The Story of My Life

I am picky. Or says my mother. What can I say? I know what I like when I like it. I know it when I don't. Though this is often a double-edged sword. The good? I really like the items I find. The bad? More often than not the things I want are beyond my reach.

Example: after searching for years for a bedroom set I found the one I wanted. New World Concepts Dakota series. Just needed to save the money. Fast forward to the day when I could afford the bedroom set. It is no longer made. Story of my life.

Example: after searching for all kinds of great bridal shower gifts I find some on Amazon.uk. Put them in the basket and .... they don't ship those types of items internationally. Story of my life.

Example: after searching for wall art that I am willing to look at more than once I find some on a UK shop website. Put them in the basket and .... they don't ship those types of items internationally. Story of my life.

Example: after searching for just the right PowerPoint graphic for a presentation to Senior Leadership team at the company I work for I find out that the perfect graphic can only be acquired by purchasing a graphic package. That package costs $159.00. Story of my life.

Example: dating. Story of my life. Nuff' said.

Sigh.

Been Practicin'

My sister is getting married. As a result there is a bridal shower, and I am in charge. Really? Really.

In an effort to try something different we are doing a Cupcake Wars inspired shower. I am hoping that the people who come will have a good time. Even if there are the cheesy games that I have mocked repeatedly over the years. The prizes will be great. Well, I think they are great.

Anyways. The colors of my sister's wedding are purple and orange. Though sometimes she says plum and spice, and sometimes she says purple and apricot. Basically they are purple and orange.

The cupcake challenge for the shower is to incorporate the colors in the cupcake. Either in the decoration or in the flavoring. I've been playing around trying to find the right recipe and decorations. Which ... as I sit here typing I am questioning those efforts. I am the one buying the prizes. So I can just win one if I want. Bother.

Needless to say that I have been up to my eyeballs in recipes. I have found some fun recipes in the FIVE batches of cupcakes that have been made. I still don't have the winner yet. I have the winning frosting, but haven't found a cupcake recipe that is able to stand up to the amazing-ness of the frosting. Without giving away to many details to my bridal shower competitors, I have included some of my test batches below. I have even been piping my frosting, so watch out ladies!

Batch #3 - piping technique is definitely improving

Hard to see the color of the frosting - it is pink.
hmmmm .... what could that repesent?

Batch #4 - even better

Close-up of Batch #4 - Impressive.

Batch #5 - unadorned cake waiting for the magic.


My co-workers have been the recipients of Batch #2 (batch #1 met a sudden trash can demise). Tomorrow they will be the winners of Batches 3-5.
Hoping for no cupcake fatigue from my tasters!

Storage and Beyond

Once upon a time I lived in a spacious home with oodles of storage and closets galore. Then I moved. The end.

Well not quite. Having significantly downsized the square footage of my dwelling space I have been trying to be creative with storage. AKA living like I did when I was in college. (highlight of storage in college was the makeshift closet that hung in a corner my bedroom. It was made through use of a dowel rod, s-hooks and chain. It lasted the whole year. I wish I had a picture of that thing.)

I set up some storage in my new bathroom, but had become unsatisfied with my clutter on the bathroom counter. So I set out to create something useable and spiffy all in one.

Here is my easy-peasy tutorial for making a fun storage.

Need:

Shelving (I got mine from Target)

Wall decals (I got mine from Target)

Fingers (I got mine from God)

Create:

Peel off the decals (with fingers referenced above) and place on the shelving.

Done and Done. While I don't love some of the hearts that were part of the decal pack, I loved the flowers, and am very happy with the results!

Shelving and decal page (see bottom left of photon above)

Reveal #1

Reveal #2

Reveal #3

I was at a fabric and craft store yesterday and saw other decal packs that had me swooning. I do love me some stickers , and wish I had more surface space to cover! ... Tastefully, of course!

(sticker examples: computer decal, storage decal, stickers collected from the vending machines in Houston)