Sunday, January 17, 2010

Oh! What Fun!

Last Friday I received an e-mail from one of my one of my dear ...sweet parents in my class asking me if I would like to attend a chocolate class at their store....her treat! I was thrilled...you see they own Oh! Chocolate....I delicious store that makes the best truffles ever! So needless to say I didn't need any time to think about this....umm...YES ...sign me up! I could also bring a friend...bonus! I called my friend Tracey...she of course said yes..because really who turns down the opportunity to go to a chocolate class?? Nobody sane! The class was on Sunday evening and would last 2 hours....can somebody say...HEAVEN!

We arrived at the store (which was beautiful) and met the other people who would be attending the class with us. The class started with a cup of Hot Chocolate...the BEST I have ever had. So rich...thick and creamy.....my initial thought was "wow this is just the beginning of what is to come". Next they placed small white plates in front of us that had several types of chocolate...starting with roasted coco seeds to White chocolate and all that falls in the middle. We were given a history of the family business, how it came to be and how the ended up in Washington. We did a tasting of all the chocolate on our plate..learning about the different types of chocolate and how they are used. We then moved over to a marble counter area...where we learned how to temper chocolate. That was really cool for me as I had never done that before. Of course the best part of the class was taking yummy treats such as oreos, marsh mellows, graham crackers, strawberries and raspberries and dipping them into our tempered chocolate. It was really fun to use our hands to play in the chocolate. Well ok I didn't get my whole hands covered in chocolate...as I have sensory issues and don't like to get my hands dirty...but for others it was really fun!

At the end of the class I walked up to the M's father ( M is the student in class) and thanked him for the class. I got teary eyed when he turned to me and said..."No...thank you for all that you have done for our son, we really appreciate it". Like I have said before those heart felt moments of thanks are worth so much more than any gift card that you get at the Holidays.

I had such an amazing time....and was so glad to have Tracey with me. We had a great group of people to share the evening with...and of course got to indulge in some amazing chocolate! I have only ONE huge regret of that evening. I didn't bring my camera. I want to cry just thinking about it now. Why you ask?? It can't be that big of a deal ..I mean it is a chocolate class right?? Well my answer to you is this.....the lighting......it was AMAZING.....the way it hit the beautiful white plate that was filled with chocolate samples......the way it hit the marble counter with the dark cabinets.....how it showed the smoothness of the chocolate after we had used our hands to temper it.......the way it hit all of the goodies we had dipped in chocolate and made them glisten. The lighting was a photographers dream....and although I am not a photographer I am just a wanna be....even I could recognize what beautiful pictures could have been captured that evening.

So they lesson I learned is this.....NEVER...EVER...leave home without your camera! Oh yes....and I need to get a SLR camera ASAP! :)


Monday, January 4, 2010

My word for 2010

I am not one to make New Years Resolutions...in fact I have always found them to be a bit disappointing. I mean you start out January 1st with such great intentions ...only to find that by March you haven't stayed with them. Honestly..who needs that?? I recently read about this "new" concept(new to me)...instead of resolutions....finding one word that you will focus...meditate on for the year. Oh yes.....now this I can get behind!
I started to reflect on 2009. Really taking time to think about the year. It was a good year for me. I met some amazing friends who share my love of the outdoors and outdoor activities. I did my first ever 3 hour presentation for the Autism Center and it went well and felt amazing! I started the journey of self-discovery through talk therapy and realized many things about myself that I had not seen before. I learned how to efficiently cope with work stress.....learned how to set boundaries and realized why balancing work and making time for play is so important. I discovered photography.(I heart taking pictures) I put many more thoughts in writing and on my blog. I discovered that there really is a creative person inside of me. I now understand why letting go of expectations is vital in family situations. I was HEALTHY.....the whole year. I was not sick once and let me tell you it felt great! I found an active, healthy lifestyle that suits me perfectly. I had an amazing trip to AZ where I was filled up with love and friendship. Yes.....I was indeed a lucky girl in 2009.
So looking forward ......to a new year....new beginnings and new possibilities. I sat down and brainstormed words for "my word of the year". It was fun! You should try it! I had several written down and as I started to write this word I knew it was my word for the year...I just knew it! It made me smile. So my word for 2010 is......
Create

I am loving this word. I love it's meaning.... to begin, build, bring into, discover, dream up, give birth to....evolve from one's own thought. It is so fitting for me...for what I want to happen in this next year. Knowing that in my professional life I am closing one door and opening another.....creating new opportunities for me. In my personal life creating the path that will lead me to my future husband and children. Lastly just plain creating and being more creative ....through my blog and with my camera. Getting a bit more in touch with that creative person who sits way deep down inside.
What is your word for 2010??