5 Year Natural Hair Mark

  
I'm sure you're familiar with the term "natural hair" by now. It's been going around for the past few years. I've been natural for over five and a half years. It has been a long, and sometimes challenging journey. The first time I went natural was shortly after my wedding in August 2007. My beautician talked me into to doing it. Healthy, thick hair were just some of the great results she promised. I only lasted six months before I caved in and permed my hair! I couldn't do it. I was so use to permed hair and didn't know how to manage this "new hair." All of the products I used before didn't seem to work. Frustration soon led to giving up and going back to what was familiar.

     It was almost a year later, three months after having my son James, I decided to give it another try. I was so busy taking care of a newborn that I didn't have time to get my hair permed. I thought to myself, It's already been three months, I might as well see how long I can last. Five and half years later I can't imagine giving up now!!! Once I learned what products and hair styles worked for me, it wasn't so difficult. I actually find it easier to deal with my natural hair. I don't have to use as much products and styles last longer.
 Here is a brief video I made for my YouTube page about my progress.

Happy Thanksgiving

                       

Two Brothers One Couch

     Soon after giving birth to Jase, I decided to take pictures of him every week for a year. I told my husband, "It would be awesome to see him grow week by week in each photo." But soon my maternal instincts kicked. "What about James? I didn't want him to feel left out. So I decided I would take a picture of the two of them every week for a year together on my sofa.
    
     The first photo shoot was so much fun! But as time went by and my schedule grew more crowded it began to become harder and harder. There were times that I had to double on a week because I forgot and there were times the boys just didn't want to take a picture. This was one of the HARDEST things I have every committed to doing. Believe me, I wanted to quit more than a few times. I'm glad I didn't because this was also one of the BEST and most rewarding things I have ever done. What started out as a photographic project for one son turned into a bonding session between two brothers that emanates from each photo.

Chocolate Crusting Buttercream

I've received some requests to post the chocolate crusting buttercream recipe that I use when I decorate my cakes. I used chocolate buttercream in the "How to Make a Quick and Easy Camouflage Cake" tutorial I posted on my blog and on YouTube. I tend to use Chocolate Buttercream whenever I need black frosting because I don't have to add as much black dye as I would if I used vanilla / white frosting. Believe me, it takes a lot, I mean a lot of black dye to get white icing the perfect shade of black. And if you achieve that dark, rich shade of black that you want, there usually is a lingering after taste which is not good. As a decorator and as a baker, you always want a perfect balance between taste and appearance.

Chocolate Crusting Buttercream Recipe
1/2 cup of vegetable shortening
1/2 cup of butter
3/4 cup cocoa
1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract or madagascar bourbon vanilla
4 cups of sifted powdered sugar (confectioner's sugar)
3-4 tablespoons of milk or water

Will yield around  3 cups of icing...stiff consistency.
Add 6-7 tablespoons of milk to get medium consistency.

Directions:
In large bowl, mix shortening and butter with electric mixer. Add cocoa and vanilla extract, then gradually add powdered sugar one cup at a time. Beat well on medium speed. Icing will appear dry and crumbly. Add milk or water and beat at medium speed until icing is fluffy. Any additional milk or water should be added one tablespoon at a time, until you achieve the consistency that you want.

How to Make a Quick and Easy Buttercream Mustache Cake

I finally got around to making a cake for one of the biggest trends right now....the mustache! 

I recently had a birthday party for my son Jase, who turned one, and my husband John. 

It was so much fun and it's such a cute theme for all ages!! 

Once I decided I was going to have a mustache bash and I picked out the cake design, I knew I wanted to do a tutorial and share it with you guys. The cake looks complicated but its actually very easy. It basically comes down to four steps: 

Step One: Bake cake in a round pan (any size you want)

Step Two: Cut a yin yang pattern into cake 

Step Three: Turn one side over and align pieces making the mustache design

Step Four: Frost cake 

Hope you enjoy it as much as I did and as always Happy Caking!! 

Just a Thought