Another blog address

I have decided (after many people suggesting it) to start a blog just for my cakes. It is more of a portfolio type thing-a-ma-jig than a blog really. Even though most likely there will be text included about the cake or it's recipient.

The new address is http://sloaniecakes.blogspot.com/  It will take some time to get all caught up with the cakes I have done, but this is where I will be posting pictures now (unless they are related to a post topic about my actual life).

Also I would like to make this a side job, so I am for hire :)

ENJOY!!!!

Well its a tent and a beach, I call it Beach Camping!!!

Carlsbad State Beach Campsite

Ever been camping on a beach? I hadn't. What an experience!!! Between being right next to civilization and right next to a TON of other campers, this trip was different than anything I had done before.

Camping to me is: fresh mountain air, big forest trees, naturally made shade, firewood galore, dirt, twigs, rocks, lakes and streams, fishing and hiking, dutch oven cooking, sweaters and coats, and freezing cold nights and warm/hot days.

Beach camping isn't any of that. Instead of fresh mountain air, it's fresh ocean breeze air. Instead of big forest trees, it's palm trees and weird looking bush trees. Instead of a ton of naturally made shade it's shade made by canopies. We didn't have firewood that we could go round up around the camp, instead we could go buy it from the camp store. Instead of dirt and twigs, we had sand and pokies. There wasn't a lake or any streams, but the big body of water couldn't be missed. I froze some nights but was perfectly fine sleeping with one blanket over me.

Now it might seem from all that comparison that I didn't enjoy myself, but that isn't the truth. I had a blast!!! I drove for the first time in California (despite all the times I have been there before). I fell asleep to the sound of waves. I finally got the sun kissed look to my, arms (wish it could have been more than that). I got to know my in-laws better. And last but not least, I saw gorgeous sunsets (well pretty much only one night turned out to be a full sunset).

Second night. It started great, but the sun fell down behind the clouds.

Third night (last night there)

still first night (to lazy to move this up one photo)

Oh man do I love sunsets!!! They just might be the best thing about night time.

Now if you are like me (before this trip) you might wonder what you do all day when camping at the beach?

Well lets see, there is a lot of

And a whole lot of

And even more

And some bare foot walks

And some playing in the sand

And one year olds skateboarding (and loving it I might add)

And a ton of exercise 

And people spending time together

This trip was a ton of driving and even more so a ton of relaxing. The whole point of this trip is to get away from reality, to escape into that quiet haven we rarely get to because we are so caught up in what is going on around us. But on this trip I actually was able to escape. I rarely thought about our house, my job, or anything else going on in my life. What I thought about was so much better. NOTHING. That is right, I thought about nothing. Mel said on this trip it is almost so boring (in a good way) that you don't think about anything. She was right!!!

This was a much needed vacation :)

Yet another post about my dog :)

Ever since Meeko was a little pup, he has always sat and laid in the oddest positions. Granted most of them we get him into but he doesn't fight it and will often stay like that.  So I just thought I would share a few of the recent pictures I captured of him in those odd positions.

He is about to fall off the couch in this one.

Shawn said this is a seductive picture.

Meeko at 3 1/2 yrs. Still not bigger then his Mr. Elephantee

Apparently this is how he waits for Shawn to come home.

This little guy always can put a smile on my face.

developing my talents

"Cake decorating is basically an art form for me." --Terri Steely

I just finished another cake decorating class. I can honestly tell you that is was probably the funnest thing I have done for myself in a long time. I had so much fun each week going to Michael's and learning more about fondant and gumpaste (not that I really new anything in the first place). The class really did teach me a lot and gave me an even greater appreciation for what people can do with cakes.

My friend Noelle Stringham and I went together. She is the one who invited me along and boy oh boy was I so thrilled to take another class with a friend. I have wanted to take another class since my first one two years ago.

The first week was kind of an introduction, but we did make a bow out of 50/50 (half fondant and half gumpaste). It was a true insight into the class, it got me all giddy for what else was in store for us.

Second week: Calla Lillies, Roses, and Carnations

Love making these!!! They are really fun!

Okay maybe these are my favorite

Third week: Daisies, Mums, and covering cake boards with Fondant

or maybe the daisies...shoot I don't know which one.

Fourth Week: Boarders, covering cakes, and completing our final cake

Taaahhhhddaaahhh

It was so much brighter in person, I loved it.

Happy Cake Decorating to one and all :)

Home Sweet Home

I feel bad that it has taken me this long to do an update on our house hunting. But I'm happy to report that we are under contract on a house right now!!! I can't tell you how excited we were to find this house. As my sister put it, "it is a diamond in the rough." By that she means that out of all the houses in our price range we actually found one in a nice neighborhood AND in nice shape. It seemed like for awhile it was one or the other not both together.

Shawn saw the house first on a Wednesday evening and I went and looked at it the next day and fell in love. Shawn had picked out two that he said he would like to put an offer on so I was going with the idea in my head that I was going to have a tough decision to make. The first house I went to with Crystal was the one we are buying. While I was in there I was walking around just merely looking at it but meanwhile keeping in mind that there was still one other to consider.

As Crystal was driving me to the second one I started to get a not so excited feeling. We were driving down 6200 S headed for 5000 W. So technically even though we were headed to a "West Jordan" home, we were driving straight through Kearns. When we turned on the street that it was on off the busy road my feeling of disappointment grew and I knew no matter how nice this house was (from what I saw in pictures and what Shawn told me) I wouldn't live in that area. I walked through the whole house, that had been completely updated I might add, with only one thought in my head, "I hate the neighborhood." How is that for helping me decide between two nice houses?

I told Crystal I don't know what Shawn was seeing, I said he must have fallen in love with the inside to completely disregard what the neighborhood looked like. We decided to drive around a little and I was reassured even more that this house won't even get a second thought. So naturally I let my heart do what it wanted to do the minute I saw the other house. Dream of it being our "home sweet home."

Our soon-to-be new home is in Taylorsville (the zip code changes that just recently occurred changed it from West Jordan to Taylorsville). It is in a very cute neighborhood, not too far from where we both work, and was safe enough for little kids to be out running around together at night without parents watching too closely. Not to mention we know (well kind of know) people who have lived in there a long time. My ex-roommates parents live in there, my sister's friends live in there, and my sister's other friend's parents live in there. I'm so excited.

Now what you really look at any blog for, the pictures.

How cute is this house???? I mean seriously!!!

Upstairs living room (split entry house)

Kitchen (yes ALL appliances included)

Dining Area (nice and spacious)

I think this is the basement living room, can't remember.

Master bedroom (it has TWO closets, heck yes!!!)

Upstairs bathroom (we have 1 1/2 baths total)

2nd bedroom (4 bedrooms total)

Backyard (Soon Meeko's favorite place to be. Notice the cute deck)

We are suppose to close Aug 31 if everything continues to go well. The inspection is done and the seller is fixing the four items that we requested them to fix. The appraisal just came in today and it all looks good minus the furnace didn't start up, so they need to address that problem before the appraisal can be finalized. It might be because the house was so hot in the first place but who knows. Secretly I am hoping they have to buy a new one and there is no extra cost to us, here's to hoping.

The only thing I am really worried about now is our whole apartment situation. We might just have to pay out $1400 to get out of our lease TWO months early. Well technically it would be like a month and half (giving us time to move out and clean). But thankfully we won't have a house payment due until October, so that somewhat helps.

Maybe next time I post about our house will be how happier we are in our new home.....FINGERS CROSSED!!!