Pro Baking 1 Class

I started my pro baking class last Sunday at the Gourmandise School of Sweets and Savory and I love it.  It's only once a week and I just can't wait for our next class.  The first class was mainly learning the chemistry behind baking. We learned about the different flour types, sugar types, acids, gluten, eggs, milk types...  It's all so intriguing!  I really like our instructor, Clemence.  She seems to be very knowledgeable and sincere.  She did a few different demos to help us understand what she was teaching.  She even made us quiche for lunch with the pie crust she made.  OH AND WE HAD A NICE LITTLE CHOCOLATE TASTING!  YUM.

Right when I got home I made caramel with my son (one of the experiments)!

Here's to the start of my baking class adventures!  I can't wait to start baking next week and sharing my creations!

Me and my text book :)

YUM Kit Kat Senses

SCOOOOORE!!!  I found KitKat Senes at a little Israeli market right by my house!  Yummy hazelnut goodness combined with the delicious kit kat wafers.  Yu-um!

I guess this is my breakfast :)

Sonoma Valley - VIP

Back in October my then fiance & I went on an amazing trip to Sonoma Valley.  His company received an all expense paid trip from Clearwater/MTV and they gave it to Bryan as a token of their appreciation for his hard work.  Even though this was a few months back it was such a great experience I just have to blog about it.... The wineries, the restaurants, the VIP experience..... the quality time before the wedding madness.....UH-MAZING.

The VIP treatment started when a town car picked us up at the airport to bring us to home for the weekend, The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa.  The hotel a bit older, very quaint and cozy, fitting for Sonoma.  

The next morning we took a cab to Gloria Ferrer Winery for a little sparkling wine & cheese.  We sat outside overlooking the vineyards while drinking enjoying our bottle of sparkling wine, brie, baguette, & salami.  Such a nice way to start out our morning. 

Afterwards we went into town to do a little exploring and a little more tastings.   

Part of the VIP treatment included an amazing dinner at the Inn's premiere restaurant, Sante.  Sante Restaurant has earned the prestigious Michelin Star as well as AAA's four diamond rating.  I believe the sommelier mentioned that Sante is the only restaurant in Sonoma to receive a Michelin Star.  We went with the amazing tasting menu and my absolute favorite course was the butter poached lobster.  Oh so to die for!

The next morning the VIP treatment continued.  A town car picked us up at the Inn to take us on a private winery tour.  Now these wineries weren't just your average wineries, you definitely would not stop at these amazing vineyards with your typical $100 van wine tours.  Not that i'm knocking the van tours, I actually enjoy them very much...but this....this tour was special.  The itinerary that was given to us prior to the trip showed that we stopped at Petroni Vinyards.  We read the reviews and they were all really good, everyone spoke so highly of Petroni, so needless to say I was very excited to visit that winery.  When the driver handed us the itinerary Petroni was no where to be found!  They revised our itinerary, Petroni was X'd, Robert Hunter took it's place, and I was oh sooo sad.  

When we arrived at Robert Hunter we were given an intriguing narrative on the history of the land and of the Hunter family.  We then took a walk around their charming garden that is outside of the Hunter home. It was a beautiful sunny day, perfect for a tasting in the garden, which by the way overlooks the vineyard.  I believe we were able to taste 4/5 different wines.  ALL were excellent, we ended up buying a bottle of their yummy bubbly their 2001 Brut de Noir (light and crisp with notes of apples and pears).  It's a nice addition to my new wine collection.  


From what we were told the Mr. & Mrs. Hunter are very humble people.  They limit their tours and they are by appointment only, so make sure you don't just show up....after all it is their home.  

Okay so this post is getting a bit too long lol.... sorry for the rambling I'll have to finish up another time. Oh but just so you know... There was no reason for me to be sad, Robert Hunter was a FABULOUS change/addition to our itinerary.  While Petroni is still on my to visit list, I am so happy that we were able to experience the Robert Hunter garden tour.

Till next time... 

<3 Jen

I made a ribbon rosette pomander for my beautiful flower baby/Goddaughter, ChiLa.  I've been trying to get her to learn how to start walking already however for some reason she just isn't doing it yet!  Well... maybe by the wedding when she's 9 months she'll be walking  :)   Haha just kidding, both of her parents are in the wedding and I'm going to have the carry her when they walk down the aisle and then maybe hand her to my mom at the end.  We could just put the ribbon around her wrist.

Here is the pomander... I might add small purple rosettes to it.

I used a 4" styrofoam ball and I'm hoping thats its a good size

And here is the beautiful Chila!

HOW CUTE IS SHE?!?  I Love Her <3

Vintage Inspired Cameo Pieces

I few weeks back I made one of my besties' a jewelry board for her birthday.  I thought it looked a little boring so of course I had to add jewelry to it.  She loves loves loves cameos so I decided to make her a few vintage inspired cameo rings and a pair of pretty pretty cameo bobby pins.

Here they are!

And here we are! My favorite cousin, one of my besties, and of course ME.  I actually made the ring on the bottom for my cousin, the rest was for Joyce :)

Weekend De-stressing Projects

A couple weekends ago I started working on a few projects to de-stress.... and I forgot to upload the pics.  Here they are!  


I upcycled dark old ugly trays, plates, and plain containers into pretty dessert trays and a classy candy jar that I will definitely use on my next dessert table/candy buffet.  Can't wait, I need to throw a party ASAP! :)

Does it have to match?

Are your toasting flutes and cake serving set supposed to match?  I know they can and they come in sets however is it tacky if they don't match?  Hmmm.... It's not like they are going to be next to each other, right?

I'm having a beach wedding and I love the Lenox Jubilee crystal flutes.  I believe the pearls would tie in nicely however for some reason I don't like the matching cake cutter set.     The Glitter Cake serving set is really pretty, will this pair work?