It's Like They Took a Picture Straight From My Life...

I Am Talented

I have managed to rack up $195 in traffic and parking tickets in the city of Providence in a mere 3 1/2 months. Not only that - but I have also managed to get 2 parking tickets in 3 hours within 20 feet of each other.... now that is talent. They don't teach you that shit in Driver's Ed... that can't be taught.

Just another thing to add to my list of why Providence is a terrible place to live. They set up Providence so you need a car, but every street is 2 hour parking... one of my classes lasts longer than that.. And last time I checked so does the average workday. They also do not allow overnight parking on the street so unless you are a one car family... your completely fucked. 

Am I the only one who has a problem with this??

Oops...I did it again..

In a big bad way...

Im not sure how I feel - I am going back Friday to get it toned down a little...It's way too Marilyn Monroe for me.

What do you think?

P.S. - the one of the bottom I just took now - the one on the top is in my car as soon as I left the salon

First Week of Class Stirs Up Some Emotions..

Yesterday began Junior year! It was exciting because I started a brand new program, but at the same time it was sooo boring - like ridiculously boring. I had three classes - 2 of which were 2 hrs blocks and the last one was 3.5 hrs (thankfully only once a week). Plus I am still working full time and on certain days I have to put in a full work day (5am - 1pm) before I go to class.   

I'm at a different campus ( although still in Providence) and I feel like a freshman all over again. For the past 2 years I have been set in my little comfort zone - everyone shares not only the same interests, but the same uniform as well. Don't get me wrong..I'm all for nail polish, jewelry and individualism, but uniforms set everyone at the same level and gave everyone a sense of belonging - knowing that they were not the only crazy's who has been a self-proclaimed "foodie" since birth.

As much as I am excited to move from the technical side of the culinary industry into the business side of it, there is still a small piece of me that aches for the 7am lab class - for getting up at the crack ass of dawn to go into a freezing cold bake shop and learn in a truly unique and hands on way how to create art with food. I still have one of my housemates in the Baking & Pastry Bachelor's Program. I ask her everyday about what she did in class, and not just out of good manners - I really want to know! I feel like I still have that link to the food world. 

You may be asking "Why did you leave then??" and here is the answer...FEAR! I would go into my lab class always scared to mess up, even though I knew what I was doing and I always felt like it was not my place to be in the bakeshop because that was not the type of person I was brought up - education wise - to be. I also had a ton of self-doubt that I was in the completely wrong field. I even feel that way now when I am work -which brings me to believe that I have just not yet found the perfect outlet (i.e. hotels, restaurants, bakery). 

  I have always thought about myself as an academic person - sitting in a lecture, taking notes, doing  homework. I have come to realize though that maybe everything I had thought about myself is different. Maybe all these years that I thought "If I wasn't so lazy and applied myself I could have easily graduated top of my class" was wrong. Could it have been that all along I am a "hands - on" rather than "visual" or "auditory" learner? I'm not sure to be perfectly honest and I may never know. What I do know for certain is that all this emotion about being away from the baking world just shows me that I really do have a passion for this industry and one day I will find my perfect little place where it won't be a job anymore and I will be able to get rid of all the self-doubt and anxiety and just do what I do! 

Watch Out For That First Step...It's A Doosey

This was my night in a nutshell...

After playing in the monsoon-like rain, I slipped and fell down my 4 front porch steps...needless to say my back and arm is bruised up pretty bad

And I know what you all are thinking but believe it or not I was COMPLETELY sober!!

Move-Ins

Yesterday Kierstin moved in to the house. I am so excited about it because it means that the house will be full again and I will have someone to talk to when Kayla is at work!! Plus it also means that school is starting and there will be a whole new pace in the house. I love it!! Plus I have the next 2 days off from work to just hang out with her and catch up!

Although move-in days can be stressful...this one was not bad at all because I was already moved in and settled and had nothing to worry about but helping out. It is a great feeling to know amongst everything else I have to deal with..moving is not one of them. 

Next is Sophia's turn to move in! That will be on Thursday...lets see how it goes =)

Finally...Gratification

So, after one hellish summer of working at The Radisson...I got some gratification! 

We will be renaming and revamping the menu at the restaurant so we had a menu tasting planned for this coming Friday. I found out yesterday that the tasting was today and with no more than 2 or 3 small things left to do on our prep list we had to practically start again prepping all 6 new desserts. 

Today I came in and none of the bread formulas were around and we had no standards to base our dessert plating on...

Oh and sidenote...our chef is on vacation for the week...awesome

So...long story short, after many frantic phone calls to my chef, getting bitched at by another chef for not being prepared, and getting stretched to my limit...we bang out this menu tasting!

I came up with every plate design myself and was highly complimented by not only the executive chefs but by the director of Intern Properties at the university!!...and the executive chef apologized for being such a dick =)

I'm amazing.... it's ok.... you don't have to keep saying it!!

I would also like to thank my fellow TA's in the bakeshop...they're amazing as well =)

*Pictures will be posted when I get them.