The Day After Halloween

Does anyone else feel like this?

Tipping the Scale

I have been thinking a lot about our upcoming election.  I have tried very hard to study each candidate, and nudge my way through all the fluff.  It is difficult when there is so much muck being thrown around about both candidates. 

I have read "The Audacity of Hope" by Barrack Obama.  I will admit that I haven't read any books on John McCain - (mostly because I was to cheap to buy one and someone gave me the book on Obama).  But I have tried to stay current and learn about the man what I could.

There are countless arguments for both sides and each one makes great promises.  So I started to think about what was important to me and how did each candidate measure up.  

The War.  Support it or not, the fact is we are at war.  Looking at both of these men, who do I feel will do what is right for our country and our soldiers.  I, unlike most people, do not support a cut in our military defenses.  I will never forget how I felt on September 11, and I feel better knowing our country has the best military defenses in the world.   I want someone who, along with his party, has a history of supporting funds for our military and supporting what needs to be done to protect our country.

The economy.  I am just as scared as the rest of America.  Believe me, my hubbies in the banking industry.  But any candidate who promotes a "redistribution of wealth"  and higher taxes for the rich, scares me to death.  It's a concept that is dripping with socialism.  I have always believed in free enterprise and capitalism.  Oh how I wish there was a flat tax.  I cannot support the idea of taking from the rich to equal everyone out.  Again, it's a socialistic concept that I don't embrace.

The "A" word.  Yes, abortion.  I am not in favor of it.  I don't feel the need to argue the topic of abortion, because then this blog post would be the size of a book.  Several - and I mean several - of my friends have been so blessed because of these unwanted babies through adoption.  How can I go along with a candidate who supports this - early or late term.

The list goes on and on. And so could this blog post.  I have found that I disagree with both candidates on several points. Both have shady things in their past and some associations that I cannot ignore.   But to not vote would be irresponsible.  I must decide.  

(Now many will say there is so much more to the discussion, and believe me I know this is true.  But for the sake of not making this so long, I just touched on a couple of things).

My sister-in-law (you know I still love you) made a comment the other day that has really bothered me.  She said she loved the idea of a black president.  If you think about it, that is a very narrow minded comment.  The color of ones skin is irrelevant as is their gender.  I love the idea of voting for someone who shares my beliefs.  That is all.

And so my friends, on November 4th, John McCain will be getting my vote.  And no matter who wins this election, I feel I did my best to make an educated decision.  I feel I voted for the candidate that adhered most to my beliefs.

This is just one girls opinion.

Cassie's Wedding Cake

Here's my first wedding cake!!!   I made it just how the bride wanted it and it went really well with her fall themed wedding.  You can't see it in the picture, but there is decorative piping in the same color as the base of the cake.  It had more detail than you can see. I love the funky flowers - so cool. (It even tastes good too!)    

In the "Quack" of Time

I had less than 24 hours to come up with a cake for my nephews birthday.  Here's the finished product.  You can't tell in the picture but the bubbles are shiny and there is a towel with soap on the top and a bottle of bubbles.  I can't believe I pulled this one off. I was still decorating it 5 minutes before the party started!  Shew!

Waiting...

Just waiting on some pictures so I can show you the cakes I made this weekend.  (I forgot to take pictures, so I am waiting to have them emailed to me.)

Wasn't the Mindy Gledhill concert awesome?   

The real me

A lot of my friends have been asking me why so many people have been leaving me such unkind comments on my blog recently.  It is because I posted my political views on the side bar, and because I posted about having housekeeping clean up my sons throw up at our hotel.

I have always had a small readership, but because of a link posted on Cjanes blog to my blog,  I got a lot of traffic the other day from people I didn't know.

People said some really nasty things to me. Really nasty.  I will admit that it hurt.  I was judged very harshly from people who don't know me or anything about me.  Because of my political views and my "politically incorrect" sense of humor, they assumed the worst and sure let me know it.

I am a pretty fun loving, nice person.  I strive everyday to be the best wife and mother; my family is everything.  I am kind to all my neighbors, no matter their color. I am active in my community and my church.  I volunteer in the schools.  When I read others blogs, I encounter numerous things that I don't agree with.  Sometimes I even think they are lying.  Then I simply click the mouse and off I go, onto a new blog or website.   It is not my place to play policeman of the blog world and make sure everyone is being politically correct or posting only things that I agree with.

That's the beauty of the blog.  It's my voice.  Mine.  I was told - "Shame on me" and because of my connection to the Nie Nie blog, I should be more careful with what I say.  I love my cousin Christian and  his wife Stephanie.  But I was blogging long before their accident, and hope to be blogging long after.  I don't owe anything to anyone in the blogging community.  This is my place to share a part of me.  And like it or not - this is me in all my imperfect glory.

To leave nasty comments is silly.  It's not anyones job to put me in my place.  The blog is out there for you to read - agree or not - and if you like what you see, come back again. Obviously, if you don't, then don't.

Here's the bottom line.  This is my place to post new recipes that are yummy,  to post little tidbits about my family life and vacations, to post pictures of my latest cookie and cake creations, and yes, to even post my opinions.  It could be said that it is your right to leave a comment with yours, and I guess that is so.  But it will always be my right to delete them when they are unkind or nasty.  

I am a lover not a fighter and don't enjoy the controversy or arguing.   Come. Read. Enjoy.  If not, no hard feelings.

Cookie Tricks!

Everyone has been asking me, "How do you make the silhouettes on the cookies?"   Alright - here's my secret.  I pipe them first, and when they are dry I just pick them up, and place them onto the frosted cookie.  We cranked out another hundred of those babies today.  Hope you're hungry!

Sneak Peek!

My sister and I finished the silhouette cookies of Christian and Stephanie to be sold at the Mindy Gledhill concert.  All the profits will be donated.  Don't you want to buy a yummy cookie?  (Come on, please buy one!  I hand piped those with LOVE!)

Just Keep Smiling!

This is a busy week.  It's seems like I am always saying that - but it really is.  I am working on silhouette cookies for the Mindy Gledhill concert (which you all should have bought tickets for).  They will be for sale in the foyer.  I will post pictures when they are done.  I have outlined over 100 heads in black frosting - AAAHHhhh!

Then I have a beautiful 4 tier wedding cake due Saturday, and a super cute 3 tier birthday cake due Sunday, and a halloween cookie bouquet due Monday.  Did I mention that the laundry is touching the ceiling?  Well it is.  And my floor!  You don't even want to know how sticky it is.

And then I remember that I like to be busy.  I am blessed.  I will keep smiling!

The Best Pumpkin Cookies

Hands down these are the best pumpkin cookies EVER!  The frosting makes these cookies the bomb.  You've got to make these this weekend.  They will be your new favorites - I promise!  My sister-in-law gave me this recipe years ago, and I can't get enough of them.

Pumpkin Cookies

• 1 cup butter
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 cup canned pumpkin
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt

Cream sugars and butter.  Add pumpkin, egg, and vanilla.  Add remaining ingredients.  Drop spoonfuls onto non-greased cookie sheet.  Cook at 350* for 10 to 12 minutes.

Frosting:

Boil 3 TBLS butter and 1/2 cup brown sugar until mostly smooth. (Approx. 2 to 3 min.)  Cool and add 1/4 cup milk and 2 cups powdered sugar or until desired consistency, and whip with hand mixer until smooth. Spread onto cookies.

Jakelle's Birthday Cake

I love the zebra print on this cake!  I was worried how it would turn out as I cut out each zebra stripe by hand, and because I had never done an animal print before -  but I really like it!

Chowder anyone?

What is it about traveling with your kids and throw up? It seems you can't have one without the other.
Today we enjoyed the sights at the Wharf and Pier 39. We had clam chowder in a sour dough bread bowl for lunch, Ghirardelli's chocolate for dessert, and sour dough pizza for dinner.

Around 10 pm this evening, Jeff and I got to enjoy all this lovely food yet again via our son Nathan. The children were all asleep, Jeff and I begin to doze off, when all of the sudden - BAM!! You guessed it. Throw up all over the bed, the bed spread, the floor, the pj's, the chair, and the sink in the bathroom.

I don't think I will ever enjoy another bowl of chowder again - really.

• Flight for 5 with frequent flyer miles - $50 in security fees
• Nice hotel room on fisherman's wharf - $150 a night
• Tossing the vomit stained sheets into the hallway to be hauled away by housekeeping, who then came and re-maid the beds with clean sheets and blankets - priceless
  
  

SSSHHHHHHH!

The kids have a half day of school today to kick off fall break - one whole week of no school.  When they get home at noon, they will be told to pack their bags - but they won't be told where we are going.  They will have to figure that out when we get to the airport.

One week in San Francisco - no rental car (cable cars only).  Alcatraz island, Pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf, Golden Gate Bridge, Lombard Street, and China town are all on the menu!

I am so giddy I can hardly contain my excitement.  I love surprises and this one is going to be so much fun!  

I hope I can keep my mouth shut until then!  Yippee!

Rusty the Kleenix

Nathan and I took Rusty the dog for a walk yesterday.  I love these one on one moments with my kids.  It's a great time to really get to know them and understand their world better.

Nathan insisted he hold the leash.  I looked at him as he proudly walked his dog.  "Nathan, you don't love that dog do you?" I asked.

"Of course I love him mom, he licks my boogers when my nose is runny".  

And there you have it.

If only

If only I had more time in the day, I would spend it making these spooky cake pops.  I really want to make these - but when?  Plus, then I would have to eat them and that wouldn't be good for the thighs.  I will just keep looking at them and wishing.

If back then, why not now?

When I was first married and living in a small apartment, I made friends with my neighbor, also a newly wed.  She discovered that I was of the mormon faith and was extremely bothered by it.  One day she pulled me aside and asked me a question.  "Melissa, if I were about to walk off a cliff and didn't know it, would you stop me?"  "Of course I would stop you" I told her.  "Well, Melissa, you are headed off a cliff with your religion, and I feel like I need to stop you".

I was so taken back by her comment, I really didn't know how to respond.  She proceeded to tell me that there was no prophet of God on the earth today.   I don't exactly remember the details of our conversation after that, but I do remember that I didn't have the courage to respond the her the way I wished I would have.

It has always bothered me that I didn't ask her a question in return.  Why would God call prophets and apostles in the olden days but not today?  Where in the scriptures does it say that God will never again have a prophet on the earth?

I believe that God has not forsaken His people.  I believe that he has called a living prophet in our day and time.  That is how it was in the scriptures, why not now?   Were not the prophets of old scorned and mocked by the people?  Were they not ridiculed and made fun of.  Christ himself was mocked and scorned by those who did not believe.

I have the rare opportunity this weekend to attend a general meeting of my church, where the prophet and his 12 apostles will speak the good word of God.  If you are not familiar with the mormon religion, you might be surprised by the quiet natures of these men.  They are not dressed in the latest fashion, they make no money for their service, and they don't wave their hands in the air and heal people on the spot.

But if you listen closely, you will feel the power in their words.  If you open your heart you will be touched by the love God still has for His people on the earth today. 

So to my friend out there, I am sorry if you think I am headed off a cliff.  But I wish you could know as I do, that there really is a living prophet.  He speaks the will of God to the people.  I am so grateful to have this knowledge in times such as these.  I know in my heart these things are true. And so to all the world out there - I pray you also will find the truth that you seek in your life.

If you are curious about the idea of a prophet, click here and decide for yourself.