Allison's Avenue

Friday, May 17, 2013

My Wedding Cake

If you haven't heard, my Senior Project at school this year has revolved around cake decorating. All year I've been working towards designing, baking, and decorating my own wedding cake. Well, I'm happy to say that I have finished the cake, and my presentation was this afternoon. Basically my Senior Project is completely over, and although I enjoyed it SO much, I am happy that it is over as well.

I have been pretty stressed this week trying to get the cake done and hoping that I was able to get it to school in one piece. Honestly though, it couldn't have gone smoother!

My preparations for the cake started early this week - on Saturday! I've just done a little bit each night.

Making the buttercream

Freshly baked cakes - I had to do chocolate, duh!

Fondant flowers

Assembled cake

Judge's cake

The completed cake!

From start to finish, this cake took me 15 hours (several of which were probably just spent cleaning up. I have a tendency to make a mess - ha!). It was so worth it to me though, and I couldn't be more proud of the way it turned out.

The cake set up in the room and me ready to present!

After my presentation (which went very well), I moved into the Commons and cut the cake for a bunch of friends.

The cake didn't actually go as quick as I thought it would because it fed more people than I had anticipated. I was expecting it to feed maybe 50 people max, but I probably got over 60 people fed. I ended up just walking around school and asking whoever passed by if they wanted a piece. It was so fun seeing everyone get excited about it.

I couldn't be more thankful for the amazing friends, family, teachers, and staff members that I got to share my wedding cake with. I appreciated all of the Facebook "likes" and comments, Twitter "favorites," text messages, and words of gratitude more than they probably know. So thanks to everyone who stopped by to get a piece, made a sweet comment to me, or liked my Facebook pictures!

I definitely think today may have been one of the proudest days of my life and one I'll always remember. Making a wedding cake was something I thought I would never be able to accomplish, but now I have! I'm proud of the fact that not too many people have baked wedding cakes (although mine was still a little small). I am so unbelievably grateful for the passion and talent God has given me for baking :)

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

I Blinked

Despite Kenny Chesney's warning, I blinked.

I was just 6 years old, and now I'm 18 and about to graduate from high school. Life is going by too fast.

I wish now that I could take back all of those days where I wanted to pass time quickly.

The times when I couldn't wait for the school day to be over or a hard test to be complete.

The days where I was happy when I found out I didn't have to babysit.

The moments where I looked so far ahead and wished for something greater.

Because now those times have run out. Now I find myself cherishing the present moments so much more.

Last week I went and saw my cousin sing in her school's choir show. They are just a bunch of kindergartners, but soon they won't be. I sat there in the audience as I watched them perform, as well as the 4th, 6th, and 8th grade students. 8th grade seems like a lifetime ago. I found myself getting sad at how time never stops.

I think, if nothing else, the end of high school has taught me the need to appreciate things more. To take life one day at a time and cherish the "now" moments before looking ahead to the future ones.

I feel myself trying to hold onto every possible second, and I hope I can continue to do that next year even when it appears as though I have a lot of time in college. Because I know that I really don't have much time. I just wish I would have learned that sooner.

Today in my Calculus class some of us got up and shared our college plans and hopes for the next 10 years. It was weird because we were sitting there talking about marriage and babies and how that could definitely happen for some of us in the next 10 years. I mean, seriously?! How am I that old that big stuff like that is starting to pop up on my 10 year radar. But I'm just trying to take life one day at a time and not to blink.

"Best start putting first things first."

Cause when your hourglass runs out of sand,

You can't flip it over and start again.

Take every breath God gives you for what it's worth.

Don't blink.

Just like that you're 6 years old and you take a nap, and you

Wake up and you're 25 and your high school sweetheart becomes your wife.

Don't blink.

You just might miss your babies growing like mine did.

Turning into moms and dads, next thing you know your better half

Of 50 years is there in bed,

And you pray that God takes you instead.

Trust me friend, a hundred years goes faster than you think.

Don't blink.

I've been trying to slow it down.

I've been trying to take it in.

In this here today gone tomorrow world we're living in.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Good Days

Yesterday was one of my last class days of high school. It was just a pretty good day that I want to document for when I'm 25 with a real job and I want to look back on high school.....

School was pretty much a day of doing nothing! Out of my 7 classes, 4 of them are AP, and since AP testing is over, so is school for the most part. We also have only 2 days of actual class left.

Let's see......I sat around and talked with friends in Calculus. I have a study hall after that and for the first time didn't actually have anything to work on - I caught up on blogging instead!

My Spirituality class involved people working on skits to be presented today. Since I wasn't in class today and neither was my friend Danielle, we uncovered books for our teacher - ha!

We did actually do a little bit of work in groups in my Government class since our AP exam was today.

In Statistics we literally shoe shopped :) Our teacher gave us a study hall, and one of the girls hooked her laptop up to the projector and we browsed through wedges on Nordstrom. So fun!

We talked in English class and watched old videos of my teacher in plays. Kind of weird.....

Then after doing nothing all day I busted my butt in art class. We have so many assignments - I had to finish up a project and take down all of my artwork from the art show. I was so happy to get all of that done though.

After school I drove out to the new Ulta. One just opened up a little bit closer to me, and I had a few things I wanted to get, so I headed out that way to check it out.

One of the things on my list was waterproof mascara. I know that with the end of high school coming up, I don't want mascara all over my face :)

And since I was out that way anyway, I had to go through the drive-thru Starbucks. Oh how I wish there was a drive-thru one closer to my house! I also got to drive in luxury yesterday. My car needed new tires, so I got to drive my mom's car all day.

Then I met my parents at Chipotle for dinner!

I also did a lot of baking yesterday. I cranked up Mamma Mia and baked all of the layers for my wedding cake.

Today was my last AP exam ever. We finished before 11 and now I'm just chilling at home. It's crazy how I pretty much have no homework left. Having all of this free time is so rare to me!

It's also a gorgeous day out - I snapped this picture on my way home.

I hope your days have been as fun and relaxing as mine.

Monday, May 13, 2013

Weekend Fashion Post

While looking over my pictures from the weekend, I realized I had a whole bunch of fashion pictures because I did a lot of shopping this weekend. So I decided to turn this weekend recap into a bit of a fashion post as well.

But first, because I just like to be random around here, I'm starting off with a cute picture of Coco because well, she's cute!

On Saturday night my family and I headed out to the mall to do some shopping. I found a bunch of fun things and added some items to my "keep an eye on" list.

First off, I really wanted a pair of white capris. But my favorite trick to stretch your money a bit? Take a pair of pants, and just roll them up a little bit until they are capri length. Totally easy and it eliminates the need to ever buy capris again! It works best with skinny jeans, but the white ones I ended up getting are a little boot cut, and it still works well!

I also tried on this adorable Michael Kors top that I kind of fell in love with. That's the problem with trying on Michael Kors clothes - so easy to love them, not so easy to hand over the cash for them - ha! I'm going to keep my eye on it though and hope and it goes on sale. The white jeans are INC - my favorite jean brand ever.

I also passed on this giraffe print INC top since it wasn't on sale, but it's definitely staying on my wish list. I'm not finding it on Macy's website, but I just think it's so cute, especially with the little bow belt.

I also checked out the new Lilly Pulitzer store that just opened up in the mall. I love looking around in there, and the store is so nice. The fitting rooms were great too - I took both of these pictures in the fitting room.

When I got home I tried on my new white pants with my favorite Express peplum top and my new graduation shoes. Love how easy and cute this outfit is!

I also want to mention a super cute fashion blog I recently stumbled upon that led me to those yellow wedges (they're Callisto's Tiara Wedge Sandal in Yellow Patent). It's called Pinterest Told Me To. I think it's so fun to read - you should check it out.

I stumbled upon store that I went to the first time over the weekend - Papyrus. It's a paper store with lots of stationary, cards, and wrapping paper. I went in looking for some thank you cards. With graduation coming up, I have a lot of thank you notes to write to teachers and family. I loved all of their cards, and the quality is so great too. I will definitely be buying from them again in the future!

These are the 2 designs I ended up getting. It's hard to tell, but both of them have a little bit of glitter on them, which is always a plus in my book.

I went to Target yesterday and was really pleased with the new line of shoes they have in collaboration with Sam & Libby. Sam & Libby is a shoe brand that has the offshoot Sam Edelman, which is what I was more familiar with initially. I've liked Sam Edelman shoes for a little while, but I've never wanted to shell out the cash for them.

For example, take these shoes. Cute, right? Well, Nordstrom is selling them for $64.95. I'm just not a fan of paying that much money for a pair of sandals.

via

Now look at these shoes. These are the Sam & Libby ones that I ended up buying from Target. They look almost identical to the Sam Edelman Nordstrom pair, but the Target ones? Only $24.99. I suggest you check them out at Target because all of the collection was really cute and reasonably priced. Love it!

Hope you all had a great weekend!

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Mascara & Tear Stained Face

As I start this post I have mascara running down my face and tears welling up in my eyes. I admit I have been a bit more emotional than usual lately, but today was an especially emotional day.

It was my last day of babysitting.

It seems like just yesterday I wrote this post talking about getting the job. I was lucky that it kind of just fell into my lap. One of my mom's friend passed along my information to them, they contacted me, and I got the job.

It has really worked out perfect for me. I've only had to work during the week for a few hours each day, and I have genuinely come to care about and love these kids as if they were my own family.

Now, there were some rough days, especially in the beginning. The boy (keeping names confidential still!) shooting a Nerf gun at my neck? What about the time he called 911 and the police showed up at the front door?

But those days were few and far between, and once he got used to me it's been much better.

I have made so many good memories with them over the past 2 years. From popcorn parties and watching movies, to laughing about silly Halloween jokes, to taking crazy pictures on their iPad, and the cupcake scavenger hunt, I have enjoyed every minute.

Now I'm just wishing I had a few more minutes left :)

So this afternoon I drove to their house and made the walk up to school one last time. Thankfully it was a gorgeous day! I have made this walk so many times that I was sad to be doing it only one more time.

I stood there at the crosswalk, the place I've waited for them all year, and I got SO sad. I stood there knowing that I would never do that again for the rest of my life, and I'm not good with "lasts."

When we got back home, the kids dropped off their backpacks, and we headed to Zip Dip for ice cream. They were so excited that I was taking them out for treats - I'm glad I did it!

Really funny side story...... On the drive over there, we were stopped at a red light and the driver of a car coming in the opposite direction said "hey" just as he drove by (I'm assuming on he was talking on the phone). Well that turned into a whole conversation about whether he was my boyfriend - ha! The boy I babysit said "I think he said hey to you because he thinks you're cute." Hahahahaha! I was dying laughing :)

Ice cream was a success. We headed back home afterwards and I watched some TV on the couch with them. I was trying to soak in as much as I could since I knew I didn't have much time left.

Their parents both got home at the same time and had a really sweet graduation present to give me. They wrote me a nice note, but I actually just pretended to read it while I was there because I knew it would make me cry - ha! They also gave me this super nice UC pullover. It's totally my style, and I can't wait to wear it next year. I have a feeling it is going to be one of my favorite UC items!

I also got a picture taken with them. I had realized that I didn't have a single picture of me with them, and after being with them for 2 years, I thought it would be nice. Definitely a picture I'll treasure for a long time. I got some parting hugs and left before they could see me cry.

I made it out to my car and got my sunglasses on before the tears really started! I was proud of myself. I have just been overly emotional lately, and that sent me over the edge. I'm pretty sure I cried for about half an hour because I'm such a dork.

As my time babysitting came to an end I was extremely grateful for the opportunity to get to know those kids so well over the last 2 years. I couldn't have asked for a better job.

It's still so weird though to think that at I'll never have to force them to do their homework at 4:30 again. I'll never have to break up a fight between them again. I'll never have to feed their crayfish Mellow Yellow again - ha!

Hopefully they'll ask me to babysit some more, and I'm hoping to stay in touch. Either way, I know that they have impacted me for the better, and for that I'll always be thankful.