Avrei preferito fare il cioccolato su Salsiccia Lunedi poi la Domenica

That says: I would rather make chocolate on Monday then sausage on Sunday. I am in Italy and in bed. Because I have a foot issue. And today we were supposed to make sausage...I opted out of the sausage because as a Pastry Chef I would rather be ready to go for the chocolate class on Monday where we get to make Nativities then make sausage.

By the way, I'm in Italy. HAZAA! My wives *story to come later* are working hard...or perhaps hardly working right now because I bet its lunch time or close to it. But thats okay, I did stray out with my crappy foot to find some food and of course a bottle of wine. The food...not so great. It was anisey potatoes and crappy pizza. I wish I had gone somewhere else. But the wine is fantastic!!!

So far the trip has been amazing. The cooking has been interesting. The wine has flowed, the food never seems to stop and I will never again eat a pastry in my life after this trip. That is the only thing they eat for breakfast over here and they have a HORRIBLE obsession with fennel. I say this because I HATE fennel with an undying passion.

There would be pics with this short post, but I have no way to post them and my phone doesnt want to charge itself over here so you're stuck with nothing...or I'll find something on the Internet. BRB. Okay, never mind. My pictures are better. So you'll have to wait.

ALSO!!!! I will be making a cats of Italy calender. Thats right. I'll post a link right here and you can buy one. It will be EPIC! As there are many awesome cats here and I love them all.

So yes, as I sit in bed doing nothing but drinking wine and wishing I had something else to eat...I hope you all are in good spirits and I wish I could watch Glee and Once Upon a Time over here...but it wont let me. sad sad day.

Fairy Tales: Project Sugar Cookie...Also the Pastry Puffs+Chris...

Fairy Tales: Project Sugar Cookie...Also the Pastry Puffs+Chris...: Dear America, you are KEEPING ME AWAKE because of my secret mission that has been assigned to me! *Yes...I DID accept it* and now I cant sl...

Project Sugar Cookie...Also the Pastry Puffs+Christmas!

Dear America, you are KEEPING ME AWAKE because of my secret mission that has been assigned to me! *Yes...I DID accept it* and now I cant sleep. All I have to say is: YOU'RE WELCOME America! Also Merry Christmas! - Love Claudia, Rox, Gumbie *those are my nicknames*

 

Also, the Pastry Puffs did Christmas...we went to see Santa. It was AWESOME. There were also Culinary guys involved...it may have become messy...

And now I'm watching Syfy Christmas Specials! Also Glee was on. TODAY WAS EPIC! And tomorrow shall be SUPER SPIFFY PROJECT SUGAR COOKIE! I know you want to know what I'm doing. And yes...it does involve you America. Because I am the FO SHIZZLE. Well, us Pastry Puff Gals are. Hopefully we'll be allowed to take pictures. If SO, I will post them here! HAZAA!

Also...there were Panda's. But that made me sad because I didn't bring MY Panda. This will become more well known at a later date...i.e. after the 22nd....

Fairy Tales: The Sparkle Edition!

Fairy Tales: The Sparkle Edition!: I am leaving for Italy this coming Friday and needless to say I am a hectic chicken without its head. I also want to spend as much time with...

The Sparkle Edition!

I am leaving for Italy this coming Friday and needless to say I am a hectic chicken without its head. I also want to spend as much time with my cats as possible, so I feel badly when I do things like go to school. Cus school is icky you know...except for my friends. They are the bee's knees.

But I am making a packing list, because I'm weird like that. And I'm hoping to get to go out at least once to do something super fun. So I was coming up with an outfit that could be fun! I walked past Forever 21 today and saw this:

And I am in love with it. But they only had the one that was in the window and in a size Med *I'm a large* and this one was already held. Sigh. I had them call another mall I'll be going to on Tuesday *TO SEE SANTA with the PUFFS* and they too only had it in a med. So my dilemma is to WAIT and see for myself on Tuesday to see if they get anymore or order it online and not get it in time for my trip. BLAH. I don't know what to do.



Which One Of These Things Is Not Like The Other? Ankylosaurus...Spock *new one*,Sheldon and Chris

I just needed a spiffy Title name. But ALL three of these things will be included in my blog. Which one of these things is not like the other? I mean I guess the Ankylosaurus could be gay...I've never met one. Also...Sheldon isn't gay...but there is  this HUGE rumor going around that Jim Parsons is *Please Jim Parsons, say it ain't so and marry me! I will make you tasty treats!*

Totally random that was. See, now I'm Yoda. But I digress, here goes. I find myself mostly in love with Gay men. I actually have a gay boyfriend that I currently share with another friend. We all live together in our heads and we're probably like Three's Company with much more shaving of legs, drinks, Pan Am, Pandas and Ankylosaurus.

Sadly I am not a man or gay *which wouldn't make any difference cus then I would like girls* but you get the point. But all in all I would love to marry either Jim Parsons or Chris Colfer or Zachry Quinto. Sigh. Can I marry them all? Just because they are adorable and wonderful.

As for the Ankylosaurus I am totally into Terra Nova and last night there was a baby one and I feel in love with it. This morning in the locker room at school my friend Cara *who I share Nelson *our gay boyfriend* with* and Dillyn were talking about the random animals they wanted. Cara wants a miniature cow *which Dillyn can totally hook her up with. Her 4 year old cousin breeds them I guess* and Dillyn wants a half horse half zebra mix. Well I told them I wanted a baby Ankylosaurus. I think I won THAT game.

Also today was a crap day because She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was an UBER bitch and she really needs to be just taken out. She decided to hate on poor Brandon and then myself. I'd like to punch her in the face. Or just scream at her really loudly. And I don't mean scream with words...I just mean...Godzilla is coming and I am screaming kinda scream. I loathe her. She needs to get brought down to size.

So that was my day. I still need a baby Ankylosaurus and Sheldon, and Spock and Chris. Also I love my friends. They always make life spiffy.

Black Friday Shopping...AS IF! Also featuring Sailor Moon and Cake

Today was Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. When I woke up this morning I turned on the TV to the news and heard this little gem...a lady...shopping at Walmart on Black Friday ran into Walmart when the doors opened and sprayed everyone behind her in the face with pepper spray. Yes...you read that right. I hope her ass if comfortable in jail right now and she is banned from any future black friday events.

I have never been a black friday shoppers, as I have worked since I was 18 in retail jobs. Therefore I am on the OTHER end of things. Most recently, and by recently I mean 4 years ago. I worked at The Body Shop in Alaska at the 5th Ave mall. It was totally fun, I worked the morning shift and we had to go to the bank to drop of money SO MANY TIMES. It was insane. But people shopping at The Body Shop were pretty cool people. I don't remember anything horrible happening.

But, as I said I have never been into Black Friday shopping. Until today...except I didn't go for shopping I had a bill to pay at Nordstroms. So I merrily went to Nordy Racks to pay said bill. I parked in the yonder far area so that I wouldn't have to fight anyone for a parking space *this was at 2pm mind you* and went to pay my bill. I had to wait for 25 min to pay a bill. Good thing I brought my kindle. And if you are wondering why I choose today to pay the bill...well it was due today and if I didn't I would get a 35 dollar charge. But I'm not complaining, it was my own fault.

SOOOO! I go back outside after my line waiting and bill paying and go to my car. Some DOUCHE bag *I should have taken a picture* had parked so FUCKING close to me I couldn't even get into the driver side seat. I had to crawl over the passenger side seat and the middle bit to get into my car. So I wrote a nice little note *should have taken a pic of that too* this is what it said:

Dear Jerk, thank you SO much for parking so DAMN close to me. Please learn how to park better in the future. Just so you know I have to get into my car through the passenger side. Otherwise I would have dented your car. You're WELCOME!

That was my note. Also, while writing this note, another car came and parked beside douche bag car. It was a mustang and took up TWO FREAKIN spots. I should have written him a note as well. Damn. I was dumb today.

On the plus side I did one TINY thing of Black Friday shopping. I went to the mall and parked in the boonies and no one parked to close or annoyed me and went to Hot Topic *really I wanted soap from Bath and Body Shop and I wanted the deals* but popped into Hot Topic and TO MY DELIGHT! Found Sailor Moon SHIRTS! It was awesome. Way awesome. I bought two and then came home and bought a third for my guy friend Nelson online. He'll get his this coming week. We Sailor Moon Sweethearts to the core. And a huge button with a slice of cake on it that says: You want a Piece of Me? on it for my Chef. He hates cupcakes and since I found a slice of cake I thought he would like it.

Did anyone else have a black friday story?

Fairy Tales: Thanksgiving Day

Fairy Tales: Thanksgiving Day: Happy Thanksgiving Everyone, or if you're my Chef from Germany...Happy Extra Days Off Day since you don't celebrate Thanksgiving. But we sti...

Thanksgiving Day

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone, or if you're my Chef from Germany...Happy Extra Days Off Day since you don't celebrate Thanksgiving. But we still love you! <3

I'm spending Thanksgiving with my mother, I normally do every Thanksgiving but this time its just the two of us. She's been sick. But not to worry, she's fine. We haven't spent a Thanksgiving alone since I was five. And this is the first Thanksgiving I've had with my cats. So its kinda fun and interesting. But I do miss my family. Especially my cousin Kevin. We've become pretty good friends over the last few years, we're a lot alike just as our parents *his dad, my mom* are alike. We were supposed to go see him and my two other cousins and my aunt and uncle in Florida for the holiday, but my mom was just to sick to go. So next year I hope. We need to make Moist Makers the day after and go to Harry Potter World. Also, I need to talk him into getting a tattoo. :-D

So, I am thankful for my family, my kitties and getting the opportunity to go to Italy with a Michelin Star Chef and a very good friend. This year has of course had its ups and downs, but its been pretty spiffy.

Also, I'll have a detailed blog about my Thanksgiving day Feast. Its pretty Epic.

Team Narwhal

Have you ever seen Elf? The Christmas movie? Well...if not, go buy it. Its awesome. In this movie they have a Narwhal that wishes Buddy the Elf goodluck while Buddy is looking for his real father. I am 28. Yes. 28. And I thought a Narwhal was some sort of Magical story character. Like a Unicorn. I was. SO. WRONG! They are totally real.

But thats not the real story. The story begins with my class. Its called A La Carte and we basically run our own restaurant back and front. I've connected with this people. We have become a family of our own. There are of course the EPIC Pastry Puff crew which I am a part of. Who do the desserts and breads and then everyone else.

I am super weird. I admit it. I have billions of stuffed animals and recently bought a Narwhal to take to Italy with my friend and fellow Puff Sara. He, along with a few other stuffed animals will be flying to Italy to learn how to cook awesome food. So I brought Blueberry *my narwhal* to school today. So he could meet everyone. Some people scoffed at him and made Unicorn jokes and others took to him as if he were their own.

So tonight I was looking on etsy and found a Narwhal pattern to make my own Narwhal. Yes. Thats right. Make your own. I am now on a journey to  make each and everyone in my class a stuffed tiny Narwhal. When I hand these cuties out we will ALL be taking a picture. Sigh. Including She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. She'll get one too...but yes. So now my A La Carte class is Team Narwhal. Because we are THAT COOL!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/70809082/narwhal-pdf-pattern-stuffed-animal?ref=sr_gallery_1&ga_search_query=Narwhal&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade

So go Team Narwhal!

The Evil Queen

As a little girl I was always obsessed with the Princess. The girl who was more beautiful then words could describe, sweet as a spring strawberry, soft spoken and perfect. All little girls wish to be the Princess of the story, the one who gains true love, who surpasses all the hardships that are thrown her way or rather rescued.

But now that I am older I find myself wondering if perhaps the Evil Queen didn't ever have it right? No. I don't condone killing children to eat their hearts and be beautiful. But the Queen always strive to be better then what she was...for better or worse. She never took no for an answer. She had gumption. She was sassy and strong. She may not have been nice...but how many of us are truly nice out there.

I know I'm not always nice. I may have a candy coated exterior that I show to most people. But I, like the Queen am not perfect. I do not think I am beautiful or smart, I am...content with who I am. Of course I would love to be better then I am, but at what price? What is the price to be more beautiful? To be smarter? To be loved by everyone? Who knows.

I guess I just wish I was the Queen and the Princess. A balance of both of them. Of course I desire a Prince to save me from it all...but I know for a fact that I'll most likely have to do that on my own. Where does my path lead? Is it good or bad? I hope its what I wish for. No more or less then that.

My Weird Day

So my day went: went to lay down upstairs around 9ish something. There was a cat in my bed. *now, to be clear this cat is actually my cat, not so random cat from nowhere* So I slept beside her, kinda squishing her. She stayed with me for quite awhile and then jumped down. Then around noon she came and woke me up. I thought for food...so I was all okay I'll get up. Its noon. So I went to the bathroom and came out...and she was in my bed again!!!!!! It was ALL A RUSE!!!! She wanted no food from me. Only my bed. Dorkus.

Aso I had dreams about leprechauns and alien bugs...it was kinda freaky...

So then I fed the dude *this is my boy cat* cus he wanted food and get the ring to mail out and went on my way.

Went to Shell to get gas and we got .30 cents off and some older dude was in front of me with his huge truck, told me I needed to ground myself if I go and sit in the car and then get out to remove the gas thingy. It was very weird. He also said that because its colder now and we wear so much clothes and we don't ground ourselves before we remove the pump thingy that the static will cause the car to explode...I was ONLY WEARING jeans and a quarter length sleeve sweater...So then I get back INTO the car and old man answers his cell phone...by his car...while the gas is pumping. Umm...dude....the is clearly a sign that says that the STATIC from your PHONE will cause the car to explode too...so good luck with that.



Then I dropped off the ring, then went to Verizon. I was 5th in line...there was this old lady who sorta cut infront of me, but I didn't mind. She was older and freaking out about her new phone. She didn't know how to find the numbers for the missed calls that she had, and wanted a phone without a key board. She was told that would cost more...so she decided to keep the key board.  The dude told me that I needed to clean out my something or other from my phone and he showed me how to do it. I forgot to ask about Italy, and I looked to see if I could pay the bill. It told me no. *PS, I was having issues texting...*

Then I went to CVS to get my shot. I also asked the lady about allergies and she said the only thing they could prescribe was Allegra. She seemed really surprised that I took benedryl around the clock and it still didn't help. Sigh. But she gave me my shot...and I didnt feel it! But I was all...do the shot in my left arm. And she saw my big tattoo and said she didn't want to do it, she wanted to do it in the left where there were holes in the tattoo *hee hee* so I could see if I had any aggravation from the shot. *Like allergic?*

Then I was all: CRAP! Now that she told my body that there COULD be an issue with this shot, it will have an issue with it. Sigh. So fingers crossed. But yeah. Didn't feel it at all, she was very good at it. Now my arm is hurting a bit. Now I'm at home and I checked the mail and still no bill and no turkey day magazines. I think our mail man is stealing or something. Who knows.

*PS, if this post is a bit weird...its actually an email I sent to someone...But its still funny*

Blocks In The Road...

If you are in a high rise building like I am almost every day when I go to school in the middle of DC and you look down...you see the people. The people that makeup who and what this world is. There's a woman with a red bag, she waits at the light like you're supposed to, but another woman barrels on across the street barely looking to notice if any cars are coming. A man is holding the hand of his child, she skips along, he looks down and grins *I can't actually see the grin, but I'm hoping its there*, there are the homeless sitting on the ground watching as people pass by. People holding bags and boxes, food and coffee cups, men, women, teenagers. The list goes on.

One of the interesting things I find about standing up there looking down is I'm always wondering who these people are. In a fleeting moment you are a part of someone elses life, driving past them, making their coffee, watching them as they ride the escalator down to the metro. But do you ever really wonder who they are?

When I get my morning coffee at Starbucks there are two people who always spell my name correctly...some people in my family can't even do that. I always wonder who THEY know in their life that spells their name like I spell mine. It makes you wonder....

If you stand long enough from up above you see the pattern that we have created in our lives, the stops and the gos, the rules that we all must adhere to. It may seem as if we are in perfect sincrnaztion, but we never truly are. Within all of us is that spark that makes us different, makes us unique. Makes us pause before we take the step across the road that could save our life from an oncoming car that doesn't see the light. Or the person who drops the extra quarter from coffee into the homeless persons hand.

For now I'll just continue to watch from my perch in the sky...

Crazy Things, Weird Things, Stupid People

This is just a short random post. Because recently people have been REALLY stupid! No one I know...just random people that I happen to see.

Story One:
Old Biddy Lady in Target Parking Lot:

I've just backed out of my spot in the parking lot of target and am waiting while another person *old biddy lady* pulls out so I can be on my merry way. There was a nice random dude who had gotten out of his car and was walking towards the entrance, he was behind crazy lady and continued to walk. Probably because HE HAS THE RIGHT OF WAY! She doesn't stop pulling out. I'm sitting there wondering if I should pull my phone out now so that when she hits this poor guy I can call the cops and take a pic of her car. Guy walks by and lady STILL doesn't stop to let him walk by. In fact she keeps backing out and is INCHES away from him. *if this had been me I would have smacked the shit out of her car*. THEN! Get this...she STARES at him and shakes her head in annoyance like having a pedestrian walk by your car is a Federal offence. I didn't want her to hit this guy but if she had even just TAPPED him with her car I would have taken her picture and called the cops and been all up in her ass about her behavior. Stupid people like that scare me. Sigh.

Story Two:
Cute Asian Lady With Fanny Pack At Store and HELLISH Child...

So I'm at the store *not Target* and I'm walking around getting my things and I keep running into this lady. She's an older Asian lady, clearly she speaks both English and whatever sort of language. She also has a bratty child in tow, who went into a fit over EVERYTHING! I don't know what her relationship was to this child, but I felt so badly for her.

So thats been my rant. Sorry, but the first one really annoyed me.

Little Pastry Puffs

The first five weeks are FINALLY over. The Assbag told us at the end of class: The teacher you hate the most is the one you learn the most from. My response...in my head at least and on FB where she can't read it: Okay then...I learned to always be late, sit on my ass all day and text, complain like a little baby, not believe that your students can do anything right, to say one thing and do another thing...etc. Thats TOTALLY what I learned. Oh! And you should be rude enough to school your guests in good behavior *ie, if they are not using their napkin right, place it on their lap FOR them.* Yeah...she's told us to do that.

So the next five weeks is baking baking baking. Whoot! I'm excited. I want to try to rework the apple cobbler, not the flavors, just how it looks. Its going to be exciting, plus I want to play around with ice cream flavors and maybe do a dessert special if we can once a week. I wonder if Chef S would allow us to do that? I'll have to talk to him about it.

What else is going on? ITALY TRIP! I know, I haven't posted a picture of things I'm bringing. Life has been crazy hectic and I come home and sleep. I do know that I can't show Sara any more stuffed animals, because she insists that we bring them with us. We're both on the same flight over there together sitting next to eachother. Its going to be epic. I made shirts for our Pastry Puff group and I will be making two shirts that say: Pastry Puffs on Tour. We will be wearing those proudly on the plane! Hazaa!

Next week I'll have some awesome stories to tell. I love my whole group. We stuck together on the front of the house and with the assbag and we're going to be killer awesome as back of the house. WHOOT WHOOT!

Frost Garden

Today was the first snow fall of the season. It was only October 24th, but I was ready for it. When I woke up this morning the clouds were heavy and grey. If you opened your window or door you could smell the fresh clean, snow smell that always comes before the flakes. It was magical. As the day wore on, the snow began to slowly fall. Then thicker and faster and heavier. It was a winter wonderland before Halloween.

I grew up in Alaska and it almost always snowed before Halloween. So, to say the least, I was super excited. I went outside with my new camera to take some amazing photos.

Now, perhaps when I finally fall asleep my dreams will be of wintry wonderlands, fairy lights, a warm fire and a steaming mug of tea.

To The Assbag...yeah...You know who you are

So...I'm doing my restaurant class and I was front waiter today. Long story short...we screwed up...but not as much as she did. Tomorrow I plan to have a speech. This is how it will go:

To The Assbag. Please just listen to what I have to say, then you can respond or not respond if you so choose. *PS, to those reading. I will be saying this in front of the whole class*. Yesterday may not have been our best day, yes we had our issues with service, but I think that yesterday was one of the best days for the group as a whole. We all really pulled together and worked as a team. I know you were busy with the student table and talking to Chef Sholly with whatever you guys were talking about. But from Brianna as the M'De who helped us set the extra plate to Nelson on dishes who though may have not followed your exact rules was there for the servers we worked as a group, we had good communication as a whole. Brandon and Neshan were there for myself and Ian, asking us to tell them whenever we needed help with our service. Brandon was the one who spotted that the tea may not have bee as strong as it should be and suggested that we give them new glasses. Ian was always there for me, helping me and learning as much as he could from me about the customers that we were waiting on. Whats his name *I'm sorry, I forgot his name. When I say this to her tomorrow I'll ask what his name is so I can say his actual name* showed Sara how to do the sandwich station, the Expidatior *SP?* communicated and asked us questions. It was a rough day, you were busy with other things and as a result I believe that though we had bumps and bruises we all worked together to try to be the best we could be.

So yeah...thats my speech. Hopefully she wont fail me for it. Also, I'll be writing a heated letter to the Dean of Students about her...as well as a letter I'll be giving to her as soon as I leave the school for good.

We Pay So Much For This Shit...I'm Drinkin' It ALL!

We got to taste Chardonnay today! Five kinds, 4 oz each. I drank ALL of that shit. I have no idea what the lab fee for this class is, but hell to the NO am I spitting that wine into some dork bucket. You know...I like Chardonnay a lot better if I pay more then 10 bucks for a bottle....So I enjoyed 3 out of the five and loved two out of that 3. I need to get my wine drinking up because we will be drinking a bottle a day in Italy...or some amount close to that. I think I'll freak everyone out with how well I can handle the liquor. Hee hee. Don't tell anyone!



Pastry Puffs and Apparently Coke Addicts addicted to Candy Corn...

So...I have some AWESOME additions to put into my Italy-to-pack-pictures. But you must wait! You can't see them now! Sunday! Thats right! Thats when I update.

On to other things! I got TWO new tattoos today. One says: Little Pastry Puff and has a tiny cupcake with it. This represents my awesome group of people I am so honored to know. Plus a White House/Michelin Star Chef named Chef Sholly. He's the bee's knees. From Germany and awesome-ness. He's taking my to Italy *well, not JUST me.* And he named our Pastry group *there are 5 of us* The Little Pastry Puffs. I love it SO HARD! I'm making us all shirts too. They will be EPIC! As are we. So this is the tattoo:

Its awesome right? On my right arm. I love it.

Then, there was this awesome Tattoo dude who was doing Halloween Tattoos at a lower rate. He had one that had candy corn and a razor...I loved it. I mean, it was spiffy because Candy Corn is my favorite Halloween Candy and razors played a big part in Halloween when I was a kid. All the parents freaked out that some psycho would put a razor blade in the candy they have away. So its the "Scary" part of my tattoo to the cute of the candy corn.

Well, a friend of mine pointed out that crack addicts use razors to separate their crack stash or whatever it is. So now I feel a bit foolish. But, as this was NOT my first thought and the dude did an AWESOME job. I still love it.

Sunday Italy Post #1

First off...don't you LOVE this picture of me as a zombie:

I am a zombie wearing makeup! On that note, its also my Mom's 61st b-day and she has pneumonia or how she used to call it as a kid...PAH-Monia. She said thats how she used to read it. Also Walking Dead starts tonight, hence the awesome Zombie picture.

I think if there ever was a Zombie Apocalypse I would handle it pretty well...I hope I would at least. Not so sure if I would want to live in a world without Internet, television, new books, liquor, and light *since I am deathly afraid of the dark...DEATHLY.* But I still think I could kick some Zombie ass...after I got over the crushing fear that is.

SOOO! Where is the Italy you ask? Well...Here you go. I have started two lists: 1) List of Things to Bring to Italy; 2) List of things to ask Chef what I need to bring *this list includes different plug types, laundry detergent and Chef Knife* I ask about the chef knife because I have tiny tiny hands and have a smaller chef's knife then most. I don't want to use a big one. They are SCARY! Also, I have started a box of the things that I am brings so as not to loose them...

There are more to that pile that will be added...such as my camera. But I'm not going to keep it in a box until December, same with my Kindle. But every week I've decided to take a pic of my stash and see how its grown. I am getting way more then excited.

More school tomorrow. I am looking forward to parts, not looking forward to others. Tonight will be a long night since Walking Dead is on. Oh well. I'm still excited!!

Sorry this post was not ripe with beautiful words. Its mostly just for fun!

Counting Down To December

Normally I would have a countdown to Christmas, I happen to love Christmas with a passion that blows other holidays out of the water. I love the sights and the sounds, the chill in the air, the heavy or light snowfall on a winters eve. I love the sparkling Twinkle lights that adorn street corners or are hung in malls, I adore the uplifting or melancholy music that IS Holiday music. I count the days down until my favorite TV shows have their Christmas Specials and above all is I love the silence and serenity that Winter seems to shroud us all in.

But this year is different, this year I am counting down to Italy. I will set off for worldly Culinary adventures in faraway Orvieto, Italy. I will receive a Diploma for Italian Cuisine, get to tour amazing winery's and explore amazing caverns and fantastical stone gardens. In the winter. In one of my favorite seasons. Everyone wishes to go to Italy in the Spring or Summer, to see the flowing green vineyards, or the stunning sunflowers. I am SO excited that I get to see, what one might call the absence of Italy. Though by no means will it be any less impressive then that of its summer/spring counterparts. To me, winter is when you fine the secret doorway to another magical world.

I hope to find magic there, I believe I will. I feel it in my gut. Something stunning will happen that will allow me to better myself and better my life. I cannot wait to see how it all unfolds.

But for now I am in the second week of the Fall Quarter. Today was rainy, with a brisk breeze. My favorite sorts of days. I feel more at peace when the clouds shroud the world in a cloak of mystery.

Monday was a nothing sort of day, we had lecture for the front of the house while the back of the house continued to prep for Tuesday, the opening day. Tuesday we opened, we had one reservation on the books, and two walkins. My friend Sara and I also got to sit and eat. We're not sure if thats because we sucked at serving on Monday during demo or really what was going on. But it was fun and tasty, she's going on the Italy trip so we talked about that as well as the horrible woman who is the front of the house teacher. She...well this post isnt about blasting anyone. That will come for another day. We had a fun visit from Chef Fig! Thats always fun! And finally Wednesday, my foot was killing me and she *the horrible woman* allowed me to be Matrie'D and sit on a chair. We had to reservations and two walkins. I thought it went well. Next week I'll most likely be a waiter. I'll have someone take my picture.

Finally, I must tell you about this book I've just finished. Its called The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. It has captured my soul and refuses to let go, much like the Reveur's in the story. I am enchanted. I finished it today and plan to re-read it again ASAP. I already have a quote that I have chosen to get tattooed on me, along with a picture that the author drew for a tarot deck. Its beautiful. Its a bit strange to have found this book and to be going to Italy at the same time...I believe they are connected in some way. I'll see how the story unfolds. You'll want to stay on for the ride....

Booze class, restaurants and pumpkin cheesecake...OH MY!

See what I did just there? I made it like Lions and tigers and bears OH MY. Yeah. I know, Im weird. I totally had a random and wonky last post. Sorry for that. I think I had to much to drink.

Class has started once again! I am taking A La Carte and Food and Beverage Managment! I have to work under the watchful eye of a spiffy German Chef *who works for the White House as well*. He is awesome and I adore him, as well as working under the thumb of a Heinus Bitch woman who wont open a bathroom door when a student is in there as well. She is...well...you would hate her too. She makes fun of ya'll who are bumpkins and don't know how to tell your waiter person that yur finished with yur meal.-Thats in a Redneck accent...not that I'm trying to be mean to rednecks...she just think everyone who isn't her and poops solid gold...talks just like that. We're not allowed to say: :"ya'll" when serving the food. HELL NO WOMAN! I'm saying ya'll all the fucking time now! So there!

Yadda yadda...I'm also in a Booze class. We drink wine. We're supposed to do that fancy wine tasting shit where you swirl, sniff, sip and the spit. The 4 s's...Um...I'm paying about 3,000 dollars for this class for the wines you're feeding me. I'm drinking ALL of that shit ya'll. There is no way in hell that I am spitting it out. But I already love the class. I've only had one btw. Its 3 hrs and 40 min and it felt about 30 min long to me. It is awesome and makes me wonder if I want to be a wine business in the future. Who knows.

But all in all, my classes are kinda awesome. Except for the bitch woman. I could kick her to the curb. I'll keep you posted on how it goes. More to learn about the restaurant next post. Perhaps tomorrow? We shall see.

BTW, you need to read The Night Circus. Its awesome and epic and beautiful. Go buy it. Now.

I'm probably on a list somewhere now...

Yes. I have my faults. I drink to much. I buy to much. I whine to much sometimes. I lie, I swear, I've slept with a guy I'm sure NONE of you have ever slept with someone in the same "spot". I'm not perfect. I don't try to be. I don't ask to be. I don't want to be.

If you have a bomb...can I have it? I'd like to blow myself up.

Thats all for now. I thought I could write more. I'm going to make myself another drink and wish my old computer wasn't dead because I want to listen to my music.

Smurf Cakes and Fairy Sugar

So the quarter is over...finally. It was a stressful 10 weeks, mentally stressful and physically. After the quarter I find myself looking back to who I was for those 10 weeks and wondering if I stayed true to myself. I don't think I did. At least not in some sense. I know that sounds weird, but I struggled with some people and how they spoke about other people. But I never stood up for what I believed in and thats kinda getting to me now. I don't know if I was right or not. I guess in this case its okay for how I was on a level of the world, but as for my own self...I feel as if I lost myself there for awhile.

Believe you me, I will NOT be doing that this quarter. Partly because I am a VERY different person when I cook then when I bake. So those people who I had issues with and never confronted them about it...well they will probably see a VERY different side of me. Lets hope they come prepared for who I truly am. I wont back down this time, I wont lock myself away. It wont be easy, but if anything in this life...I have to be myself.

BUT! Now to the fun stuff. The last two weeks was spent working on a 5-6 tier cake and pulling/blowing sugar sculptures. I was in one group with two awesome girls in cakes class and we created a Smurf cake. It was by no means easy, and I refuse to make wedding cakes in the future. Normal cakes are fine, but wedding cakes are so bloody annoying. Our Smurf cake was Epic, though it leaned slightly. It even had a shiny glass ball for the bad guy to look into as he stood in wait for smurfs.

I made the bridge *which apparently for some odd reason everyone LOVED!* I also made the Smurf house on the top.

Papa Smurf is kinda large compared to the house, but thats okay. We're not perfect YET! :-D

This is me as a Smurf. Those black dots are all of my tattoos. I have 25 ya'll. They are spiffy!

And in Chocolates class we created sugar sculptures. They were all supposed to be somewhat the same, but we could add/make whatever sort of flower that would be in the middle between two of the pieces. I was slightly annoyed with this because I thought we were all going to be able to go whatever kind of sculpture we wanted and I had mine all planned out! It was going to be this spiffy fairy and a half moon and stars and fun things. So, not only did I make a flower I also made a fairy. She is awesome!

This is my fairy made from pulled and blown glass.

And thats my final piece. It was super fun and if I could play with sugar all day long I so totally would. I would actually love to find this guy in NY who does sugar and chocolate classes. If I ever own my own bakery I would love to make a sugar sculpture every week. It would be so much fun!

I got all A's! Which is awesome. I missed two days in my cakes and chocolates class because of being sick and at midterm I had a D and an F. I was of course freaking out. When the classes finished and I looked online it looked like I had a B and a B-. I was TOTALLY okay with those grades, but I looked yesterday and HAZAA! Two A's! SO excited.

I will be taking Al Carte next quarter which is where we run our own restaurant and serve meals. There is an evil bitch teacher in that class, so you'll get to hear all about her. Also there is an awesome German teacher who works for the President as well. He's wonderful. So I am hot and cold about this class. And then I am taking a wine and beverage class where we are TOTALLY ASKED TO DRINK BEFORE CLASS! Yes. Thats right. We are encouraged *if 21 or over* to have a glass of wine before class to get our palate ready for wine tasty. How awesome is that?

Also, my tree is up. Its wonderful.

Today I Put The Christmas Tree Up

I know...its not even the end of fall...it has only just begun! Why then am I putting up my tree? Because I love it, it makes me happy and when I come home from a stressful day at school I like things that make me happy. If I can control the happy-factor then I can control the stress-factor just a bit more.

We have THEME trees in my house. Our tree is white and fake. I don't like real trees, I mean of course I like real trees but I don't want them in my house. BUG y'all! BUGS! So I have a white tree with white lights. The first year of the trees life the theme was red. It was all red and white. The second year was purple. It was SO pretty. And finally this year it was SUPPOSED to be Gingerbread themed...but I haven't had time to make spiffy gingerbread things to go on it. So it will be green and brown *and when I say brown I mean a shiny, chestnut brown. Not yuck brown* Brown is also my favorite color.

So, all the white lights on the white tree died. I'm assuming because I kept it up until March last year and it didn't like being plugged in for 6 months. So I bought new white lights. My Aunt last year was so smart, she wrapped the icky green color of Christmas lights with a color ribbon that would go well with the other things on the trees. So I have brown ribbon to wrap around the white lights and a sparkly green one to wrap around the AWESOME green/brown/amber colored lights I bought. I am so excited. EEP!

So there you go. This is my happy place, I'm super excited to put them up!

Fall is Near

Fall, it creates pictures in my mind of red and orange leaves that fall gently to the ground but if you were to step on it there would be a distinct crackle sound that resonates throughout the soul. The air is crisp and clean, early in the morning or at dusk when the sun goes down and the air is purple you can see your breath as it hangs on your lips, searching for its next stop.

You can hear the crickets chirping, its soft and sweet and rhythmic, lulling you into a dream. Fall is not for the faint of heart, it requires a push and a shove for some people, but for me I fall freely. I let fall take over me, dictate what I do, how I see the world. It is probably one of the only times I really let myself go, let myself feel as if tomorrow was forever and today was yesterday.

I jump at the chance to pull those thick Irish sweaters from the closet, let the smell of last fall settle over me, getting ready for the new sights, sounds and smells of this one that is to come. There is a tea that I drink only at fall and winter, I refuse to make it in the spring or summer, it awakens my taste buds as its sweet and savory softness flow through my mind.

One of my favorite things about moving to the East Coast is the mist that hangs heavy over the trees, its as if we have suddenly found ourselves in a shrouded mystery, a romance story or a line of poetry. I often wish that the sun would never find that gap in the mist to burn it away, to burn away the mystery that only mist can bring.

Fall calls to me, I can feel it in my bones. It whispers to me, telling me to find myself, telling me to find what I am made of. I'll wait for that first full moon of fall, and wish on the stars that streak across the sky...

Fairy Tales: I'm Reading Telling Dad and Feel the Need to Tell ...

Fairy Tales: I'm Reading Telling Dad and Feel the Need to Tell ...: I have had two surgeries. One for my wisdom teeth and one for my nose *and no, it was not to make it pretty, I already love my nose, it was ...

I'm Reading Telling Dad and Feel the Need to Tell My Own Surgery Story...

I have had two surgeries. One for my wisdom teeth and one for my nose *and no, it was not to make it pretty, I already love my nose, it was to help with my monthly sinus infections*.

Really...both these surgeries have melded into one, so you'll get bits and pieces of them both...but my mind can only remember them as one...Except for the AFTER effects of the surgies.

Lets start out with me being wheeled, half bombed off of meds that will make me sleepy so they can actually PUT me to sleep. I am wheeled in *and like I said...I dont actually remember which surgery this was for* the people in the room *I think there were 3* exclaimed: Those are FANTASTIC tattoos! *I think I had about 18 then, I'm now up to 22* and they proceeded to ask me questions about them...WHILE I WAS OUT OF IT! It was SO funny...at least now. I think then I was slightly annoyed.

That was and has been my only really funny surgery post. The after effects of both surgeries were...weird. The one for my wisdom teeth caused the entire left side of my mouth and tongue to be numb for 6 months. If it had continued I would have had to go down to Seattle to have them repair the damage.

The nose one...trying to make it so I wouldn't have a sinus infection every month...I went back to have all the crap still in my nose removed...and what did I have? A SINUS INFECTION! I still get them.

My body hates me I think. I also have latent TB and had to take meds to make it so it wouldn't BECOME TB...and I was allergic. I am now in the books of the CDC because I am one of the YOUNGEST people in US history to be allergic to that drug. Funny huh?

Actually it is. So don't worry! You can laugh.

I'll post a post about my finals at school tomorrow with pretty smurf pictures and fairies.

--
One word love; curiosity. You long for freedom. You long to do what you want to do because you want it. To act on selfish impulse. You want to see what it's like. One day you won't be able to resist

Fairy Tales: Feelings, Thoughts and Emotions

Fairy Tales: Feelings, Thoughts and Emotions: One more day. Thats all. One more day I tell myself as I take the 1 hour metro ride to school. One more day and you have two weeks off. Two ...

Feelings, Thoughts and Emotions

One more day. Thats all. One more day I tell myself as I take the 1 hour metro ride to school. One more day and you have two weeks off. Two weeks where you can hunker down with a good book, and all the new TV shows coming on for the fall season.

Its like walking out on a sea of ice. The subtle cracks that weave its way through a substance that once was liquid. Flowing, flowing forever and changing the world without out mortal minds even knowing that the change is coming, the change is happening. These cracks twist and turn throughout the ice, they seem to dance and weave its own pattern of life. Maybe it wishes to be frozen in its path forever, maybe it hopes for what is to come.

Tomorrow is another day, another moment that could take your breath away. The path I walk is like the ice, you never know when it will pull you in a different direction, pull you into the cold unknown.

Tomorrow brings me closer, but closer to what? I'm not sure. I don't know what my future holds. I hope for the best and of course I think of the worst.

Our final cake will be a smurf village. You heard me right. A smurf village. My final piece for chocolates class...isn't what I wished it to be. But, I'll follow that crack in the ice, but force it into a different direction. I'll make it my own. It will be unlike the others, just as I am.

One more day and I come closer to the darkness that lays ahead...

Fairy Tales: Freshly Baked Bread...It Does The Soul Good

Fairy Tales: Freshly Baked Bread...It Does The Soul Good: I'm sad and lonely today. Well, I actually am lonely a lot. Yes, I have many friends and wonderful family that make it so I don't feel so lo...

Freshly Baked Bread...It Does The Soul Good

I'm sad and lonely today. Well, I actually am lonely a lot. Yes, I have many friends and wonderful family that make it so I don't feel so lonely. But it feels as if there is a part of me missing. Its floating somewhere amongst the stars waiting to be found. Maybe one day I will...

In the mean time I've decided to make fresh whole wheat bread. Being a "Chef" or whatever I am I have the ingrediants and means to make something from scratch without the use of a bread machine or going to the store. The silly thing is, I actually have a loaf of wheat bread I bought from the store not to long ago.

But there is something that sooths your soul and inner voice from its deamons when making bread. Feeling the soft, spongey goodness under your fingers as you slowly knead the dough. Watching it slowly rise from a tiny round ball into something that actually allows you to punch it down.

Its sitting in my window now with the warmth of the sun causing it to expand and grow under its watchful eye. Its simple. It makes me wish for times when you only made your fresh bread and you ate it with a bowl of hearty stew and your own freshly made ale.

When I make fresh bread *which I think I'll do more often* I like to pretend I'm someone I'm not. Someone who only has the things required to survive day to day rather then having things that fill up my house, that fill up my soul with clutter and no imganation.

I've recently been wondering who or what I am. Yes, I know I'm a human. I know that life dictates me to be something that conforms to socitey, that plays the game the correct way and doesn't try to change the rules. But sometimes the rules are meant to be broken. I struggle with who I am, knowing that its what helps guide both my spirital and mental sides of me. I'm not ready to explain it further. I know some people who are my friends perhaps wouldn't understand. And I'm not ready for their judgement. Perhaps in time. Perhaps many loaves of bread to come.

But for now, I'll sit and watch as the fruits of my labor grow and change before me. Waiting for that moment to punch it down and watch it grow again.

Fairy Tales: One More Week To Go

Fairy Tales: One More Week To Go: One more week, that is my motto to get me through this week. Actually, this is the last week, so my moto on Wednesday will be...ONE MORE DAY...

One More Week To Go

One more week, that is my motto to get me through this week. Actually, this is the last week, so my moto on Wednesday will be...ONE MORE DAY! And then on Thursday it will be: 10 more hours...etc. I am super excited. I'm excited for it to be over, but I'm also excited to do my chocolates class final piece that we are making.

Last week we made this:


Yeah! Its pretty kick-ass isn't it? Pulled and blown sugar baby! It was one of my ALL TIME favorite things to work with now. I'd like to find a pastry school that just does this for a whole quarter so I could learn as much as I can. I've always had a slight obession with blown glass, so I knew I would be excited for pulled sugar.

Its FRAKKING HARD though to do. But so much fun when you have a final piece. Everyone had to make an under the sea themed piece. My group and I made this one. I made the jellyfish guy *who later commited suscide* and the fish with the purple and pink fins.

Next week each person has to make their own. I have this necklace that I own:



I want to go that is the background, so a circle of blue, with a yellow cresecnt moon, and the whispy stars. And then I want to have a fairy of some sort infront of it like this:



We have two days to make it. I think I can get it to all work out. Its going to be hard, but if it works out its going to be beautiful! I'll post pictures.

So yeah, one more week to go.

Fairy Tales: My Wishes and Dreams

Fairy Tales: My Wishes and Dreams: I look all over the Internet and see this AMAZINGLY beautiful, awesome, funny blogs and then I look at mine. Though this is the first blog t...

My Wishes and Dreams

I look all over the Internet and see this AMAZINGLY beautiful, awesome, funny blogs and then I look at mine. Though this is the first blog that I have really kept up with, I still wonder what I could do to make it better? Be funnier? Sure! I wish I could do that all the time. Blog more about food. Do you want me to? Because I can. I guess I just am who I am. Plus I have to clean. And when I say clean I don't mean just vacuum...I have so HEAVY cleaning to do. I don't want to. When I don't want to clean I cook. I already have an awesome smelling potato bake in the oven now. So now I'm turning to blogging. I guess I'll clean soon. But not right now.

So here are a list of my hopes and dreams:

1. I want to work for Disney...without having to cover up my tattoos. But I want to work for them.

2. I want to work for America's Test Kitchen. Not the PBS show part of it, but the magazine part of it.

3. I want to be a personal Chef on a yacht that goes all around the world.

4. I want to open my own bakery. I can't tell you what its theme will be. But BELIEVE me. It will be EPIC!

5. I want to be a caterer for The Big Bang Theory or Glee or Eureka or Warehouse 13.

6. I want Jim Parsons to be my bestest friend. As well as Chris Colfer!

7. I want to live somewhere where it rains every day but visit somewhere for a month where its only sunny.

8. I want to save ALL the animals. Yes. I mean all.

9. I want my mother and family to always be happy, healthy and safe.

10. I want this for my cats and friends too.

11. I want to be understood.

The list goes on. My house smells amazing by the way. From the potato bake. And its raining out. But I have horrid allergies. Blah. Can someone come clean for me?

Fairy Tales: You Are The Only Exception

Fairy Tales: You Are The Only Exception: My blog isn't very funny. It isn't whats "in". Its me. Maybe only 4 people read it. Or 4 million...it wouldn't matter. I am who I am. I can'...

You Are The Only Exception

My blog isn't very funny. It isn't whats "in". Its me. Maybe only 4 people read it. Or 4 million...it wouldn't matter. I am who I am. I can't change who I am, I can alter parts of me for the better or worse, but I will always be the weird girl who is super nice to everyone. I will always be the girl that likes in things but will hate them if my "friends" like them to much. There are some things I will never hate. I take who I am in stride. I find new things about myself every day. I am like the galaxy...the universe...ever expanding, ever changing. I will not always be who I am today, but I will always be who I am.

There is one person in my life who I will never give up on. I've come to realize that this person may not think of me the same way I think of them. They are my kindred spirit. One of the only people I will never give up on. They contributed in a major way as to who I am today.

We have drifted over the years, and that of course has hurt me. I have found out that there are other people this person is closer to then I am. Then we used to be. But this person is the ONE person I will NEVER give up on. No. Matter. What. I can see that we have phased into other lives, that we no longer...or maybe never were on the same wave length. But this person...I have always looked up to. This person has been better then me in every way. This person has given me the courage to not look the other way.

I wish this person knew how I really felt. How, without this person I would be a little lost. But I don't have the courage to tell them, that YES they are the person in my life that I will never give up on. No. Matter. What. *And believe me, many people give me MANY reasons to give up on them* but not on this person. Even if they hurt me. If they hurt me...I grow. I wish I could tell them.

Thats all. Thanks for listening. Whoever you are out there.

Fairy Tales: Irene really was the Plagues!!! At least 3...maybe...

Fairy Tales: Irene really was the Plagues!!! At least 3...maybe...: Irene started out so fun at first! I had bought half a sockeye salmon and had baked it off to be eaten throughout the weekend. I also remo...

Irene really was the Plagues!!! At least 3...maybe 5

Irene started out so fun at first! I had bought half a sockeye salmon and had baked it off to be eaten throughout the weekend. I also removed frozen cranberries and made 1 loaf of cranberry bread and 2 banana breads. I think the cranberry water was the first hint at one of the Plagues...Meaning the tiny ice crystals broke though the ziplock bag and while I was defrosting them in cold water...the water turned RED! With cranberry blood! Dun Dun Dun.




The day continued on. I ate salmon and cranberry bread, I drank vodka and cranberry juice and watched Big Love and the wind. The wind was CRAZY! Around 4ish I went outside on my deck to bring in the deck chairs. Little did I know then...what I brought into the house. More on that later.

The night continued on as I had the TV on but muted to the weather channels. One of our weather dudes here on the East Coast was in Ocean City and was being covered in Sea foam. It became a trending topic on Twitter. I think I helped with that. I also think I was the only one to point out that sea foam is ACTUALLY mermaids who've had their hearts broken by horrible men...they die and turn into Sea foam. I wonder how many hearts Tucker broke? It was quite fun.




And still it continued...oh PS. When I was moving my herbs off the front porch I ran into a cricket. That too...I believe was one of the Plagues. It scared the shit out of me. I continued to eat Salmon and watch Big Love.

Then it happened. Around 1ish in the morning the power flicked out, my Big Love stopped *SOB! I was watching it online* I jumped up *as I am SUPER afraid of the dark* thankfully I had already lit two candles and found a flashlight. I went towards the kitchen to see my cat sitting on her box that she loves beside the table in the kitchen. She was acting weird. Trying to climb ONTO the table. She never does that. So I went to see what had her attion...and THERE IT WAS! A FROG! A cute tiny one that my cat so wanted to destroy! I threw her in the bathroom *I didn't throw her y'all. I placed her in there while scolding her* and closed the door. Then headed back to the frog spot.


PS, this is not the ACTUAL frog...as it was to dark and I was freaking out to take a pic of him.

Honestly...I don't like things that jump at me and I don't like the dark. The two things I could not handle and as I live with my mom while I finish school I screamed for her help. Apparently she was a very good frog catcher in her day. When she saw it she exclaimed: OH HOW CUTE! I thought he was cute too...but I just couldn't do it. She saved the frog. Hazaa! That was the third Plague.

The fourth was the darkness and I haven't called my brother to see if he is dead...he's the oldest. So lets keep our fingers crossed it was only the 4 plagues and not that fifth one.

So that was my night with Irene. We got power back about 2 hours ago. As a Chef I need to clean out my fridge of food that will be bad. I didn't finish my Salmon...but I will NOT throw that away. Sigh. Never throw away sockeye salmon people. Never.

Fairy Tales: Why can't Blue and Red work together? Superman pul...

Fairy Tales: Why can't Blue and Red work together? Superman pul...: I found out this week that one of the people in my class is...quite conservetive. And when I say that I don't just mean they are Republican,...

Why can't Blue and Red work together? Superman pulled it off!

I found out this week that one of the people in my class is...quite conservetive. And when I say that I don't just mean they are Republican, I mean they are against Gay marrieages, the are for making abortions illegal...among other things. This person is a very nice person. I respect him and admire him for doing what he does to make a living for his family and for himself. When we realized that we had opposing points of views we both decided we just wouldn't talk about those subjects. We didn't want to jeprodize our class room relationship.

But honstly, I can't look at him the same now. Its weird for me because I have gay and lesbian friends, I hope to be invited to their weddings in the future and be a part of their lives, make their wedding cakes...etc. I believe that its a womans right to have an abortion if she so chooses. Partly because its a womans right to choose, but also because if they become illegal many women will suffer from illegal abortions from un-qualifed people.

I am a liberal and a Dem. I wear my badges of my politcal ideals proudly. I wont be mean, or rude to you if you disagree, I will just ask you to not discuss these sorts of items with me and if you do try to sway my thoughts...well...most likely we will not remain friends for very much longer.

The reason for this post is to convay to people that those on either side of the "line" can work together in harmony. Just because you wear red and I wear blue *which btw is Superman's colors* does not mean we can't be friends. The fact is that since I found out about this classmates ideals he hasn't treated me any differently then before. Which I believe is very big of him.

Maybe its the sugar and chocolate in the air, maybe its because we're all well fed. Who knows. Who knows why some people can overcome their difference and others can't.

Fairy Tales: Earthquakes, Glee Cakes and Crazy, Stupid Love

Fairy Tales: Earthquakes, Glee Cakes and Crazy, Stupid Love: First off, life has been crazy. I have been swamped with school, so much so I am failing one of my classes and will have to retake it in the...

Earthquakes, Glee Cakes and Crazy, Stupid Love

First off, life has been crazy. I have been swamped with school, so much so I am failing one of my classes and will have to retake it in the future. I'm not mad though, because honostly I wasn't ACTUALLY learning anything in that class other then on how to stay awake while I listened for 4 hours as someone read a powerpoint. In all honosty though, I do actually like the teacher, she is just not given the tools to teach the class correctly. Hey you, thinking about going to any Art Institue...turn and RUN THE OTHER WAY!

I've made two cakes in the past 3 weeks. One was 2 tiers and the second was 3 tiers, we're doing petite fours for the next two weeks...which bores me to tears. I mean really? Who eats petite fours anymore? But whatever, at least I wont have to struggle to make a cake until the final two weeks when I have to make a 6 tier cake with two other girls. They are amazing girls and we are doing a Smurf cake. We are AWESOME like that.

Here they are:


In other news we just had an earthquake here on the east coast. I'm from Alaska where there are earthquakes like this ALL the time. I had no idea what was going on at first because my cat freaked out and ran around...I tried chasing him and realized that he was freaking out due to an earthquake which he clearly has blocked out from when he lived in AK. I looked out my window and saw my neighbors running around screaming at eachother. It was random and I knew that when the Zombies rise up...I will not be looking to them for ANY sort of help. But what really gets me is the people I know in Alaska and people on the west coast getting so annoyed at the east coast for freaking out. I mean really people? 5.8 is no small earthquake when you don't have buildings that are made to move with the waves of the quake. If it had been worse there could have been serious problems because the east coast has no idea how to deal with an earthquake. So, I'm a little pissed off at people for making fun of the east coast. Yes, most people did over-react, but if it were worse and people were hurt and buildings had fallen...I wonder what they would have said then. So give them a break. Hope that no epic quake is on its way, and stop whining at them for whining.

Besides that I have nothing much more to say. Crazy, Stupid Love is AWESOME. Go see it. That is all.

Fairy Tales: He Should Never Have Told Me About The Cornstarch

Fairy Tales: He Should Never Have Told Me About The Cornstarch: "Did you know that cornstarch is flammable? Like a spark in a cornstarch factory could blow the WHOLE THING UP? I had No idea that it did tha..."

He Should Never Have Told Me About The Cornstarch

Did you know that cornstarch is flammable? Like a spark in a cornstarch factory could blow the WHOLE THING UP? I had No idea that it did that. I found this out in my chocolates class on Monday when we ruined perfectly good liquor by mixing them with sugar and putting them in cornstarch molds shaped like gummi bears. Apparently they are supposed to be good. But they are not. It was a waste of a cup of liquor. GOOD liquor I might add. But…now you know you can kill the zombies, or your enemies by sprinkling them with cornstarch and lighting them on fire. I will for SURE have Cornstarch and a lighter on me when the Zombies finally come. Or Aliens for that matter. I’m sure I can use it on them as well. Unless they are nice Aliens…

PS. Tomorrow I will blog about the last two weeks of class and put a pic of my cake up. For now, you get cornstarch and zombies...

Fairy Tales: Smells Like Sweat And Chocolate

Fairy Tales: Smells Like Sweat And Chocolate: "Sounds like a Porno Movie title huh? I told one of the people in my group that I wrote that on my FB page. He said this should be the tag li..."

Smells Like Sweat And Chocolate

Sounds like a Porno Movie title huh? I told one of the people in my group that I wrote that on my FB page. He said this should be the tag line: Baby, I’ll temper your chocolate! Wow. THIS is what chocolate does to us. As a bit of advice…do not EVER go into professional chocolate making. It will set out to kill you.

This week was a jumbled mess. Lets start with the cat. I had to take him to the doctor on Tuesday and after $500 later he is finally feeling a bit better. So YAY for that. I wont actually put whats wrong with him other then that if by this coming Monday something doesn’t happen, he will have to go in for an Enema.

But in the baking world we made fondant and gum paste flowers. While fun, its also tedious and annoying. I made a few pretty pieces and next week we have to ice and decorate two entire one layer cakes. I know, you’re wondering why this will be hard. Oh believe me. It will be. I’ve decided my circle cake will have an autumn theme and my square cake…no idea. Any ideas would be helpful.




Now we get to chocolates. Wednesday was AWESOME! Our group flowed and worked together. We produced three whole sets of chocolates and two that only needed to be dipped in dark chocolate the following day. By the end of the day I was in much pain, but I was happy with what we had done. Then Thursday came…

While we began with a bang, I tempered the white chocolate that would be shells and inside the ganache, another teammate tempered the dark chocolate while the other two made the ganache. All seemed to be going fine. Everything tempered, the white chocolate shells were molded and the icky cherry filling had been put in. We put it in the freezer to set up so we could cover the bottom with more white chocolate to create a beautiful piece of chocolate.



Then I fucked it up. Yup. That’s right. I take FULL blame. I pulled the chocolates out and applied the hot white chocolate to the frozen shells. And what happened? Well the white chocolate froze RIGHT away and while I tried to scrape it off and make it look pretty…it just looked like a hot mess. I was hot, tired and angry with myself for screwing up so epically. I set them aside to help my teammates with the other chocolates and then I would begin again. Begin the whole thing over again that is.

Well, Chef F saw these hot mess chocolates and yelled out: WHO DID THESE? I looked at him point blank and said: Chef I did that. Not my group, I did. I messed it up and I’m going to remake it. *Let me point out that the day before when people screwed up like that he made them throw it away and start over. I wasn’t trying to hide it, we were just working on two others that needed to be done. I was fully willing to remake it and take the shame of the hot mess* Well…I think the Chef either admired that I said it was all my fault and didn’t blame my group and then said I would remake it. Or maybe he just went crazy…



He brought it over and said: We can fix it. Yup. That’s what he said. You must know that when I’m angry at myself for fucking up and then someone comes along and is nice to me…I cry. I mean, that’s ALL I wanted to do. He helped me fix it and reminded me that while he may be hard and not so nice to us at times he was there to help I should have come to him. *DUDE! You THREW AWAY PEOPLES CHOCOLATES YESTERDAY THAT WAS A LOT LESS SHITTY THEN MINE* So granted I was confused and still mad at myself. I had to fight the urge to cry for about an hour.

All in all we got them done. A few were crap, but they all looked pretty to me. I went home in EPIC pain. I don’t know how I am going to get by in this industry.
And on another whiny note, I was also slightly depressed because this one dude *who granted makes fun, in a all in fun sort of way* made fun of my tomato red face that I had when I came back from getting lunch. I don’t mind being made fun of, but when I get that red I get really self-conscious. Its because I have horrible allergies and asthma and if its hot and humid outside…no matter what I do I WILL get a tomato red face. I can’t help it and it really hurt my feelings. Now, he didn’t know that. But still. Dude, I’m still a girl and sometimes I don’t think I’m that pretty. So don’t make fun of me like that. But thanks for the funny tag line for my porno movie. :-D