Cake: It's What's For Breakfast. And Lunch. And Dinner.

Pros: I work at a bakery, a place of joy and celebration! And not just any bakery, but one holding the absolute greatest baked good creations I've ever had the privilege of tasting. This isn't just your little mom-and-pop shop either. Over the past 9 years, SusieCakes  has made a name for itself in northern and southern California. We are about to open our fifteenth location! And between all these stores, this "bakery" is a multi-million dollar per year business. This is cake we're talking about, people. Millions of dollars in CAKE. (And pies and cupcakes and...well just go on and check out the menu)

Cons: I can't stop eating it.


You know those metabolisms where you can eat whatever you want and you don't gain a pound? Maybe your insides aren't super healthy but your outsides still look fantastic? That has never, even for a passing second, been my life. And you may be thinking ,"Well, just have some will power, for crying out loud!" to that I say- You try being surrounded by wafts of delicious spices and melted chocolate and incredible creations all day long and not want to stick a fork in to absolutely everything.
Even with just those words, I bet you're all ready drooling (if you've even gotten back to reading this after seeing the menu).

It really has been a blast to start work at Susiecakes. The business itself has incredible core values which are almost impossible to find in a professional environment. My co-workers are ambitious, welcoming, hard-working and hilarious. And we give people cake! How great is that? (We also eat the cake, if that wasn't clear before)

I'd love to keep writing but, I need to go walk 500 miles to compensate for the things I ate... this morning....

This is our cute little store in the Bon Air Shopping Center! 

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Doing The Thing I Did Six Months Ago (Truth Time)

Job hunting isn't exactly something you want to have to do twice in six months... but sometimes, you have to know when to fold 'em and know when to walk away (and know when to run).
   That started out as a song reference but is actually quite applicable here.

That's right folks: I'm back in it. "The Job Hunt", that is. And if you thought it would be better this time around... well, I'm still sorting that out. Although the nature of the internet makes for some to share all their details with little regard to other people reading it, I will not be doing that here. Put simply, I left the position on my own accord and am now seeking other employment.
It's been quite the battle over these past few weeks. Going back and forth from happy emotions to guilty emotions and just trying to make sense of it all.
         I've slept. A lot. It's my defense mechanism.

Just in the little over two weeks since I have not had a job, I've sent in dozens of applications to various administrative positions and am (very impatiently) waiting to hear back. Maybe I don't know what goes in to the hiring process but in my mind, I clearly have a excellent college degree (Go Hokies!), have stellar experience and skills, and great references. What more do you want from me?!
I say this to my computer screen on a regular basis.

But after going through a part of my bible study yesterday, I realized that I had been letting my emotions drive everything over these past few weeks. I've exhausted myself with an inner tug-o-war, by constantly fretting about "What if I never get another job?" (hello, drama) or "What was I thinking?" and my favorite, "I should have stayed in Egypt!" (read the book of Exodus and that will make more sense).

But the truth is, these statements keep me from looking forward.

Remember at the very beginning of this blog when I focused on this word: Grateful.  My previous job was very helpful financially to get us back on our feet after a trans-continental move. I'm beyond grateful for God's provision through that! Now it's time to look forward and rely on truth rather than my crazy emotions.

If you're the praying type, I'd be most appreciative of a few of your sweet words up to our listening and attentive God... to not only heal wounds but to allow truth to dictate this season, rather than emotion.
And of course that I would get a job. Tomorrow, would be great.

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,

that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

psalm 90:14

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Rain, Rain.... I'm so glad you're here

Why am I so happy it's raining today?

Because I was convinced I had sent California into the next massive drought.

All because I bought my first pair of rain boots.

You know how that tends to happen, right? You buy an item to prepare for "the next time", and you end up never needing it. It's life's subtle way of mocking you.  That's what recently happened to me and these boots.

After the downpours we got in December, I decided it was probably time to stop risking illness due to   improper footwear (and, ya know, be an adult). I found some cute but classic rain boots at DSW and, as you guessed, it hasn't rained a drop since that day.

Think I'm being dramatic about this? Where I can see you may think that (as I've proved it over and over again in life), check out this excerpt from SFgate.com:

     Not one drop of measurable rain fell on city streets in January, 

the first time that’s happened in recorded weather history, 

which dates back to the Gold Rush. 

The Gold Rush, people. These are some seriously powerful rain boots.

Ironically, I don't want to actually use my rain boots today. I'd much rather stay warm and dry in my apartment with some popcorn and a movie. (But really, don't we all want to do that?)

Except mine aren't red.

Weeeeeeeeeeee!!!

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Two Thousand Fifteen

I've lived in the Bay Area for six months now.

That seems unreal to me! I find myself telling people, "I just moved here!" but then realizing that it's not true. I've been here for a half of a year all ready. And I've observed some things, none without bias, that I may help recap the last few weeks since the previous post.


1.) It's beautiful. Unbelievably beautiful. The weather, the water, the classic "San Francisco sites". It doesn't get old driving over the gorgeous red bridge (and singing the Full House song in your head... every time) It's pretty great to go to the beach on Christmas Day (which we did). It's breathtaking to sit on the top of Twin Peaks and watch the sunset (which looked like a Patagonia commercial). I understand why people want to live here. I'm so glad that I have the opportunity to do so.
2.) It's expensive. Outrageously expensive. We went out on a date this past week & splurged a bit (as in we didn't go to In-N-Out this time), and when the check came, we couldn't help but laugh. In Blacksburg, a nice date was out to Lefty's for dinner (still one of our favorites!) and maybe a $30 check with tip included. Here? You can double that and then add some more. This is why we try hard to get creative with cheap dates and celebrate when coupon codes are involved (Thank you, RedBox).
3.) The food.  I know that I just said it is expensive, but friends, you don't even understand how good it is. All of it! We haven't had a bad meal in the past six months, and my enlarged hips don't lie about that.  We all ready have favorites, not limited to the following: Sol Food, a mouth-watering puerto rican restaurant in San Rafael; Dipsea Cafe, a way more expensive version of Gillies and with bacon; Ghirardelli Square, because we love ice cream and chocolate; and all the coffee everywhere.
4.) The weather. Love and warm hugs to all my friends freezing in the arctic tundra of winter right now, but without reserve, I do not miss it a single bit. I can't even fathom what below freezing temperatures feel like anymore, when just a year ago we were huddled in our Blacksburg apartment as the inside of our windows had frost on them due to the -18 degree wind chill. No way, José. I'm good with a light jacket on 50 degree "winter" day.
5.) It's expensive.  Did I mention that?
6.) There are terrible drivers everywhere. I mean truly terrible, and I learned to drive in South Florida and Northern Virginia: the two extremes of slow, old people who can't see over the wheel and crazed businessmen who must-get-to-the-Pentagon-immediately. Californians are worse. I don't know what it is that makes you take a full five minutes to comprehend the fact that a merge situation is inevitable. I also don't know why you refuse to turn on your blinker and then gradually change lanes and slam on your brakes. My assumption is a combination of arrogance and cell phones. I can't tell you how many times I've honked my horn because the doofus in front of me is looking down to fiddle on the phone! Let's just say that my road rage has exponentially increased since July.
7.) In-N-Out is beyond amazing. 
8.) Surely you're no longer paying attention to this list... eight items is just way too many.


There are a few other things I know, like the fact that my husband is not only charming and handsome, but also very smart and hard working. Taking on five masters-level classes this past semester, he managed to crush out a 3.7 GPA. Dats my Boo.

Everywhere you look, everywhere you look, 

there's a heart

a hand to hold on to!

                                   

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