Music Monday, Double Time!

 Okay so with it being New Years Eve I decided to do two songs. One for a reminder of the past year and the other being kind of my "anthem" for the up coming year. So here they are!

 

 

Graham Colton's, New Year's Resolution. This is the one representing the past year. I love his voice and the song just seemed to fit.

 

 

Kelly Clarkson, Catch My Breath. I'm going into 2013 singing this song! It represents me just being myself and living how I feel I should. I'm discovering who I really am and loving every second of it.

 

Hope you enjoy these songs as much as I do. Happy New Year!



New Year's Eve Wedding Cake

This is a wedding cake I did for a New Year's wedding. She wanted something simple so this is what we came up with! The top and bottom tiers have diamonds with small pearls meeting at each intersection. The middle tier was just smooth. She loves red roses and they were being used in the wedding so I just scattered them here and there on the cake. Her dad made the topper! So sweet!

 

 

 

 

I really love how pretty and dainty this one turned out. I heard it went over as a big hit!

 

Things I've Realized Lately

With a new year coming up and this past one coming to a close, I've been thinking A LOT lately. Saying this past year was much better than the one before is an understatement. This year has made me grow in so many ways and I have to admit, I'm starting to really like the person I'm becoming. I'm still a work in progress but I always will be. One step at a time! So without further ado, my light bulb realizations:
I have too many clothes and not enough closet space. I really am a coffee addict. I have a thing for hipsters and I'm becoming more of a hipster myself. I don't say "I love you" enough to my family and friends. Not to sweat the small things cause God works everything out. I will never settle for a man that doesn't respect and love me as much as I love him. I am a crazy cat lady (Sylvester has been dressed up in shirts and sweaters lately). I don't read enough. Or exercise enough for that matter. A nice working car is a huge blessing. I'm becoming a homebody cause I just want some time to breathe here and there. I am talented in so many ways. Especially at the ones I used to say, "Eh I'm okay at it, I guess." to. Big rings are awesome to accessorize with. I'm cheap and bargains rule my shopping tendencies. Yes I am a OneDirectioner. I'm sometimes afraid to stand up for myself and so on occasion, that leads to me being walked on (this is changing!). I always look behind the shower curtain in bathrooms. I'm lucky to have the parents I do. I want to take photos of EVERYTHING. I'm not as OCD as I used to be. I could live off hummus and warm pita bread. Never to go to any hairstylist other than my own. The world revolves around the sun and not me. My room is never going to be warm enough since I'm always cold in there. Leverage is an addicting TV show. I can use my time in more productive ways to do more in a day.

Honestly, I could list a lot more and I might come back later to edit some others in. You never know! I'm becoming much more self aware and I like that. Love it even! "I'm on the up and up. And I'm not giving up on what I know I'm capable of." Great and wise words from one of my favorite bands, Relient K. I now know that I'm super capable of all kinds of amazing things :).

New Year's Nails

 

I wanted to do a little sparkle on my nails for new years and this is how they turned out! I used black on all my nails except for the one. I had a silver polish for the first coat and a silver sparkle for the second. I finished up with a clear coat so it would stay on longer. Pretty! 





Music Monday, Don't Be A Jerk It's Christmas by Spongebob Squarepants

I thought this was perfect for Christmas Eve. This song cracks me up but there's also some truth behind it. This weeks Music Monday is "Don't Be A Jerk It's Christmas" by Spongebob Squarepants. I'm getting together with all of my family on my Mom's side tonight to do gifts and such. I love them all so much and enjoy spending all the time I can with them. What are your plans for the next few days? Merry Christmas!

Music Monday, All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey

 

Okay so I know everyone hears this song several times over Christmas but I love it. "All I Want For Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey. This video is super cheesy and poor quality but I had to share. Hope this gets you in the Christmas Spirit!

Zebra n' Pink Baby Shower Cake

 

 I made this adorable baby shower cake for a sweet girl that I used to do co-ops with. She wanted pink and zebra stripes so that's what I did! It was a chocolate cake with butter cream icing. What pregnant lady doesn't love chocolate, right??

Music Monday, Bad Day by Daniel Powter

 

This song seems super old but it's a good one. Bad Day by Daniel Powter. It came on the radio a few days ago and I knew I had to post it this week. Great reminder to always keep your head up. I'm currently fighting a cold that caught me last night. I feel okay but it's still just annoying. Cold medicine has been my friend. Anyway, hope this song brightens your week!



Light Pink and Green "V" Nails

 

I have been needing to do my nails for awhile but I've been so busy that it keeps getting put off. If you can't tell, I'm also working on blog stuff. Trying to catch up on posts! Sooo anyway, I finally came up with these. I did light pink as the base and green "V" stripes. Cute right?! 

Music Monday, Ho Hey by The Lumineers

 

 

So here's Music Monday..but on a Thursday. My week has been crazy busy and my blogger wasn't wanting to work with me there for a bit. This week's song is Ho Hey by The Lumineers. It's so catchy and is now being played on the radio more. So I had to snag it before it just completely explodes into popularity (more than what it already has). Hope you all have had a great week!



Music Monday, This Gift by Glen Hansard

 

So this weeks Music Monday is inspired by the night out I had with Clayton and Dad last night. We went to see the movie, "The Odd Life of Timothy Green." I really enjoyed it! I've always liked Glen Hansard and this song played at the beginning of the end credits. I loved it! So here you are. Hope you like it just as much!

Black Swirls and Bling Cake

 

Details.

 

This is the wedding cake that I did for my friend's Alex and Bobbie. So classy! The small little swirls took awhile but I was a pro by the time it was done. I loved how this cake came together!

 

Music Monday, Who You Are by Unspoken

Welcome to the first post for Music Monday! This song is titled "Who You Are" by Unspoken. This one has really been on my mind lately so I had to share. I just love his voice and this acoustic version. Hope you enjoy it and it touches you as much as it has me!

New Blog Design and Direction!

 

Hey everyone! Sooo my dear friend Helen has been working on my blog design and layout. I really REALLY appreciate her!! Doesn't the blog look awesome?! I'm going to be slowly adding more to it and try to start posting a few things each week. Maybe I'll work up to doing one a day! That's my hope anyway. You can be expecting a "Fashion Friday" for outfit posts, crafts, recipes, my cake designs, and any wedding events or projects that come up. Plus any odd and end things. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please let me know. My goal is to become an avid blogger. Big changes are coming so keep an eye out! I'm so excited to start this journey (again..with a new found confidence!).

Thanks for stopping by and reading, Eclectic Darling!

My Dears, Maggie's Story

Maggie loves snuggles and I love her (and silly faces)

This is my dear bird dog, Maggie. She's my rescue. I found her a few days after New Years 2009, just skin and bones. I was taking care of my kiddos when she showed up at their house, begging for food. They couldn't keep her, so of course she came home with me. Maggie took a lot of love and care to nourish back to health. Besides being just skin and bones, she was scared of people. Obviously beaten and abused, she would crawl on the ground and cower when I went to pet her. It took several months of being fed hearty food, loving attention, and caring words to get back to being a happy, care-free dog. Now, you wouldn't even think she was that way once upon a time! Maggie is one of the sweetest, most energetic dogs I've ever seen. She holds a very special place in my heart and brings smiles to my face everyday. I urge everyone to treat their pets right. And maybe think about bringing home a rescue and giving them the love they deserve. It's such a rewarding and heart warming feeling. I know I'm certainly glad Maggie and I found each other.

Beachy Keen Cake

This is the "Beachy Keen" cake I made for a very sweet young lady. She was having a luau party for her 16th birthday.

It was a quick order so I ended up using real shells (after they were soaked, scrubbed, and scrubbed again). I would usually mold some out of fondant.

My Dears | Sylvester & The Toy Mouse

Sylverster saying, "I got da mouse!"

My Dears | Meet Sylvester

Snuggling with my new baby, Sylvester. He's too adorable for words! ♥

Live. Love. Listen. Speak.

 

Love this!

Men Who Are Real Heroes

The Colorado shooting was so devastating and my heart breaks for all those involved. These men made the ultimate sacrifice for the women they loved. They are true heroes.

Reverse Ombre Hair

 

So I decided I needed to do something different with my hair. We'll just call it "reverse ombre." I picked up some reddish hair coloring at the store and did it myself! I'll probably be doing this again with a little more drastic color change. Are you saving money by dying your own hair?

This Says It All

"Old Man" Golf Cake

On the green.

 

"Old Man" golfing.

 

So this was a groom's cake I did for the Brewer's. They wanted an "old man" golfing. I looked forever to find golf stuff to put on the cake so I finally decided to mold it all myself! That guy took forever to dry but I thought it ended up being super cute! I also had a a super sweet little boy come and help me set up the cakes. He took great pride in telling everyone that he helped decorate the cakes. He then went on to say he thought I was a "master chef." It really made my day. Too cute! :)

The Lady Bug Love Cake

 

I did this cake for a young girl, whose mother I went on a mission trip with. She wanted flowers and LOTS of lady bugs. The flowers and lady bugs were made ahead of time out of fondant. I hand painted their spots on too! There was so much work put into this cake but it is one of my absolute favorites that I've done!

Just Girl Talk

No More Mumbo Jumbo

Ah it's good to be back! Where have I been you ask? Well I've been living life as it comes and loving every second of it. I feel happier now than I've been in a very long time. I'm going through the days as just me. Not the person I wish I was or the person I used to be but just me, Kora. Happiness has been coming a lot easier to me. Why? Cause I choose to be joyful and delight in the little things. God has worked wonders in me lately and I'm loving it. :)
Since I last typed..I have gone through a break up, started getting even closer to my friends, started on weight watchers (I've lost 8 pounds!), found a calling at my church, gotten to meet and know new people, being crafty, spent a lot more time at the local coffee shop (One of my very favorite places!), started putting more thoughts in outfits, and being more creative in general! When you don't worry about life or what's gonna happen next, you become much more free. I'm extremely light-hearted if you can't tell.
I've started carrying my camera in my purse with me at all times. I actually stopped in an alley downtown last week and started snapping pictures! Some stranger saw me squatted down taking pictures of some broken glass, then proceeded to snicker at me. Snicker all you want random person, I'm an artist at heart!

I've also been very much into making things. I made a necklace the other day and it is one of my current favorites. It has "wishes" or otherwise known as dandelion seeds, inside a glass bottle with a cork top. Don't worry, it's a small bottle and it even has a burlap bow on it. Absolutely adorable.

Recipes have been super big lately too. I spent part of one of my days tearing out a ton of recipes from some of my magazines. A folder with all of them in it is another of my always going projects. I can't wait to try some of them! Delicious food is one of my weaknesses. I'll have to take pictures when I cook some select ones and post them to the blog. That's another thing! Notice the new layout? The tabs at the top of the page? I'm trying to become a regular blog connoisseur. It's a work in progress but it's gonna get there eventually! My goal is to do the things I love and this is one of them. Along with so many other things that I can incorporate in! I'm very excited about it. So start watching out for more organized posts instead of all this mumbo jumbo.

Choose to be happy!
Kora

Questions?

     Have you ever had someone come up and ask you one of those mind blowing, life altering, confusing, take you off guard, but resonable questions? I have. I was presented with one of these questions this past week. I won't tell you what the question was, but what I will tell you is that it certainly got me thinking. I have felt like Winnie the Pooh. I need a thinking spot where I can say, "Think. Think. Think." and figure it out. It was something that I never really thought I would be asked but yet something I really need to think about. Are you annoyed yet with how many times I can say think? Life is full of surprises and I'm pretty sure I have several in store for the future. You all are curious now aren't you? Don't worry, I'll probably tell you when I find out.
     My life has been full of surprises. It's been more than a little crazy and hectic for over a year now. I feel sometimes that the changes were more bad than good. It really started when my Great Grandma Lofton passed away (as I've already told you). I still regret not going to see her in the hospital when they said she was doing much better and should have been able to go home soon. The day after the positive feedback, she passed away. It broke my heart that I didn't get to say goodbye. A few months later I lost someone I thought I could count on to be there for me and again, my heart was broken. The next several months were full of sadness and lack of meaning. I continued to ask myself, "Why?" Always the questions. All through the rest of the time, it was one thing after another. My car broke down time after time. More people came and went that I thought I could trust. I began to think that you can't trust too much or you eventually get broken. I lost my job and my hope that things would get better. Things seemed like they just couldn't go right. I knew it was satan at work but I tended to get upset with God. Again with the questioning, "Why? Why me?" Then I decided to give up. I'd had enough. I had gotten to the breaking point and gone past it. I stopped trying. And I soon found out, that's exactly what he wanted me to do. God wanted me to give it up to him, to stop trying to handle it on my own. I suddenly had that burden gone. I chose not to worry about it anymore. Before I knew it, things were falling into place. Things were getting better. I met more fantastic friends, went to an amazing bible study group, started my career, enjoyed time with my family more, and took pleasure in the simple things. Now I'm as happy as I could ever wish. Things may still go wrong every once in awhile but that's just life. A lady that I really admire from my church was talking to me a few weeks ago on a girl's day. We talked about some of the things I've mentioned and I said that I had felt like they were all bad. She looked at me and said, "Were they really? Just think, if you hadn't gone through those things, would you be where you are now? Knowing what you know or having met the people you have?" Her wisdom really struck me! The fact is that I wouldn't be the person I am now without all of that. I won't change how I am except to be more of the person I ought to be. I'm not going to worry because I have set my hopes on something higher. I'm not going to question God anymore. He obviously knows what he's doing. No more questions about it.

Gradually Updating

Well it's been almost two months since I last posted. I have procrastinated yet again! I hope eventually I can get on here and do a couple of posts a week, but for now, I am going to try for once a week. I think that's probably a good goal. How do you like the new set up? I'm attempting to create a carefree fun blog layout. I'm really liking the font! This will probably be the post where I add in pictures. I'm way ready to start doing that! Maybe someday it will be picture perfect but it's a work in process for now.
I might as well ask how every one's holidays were, even though it's already February. I had a fantastic Christmas and New Years. I spent Christmas Eve with my Mom's side of the family. Then Christmas day was spent at my Aunt and Uncle's house. I was blessed with so much for Christmas. I got my red TOMS, an awesome heavy duty case for my sewing machine, and a kindle! Of course there were other things but those were the main things :) I am enjoying everything thoroughly. My Grandparent's 50th Wedding Anniversary party was New Year's Eve and it was perfect. They rode up in a horse drawn carriage (it was a surprise).

         I love this picture of them! Shows how much they love each other after all these years.

I did the cakes and they turned out great. Several of their friends showed up and with all of our family too, the head count probably came to 130 or so. You would have thought that is was a super nice wedding reception, which is what we were going for. Some of us grand kids even provided entertainment! It was such a great way to honor them for every wonderful thing they do. I adore my Grandparents and I'm so blessed to have them! New Year's evening was spent with a group of us at a friend's house. We all had a blast. I am certainly glad to be in 2012! There was good moments in 2011 but it was certainly rough. So I am welcoming a new year with open arms. I'll have to tell you some of my resolutions for 2012 in another post. I'm determined to make this a fantastic year! Goodness can you believe that it's already February?! I'm already starting to freak out about what to get for a Valentine's gift. I will figure it out and I'm sure it'll probably end up being something I make. I love to give meaningful gifts that will be used but also really enjoyed. Time to start brain storming I guess!
What have you done so far this year? I have done a lot of crocheting, baking, and crafting. I've made two scarfs and two slouchy beanies. They turned out so cute! I think I'm going to start selling them along with anything else I come up with. I'm going to start doing more of what I love. I made some lemon blueberry cupcakes a few weeks ago...

and yesterday I made red velvet cupcakes.

They were delicious. I think it would be so fun to open a cupcake shop! My friend Helen tells me frequently that my cupcakes are to die for. Sorry, but my recipe is a secret :)

I'm really enjoying life right now! I am so blessed with so many good friends and family. I appreciate everything more and more with each passing day. It's all about outlook and recognizing what you have been given. Live and love!
Until next type!
Kora

New Years with Calvin & Hobbs

I thought this was cute. Plus I ♥ Calvin and Hobbes. I'm perfect the way I am but it wouldn't hurt to improve myself :)