Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Somewhere Over The Rainbow.......

This month has been oh so gloomy.
I feel like I've been in a cloudy tornado-esque haze.

One reason might be that I battled a tornado-like storm last week.
I have never really seen anything like this storm, it was unforgiving.
I woke up to complete darkness on a Friday morning. At 9am it was dark and quiet in my 100 year old house. Until the winds started blowing and bending the trees in half.

I had to run for cover as quick as possible.  I hid out in my parents' dark basement amidst sticky cob webs and in a wet puddle of who knows what. At one point I thought I was stuck in the basement because I couldn't find the door handle to get out. The storm crept up so quickly that I didn't have time to grab anything other than my cat and my Iphone.

I was all alone. My parents were gone.  I had no idea if they were okay because I knew they were traveling.  So I was scared out of my mind. Listening to 90mph winds rage outside. The house was void of electricity starting at 9am on what should have been a bright happy Friday. 
It was like something you see in a movie.


When the storm moved on to the next town, I walked upstairs and expected to see my entire house ripped apart.  But it wasn't. 


And I wasn't wearing Ruby Slippers.
I was however..wearing black sequin shorts that were now dirty from sitting on the creepy basement floor. Maybe that was my modern day Dorothy touch?


I guess I really felt my mortality in this storm.
I felt that I am not invincible.
I was at the mercy of whatever God's plan was for me that day.
And that could have been anything.
Just look at all of the natural disasters going on right now.
It seems no one is untouched.





But I really know a big reason I felt my mortality during this storm....

I recently lost a few good friends of mine to this thing called death.
Not to sound morbid or anything, but I have never really lost that many close friends to death. And in one week I found out about the death of two of my friends.

What startles me the most is how someone can be here for one minute..
and then they disappear the next.
Their body is still here.
But they aren't on this earth.
They are unable to talk to you face to face.
No more eye contact.
I can't hear the laughter.
Or receive their phone calls.
They'll never update their facebook status again.
But yet...their facebook page is still open.
A piece of history.. that proves that they were here..
The magic of modern technology is that it somehow keeps my friends alive forever.. 
by documenting the time and the date that they were still with me here on this earth.

Ten years ago now, I looked at my grandpa after he passed away.
And he looked nothing like my grandpa.
I almost didn't recognize him, the only thing that was distinct was the bump on his nose.

It is amazing how much your spirit makes up your entire physical essence.
It just shows us all how alive our spirit truly is, always.
Not just here, but when we leave here too.
I don't have all the answers, but the power of missing my friends so deeply is too incredible to not know that there is a Heaven. ♥








 

Thursday, August 4, 2011

It's okay to have a dream..

Wow. I have been through many changes in my life since I started writing Lost Treasures.
My most recent is that I decided against .. getting married.
And I started a cupcake business..

I even chopped my hair off and dyed it red.
I always change my hair when I am taking a lot of risks in my life!

I've heard a few whispers here and there.  Oh Amanda may never get married.  She might just stay single because she doesn't realize that not everything has to be perfect. Sigh.

But what I really knew is that......I wasn't ready.  Not yet. And when I am ready, I will know 110%. 

Until then, I am kind of living life on the edge. Not really sure what direction I am headed in.
But I am living with faith, that as long as I listen to that little "whisper" within me, I can't really go wrong.

I think now..during this rocky time while I am taking so many risks..is a good time for a vision board..of the way I'd like my future to be.  Of course, it isn't really just me that is in control.....so who knows.

But what I do know.. is that everytime I have written down..or cut clip outs out of my dreams, they have come true.

And it is always fun to dream..............






home. ♥


cupcake mobile. ♥


rest. healing. relaxation. vacation. warmth. ♥
and just kick back to enjoy a cocktail with no worries.


more pairs of Bordello shoes for cupcake deliveries and other fun adventures. ♥

Shine like this..for the rest of my life. ♥







Saturday, May 28, 2011

My Annual Wish List

It's my birthday in a few weeks.
June 12th.

I don't care how "old" I get, I LOVE birthdays!
They are an opportunity to celebrate LIFE.
With the people that I LOVE.
I get to eat SWEET things.
Fall upon random SURPRISES every where.

My birthday is my favorite holiday.

Every year I make a WISH LIST.
Sure, people can use it as a guide to buy me something nice if they want to. :) I'd be happy with that.

But creating a wish list helps me to organize my dreams, my wishes, and my wants for the next year to come.
And it keeps me DREAMING.

So here it is. My annual wish list.



Pairs of Sequin and Rhinestone Platform Pumps.
I have been eyeing them for a long time, and they are so BEAUTIFUL. ♥
There is this fun shop on Etsy called Taylor Says and she sells gorgeous shoes.



Sony A33 DSLR Camera.
My beautiful expensive SLR camera broke about a month ago :(
It is what I use to take beautiful cupcake photos.
So I am in desperate need of a new and wonderful camera.
This is the camera that is tempting me.

A spa day. Anywhere.
I'd love one of those "spa retreat" vacations.
But even a trip to a spa for an entire day would be exactly what I need.

This website-The Cupcake Tower has amazing cake pop towers.
This one is reversible. So you can use it for cake pops & cupcakes.
Cupcake Towers just bring all the beauty and yummy-ness of my cupcake creations together.
(Amanda Cupcake)

An edible image printer.
So I can make even more personalized cupcakes & cakes.
The possibilities would be endless with this!
I ADORE this store.
I just FREAK OUT when I am here.
So a Gift Certificate to Sephora..
A Shopping Spree to go crazy with fun makeup
would be fabulous.
This is the more pricey wish..
But I really want a Macbook Pro.
They are best for creative people ♥
I've wanted one for a long time.
I am hoping my business can take off..
so that this year will be the year the Macbook Pro becomes a reality for me.
An IPOD Touch.
Another expensive wish. ♥
That I really want to have happen.
I've never really had an official IPOD.
And I've always wanted one.
Yes, I still listen to the old skool CDs.
But I'd much rather my music be pocket portable.
Even better than carry-a-boom-box on my shoulder portable.
A membership to Bag Borrow Or Steal. (Otherwise called Avelle)
So I can Rent beautiful designer items, and be fickle about it.
No commitments needed.
Just fun and fashion. ♥
There is this website I love.
Called Fancy Flours.
It is the equivalent of Sephora for me,
but in cake decorating supplies.
I would love to buy that store out for my birthday.
Or at least have a lot of shopping spree fun!


I want Ellen Degeneres who is my favorite comedian of all time to eat one of my cupcakes this next year.  I am already planning on sending her one of my cupcake kaleidoscopes.  It would literally be my dream come true for her to eat one on her show. She has made me laugh so hard to the point actual tears since I was a tween!
A box of handmade cupcakes by someone who loves me.
I always make cupcakes for other people :)
But I would love to receive handmade ones in a pretty box from a friend..
or even a group of friends who got together to make them.
That would be even better.


Sleeping Beauty "Aurora" Apron.
I know you..I walked with you once upon a dream.
Another favorite sold on Etsy.
Shop:  Lover Dovers Clothing




A SURPRISE PARTY.
Yes, I've always wanted someone to throw me one.
It just shows how much someone loves you when they
take time to throw you a surprise party.  It really has to be planned well.
And just think.. a bunch of warm faces in the same room welcoming me?
Life can't get much better.
Someday..there will be a surprise party in my future.
Not sure if it will be this year.
But I can keep hoping and dreaming.



Champagne for breakfast.
And a very long breakfast..out under the sun.
Welcoming me to the first day of the rest of my life.



Plane tickets to somewhere fabulous.
Or even someone to steal me away and take me away Calgon style.



 A love letter from James Franco.
Ok, maybe just a love letter in general.
A very smart and wise and funny sounding love letter.
That I will want to keep forever.
This is why James Franco crept up in my mind.
His brain is kind of my ideal man brain. :)



..And last but not least, a vision of the ideal birthday:
























Sunday, May 15, 2011

If the world ended in a week, what would I do?

I was just watching the news and it spooked me a little bit.
There were these long faced men saying that the world is going to end this next Saturday May 21st.
That is why I hate the news. It is always negative and depressing.
I refuse to watch it in the morning, and start my day that way.

I am not ready for the world to end! I am 31 years old, and I haven't even crossed half the things off on my bucket list.
If I really *knew* for sure that the world was going to end in exactly one week, what would I do..or to make it even more broad..what WOULD I have done?

If the world doesn't end in a week, this might inspire & remind me that I need to stop waiting to live..and LIVE. ♥ Right now.


I would finger wave my hair Reese Witherspoon style (aka Water for Elephants)
and befriend a sweet & beautiful elephant. I love that they are such giant animals but are so gentle and intelligent.


Take a couple of months off of my life,
visit my friend in Switzerland, and travel to the neighboring countries/cities.


I have always dreamed of having a beautiful home
A lot of really fun and fabulous friends
None of us would be too busy to have dinner parties together.
Breakfast for Dinner.  Candy for dinner. Cupcakes for dinner. Ice Cream for dinner.
And the table would always look beautiful,whimsical..
Guests could even arrive in costumes or wigs.


I've always wanted to help OPI come up with new nail polish colors. ♥


Or just have one of those random days of love I used to share
doing almost nothing but loving it. I don't think I've had one
of those since I was like...19.  But maybe that is what young
love is about?  Magical days together with no worries in your mind.


Like this: 




I would finally let go.
And just be the Amanda that I've always wanted to be.
Hmm.. isn't that why I am creating this list?


I'd dress up like Cher for Halloween.
I keep saying I am going to but never do.
But I wouldn't be the cheap costume store looking Cher.
People would think I was the real thing.


I would fly to New York just to eat a sundae at Serendipity.


I want to spend time with a child...
it doesn't even have to be my own.
My niece & nephew are fun.
But I'd love to cuddle an orphan..
this is actually one of my biggest dreams ever.

I believe that we need love to survive.
And everyone deserves to be loved.



I really want to take a beach vacation.
I have never been on a tropical vaca.
I am talking Tahiti.. Fiji...Hawaii.
Cocktail in my hand
Sand is too hot under my feet
but I don't care.


Wear high heels almost everyday.
No matter what I am doing.
It looks pretty.
I have kind of forgotten about that since I live in Wisconsin.
It is much easier to slip on the Uggs or flats.
But my legs look much prettier in heels.


Side by side with my cupcake business..write a children's book. ♥
I have ideas.
I just don't know where to begin.




and this goes for my dad too ♥
 if the world was ending in a week, I would show everyone as much love as I could possibly generate.