17 Apr 2008: Still The Hookup Queen...

...Still the Hookup Queen...

Some East Indian folks believe that if you consume a bit of honey and then ask for something you will have a honey-ed tongue and no one will be able to refuse anything you ask for. I like the idea of this.

I think that some people have a naturally honeyed tongue. One of them is my Mom...When mom was in the catering hustle she always got rock bottom prices and last minute requests with no problem at times things were even complimentary. I figured it was that manner in which she asked and that she was always ready to pay but always gave it a shot to see if the produce guy or butcher or suppliers would bottom the price out..

Every couple weeks we go out to dinner and then go on this movie buying blitz...We went to Sweet Tomatoes and then snatched up some movies...

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My Choices:

Pistol Opera (japanese)

Dark Angel 1 (japanese)

Dark Angel 2 (japanese)

Julian's Choices:

Carlito's Way, boxed set

Don't Be a Menace to South Central...while drinkin' juice in the Hood.

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LMFAOOOOOO!

I drove this time and hit a speed bump hella hard coz I was so excited to cop a copy of Pistol Opera and my FLAT indicator came on. I'm like WuuuuT. Julian just laughed. Well the guy at the dealer indicated that my front tires were a little off...40's instead of 45's. I just laughed and parked the car and told Julian I would take them to the tire place in the morning and let's just make some popcorn and watch our movies!

I went to the tire place around the corner and told Dude...My flat light indicator came on and the dealership told me you gave me the wrong tires. I even told the guy now I did purchase these last August and I would like the correct ones put on! So should I pay the difference or can we work something out.

Dude was very nice and showed them to the Manager...and turns out the manager probably slash/owners son is Korean...and he was lookin' at my paperwork...and I looked at him and said be nice Sean Oppa!!! He started laughing and said where did you learn that - I said my best friend! He said order new tires for her car and just charge her installation.

$30.50. That is what I paid. To get new tires put on and return tires that I'd already used for 9 months. And it's just in time for new tires since the weather is warming up and the asphalt will turn to an oven soon.

Lucky Lucky Me...

Genetic Honeyed Tongue.

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When City Mama was here she wanted to go to AZ Bike Week because City Mama is a Harley Enthusiast and will soon have her own custom joint. As we were walking in a gentleman walked up to us and said you ladies going in there? We said yes...and he said here you go, 2 tickets for the married ladies...

That's 18 bucks a pop we saved.

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This happens all the time...random free things coming our way!

Honey-ed Life!!!

14 April 2008: Ain't Nothin But a Cake Thang Baby...

Ain’t Nothin’ But a Cake Thang Baby...
Category: Blogging

I am so lucky to be extraordinarily busy...

Right after the NYC trip we jumped into work and Julian switched to a new job (yay!)...More recently. His Mama met my Mama.

My Mom and GodMommy are here from Manila doing their thing. Fortunately Julian's Mama came in for a week visit to see us, catch the sights and spend some time with more family.

Julian's Mama is City Mama...she wakes up and as soon as her little feet hit the ground she is ready to go. City Mama has a plan and an itinerary and a car rental and places to go and things to do. She has a youthful spirit and an excitement in everything she does.

My Mom is Country Mama...because she now lives a life of leisure in her retirement. She just kicks back and rolls with the punches and likes to be a passenger in the adventure.

My GodMama is a combination of them both.

Needless to say all the Mama's got along and it was all good and all blessings. We weren't worried in the least...but as strong as our mothers were there would be a possiblity that they might not get along. I figured out from an email sent out that City Mama loves raspberry cheesecake so I made her a special no bake one: White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake with a Chocolate Pecan Oatmeal Crust. TWO THUMBS UP she said!!!

About midway through the week before we fell asleep Julian said," Thank You Bebe...for all that you do and for takin' City Mama around and all that stuff. I smiled and responded,"I am thankful that we are the good children of good mothers because not everyone is as lucky as us!" Amen right!

Julian took City Mama to the movies while I rolled up a few hundred lumpia. The next day we were supposed to take Mama out on the town but after a fun visit to tombstone she suggested she stay in since she had a trip to San Diego in the morning. Everyone ended up stopping by and Mama made everyone some mean yummy pina colada's...Did I mention Wendy loves the Mama's!!!

Julian laughed and told me one night when they were out running an errand his Mama told him,"Ju...I didn't think I'd like any of your girlfriends but Lisa...but I really like Sauce!" Julian laughed and said,"Mama - I dated that girl 10 or 11 years ago!" Bwaa hahahahahha. no wait. Bwaa hahahhahha.

I told him looks like you almost made some bad decisions Bebe. haha.

Then the two Country Mama's took off to Mexico for a 5 day cruise and then the Grand Canyon and then City Mama returned to Chicago and reality resumed. We really are blessed to be surrounded by harmony and love and sense of an even bigger family!

Amidst all this fun and love and madness (and even bomblettes for Gya)...the cakes still get made!

Samoa Vanilla

Raspberry Chocolate

Almond Snickers and Chocolate...With my cooking protege Ben in the midst of it! Little freak - we love you!

And who said you couldn't eat Plaid!!!

26 Mar 2008: Hello Kitty Strikes Again

Okay Kitty Krazy...that’s what the world is...

Here is a pic of Wendy Lee’s Birthday Cake.

I guess I’ll just keep makin’ cake

19 Mar 2008: Busy Bein' Bonkers...

I know I’ve been busy for a long minute...

Cakes Take My Time

Then you got Birthday Goodies

Julians:

Gya’s

Wendy...

Photo Missing of the Hello Kitty Cake that Grime conceptualized and I materialized...There are other random goodies coming forth soon.

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Moving Takes My Time...

I have moved and my sister has moved so we’ve done a LOT of moving in the last month. Those of you that know my new address are welcome to drop by. Fam doesn’t call they just come by and I always got stuff for Bomblettes - ask Tina. Hahahahha. We ditched the sofa and just went with chairs. So you surfin the floor rug.

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Airports Take My Time

We just went to NYC a month ago...a nice 4 day weekend in Manhattan.

Sometimes the Sky looks like Cotton Candy...

Airports Seem More Fun When You Are Happy

Vadeem is the craziest Russian Dude we ever partied with

The NY Trip was about meeting his favourite cousins...and relaxing...

Cousin Lloyd and I got along like 2 peas in a pod

Cousin Virgil was a little more reserved but by Day 2 he was giving me a hard time too...hahahha.

We were drinkin’ in a bar with Vadeem and Lloyd and I pointed out the snow and he said c’mon Bebe - our first snow together. ahahahha

Here’s Mama Rita’s favourite pic!

Amanda will always be one of my bad beeyotches...

It’s great to go away but it’s great to come home!

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This is a month of Mama’s...

Julians Mama will be here on the 1st of April...My Mama will be here in a few days. My godparents will be here on Sunday...My official birthday dinner will be Monday...Wooohooo.

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I’m going to voice an observation right now. Because I’ve been seeing people popped for their theft. If you eat stolen food you will get sick. If you steal money it will make you go broke. If you "steal" people they will happily kill you slowly. Either way you get what you deserve. But come near me no more.

Besides stealing is for the weak. If you are gonna try to get over on me come to my face with a gun and say,"Give me your shit" Don’t give me that weak ass pick my pocket in a business way shit coz I’m gonna crack your skull.

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I’m off to the bay for a week next month. And then We’ll see about Hawaii and Manila!

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08 Jan 2008: Burnout Recovery

I've been trying to get some downtime for the last few days...meaning when I'm not at work I'm not takin' on any other projects. It's been excellent to relax...I realized that I'm just burnt because I've steadily been busy since October 2007. I haven't had a fun vacation since Asia in August. However, last October Julian told me we are goin to NYC in February and it was confirmed a few days ago.

Funny thing is I'm lookin' forward to being out of town and walkin' in the shadow of skyscrapers. Funny thing is he told me this last October and I bought the dress and coat for February.

So I guess this vacation my Calvin Klein Dress will match his Calvin Klein suit.

I'm so excited!!!

It's tough to go Stunting...but someone's gotta do it!

03 Jan 2008: Wedding Cake Break...

I've been taking a break from doing wedding cakes. A week before Christmas Bryan H the Sculptor called me to tell me that his Mom needed a cake last minute...So despite all my work stuff and outside food gigs and all that I squeezed it in - because I like Bryan coz he's a cool MoFo...Mind you the cake was to be finished, completed and set up ON New Years Day.

I did an easy tasting - Choco Marble cake with Choco Cherry Truffle and Italian Buttercream. Finding White and Red flowers after Christmas was quite the challenge - and I didn't find the paper whites and Amaryllis I made a substitution...Here is how it went down.

My best ChefGirl Katie baked it off and split it...and we both set it up. I envy her bakin' muscles for realz!

Split Cake...

Then you brush it with a Cherry Simple Syrup made with French Preserves and Sugar Water

Then you fill it with Milk Chocolate Cherry Ganache

Then you cover it in Italian Buttercream...and then Slather another few layers on...Bwaa hahahha...Buttercream is my FAVOURITE!

Then you stack it - cut the flowers - bow up the bouquet and hope your composition is acceptable enough.

A job well done. Then Katie and I were off to breakfast and we started the New Year with smiles on our faces and paper in our pocket.

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I will add this. Katie and I will be accepting jobs/contracts for Wedding Cakes, Fantasy Cakes and Specialized cupcakes. However, if we don't like you we won't take the job. If we REALLY dislike you - I will triple the price.

That's all I have to say about THAT!

03 Jan 2008: Christmas Recap 2007

03 Jan 08 Thursday 7:10 PM

Everyone knows that Christmas is already bonkers for me since I have a lot of cake making and what not to do and I work all the way up to Christmas Eve. While I was at work Julian picked up the veggies, cheese and other incidentals for dinner. Once we got home he futzed with his new VCast joint on his phone to load like 100 or so songs...It didn't work so he stayed on the phone with customer service while I checked over the good for Christmas Dinner. So we pack up the car around 9ish and start heading north to the north Phoenix house. Don't you know...My car puttered out after i exited the freeway! So we're sitting there and Julian is makin' a video of me bein' "MAD"...and laughin the whole time. I will try to put a video later...but everyone said how could I be mad with that smile on my face and Julian laughin' in the background. Bwaa hahahaha. I like how he watched the video and cracked HIMSELF up! Well...At least towin' is included with the car and I'm under warranty until 100,000 miles. The towtruck driver did NOT say - cool - i NEVER get to tow mini's...I said Not Cool Dude...He laughed...Look at his happy ass behind Madge! What!!! Dude was cool - I gave him a 20 buck gift card I had for gelato for the shop and wished him a Merry Christmas! So we get to the house and I start kind of prepping and booting up the laptops...and my brother says close your eyes - we're giving you your present now - I said - haha shutttttup. So I close my eyes... He puts a bag in my hand (he's never giftwrapped ever...heh heh). I look at the bag and say oh cool - from Circle K! Bwaa hahahaha Well - dayuuum - If it ain't the biggest IPOD ever! Well I think there's one bigger - but 80 Gigs is enough for like uh 15,000 songs or some shit. Hey Julian - brown people need flash I mean really Then they gave me my other gifts...Some Harajuku joints...a 40 gig external drive for extra movies and music...Wendy gave me my bling bling Kitty choker and my berry container. wut...and lots of other stuff and non stuff... Megan is my brother's friend. At least that's what I'm told... Max and Keyla are always in the mix... We'll see... Of course in the middle of all the craziness - Julian says,"Bebe...time for our Christmas Picture!!! Hahahaha. He once told me he's been accused of being distant and cold...but I've never seen it and I don't think I will...I'm a girl G...with a chef belt...Mom teases that he fell in love with my cooking...and he laughs when she says it...but says it was me - not the groceries! --- We all went to bed fairly late...Rommel asked me to make Christmas lunch this year because they were going to Megan's for dinner...So we had luncheon. Here's the pics I did manage to get before I passed out! 10 pounds of Roast Beef 3 pounds of pork tenderloin Cheesy Mashed Potatoes Cornbread Stuffing - as usual Green Beans with a White Sauce Alfredo Baked Pasta with Zuchinni Dessert was simply Cookies and Lemon Tart That's Just How We do It...