(no subject)
Dec. 5th, 2025 08:46 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
m_of_disguiseKatie was in A Mood all afternoon. I thought at first it was because I was doing chores and not playing with her, but even when I was done she was still full of tantrums. She went to bed early, even after having a 4-hour (!!) nap after I put her down at lunch time.
M stayed up a bit late playing games, so I got to turn in a bit early, which was much needed after having such a terrible week of sleep. Didn't wake up too much during the night, either, so I'm actually feeling somewhat rested today, if a bit spacey.
Today's my last day of work, and then I'm officially on maternity leave. Hooray! I'll have a couple of days off before I have to be in the hospital, though I've been told I'll have to get some tests and do some things, so they won't be restful days. There's also stuff in the house that still needs to be prepared, like digging out Kate's old clothes so Clementine has something to wear home from the hospital, getting the changing table set back up to where it's accessible, and stocking the bassinet with supplies. Small things, but essentials.
The weekend is also packed, with M and Kate both having dental appointments on Saturday, and then the house tour on Sunday. Gotta get as much done before I'm laid up as possible, so it's all falling on this weekend. Lots to do!
This Wedding Wreck Is A Real Stretch
Dec. 5th, 2025 02:00 pm![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
cakewrecks_feedToday Judy L. shares with us "The Inspiration"...
...
... and "The Devastation":
Or, as I like to call it, "The Reason I Can't Stop Laughing."
(But only because "The Leaning Tower of Pisa Crap" is just a little too mean. :D)
******
P.S. I've been shopping for the best Christmas lights to hang outside this year, and I think you'll like what I bought:
BrizLabs Color-Changing Christmas Lights
This is a 115 feet of LED lights, which you can change from warm white to multi-color to any combination of the two! They have 11 different settings like "slo-glow" and "breathing," a remote control, and even built-in timers. All for $27! This is the best price for the most features I've found, plus they have great reviews, which is a must for me.
John & I installed 3 strands of these beauties last weekend, and they. are. GORGEOUS. Highly recommend.
*****
And from my other blog, Epbot:
Girl Genius for Friday, December 05, 2025
Dec. 5th, 2025 05:00 amgirlgenius_main_feed(no subject)
Dec. 4th, 2025 07:48 amtotchipandaTonight I need to make one more night of food before it's weekend time and I get really lackadaisical about eating in general. I have to get a couple of groceries (namely coffee cream) before the weekend so I'll see about picking up some snacks too.
Yesterday I spent awhile looking at various methods and ideas for journaling. My January stickers are due to arrive today. I have space for one more month in my current book, and then only a partial month after that. I am torn between wanting to start a whole new year in a new book, or just keep going and start a new book with February. I definitely do NOT want a partial month so I will need a new book before oh, mid-January. I found some really fun options through these videos (spoopy Moonshade collection by Archer & Olive; CATS and other fun designs by Tiefossi; reading journals by the Quirky Cup Collective; Notebook Therapy's understated designs; so many more!!) before remembering that Michaels exists and has inexpensive journals. (I'd really like a nice one though.) I'm buzzing with motivation to make a fun journal that works for me in the new year.
One video talked about cyclical planning with quarters rather than month by month, and I think I'd like to try it at least once. Especially here in December, when we're all thinking about reflections and the like, I cannot remember the beginning of the year that well. Three months is a good amount of time for me to hold onto. This is partly why I'm not sure if I want to break up part of this cycle/year across two notebooks, I could do a lot of planning and prepping and January in the current one, but then I'd be referencing it all the time with a new book in February. I'm inclined to wait. (Can't do nuffin' til next week, I have enough money left for some groceries and that's it!)
I do think the cute cat gridded notebook I picked up a couple months ago could be dedicated as a reading journal. It's not so many pages and thus contains less failure lol. And the cats are cute.
The Blizzard of Odd
Dec. 4th, 2025 02:00 pmcakewrecks_feedIt's only three weeks 'til Christmas, bakers. Quick! THROW PLASTIC CHRISTMAS FLOTSAM ON EVERYTHING!
Oh come on, man. PUT YOUR BACK INTO IT!
That's better.
Now, go make some cupcake cakes {PATOOIE!} that defy all laws of logic and common sense. DO EEET!
Yessss, and use sprinkles instead of colored icing! GENIUS!
I don't know what's happening here, but I like where your head's at.
Ok, now make a Christmas King Cake, because it's been WAY too long since those things got me in trouble:
Of COURSE you can still use the purple sprinkles and little plastic baby, silly! It's a King Cake! But for Christmas! AND THIS MAKES TOTAL SENSE!
Now pass the eggnog, and let's go flash people on the street with our ugly Christmas sweaters for tinsel!
WHOAH THERE, St. Nick. I said flash our sweaters!
And you call yourself a saint. REALLY.
Thanks to Daisy B., Andrea J., Ginny V., Lizz, Holly H., & Christine V. for the cup of holiday HELLOOOOOO, Santa.
******
P.S. It is possible our obsession with gnomes has gone too far?
Gnome Refrigerator Handle Covers, Set of 8
... or not far enough?
*****
And from my other blog, Epbot:
(no subject)
Dec. 4th, 2025 08:45 amm_of_disguiseHad my OB checkup, gave me the checklist for getting into the hospital, what to bring, who to call, etc. Have to buy a special body wash and use it the night before and morning of the surgery to cut down on possible infection. I'll probably be in the hospital for 3-4 days. M was like, "Well, that will be a nice break for recovery!" and I had to remind him that I'll be up every 3 hours to feed the baby, so it's not exactly a spa vacation, my dude.
The Cleburne House has dropped in price again, and is now sub-$200k! M agreed to go see it this weekend, so I emailed our realtor and am waiting to hear back. Of course, I was subjected to a classic M doom spiral about purchasing a house before his saving goal of March, but good lord, dude, we haven't even stepped foot in the house yet, maybe wait to catastrophize until we actually see the place first. He talked to a friend who pointed out that the breakfast nook can easily be converted into an office (it's actually set up as an office in the listing photos, too) by adding doors to the openings, which I have been saying the entire time, but you know, this time a dude said it. -_-
Kate has her first dental appointment on Saturday. Poor girl, I don't know how she'll do with it. She was excellent at her last doctor visit, but the doctor wasn't poking around in her mouth, so we'll see. She will get many cuddles and maybe some ice cream afterward.
(no subject)
Dec. 3rd, 2025 10:22 amm_of_disguiseThe food place didn't have fountain drinks, so I stopped at McDonald's and picked some up for us. Their drive-through was closed, so I had to go inside and wait. It's been a hot minute since I was inside, and they've changed everything so you order and pay on touch screen kiosks and then pick up your food at the counter, very minimal interaction with staff. There was a constant beeping in the kitchen and everyone was moving continuously, and all I could think was that it would be absolute HELL to work here.
Ate entirely too late, felt miserable going to bed. Garbage sleep, Clementine was way too active for me to get any rest, and at one point she put her foot into some organ that did NOT appreciate it, and I ended up in tears.
Exactly one week until baby.
Are You Smarter Than A Wreckerator?
Dec. 3rd, 2025 02:00 pmcakewrecks_feedFriends, if you'll indulge me, I'd like to take a moment and wax poetical about the world's somewhere-between-17th-and-52nd best education system.
You see, here in the States we learn everything we need in life, from the very basics:
(The difference between an apple and a bell pepper is more advanced.)
...to spelling and punctuation:
...to those oh-so-vital math skills.
We also have more advanced studies of the human, um... whatever this is:
I'm pretty sure that's butt stuff.
Here we're encouraged to keep writting(s?):
...to keep our stars shinning:
...and to always enhance that one student's mind's 2013:
That one's a little confusing, I'll grant you.
Because here in the US we honor our honor stundels:
...encouraging them to Imagin a world where they can Acheive their dreams:
A world where, say, all you have to do is copy little plastic signs for a living.
...from the very beginning of the school year:
...to the bitter(sweet?) end.
Yay.
Thanks to Janel J., Anony M., Kate B., Brittany J., Juli K., Anony M., Linda R.., Rae L., Tanya, Janica C. & Laura B. for the education.
*****
P.S. Because I bet we could all use a drink after that:
"Santa's Flask" Stocking Booze Dispenser
This stocking can hold an entire bottle of wine! Better get two.
*****
And from my other blog, Epbot:
Girl Genius for Wednesday, December 03, 2025
Dec. 3rd, 2025 05:00 amgirlgenius_main_feed(no subject)
Dec. 2nd, 2025 08:11 amtotchipandaMe yesterday afternoon: I'm just a baby, I can't do anything!
I got two out of the four things I'd planned done, so that's something. I made a light soup with enoki mushrooms, my first time trying them, and they weren't bad! The broth was delicious. Going to be a yummy lunch too. I washed what's left of my hair as soon as I got in the door (changed and wrangled the cats inside). ANd instead of knitting, though I had it handy, after eating I worked on my journal. And then it was time for bed.
Tonight, hmm. I need to make another food (how does this keep happening) and I'll try to get some of the other things done. We'll see.
(no subject)
Dec. 2nd, 2025 09:09 amm_of_disguiseShe went to bed easily, and I went out and picked us up some cheap McDonald's for dinner. I had really been looking forward to their mango smoothie that they have on the menu right now, but the machine was broken. Womp womp. They gave me an extra 10-piece nugget and an ice cream in recompense, and all was well.
M told me he had run into a neighbor while he and Katie were on a walk, one I've spoken to before, and she is moving out because they are fighting rats. EEEK. Her unit is a few buildings away from ours, so we haven't seen any vermin, thankfully. She also told us that everyone on that side of the complex has moved out, and basically every unit facing the back lot is empty. Yikes.
Speaking of which, one of our last sets of neighbors in our particular building has moved out. We weren't sure they had since there is still a TON of stuff around their unit, but the other night when M came home, their front door was wide open and everything was dark, so he went up to do a welfare check and found the place abandoned. He said the heat had been cranked up to 95 (!!) and there was detritus all over the apartment, so we're thinking that maybe a vagrant got in there and rifled around. Yeesh.
So now it's just us and the older Asian couple and their son that live upstairs, and the rest of the building is empty. When we move out next year, they'll be the last.
Wrecky Conga Lines
Dec. 1st, 2025 02:00 pmcakewrecks_feedMy dear bakers, I'm going to teach you how to spell "Congratulations" if it's the last thing I do. I mean it. We're going to sit down RIGHT NOW and hash this thing out, and I'm not giving up until each and every one of you can spell this word backwards, forwards, and without using a single letter "d." You hear me? I am NOT GIVING UP.
I give up.
Ok, look. How about you just abbreviate it?
Not that much.
No...
[head on desk] No...
[in fetal position under desk] Losing...faith...in humanity...
Does...does that really say "Congris"?
Does it?!
Ok, I have an idea.
[whispering in ear]
I'll take it.
Hey, Aimee T., David G., Colleen G., Lianne I., Super Happy Girl, Julie M., & Nicole V., you don't by any chance happen to have six fingers on your right hand, do you? My cookie cake was slaughtered by a six-fingered hand.
******
P.S. I use a lot of faux flame candles on timers in my house, so at night they all pop on automatically like magic. LOVE THAT. And I keep adding more. If you want to deck out your space with the same warm-candle-glow look, here's a great starter set:
LED Flameless Candle Set With Remote Timer
You get TWELVE candles and two remotes for $30, which is an incredible deal. Dang. A lot of folks use these in their fireplaces, since the different sizes look great grouped together.
*****
And from my other blog, Epbot:
(no subject)
Dec. 1st, 2025 12:50 pmm_of_disguiseFriday was a chill day. Everyone slept in, even Kate, and when I got up, I roasted up the sweet potatoes from the night before so we could munch on them through the weekend. Kate really wanted to go out for a walk, and M suggested we make it a family outing since we needed to go buy her a coat first. We loaded into the car and headed to the store, and completely forgot that it was Black Friday, so we drove straight into a madhouse. Kate and I stayed in the car while M ran inside and picked up a couple of jackets for her, then we drove out to Weatherford and headed to M's favorite park there, which has a playground and walking trails. Kate was introduced to the slides, which were THE BEST. She could have gone down that slide all night long, but a storm rolled up on us, and suddenly we were getting hailed on! Kate and I took refuge in the covered picnic area while M pulled the car up, and then we headed home.
Saturday and Sunday were both very chill days. No cleaning, no cooking, just eating leftovers and lounging at home. We had an excellent cold front move through on Saturday evening, and by Sunday it was down into the 30s! It was wonderful, I'm so glad it actually feels like the season should. M went out shooting on Sunday to cap off the weekend, and we put Kate down in her own bed so we could lounge together in ours at the end of the night.
All in all, it was an excellent weekend. M was noticeably more relaxed and happier without work stress to bum him out, so I'm glad he got a good break from it all. He had a good meeting with his boss this morning, too, which reassured him that he's doing well and has been a good addition to the team, and he seems less worried about work overall.
T minus 9 days until baby. This is my last full week at work, so I'm trying to get things finished up and get my personal items (mainly patterns I have printed off at work and stuck in various drawers *cough*) gathered up to take home. Our plan was for me to take my full leave and then us reassess our needs once it was over, but M is talking more and more like coming home permanently is a guarantee now, so I don't want to leave anything behind just in case.
Very excited to not be pregnant anymore soon!
(no subject)
Dec. 1st, 2025 08:10 amtotchipandaFriday ended up being more of a "rot on the couch" night. Saturday I did a little knitting, went to the cafe to meet the local people and arrived home to tell the tale (they were very much My People, I had a yummy drink and a yummy treat, took the train both ways because I've been in that neighbourhood before and the street parking is tricksy with the high-density housing all around, and worked on my journal), ordered in a dinner, and rotted some more.
Woke up at 1:30 am with a very unhappy tummy. In thinking about what I ate over the past two days, there was really nothing out of the ordinary for me, so who knows what upset it. I didn't get back to sleep until after 5am, and woke up again at 1030. I wanted to just rot at home, but there were PUPPIES waiting for us, and I was OK as long as I was sitting, so I rotted on their couch. With puppies.
THEY ARE SO STINKING CUTE. 9 weeks old, so wee, so sweet, so happy to see people, utterly fearless. SO SOFT AND WARM.
Nicole shaved my head for me before it got too dark. Sheesh there was a lot of hair on my head! We left maybe an hour later. Got home and crawled right into bed where I remained for the entire evening. Slept a good 7 hours. My tummy is still not thrilled but it's a lot better.
Today I should like to catch up on some of the things I put off over the weekend. Make a food, clean out the fridge a bit, dishes, wash the rest of my hair. Knit some more, it's an excellent cat-cuddling activity.
Cookie Monster's Dirty Little Secret
Dec. 1st, 2025 02:00 pmcakewrecks_feedWhen you desperately hope they played "Jumping Jack Flash" at the reception:
And that they're just talking about driving here:
(It's as if millions of parents suddenly cried out in terror, "NoooOOOOOo!")
But mostly I just really, REALLY hope that's not a nipple:
GO HOME COOKIE MONSTER, YOU ARE DRUNK.
Thanks to Emily D., Angela N. & Camirae P., who tells me that IS a nipple, but if so, WHY IS IT THERE??
*****
P.S. Hang on, I can't just leave you with... that. So here's an adorable Chef Cookie Monster to make everything better:
GUND "Teach Me" Cookie Monster Plush
He even brought you a cookie! D'awwww.
******
And from my other blog, Epbot:
Girl Genius for Monday, December 01, 2025
Dec. 1st, 2025 05:00 amgirlgenius_main_feedSunday Sweets: Dark Beauties
Nov. 30th, 2025 02:00 pmcakewrecks_feedThere's really no such thing as a "typical" wedding cake anymore.
So today, we're going to give in to our dark sides a little.
We have to start with classic black, right?
(By Hey There Cupcake, California)
Stunning, hand-painted black.
Of course, there are a lot of dark choices beyond black. How about this gorgeous teal number?
(By Have+Some+Cake, United Kingdom)
The rich color, offset tier, and hand-painting really put this one over the top.
Or maybe you'd prefer a forest that isn't at all forbidding.
(By Immaculate Confections, United Kingdom)
In fact, I'd call it enchanting.
This red cake was inspired by Melisandre, the Red Priestess from "Game of Thrones."
(By Candytuft Cakes, Ireland)
It doesn't need to cast a glamour to be beautiful. Wow.
Then there are the times you just want to burst onto the scene and yell, "Ta da!"
(By Kuchen Diva, Switzerland)
Ta da!
The "origami" is edible wafer paper. So clever.
This purple cake isn't exactly a shrinking violet:
(By Dolce Lusso Cakes, United Kingdom)
Those are handmade sugar orchids; I like how the gold leaf really makes them pop.
And look at all the different textures on this stunner:
(By Foxtail Bakeshop, Oregon)
Quick. Somebody knit me this cake!
The baker went for a crumpled metal effect on this steampunk-inspired cake, very funky cool:
(By Sylwia Sobiegraj The Cake Designer, Ireland)
Plus it took me a second to realize only two of the roses are sculpted; the middle one is hand-painted.
Proving yet again that steampunk doesn't have to be brown!
Not that there's anything wrong with brown, of course...
(By Cove Cake Design, Ireland)
Mmm. Do you think that's chocolate? I think it's chocolate. Does anyone have a fork so I can check? And maybe some milk?
But I digress...
Let's end with a splash of deep, dark color:
(By The Cocoa Cakery, Canada)
I think I'm in love.
These cakes certainly prove there's no reason to be afraid of the dark.
Isn't that Sweet?
*****
And from my other blog, Epbot:
