Good, better, best

I have made some changes these last couple weeks. I have stopped working at Seattle Children's Theatre. What I wanted out of an internship wasn't what they wanted from an intern. It wasn't a hard good-bye, rather something both SCT and I knew needed to be done. I came to Seattle and put my life on hold to apply my skills and gain PR work experience. After my departure from SCT, I didn't waste any time trying to find a company that would meet my expectations. Lucky for me, I found one that has exceeded them.

This time around, I found a business that is more closely related to what I now know I want to pursue, something in the culinary industry. I am the PR intern for Dish it up!, a cooking school, wine, kitchenware and counter design store, and I couldn't be happier. I'm thrilled to work for Dish it up!. I'm doing work I love in a fantastic environment. I get to walk through cupcake liners when I need a pen; I sit at a kitchen counter where blueberry pies were made the night before. The staff is warm and the work is applicable to my PR degree.

SCT started my summer in a direction I didn't want to go, but my new internship has completely changed its course. I have learned what I don't want in a job and what I do. I don't, in any way, think that makes this experience lackluster. Dish it up! came along and put a lot into perspective-- better late than never, right?

I am also helping my long-time friend, Liz Bateman, doing PR for her sister's wedding cake company, Cake Couture. Their cakes are incredible and I am honored to help her family in any way I can.

Life is good.



New recipe to come.. soon. :)

www.dish-it-up.com

Twice as nice?

I'm trying to bring back the lost art of letter writing, more specifically, package sending. Bonnie mailed me mint brownies and cookies on my birthday. There were a few crumbs, but the food stayed surprisingly well. This of course meant I could eat all of the brownies and all of the cookies within the first few minutes of opening the package-- at 9 am.

So, it's my turn to return the favor. Tonight I made cookies for Bonnie and Lauren. Ok, well, tonight I started to make cookies for Bonnie and Lauren.

When I bake, I usually substitute the butter or other fat (like oil) with something healthier. This can be mashed banana, pumpkin puree, yogurt or applesauce. I had just the right amount of applesauce to finish off the jar, so I used that. Usually, the ratio for the substitute will be the same, but it's a matter of preference. Some people prefer to use 1/2 the required amount of fat with 1/2 substitute. The consistency is a little different when you substitute the fat, though. Cookies turn out more cake like, cakes are more moist. This doesn't work with everything so you have to toy around. Using eggs in recipes can also be altered. If a recipe calls for one whole egg, you can use two egg whites (keeping with a 1:2 ratio). Or, if more than one egg is required, you can use both whole egg(s) and substitute egg(s) with egg whites. For all of these changes, cooking times will vary. Until you get the hang of it, you'll have to check the oven frequently. Most times, the flavor doesn't change too much, but be cautious. Sweetened applesauce will make a bigger difference than unsweetened, etc.

Tonight I made sugar "cookies" (more like cake-cookies) with m&m's mixed in. Because they were so light, I figured I could have another.. then another.. then another.. Eight cookies later, here I am, full and ashamed. Bonnie and Lauren's boxes to be mailed remain empty, while I waddle around, sickeningly full. I'll do better next time!

What college doesn't teach you

As I sit in my room, Pandora playing, gnats flying around me, staring at a television I wish would work, I reflect on a few things I've realized since I came here:
1. No matter how clean a place is, if you live in a basement, there will be bugs. Back in my vegetarian days, I would have let the critters prosper and call this home their own-- thank goodness that's over. I've stomped and smashed more gnats since mid-May than the average person will in their whole life. I've actually gotten pretty precise in it.
2. It is possible to get rashes later on in life. I think they're from stress, but they itch like crazy.
3. It is possible to miss a small, quiet town that has less to do than one block in a busy city. Oh Moscow, your simplicity is but a pleasant memory and the bulk section of your market, something I can just dream about.
4. By the end of a 9-5 shift, I'm over people and want to crawl into bed. This will sound bad, but being social after work sounds awful. I find myself talking to the same handful of people often and old friends sporadically, and that being good enough. Don't get me wrong, Nick and I would love to make a great group of friends here and have tried, but there is some disconnect with personalities. We're going to continue to try but until then, I'm so grateful for the great people I do know. Now, to just get us all together in a place we all love...
5. I don't want to do PR for a theatre or performance organization. For many reasons, it just is not my place. In my ideal world, I'll find a job that combines food and writing and/or marketing/PR. I'm going to really try for that and be happy. I'm very grateful for this summer opportunity and in some ways, it not "working out" is great. I now know what I don't want to do and have shaped my hobbies and interest that I have gained over the last several years into something I can see myself utilizing in my career.

This past week at SCT was difficult, but I'm sure the next several weeks will just get better. My mom is coming to visit for a weekend in mid-July! Some familiarity will be incredible. Nick made my birthday one I'll never forget. It was both relaxing and action-packed, casual and formal-- what more could I ask for? Probably not to have gotten sick at the concert, I probably would have asked for that, but, really, my 21st was amazing. I'm really lucky he was here and so grateful for the people that thought of me on my day... Thanks, Facebook, for reminding so many that I can now legally drink wine.

Squash me

I didn't want to turn this into a cooking blog, but I can't resist. We just got a table to eat our meals at. As nice as the oriental/homeless feel the floor was, the table adds an element of cleanliness and just plain goodness. Tonight I made acorn squash stuffed with cous cous and a chocolate fudge and peanut butter pie (guess which dish I chose to make and which one Nick requested). I really like to cook. So much so that, if given a time machine, I can't say I wouldn't re-consider college and scope out a culinary institute instead. But, I'm not above selling cookies out of of the trunk of my car, either.

Five pound maximum

Overwhelming doesn't begin to describe our time in Seattle thus far. Within the first day, we unpacked all of our things into our 4x4 room and had a mental breakdown when it took 45 minutes to find a parking spot on the street. Who knew we lived on Greek row? But now, a few days later, we have a better handle on public transportation and are learning to enjoy the "coziness" of such a small room. We've done some tourist-y things: checked out Pike's place and downtown shops and frequent the University Village. Unfortunately, Nick's internship didn't work out, but a job at the Space Needle is looking promising. I've joined a gym and have found myself being the cooking and cleaning, domestic lady of the house. I can't say I have a problem with that, mainly because, lets be honest, it's just adorable and Nick is such a good help when I ask. As for the weather, it isn't nearly as bad as everyone warned me it would be. It has rained a few times, sure, but it's brief and not some buckets-of-water-falling-from-the-sky experience, as some people made it out to be. We're still in America, folks. It's summer here too and the sun is a'shinin.

I think this once-city-girl has realized I don't love the city as much as I once did. The week before our move to Seattle, when we were at Nick's family's cabin, I was much more relaxed and at peace. The homeless people are a real downer in big cities and, lets not forget, we are but poor college students and do not have six dollars to spend on a pair of scissors, Seattle! I just needed to open a box! But, really, things are looking up. Meghan Miller has been a great help for us here; we really appreciate her. Tonight we are going to temple, tomorrow Nick's friend from high school is coming to visit and Sunday we are going to church. As for right now, BBC is on, we're getting ready to go to Urban Outfitters, and all is well.

Wild Wild Washington

In an effort to remain as creepy as ever, I hid for Nick to find me when he arrived from the airport from Spain. Ok, what really happened is this: a month prior to his return, Nick's mom invited me to be with the family at the airport to pick him upon his arrival. We figured he might have been expecting me to be there, though, so instead, I waited for him back at their house while his parents got him. When he finally saw me, he took a few steps back in surprise. I was running toward him with open arms, and there he was, walking away. So, all in all, success.

Since then, we've packed up my apartment, said our good-byes, and have been in Kennewick with his family, Moscow with our friends, Mazama with his parents, Spokane with his brother... And are really tired. I wish I could have found a weekend to see my family as well, but there is still time during the summer to, hopefully, work that out. I've been eating crap and a ton of it. Sweets taste better with your best friend eating them with you. My diet starts the day we get to Seattle. We're finding a gym a.s.a.p, too. It's summer time and I have the same aspirations that any stupid girl does-- to be tan, skinny and bomb. And speaking of Seattle, that happens on Monday. Time is flying!

Nick's mom and I went for a jog while Nick and his dad went for a bike ride. The jog got me all hot and bothered; I had no choice but to tank-top it, ok?

Timchalk cabin in Mazama, Washington

Mother's Day Brunch in Kennewick with Nick's fam

A special appearance from the dog

Oh, Vickz

Today in my reporting class, my professor asked how many people had a blog. Surprisingly, only about two people raised their hand. I looked around at the girls in the class, though, and I know more have a blog. My professor said blogs can be great and she almost required us to have one. She then made a disgusted-looking face and said, "but I don't want to read about all of you."
But, maybe you do.

This is my last week of my junior year in college. After next year, I'll be pushed out into the real world, probably working as a barista. Until then, summer. I got an internship as the PR/marketing intern for Seattle Children's Theatre. I am so excited.... I'm coming for you, Seattle, with my best friend/boyfriend Nick Timchalk in tow.