Windy Sydney

I have finally been blessed with free time. I saw a recipe on a baking website for Apple Pie Cupcakes, and I wanted to give them a try. I was pleasantly surprised with how easy they were to make and how good they tasted!


Step one is to make the cinnamon cupcakes.

All I did was use a white cake mix and add cinnamon and a splash of vanilla. It can't get easier than that! Just be careful with the cinnamon. Common sense reminds us all that you can always add more, but you can't take it out! Let them cool completely before doing the next step.


Step two: Cut a cone shaped hole in the cupcake and toss the excess cake aside. You won't need this extra cake anymore, so feel free to munch and munch on the yummy goodness.


Step three: Put a giant spoonful of apple pie filling (I added cinnamon to the filling as well) in the cone shaped hole.


Decorate the cupcakes! I wanted the icing to resemble soft-serve ice cream so I used a star tip. I also thing the goodies look better when you can see all of the layers, so I only added a small amount of frosting.

Then, I went in my fridge and found caramel syrup to drizzle over the cupcakes.



They are fantastic!!!

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Click the poster for more information!!!

I am sad I can't make it.

Andee

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Is it me, or are the actors who portray the lead characters in the movie Twilight constantly look like they are higher than a kite? Not saying they are... but good Gawd.

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Last week my Mom came home from the gym and there was a gentleman sitting on her front stairs. It was a delivery person for Schwan's.

Mom is really polite and kind, and took a brochure. They struck up a conversation about her looking for a job in this insane economy, and somehow the topic turned to religion and church.

Now is a good time to point out that this man was African-American. After Mom told him that she had resigned from the Mormon church, he started to share his testimony of the Mormon gospel. It was a very strange encounter for her to say the least.

She was interested in one thing, though. How he dealt with the racism in the church's past (and sometimes present when you talk to certain members of the church). She asked him if she could ask him a personal question, and when he said "yes," she asked "How do you reconcile some of the things the church has said and promoted in the past?"

He said, "My bishop told me to ignore everything I had every heard about blacks and the church."

Holy. Shit.

Oh sure, like that is something you should just drop from your radar screen. Hello??? What the HELL???

This, to me, is evidence of mind control. This man's leader told him what should be a problem and what shouldn't. He obviously thought it was a problem at one time if he was speaking to his bishop about it. Why should he ignore and forget the comments that he would only be allowed into the Celestial kingdom if he went as a slave or servant to a white man? Why should he forget that Brigham Young told people that mixing your seed with a black person was punishable by death (supposedly the only way to save your soul for committing such a deed).

"Shall I tell you the law of God in regard to the African Race? If the White man who belongs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the seed of Cain, the penalty, under the law of God, is death on the spot. This will always be so." (Journal of Discourses 10:110) -Brigham Young


"And after the flood we are told that the curse that had been pronounced upon Cain was continued through Ham's wife, as he had married a wife of that seed. And why did it pass through the flood? because it was necessary that the devil should have a representation upon the earth as well as God;..." Journal of Discourses, Vol. 22, page 304 -John Taylor


"And if any man mingle his seed with the seed of Cain the only way he could get rid of it or have Salvation would be to come forward and have his head cut off and spill his blood upon the ground- it would also take the life of his children." (Wilford Woodruff Journal)

I often wonder how many people really understand how bad the racism was. I don't think they do. I think they know it existed, but they have never read the quotes. They have never studied the history of the church they claim to "know" is true. To know something is true, you should look at the whole picture, not just what the church wants to share with you.

In my opinion, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would have never changed their stance on African-Americans (and other dark-skinned people) holding the priesthood or going to the temple if they were not forced to do so by public opinion. The only reason they changed their minds is because people saw them for what they were... bigots.

Yet another way to show that non-Mormons and ex-Mormons know more about church history than most of it's members do. We are seen as people who are either misled or wrong, we are told that *we* don't understand. Sorry... we actually know the whole story and see the big picture. We are the ones who looked at Mormonism objectively.

Frustrating to say the least!

Andee

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Well, my baking fascination has led me to puff pastry. I was scared, because there is so much that can go wrong. I did well!


Well, I was a little over-confident after the pastry turned out well... I decided to try some white chocolate whipped cream...

Unfortunately, I goofed and didn't fold the ingredients correctly.

My white chocolate whipped cream looks like cottage cheese, but it tasted wonderful!!


The fresh raspberries were fantastic as well...

Andee

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A friend at work was looking for some of my photos that I posted a loooooong time ago. I am not sure if these are the right ones, so I am probably listing more photos than you are looking for, but here they are, along with links to the larger versions! Just click on the photo for a bigger example :)

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Yesterday I was incredibly touched by a story shared on PostMormon.org and ProtectingInnocence..org. For those who don't know, ProtectingInnocence.org is a new website devoted to gaining attention to the way the church handles sexual abuse within the church as well as certain teachings within the church hurt so many people.

It needs to stop. If you are interested in adding a story or becoming a member of ProtectingInnocence.org, please check it out. It's a fantastic cause, and we need to be proactive in stopping this as soon as possible.

Back to the topic...

A woman using the username Ruth Unrestored (very creative, I love it) shared the story of being drugged and gang raped when she was young. I can't imagine dealing with what she has gone through. I have nothing but respect for women who deal with this every day. It would be so hard...

When she went to the church for help, she didn't get it. Instead, she was greeted with comments that she should have fought to the death to protect her virtue. Her bishop even told her to read "The Miracle of Forgiveness" by Spencer W. Kimball, wish leads members to believe that they should rather be clean dead than alive unclean. It implies that someone who is abused, raped or harassed sexually is part of the problem.

Ruth Unrestored didn't do anything to cause what happened to her, and it's insane that a so-called Christian religion would make her to feel more guilt and shame. It's sick.

The logic in blaming the victim is beyond me. Not only does it make no sense, it punishes the victim AGAIN.

Getting over something like this is hard enough... why do they want to add more to the problem? How DARE they add more to the problem?!

This woman really touched me, and I hope her story is read and her story makes a difference in stopping this mode of thinking. She is incredibly brave, and she really put herself out there.

Andee

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I decided to spend part of my day learning how to work with fondant. I need tons of practice, but I thought I would share my first attempt. I will get better :)


I also made some killer white chocolate cherry cookies for work... click here for my baking blog.. and the recipe.

Andee

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A group of us decided to make post-Mormon LOLcats and share them.

I decided to use photos of my own kitties for mine... here is what I made:

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Anyone who lives in the magical state of Utah will understand what I am talking about.

Mormons here have no sense of personal boundaries. They watch what you do, who you do it with, and how long you spend doing it. Then... they report it to their bishop in the hopes of saving you.

Here are a couple stories I read on PostMormon.org today that share my thoughts:

A person related this story to me recently about a neighbor across the street . She said the neighbor was a woman in her ward. Every morning the milkman would stop at her house and stay for an extended period of time. She said finally someone in the ward called the bishop and turned her in-exposed her. The bishop being very concerned called the woman in and asked her to explain to him why this man was stopping and spending time with her while her husband was away at work. She replied "It's my Dad...Is there a problem with him seeing me?"

True story. Swear.

Happened to me some years ago. My identical twin brother and wife (Catholics) moved to within a block of my house. My bishop lived a block in the other direction. One evening the bishop and wife dropped by. He encouraged me out into my yard and said something like, "Strangite, I see you all other town, especially up on Juniper Street." It took me a minute to figure him out and then I said, "Oh, you've seen my twin brother at his new place." He didn't believe me until I brought out photos! Of course, I sometimes fooled my nieces too, they would call me Dad until they looked real close... funny.

These stories are funny, but they are also sad.

Whose business is it if a lady is friends with a milk man? Why must people assume something bad is going on?

No boundaries at all.

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Someone linked to this on PostMormon.org, and I thought it was amazing...

Read and enjoy...

Andee

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I was just browsing some of my favorite websites and I came across a YouTube video of a teenager dressed in black (including a ski mask) beating his pet, a cat.

I didn't watch the video, but there were a few video stills of what he was doing. The three images alone were enough to make my heart drop and make me feel like I was punched in the gut.

What the hell is wrong with this kid?

Is internet stardom really making people willing to do stuff like this just so they can get hits n their videos? Or is this kid really that messed up?

My guess is both.

I am not going to post a link to this video for two reasons:

1. I don't want to give this kid more hits on his video because he doesn't deserve them.
2. Many animal lovers frequent this blog and since the images alone put tears in my eyes I would hate to encourage others to have to look at them.

I hope this guy is prosecuted and I hope this cat finds a home with people who truly welcome pets as members of their family.

Shame on this kid, and shame on anyone who would do something like this.

It makes me sick.

Andee

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Guess who just got a brand new macro lens today!

MEMEMEMEMEME!

I am also making some sugar cookies and I will post pictures later.

Love ya!

Andee

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I say this once every few months, so why not bring it up again?

To the average Mormon reader:

If a man came up to you and told you that he had visitors from Heaven that told him of a new church he needed to start, would you believe him?

Or...

Would you roll your eyes and give the man a look of pity because he is obviously missing from the psychiatric center?

Would you assume that the man claiming to be a prophet of God was honest and full of good intentions?

Would you not check the man out and see if there was anything shady in his past before you put your heart and soul into following him?

I certainly hope that most of the people out there would think twice about following a man like this.

Why then, should we assume Joseph Smith is everything the church portrays him to be? Why shouldn't we check things out (even things that are not "faith promoting")? Why shouldn't we ask questions and be vigilant about truth and honesty?

If you "know" Joseph Smith is was a prophet of God because you prayed and got a special feeling even though there is evidence to the contrary, why don't you take the time to pray about other people who claim to be prophets of God?

It is my belief that many people trust Joseph Smith because they were taught to trust Joseph Smith. They, like me, were taught stories about how good, honest, wholesome and honorable he was. They were only given half of the story, though.

It's the same reason so many people trust that Warren Jeffs is a prophet of God, or that other cult leaders are prophets.

How do you know that your special feeling is right and the other peoples' special feelings are wrong?

You don't!

Andee

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I ran across this message left on PostMormon.org a few minutes ago and it's just too good not to share. I haven't attended church in quite a while now, so I am not 100% positive this is practiced in all wards out there... I would really love it if someone who still attends church would leave a comment to confirm or deny this. The person who posted it is someone I trust, and I don't believe he is making it up at all... I am just curious if this happens everywhere...

Here is what the person said:

I still attend church to help TBM DW with the kids. Guess what they are asking us "member missionaries" to track now? You got it... "Quality Gospel Conversations"! Or as they are referred to by people in the know... "QGCs". No longer is looking for some poor, unsuspecting sap to hand a BofM to the only thing you get to report about in your weekly quorums and testimony meetings. Now you get to keep track of the number of "QGCs" that you have each week, return, and report to your leaders. Then get a pat on the head and a knowing nod of approval.

The definition of QGC is "mentioning the church or a gospel concept and bearing testimony of it or asking the individual if they would like to learn more" or something similar. It is kind of like tracking "discussions" in the mission field, but on a whole 'nother level. My quorum literally has goals including numbers of "QGCs" that will be recorded on a weekly, monthly, and yearly basis, with ongoing statistics-keeping. We even recently had an entire SM dedicated soley to the idea, with each presidency from PH, RS, YM, YW, and Primary reporting on how they will implement the strategy.

I know this concept is not new, but I have never seen it taken to this extreme before now. Is it just my overzealous ward?! If any LDS person had any questions as to whether they were in a mind-control, religious cult... here's your answer!

So now--as if you weren't already weird enough-- all of your random conversations during your daily lives will be tainted by your unnatural urge to insert your bizarro beliefs and testimonkey into them. So you can dutifully report at the next meeting and meet your expected conversation quota.

No authentic interactions. No honest relationships. Just QGCs! Enjoy!

When this person used the phrase "no authentic interactions, no honest relationships" he really hit the nail on the head.

If this is a true program going on in the church today, it's proof that those outside of the church are not seen as equal people with the right to practice whatever they choose. Instead, we are numbers and potential converts.

Nope. This isn't a cult.

Not at all.

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