Little Bird Handmade, Consignment and More
This is what has been making me happy and taking up most of my time lately. It’s been amazing to see a concept go from an idea in the heads of me, my mom and my sister to an actual open store with real customers. It’s been challenging, rewarding, beautiful, fulfilling and exhausting all at the same time. But in the end, I think it’s come out better than what I could have ever imagined. Now to just keep it going for another few decades.
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Sarah Beth Boldman
My beautiful niece Sarah Beth Boldman was born July 29th at 11:30 p.m. She was 7 pounds and 19.7 inches long.
Sarah Beth will be the 5th niece/nephew that has become a part of my immediate family. Her birth has been very emotional for me, not only because of the five years it took for my sister-in-law to get pregnant but also because I’m about at the age where I am ready to have a kiddo of my own. Seeing how happy my brother and sister-in-law are makes me think that I can’t wait to have the same experience with my husband. Just contemplating Gary being a father, the father that he never had, turns my heart to mush. We are in a really amazing, happy, secure place right now and we’re more ready for a baby than ever. But there are still some financial goals we want to accomplish first, like having a sizable nest egg and buying a house. So until we get to that place, I’ll have Sarah Beth and my niece Sofia, who will be born on August 11th (scheduled c-section), to hold off the baby itch. And that brings me unimaginable joy.
Do You Play The Game?
This post from Donald Miller’s blog hit me hard today. Particularly this part:
When I lose my temper, it’s usually because I don’t want to get taken advantage of, I don’t want to be disrespected. I’ve stepped into a game in which people are keeping score, and I’m determined not to lose. But the truth is, there is no game, it’s just a hoax, and the only way to show others there is no game is to lose and show how much it didn’t matter.
It’s easy to look at life as a game that you’re either winning or losing, that you have to get the upper hand and that you have to be right. A lot of times, I think that I must get my point across and stand up for what’s right because I don’t want other people to think their inaccurate information or bad behavior is okay. But in the long run, who is really going to care if you’ve got more check marks in the “right” category? The game is only there if you play it and no matter how frustrating it may be, it’s your choice to walk away. Happiness is understanding that you don’t always have to win.
Cool Dog
My husband sent me a link to the internet sensation known as Cool Dog last week and I just can’t stop looking at his nonchalant arm position and head tilt. I am so obsessed that the picture below is now the desktop wallpaper on my laptop at work. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have. I aspire to one day be as cool as Cool Dog.
Picture via KnowYourMeme.com
Grandpa
My dad’s dad passed away last night from colon cancer. He was a funny, intelligent, caring man and a wonderful role model. We’ll miss you Grandpa.
The Giving Pledge
TheGivingPledge.org is a site created by Warren Buffett explaining his commitment to give away 99% of his fortune to philanthropy and a call for other wealthy people to do the same. This is an excerpt from the about section:
Some material things make my life more enjoyable; many, however, would not. I like having an expensive private plane, but owning a half-dozen homes would be a burden. Too often, a vast collection of possessions ends up possessing its owner. The asset I most value, aside from health, is interesting, diverse, and long-standing friends.
My wealth has come from a combination of living in America, some lucky genes, and compound interest. Both my children and I won what I call the ovarian lottery. (For starters, the odds against my 1930 birth taking place in the U.S. were at least 30 to 1. My being male and white also removed huge obstacles that a majority of Americans then faced.)
My luck was accentuated by my living in a market system that sometimes produces distorted results, though overall it serves our country well. I’ve worked in an economy that rewards someone who saves the lives of others on a battlefield with a medal, rewards a great teacher with thank-you notes from parents, but rewards those who can detect the mispricing of securities with sums reaching into the billions. In short, fate’s distribution of long straws is wildly capricious.
The reaction of my family and me to our extraordinary good fortune is not guilt, but rather gratitude. Were we to use more than 1% of my claim checks on ourselves, neither our happiness nor our well-being would be enhanced. In contrast, that remaining 99% can have a huge effect on the health and welfare of others. That reality sets an obvious course for me and my family: Keep all we can conceivably need and distribute the rest to society, for its needs. My pledge starts us down that course.
It fills my heart with joy to know that there are people in the world, especially one of Mr. Buffett’s stature, who see past the facade of wealth and realize that there are much more gratifying things in life. I also agree with his statements about how much of his good fortune was gained by sheer luck of genetics and geography and that it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense that he is rich while soldiers and teachers are rewarded modestly. Hopefully, The Giving Pledge will start a positive trend of America’s collective focus shifting from the value in someone’s bank account to the value of their heart, mind and hands.
Happy Friday from Akira
My papillon Akira hopes you have a weekend full of belly scratches and squirrels to chase.
Cupcake Happiness
I’ve been in love with cupcakes lately. They are fun, friendly and personal because each individual cake is made just for the person who is about to devour it.
When we went to visit baby Kingston I wanted to bring a strawberry dessert since I know the Kennedys love the delicious fruit. I settled on a Giada De Laurentiis recipe for Strawberry and Mascarpone Filled Cupcakes. Even though it’s a pretty simple recipe, the addition of mascarpone cheese really elevates the cupcakes to something unique and special. I always love icing that hardens a bit to add a little crunchy texture as this cake’s did. Together with the tangy berries, the moist cake and creamy cheese it made for the perfect summer treat.
Strawberry and Mascarpone Filled Cupcakes - Picture via FoodNetwork.com
The second cupcake I’ve made in the last month or so was for our Father’s Day lunch. I am obsessed with anything that involves marshmallows so I decided to makes s’mores cupcakes. After doing some research online, I quickly figured out that there are a thousand and one recipes for s’mores cupcakes and none exactly the same. I decided, as I often do, to go to the old standby of the kitchen, Martha Stewart’s website. The recipe on her site is actually credited to Jennifer Shea of Trophy Cupcakes (which I would die to visit one day). I did vary the recipe a bit by using marshmallow fluff instead of making the marshmallow frosting because I wanted that super sticky, gooeyness of the fluff that is so familiar. This recipe has you creating a mini graham cracker crust on the bottom then layering bits of chocolate, chocolate cake, then more chocolate bits and graham cracker crumbs. The cake is topped off with the fluff (or frosting) and then browned on top to give it that campfire look. Although it was a very tasty cupcake that everyone (including me) seemed to love, all the components didn’t remind me exactly of a real s’more. Next time I would probably use more chocolate pieces to give the cupcakes that super-melty chocolateyness that a s’more gives you.
S'mores Cupcake (sadly, the only one of the three cupcakes I remembered to capture on film)
The last batch of cupcakes I made were some classic red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting for my friend Alison’s birthday. I again did a modified Martha Stewart recipe that you can find here. I think red velvet is really difficult because the flavor isn’t easy to describe and it really lives or dies on the quality of the frosting. I personally LOVE super-cream-cheesey frosting and think most canned varieties barely taste of it. To ensure that the cream cheese flavor really stood out, I added about 1/2 cup less of confectioners sugar then what the recipe called for. I also heaped the smooth, rich frosting on each cake to ensure that every bite would have more than enough. If left at room temperature, I think the leftover frosting would make quite a nice dip for fruit as well. These babies seemed to be a crowd-pleaser, but then again, who doesn’t love red velvet cake?
Red Velvet Cupcakes - Picture via MarthaStewart.com
I’m sure as the summer progresses there will be more sweet treats to be shared at any number of barbecues and pool parties. I can’t wait to try out some new recipes with the people I love most.
Update: I may have just found my next project. Lemon-Limoncello Cupcakes {knees weak}.
Lemon-Limoncello Cupcakes - Picture via BrownEyedBaker.com
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
This past Sunday, my husband and I got the opportunity to go to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter with some of our friends.
Entering Hogsmeade
We first went to Zonko’s Joke Shop and Honeydukes Sweet Shop and then bought a mug of butterbeer.
Zonko's Joke Shop
Honeydukes Sweet Shop
A Chocolate Frog From Honeydukes
Matt and Gary Drinking Butterbeer
We checked out Hogsmeade Station and then some of us rode the Dragon Challenge roller coaster (not me). We all congregated back together to go on the Forbidden Journey ride that is within Hogwart’s Castle. Within the Castle, they replicated parts of the school down to every detail, from Dumbledore’s office to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom with very life-like videos of the characters from the movie. I can’t describe too much of the ride itself since my eyes were closed almost the whole time but it’s a simulation ride in cars that get thrust up, down, back and forth. I got off of The Forbidden Journey a little dizzy but exhilarated.
Hogsmeade Station
Hogwart's Castle
Next up was lunch at Three Broomsticks where we feasted on fish and chips, turkey legs, ribs and pear cider. The menu also had things like pasties with ground beef, shepherd’s pie, roast chicken and pumpkin juice. Next up was Ollivander’s Wand Shop which I found especially magical. Ollivandar chose a kid from the front of the group to fit for a wand. After things go awry with the first two wands, the third one is deemed to be just right as lights beam down and music starts to play. We then get moved into the wand shop where you can actually purchase your own wand and to The Owl Post where you can get anything for your stationery needs. I purchased only a few postcards that were stamped with the Hogsmeade postmark. After one final stop to Honeyduke’s we left the magical world to the other Islands in the Islands of Adventure theme park.
Three Broomsticks
Sign at Three Broomsticks
Alison Eating a Turkey Leg
Ollivander's Wand Shop
Ollivandar Picking a Wand
Floor to Ceiling Wands at Ollivander's
The Owl Post
The park did leave me wanting more, like an entire Harry Potter-only theme park, but it was truly inspired and magical. I think going back in the winter would be even more fun since it’s supposed to be wintertime there anyway (and the snow on the roofs are the closest thing to snow we get in FL). I’m sure I’ll be drinking out of my butterbeer mug daily, dreaming of my next visit to the land of Harry Potter.
Me Drinking Butterbeer
Bonus pic! Our friends Kaci and Daniel also came although we didn’t get any pictures with them. Here is their little one Elijah all tuckered out from the day. Awwww!
Elijah Napping
