Decadence

So you've been itching to know my news, haven't you?

It's OK to admit it. Several people have. Well here you have it....

So I've been ready to embark on a new direction with my life. I'm ready to work but still need to be mindful of the kids so I decided to start a home business. I'm calling it Decadence. Here's my label, what do you think?

My tag line is "Sweets, Treats and other things you shouldn't eat......"

I started off thinking I'd sell cakes and cupcakes

Here's the Caramel Pumpkin Cake

And Rainbow Escape Cupcakes

I'm not doing any decorated cakes like the fondant. I don't think it taste good and my Business statement is: There are only 2 requirements, It has to taste good and look good too!

Here is the Caramel Pumpkin Cupcake. Ummm, Yum!

Basically any thing I make in cake form can be converted to cupcake form.

I tried Cake Pops and liked those and decided to do them too.

How adorable are those Mummies? I'm also doing some Bars.

So for the past two weeks I've been baking, taking pictures and having all my friends and neighbors taste testing. It's been so much fun. I have loved the creative process. The pricing process I have loved much less. I'm pricing it competitive for a speciality bakery. I'm going to have a friend help me set up a Facebook page this week so hopefully you'll be able to check it out there too.

I've gotten 3 orders so far and I think in Nov. I'll do a school fall festival so hopefully that will give me some exposure to the community. I'm only doing preorders. No mail orders since I have no idea how that would work and I want to start slowly. So tell me what you think. I'd love to hear....

Now you know.

Natural Bridge and other areas of Interest

This was on the trail of the Natural Bridge. Someone had carved it out in the stone. How cool is that?

A couple of weekends ago the family went camping. We brought along a friend of Noah's, Floyd so if you're wondering who the extra 10 year old boy is, we didn't adopt, it's Floyd.

We went up to Natural Bridge. We haven't been there since Noah was a baby, like less than a year old. ( I'd show you the picture but it was in the actual film days and I'm too lazy to scan it in.)

It's one of the seven wonders of the world. I loved this old tree.

There was a lengthy hike going under the bridge then up to some falls and past a recreation of an indian village. When we finally got to the end it was time for a photo op or two.

It's pretty amazing and they have a lot of attractions packed into about 3 mile area.

There was the Natural Bridge, The wax museum.

Elvis has left the building but he's hanging out in the wax museum basement looking kinda creepy.

The butterfly museum which was totally cool. Just a long room with butterflies flying all around and landing on you.

and the toy museum. (Noah's favorite but I thought it was totally lame.)

The caverns. The deepest on the East Coast. Sorry no pics. It was dark and I just had my phone.

We camped at Crabtree Meadows by Crabtree Falls. We had to do some serious 4x4 to get to the site but it was well worth it.

The road less taken.....

I've got some exciting news, (no I'm not pregnant) I'll let you know next post what it is. ;)

New Craft Room

This is above the windows on the back wall above the desk

In the spring I moved my craft room into Kai's old room.

Miss my little boy but I liked being in there because it makes me feel close to him.

Emil took over my craft room for climbing/hiking gear.

While I liked the idea at first after a while I had mixed feelings. I really missed my counter space and my storage was just a bunch of pieces that didn't belong anywhere. So even though I had a whole room it still felt like I didn't have any space.

Here it is before, this is the closet wall

The right wall. This is actually after I started to move stuff out. There was a tall storage shelf in between the bins and the notebooks.

The left wall.

The entrance. Just no cohesiveness.

I languished through the summer but once the kids started school I was ready for a fresh start.

This was the color I decided to go with.

I played with the idea of buying new furniture but after I brainstormed with my friend Kari, I decided to take this storage system from Ikea -we've had it since Emil Michael was a baby- and give it a makeover.

I sanded it down, painted it white and distressed. It turned out great!

Right Wall- ignore the doors off the hinges-Emil's working on it...

I LOVE that I have shelves to put baskets on or cute jars.

This was a great idea for fabric. Clear enough to see what colors I have but not too clear so it can still be moderately messy. I had some of them already but the ones stacked in the center I bought.

Closet Wall- The black frames on the wall are adhesive vinyl chalkboard stickers.

I list all my projects on them. Sweet!

Back wall

I was finally able to put up The Wonder Wall (the big white sheet looking thing) my sister Sheila had given me for my birthday. It's really nice because you can slap up quilt squares on it and move them around with out a fuss. It's great for figuring out what you want your design to be.

It's got a beach vibe going on that I love. Come craft with me sometime. I've been working on some ideas for Christmas.;) I'll show you next post...

Anna's Wedding

The Savannah post was kinda long and blogger kept flaking out so I decided to do the trip in two parts. Part 1, the setting and 2, the wedding. So here's part 2!

Noah was kinda bored as we waited so we let him take the pictures. So sorry if they're fuzzy! He enjoyed it and it kept him happy.

The wedding was at Trafagar Square. Here's Emil's Dad before the wedding. Isn't he the cutest?

Justin, anxiously awaiting....

Anna & her Dad

One of the neat things about Savannah was that they have something like 20 squares scattered through out the Historic District. They are about a block big. Each one is different but they usually have a monument in the center and each is like a little garden area with huge old trees and bushes. I love that even thought you're in a city you don't feel like it with all the vegetation.

Anna did all the planning for her wedding by herself and she did a great job.

Noah and the Cousins

Maria & Emil

Emil's parents, Emil & Rosalie

Maria showing us she's still got the goods.

All the Filipino's enjoyed dancing and Kirstin was right in the center of them all teaching them dances she learned at EFY. She gets her moves from her DAD!

Sweet Savannah

Ok, I'll admit it, I've become a lazy blogger. However that is going to change. I'm mending my ways so here is a post that's just over a month old but hope you enjoy it none the less.

Labor Day Weekend, Emil's cousin, Anna was married. We went as a family to the wedding in Savannah, Ga. It was so charming. We had never been to Savannah before and we weren't disappointed!

It was about a 7 hour drive from our house so we stopped at South of the Border, which I had always heard of but had never actually been there. Apparently Emil's family always stopped there when they were heading to FL on their family trips.

There was this entire store, a whole building, that had funky hats. I think Kirstin and Noah tried on every hat there. I'm amazed we didn't end up with lice!

We cracked ourselves up posing and being corny tourist.

One of the days we took the trolly and really enjoyed the Historic District.

There were so many beautiful old southern houses and buildings. Spanish Moss was hanging from every tree. It was beautiful but kind of haunting too.

There was also a LOT of wrought iron. It was so detailed. (Note the waterspout at the end of the gutter. It's suppose to be a dolphin but looks more like a catfish to me!) It use to be a symbol of status so many of the old houses had it.

I loved this window. I don't know if it's the shape or color but it was so beautiful to me.

This is the SCAD. Savannah College of Art and Design. It's a pretty elite Art School from the sound of it.

They actually own buildings all over the Historic District and I think the school is one of the reasons the area has such a artistic feel.

This is the bluff that overlooks the Savannah River, the body of water that eventually leads out to the Atlantic Ocean. It may not look like it but the bluff is probably around 25 feet high.

Our favorite place by far was the Savannah Candy Kitchen. You see that pan? Those are candy turtles. Mondo huge ones! It smelled so good! I really wanted to apply for a job but thought the commute might be a bit excessive. Darn the luck!

Caramel Apples, need I say more? Of course this is what I'll be making for October!

Noah's dilema was too much candy, too little $$. So sad! (Don't feel too sorry for him I gave him $10 for souvenirs and it all went to candy!)