Only Heart Could Cover Led Zeppelin Like This.

I've been looking for this YouTube for a long time. It's a gorgeous rendition. Girl power.

Peace World.

They're Baaaacccckkkkkk!

Remeber my post last Fall, "Williams-Sonoma, Are you Kidding With the $100 Cake?" Last Fall I made my own version of the ghost cake, mini sized - adorable, tiny, fun and about 90% less expensive. (See below.) I love W-S, but some of the prices? Oy vey!

My Fall catalogs are starting to arrive each day. I love looking at catalogs and buy most of our clothes, books, and even some of our food online. I haven't ordered on paper in years, or even by phone. But I still love to look at catalogs. Especially at bedtime. Not always so bright, since my favorites are laden with treats.

My favorite is Vermont Country Store which has so many retro and useful items. Although like most catalogs, the items are often extremely expensive. But who doesn't want to fork over some cash for a bottle of "Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific" shampoo?

So... Yesterday the Marie Antoinette of catalogs, Williams Sonoma arrived, laden with gorgeous Fall treats. Including three items near and dear to my heart. CAKES. Fondant covered, decorated cakes. Joy!

This darling pumpkin is 5.5 inches in diameter and 5'5 inches tall. In my world, that's an oversized cupcake. Go ahead, measure 5.5 inches (think of your last boyfriend, perhaps, it ain't much.) The cake costs $99 plus $16.50 to ship it! The copy says it feeds 8-10 people. Ha!! It wouldn' feed 8-10 toddlers.

Come on... We've all watched enough episodes of Ace of Cakes and Cake Boss (my favorite, the paisan from Jersey with his loud famiglia) to understand how labor intensive cake creation can be. Ace of Cakes starts at $1000 a cake. Cake Boss cakes run $12+ per slice. Worth every penny.

These three cakes Williams Sonoma are pretty simple. Extremely simple, actually. Look at the ghost - one piece of draped fondant with three cut outs on the face costs $89? The witches hat is $99. Teeth stains included with all that black fondant.

So, can anyone lend me $282.00?

Come Dance At The Debutante Ball Writer's Blog!

This week lauched the 2011 season for The Debutante Ball, a group ball for Debut authors. Please stop by and add us to your favorites. I am the Wednesday Debutante and look forward to seeing you there!

The Debutante Ball

Come See What's Cooking!Click: Kim Stagliano

First Song I'll Play in My New Camaro.*

I will not have a giant bottle of Riunite Bianco in a paper bag, however.



*That I'll never own. See post below.

Camaro? Me? Oh, Yes!

I want a new Chevy Camaro. There. I said it. I'm a 46 year old mother of 3 children living in Connecticut whose travels include Trader Joe's and on a good day I might venture to Westport. And I want want want want a Camaro. Dark gray please. With the 6 speed manual transmission so only I can drive it. There's a killer yellow one with the black racing stripes in town. I know the guy who drives it is at least 64 years old and probably needs dental work and is reliving his youth. Don't care. This car makes my heart race. Did I mention I'm 46 and have three kids and live in CT? My heart doesn't race often unless I overdo the Starbucks. I want this car. So maybe buy 100 copies of my book, OK? (Kidding on that one.)

And remove 4 of the seats.

I Knew The Gloves* Would Come in Handy!

Big news! I've been chosen (tapped?) as one of the debut authors in a group blog called, The Debutante Ball. Congrats to my fellow Debs and best wishes to the departing class.

Eleanor Brown
Sarah Jio
Elise Allen
Tawna Fenske

Please pop over to The Ball HERE to learn about their books and do mark Deb Ball as a new favorite site to visit each day, won't you?

* At Autism One in '08 the dinner theme required long satin gloves. I, coiner of the word "crapisode (no, really, it's even in The Urban Dictionary) wore Playtex Living Gloves with "Life's Messy! Clean it up!" on them.

Another Tough Month

In July, at least 5 people with autism died. Two children, strangled with wire by their mother in Dallas (I was on HLN talking about that horrific case.) A boy in Kansas who wandered from home and drowned in a nearby pond (wandering death is a major problem in our community.) A 20 year old man who was left to die in a van by caretakers who didn't notice he was missing for hours. And a boy in The Bronx whose Mom snapped and killed her son and herself. Last Spring I wrote a HuffPo post about another spate of tragedy. I'm re-running it here as a reminder that the world isn't ALL bad. I have to remind myself. And you.

This had been a particularly rough April, aka "Autism Awareness Month." I'm trying to find the bright spots where I can. As always, I begin in my own home, with my three daughters, who have autism, and who can make me smile and laugh (and shake my head and holler, I admit) from morning to night.

This month, several people with autism wandered away from home and were reported missing. Most returned home safely, like Nadia Bloom, the witty youngster with Asperger's who stood in a swamp for four days until her miraculous rescue. Three year old Aiden Johnson of Arkansas was not so fortunate. He wandered away from his grandmother's house and drowned nearby. Erik Lippmann, age 30, was found dead on the beach in California, after having gone missing several days ago. Others included:

Kevin Kwok, 17, Ontario - found
Ryan Beaudette, 14, NY - found
Hallden Parrish, 16, FL - found
Brian Ortiz-Molina, 14, FL - found
Rebecca Collins-Fisher, 16, FL - found
Cody Daniel Jones-Barnard, 13, OR - found

This week, Daniel McLatchie, 44 shot his 22-year-old son Benjamin and then turned the gun on himself, in Maine. The newspaper report read, "it appeared that Daniel McLatchie was upset about what would happen to his autistic son after he and his wife died."

In February, a wealthy Manhattan executive named Gigi Jordan fed her eight-year-old son pills until he seized into death.

And lest you think it's Americans for whom the stress of autism is a burden, a Mum in London forced her 12-year-old "severely autistic" son to drink bleach, killing him. "Satpal Singh is believed to have killed the 12-year-old boy as she struggled to cope with looking after him."

Autism should not be a death sentence.

I wish I could tell you that autism brings only love and joy and candy canes and OMG! Ponies! Sometimes it feels like that's all the media (and even some within the autism world) want to hear from those of us living day to day caring for a loved one(s) or even those with the diagnosis themselves. If only that were the full reality for families. It's not.

However, that doesn't mean autism is nothing but stress and challenges and tears. Not by a long shot. And it doesn't mean people with autism are doomed. Not even as adults.

Last weekend, the carnival came to my town. And I knew "he" would be there.

Bob.

Bob who has autism, looks to be in his 40s, and rides the scrambler from the moment the gates open until they close.

My girls love the Scrambler. It moves fast, it activates their sensory systems, it makes them laugh with giddy excitement. It's always our first ride at the carnival. We approached the ride, having arrived just moments after the gates opened, and sure enough, there was Bob, already in his Scrambler seat. I said to the young ticket taker, "He's here!" cocking my head toward Bob. "Of course," he answered, "that's Bob and he's been coming for 15 years." The ticket taker couldn't have been more than 21 years old.

I smiled and said, "Hi, Bob!" waving from the car where Bella and I were squished into one side. Bob waved back, grinning from ear to ear. The ride started, the slow sweep of the cars picked up speed until we were flying across the blacktop of the middle school parking lot where two of my girls are in special education for their autism. I heard Bella begin to laugh. I saw Mia and Gianna's wide smiles as they whooshed past us in their own car.

And I heard the glorious intonations from Bob. He rocked furiously back and forth, loudly proclaiming his joy in his own language. The ride slowed down. I wiped the tears from my eyes (it was the wind, I swear.) As I walked past the ticket taker, I said, "Thank you. And keep an eye on Bob."

"I will," he answered.

How about you? Will you keep an eye on the Bobs of the world?

Americanland by Bruce Springsteen.

I'm listening to the news - Afghanistan, soldiers dying - 9 years and billions (trillions?) spent. Meanwhile the average American goes about his/her business with nary a thought to the struggle, sacrifice and pain. During WWII, wives, sisters, fathers, children - everyone chipped in. Women gave up their stockings so the nylon could be used for parachutes. Butter was replaced by oleo. Sugar was rationed - I collect vintage cookbooks and have many WWII Era recipes designed for the frugal and rationed wife. Today? The Hummers are back on the road even as the oil is floating about the Gulf. AC is purring in every home. Sprinklers keep lawns verdant.

We used to be able to suck it up. Sacrifice by CHOICE - not just because we lost our jobs and had no options. Now, I'm guessing that more people know the name Snookie than Karzai.

Bring back the Draft. No exemptions except for severe mental or physical problems. No, not you corporal Klinger. Not exemptions for college, the last name of a Senator, ADHD drugs, flat feet, a zit on your dick. If you're an 18 year old boy OR GIRL, get ready to rub sand in your ass crack because you're going to fight.

Think things would change?

Agreed. It's Too Darn Hot, Ella!

Joan Rivers on David Letterman Thursday July 22nd!

I've been a Joan Rivers fan since her days as a talk show host on WABC radio in New York in the nineties. I lover her story, her career, her survival instinct, her loyalty, her humor - everything. Hell, I even love her love of plastic surgery and her mega-biz on QVC. I was on QVC twice for Mark's company a long time ago. It ain't easy to sell the "wow" in their required "over the fence chat" style. I ironed on a German ironing board at 7:00am, shaking with terror. And I demo'd a cake box with ice packs that fit into the bottom to cool your tarts. I recall the host "Bob" as being kind of an asshole. Ms. Rivers has her own dressing room. No big, noisy green room that is like a bad circus tent for her with the Spanx lady (makeup 3 feet thick) standing next to the guy who is going to sell the latest camera, standing next to me wondering if my pale lip glass and mascara is enough. (It wasn't.)

Ms. Rivers is on The Howard Stern show often - I never miss her interviews. My agent knows her quite well. You might recall how kind she was to me when I took Bella to the The Bank Street Book Nook in New Milford, CT for a signing and Ms. Rivers allowed us to scoot to the front of the line because Bella was having trouble with the crowded (busting at the seams!) store.
Her website
Twitter "Staying in Melissa's guest room in L.A. It's in the basement--so far underground. I could have reached over and capped the BP well myself."
Facebook
All her books on Amazon

Coming Soon To a Roof Top Near You?

By Dan Burns

I was reading on the upstairs balcony when the cop car whipped around the corner and into my parking lot. About that time I thought I heard my son Ben's gleeful, autistic laugh behind me. But that was impossible, because I was sure that Ben was in his room reading Dr. Seuss books. Another laugh - a shriek, really. As the cop got out of the cruiser, my neighbor came trotting up, arms windmilling. "Hey, there's a naked man on your roof." I looked up and yep, there stood 22-year-old Ben in all his shameless glory, tossing pecans to the squirrels.

Last week, a Dallas mom responded to my blog, commenting on her son with autism spectrum disorder (ASD): "He's only 13 but he's taller than I am now. That scares me because looking like an adult and behaving inappropriately can get him into so much more trouble now."

Yeah, tell me about it. I hustled Ben back through the open window. I heard the cruiser door slam as the cop walked toward us... Read the full post and please comment with your own experiences at Dallas Morning News MomsBlog

Dan E. Burns, Ph.D., former filmmaker, software developer, and businessman, taught Communication courses at Southern Methodist University, the University of Texas at Arlington, and the University of Phoenix. In 1990 his third child, Benjamin, was diagnosed with autism. Burns' memoir, Saving Ben: A Father's Story of Autism (www.SavingBenBook.com) published by UNT Press, tells of a three-year-old child's regression as an infant into autism and Burns' struggle with the medical establishment, the school system, and his family in the battle for Ben's health as a father who never gives up. Planning for the time when he and Ben's mom pass on, Dr. Burns is developing the Autism Trust of Texas, modeled on The Autism Trust (U.K.) and focused on the creation of new communities to offer a future for the increasing number of children with autism. They will provide a home base for life where adults with autism can work, live and improve their skills and talents in a creative and supportive environment.

Happy Birthday Gianna Marie! 14 today.

A picture says a million words. What could I possibly add?

Sparkle Like A Certain Vampire!

Ah the power of Twitter! I saw an interesting Tweet this Spring, about a bedazzled line of custom T-shirts. (My God, did I really just use the word "bedazzled" in a sentence?) The nice folks at Bling is the New Black made a rush order for me in time for Autism One. You can order your own T-shirt and tote directly from Tanya at BITNB. Not only will you feel all sparkly (did I just use sparkly in a sentence?) you'll support Age of Autism too.

Go to Bling is the New Black and click on the Age of Autism menu on the left. That's Mark Blaxill from AofA and me at Autism One in May. Sparkle on!

StagMom's Carnival Gluten Free Casein Free Frosted Birthday Cake

I've been tweaking my GFCF cake recipes and boy I think I've come up with a winner. When Bella made her First Holy Communion last month, I ordered a professional made GFCF cake from Jill at Sweet Gluten Free in Bridgeport, CT. The cake was TO DIE FOR. Moist chocolate cake with a melt in your mouth coconut oil based frosting and just look at the carefully cut fondant letters and hand crafted flowers. Kimmy loves to bake. Kimmy can not make a cake look that even and professional. This is the PROFESSIONALLY MADE cake below. See it's gleaming perfection. It's dreamy, isn't it?

Gianna's birthday (14!) is on July 11 (yes, my 7/11 Slurpee girl!) and I ordered a cake from Jill. But, I still need to bake cakes on a regular basis. Yes, I said NEED. Baking is my Xanax, OK?

So here's my recipe for StagMom's Carnival Cake. It's not health food. It won't accommodate every special needs diet. But if you make it, I promise you not a single soul will know it isn't a "real" cake. Oh it's real, and I have the belly fat to prove it. This bakes up into a moist, barely sweet pound cake that is set off perfectly by the cotton candy carnival frosting.

Cake

1 Box Betty Crocker GF yellow cake mix (double the recipe for a 2 layer cake)

Substitute So Delicious brand unsweetened coconut milk for the water (that's the green carton)

Substitute Jones All Natural Cream Soda for the vanilla

Use 3 eggs, just like the box says

Frosting (enough for a 2 layer cake)

1 stick Earth Balance shortening softened

1 stick Earth Balance margarine softened
Jones All Natural Cream Soda

1 large bag Powdered Sugar (use Kosher made with tapioca starch if you can't tolerate corn)

Karo clear syrup (if you can't tolerate corn, use Lyle's Golden Sugar Cane syrup)

Beat shortening and margarine until smooth

Add 1/8 cup cream soda

Add 2 tbsps Karo

Beat

Add 1 cup sifted powdered sugar, beat until creamy
Slowly add remaining sifted powdered sugar (yes you can skip the sifting if you must, harumph)

Add more cream soda until the frosting is an easy spreading consistency.

If piping the frosting - say onto cupcakes, keep frosting slightly firm. Softer for spreading.

Lick fingers many, many times. Wash them, for God's sake.

Set cake on counter. Call family. Enjoy the accolades.

Dig in!

Happy (Belated) Gay Pride Day

Happy Gay Pride Day to the five strong men in my life (you know who you are) whom I adore as family, friends, colleagues. This cake is for you. (No, I didn't bake this one. A bit too much artificial color for my taste!)

This is What We Do.

(Even though we don't look anything like Carrie Bradshaw.) If you have sensitive ears, mind the first words. A bit swear-y. Meh.

Happy Father's Day!

Young Man with Autism To Give Commencement Speech

Congratulations to my good friend Chantal Sicile-Kira and her family on Jeremy's success. Chantal is a writer and amazing Autism Mom who has helped support, educate and entertain others in the autism world for many years. Jeremy's success is Chantal's success, and she deserves every bit of it.

San Diego Ranch Coast News

Inspirational autistic TPHS student graduates, will deliver a commencement speech

Jeremy Sicile-Kira is autistic and cannot speak, but that does not mean he has nothing to say. After seven years at Torrey Pines High School, he has earned his high school diploma and will deliver a commencement speech to his classmates through voice-assisted technology at the June 18 graduation ceremony.

“I am nervous but very touched that I am giving a speech,” said Jeremy, using a letter board to spell out his words. “I want to tell them never give up on your dreams.”

To graduate high school Jeremy, 21, has taken units in mainstream general education classes as well as in his severely handicapped classes with Allen Gustafson, whom Jeremy said is the “best teacher.” He does all the same work as his regular education peers, he just gets more time to do it. He passed his California High School Exit Exam on the first try and will attend MiraCosta College in the fall to study communications.

Next week he will graduate on the same day as his sister, Rebecca, a senior at Canyon Crest Academy.

“I was pretty amazed,” said proud mom Chantal, who never even expected it would be possible for Jeremy to earn his diploma, let alone with a 3.5 GPA.

Along the autism spectrum, every child’s symptoms are different. Although Jeremy can say a few words, he has never been able to speak. In a speech written for an autism conference, Jeremy explained how his autism affected his vision, hearing and motor skills.

He said he had to learn how to hear, how to know which noise to pay attention to and distinguish when someone was speaking to him. He had to learn how to focus to be able to see.

“If I don’t concentrate, the world seems surreal,” Jeremy said...

Read the full article at San Diego Ranch Coast News.