Cake and more cake!

We just love the cakes that we added to our site especially the two tiered cakes.  

We're working on more sweets for next week.  So come back again!

Irresistible Display!

Hello Everyone!

I thought I'd share this lovely display with you from one of our vendors. I'd like you all to meet Sue from Gracy Rose Boutique.  She's a vendor with us and recently added more of our faux sweets to her store.   Also she makes one of a kind tea trays, and many other shabby chic/cottage/Paris Apt. style items.  So if you're in the area, Gracy Rose Boutique is located in Carlsbad Village, CA in The Carlsbad Village Art & Antique Mall.   If you can't get to Sue's shop, look for Gracy Rose Boutique on Facebook. I love how her gorgeous tea tray accentuates our faux pastries!  What a beautiful combination!!

Thank you, Sue!

Pizza!

One of my favorite meals to eat is pizza.  I made my first one as a newlywed and haven't stopped since.  Through the years the process has evolved slightly and I've learned what works for me and what doesn't.  I've been passing on the making of this yummy dish to my kids and they can make their own from scratch.  We like to make enough so there will be leftovers for lunch the following day.  Here's what went into the ovens for dinner:

During our most recent orthodontist visit an interesting thing happened.  While waiting on the girl to finish with Sam, my daughter, I noticed a young teenager suddenly stand up and go to where her father was standing on the opposite side of the room.  She gestured to him and he quickly turned her around and proceeded to perform the Heimlich Maneuver on her.  All of this happened so fast that no one in the office noticed because they were all facing the other direction working on patients.  Thankfully, the obstruction in her airway was cleared and it all turned out well.  I encourage everyone who reads this post who isn't trained in First aid and CPR to get trained.  The life you save could be your own.


For more information on First Aid & CPR or to find a class in your area, visit the Red Cross here:  http://www.redcross.org/

Out and About

I was given the opportunity yesterday to visit what I consider the Mother of all Estate Sales.  It was a business that is sadly closing up shop. While they had so many awesome things, I thought I'd share with you a few pictures.

Baking Bread

A few days ago we ran out of bread and as I didn't feel like getting in the car and driving to the store to buy some I had a great, perhaps not so great, idea.  I have everything I need.  I'll just make some!  Here is my account of the next several hours:

A little yeast, oil & warm water is always a good way to begin.  Don't mind the egg.  I laid it out because I saw it on the recipe list and then threw it in with everything that was supposed to be in the bread machine only to realize later that it wasn't actually part of the recipe.  Oops!  Oh well...moving on....

Here is what happens after 90 mins on the dough cycle:

After dividing the dough and kind of shaping each half into a loaf, I popped them into their own bread pan to rise.

Since it was cold, I placed the loaves to rise in a slightly warm oven with a bowl of hot water underneath.  It makes the oven cozy and humid which makes yeast happy.

The next picture is not the awesomely risen loaves that I moved from the cozy oven into an oven that was preheated.  It's the result of those once awesomely risen loaves having crashed to the bottom of the pan after being subjected to the cold house in transit.  At least that's my story...

And since life, like baking bread, can be unpredictable despite our best intentions, here's what became of these loaves:

Grilled Mozzarella Cheese Sandwiches!

(Sure the loaves came out a little vertically challenged but with a little butter, garlic powder and Italian seasonings they were delish!)

Hmmm....I wonder what bread I should attempt making next?

Free Petit Four!

Starting today, for every jewelry purchase you make, you will receive a free petit four!  This offer is good through Sunday, August 7th.