Sweet treats for a fun tea party!

My friend asked me to make some cupcakes for a tea party she was hosting at her church. She is a great friend and former coworker and had ordered cupcakes from me for her husband's birthday. She asked for 25 chocolate and 25 vanilla flavored cupcakes. Since she is so awesome and wonderful I made her 30 of each and also 30 mini brownie cupcakes that were filed with nutella and crushed Oreos. I sometimes forget how fun it can be to decorate cupcakes. The flavors were simple, but I got to be as creative as I wanted with the decorations. I love it when people give me free reign and have no allergies! I'm going to try and bake more. I realized that I can bake and have fun and not necessarily ruin my diet. Other people get to enjoy the goodies I bake. I'm also starting work soon so hopefully my coworkers like random bake items!

One Blessed Cupcake

Summer time and the living is easy. Or so I think. The lack of work and things to do somewhat drives me crazy. My family drives me crazy. So many things drive me crazy. I recently heard this song on my friend Shania's facebook. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe4SckesWLE

Francesca Battistelli - "This Is The Stuff"

I lost my keys in the great unknown
And call me please 'cause I can't find my phone

This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff that's getting to me lately
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I've gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
Might not be what I would choose
But this the stuff You use

45 in a 35 sirens and fines
While I'm running behind
Whoa ho ho

This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff that's getting to me lately
In the middle of my little mess,
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I've gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
Might not be what I would choose
But this the stuff You use

So break me of impatience
Conquer my frustrations
I've got a new appreciation
It's not the end of the world
Whoa ho ho ho

Oooooh This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff
Someone save me
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I've gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
Might not be what I would choose
But this the stuff You use

Whoa whoa ho ho
This is the stuff You use.

The lyrics really resonate with me. I'm a spiritual person but not necessarily a believer in God. this song really helped me realized that all the small problems mean nothing in life because there is so much to be thankful for. I realize we all get bogged down in life and there are times things feel out of control. Be patient and good things will happen. Let go of frustrations and do good.

BEST WEEK EVER!!!!

I had a lot of great news this week and month!

Healthy Wins!!!

I completed my Avon Walk! I walked over 39 miles and raised over $1800 for breast cancer awareness. I honestly wanted to give up many times, but hearing the stories of survivors and why other people walked really inspired me. It was the longest, hardest, and most awesome thing I have done in my life. I want to thank everyone who cheered me on, donated to my cause and helped me get to the finish line. I met some awesome women who walked beside me. I saw Davis aKDPhi cheering us on and met a KDPhi from SLO who was walking with her family. One of the most unique experiences was walking on and under the Golden Gate Bridge and realizing how small I was and what a big thing I had committed to doing. Walking over 20 miles the first day and over 15 miles the second day was intense, insane, and pushed me to my limit. I never thought it would be so hard and I also doubted I would finish. When I saw the finish line I was so happy! I knew I was at the end. I figured I was done but there really is no finish line because Breast Cancer isn't cured and so I signed up to walk again next year. I must have been crazy to sign up for Avon Walk 2013 in San Francisco. 

At my DR's appt I was told by my DR that I no longer need to take my medication for diabetes and blood pressure. This was the best news ever because I felt so weighted down by this challenge in life. I felt that things were out of my control and life was not fair and I had been feeling this way for the last 4 years since I was diagnosed. I took control and diet, exercise, education and a determination to change my lifestyle helped me conquer this challenge. I need to thank my personal trainer Bernice for pushing me to my limit and over. I also want to thank Cyrus my other personal trainer who helped me with the nutrition aspect and as someone else with diabetes who I could talk and relate to. 

Like Cyrus said this is only the tip of ice berg!!! 6 pack abs here I come!

In terms of my job, I passed all three sections of the CSET and the additional writing component. I am one step closer becoming an official teacher. I am so excited and scared to begin this new journey of teaching as a Resource Specialist at a middle school. I also feel that I am coming back home as I loved middle school and I get to work at the school that inspired me to love to learn and lead me to where I am today.

I have been doing a lot of organizing and purging of items. If you know me you know I love handbags and shoes. I just got a shoe rack that fits 50pairs of shoes and it makes me so happy to see all my shoes! Organization is one of my stress reliefs! It looks like the size 8 section of a shoe store! I also realized I have about 60 pairs of shoes and that means I don't need any more.

There is only about 2 weeks left of my summer break and I just want to remind everyone to step back and count your blessings. I have a home, a job that fulfills me, a family that loves me, improved and improving health, wonderful friends, and a rack of beautiful shoes. <3 I'm blessed.

Ms Cupcake walks!!! 39 miles!!!

Ms Cupcake is walking 39 miles and raising $1800 toward breast cancer awareness with Avon Walk!!! I walk in less than 12 hours and still haven't packed!!! A few last minute things to do then off to bed early to be ready by 6am!!! Please support me and this great cause by donating with the link below!!! Every dollar counts!!! Thanks!!! http://info.avonfoundation.org/site/TR?px=6286099&fr_id=2173&pg=personal

Culinary Cupcake

Homemade brunch! Leafy greens, 2 small pickles, 2 breakfast sausages, half cup of strawberries, and 1 fried egg!!! Eating healthy is delicious! Just need to make it look good with fresh ingredients!

Gym Cupcakes are tastier than Couch Cupcakes!

I have been working hard this summer! I have been going to the gym at least 5 times a week and doing other healthy activities. It's great when you have someone who wants to go on walks, climbing, or bike riding for dates instead of just eating. Health and fitness are a lifestyle and you need to surround yourself with people who support, encourage and live that lifestyle too! Life should always have resistance but it should be at the gym!

Ms Cupcake goes to Graduate School

Maybe not... The federal government will no longer give students the 6 months grace period after graduation for undergraduate loans and also will not halt interest payments during graduate school! Makes me grateful to have already started and finished graduate school. I can't believe this nation can afford to bail out big banks but not students with no jobs! Education is clearly no longer a priority!

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-no-more-grace-period-on-student-loans-20120628,0,4384922.story

Teaching Cupcake

I have a very healthy appreciation for preschool teachers. I have been teaching summer school special education preschoolers for the last 3 weeks. This has been a very challenging experience. It's amazing how fast kids learn at this age. We mostly play and sing. I can't believe I can be so exhausted after 4 hours. I have gone from never changing a diaper in my life to changing 2-3 diapers a day. Can't wait to go back to middle for more new experiences and challenges!

Climbing cupcake!

I went climbing today! I learned how to tie an 8 knot, a fisherman’s knot and belay another person. It was so scary being 30ft in the air and trusting someone to keep you safe. I think that I got more comfortable as I climbed and it got much less scary each time. I did a total of 6 climbs ranging from level 5.3-5.7!!! I bought a 5 pack day pass, so expect to see me at Planet Granite in the Presidio!! Thanks to my awesome belay instructor Arsalan and my awesome climbing partner Russel!

Gym Minnie Mouse (aka gym rat) maybe Gym Cupcake!

Starting today in addition to my baking I will also talk about health in general. Looking back 8 years I see a huge transformation in how I look. I can honestly say that it was all due to exercise, healthy eating, and portion control that I gained the stronger and healthier boy. My trainer calls herself a Gym Minnie Mouse instead of gym rat. I thought that was super cute and so I decided to call myself a Gym Cupcake. This is how a Gym Cupcake is born. I am a Gym Cupcake! I go to the gym frequently and health and nutrition are super important to me. I also think that its OK to eat sweets, but in moderation. So I shall continue to make sweet treats in miniature and go to the gym and treat my body well.

2012, 2009, 2007, 2004! My Motivation!