let me explain...

Honestly, I thought I had only been gone just a week.. but I seen my last post was almost two weeks ago if I had waited until tomorrow!! YIKES!! yeah, never again.

First, I stopped posting because as most of you know, I post while at work. (im such a hard worker!! shhh)
Well, my job has slowly been blocking website access and one day I came into work and blogger was a restricted site. Yet, I could still access facebook. Okay. So then I figured, well... ill just post in the evenings... but for those with kids, you know once you leave your daytime job, you then begin your other shifts as "Taxi, personal shopper, doctor, pharmacist, mommy, cook, housekeeper, maid, conflict resolutioner, counselor, and the list goes on.... ". No acception here. 3 boys at different stages makes for a mom who feels lucky to squeeze her shower in by 11pm. So no, I didnt get around to it.... but that will change. I promise!!! ;)

So heres an update of a day in the luife of Jasara for the past couple weeks...

The week of 5/4, I had a last minute cake order due, which i ended up stayin up all night friday night until saturday morning, mothers day weekend... to finish and deliver this cake. Only for the customer to try and screw me over once it was delivered. lesson learned and I will be making many changes upon all of these touch learned lessons of the cake business. Sad to say, it pushed me farther away from the enjoyment factor and so, my break from sculpted cakes is definate.

Sometimes, you have to walk away and take a breather to be able to continue to enjoy the beauty in the things you love. 

Mothers Day plans were shot thanks to cake order... Mothers Day itself, we went to church then came home and had a yummy breakfast of swedish pancakes, bacon, eggs, hashbrowns... then we headed to the movies and watched How to train a Dragon which was A-DORE-ABLE!!!! (movie options are limited with kids 6-15, what can i say!) Then headed to one of my most favorite restaurants that I had not been to since I was in labor with my youngest! haha, maybe thats why i havent been back... Anyway, On the Border and had a delish Margarita! Empanadas and Flautas and rice and beans and a cripsy Dos XX's fried fish Taco! The night ended wonderfully and all was let go with my boys by my side all day. Love my lil/big munchkins!

Ah so, the next week.. work. fun.  :| but gotta pay the bills right. I have been running and walking trying to get to consistant running so I can train for a marithon next year... One day, I took my lil man Dru with me and we walked the Newark Lake... Later than I would have liked and for good reason... Mosquitos. The last 1/4 mile we had to fight and run threw the swarm of blood thrusty suckers and once in my car (where i managed to let just one in of the hundred that covered the air space above and around my car) I couldnt belive how many were attacking! Took me all night to shake the mosquito in my hair, on my skin feeling... *shivvers*

mama & DruDru BearSunset on the LakeSunshine!Dru ExploringChasing Geese

*************

This past weekend, I had an order for 24 red velvet cupcakes. I doubled the batch and baked an extra 24. I invited my brother and his girlfriend Beverly over since my brother has somehow NEVER, EVER, EVER, NEVER tasted a red velvet. *gasp!!!* A tastebud crime in my book. And Beverly, LOVESSSSS them! So we hung out and chatted and ate red velvets. 2-3 each. Plus the lil hands that kept sneaking one here and there left me with ... 6.ALL MINES!! Muaaahhh haaaa haaaa!! Ok, i can only wish, I would gain back the 15 @W*#%T&#* pounds i've managed to some how loose and keep off... gotta be good. *fingers crossed!*

And that brings me to today... Monday. A blah day since its raining, AGAIN! It is May right? Are we sure? Ugh.  2 days of rain this week, then nice weather only to have more rain in another week. Is mother nature bipolar? If so, she's off her meds.

Anyway, glad to be back!! And please check out Monkey and her mommy's blog and send dotations if you can and comment to show your support and send prayers cause, if you lil monkey was diagnosed with cancer wouldnt you want/need/appreciate all the support you could get?!?! We cant all help the the world, but we can help the world of this sweet child!

(sorry the button was not showing up right, but you can access it thru the link above!! Thanks!)

The little things

I have to say... Mondays suck! But there are a few little things that make me smile and ease the blues out of a typical Monday..

And they are

** Good Morning Text messages!**

** Reading Molly's blog **

** Blogging **

** Making lunches for the boys **

Simple things in life make me happy! OH and the fact that I have a short work week, yeah, that's just a BONUS! *hehe*

So this past weekend was pretty laid back. Ran sum errands, went to my friends new beauty shop like 30 min away to finally get my good shampoo and other products that I've missed so much since the last place closed! Went to the store then back home n chilled...

My dad has been sick with this yucky head and chest cold and so I wanted to make him something yummy and feel good in hopes that he would finally recover after having this cold thingy for a week.

After much debate and some advice from a friend, I went with my original plan of *****OXTAILS!***

Now mind you, I have never eatin let alone seen an oxtail before but apparently my mother has made these for him in the past and as a California southern boy, he loves them. But I knew it had been a while since she made him any. My original thought was Chicken Soup, perfect for a cold I know but if you know me.. im soo off the norm.

So Oxtails it was.

After some recipe research, I decided on a Caribbean inspired recipe and took from about 2 or 3 different recipes what I liked, and what I had on hand and began cookin.

Wish I started earlier in the day as they take a few hours to simmer but after about 4 1/2 hours they were done!

Ok so not very appealing in the pot but I had my mom make rice and you serve them over rice and i tasted a bit before I left to deliver the goods and YUM o YUM they were goooood! Spicy but not overwhelming, rich and flavorful, beefy and just plain goodness! I hope my dad enjoyed them and if they didn't shake his cold, I know he felt good from all the love that was poured into this dish!

*******

Sunday was my lazy day. As much as I wanted to get done and get motivated to do... I just couldn't. I didn't even put make-up on!

I took a shower, finally shampooed my hair with the good stuff (btw, my hair smells WUUUUN-DAH-FUL now! Thx NIKKI!! xoxo)

grabbed my sketch book, reading book and french book and ended up laid out on the couch with them all sitting next to me! *lol*

I didn't move until half way through the Academy Awards when I realized I was starving!! Got up and went to get some Chinese n came back to grub, finish the awards, watch Barbara Walters last special and crashed in the bed only to fall asleep an hour later from a pounding headache...

What a weekend, huh!

Thus begins yet another work week, Cake start up again this week and another weekend get away!

**HAPPY MONDAY LOVES!**

Mon-Daze

Today is simply blah. Going from fun and excitement to work just drains out any remnants of good times from my system. But, it must be done.

Getting started on planning this cake for my niece! Alice in Wonderland! I cant wait to see the movie and get some motivation for the cake! I imagine it being Topsy and turvy and whimsical and fun and colorful and BIG!

I just hope I plan it out and scale it right!

As far as my plans... still not sure where I'm at

or what I'm feeling about this

move, school and what not.

Its crossed my mind more than not

about the what if's...

What if... I stayed here and grew my business?

What if... I found a school local enough to do and still keep my job?

What if... I just took some classes and built from there?

What if... this move isn't the best move right now?

What if... I don't move and miss out on an opportunity I don't know is there?

What if... the book was wrong and I can become successful in Chicago?

What if... a great opportunity presents itself in Cali?

What if... I don't make the right decision, for me or my family?

So many "what if's"

So I have resorted to

just not thinking

about school

the move

Chicago.

For now anyways. I think I needed this mental break.

I've been so focused and stressed off applications

and scholarships and grants and relocation,

that my brain is overloaded.

Shut down.

Reboot.

Fresh start, clear and open mind.

*AHHHHHH*

Ooooooh yes, another thing, I have come across a couple books I want to buy aside from

Eat, Pray, Love (which is next on my list!)

But the books are written by Eckhart Tolle; A new Earth and Power of Now

I may even bump A New Earth up because I hear

its a GREAT read!

hmmmmm, think I need a book list! :)