Money can't buy me love... or can it?

So the other day I was walking through Wal-Mart and this shirt caught my gaze.

I mean, it was like, it spoke to me.

Someone read my mind and printed it on a shirt.

Literally!

I knew I must have it and for $7.98 who was I to say no? So you can only imagine my joy and elation when I realized not only does it voice my inner most thoughts it was ALSO a scratch and sniff shirt and when you scratch the lettering, you guessed it, it smells like

CHOCOLATE!

Really? Yes really. How long will this wonder work? I don't know- but I've been walking around in a olfactory utopia for a week now.

(Dare I wash it?)

I just thought I'd tell you so you too can share in the wonder of Scratch and Sniff.

(It's like being in 7th grade all over again.)

So this is pretty much what January was like.

1. Figure out what my menu for Valentines would be.

(Scrabble Square Cookies)

2. Bake said items to "test" recipes.

(Personalized mailboxes filled with Assorted Truffles)

3. Go to Doctor's appointments and Dentist Appointments.

(UGH!)

4. Listen to Kirstin compose her song on the piano and glory in the fact that in less than a month she'll be 16 and able to date.

5. Shop around for cute containers for Valentine items.

6. Take the plunge and purchase a new camera for business photo sessions.

(Canon Rebel T2i. Love it!)

7. Test out camera on only available subject while the kids were at school.

Blaze, wildly excited to be my model.

8. Try to fit in exercising somewhere.

What has your January been like?

New Beginings

Christmas was wonderful. My biggest present was having Emil M. home from college. He got home December 17th and Jess quickly took up post on his lap.

So hard to believe that he's a college kid but he's doing well in Utah and I think college life has been a good change for him.We took our annual trip to DC to see the temple lights on the 22-23. We got to see a preformance at the temple visitor's center by a sax quartet. They were quite good and we really enjoyed it.

We stayed at a hotel downtown so we walked all over the city. We walked by the Capitol but we were too late for the tour. We did get to go to the visitors center which was pretty interesting in itself. It was so cool with the different types of building and statues.

Here are Kirstin and Emil goofing off by one statue we all found quite intriguing.

The next day we went to the International Spy museum. A place I've always wanted to go. It was pretty cool but camera weren't allowed inside so no fun pics there plus if I told you more I'd have to kill you...;)

Christmas Eve we went to Emil's parents and had a great night eating filipino food, opening presents and seeing family. I have been so blessed with a wonderful family by marriage. How'd I get so lucky?

Christmas Day we opened presents, went to church, and had our own Christmas celebration. It was nice and quiet and as much as I love the noisy Christmases I remember as a child of a family of ten I also love our quiet Christmases that are becoming our family's tradition. I guess to every time there is a season.

New Year's Eve we went to Cara's Birthday party. I made the cake. It was decorated, which is something I don't usually do but it turned out well.

New Years day we enjoyed church then had a fire on the back path while we played at slack lining.

(it's a LOT harder than it looks!)

Truly my greatest gift remains my faith and my family.

I can not imagine my life without either of them.

Happy New Year!

My Favorite Things

Have you got some favorites in your kitchen? I sure have. I always enjoy reading my friends recommendations since I know I can trust them so here are some of my kitchen staples. If you don't have them, give them a try, I'm willing to bet you'll fall in love with them too!

First up. Spatulas

I'm cheap and I have been known to get a spatula in the $1 section at Target. While they last for a short time, something about scraping out the inside of a can kind of eats away at them. This year I found these 3 little beauties. They're sold together and they are the perfect size for little jars and cans.

They were from Target and are Nortic Wear and silicone so no worries about them melting in high temps. I think I paid under $10 for them. I love them so much I'm tempted to get another set just so I don't have to wash them so much. (yep, I'm pretty much a slob when I cook)

Have you met this little lady? Non Stick Aluminum foil? A-mazing! When I'm making bars I line my 13X9 pan with this, spray it lightly and when they're done cooking I can just pull them out of the pan. Wow! So much easier to cut that way and I've used it with Mom's caramel recipe and it works like a dream. Makes clean up super quick too. A "must have" for this time of year.

This is the Misto. Sounds like a super hero, and it kinda is, because it's like making your own Pam cooking spray. You put in your oil. Pump it and voila! it sprays out a mist of oil. Great for the environment because your not throwing away all those cans and you can do any type of oil you want or even a vinaigrette, (if it doesn't have big spices in it.) if you like the spray on kind of salad dressing. I think I got this at Target a few years back. I had something similar from Pampered Chef but it broke and so I got this one. It is wonderful! It was under $10

If you make candy, get a digital thermometer. I used the glass ones for years and about drove myself insane. I picked this one up on amazon this fall for $15. It beeps when you get to the correct temp. Stupendous! So easy a child could do it but don't let your child do it, sugar gets way too hot!

I love my Bosch mixer for my big batches of bread. She's not at all streamline, she's the workhorse of mixers but boy howdy does she do the job. 12 cups of flour for that big batch of bread? Throw it on in, she's got your covered. She's pricy. I think I paid $300 about 8 years ago. One set back is the plastic mixing bowl. It is not good for whipping egg whites. It holds too much oil and there is no handle so I had to seek another option.

Meet my sexy new friend, Lilly. (If you can name cars, why not mixers?)

Well her official name is Kitchen Aid Artisan but that was just a mouthful!

One loaf of bread is her max but she can do some meringues! Much smaller for the countertop and so pretty too. I got her just over a month ago and she was $250 on sale.

Hope you enjoyed this (sorry guys, I know this post was not one for you) hopefully you've seen something that will make this season just a little bit easier for you so you can find some more time to relax. Merry Christmas!

Nine years ago we got an early Christmas present and Kai was born into our family. He was the youngest and the biggest little stinker.

He loved his little "Lammy". He would suck his thumb and hold Lammy's tail in his fist rubbing it against his nose. As he got older and Lammy became more mobile I would have to bleach him to get the stink out of him. Kai always noticed when Lammy had a "bath" because he would say he was stinky!

After being terrified of spiders for years he realized that he was bigger than them and overcame that fear. Kai was captivated by animals and insects and loved the outdoors because it was his observatory.

Just like his big brothers he loved Legos and creating.

He loved Thomas the Tank Engine and trains of all shapes and sizes.

And of course Nerf guns!

Though Kai's time on this earth was short, I am forever grateful for the time we had with his special spirit. I wouldn't change a minute.

Sometimes I think about Kai's birthday being in December, so close to Christmas, and am thankful because remembering the gift he was to our life helps me keep Christmas in perspective and remember what a gift the Savior is in our lives.

We miss you sweet Kai!

Baking

So life has been revolving around baking lately. I think Emil's kinda sick of it which is very unfortunate since I'm just getting started...

This is the White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake. Every time we eat at Olive Garden I order this. It is my absolute favorite! (It was pretty amazing)

Before I sell something I've got to bake it, photograph it and then test it of course!

Pumpkin Cheesecake with Sweet Whipped Cream, Caramel and toasted pecans.

Real whipped cream... (let me just say- I love me some Cool Whip but this topped it, literally)

Actually I'm getting a little tired of the testing but I've learned to give creatively.

You had a bad day? Oh have some Caramel Nut Cinnamon Buns.....

You feel a little sick? I know just the thing...

White Chocolate Peppermint Mousse Cake with Chocolate Ganache and Peppermint chips.

There is one thing I've learned in this life and that is that a little Chocolate improves any situation...Even a cold...

Sorry Noah's not home right now but here you go, have a Peanut Butter Cup Cupcake!

Friday I have a Fall Fair. I really just want to do it to get my name out there but I'm worried there won't be a good turnout. Keep your fingers crossed. I'll keep you posted.

I've already got 3 cake orders and two cheesecake orders for Thanksgiving!

Halloween

The weekend before Halloween we went to the temple. Our stake had grounds duty. That's when we go and clean up the grounds around the temple. It was cold and raining/snowing so we got to put up the Christmas trees in the Visitor's Center. What is it with our family and it snowing at the temple whenever we go in the winter? For Pete's sake it was only the end of October!!!!! It didn't stick but it was pretty to see.

So Halloween was fun!

Noah decided to be a spy. (I tried to get him to smile but he said spys don't smile. Well I guess he's right.)He went out with some good friends from the neighborhood. Emil walked them around while I got to stay here and enjoy Kirstin's first party with friends.

She had around 10 kids here some guys and some girls. It was a good group of kids and I was more than happy to have them here where I can keep an eye on things and know everyone is safe.

Saddly I was so busy with the party I didnt get any pics of the kids. (I'm the worst blogger ever!)

We got dry ice for Kirstin's party which Noah and I thought was the coolest!

I had to convince the teenagers it was OK to drink the punch after I put the dry ice in because they thought it might be toxic. Really?

I had 4 orders for Halloween. Making about 100 cake pops. 84 of them were for the orders and the others were for our party.

That kept me busy in the morning.

How adorable were these Oreo Bats? I made a few of them for my orders and stuck them in. The wings were card stock and no I didn't cut them out by hand. I have a silhouette cutter that did that so efficiently for me, thank Heavens!

It was fun and so rewarding when everyone picked up and was so excited. I love it.

This week I've worked on some recipes for Christmas cakes. This is a White Chocolate Peppermint Mousse Cake. I took it to a friend who had surgery so I didn't get to taste it. I thought it might be bad form to deliver it with a slice missing. But I did get to lick the spoon of the mousse in the middle and it was heaven!

Today I'm working on a White Chocolate Cheesecake with Raspberry swirls. We're going over to Sumi's for dinner on Sunday and I'm bringing dessert. This works out great for all my photo shoots since I have to actually make the item before I can take a picture of it and then if no one has ordered it I have to eat it. Oh darn!

I set up a website. Check it out and let me know what you think!

www.decadencebykathryn.weebly.com

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.