Just a minor delay...

In seeing Eat, Pray, Love on opening night... My sister has no babysitter til tomorrow night. Guess it all kinda works out, cause I still have to finish Indonesia!

This morning started off fantastic. Up early. Feeling refreshed. Ive been waiting to start yoga and meditation (thanks in part to the book, but it really gave me the boost to finally move into this) but I had 50 red velvet cupcakes to make and deliver today, so the past two days have been baking and reading. All I could fit it after my regular 9-5.

I'm also starting my new eating plan. Since I'm in such a funk with diets, dieting, the word diet, eating plan sounds... well... better :) healthier. I'm excited too. I just really in the end, want to be healthy. Fit. happy.
So, as i sit here at my desk fighting the craving for a chocolate bar... yes, an entire chocolate bar! I tell myself, "self, you don't need it". So I'll go make me some tea in a bit to calm my cravings!

I also have developed a killer headache that I'm convinced is slowly turning into a migraine as I type. slightly nauseous. slight light sensitivity. slightly annoyed that my day is not keeping on the up and up.

But  i have 2.5 more working hours until my FUN weekend starts!
Although tonight, I don't know what I will do... bake I guess! lol Still have yet to make those pink champagne cupcakes! The rest of the weekend will be crazy busy fun!

My middle son has his championship basketball game, then we will all head over to the San Jose Jazz Fest... then that evening meet up with the sista and watch EPL!
Sunday we are headed to church then to catch the early (aka cheaper) show of Despicable Me then if the weather proves to show us a real summer day, maybe the BEACH!

Let me pop some Advil now that I think about it, and Let the weekend/birthday week begin!

Have a lovely one!

X's and O's

~Jasara

Pics

Here are the pics from last weekend...

Lion of Zion Cake

(excuse my car, i was in the middle of delivering when i forgot i didnt take a pic!)

One of the Lions on the cake (fondant)

Modeling Chocolate Lion

My hand painted Lion and flag based off the invite

My Rainy Morning Sunday

lovely blog...

How I've missed you!

I took Friday off to finish the Lion cake

only for it to not work out after 6 hrs of attempting

so...

I resorted to plan B.

They loved it.

me... eh.

the perfectionist in me

wanted that RKT sculpture

(rice krispy treat)

to work out...

for ONCE!

****

Saturday, i woke to finish the cake that I had lost

my motivation on completing the day before.

Delivered to happy customers.

Came home and slept for 2 hours.

:)

L-A-Z-Y bug hit me.

I did manage to go out which I totally regret.

Seeing as how i hardly get out anymore

and have basically stopped drinking

even wine

(for some who know me I can hear you *gapsing* right now!)

I wasnt really in the mood for it and

I shoulda just listened to my inner self.

Got to the club (which I thouht was a lounge because I dont care for the clubs much)

only to wait in the freezing pre rain storm night for an hour...

get in and pay 10 bucks a drink

trying to play it safe i drank only 2

and still....

left completely intoxicated

getting worse by the minute second

til I got home and passed out.

o_O

and that brings me to sunday

I slept til 9 but had a heacache

so I continued to sleep til noon.

got up and went to I-Hop

(Kids loved me for that)

came home and plopped on the couch

and my niece came over.

I slept, on and off..

finally got up to eat to give me energy

and yesssss... what else but

Rice Krispy Treats!

YUM!

Bad energy! BAD BAD energy!

ofcourse after my sugar high, me my niece and my youngest Dru

sat and watched Shrek2/3 and Astro Boy.

til I had to drop her home...

then, ate Chinese.

Swore as I fell asleep,

I would make up for this lazy weekend.

Today was better, at work with a salad! lol

Oh well, we all deserve a bummy weekend!

X's and O's

(so I was going to post pics but ill have to update later its taking forever to send from my phone :/  )

Happy Easter!

Easter started out ok. Woke up early despite crashing at 1am the night before. Up with the sun at 630, strategically placed the baskets on the table for my lil bunnies and proceeded to get ready as I had decided to visit my brothers church for early service. Yes Im one of the slackers on attending and typically go the holiday Sundays and an occasional Sunday as well. Any who, that caused a big stir so I ended up in a funk. :/

pre funk pic! lol

Which then turned into laziness, and the grey looming clouds overhead didnt help. I decided to go get my cup o Joe in hopes that it might cheer me up... I proceeded to the only Peets Coffee in the East Bay Area (seriously, theres a Starbucks on every corner but wana find a Peets, better have google and gas!)

Mmmm I could smell the brewing jolt juice from my car!

Long lines are no bother when you have been waiting 40 days ! Plus with so many flavors to choose from, it gave me time to ponder... Soy Latte, Madagascar Vanilla Freddo, Latte Macchiato, and a new one... Raspberry Mocha!

Tempting treats, but I didnt give in!

Patiently waiting through the Iced Lattes and Carmel Freddos....

Can you guess which one I choose?!?!

Not a big fan of Mochas but this was actually pretty darn tasty! Or maybe I just havent had coffee in so long! *lol*

And then... More Laziness!

Happy Easter, Happy Holiday, Happy Weekend to All!

X's and O's...

Easter Eve

Surprisingly today was quite nice! The rain stayed away and the sun hung out, and is still shining its warm rays upon us!

Tho still without my router (which after a trip to my local cable companies office was promised the order was made and I would receive it by Tuesday) I was hacking into unsecured wi-fi in my apartment last night! lol

Chatting online with wi-fi in and out makes for great comedy!

Today, I gave up and am sitting in my living room with my notebook hooked up to the cable where my land line cable comes in.

I've been quite lazy this Saturday but think I may get out tonight and let some music infuse my system and maybe a cocktail lessen my stress. Not a big drinker so maybe a glass of Cab or Syrah :) but we'll see.

Did manage to get a pedicure (much needed) and I tried my hair at the loose wave (huge thanks to Amanda and her blog about ...love Maegan's blog tutorial!!) Check them out and follow if you dont already follow them!!! Heres the result!

I lessened the curl on the bangs and even though my hair is half way down my back, the wave brought it up to about bra length and shorter in the front. I am quite pleased with the result! Amanda and Maegan, let me just say you are awesome! lol

And so today is ending, the sun is beginning to descend and I am off to make the most of my night! Kiddos will wake to their baskets and chocolate and I will get to wake to the smell of my coffee pot brewing coffee I can finally enjoy!

Hippity-Hop and Blessings to all!

X's and O's

end of the day...

...and here i go rushing another blog entry in! lol

Today was kind of a blah day.. rain and cold. meatball parm heros.

But its Friday! Yeeeee!!!!!

Last night I was invited to my brothers church to see an easter play.

And I must say, out of all the plays i have seen related to the religious reason for Easter,

this was amazing.

Now I dont attend church or force religion, I am spiritual and have my own relationship with my God.. my Higher Power, Most High etc and in no way shape or form push any type of religious beliefs on anyone. Guess that was my disclaimer! lol

I do not judge and dont believe its in anyones right to. So i respect everyone for who they are and what they believe because I dont have to believe it or like it or live it.

ok enuf of that.

My easter is supposed to be wet, rainy and cold. I dont remember an easter ever being such, so im hoping the sun creeps out and says Hello World! Its Easter, time for babies and bunnies and colorful eggs and jelly beans and the best.. chocolate! YUM!

I gave up coffee for Lent (again not because of my religious beliefs but more to challenge self spiritually :) hehe) like how i put that!?

anyway, I have not had coffee for 38 days... Sunday, I will have a big Ol cup O Joe with my breakfast!

mmmmmm, maybe then Ill be able to focus?! lol

Anyway, Wishing everyone a Happy Easter and A Great Weekend!

X's & O's

Slacking.... Update time!

I began to post to my blog yesterday but I once again was trying to do too much and so I am behind! OUCH!

Now I shall catch up and finish my posting from yesterday!

Fundraiser was a success. But come Friday, I was beyond exhausted and could only manage to function enough to work. Barely keep my eyes open. Only to remember my son had a performance that night so I didnt get home til 9pm!

Then ofcourse, I couldnt sleep. Forcing myself into bed at 11 because I knew I had to be up early to tour the culinary school the next day. Which I did.

Saturday morning, I woke, showered, even colored my hair (yes, Im a DIY-er to the fullest!) and left to Campbell to get a tour of the Professional Culinary Institute. When I initially found this school online, the website didnt have much information as all of the other culinary schools had. So i was a little unsure about what they may be hiding! (lol why not tell all, sell yourself to me by giving me all the info!?!?)

I arrived 10 minutes early, feeling great and hopeful. The facility was nice, contradicting because it sat above a Golds gym! haha, feeling fat anyone?!?! The school took up one floor of the building, with 6 kitchens.. tho i was not impressed that two students shared a station each... the equipment was nice as were the demo classrooms...

We sat in a presentation with pastries and beverages made by the students. I didnt have any but they looked yummy. They then began to talk about the school, had a previous student speaker, talked about finances then sent us off to the Demo for the specialty we were interested in. Me, obviously, baking and pastry... expecting to see a yummie ice cream or pastry, or gelato, or creme brulee... we walk into a demo kitchen with glasses filled with chocolate mousse.

*hmph*

Not impressed.

So our french instructor Alex, quite the character, talks about this mousse he is going to create for us. Belgian Chocolate and heavy whipping cream.

Thats is?? really? ok i guess...

Im trying to not compare it to the French Pastry School in Chicago where we were served up

Lavender, Honey, and Lemon Madeline's , Mango Sorbet and a plated dessert with the pineapple, sorbet, Madeline, and a coconut basil emulsion and soaked basil seeds.

(ok, maybe I am!!!)

now.. im no master pastry chef but.............

anyway.. ( :/ )

Mousse was ok. nothing spectacular. Tho maybe it was supposed to be??? if so does that mean I dont have a mature palate? haha...

I watched as students in the Hobby classes made cakes and what looked like loins of pork in two different classrooms... not impressed by that either.. idk.. maybe I was being judgemental but

I do know that when I left the school in Chicago.. i had this amazing feeling of YESSS, this is where Im supposed to be! A perfect fit!

and when I left this school in Campbell, it was like.. eeehhhh, if its my only option.. i guess i can settle.

So below is the info i gathered from the school along with pics....

and Oh btw, sunday was lazy day. Errands for the week and cake decorations. :)

The Professional Culinary Institute - 700 W. Hamilton Ave Suite 300 Campbell, CA

Baking and pastry course is taught with western European fundamentals - modernized

Practice the Artisense method - listen/watch/replicate apprentice style of training/mentoring

Course runs 600 hours 240 hour externship may be started half way thru course if teacher deems you are ready.

New course will run off a quarter system consisting of 11 weeks of instruction with a 1 week break.

Application fee is $75 and you will be required to take an entrance exam to prove you have knowledge to the 12th grade along with 2 letters of recommendation from persons outside of family members.

They offer morning, afternoon and evening classes.

The evening classes are held on Mon, Tue and Wed evening and course completion is within 10 months. There is also a 2 month paid externship.

Total cost for the Baking and Pastry art program is $26,436

Break down: $75 app fee, $876 Student Kit, $1225 Lab fee, and $24,200 Tuition

They do not qualify as a level 4 school so FAFSA is not accepted.

Sallie Mae loans and monthly payments are how one will pay.

discount if you pay in full before you start.

They do allow you to audit a class(sit in and observe)

So theres a lot more drawbacks than bonuses here for me.

Mucho Mousses

Chef Alex

Writing Demo

Chocolate Mousse fineto

Hobby Class

One of chef Alex's creations at the front entrance

Lazy weekend dayz...

Weekend was good, despite the fact that I still have no wi-fi... i could post on my laptop hooked up to the Internet but I hate that thing! My stubbornness doesn't allow it!

It was a lazy weekend.. cleaned then bummed it Saturday.. sketched the AIW cake which is turning out totally awesome!!!! Actually made me a drink! Had a Strawberry Daiquiri and it gave me a killer headache that I woke to still on Sunday! So i slept in to sleep it away.. and it worked!

Sunday... another lazy day... hit up the park with the kiddos, read as I laid out in the sun which felt sooooooooooooo Gooooooooooooooooood!

**hello sun, I have missed you!**

Bakes a ton of cupcakes for the fundraiser and crashed waay to late for my taste.

sure makes me feel old, damn!

lol

but I realize rest is a vital part of staying healthy,

so

I dont mind hittin the sheets earlier than i did when I was 20..

back then, it was all about the drinks, the club and the parties!

Still like to party, just on a classier scale :)

Today went by pretty quickly! Didn't log into my blog til after lunch!

Sheesh! Time flies when your having fun.

or working and selling cupcakes!

Oh and im down 12 pounds!

**BIG CHEESE** =D

more baking tonight.. Red Velvets are a super hit!

And still loving the sunshiny days!

X's and O's

Happy Friday!

I must say, for us worker bees Friday seems to be the best day of the week!

Funny because we still have to work!

Maybe its because we know the weekend is upon us

or

that we can relax, truly relax in the evening

or

for those night clubbers; dancing and drinks!

whatever the reason, Fridays always seem to be good!

And with the past 2 days I've had at work,

Friday could not have come sooner!

****

I cant say it enough,

I love the sunny days!

:)

It definitely releases the rainy day blues and

depressing cabin fever from the fall/winter season.

So this weekend's plans are:

*clean off the patio

*clean out my car

*bake bake and bake some more for the fundraiser

*help a friend move

*head out to a park or marina

*BLOG!

*sketch out a cake and some cake decorations

*READ!

1 more week til I visit the school and I'm pretty

excited and anxious about it.

But lately I must admit

my mind has been on Chicago.

The dream is still there :)

One way or another, I'm going to make it happen!

Happy Friday Everyone!

X's and O's

back to normal??

I swear... vacations and breaks and extended weekends throw me off track completely!

Back to work after a 5 day mini vaca and Im still trying

to figure out...

Why am I here again?

Do I really have to work?

**UGH**

Anyway, Im not writing in green because Im feeling ill

Im writing in green because it reminds me of *SPRING*

Which by the way officially starts Saturday!

I have missed blogging! Still no wi-Fi in mi Casa

but im workin on it

(damn comcast!)

So I was going to blog about the rest of my Reno trip

but, I think the majority of it

needs to stay in the past! lol

lets just say, Jager on "Empty"...

nuff said!

But I have been doing a lot of thinking,

reflecting

deciding

and

I think I have a new plan.

tho i hate calling it a plan, so ill say

options :)

Im really interested in this new school I've come across

and am thinking....

of how to tweak Chicago and Campbell

and make em work in this economy.

More to come on that in my Pastry Journey Blog :)

So for now, Im trying to Spring Forward.. still lol.

get back on my workout routine and eating right routine

regain focus on self, family and living.

AND most exciting I began reading one of my top listed books!

Im all smiles with it too!

Ever get a book and just KNOW its going to change your life??

yeah... thats what this book feels like

Im still dabbing in my "idiots guide to becoming a successful chef as well"

but I think with the clarification I have in my own mental,

Im back to feeling good bout everything.

****

So lunch is almost here, work has slowed down so I think

ill take some of this slow time and read up!

Reno...

Night one in Reno was interesting to say the least! My first drink in months! Thank God I didnt get drunk!! Had a nice cool buzz most of the evening...

The ride up... a total different story... Rained from the moment I left... then as we approached the Donner Summit, it began to snow... had to pull over and pay a nice chunk of change to get chains so we could ride 30 mph through the slick and snowy roads... just as we are coming out of the summit, SPIN OUT! omg I was so scared! luckily, no one hit us and we just missed the side rail! After being on the road for 6 1/2 hrs... we made it!

We ended up at this club called Aura.. which was cool.. earlier everyone but me gambled since Im in no why shape or form a gambler... so what did i do... drink! lol
Club was cool... it was snowing out and all was right in the night!

Sorry to rush this entry as they are all ready to go and Im sitting here holding everyone up!

Will post more details of todays ventures later this evening as we get ready for another night out in Reno!

X&O's

Im just full of emotions today!

Good thing I have many blogs for my many emotions!

Today started out dragging, I was soooo tired from no sleep. But, cake must be baked.

By the time work came, I was good. Sun shining, clear skies, beautiful day!

Then lunch happened. I'll leave it at that, there's no point in details at this time.

But now, 18 minutes left in the work day, I'm feeling good again. Stress free, happy, eager and ready to start my 4 day weekend!
Got a cake to finish tonight if not tomorrow... pack, clean, relax....

Reno this weekend.. Hopefully Ill post a blog or two!

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!**

Lately...

I've been in a kind of blah state.

Not really into much, just

here.

I think that this whole shift in life's grand plan has me rotating off my axis. Then again, maybe its because I have no cake orders until next week. :)

Either way, I'm ready to be focused and determined again.

BUSY again! And work ain't cutting it!

I've come to realize that blogging bout me is almost impossible without cake! *lol*

We are as one after all but I think I can focus on more of the me life and where I'm at in other ways as well as my future endeavors.

So this weekend, is my last weekend for a few weekends of relaxation, no cakes, nothing to do.

If it was supposed to rain this weekend I'd head out to the Marina.

I love the water. The ocean especially since I grew up in San Francisco.

Weekend trips to the pacific ocean were some of the greatest times!

Then getting ice cream at Pollyanna's! I was in kid heaven! I always got bubble gum!

********

Sitting here in my last 28 minutes of the work week thinking **what shall I do tonight** and come up with a whole bunch of nothing and realizing I am such a HOME BODY NOW!

**uughh* is that what happens after 30?!

Well I know my list of real friends has been severely cut over the past year and most of

the ones who were spared my blade are too far or busy for a girls night or

drinks...

So, I guess I'll *warning nerd notation approaching* READ and

get a bottle of something and chillax this weekend.

*end of nerd notation*

:)

Maybe I'll go see Alice in Wonderland.

Hopefully I can get my wireless going this weekend, Comcast is B.S'in and I'm running out of patience with them! T-Mobile for that matter as well..

Hope all have a lovely weekend this weekend if I don't get around to posting!

Ciao!