all time top 5 power songs

When I work out, when I'm going through a break-up, when I'm having a down day, when I'm on the road and really tired, when I've had a fight, or when I'm headed to an interview or other life-altering situations, I need me some power music. And I need it loud. Really loud so I can sing at the top of my lungs. These are the top five power songs I listen to in those moments.

1. No Man's Woman. Sinead O'Connor
2. Talk To Me Now. Ani DiFranco
3. Soldier. Ingrid Michaelson
4. Leave. The Swell Season
5. Scream. Michael Jackson

Yes, those are the best. But, there are several others that just missed the list. They are all on my new power song playlist.

Right Through You. Alanis Morissette
Respect. P!nk
Not Ready To Make Nice. Dixie Chicks
Stronger. Kanye West
Mercy. Duffy
Lose Yourself. Eminem
Holla Back Girl. Gwen Stefanie
Closer To Fine. Indigo Girls
Give Me One Reason. Tracy Chapman
Don't Stop Believin'. Journey
Gel. Collective Soul
F***k You. Lily Alan
Since You've Been Gone. Kelly Clarkson
Stupid Girl. P!nk
Headstrong. Trapt

recent craftiness

I played around with the oreo balls that my sister is so famous for and made chocolate peanut butter balls. they were amazing!!! like I have said before, chocolate and peanut butter are a match made in heaven, this recipe confirms that for any of you that doubted me. I'm no photographer, but they look delicious, right? It's way easy to make too! here's the recipe:

1 package Nutter Butters
1 box cream cheese
1/2 c peanut butter

mix all together in a food processor until smooth. roll into balls and dip in melted almond bark. let cool on wax paper and enjoy!

I also made this for Amber. I can't remember why but, the colors are her favorite. they are clothes pin magnets for her fridge.

and last but not least, here are the last two cards I have done for card club. very simple, but I like them. sorry the last one is so dark!

july playlist - rolling with the punches

July was an interesting month. lots of pondering about what to do with my life. this is the playlist that was playing in the background during all of that deep thought.

1. Today. Joshua Radin
2. Lovers Without Love. Joshua James
3. Beautiful World. Colin Hay
4. Duet. Rachel Yamagata
5. On Your Porch. The Format
6. The Fear You Won't Fall. Joshua Radin
7. Just To Be Me. Josh Kelley
8. Hey Love. Chris O'Brien
9. Break Down Here. Julie Roberts
10. Colby's Song. Joshua James
11. Overkill. Colin Hay
12. Think of You. A Fine Frenzy
13. There Is No Arizona. Jamie O'Neal
14. If It Kills Me. Jason Mraz
15. This Is For. Ingrid Michaelson
16. Blackbird. Evan Rachel Wood
17. Rock Your Soul. Elisa
18. Mad. Ne-Yo

my two cents

I can't hold it in any longer. I have to be heard. most of you that know me know how passionate I am about health care reform. and when I'm this passionate, I can't hold it in. so... here are my two cents.

my parents both worked while I was growing up. they both still do. but I never had insurance until I got my first full time job on the Gephardt for President campaign in 2003. going to the doctor was a very rare occurrence. even when my sister had Pneumonia she wasn't taken to see a doctor until she looked and felt like she actually might die. they just couldn't afford it even though they worked harder than most Americans and paid just as much in taxes. there is nothing right about that.

when I was 19 my dad has his first heart attack. because we lived hours from the nearest hospital he had to be life flighted to Grand Junction, CO, had surgery and stayed for a week. over the next seven years he had four more heart attacks with the same result. life flights, surgery, extended stays in hospitals. with no insurance the bills added up to over half a million dollars. my dad lost his house, his truck, his job, and ended up having to go bankrupt - twice. all of this because of a health issue.

right now, my sister and her husband don't work. they are living on unemployment and food stamps. they get free doctor visits, dentist visits, and eye doctor visits. my other sister and her husband both work full time and have no health care. they pay taxes and get nothing while my other sister pays no taxes and gets everything.

these are just my own personal examples of what is wrong with our country's health care system. there are a million other reasons. check out this amazing article titled The Brutal Truth About America's Healthcare. it's been 97 years since the health care debate began in congress, and it's absolutely ridiculous that it still hasn't been fixed. the fact that anyone out there likes the status quo and sees no reason to improve the system just completely boggles my mind. they have to be sitting on a very pretty policy of their own. probably military health care. the best in the country. and oh yeah, who runs that? that's right - the government does! we know the government can do it, and do it well, and there are no reasons besides selfishness and ignorance to be against Obama's plan. your precious private health care will still be available to you, and the competition will still be alive between companies. the difference is that all those people out there struggling to make ends meet who need medication and care will finally be able to get it. their load will be lightened, their pain will be eased, their lives will be saved, and all with tax money they are already giving to their government. they deserve it. they work for it and sacrifice in their own way for our country every day.

Obama will not approve a plan that raises our taxes, and the quality of our system will not be effected. the plan is an improvement. plain and simple. so, please, read all the facts and think it through with an open mind before you go storm trooping against Obama and his plan. right now our helath care system is 37th in the world. yes, it's that bad. yes, millions of our citizens cross the borders to get more affordable health care. it isn't working here. our people are suffering. this country deserves better and has the capacity to do better for it's people.

crave cake?

I love Ace of Cakes! I'm obsessed. I record every episode on my DVR and sometimes even take notes while I watch. working with Duff and the gang at Charm City Cakes would be the ultimate dream job for me. and since I'm a caterer, I decided I should have sweet cake skills. so, I took a class from Jaxon here at Viking Cooking School. it was fabulous! Jaxon was a great teacher, and we had a ton of fun and learned some mad skills. I was scared, but I fell in love with fondant. I want to make fondant cakes every day! here are some pics from that day.



I thought we did pretty well for our first time. and now I'm getting a lot of requests from friends to make cakes for them. Amber and I did our first one yesterday. it was a 2nd birthday party for an adorable little girl. we made her a hungry caterpillar. what do you think?


if anyone needs a cake, hit me up! I love to do it, and am charging for ingredients only while improve my skills.

today's breakfast

I had one of my favorite breakfasts today - raspberry yogurt cornmeal pancakes. I just have to share the recipe with everyone. why keep something this yummy all to myself??

raspberry yogurt cornmeal pancakes
1 box jiffy cornbread mix
1 cup raspberry yogurt (or whatever flavor you prefer)
2 eggs
1/4 c vegetable oil

when you cook these, the heat should be medium low. they take a little longer too cook, burn easily, and don't really rise. I eat them with butter and maple syrup and it's delicious! let me know if any of you try them.