IRS and Cake Decorating

I never in a million years thought I'd ever hear from the IRS. But it happened. I do my own taxes every year so I have no one to blame but myself. Somehow I managed to not claim part of our income last year, so our refund was larger than it should have been and sure enough the IRS is wanting it back, plus interest. Now we are not rich people moneywise, we live pretty much paycheck to paycheck, so this is a big hurt for us. So I have gotten a second job. A few years back I was a cake decorator for Publix Supermarkets here in Florida. I loved that job, but wasn't able to stay with it. Now the opportunity to decorate cakes has come knocking at my door. What timing! My nephew L.D.'s wife, Jen, is a bakery manager for Winn Dixie, another local grocery store. She needed a cake decorator a.s.a.p. So here I am....going to work for Jen. I can only work weekends and some nights if she really needs me too, but that works out great for both of us. So this weekend I am going to try to get some practice in on my roses and other tips, as I haven't decorated in quite awhile. I am really looking forward to this because I enjoy it so much. Plus the extra $$ will come in handy right now. We will overcome this obstacle and we will enjoy doing it, lol. If my practice icings don't look too bad I may be brave and take some pics to share. This will mean my blog time will be cut down significantly(like I really blog alot anyways, lol). So wish me luck....not exactly sure when my first day will be, but I'll let you know.

Locks of Love Haircut

Hut, before his haircut.
Hut, after his haircut.


As you all know, my wonderful husband had his haircut today for the Locks of Love. He's been growing his hair for just a little over 6 months. It started out as a contest with his boss, who was also growing his hair for the Locks of Love. But T. Michael's hair wasn't growing very fast and his hair is really curly, so he kind of gave up. Hut kept on. I kept waiting for a Locks of Love event, as they are usually posted in the newspapers, but no such luck. Then low and behold....a State Farm employee walked in last Friday with a flyer about an event they were having today in downtown Winter Haven. The salon that did the cutting is called Haircut Naturally. It is on Central and 3rd, well really 3rd. It was the neatest place. Hut got his haircut in an elevator shaft....yep. I wish I had a better camera to take pictures....it was the coolest thing. Especially since the building has only one floor. And Haircut Naturally is usually closed on Mondays, but they donated their time to do this. The employees were told they could work the event if they wanted to and do you know they ALL showed up and donated their time. How awesome is that. Well without further ado, here's Hut's haircut...............

Hut's hair before we even get to the hair salon.

Hut sitting in the chair, waiting for his cut. I love this shot with the back of his hair in the mirror.

Not a great shot, but this is Chuck, cutting Hut's ponytail off. I wish I had gotten a better picture of Chuck.

Hut, holding his prized ponytail.

Hut's new look. I just love it!

We have a WINNER!!!!

Sorry it took me so long to get to this post. Today was the day Hut got his hair cut for Locks of Love. But that is a post for another day. I won't make you wait any longer....well, yeah, maybe I will.....

Here is Hut folding the papers with the names on them.

This is my biggest bowl....boy that's alot of names.Here is Hut drawing the name out of the bowl. So that means the winner is........................................................................have you waited long enough???

Melinda Oakes. Thanks, Melinda, for helping out my nephew Griffin. And thanks to everyone else who donated. It is a worthwhile cause and you are all the best, most thoughtful, wonderful (I could go on and on) people. Thank you all for helping Griffin with his Trike-a-thon. (Melinda, get with Missy with your mailing address so I can get this out to you)

Just a reminder...Griffin's Basket Giveaway!

This is just a reminder that you have until midnight PST to make a donation to Griffin's Trike-a-thon to be eligible for a chance win this yummy basket. We will draw the winner's name tomorrow and I will post it in the afternoon. Here's what you have to look forward to..........

This is the basket I chose to give away for Griffin's Trike/Bike a thon for the St. Jude's Children's Hospital. O'Keefe's is a local gift store and they have the most amazing things in there. And there are always gift baskets there for any occasion. This basket has lots of sweet, yummy goodies. Here's a list:Chocolate Raspberry Creme Coffee

Salted Virginia Peanuts

A variety pack of stick candy

A small flower pot with some cute flowers

Graham crackers covered in white chocolate

White chocolate covered oreo cookie

Peanut Butter Chocolate Fudge

Gumdrop candies

Honey Roasted PeanutsPeanut Butter Chocolate covered pretzels

Tiger Spice Chai Tea.

Hopefully this yummy basket will entice you to make a donation to Griffin's cause. For each dollar that is donated, you get one chance......you make a $5 donation, you get 5 chances. Those of you that have already donated will be included in this also. To make a donation, just click the button at the top of my sidebar. Thank you for making this such a wonderful learning experience for Griffin. The drawing for this will be Monday, March 23. The last chance to enter will be midnight Sunday, March 22 PST.

Also, don't forget that Missy is posting some really great pieces for scrapbooking. By purchasing her pieces, you will be entered into a drawing for an awesome Bunny scrapbooking piece. I've already purchased 2 pieces just because they are so dang cute. Go check her out....send your friends....oh yeah, send your friends here too.

PS. Hut did a blog today, whoo hoo! Check him out by clicking the Simpleman link on my sidebar.

Locks of Love Hair-Cut-A-Thon

Before I get into this blog, I just wanted to give you some insight on this awesome cause. So I went to the website and copied and pasted this about Locks of Love. I will continue with my explaination at the bottom.

WHAT IS LOCKS OF LOVE?
Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. We meet a unique need for children by using donated hair to create the highest quality hair prosthetics. Most of the children helped by Locks of Love have lost their hair due to a medical condition called alopecia areata, which has no known cause or cure. The prostheses we provide help to restore their self-esteem and their confidence, enabling them to face the world and their peers.
Mission Statement
Our mission is to return a sense of self, confidence and normalcy to children suffering from hair loss by utilizing donated ponytails to provide the highest quality hair prosthetics to financially disadvantaged children. The children receive hair prostheses free of charge or on a sliding scale, based on financial need.

Disclaimer:
Locks of Love is a non-religious, non-political, not-for-profit entity. Further, Locks of Love does not take positions or align itself with any special interests. Any event taking place as part of a religious, political or any other special interest group does not reflect the views or opinions of Locks of Love.
It is Locks of Love’s mission to promote the well-being of children through its program of providing hairpieces. All events and fundraisers held on behalf of Locks of Love should uphold and reflect the mission and desire to help disadvantaged children.

Okay.....on with my explaination. My husband has been growing his hair for quite awhile so he could donate to this cause. He's been putting it off and putting it off....who knows why. So today at work an employee walked in with a flyer for Locks of Love. They are having a Hair-Cut-A-Thon on Monday, March 23 here in Winter Haven. It starts at 3:00 pm. I am going to get him an appointment for after 3:30 since that's what time he gets off work. And I will be there with the camera, taking lots of before and after pics and probably pics of other donating too. For those of you who live in the Winter Haven area and are interested or know someone who might be, here's the info:

When: Monday, March 23, 2009
Where: Hair Cut Naturally (Downtown Winter Haven)
Time: 3:00 pm

They will be serving refreshments, a certificate of appreciation and a gift for anyone who participates.

Contact Information:
Call Ali Lewis @ 863-412-2797 for more information and appointment.

Update......I just spoke with Ali, who is in charge of this event. She said that Hair Cut Naturally ( 3rd St. and Central Ave)will stay open as late as they need to for haircuts. They are charging $15 per cut, but that includes styling and everything. Locks of Love is in dire need of hair for these wigs.

I am looking forward to this event. I am tired of Hut's hair being longer than mine, lol. I just wish mine was long enough to donate too.

Coconut Cake

Last Saturday we took a trip to the Ocala National Forest to visit relatives. What usually takes two hours, took four. We were unaware that there was a HUGE fire and they had some roads closed. The two ways we knew to go were both closed. So in order to visit, we had to drive 75 miles out of our way. But we just thought of it as a new adventure. We saw parts of Florida that we had never seen. Most were really small towns or just lots of orange groves and farmland. I was thrilled because I am so tired of seeing so many strip malls and housing developements being built and sitting empty while all of our natural resources are being taken away. Whew, sorry about that.....overdevelopement upsets me. It was nice to see Florida the way it used to be. I wished I had my camera with me (of all days to forget it). I was hoping to see a bear....I've yet to see one on any of my trips. Others have seen them so I know they are there. I did however see a Llama in the woods. Yes, a Llama. Not what I was expecting to see.

Now I know you are all wondering why I'm talking about the Ocala National Forest when the title of the blog is Coconut Cake. Well here's that story. Where the relatives lives is a very small town called Salt Springs. It consists of 1 gas station, 1 grocery store(not even a big chain one), 1 ice cream stand, 1 restaurant, 1 pawn shop, 1 campground, and 1 mobile home community. Not even a traffic light....boy do I love it up there. Anyways, there is a small strip mall where the 1 restaurant is located along with the post office. Every Saturday they have a small flea market there. So of course we went. There may have been 20 vendors if that many. Some had homemade furniture, others had homemade jams, jellies, pickles. One lady had tons of books. The rest pretty much had "junque". There was one table that had the most beautiful handpainted glassware. This woman painted plates, glasses, wine glasses and carafes, cake plates. Oh did I say cake plates???? Yes. My husband fell in love with one and for only $20 I made him a happy man by buying him one. So of course on the way home we stopped at the store so he could pick up stuff to make a Coconut Cake. And yes, HE made the cake. And boy is it good. So I just wanted to share a couple of pictures, one of the cake plate and one of the cake. ENJOY!
Isn't this cake plate gorgeous???? She had some with other types of flowers and some with awesome palm trees (which I would have picked but oh well). This one has pinkish, purplish flowers all the way around it.
And the piece de resistance.............Coconut Cake du jour. Can you believe only two of us have been eating that and it was only bake Tuesday night???? Wish I could send you all a piece. My hubby is the best!

Girffin's Giveaway Basket

This is the basket I chose to give away for Griffin's Trike/Bike a thon for the St. Jude's Children's Hospital. O'Keefe's is a local gift store and they have the most amazing things in there. And there are always gift baskets there for any occasion. This basket has lots of sweet, yummy goodies. Here's a list:
Chocolate Raspberry Creme Coffee
Salted Virginia Peanuts
A variety pack of stick candy
A small flower pot with some cute flowers
Graham crackers covered in whit chocolate
White chocolate covered oreo cookie
Peanut Butter Chocolate Fudge
Gumdrop candies
Honey Roasted Peanuts
Peanut Butter Chocolate covered pretzels
Tiger Spice Chai Tea.

Hopefully this yummy basket will entice you to make a donation to Griffin's cause. For each dollar that is donated, you get one chance......you make a $5 donation, you get 5 chances. Those of you that have already donated will be included in this also. To make a donation, just click the button at the top of my sidebar. Thank you for making this such a wonderful learning experience for Griffin. The drawing for this will be Monday, March 23. The last chance to enter will be midnight Sunday, March 22 PST.

Also, don't forget that Missy is posting some really great pieces for scrapbooking. By purchasing her pieces, you will be entered into a drawing for an awesome Bunny scrapbooking piece. I've already purchased 2 pieces just because they are so dang cute. Go check her out....send your friends....oh yeah, send your friends here too.