Making memories

In our family we often say that "we're making memories" during those cute, funny, wonderful times that we hope to never forget.  And, then there are times that I wish we had a 'reset' button so that we could forget some things -- things that initially would seem best to wipe out of our memories.   It's funny how our memory works.  We often struggle to grasp an important detail  that has slipped our mind.  And later, when we least expect it, that memory will again appear. Maybe you, or a friend, has a memory of an elephant -- one who never forgets.   It's also funny how sometimes our family members simply can't remember the simple things...those things that we tell them, and remind them, over and over again.  No matter how many reminders at the breakfast table or on the drive from school, some things are simply not very memorable.  Not even a sticky-note can help for some things.  I've got an idea.  The next time you really want to "make a memory" in your family, why not bake this simple little Elephant Cake?  You can download the cake pattern today from CakeShapes Designs, then simply bake, cut, assemble and decorate.  No special shaped cake pans are needed and no cake decorating tools either.  It's a great cake after a trip to the zoo or the circus.  Also, it's just the right size for your family on a family movie night.  It would be a great dessert after watching "We Bought a Zoo" or "Operation Dumbo Drop" -- both of these movies are on my DVR right now!  Remember to slow down, make some great memories with your family and friends this week.  I bet that they won't easily forget the time you spend with them. 

The race is on

Race season is here! Everyone will race to the table to see this cute Racetrack Cake. A very simple cut-up cake pattern can be downloaded to create this cute cake. Bake it for the tailgate party at the racetrack. Or, bake it for a fun kid's birthday party.

Rudolph, lead the way to our house on Christmas Eve!

The Christmas clock is ticking. Just a few more days until Santa begins his trip from the North Pole to our house. Of course, leading the way will be Rudolph the Reindeer. Today I'm celebrating Rudolph. Sure, we'll have some cookies and milk for Santa on Christmas Eve. But, we'll also have a nice treat for Rudolph and his reindeer friends that work so hard to get Santa to all the homes before Christmas morning.

You can celebrate too by baking this very easy Rudolph the Reindeer cut up cake with the CakeShapesDesigns cake pattern.

O Christmas Tree Cake, how lovely!

Christmas, the most wonderful time of year! My street is bright at night with the glow of the Christmas trees and decorations. I am running behind this year on decorating for the Christmas season. I plan to decorate the tree this weekend. I plan to decorate this fun, Christmas Tree shaped cake also this weekend. A nice dessert to celebrate the lovely Christmas Tree.

Celebrating the launch of CakeShapes Designs

Today I'm celebrating the launch of CakeShapes Designs on my new Etsy shop. From this site you can download cut-up cake patterns to easily create fun, creative shaped cakes. No more expensive, shaped cake pans that fill up the cupboard or pantry. No cake decorating experience required. No expensive cake decorating classes required. Suggestions on how to decorate the cakes using materials that you commonly find in your local supermarket are given. You'll not see fancy cakework on the site -- no fondant, no fancy cake borders, or flowers formed from icing. Hopefully you'll get an idea of how basically anyone can take an ordinary cake layer and create an amazing, fun cake that will delight your family and friends. If you have experience in cake decorating, only your imagination will be the limit. Visit the shop today and share the good news.

Crossroads of Life 

I've really enjoyed blogging, particularly sharing the celebrations of life.   However,  I see the resource actions (also known as layoffs) impact my peers and see work in my industry move offshore.   Reality demands that the possibilities be considered and action plans be in place.   I decided to take a break from my blogging to consider what might be next in the crossroads of life.   

Over the years, I've had lots of ideas, some great and some not-so-great.  Some of those innovative ideas just need some time to gel.  ; )  I decided that I can continue to celebrate life and spend time reminiscing about it on my blogs.  Or, I could explore an additional passion and try to find a way to celebrate it -- with the hopes that it might grow into opportunities of the future.   My Dad and I frequently talked about the need to find something that would allow us to make money in our sleep.  As we watched so many succeed on the great information highway, it became a challenge for me.   So, I've finally followed through on a dream and have set up a little e-commerce site on the information highway.   I've learned through my experience with blogging that people don't necessary "come" or "come right away."  Like the brick and mortar business, building a business online will take time.  It must be nurtured.  Of course, I, like everyone else, want an instant success.   For now, I'll celebrate knowing that "I finally did it" --- it took months of planning, very long hours of development after my "day job."  Months of weekends, toiling away on a project that few believed in.   Those had focus on the current day -- not the dream of the future.   Only time will tell if it will be a success.  Regardless, I'm working on something that I love -- that I've done all my life -- and have found a way to simplify it for others.   Now, I'm sharing with others.  I see the possibilities and dream big.  Of course, my realistic side hopes to initially cover my expenses.  I dreaming of the financial return for the future.  For now, I feel a little better that I have taken further steps to plan for the day we all dread -- the day that the pink slip is virtually passed to my desk.   I'd be so dearly blessed if this new venture becomes my backup plan to at least  'hold me over' or at least pay for the health benefits that will be needed as I downsize.  : )   Of course, my little e-commerce site is directly related to the subject of this blog.  It enables people to celebrate.   Of course, I'll share the news and progress on this site too.

A dollar and a smack on the bottom for each year

Today I'm celebrating my birthday. I'm not particularly fond of birthdays -- and it's just not because birthdays are a reminder of my aging. However, I like to make the best of it. I rarely work on my birthday. I generally take a vacation day and plan some fun things for the day. A great day for me includes some fried shrimp and some chocolate. It usually involves some shopping too. Add a movie, and it's a best day. Start the day off at the salon and it's perfect.

Birthdays at our house were days to celebrate, but with some uneasiness. Sure, there was the cake, with candles, and friends and family. After church on the closest Sunday, we'd also get to go to town and eat out -- a special treat. Of course, I always picked the shrimp. So what in the world might make someone a little uneasy on their birthday? Was it the embarassment of opening the annual gift of "granny panties" from your Grandma in front of your friends? My family is a little Scottish -- celebrating by giving a dollar (rather than a pound note), along with a smack on the bottom for each year. I remember that last smack -- it was in Mr Sawyer's Music Theory class by Mad Rad on my 18th birthday. However, it gets worse -- the annual tradition of my Grandpa was to snatch you up and then stick your head under his house! I really hated that -- dreading that moment! After all, I had seen all kinds of critters under that house over the years.

I'm not a big fan of surprises either. Now, I like a surprise phone call from an old friend. However, I'm not a fan of being ambushed! Have you ever missed your own birthday party? I have. Once my friends decided to celebrate my birthday by hosting a surprise dinner. However, it was planned after our choir rehearsal and at the place where we typically ate each week. It was not on my specific birth date. I had to work late and did not attend the rehearsal. Rather than stopping by the restaraunt to join the gang for dinner I just drove home. Everyone assumed that I would be there. Point of advice -- if you plan on throwing a party for someone, then assign someone to make sure they're going to attend. It was really funny looking at pictures of the empty chair with the balloon tied to its back and the nice cake with lit candles and no one to blow them out. An especially memorable birthday!

I browsed around to read about birthday traditions -- curious where Grandpa might have gotten his tradition. Although I did not see its origin, I found other traditions that I also would like to avoid. If I lived in Canada, I would have my nose greased with butter or margarine. In China, I'd be eating noodles for lunch. In Denmark, there would be a flag flying outside my window. In Italy and Hungary, people would be pulling at my ears (although that sounds much better than a smack on the bottom). In Latvia, as you sit in your chair, your friends lift it one time for each year -- naw, that's not going to happen! In Puerto Rico, family and friends would be tapping me on the arm -- that can be annoying. However, in Japan, I'd be wearing new clothes -- finally, a tradition that I would enjoy!