The Launch...Finally!

As some of you may be aware, particularly from the incessant posts on Facebook, I have finally finished my Gourmet Girl to Go website.

And let me tell you something: IT IS A MINOR MIRACLE!

People, I am not a tech person. I can barely shut off my alarm clock let alone design and launch my own website (which, is unfortunate for my day job, since I am in charge of that website as well).

However, the brilliant techie angels were with me, in their little nerd glasses and pocket protectors, helping me create the most simple, user-friendly website known to mankind.

And now it is LAUNCHED!

And by launched, I mean shared with 300 of my closest friends, who may or may not need culinary services.

This makes me so nervous.

However, this website has the potential to be out there for the rest of the history of the world (or until I get married, pregnant with quadruplets and have to hire someone to cook my meals, shave my legs and pluck my gray hairs, in that order, and no longer have time to teach others how to cook or bake).

I am way, WAY EXCITED to share this new website with you! It is designed to inspire you to get in the kitchen with your friends and invite me over to play! I promise to bring chocolate. I promise to bring peanut butter. And I promise to have a blast with you. For reals.

So, without further ado:  The Gourmet Girl to Go website!

Take a peak, look around. And if you want to chat about bacon, just fill out the contact form and I'll give you a ring. I promise!

And, as if I couldn't be more of an egomaniac, my friend Katie even designed a logo for me. Are you ready for this?!!

It's like a cartoon version of myself! I have officially reached TOTAL NERD STATUS! Now I just need theme music and a super power!

I will point out that I am a big fan of her ponytail and whisk. And the pie does look particularly delicious. I also love her heels, because obviously every good cook wears heels in the kitchen.

SIDE NOTE: No, no they don't. I will not be wearing them.

So, thanks for the love and support for this new-found venture!

Thanks for the encouragement and patience as I am sure you have been greatly anticipating my website!

And thanks for inviting me to cook with you someday! I guarantee it will be a delicious. And I guarantee I will help you with the dishes.

Two Boys and a Gourmet Girl

A couple of weeks ago, my friend Emily invited me to come over and teach her boys how to bake. Emily and I have known each for a few years and have even travelled to India together. There is nothing like an international trip to make you bond with another person, especially when you experience squatty potties together.

Her boys, Will and Jack, were already familiar around the kitchen and they came prepared with aprons, a chef's hat and a Star Wars spatula. What more do you need, right?

There is just something about a kid in an apron that makes me weak in the knees.

On the agenda were Monster Cookies and chocolate-dipped Oreo pops with sprinkles. Sprinkles make everything better, except vacuuming.

We first tackled the Monster Cookies, making them from scratch. These boys dove right in! They measured, scooped, dipped and stirred. They asked fantastic questions like "How many teaspoons are in a tablespoon?" and "Can I eat whatever chocolate chips are left over?"

I replied with "four (which I later realized was three)" and "of course you can, just as long as you share with me." Hey, chocolate chips are my favorite food group. I have a hard time parting with them.

Once the dough was thoroughly mixed and tasted, we began scooping. Will was very precise with his measuring, making sure each cookie was about the same size. I made sure they were spaced evenly apart so he didn't end up with one ginormous cookie. Which, you know, would still be delicious.

Jack, on the other hand, decided that one ginormous cookie was the way to go. You can see his in the picture above.  All you need is one or two more of those and you have lunch.

To top it off, Jack sprinkled sunflower seeds all over his big cookie. That kid is after my own salty/sweet heart.

After those were in the oven, we brought out the Oreos. I wanted to show them that you can take something already baked and make it even better.

But here is where things began to fall apart.

First, the pop sticks we used caused the Oreos to break apart.

Next, the food coloring I used to color the white almond bark caused it to freeze up, leaving us with huge chunks of chocolate gunk. Not ideal for consumption, let alone dipping.

Thankfully, some of the white chocolate had been set aside and the boys just rolled with it and dipped their Oreos by hand, using copious amounts of sprinkles to finish them off. Emily, in all of her culinary genius, had yellow dipping chocolate and melted it down to help cover the rest of the Oreos.

As much as I wanted this lesson to be flawless, and the perfectionist in me was secretly crying inside, this was an excellent example of how baking does not always turn out perfectly. It is a work in progress. And even a messy cookie can still be a delicious one.

I think Jude liked them, but the jury is still out.

Overall, these kids blew me away by their questions, attention to detail and love for all things butter and sugar. And I loved hanging out with them! There is nothing more fun than to see kids enjoy being in the kitchen and wanting to learn something new. I was totally impressed.

Bravo, boys! I think you're ready for your own TV show. 

I Would Be A Surgeon If Not For The Blood

On Thursday morning, long before the sun even thought about coming up, my mom crept into my room to tell me she was driving herself to the emergency room.

Let's just pause right there.

In no situation is this a good thing, especially when you are mid-way through your REM cycle.

And when you couple the early hour, along with this being your very own mama, the one who is tougher than nails and has to be threatened with loss of limb or large quantities of blood to even think about going to the hospital, you push away the thoughts of dread and cling to the thoughts of hope.

I quickly realized that this day was going to look vastly different than I had planned. And it was going to include me in the emergency room with very bad hair and a very sick mom.

After I had found pants and my glasses, we loaded up in my car and drove to the hospital.  Thankfully, the emergency room was empty and my mom was quickly ushered behind a set of swinging doors.

And then came the waiting.

I must admit that I usually excel in a crisis. I am fairly calm and level-headed, planning ahead and trying to meet current needs. However, the one thing that makes me pause and/or perhaps need a gurney myself is anything that has to do with blood. Or needles. Or body parts that are not where they should be.

So when they called me back to come visit with my mom after she had had a series of tests, I was relieved to see that she was still very much in tact. This was beneficial for both of us. And after another hour of waiting, it was determined that she needed to have her gall bladder removed. Immediately.

I cannot tell you how relieved I was by this news. I am down to only one freely roaming parent and to have this pain be something associated with a long-term illness or something worse, may have meant me checking myself into the mental ward, which conveniently was just down the hallway.

The trauma surgeon came in and said she could fit my mom in later in the day. She said that was very routine and she could be in and out (I got a little lightheaded at this point) in about an hour. I was in awe of her confidence, knowledge and authority of the human body. I have a family full of health care professionals, including my mom, and I have always wanted to be in the profession myself. There is just something about knowing the human body at such an intimate and intelligent level that leaves me breathless.

But so does blood.

Thus my dreams of becoming a trauma surgeon were never fulfilled.

You're welcome.

My mom had a successful surgery and she is now resting at home for the rest of this week. My siblings and I spent two full days at the hospital trying to entertain ourselves without setting off any monitors or machines. That can be a challenge, just so you know. (The picture from the post below is evidence of this.) And we had an army of friends show up with copious amounts of Starbucks and encouraging words for my mom. People really are amazing when you give them a good health crisis.

I am still fascinated with the fact that there are parts in our bodies that can be removed without impacting our ability to live. I am always appreciative of the extra button on the bottom of a new shirt or coat so  you can imagine how thankful I am for spare body parts.

But most of all, I am thankful that God uses pain and discomfort, uncertainty and dependence, to produce a more healthy version of ourselves.

Fearfully and wonderfully, all in one.

Elephant Fighting

What is happening?

But more importantly, why am I related to them?

Words escape me.

Valedictorian

Yesterday, my dad had a review with his case manager. It appears that regular assessments are of utmost importance down there...unless of course they decide they aren't anymore. They tend to change their minds quite frequently.

Anyway, I am here to tell you that my dad has the best report card of anyone at Camp Alamosa.

In fact, he has the best report card of anyone in over nine years.

Way to go, Pops!

Not only are you Student Body President, you are also Valedictorian.

Her First Birthday Butterflies

I have these amazing friends who hired me to bake for their little girl's first birthday. They supplied me with these amazing edible butterflies that took these cupcakes and her little smash cake over the top!

Couldn't you just die?!

(Please don't.)

The butterflies make ordinary cupcakes look magical!

I kind of want to order some for myself. You know, for my 34th birthday.

I love the detail on this one.

And this sweet little cake? Well, I could just stick a fork in it myself and eat the whole thing.

It's like a heavenly cloud of cream cheese frosting. Amen.

They almost look like they are ready to take flight.

Every girl should have edible pastel butterflies for their birthday.

Thank you Naseem and Jami for letting me celebrate with your little one! Feel free to send me leftovers.

Just kidding.

Sort of. 

Good Monday Morning

Hello peeps (and no, not the marshmallow kind)!

Today is the day where all things pastel and sugary are thrown into the garbage, never to be seen again. Not even an evening binge and the very strong desire to pilfer through the trash will bring those suckers back into my home. It is time to focus on summer and trying not to actually look like an inflated, chocolate-covered version of myself.

Speaking of which, that would not be pretty. Nope.

Easter around my house was blissful. March was not the easiest month. In fact, I am really happy to see it leave. But this past weekend was filled with things I had been craving: stability, rest and comfort. My dad was able to come home for the weekend, the first time since Christmas. His time went by way too fast but there are no words to express how much peace his presence brings. For a few hours, there was a sense of normalcy. I'll take that any day.

We also ate a lot of bacon.

And I watched a Duck Dynasty marathon. Nothing says Resurrection Sunday quite like Phil Robertson preaching the Word in camouflage. Hands down, that could be my favorite show on TV right now. And call me crazy, but I think I could marry a man with beard. But then again, that could just be the sugar detox talking.

I have also found a new nail polish color that I am just LOVING. It is currently on my toes and if it weren't for the snow/rain/hail/sunshine mix we are forecasted for today, I would be wearing some sort of sandal just to show them off. It is called "Brisk Blue" and it is summer in a bottle:

I implore you buy this. In the insightful words of Uncle Si, it will make you happy, happy, happy.

Yeah, perhaps I need a camouflage detox too.