Quotes

I love quotes. I think no matter how complex life is, it can be broken down into simple moments, sayings, words, feelings, lessons, etc. So I live by quotes. They capture something inside of me ... hmmm maybe the communicator inside me ... as communication is what I choose to focus my profession in.  I must love communicating! 

Today's quote, from TheDailyLove (a handle I love to follow on Twitter) was: 

"Remember, diamonds are made under pressure! Stay calm & say 'bring it on!'" 

What a beautiful way to view being put under pressure. And it's so true. I love this outlook. And I love thinking I can come out of a stressful situation looking even more spectacular!  :) 

Hopefully this is inspirational to you on a stressful day as well! 

Champagne Cupcakes

A few days before New Years when the work week was quiet I will admit I was able to catch some of Oprah. Okay, it's also only because I knew the Georgetown Cupcake girls were going to be on, so I was watching for them. And I was pleasantly surprised with the New Years Eve dish they made. I was expecting a cupcake for sure, but they made more of a production with it. Sparklers and all! 


The cupcake they made was the Strawberry Champagne Sparklers and I decided since I was hosting my friends at my apartment for our New Years pre-going out party I would make these as a special surprise. Since the Georgetown girls were nice enough to share their recipe on Oprah.com I had to take advantage of this opportunity. So I enlisted my younger sister to spend the afternoon baking with me, and here is how our adventures went. 


The cupcakes: These were simple to make. Since most of my friend's don't have a big sweet-tooth I decided to just make the mini-cupcakes. (Plus I don't trust my friends with fire/sparklers inside my apartment.) Recommendation - if you are just going to make the cupcakes you can add a little more of the cut-up strawberries. 


The icing: This is tricky because you want to pick a sweet rose Champagne, so it's good to have an idea of what your options taste like. But I guessed, and picked a moderately priced Italian sparkling Rose and liked my outcome. I came just a little short on confectioner's sugar though and then used the full 1/2 of Champagne. It turned out that it was too much champagne so it never became a creamy, firm texture. It tasted fine, maybe a little too sugary. So be sure to have plenty of confectioner's sugar and go shy on Champagne. Whip this well and add things slowly until you have the perfect balance, would be my recommendation. 


The ganache: Thank goodness I had my sister helping me bake. She knew just how to melt the chocolate. I would never have understood the directions. And she did a great job. Our chocolate came out perfect. But watch the chocolate carefully, any slight variation can turn perfect ganache into a disaster in seconds. Also Nestles semi-sweet chocolate chips work great.  


Just look at these cupcakes. Given the disaster with the icing, it was hard to use, but we did a good job making it work. Aren't these cute? We topped them with strawberries and some that we didn't put ganache on - for crazies that don't like chocolate - I put sprinkles on top to keep them separate. But I realized these cupcakes really need the ganache, it adds so much to the the flavor and breaks up the power of the sugar and Champagne sweetness.  

So we gathered up all the cupcakes and divided it up among friends and family. We gave it among numerous people, some very harsh critics, but everyone loved them! For a first time making them, I have to say we really made yummy cupcakes worth baking and sharing again. (My next time though I will have more visually appealing icing.) 


Here is the recipe on Oprah.com: Georgetown Cupcake's Strawberry Champagne Sparkler Cupcakes 
And now they have listed a low-fat recipe option. 
Here is their segment on Oprah. 

In With The New and Out With The Old

Each Jan. 1st I love to start my new year off reading the "In and Out" list printed in The Washington Post.  But there are always some items I don't understand, so this year I thought I would make my own list. Having never been one for making New Years Resolutions I thought this would be a fun idea.

So here's my list, which incorporates some from the WashPost article and GlobalPost.com that I agree with.

Snowflakes

Every now and then like to paint my toes in a festive manner; for a season or holiday occasion. Since I haven't done it for a while I decided to do it for winter, with a snowflake on my big toe. I think this dates back to when I was young and on a swim team where we would paint our nails before a race. Only now, instead of painting the nails on my hands I keep it to my toes so I'm not showing them off like a little girl anymore. 

Here's a picture. I need to get a real manicure pen or stencil kit so they can look better. But you get the point. It's still a cute idea. And my 10 month old niece loved them! That's enough affirmation for me.  :) 

Christmas in Argentina

As I continued to keep my eyes peeled for any opportunities for gift giving this year I saw an online post from Mercy Corps for their “Mercy Kits.” Having previously provided PR to Mercy Corps I was well informed on these gifts and how they work. So I did some research on what my options are this year. I really believe in the work that Mercy Corps does around the world for poor communities and it’s inspiring and uplifting to get to pick the program that your money will be funding. So I found that I could restore a schoolhouse for $125. A little steep for myself, but if I could get my family to go in it with me it would only cost $25 each. I approached them with this idea and they were all on board. Wohoo!

Then, the next day I went home to visit my parents and they were asking about my donation to the families in Argentina from my Missions Trip. I told them that I was still donating some of my clothes and would go buy some additional items, likely first-aid kits.  But then my dad asked, "What if I one-up your offer? What if we give $500 to the nuns?"  I was completely surprised and so touched. So we started to discuss this idea. He asked how would they get the money, how would they use it, etc. But in my dad's mind - where the wheels where obviously turning much faster than mine - he put together: a need, security in knowing who would be spending the money, and knowing it would be spent where it was needed most. These were all the points I was arguing for the Mercy Kits. But he also put together what I had not - an emotional connection to this community. 

I realized by my dad’s offer that my desire to help those less fortunate was inspiring others to help as well.  I'm happy to say there will be a nice surprise Christmas gift to this special community! I just wish I could see their faces when they get it. 

Here are some photos from my trip last year: 

Dancing one afternoon - a typical past-time.

All boys love foosball.

Pretending to run a radio show.

Boys will be boys...

Finding Inspiration in Memories

This time last year I was getting ready for my first Missions Trip. I was heading south to Argentina where I would be working in a very unfamiliar environment - a poor town run by an order of nuns and priests, comprised of orphans, and mentally and physically handicapped men and women. I was digging out my t-shirts and shorts, doing laundry, and feverishly trying to figure out how to prepare myself for my trip. 

This year, I am sitting and remembering everyone I met and how much they touched me. I am thinking of how all the little kids are preparing for, and getting excited about, Christmas, New Years Eve and 3 Kings Day. I can’t help getting lost in all my memories from my time with this community and feeling a little sad that I am not returning. These thoughts bring me back to their needs and the poverty that surrounds them - poverty you can’t turn a blind eye to. It is from this contemplation that an idea strikes me. 

I realize that I have been looking for ways to help give back this holiday season and here is a community I am capable of assisting. And added bonus, it's a community I have a personal connection to. I don’t have to go on this year’s trip and be physically present for these people to receive my love and support. I can help them from home by donating clothes I no longer wear, old jewelry I don’t use anymore, and purchasing some first-aid products.

It is such a simple gesture to give away items you own and no longer use, but to the person(s) receiving these gifts, it can mean the world! And it is from these simple gestures that we can receive the greatest pleasures.

Secret Santa

This Christmas I have been filled with a large (larger than previous years) desire to be a really great Santa to poor and less fortunate families. To get my “secret Santa giving’s" off to a start I participated in my company’s “Adopt a Family” program. For this each department would pick one or more family that all the employees were encourage to purchase gifts for. The information on the family members and their needs/wish-lists were provided. I picked two kids: a 21 month old and a 6 year old. I got the 21 month old a cute musical tea set, something she could grow into but also play with at such a young and developing age. For the 6 year old, she had asked for some educational toys (or more likely her mother had asked for this). So I bought her several books, a puzzle and interactive flash-cards for her to draw pictures and write words/letters on, as instructed.

I am very proud to say that the two families my department picked will receive every gift that every member of their family asked for. Just look at this piles we made.

 

I am also apart of another team within my company and for this group we selected one family. For them I bought the parents a gift card to Barnes and Noble – something they had both put on their list. And for their eight-year old daughter I bought hair accessories, also on her list.

I can’t image not being able to provide a Christmas for my children and so I am happy to say that I know of many families that will have wonderful Christmas’ this year thanks to my company’s “Adopt a Family” program. And I can’t help but feel proud of myself for helping to bring joy to those less fortunate than myself. And this feeling sparked a flame in me to do more…