Cake Pops!

I often talk about the one and only time I made Cake Pops.  I wanted to do it, but I didn't realize just what a time consuming project I was taking on at the time.  They are delicious, and you gotta try one if you haven't yet.  But, making them is another story.  

I say I will never make them again, and Hubs vows to remind me of why I, I mean we, won't. (I say "we" because let's face it, when I get in too deep, he's always so sweet to help however possible if only to get me back from what I've started).  But we'll see.

 Above: The finished product.

Using step-by-step instructions from Wilton's website, I started by baking a yellow cake, which made the house smell good.  So far, so good.  

Then, cutting the cake in half, I crumbled it.  Not having a nifty KitchenAid mixer, I crumbled it completely with my hands.  Let's just say that takes awhile.  

Adding a 1/2 cup of icing and using a spatula, I mixed entirely until even consistency.  Again, that might-a gone a bit faster with the KitchenAid mixer. 

Rolling the mixture into balls, I just went for it and made the largest size, which is about 2 T each.  More on that later, but let's just say, 2T can be very heavy when you're balancing it on a little, white stick!  

Placing those bad boys in the fridge to chill for a couple of hours, I started over with crumbling my second half of the cake, etc. 

I think at this point, I was already starting to see that doing this all the night before the event might be fatal.  It was already getting late, and I wasn't half way there. And yet, I persevered...

Ready to move on, I needed to put the sticks in the pops.  But in order to make them stay, you have to melt chocolate, dip the stick, stick the ball and chill again for a couple of hours.  

Once the pops and I chilled again, it was time for the fun stuff. Decorating!  I came across Wilton's "Melts" chocolates, which are perfect for cake pops and really easy to use... if you follow the directions.  

Of course, this was unheard of for me so I had to do it my way.  The directions said to remove from heat once chocolate is melted.  I had never heard of such a concept and was afraid of losing my precious chocolate to hardening an unreturnable hard.  

This proved suicidal for my cake pops. 

After loosing several to the heat (they literally dive bombed off the sticks and into the chocolate in an unable to bring back to life mess), I changed my method, and took the Melts chocolate off the heat. Worked like a dream. 

**Side note, I may or may not try this "I've never heard of this so I will do it my way" method in other life scenarios too. ...mostly to the frustration and amazing patience of my husband. Sorry, hon. 

Because all of the pops needed to stand up (remember TWO Tablespoons each!), we had to find a method to keep them upright, decorate and get back into the fridge.  Thankfully, we had pizza that night.  And this is where the Hubs comes in.  

Cutting the pizza box in half and using the top and the bottom for all of my pops, he poked enough holes from each of them.  After creating this invention, we had to find a way a way to make them all fit back in the fridge... standing. 

I did have to melt some more chocolate, and after yet another chill period, drizzle the white on yellow cake pops and vice versa.  They really did turn out pretty.  

And in the morning, after adding bows, taking them out of the fridge with enough time to quit "sweating," and figure out to transport my massive amount of pops, they made it in one piece to the event.  

I think I made around four or five dozen pops total.  I can't say for sure.  It's been over a year now since I made these, but when I look at the pictures, they turned out pretty.  As I remember, they tasted good too.  And yet, please know, if I ever make these for you or for your party, I really, really, really like you.

This Summer's Reading List

This summer, I have so enjoyed doing a study on Nehemiah by Kelly Minter. It is a book of the Bible that our church covered many years ago but had to cut short. Having never finished it, it's been on my to-do list for some time.  The one thing that stuck with me from my first experience with Nehemiah was that when he prayed and asked God to forgive and help and change the Israelites, he included himself in that prayer. He asked God to start with forgiving HIM.  

After the study this summer, I am more amazed by the guy. He has quickly become one of my favorite men who lived in the Old Testament. I also really like the way Kelly Minter wrote the study. I didn't get frustrated with the questions, and I got a lot out of it. Actually, it's already been a couple of months since I finished this, and I could already stand to go back over it and refresh my memory on what I learned.  I do remember this...it was exactly what I needed when I needed it. Isn't that like God? :)

Thankfully, I did take notes. And I do remember that Nehemiah's prayers were beautiful and powerful. He knew WHO he was talking to... the Creator of ALL!  Nehemiah faced tremendous challenges, but he was was resolved that God would fulfill his vision. "He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it." I Thes. 5:24.  And when the people worked together, they accomplished great things.  They BUILT the wall and set the gates.  

Putting this into my life, I need to remember that I serve a GREAT GOD.  And not to get discouraged or distracted when I feel a calling in my life. 

The other book in the picture above is called "Love Does" by Bob Goff.  It is so good that we have bought or loaned out our copy to several people. We got it from the church as a thank you for being Life Group leaders. 

I have to say that at first I thought, "Oh, cool. The Hubs will like this." He's a big fan of "Blue Like Jazz" who author wrote the forward to this book.  But once Hubs started reading, he would say, "This is too good. I'm not going to say anything, but you have to read this." By the time we went to bed, he had read three chapters saying, "You have to read this. It's too crazy, but I can't tell you. So read it." And then, he couldn't take it and told me one of the stories anyway that night anyway.  

So, I knew I had to pick it up and start reading to stay up with the stories he was reading. Then we could talk about it together while it was fresh in our minds too. 

And I have to say, I was not disappointed. The stories are so crazy and TRUE...and all about the same guy. What a life and what a way to live your life. Doing Love. Showing Love and Compassion to others. Without an agenda. Just doing love.  It's amazing, and I highly recommend it.  That's all. I can't say anymore. You just have to get a copy and read it for yourself. :)

I have also picked up some "light reading" about babies this summer.  Above is a pic of some of the books others recommended that were helpful to me.  They each had nuggets of wisdom concerning how to take care of a newborn.  Crazy, I know, but the saying that babies don't come with "how-to" manuals is true! 

First Tooth!

I can't believe it, but Baby Girl's first tooth (actually two teeth) is popping through! I know I shouldn't be surprised. She has been acting like she's been teething for a couple of months now... drooling and chewing on hands and burp cloths. But Idaknow. It just seems so sudden.

I think I've been saying that she didn't have any teeth for so long that I wasn't expecting the opposite to be true. It's sharp too! Don't think I'll be letting her chew on my hands so much now. Ouch! :)

I'm so excited for her. I think it's bittersweet for Hubs.  It's another milestone.

(Yes, I took this picture when she was crying. Perfect opportunity for an open mouth shot.)

Let the Games begin!

I am so excited for the Summer Olympics. The Hubs and I both enjoy them. And it hit me today that we will be able share this with Baby Girl. I want to make it an event and a tradition for our household that she will cherish as a growing up memory.

Baby Girl and I dressed to cheer on our team. GO USA!

As a kid, we always looked forward to the Olympics. And already, Hubs and I have great memories of watching the Olympics together. Cheering on Michael Phelps to his 8th gold medal of the '08 Bejing Games.

Since I wrote the above (just before opening night of the Games), so much has happened. We love so many of the sports, especially in the summer Olympics, but one of my very favorites is women's gymnastics. And what a year they have had! I have done my best to not find out the outcome ahead of time, which has made it all the more exciting. I love it that they earned their team gold. It wasn't a fluke, preferential treatment or not messing up as bad as the rest. They earned it because they nailed their routines with such precision!

Two amazing side notes on the girls: 1. They are too young to remember the '96 Magnificent 7 team! Wowzers! 2. Kate (like Will & Kate) came over to speak to them. How cool is that?

Baby Girl watching the Games. She's so observant. She normally flips onto her belly as soon as you lay her down, but if the tv's on, she will work her way around to seeing it.

Lets recap on my favorites...

• Women's gymnastics winning team gold and Gabby winning all around!!! (of course :) 
• Seeing a mini story on the '96 US Gymnasts. 
• Watching the mini story on Olga Korbut, the adorable Russian gymnast who changed the sport with her personality and technique 40 years ago. 
• Seeing Phelps make history...again! 
• I have fallen in love with Missy Franklin. 
• Seeing several great US women's swims.
• Catching some of the syncronized doubles diving on springboard and platform. Amazing! 
• Watching Andy Murray win for Great Britain after losing the exact same match a month ago during the Wimbledon's finals. So happy for him as he will forever be cherished by his country, but also sad for Roger Federer. I was routing for him.  This is the one award that has eluded him, but it was clearly not his day. 
• Go US Women's Soccer team. Would love to see them win GOLD. 
• I am hoping to catch some of the synchronized swimming... also amazing!  

Baby Girl and I dressed up for Natalie's tea party,

which in my heart was in honor of the London Games.

If you can't tell, the Olympics are pretty much all that are on at our house. I am sad to think it will be over soon, and back to "regular programming." Boo!  But for now... bring on Track and Field!