A Cake Disaster!

On Wednesday, I completed my final project for the Wilton's Level Two cake decorating class. This thing was a PROJECT! It took the two previous classes just to learn how to make the royal icing and then to create a few flowers that would be added for the last class. I think it took about 45 minutes of the class to complete the basket weave around the outside.

I have to admit, I was pretty proud of it. I took a few pictures with the phone and loaded it up in the car. I was planning to take more pictures at home, but disaster struck. May I just say that I all of my cakes have made it home without a problem, until Wednesday night. I can't say for sure what happened, but by the time I pulled into the garage, one side of the basket weave had fallen down and the flowers came tumbling after.

The good news, I have pictures of the cake from the phone and it tasted fine. The bad news, the pictures aren't great and I would have failed the Food Network Challenge because the cake did not make it to its final destination in one piece.

FYI These pictures came from the phone and so when I uploaded them, they came out really big. I know, I know, it's a vanity thing. :)

eHow.com Round Two

My goal is to write an article a day. So far, it isn't going so well. I thought for sure that I would have so much to write about that I wouldn't have time to get it all down on the computer. Not the case. I have been sitting looking at a blank screen for quite some time now.

So I decided to go with something from the past life. You know, the teaching life. And so, here is: How to Finish a Book Report on Time .

Swagbucks.com

So a couple of months ago, I read about swagbucks.com on someone’s blog. The blogger claimed that by using swagbucks.com instead of google, she was earning swagbucks that she could redeem for gift cards. I have to admit, I was skeptical.

So, I signed up and wanted to experiment to see how much of a hassle it was and if it really was worth it. I added swagbucks.com to my bookmarks and began using it for my search engine of choice. It took a little while to figure out the system. You don’t get swagbucks every time you search. They are random. Sometimes I get nothing, sometimes I get 1, 3 or 5 swagbucks.

I have figured out that by making a small change to my search engine, I am able to earn gift cards. Just so you know, this will not make you rich overnight or make it so that you can quit you job. It’s a slow and steady process, but if you don’t mind just changing your search engine, its worth it.

So, far, I have enough points for a $5 Amazon.com gift card. I know, your heart probably just skipped a beat. A whole $5, but I am going to keep pressing on because you know me, I am saving up for the Starbucks gift card!

If you try it out, you can sign up here. Make sure you come back and leave comments and let me know what you think.

Here's where it gets interesting

So, for the next cake, we mixed some colors into the icing and practiced some of the flowers. I guess it was the coloring that got me. It seemed like a great idea to add a lot of color in the beginning so that I wouldn't be adding little amounts at a time. I know, I know, everyone knows you start out with a little and add more as needed.


Instead of a relaxing and peaceful garden cake, I made this. Please note the item in the middle is a bunch of grapes and the squigly lines are the vines. The odd looking purple flower is my first attempt at the "Wilton Rose." Believe it or not, I'm a little proud of the pink flowers.

My First Cake

Here's a picture from the first cake. We learned how to make the buttercream icing and how to icing the cake with a smooth top and sides. It isn't too bad. . . I mean how bad can it be, it's just white icing?

Cake Decorating 101

“My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what I start. So far today, I have finished 2 bags of M&M's and a chocolate cake. I feel better already.” ~Dave Barry

During the month of April, I went on a course of exploration. I had to go no farther than the front door of
Michael's arts and craft store. They offer different classes for all sorts of interests, but the cake decorating class was calling my name.

I mostly blame it on the Food Network. Ace of Cakes anyone? How about the Food Network Challenge? Every time they move the cake to the display table in front, I find that I am holding my breath. And so, I wanted to follow in their footsteps.

If you haven't taken the class before, it is a real eye opener into the depths of your soul. If you can survive packing icing into plastic decorating bags and squeezing with the utmost precision just to have the bag bust and fall all over the beautiful design you have been working on for about a hour . . . then this is the class for you.

I've been taking the class with my sister and we have had a great time laughing and testing out our new found skills. So far, in addition to the cakes we have made for class, we have made a cake for my Bunco group and my daughter's 2nd birthday cake.

On Wednesday, we will have completed the second course and by the end of the night, our final project should be complete. I hope you are awaiting pictures with bated breath!


So bated breath refers to a state in which you almost stop breathing as a result of some strong emotion, such as terror or awe.
(I have a feeling it may be a nice mix of terror and awe!)

My First Article on E-How

Okay, so I am trying something new. . . I miss writing and so I am trying to get back into it. Here's my first article published on E-How. Check it out and be sure to leave comments!!

How to Use the Pima County Libraries

Next stop, a full book!