# 8 Explore New Interests

Since I've been married I have learned that I actually like to cook. I enjoy cooking dinner - and Travis and I especially love cooking together. (although, usually i'm doing the cutting and chopping while he actually cooks) Well, I have always wanted to be able to make delicious goodies - so I decided to try my hand at baking... I think it was pretty successful! Here are some of the yummy things I have been making lately!

Yellow and Chocolate Cake Bites

Pumpkin White Chocolate Chunk and Candied Ginger Blondies

Apple cider spiced donut holes

Gooey Pumpkin Butterscotch Brownies

Marbled Pumpkin Cheesecake (gingersnap pecan crust)

Mini Pumpkin Pie Bites

Snickerdoodle Cake

Seriously - How did I never try baking before? I'm really loving it! And these are all essentially from scratch! I've also made some banana bread - but it wasn't really that impressive so I didn't take any pictures of them. I'm not sure what I want to try baking next.... any suggestions?

SHARK ATTACK!

If you know me well at all, you know that I am afraid of sharks! Yes - I know we live in Utah - that doesn't mean that I can't be afraid of them! This fear started when I was 17 and went fishing in the Pacific... I caught a dog shark that tried to eat me... Obviously my fear is not ridiculous! On the other hand - Travis thinks it's HILARIOUS that I'm afraid of sharks since we do live in Utah. I know it's a little ridiculous - and my good friend Bethany has decided to give me some exposure therapy to help rid me of my fear... until then, my dear husband decided to send me this cute little picture to show me that my fear is completely irrational! Yeah, if I decided NEVER to leave Utah, and NEVER to go to a beach... Not likely - remember the Dominican Republic? I still want to go! They have a snorkeling excursion with sharks... Not sure that I'm daring enough to do that... we will see! Enjoy my shark attack info! I'm sure you'll find it as entertaining as I did! :)

Let there be Light!

A brake light that is! On Tuesday morning after I filled up for gas at 7:00 am - I got in my car, turned it on and suddenly a bright red light turned on... My brake light went out. Oye! I was instantly crabby - I hate having car problems and I'm not mechanically inclined at all! So, that evening after I taught my night class I went to my parents house and talked with my dad. I told him my problem and asked for his help. Since I didn't have any bulbs with me - He showed me how to gain access to my brake light and how to change the bulb. He told me someone at Checker or Auto Zone would likely do it for me if they weren't busy. So I decided to check it out...

I went to Checker today and unfortunately it was REALLY busy! I asked about the brake light, a lady grabbed the bulb I needed, rang me up, and off I went. I went home and figured it couldn't be that hard right?! So I tried... And it only took my 5 minutes!

Before...... And After.......

I am SO proud of myself!

BAKERELLA!

Yes... I love Bakerella and I follow her blog religiously! She is the author of the lovely Cake Pops book... and she came to Salt Lake on a book tour! Of course I had to meet her! My good friend Vicki was gracious enough to tag along with me to meet her! Vicki, her two kiddos, and myself arrived just before noon to the Williams & Sonoma in Trolley Square (really a dangerous store for me to be in) and the book signing was to start at 1 o'clock. When we arrived, we were given numbers to meet her and we were assigned numbers 24 and 25. It's a good thing we got there early because the line was CRAZY! It was out the store and down the hallway - there were over 200 people there to meet her and have her sign their books! When it was finally my turn I was all smiles - completely Star Struck! And I have a picture to prove that I met her....

I will be trying to make cake pops in the next few weeks... I'll post pictures on how they turn out! :)

I. Am. A. Moron!

Yes, a complete moron! Around mid-September (Okay, the 15th to be exact) I applied for a job with a provider agency that serves people with disabilities - as a therapist. It is my dream job! I could use my license, be a therapist, and still work with the population that I love! So, I emailed them my resume as requested. A few days later I emailed them again to make sure they got it and inquire about interview times and I received no response. Well, after a couple of weeks I decided that I wasn't going to worry about it - I wasn't being considered so i didn't need to worry about it.

I hadn't checked that email address since the very beginning of October - until today... and what do I see? An email on the 6th of October asking for an interview on the 13th or 14th of this month. Yup, last week! I was MORTIFIED! I wanted to cry! I still want to cry... I didn't check my email, thus I didn't get an interview! I am so devistated! Ugh... I don't even know what to do... I emailed the lady back, and will call this afternoon to just apologize again... Wow, i'm an idiot!

# 11 - Actually Use some of my Scrapbook Stuff

Can you believe I did it??? I used some of my scrapbooking stuff. Whew... I'm so proud of myself! What did I use them for you may ask? Well, my little brother is an assistant house manager and works with guys that have disabilities. One of his assignments was to make a chore chart for the guys he works with. Obviously I volunteered to make it for him and after talking with him about what chores people would have... this is what I came up with. (excuse the poor quality of pictures - my brother took them for me later on)

Exactly What I Needed...

But not necessarily in the form I would have liked. I have been job hunting for a while now - looking now and then... applying for jobs here and there. I've been serious about getting a new job - but I hadn't been seriously looking and applying. Well, Sunday night I got an email that changed all of that. I decided that I don't get paid enough to be treated like crap. I don't get paid enough to deal with clients like this. And I certainly don't get paid enough to be looked down on and scolded for doing my job the best way that I know how. That email was absolutely rude and uncalled for. But - it gave me the kick in the pants that I needed right about now. I am looking for a new job NOW. Not just looking - I will be calling places, sending emails, following up, etc. SO - if anyone knows of a place that is hiring a CSW - let me know - I am ready for a change!