Saturday, February 16, 2013

I'm amazed...I really love it.

Is it just me or does everyone feel this way?
Sometimes I wonder if it's just me...
and I'm totally fine if I'm alone in this,
but I'm constantly amazed.
Joy
I hope that I never get to the point that I expect things,
because the feeling of amazement is enjoyable to me.
My eyes get a little misty...
My nose starts running a little...
                 (Yes, I'm one of those people that has a runny nose when they cry...
                   everything is connected that way in my head.)
My heart feels all mushy and HUGE...
and I struggle with my words.
Now those that know me well,
also know that I generally do not struggle with words.
I wordy.
Quite wordy.
So when I have a hard time getting words out it means one of two things...
I'm really happy, or I'm really mad.
In this case...
I'm really happy.
REALLY, REALLY HAPPY!
And you did this! 

Yes, you know who you are.
In fact, many of you keep telling me that your pants feel a little tighter.
People, I told you that the cookies can be frozen, but you just went ahead and ATE them!
I actually prefer that.  Nice job! It's makes the baker in my smile.
No, I don't smile because you feel fat...
I smile because it makes me happy to feed you sweets.
I really love it when you tell me something was delicious.
I love it when you talk about feeding it to your child
                  and how much they enjoyed each bite.
I love the pictures of happy faces shoving
                  chocolate cookies into their mouths.
I love it when you describe how you meant to
                  give it to your husband or wife,
                  but you ate it on the car ride home.
                  (Hehe...I really love that.)
I love when you describe how you and your
                  teenage son couldn't wait until after dinner,
                  so you grabbed two forks
                  and share a piece of cake. 
Each and every story makes me love baking even more,
                  and makes me love you more too.
Because when I bake I picture you.
I feel the love that you have for your family
and the love that you have...well...for me.
I really feel it...
and it amazes me.
Each and every time.
Even more, I'm amazed at how a little cookie, brownie, cupcake,
and scone can add up to a whole bunch of good
in the lives of animals in our community.
I'm thankful that I have found an organization in Fences for Fido 
that loves to help the special dogs that need our care. 
I've always felt that it's our job to care for each other...
human or animal. 
We are never alone when we have a friend on our side. 
For me, some days that friend is human,
but every day my dog is there. 
And that makes me a very lucky girl.
Beautifully stated Audrey...
Each time I hold a bake sale,
I can accomplish both of those things.
I help myself feel proud to be a part of a community dedicated to helping dogs,
and help others enjoy tasty treats while donating to this amazing cause.
It's definitely a win-win!
And I thank you from the bottom of my mushy, huge heart.

Now, to tempt your taste buds for future bake sales,
here are a few of my treat offerings.




Love to you! ~Lori

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Happy "Freedom" Day

Now, Valentine's Day means a something a little different to me than it does to you.
(I'm pretty sure that most people don't have the same connections as I do. Yep.  Pretty darn sure.)
Yes, Valentine's is a day to celebrate the people that you love
and shower them with little sentiments of how much they mean to you.
It's a day that card manufactures
and chocolate company's boost their sales...
A day when bakeries (yumma!) open their doors
and supply their patrons with heart shaped confections...
The day that I have another glorious bake sale of new treats for Fences...
Kids hand out little notes of love and friendship to their classmates...
Parents dote on their kids with little notes of love...
All of these things are fabulous!
I love each and every one of those things, but to me "Freedom" day is all of that
and every other holiday wrapped up in a fabulous package.
You must be curious now...right?!
What could be better than all of that?!
Well...let me tell you!

For me, it is "Lori's Freedom Day.
Ahhh...beautiful, lovely, glorious freedom day.
The day that I was unchained from an unhealthy marriage.
It's the day that my shackles of pain and sadness were removed and I was FREE!
Unburdened...
Released...
Divorced finalized!

For some people, this type of day falling on a day
dedicated to love may seem horrible.
Stained.
Tainted.
Depressing.
Really, really sad.
But not to me.
Valentine's Day is a day of love.
It represents me, loving myself enough to get out of a bad situation.
Me, having amazing people who LOVE ME enough to hold me up, when I couldn't.
People ,supporting me every decision and helping me along the way.
It's me, having enough strength and courage to love me, and put me first.
To walk away and make my life, well, mine again.
If that's not a celebration of love, then what is?!
Though, I'm very confident that I definitely have the idea of love, just right.
So on this VERY important day of love,
remember that loving yourself and taking care of you,
is the best gift of love that you can give and receive.
Really, it is.
Trust me.
I've worked a long time to figure that out.

And while you're sharing the love,
make sure the amazing people that are your support system feel the love too.
If you're not sure what to give,
I suggest a big hug,
and a big cookie!
 
 
 
 
 
From me to you,
Happy Freedom Day
             and
Happy Valentine's Day!

Thursday, February 7, 2013

"Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week"

February 7-February 14th is "Have a Heart for Chained Dogs"

How could the week of Valentine's Day get better than treats and helping unchain dogs?
It couldn't get any better than THAT in my world!
 
I'm bringing that idea right here in Portland with my
"Love of Dogs Valentine's Day Bake Sale."
With every cookie, scone, and pie,
a link on a chain drops away and brings a dog closer to freedom...
...with the help of my friends at Fences for Fido, of course!
 
SO...what will be baked to fill the hearts and tummies of two and four legged friends?
~Valentine’s Day Bake Sale~

Everyone needs a little love on this day!
I love to bake.
I love my friends and family.
I love helping animals.
They love to eat AND support my love of animals!

I’m mixing up a variety of treats for a Bake Sale on
February 12th and February 13th.

Perfect timing to purchase treats to eat or share with others
…or BOTH!
Of course, all of the money goes directly to Fences for Fido.
That's 100% folks!

Want to order cookies or treats, but don't work with me?
Sure, no problem!
Cookies:
-Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies
-Cream Tea Wafers
-Red Velvet Cheesecake Cookies
-Chocolate “Red” Chip Cookies
-Snickerdoodles
-"Love in the Tummy" Cookie Mix
        (I'm making several small batches of other cookies for my school bake sale...
           ...this is a mix of the above and additional cookies)
Treats:
 
-Red Velvet Brownies
-Mom's Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting...made by my momma, the baking master!
-Scones (Red Velvet, Chocolate Chip, Lemon, Blueberry, Buttermilk or a Mix)
- Personal Mini-Pies (Apple, Cherry, Peach, or Chocolate Cream)

**Cookies can be ordered by
- Full Containers will be $10.00
(16-20ish cookies depending on cookie size)
- Half Containers will be $5.00
**Scones can be ordered for $10.00
     (8-10ish large scones, depending how many I can fit in the container!)
**Mini-Pies $3.00 each
**Cinnamon Rolls- 2 for $3.00

Orders will be ready by February 11th...just in time for Valentine's day! Though I'm pretty sure everything will be done for the orders by Sunday night. We can set up a meeting point!

No pressure...
but let me know if you have questions
or if you want to order any goodies.
               Oodles of Love,
Lori :0)