Nie Nie Day

I am auctioning a

custom-made, any occasion cake

(or cupcake tower topped with mini cake)

I design unique cakes to celebrate momentous occasions and promise to make yours the talk of the party.

This is how it works:

The cake you bid on must be for an occasion within the next six months (Christmas or Halloween parties, anniversaries, birthdays, New Years celebration, bridal or baby shower, anything you want to celebrate!).

The auction starts now.

Leave a comment that indicates your bid.

Only bid in dollar increments.

The bidding will end on Sunday at 7:00 PM.

Keep checking back to make sure no one outbids you.

If you know someone who might like this, please send them this way!

100% of the proceeds for this bid will go to the Stephanie and Christian Recovery Fund. Of course you are bidding on a very cool cake, but you are really donating to medical and household maintenance for the Nielson family.

To check out more of my cakes visit my cake gallery.

To check out more Nie day auctions (they are ASTOUNDING!) visit Design Mom.

To check out one of my favorite Nie posts click here. 

To donate any amount directly to the fund click here.

baby gift idea

the credit for this one goes to Shanon.  She gave me a Customized Baby File Box like this when I had Aidan, and I thought it was super clever.  Every first-time mother needs some organizing help. 

I bought this file box at Target for $10.  And glued on these chipboard letters (I've done letter stickers before, too).

printed tabs in a cute font.

and called it good.

Update on Tuesday, August 26, 2008 at 04:13PM by Amy

tabs I include:  documents & certificates, health records, cards & letters, portraits, age 0-3, preschool, kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade (left off 7-12 because this file box wasn't so deep), scouts (I suppose you could do YW for girls), awards, sports, church, talents

last night's FHE

pants-optional backyard soccer.

(you should have seen me & Jim)

(who were - of course - fully covered)

These boys live for this kind of action.  But Aidan did get frustrated when Jim turned the fun into training to defend an *actual* goal, or practice in dribbling an *actual* basketball. 

"Don't tell me things.  I just want to play."

But when we finally said it was time to go inside, Aidan knew precisely what button to push.  "Dad, I'm ready for more instruction." 

He actually said "instruction".

So - of course - they got to nudey about a bit more.

Nie Nie

When Kelly first introduced me to her blog two years ago, my eyes widened at the “lovely strangers” title on her sidebar. Links to women she had met through blogging. People whose lives now affected hers. It was an aspect of this unknown world that I had never considered. Two years later and I’ve *met* more than a few “lovely strangers”. Women who inspire me to Do more, Be more.

And this woman is one of the loveliest strangers of all. I haven’t ever met Nie Nie in person, but her family love, her life love…well, their power is boldly emitted through every word she writes.

Last week, like so many, I was horrified to hear of the plane crash that left Nie Nie and her husband in critical condition. I was touched to read her sister’s updates…to think of their four children being lovingly cradled by sweet sisters in mom’s absence…to hold my own little men *that much* closer...to look back on some of the reasons why this woman I’ve never met feels more like a lovely friend than stranger.

The Nielson family faces a recovery that will rely on countless months, countless dollars and even more prayers. In an effort to help, Design Mom (yet another lovely stranger) has declared this coming Thursday Nie Nie Day, encouraging people to auction items, contributing the proceeds directly to the Stephanie & Christian Paypal Fund.

I plan to join this effort by auctioning off a cake here at Momentary Madness. Bidding will start on Thursday. Any custom decorated cake for any occasion (obviously limited to people in metro Phoenix area)...so please spread the word to anyone you know with an upcoming cakeable occasion (birthdays, holidays, showers, parties, anything in the next six months). Check out some of my creations by clicking "my cakes" on the sidebar.

Also check out Design Mom this Thursday...if cake is not your thing, there will be many silent auctions on the blogs of many lovely strangers.

yes, your Majesty

Okay, he pretty much leaves off the last bit, but I do have a husband who gives me what I want. And it’s (surprisingly) as much of a blessing as a curse. Especially when one’s words are hasty (think King Midas hasty). And saying that my husband addresses my whims might make him sound saintly, but those who know Jim will attest to how he can devilishly & subtly turn one’s words against them.

But I digress. Because this is more about cake than quirks.

I’m here to praise Jim’s latest “yes”. A few weeks ago I handed him a sketch of a cupcake stand that I “absolutely need”. And a few days later it was built & in my ready hands. And I adore it.

Here it is with a baby shower cake I made this week (for Jenny...thanks!):   

My first attempt at a sugar paste person.   There's definitely huge room for improvement, but I now feel much more confident working with the stuff.My kitchen still wears a layer of sugar.  And my mind is already dizzily seeking "the next project!"  It's a disease. 

A sick & sticky disease.