~~FEMININE MATTERS~~

Butterfly Embellishments for Store Bought Cake

My Mother-in-law turned 90.  I couldn't bake a cake. My carpal tunnel problems hindered me with all the stirring and mixing (no, I do not own a cool mixer).  So I went to Wall-mart and bought a funky cake, because my 90-year-old mother-in-law is a fashionista who wears royal blue nail polish and has a penchant for "funky" stuff. Just any old plain cake would not do.

I started with the funky teal and purple iced cake and had them add her Happy Birthday Gloria salutation.

Then went to the Dollar Tree and bought a package of three little netted butterflies and added them to that giant purple bizarre silk dahlia that was plopped on top of the cake.  Those darling little butterflies created the perfect picture for a lady who loves blitzy bling and sequined, beaded purses that match her colorful sandals.  

Then I found some pearlized aqua gumballs to add to the top of the cupcakes. No, she didn't chew on a gumball...but her great-grandchildren loved those for treats.

It was a sweet time for all and was totally surprised to have us celebrate her 90th as we gathered at the Assisted Living Home.

She's all dolled-up in the new top her daughter sent her from Florida.  The beaded necklace was the perfect match from her great-granddaughter.

And of course, what could be better than having her eldest son, doing the honors of lighting her candles? 

We should all live to be ninety and have such fun... don't ya think?

Contact Paper and the Dreaded Job of Removing It

Whoever thought up contact paper should have been locked up forever in a psyche ward.  Seriously. 

I just spent hours upon hours trying to chisel that stuff off my linen closet and vanity shelves and drawers.  It was disgusting.  I even enlisted my husband after he'd worked all day to help me get at the floor-level shelves which I can't get down to because of my feeble weak muscles.

He did 3 shelves until I noticed his face had turned beet red. That's when I made him come out from under the vanity in our Master bath.  His weak heart had had all it could take of the workout his arms and shoulders were giving it.  I made him switch to the less strenuous job of taking off the three doorknobs in the bedroom.

I know the former owners of my house had the best of intentions when they lined their shelves with that plastic-coated shield of sticky goo.  But that contact paper was nasty.  I used a putty knife to pick at it.  With my Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, it was not easy.  Good thing my Carpal Tunnel problems aren't as pronounced in my hands as they are in my shoulders.  Ibuprofen should help ease the aftershocks of my riveting and scraping.

I've got one more shelf to undress tomorrow morning-- (the one I wouldn't let hubby finish tonight).  Am praying my body isn't in full rebellion when I awaken.  If so, I may have the painter paint over the stinking mess and forget about it.

I wondered if I heated it with a hairdryer if it would let loose any easier.  However, my hairdryer was 30 minutes away in my other house.  I will find out tomorrow.  Am taking it with me. 

UPDATE: LUCKY ME... the hair dryer worked!!! I had to heat it up in small areas but it pulled loose and came off in chunks. After I got the bright idea of using my hair dryer, I googled how to remove contact paper and found a great technique that showed two ways of doing it.  For future reference, you might want to take a peek [HERE].  Hopefully I will never have to remove contact paper ever again.

COFFEE POT BREAKDOWN EMERGENCY

Got up this a.m. and hubby didn't have any coffee made.  Horrors!!!

"What happened?  Where's the java?"

"Pot is broke.  It was making all kinds of noises."

Bummer.  What's a gal to do when the coffee pot breaks down?  Well, if one's daughter is up, you can run next door and borrow her extra pot or make a cup in her Kuerig.  However, when it is 6 a.m., ya don't wanna wake that little bear.  No, no, no.

So, I just poured some coffee in a coffee filter, gathered it shut, and clipped it with a paper clip.  You know.  One of those big chrome and black ones?  Worked like a charm.  Then I placed my coffee-ball-bag in a pot of water, brought it to a boil, waited a few minutes and "TA DAH!" Coffee, my way.  A whole pot.  All I had to do is warm it a bit in the microwave to the temp my dainty little tongue tolerates.  Ahhh... the joy of being me.  Sometimes I amaze myself.