More Blog Love!

Still not able to stamp amid the chaos around here, but I am working on some new designs for release at CHA this Summer (which will be Impression Obsession's Fall/Winter release) which I am excited about. Can't share anything yet, but will post some images when the date gets closer. So far there's a "With Sympathy" set, a "Get Well Soon" set, a "Happy Birthday" set, some more Christmas goodies, and a few other things. We'll see where my imagination takes me!

I thought I'd share a little more Blog love today. These cards are from the cute and talented Dina Kowal from Impression Obsession's design team, and they feature some of my more recent designs from CHA in January (you can also click on each photo for a link to the clear stamp set used for that card). The "Rose" card uses CL322 - "In a Garden," and "Thank you for a House" uses CL310 - "Life." I really do plan to get back to making cards as soon as my life gets back to normal (whatever normal is - ha!) In fact, I can't wait. I've purchased a new desk and some shelving that are lurking in their boxes until I have the time and space to assemble them, organize my office/studio, and then I can finally get down to using all of my new stamps, papers and inks! Yay!

I have to say that the house has been frustrating lately. It seems like every time we start a project, even an easy one, we run into snags, a bit of worn out or shoddy workmanship from the original builder, or something else that slows us down for whatever reason. Can you say "money pit?" Oh well, but it really is a lovely home and it's getting more lovely every day and I know I need to be grateful. And thanks so much to my awesome hubs Rich for all of his hard work! Sweetie, you are the best and I love you.

"Gratitude is the art of painting an adversity into a lovely picture." —Kak Sri

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, and love and friends,
For everything thy goodness sends.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson

Radiance

Our son David is singing this semester with the amazing Sac State Jazz Singers. I was able to travel to Monterey a couple weekends ago to watch them perform in Monterey's Next Generation Jazz Festival. They were so incredibly good, and I am so proud of my boy David! Click on the photo here for a link to one of their rehearsals for the original song "Radiance." There is a beautiful and sad story behind this song, and the words, written by the talented Julia Dollison and arranged by Kerry Marsh, tell the story of a baby girl who passed away, as seen through the eyes of her parents. The song is heart-wrenchingly beautiful.

Here are the lyrics to "Radiance:"

Sometimes in her sleep she smiles.
Is she dreaming? Is she far away?
Sometimes in her sleep she laughs.
Is she playing games? Does she wish she could stay?

Sometimes in her sleep she cries,
And you hold her and pray.

Morning comes, and she'll forget.
Things she dreams about never make much sense.
And the sun shines in so bright,
Just like her radiance.

All these moments fly by so quickly,
But she never seems to mind,
As long as you're by her side.

And sometimes in her sleep she awakens
To find that you were there all the while.
With a smile, she returns to her dreams.

In this video, David is the tall good-looking young man first seen at approximately 0:38. He is my baby and I thank the Lord every day that we still have him. Life is precious.

"Laugh as long as you breathe and love as long as you live." —unknown

Motivation and Gray Matter

I am priming our kitchen island today. We've removed the cabinet and drawer fronts, and right now the island is a large gray box and I have very sore knees! This remodeling business is hard work and I am old. I have said that many times and it is true! I'll give the primer the rest of the day to dry and then tomorrow the black paint goes on. It will be exciting to see whether it looks like the picture in my mind. I think it will and I can't wait (also can't wait until it's all finished and I can relax for a bit). Ah, good times.

The night before last I attended an ABWA (American Business Women's Association) meeting with my pal Lisa, where we listened to a speaker tell us how to envision our futures and achieve our goals. It was a lot of what I'd heard before, but a few things did stick with me. She talked about the concept of NOW-HOW-WOW, which is to take stock of where you are NOW, then put into place an action plan on HOW you will achieve your goals, so you will be able to one day look back and see the changes and success you've accomplished and say, WOW. I admit that I am pretty good with the coming up with ideas and the setting of goals, but I am somewhat less good in following them through. I do know that if I am to truly change my life for the better, I am the only person who can make that happen (that is unless a bag of money falls out of the sky and lands at my feet). And financial reward is only one way of measuring success, of course, and I have re-committed myself to striving for success in the various aspects of my life. This has involved setting specific milestones, making lists (actually writing them down, not just thinking about them!), and putting into place other methods for measuring my progress. I know I am not getting any younger and NOW is the time to make more things happen! I am the boss of me!

"Bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other." —Abraham Lincoln

"Diligence is the mother of good fortune." —Benjamin Disraeli

Recipe Time: CHOCOLATE CAKE

Thought I'd share a recipe today since I haven't posted one in a while. This is my all-time FAVORITE chocolate cake. It is moist, delicious, easy, and can be made from items usually found in the pantry (well, my pantry anyway!) without making a trip to the store for specialty ingredients. If you have not tried this cake before, you need to do it. You will be happy you did! Enjoy...

PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE CHOCOLATE CAKE – by Hershey’s

2 cups sugar

1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa

1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1 cup milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil (or melted butter)

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup boiling water

"PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE FROSTING (recipe follows)

Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans.

Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour batter into prepared pans.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Top with Ganache or "PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE FROSTING. 10 to 12 servings.

CUPCAKES: Line muffin cups (2-1/2 inches in diameter) with paper bake cups. Heat oven to 350°F. Fill cups 2/3 full with batter. Bake 22 to 25 minutes. Cool completely. Frost. About 30 cupcakes.

KALANI’S RECOMMENDATION: Serve this cake chilled. It’s oh-so-good, and it brings out the fudgy yumminess. Trust me.

"PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE FROSTING

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine

2/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa

3 cups powdered sugar

1/3 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Melt butter. Stir in cocoa. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency. Add small amount additional milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla. Yield: about 2 cups frosting.

"There are two kinds of people in the world: those who love chocolate, and communists." —Leslie Moak Murray

"Don't ruin a sublime chocolate experience by feeling guilty." —Lora Brody

Thankful for Friends Part IV

I just got home from spending the evening with four of my best lady friends. I've had a lot of stress in my life lately, from a few different sources, and let me tell you — a night with my buddies is just what I needed! Every woman needs at least a small handful of dear friends with whom she can truly be herself, sharing good times, trying times, ups, and downs. These gals are the ones I turn to for that. They are precious to me. Here's a picture of four of the five of us, from a few years ago. We still mostly look like this (some slight variations in hair color and weight from then until now - but who's telling!), and one of the five of us is not pictured (I need to update my photos - I am not great at that, sorry...) The five of us have shared so much over the years: the birth of children, the death of parents, triumphs, tragedies, and everything in between that life has to offer. I love my friends to pieces... You sweet ladies mean the world to me. You are good for my soul. What a blessing you are!

"Life is partly what we make it, and partly what is made by the friends we choose." —Tennessee Williams

"Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." —Christopher Robin to Pooh

Lighting the Flame

Today was the day. We removed the protective blue coating from our new appliances, tested and turned on the gas, and tried out our new range for the first time. It is beeeau-tiful! Also today we're having the faucet, garbage disposer, and plumbing installed, and tonight we're going to move the fridge into place. Although it's been *fun* having the refrigerator in the living room right near our front door (NOT), I think I will like having it in the kitchen better... Then next week I will paint our new kitchen island black (can't wait for that - it's gonna look so great!), then the cabinet knobs & drawer pulls go on, then the new light fixtures, then some other miscellaneous trim, then viola... it's a brand new kitchen! Photos will be posted sometime soon.

Oh man has this been a looooooonnnnnnnngggg couple of months without a kitchen, but I am so excited for the end result! Even though we're not completely finished, tomorrow I am going to roast some butternut squash and other veggies and make a big pot of soup. It's one of our favorite things, so I thought it fitting to make this the first meal cooked on our new range! It's gonna be good.

All right, back to work! Have a lovely weekend ya'll.

"The biggest reward for a thing well done is to have it done." —Voltaire

The Word is: COMMUNICATE

com·mu·ni·cate: v.tr.
1. To convey information about; make known; impart.

2. To have an interchange, as of ideas.

3. To express oneself in such a way that one is readily and clearly understood.

4. Ecclesiastical To receive Communion.

5. To be connected, one with another.

———

Pass along. Put across. Send a message. Relay. Carry. Render. Transmit. Address. Contact. Commune. Correspond. Ask. Inform. Greet. Speak. Reach out. Signal. Convey. Interact. Connect. Trust. Share.

Communication is a good thing. It is the mutual sharing and exchanging of thoughts, ideas and concepts resulting in understanding and it promotes development, change and moving forward. Good communication is vital to relationships of all kinds.

The opposites of communicate: Conceal. Bottle up. Cover. Suppress. Keep Quiet. Withhold. Lack of communication results in frustration, heartache, feelings of hopelessness, and the loss of good relationships. Needless to say, I don't like it.

"Communication works for those who work at it." —John Powell

"The way we communicate with others and ourselves ultimately determines the quality of our lives." —Anthony Robbins

"First learn the meaning of what you say, then speak it." —Epictetus