cherry cheesecake

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Happy birthday to my better half! 

 To celebrate the occasion of his birth, 29 years ago, I'm spending the latter part of my morning baking a cherry cheesecake. It is in the oven right now and, let me tell you, the batter alone tastes soooooo good.  I used this recipe, Aunt Connie's Amazing New York Style Cheesecake.  According to the author, it is fool-proof.  Given that this is my first cheesecake ever, I'm banking on it.

sesame street birthday bash

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Katie turned two a couple of weeks ago and I have been such a slacker in regards to posting about her party.

Katie is a huge Sesame Street fan, so of course we had to base her party around her favorite friends.

 I made these cake toppers out of fondant, which was surprisingly easy to do.  They are sitting on top of a grocery-store cake.  What happened to the cake that I baked, you ask?  Well, that's a great question.  These little guys are on top of a store-bought cake because the one I had so laboriously prepared fell apart when I went to dirty ice it.  I was so concerned with it drying out because I baked it so early, that I used too much jam in the filling and should have skipped the simple syrup drizzle altogether.  As I unwrapped the cling wrap covering, my precious cake fell apart in my hands.  Oh the misery!  My wonderful husband saved the day by suggesting we purchase a cake for me to decorate.  Sing with me now, "He's a hero... he's a guy..."

See the lettering and the crayon scribbles?  I did those, too.  Yes, I know.  I work magic.

Katie was enthusiastic about getting a slice of her Sesame Street cake, too.  While I was modeling the characters, all she could do was sit and talk about them, and try to grab them a time or two, so I made sure that nobody chomped down on one of the muppets.  They did, however, meet their fate with the trash can about a week later.

As for decorations, I simply shunned the out-of-the-box Sesame Street decorations from my local party store.  Instead, I used primary colored tablecloths, balloons, homemade tissue poms, and blowers to set the stage.  The paper products were an assortment of red, green, yellow, and blue as well.  See that banner flying overhead?  That's simply cardstock triangles that I strung along a fishing line.  Pretty easy and effective.  

Can you see the party hats in that picture?  They are plain primary-colored hats that I bought locally.  Then, I printed out the facial features of the various characters and stuck them on with a glue stick.  The kids loved them and they were so easy to make!

For food, we had a mid-afternoon party so I kept it simple.  Chocolate chip cookies, pigs in a blanket, bagel pizzas, popcorn, cheese doodles, and party mix were gobbled down by everyone, but were super easy and stress-free.

 And, having the party at a park (and being blessed with fantastic weather for late October) helped me focus on the guests without having to worry too much about the house, whether everyone had a place to sit, and if I had put out enough toilet paper (excepting my friend Jannine and her husband, who had to dash to my house to use the potty since the park bathrooms were closed for the season.)

Happy, happy birthday to you! to you!

Happy, happy birthday to you! to you!

 You're good to grow, so let's count the candles and blow.......

Happy, happy birthday to you, to you, to you!

today's the day

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Today's the anniversary of the day that you changed my life.  You came into my world and turned it right side up.  Your infectious smile and laugh bring joy to those you meet and fill our house with happiness.  

2 years ago

Happy Birthday to my sweet little Katie!

Now

We love you!

birthday weekend

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Katie's 2nd birthday is on Monday and we're having a Sesame Street Birthday Bash for her!  As you can imagine, I've had my hands full putting together decorations, favors, party food, and especially, the cake.  Next week, look forward to pictures of all the fun things we have going on this weekend.

gaga for gaga

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All I wanted for my birthday was Lady Gaga tickets.  You know what?  I got them!  All right, I knew I had them months in advance, but that didn't make me any less excited.  In fact, I was wiggling in my seat when I clicked "buy" on ticketmaster or whatever that website was.  Electronically waiting in line for tickets to a concert you HAVE to see?  So worth it.


I bought the tickets back in May, I think, the day they went on sale.  Not just the day, the hour, the minute, as soon as I possibly could because I was going to be at that concert.  Now, I'm not the type of Gaga fan who can sing all of her songs, including those that haven't been radio hits, like my friend Jannine, but I like her.  A lot.  The hair, the costumes, the upbeat dance music.  Lady Gaga is just a big bundle of fun. 

Over dinner and drinks one night, I revealed to Jannine that I was going to the concert with Mr. Hull.   She just about flipped out!  Oh my goodness, if that girl could have screamed any louder, she would've (and she did, but we'll get to that later).

Fast forward a few months.  It is the day before the concert and I have a dumb mommy moment (I promise I'm not really a blonde.)  John is suddenly unable to attend the concert, because he is dealing with contractors, insurance adjusters, headaches, and more.  Less than 24 hours before Lady Gaga is set to take the stage, I call up Jannine to see if she might want to accompany me.  Wouldn't you know, she doesn't answer the phone.  The girl is fortunate that I left a message. The next day, we hit the road as soon as she gets off from work, drive two hours to UVA, and wait in a line a gazillion people long to get into the venue.

going all out

Oh my gosh, I had no idea that fans dressed up to attend the Monster Ball.  The costumes ranged from fantastic to horrific.  One lady in front of us had a dried up plant pinned to her head and was wearing a nineties-era sparkly clingy blouse with roses, leaves, and sequins, that was paired with a long black skirt and matronly heels.  On the other end of the spectrum, there were many Gaga-lookalikes, decked out in her most famous costumes.  Of course, you had your gays, too.  We saw men decked out in full-body leotards, short skirts, high heels, and complete make-up.  And, you know what?  Some of their outfits were better executed than those of their female counterparts.  I felt like I was attending a way-out-there viewing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

The concert itself was superb!  The costumes, choreography, sets, and all were fabulous.  At one point, Gaga wore a UVA t-shirt that a fan made just for her.  Even though I am neither a Wahoo or a Hokie, even I could appreciate the awesomeness of that, though she did claim that wearing cotton was "against her religion."

I don't care how many of my mommy friends think I'm a weirdo, the next time Lady Gaga performs around here, I plan to go back.  This time, though, Janine and I'll be decked out in our finest.  I'm thinking glitter, spandex, a tutu, and some sort of fun hair accessories should do the trick.  You never know, I might just find a fun gay friend to go along with us, too.

Love Games

Paparazzi Finale

chocolate peanut butter birthday cake

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For a bit of fun, I tweeted while baking my birthday cake yesterday.  Lots of people have asked why I baked my own cake and the answer is simple.  I found this recipe, fell in love with the idea of it, had to have it, and set my mind to baking it.   Halfway through (or thereabouts) I realized I had forgotten to buy cream cheese at the store, a necessary ingredient for the smitten kitchen icing.  So, I hopped over to all recipes for a variation of the peanut butter icing.  I think it is delicious, just like a peanut butter cup.  But, if you decide to make it, double the icing recipe.  I ran out and wasn't able to properly ice the sides of the cake.  Anyway, feeling inspired, I cut up some Reese's Cups that I bought for just that purpose happened to have laying around, chopped them up, and sprinkled them across the top.

And, by the way, look for a giveaway from Heaven Baked Sweets coming soon.  She's working on a new cookie mix, but you didn't hear it from me....

Birthday Blues

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Today's my birthday, so Happy Birthday to me.  I'm a little down in the dumps because everyone else seems to have an opinion on how I should celebrate my day.  Really, all I wanted was to bake a delicious cake and have an easy dinner in tonight.  Nothing big.  Now, don't get me wrong.  It isn't that I didn't want to acknowledge my birthday.  It's just that, at Katie's age, it is much easier to eat at home than to go out to a restaurant and drop a lot of money on a meal that nobody gets to enjoy.

Nor did I want to have a boring birthday.  I wanted to do something with my kids today, something that maybe we don't always get to do, and have a little fun.  Maybe we would go someplace they like to go... a museum, or Chuck E. Cheese, or even just the park.  I had even thought about taking them to one of the state parks to have a picnic and go swimming.  We could do something to make a memory.

But, then I found out that my mother was taking today off from work.  Why?  I have no idea.  She's done this for the past few years, and always expects me to be magically free to do whatever she wishes.  It isn't like she ever took off when I was a kid.  Why now?

So, my mother started insisting that I couldn't have a carefree birthday.  I couldn't just stay in.  I couldn't bake my own cake.  I couldn't not go out to dinner.  She said that my husband was being lazy by not celebrating on my birthday.  In actuality, we have our own, pricey celebration planned to take place in a week and a half that she knows about.  All of a sudden, my nice, fun, yet relaxing day turned into my mother's project.  I would bring the kids over at the ass-crack of dawn and we would all spend the day at her pool, a typical summer event and one that really bores me.  Then, tonight, we would go to a very popular, crowded restaurant that doesn't take reservations and is out of our current budget given the fact that we are spending so much to drive to Charlottesville to see Lady Gaga in 10 days.  We would have to wait in a line to get in, outside, in the heat, with an already-cranky almost-two year old.  And then, more than likely, my husband and I would get to foot the bill after she had planned and insisted on the outing.  Remember, I want to stay in for dinner.

 This morning, I got up, called my mother, and essentially told her to go fuck off.  I'll have the day that I want to have.  I shouldn't be expected to drop everything just because she takes the day off from work.  At the very least, she should be willing to go along with plans I've already made, even if they are vague.  It's my birthday.  I'll do what I want to.

Now, I feel like a giant ass.  I wouldn't want my children feeling this way on their birthdays when they are adults.  I would want to see them and be involved.  But, what can I do?  If my mother is involved, she tends to take over.  I'm a grown woman.  I don't need rescuing.

Ten Feet Deep

I always seem to get myself deeply involved in projects that are way too time consuming or completely over my head.  I suppose I am a bit of an idealist, a dreamer, and an overachiever.  But, how would life be interesting if I lived it in any other fashion?

Yesterday's Luigi costume turned out fairly well.  I not only developed my own technique for turning an old pair of jeans into child's overalls, I also mastered using the buttonhole attachment on my sewing machine, repurposed an old green t-shirt into a stylin' cap, and ripped out countless stitches all in the quest for (near) perfection.  Not only that, I did it all with a toddler under foot (or on the table), two irritated, argumentative, pups, and a nine-year old boy who kept asking, "Are you done, yet?"  Just a side note: if you are going to sew with your toddler on top of the table, make sure you allow extra time for oopsies, oh craps, and what-the-hell-was-thats.  In other words, have a seam ripper handy.

Now, my next great adventure entails preparing for a yard sale in 48 hours' time.  I decided to have this sale last weekend, when I became fed up with all the crap that is currently occupying my space.  I didn't start actually working on it until today.  The sale starts Friday at 8 am.  I guess we're down to 36 or so hours now, huh?  I'm going to offer grab bags of some of my older and less commonly-used fabric scraps.  I'm hoping to not only declutter my home, but destash my lopsided bedroom corner which houses all my TattieTats stuff office as well.  Oh, and did I mention that my toddler will be helping during the entire process?  Yeah.  I'll go turn on my coffee maker now.

As much as I love her, I have to admit that Baby K is into everything and then some.  If I pull it out, she puts it back.  If I put it away, she yanks it out.  She's a firecracker, I tell ya.  Just today, I caught her clomping around the house in one of my high heels and one of her brother's Converse sneakers.  You could say she was a little off-balance, just like her mama.

Mario Makeover

The Challenge: Design a Mario-themed costume for my son to wear to a birthday party tonight, sans cash

Alex has been invited to a Mario birthday party and all the guests are supposed to come dressed as their favorite Mario character.  Like any socially-awkward nine year old boy who desires to fit in, it is imperative that he show up in a posh Luigi costume, ready to kick butt in this real life Mario Party 7.  The problem is, we don't have the extra funds to throw at a costume, in addition to the birthday boy's present, wrappings, and card.  So, today's task will be to create a super cool Luigi costume for a nine year old boy using things I have around my house.

I plan to use this tutorial to make a green hat from an old long-sleeve tee.  I'll add an "L" for authenticity.  Also, I will be repurposing some old jeans for Luigi's overalls.  Due to today's heat, I'll only have to use one pair to make shorties.  Disaster or not, along the way, I'll take pictures for all to see.

Do you have suggestions?  Please, please, please be kind enough to share.  I'd love to hear them because I'm just a little lost here.

Where, oh where, have they all gone?

Today is Click and Pick Monday, and it is also my best-friend-from-high-school's birthday.  In her honor, I wanted to choose a birthday etsian to feature today, one who crafts products that may be to my former bff's liking.  However, in searching the Etsy Birthdays, I found a lot of blank profiles and empty shops, which led me to wonder, where have all the etsians gone?

Is Etsy the home of the fly by night home-based crafter?  I hope not.  I would hope that most people who open up shop on etsy will be there for years to come.  That way, should I buy something from them, I can become a repeat customer.  However, I realize this is idealistic.  Many shops will not flourish, lives change, and artists find new outlets in which to market and sell their wares.

Perhaps it is much like my old high school friendships.  Times changed and we grew apart, speaking to one another seldom, if at all.  Now, with the likes of Facebook, we can reconnect, but will it ever be the same?  I don't know.  Somehow, I don't think so.

So, Happy Birthday Kim, my friendly fairy-loving, poetry-writing, wild cat.  And, happy birthday to all the long-lost etsians out there, where ever you may be.  May peace and profits come your way.

Super Mario Bros. Birthday Cake

Special thanks to Nicole Owens, owner of A Slice of Heaven, for helping me make this cake for Alex's birthday!

Candy Pop Tutorial

Recently, I helped to throw together my son's Cub Scout Pack's Blue and Gold Banquet.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with this annual tradition, the Blue and Gold is a dinner that typically takes place in February to celebrate Scouting.  This year, the theme was "Happy Birthday Scouting," as the Boy Scouts of America are currently celebrating 100 years of Scouting in America.

Going along with the theme, what birthday party would be complete without some sort of favor?  Now, of course, we could have chosen to go with chintzy plastic bags of spin tops and skittles, but we I wanted something with a little more class.  Which brings us to.... the Candy Pop!

I had never before made candy pops, white chocolate shapes attached to a lollipop stick and covered in cellophane.  But, I figured, how hard could they be?  Melt a little chocolate, pour it in a mold, pop it out, and PRESTO!  Instant party favor.  Multiplied by a hundred-and-some.  Yep, a hundred-and-some.  My oh my.

If you're crazy enough to want to play Martha and do the same thing, head on over to your local craft supply shop and pick up the following:

•  Candy Molds- Choose your shape.  I used a fleur de lis.  If you're doing a whole lot of pops, buy multiple molds.
• Candy Melts-- these are little white chocolate discs that you melt, kind of self-explanatory huh?  You'll need approximately one bag per two to three molds.  So, say you want to make twelve pops and each mold does three at a time, you'll buy two bags of candy.  Always throw an extra one or two in the cart just in case.  You can return them later.
• Lollipop sticks
• Decorator squirt bottle, kinda like an empty ketchup bottle, this is typically sold next to the candy supplies.  You can go without it, which I did, but it is more messy and difficult.
• Clear cellophane favor bags.
• Ribbon
• Wax paper (optional)

Take your supplies home, send the kiddos to bed, and take a deep breath.  You're gonna DO this!

1. Pour one bag of candy melts in a microwave safe bowl.  Microwave on low in 20 second intervals until the candy is melted, stirring as you go.  Do not let candy come in contact with any water at all, or get overheated.
2. Spoon melted candy in the decorator bottle and squirt into the molds.  Or, just pour it in the molds, but be careful not to spill.
3. Insert lollipop stick in the little space reserved for it in the tray (you'll recognize it).  Twirl the stick to coat it with chocolate.  This keeps the candy from falling off during rapid consumption.  
4. Put your molds on a level space in the freezer for ten to fifteen minutes.  Don't leave them much longer because the candy has a strange habit of turning white if it gets too cold.  If needed, you can stack the molds with a sheet of wax paper in between.
5. Gently remove pops from the molds.  They should just "pop" right out.
6. Cover the top of the pop with a cellophane bag and tie it closed with the ribbon.
7. Repeat until you have the number of pops you need for your party, or until you lose count and give up.

So, there you have it.  Candy Pops.  Not too hard, huh?  If you choose to make these, let me know how it goes.  And, good luck.  (kidding!)