Up on the Rooftop...

Reindeer pause. Out jumps good old Santa Claus....
Wait, it's too early in the year for reindeer and Santa to be on my roof! So who could it have been? Honestly, I have no idea! This morning I decided to sleep in a little until 8:30ish since I have a sinus infection - yippee! I thought the extra sleep might help me feel a little better since I had a hard time sleeping last night since I couldn't breathe well. Anywhoo, I woke up at 8:00 on the dot because I heard a strange noise - Gracie heard it too so I was not dreaming. I originally thought someone had broken into the house, but then I realized that the sound was coming from above me. So, in a one-story house that means the roof. I sat in bed with Gracie and my cell phone and listened to the rooftop noise. The noise finally stopped and I ran to look out the windows and saw no one. I'm still not sure who was on my roof but I know there was someone up there.
I called Adam to see if he had called anyone to check out the roof, which he didn't. I know he thinks I'm crazy but I know what someone on the roof sounds like - we've had a few roof leaks, so we've had plenty of people on the roof! So I am assuming that the warranty guys from the builder's office probably climbed up on the wrong roof. Next time I hope they at least knock on the door to let me know they are about to climb up on my roof!

West Side Shopper!

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!
Last Wednesday I met with a fellow BNI member so we could learn more about each other's professions in order to help each other get referral for our businesses. Dr Stasney owns Years Younger MediSpa here in Knoxville. It is a wonderful place to go for skin treatments and wellness treatments. It's basically like a dermatologist office, physician's office and spa rolled into one!
Anywho, while Dr. Stasney and I were having our meeting, a photographer came by to take a picture for an article she was doing about Dr. Stasney and his office. They decided that I would be a good candidate to be in the photo! I actually don't really like having my picture taken all that much, but I figured that I would be a good sport and help out Dr. Stasney! The funny thing is that in the photo he is supposed to be demonstrating Hormone Replacement Therapy! He actually went through a consultation with me very similar to the consultation that his other patients receive! He put this hormone cream on my hand (see photo) and I looked at him strangely. He then told me that there was actually no hormones in this cream - it was just cream! Wheew, the last thing I need is more hormones!
So amazingly enough, we made the front page! So check it out!

A Big Love Weekend!

Yesterday was the Sexton Family Reunion and it coincided with Mamaw's 75th birthday and the Mississippi State game! So Friday and Saturday morning I was busy making Mamaw's surprise birthday cake (click here to check it out). David came in from Nashville for the reunion, and Adam's cousin Kellye, her husband Wayne, and her friends Stacey and Tom came in for the game! Friday night we all went out to hear some live music and catch up and then Saturday we split off into groups: me, Adam, David and Sarah went to the Sexton Family Reunion, and the rest went to the big game!
The Sexton Family Reunion was on a small farm, at a barn in Friendsville! It was great! There was a nice warm bonfire, since the weather finally started to feel like October! We petted cows, and grilled hamburgers (none that we knew!) and hotdogs and ate lots of other amazing food! Then I ran out to the car to assemble Mamaw's cake - so the cake was not what I would call perfection since a car is not the ideal spot for cake decorating! Then I managed to sneak the cake down to the barn and we all sang Happy Birthday! It was so funny because we call her "Mamaw" but the rest of the family calls her "Theresa" or "Aunt Theresa," so when we got to the part where you say the birthday person's name there was a slight pause and then there was a mumbled "Mamaw-Theresa-Aunt Theresa........" - all three in unison!
Then the other highlight of the evening: we all gathered around the bonfire. The kids and a few grown ups cooked marshmallows on the fire and Adam's cousin, Jonathan Sexton played the guitar and sang several of his songs along with Amazing Grace, Let the Circle Be Unbroken and I'll Fly Away! The first song he sang was off his album Big Love, called "Love In My Heart"and he dedicated it to Papaw and Uncle Billy, who were definitely there in spirit!
Jonathan is a very talented artist. Check him out on his myspace page and then buy the Big Love Album - it's fantastic!

P.S. My Favorite songs: Places You Are, Big Love, Babylon, Love In My Heart, Wedding Song, and all the rest!

Get the Facts

No matter what party you support, and especially if you are still undecided about the Presidential Debate, go check the facts about the candidates and their campaigns by clicking here!

Then go Rock the Vote!

UT vs UGA game day snack

Adam's cousin made this snack at the UT vs. Florida game. I loved it so much that I looked it up on the food network to find a similar recipe and found out that Paula Deen is the creative genius behind the snack. Adam and I are having friends over tomorrow for the game and so while making the snack again for tomorrow I realized this is the perfect snack for tomorrow's game because it's orange and white with a little red in it!

Here's the Pimiento Cheese Recipe from Paula Deen:

Ingredients:

• 1 (8-ounce) package shredded sharp Cheddar
• 1 (8-ounce) package shredded white Cheddar
• 1 (4-ounce) jar pimientos, with juice
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• Salt and pepper

Directions

Mix the shredded cheeses together with the pimientos. Stir in the mayonnaise. With a metal spoon (pimientos will stain plastic or wood), stir until the mixture is well blended. Add salt and pepper to taste and stir again. Keep covered in the fridge until ready to use.

Serve with corn chips or bread.

P.S. I don't use as much mayonnaise because Adam hates mayonnaise. I use no more than 2 Tablespoons of mayo! Also we use the Townhouse cookies that taste buttery instead of corn chips or bread!

A Sweet Affair Blogspot

I decided to give my cakes their own blog, since I am starting to make cakes for people!! The cake blog will just be cakes or cake related topics, so basically a cake portfolio!
So, if you know of someone who needs A Sweet Affair, send them to Amanda Claire!
at www.asweetaffair.blogspot.com

Good Luck Chuck

I am being incredibly facetious in the title of this blog. As much as Adam and I love our newest fur child, Chuck, he seems to have brought the bad luck with him - for us, not for himself! Today was a perfect example! Chuck was adopted from a no-kill pet adoption agency in Cleveland, TN, called the ARK. Part of the deal with ARK animals is that they get a free spay or neutering through a local vet clinic in Cleveland. Originally, the person that gave Chuck to us said that they would help with the transportation to the vet's office in Cleveland for the neutering, but was unable to work her schedule around it. Adam and I have been fairly patient with Chuck's wild and crazy behavior, but the time finally came to remove his motivation for craziness!
Last week I called the vet's office to make the appointment for Chuck. Since I would have to drive 70 miles to the vet's office, I asked how long the procedure would take so I could plan my day accordingly. At the time of making the appointment the receptionist told me that Chuck had to be dropped off by 8 am and would most likely be ready to go home by 1ish. So today I got up early and drove Chuck to Cleveland (with him crying the entire way, which can really wear on one's nerves). I walked into the office at 7:55 am - just in the nick of time! There was already another customer in the office waiting. The long of the short of this part of the story is that we waited about 20 minutes for anyone to finally come to the front desk to help us - seriously. I filled out my paperwork for Chuck and then the receptionist tells me that Chuck will not be done until 4 pm. I am pretty sure my eyes bulged out of my head. I asked her why it would take so long and she said that cats do not do well with anesthesia, and usually take several hours to wake up. She told me to drive another 30 miles to Chattanooga and hang out at the mall, since there is nothing to do in Cleveland. Then Chuck and I had to wait in a room for another 20 minutes for a consultation with the surgery tech. She told me that Chuck would be done by 5 pm or tomorrow morning at the latest. I politely told her that I didn't have the option for tomorrow because I live out of town. I told her to call if Chuck happened to miraculously wake up early, so I could him back home as soon as possible.
I left Chuck and the vet's office fuming! I typically don't get mad easily, but this incident really got to me. I drove down the street and pulled over in a parking lot and went off - luckily it was just me in the car! After talking to Adam, I decided to just drive back to Knoxville to get my work done for the day. I have a cake due for a friend tomorrow morning and was nowhere near finished. So, I drove the 70 miles back to Knoxville. I got off the interstate at the exit for our house and while I was sitting at the stoplight, the vet's office called. I was expecting them to tell me that he was out of surgery and doing well, but still sleeping. OH NO! As luck (not sure if it's good or bad luck) would have it, Chuck was awake and ready to go home! I couldn't believe it! I told them that I would come pick him up soon. I drove to the house and ate a snack - still fuming. I called the vet's office to double check that Chuck could actually come home. The receptionist told me that they just gases him instead of putting him under so that I wouldn't have to wait all day. I have to admit that it was nice of them to think of me and my situation, but I really wished they had called me earlier to tell me their change of plans!
Chuck is home! He had tons of energy almost all day today until about 9 pm. I think he is starting to wear down. Hopefully he will recover well. We've both had a bit of a rough day!

Sarah's Wedding!!

This past weekend, my good friend Sarah got hitched! She had a beautiful wedding outdoors at a park in Burns, TN. Her gown was gorgeous - perfect for Sarah! She had a beautiful cake that tasted yummy - the yellow jackets thought so too!
A couple of girlfriends from high school and I all rode to the wedding together. It was a blast just hanging out with the girls!
This coming weekend Adam and I are attending our last wedding of the year!

Here are a few pictures!

Valerie (our driver) and Jennifer

Heather, Jessica and Me at the reception

the yummy cake

Lindsey - the maid of honor

The Beautiful Bride and Groom

Bouquet Toss!

The Send Off

Heather dropped her phone in the trash!

Heather's birthday was a few days before the wedding so we embarrassed her at dinner by having the servers come out singing Happy Birthday!!