“You be careful. People in masks cannot be trusted"

There's something really satisfying about creating something delicious then having people consume it.  I think that satisfaction is part of the reason I'm drawn to cooking.  Eating is something everyone in the world does, so to be able to deliver something delicious is awesome.  I love it.

I cannot tell you how excited I was last week to get started on all the food I planned on for m graduation party.  I spent a lot of time working on it, but it was worth it. I enjoyed every minute of standing around in the kitchen doing things like kneading cracker dough and rolling chocolate truffles.   It was glorious.  Plus, I got some good use of my kitchenaid in.

Friday was a blur, I had so much to do.  I was a bit stressed, but everything fell into place.  The kitchen looked spectacular, my sister came over and took wonderful pictures of the food and me in my chef's coat.  I felt a little bad for the people who showed up on time (or within the first hour and a half) because it was slow going and I was still putting things together.  But everyone showed up in masks, looking fabulous.  It was awesome.

Some of us fabulous masked ladies.  And Keith, creeping in the background

Masks all around

Chelsea's mask is legit, from Italy.

The Phantom made an appearance

Getting ready to play Mafia

It was a great night

"No party is any fun unless seasoned with folly"

This is a prologue for a post that is bound to be posted this weekend.

I've been preparing for my graduation party this Friday.  I've planned this fantastic masquerade party at my house for the sole purpose of being able to make as many desserts and hors d'ouevres as I want.  Well, also because I like parties and I like dressing up and I like Halloween.  But graduation gave me the perfect reason to throw a party.  For myself.

I'm so excited.  I haven't done much planning other than the food, but the rest of it will fall into place.  I have no fear of this bombing out.  People know there's going to be food, people will come.

I'm excited.   Prepping takes a lot of work, but it's enjoyable.  And rewarding.

Can't wait for Friday night.

p.s. I'm back at Brookstone and I'm rocking it.

The Holy Grail of Kitchen Gadgets

I bought a Kitchenaid Professional 600 as a graduation present to myself.  The thing is massive and it just barely fits under the cabinets in the kitchen, which is good because then it doesn't have to hide out in the pantry, it gets to sit proudly where all may view it.

I feel a sense of accomplishment, and not just because I finished culinary school.  I feel like a grown up.  Instead of saving my money for the newest Holiday Celebration collectors Barbie, I'm spending my money on things like mixers and knives.  I obsessed over this mixer.  I've been thinking about it for months.  I've been looking online at all the different prices, debating between the Artisan mixer and the Pro 600.  I really wanted the apple green (or maybe the pistachio) artisan, but the pro just made more sense.  I succumbed to the irresistible power of he Pro 600 and bought it, with the help of a 20% off coupon for Bed Bath and Beyond.

It's beautiful.  I'm in love.  I feel guilty sitting in front of my computer blogging, not sitting with my mixer, touching it as much as I can.  I plan on making muffins tonight, but I think I'm going to have to make something sooner.  I can't wait to get that baby into action.

It's just so very lovely...

"I've never been so alone. And I've never been so alive"

There's something about the Third Eye Blind song Motorcycle Drive By that gets me.  It makes me feel sort of sad, but also sort of relieved.  It's kind of hard to explain what emotion it stirs up.  All I know is I heard it on my way home tonight and I fell in love all over again.  If I had to pick a song for my life at this exact moment, it would be this one.
It's beautiful.

Motorcycle Drive By
Summer time and the wind is blowing outside 
In lower Chelsea and I don't know 
What I'm doing in this city
The sun is always in my eyes
It crashes through the windows 
And I'm sleeping on the couch 
When I came to visit you 
That's when I knew
That I could never have you
I knew that before you did 
Still I'm the one who's stupid

And there's this burning
Like there's always been
I've never been so alone
And I've never been so alive

Visions of you on a motorcycle drive by 
The cigarette ash flies in your eyes 
And you don't mind, you smile.
And say the world, it doesn't fit with you 
I don't believe you, you're so serene 
Careening through the universe 
Your axis on a tilt, you're guiltless and free 
I hope you take a piece of me with you

And there's things I would like to do
That you don't believe in
I would like to build something
But you'll never see it happen

And there's this burning 
Like there's always been 
I've never been so alone 
And I've, I've never been so alive

And there's this burning, aaa-oh
There is this burning, yeah yeah yeah

Where's the soul I want to know
New York City is evil
The surface is everything
But I could never do that
Someone would see through that

And this is our last time
We'll be friends again
I'll get over you, you'll wonder who I am

And there's this burning
Just like there's always been
I've never been so alone, alone
And I, and I, I've never been so alive
So alive

I go home to the coast
It starts to rain I paddle out on the water, alone
Taste the salt and taste the pain
I'm not thinking of you again

Summer dies and swells rise
The sun goes down in my eyes
See this rolling wave
Darkly coming to take me home

And I've never been so alone
And I've never been so alive 

"Dating requires a lot of energy and focus"

I've done a lot of dating in my lifetime. Before I was of the dating age I had my head filled with the whole grandeur of dating and I just longed to be sixteen so I could go to Golf 'n Stuff or make gingerbread houses with the many boys I had crushes on. For the most part, dating hasn't been all that spectacular. It's pretty seldom that I return home from a date all starry eyed and twitterpated. But it's almost equally as seldom when I experience a date that leaves me wishing I had stayed home to knit a sweater for my mother's antisocial cat instead. That being said, let's go over some highlights and lowlights of my dating history. We'll start with the less than impressive dates...

•        I dated this kid the summer after I graduated very briefly.  We went on a few dates, went to some parties, over all, didn't do all that much together.  I'd say it was a filler relationship.  Anyway, we went on a double date with a good friend of mine and her boyfriend.  We went out to dinner and ended up just splitting a dessert because he "just wasn't hungry."   When it came time to pay the bill, this guy literally did a pat down of his pants followed by a shrug and "Whoops.  I forgot my wallet."  We didn't date much longer after that.
•        Another time I went on a fail of a date with an old friend of mine.  We went to the movies and he ended up only having $7 on him.  I paid for the rest of his ticket and my own.  After the movie I drove him back to his house, which was about twenty minutes from the theater, in the opposite direction of his house.  I wasn't all that impressed.
•         I don't know if you know this, but I'm really into baseball.  My boyfriend who lived across the country came to visit me in California, so I took him to a Dodger game.  It was a spectacular game.  The Dodgers won 11-2, with some pretty awesome plays.  I was constantly jumping off the outfield bench to shout and clap and do all those things a baseball fanatic does.  The kid didn't stand up once.  I don't think he even clapped once.  He just wanted to sit on the bench and sulk.  I understand that baseball isn't the most fun sport to watch, but really?  We scored 11 runs!  It was a really eventful game!  I was pretty peeved.  Baseball is something I love.
•        Now, this isn't one specific date, but I just want to say that I think the worst situation is being on a date with someone who is obviously into you, but you're simply not into him.  Maybe it's just me, but I feel bad in those kinds of situation.  I feel bad for the guy who's trying so hard to be smooth and have a kiss at the end of the date.  I feel bad for myself for having to do my best to let the guy down easy.  It's just uncomfortable all around.  

You know, now that I'm trying to think of awful dates I've been on, I'm completely blanking.  I know there are more, probably some horrific ones, but I can't remember them.  Either I'm suppressing the scarring memories, or I'm more into happy memories.  Oh, the happy memories...

•           I dated this one guy up in Idaho who took me on the cheapest date I've ever been on, but easily one of the most fun.  We went to the art building at BYU-Idaho (The Spori) and went to the top floor.  We made paper airplanes and named them outrageous things and then we flew them from the top floor all the way down to the bottom.  Stealth was key, though, because we had to avoid being caught by anyone because I'm fairly certain flying paper airplanes in the Spori is looked down on.  Eventually that ended when we got an airplane lodged on a windowsill on the second story with it's potentially offensive name (not my doing, it was the boy) stuck against the glass for any passersby on the second floor to see.  
•           I went to Mormon Prom my senior year with a really good friend of mine and it was the best dance I've ever been to.  We danced like maniacs and sung Pearl Jam's Last Kiss to each other across the dining room.  No other Prom had a chance of coming close to being as awesome as that one.
• Another awesome date was this one.  I already wrote it all out in great detail, so knock yourself out.  It involves a truck, the rain, a shotgun, and some kids.  
•           Okay, I've been to some great dances.  I went to a Famous Couples dance in Idaho with a kid from my dance class.  Not only were we two of the best dancers there, I'm quite partial to our costumes. 

There you have it, ladies and gentlemen.  A peek into the best and worst of my dating history.  There are more stories for either side so perhaps one day I'll post a part 2.

"Hot Behind"

I'm sure I'll eventually get around to posting something about the whole graduation experience, but right now I only have the energy to do this.

I graduated!