http://www.intotheoven.com/p1176/Fondant-Work-Mat---24%22-x-36%22/product_info.html
Here is the one I have. Just dont use exacto knives on it. You can use pizza cutters though. seriously, it is one of the best things I own.
I went out with friends last night. So I wasnt as good about the eating as I would have been at home, but I did get a salad. It was soooo good. So good in fact that it probably had too many calories in it LOL!
pdgirl: Congrats on your new venture! Getting a trainer sounds awesome. Sounds like you have your plan all together!
was I supposed to be cheerleader?? I can't remember when my day was ??
You're next week, Merissa. Lori is this week, but haven't heard from her for a while.
Pdgirl, Welcome!
How's everybody doing? Haven't been getting my notices of replies again and had a terrible time accessing the site today.
I am putting my notice in today, provided my supervisor ever gets here. I hope he does because I want it done now! It might make me feel that it is getting closer.
I've given up with the fondant. I tried to cover a cake board a couple weeks ago and couldn't get it to roll out at all without sticking/tearing. I never had that problem before but I haven't done anything with fondant since my Wilton class. Nobody likes the taste of fondant anyway and I am not doing professional cakes so I don't need to work with the fondant.
I haven't left you guys, I have just been really busy the past couple of days, my son started back to school and everything changes. I forgot to weigh in yesterday like I said I would, but this morning it was 215, that's the end of that though,RIGHT! Welcome pdgirl120, I just joined this group too. Glad I'm not the only newbie.
Marilyn
I have the wilton mat and use crisco but I have found that the fondant smoother is useless to me b/c it doesn't work like I see it working for others probably b/c of the crisco but I had tried pwd sugar/corn starch and I had the same problem w/ powder that I couldn't get off my fondant.
After you put your fondant on your cake, you can dust a little powder sugar (I just lightly brush with my dusting puff) over it and then use the fondant smoother. If you don't dust it the smoother will just stick and not slide easily.
Merissa, how did the contest go? I love your horse, that was quite a carving you did on it.
I've spent the morning cleaning and now this afternoon will be baking. No fancy decorations, just one double layer chocolate chocolate chip cake and one double layer WASC, both for a going away party tomorrow.
I was hoping it would stay overcast today as it was this morning, but alas, the sun is shining very brightly with no relief in sight. Have a great day!
new photo...cool!
I didnt get the top 3 places in the contest to win anything. I think I got 4th maybe. Oh well!
Sorry, Mreissa, I thought yours was the best. You did a beautiful job.
Hope everyone had a good weekend. Mine was nice but I was busy all weekend. I did have breakfast both Satuyrday and Sunday. Unfortunately today was back to the routine. Not anywhere enough time. Get up and right away start running back and forth. I sure hope that all changes once we get to Florida. Major life makeover there.
Have a great day, all!
Karen
morning ladies!
I had a rough day friday that ended w/ me having yet ANOTHER RX from my neurologist. The rest of the weeked was alright helped my grandma w/ a yard sale then hung out at my parents on sunday the kids got to play on a water slide while I watched from the side lines (in the shade).
I did a 30 minute ball exercise this am.
Tonight we have meet the teacher night for my dd who starts pre-k on Wednesday ACK I'm so nervous - WHAT TO WEAR! I don't want to look like a bum but also don't want to look like I tried to hard LMAO....
I think dd is pretty ready her ONLY concern so far is she won't see her old friends anymore but I explained that they'll be in school while she's in school too so I hope that helped (seems to).
Well, I promised the kids we'd do crafts today so I'm off to do some crafts LOL...
Oh....LIFE! I spend all of Saturday afternoon and evening baking 4 10" cakes in order to make 2 double layer cakes. Ovens here are very small so I had to bake them back to back because only 1 pan fits. I stacked, I frosted (nothing fancy) a chocolate chocolate chip cake with chocolate frosting and a WASC with buttercream. I was all dressed early Sunday afternoon to leave when suddenly...from one second to the next...I got vertigo. I was devastated, I couldn't believe it. I get it about once a year, but unfortunately when it comes, it's bad. If I don't get a handle on it immediately, I get dehydrated and I've had to go to the ER 3x in the past. The only thing that works for me is to become unconscious because then I don't feel the dizzy sensation and therefore don't throw up repeatedly (sorry, TMI!). I have some pretty powerful medicine that knocks me out for about 24 hours. But...the party! That I'd worked so hard on all week! So I called my friend who was going and he and his wife came and got my cakes and other things I was bringing and took them, I was devastated. Especially because I love my friend who is leaving and the party was for her. So disappointing. So I slept Sunday from about 2PM til Monday morning, took yesterday off work, and am back today. I still feel a bit dizzy, but it's controllable and I'm not sick, I just hope it's all over. At least I don't have the same experience my poor father does...he has terrible vertigo and is flat on his back for about 3 days a month.
That's my story....how is everyone?
How disappointing Susan!!! I didn't realise vertigo could be so bad!
I had quite a busy weekend..... I was babysitting a niece for 3 days/nights, helped with kids club Friday night, had a garage sale on Saturday at my sister's place, and had 3 cake orders over the weekend. After church on Sunday, I slept for the whole afternoon!
I'm busy at the moment fundraising for my other son to do his dyslexia programme. He starts on 8 September. I organised a raffle, and have been very busy selling tickets!
As for my eating, I'm still about the same. If I have a really good day, I find I'll grab something to nibble on in the evening.....not sure how to kick that habit!
Hi all
sorry MIA again. This law class is going to get the better of me! I plan on taking a break after this class.
Susan, so sorry to hear about your vertigo, I didnt know that it could be that bad either. Hope things get better!
Connie, I sure hope they do something very soon, I would seriously go postal!!
YEA Karen!! so happy for you
Well off to do a bit of work andhopefully a bit of studying!
Michelle
OK ladies I'm checking in but won't be on much for the rest of the day. Today has been a VERY hard day my dh woke me this am at 3:30 to tell me that Lady our 9 1/2 yr old cocker spaniel had died. Her health had been really going downhill lately so I knew it was coming but still hard nonetheless, my 4 yr old dd is taking it VERY hard! I don't know if it's a blessing or not that she starts school tomorrow hopefully it will be a distraction for her not just make her an emotional mess. She is VERY senstive lil girl she STILL cries at least once a week about my great grandmother (her great great) that passed in February.
She has been carrying a pic of Lady around today and we are about to leave to meet the teacher so we'll see how we do.
Yesterday I did a 30 minute work out on the ball and I thought it didn't do much well I woke up w/ my bum hurting so tht was at least one good thing LOL....
Connie, I'm so sorry about Lady, it's always hard to lose a family member. For your DD, there's a great children's book I'll bet you can get at the library. It's a grief book for children, written on their level and while it's really to introduce the concept of grief over people, the book is about a cat. It's called "The Tenth Good Thing About Barney"; I used it all the time when I worked the a hospital and it was always highly recommended to parents. I'm sorry!
Thank you to all for your well wishes about my vertigo...I feel much better (except when I turn over in bed, then I get a rush) and am on my way to healing. I weighed in today and I'm up 1.5 pounds from yesterday and yesterday's weight was the same as last Wednesday's. Again...Life!
Hi all! Is everyone prepared for their no-cheat day?!?!? I gotta make it happen.
Sorry to hear about your vertigo Susan...and the party 
. Ive never had vertigo...unless you count spinning around first! It sounds horrible. I think my neighbor had it a couple weeks ago and she said she felt really sick. I am glad you are better now.
Sorry to hear about your dog, Connie 
! That is rough. When I was in college my cat died, he was 16 though. But I was so sad!! I had him since I was about 7.
Karen, sounds like you are getting excited for FL! Good luck to you!
Morning, all.
Took the day off yesterday. Had some papers to sign for the house. This morning the work e-mail is not working, and there is court tomorrow and who knows how much dictation I have to do for then. Hope they get it fixed soon.
Susan, I am glad to hear that you are feeling better.
Connie, I am sorry to hear about your dog. It is so hard to lose a pet that has been a member of the family.
Michelle, hang in there. It will be worth it to get through school.
Sonia I was just thinking about your sons. How is the one who already went through the program doing? Still doing well? Good luck with getting the money for the other to attend the program.
Well, gotta go for now. Check in on you all later!
Karen
Good morning everyone
I got up and worked out this morning the first time in a couple of months. I went slow and did a DVD that I knew wouldnt put too much pressure on my little piggy, and I could do without shoes. It felt good to sweat. I couldnt get through half, I was able to do the whole thing and was working on adding weights when I stopped. I have a long way to get back to where I was!!!
Connie so sorry about your dog, that stinks. I had to put my 16 year old dauchsand down about 3 years, I was very sad and still miss his little face looking up at me.
OK gotta run and work
How's your daughter doing, Connie? It's always tough when you lose an animal. I remember losing my first pet - a goldfish - when I was about 12. I cried for hours!!
Great going with your workout, Michelle! Keep at it - it's always hardest the first time back after a break.
Karen, my son who has already done the programme is flying! His reading has improved 100% and his test results have improved. We are happy to spend the money to have our other son do it after seeing the results.
Well, my new goal is to weigh in every week. I have been avoiding it, but that will not help my enthusiasm! So today I am 165.7, which is up 1/2 lb. This week I aim to concentrate on not eating in the evening, and also to drink my water!
Hello Ladies!! Don't know if any of you from 'the old days' remember, but WAY back when, I used to pop in on the old 'putting down the cake' thread quite often. As happens so often, life got the best of me for a while and I had more important stuff than my weight to focus on.
Anyhow, I'm back now if you'll have me 
Quick weight rundown - last year I ballooned up to 230-ish; past a certain weight I stopped looking at the scale too hard. My goal (comfortable weight for me) is about 165. I've been working on my weight lately and in the last six months I've dropped about 40 lbs. I'm doing Tae Bo at least 5 days a week and watching calories and evening snacks (a real killer for me). My big huge goal is to get back down to 165-ish before the weather gets cold. I have a beautiful winter wardrobe that's been waiting patiently for 2 years for me to squeeze back into it.
This morning I weighed in at 189. It's encouraging to be making progress, but there is no encouragement in the world like you ladies!! 
Shellie
Thanks for all of your well wishes. Tabitha (my dd) is doing ok she did break down 2x this am before school, but the excitement of starting school for the first time seems to have distracted her alot (which is good I think)... She had a great first day of school and talked my ear off all the way home everything from music class to the spider at the playground LMAO... (thanks for asking about her ladies I was/am so worried about my 'baby')
Susan thanks for the book idea I might just need to ck that out from the library.... and I'm glad your vertigo is starting to get better.
Well, I'm about to do something VERY bad but I don't EVEN care. My sweet sweet DH is going to get me some ice cream right now. I've had a VERY emotional past few days and w/ my stressfull Friday I want to endulge a lil LMAO I know it's BAD BUT if he hurries I'll eat before my 9pm cut off! I will do my 30 minute ball exercise in the am I can still feel a lil of the burn on my bottom from the other day..
Welcome back Shellie and of course we'll have you and WOW how awesome have you done already! Keep up the good work.
Despite being at work today, I've had a fun morning. Never, never, never underestimate the amount of government red tape required in Italy! But today it worked to my advantage. I have to renew my "soggiorno" every couple of years; this is my permission document from the Italian government to reside here. Well, the oddest thing: with the renewal papers you have to write a letter in Italian saying why you're still here and then PAY A TAX of about $20 in order to submit the letter. The proof that you paid this tax is that you get a stamp (like a post office stamp), which you attach to the letter. So I needed this stamp today and the funny thing is, you don't go to a government office to get it, you go to what's known as a "Tabbacheria", which are little stores all over Italy that sell newspapers, candy, tobacco products, etc, they're like tiny newsstands. So I decided to get my steps in and walk from work this morning to go get a stamp ("marca da bolla" or "stamp mark"). It's warm, but not unbearable. On the walk back, I stopped at my very favorite cheese shop and had a little conversation with Luca, the owner, a very nice man. I bought 2 little chunks of cheese (rochetta and blue cheese) and crackers for lunch. And I bought this little cheese creation from France, I don't even know what kind of cheese it is, but it was so beautiful and intriguing I had to try it. It's cheese with pastry (not sweet) on the outside and the whole thing is is formed to shape a little 3" canoe with the sides folded up and almost touching. In the space where the sides would touch if you folded them together, are sprigs of fresh rosemary still attached to the twig. So yummy! I had 1/2 my purchases for lunch today and will finish it tomorrow. These are the kind of things I'll miss when I move...these relationships that you form with the shop owners: the cheese shop, the meat shop, the fruit and vegetable shop, the bread shop...and everyone says "Ciao bella" when you walk in. I got in 5,000 steps toward my 10,000, so it worked well.
Susan, so glad the steps are going well. The chesse thing sounds so good. I am a cheese lover myself.
Shellie, it is so good to "see" you again. Glad to hear you are doing well. Welcome back! Don't be a stranger.
Connie, good to hear that your dd is doing ok. It is hard to lose a pet.
Sonia, it is so good to hear that things are working out for your son. Keeping my fingers crossed that the other fares as well.
I stepped on the scale this morning for the first time in a couple months. I am glad to see that it is not as bad as I was thinking. 160. I have been hovering around that for the past couple years. I did buy a new pair of jeans on Tuesday, and those were 8's.
Eleven days and counting for me. Of course, I do have 7 and a half sick days. I will be taking a couple of those, too. I am planning one for tomorrow.
Well, gotta go for now. Talk to you all later!
Karen
Hi Everyone,
Been away for a while, just catching up. Susan, I'm glad your feeling better. I would LOVE to visit Italy, unfortunatly I would have to taste everything. I love Italian anything. That cheese sounded wonderful.
Connie, I am so sorry to hear about your Lady. I know she was like one of the kids. How's your DD, its so hard to see them hurting.
Karen, how exciting.
Michelle, getting started is the hardest part. Good for you.
Shellie, Hi.
Well, going to the State Fair with the kids today. Gotta show them Mom's first cake ribbon, I took 2nd place in my division (advanced). 1st competion, so I was pleased to at least place.
Anybody have any fun plans for Labor Day weekend? I have a wedding cake for Sat, and a friends birthday. Other than that, hoping for nice weather to get in one more weekend with the pool before we have to close it. I hate the end of Summer. Guess I never got passed the "I don't want to go back to school" thing! lol
Sorry, I just havent been on the computer as much lately. maybe that is a good thing though! Welcome back Shellie! Congrats on your loss, your back must be feeling better??
Am I supposed to be cheerleader, Sonia?? If so, I have got to dig down deep to think of some new ideas LOL!
Thanks for the welcome everyone!
Merissa, can't believe you remembered my back drama! It's getting better, turns out I had a ton of scar tissue compressing my sciatic nerve, so I just had to learn to live with it.
Hope everyone's being strong today. It's been rough today, we have donuts and pizza and candy at work, but so far, so good. I only need to resist temptation for another hour and a half!!
It's great to have some people popping in again and increasing our numbers!! Welcome back Shellie, yes, I remember you!! So exciting about all that weight you've lost already! Alaina, congrats on 2nd place...you'll need to post a pic!
Yes, it's over to you this week Merissa!
Popping in real fast so I haven't really read y'alls update....
I was bad and had my ice cream last night BUT this am I did 20 minutes of ball exercise, the sparklepeople butt exercise AND 100 crunches SO I think I made up for it...?
Tomorrow Tabitha has school so not sure if I'll get a work out in but probably will get my crunches in.
I hope y'all have a wonderful holiday weekend...
okay so I have thought about my cheerleader challenge!
PLAN! I find myself not doing enough. I think if I could plan when I am not already hungry then I might be able to make better choices. I don't know about you guys, but I have more will power in the morning.
I will leave it up to you how much or little you want to do. You could plan meals for a week or even a day at a time.
Sometimes I will prepare my lunches in the morning so that when it gets to be lunch time I can just pull out my healthy meal.
If you go out to eat a good tip is to try and see the menu before-hand (like online) and pick your meal before you get there. I did that last week and it worked pretty good.
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