Cakes!

I bake cakes. I like edible art. I like TV. I like design and sculpture. All of that pretty much comes together in cake decorating. I used to watch Ace of Cakes and think about how cool a job that must be, to show up in jeans every day, hang out with your friends while making art (kind of like we used to do in the painting studio or computer labs while in college). So one day I was in Michael's (the arts & crafts store) with a friend, and we saw a sign that said Wilton cake decorating classes were starting next week for only $10!!! My friend talked me into signing up. I spent way more than $10 buying supplies to actually decorate with, but I loved the class! The instructor taught us the basics of icing with buttercream, piping, mixing colors, sculpting with gumpaste, covering cakes with fondant, structural support, and even cake painting (that's not all in the first course, but you can still learn it all). My family and co-workers were happy because they kept getting fed! All of a sudden, I was getting requests for cakes for going away parties, showers, engagements, birthdays, etc. I love it! Every time I make a cake it gives me the chance to explore new colors, construction methods, and different piping techniques.

Here are some of my first cakes:


I'll post more stories about cakes eventually... but this is how it all got started.

Sunrise Train Rides

Day 7 of the Gratitude Challenge says to take a photo of thing, person, place or moment that makes you feel grateful…

It’s dark when I leave the house now… and dark when I get home. And sometimes riding the train sucks. But in the mornings, I sit on the right side of the train so I can watch the sun rise over the water.

PS – This picture kind of sucks because I took it with my phone, the windows are dirty, and we’re moving kind of fast. But you get the idea…

Gratitude Challenge

I'm way way behind on this, but I don't want to skip it either. I swear, I've been thinking about these, but I can't do 21 consecutive days. Either I'll catch up, or I'll be slow. But here are a few updates:

Day 5:
Day five says to take 5 minutes and be thankful for the things you currently have; take stock of all the blessings you currently enjoy. So here goes:

Right now I’m thankful for vitamin water and Cold-Eeze, Mayday Parade, headphones, heat, my job, trains, sleep, alarm clocks, people who know how to write song lyrics that make you feel something, sunshine, boys who make me laugh, vegetable soup, socks, ponytails, sweatpants, high-heels, sparkling sidewalks, people who are talented artists, sketches, sharing, text messages, cell phones, purple pens, Google groups, tea, rock band, my family, surprises, fall colors, blankets, pumpkin carving, zombie movies, zombie books, ghost stories, Halloween costumes, candy, caramel apples, parties, and all the other things that make this season good and bad… even being sick has its brighter side (who doesn’t love a grilled cheese sandwich with soup, and a TV or movie marathon?). Actually, the fall is my favorite season, and Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I guess it goes along with the Gratitude Challenge, doesn’t it?

Day 6:
Day six says to take a few minutes to call someone you haven't talked to in a while, and tell them how much you appreciate them.

I didn’t really call anyone on Thursday to tell them how much I appreciate them. But, on Friday, I did have lunch with a friend who I haven’t seen in a long time. He’s incredibly talented, and totally awesome. He moved cross-country, takes amazing photos, and we went bungee jumping together in California. I love the way he laughs, and he can jump better than anyone I know. We might never start our own design company, but I’ll try to see him whenever either of us is on the opposite coast, and I will always be willing to share my Almond Joys with him. I didn’t say all this to his face, but I’m pretty sure he knows.

Today's task is to write a short message of thanks for some of the negative things in your life. Well, this gratitude thing must already be working, because I can barely think of anything to write about... at least not that's really current. Oh well, here goes:

Thanks for pulled teeth, headgear, spacers, braces, and retainers. I hated all those years without Blow-Pops, but my smile is way better than it used to be.

Thanks Dr. Bowe, for making me wear that back brace for 16 hours a day during the first few years of high school. Being awkward makes you realize who your real friends are, and keeps you from picking on others. And you stopped the scoliosis from getting worse, so that someday I can have kids without complications.

Thanks E-Mech, Physics and Chem for teaching me that I should've been an art major from the start. (Mom and Dad, I'm still sorry you paid all that money to send me to an out of state school. If I ever win the lotto, you are totally getting the first presents.)

Thanks for deadlines... otherwise shit wouldn't get done on time. Even if I get stressed, at least I'm productive.

And, that's all I've got for now.

Day 3

Today I’m grateful for Skype. I could probably be grateful for a few more important things like my health, or tuition reimbursement policies, or the ability to walk… but I’m going to stick with Skype. I had a 2 hour Skype call with my brother yesterday. For those of you who don’t know, he’s currently living in Holland, pursing his MBA. And if you don’t know that, you probably don’t know that we’re superbestfriends. And being away from your superbestfriend totally sucks. But Skype lets us talk for hours for free, and see each other. You’d think that since my brother and I are such good friends the few conversations we have would be about life, stress, news updates, and other important things. But they’re not. Our conversations always devolve into the little stuff; sending links and pictures, and both intently playing online games and checking in with, “What level are you on?” Yesterday was no different. It was dinner time here, and 11 PM there. We were both in our hoodies, hanging out at home. And we spent two hours debating superhero and villain battles. Tim came up with seeding and brackets and we debated our winners and compared results. We had 32 heroes, and 32 villains (originally in their own brackets). Then the winning hero would battle the winning villain. It was totally pointless, but fun (we’re thinking of making these brackets available for public voting so check back next week after our next chat). But I like Skype for allowing us to have these little pointless chats. It’s almost as good as our taco bell movie nights. Almost...

Now I know my ABCs

So, day 2 of the challenge says to use the alphabet to start a list of things you're grateful for. This could be fun.

A: Apples? Aquatic centers? I loved working at TCNJ's aquatic center. I have some hilarious memories from that place. Art. "Art is a guarantee of sanity."

B: Boys... brothers and friends. I love the sense of humor of all the guys I know, and I know I can count on them. I'm also grateful for Bagel Day (Friday) at work. Yum! Oh and I also like babysitting... best job ever.

C: Cellphones, Calendars, and Candy. Three things I couldn't live without.

D: Dad. I can't say enough about my dad. I don't want to write a whole sappy thing out here... but he is an amazing man, and I wouldn't be who I am without all the sacrifices he's made.

E: Earth. Earrings. Elephants? This answer is weak. I should probably be more serious. Eye surgery! (I'm adding this like 15 minutes later... hopefully that counts without the laser before it. Anyway, it was money well spent.)

F: Friends. Fireworks. Fondue.

G: The Goddess Lounge. It's changing us for the better Y

H: Hot tubs (wish I actually had one). Heroes. Houses and homes... I like living in my own place, but I love knowing that there's more than one place I can call home. Holland (my first international adventure).

I: Ice cream. Ice cream cake (we should eat it more often). White Cherry Icees at the movies.

J: Jill. Jessie. Jess. Justin. All people who inspire me in different ways, and who each bring something special to my life.

K: Krist. Karen. These two just kick-ass at life, and I love them for it.

L: Love. I think there are like a billion different kinds of love, and that's a good thing.

M: Mom. I'm grateful for everything she ever gave me when I was living under her roof. Now I'm grateful that she surprises me with little things like throw pillows or Halloween themed dish towels, and is the kind of woman who will tell you to come over for breakfast when your toaster oven breaks and you're so stressed out that you're just standing in the kitchen crying about it.

N: NYU.

O: Oatmeal. Oreos (and the "bring on the fat" joke that will never get old). Oceans... they make for the best times, and the greatest naps.

P: Pasta. Mom's homemade pasta sauce to be specific. I'll eat it without pasta... so maybe it shouldn't count for P. Oh well... Purple. I love the color purple.

Q: Quilts. My Aunt Ma made me the most beautiful quilt ever and sent it to me as a surprise. She died two years later. It will become a family heirloom, and I'd like to learn to quilt someday so that I can make something beautiful for someone that I love.

R: Rock Band. Greatest video game ever. And I love my band mates, and all of our different bands and hilarious adventures.

S: Smallville. Supernatural. No one can say I don't appreciate the little things... I've been watching these shows since the beginning, and I like having those few hours to myself to indulge in my guilty pleasures. Sci-fi. Sugar. Softball. Socks. S is a good letter.

T: Tea. I have it almost every morning, and it's delicious. I also like TV. A lot.

U: Umbrellas. They are wonderful for use in the rain.

V: Volleyball. Go Barracudas!

W: Water. Winter. Wind. Watermelon. Good stuff... and so natural.

X: X-Files. David Duchovny was like one of my first crushes (besides Jerry O'Connell and Dean Cain).

Y: Yearbooks? The end of the alphabet was much harder than the beginning.

Z: Zoos. I haven't been in a while, but they're cool.

Other things that I'm just now thinking of: hot showers, electricity, laptops, the internet, Chinese food, frosty & fry nights with the girls, sparkle punch, and the list goes on.

Gratitude

"You cannot give somebody joy
But you can find it by trying
You cannot save someone from death
But you can love them while they're dying"

Today I'm starting the Gratitude Challenge with two of my greatest friends. It's a 21 day challenge to take note of relationships, experiences and opportunities that make your life great. Day 1 says to sign the pledge and explain why you've accepted the challenge, and what you want to achieve.

I signed the pledge with Jill and Jess, and we spent the afternoon talking about why we're doing it. (We also had lunch together and went shopping for new bracelets.) I'm doing it simply to be grateful, and to bring a little bit of happiness to myself and the other people in my life. There's one person I know who always finds the silver-lining in life, and he's awesome. I haven't had to face as many hardships as he has, and yet whenever I need it, he's always the one cheering me up. It'd be great to be more like him. And it will be good to just put more positive energy and love into the world... and hopefully this will help me find more of my own joy. Y

Lyrics from Gratitude's "The Greatest Wonder"