My First Fondant

I always wanted an EasyBake Oven.

Instead, I pretended our kitchen was a restaurant and made up menus listing the few items I could make: hot dogs, toast, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches... the classics. I can't remember how much I charged, but I'm pretty sure that I was willing to negotiate for nothing.

I inherited my sweet tooth from both sides of my family, and although cooking meals has yet to come naturally, my love for baking desserts seems to just keep growing. I guess I just figure there's a lot of intimidating science involved with the accuracy in cooking. But baking seems harder to mess up... (Although the infamous "Salt-for-Sugar Swap" of '85 in our brownies was a baking benchmark for me and my friend, Jenny).

I have since learned to be a little more patient with myself. A little. In the past I've spent time teaching myself how to create yummy cookies, cupcakes, and pies. More recently I've been wanting to become a little better at making cakes. Recently, I finally took a stab at making a cake with fondant on top. Allison (quite the savvy cake-maker) gave us some advice. It was followed by a last-minute phone call for help to Michal, who might be one of the best cooks I know.

Okay, so here's what we made. A four-layer chocolate cake with raspberry and whipped cream, plus buttercream with fondant on top.


The marshmallow fondant was quite the adventure to work with. I guess the big thing that we quickly learned was to grease the countertop before working with the fondant. We ended up making it work, but it was just a little messier to clean up than it would have been had we greased the counter.


We dyed some fondant and used the Spring colors to make a Spring-themed cake.
Look! Pretty flowers...

Evan added a butterfly... and a sun with - of course - sunglasses. (I'm sure there's something existential about that). Oh... and I made some grass with a lil' bunny hiding.

And Megan was kind enough to add a ladybug (cute!) and a caterpillar.

It was not only the cutest cake ever but also one of the yummiest! :)

Self Motivation

I think... if I post on this blog, I'd like to make it a venue of "Good Vibes Only." So I want to post things on here that make me feel good, and hopefully some things that might make you feel good too.
Today I needed some words of wisdom on writing.

So here's the deal. I've been writing. A bit.
There's this book I'm working on. Maybe you've heard of my insane dating project that somehow landed me a lil' interest from: the book world, Hollywood, and a handsome beau. I'm writing up my adventures - along with some tales of dating woes and wonders and magical moments of finding visions of hope while in the depths of despair - and am hoping to compile it in book form soon-ish.

In reality, the book feels very, very possible. Extremely possible in fact. But I have been standing in my way of getting it done. Some call it writer's block. But I believe the only block standing in any writer's way (or anyone's way from his own success)... is himself.

I took a break from writing for a few weeks. And I've successfully come up with a few excuses as to why...

One.
It's not really an awesome feeling writing about my failed relationships in a way that "takes the reader there." Ouch. For real. Let's just photocopy my journal, shall we? Very humbling. And it makes me ornery.
Not attractive.

Two.
I am not giving my life enough credit. I keep thinking this book is basically my take on a sort of memoir... when my life is not even a third over yet (I expect to live FOR-EV-ER). And I keep thinking my life is not interesting.

Three.
I have been feeling like I suck at writing.

So I went to a writer I really respect for some inspiration.
Here's what Liz Gilbert (author of Eat, Pray, Love) has to say:

"As for discipline – it’s important, but sort of over-rated. The more important virtue for a writer, I believe, is self-forgiveness. Because your writing will always disappoint you. Your laziness will always disappoint you. You will make vows: “I’m going to write for an hour every day,” and then you won’t do it. You will think: “I suck, I’m such a failure. I’m washed-up.” Continuing to write after that heartache of disappointment doesn’t take only discipline, but also self-forgiveness (which comes from a place of kind and encouraging and motherly love). The other thing to realize is that all writers think they suck. When I was writing “Eat, Pray, Love”, I had just as a strong a mantra of THIS SUCKS ringing through my head as anyone does when they write anything. But I had a clarion moment of truth during the process of that book. One day, when I was agonizing over how utterly bad my writing felt, I realized: “That’s actually not my problem.” The point I realized was this – I never promised the universe that I would write brilliantly; I only promised the universe that I would write. So I put my head down and sweated through it, as per my vows."
-Elizabeth Gilbert

So...... I think that makes sense. I need to throw out my excuses and just write.
I really do.

--------------------------------------------
Here's the thing. I'm not posting this whiney complaint in an effort to lure fantastic compliments my way.
Really.
I just wanted to post something to give myself some motivation. Plus, I want to start making this blog a haven for the good words of good people. So there you go.

Do you have any cool phrases you've heard recently that have given you a boost?
What motivates you???

One More Reason...

Wednesday night I was talking about this cool walking mystery tour around the city that I wanted to do (kinda like "How to Host a Murder" but out and about). Neil Patrick Harris had mentioned it about a year ago on the Regis and Kelly show and I've been trying to track it down ever since.

The next day, my friend, Dan, and I headed to the Starbucks across the street from work. And who walked in behind me wearing a black leather jacket and sunglasses??

That's right.

Neil. Patrick. Harris!

As I waited for my grande hazelnut hot chocolate, I gently touched Neil (we're on a first name basis now, apparently) on the arm.

"I was just talking about you last night!" I said. "What's the name of that mystery tour around the city?"

"Accomplice."

"Is it an all-day thing?" I asked.

"No, only a few hours."

Um....

So there you go. More cool moments and serendipity giving just one more reason why my life is awesome. That was such a cool experience! Right??!

Okay, so here's that tour (they also have it in L.A.).

And here is some more Neil Patrick Harris joy that you will love!!!