Cake and a Tree

Now I want to say straight off that I am not a baker. I do like to cook and enjoy eating good foods, but a baker...let's just say I need a little more practice. I don't bake much for our family because we never finish anything. So if I make a dessert or cookies, we only eat a few and there are always some left that I have to throw out or give away. I hate wasting food so I usually just end up making it to bring to work or to a family dinner.

For my co-workers birthday I made her a cake. Last year she wanted a vegetable platter, so I made a really good dip, sliced up some fresh veggies, etc... well...let's just say it didn't go over to well with all the others in the office. So this year I was bringing a cake no matter what she wanted.

My friend Kristy has a wonderful blog My Little Space , now if you want to see some great baking make sure you check it out! She is so creative with new flavors and beautiful designs you really have to see it for yourself. So I thought I would be ambitious and try one of her recipes Chocolate Matcha Bundt Cake. I had some matcha powder and was all set to make it, but then since it was for my boss and co-workers, I thought I would just go with the chocolate part.


I used some dark chocolate, milk chocolate and white chocolate to drizzle over the top of it. Pretty huh? Okay be honest. I haven't use my pastry bag in so long the seems gave out and chocolate went all over...at least it was chocolate and people are pretty forgiving when it comes to chocolate!

Everyone at work was happy and the birthday girl took the rest of it home and her husband liked it too. That's what counts!

Now for our Christmas tree. Last year we didn't put one up because we went up to Michigan to visit family for the holidays. This year we did get one pretty early... but it was too tall because we put it on a box so the dog won't bother it and he can still sleep behind it...after all we did set it up in his "room".

The top touched the ceiling, but we were able to trim it to put the star on top...

Perfect, it still worked with the star...

All lit up...

oops..


This is a new ornament for this year. Now isn't this just the cutest fluffy owl you have ever seen?

Just one of my blown glass flamingos..

and fish... if you know me, you've seen my hand crafted shell angles and sea urchin snowmen. I haven't found them in storage yet, but we have a small tree this year. I'll be sure to post them when I do.

More to come...