weekend recap...snowed in - AGAIN!

i tried to commit suicide Thursday night & actually braved Walmart the day before a storm!

it was quite entertaining...the place was packed & people were ready to throw blows over the last package of chicken wings! cause not only were they stocking up for the blizzard...but they were preparing for the Superbowl too! i took my time, didn't get stressed - actually tried to enjoy the chaos of it all...hey, it isn't often that i get to go to the grocery store by myself - i wasn't gonna let the crazies with 5 gallons of milk & 7 loaves of bread in their cart scare me away!

it was just my normal day to get groceries...& i wasn't stocking up for Armageddon - i just wanted to make sure i could feed 3 growing kiddos for the weekend! & i succeeded - got almost everything on my list (apparently, making homemade pizza is the thing to do when snowed in - all the pizza sauce was gone...but that's ok - we made our own)...it only took me about an hour...AND i made it out alive! ;0)

Thursday night, we also celebrated Curt's birthday...he started delivering pizza again part-time last week, so he was busy working the eve of his actual birthday...Thursday, he got home just before i put the kiddos to bed - so we got to give him his brownie/chocolate chip cookie tower & sing...

& well, what would a weekend round here be without some snow?!

it sure would be nice...that's what it would be!!!

but no such luck...

Friday, my job ended up closing not too long after i posted that blog post...around 9:30am, they sent out the email, telling us to go home (the handful that was here & not already working from home anyway)...& i did dammit! they didn't have to tell me twice!!!

remember, i'd told Curt to go ahead sledding with the kiddos...that i'd catch up later...well, he couldn't resist rubbing it in...i got this pic via text, right before leaving work...

we all met at home & got settled in for the storm...thanks to my suicide mission at Walmart, we had plenty of supplies & were ready for the white stuff!

we got a lot done while being snowed in...some cleaning, lots of cooking & baking, some reading & working on school projects, some movie watching, hot chocolate drinking...the girls even got busy working on their Valentines! (now let's see if they ever make it back to school to hand em out!)

by Friday night, we had a really good covering of snow...& the wind was brutal! our electricity flickered off & on once - but we never lost power...some others in the area weren't so lucky - i know some folks who went 12+ hours without!

Curt did deliver pizza Friday eve...then about 7pm, the place closed - saying it was unlikely they'd reopen on Saturday (& they didn't)...even tho he has 4-wheel drive & is a pro at driving in the snow - i was happy my man was safe at home with us!

i was supposed to work on a cake order Friday night...a really fun Rainbow Brite one too! but this was the very 1st order i've had that had to cancel for snow so far this year! i've been surprised at the many customers that have gone ahead with their parties, regardless of the weather...but this lady knew there was no way guests would be making it to her house on Saturday

& sure enough...Saturday morning, we woke to about a foot or so...& it continued to snow all. day. long. - the sun never even popped out once to say hello!

Curtis started the shoveling...knowing it would only be more difficult the longer he waited...
(& yet again, i'm ever so thankful for my strong, hard working husband! my hands haven't touched a shovel once this winter!)

the kiddos watched patiently from inside their warm rooms...they made bets as to how high the snow would get...Corinn guessed it would be up to her neck - & she wasn't too far off! ~lol~

the next morning...the sun was out as bright as ever!

we couldn't wait to get outside & brush some of that cabin fever off of us!

i'm still not sure what our final total was...i'm hearing any where from 18" to 24"? the drifts were insane! making it difficult to tell what was actual accumulation...plus remember, we already had a good bit on the ground from last week - leftovers

my brother came by yesterday morning to begin plowing out the parking lot to his shop...

he helped Curt with clearing away what the VDOT plows had thrown back up against our drive...

& in the process, he created a fun little playground for the kiddos...

they couldn't wait to climb the snow banks! they tried to sled down em, threw snowballs at each other from the top, even started racing each other to see who could climb up em the fastest!

i was actually surprised at how long they stayed outside this time...i thought for sure they'd be back inside after about 5 minutes of trying to traipse thru that stuff!

but they figured out the secret...crawling!

they discovered that it was a lot easier to crawl on top of the snow, than try to walk thru it! ~lol~

after about an hour, they came inside - almost in tears...they'd been having so much fun that they had ignored the fact that they had snow down inside their boots & down their pants...that their gloves were dripping wet & snow was up their sleeves...they ignored it until they just couldn't ignore it any more & their fingers & toes ached!
(ahhh, i remember those days)

we got em out of their wet clothes, bundled up under their covers in some warm PJ's & i served em hot chocolate (with tons of marshmallows!) in bed

now that's the life!
;0)

last evening was a big bummer...we'd had plans to go over to a friend's house for their Superbowl party - even had a sitter lined up for the kiddos! but since Curtis just started back delivering pizza last week, of course they had him on the schedule to work Superbowl Sunday! & he did well in tips - so, i suppose it was worth it...but he was bummed that he missed the game...& i was bummed that i missed the commercials & alcoholic beverages ~lol~ (we only get channel NBC which was airing Biggest Loser reruns - boooo!) oh well, i guess there's next year!

how was ur weekend?
was it warm?
wanna house guest for the next month or so?

cause guess what...

we're supposed to get more snow tomorrow...
yep, another 5 inches or more!

& then again next week!


please make it stop!!!

hunkerin' down...

when we woke up this morning, the skies were clear & not a flake had fallen...but by the time i went outside to head to work, we already had a dusting...

of course when i pulled up to the office, there wasn't a car in sight (yes, i was the VERY first one here!!!)...but after about a half hour or so, people started showing up - including my boss! ;0) i think i'll stick around til lunch - then call it a day (remember, i have 4-wheel drive...& i promise i'll stay safe!)

the white stuff is coming down hard now & it's only a matter of time for the real fun gets here...it started right at day break, just as predicted...so i'm thinking they might be right about this one...they're saying any where from 12-24 inches now - with winds up to 50 mph...

it's gonna be a BLIZZARD BABY!!!

Curt & the kiddos are dressed & ready to go sledding right now...i almost begged em to wait for me...but then didn't...i told em to go ahead - i'm sure we'll have plenty more chances for sledding this weekend (really wishing i was there to snap pics of their fun tho!)

we're actually hoping HR will make the call soon...they rarely close the office, but i have seen it happen before...& with this forecast? there shouldn't be a question really!

so anyway, enjoy the weekend wherever u are!
& if u're local...go get cozy with the family...or go out & play!

i know i'm getting ready to make some memories!
;0)

Valentine's Day cake truffles...pre-order yours now!!!

got a special someone in your life?

want to get them more than just the same old tired chocolates & flowers for Valentine's Day this year?

how about some homemade gourmet cake truffles?!

previously sold at Sweet Escape in Broadway...loved & adored by many of my customers...these special treats are super moist & flavorful - decadent & delicious!

i promise u'll gain major points with ur Valentine if you show up with these!
;0)

starting now (thru Feb. 11th)...you can pre-order a box of cake truffles for your special Valentine...they will be ready for you on Friday, Feb. 12th or Saturday, Feb. 13th (you decide)...just in time for you to put a smile on that special person's face when Valentine's Day arrives!

these cake truffles will be available in 3 different variations...

i have a limited supply of these adorable little heart shaped boxes...they're a sturdy cardboard/hard shell box...each box will contain 6 truffles (in assorted flavors) for $10.00

the other 2 sizes come in these cute Valentine cardboard boxes (with window display)...you can chose to order a single layer of 9 truffles for $10.00...or a double-decker box containing 18 truffles for $17.00

i will be making my most popular truffle flavors for these Valentine boxes...each will contain an assortment of these flavors:

death by chocolate
peanut butter
strawberry
almond
confetti with heart sprinkles
spice drizzled with caramel

please email me at:
sharoncakes (at) gmail (dot) com
to place your order today!!!

*unfortunately, i'm not offering shipping on these for this year...this offer is just for the local folks...if i find that i get a lot of interest this year, i'll consider opening up the shipping option next Valentine's Day...thx for understanding!

snow watch...

for those interested...

we got about 3 inches last night...schools were closed AGAIN! the daycare opened late, but at least it opened...the roads were actually pretty clear & i made it to work just fine

the forecast is now saying we are at a winter storm watch...beginning at day break on Friday & continuing thru Saturday evening...accumulations any where from 12 to 20 inches?!

ugh.


even tho i'm sooooo over the snow & i'm praying spring gets here any day now...i'm trying to slow down & appreciate this...snow storms may actually be one of God's ways to put the brakes on - to make us slow down & enjoy that special at home time with our families

i don't know about u, but on snow days...we do lots of cuddling up & watching movies together, we cook & bake together, we go out & play, get out board games, make crafts, etc...anything to keep from getting cabin fever!

but really...how much of that stuff would we have done if we weren't snowed in?

so thank u God...thank u for the blessing of this beautiful snow...thank u for the opportunity to slow down & enjoy my family before the madness of spring & summer arrive...thank u for slowing things down & giving us the perfect opportunity to make memories!

♥

happy birthday Curtis!!!

today, my husband turns 39!
♥

i know, right?!
u'd never guess it looking at him...he's got the smokin' hot body of a 25 year old!
;0)

he's my roll dog...my partner in crime...
my forever friend...my rock!

i love u baby...happy birthday!
♥

weekend recap...

hey ya'll!
did u have a great weekend?

ours was ok...first, the good news...

the sickies never came back!!!
yay!

on Friday, i told ya about how a random fever was making its rounds in our house...well, thankfully it stopped with Jaden - that day at home with dad fixed him right up! Gabby never had the fever come back & Corinn steered clear of it all together! now, that's what i'm talking about!!!

the bad news?

we got some more damn snow!!!
grrrrrrrrrrr...

we woke up to a good 3 or 4 inches on Saturday...& it continued to snow off & on all day, leaving us with about 5 or 6 inches (just a guess - i didn't measure this time) by Sunday...

the girls were majorly disappointed...they had a birthday party to attend on Saturday, but it was postponed & they had to wait another whole day! ;0) i think they must have been on strike against the snow since it postponed their fun - cause they weren't really interested in trekking out to play this time around...they preferred their warm (& messy) room - playing Barbies & house...watching movies & doing more handstands...

Jaden couldn't wait to get out & play tho! Curtis took him out on Sunday...their main goal was to roll up another "giant snowball"...but this stuff was too light & fluffy...instead, they made their way to the far end of our yard where there's a small hill & did a little sledding...i stayed warm inside with the girls & attempted to snap pics from the front door...i wasn't very successful, but i did catch a glimpse of my boy thru the trees...

& this one right before he came inside...he's so darn handsome! ;0)

the girls pestered me the entire weekend..."how many more hours until Riley's party?"..."is it time to get ready to go to Riley's party yet?"...i'm telling ya, it was the event of the year!!!

but i don't blame em for being excited...it was quite the event!

i'd never heard of You're a Star before (can't find a link)...it's in the local mall & they host themed birthday parties...Riley's party theme was a "Rock Diva Party"...the girls got to dress up & have their hair, make-up & nails done...

they picked the color & flavor to make some lip gloss to take home...

they sang karaoke & just had a freaking ball!!!

the place even provides cupcakes & ice cream...

the girls each left with a fabulous goody bad (filled with more make-up) & a picture of themselves from the party, with all their friends...it was awesome!

it sounds like the parties are pretty pricey, but if u can afford it, it was such an easy thing for Riley's parents to do...they just showed up & pretty much snapped pics the whole time...the ladies at You're a Star took care of everything!

i ran on very little sleep this weekend...those 3 cakes had me putting in the 2nd shift both Friday & Saturday night...so by the time they were all delivered on Sunday, i was ready to crash! i was thankful for my 4-wheel drive on both days - we're finding out it does GREAT in the snow! Curt would drive & i would hold the cakes on my lap...we're a good team ;0)

school was canceled both yesterday & today...we have a winter weather advisory in effect right this moment (until 4am tomorrow), predicting 2-4 inches (it's putting down a light snow right now)...then i don't even want to talk about what's supposed to happen starting Friday! they're saying that if it moves just right, we may have non-stop snow for 4 days - worse than the blizzard of '93!!! ugh.

f'ing groundhog!!!

weekend cakes...

i had 3 cake orders this weekend...the 1st 2 were for a joint surprise birthday party...a long time customer (her wedding cake featured here) was throwing a party for her mom who was turning 50, & her hubby who was turning 30...she had specific ideas in mind for their cakes - even drew sketches for me so i knew exactly what she wanted...

her mom & step-dad own 2 horses & 2 dogs that they adore...so she wanted them included on the cake too...i loved her idea of her mom "enjoying the view from the top" of the hill - instead of being over it ;0)

it was white cake, iced in butter cream...the barn is cake too, decorated in fondant...i modeled the animals & people from fondant...the trees are inverted sugar cones, decorated with butter cream...the little sign says "DAWN LANE" - they really have that sign at the end of their drive...those are also the names of their horses

her hubby is a huge soccer fan & player...his number & name were included on his jersey cake

i totally forgot to get pics of the sleeve patches that i hand painted (1 was the England's team logo & the other was of the Israel & USA flags) or the back of the little guys' jersey (it had the #4 & "Farve" on the back in purple - for his other fav sport/player)

the cake was fudge chip, iced in butter cream...i modeled the guy, his dog (named Beckham...get it?) & balls from fondant

here's a pic from the party...looks like they enjoyed their cakes!

my 3rd order was for this monkey cake...it traveled all the way to Waynesboro!

this 1 was also for a repeat customer...but my first for his youngest son, Branson - it was his 1st birthday!

his party was a monkey theme & the cake they had in mind was a jungle cake, with silly monkeys all over it...

the bottom tier of this cake was strawberry...the top was marble...

all iced in butter cream...& decorated with fondant palm trees, leaves, monkeys & bananas...

i even included a cute little monkey hiding out on the back ;0)

but the best part of this order?
was the matching "smash cake" for Branson to tear in to...a tiny little banana cake!
(my new fav!)

it was yellow cake (duh), decorated in butter cream

thx for looking!
♥,
sharon