There was a mini-Pinterest marathon in our house tonight. It started with haluski for dinner, followed by whipping up some coconut oil body butter and then Soft, Silky Legs in a Bottle.
My husband's family is renting a beach house for my brother-in-law's wedding this July. This means that I will be at the beach for a week with two of my gorgeously tan sisters-in-law. As the redhead in the family, Rose McGowan fair with lots of freckles and prone to lobster-ing immediately in the sun, I'm trying anything I can to get my skin ready to keep up with the olive-skinned crowd.
So when I came across a recipe for DIY Skin Smoother for Silky Soft Legs from One Good Thing by Jillee on Pinterest - and the caption said something about "Ready for summer legs" - I had to try it.
In making this skin smoother, I used the last of my olive oil. This is a sin in our Italian household. Dan (aka "my husband") was irritated when he found out. "Olive oil is for cooking, not for skin stuff."
Anyway...
I didn't have any lemon juice, but I did have some lime juice hiding on the refrigerator door. I'm not sure how old it is, or if it's even real lime juice, but I used it anyway.
Although Jillee doesn't have time for baths, I make time. So off I went to the tub with my Tupperware container full of Jillee's sugar scrub. Following her directions, I soaked, I scrubbed, I shaved and then I scrubbed and shaved again.
WOW! I don't think my legs have ever been so smooth. I'm sparing you photos in this post because 1) I'm not keen on posting photos of my white legs and 2) you can't feel how smooth my skin is in a photo. I came downstairs and popped my leg up on the couch next to Dan and asked him if he still thought olive oil was just for cooking.
"Not in our family."
Win!
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
March of Dimes - Bake for Babies
We're getting very close to the 2013 March of Dimes March for Babies! This is my favorite charity by far because, without their research, I wouldn't have my adorable niece and nephew.
Five years ago, my nephew kicked my niece's placenta (from the his own placenta) and her fluid started draining to the point that the doctors had to take them early. They were 26 weeks into the required 38-40 weeks. (This is my understanding of what happened. My sister-in-law can recite the technical story with aplomb.)
My twins came into the world the length of a pen with footprints the size of small fingernail clippers, weighing under 2 pounds each.
Needless to say, both of them remained in the NICU for quite some time. My nephew came home for the first time when he was 6 months old and the size of a normal newborn. A normal newborn with adorable huge cheeks!
My niece stayed in the hospital much longer. We actually lost my beautiful little girl for 5 minutes before God gave her back to us. Fortunately, she was home with her brother for their first birthday. Mom and I made them each a stand-up teddy bear cake - one pink and one blue.
Today, my twins are amazing 5-year-old kids who love to torment my brother (which I love), served as a perfect flower girl and "ring bear race car," and have beaten all of the odds against them.
I know that our story wouldn't have been so inspirational if it weren't for the tireless research backed by the March of Dimes and the dedication of their volunteers and those who walk in support of their cause. I've walked or donated every year since they were born. My brother and his family actually served as our local March of Dimes Ambassador Family a couple years ago because of the hope that my niece and nephew represent to those who are going through similar situations.
Last year, my sister-in-law partnered with another preemie Mom to take their fundraising to a new level. They rented out a local fire hall, organized local crafters and vendors, and put on a craft sale in support of the March of Dimes.
Remember that about this time last year, I also did my first wedding cake and was completely wrapped up in the excitement of my new hobby. (I'm still excited about my hobby!) I told my sister-in-law that I wanted to have my own cupcake table with all of my sales for the day going to the March of Dimes. So I took a day off of work, baked about 10-12 dozen cupcakes and packaged them for sale with the help of my mom and one of my older nieces.
There were a few cupcakes on that table that made me really proud:
But my favorite cupcake of the entire event was the one that I created specifically for Team Handful of Hope:
We raised over $200 in cupcakes alone for the March of Dimes that day. In a blizzard. In a town of less than 100 people. I would call that a resounding success and I would do it again in a heartbeat to support this cause and to support my twins.
Five years ago, my nephew kicked my niece's placenta (from the his own placenta) and her fluid started draining to the point that the doctors had to take them early. They were 26 weeks into the required 38-40 weeks. (This is my understanding of what happened. My sister-in-law can recite the technical story with aplomb.)
My twins came into the world the length of a pen with footprints the size of small fingernail clippers, weighing under 2 pounds each.
Needless to say, both of them remained in the NICU for quite some time. My nephew came home for the first time when he was 6 months old and the size of a normal newborn. A normal newborn with adorable huge cheeks!
My niece stayed in the hospital much longer. We actually lost my beautiful little girl for 5 minutes before God gave her back to us. Fortunately, she was home with her brother for their first birthday. Mom and I made them each a stand-up teddy bear cake - one pink and one blue.
Today, my twins are amazing 5-year-old kids who love to torment my brother (which I love), served as a perfect flower girl and "ring bear race car," and have beaten all of the odds against them.
I know that our story wouldn't have been so inspirational if it weren't for the tireless research backed by the March of Dimes and the dedication of their volunteers and those who walk in support of their cause. I've walked or donated every year since they were born. My brother and his family actually served as our local March of Dimes Ambassador Family a couple years ago because of the hope that my niece and nephew represent to those who are going through similar situations.
Last year, my sister-in-law partnered with another preemie Mom to take their fundraising to a new level. They rented out a local fire hall, organized local crafters and vendors, and put on a craft sale in support of the March of Dimes.
Remember that about this time last year, I also did my first wedding cake and was completely wrapped up in the excitement of my new hobby. (I'm still excited about my hobby!) I told my sister-in-law that I wanted to have my own cupcake table with all of my sales for the day going to the March of Dimes. So I took a day off of work, baked about 10-12 dozen cupcakes and packaged them for sale with the help of my mom and one of my older nieces.
There were a few cupcakes on that table that made me really proud:
 |
| Chocolate cayenne with spiced pecans, caramel and chocolate ganache |
 |
| Chocolate Moose |
 |
| White Puppy Cupcake |
But my favorite cupcake of the entire event was the one that I created specifically for Team Handful of Hope:
 |
| Lemon Blueberry Handful of Hope Cupcake w/ Chocolate Sneaker |
Saturday, March 9, 2013
How Did I Get Myself Into This?
This weekend marks the one year anniversary of the reason I got into baking in the first place.
My sister's best friend was planning her wedding for March 10, 2012 and asked my mom to bake her wedding cake. (I told you in the beginning that my mom was good!) Mom had done my sister's cake a couple years before - it was gorgeous - and K really liked the simplicity of the design and, of course, the taste.
Simple, elegant, perfect. White cake, strawberry filling, buttercream frosting, yum.
Anyway, wedding cakes stress Mom out. Big time. So K asked if I would make hers since I helped Mom with my sister's. I thought it sounded like fun, so I said YES! Panicked for a second and then signed up for the Wilton Method Courses. (Can you tell how much value I put on these classes yet?)
After 4 courses and a lot of practice - including a New Year's wedding cake for my lovely cousin (again, another post waiting to happen) - I was ready to go! I baked and crumb coated three of the five layers at my house in Ohio, took a day and a half vacation, packed up all of my gear and headed to my mom's in Pennsylvania. OK - so I packed up most of what I needed, but I realized I had forgotten the royal blue buttercream roses about a half hour down the road and had to turn around and go back.
I didn't want to complete the cake at home and drive with the final product in the back of my SUV for 2 hours, especially since the bridge to my mom's house was closed and I had to take the back roads of Appalachia to get there.
I finally got to Mom's and she helped me bake and crumb coat the last two layers that night and decorate all five the next day. I didn't put the roses on the cake or even stack it right away because I had to take those same back roads to the reception hall. (Those roads are REALLY fun when you aren't holding your breath because someone's wedding cake is in the back and your REALLY don't want it to fall apart.) With 5 layers of wedding cake, a box of buttercream roses and an emergency cake repair and finishing kit, at 25mph, we finally made it to the hall and got it all together - just in time to take those same roads home at 65mph so we could get ready and make it to the wedding.
I have to say, I love how it turned out!
I apologize for the quality of the photo; fortunately, I have a much better phone now.
I was really proud of this cake! And I'm very grateful to K for giving me the kick in the butt to find a hobby that I love that also allows me to contribute to special occasions for my friends and family.
Happy Anniversary P&K!!!
My sister's best friend was planning her wedding for March 10, 2012 and asked my mom to bake her wedding cake. (I told you in the beginning that my mom was good!) Mom had done my sister's cake a couple years before - it was gorgeous - and K really liked the simplicity of the design and, of course, the taste.
 | |
| My big sister's wedding cake! |
Simple, elegant, perfect. White cake, strawberry filling, buttercream frosting, yum.
Anyway, wedding cakes stress Mom out. Big time. So K asked if I would make hers since I helped Mom with my sister's. I thought it sounded like fun, so I said YES! Panicked for a second and then signed up for the Wilton Method Courses. (Can you tell how much value I put on these classes yet?)
After 4 courses and a lot of practice - including a New Year's wedding cake for my lovely cousin (again, another post waiting to happen) - I was ready to go! I baked and crumb coated three of the five layers at my house in Ohio, took a day and a half vacation, packed up all of my gear and headed to my mom's in Pennsylvania. OK - so I packed up most of what I needed, but I realized I had forgotten the royal blue buttercream roses about a half hour down the road and had to turn around and go back.
I didn't want to complete the cake at home and drive with the final product in the back of my SUV for 2 hours, especially since the bridge to my mom's house was closed and I had to take the back roads of Appalachia to get there.
I finally got to Mom's and she helped me bake and crumb coat the last two layers that night and decorate all five the next day. I didn't put the roses on the cake or even stack it right away because I had to take those same back roads to the reception hall. (Those roads are REALLY fun when you aren't holding your breath because someone's wedding cake is in the back and your REALLY don't want it to fall apart.) With 5 layers of wedding cake, a box of buttercream roses and an emergency cake repair and finishing kit, at 25mph, we finally made it to the hall and got it all together - just in time to take those same roads home at 65mph so we could get ready and make it to the wedding.
I have to say, I love how it turned out!
 | |
| P&K's Wedding Cake |
I apologize for the quality of the photo; fortunately, I have a much better phone now.
I was really proud of this cake! And I'm very grateful to K for giving me the kick in the butt to find a hobby that I love that also allows me to contribute to special occasions for my friends and family.
Happy Anniversary P&K!!!
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