A New Job and Brownie Cookies!

I finished my first week at a local bakery today. I applied for the job in March and didn’t hear anything until nearly June. But I was so excited to start! In only a few days, I have noticed a difference in the items I’m baking. My rolls are more symmetrical, it takes me half the time to measure out a batch of dough, I can frost a cupcake faster and smoother than I thought possible.

The thing I was the best at though, even from the get go, was portioning out cookie dough. No matter the dough – a sugar cookie, a chocolate crinkle, or an oatmeal and craisin – I haven’t been off by more than .01 ounces. Holding a ball in my hand and knowing even before I put it on the scale whether it will be high or low is an exhilarating feeling, and probably my favorite part of the job thus far.

After a couple of long shifts at the bakery followed by even longer ones at the restaurant, I finally had the day off yesterday. Even after spending countless hours in a hot, cramped kitchen the only thing I wanted was to be back in the kitchen. My kitchen. Without a hat or stuffy tennis shoes or a rolling pin permanently attached to my hand – just my sweat pants and flowered apron to keep me company.

Pest-faux: Kale and Roasted Garlic Pesto

I’m in a chilly community center gym. The smell of burnt coffee, thick in the air, barely covers the stale sweat still lingering from basketball games gone by. Metal folding chairs groan with the tiniest of movements. I stand up nervously, my palms slick with sweat.

Hi, my name is Amanda…and I have a problem. I…I am addicted to beauty products.

Hello, Amanda! A chorus of similarly inclined individuals greets me.

While this scenario is completely imaginary, my affection for, and obsession with, beauty products is not. I often open my bathroom cabinets looking for something specific only to have different bottles, tubes, and jars come toppling out. Naturally, what I was searching for is nowhere to be found. Right there I swear to myself that I am done. No more. I am through buying these stupid things!

And then, one way or another, I find myself sidling up to the makeup counter. Again. Greeting an eager saleswoman while ogling the latest shade of eye shadow.

Or meandering along the hair care aisle. My fingers lightly tracing the brightly colored bottles. Fluorescent lights buzzing overhead, just begging me to buy yet another bottle of thermal styling spray.

But I don’t cave. I don’t. I think about the drawers in my bathroom, the stacks in the hall closet. Teaming with products I could never hope to finish in this lifetime, no matter how much hairspray I use.

Lately, I’ve been feeling that way about kale. I buy a bundle at the grocery store because it is cheap and delicious and filling. Yet, no matter how much I eat, no matter how much I sauté with garlic or throw in salads it is still there! Kale. Looming in my crisper drawer. The bunch never getting any smaller.

Thursday Things

1)     I gave blood today! I LOVE giving blood! Is that weird? And I don’t just mean the whole saving three lives thing, although that’s obviously why I do it (Type O-Neg, what?). See, when I give blood I…uh…I...I time myself. I like to keep track of how long it takes me to fill up the bag (I got grossed out just typing that sentence) and see if I can beat my previous time. I’ve got a personal best of a little over 5 minutes and it’s a shining beacon to which I have measured all other donations.

2)     That was disturbing. I'm sorry.

3)     I also read somewhere that donating blood burns like 600+ calories which is like 2.5 workouts worth of calorie output! Which totally justifies the 4 white chocolate chip muffins I had at lunch, post-donation. I wish I could give blood every day!

4)     The genius of this commercial. Obsession. It brings me back to high school sports. Anyone else?

5)     I got a haircut yesterday. I wanted side swept, flowy bangs. I got straight across, blunt bangs. That’s cool, I’ve done the whole blunt bang thing before, but I wanted something soft and pretty for summer. And I know my bangs will never be as good as Zooey Deschanel's no matter how hard I try.

6)     My sisters are coming to visit in four days!!!! I’ve already planned all of our dining destinations. And that we have to go grocery shopping because I need more of this.

7)     Modern Family just keeps getting better and better. The real life situations that they turn into comedic gold are just astounding.

8)     This is one of my best friends. She’s coming to visit me next week. (Hi, Claire!)

Finals week. It happens to the best of us. 

9)     I’ve been researching nut brittle recipes in preparation for a competition I’m doing next week. I hate competing, I get all nervous and sweaty and miserable and almost backed out last time. I don’t know why I do this to myself.

Happy Thursday!

Amanda