Networking.. sort of

Today I made the trek to Mira Mesa and Clairemont for some gift buying and supply getting. As I was putting stuff in my car in the Target parking lot, a black car pulled up next to me. I waited for the person to ask me if I was leaving and if they could have my spot. I was ready with the "sorry but i still need to go to babies r us next door".

She remained sitting in her vehicle while the following conversation ensued:

Lady: Do you live around here?
Me: NO, i don;t
Lady: Don't worry, I'm not asking for directions. I mean do you live in San Diego County
Me: well, yes
Lady: Are you currently employed or looking to change your career
Me: yes, I am employed
Lady: Where?
Me: I am a 911 Dispatcher
Lady: are you considering a career change?
Me: No. I love my job.
Lady: well i am a business owner that is new to san diego (blah blah blah blah)

Hmm not the typical questions one would expect. I just kept thinking to myself.. could anyone really take this person seriously when she pulled up next to them in a vehicle, didn't even step out of the vehicle and was wearing a t-shirt. I didn't realize that parking lot stalking was a form of networking for your business. Why not stand out front of a grocery store with the Girl Scouts.

Strangely enough, when I was finished in Babies R Us and returned to my car, she was there again! She was talking to the women in the car next to mine and they were actually giving her their phone number. For their sakes (eventhough I don't know them) I hope this lady is legit.

Lessons Learned

Today was the day.. taxes. My stomach was in knots all night. What would this year bring? Last year I ended up paying $2200. Not a fun thing by any means. I felt hopeless and scared and wondered how in the world I would pay that off. My tax guy, Kenneth, saved me from drowning in my tears by giving me some suggestions on how to improved this years outlook.

So last year I walked away from Summit Financial with a baby bit of hope. I came home and immediately made some changes. I changed my tax with holdings, donated to a few charities, joined the Susan G Komen breast cancer walk and started volunteer work with the San Diego Burn Institute.

It is amazing that a few suggestions and a little bit of follow-through can change someone's life in so many ways. I started living a little differently. I watched my income more, made charitable contributions and kept track of mileage to all training and volunteer events.

Those small changes made a huge difference this year. Thankfully I am getting a refund. When I pulled out my tax information for Kenneth, his face lit up. He "oo'd" and "ahh's" over the spread sheets I made. I explained that I had taken his suggestions to heart and made some changes. He was so excited and expressed how proud he is of me.

Volunteering for the Burn Institute has certainly changed my life. I love it. The kids, the other volunteers, burn run and fire expo.. I've learned so much from each thing. The Breast Cancer walk was a life changing event and I can't wait to do it again this year and get other people involved. Who knew you could learn so much from getting your taxes done!

So to all who feel like hope is lost, take a step back, make a few changes if needed and press on. Things will always get better. Learn from the past, don't regret it.

The Big Flub

Cake baking consists of many things including cramping hands, a sore back, late nights and early mornings. The latest cake was no exception. You see, my Chief is retiring this week so we are throwing him a surprise retirement luncheon on Monday. Of course I offered to do a cake for the event. A delicious chocolate cake with chocolate mousse and raspberry filling.

On Saturday I started building the cake when one of the layers fell apart. So I rushed back to the store to pick up some eggs so I could remake the third layer. I also needed the supplies to make the raspberry filling. I could have bought seedless raspberry preserves to use as the filling. But did I? NO!! The darn perfectionist side of me came out again. So I start making the filling from scratch... running between the kitchen and bathroom.. stir the filling, curl the hair, stir the filling, curling the hair.. (I was getting ready to go see RENT).

Sunday came along and things were going great with the cake. I packaged everything up and brought it to work. I had a good start on it and knew I would have plenty of time to work on it during my shift.

So there I was in the "kitchen" area in the command center chatting on my phone and piping detailed flames along the sides of this cake. The frosting was on but I was smoothing every tiny piece of it with a paintbrush dipped in water. I went to turn the cake to finish the LAST flame when the unthinkable happened.. it fell of the counter. It was like this slow motion movie moment. I threw out my hand but all I got was a handful of frosting. Then I uttered the most horrific words known to any baker " I just dropped the cake". The person on the phone blurted out "NO way!" as did my co-workers. They thought I was joking. Tears welled up and I just stood there silent looking at this crumbled chocolate cake on the floor. My co-workers walked over and we just stood there. It was like a moment of silence for my belated creation. I squeaked out an "I'll call you back" to the person on the phone then proceeded to scoop up the mound of mushed cake and put it in the trash can. A very very sad moment for this baker. I guess everyone that said they couldn't wait to see it are going to have to wait a lot longer..

Perfectionist

Some say I am too hard on myself or I don't have enough faith in myself. What it comes down to is being a perfectionist. I like to do things right the first time. Sometimes I put undue pressure on myself. This weekend I made a firefighter helmet cake for a friends son. I tried out a new cake recipe, a new frosting recipe and a new design. Big tasks for one birthday cake. The cake recipe is super yummy and turned out great. The shape/design turned out pretty good but I will tweak some things next time. The frosting, however, not so great. It would work better as a filling. The perfectionist side of me came out big time and I spent many hours with a small paint brush trying to make lines perfect and smooth out the troublesome frosting. In the end I was fairly satisfied with the final product. The best part was Gariel running into the room asking me if i made his firefighter cake. He was SO excited! When you have a child's reaction like that, the perfectionist side melts away and joy comes over you. I loved his reaction. Everyone else had a good reaction but his was the best. It reminds me why I make cakes for people. I have 3 more cakes to make this month. Apparently my business is "booming". Check out the lastest pics on my cake blog: http://thecandidcakelady.blogspot.com/

My days off flew by this week! Amongst the cake mania that was taking over my kitchen, I actually had time to scrub down my whole apartment AND go to the gym. Over the last couple weeks "weigh in day" wasn't so great. I didn't lose anything! Friday was a different story. Down 3 more pounds! That's 10 so far..woohoo! Many people have said that you can hit a plataue and that's probably what happened. Thanks for having faith in me but it was pure laziness. I didn't work out nearly as hard or as much and I didn't eat the right stuff or the right amount. I slacked.. big time. This last week was a different story. I got back on track and the scale confirmed that for me. Not losing any weight two weeks in a row was unacceptable in my mind. Again, perfectionist. I've set my mind on a goal and I am determined to get there.

I am doing much better than I was last week. My family and friends have stepped up and really supported me and encouraged me. No one has offered advice on dating or tried to push me to talk about it. They simply tell me they love me. I got some much needed therapy a few days ago when Brian and Katie invited me to go to the park with them. I just can't believe how big Peyton is getting. She's adorable and I loved watching her play at the park. The therapy continued last night when I got endless hugs from Alissa and Justen. I tell you, hugs and kisses from my nieces and nephews are the best therapy in the world. I love them soooo much!

The day I went to the park with Brian and Katie I woke up with the chorus of this song in my head..
"It's a Great Day to be Alive" by Travis Tritt
"And it's a great day to be alive I know the sun's still shinin' when I close my eyes There's some hard times in the neighborhood But why can't every day be just this good?"

Oh how true it is.. It really is a great day to be alive.

Bitter and Sweet

People's actions often confuse me. I look for the best in people, hope for the best, think positive and encourage. More often than not that opens me up to getting hurt. Why do I still do it then? Honestly, I have no idea except that this is simply who I am. I will always be the person you can turn to in a crisis. I will always be your cheerleader and a shoulder to cry on.

Over the past few weeks I have been interested in a guy. We've talked a lot and flirted some. It seemed different this time. The effort he was putting in, the nice things he said. I had hope. Hope that maybe, just maybe, he would be the one to break the 7 1/2 yr dateless stretch. Hope that we would continue to hit it off and I would have a date for a Murder Mystery Dinner at the end of the month. Hope we would hang out on our days off and ease the lack luster solo movie nights. Hope for an occasional "good morning" text. Kind of silly things.. but I opened myself up to it. Last night the hope was once again taken away. He's not looking for a relationship.

I didn't mention him to anyone really. Simply because everyone gets so excited and I hate having to bear the bad news that it isnt going to work out. So I am sorry to those that are just learning about him for the first time. I just didn't want to get your hopes up either. Him and I will remain friends. He's kind, honest and a hard worker.

On with the sweet though... Seems the doll cake I made for a co-worker has caused quite a stir in the Command Center. They all decided I need to start a cake business. I don't desire to do it full time but slowly my name is getting passed around by word of mouth. Over the next 3 months I am making 5 cakes. Katie's birthday cake next week, a fire fighter helmet birthday cake also next week, a planes, trains and automobiles baby shower cake the following week and 2 wedding cakes in May. I do enjoy making the cakes but what I think I enjoy the most are the reactions. People are excited when they ask me to do a cake. I must say I am very excited about the next 5 cakes I have designed. Especially the wedding cakes! Both are very different from anything I have ever done but I know they are going to be beautiful. I can picture them in my mind. The two brides seem overjoyed by what I have come up with. A fun tidbit is that I am getting paid for 3 of the cakes. One of the wedding cakes is a gift to my cousin, Juliette. The other bride refuses to let me do it as a gift and insists on paying. I just have no idea how much to charge! In a bakery, the cake I am making for her would easily run around $600 dollors.. and thats on the cheap side! I told her I would think about it and get back to her. And for those of you who don't know.. it doesn't cost nearly that much to make the cake!!! Talk about hiking up the price! Whew.

I have toyed with the idea of making up some kind of business card to set next to these cakes. Of course I have my cake blog http://thecandidcakelady.blogspot.com so I think I will run with the "Candid Cke Lady" theme... what do you think?

Love is still in the air

Sometimes it feels like Brian and Katie have been together since the beginning of time. Then reality sets in and I realize they have only been together a few years. Today is their 2nd wedding anniversary.

Brian is not only one of my brothers but also one of my best friends. I don't know what I would do without him. He is sometimes my voice of reason and always the first to cheer me on in something. He's strong and protective yet lets me live my own life and supports me in everything. I love that we work together. I love seeing him as a husband and I am so proud of the way he treats Katie. His love for her is unconditional and he's still so head-over-heels for her. Seeing him with his daughter brings tears to my eyes every time. I love seeing him so happy.

Katie is a sister that I have always wanted. We became instant friends. She's beautiful, sweet, smart and really funny. She makes Brian happier than he has ever been. She's creative, loving and a fantastic mom. I know I can go to her about anything. She's so supportive and gives me good advice. I love that she loves Brian with her whole heart and it shows every day. Seeing her as a mom brings me so much joy! She sometimes dowbts herself but I see a strength in her that very few people have. She has overcome much in her life and it has only made her a better person. I enjoy our coffee dates or going out to lunch when we have a chance. Her little quirks like falling asleep during (every) movie or rinsing each dish for 5min makes her unique and even more fun.

When Brian called from Ione and told me he met a girl while at the academy, I thought he was crazy. Part of me wanted to fly up there, smack him upside the head then fly home. :) While he was on break from the academy he came home and Katie flew down to San Diego to visit. The moment I met her all of my reservations went right out the window. She fit in with the family instantly!

Brian, Katie, cousin Julie and I went to Disneyland while Katie was visiting and we had a great time. While Brian and I were walking out of the ride "Indiana Jones", he put his arm around me pointed to Katie ,who was a ways infront of us, and said "well what do you think?" I told him I loved her. She was already like a sister and I had only know her for a few weeks. He said what I thought mattered a lot to him.

Their wedding was beautiful. It was a sunny day and everything went off without a hitch. Katie had a good time relaxing and getting pampered while I put Brian and his guys to work in the reception hall. I couldn't look at Brian when I was walking down the aisle. If I did I knew I would become a crying mess. After all the heartache he had endured, he was finally happy. Happier than I have ever seen! Katie was stunning as she walked the the aisle. Her smile was huge! She looked at Brian like they were the only two people in the room. I couldn't contain the tears any longer. I was so excited and happy for them.

Now two years later the love in their eyes hasn't faded, not one bit. In fact I think it has grown even stronger. I love seeing them as a couple. They are amazing parents and I enjoy sitting back and watching them together.

Brian, thank you for giving Katie a chance even when you were going through a very tough time. She's an incredible person. You are a great example of what a husband should be. Continue to cherish her daily.

Katie, thank you for making my brother so happy and for being not just a sister-in-law but a sister. You are a fantastic wife and I have so much love and respect for you.
I love you both so much. More than words can say. Your lives and marriage have shown me that true love does exist. Happy 2nd Anniversary!

Vacay Re-Cap

It is amazing how fast time goes by when you're not working. I've been on vacation for a little over a week. Today is my last day :( well.. to be honest, I love my job and I am ready to go back. I didn't do a whole lot during my time off but I soaked up time with some friends I haven't seen in a long time, game night with the family and an unforgettable Valentine's Day.

I email my sister-in-laws and best friend and told them "Auntie Shannon's Day Care" would be open on Valentine's Day. These three couples work so hard and are such amazing parents so i thought I would take the wee ones off their hands so they could have an evening out. Due to to alternating weekends and some illnesses I only had one date that night.. the precious little Miss Peyton. I cannot tell you how much fun I had. First of all.. I didn't have to share her with aunts, uncles grandmas or grandpa. Call me stingy.. well.. yah.. I am. She was dropped off around 4 and the fun began! We played with her toys, played with the neighbors puppy, and made a special dinner. I thought for kicks I would turn on one of my all-time favorite movies and see if she liked it. I pushed the "play" button and the wonderful sounds of "The Wizard of Oz" filled my tiny apartment. She wasn't so into it at first but the moment Judy Garland started singing, she was captivated. Just as I was when I was a little girl. Later I found she liked when I jumped out from behind the couch. She would laugh, squeal and clap her hands. I was laughing so hard I was crying. Finally around 930 I was sitting on the floor watching her play with her toys when she walked over to me, sat on my lap, put her head on my chest and went to sleep. It just doesn't get any better than that.

My dear friend, Melissa was visiting from Chicago so we met up with our friend Eric and went to Chevy's for dinner. I got the strangest directions off of google. It had me driving through parking lots, turning on weird streets. I missed one turn and decided to make a U-Turn at the next light. Unfortunately that light was about 3 miles in the opposite direction.. Then I circled the parking lot for a good 10 minutes to find a parking spot. It was so good to see Melissa and Eric. The three of us went to Vanguard together and have quite a few mutual friends. Mel is a 5th grade teacher and her stories are so fun! I can't wait to go to Chicago to visit her. Definitely not during the winter though!

Apparently this was the week for travel because my former boss from UBOC ramona office and her family were visiting from Connecticut. At first all of their San Diego friends were going to meet at a Japanese place in Oceanside but due to circumstances, I was the only one that could make it. We went to Joe's Crab Shack instead. OMG.. such good food! That was the first time I had ever been there. I can't wait to go back.

The only thing I didn't like is the fact that the place in oceanside as 2 of the smallest parking lots in america! I loved hearing ALL about Mansfield Connecticut. I simply cannot wait to go visit. Kelly and troy gracu=iously offered me a place to stay. They are an hour from Boston and 2 hrs from new York.. yay!!! I've always wanted to go to Boston. It was so good to get caught up with them. I still cannot get over how big their son, Gavin has gotten! I was his 2nd baby sitter (that wasn't family). Kelly is the wonderful boss that taught me how to crochet!

Besides meeting up with friends from out of state, I got to spend time with my BFF and watch "The bachelor" with her. I soak up that time with her. We do a lot together but my most favorite times are sitting on her super comfy couch, watching our favorite reality shows and relaxing.

All in all it was a fantastic vacation. Back to the daily grind tomorrow..

Rainy Days and Illnesses

So many people are sick right now. Thankfully, I am not one of them. I rarely get sick. I think my last cold was about 5 years ago. I feel for those that are under the weather. Sadly, life doesn't stop just because people get sick( eventhough we would like it too). I send well wishes to all who are under the weather.

I have to say though, cold rainy days are some of my favorite days. Maybe it is because it makes it easier to snuggle under my blankets and sleep during the day. Between the cold weather and bunches of sickly friends I have been inspired to make soup today.

Wonderful, tasty, very easy to make Chicken Tortilla Soup. I have no recipe really, I just throw things together. Thats one of the best things about soup. However, people have asked so here's the "recipe" if you will. I dont generally measure, just chop, open, pour. Add to or take awake from as you wish..

32oz Chicken Broth (I get the low sodium, fat free)
1 can tomato sauce (not the huge one unless you are making ALOT of soup)
1 can diced tomatos (no salt added)
1 can black beans
1 can whole kernal corn (no salt added)
2 pieces celery, chopped
1/2 onion chopped (I used white because thats what I had)
1 fresh jalapeno pepper, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
4 Chipotle peppers in Adobe sauce, thinly sliced
4 cooked chicken breasts
chopped cilantro, to taste
1 clove garlic, chopped ( I get the pre chopped in a jar)

Optional toppings:
Cheese
Sour Cream
avacado
tortilla chips

Pour chicken broth, tomato sauce, diced tomatos and corn into crock pot. Drain Black beans and rinse, add to crock pot. Stir. Add in chopped veggies. Stir. Add in chicken, cilantro and garlic. Stir. Turn crock pot to high for 3 hrs then drop to low until ready to serve. The longer it cooks, the better the spiced come together. Spoon into bowls and add desired toppings.

There ya have it. Enjoy!

Step Knee, Step Touch, one more time!

Today I ventured slightly out of my comfort zone at the gym. I went to the step combo class. I arrived early to stretch and figure out what exactly to do. The instructor walked in and introduced herself. Maybe I had that "fresh meat" sense about me. She was super nice and told me what to expect. I grabbed the step thingy and set it up on the floor. I was a bit concerned though... the floor is slick and the step thingy (not exactly sure what it is called) wasn't staying put.

We started off with a warm-up and I was spent just doing that. Then the real work began. We actually had to use the step thingy. Step, turn, cross over.. huh? wait wait wait. .. go back, how do you do that again? I didn't feel so bad because people who have been in the class for weeks didn't even have it down. I kept up pretty good. I had a good time and really worked up a sweat.

Much to my surprise (and I am sure everyone else's) I didn't trip.. not even once! Straight out miracle I tell you! That step thingy was sliding all over the place. I learned that next time I need to put a workout mat under it for next week. That's right folks.. hook, line and sinker.. they got me. I will be a member of the class. I loved it.

On a side note.. weigh in number 2 was this morning. Lost 4 lbs this week!!!!! Thats a total of 5lbs in 2 wks.

5 down, 45 to go! Yay!

Nuh-Uh!

One of my brothers (who shall remain nameless but he's the younger of the two) once said you can always tell when a woman has been driving a truck because it is always parked wacky. Now don't get me wrong, he isn't the chauvinist type and he didn't mean it to be offensive in any way. It was just a general observation.



Being the younger sister and youngest sibling, I enjoy trying to prove my older brothers wrong. The boys are always on their "A" game and ready to take a jab at their younger sister. Let's take our Family Fantasy Football league for example. I made one mistake and listened to the critics, started one of my players. Unfortunately the player I didn't play got 40 something points that game and the one I played got a whopping 7. Of course he tucked away this tidbit and gave me an award last friday at our "awards ceremony". Not to worry. I tuck little things away and bring them back and I am getting better at my come-backs. Say for instance the macaroni and cheese incident... Let's just say it was macaroni and cheese soup. So brother dear.. here's a picture of how my neighbor parks his truck EVERYDAY. Simple proof that guys park their trucks just as bad as women.

Just keep in mind how annoying it would be to have the spot on either side of him and navigate the narrow driveway plus the badly parked truck.