Goal Completed: Bake a Cake

I know it may sound hard to believe, but I don't ever remember baking a cake.  Because of that severe lack of experience, I put it on my list of 39 goals to achieve this year.  Perhaps a simple task to most. For me, it seemed like something I would have to mentally gear up for.  I didn't specify that I was going to achieve this by baking a cake from scratch, so I did it the easier way...by way of a box mix.


The cake was a gift for my best friend's birthday.  Earlier in the week, I asked him what his favorite flavor of cake was.  He said German chocolate cake so I was relieved to find that exact flavor at the store.  A bonus was that they sold frosting for it on the next shelf!  I studied the box to learn that I also had to buy oil and eggs.  Remember, first time...

I had a day to mentally prepare for the cake bake off.

Today I was ready to make the magic happen.  I got all of the ingredients out and read the directions over and over.  More like, step 1,2,3...back to 1...then 2...

I was thrilled to see the photograph of a child and mother having such a wonderful time together on the box making this cake. They look so happy.

This is going to be fun!

I searched and searched for a measuring cup.  I swear that I had two at some point.  Today, they are nowhere to be found.  I know that I need exact measurements and couldn't just guess what a third of a cup looks like in a coffee mug.

Low and behold I found a blender with measure lines.  That'll work!  I measured, threw everything in a bowl and mixed it up.

 Glancing back at the photograph of the child while I was mixing...I didn't feel that excited in the process as she was. Maybe because she had measuring cups.

What are they so happy about?

Anyway, I poured the mix in a pan and baked it up.  I didn't have a toothpick so I used a match to test to see if it was ready.

I am not sure if it was ready (a small amount of batter was left on the stick) but I just assumed it was.  I'm sure the happy little girl had a toothpick.

The box told me to cool it for 10 minutes.  I let it cool for 4 hours. There is no way it would be cool in 10 minutes!  Not even close!

I spread the frosting and used some cocktail animals I found in the garage to decorate.

Voila!

A cake is born.

It was tasty.  Glad I put that experience under my belt.  I am so proud that I can hold my head up high and say, "why yes, I have baked a cake" in conversation in this highly discussed topic.  On to the next experience...

Goal Completed: Launch A Site To Sell Photographs

Throughout the year, I will be updating the status of my "39 goals in my 39th year" by posting items that I have completed and telling you a little bit about it.

Today I completed a task! I set up a photograph site to sell my pictures on Etsy.

I have a banner on this blog that will show thumbnails of all the pictures I currently have up for sale. For now, I have one picture of tower #2 listed that I took in Long Beach, California.

I will submit a new photograph each week for a 52 week project of new photographs for sale. Please become a fan on Facebook to see all of the photos in an album as we go along. The picture I decide to put up each week for purchase will have a lot to do with your influence as well. I have many photographs up of my travels on the fan site and if you see one there you would like me to put up for sale, leave me a comment! The more comments I get on a photograph, the more likely it will be a photograph of the week!

I set this goal for myself because you have to start somewhere. I enjoy taking pictures so much and I enjoy it even more when I see a smile on someones face, excited to see it brought to life. Depending on how it's received and how well I can coordinate, I could go beyond the 52 images this year. I hope to do that.

Thank you all so much for your support! Now I am off to complete the other 38 goals on my list!