How to Frost a Cake

Disney and Costco team up for wedding dresses

Costco and Disney have teamed up to present Princess inspired wedding dresses this weekend, April 22-24th in Tustin, CA.

Click here for the Disney Coscto special event in CA

How to Protect Your Marriage

My husband, Grant, and I have been married for over 20 years now and we have learned along the way how to better protect our marriage. I received this article in my email box this morning ( Is the Grass Really Greener?) and felt it was well worth sharing. After all the adrenaline and excitement of the big day is over you are finally husband and wife and now how do you keep this life together, together?

There are many factors that are going to come against your marriage; miscommunication, time apart caused by committments, distractions of raising children, media romantising adultery, etc.

The first place to protect your marriage is by monitoring your thoughts. When you find yourself  "wondering if... " or becoming emotionally attached to someone that is starting to take first place in your thoughts that is an indicator that you need to reign in your thoughts.

One way to reign in your thoughts is to choose to focus on how thankful you are for your spouse. Be intentional about expressing your thanks and be specific. "Thank you honey for getting my overcoat drycleaned." Grant nearly always takes care of the drycleaning in our house. I want to let him know I appreciate it even though it is an unspoken task of his.

I was recently in Washington DC during one of the snow storms. (That is why my overcoat needed to be drycleaned, street salt.) My trip ended up being three days longer than intended. Grant and I mostly communicated through cell texting, but every once in awhile I just wanted to hear his voice. We were able to share our day's events throughout the day without interrupting eachother because of the time zone differences. Through this communication we are able to affirm in eachother that we are thinking of the other even when we are apart. Thoughts are very strong forces that can lead to behaviors for the good of a marriage or for the demise of a marriage. Monitor your thoughts.

Have you been intentional about saying "thank you"?

Thank you for submitting your encouraging comments. T;-)

Thrift Store Cupcake Tree

Whoever heard of a cupcake tree? It sounds like a Dr. Seuss book to me! Come along to the thrift store, let's get crafty!

Trapsing down the tablewear aisle I grab start grabbing plates that have colors or design that catch my eye. I am drawn to the bright colors of the large plate first then I start looking for a medium or small sized plate with complementary colors.

All three plates have a similar pale yellow color, this pulls them together. The plate sizes have to be about an inch (2.5cm) smaller than the plate they will sit directly above. I found the top vase in the bathroom accessories area, like it was a toothbrush holder. The bottom blue cup has a similar blue as the other items.

Locate exactly where you want the cups to be centered on the bottom and top plate and trace with a water based pen, so you can wash it off later. Line one rim at a time with superglue and quickly place it on your pre-marked circle. Use a high temp glue and glue gun if you want to be able to re-use the plates and cups.

This cupcake tree cost about $12 and holds about 16 regular sized cupcakes and 32 or more mini-sized cupcakes.

With all the colors in this tree I suggest you use it for a single color cupcake. I also put together a clear glass cupcake tree and a white cupcake tree, using the same method. On these monotone, one color, trees I suggest you could use it for any color combination of cupcakes.

• Make up a bunch of these to compliment a sheet wedding cake.
• Use at a bridal shower, baby shower or birthday party.

Is this something you will make?
What is your favorite kind of cupcake?
My favorite is chocolate fudge cake with cream cheese frosting. Yum!