Count Down

It is now less than a week until we leave for Florida! I am ready for a vacation!!!!

I've heard this song, "where'd you go" by Fort Minor (and it features a female artist, but I don't know who it is) on the radio and I crank it. It's not totally my usual style but I am diggin' it, A LOT!!!

"Flay va"

Also known as flavor.

So here at Crazy Delicious Gourmet Cupcakes, we are always looking for new creative cupcake inventions. Here is what we have so far:

Lemon Drop
White Chocolate Raspberry
Mint Chocolate Chip
Orange Dream
Cinnacake
Double Chocolate
Chocolate Strawberry
Samoa (The Girl Scout Cookie)
Chocolate Peanut Butter
Carrot Cake
Original
I am currently working on a turtle cupcake.

Anything you would like to see as a cupcake flavor? I am willing to try different (not crazy) ideas. I would love any input!

Best Friends Split

Amy and I went to an amazingly exciting Cubs/Sox game yesterday. She has grown up in a Cubs family and I have grown up in a Sox family. The day was gorgeous and everyone who attended the game was decked out in some paraphenalia supporting their team.

The game was nuts. The fight was crazy, both Amy and I were shocked and couldn't believe what was happening. The rivalry between these two teams is intense but the cheap shot from Barrett was unnecessary and A.J. (for once) was completely in the right when he plowed over Barrett. This scene got the fans going wild. Then to cap it off, Iguhchi hits a grand slam. This sealed the Cubs fate.

Needless to say, Chicago is now not only just a Cubs city but the Sox are making a comeback. The Cubs are really sad to watch, why should a pitching manager have to come out to the mound in the 1st AND 2nd inninng? Sad, sad, sad (they have lost 17 of their last 21 games)!!!! I hope they can make some changes and improve for next year because no one likes to be on a losing team.

The game was great and so was the company! I wouldn't have chosen anyone better than to spend the day at the game with Amy! Love to you girl!!!!!

Fun

So last night I was driving home from Carpentersville. I was getting tired and just wasn't all that excited to be driving. Thank goodness I had some good tunes with the ipod. Then it all began...

I was turning onto a street and a guy driving a black mustang was in front of me going WAY TOO SLOW. So I passed him, I did not race pass him, but just passed him in a nonchalant way. As I continue to watch him in my rear view mirror, I see him get into my lane but he stayed pretty far back.

I ended up catching a red light and sat there (listening to some Missy Elliot) when all of the sudden this mustang comes flying up on me, I start out in first gear, he switches to the other lane and guess what...I smoked him out of the water. It was fun! I was proud of my little baby. Needless to say, I was wide awake and ready for the rest of the drive home.

Well thanks for the overwhelming response to yesterdays entry. You guys are so helpful!!!!!

Kanye and Chris Martin (from Coldplay) are recording a song for Kanye's new album. Can't wait to hear it.

A girl who I use to work would say, "Hotty Scotty" hit his 1st homerun of the year today. He cracked it out of there, in that crazy and bizarre Minnesota ball park.

So yesterday, Mothers Day, is a time that I am beginning to not look forward to when it comes to church. The focus is married women or women that have kids and that does not categorize me in there at all. I think why should I go? I just want to stand up for all the single ladies and say "shut the **** up". I know not very nice.

Well I went to church with my mom yesterday and I was pleasantly surprised, because I walked away being spoken too. The lady who spoke was very funny, entertaining, and knowledgeable. She talked about something that we all have heard before but for me it was something that I needed to hear or be reminded of. She talked about how we all go through seasons in our life and we need those changes to form and grow us. There will be times that may feel like the summer, fall, and winter when you feel in the desert or totally overwhelmed but then you remember that spring is around the corner and you see the growth.

It is like a baby tree planted. It will get a bunch of sun in the summer. In the fall leaves will be shed and you wonder if it will endur the harsh winter. Then surprisingly in the spring there are buds and it has gotten bigger. I was thankful for these reminders as I go through life.

MGM vs Universal

In a short while I will be headed off to the lovely land of Disney World. I am totally stoked about a vacation, a well needed break away from here. As my family and I plan the trip we are trying to work some things out. We thoroughly enjoy MGM, the great rides and entertainment. We have never been to Universal Studios and are considering going there, I'm wondering is it fun? Do you think you could spend more than one day there? What are the best things to do there?

What is your favorite thing to do while in Disney World (restaurants, activities, events...)? I am open for suggestions, so if you have any I would love to hear them.

Top 3 jams I've listened to this week:

"You Wreck Me Baby" by Tom Petty

"Shake That" by Eminem

"It's Alright" by Big Head Todd and the Monsters

Seriously, what would I ever do without music?!?

Kids

Let me just forwarn you that these are just thoughts that I am working out in my head and trying to make sense of, so they might not be totally clear.

The path that I am on right now has me involved in many children's lives, whether this is through babysitting or substituting. I want to make an impact on these youngsters. They teach me so much like: enjoy the little things in life, not take myself so seriously, simple faith can be strong, and to ask questions and grapple with God and life.

As I subbed today I was reminded about how much I love to influence and teach kids in so many fun and unique ways. The weird thing was that while teaching today I still had no desire to jump back into the teaching world.

I am just trying to figure out how I can still have an impact on kids when I do not see them on a consistent basis. As a teacher I had them for 8 hours, 5 days a week. I see how beneficial building relationships and trust was because a few years later I still have that with the kids. Now I don't feel that I have that with me jumping around from family to family while babysitting.

How do I have an impact when I only spend a few hours a week with some kids? I guess this is the same way with a Sunday School Ministry. You only get to impact these kids for an hour or so. But are relationships built? Will they come to you with questions because they know you love them and can be trusted?

Maybe I am looking at this all wrong. I am speaking from my experience and I guess that I respond better to people who I trust, admire, and know deeply. Maybe kids aren't like that.

Meet 2 of my friends

So here are two near and dear little creatures to my heart (and my roommates). This is Zeus (the crazy fighting fish) and Lily (the yellow snail). These two kids were so entertaining to watch. Lily was a freakin' cruiser. She escaped several times out of her bowl. I was so mezmorized by her. Zeus loved Lily too. They would rest on each other and follow each other around.

When I came home the other night from a fun filled day of baseball and a bbq with Amy and Kelly I soon discovered that Lily was out of her shell and was dead. NO!

Mondays are my day to feed our pets so when I went to feed Zeus I realized that he had passed away as well. He just couldn't continue without her. So sad, we lost our 2 pets in 2 days.

I am always full of questions. I guess I am a bit inquisitive!!!

So let's start off with just one question.

Why can it be easier to talk to non - Christian guys than Christian ones?

Is it because there is no pressure to see if you are going to possibly click? Or is it because you can completely be yourself since there is no need to feel like you have to impress? What is it?

New Name

So the decision has been made. The name of my little cupcake business will be called (drum roll please.....) CRAZY DELICIOUS!!!!!

Weeks Events

My little sister turned 13! I love this little girl to death, but man time is flying! She is way too grown up.

I woke up at 4:00 a.m. to babysit.

Ate at Mongolian BBQ. Great food, but I still prefer Flat Tops in Chicago (yummy)!

I injured my lower back when working out. It's uncomfortable to stand or sit for a long period of time. AHHHH!

Had some funny stories with the kids I babysit, but I can't share them. Let's just say it revolved around "milkshakes".

Saw "Mission Impossible 3"! Very entertaining, the time flew, I can't believe how much Tom Cruise's girlfriend in the movie looks like Katie Holmes. I still like some of the on the edge scenes in MI 1 better.

I love amaretto stone sours, had one tonight but it was not nearly as good as the little hole in the wall bar we'd go to after work called River Lane.

I watched a Michael Jordan movie this week when babysitting, it might have been the best of or something like that. It was SO refreshing to watch! He was an incredible basketball player. No wonder why I don't find watching basketball nearly as entertaining as before.

A thought that has struck me all week is from a song called "Wholly Yours" by David Crowder. The line that penetrates my soul is "from broken earth, flowers come up, pushing through the dirt". We are broken, hurt, and sometimes a mess, but God chooses to still use us in many ways and make great things happen in our lives.

Cubs/Sox

The Cubs/Sox series is coming up here in a few weeks. Yeah!

I went to one of these games last year and the Sox lost. That was a bummer. But I do have the opportunity to go see these two Chicago teams battle it out again this year. Trouble is...who do I take with me?

To those of you who did not see tonights 24 episode you won't fully understand this.

I love Chloe! In tonights episode of 24, this chick cracked me up. You know as soon as she walked into the bar of the hotel, the guy at the bar was going to be a problem. And he was...so she just zapped him. It was great!!!!

How many of you single women out there have been bothered by some sleezey guy that you wish would just leave you the heck alone? I wish we could carry and use one of those zappers. Problem solved.

People Pleasing

These are my thoughts recently...I am not sure why I am thinking these things, but I am.

So I leave/"take a break" from teaching to go to culinary school. Culinary school was hard work and yet fun at the same time. Not knowing anything about cooking I was trying to soak in everything I could and I probably asked about a million questions. I was just curious and really wanted to learn.

For 2 out of my 3 cooking classes I had this amazing chef as my instructor!! He had a tremendous passion for the field and was incredibly talented. This chef really took me under his wing and taught me so many things. Like: Telling me to stop moving my ass when I mixed something together in a bowl, "Gina, it is all in the wrist, not in the whole body". One day I really wanted to learn how to flip things in a pan and so he started explaining and the way I flipped it was completely backwards which he had never seen anyone do before. He knew that I was a piece of work and needed a lot of instruction!!!!! Yet he was well aware that I was so eager to gain knowledge he didn't give up on me. He knew that I really respected him as well.

I remember some of my friends and I going to the restaurant that he was an executive chef at (he only taught part time), having dessert, and being amazed at how classy this place was. He gave all of us a tour, it was fun. I even came back and helped him at the restaurant one time at Christmas because he was swamped. He always was so willing to help me and see me succeed and I really appreciated that.

Towards the end of one of my last classes with him he pulled me aside and we chatted about the future. He shared all these great things about me and my work ethic and proceeded to tell me that he would love if I would come work for him. I was jumping for joy, it was like a dream come true. I would be working under this talented chef at a four diamond restaurant. I was so excited!!!! (and really nervous too, I was an amateur, I didn't know what I was doing, but he said he would teach me)

So I began to work for him. It was great. I learned so much more in the first month or so than I did in my first year of culinary school. I started at the bottom of the kitchen staff and within a few months I worked my way up to what we call lead line cook. There were three chefs above me, but basically I was in charge of the kitchen and what was going on. I could not believe the progress that I had made and just the knowledge that I had gained and felt like I still had a long way to go.

After being there 9 months, I felt like I was having fun but the restaurant world was just not a good fit for me. Since leaving, 4 months ago, I do not know where to go. I feel no calling and sense no direction in anyway. So I am just content waiting and in the mean time I am babysitting, subbing, cupcaking...yah know whatever I need to do to make it. The stumping question that I am struggling with is, what would my chef think of what I am doing now?

The thoughts running through my head, "so you went to culinary school to babysit"...? I keep going back and forth, because yes, I know it doesn't matter what he thinks, but I feel like he spent so much time on me and "took a chance" that I feel like he'd be disappointed in what I am doing. But then again who cares, but yet I do. It is a frustrating cycle.