BON VOYAGE!

I'm off to see the glaciers in Alaska! I'll be home on the 12th.

The house is going to be full of life with all the banging and sawing going on while I'll be gone. I won't miss that at all. But, I will miss my family and my dogs...and of course you!

I'll be taking tons of photos to show you when I get back.

HAPPY 4th of JULY!!!!

Wishing you all a safe and wonderful 4th of July.

IT'S BLUE!

Well I went with a light blue for the top part of the bathroom walls. What do you think?

I almost went with pink but at the last minute went with blue. I also will have lots of polished chrome accents in the room.

Polished chrome was very popular in the 1930's and so that's why I went with that. It's hard to find things in polished chrome anymore. Most things have had to be special ordered.

Here is the new door. I don't really like it. I wanted a french door but then I wouldn't be able to open up any window and since we use this door a lot to go outside we didn't want to remove it.

I want to cover the window up with some kind of curtain or maybe even a fancy pull down shade like they used to have. Any ideas?

When I was growing up the house I lived in had push button light switches. So I knew someday I would use them somewhere.

I thought this room was perfect for them. I love them. Funny how I can get so excited about a light switch but I do.

Even the door hinges were replaced with polished chrome. It's the little things that really make a room, don't you think?

The plugs were lowered and covered with polished chrome also.

The grout on the floor is finished. Sadly the toilet tank had a crack in it so we have to replace it. The sink is ready to be put in but we don't have the faucets yet. Nor do we have the faucets for the bath/shower. They have to touch up paint too.

I did buy a shower curtain but am still looking for a polished chrome rod. Then the only other thing is a ceiling light. I found a few I liked but again I have to order them. It's going to be about a month before they come in! So I'm still looking around.

Oh and the door knobs, I'm getting fancy polished chrome door knobs too but for now we will keep what what is on there to use until the new ones come in.

So the next time you see this room it will be finished! Then the 2nd bath will be started on.

I'll be gone on the Alaska cruise when the bathroom is finished so I'll be excited to come home and see it all finished.

IT'S COMING ALONG JUST FINE

The guys have been working long and hard at getting the vintage inspired bathroom done.

The only thing left I have to purchase is a light that will go on the ceiling. I'm having a hard time picking out a vintage looking light that will work in here.

Here is the floor tile I picked out. I love how it looks. However, it took them forever to cut all the little tiles to fit in for the boarder area.

The big bright white spot is just the sun shinning in through the window in the door.

They still need to grout it but I think it looks good and love how it meets up with the bead board.

The black is also brought up onto the bath/shower area.

The black tiles in the floor is not the same shape as the black tiles in the bath/shower area. However, the black tile in the floor is the same shape as the white tiles in the bath/shower area.

It's hard to tell in these photos but the bath/shower area has white subway tiles. They were very popular back in the 1920's and 1930's, which is the style I'm going for here.

They also have the built in medicine cabinet installed.

I saw a medicine cabinet very close to this one when I used to watch Sex In The City. It was in Carrie's bathroom. Ever since then I've dreamed of having a bathroom with one.

Silly what things catch our eyes as we watch TV, isn't it.

It seems the normal height for bead board is 3 feet but I went with 4 feet high as I like the higher look.

I also had them move the plug down lower. It used to be right next to the light switch. They also put a 2nd plug on the right side of where the sink will go.

I wanted to have more then one plug as it seems like I always need one where there isn't one in the bathroom.

So there you have it. So far, so good. I'm really happy with the work they are doing.

I have the sink, toilet, light fixtures that are going on the side of the medicine cabinet, light switch, vent cover for heater/ac unit and light switch covers all sitting in boxes out in the living room.

It is starting to drive me nuts. I will be so happy to have both bathrooms finished. Though, it is fun to have a vision in my head of what I want and then to see it come alive.

Anyone care to guess what color the upper part of the walls will be?

TOPSY TURVY CAKE DEMO

When I went to my Cake Club meeting this past weekend, one of the super demos was how to put a Topsy Turvy cake together. Some people call them Mad Hatter Cakes or Crooked cakes.

You know those cakes that look like they are falling over. To be honest I'm not a real big fan of them but many people are.

John was doing our demo. I don't know if you get the WE channel, but, if you do, John is one of the decorators on Amazing Wedding Cakes.

He does beautiful work and has been my teacher for years. I love taking classes from him.

There are a few different ways to put these crooked cakes together. He showed us two different ways.

The one above is pretty and can really be tilted a lot once you know the tricks.

This is the style I like better. It's not as crooked and I like how the bottom is smaller then the top.

John told us a little secret about baking cakes. He lines the pans with parchment paper only. Then he pours 5/8 of an inch of batter into the pan. No matter what size your pan is always use 5/8 of an inch.

Then bake the cake for about 19-22 mins. The cake will rise up to one inch every time. It will not form a hump that needs to be cut off nor do you have to tort (cut the cake) into layers.

When the cake cools off a little turn the pan over and the cake will come out. Do not take the parchment paper off the cake until later.

Stack and fill (not done for our demo) four cake layers. The cake will be about 5 inches tall once the filling is added to the cake.

Put a smaller cake board on top of the cakes. Be sure it is centered. Put the cake, with the board on top, on top of the pan you baked the cakes in.

Then take a large, sharp knife and line it up to the top cake board and the bottom of the pan. Then slice the cake off.

It will look like you have a hill or a cone shape when you are finished.

Flip it over and you now have the shape of the cake tier you wanted.

To make the top of the tier slice 1/2 into the cake and then slice a piece of cake at an angle. Be sure not to go the whole way down the one layer of cake as you will cut into your filling. You don't want to do that.

Flip that slice of cake over to the side you didn't cut. You will now have a bigger slant to the layer.

Crumb coat the cake with a thin layer of butter cream incing. Put into the freezer to harden the butter in the icing.

This is what your cake will look like after it is iced and hardened.

Cover the cake in fondant and smooth it out.

Do the same to your 2nd tier and stack it on top of the bigger tier. Be sure to put a dowel all the way through the cake to help hold in place as you transport it.

Add your flowers and/or other decorations and you now have a lovely cake.

Here he added ribbon along the base of the tiers and then placed a few gumpaste (sugar) flowers he made.

I think this cake is very pretty and elegant. Don't you?

The 2nd way to make one of these cakes is to not do any carving at all.

Just fill your layers, cover with butter cream icing then fondant.

Rather then carving you put pieces of Styrofoam cut into wedges in between the tiers.

To cover the Styrofoam place lots of flowers or bows in the area between the tiers.

While this way sounds faster it really isn't because you have to make lots of flowers or bows to cover the Styrofoam.

Well, I hope that gave you an idea of how these cakes are made. If you have questions let me know and I would be happy to answer them for you.

IT'S NOT WHAT I PROMISED YOU...

I know I said I was going to show you how to make a Topsy Turvy cake today but, I was super busy yesterday and didn't have time to download my photos. So I'll post that tomorrow!

Do you want to know what kept me so busy yesterday? If so, read on...

I decided, last minute, to book a cruise. So, I spent a lot of time finding the ship and booking the cruise as well as the flights.

Then, I had to go to the passport office because I'm taking my great niece, Trinity, with me and she didn't have a passport yet.

This is going to be her first cruise and she is SO excited!

We are going on the Norwegian Pearl. I've never been on this ship but from what I've read and seen on the Internet it looks like a great ship to take a kid on!



It's full of bright colors. Look at that carpet in the hall and even the doors to the cabins are bright and cheerful!

This is what our room might look like. Again, bright and cheerful.

I booked us a suite so I'm excited to see what it is like. Normally, I wouldn't pay for a suite but, believe it or not, the suite was actually cheaper then a balcony room.

I know we will have a balcony but, I don't know what the difference is between a balcony room and a suite. Do you know?

I found all these photos on the Internet and the Norwegian Cruise Line web pages.

The bathrooms look nice and big for a cruise cabin.

The toilet even has it's own room. Now if you cruise you know this is a big deal as the bathrooms on ships are normally super tiny.

There are several pools on the ship. This one has a spiral slide that looks like fun.

I'm sure Trinity will want to spend a lot of time here.

Check this out! A two story high Wii game. How fun. We will play a few games here I bet.

There are basketball courts, tennis, golf and of course the rock climbing wall. I won't be doing any of those things.

However, I think Trinity will want to do the rock climbing so I'll watch her.

Cruise ships these day are adding more and more things and trying to out do the other lines. This ship is known for having a bowling alley.

I wonder how hard it is to bowl as the ship is rocking and rolling.

I don't know but, I think we will play a few games to find out.

Oh in case you were wondering where I was going I thought this picture could give you a big clue. Know where?

To Alaska of course! We will be going to Juneau, Skagway, Cruise Glacier Bay, Ketchikan and then our last stop will be Victoria Canada.

I can't believe this but we are going to be on this ship in 6 days! This is going to make it 3 cruises in one year for me. Gee, I'm starting to feel like a world traveler.

I better get packing!

SOME DARLING CUPCAKE IDEAS

I went to my Cake Club's meeting this weekend and we had some really nice demos. I thought I would show you the cupcake ideas we learned. I really loved them and I'm sure you will too.


Isn't this a wonderful idea for a bridal shower! You could make the dress to match the colors and style of the bridal parties dresses.

I also loved the idea of putting them on candle holders to serve them. Makes them even more special looking.

This is the type of pan used. But you could use any type you have really.

Here is one that was baked in more of an oval pan.

To make the top part you just pour melted white chocolate into a dress form sucker mold. You can find these on line if you Google dress form candy mold.

You stick the chocolate into the cupcake and then start to decorate your dress with fondant or you could even use buttercream icing.

Make ruffles and start at the bottom and work your up to the top. There is a ruffle cutter you can purchase to use with your fondant. There are also special ruffle tips you can buy to use with your buttercream icing.

The top can be made how you like. Give the dress a halter top, make it strapless or give it sleeves. Be creative and make it to match the bridesmaid's dresses.

I just love this idea. Decorate your cupcakes to look like they are flowers and then put them in a basket to present them in. Looks like a wonderful bouquet of flowers!

Or you can staple 5 oz Dixie cups together to make a cupcake bouquet. Do not bake in the Dixie cups. Just put baked cupcakes in them.

They now have luster dust spray colors. They look much better then this photo shows. It gives the icing a pearl like color to the cupcakes. They come in many colors.

Add a few cupcake picks to your bouquet and a banner and you are set to go. Put a ruffle around the bottom if you want to finish it off.

Everyone loves cupcakes and these are few new ways you can used them not only as your dessert but also as your table center pieces.

I'll show you how to do a Topsy Turvy cake tomorrow.

Sadly my ghost hunting tour didn't pan out. My sister, Maureen and I went and waited for about 45 mins but no one showed up. I'm sure we were in the right meeting spot.

Since no one showed up we were going to go to the park the group was going to go to. We thought we would conduct our own investigation. However, the park had a fence around the whole place with signs saying to KEEP OUT ~ DO NOT ENTER and other signs saying it wasn't going to be open until Aug 2009.

I'm not sure what happened as I have not heard back from the group leader.

The park we were going to go to is said to be haunted because a mother had killed her son there. I'm not sure if it's the son or the mother that is said to have been seen there.

Oh well, maybe next time!