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Funfetti Cake & Welcome To The New Waiting On Martha

March 8, 2015
Story By: Mandy Kellogg Rye
Filed Under > Desserts

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Homemade funfetti cake with chocolate icingFunfetti mini cakes Funfetti cake with chocolate icing

Don’t you just love starting the week of with a good surprise?!  Well surprise!  It has been a long five months of anticipation, and a true labor of love, but I couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome you to the new Waiting On Martha.

So what’s new?  Besides the obvious look and feel, we’ve worked for months adding new enhancements and features, all to make the reader experience easier and more intuitive.  For example, along with the classic way you’ve always read our stories, you’ll notice links to view full galleries.  By clicking on this box, you’ll be taken to a new page where you can view, Pin and share additional images from that day’s story.  We found we had too many great photos that weren’t making the cut and our photographers work too hard to not have their work shared.  We’ve also added a slideshow feature as an easier way to read through specific posts.  When you see view slideshow, all you’ll need to do is click and scroll right or left.

Along the top navigation bar, you’ll find two new features; Shop Our Instagram and Shop Our Stories.  We were getting an insane amount of emails asking us about where to find specific items either from our stories or our Instagram, so we’ve rounded it all up in one convenient place for you.  Speaking of convenience, our new “contact us” form makes it a breeze to get in touch with myself or my team.  Simply type in what you’re hoping to chat about; collaboration, e-design, social media consulting, etc.,  and send away.

Lastly, because we have so much more to say, we’ll be moving to sharing stories seven days a week.  And you’ll not only be hearing from me, but also from Kat, our Editor and Social Media Director, and our Creative Partners.  What is a Creative Partner?  Creative Partners are some beyond-talented individuals WOM taps on a monthly basis to help us out with a project or share a project they’re working on.  You can read more about them on our new team page, (bios and more CP’s will be added soon, so stay tuned).

While this is all beyond exciting, (we’ve been working on this since October), it is all very new.  I ask that you bear with us as we work within our new platform, I’m sure there will be a few kinks to work out, Rome wasn’t built in a day!

Big thanks to everyone who worked tirelessly to make this happen; Designer Cassie Pyle, Coder Brandi Bernoskie, and our very own Kat Neunaber.  I couldn’t have made this dream a reality without you.  So welcome to the new Waiting On Martha, now excuse me while I dive into this funfetti cake and pop some bubbly!  Truly, MKR

P.S.  As if this wasn’t amazing enough we also have a new portfolio site to share, Mandy Kellogg Rye, and next week The Shop will be re-launching as well.  Ch-ch-changes!

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Funfetti Cake with Butter Cream Frosting
Yields 10
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Ingredients
  1. ...For the Cake
  2. 1 cup milk
  3. 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  4. 1 cup butter, room temperature
  5. 2 cups sugar
  6. 3 cups cake flour
  7. 1 tablespoon baking powder
  8. 5 egg whites
  9. Rainbow Jimmies (ie. sprinkles)
  10. Chocolate sauce (optional)
  11. ...For the Frosting
  12. 1 cup butter, softened
  13. 1/4 teaspoon salt
  14. 1 (32-oz.) package powdered sugar
  15. 7 Tbsp. milk
  16. 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  17. Rainbow Jimmies (ie. sprinkles)
Instructions
  1. ...For the cake
  2. Preheat oven to 350°. Liberally grease 3 (8-inch) round cake pans.
  3. In a small mixing bowl stir together milk and vanilla.
  4. In a large electric mixing bowl beat room temperature butter at medium speed until creamy; gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy.
  5. In a separate mixing bowl sift together flour and baking powder; add to butter mixture alternately with milk mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture.
  6. At a low speed slowly add in desired amount of jimmies and mix just until blended.
  7. just until blended.
  8. Beat or whisk egg whites until stiff peaks form; gently fold into batter. Pour batter into prepared pans.
  9. Bake at 350° for 20 to 23 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks and let rest until completely cool.
  10. ...For the frosting
  11. Beat butter and salt at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy.
  12. Gradually add powdered sugar alternately with 7 Tbsp. milk, beating at low speed until blended and smooth after each addition.
  13. Stir in vanilla and desired amount of Jimmies, beat until frosting reaches preferred consistency. *When frosting layered, tall, cakes I prefer my frosting on the lighter side to not weigh down the cake.
  14. When completely cooled cut off tops of cakes to create a completely even, flat surface. Spread Vanilla Buttercream Frosting between layers (about 3/4 cup per layer) and on top and sides of cake.
  15. Top with chocolate sauce (optional).
Notes
  1. To achieve a messy frosting look take a small spatula or butter knife and gently press down circling the entire cake creating "rings."
Adapted from Ms. Billetts White Cake
Adapted from Ms. Billetts White Cake
Welcome by Waiting on Martha https://waitingonmartha.com/

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Photography, Kathryn McCrary

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Starting the BBG Workout by Kayla Itsines

An Honest Take on The First Few Weeks of The Program
September 17, 2017
Story By: Mandy Kellogg Rye
Filed Under > Everyday

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Starting the BBG workout

Have you heard of BBG?  It’s short for Bikini Body Guide, and it’s a high intensity interval training workout program that’s sweeping the planet one body transformation at a time.  It was created by aussie Kayla Itsines, and it’s a super effective 12-week program that’s built of short, concise exercise circuits.  I’m talking 28 minute workouts that focus on arms, abs, legs, and overall body.  And the workouts can be done just about anywhere.  

I have actually tried BBG a couple of times in the past.  But both times I fell out of the routine, lost motivation doing it by myself, and ultimately returned to group classes.  As I’ve mentioned before, I’m an avid ClassPasser.  The app allows me to try a good variety of fitness classes to keep my workout routine interesting and it caters to me if I’m in a strength training mood or a zenned out yoga mood.  

Since I had had a taste of BBG before, I was thrilled when MKR recently proposed the idea of starting BBG as a team.  I thought to myself, this was finally the time I’d stick it out and see the results I know that so, so many have seen!

I mean, it’s hard to not be impressed with the before-and-afters on Instagram.  Everyone on the team agreed that starting BBG workouts would be an exciting thing to do together, and well worth our time to get into gear and feel stronger.

After getting everyone on board, 11 team members to be exact, we decided on a few ways we’d keep everyone accountable and excited.  We settled on a group text chain, and a Google Doc form that took inventory of everyone’s exercise habits, fitness goals, body type, ages, etc.  We then created a weekly form via Google Docs that would collect everyone’s responses to the previous week’s workout. The form included questions about soreness, motivation levels, thoughts on the specific exercises and overall accountability for following the week’s recommended circuits.  This seemed to be a promising way of keeping everyone on the same page with progress.  

Our baseline survey taught us that our ages range from 20-37, with the majority of us 27-29 years old. Most of us regularly exercise 3-5 times per week, and are in moderately good shape. We have lots of yogis, runners and barre-lovers in the group, too.  Lastly, we all submitted fitness goals of becoming more confident, stronger, and more toned.  It was refreshing to see so many responses about strength rather than weight and lbs! 

So how has it been going?!  Everyone was really gung-ho about the program in the first two weeks.  We encouraged each other on our group text thread, sent photos and videos for a quick laugh and support, and really just felt like we were going somewhere with the workout plan. It was unanimous that burpees were the worst exercise imaginable, though jump lunges and commandos were up there too. We were all sore, but we also reveled in the feeling of comradery as we suffered together. 

But ever since the first few weeks, we’ve definitely had fallout.  Responses in our weekly progress Google Doc have lessened, and the group text is almost all crickets these days.  I personally suffered a minor injury and fell out of routine as I rested before a 10-day hiking trip.  And I know I can speak for the group in saying that it was difficult to adhere to the exact schedule that’s laid out in the guide.  The guide leads you to do at least three HIIT sessions throughout the week, with recommendations for cardio exercise on other days.  Since we had a group doing it together, we all felt a little guilty whenever we’d miss the workout that day.

So why the fallout?  People didn’t have enough time.  Some of us had minor injuries.  Some of us attended other workout classes and wanted them to “count” for the BBG workout that day.  Some of us just really preferred other ways of working out!  Whatever the reasons were, it felt like life in general just got in the way of the very specific schedule.  And after missing one or two of the workouts, it was ridiculously easy to throw the towel in and quit altogether.

From seeing the team’s responses, and in talking to everyone, I think the hardest struggle here is in consistency and the battle we all have in our minds with ourselves.  There were times when we made ourselves feel down, discouraged and guilty for not sticking to the schedule.  But after reading posts by BBG loyalists and many success stories, I think the main thing we need to keep in mind is that the program is flexible. We just need to do the three HIIT workouts sometime throughout the week.  And sometimes it may be harder than others, but we just need to get it done.

A few of us are still hanging in there.  We’re feeling stronger overall, but a lot of us haven’t seen any dramatic results just yet.  As we approach Week 6, we’ll admit that may have missed some workouts but we still DO want to stay strong and complete the guide.  We’re trying to fight the temptation to quit because we want to tackle this challenge.  We’d love to know: any BBGers out there?  What struggles have you faced while doing the program?  Do you have any tips or suggestions for our team?  Thank you!  Cheers, Kat

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Photography, Haley Sheffield for Waiting on Martha

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Where We've Been, Where We're Going…

July 8, 2013
Story By: Mandy Kellogg Rye
Filed Under > Uncategorized

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Yesterday was a big day, a major milestone.  Yesterday Waiting On Martha turned 1!   I mean 1?!  I can hardley believe it’s been a year, and what a crazy year it’s been.  To celebrate I thought it appropriate to step outside my usual and get personal today by sharing some of my biggest lessons from the past 365 days.  And trust me there were plenty of lessons.  But before we look at where we’ve been, let’s have a quick chitty chat about where we’re going.

If you’ve been following along then you’ve been getting some sneak peeks of what the future holds for WOM.  And today, I can finally share with all of you our newest venture, MKR, editorial and lifestyle styling.  Styling has become such a passion of mine, and I am just over the moon to be bringing my vision into this arena.  We’re officially launching later this summer so stay tuned for more details, but yay for new adventures!

Lastly, none of this; not the shop, the blog, and the soon to be MKR could happen without the love and support of the Mr., my parents, friends, and all of you.  So from the bottom of my heart thank you, thank you, thank you!  This year has been a year to remember.  A year of firsts, ups, downs, and mostly a year of lessons…

 Enjoy the journey.  We’re always so focused on what’s next we sometimes forget to stop and enjoy where we are, and more importantly how far we’ve come.  A journey is made up of moments, relish the moments.

Comparison is the thief of ALL joy.  If you want to feel depressed start comparing yourself to anyone and everyone in a similar industry.  You are not them, they are not you, so why are you comparing yourself to them?!  Personally in the beginning I found myself in constant comparison mode so I did what I had to do.  I stopped.  I stopped following, reading, pinning, etc.  Comparison is an unhealthy relationship, break up with it.

“Best” is the enemy of “Great.”  I was at a Beth Moore conference a month ago and she posed a question I couldn’t get out of my head; “When did everyone decide they needed to be the best at everything?  What happened to just being great?”  I thought and thought on this for days, in fact I still think about it often.  We are all clamoring trying to be the best, but by definition there can only be 1 best.  And if you ever did become the best where would you go from there?  I don’t want to be the best.  I want to grow.  I want to be better than I was before.  I want to be great.

You are who you hang out with.  Through starting WOM I have connected with some of the most amazing, supportive and loving individuals.  These connections have truly been a beautiful and life changing gift.  However, I have also experienced people that spew negativity and hate like it’s their job.  Some that passively tear down others on social media, light up the comments section with “their truths,” and mock anybody and everybody outside of their inner circle.  And all I want to say is why?  Did you not get hugged enough as a child?  I don’t get it.  There is NO reason to EVER be mean.  Ever.  Stay classy, and dump the haters.  Life is better lived with love.

Always be hustling.  I know in a world of overnight reality stars and YouTube fame it’s easy to think it will all just happen.  Well it doesn’t just happen.  For every 1 person who’s “made it” there are 100,000+ that haven’t.  And they haven’t because it’s hard work.  Blood, sweat and tears hard work.  Push you to the brink and ask you to keep going hard work.  But it’s worth it.

Fake it till you make it.  Most days I have no idea what I’m doing, and truthfully I’m okay with that.  This is my journey, and trying to control the chaos, learning new things, making mistakes, there’s beauty in all of that.

Do what you love, forget the rest.  If you are blogging, starting a business, embarking on any new fill-in-the-blank for the fame, the comments, the re-Pins, the money just stop now because you’re in it for the wrong reasons. Know who you are, know what you love and confidently go in that direction.  All the other stuff will follow, eventually.  And likely when it does you’ll be so engrossed in doing what you do you won’t even care.  (Thanks Emily Ley for the inspiration)

Trust your gut.  This one is big for me.  Big.  (Fair warning this is going to go deep for a moment so hold on).  I’ve always lived a life guided by my gut, or rather my inner compass as I call it.  Now I didn’t say I always followed my inner compass, I pretty much ignored it from age 18-25, but I’ve always known it was there.  Truthfully I believe it’s my way of staying in the flow with God.  Whenever I have a large decision, or just anything I’m feeling unsure about I take some quiet time, talk it out, and simply stay still and listen.  I wait.  And this past year I’ve never been more unsure in my life.  Talk about unchartered territory.  I’ve been in it.  And through this entire year, I’ve listened and simply followed my gut.  I believe we all have an inner compass that we need to listen to a lot more, and the outside world a lot less.  Let it be your guide.

“Live to start, start to live.”  I read this quote, or rather mantra in Richie Norton’s book “The Power of Starting Something Stupid,” a MUST read for all entrepreneurs.  The thought is don’t wait for the perfect moment to start chasing your dreams, because there won’t ever be one.  Just start.

Last month was a crazy month for me, the craziest I’d say to date.  Between deadlines, photo shoots, travel, and the everyday juggling of life I honestly didn’t know how I was going to get through it.  Well long story short I got through it all, every amazing piece of it, and then I celebrated with a day off at the lake.  At one point I was sitting on the back of the boat, the Mr. was floating on a noodle and the sun was shining and I said to him, “I have never been so happy.”  And it was the truth.  I had completed everything I set out to do, accomplished some amazing goals, and now I was soaking it all in and spending the day with the people I loved.  And I had never felt so alive, so happy.  I was living my dream.

Listen, there will never be a perfect time, enough money, the right support.  Never.  So just start.  Because it’s in the starting, the doing, that you will truly live.  And I promise when you find your dream, and you start living your dream…well there is no feeling quiet like it.

KEEP GOING.  If you take nothing away from this post, take this.  The secret to it all, to life, is simply to keep going.  Every time you get knocked down, breathless from defeat, every time you’re about to throw in the towel just get up.  Put one foot in front of the other and keep going.  truly, MKR

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