Might Buy a House...

So, we might be buying a house. Fixer upper in a nice neighborhood... so I need to record my ideas of how to fix it up!

LIVING ROOM FEATURE WALL
- some kind of architectural interest perhaps?
http://www.designpublic.com/shop/inhabit/7899

Wall shapes
http://www.designpublic.com/shop/wallter/4497

Perhaps some kind of Wallpaper?
http://www.grahambrown.com/us/index

DIY MODERN LIGHTING YAY!

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/home-garden/modern-lighting-diy-budget.html
(although I'd like to figure something out with wood veneer)

I like this wallpaper in the background, actually...

CARPET
I want carpet. I know no one likes carpet but I... I like carpet.

HELPFUL MAGAZINES AND WEBSITES
http://www.elledecor.com/met-home/
Formerly known as metropolitain home

http://www.designpublic.com/

KITCHENS
Divine Design :)
http://www.hgtv.com/kitchens/mid-century-modern-kitchen/page-2.html

Other pictures of cool kitchens:

SMALL BATHROOM
Check this out!!
http://www.gadgetsoftheworld.com/vertebrae/

Im onto cupcakes now...

Okay. Now instead of doing an extra cake along with the large cookie monster and the baby cookie monster to make up for the number of guests coming to this party (Im thinking its going to be about 30...): I will now make cupcakes. Cookie Monster cupcakes, of course. And I think I have decided upon a recipe and decoration... (im creative but not so creative that I am creating my own decoration... oh well...)

http://goodthingscatered.blogspot.com/2009/04/cookie-monster-cupcakes.html

and while looking that up, I think I found something to make for my husband's birthday a week earlier!
http://tpox-proceedwithcaution.blogspot.com/2009/06/chocolate-peanut-butter-cupcakes-with.html

Cookie Monster Party...

Why does everyone like Elmo so much? He's annoying and doesnt use proper grammar. There's too much Elmo paraphernalia, or should I say, propaganda, in the stores. So now I have to be all creative and make Cookie Monster party accessories for my son's birthday party.

So, I saw this website and it helped inspire me for cups and hats and...
http://bilder867.bloguez.com/bilder867/722437/cookie-monster-party

Here's another large cake/smash cake combo I like:
http://intricateicings.com/wp/category/uncategorized/page/12/
actually, that whole website is amazing... I think they're much prettier cakes than Ace of Cakes or The Cake Boss...

I guess I like this one with the diaper on:
http://sweetemotions-cakes.com/id25.html

came across this crochet pattern... I'll have to do it one day:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9035858


possible party favors? Cookie Monster cake pops! Am I getting in over my head???
http://www.bakerella.com/street-party/

Helpful links...

helpful links:

http://www.wilton.com/cakes/making-cakes/baking-party-cake-2-inch-pans.cfm

freelance writer needed

3D stand up bear pan

Fine. I give up. Im just going to get use the 3D stand up bear pan for my cookie monster and the mini one for the smash cake. But for the life of me I cant find any info online of how many portions the regular bear pan serves! I'll keep looking...

I got my Wilton 50pc cake decorating set with caddy. 40% off from Joann's! Hooray! Cant wait to practice piping.

I finally found a recipe to use for the cake:

http://baking911.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=cakebaking&action=print&thread=2163

heres another:

http://hubpages.com/hub/How-to-make-a-3D-bear-cake

Well, this is more of a rough guide for me so far. I still want a chocolate chip recipe. I might use this along with the cake-doctor recipe...

and I'm not going to use Wilton's recipe for frosting. I cant in good conscience eat something with that many calories if its going to be made out of slimy Crisco and not butter! So I found a butter based recipe that I will try:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Creamy-Buttercream-Frosting/Detail.aspx

or this one:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Quick-and-Almost-Professional-Buttercream-Icing/Detail.aspx

Also, I will be making a trial cake for Valentines for my husband and my dad -- who, did not get the traditional American wedding cake for my own wedding like he should have. Our wedding cake wasn't THAT great -- we didn't really have time to do all the fun cake testing. Oh well. For my 2nd marriage I'll get to do that... (kidding - I'm never getting divorced!!!). So anyway... the trial cake will be a white cake with crushed raspberry filling and buttercream frosting.

peace out

freelance writer needed

Gonna make a cake...

It's my son's first birthday on March 29th and I need to start getting organized now since he takes up so much of my time (and loving it!)

He likes Blue's Clues and Cookie Monster. Im most inspired by Cookie Monster -- so a Cookie Monster cake is what he's getting!!!

I've put "domestic goddess" on the back shelf for some time... its time to re-awaken her and fine-tune some skillz.

I have gotten some ideas from some images online and a little bit of instruction from youtube, etc... but nothing to follow exactly to the letter... so I will have to improvise! And, I'm sure that I wont be able to get it all figured out until I actually do it myself... I may have to do a practice run! I plan to do a small smash cake for my baby boy and a larger one to feed the guests (maybe about 30 people?) But how can I make practice Cookie Monster appropriate for Valentine's Day, or my Husband's 37th birthday?

I saw the mini-3D bear and the regular 3D bear cake pans that Wilton makes, but I think that the proportions are a little off... I think I may end up using pyrex bowls like the first website link but... how??

I also plan on using fondant for the eyes and inside the mouth and possibly a party hat on top of his head...

Any comments, helps, links, etc would be appreciated! :)

Here's some of the websites that Im looking at:

Designs:

http://www.cake-decorating-corner.com/cookie-monster-cake1.html

(my favorite!)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tinkabellz/3623142219/

(I'd just make the mouth a little larger)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/charleyscakes/2407580151/

(nice and simple)

http://www.zerogravity.com.au/blog/2009/01/how-i-made-an-elmo-cake-part-1/

(This one is Elmo, I thought I could glean some ideas... its VERY involved -- i hope that mine is simpler)

Technique:

http://www.wikihow.com/Test-a-Cake-to-See-if-it-is-Done

The normal internal temperature of a cake when done is between 195F and 205F.

Flavors:

Cookies and Cream-

http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/ShowRecipe.aspx?rid=11058

Chocolate Chip-

http://www.razzledazzlerecipes.com/cake-mix-recipes/chocolate-chip-cake.htm

Extra:

http://goodthingscatered.blogspot.com/2009/04/cookie-monster-cupcakes.html

(Thought these were a fun idea)

freelance writer needed