It's Red, Empire Red...

That right, Ladies and Gentleman, I finally got it. Naomi surprised me with the best gift EVER! At least, the best gift ever for an aspiring pastry chef. The KitchenAid, Empire Red, Artisan Mixer!!! YES, YES, YES! She surprised me on a crappy Monday, like Mondays always are, with the wonderful work of art. I couldn't believe it. It wasn't my Birthday, Christmas, nothing. Just a normal day. It was like a dream come true.

It took me 5 days to open it and 2 more days to actually take it out of the box. I was so worried because I finally got the one thing, next to the Easy Bake Oven, that I have always wanted. To finally have something you always wanted is very scary. It's almost like a dream, an end of an era, an era of want.

To date I have made chocolate shortbread and a three layer, chocolate vanilla cake with chocolate buttercream icing. I find myself dreaming all week of concoctions I can make once the weekend rears it’s lovely head. I make a mental checklist every day of the things I can now attempt with my new toy.

Yes, it is the best present ever! If you don't have one, I highly recommend stopping by your local bakeware store and picking one up. It just might change your life.

Moving 101

Have you ever heard of asking people whom you BARELY know to help you move? Let's take a poll shall we:
In the last year, you helped ____ people move:
a) 0
b) 1
c) 2
d) 3+ (you're way too nice)

Of the people you helped, you knew them for:
a) 1 day
b) 6 months
c) 1 year
d) Best of friends for 7 years (etc.)

I ask this because I helped move a person that I work with this weekend and it was not fun. No, actually it was more than not fun, it was utter hell. Not only had I never looked at this person outside of work, it was supposed to be a one night stay over with NO moving involved and quickly morphed into a three night stay, one two hour trip to Target, and six hours of a four story walkup. I was so mad.

Back to the poll. I am hoping that most of you picked that you helped your best friend or at least very good friends move because that I understand. Helping your friends move is almost a requirement. Not really but you now what I mean. YES, I could have said NO but that would have been just plain rude and I couldn't go back to work knowing that I would have to see her and that I basically kicked her out of my house to fend the four story walk up by herself. I guess what I am trying to say is that there are rules when it comes to asking for help when you move; moving etiquette if you will. So, for those of you who are going to ask your friends to help you move, below is my version of the rules:

Rules
1. Only ask friends that are near and dear to your heart.
2. Make sure that there is a plan right from the get go.
3. Arrange to rent a truck ahead of time
4. Make sure you have already picked up the truck before your “movers” arrive.
5. Have everything packed and labeled BEFORE moving day.
6. If multiple trips are involved, make sure that the "grunt" work i.e. moving all of the boxes and everything else that can be handled by one person is already downstairs and ready to put on the truck -- don't make people run up and down stairs if they don't have too.
7. Keep a tight schedule – I am sure that everyone would rather be doing something other than hauling your crap in and out of a truck, so be mindful of their time
8. Payback - offer dinner or some sort of refreshment when the move is complete

Those are my rules. Feel free to edit as you see fit.

Why you want to leave me?

Wails the father on the screen. "The man is the head, but the woman is the neck. And she can turn the head any way she wants." I LOVE IT! It is so true. I love this movie; MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING. So funny and witty!!! "The bib-opsy." "I can snap you like a chicken." Bouzouki playing in back and did you know that all greeks can snap??!! It is an amazing phenomenon. "You don't eat no meat???!! That's okay, I make lamb!" HILARIOUS! It's so true. Lamb on the spit; the whole lamb, no joke! Just roasting away over the coals. Yum-o! And the baklava, bring it on. The crunchy and sweet filo. Lip smacking goodness. "Rodney and Harry." "Yassus everybody!" "It's a bunnnnnt." "There's a hole in this cake." Ahahahaha. For those of you who love this movie too, you know why I am laughing!!! Pjams and poofies!!!

Movies

The weekend is here! My stomach is still having issues so crackers and toast are my staples. Since I can't do much movies, movies, and yes you guessed it more movies. MacLaine, Diaz, Klein, Judd, Fosse, they have all graced me with their presence today and I have enjoyed every moment. With crumbs on my duvet, the silver screen in front of me, I watched the hours tick by as the characters kept me company. We had a great time as I wandered through the 20s, the 90s and beyond. Is it just me or do movies tend to get worse as the years go by?

Egg Salad

Have you ever looked at a plate of egg salad and cried? I have. In fact, I did it today. Let me explain. I have been sick with some stomach issues the last couple of days and when I went into my favorite New York Deli to get my "usual" (dry rye toast and ginger ale -- yummy I know) I saw a plate of egg salad sitting in the case and I wanted to lose it. But being that I work in the City known as the Fashion Capitol of the world, I had to choose; do I lose it on the man worth a billion dollars wearing a Dolce suit and a Cartier watch or the female stick figure in Prada? I chose to keep it all inside and by doing so, tears began to tumble down my pale cheeks. To which the man behind the counter yelled "I will get to you in a minute. Promise." Ahh, New York City...

Welcome!

Welcome to my first blog. While I won't solve the world's problems with this blog, I will just leave a note now and then as to daily goings-on in my life. Have fun reading my thoughts.

Just got off the phone with one of my closest friends and we have "pet" names for each other. We aren't dating, just friends. I love my pet name for her. I love her. Is there something wrong with having pet names for a friend when you are no longer on the playground during recess and you're twenty six? I wonder. At what age should we consider ourselves "grown-ups?" Will I just wake up one morning and realize I am one? Or will I stay young at heart forever?