Externship

Since I have switched from the degree program to the diploma program my externship date has been moved up quite a bit. I now go out on my externship April 7th and it goes untill May 16th. I have my graduation ceremony on May 3rd (my brother and sisters birthday. So far I have applied at both Cupcake Jones (just like Sprinkles for those of you in SoCal) and Cool Moon. I just recieved an email from the main externship lady in career services saying they have just been informed that the pastry chefs from both Harrah's in Tahoe and Harrah's Rincon in San Diego will be attending the career fair tomorrow specifically looking for pastry students. Woohoo, this means if some how I'm able to land my externship there, I would be living back in Riverside for at least 6 weeks. Then if they want to hire me after my externship I might even have the opportunity to live back in So. Cal. again. But I won't get too hopeful yet =)
Anyways, I'll let ya'll know how it goes when I get home tomorrow.

Joel

Remember a few entrys back I wrote about my friend, Joel, from Ohio came out for a visit? Well he sent me a picture he took of the 2 of us while walking through the Pearl. Well here we are!

Bishops Salon

Yep, I finally went and got my hair cut. I was trying to wait till I made it back down to Southern California so I could visit my old stylist, Alex, but I didn't see that happening anytime soon. I can't believe its been since June that I last got my hair cut! I was usually the type to go every 6-8 weeks, so I was miserable going 7 months! I was just so nervous to try and find a new salon up here. The last couple month I have been so sick of my hair and my ends were needing help, so I browsed around online and found Bishops salon. They have about 5 location in the Portland area but I chose the salon in the Pearl. For one I knew where it was and how to get there and two I figured if its in the Pearl they should be able to do a great job. I walked in yesterday morning hoping they had an available spot or if not that I could get an appt. for later that day. Sure enough a stylist named Crystal (who's usually booked up a month in advanced) just had a client cancel so she agreed to take me. Crystal was super nice, way friendly (it seriously seemed like we had been friends for years), and her style was awesome. I basically told her some styles I've had in the past that I liked but for the most part let her do what she thought would look best. I love my new hair cut and style!! I'm so happy I have found someone in Portland I love doing my hair as much as Alex back home!

Columbus Ohio

Yay, I have plans on taking a trip to Columbus Ohio! My friend Joel can pretty much guarentee me an externship at a bakery he used to work at. I'm not sure I want to be away for 6 weeks, but I think th eopportunity would be great! Even if I don't do my externship out there, I'm still planning a trip at the end of Feb. to go visit Joel and see the city. I'm so happy, it's been almost a year since my last flight, I l-o-v-e flying!!

New Friends

Awhile ago, when Portland was just still in the plannings, Vince and I thought about renting a house with one other person or something. I began searching on craigslist and roommate.com. I found 1 add on craigslist I liked, he was 29, had a friendly dog, and was also thinking about attending WCI, so I responded to him and we began emailing back and fourth regularly. Well Vince and I ended up finding a 1 bedroom and Joel (the guy from the add) desided to stay in Ohio and not move to Oregon. Every now and then I would get and email from him asking how school was going and whatnot. I would also randomly email him just dropping in to say hi and stuff. I found out his dad lived in Olympia, Wa. and he was wanting to come out to visit him and we touched on meeting up for coffee or something. Well last week he flew into Seattle, Wa. where his dad piced him up. He spen 1 night at his dads house, and then came out to see me. Last Thursday we met up, I picked him up from the train station and him, Kellen and myself went to lunch, Joel and I hung out that night and he met Vince. His friend from Sherriden Oregon came and picked him up and he stayed the weekend out there. Today he came back into Portland and we hung out some more, he's a really cool guy and we had a lot of fun hanging out. He reminds myself a lot of me, and it makes me miss how I used to travel a lot and meet new people. We went down and walked through the Pearl and he took some cool pictures, we grabbed lunch and coffee. We were caught in the rain and got soaking wet! Eventually we made our way back to the train station and I saw him off. He is headed up to Olympia, Wa. (well actually he's probably just arriving, lol) right now, but unfortunately he is ending his vacation early. Him and his dad are headed on a flight to Florida tomorrow morning because he found out his Grandmother is not doing well. We plan to stay in touch, in fact he want to move to SoCal since the industry is good for what he does out there. I love making new friends!

Cannon Beach

Yesterday Kellen and I had a whole girls days out and about. We started our day out with a shopping trip to Old Navy, they were having a huge clearance sale. I was able to get 2 fleece pullovers for $3.99ea. and 2 scarfs for $1.49ea. I was so excited, especially since the cold weather still has at least 4 more months up here so everything will still be useful. I think I might go back today and look at jeans and some shirts I saw. Then after Old Navy we grabbed coffee and headed out to Cannon Beach (where the famous Haystack Rock is from The Goonies). The ride there is gorgeous! You take the 26 and it winds through mossy wooded areas. Even with all many of the trees being bare since its winter they all still looked so green because of the moss, really cool! As we got closer there was plenty of snow on the ground ( the roads had been cleared by then). The drive was so nice, we talked, laughed, blasted music, it was great! We finally got to cannon beach and we browsed through all the cute coastal shops. We grabbed lunch at this cute restaurant called Fireside, yum! Then we made it down to the shore, it was freezing but it was so beautiful. The sun peeked through the clouds directly on haystack rock. I didn't realize how huge the rock was! When we got back home we watched the last episode of Dexter then headed out to Gaya Gaya for sushi (it was my first time) where we met up with Alicia ans Kathleen. I tried it, I hated it. The place has awesome reviews and everyone else liked it but it's just not for me. I had a roll stuffed with crab and then had bbq eel wrapped around it. I popped it in my mouth, began chewing and thought I was going to barf. The texture was disgusting, I didn't want to spit it out so I just swallowed, but since it wasn't chewed well enough I gagged and got rice stuck up my nose. Finally I was able to choke it down but that was the end of my sushi adventures. At least I can say I've tried it now. Anyways here are some picture from our day.

Ellen

When I come for a visit (hopefully), I am totally going to go see the Ellen show. I'll wake up at 2am to get in line, I love her show!

Baby News

Just want to say congrats to our friends Eric, he recently had his first baby on the 28th. He had a daughter, her name is Charlie Simone. She was born at 8:38 am and weight 6lbs 15oz and was 18 inches. So far I only have phone pictures but she's a cutie!

Brunch

I'm putting on a brunch tomorrow for Vince and some friends of ours, I'm very excited to be entertaining. I'll be making crepes with an assortment of fillings. The filling will be both sweet and savory. There will be strawberry, blueberry, and peach fillings, along with a sweet cream cheese, and whipped cream. There will also be egg with grilled ham and cheese, this way its not all sweet. I think I'll also have some jalapeno and cheddar filled croissants and some kind of muffins like zucchini carrot nut muffins.

Oh and on a side note. Vince and I might be making a visit the very first week in April for my spring break. This all depends if he get the job or not, if he gets it we will visit, and if not we will just wait till we move back down. We will be driving down with both the dog and cat, and probaly be staying at his parents house. My last day of school is March 28th so we were thinking of waking up ultra early the 29th and ddriving down. Then we would stay up to a week, depending on what Vince can get off work, then driving back up.

Interview

Vince had his interview for a permanent position yesterday at work. He will know in about 2 week if he got the job or if he will stay contract. Most of you know the worries I have. I want him to do well and I know he can if he gets the job, but getting the job also means we will stay here for at least 1 more year come August so he can get at least 2 years total experience under his belt. If he didn't get the job we would be moving back at the end of July when our lease is up. It also could mean his contract could end before July or he wont find a job paying this much in So. Cal. Either way, I am feeling much less anxcious. I am still missing many family and friends but I know a lot of that has to do with me being out of school for break right now, once I go back on Monday and my mind is busy again I'm sure I'll be fine.

Anyways here he is in his new suit, I think it looks mighty fine on him. It makes me want to go back to the Magic Castle (that was the only other time I saw him in a suit).

Goals for 2008

1. Strive to find a paid externship in a cake shop.
2. Save money.
3. Move back down to Southern California.
4. Find a job either in cake decorating or I'll try to get re-hired at Lewis (which ever I can make more at)
5. If the market stays down go house shopping (I've been browsing recently and although its not the coolest place around, Beaumont has some good houses for under 200K. I've found a cute 2bed 2bath for 169,000). If not find a house with nice sized yard to rent.
6. Most importantly, live happy surrounded by family and friends!