8 years ago...

8 years ago the world as we know it changed forever.

Things got scarier, bigger than us, confusing, but most of all WE got closer. For 6 or so blissful months we really did stand UNITED. Flags flew everywhere. Even places they had never been before. It was a welcome sight to this proud American.

Then complacency got us back in it's grip and we are back to tearing each other down.

Today let's honor those who died (those in the attacks & those in the resulting war) by doing something nice for a complete stranger.

I mean it. I will seek out someone, anyone!, and do something nice. And if I can't find someone I will practice random acts of surprise (like my new term?) by placing say, a $5 bill in the change return of a soda machine or paying for the person behind me in line's coffee. Something where the ACT is the reward, NOT the praise.

Want to join me? If you do I'd love to hear about it! Leave me a comment telling me what you did & if you did see the person's reaction how did that make you feel?

-Kristi

If you are reading this in Facebook or a reader please click through to my actual blog and leave your comment- thanks!

P.S. thanks honey for being my knight in combat boots, that whole shining armor thing is so overrated.

Cake!!

I never really cared for cake growing up. I really loved the ice cream cakes you can get for birthdays. So you can imagine that my family was surprised when I picked up Wilton's Yearbook way back in 2000 (I think?) and fell in love with cake decorating- I might have been the most surprised though!
I've showed a cake or two in the past but I thought that I would show you the recent cakes I've made.
So here are the pictures! Enjoy!

The first pictures are for my niece's 1st birthday. It was Blue's Clues theme & her mama (my sister) wanted her to have a smash cake to, well, smash all on her own. I did this for my son's 1st birthday but I didn't decorate it- just iced it. But this one came out so cute that if I ever have more babies this is something I want to do!

"Tickety" Smash cake:

Next is a wedding cake I made last summer for a friend's wedding. It was taken by the photographer at her wedding. You can find his website here.


Here is a Hula Girl/Volcano cake I made for friends to go with their daughters Hawaiian/hula themed birthday party (she turned 6 I believe- what a fun party!) The hula girl is one the mom picked up at like a dollar store (or some similar store) & the only other non-edible thing on this cake is the palm leaves (so sad- I spent 2+ hours making fondant ones that look so CUTE & alas they were too heavy for the pretzel rods so they fell off & I made paper ones at the last second.)
And last are some 're-creations' of something Bakerella made awhile back- I made these little 'faux' burgers & fries for a friend's BBQ at the beginning of the summer. They were a hit & oh so easy! For directions look here. (Photo was not taken by me, but right now I don't have permission to list his name- haven't asked yet- but he's a friend so it should be OK to use this picture)
So there are 'my' cakes! More to come I have one booked for delivery later this month but I'm not sure if it's a surprise cake or not so I'll just save that for after the delivery of the cake! :)

Thanks for stopping by!
-Kristi

If you live in the mid-coast/Bangor/Downeast area and would like me to make a cake for your occasion please e-mail me and we can chat!

A neat little Giveaway!

So since Hubby & I are still toying with the idea of homeschooling (well he's toying, I'm sold haha) I follow/subscribe to many homeschooling blogs & LOVE them. Well today one of my favorites posted about a giveaway & in all honesty one of the ways to get an entry is to blog about it. BUT I will say I'm blogging about it to give all YOU the chance to enter too!

I really like what is being given away: they are 'feelings' dolls/toys by this company called Kimochis. Go check them out & see what all the fuss is about. But really they are an amazing idea that combines toddlers love of stuffed animals with their confusion about how to express their feelings. Smart!

Ok so go HERE & enter yourself if you want!

Happy Labor Day!