Janice Thompson's Blog, page 8

Cakewalk, Day Ten: The Ultimate Mighty Machine

Welcome to DAY TEN of my August cakewalk, where I’m celebrating the release of my latest Bella spin-off book, “The Icing on the Cake.”

The cake I want to showcase today is one that I made for my grandson, Ethan. He’s into “mighty machines” (any and every sort of construction vehicle, basically) so I had to come up with a “mighty machine” cake. Talk about a challenge! I’d never done anything like this before. I started with rectangular pieces of chocolate cake, then stacked them (as you see here) and covered with fondant. Not an easy task, I tell you, but the kids seemed to love it. In retrospect, I might’ve done the backside a bit differently if I’d had more time. It’s a little too even-steven (if that makes any sense). The “dirt” portions needed to be messier, in other words.

One thing about mighty machines…they can handle a heavy load. Now, I don’t know about you, but there are times when I could use a few “mighty machines” in my own life to handle the “loads” I’ve been dealt.

If you’ve read “The Icing on the Cake” you know that Scarlet considers herself a heavyweight. She’s a bit on the fluffy/chubby side. (Hey, what cake baker/designer isn’t??? Hazard of the trade, I suppose!) On top of that, she often feels as if she’s been dealt more than she can handle. As the story progresses, she learns that God (the ultimate mighty machine) can sweep in and rescue her, lightening the load, both physically and metaphorically.

What about you? Carrying any heavy loads today? Give them to the greatest “mighty machine” of all. He’s standing by, ready to carry them for you.

Afterwards, if you’re looking for a way to escape life’s challenges even more, why not pick up a copy of “The Icing on the Cake” and take a big slice…compliments of the chef (i.e. me). I’d be tickled pink!

 

Cakewalk, Day Nine: The Carousel of Life

Welcome to DAY NINE of my August Cakewalk. I wish that I could say I had a wonderful picture of a cake I’d baked for one of my Montana grandbabies, but I do not. One of the hazards of living so far away…I never get to bake/decorate for them. I have those grandkids on my mind because I’m going to see them next week, praise the Lord!

Today I’m going to feature a cake that I made for one of my Houston-area granddaughters, Peyton. You might’ve seen this one come across you radar a few weeks ago. She celebrated her fifth birthday back in June and requested a “My Little Pony” cake. I ordered the ponies and concocted a plan in my head for how the cake would come together. Doing a carousel cake made since, so that’s the direction I went. I even put it on a stand that turns so the carousel would spin!

Each pony (it turns out) has his or her own name and personality, (this, according to Peyton). Multiple colors were needed for this special cake, of course. Lots of pizzazz! The final outcome made me so happy and the birthday girl loved it.

Merging a lot of different personalities is something my character Scarlet knows a lot about. If you’ve read “The Icing on the Cake” you know that she has to merge lots of VERY different people on her “carousel” of life. Aunt Willy (old sourpuss!), Armando (lover boy), Dad (local pastor), Mom (stable/solid), Rossi family (wacky), BFF/Hannah (frazzled bride-to-be) and many, many more. In the midst of such a colorful crew she manages to keep sane. Well, mostly. There is that one incident in the middle of the Food Network baking competition…

If you haven’t read Scarlet’s colorful story, why not give it a shot? If you would like to be entered in a special drawing to win an autographed copy of the book, leave a quick story about a carousel ride that you (or someone else) took. Have an awesome day, y’all!

NOTE: I can only mail to folks in the US. Thanks for understanding!

Cakewalk, Day Eight: Bonding Over Cake

Welcome to DAY EIGHT of my August Cakewalk. Today is my daughter Courtney Elizabeth Gillies’s birthday, so (in honor of HER) I’m going to share a picture of the cake I baked for her wedding. I always love it when I can use beautiful ribbons and flowers on a cake. Why? Because I don’t really excel at the actual “nitty-gritty” decorating part. My cakes are sometimes a little messy (like me) and require a bit of camouflage. The wide ribbon on this cake (along with the oversized flowers/leaves) gave me the perfect opportunity to cover up some rough edges underneath.

One of my favorite memories of putting this cake together? My niece Ashley was in town and stayed up through the night with me, helping. I don’t think she’d ever worked on a cake like this before, so she found the whole process mesmerizing. We had a lot of fun, and even got a little goofy as the middle of the night approached.

There’s a fun scene in “The Icing on the Cake” where Scarlet and Armando put together a wedding cake in the middle of the night. It starts out as a huge mess but comes together as the hours go by. Best of all, they spend the “baking/decorating” time bonding and sharing a common goal. There’s nothing better than a cake to bring people together.

If you haven’t read “The Icing on the Cake” why not venture over to amazon and pick up a copy? I think you’ll bond with some old/familiar characters, and some new ones too. Have a happy day, y’all!

Cakewalk, Day Six: Beaches, Kitten and a Designer Handbag

Welcome to DAY SIX of my August Cakewalk. I’m posting a story about a very interesting cake today, one I made for a very special birthday. My friend Dannelle Woody contacted me awhile back and asked me to make a cake for her mother’s upcoming birthday. She had three instructions: beach, cats, handbags. Okay then. Beach I could do. I had the molds to make shells, coral, waves, etc. Cats were a bit more difficult. I ordered cookie cutters to do the trick. But, the purse? Hmm. I’d have to think about that one!

You see the results of my labor. I gave each theme its own area on the cake. Had so much fun piecing together the ocean/beachy parts. Had a blast creating the little kitty cats. Worked like the dickens to shape and design a fondant handbag, which ended up being super-cute, if I do say so myself. Turns out the handbag was a dead ringer for one the birthday girl was given as a child, one hand-made by her uncle. (Cool, right?) She adored the cake and made me feel like I million bucks when I delivered it.

Several things about this cake remind me of my book, “The Icing on the Cake.” The story takes place in Galveston, near the beach. (Bottom layer!) Scarlet’s Aunt Willie is very wealthy, just the sort of woman who would carry an expensive designer handbag! (Top layer!) She’s also a big city gal who ends up moving to Splendora (the country), where I can picture her adopting cats and settling into her new pine-tree surrounded life.

If you haven’t read “The Icing on the Cake” I invite you to do so. I’ll even sweeten the pot by doing another giveaway here. Leave a story about a cat. I’ll do a drawing at the end of the day. The winner will get a free copy of the book.

If you HAVE read “The Icing on the Cake” would you be so kind as to leave a little review at amazon or B&N online? I’d be so grateful. Have a blessed day, all!

Cakewalk, Day Five: The Faith of Noah

Welcome to DAY FIVE of my August cakewalk. Today I’m going to share a photo of a cake that I baked/decorated for an auction at our church. It’s a Noah’s Ark cake. I’d seen a photo online of something similar (only, they didn’t use jelly beans). I decided to try it out myself. You can see the results…a little messy, but not too bad. I used some scrapbooking materials to make the topper, which was a lot of fun.

Life presents a lot of “Noah/living in faith” moments, doesn’t it? If you’ve read my book “The Icing on the Cake” you know that Scarlet, my heroine, has to step out in faith when she opens her cake shop on the Strand in Galveston. It’s tough to build your own business. (Ask me how I know!) Requires a LOT of faith.

Today, if you’re a self-employed businesswoman (ANY kind of business) PLEASE leave a little comment on my facebook page about your business and I’m going to put your name into a drawing to win a copy of “The Icing on the Cake.” I’ll draw the name at midnight tonight and make the announcement (and contact you personally). So, chime in, ladies. Did you have the faith of Noah to “build your boat/business” in spite of all obstacles? Are you like Scarlet…ready to take the world by storm? If so, I’d love to hear from you!

Cakewalk, Day Four: Tangy People

DAY FOUR of my August Cakewalk is coming to a close and I’m just now posting my cake story. Sorry about that! I’m battling a head cold and have been focused on resting this evening. The cake I’ve chosen for today is a lemon raspberry. I made it for Michella Upton’s high school graduation. I’ve always loved the tangy citrus of lemon mixed with the tart raspberries. This cake did not disappoint! Yummy layers of lemony cake were separated by raspberry jam, then topped off with a vibrant lemon frosting and luscious fresh berries. (Are you hungry yet?)

Life often gives us tangy/bitter and tart, all at the same time, doesn’t it? In my book “The Icing on the Cake” my heroine learns that one of the “tartest” people in her life, Aunt Willie, has a sweet side, as well. In fact, Willie discovers the raspberry to her lemon, as it were, when she falls in love with an unlikely fellow from Splendora. This sweetens the pot even more for Scarlet, who’s finding a love of her own. Her relationship with Armando Rossi is the proverbial icing on the cake. What joy!

Yep, life surprises us all the time. If you want to be surprised with a yummy cake, try lemon with raspberry filling and berries on top. You won’t be sorry. I’d also like to think that you won’t be sorry if you pick up a copy of “The Icing on the Cake”

Cakewalk, Day Three: All God’s Princesses

Welcome to DAY THREE of my August cakewalk!

The cake I’m going to feature today was made for my granddaughter Peyton on her first birthday. I found the idea for the turrets online and decided to go for it. Three cakes here: one strawberry, one chocolate (devil’s food), one white. I loved using the little Rolos to decorate, as well as the sprinkles on the ice cream cones. Oh, and the doors on the castle…? They’re made out of wafer cookies.

Peyton was a little princess then, and she’s a little princess now. In fact, we just celebrated her FIFTH birthday a few weeks ago. Maybe you saw the picture of the carousel cake. What fun! I love making the kiddos feel special on their birthday(s). Brings me such joy!

Girls love being treated like princesses, don’t they? If you’ve read my book “The Icing on the Cake” (http://tinyurl.com/mcn5zae) you know that the heroine, Scarlet, is hoping to find a fella who treats her like that. When she first meets Armando Rossi, her pre-conceived ideas about him almost convince her that he’s no prince charming. A little more time getting to know him proves otherwise.

Today, as you think about Peyton’s princess cake, be reminded that ALL of God’s girls are princesses in his sight. As his daughter, you are dearly loved. And here’s the good news…that castle cake I baked for Peyton? It doesn’t even begin to compare to the mansion you’ll one day live in when the King of all Kings sweeps you away to spend eternity with him. Now THAT’S a message sweeter than any cake!

Cakewalk, Day Two: When We Need Others

It’s DAY TWO of my August “Cakewalk.” I’m sharing a picture a day of one of my cakes and telling the story behind it. Why? Because this month my latest book “The Icing on the Cake” is releasing from Revell publishing!

The story I want to share today is about another wedding cake, one near and dear to my heart. In the spring of 2007 my daughter Megan got married. Sadly, just two days before her wedding, my 45-year-old sister, Karen, passed away in her sleep. We were devastated. My brother-in-law insisted that we keep the focus on Megan & Kevin (and the wedding) and we did our best to struggle through the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner (just one hour after “the viewing” at the funeral home). You can imagine the inner turmoil.

The following day I worked, worked, worked to get the cakes ready. I barely remember anything about that process, except that cake-baking is always therapeutic to me, so I’m sure it brought me some degree of comfort. I arrived at the wedding facility a couple of hours early, and here’s where the story takes a miraculous turn. Several of my friends met me there to help. They (literally) took over, handling the little details that I would (usually) have to take care of. One of them grabbed the cakes, the separators, the ribbon and the flowers and simply went to work, building the cake. No questions asked.

It took a village to pull off the wedding that evening, but I learned a lot about friendship that day. If you read “The Icing on the Cake” you will see that Scarlet (a cake decorator) has a lot to learn about friendship/relationships, too. She goes through a bit of a trial while doing a TV cake challenge and has to pass the reins to Armando, her love interest. Sometimes, when we’re really “down” God sends exactly the right person to lift us up again.

Like Scarlet, I’m extremely grateful for my friends. They will never know what a blessing they are in my life!

Cake, Cake and More Cake!

I’m so excited about the month of August because my newest Bella spin-off book, The Icing on the Cake, releases from Revell! The official release date is August 15th but my author copies have already arrived. If you would like one, let me know. My VIP readers get my books at a low/set cost of $11, which includes shipping.

I’m officially declaring August as my “cakewalk” month. I’m going to walk you through the photos/stories of cakes I’ve baked/decorated. Why? To get you in the mood to read The Icing on the Cake, of course! To make things even more difficult on my end, I happen to be on the Advocare 24-day challenge for the first 24 days of August. Oh. Help. Dieting and cake at the same time? Let us pray!

Okay, I’m going to dive in with a photo and story that I think you will enjoy. Because my book is wedding-themed, I’m going to start with a wedding cake story, one near and dear to my heart.

In 2004, two of my daughters (Randi and Courtney Rae) got married within four months of each other. (Can you imagine?) The wedding costs were staggering, but the most over-inflated cost of all? The cake for wedding #1. Nearly $600 traveled out of my pocketbook for the wedding cake and groom’s cake. Imagine my horror when about 2/3 of the cake didn’t get eaten. We took it home and tried to digest it over the next several days but ended up tossing about $250 worth of cake in the trash. Talk about a waste!

A few weeks later, we started making serious plans for the next wedding. I asked daughter #2 if I could try my hand at making the cake for her wedding. I had to buy the pans and teach myself how to stack/layer/decorate, but was willing to give it a try. I baked the four laters of cake and took them to the church early morning on the day of the wedding. Two precious friends met me there and (literally) helped me do the laborious part. They stacked and trimmed out the cake and it really was a thing of beauty.

Sometimes the things we fret the most over turn out to be the very things that bring us joy in the end. Such is the case in my book The Icing on the Cake. Scarlet, the story’s heroine, faces all sorts of challenges as she opens her new bakery on Galveston Island. What looks impossible (keeping her aunt/mentor happy) turns out to be pure delight when all is said and done. Oh, and the icing on the cake? She meets and falls in love with a handsome Italian fella from a family you’ve already grown to love. He joins her for a cake competition on The Food Network. What fun!

Putting together a cake is treacherous work. So is starting a new business. But anything worth pouring your heart into will have a payoff in the end. That’s kind of how I felt about writing this book. The cake baker/decorator in me wanted it to be perfect, of course! In the end, I’m confident I’ve served up a tasty slice of yummy goodness to my readers.

So, dive in! Get your copy of The Icing on the Cake today. Email me at booksbyjanice (at) aol.com if you want to be added to my VIP list or visit amazon to pre-order your copy today. Join me again tomorrow for another fun cake story! Let’s just hope the calories from the pictures don’t pack on the pounds!

Hot-Diggity-Dog Book Sale!

Many of you have been following the story of my dog, Copper, who is in surgery as I type this note. He’s a darling eight-year-old dachshund with a vibrant personality and plenty of love to offer. The vet calls him a “tweenie.” He’s not exactly a “mini” dachshund, but not big enough to be called a “standard,” either. There’s a really cool story of how we rescued Copper from a horrible home when he was just six months old, but I will spare you all of that. Just know that he’s been a great joy in my life.

If you read my “Bridal Mayhem” books you know all about Copper and Sasha (my female doxie). They’ve been “married” for many happy years and have produced some darling babies together. Check out the picture of one little boy from their final litter, a few years back. 

The decision to allow Copper’s back surgery was a tough one. It’s hard to spend money on my own doctors, let alone a doctor for a dog. And the $3500 price tag was more-than-tough to swallow, as you might imagine. If the neurosurgeon hadn’t assured me that Copper would have a 95% success rate, I probably would’ve opted out. But this little dog means so much to me. He’s seen me through the loss(es) of several family members and, most recently, my best friend, cuddling close and making me smile, even when I didn’t feel like it.

Now he needs me. Check out a picture I took of Copper on the day his back went “down.” So sad!

The majority of the cost of the surgery was “handled” with care credit (basically a credit card for medical care). I have six months to pay it back. A good friend set up a fundraiser online: http://www.gofundme.com/3as558. Some have already contributed and many of you might be interested in that route. Just know how grateful I am! But for those who prefer to get a little something for their money, I’m setting up this “Hot-Diggity-Dog” book sale. He is a doxie (hot dog) after all!

Basically, here’s how it will work. Choose a book (or books) from the list below. Send a donation of any amount (keep in mind I have to ship the books, so please make sure you cover at least that much). I will autograph the books and send them to you. Be sure to include your mailing address.

Only ONE catch. I can’t mail the books until next Monday, at which time I’ll close out this sale. That’s because my daughter is having a baby tomorrow and I’ll be with her and the kids over the next few days.

Here are my available titles. I have plenty of copies of each on-hand. Some are probably new to you because they’re non-fiction books, so give the list a close look and choose what you like (as many copies as you like).

NOVELS:

Wedding Belles

Sleigh Belles

Love Finds You in Poetry Texas

Love Finds You in Daisy Oklahoma

Love Finds You in Camelot Tennessee

Love Finds You in Groom Texas

Love Me Tender

Queen of the Waves

Stars Collide

Hello Hollywood

The Director’s Cut

Picture Perfect

NON-FICTION BOOKS:

Parenting Teens: A Field Guide

Melody of Love (devotional based on the hymn Melody of Love)

Everyday Joy Journal

Today God Wants You to Know devotional

I Know I’m Not Alone, Lord (a post-divorce book for women)

The House is Quiet, Now What (empty nest book for women)

Mommy to Be Devotional

Bride to Be Devotional

(NOTE: All of these are paperback and/or hardback books. This offer does not apply to e-books, sorry.)

Want to Know More About the Books Before Ordering?

You can go to amazon and check out the synopses for books you’re interested in. No need to email me or private message me to let me know you’re interested. Just send a donation of any amount to my email address: booksbyjanice@aol.com and let me know there which book(s) you want, along with your address. If you don’t paypal, feel free to contact me at the email address listed above.

I’m grateful for your support. Never dreamed I’d use books to care for my dogs. Ironic, really, when you think of it. They’ve been “characters” in my books; (see sample photos) now they’re “characters” in my real life story.

(Note: If you’re interested in any of my dog-themed books, they’re only available in ebook form these days. Check them out at amazon.)

Thanks again for your help. Now, get busy ordering books! It’s gonna be a hot-diggity summer and you’ll need some good books to read!

PLEASE feel free to share this note on your page and tag me in it. I need to get the word out as quickly as possible, since the sale will close on Monday, June 24th!