Epic Fail

To call this an epic fail might be an understatement.  It might be me overreacting.  It might be me taking it too personally.  But all I know, my cake pops did not come out like this:


Bakerella makes it look so easy



They looked more like this:


A disgusting, dripping, not smooth chocolate mess

 I've been wanting to make cake pops for a while now.  I've been to Bakerella's site alot and have been inspired by her cute little creations so much that I decided to try them out for our fantasy baseball draft party. (Yes I play fantasy baseball and yes, we did have an actual draft).  So I ran out, gathered all my supplies and baked up a cake.  So I grabbed the recipe for cake pops from Bakerella's site here and went to work.

First....bake the cake.  Easy peasy.  It actually was a pretty cake coming out of the oven.

Then, for the fun part.  Crumble up the entire cake.  Make a mess with it.  I actually felt a little guilty ruining such a perfectly fine cake but if that's what I had to do, that's what I would do.  So it ended up looking like this:

Put it in a bowl and add frosting.  Now I think this is where I went wrong.  The recipe said to use almost an entire can so I did.  But from this point on, I think I was doomed.

Once that's all mixed (and it was kinda gross looking), shape mixture into balls. Now I don't like touching raw meat at all.  I have huge texture issues so this was a tad on the horrible side for me but for the sake of the cake pops, I put my big girl panties on and did it.

I think I made them too big thus having some issues dipping them.  They fell of sticks, got stuck in the bowl, dripped forever, you name it, it went wrong that way.  So instead of the millions I rolled, this is how many I ended up dipping:

I know I'm not a good dipper.  We established this when I made truffles for Christmas 2 years ago.  They're edible and delicious, just not pretty.  So I wasn't surprised when these babies looked so bad.  But what I wasn't expecting was the taste.  My cake pops almost tasted like I didn't cook the cake all the way.  I don't know if I added too much frosting or if the cake was too moist. But something was off.  People ate them (the kids LOVED them) but I thought they were weird.  I was bummed that I wasn't successful with the endeavor and made brownies to make up for it. 

But I will not let this keep me down.  I will make cake pops that are good and cute and adorable.  I will not let a bowl full of crumbled cake get the best of me!!!!  But until then, I'm sticking to cupcakes.  I'm good at those :)

A couple changes

I've been bored at home while the Hubs was watching Swamp Men (or Swamp People)....its a ridiculous  show.  So I found myself trying to learn more about blog design.  I've been jealous of everyone's cute banners and signatures and since Google is my best friend, I started teaching myself blog design 101.  It's nothing fancy (yet) but I kinda like it!  I hope you do too!  Oh and I changed the font back to normal since the Hubs said he couldn't read the blog with the other font.

I can't wait to share my attempt at making cake pops.  I think Bakerella will be very disappointed in me :(

It's back to work for me after having almost a week and a half off (not by choice, because of sick kiddos and a sick Mommy).  I hope I know what to do......

Spring Cleaning

Oh it's that time of year.  The time where everyone goes through their houses, notices how much stuff they've accumulated over the past year, and weeds out the non-necessities.  That is where I find myself today.  Surrounded (more like trapped) by toys upon toys upon toys.  It actually looks like Toys R Us threw up in my house.  Everywhere you turn, I'm sure you'll find some sort of toy.  I even think there are toys in my bedroom (that sounds a lot dirtier than I anticipated...just kids toys, that's it sicko).

Well enough is enough.  I've had it up to here (picture my hand up at my forehead).  I will regain control of my house.  The toys will not win this round!!!

So I've tackled Noah's clothes.  Poor kid finally had a growth spurt and it's time to move on to 4T/5T clothes.  He's so stinkin skinny that he probably only needs 3T but he's got long legs so all of his pants are too short.  Now I'm depressed at everything I have to get rid of because it means I have to start shopping in the big boy section...I'm not ok with that.  But I digress.  I've been pretty good about Emmy's clothes.  She just needs to grow a little bit more so she'll fit in her 18M clothes. And she needs spring clothes....dresses, skirts, shorts, you name it.  But thats another chore to tackle with the Hubs.

The rest of my weekend off from work (I can't wait to never work weekends again...only 3 more weekend shifts left....ever) looks the same....cleaning closets, getting rid of toys (a covert mission that hopefully no one notices toys are gone), cleaning the house, decorating for Easter/Spring, and our big draft.

Oh yeah, our fantasy baseball draft is tomorrow.  I guess I should start looking at everything and formulate a game plan, instead of trying to act like I have one to the Hubs.  The Dominators will be back on top this year (or for at least the first half of the season because I'm sure I'll be bored with it by the All Star Break). 

Happy Spring Cleaning Everyone!!!

~JRC~

So here's a recap (and a lot of pictures).....

I have been de-railed by all the sickness (or the plague as the hubster calls it) that I didn't get to update on all the fun stuff that we've done.  We had a weekend full of parades, carnival rides, and fair foods. 

The City of Seminole has a Pow Wow every year.  It's kinda a big deal.  We are very fortunate to live across the street from the Rec, where everything exciting happens.  All we have to do is walk to the end of our street.  I've always worked during the Pow Wow so I was really excited to be home for it this year.  I just LOVE fairs!!!  First we met up with Grandma and PaPa (my parents) for the parade.  The kids had a blast and it looked like they went to Mardi Gras when it was over.  We also had enough candy to last us a lifetime.  Then it was lunch time/naptime and then it was off to the carnival.  Noah loved riding all the rides and we even met up with our good friends and their kiddos. Cue a ton a pics ;)



Em's very excited about the parade



Photography by Noah



Eating lunch with all of his parade beads



Riding his first ride of the day



She just loved watching him ride the rides



Em got in the action too



Riding the teacups with Daddy



Motorcycle rides with his best buddy



I've never seen a teacup spin so fast



Watching their big brothers on the rides

 We went to dinner with our friends, had a great time, made it home in time to watch the amazing fireworks from the driveway, and even made a special trip back for a nighttime ferris wheel ride.  All in all, best Pow Wow ever!!!

The next day, I had the opportunity to head to the Strawberry Festival with a few friends to see Lady Antebellum.  I have never truly experience the Strawberry Festival before and I was really excited to be able to ride the "grown up" rides.  It was a blast.  Between Nicole and I's love for fast, crazy rides and Mikey/Tori's hatred of them, it made for a day full of laughs.  We tried fried oreos (very good BTW) and Tori even tried a fried snickers bar.  Only thing we didn't eat was strawberries....epic fail, I know.  Then it was time for Lady A.  They were absolutely amazing!!!  They put on a great show, sang all of their great songs, and even had the evil woman sitting next to me singing and dancing.  Despite the seating dilemma, it was a great night and I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to have some Mommy time!!! (Thanks John and Nicole/Tori!!!  I needed a girls day!!!)


Tori and Mikey waiting for Nicole and I to ride the rides



Nicole and Tori before Lady A



I just love these girls (and I don't know why I have crazy eyes)

 A great weekend spent with great people!  I can't wait to have my weekends free so I can begin to start living again. 

Oh and if you've made it down this far, I guess I'll drop the bomb.  I am starting a new job on the 11th.  I am transitioning to our Hem/Onc outpatient clinic.  I will still work for All Children's but I won't be working in the hospital anymore (I'll be across the street).  I'll be working 4 days a week (10 hr shifts) with no weekends or holidays.  I'm having mixed feelings about the move for many reasons: I don't like change at all, this will be a whole new way of functioning, I don't really know the clinic girls, I don't want to leave all the wonderful people I work with now, but I really think the schedule will be good for my kids and especially my marriage.  I've missed so much because of having to work weekends and holidays.  It's going to be very nice not having to miss out on events, gatherings, and just hanging out with my family. 

So here's to new beginnings and great times with great friends!!!

~JRC~

Sorry it's been so long but.....

Our flu shots did not work.  Yes, that's what I said.....we all have the flu despite the pain of this year's flu shot.  Noah started getting sick and the doctor said it was viral....aka wait it out with no medications.  I got sick and my doctor started a Z-Pack, which did not do anything.  Then Miss Em did what we call at work "broke." She had fevers up to 104.7, no cough, runny nose, wheezing, nothing.  We took her to Urgent Care hoping to find something.  She was cathed for a urine, which showed no UTI, and swabbed for flu at the last minute eventhough she had received the flu shot.  Well low and behold, she has Influenza A and thats probably what Noah and I have.  She got Tamiflu but fevers didn't get any better.  A few days later, she started with a wicked cough and runny nose and then PINK EYE.  How does this happen?  I brought her to the doctor yesterday and she not only has bacterial infections of BOTH her eyes (her left eye was the only one looking bad), she has ear infections in both ears.  I can't believe it.  She just can't catch a break.  So antibiotics and eye drops ordered for that.  Then this morning, I feel like I'm dying.  I listened to my lungs to see if I was still sounding good (I am) and listened to Em just for fun.  Guess what.....wheezing.  Great, just another thing to add to our list of problems.  So I have another call out to the MD to see what to do about this wheezing (and the other things that have popped up in the last 24 hours).

Hopefully we'll catch a break and get something figured out and, as a family, move toward being healthy again. 

From my death bed,
~JRC~

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

So I was going to do a big long update on all the fun (both real fun and not so fun) that's been going on in the Crimella house but I couldn't pass up sharing the St Patty's Day gifts I made for Noah's class (he goes to St Patrick Catholic School...its only appropriate his class get goodies on this day!).  Noah's been out sick all week so I definitely wanted to send these in to let all the kiddos know that he's still thinking of them.  I wish I could claim this fabulous idea as my own but I can't.  I stumbled across it here.  A great idea AND a great printable....how could I go wrong?!? 

Drum roll please........

Pot of gold at the end of the rainbow

Supply-wise, all you need are rainbow Twizzlers (I had the hardest time finding these.  KMart was the only place that had them), chocolate coins, treat bags and the amazing tags found here.

Yes I'm OCD and separated them out by color

Gold coins courtesy of Party City

The rest is easy.  All you have to do is create your Twizzler rainbow, place inside a treat bag and throw some coins in. 

I wish I had put more coins in but it was for a group of 4-5 year olds.  I want their parents to still  like me after this

Now add the cute tag (with Noah's name, of course) and there you have it....an absolutely adorable way to spread some St Patty's Day cheer

The finished product

I wasn't there to see how the class responded to their goodies but my mom filled me in.  It seems that most of the teachers were head over heels for these tasty rainbows.  The Kindergarten teacher said she couldn't wait for Noah to be in her class so I can make cutesy things for her! 

Happy St Patrick's Day to everyone!!!

~JRC~

The Plague has Struck

It's official.  Our house has been hit with the plague.  Noah's sick which in turn means that Mommy is sick.  I honestly haven't felt this bad in a long time.  I have a ton of stuff to update on but I just don't have the energy.  Hopefully I'll start feeling better soon...

~JRC~

Forget Regret

John and I have not been on a vacation together since our honeymoon.  We had the most amazing honeymoon in Breckenridge CO and vowed to go back every year.  Well Noah was born the follow year (and 5 short days after our first anniversary) so we didn't go and we just celebrated our 5th anniversary with no return trips to Breckenridge.  This year I put my foot down.  We were going to do something for our anniversary.  We had decided on a cruise.  I've never been on a cruise before so we thought this was a great idea.  We chose May since it would be warmer than January.  We still hadn't booked the cruise for random reasons.....I was too tired, we didn't have time, etc.  Well today I noticed the most amazing thing ever....



RENT Returns to NYC!!!!

RENT returns to NYC!!!!  I saw this and was floored!  RENT is the most amazing production.  The message, the music, the artists, I'm in love with it all.  It has always been a dream of mine to see RENT in NYC.  I've seen it 4 times here in Florida but to see it in NYC would be all I need.  I guess you could consider it a "bucket list" item.  With that being said, I'm sure you can imagine how devastated I was when I heard that it was closing in 2008 after a 12 year run.  Now its coming back!?!?!?  How could I get up there to see it?

I mentioned this exciting news to John today who instantly responded with "when is it?  I'll look for tix."  Who is this man?  John HATES RENT.  And I think HATES is an understatement.  But my husband, the love of my life, threw me a curveball.  He offered to take me to NYC to see RENT.  Granted this offer came at a price....NYC or cruising in the Western Carribbean.  After consulting Facebook (go figure), of course I chose RENT.  If I passed this up, would I ever get a chance to see it again?  Would I regret it? Jonathan Larsen's words rang loud and clear in my head....Forget Regret or Life is yours to Miss.  So sorry Carnival but this girl is headed to the Big Apple!!!!

We will be flying up in the wee hours of Friday morning (August 5th) and enjoying NYC through Monday (August 8th....he booked a late flight so we'd have all day in the city).  We will be heading up to New World Stages on the 6th to find our seats in the 12th row to be in awe of RENT on Broadway (well Off-Broadway but its all the same).  I am in such amazement/shock/excitement/disbelief, I just can't take it!!!  John is making more of my dreams come true!!!

Now I'll be anxiously checking my mailbox every day for the 2 beautiful tickets that are being delivered to me!

~JRC~

The Winds of Change

There's a chance a big change is going to happen in the Crimella house.  Details to come, as things are unfolding as we speak. 

And no, I'm not pregnant.

~JRC~

A Weekend Filled with Princesses, Pink, and Pain

I survived my second half marathon.  I can proudly say that I PR'd by 18 min (although I am not happy with my finish time at all).  I finished in 3:12:21.  I was hoping to finish under 3 hours (closer to 2:45) but whatever.  It was still a great race.  Last year I ran with Sharon for the first 2 miles before I let her leave me in the dust.  This year, I was with her for 5.5 miles, only stopping because I tweaked my knee.  I ran for the next 2-3 miles before I finally listened to my body and took it easy.  Every step was excruciating and I almost didn't want to finish (or think I would finish).  But I did and I'm so proud! 

Fit for a Princess Expo

So here's the weekend wrap up....

Saturday
John and I headed up to Orlando, with Tim and Sharon, to meet up with my parents who were there already.  We grabbed a great breakfast with them on our way up.  We got settled in at the hotel, made a quick trip to the Nike outlet (which you will see a couple references to), then hit up the Expo.  I was really looking forward to checking it out but when we got there (2 hours after it opened), it was a mad house.  It took forever to get our bibs and goody bags.  There were so many people that you really couldn't move.  So I resigned to the fact that we wouldn't be able to browse like we did last year but demanded we stop at the Sweaty Band booth.  I am the proud owner of a Sweaty Band and it was worth every dollar that I spent!!!  My hair wasn't in my face and it never moved.  I am a believer!!!  We then left, went back to the hotel for lunch, then hit up mini golf.  Disney has 2 different miniature golf courses on its propery.  We did the first last year and tried the second this year.  It was a Winter Summerland.  We were transported to the North Pole in both the winter and summer.  It was a great course and not stressful like last year.  After that, we headed home.  John and I took a quick trip to Magic Kingdom to get Noah a hook like Captain Hook (he's big into Captain Hook now).  Then it was home for an early bedtime for the big race. 

Just another day of golf at Disney

 Sunday....Race Day
Our 4am alarm came very early but I was excited to get started.  There were 17000 runners this year so traffic was horrible to say the least.  We got to Epcot, parked and made our way to bag check.  Then it was the long walk to the corrals.  Our corral was sent off in traditional Disney style....Fireworks and the Fairy Godmother.  Its amazing what a difference an iPod makes.  Last year I didn't run with one and decided that I would this year.  It definitely made the experience a little more tolerable.  I was doing great for the first 5.5 miles.  I was hanging with Sharon (a huge improvement from last year) and then it happened.  I felt a tweak in my left knee.  I don't know what happened. All I know is from that moment on, every step was painful.  I told Sharon to go on without me and from that point on, I struggled with the race.  I was set on having a great time and knew that I could do it if I pushed through the pain.  I also knew what happened to a girl at work who pushed through the pain.....a torn labrum, crutches, and possible surgery.  I didn't want that so I chose to listen to my body over a good time.  So I crossed the finish line, 18 minutes better than last year, with a smile on my face. I'm so proud that I was able to shave that much time off, regardless of being bummed about the actual time.  It truly is an accomplishment to be able to say that you've finished a half marathon, let alone 2 of them.  The rest of the day included a shower, a nap, and a trip to Epcot to celebrate Tim's birthday.  We swung by China for lunch, had to say goodbye to Dad (who was going back home) and we enjoyed the rest of the day at Epcot doing all the rides that John and I can't do when the kids are with us.  My knee was pretty rough but I managed.

Race Day Memories

Monday
We got up bright and early to go to Hollywood Studios.  I was in tears with my knee pain but it finally loosened up after the long walk to the gates.  We went to the Rocking Rollercoaster (or whatever its called) which was AWESOME!!!  Rode that twice before jumping on Tower of Terror and then headed to Toy Story Mania, which might be my favorite ride.  We got to me Lotso from Toy Story 3 and Lightning McQueen and Mater from Cars.  By this time I was miserable and started feeling sick (which I'm now on antibiotics for).  We called it a day and headed back home to see our kiddos, who we missed so much.  

Pics from Epcot and Hollywood Studios

 It was a long weekend, a painful weekend, but an amazing weekend.  I am looking forward to next year's Princess and we're already looking into a few more Disney races.

~JRC~