Fall Fun and Indian Corn

The funny thing about being what people would consider being crafty, involves a lot of hit or misses. 

In my case, I am fairly certain it's a lot of misses and an occasional hit.

Lucky for me, I was born an optimist.  That plays out well for me most days, because I have a love for laughter and boy, do I keep myself laughing!

This past week I was lucky enough to get my hands on some of the most gorgeous Indian corn you've ever seen!  My friends son grew it!  Isn't that crazy?  How could I possibly not create something amazing with it??  Well this my friends, is where it all started.... 

I loaded Pinterest, typed in Indian corn... and voila!  I should have been set, right?!  You should see some of the amazing Fall arrangements..

J'adore!  Oh aren't they beautiful!  LOVE LOVE LOVE! 

O.k.  Here's the deal.. straight from my own Dictionary of Craft. *I'm seriously going to write one some day...

**If you do not have the correct "crafty" items you need in order to craft (i.e. jewelry wire, rubber bands, etc..) You really are taking your sanity into your own hands.  Remember.. you are forewarned.


Not a problem for me (she says)...  I have hot glue! 

UGGGH... Three hours later (I could have easily saved two by getting in my car and driving over to the craft store) for the items I needed..





I cleaned up the mess. Poured myself a hot apple cider (o.k. it may have been spiked at this point with something very festive like Spiced Rum)

and proceeded to put my beautiful Indian corn in containers, throughout the house. 

How is that for optimism?!  I definitely had the last laugh.  This took exactly two minutes AND just for the record of craft diva's everywhere, I did tie a bow or two around the containers...Ha!

Happy Fall my friends..

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Who is Rescuing Who?

Recently my son and I started volunteering at Days End Horse Rescue in Woodbine, Maryland.  The funny thing about this particular volunteer job is that I thought we would be doing something good for the horses and in the process my son would learn the valuable lesson that it is better to give than to receive.  A funny thing has happened along the way... 

One of my favorite movie lines is from a Chevy Chase movie called Funny Farm.  It's one of those movies that if you blinked, you probably missed it, but I've always found it hysterical.  I could probably quote most of the lines from it, but there is one where Chevy's character is having a hard time making friends in the new town he has moved to.  He is passing a Golden Retriever dog farm when he stops on a dime.. "If I can't make a friend, I'll buy one!"  In my typical story telling fashion, this doesn't have much to do with this little story except that I thing it rings true for a lot people considering the purchase of a horse.  My guess is that most of us see them as majestic, beautiful spirited creatures with gentle dispositions and an eagerness to be with us and please us-hence our reason for buying one.  The problem is that without really thinking it through, that horse might just end up needing a rescue. 

I digress.  Upon orientation at the horse farm, the crew gives us a thorough overview of what the farm is all about and how the horses end up there. Then they set about giving us general horse knowledge and how and what we can do to help.

Within a week, we sign up for morning at the farm and within a month, we are old hands.  We now know the ins and outs of feeding, grooming, basic handling and the best part.. mucking stalls and pastures.  I won't lie.  It's hard work.  We leave there and can barely stand from exhaustion.

Here's the thing... with a whole lot of hard work we've bought our friend. Not in the real sense of "buying" and the horses do go up for sale, but in the sense that our hearts are full.  We look in the eyes of those once neglected and abused horses and know they love us... and we love them.  If Chevy Chase had been passing a Horse Rescue like Days End in that movie, it would have been a short movie.

I'm truly not sure who has benefited more from our volunteer work, the horses or us, but if I had to guess, I'd say it is us.  My teenage son actually requested to work there on a recent day off of school and I must say,  I almost fell out of my chair!  I think the fresh air, sunshine and constant companionship of those adoring souls has left us both feeling better about the world in general.  One additional benefit I'd be remiss by not mentioning is that my arm and leg muscles seem a whole lot less jiggly. 

 Finally and best of all... I have to wonder if this isn't actually adding years to our lives.  After all, our hearts sure seem to be beating a whole lot stronger.
 

For ways to help, contact your local horse rescue or Days End Horse Rescue.

A Bushel of Fun

Oh how I love whimsical cakes and this one couldn't have been more fun to make!

 

As I walk you through this steps I used to make this fun little project, I feel the need to take a little walk down my own memory lane. 

My first cake memories are of the smiley face cakes my mother made for my twin brother and I on our third birthday and my first monogram cake in pink.  HA!  Some things never change.  Let's face it, I'm smitten with all things pink, monogrammed and made with sugar!

I met my husband on his birthday.  We were both in sales for the same company.  We met at a trade show in a small town in Alabama.  The day event ended and as fate would have it, I missed the one and only flight home.  The sales team decided we should mosey on down to the local watering hole.  As the evening progressed, we learned of my husbands birthday.  Well, we were young and I was quickly becoming my mother, so my first instinct was to rush to the store in search of a cake and candles. Sadly, it was late in the small town where we attended that trade show and the sidewalks had already been rolled up and put away.  However, this wasn't going to stop a girl in search of a proper celebration! I found an open 24 hour gas station, bought a hostess cupcake and votive candle, tipped the door attendant to let me light the candle in the club and well, the rest is history. 

Now that you have the background, I have to tell you the present:  My husband has been wanting a bushel of crabs all summer.  Alas being a native of Texas, I must say I've never really grasped the Merry-land concept of going to all the trouble to break open crabs for such a tiny amount of meat.

With that guiltily said, I thought I'd whip up a batch for his birthday.

If you've never used chocolate molds before, I highly recommend them!  They are so easy to use.  I personally prefer a good quality, real chocolate mixed with paraffin for taste, but for the sake of time I often find myself using Wilton's Candy Melts.  They are incredibly easy to melt, refrigerate quickly, pop out perfectly and come in all shapes and sizes!

 

Speaking of cake...  For this design, I baked a standard chocolate cake.  I actually made two batches because I knew for the bushel, I would need a tall stack. I baked the cake in four, 9 inch round cake pans, then crumb coated the cakes with a basic butter cream frosting.

For the base, I used a piece of cardboard cut into a circle, covered it with a washable place mat for easy clean up,, not to mention it added that cute, "crabs on a summer picnic" vibe... 


This was my first time creating a "wood design" on a cake!  I wish I had taken photos as I went along to show you the process, but frankly I thought it would be a bust... I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was.

For the bushel creation, I rolled out a batch of  Wilton Fondant. I usually make my own, but again for sake of time, I chose to use this store bought version!  I was thrilled at how easy it was to use.  I measured the height and width of the cake, then cut strips for the design.  Next, I used Wilton Fondant/Gum paste tools to rough up a wood look.  I used the roller to make a rough, woody edge, then gave the wood some cuts and holes to make it look a bit more authentic.  Finally, I painted the pieces with a small amount of Wilton's Brown Gel Food Coloring mixed with are you ready for this?  A quarter cup of Vodka.  I know this sounds odd, but the alcohol evaporates as it dries..  honestly! To finish it off, I adhered the wood strips with another light coat of frosting.

Here it is!  The birthday boy should be surprised, I know I am! Who knew a cake could be this fun to make?

Do you have a favorite cake memory?  Friend me on Facebook. I'd love to see it or hear about it.

Thank you for strolling down memory lane with me..

It truly was a bushel of fun!

White After Labor Day..

White after Labor Day?  As my girlfriends will tell you, I'm a true blue girl of etiquette.  If the answer isn't in one of the one million etiquette books I have piled on my book shelves, I can usually find the answer via the Miss Manners or Emily Post's websites.  However, I don't need help in this department. I was raised in the South and this is one question that I am certain I know the answer to.  You too, right?

When it comes to fashion as well as etiquette, a girl wants to be self assured, correct and appropriate though, so I did a little research...

 

Depending on who you ask, there seems to be a different answer as to where the "No White after Labor Day" rule began.  Some believe it was a class distinction. White being the uniform of choice for upper class Americans.  Donning white as their summer vacations began and putting them away as their vacations ended.  However, others historians offer up more logical reasons.  White being a cooler color for summer clothing since modern conveniences like air conditioning and ice were non-existent.

Lucky for us, the times, they are a changing!


Did you know that the rule to wearing white year round has officially been given the green light by fashion icons and etiquette experts world wide? Emily Post: White after Labor Day.. it's a go! and Glamour Magazine: Head to Toe Winter White Made One of the Strongest Impressions of the Fall 2013 Runway Season. 

 Coco Chanel was one of the first to debunk the wearing of white before 

Memorial Day and after Labor Day by wearing it year round...

As we move into cooler temperatures, I personally think white can be a great way to stand apart from the crowd. Suits in wool, brocade and heavier weight lace dresses, cashmere and cable sweaters as well as white pearls accessories are timeless and effortless ways to look fabulous and fashionable. 

In my opinion, the catch to wearing white year round, is to be confidant, hold your head high and perhaps carry a copy of Emily Post's latest book... 

From the looks of this Falls fashion previews, you'll have lots of fun
 

AND you'll be in good company!
 

 Are you in?