5 Minute Chocolate Mug Cake..the most Dangerous Cake Recipe in the World

Haven't tried it yet but couldn't resist passing this on....

4 tablespoons flour

4 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons cocoa

1 egg

3 tablespoons milk

3 tablespoons oil

3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)

A pinch of salt (thanks Casey)

A small splash of vanilla extract

1 large coffee mug

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again. Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts (on Highest)... The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed! Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous) why it's the most dangerous cake recipe in the world! Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night!

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As I said...have not tried it yet (was just sent by a chocolatholic friend of mine...

But you can bet your boots that after this weekend of painting...I will be giving this a try...a few times!!

Jodi

WHAT HAVE I GOTTEN MYSELF INTO...!!!!!

PAINTING !!!!

OK....I am not really sure if this is a good thing...or a very bad thing....but I have decided to paint my studio this weekend... dragging Richard (kicking and screaming) into this decision. I know it has been coming for a while now (I have promised myself this 'time off ' for my birthday present to ME)... but something weird happens when you actually 'go through with it' ...taking those first 'critical steps' that you basically can't return from...GULP!!! A million things go through your mind all at light speed, a gabillion Questions...and topping that list is 'WHY!!!!!!.... Well actually I know that one...it's an easy one..."Cause"!!! ...actually, it is something I have dreamed of doing for a few years now... but I seem to find a million other things to postpone this task...until today!! No clear reason for not getting started...so I have.
So having a wide open opportunity to jump right in...here I sit on the computer...typing...
Can you say "P-R-O-C-R-A-S-T-I-N-A-T-I-O-N"....

Actually I started early this morning moving this and that...from here to there ...books, paint, fabric... big job. GEESH, it is ONLY two freakin walls...you would think I was painting the Sistine Chapel. Richard is not big on painting...so he has suspiciously and oh so conveniently started working on the car doing a tune up and other car like engine stuff...hmmmmmm....that little devil!!!

I expect it will take me the entire weekend to take it all down...paint...and put it all back together...so that means...I don't have to cook...I can call for pizza...HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN!!! Paper plate city...just give me my pizza, coffee and wine in the evening... and I am a happy painter.

Wish me Luck....

Jodi...the Conquer!!!

'Joury Nell...the little girl with lots to say"

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This is our little Joury Nell who goes on EBAY tonight... she is one of the Imaginary Friends of Dahlia Darkling...

Jodi

A Documentary Doll DVD....

Richard and I are thrilled to announce the Release of a New Doll Documentary ...that we had the great fortune to be a part of. We were contacted prior to last summers 2008 NIADA Doll Conference in Las Vegas to be a part of this exciting project... so while at the conference they interviewed us along with 5 other NIADA Members...Gail Lackey, Nancy Wiley, Olga Roehl, Shelly Thorton and Reina Mia Brill.
They asked questions such as what inspires us, how we got started, techniques, our feelings about Doll Art in general. These interviews show in depth answers by each artist along with their work. Plus there is a slide show showing Art Dolls from each of us.
We were really honored to be a part of this project ... But as with anything where you see 'yourself' on a big screen... your first thought is ."WHO the hell is that...she sounds like me...but she does not look like me"...GULP!! Reality Bites as times... or at the very least 'nibbles' on you until it hurts!! Richard of course looks MARVELOUS!!!

So anyone who might be interested... it is now available on AMAZON . And I actually found it on YOUTUBE yesterday ...just 'small snippits' ...kinda cool. Let's see if I can get it loaded up here... OOPS...looks like I can't figure ot a way to get it on here from YOUTUBE (HELP...anyone?)... in the mean time here is the link to it..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elvJVIWiRsI&feature=channel

Just had to share...kind of exciting to share this with other artists I admire so much.

Later,
Jodi

Touting Two Trophies Today ..Turning into a Terrific Tuesday!

Well I am officially 'Blown Away' ... I have received a very nice honor from San at

http://sansdollhousediaries.blogspot.com/ ... I am speechless...and as many of you out there know...that is a VERY rare occasion indeed! I have been honored with no less than '2' awards. Act one...scene two... "Jodi enters the room...she has a puzzled look on her face, she appears to be totally confused ...she wrings her hands and paces back and forth wondering what to do next"

It is true...I am as I mentioned, a bit befuddled on what I am to do next...and I don't want to muck it up... I am guessing here (and from what I have seen on others wonderful sites) I now need to pass these awards onto 5 others...correct?? And also list 5 of my 'Addictions' ??? Heroin! Cocaine! Sex!...OH...not those...OOPS!!! I AM ONLY KIDDING!!!!!!! I kicked Cocaine YEARS ago..........ONLY KIDDING AGAIN.........

Hmmmmm to list 5 of the things I most enjoy and can't live without I guess is more of the object...

OK...here goes....

1.) My Richard...I have become severally addicted to him over these past 33 years (34 this June) ...he is the Best Love anyone could ask for...and my best 'laughing' Buddy ...we break down into laughing fits several times a day... he is always there when I am blue ...and keeps nudging me to move forward in everything in life...

Nope...can't live without him... I got a Big Richard Monkey on my Back!!!

2.) My Dog Tess...she is a real strong addiction. Warm and loving she makes us laugh with her wonderful antics, and makes us calm and comforted with her genuine nuzzles of love and devotion. This Pupper is truly addicting.

3.) Friends.... I would be nowhere in life without the addiction of Friends. Friends complete your circle and enrich your existence ... They are always there when you need them ..and sense when you are fine being alone. It is an addiction I am a much richer person for.

4.) Kayaking and our Tipi...I put those two together because somehow they seem so joined at the hip. We enjoy them the same but for different reasons...both bring calming pleasures and fill our lives with a true sense of purpose and connection with land and water. These are two addictions I don't care to think about being without.

5.) Dolls and Miniatures. An addiction I have had for a very long time. Dolls and Miniatures are a wonderful extension of who I am as an artist...which comes from way back to when I was just a few years old ...truly! I have always been into one form of art or another....and Dolls and Miniatures has filled my artistic life for the past 32 years ...bringing yet another level of fulfillment on my constant quest to discover and grow. Dolls and Miniatures are Richard's and My daily addiction ..one that we nurture daily .. and that keeps us wanting and needing more!

Now onto 5 sites I will pass these awards onto...

1.) http://oopsdesperateblogger.blogspot.com/ A dear friend for many years, a multi talented artist in polymer clay ...and one of the sweetest and most genuine individuals I have had the pleasure to meet. Please enjoy her wonderful Blog.

2.) http://woopitydooart.blogspot.com/ A Friend from the last few years... we met through our mutual love of everything Halloween and Witchy. Multi Talented with a dose of wicked humor and sense of all things spooky in Miniature World. Please enjoy her wonderful Blog.

3.) http://designsbyck.blogspot.com/ .. A VERY Talented Friend that I met while an EHAG Member ...and I am delighted that he remains close after I left the group. His many talents are wonderfully shown on his great blog. ENJOY his Blog.

4.) http://todaysgold.blogspot.com/... A site filled with magical things ... I am so happy to call her friend.. She is a lover of life and her passion is her Loving Pets Please visit and enjoy her Blog.

5.) http://voodoonotes.blogspot.com/... At last...I have found someone as NUTS as I am...but in a Very good way. We met when she 'phone interviewed' me a few years ago...and we chatted for no less than 2 hours...and laughed at least 1:45 minutes of that time... She is a brilliant, witty multi-faceted artist and tells it like it is...Please enjoy her brilliantly wacky and intelligent rants...

The Weather is Warm,Spring has sprung..and the Cactus are in bloom!!

Spring has at last decided to stick around a while here in the Southwest Desert...now this is not to say she may decide to mix things up a bit down the road...giving us some cooler wetter days.. but for now she has pitched her tent in March and looks like she is hanging out for a while.

We raise cactus..not sure if I mentioned that at any point in my posts...heck, of course we do, we live in the desert.... But then we raised them when we lived in Oregon and Foothills of California ... we just love the prickly little fellas. Our front and back yards are filled with every kind of cactus and agave that will grow here in our hot summer months. We have had a lovely winter filled with lots of welcomed rain...because of this desert flowers are popping up all over...including our own garden. They are just starting ... many more will follow. Most people don't realize what beauty there is in desert plants....well I am here to tell you it can absolutely take your breath away.

Have A Wonderful Week Everyone

Later,

Jodi

You Can Run...but you can't hide from SUNDAY!!

Theoretically , Sunday should be just like any other day in the Creager Household .. by that I mean...we work from home 24/7 365 days a year (I swear there are a few extras thrown in there from time to time) so each day should be the same as the last i.e. Monday is like Thursday and Saturday is like Tuesday and so on. As I said, in theory this should be how the whole thing works... but for some reason...in my small over wrought brain I have 'self designated' Sunday as gotta do EVERYTHING day!! Cram all chores, such as washing, cleaning , try new recipes (that are sure to fail and I should have stuck with the all too familiar chicken dish) sorting this and throwing away that and on top of it all try like heck to finish up doll and miniature projects that are starring me down. Apparently I have chosen this one day to thoroughly tax my mind and body and to test myself on how far I can be pushed until a screaming ,crying ,quivering mass of goo is achieved!! You would think I would 'spread' it out over a several day period ...but NooOOOoOOoooo..not me.

I am getting off to a really bad start at this self induced purgatory ...which means I am going to have to double time it somewhere later in the day.

Now understand, if all is not finished by the end of the day...there are no penalties involved, no punishments, not disappointments of any kind... Just a lot of Woulda, Shoulda, Coulda's that I will have to sort out later. I think I just like a challenge , and to feel I am up to it...

In truth the only one real thing I must do today (top of the 'mental list' I made last evening) is to write a poem for the new doll we are doing... and believe it or not...I do my best work when stressed a bit... just ever so slightly on the edge of reason and control ... I am not one of those that can pour a cup of chamomile , put on classic music , bathe the room in lavender scent and put pen to paper... nope nope nope... not I ( I mean that all sounds fantastic and I wish I could be that relaxed) ...but if I was in that state...I would fall fast asleep and never get anything done) ...I am one of those that must work in a semi state of ciaos ...dealing with several issues at one time ... some of our best dolls were created during world situations and major events on the tube. So knowing I have oodles to accomplish today ...and a backlog of chaotic issues ..I should be all set to sit down at the computer and let me fingers fly.

Here's to a Chaiotic Sunday ...

Later,

Jodi