Birthday Cake MisAdventure

Yesterday was my birthday, and I was REALLY excited about making my birthday cake.  Years ago, I saw a recipe in Southern Living for a chocolate Groom's cake with blackberries on it- two of my FAVORITEST things.

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My mom made it for my 18th birthday party. My twin sister made it last year. For them, it was a beautiful confection of blackberry chocolate delight.

Mine? Well, it tasted good.

The recipe called for a chocolate ganache made by melting chocolate chips and butter together, then stirring in sour cream. That was a lumpy seized chocolate mess- twice.  The garbage disposal thought it tasted just fine though.

Not to be deterred, I called up Sissy, who is a much better baker. She told me to make a butter cream. Off I go, happily dumping cocoa, powdered sugar, butter, and chambord into my mixer.

Me: "How do I know if it's ready?"
Sissy: " When all the powdered sugar is incorporated"
Me: "Gee, this sure is sticky and doesn't want to spread"
Sissy: " You should put more milk in, it's too stiff"
Me: " Too late, it's all on top of the cake now! "

Cue the uncontrollable laughter on my part as this homely cake takes shape.

Nonetheless, it tastes good, and it's my birthday. Therefore it's perfect. I just may have someone else make it next year...

Merry Christmas!

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas filled with family and friends, good food, fun times, and most importantly love.

Merry Christmas!!!

Ornament for Ornament Swap!

Kendra hosted an annual ornament swap party. And I couldn't just show up empty handed. So I  took this opportunity to make several homemade ornaments.

First, I made a cute little JOY ornament

I got the ornament at Michaels', along with some porcelaine markers, but you could just use regular paint pens. I've been looking for an excuse to buy the porcelaine, so there you go.

Now, to create your design:

Using your computer and any word processing software or desktop publishing, create your design. I simply printed "noel" in a variety of fonts and sizes, along with a holly clip art.

Take your printed paper, and rub pencil all over the back.

Flip it printed side up, center your design on your ornament, and trace the printing to transfer graphite to the surface of the ornament.  You just made transfer paper.

Color in your design using markers.

If using the porcelaine, bake according to package directions.

Hang and enjoy!

A garland wrapped ball:

Take a styrafoam ball. I recommend lightly spray painting or craft painting it first.

starting at one end, hot glue mardi-gras beads on your ball.

 Keep going, trying to make sure your beads squish together.

 Ta da! You can then glue a ribbon hanger on the top, or wrap it all the way around and then glue a hanger.

And this pieceware ornament  inspired by Martha Stewart. 

Roll out polymer clay

 Cut out a circle shape (Hopefully your sister has not absconded with all your round cookie cutters)

 Clean up any edges

 Stamp your design

 I then added smaller "dots" using the end of a compass.

Let dry, then bake according to package directions. Hang and enjoy!


After making all of these, I ended up taking one I purchased because I wasn't happy with how mine turned out.  However, the ones I made are gracing my tree this year.

I love how these can be personalized to be unique for each year.

After Christmas, I'll be sharing some of the gifts I made. I am so anxious to share them with you!

Hope you are ready for the holiday!

More Christmas decor!

I got more holiday stuff put out, just in time for my gingerbread party!

Here are some pictures of the additional decor, and some more pictures of my tree.

This pretty pedestal from Southern Living is on the table by my front door.

My "Charlie Brown" tree in the kitchen window. The wood tree was my grandmother's.

This train was made by my grandfather. Behind it is my Christmas cactus I can't make bloom.

A few ornaments in a wine caddy for the powder room.

 Some up close views of my mantle. The mercury glass candlesticks were a gift from Mom last year.

 My hand made stockings out of "designer" fabric.

 The ornament wreath. Check out how I made it here.


 An up close view of my beaded garland ball

 I love the colors and shape of this ornament. Plus, it's dog-proof.

 My tree skirts (burlap, tulle, and sparkly burlap), with a few presents

The pretty glass drops and mercury glass ornaments (more gifts!)

 These beautiful mercury glass inspired robins egg ornaments were also a gift. I filled in the tree with  gold "English crackers" made by wrapping toilet paper tubes in gold floral wrap.

 The whole tree again

The full mantle again

And I got these beautiful flowers from Janet as a hostess gift for my gingerbread house party. Her daughter Kara is an amazing florist!

Gingerbread Houses

This past weekend, I had my annual Gingerbread House decorating party.

This is a tradition we started way back when I was a child. Mom would make graham cracker houses, and my entire class would come over to decorate.

This year, a few good friends came over for decorating fun. Everyone was given a basic house to decorate, expand, or renovate as they wished. We had both royal icing and melted chocolate for "glue".

I think we had some pretty good results:

The finished products!

We had a hot tub from Kris

And a doghouse (center right)

 Prince Charming won for most construction on his lot- with a picket fence, carport (with car!), and a shed.

 

 Leslie had the cutest snowman in a celery sled!

 Kristen got into the spirit with a red and green theme:

Here's mine:

The front of Kristen's and a little bit of Janet's

I think they look so great! I can't wait for next year!