Aggies Do It Better

Today, Mama got a brand new bag. So out of the box for me but I love it. And who cares if I have 2 boys, I'm carrying a pink bag. It will be my everyday/diaper bag. I'm trying to scale down the size of the bag I carry every day (my Mary Poppins bag). Also, I whipped out the DEBIT (not credit, Dave would not approve) card and signed up for my Half-Marathon. This is a pic of the MEDAL I will get when I finish. It looks much better in person. And I will be wearing it EVERY day. Also? I got a Facebook Comment by one of the authors of my FAV cupcake books! WHOOP! These are from the second book. Here's a screenshot: You can barely see it down there, but it's there. He says ::ahem:: "Now that's dramatic. I love the presentation." eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!! Validation of Work: Check.

Only 7 more days until my 2nd 10k. Last year, I started running "seriously". I've always done it some, off and on. I've done a few 5k's (3.2 miles), for fun. I always do the Susan G. Komen Race for a cure, it is a well sponsored event and most of them I've done were in Dallas, where they are based, so it was a HUGE deal. I've also done them in Austin and Nashville. I never aspired to do anything more than a 5k. I've always known that running was sort of in my blood--both of my parents were avid runners when I was young, they still run now when they can, and my brother and I went to many races and did several "kiddie" races ourselves. But I never considered myself an "athlete". My brother got all those genes. But last year, we had just moved to a new state where I knew like 2 people. That's more than most people when they move, so I was grateful for that, but it got pretty lonely. I was at home with the boys all day every day. I ...

Well, I got all excited about taking my critters to the Fire Department and now it seems like they are not taking any more :( I mean, that's good because they have so many, but now what do I do with mine? I have calls into the Police Department and a local Children's home and am waiting to hear back. Wish me luck! Here's a little update on my sewing project--when I took it in I had to put it on his cover myself like a big nerd. The teacher came over and was all, did you make that? And I was like, yeah, it's not exactly perfect but I did it! and she was all oh....I can't sew. But I'm going to silently judge your crazy crooked sewing and wonder why you didn't get a professional to do it. Ok, well, maybe not that last part. I'm a little critical of myself sometimes! Then the teacher shoved it in the "Wall Of Nap Mats". I snapped a quick pic of it on my phone like a BIGGER nerd. I really wanted to get a pic of my cover on my mat but I didn't...

While spending the better part of this week trying to get completely unpacked (yes, I know it's been like 5 months since we've moved. I've been busy, ok?) I came across 2 boxes of stuffed animals. That's right, TWO BOXES. BIG ONES. Not to mention the humongous basket my boys have. Most of the ones in the boxes are ones I've had since childhood. I've always been a "packrat" and I get stupid emotional attachment to things. Those shows about "cleaning your house" where the people are in their driveway with all their belongings? Going through them and having a physically hard time letting go of the popsicle ornament they made in 4th grade? Yeah, that's me. I'll admit, I've gotten alot better about it over the years. I mean, there used to be THREE boxes. When you get married, your stuff doubles. But really, about 80% of the crap in the house was mine. And then when you have kids? forgeddaboudit. Anyhoo, I am at a place where I'm r...

Since I'm using this blog to showcase all my skillz , I just wanted to show yall this. I made this little bag for a sweet baby girl's first birthday. You know, since I did have the sewing machine out and all. (Some would argue I'm not the best about putting things up when I'm done with them.) I knew I wanted to make something for this little girl, especially since her mom is pretty crafty too and thought she'd appreciate it! Plus, an opportunity to make something girly and frilly? YES! Some of my boys' favorite toys are things they can put other things in. Like backpacks, bags, suitcases, wagons, etc. They will dump out one toy bin just to fill it up with something else. This bag turned out a little bigger than I originally planned,but that's ok, maybe it can grow with her! It's about the size of a Dr. Seuss book. It turned out pretty good considering I didn't use a pattern! And it only took me ONE NIGHT!! I also wanted to bling-it-up a little more...

So....this is what my kitchen table has looked like for the past week. Except when I have to clean up to feed the goofballs. I've been making the flowers that were going on the cake, a few at a time. Which is kind of annoying, considering all the stuff you have to get out to make them. Would I have liked to be able to make them all at once? YES. Will my boys allow that? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. But anyway, I got pretty much all of them done in not exactly the colors I wanted, and they wound up being pretty fall-ish. I was pretty busy Sunday morning making this chocolate-marshmallow fondant. I'd never made it before, but I wanted to bring in something I'd be working with (like the regular marshmallow fondant. That's what I usually use instead of the boxed kind because it tastes so much better) and could practice with. Oh, and also? This was the first square cake I've ever baked also in my brand-new square pans. My wedding cake was square, that's how much I love square...

Here's a quick update on my 3rd Fondant and Gum Paste class from this weekend. We learned 2 more flowers, daisy and mum. Besides being a little frustrated with the less-than-clean lines the plastic cutters cut out (I prefer metal), it went pretty well! For the last class we are supposed to bring in a cake that has been iced (crumb coated) and all the stuff we want to put on it and assemble it in class. We can either do one of the pictured cakes in the book or come up with something original. Yall know me, am I gonna copy something exactly ? Uh, no way. I've been trying to come up with something for the past couple weeks and finally made a decision. There's several cakes in the book that have TONS of flowers on top, and I kept coming back to those. But ugh, that's alot of work! Also, most of the flowers we've done are very "spring-y", and really wanted to do something a little more season-appropriate. Like in "fall" colors. So that's what I...

Here's a pic of my workstation: My kid's little tykes table that is set up in my room for #1 to entertain himself when I need to be in there doing stuff. The table just to the right of that is my "Craft" table/area, which is clearly in need of some attention. It has never really been unpacked since we moved and this little project popped up out of nowhere. I was sitting in a grown-up sized chair, so at the end of the day, I had myself a pretty good little backache. So, here is the finished product! (sorry for the low light photos) A pillow and pillowcase (which, yes, could be a little smaller but we may want to put a bigger pillow in it someday so I'm gonna leave it), Mat cover with velcro enclosure at bottom, and matching blankie. Here's an extra picture of the velcro strips sewn on because I'm that proud of my self for it :) The blanket Domestic Goddess Status: Achieved!

This is broken into 2 parts because blogger won't let me upload as many pics as I want. whatev. *Disclaimer: My sewing experience is limited to taking a Home Ec class in high school and what my mom taught me when I was 10. Luckily, I remembered most of it. So Friday morning, we set out to the Fabric Store to pick out some fleece for #1's napmat cover. We decided on this red with black pawprints pattern. It was definitely a compromise-I picked some that he didn't want and he picked some that I didn't like. This was the only one we agreed on. I figured, why not let him have some input, it's not that big of a deal. We got 3 yards, enough for a slipcover for the mat (I found some E-Z instructions on line. It's basically like sewing a pillowcase, which anyone should be able to do, really. I mean, I can, and that's not saying alot), a small throw blanket, and a little travel pillow and a pillowcase for that. We also needed thread that matches, a couple sew-on vel...

My baby started school today. Like, stay all day and take your lunch school. Twice a week, anyway. He did great. It has been all he could talk about for weeks, and when I said goodbye to him he gave me a hug back and said very reassuringly, "I'll see you when I'm done, Momma." I'm the one who got choked up! But I did all right. The house was so quiet all day, and when I got #2 down for his nap, it was like a ghost town! When I went to pick up #1, as soon as the teacher brought him out I got choked up again as soon as I saw him. What is wrong with me??? One of the things #1 needed was a "nap mat". (trust me, the irony is not lost on me. The prodigal son does not nap. But they do have quiet time, and he's pretty good most of the time with that at home.) So we picked up one of these at Walmart. They said it needed to have a "enclosed cover", and if I didn't have one then someone could sew me one. (I'm thinking, a cover? can't I ju...

A few weeks ago I was asked to make a cake for one of my new mommy friend's little boy's FIRST birthday. She had decided on a "Rock Star" Theme and wanted a cake inspired by this one she saw online at Kara's Party Ideas. What an honor! The cake features a lot of geometric shapes, which if you don't know by now, are my thing. I used my "Buttercream with out the butter" icing for a true white. I'm not sure why the top tier settled in a little caddywhompas, but I'm trying not to beat myself up too much about it. I mean, I used a level on all sides before I stacked them! What else can a girl do?? I think it turned out ok! Photo courtesy of JennyCrugerPhotography.com

Let's start at the top, shall we? Sunday: Acquire and assemble #2's Big Boy Bed. All are excited. The deciding factor on doing this is his apparent readiness to potty train. Although, the thought of him not being contained in his crib makes the mama cringe a little. Ok, a lot. *See sidebar child description. Sunday Night: First night attempt in the Big Boy Bed. Of course, he is out repeatedly. Immediately. The mama sits in room for HOUR AND A HALF. Then turns over to Dad for relief. Eventually #2 settles down after 2 hours. Deemed mildly successful. Seeing as how #1 put himself in the Big Boy Bed at this same age with NO battle, we are hopeful. Monday Naptime: #2 gets out of bed repeatedly for 2 hours. Mama calls Time Of Death on naptime at 2 hours. Prepares stiff drink for evening ahead with #2's alter, THE CRANKY BEAST. Monday afternoon: While bathing said children, notices mark on #1's "hind-parts". Looks suspiciously like a bug bite. Reminds me to check ot...

Yall, this is BIG news! I am NOT a floral person. I barely had any flowers at my wedding, and would have had less if my dad didn't make me (floral arrangements for the altar, which were pretty). I mean, I like receiving flowers from my man as much as the next gal, but for the most part, I could take them or leave them. When we were wedding-cake shopping, we went to a high-end cake place that was very well known in the city and known for doing alot of flowers on their cakes. The only reason we went there was to just start shopping around. I knew that I didn't want any flowers on the cake. You should've seen the lady's face when I told her I didn't want any. (giggle) I know probably alot of people can probably make flowers out of icing. I can't even do that. There is another Wilton class that tackles that, which I will probably take at some point. Yesterday we made some flowers to go with the bases we made last week. A rose, carnation, and calla lily. These are ...