Barking Dogs

Nope, not the furry kind.

The size 7 1/2s attached to my ankles.  

They've got a muzzle on for now but I need to find a few pairs of comfy shoes for the long hours of standing in the kitchen.   I acquired (begrudgingly) a pair of...Crocs...in the somewhat cuter ballet slipper style.  They are definitely comfortable and better than plain socks or bare feet.  But I'm wondering if there's anything better out there?

Any suggestions, blogger world?  What keeps your feet and  back supported?  I'm not trying to have the back of my legs look like the highway map of the USA.  No thank you, varicose veins.

Atlanta Underground Market

This Saturday, March 26th, is the 2nd Atlanta Underground Market.  It is a new, sort of grass-roots event, started by a recent San Francisco transplant.  It basically allows the foodies/home cooks to bring their goods out in a new platform and gauge public interest.  As a patron, you get to try out some unique and delicious food. 

I participated in the inaugural event last month as a first-time-ever vendor and had a fantastic time meeting new people and being able to take my eats to the public.  The interest was so high for the the first one (over 1,000 people attending!) that she held auditions for vendors.  Thankfully, I'm in!  Coming back with 4 flavors this time and a better perspective going in.  

Two flavors I will be taking (and auditioned with) are After Hours - a dark chocolate/red wine concoction.  And Panamà - a coconut cream/mango beauty.  Come out and enjoy some great eats!

Make sure you sign up at the site so you can receive notification on where the event will be.  Since it's a "private" event, not knowing where each one will be until the day before it what creates excitement around it.

Atlanta Underground Market

Mic check 1-2, 1-2

Hello to you and yours.  Testing out this blogging bit.  This has been in the background of my mind for years and finally getting around to creating one.  This blog will be centered around my caking adventures and opportunities, some recipes and tips I've learned over the years and also my love for classic and current hiphop.  (read: no Little Wayne or anything on the radio today).  There may be a bit of my random ramblings sprinkled in here and there as well.

I have been dabbling in cake decorating since 2002 when I took my first Wilton class with a friend.  At the time I was trying to do more for myself and rediscover what I loved and wanted to do.  I took the class and was instantly hooked.  I had always loved to bake and this encouraged me to really perfect my baking.  A pretty looking cake is lost if it doesn't taste good.  I took a couple of more classes but then realized I wasn't too keen on the Wilton methods (or style) and started learning other techniques by joining online cake art communities, watching videos and buying books.  I would still love to take some classes with a few of the "greats" - especially the local one, Nicholas Lodge.   But for now, I will continue to perfect when I have the opportunity and start steering this ship in the direction I want it to go.  My own "style" tends to be less traditional, more artsy...clean lines...bold but not overly mod with understated elegance.

I've done a few weddings over the years and everything in between.  Today, cupcakes are still all the rage, so I will flow with it for now.  I love being able to do more when it comes to flavor combos with cupcakes.  So, right now, cupcakes rule everything around me. 

Dolla dolla bill y'all.