Personal Work

Sydney

*taken with my camera phone

New Favorite Movie Clip

Picture Overlays

Gina
Here's some ideas for overlays. If you need any more explanation just let me know, but here are some different examples of overlays.

Sugar Ghost Cupcakes

Sarah made these last night. They're super tasty!
So here's the recipe!

• 24 Servings
• Prep: 3 hours Bake: 20 min. + cooling

Ingredients

• 1 package (18-1/4 ounces) chocolate cake mix
• FONDANT:
• 1 package (16 ounces) miniature marshmallows
• 4 to 5 tablespoons water
• 1 package (2 pounds) confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 cup shortening
• DECORATING:
• 1 can (16 ounces) vanilla frosting
• Blue, orange and green paste food coloring
• Miniature peanut butter cups
• Malted milk balls
• Clear vanilla extract

Directions

• Prepare and bake cake mix according to package directions for cupcakes; cool completely on wire racks.
• In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine marshmallows and 2 tablespoons water. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 1-1/2 to 2 minutes or until melted, stirring every 30 seconds. Stir in three-fourths of the sugar; turn onto a work surface coated with 3 tablespoons shortening.
• Knead until smooth and pliable, gradually adding remaining sugar and shortening. If necessary, moisten with remaining water. Wrap fondant in plastic wrap to prevent it from drying out.
• To decorate, set aside 1/4 cup frosting. Tint remaining frosting blue; frost cupcakes.
• For ghosts: Invert two peanut butter cups and stack, securing together with a small amount of reserved frosting. Top with a malted milk ball, attaching with frosting. Repeat, forming 24 stacks.
• On a work surface lightly sprinkled with confectioners' sugar, roll a 1-1/4-in. ball of fondant into a 4-in. circle; drape over a stack. For eyes and mouth, gently cut out shapes using pastry tips. Repeat for remaining ghosts.
• For pumpkins, stems and tendrils: Tint desired amount of fondant orange. Wrap fondant around malted milk balls; shape into pumpkins. Add imprint lines with a veining tool or toothpick.
• For stems and tendrils, tint a small amount of fondant green. Shape into stems; attach to pumpkins using vanilla. For tendrils, roll out remaining green fondant; using a pizza cutter, cut into thin strips. Gently wrap strips around toothpicks; set aside to dry. (Tightly wrap any remaining fondant in plastic wrap and store in a resealable plastic bag for another use.)
• To finish cupcakes: Place a small amount of reserved frosting on top of each cupcake; top with a prepared ghost. Carefully remove tendrils from toothpicks and attach to pumpkins, using vanilla. Attach pumpkins to cupcakes as desired. Yield: 2 dozen.
  
  Editor’s Note: This recipe was tested in a 1,100-watt microwave. This recipe was tested with Kraft brand marshmallows.

First Star I See Tonight

Last night while I was driving home from Laura's around midnight-ish, I looked out into the sky. I actually had to pull over on the side of the road and look up. The sky was pretty clear for Denver and I could actually see lots of stars. When I think of star gazing, I think of my sleepovers at Adrienne's house sleeping on the deck and staring at the stars.
I miss seeing the stars. And last night reminded me of despite how much of a "city girl" I am, I'd love to live in the country just so I could see the stars every night.

Don't Get Discouraged

That seems to be the new thing that I constantly tell myself. Don't get discouraged, it'll all work out. With so much to do between getting good grades this term, getting ready for next term, finding another job that'll bring in money so I can go to school.
I haven't yet taken the time to explain what happened with the BYU Idaho situation. Why suddenly, I announced that I was returning to BYU Idaho.
I was at home one night watching a CES fireside with Hannah. In the middle of the speaker's talk I felt prompted to look at BYU Idaho's Art Education program. It shrugged it off, but it wouldn't go away. Giving in, I got on the computer, in the middle of the talk, and began looking into the Art program. It was the kind of program I wanted with a lot of art classes, but the education classes weren't just about teaching. They're to teach you to teach and then the experience of actually teaching. They're education classes that I became excited about.
Some time later I was prompted to petition my suspension yet again. For what would be the third to fourth time. I put it off and put it off. I didn't know what to write for my petition. I felt that I couldn't remember what had happened. But one afternoon I just began typing. Simply explaining what had happened. I even included that when my mom had been diagnosed with cancer and my grades dropped again, I decided to find an answer. Leading to my diagnosis of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).
Going through the process just seemed so super stressful to me. I remember getting an email saying my petition was denied. I went to bed that night, crying. I had cracked. I had gotten discouraged. I remember thinking, why would the Lord have me go through this without making it back? What is the lesson to be learned from that? I cried and cried. The next morning I called the registrar's office explaining that admissions had not yet received my transcripts. They would pull out my petition and do it again.
A week later I had received another email saying my petition had been granted. It didn't feel real. It felt so surreal.

It still does feel surreal at times. I remember a friend of mine, John, once said that it's not going to get any easier. That there are going to be a lot of things thrown his way once he gets back to Idaho. I've had a lot thrown at me. I'm pretty poor and then yesterday found that I have medical bills to pay on top of finding money to pay for school. I'm still trying not to discouraged. After all, I'm pretty blessed.

From That To This

I couldn't decide between the two.

Straight From the Camera

I was once told that it's not always about the editting you can do (anyone can do it) but the kind of picture you first make. If you don't take a good picture in the beginning, it doesn't matter how much you edit it. It still won't be a good picture.
So these are straight from my camera. I just took a few shots. The only fixes are with my camera. And this is what I got!

I might go through this specific ones and show what I can do with a good picture!

Caden's Birthday

I Hope They Call Me On a Mission...

Since Austin has left on his mission he's been insisting that I'm going on a mission. So here's what I have to say on the topic:

I've thought about it.
I've prayed about it.
It's not for me.
The Lord has other things in store for me.
I've known this since I was 19.
I'm not changing my mind...
wait...
I'll go with my husband.
That's what I'll do!
But not now.

Trust me,
with time.
Y'all will be agreeing with me.