Lessons Learned...

       I may be losing some "man" points for having a title named after a Carrie Underwood song, but this song  has been going through my head the past couple of days.


As you might know about 2-3 months ago I started a second job with a Bakery in VA Beach. I needed to get a second job to replace the hours I would be losing over the summer from ODU being closed. My mom actually saw their ad in the paper and told me about it. It was a perfect second job, it was exactly what I wanted to do in bakery, the hours didn't interfere with ODU, so it was great!

 I go and apply, nearly a month later I get a call for a interview. Awesome. Interview went well, then two days later I started working. Very Awesome! So my life has been pretty busy with both of these jobs and still trying to maintain a social life. Oh wait, I didn't mention the best part of the job...

I work from 1AM-7AM at the bakery. Yup..and 85% of the time I go straight to ODU and work till whenever..normally about 3-4pm.  Crazy, I know.

       So I started going to bed by 6-7pm getting up going to work and then work again, come home. Say hello to the family, maybe eat something for dinner then crash and do it all over again. I did the first month-month and a half like this, I didn't really go out. The weekends were my days to splurge and do whatever I wanted since I did not work the bakery. While I had no social life throughout the week, it worked. Everything was fine.

Then I started being a little brave, I began stretching myself. I began stretching myself way too thin. Of course I had good intentions as to why I would. I would stay out a little later with friends, take trips, I would do things. I wanted my social life back.

        I don't blame anyone but myself for pushing and stretching myself over limit. I gave myself less and less sleep, but I would manage to get through it. I would commit to doing things, I would go out with friends and co-workers. Continually pulling myself waaay over my limit.

Well, lessons learned...Last Friday night after working about 16-17hrs straight I ran to do a couple of things then went out for the evening to catch up with an old co-worker. Stayed out till about 11pm, started my journey home.

Got about 1/2 mile or so away from my home and fell asleep at the wheel. At the moment I fell asleep my car was entering a curve, but of course rather then turning I continue straight onto the side-walk hitting a street sign that was directly in front of my side of the car. At impact I quickly woke up of course and got control of the car and returned the road and stopped. I was in complete shock. I thought that my windshield was the only thing damaged so I just tried to continue to drive home. I just wanted to be home.

The car doesn't move. I get out and see that both of my front tires are blown out. Great. So I call dad and we get a tow truck out and get the car back to the house.

Lessons learned. I totally believe that God was in control that night. No one else was involved, just me. The sign that I hit came crashing into the windshield directly at the drivers seat. It didn't break through completely and I didn't receive any injuries. Even though it happened, God was in control. And I am so thankful for that.

^^ Here you kinda see where exactly I went onto the sidewalk. There is the some the broken sign pole near the edge of the curb, with the rest of the pole and sign off in the distance.

      Lessons Learned. God really opened my eyes this weekend. I don't like that it had to happen like this, scaring my parents and my family, causing concern. But apparently, this is what it took for me to realize what I was doing. Still a bit shaken up from it, but ultimately thankful to be okay and alive. This also caused me to rethink some other things going on in my life and the changes that are necessary.

The lessons we are taught in life.

Remember me - -

Nearly three months ago was my last post on here. Wow, I am really bad at the blogging thing.

       Honestly, I do think about writing on here. I do think of subjects that I want to give my thoughts or my feelings towards something going on in the world. But I never take the time to actually sit down and write ( or type ) it all out.

It may be for the better for my sake, because I tend to write it all out and not proof read it. Proper grammar and punctuation are not being used properly and makes me look like a first grader!

Anywho -

Life in my world has gotten a wee bit crazy, or at least I just get called crazy. I recently picked up a second job at Sugar Plum Bakery. Its a great job and exactly what I was looking for. I wanted to get some mass production under my belt, just the production part. I didn't want to do any of the decorating or stuff like that, just the production and Sugar Plum fits the bill perfectly.

      Every day I make about two batches about 140 pounds of cake batter, from there I divide the batter by weight in to an average of 60-70 cake pans of various sizes. Notice the by weight back there--by hand I am scooping out the batter, filling and weighing each pan. It took me a few days to get into the groove of feeling out the weight when holding the pan, but now I get through the 140 pounds in about 45mins to an hour.

From there I make about 80 pounds of buttercream. Think of it this way; Each batch of buttercream fills 3 - 22qt buckets. Then there is the cookie doughs, fillings for the donuts, and my favorite BREADS.

      I like this job. It is very, very repetitive but that is the nature of working in a bakery. As a business your products sets a standard and you have to meet that standard every day. Some people think it is boring, and I do too sometimes. But overall I really have liked my time there. So thankful for the job.

Oh, I didn't even mention the best part of this job. My hours! I get to the bakery around 1AM and leave somewhere around 6-630AM. Remember a couple paragraphs back I said that I get called crazy? Its been a fun ride cramming this into my schedule, but I think I've done pretty well. I work at the bakery Mon-Fri, so having the weekends is nice, but the weekdays its pretty much a zombie walk.

      I have gotten in to a earlier "bed time" and get around 4-5hours of sleep before leaving for the bakery, oh and here is the other kicker. I am still working at ODU. Most days I leave the bakery and get to ODU by 7AM and work till about 3 or 4. Which leaves enough time to get home, shower, eat something, and say goodnight to the family before doing it all over again the next day.


Haha - This definitely will not be for life or even for more then the summer! I am hoping to find a job to replace ODU, my time there has been great but that work environment just is not somewhere where I want to be. So I've just been thinking and praying about it, really hoping to find something new by the end of summer.

So what else has gone in the last three months?

       We went down to NC to visit the Harrisons a few weeks ago, had fun fishing and playing with the niece and nephew. Then they came up last weekend and spend some time with us. Kal is growing up so fast, and he is super smart. Little Leia looks just like her momma, and loves to talk and smile.

Good things are happening or will be happening at New Beginnings. I really do love this church and I want us to become a beacon of light for those in our SoNo ( South Norfok ) neighborhood. I am so thankful for my friends that I have gained from this church. They really are a great group of supportive people, I am thankful for the times we get to hang out.


As much as I would like to have exactly everything I want for my life right now, I am just really thankful for my life and those in it and around it. Thanks God.

       I think that is all I got for now, but I promise I will be back.


-- One day.

Quickie -

So I am going to keep this pretty brief because it is so FLIPPIN beautiful outside today!

       Since I had started, finished, and graduated culinary school I was always asked these question:

"So what is the best thing you an cook?" or "What style of cooking do you do?"

And every time I always answered with the same thing, 'I don't know, whatever.' 

I couldn't pick a certain cuisine that I liked more then the other.  I have always known that I don't want to do the completely upscale and fine dining that most want. 

I like comfort.

       So it has always been my mind-set that if I open up a place that it will just be the simple "American" style foods done with just a touch of class that makes people say, 'BAZINGA!'.

But as of late I have really been thinking that I need a cuisine. I need to submerge myself into a cuisine and learn as much as I can about it. 

      As I have been thinking about it, going through my notes from school, and reading various websites, I feel drawn to the French cuisine. The French have always done things correctly when it comes to their food and wine. 

Clean and Simple. 

Simple? Clean? I love it. They treat the food with the greatest care and cook it in a way that the complexity of the flavors explode in your mouth. (Bazinga!) 

      And more importantly, classic French Bistros or Brasseries were loved for their casual feel but sophisticated food. Which is perfect, if I am able to open a place of my own, I want it to have that casual feel that makes people comfortable and food that will amaze them.

That is the dream now, and lets mark on the "New Years" list I made a couple post ago. I am going to emerge myself into the french cuisine. Learn the history, the flavors, and the techniques and strive to become a true "French" Chef.

 (Of course I can't really become a French Chef...I'm not FRENCH!) 

       And my Bistro? Why, its going to be one of the greatest French/American fusion bistros in Hampton Roads. :)

Update-

      Can't believe that it is nearly February already! Feels like just yesterday that I was ringing in the New Year by jumping on my parents bed, blaring Lady Gaga while they tried to sleep.


January has proved to be a good month though.

I was able to spend time with sister and her family.

 My adorable niece and my not-so-little-anymore nephew.

Kal-El can actually say my name now and it makes me a happy uncle. I'm not co-co anymore, and I am happy about that. Little Leia continues to grows into an adorable niece. She loves to smile and talk, so if you've got time to smile at her, she'll talk to you. I love our talks.


       Other parts of my life are well too, I suppose. While I am unhappy with my current job I am still thankful for having a job. I try to look on the brighter side of things when I think of my job, I try to remember that while my job is to cook food, I also need to show God's love to those I come in contact with.

But, I will be in talks with a possible job opportunity some time this week. If things can work out with that opportunity, it could make life a lot cooler! Some prayer would be awesome.

Here's a cool little quick update on some of the goals that I mentioned in my last post. Since that post:

 I have picked up my guitar and worked on getting back into the groove of it.
 I have reduced my soda intake (by a lot!) and I am drinking a ton more water.
 I have kinda formed on my own workout/exercise routine. I have missed a few days, but I blame the sinusy-head-cold thing I had through the week.
 Prayer and I still struggle. Strike that. Reverse it. I still struggle with prayer. I think about it and I talk about it, but I don't it.
While the private is still private, I can say that I proud at how well its going but still needs work.
Finances aren't exactly better, but getting there. (stupid student loans..)

Now for one that I want to add to the list.

I will learn to play my Bodhran.
Whats a Bodhran? This...

This is actually a picture of the one I have. Its a Celtic Drum, ever since I saw this drum being used in the Irish shows at Busch Gardens I wanted to learn. Last year, my family and I went to BG for my birthday and my parents asked if I still wanted to get one of these and after saying yes, Mom asked which one I wanted. I was floored.

I have messed around with it a little bit and have picked up a couple things about it. Youtube has some really great video lessons. But I feel ashamed that I am not to a point were I can play it well. I don't want my parents feeling like there money went to a waste.

So me and my Bodhran are going to get know each other. For real.

Other good things in my life...my church family. My friends. My friends are awesome, each and every one of them. Our church has good things on the horizon and we are working to improve ourselves as a church so that when that time comes we are fully prepared. We welcomed a new brother into our family today! Then had a great time at lunch afterward, always filled with fun and laughter. I am so thankful to call them friends.

I can't help but laugh at my self right now, because when I first started to type this post I had every intent to spend a majority of it filling it with my woes and hopeless romantic ways. Earlier this week I had said that my life was similar to a character from one of Broadways greatest shows, Les Miserables. This young women had such love or affection for one man but he share the feelings toward her. Actually he fell in love with some other chick, leaving the other on her own. In my life that story has been played out multiple times. And here I am. On my own. 

But when I started typing all of these good things in my life and the improvements that I had done or that needs to be done, I forgot about my pathetic rant on my relationship status. I am filled with happiness, with the thoughts of my family, the goals I have for my life, for the new member of the body of Christ we welcomed today.  I am so ridiculous.

So yeah. 

This is me.

New Year..New Me.

       Welcome to 2012!

In my family we've never really been the kind to make resolutions, so don't think that this is a post on my resolutions for 2012. Rather than resolutions I am setting goals for me and my life that will go far beyond 2012 and once I've attained these goals they will become part of me and not just a trophy of something that I worked for.

                                           While this may not be a completed list, its a good start.

       Alright, lets get this started--

1. Pick up my guitar and practice at least three times a week, if not daily. 
2. Get into a exercise routine.
3. Read the Bible daily.
4. Reduce the intake of soda products.
5. Drink more water.
6. Grow spiritually and help others grow.
7. Pray continually. 
8. Set my finances back on track.
9. Move out of my parents house and start a life that is my own.
10. Pay off credit card.
11. Visit both sets of Grandparents.
12. See at least two shows on Broadway in NYC.
13. Go back to Mexico.
14. Go on a Missions Trip aside from Mexico.
15. Find a job with a consistent schedule and management.
16. Private...For now at least.
17. Go camping. REAL camping.
18. Love more and mean it. 
19. Keep contact with friends more often.
20. Find a way to see my bestest(!!) friends.

      Okay, so thats 20! If more pop into my head I will definitely add them to the list.While some of the goals are fun and personal ones such as, visiting family, going to see a show or camping, some of these goals are going to be hard because it will be a complete 180 from what I have been and I know that the title makes this post a bit cliche, but its the truth. I need to read the bible, I need to talk with God, I've let the things of this world get in the way of my relationship with Him.

Welcome 2012...Welcome New Me.

hmm..

Have I said that my new favorite show is How I Met Your Mother? I caught a few episodes just before the summer then through out the summer I bought season after season till I was completely caught in time for the premiere of season 7.

I fell in love with this show. While it may have its moments that are a little sketchy and pushing the limits, but what shows/movies don't these days? I feel drawn to the small group of people in which the show follows, while I don't live the same lifestyle as them. They live a life where there is true friendship no matter what the circumstance, whenever things go wrong they work together and strive to make ones life better.

And believe me, I'm not saying that I don't have that circle of friends, I do. And I hope they know that I am thankful for them everyday. Whenever I am feeling that life is not what I want, someone pops up and says something that raises my spirit. Even if they don't know it.

But I can relate the most to one character from the show in particular. Ted Mosby. Again, even this character has its moments that push the limits as far as what I stand for in my life, but I feel drawn to him. He and I have the same mission. To find that one woman who takes our breath away and yearns to live life together. And Ted and I both have had our adventures that no matter how great they are, unfortunately end in failure. Of course, Ted eventually finds the one (hence the name of the show) and I know that one day (hopefully) I will too.

But for us, its this waiting period in between that kills us. We sit and watch our friends as they start their lives with their loved ones. Quiet but supportive, longing for what they have but still knowing that our day will come.

Patience is a hard virtue to handle. Its especially hard when your Newsfeed on Facebook is filled with engagement announcements, pictures, and wedding celebrations. Successful relationships seem to happen to everyone but you, you only have memories of a few good moments from the past excursions in your life.

Again, believe me. I live a happy life and strive to walk as God has called me too. But there are times when I look at my life and compare it to some of the friends. Jealous? Yes. But..

I know my God has a plan for all of this. All those times that I compare my life to others,  I am doubting Him, and trying to take control of my life. But that is not what God wants from me, He wants TOTAL control.

Galatians 5:25-26 ESV
" If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another."

So..that is whats been on my heart lately

Alright?

Would you look at that..

You know, most times I sit in front of my computer for a good amount of time thinking of a introduction to each post. I never know how to start...is that weird?

If I remember correctly, I last left you writing about my new job with Aramark at ODU. My hopes for a more stable work enviroment, and knowledge expanding work days were crushed. I would rather not bore you with all the details, but I knew going into this position it would be different. But I didn't think this different.

So needless to say, I am back on the job hunt. I am having a problem deciding what exactly I want to do. Go back into Hotels? A restaurant? I don't know, there is many options out there. But I don't know which to do, some thing I do know are: I want to work in the mornings.

 If that means giving breakfast a shot, so be it.

If that means becoming a prep cook, okay.

I like having my evenings back, it gives me a chance to do things with friends, and try to have a social life.

I just don't know...

ha - you know, its decisions like this that make me want to drop everything and go to a place where help is needed and this "American Dream" stuff isn't pushed in my face all the time.

 Don't get me wrong, I like the thought of money, the thought of THE house, and THE car, and THE restaurant.

But I don't want that to consume me. I have a greater purpose while here on this earth. 



 Ecclesiastes 12:13: "The last and final word is this: Fear God. Do what he tells you." (MSG)

Matthew 28:18-20: "And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them int the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (ESV)


I don't know how I went from becoming a prep cook to this...but I guess thats whats been on my heart lately..sorry if it doesn't make sense. I don't know how many time I erased and rewrote this thing.. but I am glad I stopped after those two sentences above.


so thats me right now -

What now...

Wow. I've got some catching up to do on here. Nothing too crazy.

Well. One crazy thing. Nothing bad. In fact, it was one the greatest things for me.

First -

I no longer work at the Founder's Inn and Spa. I closed that chapter of my life around four weeks ago. I couldn't be happier. I mean, I miss the friendships I gained from my coworkers, but I think it was a great move for me.

I "officially" started my new job as a catering cook at ODU on August 12th, but I actually haven't had a work day yet. So I technically haven't had a job for the last four weeks. I didn't mind. Although, my first day of actually work starts in roughly 31/2 hours at 3 am.

I can't get to sleep, I've tired for the last 3 hours. I watched a movie I redbox'd, It's kind of a Funny Story. Pretty cool movie. Point is, I can't sleep. I have too much running through my mind.

Second -

You see, right now I am in the middle of the post mission-trip blues. Not just me, but 9 of my friends too.

This past week we had the opportunity to take a trip down to Ensenada, Mexico and show God's love and grace to a family in need. In four days our little group of 10 people built this young family a home for them to live in. Gave them something to believe in, walked in step with Jesus Christ to show this small family that they are loved and cherished.

Though there was a small language barrier between us, we could get by with our elementary 'Spanglish'. The message though, blew past every barrier possible. The family saw our love and more importantly saw God's love for them. Though they might not have everything together, they know that there is a God who is watching over them, and a group of friends in America who are praying for them.

I really am thankful for this trip, it was a eye-opener for me, and not just me but my friends too. Spending this past week together, I think brought us, as a whole, closer as friends. We all worked hard together, for the same goal. Each of us pushed through our own comfort zones and boundaries to make a impact on this family. We spent nearly every minute of everyday together.

I think its kinda safe to say that when we returned home and went our separate ways, something felt like it was missing. Now I'm not saying that we need to spend every moment together, but we grew together as a group. As friends.

And that is important, to have a group of people that you can depend on, to trust, to talk with, to have community with, is vital to everyday life as a Christian.

That is what was really put on my heart this past week in Mexico. To have a community like I have is special. This group is truly a group of people who really care about each other and strive to live like Jesus. And sometimes I don't take advantage of this...

Another thing placed on my heart was my personal walk with God.

Am I taking every chance I can to show God's love and talk about his grace and forgiveness? No. I'm not.

I hide in my shell through the work week, then when in a place of comfort I can talk about it, I can show it.

Am I talking to people about faith and why I believe what I believe. No.

I cover it up with things of this earthly world to look good, for people to like me.

Then I realized I don't need everyone to like me. I mean..I would like to liked by everyone but if my faith gives my the name of a outsider by some then so be it. I have a community that is there for me. I need to step out more and actually walk in faith.

this is my battle right now. i need to live jesus at all time and not just when I feel comfortable with it.

I feel like this blog is going on longer and longer, but oh well. I can do what I want on here.

so what now...

For my friends and I we are struggling to regain balance in our lives. We have been rocked by God, and strive to maintain the fire that was ignited inside of us. Life in Mexico seemed simple, away from distractions. No worries of tuition payments, car payments, JOBS, we just lived in community doing God's work. Now that we are back in reality it is a struggle to not be distracted by the things of earth.

Needless to say, this trip to Mexico gave me a lot to think about. a lot to pray about.

and honestly.

I'm glad.

It is time.

You know, so many things have happened lately. Good things, bad things, whatever things.

Its crazy to think sometimes.

I've officially graduated from Culinary school. I've earned my first degree..whoo! I don't know when or if I will go for my bachelors. If I do it would be sweet, but I don't think its completely necessary.

As of today, I have put my two week notice into Founders Inn, and will start a new job with Aramark at Old Dominion University in the beginning of August.

I am extremely excited about this. Not just because of my recent unhappiness with Founders, but its a chance for me to learn and continue to grow in this industry. I will be working in a catering department, I believe with the Ted Constant Center. I don't know what my hours would be, but I hope that I have a actual schedule rather then a week-by-week kind of thing.

I hope that this job will create a little more free time in my life, so I can be able to truly help out and support our youth group at church. I feel as though I am letting my friends down by not being able to be there or help out as often as I would like too. Friends, thank you. You know who you are. I hope to be able to jump in soon.

I played my acoustic in the church band back in May and this past Sunday, and both instances made me really miss playing. I need to make more time in my day to pick it back up and begin to practice more often.

I miss my friends. My friends that I grew up with. My brothers (and sisters!). I need to make time to spend with them. I miss them horribly. I realized tonight that I don't even make a effort to text/email/Facebook/ or Whatever any of them weekly or even daily. I need to do that. I never thought or liked the thought that we would grow apart from each other.

I can't let that happen. It won't.

In fact, today is the 4th of July. Most of the time my brain was yearning to go back in time a few years when I spent a evening on the 4th with this group of friends. We went to see fireworks in Hampton and from the spot we were at, we could see all or most of the different firework shows in Hampton Roads. We could see the beach, downtown Norfolk, Williamsburg/Busch Gardens, then suddenly right in front of us the show we went to see started.

Such good times. I miss it.

I look forward to what is ahead of me in my life. I do hope winning the lottery is part of that plan, or just meeting the most beautiful woman who has the richest of families. I say that with loosely, I just wish the dreams I have didn't cost so much money. It makes me what to just give up and move to a place where I can help and serve without the worry of bills and other ridiculous things.

I will forever love Relient K's album 'Two lefts don't make a right, but three do'. That is the good stuff.

I also need to start working out...I'll say it. I am a bit insecure about the way I look..and its gonna change.

I am so freaking excited about going to Mexico with my friends in two months. I hope I can get all the money needed for the trip.

I bought new Toms, I am also really excited about this.

Also, I am treating myself to a show in DC tomorrow night. I wish I had thought about this earlier, so maybe someone could have came with me. But it should be nice, I am staying over night up there so I don't possibly kill myself driving back home right after the show. I am excited a little vaca in the beginning of the week. Sweet.

So far this has been a pretty informative/random post.

Till next time -

-Corey Joseph

I know, I know

I owe you a blog about my life and whats going on...but i've been busy. The Swan has been keeping me busy.

Anywho - check out and follow my dream businesses blog -- Cooking from the Cor(e)

and also on facebook under the same name!! :)

Thanks. Seee you later!

Corey

P.S. I GRADUATE THIS FRIDAY!!!!! Whoo hooo!!!

Happy Moments

Sometimes I just want everything to stop...

I think my title says it all, there are times that I just want everything to stop and let me not have to deal with the pressures of this world.

But that can't happen, we have to learn how to take on different situations and conflicts and press on as if nothing happens.

I mean, sure. Why not. Pay over $200 for your dog who now has to be on pain meds for her back problem, hand out over $400 for new tires on your car, pay the people even more money then what they have taken out of your paycheck..mortgage for a home..

You know, America is pretty cool and all. But sometimes I long to be in a place where I nothing to do but live for jesus, and not worry about money and property and a job.

Confession - I struggle with my spiritual life because I am too wrapped up in this lousy reality of our earthly life.

I worry about doing a good job at work, I wrap my head around all the problems and conflicts we have at work and I get so frustrated and have negative energy built up inside me..and I will keep it there, because I am not the kind to speak my mind on some things. I'll tip-toe around the problem and bring up something else.

I know, how can complain about a problem if I am doing nothing about it..

I don't know.

To get a little less depressing -

Everyday I get excited that I am one day closer to owning my own place. While I love my parents and my siblings I want to start living my own life. Have a place to call my own. I just can't wait for the day to come!

till then -

let it all out..

I just want it to be known..

I do think about writing in here, and I really want to.

But I never feel like typing everything out.

Lazy?

yea, I know...

Back in my life

So I've been back in normal day to day life, my vacation to portland and north pole was everything I wanted it to be. Good times with good friends.

great talks.

and of course good food.

amazing sites and views of a new world.

I could definitely live in Portland, that city is huge and packed filled with everything. Amazing things to do, great restaurants to check out. I thought of it just like NYC but way less crazy.

North Pole was pretty, that town loves christmas. they love it all year long it seems. the moose loved me. I saw six or seven of them in the four days I was there. apparently my friend who lives there doesn't see them that often.

I loved the airports. I loved my layovers in the different cities, I know. I am weird, but who isn't in this world. I loved seeing a new part of the world, it made my heart yearn to travel more often. I wish I could.

i wish i had someone to travel with...but i'd rather not write about that. i don't need to dwell on it, i know it will eventually happen, patience is what i need though.

and not just about relationships, but with everything. my greatest desire right now is to claim some independence and own a house. i know that i am comfortable here in hampton roads, i love my life here, my friends, my church, my (kinda, sorda) job. I don't wanna leave it all yet.

i just need to practice my patience in the process of buying a house and all that jazz..its hard.

life is hard.

have i mentioned that i love my friends and my church. because i do.

i am ready to go back to the west coast again. i miss them so much. it was nice to be with them again, they truly are my best friends.

I am ready!

I am sure people are tired of hearing me say this, but I cannot believe that tomorrow is when I leave for my trip to Portland and Alaska! I am so very excited, I can't wait to spend time with my two best friends. These ladies are by far my two bestest friends and I am so glad that they are allowing me to come visit them!

I am just so ready for a vacation, I have been non-stop working and schooling for almost two years, it feels so weird not to have had classes the last two weeks, but it also feels good too. I've accomplished my first Degree! I can't believe it, I say my first because it is likely that I will go back and work on my BA. But I'm not going to think about that until much later on in the year!

Thanks to a great family who allowed me to borrow their camera I will get some SAweet pictures while I am there and I will definitely show everyone!

My first big trip, my first degree, I feel like life is going in a good direction! I recently stumbled upon a newer singer/songwriter named Joey Contreras. I love any type of musical theater songwriter and this young man's music is amazing, seriously look him up! He has one song titled 'Ready', after listening to this song multiple times I consider this song to be my little montra to keep me going through the day. This is the chorus, I love it! Its like he wrote it for me!

"I am ready, I am getting stronger on my own, heading straight into the unknown. I am worthy so I'm just gonna try. Maybe I will crash and burn, but there are lessons I can learn from every, person that I get to know, loving what can make me grow, who knows how far I'll go. I am ready. I am doing what I wanna do, after all I've gone through, no matter what people say, I'm getting better with each day. I am ready!"

I love this song it has really become part of my everyday life. I am looking for to this new journey ahead of me. Not only my trip to the West Coast, but also my life after I get back. In my job, in my graduation, and also my personal life!

T-minus 8 days!!!!

I can't believe it! Only nine days until I leave on my vacation. I think everyone who knows me is probably tired of me talking about it, but I can't help it. I have never been on the West Coast, nor travel further then Kentucky! Its going to be a big adventure for me, and its going to be awesome because I will be with two my bestest friends!! Theres a little part in me that wishes something would happen that I have to extend my trip a couple days, hahaha. :)

Another huge thing in my life right now, is my completion of school!!! I am officially done with school! Graduation day is June 24th! Such a long way away, but I am so glad that I am done now. It has really been a awesome time and I will never forget the people I've met and the things I have been taught.

Other things in my life are doing alright I guess, I am not sure what I am going to do with all this spare time I have in the mornings. I've thought of some ideas, find some ballroom or tap dancing classes, start going to the gym to tone up a bit.

Another thing I am going to start doing is to go do as much stuff as I can. I want to take trips to places and see things! This trip to Oregon and Alaska have got me thinking about things or places I wanna see and do! I'm super excited because I am going to go to Mexico this year with my church. Nothing can stop me this year, I am going to go.

And can I just say, I spent all day with my sister and my little buddy yesterday and it was awesome. Well I'm going out to try and enjoy my saturday till I have to go to work.

Only 8 more days!!

Good times..

I promise I will write in about the Banquet this past friday, and even more good stuff going on, but right now I'm pretty busy!

only two more weeks of classes!!

Just a thought --

So yesterday was Superbowl Sunday. Whoo, I don't pay attention to sports at all, any type of sport.

Yesterday also church day! I have to say that I really needed my church by the time Sunday came yesterday. This past week at work had to be one of the most stressful for me. I try not to let work stress me out, I try to take it one day at a time and do what I can. But its hard for me not to bring this stress home with me and I sit and think about it and it builds up in me. I need distractions when I am not at work..

In turn I can see that it has affected me at home with my family. I snap at my brother and sister, even my parents. I can't stand it.

I just don't understand how they (being my chefs, and even the higher ups) think that what they are doing is good for the business or even more importantly their employees.

But thats not what I came on here to talk about...

Yesterday at church we finished our series called Ekklesia (I don't know if I spelled that right), but the idea behind the series was talking about us as the church. Not a building or whatever but US. We are the church. And yesterday we heard about worship and what it means to worship. Not just going to church and playing in the band or singing along with the band playing. But truly worshiping, and not only at church but in everything we do.

and I know that its one thing I struggle with. It showed a lot in this past week. Through out my whole stressing out I never gave it to Him. I never talked to him. I never gave him worship through the hard times, I mean look at Paul. Paul went through the CRAZIEST stuff, and through everything he gave God the glory and worshiped Him.

Why don't I do that? My life isn't like his, I haven't been stoned, beaten, put in jail numerous times, abandoned. I only deal with people who don't run a staff very well, some confused guests, and some annoying servers. Why can't I turn everything over to Him.

Oh I know why, I am selfish. I want to try to fix everything my self or I just hold everything in till one day I may just burst.

I need to give Him my troubles and worries, rely on him, and worship Him for who he is and what he has given me.

Another sad thought that I had last night, we have a group coming to the Inn this weekend and their name is FamilyLife. Not sure what kind of group they are, whether a church group or business group, or whatever. But, one of my friends and she is the BEST server, came and asked me who FamilyLife was and I didn't know but suggested that it might be a church group. Sadly both of our faces frowned after answering. We both knew what that meant, it meant that we would have a group of picky, selfish people eating at the craziest of times and demanding everything without the kindness that God would want them to show. And not mention forget to tip their servers.

Isn't that sad, a group of people coming together in the name of Christ and they can be the rudest of all the groups and conventions we could have there. As my friend said at the end of our conversation. She said this as if she were talking to a guest.

'Stop complaining and LOVE JESUS!'

What Timing!

So how about this for timing. My dads niece and her daughters made a pit-stop here on

their way to Florida. The oldest of the two girls has taken a interest into cooking and baking

recently. In her short time here she and her sister wanted to be able to do something with me in

the kitchen. So I cut class early on Tuesday and came home to do a little something with them.

She wanted to make cream puffs, which is funny because in my last post I said that I wanted

to do a blog on Choux. Cream puffs are made with what it called Pate a Choux. Pate a Choux

is a pastry used for Eclairs, profiteroles, CREAM PUFFS, you could do many different applications with it.

These cream puffs we made were filled with a Pastry cream we also made, and I lighten it

a bit by folding in some whipped cream. So I had my brother and my sister try to get pictures

of the process in making the pastry cream the choux pastry. So lets take a look!!

Above we are mixing together our Egg yolks, sugar, and cornstarch. The yolks are going to be a

natural thicker for the cream and the cornstarch is added in just to help. Before this step we

have put our milk and Vanilla Bean on the stove top to begin scalding.

Then once scalding, we tempered the hot milk into yolk mixture. We temper it slowly that way the

eggs don't cook right away. Return everything back to the

pot to cook out the cornstarch and allow it to thicken. It could happen fast.

Here is the finished cream. We are not done here, we need to strain out the vanilla bean and

any little pieces of cooked egg.

After straining it you want it too cool down. And always cover it with parchment or plastic wrap

so a skin doesn't develop on the top of the cream.

So from here we move on to the Choux Pastry.

To begin the process we bring our water to boil, with butter and salt. We want to be sure

that we really mix the water and butter together. Then we measure out our eggs, my cousin

Tori was the egg-lady. She handled all the egg in our production.

When our water is boiling, we are going to add the flour all at once.

Above, we have just added all the flour, so we want to mix it in and start to form a dough. Use a wooden spoon for this, and we also want to leave this dough in the pan on the heat for a bit to dry out and remove all the moisture.

Then the dough is put in a mixer bowl, and we will slowly add the eggs.

Once we have reached our desired consistency, we need to pipe these out right away. Since this was just something fun for the girls to do I let them make whatever shapes and dots they wanted.

After piping, into a HOT HOT oven for 15 minutes at 400 then we turn it down to 350 till they have puffed and colored to a golden brown.

Once cooled down, we filled them with our whipped pastry cream and glazed them with chocolate.

Thats it! It is really pretty easy to make. I went through it pretty quickly and left out some details,

but I'll put another post about it some time.

Oh, did I mention that my sis and her husband were there too, and of course my cute little buddy!

Some recent baking fun..

So I had a bit of fun this past Friday and Saturday. I had friday off work and I volunteered to make some desserts for a Worship team meeting Saturday. I also had told a friend that I would make a little something special for her since she had missed out on the last time I made some sweets!

I decided that for the meeting I would make a Key Lime Tart so friday morning I made my short dough for the tart as well as the custard. Unfortunately I didn't get the play-by-play pictures for that simply because I didn't even think about it. But Friday I made the tarts, and made Red Velvet cupcakes and a small cake as well. My friend would receive the cupcakes and my family would keep the cake. So friday I made three separate key lime tarts, a dozen red velvet cupcakes, a red velvet cake, as well as a American buttercream to go with the red velvet.

About 1pm I get a call from work saying that they needed me for the night. I didn't want to go in because I was having fun, and I had dinner plans with my family for Norfolk's Restaurant Week. I was excited to go to that, but I decided to go, not only does it get me brownie points with my bosses there, but also extra money to have for PORTLAND AND ALASKA!

So friday night was busy, and come saturday morning I wake up semi-early and finish what I had started, so this is where I decide to do the play-by-play pictures for fun and a cool blog post. I want to do more of these, I like it.

So here we go!

So here I took the cupcakes I made the day before and split them up. I was going to keep six of them a regular Red Velvet cupcake, and the other I filled them with a Tiramisu Mascarpone Whipped Cream.

for the whipped cream filling, I whipped up some heavy cream, and folded in this mascarpone cheese I found at

Harris Teeter. Yummy.

I didn't stop with the filling, I brewed some espresso and added it to some the buttercream I had made and topped the cupcakes with it.

A coffee buttercream? YES PLEASE!

And the this is the final product! The six on

the plate are the filled cupcakes with the coffee buttercream, and the six wrapped around it are topped with the regular american buttercream. The coffee buttercream had just enough of a coffee taste not to overpowering, and the filling

was so smooth and creamy. It went really well with the Red Velvet cake.

I was happy with the outcome.

Here is a finish Key Lime Tart. I had three different sized tart pans, this the large, the medium went to my family's church Chili/Soup cookoff (In which my little sister won Best soup!) and the small was for US of course!!

Overall I had a fun weekend, I really do love to bake, and I try to practice any time I get! Next I'm thinking some breads, and working with Choux Pastry! Don't worry, if you don't know what Choux pastry is I'll have a post about it soon!

Till next time!