Fun times and scary marshmallows

My son turned 4 this past weekend, and his birthday party was wonderful! We had several friends and family members show up to celebrate his day. I got a lot of compliments on the cake I made (even though I knew it did not turn out as well as it could have, pic below) so it got the wheels in my head turning. It did not cost a lot to make it, so I decided I would throw myself out there and make some cakes for other functions. I am making two cakes tomorrow. One will be a basketball cake (for a church basketball championship BBQ) and the other will be a girly cake (for a girls' night I am planning that will be tomorrow evening). I honestly have no idea how the cakes will turn out, but I can tell you that it has already been an adventure making them.


(the birthday cake)



THE ADVENTURE:
I tried to make marshmallow fondant in my mixer tonight....... it ended up quickly oozing up the dough hook and out of the bowl like a blob-monster. I don't remember seeing that it the YouTube tutorial I watched so closely last night. I panicked and did the first thing I thought of..... I tried to use my hands to get the marshmallow back in to the bowl. When I realized that was a dumb idea I tried to turn off the mixer. I did it, but got marshmallow all over the mixer in the process. Then I moved the bowl to the sink (because my hand was already stuck to the bowl). I tried to remove the bowl from my hand carefully.... that didn't work. I ended up having to knock it off with my other forearm. Powdered sugar went everywhere. I got it all cleaned up and finished making the fondant by hand, but I got marshmallow in my hair and on my shirt in the process. I think that shirt may be considered a casualty of baking now..... I can't see any way I can get the now hardened marshmallow off of it.

But then it dawned on me..... you can't be a seasoned baker without having some kitchen disasters first. So I am proud that I had a ridiculous moment of sticky stupidity..... I think it means I am close to graduating to some entry-level of competency with my fondant/cake making skills.

I am so excited for tomorrow! I am going to have fun making these cakes, even if they fall apart in the end. After all, it will still taste delicious.

(sorry, I didn't take pictures of the disaster, maybe next time (and there will be a next time))

On another note, I got my hair cut again today. Here is the pic!

I'm Jacque, and.......

I just created a profile on mormon.org to help my friends who are not LDS church members understand the LDS church a little more through my personal experiences. It is still being reviewed, and I will post a link to my profile when it is accepted. In the meantime you can click on the cute "I'm a Mormon" button above to take a look at the site and browse around a bit.

Can we be inspired?

We have all felt the calm before a storm. The skies seem to be so clear and perfect, as if to warn us of the tumult about to ramble across the vault. A little chaos is good for us all; it forces us to act on instinct and sharpen our mental reactions. I know myself well enough by now to acknowledge that I receive my most inspiring epiphanies when I am alone. The silence cleanses my crowded mind and opens the windows of my stifled imagination.

I desperately needed that time this evening, so I put the darling little ones to bed early after happily seeing my husband off to basketball practice. Sadly, nothing happened. No locked gates were opened, and no seedlings of newborn ideas were planted in my head. That won't stop me from enjoying the little comforts that I rely on when I am seeking new experiences. Whether it reveals itself now or at some distant time, I can fall in to the secure actions that help me seek my inspiration.

A little quiet music does so much for me, so I start there. Then I pray and meditate on any residual thoughts of the prayer. After that I just sit, alone, quiet, releasing any nagging thoughts or tensions that are holding me back. This proves to be a challenge in most cases.... you can easily guess why, I'm sure. But a little effort makes for pleasing results. I get what I want and my body gets what it needs. The process is completed and another experience begins.

What was I inspired to do tonight? Spend more time alone, in silence, showing appreciation to my body for carrying me so far. Showing love to my soul for blooming so exquisitely. Giving thanks by resting my weary head and preparing it for the wonderful storm that is brewing. Heavens of my mind, let the rain fall.