I got it... well almost (Day 126)

The quest for cake ingredients has come to an end.  Today the boys and I where able to secure the rest of my ingredients for my cake.... well almost all of the ingredients.

I have given up on finding organic roses that won't cost me an arm and a leg.  I have asked several people and have yet to find a non chemically treated flower in the state.   

So, I officially give up!  I will be feeding my family, and myself, a chemically treated cake.  I am OK with this,  I know, what kind of mother/wife would feed her precious loved ones such a horrible thing you ask.  The same kind that has allowed them to digest partially hydrogenated chips, red dye 40 laden popsicles, hostess product which God only knows what is in them, and hot dogs that may or may not contain real dog.   

Gasp!  I know I am wretched.  I am also tired and annoyed and ready to bake this stupid thing.  I wanted to keep true to the recipe and to my own convictions but alas, the the easy and cost effective way wins out.  Stay tuned more of the cake baking saga.  

I never claimed to be sane (Day 123)

I signed up to do a 30 day fitness boot camp last night.  Today I am rethinking not only my decision, but also my sanity level!

They won't drown (Day 118)

Yesterday, I was told by Sam (the boys swim teacher)  that the boys were ready to advance to level Y3.

I am sure that Sam thought that my joy, was due to the fact that my children are no longer doggy paddling for their lives.  Don't get me wrong, I am very grateful that my kiddo's no longer look like they are drowning, but I am also quite happy to mark #15 as done.

Now, I just need to get them ready to swim across the lake with me next summer!

Ingredients (Day 109)

I am learning more about shopping than I am about cooking.  Come to find out, organic roses and rose water are not items that you can pick up at your local Safeway, Fred Meyer, Albertsons, or QFC.  

I know, I can get the flowers at the pike place market and I may have to order the rose water online. This cake better be worth it. 

If a picture is really worth a thousand words than, do I really need to actually bake this stinkin' cake? 

Day 106

I am sitting here with my honey watching the movie Julie & Julia.  Instead of feeling all gooey and warm from a very sweet chick flick, I am feeling overwhelmed and depressed.  I am 106 days into my blog, when Julie was 106 days into her blog she had cooked hundreds of mouthwatering dishes and she didn't even cheat on the aspics.

Somehow my misery is motivating me.  If Julie can steam lobsters and de-bone a duck, then I can surely get something on my list done this week.  I am going to start with baking a cake from scratch.  If you only knew how much I dislike baking cakes than you would understand how truly motivated I must be to tackle this.  I have a knack for making cakes turn out horrible. The only time I made a scruptious cake was for Micah's 5th birthday and I really can't take credit for it.  Paulette found the recipe and did most of the baking.  I, however, shaped it into a  very cool dinosaur. 

As you may know, my motto is go big or go home.  As with most things I am going big.  I found a beautiful picture on Epicurious.com and decided that for my first cake would be 

                          Persian Love Cake

This chiffon cake filled with rose-scented whipped cream is inspired 

by the aromatics found in Persian, Turkish, and Indian confections. 

Cardamom seeds have more flavor than the ground powder

 and are like little explosions of spice in the cake. 

Doesn't that sound simply amazing?  Please start praying, hard!    

Long time, no blog (day 104)

Thought it was time to update you on what is happening in my life.  I have done nothing that is currently on my list, but I am thinking about adding some goals to my list

102. Catch a cold, do not treat it and allow it to turn into Pneumonia
103. Lay in bed for an entire week, emerging only to use the bathroom.
104. Use enough cough drops and cough syrup that you end up enjoying the taste of them.
105.  Go days without any care for personal hygiene (yourself or others)
106.  Sit/lay in front of the television for 168 hours over a 2 week period (conciseness is not a requirement for this goal) (168 hours = 12 hours a day)

I know, I am an overachiever.

44-20-25-0-13 (Day 80)

And today's numbers are 44-20-25-0-13

44 - We picked a bucket of blackberries and made jam.  #44 is complete!  It was an interesting experience.   I have always known how to pick and wash berries, de-seeding them however, is another story. I ended up with 30oz of wonderful blackberry jam, and purple stained hands. Twice in the last couple of weeks, I have  hauled the boys and some friends to a U-pick blueberry field in an attempt to perfect my new mad jamming skills.

20 - Today marks 20 days of no soda pop (see #9). Zero, Zip, NADA!
I have 10 days until I will be able to guzzle a glorious Diet Coke.

25 - Last week I bought enough fabric to make at least 10 bibs for Pregnancy Aid.  I am excited to get started on this project (see #25).  Pregnancy Aid is a great non-profit agency that helps families by allowing them to pick out children's and maternity clothing, toys, furniture and bedding. The women (most of them great grandma's) who volunteer at Pregnancy Aid are fantastic and truly care for their clients.  If you would like more info on how to help out, just let me know.

0 - This is the number that you get to see if you miss one day of  "continuous" walking (see #5).  I was doing so well, and then one evening before going out for my walk I decided to just take a minute and watch a little TV... At 2:30am I hauled my toucas (and Brent's) off the couch.  Although I would like to, I just can't justify walking from the couch to my bed as a "daily walk"  :(

13 - To be truthfully honest with you, I am having a love hate relationship with this number.  13 is the number of pounds that I have lost.  I love the fact that 13 pounds are no longer attached to my body, but I hate the fact after 2 1/2 months of trying (or at least sorta, kinda, sometimes trying) to lose weight I have only shed 13 pounds.  I want to get into shape and lose weight, I just wish that I could do it from the couch with a bowl of warm gooey deliciousness.