What's New Wednesday -- My Grandson!

Chrisi had her baby!  Yes, I am officially a Lola (that's Grandma in Tagalog/Filipino).  Isn't he beautiful?  His name is James, after his father, and he turned one month old last week.  I can't stop looking at him.  That little face..... those beautiful eyes.... that nose & mouth just like his mommy's.... I swell with pride whenever I see him.

James is my very first grandbaby.  I never imagined how wonderful it would be to be a Lola.  Now I totally understand why my mom insisted on spoiling my kids rotten!  I want to do the same for James -- I can't help myself.  Every cute little baby boy thing I see, I think to myself, "James has to have that" or, "wow, that would be perfect for baby James."  

I have the urge to start a Baby James fund so I can buy the fun things I see for him or help pay for things he might need.  I want to send him little cards and letters even though I know he can't read yet.  Yes, I've given in to this urge already.  I want to put away dollar bills to slip him when his mom isn't looking (ha ha, my mom and my own Lola used to do that to my kids when they thought I couldn't see them).

I've already bought his Easter present!  Yes, Easter is at least three months away and his gift is already bought.  Kat and I picked the hat on the right, of course, since James is a boy.  I can hardly wait to see it on him!  Sandie of Knitzy Blonde is sending it to him next week in case Chrisi wants him to wear it in any pics with the Easter bunny and stuff.  Hand knit, custom made, just for baby James!  Nah, he's not at all spoiled... yet!

And I bought these ultra cool bottle bands (in ocean blue) from Swanky Press to put in his Easter basket.  They're reusable, sterilizable, dishwasher safe, and personalized!  And they'll fit most sport bottles, too, so he can use them even when he's outgrown his baby bottle & sippy cup!  So awesome!!

There's more..... I'm still shopping..... Oh my goodness, are all grandmothers like this??

~ Pia

Creativity is the Key

I love making cake pops because each one is a mini canvas just filled with potential -- I seem to be a frustrated artist, I think.    The pops with sprinkles all over them are fun because I get to be sort of carefree and just put them everywhere.  Some sprinkle pops are more fun because they involve drizzling a bit of candy in strategic patterns and then adding sprinkles on top of that.  But the pop designs I really love are the ones where I get to be even more creative -- character pops like clowns and superheroes and cowboys, animal pops like turkeys and ladybugs and octopi, and other pops like roses and candy corns and teapots.  When it comes to making things, the more creative the better.  So......

When I saw this video I just knew I had to post it!  It's a recipe for Gluten Free Vanilla Cake, and it is totally creative.  Take a look and see what you think:

Wish I could be as creative and skilled with the camera as this video maker.  Maybe I'll give it a shot one day.  For now, I'm content to sit back, relax, and enjoy this creative baker's masterpiece.  :)

~ Pia