It's Almost Here!

The Oklahoma State Sugar Arts Show!    

It's this weekend!

If you in in or around the Tulsa, OK area and are a cake enthusiast, a cake decorator, a bride or just a "foodie" in general - you must go the the OSSAS this weekend!  It is the largest cake competition in the county and contestants come from all over and around the world!   There are a multitude of categories for every level of cake decorator from kids to masters... and then there's the "wedding cake" competition.  This brings out the best of the best!  Each year there is a theme for the wedding cake competition...  this year is "Language of Flowers".   Personally, for me - a tough category!  Last year was "Hollywood Glamour" - that's right up my ally!   Cakes are judged on interpretation of theme, representation, technical difficulty, table decor, pretty much picked over with a fine tooth comb!!  

Here's my piece from last years wedding cake competition - it was titled "Bell of the Ball".  It was inspired by the dress Audrey Hepburn wore in the movie "My Fair Lady".   I won a bronze!

"Bell of the Ball"  Bronze winner OSSAS 2007

My cake though hard to tell in the photo, was entirely covered in lace (as was Audrey's dress). This took hours (days) to achieve!  The top or dome, I thought would be representational of the umbrella she carried.  These pieces were all hand cut and overpiped to give it the texture and impression of lace.  Little sugar pearls gave it a little bling.   I wanted the cake to look like a "dress", so I gave it a waistline with the concave cake at the top (these are dummies by the way, not real cake), and the bottom of the cake was flared out (as was her dress), with detail added to match the lace pattern on her dress.  The black and white ribbon and bows, and pink roses were all hand done and made out of gumpaste.  I still have the cake - it's in my garage!  I unfotunately had to toss a lot of my cake dummies before the move, but I didn't have the heart to toss this one!   We rode with it in our car from Texas to California!   

I have my personal favorites to place this year - and I cannot wait to see the entries and the results from the competitions!   I unfortunately can't make it this year - due to the move and timing, it just wasn't going to happen...  Which I am sad about...   But will not dwell on!

There's always next year!!

Good luck to all who've entered!!

Legoland

I took Jake and his friend Cade to Legoland one afternoon a couple weeks ago...  Legoland is located in Carlsbad, CA (the only one in the United States), and about 20 minutes from where we live.  Both my boys were/are HUGE Lego fans, we must have hundreds of dollars invested in Lego's and Bionicles!   Matt's felt he was a little to big to be going to Legoland!  - but Jake and Cade loved it!  They have some rides (perfect for smaller kids - I think Jake was a little disappointed - he's used to 6 Flags type rides) but was so excited about the Lego creations which are displayed all around the park - Lego EVERYTHING!  

Lego people....

Lego animals...

Lego faces...

Lego cities...

 

So, if you have kids who are into Lego's, and in the San Diego area, a visit to Legoland is a must!

Is summer over already?!

I'm sorry for those of you keeping tabs on me... I've been a bad blogger!   

I'm sorry! 

We have all been enjoying the summer here in sunny San Diego!

No for real...   we've been busy...  Unfortunately Mark's mom passed away a few short weeks ago.  She hadn't been well for quite some time and though Mark had recently been able to visit her, it was tough when the time came.  We all went to Syracuse for the funeral... 

We've also had two rounds of company the past few weeks, still working on finishing up the house, getting Jake ready for school - I've been busy!  I've missed my blog and posting pictures - so I'll try and catch up with the latest greatest (I'll try and spread 'em out over the next few days - so check back!) 

Jake's first day at San Elijo Elementary - isn't he cute! (My Birds of Paradise bloomed finally!)

Matt recently got a new job at Guitar Center - which is right up his alley! He's taking the year off, as won't qualify for "in state" tuition till next fall (forget about out of state tuition!) - So that give him a year to save some money, and check out the Cal State schools.  

We spent several days in Syracuse for the funeral - and though a sad and emotional trip, it was great seeing Mark's family again... We laughed, we cried, we drank margarita's!

The whole family hadn't been together in years, and it was fun to catch up with everyone and see all the nieces and nephews.

I know Marcia was smiling down!

Papa takes on the kids in a game of bocce ball.

Sean, Matt and Jake jammin' out on "Rock Band" (we are so getting this for Christmas, it's so much fun!)

Mark and his brother Jim

Mark's sister Cindy and daughter Kate.

Jim's daughters, Patrice and Jessica

John, Sean, Kate, Matt and Patrice

"The most important things in life are your friends, family, health, good humor and a positive attitude towards life. If you have these then you have everything." Author Unknown

Amen.