Birthday cakes and birthday wishes

Yesterday was the big 33. Happy Birthday to me! I realized this week, I don't mind getting older, not one little bit. Yesterday was great. An easy, relaxing day and friends over for cake and ice cream at night. Can't get much better than that. This year I got a great gift from Jon. In addition to a set of gorgeous C&B dishes and a painting, he made my cakes! Not just one, but two cakes. And I have to say... He did a FABULOUS job!! Seriously he did a better job than I could have done.

First the painting (no title yet)... Jon says this pic stinks, but it was taken with my phone so deal with it. The piece is approx. 28x36. It's fabulous! I reminds me of Claudio Bravo's pieces we saw in Italy and I love it!

This is called "Sting of the Bee". A very tasty German cake with buttercream frosting and raspberry jam in the middle. I think there is like 2 lbs. of butter in this cake, but its worth every calorie.

This is a traditional 3-layer "German's Sweet Chocolate Cake"  with coconut pecan frosting. If you're a chocolate and coconut lover - which I am - this is the cake for you, just make sure you have milk.

Seriously amazing from an amazing guy! Love you babe!

PS... Thanks to everyone who wished me a "Happy Birthday". It really made my day! True story.

The hallway closet.... bellissimo!!

These are the "befores". I know... It's terrible. Well it was anyway.

One of the biggest problems I had was using it for too many things. I was trying to fit laundry, sewing, memory book stuff, home office supplies, mags and more in this one space. It is just not big enough to do all of that, so I decided to do some sorting first. 
I had to remove all unnecessary or unused items first and either relegate them to storage or the trash. Next I cleaned and painted. And finally, the reload. 
I cannot believe I am finished! In only three days, including rounding up supplies, I have put order where there was once chaos! I love it, love it, love it!! The color is just what I wanted. I feel like I could tackle any project now. Just not today. :) Take a look.

This is in active mode. I  can pull out the file cabinet when I am at the desk. The chair folds up and stores off to the side when not in use.
To close the doors, the cabinet rolls right under the desk. 

I bought lighting from IKEA and did the simple install myself as well as the shelving.

With everything in the roll-out, the desktop is clear for sewing and anything else I might want to do. Plus the drawers are pretty deep, so extra supplies can be stored close at hand.

So if you've ever organized with me, you know I can be pretty ruthless. However, I didn't throw everything out.  :) I kept things that mean a lot to me and/or help to define me and displayed them in one area.

Funny thing about organizing projects... it never ends up being just the one space you intended. During this project I organized two other spaces in my house to make this one come together. The domino or ripple effect, take your pick, is one of the reasons I like organizing so much. Even though it sometimes gets bigger and sometimes more overwhelming than you anticipate, it nearly always produces a greater finished product than you planned. 

No sense of direction and missing my mountains

I have so sense of direction. Without the GPS on my phone, I would be lost - quite literally! That is one aspect of my marriage that is in perfect balance and always has been. Jon has a compass in his nose. No matter where we are, it takes Jon about 10 minutes to figure out the city we are in and how to get from point A to point anywhere.  Eterick has inherited that trait. Already, he is better at navigation than I am. Not sure why I am posting this except that I drove all over Baltimore today and only knew for certainty where I was maybe 50% of the time. In fact, without the GPS, I might still be driving around the 'burbs trying to find my way home.

For those of you living in Utah, count your lucky stars for those beautiful mountains. There is nothing here from which to get your bearings except the sun and when there are clouds, well... Just be glad you have them. I miss them everyday. 

Anyway, we made it home and I am so grateful for the GPS capabilities on my cell. Couldn't manage without it.

The hallway closet.... AAGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!

As I prepare to attack the hallway closet, I have the sound from JAWS in the back of my mind... Da-dat...  da-dat..   da-dat, da-dat, da-dat. My heart starts to race a little. I get goosebumps. The adrenaline pumps through my body. I throw open the doors.  AAAGGGHHHHHH!!

The hallway closet is mine. It is pretty large, maybe 6'+ wide and 2 1/2 deep. My original plan was to use it for a sewing area, but once there was  a flat surface set up(in the form of a desk) it became a catch-all. There is no electricity in the closet, so sewing never really materialized. No power source also meant no lights, so instead of using the space as an actual workstation it was relegated to storage. 

Let me say - this ends now. I am filled with the sewing bug, not to mention the fact that I shudder everytime I open the doors. As a woman who prides herself on her organizing prowess, I have to admit I am ashamed. :(

Earlier this week I made a trip to IKEA and HDepot for supplies and now I feel armed and ready to take it on. By Fridays' post, I hope to be able to show you before and afters. And if everything comes together like I imagine it, you will be dazzled. Okay, so dazzled is way too exciting a word, but you might at least be inspired to tackle your own "hallway" closet (whatever thing you have been putting off) with gusto.

Better get to painting. Wish me luck!

Music to My Ears

Today I have been considering the sounds around me.  

Everyday here the church bells down the street ring out with the most beautiful music. At noon, it can last for fifteen minutes or more. Even as I write this at 3:30, they are ringing. 

We hear a lot of sirens living downtown. I noticed it a lot more when we first moved here, but not so much anymore. The bus goes by at certain times each day, but I have never taken the time to note when exactly. The furnace, still kicking on(much to my chagrin) and the dryer with its rhythmic turns are merely background instruments in the symphony of my life. Awhile ago, I don't even remember when, I started carrying my cell in my back pocket with music playing aloud. What it plays is mainly determined by my mood, or maybe I should say my mood is determined by it and for sometime I have thought of that as my own personal soundtrack.

However, the thing that turned my mind to this topic is the voice of my sweet Esther. She wanders around the apartment everyday singing to herself. With the addition of Claudio the cat, I find her searching the apartment multiple times each day to chat with him. Her little sing-song voice is music to my ears. The duet played by my children's voices is a perfect harmony when they are playing together or reading together instead of fighting together. 

Pause for a moment today to recognize the melody around you. Think of what instruments make up your orchestra/band in life and revel in the knowledge that you are the conductor of that blessed group... or at least you are fortunate enough to be a guest conductor sitting in for the maestro.

Panini Heaven

Basically I just have to say that I may have found the best panini idea ever! So easy! 5 minutes start to finish. Here's what you need:

4 slices white bread

2 oz. semi-sweet chocolate

Do I have to tell you what to do from here? 

I don't even know what to categorize this under. I am tempted to call it dinner.

Seinfeld

So tonight we watched disc 2 from Seinfeld Season 5, the one with the masseuse, the cigar-store Indian, where Jerry gets a haircut...  Jon and I were LOL when you see Jerry's hair and again when he takes his hat off to show Elaine. I love belly-laughing like that. So many great one-liners on that disc! Kramer: "I'm as loose as cream corn" (after the massage); In the barber shop when Enzo says to Jerry, "You tella the joke, I cutta the hair"; Or where Jerry is talking to Wynnona (native American) and he has to stop himself from saying 'reservation', 'scalper' and 'Indian-giver'; Or when George's dad grounds him for breaking the rules while they were away on vacation. Too good.

Happy Valentines Day One and All

We had a mellow Valentines around here. It was really nice. I thought I would keep it short today and just show you a few of the things we made this year.
Jon did such fun and creative valentines for all of us this year. You are only so lucky as to see the kids. :) 
Esther always surprises me with those most amazing creations. I love her ability to think outside box. What a clever girl!
I realize the pics aren't great. They came straight from my phone. Deal with it. You get the idea. :)
We made these for the kids' friends here in Baltimore. I got the idea online and then tweaked it to make it a little better. I think they turned out nicely. 

Favorite Friday... Early Presidents and Living History

Spent the day in Washington. So much history and culture. What an amazing place to spend time. 

My head is a flood of thoughts today. I feel gratitude for the men who were part of organizing this great nation. I feel overwhelmed with the opportunities I have to learn about it and with the responsibility to teach my children. I feel strength when I read the words spoken by former Presidents and recognize their impact in my own life. Really, today I am grateful to be an American. I am grateful to God for His goodness. 

Happy Birthday 200th Mr. Lincoln! 
FREEDOM IS NOT FREE. Think about it.
The Gettysburg Address is the next thing Et and I will be memorizing for school.
I love this memorial. It is so majestic and so simple without it being a contradiction. I think I would like to have that said about me someday. :)
It was so windy! It was one of those days you'd rather have chapped lips because your hair would stick to your lips if you put anything on them. Windy and cold!
If you have never been to the Korean War Memorial it is hard to describe the power you feel looking at these statues. I feel such a reverence when I am there.

The WWII Memorial was dedicated in '05.  The fountains were not running, but I can only  imagine what it would be like.  There is so much symbolism in this monument.  
The windows at the top are not at all clear. Still, the views are amazing!

If you look west you can look down the Mall at the WWII Memorial, the Lincoln and past the Potomac to Virginia. The only thing that could make it more beautiful would be with everything alive and green.
To the south is the Jefferson Memorial which overlooks a tidal basin. We didn't get to see it today. In the spring perhaps when the cherry blossoms are in bloom we'll pack a picnic and make a visit. 
The view at 500' looking east down the Mall toward the Capitol Building. Look at all those museums needing to be explored. So much to see, so little time...
The White House to the North; Looking out this window you can see the DC Temple way out in the distance, so beautiful, white and majestic.  We're talking way out there. (I am motioning with my hands to show how far.) Pictures didn't catch it well, but from the top of the monument the Temple sits among a sea of trees with nothing else around, like a light or maybe a candle. Made me smile more than anything else up there. Can you hear the metaphor taking shape in my mind? I'll spare you today. :)

Sis' to-do List

Yesterday Sis went into her room and except for some singing was quiet for a good chunk of time. Occasionally, she would poke her head out to ask how various words are spelled. This is the result. She came up with this perfect little list. I never thought about whether or not she noticed my list making - guess so. Another OCD habit perpetuated, oh well! The thing I love about it... all fun things; a perfect day you might say.  For those of you who can't read 7-yr. old it says:

SIS

do valentines.

play dough.

play with the cat.

play Lego.

Read.

watch a movie.

PARcheesi

FRACTILES

You know what? I think that is exactly what we will  do today after our read-a-thon. A perfect day.

Facebook and Doors

So first, something I love... doors. I kind-of touched on this in a holiday post regarding the stoops in Bolton Hill. I think I even mentioned my new-found love affair with doors that began in Italy. I took more pictures of doors in Venice than any other single thing, including bridges or canals except maybe pilings.  I'll post those another day. Here are a few of my favorites:
This one reminds me of our Provo house. So clean, simple, beautiful...
We passed this doorway every day in Venice. I really fell in love with it.



They are like people. They each have a different personality. Someday I want to print a huge picture of the doors and pilings of Venice. 

Oh yeah, Facebook. I finally broke down last night and signed up. It's nice to see old friends and see what people are up to. Turns out, we're not so different. In that I mean, we're many of us married, with kids, plugging along at life, doing the best we can. It's so different from how I remember high school and how I thought things would be at this point in life. I like the way things are and how life has turned out.

Mmmmm... Dark Chocolate

For today's edition of things I love, I will be writing my regular post because they are one and the same: dark chocolate.

I told you I was going to make delicious desserts for Valentines' and last night was a winner: Vanilla Caramel Chocolate Tartlets from MSLiving Feb. '05. (I would have made a link but the website didn't have the recipe. If you must have it and don't have a back issue, let me know and I'll shoot you the recipe.)

We have started having the missionaries over for FHE every week. Most nights we don't eat dessert, but for the Elders and FHE, we absolutely do. Last night I tried something new.

I know the picture isn't that impressive but I can't take another because every last morsel is gone.  These little tartlets were simply amazing.  Imagine caramel from scratch infused with vanilla (instead of port), 60% dark choc. and heavy cream, poured over toasted walnuts into dark choc. tart shells and topped with vanilla ice cream and more nuts. Are you in heaven yet? Well we were. 

A New Member of the Family

I do not like mice. I might go so far as to say I HATE mice. Strong words I know, but true words. Anyone who lives in the city will tell you that mice, or worse rats, are a part of life. I know that is probably true, but that doesn't mean I have to accept it. So what's a girl to do when she sees a mouse run across her kitchen counter (besides scream)? My first response was conventional traps to which I found still baited traps sans peanut butter. Next we tried sticky traps which actually caught the nasty little bugger. Mind you, this was all pre-New Years'. All is well. Right? Wrong!! Last week, we saw another mouse(probably the afore mentioned rodents' cousin). Did I mention how much I dislike mice? Did I also mention I am not a cat-lover? I'm not sure why, but they are just not my thing. You must know I am at the end of my rope when I start talking about getting a cat. However, a second mouse is the final straw. I don't love cats, but I really HATE mice, so you guessed it... We got a cat! And what some of you might find even more surprising than the actually acquisition of said feline is that I really like him. I do! Weird huh? 

So our furry feline is male, without a name* and of unknown age, but still a kitten. He is quite skinny and a little skittish still, but is slowly warming to us. Jack is another story altogether. He and Jack do not get along. We have tried to keep them in separate ends of the apartment and slowly allow more face-time between them. I think Jack is most curious and kitty is just plain mad. Only time will tell. 

Okay, I will be the first to say that I encouraged Jack in the chasing of cats when we lived in Utah. I didn't like what they did to my garden, nor how one winter they took up residency in our garage. But the fact is, we are city dwellers and we live in an apartment which means no matter how fastidious I am about cleaning, storing food, etc. we will probably have mice - unless we have a cat. So I welcome him to the family with open arms. Now get to work! :)

*As far as names go, we have been calling him Claudio. Jack is named after Jackson Pollock. I picked Claudio after Claudio Bravo an artist I really fell in love with in Italy. Kind-of random, but Jon had just finished a piece that reminded me of Mr. Bravo's. I think it fits him, but the jury is still out. Et calls him Claude which works as well.

Phantom of the Opera

I listen to the Phantom of the Opera a lot. Sis loves to dance around while I fix dinner with Christine singing in the background. Today though we did something different - she started asking questions. She wanted to know who was singing and she couldn't hear enough about the Phantom. I told her the story and why some songs sounded sad while others were angry and still others tender. She disappeared for a little while and when she returned she was no longer Sis, she was the *Phantom. Truly she would not answer to her name, only Phantom. She wore this costume through dinner, even saying the prayer in character. 

We watched the movie together tonight. Sis kept turning to me and saying "Mom I love this movie". A million more questions were asked before the movie was through and when it finished, she wanted to listen to the score again. I can see this is a girl who loves music in all forms: singing, instrumental, opera, musicals, etc. 

I love this side to our own little Prima Donna. She's absolutely one of a kind!

*Funny thing, I had not shown her pictures yet, nor the movie and she nailed the costume perfectly. When I asked her, she said she just knew what he looked like.