Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Cupcakes: Birdie Baby Shower - Part I

The Making of the Birds

I have been requested to make a Bird-themed Baby Shower Cake and Cupcakes. So I started tonight on the birds. I decided to make the birds from fondant (which I rarely work with) and they turned out beautiful. Note: My brother has my good camera so I apologize for these shaky shots.


Cardinal Cut Outs

Added lemon extract for flavour

Painted the birds blue, pink and gold.

Paint was Wilton Pearl Dust mixed with lemon and almond extract

Each bird will be added to a cupcake or the cake

Hopefully the mother-to-be will love them :)

See more ideas at:
http://www.babylifestyles.com/2012/08/fantasy-elegant-gold-bird-themed-baby-shower-dessert-table/

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Sunday Favourites: Memoirs


Credit: HarperCollins

Book: Changing My Mind
Author: Margaret Trudeau
Publisher: HarperCollins
Year: 2010

The memoir of Margaret Trudeau focuses on the period during and after her marriage to former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. Married at the age of 22, Pierre was 29 years older than her. She was quickly thrust into the spotlight as his beautiful, young, wife. She had three children with Pierre and suffered from undiagnosed bipolar disorder during this period.

Her memoir is a blunt account of her actions, decisions, and life with bipolar disorder. She admits both her wrongs and rights during this time. She discusses how she was so sick that she left her kids to hang out with celebrities and to dance at Studio 54. She was able to travel the world with her position and status while trying to bury her illness. She admits to not following doctors' orders with prescriptions while relying on marijuana to cope. The story continues beyond her time in the Canadian political spotlight and through a second failed marriage and the death of her son.

I discovered this book after my mom listened to her speak at a medical conference for work. She was so inspiring that my mom couldn't stop talking about her and I bought her the memoir for Christmas. I soon read the story myself and would recommend it to anyone. Margaret still battles bipolar disorder today, but realizes how much she has to live for. The book will give you a better understanding of mental illness and the people who suffer from it.

Friday, August 24, 2012

Book Review for AmericaJR.com - #hooked

Siloam Books
See my book review on AmericaJR.com:


Book: #hooked
Author: Gregory L. Jantz with Ann McMurray
Publisher: Siloam Books
Year: 2012

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Book: #hooked


Courtesy of A Place of Hope
Author: Gregory L. Jantz with Ann McMurray
Publisher: Siloam
Year: 2012

It seems like everywhere you look these days, everyone and everything is connected to an online site. It often feels that if you aren’t connected you might just be missing out.

When I began reading this book, the irony is that I was disconnected. My Internet had been down for three days. I hate to admit, but I did miss it. Maybe not the social networking sites, but you don’t truly realize how much you use the Internet on a daily basis until it is down. I am constantly looking things up.

This book is about the ever-changing, technology-driven world we live in today. With more forms of technology than ever before, people are spending more time online and connected than in the real world. Dr. Gregory L. Jantz is very frank with his own obsession with his phone and how much time he spends online. He gives examples not only through other people’s point of view, but examples he sees in his own life. This book is intended to be informative and reads similar to a textbook. At the end of each chapter there is a Connection Section that gives tips and exercises to discover your own technology use.

Jantz has published numerous self-help books on topics such as eating disorders, gambling, weight loss, abuse, depression, and anxiety. He is also the founder of The Center for Counselling and Health Resources, Inc. which is a leading health care facility in Seattle. His website, aplaceofhope.com goes into further detail about the center.

In his book, he talks about the new phenomenon of using friend as a verb. The average Facebook user has a least 130 friends, but he questions whether they actually talk to these people or has it become a competition of who can collect the most? He then makes a great reference that perhaps the reason Jesus had 12 disciples is because that was the maximum number of people he could actually devote his time to. It makes you think…how many people on your Facebook do you actually talk to? So many are just mere acquaintances yet we refuse to delete them. Jantz writes, “when friend was a noun, it described someone you knew well and liked, and vice versa” (68). Jantz believes that true friendship is a noun and advises to resist the urge of using friend as verb.

In a chapter titled Just Like Real Life, he discusses that many people are putting more importance on their online life than the life they are actually experiencing. Instead of living in the real world, they are living in a virtual one. How they portray themselves through photos and status updates preoccupies their day. Does that picture make them look fat? Did her comment on his wall sound stupid? Jantz has discovered that the more stressful and chaotic a person’s real life is, the more perfect it appears in their virtual life. You would never know that these people are going through a divorce or that they have an addiction problem. Jantz writes, “Children create fantasy to practice who they will be; adults create fantasy to hide from who they are” (91). Jantz makes a really valid point. When you see a person online who seems to be having the ultimate experiences and the best life, it is often not how it is in reality.

Jantz further goes on to consider our expectations of technology. His section, Instant Download discusses how we expect technology to be fast and efficient. He reminds us of a simpler time of dial-up and being able to make a sandwich while waiting for your computer to load. Back then we were so amazed by computers that the simple functions they did provide us with were worth the wait. In 2012, we have laptops, iPads, Smartphones, etc. and when they fail to download a document within a few seconds, we get irritated with them.

He writes about our fear of being disconnected from technology. Twenty years ago when you left the office at 5pm, you weren’t going to get a sudden call or email from your boss or customers. A person was only called at home if it was an absolute emergency. Now we can be connected to our jobs 24/7. Jantz gives the example of some people not being able to cottage in dead zones due to anxiety about being needed in the workplace.

The only section I was apprehensive about was the final chapter that was titled The Ultimate Filter. This filter is God’s voice and his voice on technology. Jantz uses his own Christian experiences and his role as a Christian therapist to guide the reader through this section. He pulls Biblical passages to help him. Though I am a Christian, Catholics read the Bible contextually and not so literal, which makes it difficult for me personally to read these passages as Jantz intends them to be viewed. I would assume that people of other religions might have the same issues in the final chapter. However Jantz realizes this problem and respects people’s views. He suggests taking what pertains to your own life from this chapter.

Overall #hooked was an interesting read and shed some light on the current issues with technology in our lives. Though I only have a computer and a basic cell phone, it made me think of how we all coped before technology took over and if I remember correctly, we all coped just fine.

Sports: Favourite Olympic Moments in London



Athlete: Mark Oldershaw
Event: Men's Sprint Canoe
Country: Canada
Age: 29
Results: Bronze Medal

Talk about pressure to take up canoeing, he is the fifth member and the third generation in his family to compete in the canoe at the Olympics. His grandfather, Bert Oldershaw, competed in the Games in London (1948), Helsinki (1952), and Melbourne (1956). Bert's older sons Dean and Reed competed in Munich (1972) and Montreal (1976). Mark's father Scott (the youngest of the three brothers) canoed in Los Angeles (1984). Now it was Mark's turn to take up the paddle. He raced in Beijing and finished with a respectable 10th place in the 1500m. Though this family is filled with great Olympians and are well-known in the world of canoeing, none had ever taken home a coveted Olympic medal until London 2012. Doing what no other Oldershaw had done before him, Mark was beside himself with joy when he stepped on the podium.


Athlete: Michael Phelps
Sport: Men's Swimming
Country: United States of America
Age: 27
Results: All-Time Medal Count - 22

Love him or hate him, you've got to respect him. I wasn't sure why someone would want to return after winning eight gold medals in one Olympics Games. How are you going to possibly top that? And with the direction the week started off for Phelps in London, he had people wondering if he should have called it quits in Beijing. Not that I think there is any shame in a 4th place finish at the Olympics, but the media had a field day reporting on how Phelps was just not up to par. In Beijing, I remember thinking it was ridiculous that the media was building up a possible eight gold medals on a 23-year-old. Like one gold medal isn't a phenomenal accomplishment. Just making it to the Games is amazing, but by the end of Beijing even I was hoping he would pull it off because I knew the poor guy would never hear the end of seven golds and just a silver. This is why I wondered why he would put himself through another Games when the competition had only got stronger in the past four years. And just like before, I found myself rooting for him to prove the harsh critics wrong who were saying that he wasn't in shape or he just hadn't focused leading up to London. After a couple days of "disappointing" finishes, he finally got the monkey off his back to claim an individual win in the 200 I.M. and beating teammate Ryan Lochte who was not only getting attention for his talent, but also for his looks. Phelps finished the week with a new record: All-Time Medals Won at the Olympics with 18 golds, 2 silvers, and 2 bronze. This record was previously held by Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina who won 18 medals. Officially retired, it was nice to see him accomplish this feat at his final appearance.



Athlete: Paula Findlay
Sport: Women's Triathlon
Country: Canada
Age: 23
Results: Last Place

Anyone who watched this event on CTV knows how emotional this race was for Paula Findlay. After being ranked number one in the world only a year before, Findlay's race quickly began to unravel from the start. Plagued by a serious hip injury all year left her out of competitions leading up to the Olympics. She received another devastating blow when her coach bailed on her in early June. Forced to take up training alongside fellow Canadian triathlete, Simon Whitfield, Findlay thought she would be ready to compete in London. Her Olympic dreams quickly came to a tearful conclusion when she crossed the line last in 52nd place. It was actually a shock that she finished. At one point, she stopped sobbing to her coach who urged Findlay to continue. She crossed the line and when the media attacked her, she apologized profusely to her family and friends, but especially to everyone watching and cheering back home in Canada. Every person I spoke to about it was either choked up or felt she had no reason to apologize. At 23, everyone is hoping to see her make a comeback in Rio.


Athlete: Usain Bolt
Sport: Men's Athletics
Country: Jamaica
Age: 25
Results: Repeat Gold Medals in both the 100m and 200m.

His goal at this Olympic Games was to become a Legend. To Usain Bolt, winning the gold once in Beijing isn't good enough. To him that doesn't certify him as a legend, but winning it twice in both events does. Though to the rest of the world, he already was a legend and not just for his track skills. His antics on and off the track are notorious: fist pounding lane volunteers, his lightning bolt pose, pictures with the mascot, 3am tweets with pretty girls, etc. Watching his antics is as much fun as watching his race. Though he sometimes borders on the line of cocky, its nice to see a guy not taking it so seriously. Not to mention what he is doing for his country. On an island that is contrasted with resorts and poverty, Bolt gives the people (especially the youth) hope for something more. It was estimated that he has earned more than $20 million dollars through endorsements and he has gave back generously to his country. One of the stipulation in his Puma contract were running shoes for his high school track team. It was simple yet something essential that the kids couldn't afford. It is generosity like this that makes a person legendary.


Athlete: Ye Shiwen
Sport: Women's Swimming
Country: China
Age: 16
Results: Gold Medals in the 200 and 400 I.M.

The teen swimming sensation, Ye Shiwen from China, shocked the world within the first few days in London with her unbelievable win in the 400 I.M. A few hours later, she was being accused for using steroids based on her performance alone. Looking at her, I never would assume she is on steroids. Her built is very average-looking. She actually might be smaller than most of the other girls. But this accusation became one of the top stories in the first few days of the Games. And what she said at the press conference that was held is exactly what I thought too. She said she was being accused based on what country she came from because there were phenomenal performances from other young athletes who were just considered to be great swimmers. They spoke about how she improved her 400 I.M. by five seconds over the past year. This didn't surprise me at all. When I swam, I was improving constantly at 16. The media also pointed out that her last 50 freestyle split was faster than American Ryan Lochte. This didn't surprise me either. Her best stroke is freestyle (which isn't common for someone who swims I.M.) and Lochte proved in multiple races in London that he struggles to finish his swims. He got beat on the last 50 on all the races he lost. Ye said the accusations really affected her during the Games. And can you blame her? None of the young American girls were accused of drug-use and I watched the one girl win the 200m freestyle by a full body length. Ye went on to win the 200 I.M. (and not by a body length either). I truly hope all these accusations prove to be false.



Athlete: Allyson Felix
Sport: Women's Athletics
Country: United States of America
Age: 26
Results: Gold in the 200m

I liked this athlete as soon as I saw her because I just knew she couldn't be on steroids. In a sport that is filled with issues of doping, it is discouraging for young upcoming runners to watch the Olympics. It makes kids think that the only way to achieve a medal in track is to take steroids. After watching her hero, Marion Jones get caught for doping, Felix vowed to always remain honest. She joined Project Believe that allows the US Anti-Doping Agency to test Felix at any time to prove her body is steroid-free. After winning silver in both Athens and Beijing, Felix finally brought home individual gold in the 200m.


What were your favourite Olympic moments?

Monday, August 13, 2012

Dessert: Fall in Love Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes

Call me jaded, but falling in love with a cupcake just might be more wonderful than falling for any man :)


Joined Pinterest on Friday night and I have already adapted a cupcake recipe...no good can come from me browsing this site :) So the first one I fell in love with were the Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes. Now I love every dessert that is blueberry, but lemon usually scares me off. I like lemon candies, lemonade, lemon chicken, but I am not a fan of lemon meringue pie or a lemon tart. So I was a little hesitant about a lemon blueberry cupcake (injected with lemon curd filling) with lemon frosting. However mixed with the blueberries, the cake was unbelievable. And words can not describe the frosting... Yep for once I can't think of any words. The combination of flavours gave the dessert a delicious summery taste.

This recipe was adapted from a blog I actually follow called: Sweetapolita

Fall in Love Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes


Cake:

2 cups all-purpose flour + 6 tbs flour
2 tsps baking powder
1 tsp salt
3 cups fresh blueberries
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup whole milk
2 tsps vanilla extract
3/4 tsp pure lemon extract
1 tsp lemon zest
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 eggs

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.


Mix together the fresh blueberries with 6 tablespoons of flour in a separate bowl. Mix dry and wet ingredients separately. Combine the two bowls together and blend with a mixer until smooth. Then gently fold the blueberry flour mixture into the batter.



Lemon Curd Filling:

1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup lemon juice
zest from 2 large lemons
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp cornstarch
pinch of salt
6 egg yolks

Melt the butter on medium heat. Remove from the heat. Add the remaining ingredients to the sauce pan. Whisk in egg yolks. Cook combination on medium for roughly 10 minutes or until the filling has thickened. Do not allow it to boil. Strain through a mesh strainer into a bowl. Allow the lemon curd filling to chill in the refrigerator.


The lemon curd filling can be inserted with a Wilton 230 tip.

Frosting:

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 tsps lemon zest
5 1/2 cups icing sugar
3 tbsp lemon juice
6 tbsp heavy whipping cream (35%)
1/2 tsp pure lemon extract
pinch of salt
2 drops of yellow food colouring

Topping:

Sprinkle lemon zest and top with a blueberry.





Enjoy :)

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Projects: Old and New


I love having projects for myself to do. I am very goal-oriented person in every aspect of my life. I have to see an objective for everything I do whether it is something as big as finishing a degree or as small as making my family happy with a batch of cookies. I love making lists and checking things off when they are completed.

As a result, I have this tendency of finding little projects for myself that usually require taking something old and fixing it or improving it into something new. I definitely get this quality from my dad who has the ability to turn junk into beautiful things. He however is much better at it and gets a little nervous when he sees me taking out his power tools.

These are just two of the many projects that I have on the go right now...

Wedding Planters:

As I have mentioned in past posts, my brother is having an outdoor wedding at our house next spring and we have been trying to prepare for everything this summer. When I started my job at the greenhouse back in April I noticed two broken wooden planters. They were huge and went past my hip, but they were originally priced at $77.99 each. They continued to sit there all season and finally I got the courage to ask how much they would be willing to let them go for. I got them at a great deal of $8.00 each. Turns out she just wanted to get rid of them, but didn't want to toss them in the trash. She also knew they needed a lot of work.


The wood was painted a mix of white and grey. It was spun around the container.
As you can see it was a complete mess.



Not the Martha Stewart way, but I used glue to reattach the pieces of wood.
I also used a giant stone from the garden to hold the wood in place while the glue dried.
Use gloves when you use Gorilla Glue. It creates a mess on your hands.







I painted a layer white before spraying it.




I then sprayed it with spray paint "Satin Khaki"




I ran out of spray paint and need to go over some spots to make it more even.




I think they look great and will look even better when they are filled with plants in the spring.





  The Trunk:

I found this trunk two years ago at Timeless Treasures in Windsor. It was a bit of a mess and that's why it was only $80. I don't have any before photos, but I assure you the inside was peeling and smelled like a dead body might have been stuffed in it at one point. I had to re-do the inside with cedar wood to fix the smell. The patent markings say it was patented in 1877. My grandfather explained to me that it doesn't necessarily mean it was made that year, but only that this type was made that year. He said it is still very old.


The trunk



The wear really shows on the lid. Went over all the wooden frames with a special shiner.








The little girl painted on the inside.



Upcoming Projects:

An old wooden cabinet and a living succulent wall.

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