Inspiration

I have to confess, I love blog browsing. I love reading about people I kind of know, or don't know at all. I love finding inspiration everywhere.

My latest inspiration is the wife of a boy who was in my ward when I was a teenager. One of those boys who was horrible in Sunday School. The kind I thought was soooooo immature. Well, he's grown up and married to a wonderful woman who is so talented and they have three beautiful daughters. She is talented musically and she continues to develop her talents. She's even promised a blog "concert" at the end of the summer.

I'm not gifted musically. I would have loved piano and flute lessons back in the day but it just didn't work out that way. As a side note, I used to be bothered that I didn't get to pursue these talents, but I'm okay with it now. Because I like the ones I have pursued. I love baking. I love sewing. I love embroidery.

So, while I cannot do an online "concert," I can be better about posting pictures of accomplishments and goals. Not a resolutions list.

If you've stuck it out through that rambling, you get brownies.

So, here's my latest goals:

Learn to quilt using my sewing machine (or the new one that I'm *hopefully* getting soon) - taking a class on this at a local quilt shop in a couple weeks.

Embroidery - I have some projects to start and finish. I'd also like to to learn ribbon embroidery. I'd like to get started on Laurel's baptism dress. I want to embroider flowers around the hem of her dress. Something I need to learn a bit more about.

Writing. I'm taking a humor writing class right now. BYU offers online classes, so there are about three or four of those that I can take as well. I'd also like to try my hand at a screenwriting class.

As for baking, well, I still have my ultimates lists to work on. I'll get that out and get back to work.

I'm not going to let the current uncertainty of our future decide what I do right now. I've got too much to do!

Pictures next time, I promise!

Why is it?

I don't know if there is a dessert out there that I've wanted this much.

Seriously, it's obsessive. And so silly, because I could make it. Anytime. I just made 5, count 'em, 5 cakes plus 24 cupcakes and 70-odd breadsticks for a Relief Society dinner. I think I could handle one little cake.

Here's the problem.

I would eat it.

That's my problem. It's a big problem. I don't need to eat it all. I need to share it. Too many of my friends are dieting and I don't have the heart to sabotage them. I'm not officially dieting, but I am trying to avoid consuming entire cakes. It's a worthy goal, I know. And no, I don't consume them in one sitting. But I pace myself, and the next thing I know, I ate it all.

Not good.

So. I will make this cake. When I have ten friends over who will help me eat it. Only then. Okay, two friends is fine. Or three. I'm okay with leftovers.

I so need to raise pigs. Then I wouldn't feel guilty about throwing it away! I'd just be making bacon and ham for later!

Something I'm seriously considering . . . .

Big Plans

We've got a whole week at Gran and Opa's house and I've got some big ol' plans.

In no particular order:

Rainbow cupcakes with Adrienne and her girls for St. Patty's Day! It's a homeschool party. We're going to watch Pollyanna and talk about prisms and eat rainbow cupcakes. Life will be good. Oh, and play outside and get dirty. Love it!


I got this pillowcase pattern and I'm going to make some fun pillowcases for Christmas gifts. Shh. If you get one, be surprised!

I love this bag. LOVE. THIS. BAG. I'm making more. For gifts. Because who couldn't use a few extra bags around?
Laurel is loving skirts, so I've got a few in the works for her. She chose the fabric and I'll whip them up. Adrienne, can we just have a sewing fest at your place? Henry and Phoebe will let us do that, right?
Something tells me that just won't happen!
For my birthday. I'm still going to have a Lemon Meringue Cake. But I think I want these too. Fauxstess cupcakes. I've got a killer recipe that I'll share once we try it. Super yum!
This book has a lot of super cute ideas, all with one yard of fabric. Hence the name. There are some grocery bags that I think would make great Christmas gifts. Found some supercute fabric and so I'll at least be cutting things out.
Crazy? yes. Super ambitious? Certainly. Will I get it all done? Doubtful. But it's fun to think about!

And before you ask, I will be writing too. But the writing schedule starts when spring quarter begins. And sewing will be my reward for getting my writing done. It's gonna work, I tell ya!

Remember this?

Remember when all I wanted was to make this Lemon Meringue Cake for my birthday? Last year just NEVER worked out. I had an accounting final, on my birthday, and it was all I could do to get through that final. I didn't get my birthday cake.

Well. Not this year. NOT this year.

I am making this cake. I've got big ol' plans for Aaron's birthday. This is all I want for my birthday.

So it's happening. Count on it, if you care.

Chocolate Raspberry Recap

Sorry, no picture.

I forgot.

But ....

I did make it. It was okay, but the berries were a smidge too tart and so it wasn't super tasty. And not enough chocolate-y goodness. And I didn't like the texture. I think what I want is a raspberry brownie. So begins the quest.

But Friday is Nutella day. Celebrate by baking! I have to ask my Italian teacher if I can bring in some Nutella brownies.

Chocolate and Raspberries

Jennie's thought process:

• Saw a recipe for Raspberry Buckle on Martha Stewart.
• Remembered I had a recipe from epicurious.com for Chocolate Raspberry Clafoutis.
• Now I want to combine them so I have a Chocolate Raspberry Buckle.

And I have a Sunday afternoon to do it in! Hooray!

Stay tuned. I WILL take pictures and post a recipe if it is successful.

Buongiorno!

I am LUVING Italian. So much so, that I want to pack up the whole family and move to Italy.

Since we're homeschoolers now, I figure I'll be teaching the kids what I'm learning. Who knows, I might retain more that way.

As for this blog, it's not that interesting. It needs some spice. I have projects. But I realized that the projects I do have are gifts and I can't post them before because then the people they are for might see them. And I forget to post them after. I will try to remember. Because this year is the year of the homemade Christmas! I have to get started now because it's going to take me all year!

On the baking front, I'm planning on celebrating World Nutella Day next Friday, the 5th of February. Join in. Go to this site and find recipes and funny things about those of us who are obsessed with Nutella.