Laughter IS the best medicine

Truly. Nothing heals the heart and soul like laughter. We have had a ROUGH week. I turned 35, took over daycare for a day (11 kids vs. me= me NOT winning or leaving sane. Until the margaritas flowed.) I caught some kind of bug, and the sun and the moon must be not have been speaking, 'cause they were WAY out of line this week.
But today was one of those days that you felt like you just might be in an alternative universe. When my husband and I first met, we both had great jobs and he had this fantastic apartment. We would have a night in and I'd make a fabulous dinner. Then we'd adjourn the balcony. He lived on the top floor in a very rural town and you could see the stars so clearly. On those magical, relaxing nights, we'd finish dinner and head to what we called "Lottery Land". We'd stand on the balcony and dream up a world that was pretty much untouchable unless you were Donald Trump or Jay Z. But we'd snuggle up, watch the stars and dream of our "perfect world". Manhattan Penthouses, boats big enough to land helicopters; Kitchens to die for.
Despite our crazy schedules, with me working weekends, nights, Holidays, etc., we still managed to have those wonderful nights.

Fast forward 11 years and we have 2 awesome kids. 1 is a small genius. And I don't use that word lightly. The kids a friggin' genius. And my son, a comedian to umpteenth degree. I run a small cake business out of my house, designing, creating and baking cakes. I cater occasionally. I watched the finale of Hell's Kitchen last night and felt that tug. That tug in the stomach of my heart and the heart of my stomach. Fine Food. How I miss being behind the line. For the first time, I truly felt the finalist's deserved to be there. They were both creative, talented and food driven. I felt that urge to jump back into that awesome world. I would lose so much of my children's lives.

There in lies the dilemma. Just before our new President was sworn into office, my husbands company did lay offs. We became a product of the economy. Not just us, but almost everyone we know has been touched in some way. Almost like a cancer.

Onto tonight; I don't think I have laughed SO HARD in a very long time. My neighbor's mother has pneumonia and happened to come out briefly today for some fresh air. My husband was standing on our front porch and yelled over, asking how she was feeling. She's old and Italian and I'm not sure she even answered in the same language....
Anyway, my Husband starts clapping his hands and yelling,"hey, look", and she's saying something along the lines of "I know, I'm sick". As this conversation is taking place, their dog was sneaking out of the gate. My husband finally stops yelling, hops the railing of the deck, and starts running down the road after the dog. IN HIS BIRKENSTOCKS!! The two granddaughters hop in the car and start to follow them. I, in the mean time, and crying I am laughing so hard. His shoes go flying off. He rounds the corner and from there it's seems to only have gotten better from there. He ran into someones yard and as he was getting close to the dog, two teenage boys come out of the house. They stop to watch this crazy guy trying to catch this dog. My husband does this stealth like leap and grabs the dogs collar. The two kids went nuts. Lot's of "dudes" and "nice moves" and "We've NEVER seen ANYONE Ninja smooth catch a dog like that." Okkkkaaaayyy. So my husband starts to trek the dog back to the house and the girls pull up in their car. They were beyond Thankful that he caught their dads dog. They drive back up the street and ask where he wants to be dropped off....."um your driveway is cool, since I ONLY LIVE NEXT DOOR!!" THEN the two of them start to argue about not dropping him off in the HUGE puddle (honestly a small pond, I saw a frog) in front of their house. I can't believe he made it through this without busting out in laughter.
Fast forward to a hour or two later, a shot or two or tequila, some dirt (gardening) therapy, and My wonderful husband retelling this story, in his own comedic way. Maybe you had to there...but for me was,
My very own Lottery Land.

Business is GOOD!

Check this cake out....I was SO thrilled with how it came out. Check out more pictures at http://www.fortheloveofcakenj.com/

How cool is my kid?

This morning, all that hair is being donated to Locks of Love. I am so proud! T has wanted to get her hair cut for a while and when she heard about this on the radio, she decided to go. Wmmr in Philly is having an event this morning, and she got a time slot. She's so excited. I have to watch some kids, (we're on Spring Break) so I couldn't go. I trust my husband won't let her get to crazy with the new 'do. Hmmmm, Well, keep your fingers crossed. I'll post after she gets home...New 'do pix!

Update: Here she is! She had so much fun. I am so proud!

Untitled, cause I just don't know what to say

Wow. It'd been awhile. I've missed my peeps. So much has happened. Where to begin?

Sadly, my sister's fiance died. He lasted a month and 10 days, and then past. My sister put it so perfectly. "The Surreal has become Real". Who does this happen to?! You go in to have surgery and never wake up. The Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda hits you hard.
Sort of takes the life out of you. How can you watch someone go through this, and have no idea how to help them. Time will tell.

I on the other hand, slipped TWICE on the front deck and have only had the use of 1 arm for a few weeks. I sprained/slightly tore my rotators cuff. Fun times. Thankfully it's my left arm, but it still sucks being 1 armed.

I want to wish everyone a Happy and Healthy Holiday season. I'll be back, just taking the time to heal. This year, make sure everyone knows what you mean to them.
You, my blogging peeps, I cherish and miss. Happy Holidays!

Life for what it is. Fragile.

OK. I'm sitting for the first time in weeks. Not true. I sat for three days straight while doing all the paperwork that comes with the end of a fundraiser. Proudly I can say, since we gave the 10-yr-long, same Yankee candle fundraiser the boot, and went with something different and diverse, we made over $13,000.00. We get a great portion of that and are using the money to plan a (HOPEFULLY) awesome Fall Festival, on Halloween day. We had "take the Halloween, out of Halloween" as the Principal requested, and planned all fall themed things. We have a large group of Cherokee Nation Native Americans and a Chief coming in to do a show, a huge pumpkin patch, made by us, Scarecrow contest, parties, and really nice safety goody bags for the kids for Halloween night. I'm happy to pat myself on the back, because we've all worked really hard, and it's coming together pretty well. I will be BEYOND relieved when it's over.

The Fundraiser explained in great detail to me why I will never have a desk job. TOO. MUCH. PAPER. And a whole lot of other work to go with it. I told the Pres. I did my time and don't even ask for help on the next one. (I know she saw the sucker tattoo on my forehead). I could go on for days about all this crap so here's the gist of it all...Yadda, yadda, yadda, Oh and I'm so happy I took on the Terracycle, wash-out-the-nasty-smelling-Juice-pouches and recycle them program. Just a Tip: You might want to snatch up some stock, from the heavy duty yellow rubber glove company. I just might bring the economy back with that. Nahh...That will take a miracle. Or a man named Obama.

On to sadder news. I'm not going to get into great detail, for the privacy of my sister, but I'll give you the basics.
Monday October 13th, her boyfriend we in to the hospital to have hip replacement surgery. (this was the second try...the first time they realized he was a diabetic and postponed the surgery.) Round 2: He goes in that Monday, they give him a spinal, and twilight sleep anesthesia, rolled him to his side and he flat lined. They had to perform CPR for about a minute and he went right in to ICU in Critical condition, no surgery. That was 9 days ago and he is still in a coma. Not breathing on his own, and when the sedative wears off, there's no response. So, Keep him in your thoughts and prayers. We're really not sure what's going to happen....
We have surrounded my sister with love support and best of all, comfort food. Sometimes, there are just certain foods that make you feel SO. MUCH. BETTER. Mine are my grandmother's macaroni and cheese, Her Codfish and potato balls, scalloped potatoes, and as of this past week, Eggplant Parm. has been added to the list. What makes your heart and body all warm, fuzzy and comforted??

It's worth a try....

SO school started on the 8th. By the 10th, my youngest was home sick. BY the 11th, I had it too. What a great way to start the first week of school! I'm still fighting the stuffiness, but feeling better. Life has been CRAZY busy. I thought PTO secretary was going to be an easy, little work job, just like last year. Wrong. Being that I am home all day, I get to take care of the majority of the things that need to be done. Just slap a label on me that says PTO 's Bitch.
I have spent everyday, all day this week being all consumed with this stuff. I know it's for the kids, but I wonder if I could get them foot the bill for my vodka intake everyday....they've driven me to that point, why shouldn't they support my new habit?! It's for a could cause people, ME!!!

Isn't this the truth!!!

A friend sent this to me and I was in tears. I'm sure it's made the rounds, but I couldn't help myself. If anything, it's a good lesson for our daughters right?! How many times has this happened, and with kids in the stall?! Have a Good laugh and a Great weekend!

When you have to visit a public bathroom, you usually find a line of women, so you smile politely and take your place. Once it's your turn , you check for feet under the stall doors. Every stall is occupied.
Finally, a door opens and you dash in, nearly knocking down the woman leaving the stall.

You get in to find the door won't latch. It doesn't matter, the wait has been so long you are about to wet your pants! The dispenser for the modern 'seat covers' (invented by someones Mom, no doubt) is handy, but empty. You would hang your purse on the door hook, if there was one, but there isn't - so you carefully, but quickly drape it around your neck, (Mom would turn over in her grave if you put it on the FLOOR! ), yank down your pants, and assume ' The Stance.'
In this position your aging, toneless thigh muscles begin to shake. You'd love to sit down, but you certainly hadn't taken time to wipe the seat or lay toilet paper on it, so you hold 'The Stance.'
To take your mind off your trembling thighs, you reach for what you discover to be the empty toilet paper dispenser. In your mind, you can hear your mother's voice saying, 'Honey, if you had tried to clean the seat, you would have KNOWN there was no toilet paper!' Your thighs shake more.
You remember the tiny tissue that you blew your nose on yesterday - the one that's still in your purse. (Oh yeah, the purse around your neck, that now, you have to hold up trying not to strangle yourself at the same time). That would have to do. You crumple it in the puffiest way possible. It's still smaller than your thumbnail .
Someone pushes your door open because the latch doesn't work. The door hits your purse, which is hanging around your neck in front of your chest, and you and your purse topple backward against the tank of the toilet. 'Occupied!' you scream, as you reach for the door, dropping your precious, tiny, crumpled tissue in a puddle on the floor, lose your footing altogether, and slide down directly onto the TOILET SEAT. It is wet of course. You bolt up, knowing all too well that it's too late. Your bare bottom has made contact with every imaginable germ and life form on the uncovered seat because YOU never laid down toilet paper - not that there was any, even if you had taken time to try. You know that your mother would be utterly appalled if she knew, because, you're certain her bare bottom never touched a public toilet seat because, frankly, dear, 'You just don't KNOW what kind of diseases you could get.'

By this time, the automatic sensor on the back of the toilet is so confused that it flushes, propelling a stream of water like a fire hose against the inside of the bowl that sprays a fine mist of water that covers your butt and runs down your legs and into your shoes. The flush somehow sucks everything down with such force that you grab onto the empty toilet paper dispenser for fear of being dragged in too.
At this point, you give up. You're soaked by the spewing water and the wet toilet seat. You're exhausted. You try to wipe with a gum wrapper you found in your pocket and then slink out inconspicuously to the sinks.

You can't figure out how to operate the faucets with the automatic sensors, so you wipe your hands with spit and a dry paper towel and walk past the line of women still waiting.
You are no longer able to smile politely to them. A kind soul at the very end of the line points out a piece of toilet paper trailing from your shoe. (Where was that when you NEEDED it??) You yank the paper from your shoe, plunk it in the woman's hand and tell her warmly, 'Here, you just might need this.'
As you exit, you spot your hubby, who has long since entered, used, and left the men's restroom. Annoyed, he asks, 'What took you so long, and why is your purse hanging around your neck?'

This is dedicated to women everywhere who deal with a public restrooms (rest??? you've GOT to be kidding!!). It finally explains to the men what really does take us so long. It also answers their other commonly asked questions about why women go to the restroom in pairs. It's so the other gal can hold the door, hang onto your purse and hand you Kleenex under the door!
This HAD to be written by a woman! No one else could describe it so accurately!

They're gone!

The kids started school yesterday and I cried the whole drive home after dropping off my son. He didn't cry at all. He loves preschool so far, and I am happy for that, but I do miss him. My daughter started the 3rd grade and is very excited. In between all that yesterday, I made this:

Some NJ Supreme Court Circuit Judge was retiring, so My Uncle asked me to make this . (He's a judge too.) I'll get a call to day, to see how it was. A little harder then I thought to add all the details. Live and learn right?!

????????

Can anyone, PLEASE explain this to me?

All but 1 are essentially empty. Husband's excuse is "just in case I run out." What are you going to do SCRAPE the last bit of residue out and spread it on your pits?? If I catch you with items from the kitchen, you'll be banned forever.

COUNT IT DOWN!!

School starts in 4 days. 4 looong days. The reason we're starting so late is that the school took all the in-service days that are sprinkled throughout the year and put them all at the beginning. Um, Thanks for that. Everyone else is back in school and my kids are bored to tears. I'm also watching the same little girl I did last year. Except this year she's even more bratty. She is a child of an ugly divorce and I should feel sorry for her but I don't. She knows how to play the part very well. She sneaky and conniving and I've heard her more then once, trying to co-erse my son into doing something she knows they're not supposed to be doing. It's been 2 days, and am this close to telling her Dad I can't watch her this year. My daughter can't stand her, and is cranky every morning, because she has to get up and deal with this kid. Oh wait, that's me too.
This is also the guy who would take WEEKS, and at times MONTHS to pay me. I'm stuck here. This year I'll be driving the kids to school in the morning, since my son has to be at preschool the same time the girls bus comes. So parents, what would you do? Do I make him sign a contract? Do I tell him no, I can't do it this year? His other option is the early morning program at school. It would cost him $6. Yup that's it. He just doesn't want to go 1 street out of his way. Grrrrr.....I hate starting off the year this way!!!! HELP! Send Ideas and suggestions!

A little lost....

My parents picked my kids up yesterday afternoon for a 2 night sleepover. Today, I only had to make some cupcakes, while my husband was at work, and that was about it. What did I do before kids???? I finished a great book that I've only been able to read before bed. But other then that, I was a little lost. What the heck am I going to do with my self when they're both in school? I can only knit so many sweaters....

Weekend update

This weekend was busy! Friday afternoon I had a 5 hour PTO brainstorming Meeting. WOW! Lots to think about for the upcoming school year. I'm big on promoting "going green" this year. Lots of great recycling programs for the school, that I know in a few weeks, I will regret taking over. But it's for the good of the earth right?!

Onto the electrocution; I left an anonymous message for code enforcement. Two reasons for leaving it anonymous A) the person's house that we were at is on the Town Council. She's also the Top Realtor in our area. I didn't want to start any trouble for her. B) I just want the guy fined and signs put up. I left my number for further questions, but didn't leave my name. I don't mind filing the complaint in my name, but don't want to get the property/homeowner involved. I will let you know what I find out.

Saturday I made these:




The boat was HUGE and fondant rope, yeah, not so easy to make knots out of. The wee baby smash cake was so cute!




This cute little cake was also for a first Birthday and the top tier was her smash cake. I was pretty pleased with them, except for the ropes....live and learn.
We still have 2 weeks before school starts. Everyone is BORED. Everything has been done and done again. So, what to do with them for the next 2 weeks????

It's shocking.

Late yesterday afternoon, a friend called and asked if we wanted to go fishing at a different lake then ours. I was restless, yet still had a slight headache, but I said yes. We went, sat in the shade and had a really nice 2 hours of fishing. The only thing the kids caught was a turtle, but we could see fish everywhere.
(Side note: If turtle catching were an Olympic sport, my daughter and her friends would own the gold. 19 in 1 day. AND many by hand.)
After we left the lake, we drove down the road to a big old farm house that my friends husband was working on. He was going to meet up with us while we were fishing, so we stopped to tell him we were headed home. Behind the house is a HUGE horse farm. Acres and acres.
Near where we were, was a momma horse and her colt. The colt was so cute and playful, the kids were so excited. I'm watching this from the truck and and out of the corner of my eye, I see my daughter scream and start crying, shaking. She was holding her arm, so I thought she had scratched herself against the old wire fence. Two seconds later, I realized chances were good the fence was electrified. I was right. Thank all things sweet and holy, that she didn't actually wrap her hand around the wire. She only touched her forearm to it. It sent electricity all the way up her arm, where she said it felt like it exploded. I was scared to death. And PISSED OFF. The fence was old and the electric part was the tiny wire running across the top. NOWHERE, down the length of houses that backed this farm, was there a sign stating that it was an electric fence. The house that we were at, has tenants with children!! It ends up that my friends Mother-in-law has taken this guy to the township repeatedly about putting up a sign. He hasn't. NOW, he has to deal with me. He's lucky my daughter was hurt badly. Still, there is NO excuse!!
I'll let you know when I'm the new owner of that horse farm.....

Seriously? Seriously.

This week my parents are in The Hamptons. My father works for GE, something to do with Worldwide infrastructure, computers, 4 am conference calls and some travel. For fun, he's a actor. Check him out later. DennisMcGeady.
Onward. He's in this play this week.

"COURTROOM COMEDY IN PREMIER AT OLD WHALER’S CHURCH
A raucous courtroom comedy based on the craziness of a real life divorce case will have its premier at the Old Whaler’s Church in Sag Harbor on Thursday, August 21 for a three-day run ending on Saturday night. The play, entitled “The Cat, the General, the Wife, the Judge and Calzone,” was previously performed on May 15, 2008 to a SRO audience in a stage reading at the Helen Mills Theatre in New York City.
." His lawyer "Charles O'Gorman" is the well-known actor and SAG member, Dennis J. McGeady who has appeared in the CBS soap, "The Guiding Light"; the ABC Pilot "Dirty Sexy Money", and NBC "Law & Order Criminal Intent". The play will starting off-Broadway in the fall.

Anyway, they are staying at the Director's house. Which happens to be a convent. Yes, I did say CONVENT. An old retired, partially renovated convent. My Mother calls last night and says she's sitting around the pool, having a drink. I could NOT stop laughing.
" I'm sorry Mom, but if you were in my head right now, this whole convent-drinking-swimming-haunted convent picture in my head has you laying around the pool with nuns in habits serving you."
"There are no Nuns, Kell"
"I know, but the image in my head is running it's own comedy show right now."
"I'm thinking we should plan a family reunion here in the off season. It's a good location for the NYC, Hamptons, and New Jersey relatives."
My end of the phone...silence. I am laughing SO. HARD. "Mom listen to the words that are coming out of your mouth. A Family reunion at a convent. A) there are no families in convents. B) This does not mean I will call you Mother Superior, and C) Can we have it catered and make all the waitstaff dress like Nuns and Fathers?"
"No Kelly, and stop making fun. This place is beautiful."
" I'm sure it is Mom, but Seriously?
"Seriously Kell. Start planning the menu. The kitchen is huge."
"Well it would have to be to make porridge and stuff to the nun. Oh and can we hire Sally Fields? And maybe bring the Ghost Hunters with us?"
" Your Father just returned from rehearsal, smart-ass, I have to go."

I'll keep you posted on how the show goes.....this whole trip is going to be very funny, I believe.

Thanks for the warning, buddy.

For the past 2 nights, my son (and my husband and I) has slept like crap. He's up, or talking in his sleep, in my bed at 11, and just all around miserable. Yesterday he wouldn't nap. It's 10:30 am and I've already tried to get him down today.
He woke up at 7:30 this morning, slid out of my bed and went to see if "TT" was up. No such luck for momma. He comes back into my room, throws the covers off me and SCREAMS "MOM GET UP! I HAVE AN ATTITUDE!"
You sure do buddy, you sure do. It's going to be a loooong day.

Not this time kiddo. They're saving that job for you.

While watching TV with my 8 year old, a commercial came on.
"I don't like that old white haired guy. Or that other guy. They're mean in these commercials."
I sat speechless.
"I really wanted a woman to be president."
Um, ok. Who are you and what happened to my child? Or better yet, How do you feel about the price of oil, the foreclosure rate, and the bombing of Georgia?

Happy 3rd Birthday Baby Boy!!

Three years ago, This past Sunday, August 10th, this came in the mail. No, not really, I just think this picture is so cute.





He was welcome by all, as he was an amazing surprise. After years of trying and refusing to





do in-vitro, we were blessed with his arrival. He went on his first vacation to the Outer Banks at 3 weeks old.


He gave Power to the People.
He made a really cute pumpkin.

He was a really good charmer with that smile!


He let us dress him up like a little doll.
Yeah, we had a thing for hats....





He was a very hard worker at a young age.


He could wrangle a vacuum with the best of them.




He could relax with friends, or on the beach.



He kept his mother's love of cheese puffs and sleep from the womb.


He was a very sharp dresser....sometimes.



You grew to love Monster Frucks.....I mean Trucks. And this one in particular. At the age of 2 you walked up to him and told him you LOVE monster trucks. So he broke the rules and let you do this:


So, in Honor of your Third Birthday I presented you with this. It so important to me that my kids have memorable cakes. I think this tops them so far. I'm not sure which he found cooler though.......the cake or his gift.

Happy Birthday Bubbah O'Riley!
(yes I know they spell it differently on the song!)

Ship of Fools

What a weekend!! The Water Carnival was a BLAST! I made mojitos for the pre-party and we had lots of yummy food. Chicken wings, Mozz. sticks, I made delicious zucchini fritters, crab dip, and crudite. For the boat, I made lemon drop shots. The pictures really tell the story:

These were SO good!! Mozz and parm cheese, zucchini, flour, egg, breadcrumbs, all fried into yummy goodness.

Here comes the ship of fools. We were 45 feet long. 4 canoes put together, with trolling motors for easier steering. Mike in the yellow shirt is a genius and had this thing perfectly rigged so no one could tip it.

Aimed at the back of the boat. Captain Mike was so proud of his ship of fools, WITH Mardi Gras beads, that we did throw. Then the front of the boat...My Husband was all the way in the front.

This float was very well done. It didn't win....this whole thing is very political apparently. The same people win every year. They made a pyramid, but I'm not giving them the satisfaction of posting it. :) Here are some other cool ones:

Here are the police....yelling at us, because we parked ourselves directly UNDER The fireworks, and were being showered with ash.....hence the name of out boat.....Ship of Fools.

And of course the best part of the evening was when we decided to beach and go get a funnel cake. Let me start by saying I had a few mojitos and a few shots. When we decided to get back into the boat, I put Riley in, and then started to attempt to lift my leg to get into the boat. I was wearing a pair of my husband flip-flops, (so I didn't ruin mine.....it's cedar water) jeans (the mosquitoes are awful) and a tank top. My flip-flop sunk into the sand. As I attempted to wrench it out, I lost all balance. I couldn't get my other foot out of the sinking sand and in very slow motion, Tipped to the left and leaned like the leaning Tower of Pisa. Except, I went all the way down. Into the water. In jeans.

Yesterday, my friend Corrine (the dark haired one in the picture) went to the local Wawa and ran into one of the town Police officers. He said we were a huge hit from the shore, and looked like we had a lot of fun. He also heard that someone went overboard. I didn't go overboard I just got really WET and SANDY. See? That's how rumors start......Next year, we're going to attempt to actually make a float out of 7 canoes. I'll be the dry one next year.

Addtion: I found this picture that somone on shore took of us.

So. Wiped.

We have been going and going since last weekend. Here are the cakes....except STUPID me forgot to take a picture of the Elmo cake. Doesn't matter, the red got too dark and my husband said it looked like Elmo's evil Twin. Nice. Thanks for being SO supportive BABE! The Event planner was VERY happy with the cake and a friend of mine called and said she had been at the party and The EP truly was happy. It's a good thing, ' cause at this point I would have happily kicked her in the ass. The penguin came out cute, just a little square looking to me. Was a huge hit though.


We spent the week canoeing, boating, swimming and just running in general. This weekend our town does a "Water Carnival" and people decorate their boats and make big floats out of them. Then there's fire works, bands, and it's great fun. We are attempting to tie 5 canoes together, in an odd formation....not just end to end. Should be interesting, and we'll see WHO goes overboard first.
Getting ready for Riley's birthday party next weekend. He wants a "Monster Fruck cake". A friend of mine suggested I make a 1/2 sheet, make it look like a dirt track and add some little trucks. I was APPALLED! My 2 year old has thrown a challenge on the table. He wants a 3D monster truck and that's what he's going to get. The "Grave Digger" to be specific. A big old Black and green truck. She laughed at me for excepting the challenge from a 2 year old. We'll see who laughs last.....
Have a great weekend!!!

Big plans

Today I will be baking. And baking. AND baking. Nothing like waiting till the last minute for all the orders tomorrow. I am the worst procrastinator, and yesterday we spent the day on the lake with friends, in canoes and a catamaran. (Which ultimately flipped) WAY to much fun to walk away from to bake. A Bikini, Elmo and a penguin for today. Oh and one is for THE EVENT PLANNER. We'll see if she lives through this cake order......
Have a GREAT weekend!