Nothin' but treats!

My two kids and my cousin heading out to Trick or Treat! We had a blast!

Media Blitz

So my movie, The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia, was released on DVD yesterday. That means you can buy it now, or even watch it instantly on Netflix. That will be really, really cool if I ever find my DVD remote (my dvd streams netflix). There's also a bunch of free extra footage on iTunes. One of the extras on iTunes is called Do the White Thing and, if you only watch one, it should be this one. It includes the original footage shot of Jesco back when Julien discovered him. It's the footage that led to The Dancing Outlaw and it is brutally awesome.

Along with all the video coming out, there's been new publicity too. Here's an awesome article from the UK where you'll see your favorite local chicklet mentioned. And here's an interview with Julien about the film.

Anyway, it's completely awesome and so very, very surreal to see something that I put so much time and energy and heart into turn into something that people enjoy and talk about (or, in some cases hate, which is cool too). I guess the surreal part comes in because I get the emails about all this publicity and then I get my kids up as normal, get everyone to work, and head to the bakery to work myself. The world of the film is just so far removed from my life.

I do have to say that I'm over the top thrilled that Julien, the director, is getting such great publicity. He was really, really good to me and he deserves nothing but good. I hope his career blows up from here. And, if he ever needs a personal assistant, I'm there!

I guess it's time for me to shake off the movie world and get busy. I have a crazy day today. One kid is already home (today was a makeup day at their school) and the other will have to be picked up later, once she gets caught up. Not-So-Ex is getting sicker, but can't get out of work long enough to go to the doc. I've been called in at the bakery for whenever my schedule permits me to get there. And last, but definitely not least, my house is a total disaster (shocker). But at least I got a little extra sleep and, despite a sore throat that does not bode well for the future, I'm in a good mood. And, of course, there's Trick or Treat tomorrow!!!! Woo Hoo!

Amped up

I'm not sure why, but I am super duper amped up today. It feels like I've consumed massive amounts of caffeine but, in fact, I've only had a little bit of pop so far today.

Part of it is cause I was baking last night. No matter how often I bake, I still have nerves about getting things done in time. Like what if the cupcakes fall... will I have enough time to make more... will the frosting be the right color... will everything taste right...

The Halloween Velvet Cupcakes I made for Hunt's class

I basically got almost no sleep. The fact that Sis had a field trip this morning, which meant I had to have her there way early, didn't help either. But everything went like clockwork this morning. We were up on time, out the door early, had breakfast as a family, then got Not-So-Ex to work, Sis to school, and Hunt and I headed home for a bit before I have to take him back to school.

But the biggest news for today is that it is our first re-anniversary!!!!!! That's right, it's been one whole year since we headed to the courthouse and he made an honest woman out of me. Again. In ways it feels like it couldn't possibly have been a whole year. In other ways it feels like we've always been together, there were just brief periods of technical difficulties.

Anyway, I'm as happy today as I was a year ago. Maybe even more so. Our life together has just re-started, but I'm sure it will only get sweeter with time.

Not quite a Monday...

So I am home today with two sick kiddos. I've got a touch of the crud, but not anywhere near what they have. Not-So-Ex is feeling crappy too, but he went to work anyway. I was off today anyway, so it wasn't any big deal to keep them home. And they have a short school week (due to a teacher conference) so at least I can send them tomorrow and know they'll have plenty of time to shed that last little bit of crud without worrying about school.

Since it's Monday, I'm clearing out my DVR. Mad Men is done for the season, but I still have Boardwalk Empire and Dexter to watch. BE is some brilliant tv. Margaret is suffering the consequences of being sucked into Nucky's lifestyle. While it is all to be expected, it still seemed to get harsh in a hurry. Normally, as the newest acquisition, a chick gets at least a honeymoon period before the taking for granted starts in. But Nucky moves fast I guess. As far as Dexter, I'm still watching it. But I do like the direction they're going in. Or, I should say, as long as they aren't turning Quinn into Doakes II, then I like it.

Besides tv, I've got dishes to do and cupcakes to bake. Hunt needs a batch for school tomorrow so I gotta get crackin. Plus I got a catalogue of cupcakes supplies which needs to be thoroughly investigated. So I guess I'll see you all later!

You'll never believe what I'm doing today...

I'm making cupcakes. Shocking, I know.

Someone who has given me more hours of his time than most (as a volunteer back when I ran the Hip-Hop Boot Camp) is going to be a daddy! So I volunteered cupcakes for the baby shower, which is this weekend. That means today is baking day, but at the house instead of the bakery. And I'm pretty psyched. Or at least I will be once I get the dishes done and the kitchen cleaned up so that I can get started.

I really wish I could go back to bed. Last night, being the rocket scientist that I am, I accidentally took some day time cold meds, which had me bouncing well into the night. I did eventually get to sleep, but I couldn't tell you when. I had thoughts of going back to bed after getting the guys dropped off but I know that, if I tried to go back to bed, I'd just be fixating on cupcakes anyway. So I'm guessing I'm up for the day.

My dotty bats

Anyway, this week at the bakery has been all about the Halloween cookies. Our area does a big Halloween celebration called HallowEast and, as part of that, we're offering our special cookies.

Now I LOVE doing sugar cookies. These have pushed my decorating abilities (polka dots can be rough when you have a shake) but I have sooooooo loved doing them. But here are some pics. The cookie recipe can be found here, and the icing is here, and the ghosts can be found here, and they're just covered in white chocolate.

Bouncing all over the place...

So it's a very scattered Wednesday morning around these parts. Not sure what's behind it, but my mind has just been bouncing all over the place. I have a sneaking suspicion that, despite my good intentions of getting stuff done today, I will only manage to start a million things and finish none.

In fact, I'm still trying to finish watching an episode of Sons of Anarchy that I started around 9:30 (about 2 hrs ago). In the course of that 2 hrs, I have let the dogs in and out 3 times, answered the door so that local religious types could give me a tract (even though they saw me dragging the dogs in), established dinner plans with Not-So-Ex, made my daughter's next drs appointment, made arrangements for my son to start piano lessons, made arrangements for a cupcake pickup this weekend, watered my plants... ok I think that's it.

I wanted to post about some of the things I've made at the bakery this week. But I'm far too scattered to deal with posting pics and recipes and such, so I guess that will have to wait.

Hell... time to let the dogs out again. *sigh*

So, seriously, have you looked outside?

It's really, really nasty out there!

So I'm in a better mood today. Part of that is because today is payday for Not-So-Ex and, when you consider how much he has been working, his paycheck is HUGE! I mean he seriously brings home more in one week than I do in months. Even when I worked for the state and had a good salary, this week woulda be almost a month for me. And that's even after money was taken out for our savings.

That means that today will include a bank visit, some bill paying, and probably a visit to the store to look for Halloween costumes for the kiddos. I'll probably need to hit the grocery store too since I'd really like to have a nice, warm dinner at home tonight.

Speaking of dinner, we went to Bluegrass Kitchen last night to celebrate the big paycheck and it was just a perfect dinner. Even the notoriously picky Hunt was thrilled with his dinner and the fact that we all got to share some Key Lime Pie (one of our faves). It made for a really nice, relaxing evening.

But back to today... Unfortunately, today is the Walk-a-Thon fundraiser for the kids so they're gonna be out walking in this nasty weather. But, not to worry, Mommy will make it awesome. Due to the Walk-a-Thon, they can get out early today. So I'll be there to cheer them on and then I'll steal them away, get a quick lunch, and head home to goof around with my favorite homies. I think we're all looking forward to it.

I'm also looking forward to putting my head together with Sis to plan some special cupcakes for her Spanish class on Monday. But I'm sure we'll talk more about that later! Have a good weekend folks!

Blah

I should really have something interesting or amusing or even mundane to say today. But I got nothing. I'm feeling very blah... very bored and boring. It's a very hide under the covers sort of day but, unfortunately, there are things I'm expected to accomplish. So hopefully I will.

Hope everyone else's day contains less blah than mine!

Just another day

It's a Monday morning, which is quickly becoming one of my favorite days, and I am just waking up from my morning nap, checking out my DVR full of treasures, and planning my day. I'm in a spectacular mood, in part because I'm getting into a nice schedule. And, in part, because, for once, I actually was really smart this morning. I had a half hour between when I dropped Not-So-Ex off and when I could drop the kiddos off, so I went to Krogers and got my shopping done. That makes the rest of my day easier since I don't have to run out for anything.

And the rest of my day will be quite busy (once I get through Boardwalk Empire and Mad Men anyway). I have paint to get on the walls, edging to do, trim work to finish up, and probably some sanding to do to get the next section ready to paint. But as much trouble as it is, I have to say the red paint is just gorgeous! But MAN I hate sanding!

I'm also really psyched to get back to the bakery tomorrow. Yesterday I started making some sugar cookies for Halloween. At home, it's rare that I get to decorate cookies, even though I have a ball with them. And it's soooo much fun! I was really pleased with how they turned out. And apparently my boss and the chef were both really pleased too! But I am glad I started working on them yesterday. Sundays the kitchen is mine alone, so I got the chance to really work on the cookies and figure out the best way to handle the dough in a super warm kitchen. So hopefully I can make them more quickly and smoothly tomorrow.

Anyway, I better get going. Those walls won't paint themselves!

Morning Musings

It's another day off. I got up at the standard 5 am, got the boys delivered, came home, and totally crashed immediately. Now I've had a few extra hours of sleep and I feel like a brand new chick.

So I guess I should start getting my day going. I have tons to do today but I also wanna have a little down time too.

I had a super, SUPER busy day yesterday. The mornings are always a bit rushed and I had just enough time to get everyone to their places, get home, have about an hour to chill, then get to work. At work, I knew I had an order for 2 1/2 doz cupcakes for the next day and a big order for the weekend to prep, but I didn't know there was a wedding cake that I would be mixing and baking in order to help our decorator. So, by the end of the day, I had made the equivalent of about 24 dozen cupcakes. I'm very lucky to have some great co-workers since I was mixing and baking right up to the very moment that I HAD to leave to get to the kiddos, so I definitely owe my co-worker some clean up time! Once I got the guys, it slowed down some, thank goodness!

Today I need to get the house in order. The sink is full of dishes is screaming at me. I have some home cupcaking to do for a dear friends b-day so that mess must be tamed. I need to get to the grocery store. I need to clean up the dogger mess. Both Not-So-Ex and I got paid, so there's banking to do and then bills to pay. And, as always, there's laundry, the bane of my existence. I did more painting on the living room the other day so maybe I can get to a touchup coat tomorrow and get my Snoopys back on the walls.

Well I guess I should get busy and stop talking about everything I need to do and start actually doing something. Fun, fun, fun!

I've only got a minute...

Ok, so actually I've got tons of minutes cause I'm off work today. But it's cold, rainy, and grey outside so my bed, and all the lovely blankets on it, is calling me back to snuggle for a little bit.

And, from experience, I know that once I head back to that warm comfy place, I probably won't make it back to the blog later in the day. Once I get my snuggling done, I tend to be struck by allllll the stuff I need to get done and then it's off to make up for my early morning decadence. But it's all lovely, even if the weather isn't.

So here's some things I'm happy about, in no particular order, because I'm in a squishy mood!

1. A hubs that drags me out of bed before dawn but lets me go back.

2. Fuzzy blankets and big comforters.

3. Pumpkin Cupcakes (which will be at the bakery starting later this week).

4. Doggers snuggled beside me.

5. DVR and OnDemand.

6. Mops and wood floors (even though I cuss them sometimes).

7. Warm, oversized, soft sweatshirts.

8. Overtime checks.

9. The Hobart mixer (on work days).

10. A daughter that lets me borrow her Super Mario hat when my work hat is dirty.

11. Yoga pants and Old Navy tees.

12. PJs.

13. The bathroom heater.

14. The book fair at the kids' school (where I picked up some for myself too).

15. That you can buy cheap uniform pants at Wal-Mart at 6 am.

16. Fresh apples and pears.

17. A mom and mom-in-law that have my back with the kiddos.

18. An anniversary in a couple weeks.

19. Meatloaf and mashed potatoes.

20. Facebook, blogs, and emails.

And now I'm running to my covers! Later!

As I'm waiting for the syrup...

So I've been feeling icky. But today I'm feeling extra crappy. So I came home from getting the boys to their places (and getting Hunt's cupcakes where they need to go) and dosed myself quite liberally with cough syrup. And this is what I'm doing while I wait for it to kick in and knock me out cold. Well this and watching Community.

Poor Not-So-Ex is off working his butt off. And, today, he said the words all of us dread. Seven, twelve hour shifts. Now they haven't started yet - he's working six tens right now - but he's expecting them sooner or later. And, while that means no worrying about money for a while, it also means we probably won't get away anytime soon. But, don't worry, when we do get away, it'll be extra awesome.

Well, Community is ending and I'm getting hazy. Hope everyone is feeling better than I am. And, to whomever created NyQuil (can't forget the big freaking Q), I love you.