Way to go, Pinterest!

This Thanksgiving, I'm giving thanks for Pinterest. You know, that nasty little website that makes you feel inadequate when it comes to all things creative, thoughtful, resourceful and home maker-ish? I generally find this website uber depressing because I have zero time to make all of  the cute things people pin. I do have to have time to look at it all, though. Hey, don't judge me, I'm generally "pinning" while on the train and I've found that public transportation is generally not the place you want to start reupholstering furniture using up-cycled baby clothes and used milk cartons.

But, Pinterest did manage to redeem itself by giving me the most delicious Thanksgiving cake recipe. 

 It tastes as delicious as this picture looks. True story.

If you're not a big fan of pumpkin, its okay. It is not overwhelmingly pumpkin-ish. It is however, a great alternative to that pumpkin pie no one ever eats Thanksgiving afternoon.

Four Layer Pumpkin Cake

1pkg.  (2-layer size) yellow cake mix

1can  (15 oz.) pumpkin, divided

1/2cup  milk

1/3cup   oil

4 eggs

1-1/2 tsp.  pumpkin pie spice, divided

1 pkg.  (8 oz.) Cream Cheese, softened

1 cup  powdered sugar

1 tub  (8 oz.) Whipped Topping, thawed

¼ cup   caramel ice cream topping

¼ cup  chopped Pecans

HEAT oven to 350°F.

BEAT cake mix, 1 cup pumpkin, milk, oil, eggs and 1 tsp. spice in large bowl with mixer until well blended. Pour into 2 greased and floured 9-inch round pans.

BAKE 28 to 30 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 min. Remove from pans to wire racks; cool completely.

BEAT cream cheese in medium bowl with mixer until creamy. Add sugar, remaining pumpkin and spice; mix well. Gently stir in COOL WHIP. Cut each cake layer horizontally in half with serrated knife; stack on serving plate, spreading cream cheese filling between layers. (Do not frost top layer.) Drizzle with caramel topping just before serving; top with nuts. Refrigerate leftovers.

This is the something

I have been thinking a lot about cancer. a lot.

It started when I began  reading The Emperor of all Maladies by Mukherjee-a book all about the history of  cancer, cancer treatments (or lack thereof), and the amazing doctors who have made incredible discovers in chemotherapy and rallied together to create awareness and generate public and government funding. Then I found out my step-grandmother and a  family friend were diagnosed with cancer, I started reading two blogs by mommies whose sons had Neuroblastoma (which really opened my eyes about how little we really know about cancer). All of this was really weighing one me for some reason.

When I found out that the little boy I blogged about in my last post passed away, I had myself a good cry.  I listened to "Ronan" by Taylor Swift and I cried some more and decided I needed to do something.

Next September I will be wearing gold for Ronan, and Ty, and every little person who has lost their battle or is battling cancer. Next October I will be wearing pink for Trish, Peggy, Carla, and every woman whose life has been affected by this ugly disease. And hopefully the year after that, I will return to school to become a pediatric oncology nurse. It will be a long road, but I think God has handed me a road map with my destination clearly marked and all I have to do is buckle up and  follow his directions.

My heart is telling me that this is the something that was supposed to come out of all of this.



Until next post, which I promise will be more fun and upbeat, here is the saddest and sweetest song. ever.