30/01/2014

It's somebody's Birthday somewhere...

It's somebody's Birthday... It's somebody's Birthday...
"I just don't want to look back and think, 'I could've eaten that'."

Last Saturday I made a cake and had the Grandparents over Sunday afternoon for some tea.
I used a cake recipe from Gesine Bullock-Prado's "Sugar Baby" cookbook and an espresso icing recipe from Call me Cupcake's Linda.

The small cake pan my mom got from one of our visits to The Duchess Bake shop in Edmonton. It is the perfect size for this cake plate that a friend gave us years ago. We've used the pair a couple of times now and it is the perfect size for a little family when you don't want days and days of leftovers.


***

Lately I have been thinking a lot about school and what I want from that experience. And I am rather surprised to say that I'm not looking for a degree or diploma, but just enhancing my knowledge in subject areas that interest me. 

It's weird because I always strived for the best in every aspect and subject in school -- I had pretty steady grades that hovered between 85-95% in every class. I think this might have made my decision that much harder because, though I knew what I loved more, I had a love of knowledge that made some part of every subject enjoyable.

I know now, and perhaps always, that I love English. I love to read. I love to write. I love analyzing and interpreting text. And I want to build my knowledge more in this area and improve.

I also want to know more about photography, web design, the pastry arts, and small business. Consequently, I have come to the decision at this time to apply to Bachelor of Arts and pick and choose the courses I want to take -- but not have the overbearing thought of finishing the degree in four years -- or at all ultimately. Taking some extra courses by open studies. And  then perhaps after a couple of years I will go to NAIT or overseas for a pastry art course...the possibilities are endless. 

And a sort of peace has come over me knowing that I can do whatever I want. 

That thought used to be the reason the future scared me.


25/01/2014

Lately...

Making me happy... bouquet pic one
watching: I got a series for Christmas called, "The Paradise" and mom and I have been watching it every evening we have the chance to. It is also that time of year again, Downton Abbey. It's taken over our Sunday evenings, with perfect wit and posh. If you haven't heard of either of them (which come on really, if you haven't heard of DA your living under a rock!), go check them out immediately and get your British soap opera fix.
listening to: I recently discovered John Newman, thanks to my sister, over Christmas break. This is my favourite song of his. I have also had a rekindled love for Andrew Belle and Ben Howard. And lastly, "I see fire." has definitely been on repeat since watching, "The Desolation of Smaug." 
thinking about: I've been thinking about a couple of things as of late but one of the "regulars" is the future. the future as far as next September. If I'm going to go to school. What am I going to take. Which uni will I choose. All of which have been circling through my mind on repeat with out any clear decision made or any sort of clarity really.
looking forward to: I've been looking forward to my grad trip with my grandparents in June! We are going to England and France and I am beyond excited. It's helped a lot  when I know they are on the same page as far as what I am looking for. I don't want to see England and France, I want  to be in England and France. And learning the difference between those you'll realize they are polar opposites. 
reading: I just started reading, "The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie." by Allan Bradley. My dad and grandma have read this already and it has been suggested to me countless of times as I moaned about what I could read next. I remember starting it once and being disinterested so I decided that was that. It wasn't I guess because the past couple of months I've been seeing it on our library shelf and thinking I should give it another go. And I'm so glad I did. It is quite witty and humorous, it's a detective story told from the perspective of an eleven year old, chemist enthusiast. 
making me happy: Right now. Flowers. I got a bouquet from one of our local grocers and it was (surprisingly) quite nice so I took it home to brighten up my room and perhaps give me some false hopes about spring. Another thing that has made me happy this past month is the mild weather, there has definitely not been more than a couple of days that have been below minus five! Strange weather for January. We are used to seeing as low as minus forty, and a constant temperature of around minus twenty.

19/01/2014

The scariest moment is always just before you start

I've come to the conclusion that I need to write. more. a lot more. 

It's been ages since I've done a blog post and that is entirely my fault. Sometimes I feel quite alone writing these but I know that is no excuse. 

I started this blog as a creative outlet. And now. More than ever. I need that. 

The days are short and long at the same time. Instead of focusing on what I can't do with the limited light, I suppose I need to focus on what I can. 

I can write. 

I've never been one to make New Year's Resolutions, I've always just kind of had a list in my mind of somethings I wanted to improve. 

This is my mental list of what I want to improve this year:


  • My blog and it's content -- bring new things into it. Surprisingly I know quite a bit and I have opinions. I can use that. I want to not be so shy about putting stuff on here. Putting myself on here, but what the heck it's my blog!

  • My health. I'm not overweight, nor am I underweight. But sometimes I feel quite lethargic and lazy. I want to exercise to improve my mood and my sleep. I want to eat right so I can fuel my body properly. I am NOT however giving up sweets. I cannot. I will limit my self to special occasions -- like Friday nights watching The Paradise. ;)

  • I want to find adventure.

  • I want to read more. 

  • I want to "make small talk". I work as a receptionist but have never really been good at engaging the clients who come in, it's not my forte. I say the necessary things but never anything more. I want to improve on that.

  • And finally I want to enjoy every minute of it. The small things as well as the big. Because goodness knows I don't have very many big things to enjoy nowadays.