Pinks and Browns--Monkeying Around!!!

So my newest diaper cake was made as a request from my friend Kim. She was in charge of throwing a shower for a friend of hers who's expecting a little girl. I always try to create a theme so that the cake "flows" from top to bottom. It takes a bit of work to get ribbons, ruffles and cake toppers to match when I don't control what the stores carry. This particular cake gave me trouble because I've done pink and brown cakes before and I wanted this one to be different. After a trip to Beverly's, Jo-Ann's, and Michaels' I finally came up with my palate and theme: Monkeying Around. Enjoy the Pics.

A couple months prior to the monkey cake I'd made this diaper cake for a friend throwing a pink & green shower for another upcoming little girl.

These are some of my other cakes that have gone to family and friends...

Baylie's Final Clearance: No More Restrictions!!!

We finally made it! We are about 6 months out from Baylie's devastating knee surgery after blowing out her right ACL back in October. Baylie has had a long recovery and rehabilitation process that was facilitated by friends and family. Our First appointment at VCA-All Care was October 10th, 2009 and our last was this past Sunday March 28th, 2010. My only fear going into this 6 month check-up was to be told that her over compensating for her bad knee all this time had worn down her good one. Luckily the orthopedic surgeon said that everything felt great and her range of motion was back to normal and the x-rays confirmed everything!!! Baylie has officially had all restrictions lifted and now we only need to go back down south once a year for annual x-rays to be sure everything stays perfect! The weather was great and the traffic was minimal for this recent trip...it actually felt like the weight was finally lifted off my shoulders and I can worry a little less and pay off her surgical bills with my tax return and put all of this behind us!!!

Carter (AKA: Remote Thief)

On Saturday March 20th Matt and Sherry declared it a date night and asked me to watch Carter for a few hours. We had a great time but I can already tell he's gonna be a channel surfer...good luck maintaining possession of the remote control around him!!!

Carter, Ginger and Cheerios!

So Sherry text me Saturday morning (Feb. 13th, 2010) at like 6:50! I had actually just been woken up by my pups so I was able to get right back to her. She asked me to come and get Carter so that she could go into the Urgent Care because she was covered in hives and Matt was at work! The night before she'd been at the Urgent Care and they'd given her a steroid shot and an antibiotic shot. Clearly she was allergic to one of them because it was attacking her less than 12 hours later! I got to Sherry's house a little after 7am so that I could help her get Carter ready and she could be first in line. Carter and I then got to spend the day together at my house so that when Sherry got back from the doctor she could take a nap and try and let the medicine and her body get the hives in check! Carter is just starting to walk and he is getting SO much more mobile, which is fun to see but he now needs CONSTANT supervision!!! During snack time he was munching on Cheerios in his walker. No matter how many times I told Ginger no or guided Carter's hands back to his own mouth he insisted on sharing with her! They are best buds!

My 31st Birthday!

I'm not so into celebrating getting older anymore and 31 isn't really a monumental birthday so I didn't want to do anything extravagant. I ended up just going to a simple dinner with some family and I invited a few friends so that people would stop bugging me about how I was going to celebrate. So after dinner at our "go-to" staple restaurant, El Sombrero they bring you a small bowl of ice-cream with a candle in it and they sing you happy birthday. Embarrassing but nice. I was holding Carter in my lap at the time (who had just turned a year old 2 weeks prior) and decided to share my ice-cream with him. It was soooo funny because he made some terrible faces as if I'd given him a lemon or something! Maybe it was the sweetness or the cold that got to him but after a few more bites he started to "warm-up" to the taste. Thanks to everyone for the Birthday gifts and wishes--I appreciate it!

Need my Lawnmower back!!!

So... I'd taken in my lawnmower for servicing and sharpening back on December 28th to Garden World (off Buck Owens Blvd.) where I bought it two years ago. Two years ago, I was pleased with the service and knowledge of the owner (who had been in the business for a LONG time) but since then he has retired and sold the company. I just figured it was still the place to take it for servicing as they still sell the same brand. The new guy told me that he was swamped with sharpening huge saw blades and wouldn't get to the mower for at least a week--I agreed to that. However, that was a total joke...several calls were made and he always had a "story" for why my mower wasn't done yet. I even went into the business hoping a face-to-face would put more urgency in my disgruntled customer complaints. Mind you, it has now been SIX weeks since I'd taken my lawn mower into this place!!! Had I been a gardener I'd've lost ALL my clients by now! Instead, I'm a simple homeowner dealing with 4 inch tall grass in my back yard and in desperate need of my mower back because it is NOT fun to pick dog poo out of grass that is tall and thick. Finally, in my desperation I took my weed-eater out back and just started scalping my lawn! About three hours later I had the whole yard whacked down nearly to the dirt and then began the tedious task of raking up all the carnage! After that I was so sore and even more irritated! Six and a half weeks since the drop off date, more phone calls and finally I was assured the mower would be done that Saturday after 3pm...Ha! By the time I settled the bill, (which was more than the original estimate) got the mower loaded it was AFTER 4:30!!! UGH...I do NOT recommend that anybody go there...I sure won't!!!

Photo Opportunities!!!

Since Ginger was a young pup I'd never again taken the time to get Baylie and Ginger together to get their picture taken with props and everything...until now. A friend of mine told me about a photographer that was taking animal photos at the Fur and Feathers resort on January 23rd and 24th. That Sunday the 24th the sun had finally made it out after a full week of rain so Mom and I had decided to take the girls on a walk along the bike path. On the way I convinced her we needed to make a quick pit stop to get the girls' picture taken. It was STRANGE...the woman wouldn't let me come in the room, claiming that dogs often do better without their owners there. As she took the girls back she asked if they'd have any problems being LIFTED??? Who puts BIG dogs on tables for photos--like I said, STRANGE. I told her to be careful with Baylie's back leg because of her recent surgery but told her they should be alright. I then listened anxiously at the door. About 10 minutes later the girls were dragging the woman out the door toward me! She then tells me that she'll email me the photo she feels came out best without any royalty restrictions within 1-2 weeks. She only showed me ONE photo and I didn't get to choose the one I liked best and was essentially paying for!?!?! So STRANGE! I kept my fingers crossed that she'd pick a good one but when I got the email I was so disappointed by Baylie's uncomfortable stance and near snarl. I then emailed her asking for her to send me one where Baylie was smiling because she almost ALWAYS smiles in a photo! I was grateful that she did send me a better shot without asking for more money. O-well...guess I should look into a photographer a bit more before I decide on a whim to employ their services to avoid future STRANGE! :)

Sponge Pudding?!?!?

Wayne and I got a kick outta this...found it at Fresh & Easy.  Neither of us had EVER heard of it, so we soon found ourselves compelled to buy it for no other reason than it's VERY inappropriate label! Carter was just an innocent bystander!   :)

New Year's Eve Play Date '09

It was the last day of the year and I got the "spring cleaning" bug...took down all my exterior Christmas lights! In trying to put them all away in the garage I decided to take in the nearly years worth of recycling in to the exchange center to reclaim my space. I had 14 pounds of plastic and 27 pounds of aluminum which amounted to a stifling 57 bucks!!! Later I took Kailey, Baylie and Ginger back to my house to play for a while in the back yard before I needed to be back at mom's place for our belated Christmas now that Carter is feeling better.

Merry Christmas 2009!!!

Spent Christmas day at my Grandma's house (my mom's mom)...the cousins and everybody did Christmas dinner pot-luck style so that Grandma didn't have to do the cooking. Everything turned out really good and there was lots of left-overs! It was sad though, Sherry, Matt and Carter didn't get to come because poor little Carter came down with pneumonia and was running a fever but after a trip to the urgent care and some antibiotics he is on the upswing thank goodness! We are postponing our immediate family Christmas for next week when Carter feels better! Ginger and Baylie got to "open" some of their gifts (squeaky stuffed toys for Ginger and balls for Baylie) on Christmas eve and shockingly no lost stuffing yet! Then on Christmas day they got to finally get into the box they've been sniffing at for weeks...the Nylabones!!! They have been playing and chomping ever since! They are spoiled, I know but they are all I've got to spoil so they are the lucky beneficiaries! :) I just can't believe that my 2 week break is already half over...but I've stayed busy! Each day we fit in at least 1-2 short walks to try and build up Baylie's muscles and stamina now after all the restrictions from her knee surgery. Then today Wayne, Mom, and I got all of her old 80's aluminum mini-blinds taken down and replaced them with the updated faux-wood blinds we ordered a while ago. They look much better but it's left us with some patchwork and touch up paint jobs we'll have to tackle on another day! Well, that is it for now...hope all of you enjoyed your Christmas!!!

Carter and Ginger...best buds!

Well...I got my blogs a bit outta order (wish they'd let you insert posts wherever you wish o-well)...anyhow this one happened before Christmas but the pictures were cute enough that I wanted to share anyway! Sherry and Matt had decided to do a date night and asked me to watch Carter. They went out to dinner then went to see that "New Moon" movie. Ginger had recently gotten a new Nylabone that Carter was just sure he wanted! He kept taking it from her then giving it back (this went on for quite some time) and they both seemed to enjoy it. Enjoy the happenings! :)