My First Cupcakes

My swirls are almost Magnolia-perfect

Trays of the real thing.

So, I'll smell like frosting. That can't be a bad thing.

I have big news. After being a tad disgruntled with un-engaging freelanced public relations assignments, I have decided to something a little different. I have decided that I really need to turn my baking hobby into a career, so I decided to apply for a job in a bakery. It's a pretty interesting change of pace, to say the least. On New Year's Day I was dreading going back to my freelance gig to stare at Excel spreadsheets all day. After many questions and a little prodding from my roommate Carrie, I realized that I needed a bigger creative outlet. Where am I most creative? In the kitchen. I decided that I could afford to work part time in a bakery and decrease my freelance hours and perhaps someday come closer to having my own business.

And the ball started rolling from there.

The next day while browsing for bakery jobs on Craigslist, I saw a notice that Magnolia was hiring bakers and counter staff for their new location on the Upper West Side. I immediately decided to apply. Magnolia is a famous, high-traffic bakery and I can get good experience working there along with a popular name to put on my resume (future investors may be interested in that.) Plus, many of the bakery's former employees have branched off to start their own cupcake places, so I felt that it was the best place for me.

The following day I learned that my freelance assignment was ending. Now I had time to pursue that new path.

On Monday of last week, with resume in hand, I marched myself down to the new bakery to apply in person. After a couple of brief, yet positive, interviews I was sent on my way with a spring in my step. By the time I reached my home, I was hired full-time as a cake icer and may be trained in baking as well. Needless to say, I was very excited at how everything fell into place with this new venture.

I've already had one day of training, and the above photos show my first attempts at frosting cupcakes the Magnolia way. Which, by the way, is not as easy as you might think. Hopefully it won't take too long to improve my technique.

Even though this whole new venture has fallen together rather easily, I would be lying if I didn't admit any apprehensions. I am nervous about learning the techniques and learning how to work in an altogether different environment. Gone are the days when I can eat, go to the bathroom and leave when I wish. I will also have to get an entirely new wardrobe; I can't exactly wear heels. I will also be making considerably less money. I am worried that I won't be able to make ends meet or ever afford to go home for a visit. I also really like to eat baked goods. I don't want to gain fifty pounds.

But those are not my only worries.

Baking is my solace, my best stress reliever. When I am having a rough day, I use the process of measuring, stirring and creating to calm me down. Will my best relaxation tool become my largest stress? What if after six months I decide that this industry is not for me, what will I do next? I hate that it seems like I can't decide on anything.

Big questions. But I will keep you updated on my progress and everything I am learning at Magnolia. I will even let you know if that sweet smell of frosting attracts any viable suitors.

This Just In!!!!

I was wasting time on IMDB.com and I am very glad I did because I learned some very fabulous news:

- PBS has the best possible news for all Jane Austen fans: Beginning Sunday, January 13, "Masterpiece Theater" will broadcast adaptations of all of Austen's six novels, plus a new drama based on her life. This four-month, first-ever U.S. television event includes new productions of Persuasion, Northanger Abbey, Mansfield Park, and Sense and Sensibility, along with the classic productions of Emma (starring Kate Beckinsale) and Pride and Prejudice (starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle). And Miss Austen Regrets, a new drama starring Olivia Williams and based on Austen's own letters, offers an intimate portrait of the young woman behind the famous novels. Visit the official site to find out more about "The Complete Jane Austen", premiering Sunday, January 13 on PBS.

So set those TiVo's and DVRs to record; this is an amazing television event, and will make up for all the dismal TV due to the writer's strike.

The day after Christmas, my sister and I hit SoHo, which is not represented in any of the images on this blog. We were too busy taking advantage of any after-holiday sale to be concerned with taking pictures. We were also too cold to take our hands out of our gloves, and it is impossible to hit the right itty-bitty camera buttons while mittened-up.

The next day--which I believe was even colder--the sis and I met up with some family friends (The Sparrow's) at the temple and they took us up to their house in West Point, NY. The last time I was there was Thanksgiving 2006, but it was Andrea's first time, so Brenda gave us both a tour of the sights of that amazing miliatry academy. Our first stop was the West Point Chapel. The building is quite lovely, but on sunnier days it is even more beautiful when the sunlight shines through the stained glass windows.


I was thoroughly impressed with the way the hymnals were lined up so perfectly.

After walking around Trophy Park--a park lined with cannons and guns from all American conflicts, we warmed up back at the Sparrow's house. The kids got a Wii for Christmas, so we had some friendly bowling, tennis and golf competitions. I am not good at sports in any way, shape, or form EXCEPT the Wii form. I actually connected with the tennis ball, broke 100 in bowling and WON the golf game. Thanks to Wii, I can feel like an athelete. In a way.


I must admit, Andrea and I didn't do too many touristy activities because 1) I did have to do some work and 2) I have that annual holiday desire to make more cookies than the entire population of New York can consume in one holiday season. Or something like that. We did go see Mary Poppins. (Thankfully, since the tickets were for the 19th of December and we went on the 20th of December. Many happy thanks to the box office of Mary Poppins for changing the tickets!!!) We also saw the Christmas windows, Times Square, Bryant Park, the tree at Rockefeller Center, Chinatown and Sugar Sweet Sunshine. Hey, that's not too bad. We did a lot of stuff in between batches of Cream Wafer Cookies. But I still felt that she needed to see more of the city, so we took the Staten Island Ferry to see the city from the outside.

The ferry was very crowded with passengers pressed against the windows trying to get a glimpes of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Just like or immigrant forebears. The only difference: this boat had a snack bar...and we already live in the United States. We didn't stay on Staten Island very long. Like most of the passengers on the boat, upon arrival we got back on another ferry to get back to Manhattan.

The Staten Island Ferry is free, and thus the best way to see the Statue of Liberty.

I felt a little bad for my sister, when she asked what was available for dinner, I sheepishly offered grilled soy cheese sandwiches or scrambled eggs. I just didn't shop very well before she arrived. So I had to make sure we ate at some of my favorite places. The first restaurant we visited was Peanut Butter & Company. Next we had brunch at The Popover Cafe, followed by a cupcake at Sugar Sweet Sunshine, Chipotle (I know it's a chain, but the burritos are pretty tasty), and The Chip Shop.

Uncle Bruce, take a look at this picture. This alone, to me, signifies that The Chip Shop is better than A Salt & Battery. The fish was actually better seasoned and crispier. And the chips were quite tasty.

Andrea ventured beyond the world of fish and chips and had the chicken and mushroom pie. She said it was good. I wouldn't know because I don't eat food that contain fungi.

This only added to the holiday weight gain.

Since we enjoyed our trip to Mary Poppins, Andrea and I decided to win lottery tickets for Wicked. We stood in the cold for quite some time and did not win. Instead, we went to the movies and watched that National Treasure movie. It entertained, but I look forward to the next Indiana Jones.

Andrea had one top goal (besides a Broadway play) for her trip to the city: a visit to the local ASPCA shelter. I didn't realize beforehand that many people actually wanted to visit the animal shelter here in the city. I appears that my sister is really the only one who has such locations on her tourism to do list. She does like Animal Planet rescue shows. We watched a lot while she was here. Sadly, the address we obtained from Google directed us to an interior design building and not the ASPCA. So we looked at the dogs and cats online. They had a lot of cute animals, so it is probably a good idea that I didn't make it to the shelter. Otherwise I would have a lot of new, furry roommates.

So we went to Bloomingdales, where I proceeded to turn into a cranky New Yorker and told off a lady who refused to keep moving once she got off the escalator. We looked at some expensive shoes and went to Macy's. Even though Macy's is a store I generally avoid, I thought Andrea would enjoy looking at the original escalators. They freaked me out the first time I saw them, but Andrea was only mildly entertained by the attraction. I hoped to spend my Macy's gift card, but I couldn't decide between Martha Stewart stuff or tights, so I left empty-handed.

The last restaurant we ate at is a charming place called Alice's Tea Cup. We had to wait for about an hour for a seat, but it was worth the wait. In hindsight I should have put our name on the list before we left the house. Ooops. I'll remember to do that for my next guests. For our meal, we decided to have the Mad Hatter Tea service for two, which contained three tasty scones, two sandwiches, an assortment of cookies and two pots of herbal tea. It certainly is a lot of food, and we were mighty stuffed afterward.

We had pumpkin, lemon gingerbread, and goat cheese and basil scones.

We actually didn't eat the cookies. Probably because we had sufficient cookies at home.

The yummy caramel flavored rooibos herbal tea.

After our afternoon tea, we took a nice, refreshing walk in Central Park--something I actually don't do often enough.

Aah, the lovely buildings along Central Park West. Someday, when I grow up I should like to live there...because they have the best views of the Thanksgiving Parade.

Probably our best self-photo. I think it is because I am wearing my Sunday MAC liquied eyeliner.

A view of the bag Andrea picked up in Chinatown.

The Bethesda Fountain which was actually not fountaining anything at the moment. I guess the park turns off the water during cold weather.

Since we ate at Alice's Tea Cup, we felt that we should visit the Alice in Wonderland statue in the park. It started to rain, so we didn't stay too long. I am not sure what the glowing orb is in my hand.

Andrea left the following morning, and I must admit, I was a little choked up to see her go. I wasn't sure we would have such a good time together, but I really enjoyed myself. It was really nice to have a guest. Hint, hint, hint.