Miscellany Monday...and it's about time!!!

Yes, I've been gone for too long.  But I tell ya, it's been a crazy few weeks in my little world!
Here's an update on what's happening in the Land of Kelli:

1.)  The Tasty Cupcakery is now up and running and boy oh boy...is it EVER doing well!  Our wonderful friends have helped spread the word and we are in awe of the way things are going.  It is AMAZING.  Already she has outgrown the space she's renting and at this rate she'll be looking for new digs in less than a year.  The sandwiches, soups, and certainly the sweets, are so good that people just keep coming back for more!  She hasn't even started week 2 yet and already she has catered a business luncheon, received several large orders for cupcakes, is doing a wedding cake and cupcake tower, and just doing her best to keep up with it all!  : )

2.)  Of course there was plenty of work to be done before the shop could open, so all of us chipped in and worked our little tails off until the place was ready for business.  I made two of these valances and I'm pretty pleased with how they turned out:

The space is small but it sure looks sharp with the colors and designs Brie chose.  : )

And of course we had to build an entire kitchen.  The room was just an empty space when we started and we had to be really creative in working with the layout, placement of sinks, etc. based on the plumbing and electrical locations.  I don't have a pic of the kitchen or I'd share it with you.  It works....for now.  ; )

3.)  Perri is now playing fall softball with the girls on her high school team and we're spending every Sunday afternoon in Buffalo, a town about 30-40 minutes from us, for tournaments.  I'm glad she's getting this opportunity to improve her skills so she's ready for the high school level of play when softball season rolls around in the spring.

4.)  Brie and I had our girls' night out last night.  Haven't done anything like that our midnight movie adventure last fall.  : )  This time it was to see Colbie Caillat (click the link and sit through a very short advertisement to see her latest video single) and it was AMAZING.  The Clay Center in Charleston, WV provides a wonderful and intimate venue for a concert.  We were pleasantly surprised to find out that Andy Grammer (click on this link to see the video of my FAVORITE song he performed last night) was opening for her...even though we really didn't know who he was.  ; )  The dude walked out on the stage, said "Hi!  I'm Andy" and started singing and we were totally blown away!  And he is not just a singer but an entertainer.  He had the audience pretty much wrapped around his little finger.  I was so impressed that I came home and bought his album on iTunes.  And I just know it will be on 'repeat' quite often.  ; )

I am so glad that this was what Brienne got as her FIRST EVER CONCERT EXPERIENCE!  : )

5.)  Brie and I made apple butter at a fundraiser for a local fire department on Saturday.  That is an ALL DAY job, ya know.  And after the week Brie had with the shop just opening and everything, I think this officially exhausted her.  ; )  PURE CRAZINESS...that's what life has been these past few weeks.

6.)  And that just about sums it all up.  Lots of bakery time, delivery time, time with the grandbabies, etc.  It's been crazy and I've barely had time to think, let alone blog.  But I have definitely missed you folks!  I'm going to try to carve out a little more time for myself so I can post a little more regularly.  It's all about routine, I know.  Just gotta work it in.  ; ) 

A Bee-autiful Weekend for Some Honey

This past weekend was a-buzz with activity. 
There were bee beards, beehives

and honey products out the wazoo. 
We were bee-yond excited to take part in the 

31st anniversary of the West Virginia State Honey Festival. 

(Okay...enough bad puns already.)

Before Brie was able to find a location for her cupcakery,

she had booked a couple of fairs/festivals where she could set up to sell.

She has decided to not set up at the one later this month
because it will mean closing the store for two days
and it is less than two weeks after she opens.

But I'm so glad she decided to go ahead and do the Honey Festival!

We had gorgeous weather, sold lots of stuff,
and met some really nice folks.  : )

I snapped a pic of our tables so you can see some of Brie's handiwork.  

The small containers are homemade marshmallows
and next to them are the honeybun cupcakes.  

YUMMY!

 These are my pepperoni rolls, with and without cheese. 

 Starting at the bottom:  pineapple upside down, strawberry rhubarb, black forest,

s'mores, peanut butter and chocolate, pancakes and bacon.

 Some of my faves...the strawberry rhubarb is killer!

 She had to bake several dozen more on Saturday night after we returned home from the festival.

The peanut butter-chocolate, honeybun and white wedding cake disappeared quickly!

And I'm pleased to say that I had to bake more pepperoni rolls, too!  

It was nice having customers return on Sunday before we closed 

because they had tried them on Saturday and wanted more.  : )

It was definitely a crazy/busy weekend and I missed my kids,

but it was also a good weekend and helped us get an idea of

which items need to be more heavily stocked.  

Grand opening is less than 2 weeks away!  : )

5QF

I'm hookin' up with MamaM for Five Question Friday.  It's always a good time so why not join in?  Just click here and link up.  The rules are simple and you never know...you just might make some new friends!  ; )

1. Did you make any fun purchases this week?

Ummmm.....let me think......NO!!! I haven't BEEN ANYWHERE to make any purchases this week!  Being a bit of a homebody lately. 

2. If you could go to any musical concert, what would it be?

My dream concert was The Eagles and thanks to The Hubster, I got to see them!  He paid WAY TOO MUCH for the tickets when they came to town and I have to say, it was worth EVERY.  SINGLE.  PENNY.  ; )

If I need to choose one that I still haven't seen, I think I'd have to say either Billy Joel or Elton John.  I've had a love affair with Billy's 52nd Street album since it was released back in....oh my.  1978.  SERIOUSLY???  1978???  

Okay, I feel old now. 

3. What is your least fav/ most fav house chore?

I hate scrubbing toilets.  YUCK.  But seriously, most favorite chore?  Is there really a favorite chore?  I guess I have to say I don't mind laundry too much.  Especially since my laundry room is now a sunny yellow and I have my super fantastic new washer and dryer.  : )

4. Would you prefer new appliances or clothes?

Right now I'd have to say new appliances.  Not because I don't like the ones I have!  I really do.  I love my double wall ovens and my five burner gas cooktop.  They make me happy.  : )  But I'd love to have a commercial kitchen.  I'm green with envy when I see Pioneer Woman's 'lodge'.  Oh, to have that at my fingertips!  The stuff that dreams are made of.  

5. Miracle Whip or Mayo?

Two words for ya: 

KRAFT MAYO

'Nuff said.  ; )

How DO YOU do it? A Plea for Tips, Tricks and Ideas

Okay.  

It's that time of year again.

School is back in session and so are all the after school practices,

football games (they start this Friday night),

homework time,

LOTS of routine.

So many things to keep track of, get scheduled, etc.

So, I bought a BIG dry erase, one-month calendar page

that will stick to the fridge.

The spaces are large enough to write in everything we have to do,

everywhere we have to be.

I hope.

Anyway, I'm working on getting that filled in 

and I'm also getting back to my meal planning 

and putting to good use my meal strategies 

that make my life a little easier.

I always try to keep 1 lb. pkgs. of browned, crumbled 

ground beef in the freezer for quick meal fixes,

and the same with Italian sausage.  

It makes it so easy to whip up a fast dinner.

But right now I need to stock up on...

well, pretty much

EVERYTHING!

So, all you busy moms out there,

share your secrets with me!

What is it that you do to keep it all 

running smoothly during those busy times?

Also, I have another issue I'm attempting to tackle.

Tucker has always carried a lunch from home

more often than he's eaten hot lunch at school.

Between his food allergies, texture issues 

and just plain and simple picky-ness, 

it's always been easier to assure that he had enough to eat

by packing his lunch.
Some days I just wanna say:

But now, with dietary guidelines being enforced,

school lunches have gotten so bad that even Perri

is packed most of the time.  

Let me tell you,

if Perri won't eat it...it's pretty bad.

So I'm packing a LOT of lunches these days 

and I'm really sick of packing the same ol' things.

This is me most days:

 See the confusion?

Is there anything unusual that you pack for your kids?

Any ideas you'd be willing to share?

Breakfast ideas are most welcome, too,

I'm currently on the lookout for recipes for nutritious 

but tasty muffins, breakfast bars, and any dishes

that could be made ahead of time to serve them before they

leave for school.  If they can hold it in their hands and eat it on the run,

so much the better!  Some of our mornings are rushed.

But we also have mornings where there is time to sit down

and eat a good breakfast before we leave the house.

If you've previously posted this sort of thing on your blog,

just leave me a link in the comments! 

If not but you're interested in hearing about the ideas 

I receive from others, let me know.

I think it would be great if we'd all band together

and share what works for us when it comes to 

streamlining our busy mornings

and keeping our kids healthy and well fed.  : )