Poke Cake Recipe

Here is a recipe--well, really, it's just a how-to--for poke cake.

Ingredients:

1 box Strawberry flavored cake mix

*3 eggs

*1 c water

*1/3 cup oil

1 box lime jello

3 tbsp salted butter

2 tbsp strawberry preserves

1/4 cup sugar

*Ingredients called for by cake mix box--depending on your brand, this might be different.

1.) Bake cake according to directions. Set aside to cool.
2.) Once the cake is cool, poke many holes into it using fork, knife, fingers--whatever. (Don't destroy the cake, though. Be gentle!)

3.) Prepare jello according to directions. Pour evenly over cake while it is still in the pan. Chill until set.

4.) After chilled, place cake pan in a bowl of warm water to loosen cake. Turn out.

5.) In a small saucepan, combine butter, preserves and sugar over medium-low heat. Mix until thickened. (Should happen fast.) Drizzle carefully over the cake.

That's it! Easy peezy!

One helluva night...

Last night, while watching one of my favorite shows ("Breaking Bad"), my husband and I heard a loud crash. (Loud is an understatement--it sounded like an airplane crashed into our yard.) We run outside and once we see what happened, I run back inside to call 911, and he goes to help. There was a car accident right outside our house. A pick-up truck was leaving our subdivision and, apparently, didn't stop before pulling on to a main street. It was struck by a BMW. The red truck FLIPPED and landed on it's back. The driver was able to remove himself from the overturned vehicle, but suffered from a compound fracture in his leg. What a fiasco! I was so scared for the people involved in the crash it took three tries to correctly dial three numbers. (Incidentally, my husband were not alone in trying to help. Several other people were around, calling 911 and checking to see if everyone was okay.) There were only two drivers involved, and, luckily, no serious injuries. (Besides the broken leg, that is!)

The car accident really puts things into perspective, though.

The Double Standard

I must have missed the fine print in the Constitution that says freedom to assemble and freedom of speech are only granted to some. Was there an asterisk somewhere? A side note?

The tea parties of last week were ignored or criticized--no, villainized. (What the hell was up with Jeanine Garofalo? Does she hear the crazy coming out of her own mouth?) Miss California, when asked a difficult question, gives an honest answer, and gets publicly bashed for her beliefs. (Very classy, Perez. Using slander to garner support for gay marriage? Well played.) If you disagree with the tea parties, or Miss California, more power to you! Disagree, but don't stifle those that don't share your beliefs. What I have seen on the news is not a difference of opinion, but personal attacks against those with a more conservative ideology.

On a related note, you can expect me to be at the next Tea Party.

Fernback Forest

Yesterday I took a trip to the Fernbank Forest for my Environmental Science class. Here are a some pictures!

The Fernbank Forest used be privately owned land. When the owners died, they left the land, and the mansion on it, to Dekalb County, which turned it into a natural museum. The forest contains many trees and plants which have grown, undisturbed for the last century and a half!

Below is the mansion built by the previous owners. It is currently being renovated.

Here is a close up of the artwork on the front of the house. (They're birds.)

There were a lot of plants that are exotic. The problem with exotic plants, like the Japanese Honeysuckle, Kudzu, and English Ivy is there is nothing to prevent them from getting out of control. The same goes for animals introduced to a foreign ecosystem. It takes away from indigenous species.

Below is a small lake.

Another angle of the pond. If you look, you can see stairs carved out of the rock.

I wish I took more pictures, but the tour was lead by my professor, and I had to pay attention for class!

Still here?

Not really. I haven't been here. Nothing to blog about! I'm in school, and have zero time for anything other than homework and cleaning....alright, just the homework, I guess. There is good news, though.....

SCHOOLS OUT IN JUST THREE WEEKS!!!!!

I already have plans a-brewing in my brain for new quilts and art and whatever creative thing I haven't been able to do in the last few months! I'm going to bake, and decorate! Knit and crochet! Revisit all those lovely, lovely domestic arts I have neglected in the pursuit of an education. Summer break, I can not wait!

Schools out for evah

No, not really.

I'm all done with this semester--phew!--and am all set for next! Unfortunately, the boys have been sick sick sick, and I have a lot to sanitize.

I have done some knitting, and have started a crochet project I really think is cool. (It's filet!) I haven't taken photos yet, but will soon!

Really, I'm dropping a line to say I'm on face book. Wanna be my friend? (I reserve the right to deny you on the basis of looks, religion, politics, personality, and taste in music, tv, movies, or jokes.) I'm Christina Donaghy, if you are interested!

I know I haven't been around. Things have been...crazy.

Last week--for the WHOLE week--I dealt with a stomach bug that hit my oldest. It pretty much stayed with him the whole week. Next, my five year old got sick....the day we were supposed to leave to visit family. That same day, the youngest got sick. I spent the entire week up to my elbows in ick. I've done so much laundry--the piles of waiting-to-be-folded clothes teeter in their baskets, threatening to topple.

Last week's time was important to me. I needed that time to work on two research papers. The first paper is due tomorrow. I've been working my behind off the last two days trying to catch up on the valuable time I've missed.

On the bright side, school is almost over for this semester. This weekend I'm going away for Thanksgiving. One whole week in which I am not responsible for cleaning house or cooking! (I'll help my in-laws, of course!) I can sleep in, pig out, catch up on my knitting! I CAN'T WAIT! I just need to get through this week.

I have one other little thing to report. I've finally gotten my hands on a WiiFit! I loooovee it! I haven't had much time to play with it, but I like it so far!

So, that's all for now. I'll probably be MIA for the next two weeks, but I'll post pictures after returning from New York! I always get such good photos!

Progress-11/05

Well...

Knitting--no pics to show, but I've made very little (but some!) progress on Sean's hat. The sense of urgency is gone because the last few days have been warm. I'm slowly working on it, though.

Fitness--had some progress last week. Sean was invited to a birthday party on Sunday, so I did plenty of running around then. (The party was at the playground.) And we mustn't forget Friday. Walking was involved then.

BUT...

Diet--bad, bad, bad. Not good. Bad. Let me just say, I think my Reese's peanut butter cups have been laced with a highly addictive drug--or maybe it's just the combination of chocolate and peanut butter that keeps me feverishly unwrapping those little orange packages. I am not kidding when I say I have eaten an entire bag by-my-self. I'm disgusted with me. The Shame! And to think, the holidays are coming up. Chocolaty temptation around every corner. Ugh.

Crafts--nothing. Nada. No progress. I did by a copy of Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion yesterday, and enviously, grudgingly, admired other artist's work. What made me want to go back to college? I wish I had those hours back to "create." I wouldn't be happy, though. I'd want to be in school. That's how it works; you always want what you do not have.

School--I'm doing pretty good here. I'm getting my assignment done on time. I need to start my two major papers though. OH! I "observed" in a third grade class today! It was fun! Coincidence--or maybe something more--put me in a language arts class! (English was my previous major.)

That's all for now. The boys are going to be home soon, and Maggie's a snoozing.

Belated Halloween Witches--er, Wishes

Pretend it's Halloween and I'm on the ball, posting my pictures as I take them...

Aaron was Spiderman.

Spiderman, ever vigilant, searches for the crazed zombie maniac...

(Sean was the crazed zombie maniac.)

Sometimes Spiderman likes to hang with the bad guy.

Phew, it's nice to just "be myself" every now and then!

So, there it is! Your belated Halloween fun! More posting later!

Wednesday Progress

Last Wednesday I shared my progress on several "projects," some crafty, some not. Today, I have more progress to report!

First of all, I want to say that Maggie had a great first birthday. Here we are before she tore into the cake.

This is her after the cake...

She had fun, to say the least!


On to progress!


Okay, I moved backward on Aaron's scarf, froggin' the whole damn thing. I redeemed myself, though, finishing it...in a different style. I ended up crocheting it. It went a whole lot faster, giving me the extra time to work on his hat!

As you can see, I'm not totally finished. I still have to weave in ends and start on mittens BUT before I do that, I'm starting on Sean's hat. This is what it looks like now:

I'm doing his hat first, scarf, second, and then mittens. I'm on a time line here. The weather is already horribly cold (for October, at least), and, again, Autumn catches me off guard. Every year I vow to knit up the winter stuff before winter and end up squeaking the stuff out--if I'm lucky--by mid-January. Not this year! My kids will not be cold...or wear mismatched hats and scarves (which is usually what happens.)

Crafty progress? There is some. Not much, but some. No picture, though. (Sorry!)

Healthy progress: I'm still eating better. Not great, but better. I made an awesome batch of Iced Pumpkin Cookies on Sunday. (I like to bake on Sunday, for some reason.) They were too good (not bragging), which led me to eat many of them. But, they were made with pumpkin, so I'm sure they were vitamin packed! ;-)

Weight, about the same.

Fitness? I've actually been working out. A little. I've been sneaking yoga in when the beast is a sleep. (Maggie is very clingy, lately.)

Homework? I took two tests. I scored a 94.5% on my math test, and I don't have my grade for government yet. Started planning out my two papers due next month.

That's it for now. Maggie is having a meltdown about something. (She really just wants to be held.)

Happy, happy birthday baby!

Magnadoodle turns ONE today!!!

One year ago this child cause me great and immeasurable pain! Now look at her!

Where does the time go?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BABY!!!

Is that a banana in your pocket?

Why yes! Yes, it is!

Chiquita, you minx!

(Back to homework....)

Progress

This post is all about progress. Progress is defined as "a movement toward a goal or a higher stage." Everyone is progressing in some way, whether it be progressing towards a financial goal, completing an education course, or working on a quilt. I started thinking about progress this morning when I looked at a scarf I'm working on. I wanted to post on my progress with that project. As I thought about it, though, I have many things I'm slowly chipping away at, like that scarf. One row at a time, one assignment at a time, one meal at a time. The great thing about progress is, every little bit counts. Even if I only knitted two stitches, that's two stitches towards my goal. That's progress! If we look at it this way, every little inch, every little step, is a cause for celebration! So, let's talk about my progress.

The scarf--It's turning out well! I'm a little worried I won't have enough yarn. Good news is, though, it's not expensive and it's still in stock. I pulled the matching hat I made last year (by the way, this is a replacement scarf), and it was filled with holes...this is, of course, after I foolishly tossed it in the wash on a regular setting. (Shame on me!!) Oh, well. I'm already working on a replacement scarf, why not a hat, too?
Progress at school...it's progressing! :) Actually, I'm doing fairly well even though I feel so overwhelmed at times I just want to quit! (Don't worry. No one will let me.) I'm halfway through the semester, I have the majority of my field observation hours taken care of, and math--which I thought was going to suck--er, be difficult--is actually my favorite class! I've also planned out my courses for next semester. I'm going to take another education course, environmental science, statistics, and either World or British Literature. (Any suggests on which?)

Elsewhere and my universe, general craftiness is at a stand-still. I'm hoping this changes! I have ideas, and I am SO inspired by all the blogs I frequent (everyone is being crafty but me.) I just need to find the time. (So this would be a zero progress on the craft-front.)

Budgeting...no progress. I don't even want to think about it. It's expensive to run a family of five.

Lastly, weight loss/health-gain progress. Again, a stand still. I had actually lost about three pounds, but gained it back. I feel like crap (arthritis) and my big plans of joining a gym and becoming a fitness nut fizzled out. Can't afford a gym membership and when would I find time? I'm already spread thin. BUT something I can and should do is yoga at home. Strength training with that Bowflex my husband bought a few months back and has only been used a total of six times...between the both of us. And walking!!! Didn't I promise myself I'd start doing that as soon as the boys went back to school? I haven't gone for a single walk since they started--back in AUGUST.

Fitness aside, the bigger problem lies in the CRAP I've been eating the last few weeks. My husband (who I love) is the biggest wrench in my plans! I don't want to blame him totally, because he isn't holding me down and forcing me to drink copious amounts of Coke, but he wants soda, he wants chips, he wants ice cream. How am I supposed to abstain when I'm serving it to him? One good thing I've been doing, though, is baking my own treats. Not only does it take more effort than opening a box, but I KNOW what is going in my cookies, and what is NOT, like high-fructose corn syrup and trans fat. I think I eff this up, though, by eating large amounts of the final product.

So. This is the plan. I want PROGRESS in this aspect of my life. This is me now.

I will be straight with you. I took this picture this morning. I picked the skinniest looking picture out of the twenty I took. Now for the full disclosure. I am 5'5 and, according to my scale which may or may not be accurate, am 172 lbs. The goal I'm setting is 145 by this time next year. Each week, I hope to whittle away at that number, and I'll post how I'm doing. Any progress is good progress.

A Ham, a Crasher, and SOME KNITTING!

The ham...

The Picture Crasher...

and

SOME KNITTING!

(It's a future scarf...)

More Halloween fun

My son has the spirit! Here is something he made in school. Blows my stuff away!

It's a hat!!

What a "pretty" face! Now I know what he'd look like as a girl...

(Excuse the dirty face. They apparently don't believe in soap at school.)

Halloween Fun

Halloween makes me think of strolls through foggy woods. The naked trees creak as they sway in the breeze, and the only sounds of life are the occasional caw of a distant black bird...

I also think of skulls and skeletons. I like comical skeletons, like those in "Army of Darkness."

And zombies...oh, wait! Zombies are year 'round fun. (At least, for me they are!)

After the trick-or-treating is done, what's better than curling up with your own monster?

*All artwork by moi.

(Admittedly, a half-hearted effort. I'd tell you about how busy I've been, but you've heard it before!)

Drowning in Work!

Homework...cleaning...when will it all end? :)

My families coming for a visit this weekend, so I'm more busy than normal. I'm still here, though! Waiting for a few moments to post...

Oh, yeah--I'll be a GREAT teacher...

Especially when I make a kid cry during my volunteer time in my son's class. Yep. That's grade-A educating, there.

Tuesday I spent time in Aaron's class. I got to supervise one of the work group tables. The kids had to cut out a leaf, glue it to this paper, then give three words that describe the leaf. The had to attempt to spell the words, and I would go behind them and write what they were spelling underneath the word. How could I mess it up?

It was almost time to switch groups, and I told the child in front of me that he needed to hurry up and put the last word down because we were about to change groups. He gave me a confused, worried look. I repeated, "just write down you last word. What's the leaf look like?" Mind you, I wasn't being mean, but I was pushing him a little. Well, his eyes started to water, and he did that breathing thing kids down when they want to stop the tears before they start. I immediately noticed, and as if in slow motion, I said, "noooooooo," followed by a few small "oh no. No. No-no." Too late. The child started bawling. I felt HORRIBLE. I think I teared up, too. I called the teacher over, and she said, "it's okay. This has happened before," and she whisked him away to the tissues.

This ruined the rest of my Tuesday. I felt like a crappy person the rest of the day. I was so sad! I could almost feel his worry and embarrassment as he tried to hold those tears back! Aw, I feel terrible just thinking about it.

So, today I'm heading back to the class. I'm the "mystery reader" today. Not only do I have residual guilt from my last classroom visit, but I'm going to have to sit in front of the entire class and read a book. I'm nervous. My husband laughed at me and said I could read on a 1st grade level and they would still be impressed--they're only kindergartners! True, but what if I mess up?

Next week I'm back in the work group chair, helping (if you could call it that) the kids. What am I going to change to make things better? I'm going not going to rush anyone. I'll remove all sense of urgency from my voice. (Yeah. I don't have an f-ing clue.)

Sea-Gazing

Behold--

Prints available in my shop.

Working...

Thought I'd pull out the art supplies today. Here is a sneaky-peek.