Cake Pops!

I generally don't blog about food or pastries, there are a million food blogs out there. But, I am so proud of myself I just had to share my latest endeavor with you all. Now, most people that know me know that can cook really delicious food. And I'm no slouch when it comes to desserts...except for cakes! The cakes inevitably taste great but don't look great. Decorating has never been my strong suit, so when a neighbor of mine made cake pops over Christmas, I decided to give it a try. I figured if I screwed it up, no big deal because I could just try on the next little pop. So, I bought the cake pop book by Bakerella and all of the supplies. Here are a few of my first efforts...

The edible ink on the popcorn bags didn't come out as dark as it showed in the book, but it was cute anyway. I think for starting out, the sprinkles are the way to go. And for anyone who decides to try this it's super easy and fun. The only problem I had was that the book said to make the balls 1 1/2 inches, this was way too big, at that size they fell off the stick when dipped and when I stood them up to dry they slid down the stick. I ended up making them half of the recommended size.

Anyhow, it was super fun and I can't wait to make more!

Until next time...
Paulene

Catching Up…

Since it has been so long since I have written a post, I thought I would catch everyone up on what’s been going on.

Back in November, Nick and I became Great Aunt and Great Uncle when Chris and Katie had their little man, Chase.

He’s too cute!

In December we were in full Christmas mode…

This is Christmas Eve and Ella was helping us sing some Christmas Carols while we got the milk and cookies ready for Santa.

Ella woke up to an awesome Christmas morning surprise when Tayta and Jido (grandma and grandpa) came to visit for the holiday!  We had so much fun!

                 

In January I turned 29 for the fourth time.  For those of you who can’t do math, that means I turned 33!

This little cutie was born in February to Meghan and Matt.  Her name is Kherington and she is our first great niece!  Ella has two new cousins to play with now!

All in all it has been a great winter.  New family members, visits from parents/ grandparents, and almost no snow!

Until next time…

Paulene

Adventures as a Stay At Home Mom…

 

Now, as a rule, I generally try not to write too much about being a stay at home mom.  I figure that no one wants to hear about my struggle to keep up with the laundry, the fact that we have no garbage disposal hurts my soul, or how I can hardly ever vacuum because Ella is terrified of the noise.  However, there are some fun things that happen while Ella and I are hanging out at home and I thought I would share with you all.

Because of the fact that we are responsible parents, (and want to be able to use the restroom in peace) we have a baby gate separating our living/ dining room from the rest of the house.  Nick being the jokester he is has taught Ella to bang her sippy cup across the bars and shout “Attica, Attica!”.  This is hilarious.  Except during lunchtime when I feel as if the “prisoner” is about to riot if she doesn’t get her applesauce!

I have taken to randomly asking Ella what sounds different animals make.  She does a really good job of answering and I am so proud of her.  However, there is one animal I never ask her about in public  This animal is the duck.  She knows a duck says “quack”, but when she says it, it sounds like c*ck (part of the male anatomy) and that can be a little embarrassing.  This also goes for her ability to say the word “sit”, she tends to add an “h” to it…

My Ella is also the cutest little ham you have ever seen.  Anytime a camera is on she’s mugging in front of it.  This leads to fun pictures and even better videos. (If I can figure out how to post videos here you will see her dancing abilities.  She loves to dance and will dance to any kind of music, including California Love by Tupac and Dr. Dre. My little gangsta!. ).

 

  The cutest Minnie Mouse ever!!!

   Her future’s so bright, she has to wear shades!

 

  Arrrrrr, mateys!

Here’s to making everyday fun and interesting, even if all you are doing is hanging out at home!  It’s especially great when you have such a wonderful, funny, loving little girl around the house like my Ella!

Until next time…

Paulene

Halloween

As you may have read in my last blog post, I love autumn.  But, more than loving autumn, I love Halloween!  As some of you may know, I have been a fan of horror films, supernatural literature and spooky art work my entire life.  There is something about the gothic aesthetic that is satisfying.  Now, I am not talking about Gothic as in the angsty teens that wear black clothes, white make up and black nail polish and pretend that their cushy suburban life is sooooo harsh as they wander around Hot Topic eating corn dogs from Hot Dog on a Stick.  No, I am talking about Gothic as in tumble down castles, degenerate corrupted aristocrats, and the ever creepy Victorian English denizens. 

Here is a list of books/ authors and films that are fun this time of year.  The list is not all encompassing, so if you have any selections to add, please leave a comment.  I’m always looking for new books to read and films to watch.

Books/ Authors:

-My perennial favorite Anne Rice.  She has written the Vampire Chronicles, the Witch Chronicles and other supernatural books.  Her books are not just entertaining but extremely well written.

-Edgar Allen Poe.  His short stories like the Telltale Heart, Cask of Amontillado, and Masque of the Red Death are sufficiently creepy and fun.

-Laurell K. Hamilton’s series about Anita Blake the Vampire Hunter.  However, there is a caveat, her books are graphic both in relation to violence and sex so proceed with care.

-Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse novels.  This series inspired the HBO series True Blood and is soooo much fun.  The characters are well formed and so sassy!

-Kim Harrison’s Rachel Morgan series about a witch who is also a bounty hunter.  This series is a “what if these creatures were real and everyone knew about them” type of world.  Rachel is brash and doesn’t take anything from anyone, not even demons.

-MaryJanice Davidson’s series about Betsy Taylor, queen of the vampires.  This series is less creepy than campy as it’s about a modern girl who finds out she’s become a vampire and not only that, she’s the queen too.  She’s quirky and funny with a major shoe fetish.  The books are a fun, quick read.

-Washington Irving’s Sleepy Hollow is a great book for this time of year, and will definitely make you think twice about walking through the woods, at night, in autumn!

Films:

-John Carpenter’s Halloween (1979).  This is a great movie.  There’s suspense, a psychological component, and even though there are many slayings there’s very little blood shown. Love it!

-Any and all of the Friday the 13th movies.  Creepy, campy fun!

-The first A Nightmare of Elm St.  Freddie Kruger is not your typical slasher movie killer, he’ll make jokes while he slices and dices.

-If you really want to be freaked out, turn out the lights and watch Paranormal Activity.  I will say this was the first time in years I was scared by a movie.  I watched it when I was 7 months pregnant, and I am surprised I didn’t go into labor early I was so tensed up!

-The original Dracula, as well as the Francis Ford Coppola remake.  The original had Bela Lugosi’s stellar portrayal…and the remake had the incomparable Gary Oldman.

-The original House on Haunted Hill specifically for Vincent Price.  In fact, any Vincent Price movie.  The Masque of the Red Death, The Pit and the Pendulum, the original Thirteen Ghosts etc.  Just look him up on IMDB.com and pick any of them and they are all good.

-American Werewolf in London.  John Landis' direction in the film, and the effects are awesome!

-For Nick I recommend any of George A. Romero’s zombie movies…he loves them!

-Shaun of the Dead is a great zombie comedy and a rollicking good time.  Sit back, raise a pint and enjoy!

-The Exorcist…need I say more?

-Exorcism of Emily Rose.  Any movie that can make a lapsed Catholic get back to church has done it’s job.

-Evil Dead with Bruce Campbell is a wonderful low budget, gleefully bloody movie from the Raimi brothers.  A must watch!

-Sleepy Hollow with Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci.  A great, layered movie. 

-The Leprechaun…for your cheesy viewing pleasure.

-Wes Craven’s Scream. This movie broke the fourth wall and let the audience in on the “rules” of horror movies while rebooting the genre for a new generation.

-Stephen King movies…Cujo, Christine, Carrie, The Shining…

-Underworld where we finally get to see what a fight between vampires and werewolves would look like, and it looks awesome!

-Fright Night both the original and the remake.  Tons of fun…finally a vampire who is not brooding or sparkling in the sunlight.  A good old fashioned blood sucker!

-The Thing with Kurt Russell, the first remake.

-For the kids: It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, Earnest Scared Stupid, Halloweentown, Hocus Pocus, and the Garfield Halloween Special are fun.

These are some fun books and movies to check out and enhance your Halloween experience.  Trick or Treat!

Until next time…

Paulene

Paulene's Page: Why I Love Autumn

Paulene's Page: Why I Love Autumn: ***Author’s note: Sorry I have been away from my blog for so long, but life with a toddler and a hurricane kind of derailed any plans I had...

Why I Love Autumn

***Author’s note:  Sorry I have been away from my blog for so long, but life with a toddler and a hurricane kind of derailed any plans I had this summer to write.***

Although each season holds its own charms, I have always particularly loved autumn.  This is a bit ironic since I am from San Diego where, as my husband would say, we only have two seasons, summer and almost summer.  However, autumn has always made me feel happy, like there are good times to come.

-Okay, I’ll admit it, I’m a nerd.  The first reason I have always loved autumn is the start of the school year.  I loved school, and the promise of a new year, with new subjects and new experiences.  I still feel an excitement when I go to Target and see the bins and shelves stocked with crisp white paper, organizing binders, and new pens, pencils and markers. 

-I am not a shorts, tank top, bathing suit girl.  When autumn comes I feel more comfortable in jeans, sweaters, coats.  My favorite moment is when I step outside, feel the coolness in the air and have to go back in for a sweater! 

-Now that I live in an area with “real” seasons, another reason to love autumn is the change in weather and the colors of the leaves before they fall off of the trees.  There’s a crispness to the air that makes it fun to be outside without the humidity and bugs of summer or the freezing conditions of winter.  And, bonus, you can have hot chocolate or hot apple cider when you come back inside!

-Halloween.  It is a great holiday!  I have loved scary movies from the time I was a little kid and my aunt would make me watch A Nightmare on Elm Street when she babysat me, to now when I got freaked out by Paranormal Activity.  There is something about autumn that makes you want to curl up with a good scary movie.  And I am not talking about the uber violent, ultra realistic movies like Hostel.  I am talking about old classics like Dracula, the original House of Wax with Vincent Price, or Frankenstein.  Even newer movies like my favorite Halloween, the first Scream, or a suspenseful, fun Sleepy Hollow.  Scary, or supernatural books are also a good read this time of year.  This is when I pull my Anne Rice, Charlaine Harris and Laurell K. Hamilton books off of the shelves for a re- read.   And, now that I am a mom, I get to find cute costumes for Ella, and this year she might be old enough to walk around the neighborhood.  Last year she was the cutest Ladybug I ever saw!

-Football season starts in autumn, and although I never thought I would be, I am a fan.  As I am writing this I am watching the Broncos/ Raiders game; as a die hard San Diego Chargers fan I am rooting AGAINST the Raiders.  There’s a sordid history relating to my extreme dislike of the Raiders, but that’s a story for another time.

-Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays.  I could say it’s because of the turkey, or the Pumpkin Pie Cake, or the cranberry sauce…but really it’s the memories.  Thanksgiving was always my grandma’s favorite holiday and she made it so special for the whole family and we had some of the best times.  In recent years the family has gotten bigger and we still had some great times around the Thanksgiving table.  Now that I am living away from my extended family with my own small family, we are starting some of our own traditions and making some great memories together.

All in all, autumn is a fun time of year that I truly appreciate.  We are planning to enjoy lots of activities like taking Ella to a pumpkin patch this year, and maybe going to New England to see the colorful leaves.  I hope you all take just a moment to stand outside and take a deep breath of crisp, autumn air and reflect on the beauty around you.  Oh, and GO CHARGERS!!!!!

Until next time…

Paulene

The End of an Era…

This week, on July 15, 2011, is the end of an era.  I am talking about the eighth and final Harry Potter film.  I know that I am only one of millions who has enjoyed the books and the films, but I just feel the need to explain why I am more than a little wistful about the release of the final film.

The first Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, was released in 2001.  This is the also the year I got married, and we moved out on our own.  When we saw the film, neither of us had read the books but we were so entertained and enthralled by the film that I ran out to Barnes and Noble the very next day and bought all four books that were out at the time.  We devoured the books and waited anxiously for the next movie.  The movie and the books, were a bonding experience for my husband and I.  While my husband loooooves movies, he had never really been much of a reader.  Now, I am a bookworm from way back.  I always wanted to discuss books with him and when we started reading the Harry Potter books, we had a series of books we both loved.  Every year we waited for the next movie to come out and made sure we saw it on opening day together. 

The first time we did not see a Harry Potter movie together was in 2009.  It was Harry Potter and the Half- Blood Prince.  My husband, who is in the Coast Guard, was away at school for five months.  At the time he had been gone three weeks and I missed him terribly, especially since the day before going to the movie I had found out I was pregnant!  I remember sitting in the dark theater and thinking that I couldn’t wait to share the books and movies with my child someday…and regretting the large soda I had sucked down! 

The only HP movie I didn’t see in the theater was Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, and that is because I was busy being a new mom.  However, I will be sitting in the theater on Friday, watching the final film, in a vastly different place than I was in while watching the first film both geographically and in my life. 

These movies will always have a special place in my heart because they will remind me of our journey through our first ten years of marriage and starting our family.  Of course, they are also just really good movies!

        

Until next time…

Paulene