I grew up in Orlando, Florida and my Dad would take my brother and I to Disney World quite frequently. In fact, Santa even brought us season’s passes one year and I thought I was the luckiest kid in Elementary school.

Whenever we went to the Magic Kingdom, he’d take me and my brother to the Hall of Presidents in Liberty Square. I remember hating this attraction – it was really long, and at the time, boring. As I grew up and became more educated in American History, I look back and feel ashamed of disliking this great display of American days gone by.

So thanks again, past Presidents of America. I’m enjoying my Monday off.

There are 4 classes in total – and I’m starting with the very first basic class. It meets 4 times and each class requires you to purchase a kit of some kind that has the majority of tools you will need.

Notice how I said majority.

My first complaint of the class is the cost. Sure, I got the course 50% off and used a coupon for the course 1 kit, but some of the items are not included in the kit – like food coloring, the frosting, and the fact that you have to bake your own cake to decorate for each class. You also need to bring supplement items in, purchase more Wilton items and it can become kind of expensive.

The cost of the course was $22.50 and the kit came to be around $25. Plus, I’ve spent around $30 on other items so I’m already up to $77.50. And this is only the first course! But I am enjoying it and enjoying spending time with my friend in the class, so I guess that kind of makes it worth the money.

On this last week’s class, we frosted a cake and used the different frosting tips to make a design on the top. It was more hands-on than the first “getting to know you and baking basics” which made it more fun.

friend and her cake

close up of my cake

For this particular class, we all made the same design – a frosted round cake with a cupcake on top.

I brought mine into work so I wouldn’t be tempted with it being around the house!

This upcoming week is cupcakes, which you will KNOW I’m all about. I’m looking forward to learning how to make the “grass” frosting using the tips because Easter is coming up and I have plans to make some neat looking cupcakes.

From the day I met you as we said goodbye to our men, I knew we had a special bond and would be great friends. we were fiance’s in the AF world. We shared a love for a little place in Tacoma called MASA. 

We enjoy a good cocktail, a fun movie night or a day at the mall – where I convince you to buy lots of cute clothes that look amazing on you

You make me laugh,

You are an amazing source of positive energy and fun,

And you are beautiful. Inside and out.

I can’t wait to see what this year has in store for you and our fabulous friendship

Friday, I spent the night with new friends from the church I started attending – it was a Welcome dinner to find out more information about the church, their beliefs and it served as an open forum to ask questions. I went out for frozen yogurt and a glass of wine after and enjoyed the winding down of the week. I tried a new wine bar, called Cork! and it was pretty good and our waiter knew enough about the wines to recommend some that my friend and I enjoyed. They also sell cupcakes, which I found interesting, but after frozen yogurt, they weren’t tempting me.

I spent a beautiful and sun covered Saturday with my Dad in Seattle. He was in on a layover again and we met up for lunch and little city exploration. Crispy green beans at PF Chang’s and lattes in the afternoon? I love Saturdays in the city with my Dad.

I came home to beautiful flowers “just because” from my husband – he sure knows how to make me

Of course Sunday was the Superbowl – where I went with a new friend and some AF guys for the game. Delicious chili and the new Bud Light Platinum (which isn’t really a “light” beer by the way… Its 137 calories) – it ended up being a great night! My friend made an awesome Patriots brownie cake and it was awesome, despite their loss.

Monday came along and I welcomed it with a early morning workout, followed by breakfast (on my bed).

]]> http://awesomealli.wordpress.com/2012/02/06/thank-you-awesome-weekend/feed/ 0 awesomealli http://awesomealli.wordpress.com/2012/02/04/nostalgic/ http://awesomealli.wordpress.com/2012/02/04/nostalgic/#comments Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:19:03 +0000 awesomealli https://awesomealli.wordpress.com/?p=2135 Continue reading →]]> My 8 hour training day went by pretty quickly, without much to report back on. It was a training that all Army employees have to attend, but this one I actually enjoyed. I’ve attended another training with the same woman, and she really understands “adult learning.” she had little toys on the table to keep us quietly entertained, like pipe cleaners (I wrapped one around my pen and made a mustache out of the other) spinning tops and stress balls. Very thoughtful.

We covered customer service at the end of the training and I instantly felt nostalgic for my very first job – a cashier at the local grocer in Orlando – Publix.

I got the job when I was 15-years-old, in the summer before returning back to school. I desperately wanted a car, and my dad had told me I needed to get a job before I even thought about having a car – nothing motivates a teenager more than the thought of the freedom that lies in their own transportation.

I loved working for Publix. They were a fair and honest company, paid a decent wage for the time I was hired (I think I started at $6.25/hr) and they even paid an extra dollar an hour on Sundays. I made friends quickly and even gathered a following of customers who would come through my line just to see me and check in. It felt like a home away from home, honestly. I never dreaded going into work, I never called in sick to play hooky, and even met my very first boyfriend. He was a stock clerk – the cute guys always were.

Publix prided itself on its excellent level of customer service. From greeting each customer when they entered your checkout, asking passing customers if you could help them find an item to each bigger offering complimentary walk out service with your groceries. They had hot coffee when you walked in and a kid’s cookie club which offered a sprinkled sugar cookie or chocolate chip cookie to any kid walking through the bakery. The deli would let you try a slice of its offerings to check taste and thickness choice and the seafood man, although somewhat creepy looking back, offered a lot of knowledge on preparing dishes.

I learned about honesty and integrity. Publix had Minor ID checks, where the manager would drive to the different stores in the area with minors and test out the cashiers to make sure they were IDing on tobacco products and beer. I’m not sure if my manager just had the hots for me or what, but I always was asked to go along. I loved him – he was charismatic, personable and he had my dream car when I was 16: a Volkswagon Jetta. I loved sitting in the passenger seat on those drives around Orlando. We were “undercover” and got to wear jeans and tshirts to work and report back to our manager what had gone down. I always got IDed.

I learned about integrity when the meat cutter who I was friendly with came through my line with a huge package of New York strip steaks, that only rang up as $6.00. I knew there wasn’t a Sale that week, and even if there had been, they wouldn’t be that discounted. I asked my manager about it, and they investigated him for stealing from the company. I don’t know whatever happened, but I didn’t see him at work again, which at first, made me feel guilty. But now I understand that he shouldn’t have been doing it in the first place.

Now that I’m an adult, it’s fun to look back on that time. I worked another customer service related job after college for a major retail company, which I loved as well – at first. Sometimes I feel a longing for the energy I felt working at the location I did in Boulder, but I am satisfied at my job at the Amry post.

Funny how things can just pop up in your mind and bring back memories.

My work week was extended to include two eight hour days – which is a pretty normal day, but hasn’t been the usual for me lately.  The first of those shifts is up today – an 8-hour Customer Service training. Yeah – Please imagine an annoyed face – and that’s what I look like right now.

Still, I’m pretty proud of myself today. I woke up early, put in a load of laundry, made a delicious breakfast egg wrap and warm cup of coffee. The egg sandwich went unphotographed, but it was a GREAT version of the one you can get at Starbucks for $2 this week:

{via}

No, this post isn’t sponsored by Starbucks, but when I see a great deal, I just have to share!

When I woke up this morning, I saw this all over everyone’s facebook postings. I’ll admit, kind of a bummer, but hopefully there won’t be another SNOWMAGEDON to deal with this winter. Can’t believe 6 more weeks predicted by a groundhog.

I should get running to finish getting ready for my training. My goal is to find some wi-fi on my hour (!) lunch break today and come to ya from my iPad.

]]> http://awesomealli.wordpress.com/2012/02/02/busy-week/feed/ 0 awesomealli http://awesomealli.wordpress.com/2012/01/30/design-studio/ http://awesomealli.wordpress.com/2012/01/30/design-studio/#comments Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:33:54 +0000 awesomealli http://awesomealli.wordpress.com/?p=2122 Continue reading →]]> Call me a teenage girl, but I JUST discovered Gossip Girl via Netflix.

And I really like it – such a guilty pleasure.

This weekend flew by for me. I spent Friday night with some girlfriends – munching on delicious chicken pot pie and iceberg lettuce with a balsamic reduction, and enjoying the Glee Concert on DVD.

Saturday, I headed up to Bellevue to check out the Design Center of the house we are purchasing. Many of the features on the home come standard, but there are some options as far as flooring, countertops and cabinets to pick out.

house coloring options

faucet choices

cabinets, countertops and flooring

cabinets, countertops and flooring

I had fun at the designing appointment, but wished Luke could have been there with me to pick everything out. I tried to take as many photos as possible to share with him – however Skype has not been easy to connect on lately. Good thing our choices aren’t locked in stone yet!

I have a busy week upcoming, but I am looking forward to the productivity. Between social events, home obligations and work, I’ll be a busy bee. Here’s to a fun upcoming week!

I’m usually a pretty positive person – I believe in choosing my attitude when things aren’t exactly going my way or something pops up emotionally that I didn’t really expect to.

This post might be a little bit out of the ordinary, but I feel I should share it.

Last weekend, I was actually feeling a little sad. On Saturday night, after a day in the city with my Dad who was in town, I was feeling a little down about being alone. I took some time to myself that night and thought about some big emotional things that have been weighing on me.

I’m not really sure what my “purpose” is. I’m not sure who I’m supposed to be, what role I’m supposed to have. I have all these ideas and big dreams, but I’m not sure what I should do about them. Sometimes I want to pursue a career in mental health, working with Wounded Warriors and military families, other times I want to go to culinary school and open my own bakery. I want to write a book. I want to open an awesome bar with Luke.

Sometimes I struggle with feelings of anger, hurt and betrayal when I think about my mother. She passed away when I was young and for some reason in my adult years, the confusion behind it has turned bitter. Too many unanswered questions and I’m not sure where to begin understanding it.

I feel strange for not contributing as significantly to the household income, which is kind of a shot to my ego. I feel like I’m kind of floating from point to point, not sure which path I should follow.

I sent an email to my husband explaining how I was feeling – and he sent me back an encouraging, loving email that not only gave me a little sense of relief, but made me so thankful to have him as my big supporter.

“I can understand that lost feeling…  I feel it from time to time too.  I think it may have to do with lack of goals with you and I both.  I think we hit our mid 20′s, got to where we are and now we’re both saying, “What now?”  It’s a pretty crappy feeling, I know.  But then I remember, we are both pretty young and we are fortunate to live in a part of the world where it’s never too late to start a new.  If you sit down and find out that higher ed is where you want to go I will fully support it and we can definitely find ways to finance it. I think the hardest part is that you and I are both capable of pretty much anything we set our minds to and that makes deciding the path to take in life that much more difficult.“

Sometimes when that lost feeling floods over me, I just pray. I pray for a sign, a point of direction, a message “just for me.” I talked with my grandmother and she sent me an email, too.

“The old saying…. LET GO AND LET GOD applies for all of us if we just allow it to.

That doesn’t mean everything will go the way we want it to, our prayers will all be answered ,  there will be no sorrow …

BUT

It does make us strong following his will.

REMEMBER….

God has a plan for all of us.”

Last Sunday, I was driving to a friends house and still thinking about everything. My direction, my life and a little about the bitterness I was feeling.

To explain what happened, I have to give you a quick back story.

Before my Mom died, we’d roll around town in her Ford Ranger truck. Its one of the more vivid memories I have with my mother – just driving to and from places, listening to the Rich Mullins tape, “Winds of Heaven, Stuff of Earth. On that tape was “Awesome God” – a Christian praise song. Even to this day, I can still remember all the lyrics to the songs on that tape and the parts I would mumble because I didn’t know the words. I don’t remember much about my mother, but I do remember her love for Jesus and that Rich Mullins tape.

Mom and Me

So there I was, driving to my friends house. Heavy thoughts on my heart and just flipping through the radio stations. I flipped on the local Christian radio and Awesome God was playing. Its an older song and it rarely gets played on the radio. I just started laughing and crying at the same time. OF COURSE HE WOULD! Of course he would show me, “Come on, Allison. I got this – How could you doubt me?” I just instantly felt better – like someone up there was giving me a big hug.

That moment has really helped me get through this week – So thankful and happy.

Let’s just say that when I came home from work today – I needed to DECOMPRESS. I spent an hour in traffic to only drive 5 miles – I was angry! The Ft. Lewis traffic situation is OUT.OF.CONTROL. and super annoying. My normal 20-25 minute drive turned into almost TWO HOURS.

This is how I made myself feel better:

Glass of VINO

Yep – a delicious single glass of Ménage à Trois – a delicious red blend that my father-in-law introduced us to when my in-laws came for a visit. I paired it with a healthy dinner option of baked salmon, side salad and a carrot/broccoli medley. I must say, I’m pretty proud of myself for not giving in to temptation and the “ease” of just driving thru Panda Express or something.

When Friday rolled around last week, I was pumped because work was closed and I could spend the day doing anything I wanted. I spent it with great friends, a great brew and well, it was great.

Alaskan Amber

Hey, I’d say that’s a pretty great use of the snow, wouldn’t you say? Nothing like a frosty beer to wash down the cabin fever of being snowed and iced in for a week.

My Dad had a layover in Seattle on Saturday, so I packed up my little car for a day downtown. I drove down with a friend and her sister and started off the day at Top Pot Doughnuts.

Life's little pleasures

Then I spent the day downtown with my Dad, eating delicious thai food, walking around Pike’s Market, chomping on a macaroon brownie (Dad had a peanut butter cookie) from Three Girls Bakery, that I was supposed to pay for, but left my cash in the car – and they “preferred” cash. So thanks again, Dad.

Sunday was spent at church, breakfast at noon (is there a better time on a rainy Sunday?) and a little shopping to soothe the rain. New nail polish, coffee creamer and soft, white sheets. A little evening Chinese for New Year’s at a friends and I’d say the weekend was pretty awesome.

Now it’s Monday – back to work, the gym, reality. But until I have to get ready, I think I’ll stay right here, cozied up in bed.