I'm beginning to love fondant

I had the wonderful opportunity of making LaVor's cousins wedding cake for today.

When she came over to show me the design, I was really excited. It was totally cute and fit their personalities perfectly. Of course, I had an image in my mind of how great it would turn out.

Welp, by 10:30 last night, I had broken down to tears because my image was far from what it really looked like. I had been up since 7:30 a.m. doing "cake" and I didn't feel like starting over. Thankfully, I got some sleep and LaVor was able to convince me to start over on the tier that was causing me problems. I'm so glad he did...it turned out great! But I couldn't have done it without his help. He's a fabulous assistant!

Everything was great! The sealing was beautiful, the sky over the reception wasn't smoky, Jessica, the bride/cousin, was stunning and you could tell she and Phil were so happy! I know I say this all the time but it made me want to get married all over again.

You're wonderful

I'm so excited to announce that I've reached my goal of $1800 for the breast cancer walk! Yippee! It's now official!

I appreciate the support and generosity of all that I've come in contact with. I couldn't have done it without you guys, so thanks!

I also have to thank my sweet husband for making the last donation. While we were at the store tonight, he asked me how much more money I needed. I told him only $150, since I had a bunch of donations just posted to my account. When we got home from the store, I checked my e-mail and saw one from Avon, telling me I reached my goal. The first thought that ran through my mind was "Who in the heck donated the rest of the money?!" When I checked the message that the person had left, it said, "You're wonderful". It was from LaVor. I'm so appreciative of his enthusiasm during these last few months. He's spent many Saturday mornings and afternoons alone while I was out walking with my mom and sisters. But he's been behind me all of the way and I love him for that.

The first for some

We spent last night at the A's game with my family. My brother, Kenny, and his family are out from Utah. It was Tyler and Shelby's first major league baseball game as well as Will's.

The A's lost to the Marlins. They had all of us up out of our seats at the bottom of the 9th. We did our best to support them; we were all shouting, banging on the chairs and clapping as loud as we could. They're playing right now so let's hope they win this game!

Couldn't resist a shot of Ellis!

Will, the birthday boy!

Ellis & Sweeney bringing it home


The kids torturing Grandpop and then loving him. Sorry I cut you out, Kenny.



The kids dancing to "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" during the 7th inning stretch.

Auntie Amy

The Round Table Pizza got tagged and so did I

Two names you go by: 1. Kimberly 2. Popie

Two things you are wearing right now: 1. pj pants 2. shirt

Two things you want very badly at the moment: 1. a glass of milk (I had a piece of pie) 2. to go to Disneyland!

Two people who will fill this out: 1. ? 2. ?

Two things you did last night: 1. went to mutual 2. watched the Real World

Two things you ate today: 1. pie 2. n/a

Two people you last talked to: 1. Kari 2. LaVor

Two things you're doing today (or did today?): 1. going to Wal*Mart 2. doing my lesson for Sunday

Two longest car rides: 1. Home to Disneyland 2. Home to San Diego

Two favorite beverages: 1. Water 2. Water

If you have time, fill it out for yourself :o)

Who?!?!

3 years ago today, I spent my last day in Culinary School.

I can remember the 1st day like it was yesterday. I was entering a new chapter in my life and was so excited/nervous. I had no clue what to expect and after meeting my fellow students, I felt like I knew nothing about baking.

My first chef was Chef Steve. We started with safety & sanitation and food science. Safety & sanitation turned me into a freak. Poor LaVor hated taking me out to dinner because I managed to point out everything they were doing wrong. Chef Steve was funny...quite serious but managed to crack a smile every once in a while.

Next was cakes...my favorite! We had Chef Jake who looked like Santa Claus with a gray beard. He constantly sang/whistled the Green Acres theme song. He also made fun of everyone for loving Chef Steve. He would say, "Chef Steve, Chef Steve" in the funniest voice. I still giggle just thinking about it. I had the opportunity of being partners with a sweet deaf girl. That forced me to take detailed notes so she'd know everything that was going on. I treasure my 2 cake notebooks! Also in this class, we had Sous Chef...whatever his name was. Total jerk...you'll hear about him later.

Moving onto breads...not my favorite. We started out with Chef Holly since our real chef, Chef Mike, was out recovering from knee surgery. I enjoyed the end product but hated the process of making bread. It takes way too long :o)

After breads, we moved back into the classroom with Chef Steve. This time we were learning about the business side of the industry. In this class, Popie's Pastries was created. It was quite interesting but made me nervous to realize how much gambling goes into having your own business.

We were then blessed to be with Chef Nick in Plated Desserts. He was my favorite chef and not just because he was nice to look at :oP He was very experienced and made the best effort to teach us as much as he could. Chef Phil, the Sous Chef from cakes, was also the Sous Chef in Plated Desserts. I was making ice cream one day and didn't use a double boiler. Needless to say, I scrambled the eggs. Chef Phil questioned me and made me feel like the dumbest person. Chef Nick noticed I wasn't my annoying/bubbly self and re-assured me that nobody is perfect and we all make mistakes. There were plenty of eggs to start over. That day, on my way home, I heard the song, "Collide" by Howie Day. When the line "Even the best fall down sometimes" came on, I bursted into tears and cried the whole way home. I can't hear that song without being reminded of that day.

Last class was Chocolate and Sugar with Chef Devon. Chef Devon...where do I begin?! She reminded me of my ceramics teacher in high school...absolutely nuts! She had frizzy hair, dark rimmed glasses, always had chocolate splattered on her apron and could never get anyone's name right. No matter what question you asked her, she responded with, "Who?!?!". So as a going away gift, we got her an adult bib that had "Who?!?!" embroidered on it. It was hilarious.

I'm so grateful for the chance that I had to attend Culinary School. I met great people, learned a lot and made fantastic memories. An experience that most people don't get and one that I will always remember and treasure.

Me, Kristina & Pamela. Pamela made our wedding cake. We still talk to each other, quite often.

Me and Yan Can Cook!

*Look at Popie's Pastries websites for pictures of the desserts I made.

"The best Father's Day ever!"

I'm horrible when it comes to thinking of presents to get people. Especially guys! Girls are always pretty easy to please but I always have a hard time with guys.

This year for Father's Day, I was thinking about getting A's tickets for Pop. I then found out that Alex got tickets for the A's/Giant's game (A's won...yippee!) so I had to rack my brain for another idea. It came to me while I was driving home from work one day. I remembered back to last June when we were down at Disneyland and there was a Hertz Shelby GT Mustang in the parking lot of our hotel. Pop, Kenny and LaVor oooed and awwwed over the car and talked about how neat it would be to rent one.

Well, a year went by and it never happened. When I got home that night, I went onto Hertz's website and unfortunately the Mustang was only available in select cities but they didn't tell you which ones. I tried my luck at finding one at the San Francisco airport but it said "sold out". So I tried Oakland and San Jose...same answer. Gift idea #2...shot down.

I couldn't think of another idea so I decided to call Hertz and see if speaking to someone could get me somewhere. The wonderful girl I spoke to said that the car shows up as sold out online because it's only available to people who are flying in. I told her my idea and she put me on hold while she found out what arrangements we could make. She came back on the line and said if I did this and this, I'd be able to rent it.

So rent it I did. I don't know if I've ever been so excited to give someone a present!

LaVor and I picked Pop up at AT&T park Friday night, drove down to SFO and picked up the car. He claims he had no clue what was going on, even when we arrived at Hertz. The nice woman that helped us out told us to meet her at stall 49, where he'd find the car. Funny enough, Pop's favorite number is 49.

When we turned the corner, there she was...the car and the woman :oP Pop couldn't believe it. His reaction was exactly what I was hoping for. He exclaimed, "This is the best Father's Day ever!"

He let LaVor drive it back to my parents house. I attempted to follow them home but quickly lost them once we got on the freeway.

After our walk on Saturday, Pop took the girls out on a quick drive. The following are quotes that were shouted as we sped down the freeway:

• "My face is tingling!"
• "I think a bug went in my tooth!"
• "I'm a mother!! I have children!!"
• "I'm wearing my mother's underwear!" Nobody really was...we just felt like the girls on Grease 2
• "It sounds worse than it is."
• "There's plenty of room in the trunk - junk in the trunk."
• And the #1 thing said was, "POP!!!!!"

I go back

While I was walking around Marina Square this morning, the song that came over the sound system took me back to the Spring of 1997.

My brother and I had traveled back to Colorado Springs, CO for one of Pop's WWII reunions. The popular song at the time was...MmmBop! by Hanson. I hate to admit it but I loved that song. Whenever I hear MmmBop!, I am reminded of my time in Colorado Springs. The daily trips across the street to Chili's, begging my dad to buy me rollerblades, a set of red press on nails, a denim shirt, Pike's Peak, tour buses, crazy weather, and more.

Yesterday on my way home from work, another song came over the radio that took me back to another time...Unforgiven by Metallica. I'd say it started when I was 6, maybe 7. My brother, Tommy, became a huge fan of Metallica. Anything my brother did or liked, I had to follow. My mom has a journal of mine from first grade that describes this band, Metallica, and my new love for them. What first grader likes Metallica?!

Last night when LaVor and I were on our way to mutual, we heard an old song from Blink 182. Again, another band that I loved. I had every album they released, I got the opportunity to see them in concert (that was the first time LaVor and I met...I was 15.), I wore Hurley shirts once a week. Blink 182 takes me back to high school. I would print out lyrics to their songs and use them as my book covers.

I love music. I love that you can hear a song and it takes you back to a time in your life. If I wanted to, I could write pages and pages about songs that remind me of my past.

But I won't put you all through that.

My age - 2

22 miles today...we're tired.

We started off the day by seeing inmates from Santa Rita, walking to BART. We're pretty sure they were released today. They were walking from the area where Santa Rita is and they all had plastic bags with a few belongings in them. Not the most comforting thing to see.

We only stopped at 1 farmer's market today so we made good time :o)

We missed Amy on our walk...she was feeling a bit under the weather. But she still let us use her place as the starting point.

5 more weeks until the real thing. Eeeeekkkk!

Next week...24.

Now Batting #14 Mark Ellis!!!

This time it's not kimberly posting, it's good old LaVor. We went to another A's game last night with Mom and Dad. We had a blast with mom and dad and found out that our usher is a Livermore resident and knew mom from the wienerschnitzel. He said that he eats there everyday for lunch and always get a mustard dog with ketchup. He also said that if we bring him hot dogs he would let us sit in his section.

We had amazing seats in section 122 row 2 right behind the A's dugout. We love going to the games and if we could afford it, we would purchse season tickets. I would get season tickets where we sat last night. We ate the great food, Kimberly got a hot dog and skipped out on her traditional nachos due to the nasty cheese they switched to. I had the traditional Bratwurst with mustard and onion and lots of saurkraut. Between the four of us, we ate roughly 2lbs of peanuts.

Now on to Mark Ellis who I call Kimberly's boyfriend. She has an infatuation with him. I told her to bring the camera because she would be close enough to take pictures of him. That she did and about half of them were of his behind. After the game I tried to get him to give me a ball or bat. I yelled his name and he nodded his head and gave me a peace sign. I think he would have done more if Kimberly had tried to get his attention. As always, we had fun and plan on going back many times no matter how many fans show up. We love the A's and I can still remember when Papa would take us when he had season tickets.