Mmmm Cake.

A couple of summers ago, I took a baking and cake decorating course at the Bonnie Gordon School. The two classes I took were Baking and Butter Cream and Cake Decorating I: An Introduction to Cake Decorating. Bonnie is internationally recognized and one of North America’s foremost cake artists. Baking and butter cream teach great things about different cake flavours and icing as well as decorating cookies. The cake decorating course gives instruction on masking cakes, working with buttercream, piping, rolling fondant and covering a cake as well as decorating with fondant. One iced cookie from my baking class and the cake from my decorating class:

I really loved these classes as I’ve always had an interest baking and decorating. My first foray was in an after school program in 4th grade. We baked and decorated Garfield cake. It bore an uncanny resemblance to this lil'guy! Mmmmmm, did you know Garfield is chocolate on the inside? He was that afternoon anyway.


I so badly wanted to bake a cake that looks like a kitty litter box for my SP's birthday this past winter, but he said no way he wouldn't eat it...ingrate. Who passes on cake?!

But I've been hankering to take more classes at the Bonnie Gordon School. I think if I hadn’t gone into teaching and had the desire to run my own business or partner with someone else, I would have liked to go into a baking and cake decorating business. I’m really interested in learning how to paint on cakes/fondant and increasing my skills. I would LOVE to be able to create cakes that look like these:

My Latest Pilgrimage to Mecca (Sephora)

So, I've been hearing so much about this Korres lip balm and now that I have am done my B.Ed and have a paying job (alas not in teaching), I decided I'm going to treat myself to my favourite beautification one stop shop Sephora.

I went in with a plan, as entering Sephora with no plane and cash to spend is a dangerous endeavour for me. I needed lip balm and a specific make-up brush for eyes. It was an overcast mid June day when I entered, I fought hard against the urge to look at sunless tanners and the latest summer nail polish displays. Focus. Remember your plan Mack! Stick to the plan. Besides I had to make it quick as my boyfriend was waiting outside the store front for me.

I went to the Korres display. And agonized over lip balm tint selections. I have a problem when it comes to colour, my options and making a decision. Be it the colour of a new car, wall paint, sheets or a friggen note book, I am known to spend way too long on the final pick. I suppose it's because I love colour and it affects me.

I went with neutral Korres lip balm in Jasmine. Although the lid is pink, it goes on a sheer neutral tone and ooooooh the moisturization factor. Not goopy, stick or glue like, it's butter and smells like heaven; a cross between baked goods and candy with no offensive taste on the palate.

Next over to the eye brushes. I knew what I wanted and snapped it up right away, after taking a few moments to inspect the brushes for imperfections and bristle quality. Sephora's pro line #24 is great for smokey eyes and smudging eyeliners. A specialized brush my collection has been woefully been lacking for years.

My last trial...the cahsier line product bins. Damn you Sephora you know the flesh is weak and keep the temptations coming. After debting whether I really need a tube of orange sparkle lip gloss, and coming to the conclusion that I am not 17 nor Kathy Griffen so couldn't get away with it, I made my purchase and left the store with renewed faith in the strength of my willpower and restraint and with full knowledge that I'd won today's battle but not the war.

Starting Booty Camp Tuesday >.>

I start booty camp this Tuesday and I'm a little nervous. Someone I worked with actually looked forward to the days they DIDN't have it...yikes. I am out of shape and it's been a while since I worked it. And I'm not usually one to work out in group settings so we'll see how it goes. I'm hoping the trainer will make more accountable for finishing those last reps.

I'm sure I'll be sore after every session but I really don't mind that burrrrn. All I really want is results. I've signed up for 4 weeks and will also sign up for the 4 weeks in August. Woohoo hopefully I'll be in shape for the closing of bikini season! *siiigh* Maybe I'll post my start weight and measurements. Maybe. Asking a woman's weight is worse than asking her age. Of course, you'll generally get a variance of 5-10 lbs off the truth in the answer anyway!