon-orange-pineapple cake with whipped cream frosting. Really Yummy.

This here is a December birthday cake I did for a friend. Her daughter loved Jojo. She told me she always has trouble ordering a cake since her little girl's B-Day is on December 26th. So I offered to help. It was a far cry from the picture I got off the web but I think the color helped out a lot.

This by far is one of my favorite cakes to make. Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake. Simply Delightful. Too bad Grandma was too sick to enjoy it.

This was the first time I ever used royal icing. It was for my daughter's Baptism. It's a little on the small side. It's when I truly learned the definition of tiered cake.

Another Birthday Cake

I made this cake last night. Hubby's beating up that i charged so little for it. I was approached by our nanny's daughter who wanted to do something special for a friend of hers. She loves my cakes (or at least that's what she said to win me over).



Previously her mom placed an order for a graduation cake for her but requested that instead of a cake to use my specialty brownies. It came out rather nicely but unfortunately I have no picture due to that camera being stolen the day I took the photo.

I must say the nanny's family is getting the best of my baking...then again they are one of my only only paying customers... some may think its a "give-away-price", but I chalk it up as practice.

Go Bye-bye.

Rafiq: Active, energetic, and fun loving little boy. Seeking persons to take him bye-bye.

He hears a key jingle and he's there like a bear. He sits by the door waiting for someone to open it so he can make his escape. He turns away if you want to hold him but if you say bye and you try to leave he will want to go with you.
What can I say the boy loves outings!

He Walks!

It's been about a month since Rafiq has started making little steps on his own, but honestly I thought how much longer will it be until he finally builds the confidence to go the distance on his own?  Today after 14 months and 4 days he finally took his first walk into toddler-hood, walking across the room and even changing direction at the last second.   Neil Armstrong eat your heart out.  

Boys certainly are different.  Unlike his sister at this age, he tries to eat fruit from the garbage, climbs on anything that will take him up a level or four, throws anything he's bored of in the fish tank including but not limited to bottles, toys, TV remote, keys, and sunglasses. He tries to climb out of his crib even though he still didn't know how to walk yet, and has an irresistible urge to go after his weenie as air touches it.  

Did i mention that I think boys are weird.   Cute but weird.  He even laughs at his own farts.  What can I say gotta love em.

Parenting=Change

Before becoming a mother my interests were volleyball, rollerblading, going to movies, and alternative/rock music. My time was for me. Meals were anything that could be eaten on the run and if nothing is edible in the fridge then that meal gets skipped with out so much as a second thought. 

Now, my interests have changed and my likes are now pretty much dependent on that of my kids interest: playing cards, arts and craft, tickles. My body's idea of exercise is changing diapers that stink so bad it makes me sneeze causing my body to stiffen and do an involuntary abdominal crunch. There HAS to be something edible in the fridge, you think a hungry man is an angry man, just wait until you meet a baby with food on its mind.  

Who would have thought an avid listener of groups like: Godsmack, Disturbed, and Linkin Park would turn into the cream puff that runs to the TV when  Noggin's  Papa Moco Jumbie comes on.  

Lyrics 

Part I

It's carnival time in my town today
So papa & I get our costumes ready
Oh I cannot wait for everybody to see
when papa stands on his stilts
he becomes a moco jumbie

My papa's a moco jumbie
Stands tall as the eyes can see
I wish I was tall as daddy
He dances to bring harmony
Come on son, dance with me
(while) I know I may be small but I wish I was tall
So for the carnival day I could moco jumbie my way

repeat chorus 2 x

My papa's a moco jumbie

Stands tall as the eyes can see
I wish I was tall as daddy
He dances to bring harmony
and now he's dancing with me

And while I may be small we came up with a way 
So for the carnival day I could moco jumbie my way 

Me and my papa today, dancing down the carnival way

Can't help it.  I LOVE this song.   

Inner Passion: hereditary?

Ever since I've known myself I've loved baking. As a child the mixing, the measuring and especially the spoon-licking would call to me. I'd wait eagerly by my mom hoping that she'd let me help and award me the beater when she was finished.

Now I see my daughter, my little helper, being the eager beaver. "Can I put the' suga' in? I want to mix it." She'd run and grab the bar stool and push it up to the counter where I'm working and offer a lending hand because "I'm a good helper, right mama?" a response like "Yes, you are Pumpkin." would have her smiling happily. As she waits the question "can I taste it now?" would pop into her chatter more often than one would like to hear, setting it right up there with "Are we there yet?"

Here is my darling glowing at the sight of the cookies she helped make. I think she may just develop a passion for the culinary arts herself.

As much as I love her helping out, sometimes I just want to be alone with my thoughts and ingredients. Baking and creating is my door out of the ordinary. Call me selfish but at times I just want it all to myself. It really is one of my only"me times." That's mainly why I bake at night. But for fun little small treats like cookies and brownines or cakes for the family, that's the day time stuff for me and my little chef.

Earth Hour: Save the Earth!

Vote Earth everyone! It's our earth and we ought to do what we can to save it. No matter how small the deed it still helps.

Here at the Orchid Palm Inn, we did our share by turning off our lights and air conditioners of course we could not do it without the support of our guests. As a big THANK YOU to them for their understanding and support we had serviced juice and cheese dip with tortilla chips.

I'll be putting up some of the pictures that my hubby took.