Blog | less cake {more frosting}

Happy Birthday Present

Authored By: ellie g Author/Writer
May 23, 2012 --5:00 AM

Yep. I had surgery yesterday. Which means I am writing this before it happened.
(dude…it’s like I am in a weird time-warp machine)

But it’s true. Yesterday was my first surgery.

Chances are, right now I’m hanging out in a haze.

The other true thing……Is that today’s my birthday. Yep. My birthday. Not the best timing for surgery.

Regardless, I decided that getting on the schedule, getting it over with, and hopefully getting some relief….would be worth it.

That doesn’t mean that I didn’t decide to have a little fun with it though….

Oh yes I did. YES. I. DID.

I am sporting this tee today. I love it. My doctor loves it.

And please don’t write me about anything about making fun of it. I’m just joking. If you missed my LAST POST ABOUT LAUGHING you might want to go back and review my philosophy on trials.

If you get me, or know me at all….

then you think this shirt is hilarious ALREADY!

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Filed Under: frosting

I Love to Laugh

Authored By: ellie g Author/Writer
May 21, 2012 --6:00 AM

Hi LCMF readers! Did I mention I kinda dig each and every one of you? Well I do. And I SUPER appreciate your support through the last few months as I journey through some kinda tough issues.

Throughout any life journey….one of the things I “know for sure”…..a la Oprah Winfrey.
(wait….I miss you O. Moment of silence)

Anyway, one of the things I KNOW FOR SURE is that life is just no fun if you’re not able to laugh.

I learned that at a pretty young age.
My Mom would always say that the night of my Dad’s funeral was one of the times in her life when she laughed the very hardest.
I know! Right?
Well she has 7 siblings and they were all together having fun memories and laughing at dorky people, and dorky situations.

Seriously. There is no better feeling.

‘Member that part in Mary Poppins when they sing “I Love to Laugh” and everyone floats up to the ceiling? I adore that scene. I’m sorry, but Uncle Albert’s jokes are freakin’ hysterical. I particularly enjoy the one about the guy who works in a watch factory.

Laughing is the thing that keeps me sane, when I feel insane.
Like last night, when my sister was here, and we got to that moment when we were laughing…..
but no sound came out…..

Oh my gosh, that’s the best feeling.

Or when my friends come over, and one of them starts to tell a story, but can’t get through it…because we’re all laughing so hard. We can’t even get to the punch line.

My grandpa used to get that way.
Toward the end of his life, we’d heard ‘em all.
But to watch him not be able to finish the story and have tears dripping down his face. Just thinking about it makes me BEYOND happy.

An inside joke.
An old memory.
A fall.
A hilarious story.
An awkward moment.
The time your sister draws out “Richard Nixon” for a game of charades. Then acts out the Kennedy assassination. And is mad no one guessed it. (best time ever!)

Plus…let’s be honest.
When someone “flatuates”… I dare you not to laugh.
I know. You’re a grown-up. But it’s still funny.
If it’s not. You need to chill a titch.

As we’re dealing with a time that comes with lots of sad emotions at our house, I have fallen in LOVE with this quote…

“The only way to get through life,
is to laugh your way through it.
You either have to laugh or cry.
I prefer to laugh.
Crying gives me a headache.”
—Marjorie Pay Hinckley

I decided that having this quote in my home before my surgery was SUPER important to me. I’ve been on a mission. I even made my husband drive to Costco late last night to pick it up. (I know, he’s a saint)

Then my sister helped me take down all the Easter decor. (yes I said “Easter”. I admit it.)

And we put up super pretty, super clean, super inspiring decor that I can “recover” in. Lots of glass, and white, and light grey. With a tiny pop of light pink.

I just want to be reminded every single day that laughing is the way to go. Even though life hands you things that make you want to cry. Laughing is always a better option.

Click on the arrow with a line under it…in the above window. Just press it, and the image file should download right to your computer! Easy Peezy!

You can then print the file anywhere you’d like. This file is sized at 16×20. It will not print optimally at a bigger size. (But you can print it at a smaller size if you’d like.)

As usual PLEASE follow the following rules for Less Cake {more frosting} printables:

LCMF prinatables are for PERSONAL USE only. You may not re-sell, re-distribute, or claim them as your own.
Please do not remove the watermark.
If posting on the internet, you MUST post a link back to this website.
Personalization, color changes, and other customizations are not available on freebie printables. They are offered “as-is”.

In conclusion, laughter IS the best medicine. (that is, unless you have some percocet handy)
And farts are funny.
So, that is the end of that discussion.

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Filed Under: frosting, print it

A Tunnel & 2 Winners

Authored By: ellie g Author/Writer
May 15, 2012 --12:00 PM

PLEASE SEE THE END OF THIS POST FOR THE WINNERS OF THE KABOO BAGS.

(was it you?)

Yesterday I headed to a local hospital for an MRI of my pelvis before I head into surgery. (one week from today……freakin’ EEEEK!) It was my first experience with an MRI so I wasn’t sure what to expect.

I made sure to ask if I could “stay cute” while in the tunnel. They agreed to let me keep on my Vintage Rose Wrap and also my Choose Joy Rubber Bracelet. And somehow that made my whole experience much better. (I’m crossing my fingers that the Choose Joy bracelet is going with me into the O.R. but we’ll have to see.)

They asked me if I am usually claustrophobic. And the answer is “sometimes”. I for sure am when my two brothers are holding me under a blanket. NOT OKAY. But I thought I might be okay doing this.

As soon as I was put into that tunnel. I had to focus on breathing. Just telling my brain that there was an easy way out. Then I decided closing my eyes was a good idea.

Then I will share the FIRST thought that came into my head as soon as my eyes closed….

“If I farted in here….I would totally end up giving myself a covered wagon”

Yep. Apparently I’m WAY less mature than previously thought.
Good to know.

After a few minutes my breathing became more even. I felt more calm. And the noises quit scaring me.

And then….all I could think about was that episode of Friends when Ross plays the keyboard. And I was waiting to hear his voice say, “Electrifying……..infinite…..time” (that kinda made me giggle, and I wasn’t supposed to move)

After that….I still had like 30 minutes left…

So I:

thought about “to do” lists before I have surgery
what order I’d like to ride the rides at Disneyland
whether or not I should keep the “red” hair
what song I’d use to try out for American Idol

And then I just started to get irritated. Because the loud, pulsing sounds were throwing off my head singing.

So then I focused just on those rhythms. And seriously, a lot of 80′s hair band songs went super well with them. They kept changing though.

It was best for me to come up with my own songs in my head. I was in the middle of a fantastic tune about corn chowder and a man with a gun……(I know….believe me, it was awesome) And then she said “Mrs. Garner, we are all done)

Sweet.

Not too shabby.

Today I am super resting. And announcing the 2 winners of the 2 amazing Kaboo Bags featuring tech pockets.

Both winners have received e-mails about their win and how to claim their bag. So if your name happens to be “Danielle or Crystal” and you don’t have an e-mail….it’s probably not you. Sorry. (I get your frownie face. This is a nice bag)

Hope you have a great day.

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Filed Under: frosting, Sponsor Love & Giveaways

Happy Mothering Day-2012

Authored By: ellie g Author/Writer
May 13, 2012 --3:34 PM

Many of you know I am spending this Mother’s Day preparing for surgery.
And yep.
Technically, it’s pretty much a result of being a “mother”.

Only PLEASE don’t talk about that around my 9 year old son, who has finally figured that out, and thinks ALL of this is his fault. Nearly broke my ACTUAL heart.

This year I was feeling pressure to get up a big Mother’s Day post and new printable…..and my husband finally put his foot down. As a stress I did not need. And know what? He’s right. (boo! I hate it when that happens)

Last year I POURED out my heart and soul into this Mothering Day Post about my proposal to change the name of the holiday. And I still stand by every single word. Along with the fact that the printable I made for that post remains among my VERY favorites I’ve ever made.

So maybe head over there, if you didn’t read that last year.

This year, I’m just showing you where I learned to be a mother:

From my AMAZING Mother. Who raised 4 children as a single Mom. And still rocks as the best Grandma of all times. And taught me:

“Life isn’t always equal. But it’s always fair.”

And that quote has taken my whole life to even begin to grasp. But from a woman who was widowed at age 32….it’s freakin’ profound.

Then there’s my ROCK STAR 94 year old Grandma. Who feels that I need a new and “freshly-pressed” house-coat to wear to the hospital. Because I wouldn’t “want the Doctors to see me in something old or unkept.” (gasp!) Not only did she raise my own freakin’ amazing Mom…..but 7 other kids.

My favorite quote from her has always been:

“Remember Lara, no superiors and damn few equals.”

It’s a family quote, passed down from generation to generation.
And I get super irritated with the people who quote it without the “damn”. Because this comes from a woman who only swears to quote this line.
For reals.
So it’s imperative that it stay that way.

So there you have it. Wisdom from 2 of the absolute best mothers I know.

Happy Mothering Day 2012 to all of you

who ARE Mothers
who WANT to be Mothers
who HAVE an amazing Mother
who USED to be a Mother
who have the QUALITIES of a Mother

All of you with the goodness to nurture other human-beings. Happy Mothering Day.

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Filed Under: Mother I Love You

Life….Love…and Happiness

Authored By: ellie g Author/Writer
May 10, 2012 --11:03 PM

My friend from Honeybear Lane, Heidi Ferguson lost her sister-in-law this week after she gave birth to her first little girl. Not only has she left behind Heidi’s brother, but 3 small kids including a brand new daughter. They are just finishing up a masters degree, and do not currently have employment or insurance. I would love for her to get any support you’re able to give.

At the very least hug the people who are near and dear to you. Life is unpredictable.

The loss of a loved one is a strange surreal reality. Life is completely normal except for one large, gaping hole. Each day the pain seems to become more real and defined as the actuality of what has happened sinks in.

Heidi of Honeybear Lane, lost her sister-in-law, Alice Hansen, this week to complications following the birth of her third baby. She fought a hard fight to stay on this earth with her husband and three little children who love her dearly. But God wanted her with Him and there is none who can stop Him. Her husband, Heidi’s brother, was left behind to take care of their two little boys and newborn daughter.

Heidi’s family opened a donation account for Alice and her family. This money will go towards funeral costs, residual medical expenses, and the costs of raising children without a mother or a job. Her brother is going through a very difficult thing and while nothing can replace the ache of losing his sweetheart, any sort of donation will help to ease the burdens a little.

If you would like to donate money directly, please visit Heidi’s blog Honeybear Lane. You can donate easily by clicking the “Donate” button on the right sidebar. You can donate through Paypal, credit card, or e-check (a check directly from your bank account.) Any and all donations are appreciated.

Please also spread the word by sharing any posts you see about it. You may use any of these beautiful printables that the talented Lara made for Alice. These printables represent the music that Alice made in her life–being a PhD in music. In addition to being a wonderful wife and mother, she was a very gifted pianist who traveled the world before getting married and having children. She shared that passion with her husband, also a pianist. Music brought them together.

Music was her passion. But her family was her life. She figuratively and literally gave her life for her children. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

Message from Heidi:

From the bottom of our grief-stricken hearts:

Thank you.

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Filed Under: frosting