All sorts of stuff

I love it when we have a lot going on! First, we now have a web-domain (http://www.tastybellalife.com/ ) but it is not up and running, otherwise I'd be saying Salut! to blospot. I have truely loved blogspot since I got it but had been planning to upgrade since I first started blogging back in June.

Which means, the photography lessons will be put on the back burner for a week or two while I learn how to use HTML.  I am very excited about everything that's going on in our business, but we have to find balance. I feel I could better serve you by knowing how to make an awesome website  and then how to make awesome pictures, and last on the list, how to edit our awesome pictures. 

Lucky for me though, our camera has an auto button that will set the ISO and Apeture to the appropriate settings for the event. And I get great pictures, like this one...

I am chomping at the bit to edit this one.

Another deal breaker at the moment- we now have TWO cakes to make for the first weekend in March. That really gets me all tingly. I am  ready to show off my talent, pics will be up by the end of the sixth. You have my word!

The Man at Walmart

There is a man who sits at Walmart, almost daily. He is seventy-seven years old.

He always talks about the same thing. How long he's been married, the fact that kids should be allowed to walk and men should pull their briches up. He asks me if my husband gets jealous. I say no and he replies "all men get jealous".  He is such a joy to talk to.

I found out the other day from his daughter that he has Alzhiemers. Actually, he's had it for ten years. That is amazing to me. I knew a woman when I was growing up whose husband got it and withing two years was almost like a baby. The man's daughter said the medicine and the time spent at Walmart does him wonders.

Sometimes I think it does us wonders as well. When we walk in Walmart, he is there almost as a door greeter is there. Dyersburg is so blessed to have him.

keep Smilin'

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!
I have so much going on that I can barely contain myself. Hope to get a domain by the weekend. Today I got a Nikon D3000. The picture is so clear, I am absolutely in love with it. I am getting a car this weekend (Red 2007 Pontiac Vibe) and I have stuff to work on my clothes.  I cannot wait to get the new stuff up. More to come. Until then... keep smilin!

Cake Balls

My daughter has her first Valentines Day party at school today. Thanks to the snow, we got all day yesterday to get ready for it. She colored pictures and we made cake balls. These yummy treats are so easy to make.
First, bake your favorite cake.
Once it has cooled, crumble it up and add to your favorite icing.

Stir it well!

The roll into small balls.
IMPORTANT!!! Store in freezer for one hour.  This makes the balls firm in order to continue to the next step with success.

Melt chocolate of choice. I chose white chocolate.

Once the chocolate is melted and the cake balls are hard, dip balls into chocolate. (Or drizzle chocolate over cake balls, that would be pretty!)
And then we chose  to dip the chocolate (still warm) into some Valentine sprinkles.

And wa-la, treats for Nevaeh's classmates!

I must!

I need another job or something. I got such great hours and good money when I first started at Walmart. But I started two months before Christmas and at the time we were understaffed. The six hour difference is the difference between me being able to have some extra money after paying the bills and no money after paying the bills. I do have a birthday cake I am selling in a few weeks but that money needs to go either in savings or towards something for the cake business (like piping stuff for the icing).
Not to sound conceited but I am very talented in what I do- whether it be crafting or cooking or writing. I am thinking I just need to combine them. I am already selling my food. I need to do craft shows and maybe become a freelance writer. My time is very limited. Between school, Walmart, keeping up with the house and spending what little time I have with my family, it really is.
But I did some thinking the other night in the truck on my way home. I normally go to bed around twelve- thirty or one. I get up at seven. If I were to get up at five instead and work on the side money stuff or even school during that time, I would get another half a day (12 hours) a week. And that's only if I did it six days a week.
I like my sleep though. I need to get back into the secret. Maybe then I could get up and not be tired. But a woman at work told me something I can't seem to get out of my head. It went something like "It's dog eat dog world in the industry". I am not a mean person and will not step on others' toes in order to get ahead. That does not mean I won't be aggressive. I have to do it. For me, my self-confidence and my family. I must!

thoughts

I long to get better at this. Need to come up with some creative stuff to write about. Give me your thoughts, please!

The best trip of my life

I spent three hours in NYC. That's it. And yet, I am totally in love. I have been listening to New York State of Mind (thanks to my sorority sister), and Empire State of Mind Part 2 by Alicia Keys.

 "Big lights will inspire you"



After spending the evening in Philadelphia, sweet husband said he'd take me on a journey if I could stay up. My response was "Get me some coffee or hot chocolate and I will!" One of the neatest things about New Jersey is that they still have full service gas stations. Actually, that's all they have. You are not allowed to get out and pump your own gas.  Interesting...

Before I knew it, we were close. So close that we got the traffic report every fifteen minutes on the local radio.  And would you believe, we tried to stop at a Walmart and they were closed. I didn't know that was possible. It began to snow, but did not deter these two adventures (and their two tag alongs). As we approached the Linclon Tunnel I woke Nevaeh up. The lights were so big, the city was so big. We somehow managed to drive around. My only guess was because it was night time. Their roads are horrible. But who can blame em', they never have time to fix them.

We saw the empire state building almost immediately and then drove around aimlessly. I noticed they had a "Whole Foods Market" on every corner it seemed (foodie's heaven).  There was a Best Buy open at 3 am. At one point we tried to get out to see the Statue of Liberty and the security guard informed us we couldn't park. So we stayed in.

We were hunting for Times Square when we got pulled over in front of NYU. We had just bought the car and the tags were still showing up as registered to our other car. They let us go but not without some college students yelling at them and us asking them for directions. Eventually we made it, and even got a spot to park!

High light of the night. Nevaeh and Bre saw the giant M&M store (complete with a TV on top). After that it was over. We went home. Got there about 9 am and crashed. God is good.

Dream, Goals and Whatnot

I think it's pretty well decided, we are going back. I miss the Delmarva area more than I thought I would. People around here are so fake. One thing about northerners I learned between my eighteen months in Pittsburgh and year in Deleware is that it may take them time to warm up to you, but once they do, they are stuck like glue. I miss real friendships, I miss having something to do all the time. We could hop in the car and within two hours be in a big city or at the coast doing something that costs us little to nothing.
Round about eighteen months til we move back. It will not be to Dover, more like Wilmington or Philadelphia. So I am working hard at school, I will do my j-o-b at Walmart and plan to come up with some creative ways to save money between now and then. Also, in the next few weeks I want to make a slide show with some of my future goals.
An inspiring lady who is now a Mary Kay National Sales Director once made a book and she looked at it every night before bed and every morning before she got up. I am going to do that on the slide show. Her dreams came true and mine can too. God would not allow me to dream big if he didn't have something big planned for my life.
As I get the pictures rounded up, I will show some of them on here. My first set is of a set of apartments in Philadelphia that I am totally in love with. The rent is steep but it has an indoor pool, jacuzzi, workout center and yoga studio. Awesome....

To Brandon, Nevaeh and Breanna- you have my word I will do everything in my power to make our lives amazing and fairytale-ish. :-) You are my heart and soul and worth everything to me.

"Domestic Diva"

I have a confession... I love Martha Stewart. She is such an inspiration. Just a few minutes ago I watched a video and she said
                            "I don't get sick, no time to get sick."
All I could think was, "Man, I wish I could do that". I get sick and I am soooo whinny. I really need to be dedicated to my dream. I did my research and this August she will be turning 70. And while I could never replace her or her company, I truely believe we need to bring someone into my generation. That someone is me.
So here is what I need to do: 1. Do well in school, finish and graduate. My degrees will be in Teaching Family and Consumer Science and Journalism (with an emphisis in Electronic Media). Next, I really need to focus on my own weight loss and looking better in general. I tend to slack in that area, and something tells me Ms.Martha doesn't slack. She was voted best dressed college student in 1961, long before her empire began! Also, I plan to start a youtube show soon. And, ofcourse, I need to cook, sew and become the next "Domestic Diva". Wish me luck

A bakers dream

About a year ago, I discoved that I loved to cook. Now, I had already been cooking all the time since eight months prior. A friend of mine had moved in next door and I baked everything under the sun for them because it brought me joy to fill their tummies. Yes- that's mommy talk in me.

I began persuing my discovered passion by picking up every book, magazine, ect on food that i could. My husband even bought me a Martha Stewart baking movie from a discount store in Dover. The girls and I watched almost nightly, and it was much to their enjoyment.

But I quickly learned my kitchen was lacking one important elment of any baker's kitchen. A Kitchen Aid Stand mixer. So after much saving and a special Christmas present from my mom, last Sunday I received an Artisian style in Metallic Chrome from the most wonderful store Williams-Sonoma. It is a dream come true.

Thanks again, to my mom for the gift card and to my husband for taking me down there and allowing me to marvel and drool at one of my most precious gifts. For hanging tight, and watching the box as I walked around the store and drooled some more. You guys are wonderful. Can't wait to make goodies for you!

Beautiful!

Starbucks Secret

Sadly, our town does not have a Starbucks. I get to choose, drive 45 miles to the nearest big city or  go to our local coffee shop- Java Cafe.  Yet in this day and age, we all understand that going out for coffee every day just is not possible. I try to go once every other week but after finding a recipe online I maybe able to skip that $10 a month and put it up for something else... like the girls college education (or some new shoes... you know, whatever works).

NOTE: You absolutely must use full fat milk or you do not get the same flavor. Or if you make your own whipped cream use half whipping cream, half skim milk (is that half and half???).

White Chocolate Mocha

3/4 cup whole milk*

6 tblsp. white chocolate chips

coffee- already brewed

whipped cream

Combine milk and chocolate chips in saucepan. Cook until chocolate is melted, pour in cup, add coffee til desired point. Top with whipping cream and enjoy!

I have no idea...

I must confess... I have no idea how to even start a garden. We finally have a house and spring will be here before we know it (and yes, that is a hard concept when it's 35 for a high, I know).  So I am going to watch a couple of videos on how to get started. I know some of the vegitables we can grow around here from helping my grandmother out last summer.
Here is what I want:

• Spinach
• Tomatoes
• Herbs
• Strawberries
• Squash
• Zucchini

I also want to put some trees out (apple, pear) and vines (grape, blackberry, rasberry).  Naturallly we will also have to have flowers. I like having flowers in the house and the girls like growing them. Sunflowers, roses and what else???? Also, I hear you can make food with the flowers from zucchini... I must check that one out.

Christmas time

Christmas can come at anytime of the year, really. Last year my mom was not able to be with us at Christmas time so we waited until mid-April to celebrate.  This year we were able to be with her but not with my father, so last weekend I had my first real Christmas with him.

Growing up he was not actively involved in my life. My first real memory of him was at Christmas  time.  The night of my sixth grade holiday dance my mom and I met him at McDonalds. They brought along my baby brother, KJ.  We continued to meet once a year, at Christmas time, for the next four years. We would go out to eat and exchange gifts. I wouldn't hear from him again until my birthday in June.

So needless to say, last Sunday was extra special. Hard to believe Mr.KJ is now 13! And God gave my baby sister (who is 4) to me because he knows how sad I was to not be able to watch my other "little" sis, Andrea (who is 18 now) grow up.

Hubby

Christmas tree (13' tall)

A picture of Sadee by Veah

My dad

First Christmas down, many more to come!

Be right back

Kids are great! Be back soon.

Dude

I will talk about (most) of the new things of 2011 in the next series of posts.  Today's post is about a puppy named Dude.

My husband's brother almost ran over him and my husband told him to stop. He got out, picked up the little dog and took him home. That was that. I however didn't meet Dude until 11:30 pm New Year's eve.

We are dealing with chewing issues and Bre is not so sure about him most the time but other than that, he's great to have around. Should be interesting. He is the first real pet of my life.  But how could you not love that face?

Wow... 2011...

So, in review of 2011 so far.
Jan 1: Got a new puppy, stove and fridge
Jan 2: Moved into our new house
Jan 3: Bre threw up on our bed... I got sick, she remained that way
Jan 4: Was actually quiet
Jan 5: Brandon cut his thumb almost off. :-(

So yes, 2011has been interesting so far.  I love the house. I have been baking up a storm and tomorrow we get cable and internet. Whoot, whoot! And Sunday we are going to see my father to do our Christmas and listen to him preach. One of the best parts about Christmas was Breanna's camera. Right now, I am going to give you a good view of what a child sees...

Mine and Brandon's feet... I kinda like this pic

An upclose version of a sing-a-ma-jig

Wish all cameras came with extra features like this...

Well, that about wraps it up for today... going to finish slurping my peppermint mocha at Java and get ready for work. :-P

So sorry

So the holiday plans didn't happen... but life did!

We got a house (that we are renting, but still)...
We got stuff for the house...
We had Christmas....
I finished my first semester of college...
I have been working like a crazy woman...
and I am ready to be back and talking to you, my dalin!

See ya soon!