Tea Time

Ever since I was young, my mom and I would regularly go to tea. We used to seek out tea houses across Massachusetts and have afternoon tea together or with friends and family. However, as I started getting older and as some of our favorite tea houses closed down, my mom decided that she would try hosting her own tea. This year, for my cousin's birthday, my mom and I set out to put together another one of her famous tea parties, and this time, I would be helping with the baking.

Since the tea was on Sunday, I spent most of Saturday afternoon feverishly baking. On the agenda: baking Shirley Temple cupcakes and pizzellis. I have been making pizzellis (a very tasty Italian cookie) for a few years now, so I'm pretty well-versed in how to make them -- although I am still mastering getting them to look just so. The cupcakes, on the other hand, were a new recipe that I found on Pinterest and figured the tea would be the perfect opportunity to try them out.

I started off by making the Shirley Temple cupcakes first. This recipe called for some different ingredients than I was used to such as 7Up (I used Diet Sierra Mist as it was all that I had), maraschino cherry juice and gluten-free flour. Since my family is not gluten-free, I stuck to regular flour for the recipe. Mixing and making the cupcakes was pretty easy though -- just like any other cake or cupcake I've made before. The only difference though was that the recipe called for splitting up the batter to make the cupcakes "two-toned" in color.

The cupcakes had a pink/red bottom and a vanilla top, so to do that, the recipe called for taking about one cup of the batter and transferring it to another bowl. From there, I added cherry juice and food coloring to get the cherry taste and color. I then poured the pink/red batter first, and then rest of the remaining batter on top -- being careful so as not to let the two mix and form distinct separate layers.

I was excited to try something new with these cupcakes, and I especially enjoyed the fact that they were going to be partially pink, which is perfect considering that Valentine's Day is quickly approaching. It was a nice departure from the standard plain vanilla or chocolate cupcakes, which, while they are classics for a reason, are usually found littering the baked goods section of the grocery store. Shirley Temples were always my favorite treat to order when out at a restaurant and even though I'm now old enough to order an adult beverage, I still find myself craving a Shirley Temple from time to time.

The recipe only baked a dozen, so it didn't take too long once they were in the oven for the cupcakes to be finished. They looked and smelled so good, and the different colors made the cupcakes special for the tea.

After baking the cupcakes, I was heading on to making the pizzellis. Of course (and as usual) I made a big mess, and had to clean up before moving on to something else. I had to warn my mom before coming into the kitchen so that she wouldn't have a heart attack upon realizing that I destroyed the kitchen.

My mom found it amusing that I managed to get flour all over me, and while this picture is slightly embarrassing, it does emphasize my ability to make a complete mess while baking or cooking. By the end of the afternoon, I had flour and batter all over me -- front, back, on my shirt and on my pants -- and it was if a bakery exploded all over me.

While waiting for the cupcakes to cool off so that I could make the frosting, I set forth on the pizzellis. My mom had helped me out by making the pizzelli batter -- something I have done before and usually do -- so as to cut down on my prep time. Unlike the previous recipes I've used, the pizzelli recipe is one that has stayed in the family and was originally my grandfather's. Though I never met my grandfather, every time I make pizzellis I use his recipe and they are always delicious.

The pizzellis are really easy to make. Although, unlike cookies that you just put in the oven and wait to be cooked, you use a pizzelli maker to press and bake the cookies. It is similar to making homemade waffles, only pizzellis are much thinner and much sweeter. You can add anis flavoring if you want and even top with confectionary sugar to make them look extra tasty.

The pizzelli maker that I'm using (above) is a recent addition to our supply of baking and cooking appliances. We used to have a really old one, but one time when I was making pizzellis, the handle came off and one of the metal plates became detached from the machine and I was left with oven mitts on attempting to put the burning hot appliance back together. Needless to say, my mom and I decided it was time to upgrade to a newer one and found one at Macy's that has a little light that changes colors when the cookies are done.

I am still trying to master finding the right amount of batter to make the perfect pizzelli. One of my great-aunts is by far the best pizzelli maker in the family and hers always come out so perfectly. Mine, on the other hand, are usually hit or miss. I figure, given another thirty years, maybe mine will come out perfectly too.

Pizzellis remind me of doilies in cookie form. They're really pretty and especially tasty. The recipe ends up making a lot and they really don't take very long to bake. And if I have been making them for years now then pretty much anyone can make them.

Once finished with the pizzellis, it was back to the cupcakes -- only now it was time to make the frosting. After my first frosting attempt when making my mom's birthday cake, this time was a lot easier because I had a better idea of what to expect. I also didn't make the mistake of adding too much vanilla so the frosting was sugary and not too overwhelming in flavor. Like last time, making the frosting was really quick, so I was frosting the cupcakes in no time.

I frosted the cupcakes on Saturday, but didn't add the cherry on top until Sunday right before serving. I wasn't sure if the cherries would still taste good if left out over night, so I figured it was better safe than sorry. I have seen so many pictures of cupcakes with cherries on top, but I have never actually eaten or seen a cupcake in real life that has had one -- not with this recipe though. A Shirley Temple is not complete without the cherry, so to finish off the already cute cupcakes, all I needed was a maraschino cherry for each.

I'll admit... Prior to our Sunday afternoon tea, I had to try one of my cupcakes -- but mostly, I just wanted to try it so I could see how the food coloring turned out. It looked really cute having the pink bottom. All I did was add some pink neon food coloring until it was really bright and saturated in color. It definitely added a fun, whimsy touch to a very cute cupcake.

I proudly served my cupcakes and my pizzellis at the tea. It was the main attraction and everyone seemed to enjoy them (or lied through their teeth.) They did taste really good and they were surprisingly easy considering some of the ingredients and extra steps involved. I made sure to add fun heart cupcake cups to keep with the Valentine's Day theme.

The tea was a lot of fun. Of course, we didn't only have dessert. Our tea started off with a fruit cup, then scones and clotted cream, then tea sandwiches and only after that did we finally have dessert. I knew what was coming though, so I made sure to save room in order to fully appreciate my favorite part of any meal: the dessert. Having a tea is a fun party idea and an easy departure from the usual dinner party. The sandwiches are simply regular sandwiches cut into triangles with the crust cut off, and if you don't feel like making scones from scratch, you can pick some up at any grocery store bakery and the clotted cream is very simple to make. Even if you don't like tea, you can replace it with hot chocolate or even add mimosas to your beverage menu. It was a lovely afternoon for a group of very classy ladies (present company included.)

Wisdom from Sex and the City?

One of my favorite TV shows of all time is, without a doubt, Sex and the City. The fashion, the strong women, the insight into relationships, the fashion... All of it definitely strikes a chord and, owning all of the seasons, I find myself watching each episode over and over again with my love for it never tiring.

With this obsession also comes a pocket of SATC knowledge, tucked away in my mind, always popping up at random times and offering its wisdom to me. The other day I had been thinking about my job search and how I haven't had much activity regarding interviews or callbacks, and then it took me back to one episode (can't remember which one) where Carrie makes the insight that "all you need to get a date is another one." Just as she got one date, she was suddenly presented with another male suitor and another option. In my own dating experience, I do find this to be true -- that you'll have a period without any dates, and then suddenly, not only do you get asked out by one guy, but then there's another one that's showing interest and making moves. In an instant, you go from zero options to multiple ones.

I think that this is a possibility for the job hunt as well. I've been applying pretty much anywhere and everywhere -- full-time jobs and part-time jobs in a variety of fields -- and sooner or later, someone is going to call back or request an interview. Recently, I applied for a retail position and was called in not just for an initial interview, but for a second one as well this Monday, which just so happens to be the same day I have a lunch meeting with someone from another company I applied to. For a while, I thought my biggest problem would be finding somewhere to hire me, and now I'm realizing that I might have to consider what to do if I receive offers for employment at more than one company or if I take a job at one place, and then get offered a better position somewhere else.

It always seems to work that way, though. That you go through a discouraging period of zero dates or bad dates or dates you think are dates, but end up not being dates...And then all of a sudden, you're juggling a few dating options. A degree of patience is key, obviously, but I think it also has to do with a state of mind: trying not to let discouragement get the best of you, staying hopeful, and most importantly, staying confident. I think it works the same way with the job hunt, you go through that discouraging period of zero interviews, bad interviews or interviews that you think went well, but end up without a job offer, and then suddenly, all of those applications you submitted earlier are yielding results and you now have to decide what direction you want to head in.

At least, I'm hoping that this bit of Sex and the City wisdom might ring true for my job hunt. I guess after my Monday full of meetings and interviews I will at least have a reason to be hopeful or to continue to persevere. 

Lessons Learned: What Past Jobs Taught Me

In an earlier post, I promised to post what I have learned from past jobs. I think it's important to reflect on previous employment experiences and skills learned because it's crucial to understanding what you can bring to a new job. I'd like to think I have pretty diverse past job experiences, as I have worked in a variety of different fields, and have been working since high school, for better or for worse. I'll share with you the good, the bad, and the ugly that I've encountered in my eight years of working.

Retirement Home:
In high school, I worked for a small retired living facility as their "pantry worker." Essentially, I was responsible for serving the residents drinks, assisting with the preparation and serving of meals, and maintaining general cleanliness at the home. Most of the time, I felt like I was just doing chores at someone else's house with the only difference being the entire house was filled with old people. It was an easy job, but I heard a lot of interesting stories from the residents and even befriended one 96-year-old woman in particular, hearing about all of her adventures when she was younger. Aside from teaching me to maintain a particular level of neatness, patience and politeness, working at the retirement home taught me a lot about people in general. Here was a community of eldery senior citizens who still had gusto for learning new things and going out and having their own little adventures. Talking to the residents taught me to seize the day. Being able to have that thirst for life and learning is something important to have no matter what age, and it is certainly something I consider important in my own life as I am always looking to learn something new, explore a new place or try a new activity.

Nothing better than a good book. Except maybe when you don't get to read it and have to give it away to someone else.

Books:
Another high school job I had during the week when I wasn't working at the retirement home was at a small online book company. As someone with a degree in English, I loved being surrounded by new books, holding pages filled with stories in my hands and sending them off to some lucky person. The premise of the company was that you could order book packages online as a gift and have them sent over a chosen amount of weeks/months for that person, so I was in charge of receiving the books, packaging them and sending all of them out. On top of that, I updated the bestsellers pamphlets that were included in each package. My job duties were pretty straightforward, but this job was unique because I was always alone. When I said that it was a small business -- I meant it. Essentially, I had to figure things out by myself as I went. Sure, I got trained by someone, but then I was left to work on my own every day I went in for several months. I learned how to troubleshoot by myself and manage my time so that everything was done so that the packages were sent out for the day. Working by myself regularly definitely forced me to motivate myself, even without a boss hovering, and to find ways to be efficient when working solo so that I wasn't stressed out by the end of the day.

Life at the mall:
During college breaks, I gravitated towards the mall to make some extra cash. I worked at two separate stores in a span of a few years and managed to work both the Christmas season and summer season. Working in retail requires a huge amount of patience because of the variety of people that come into the store and inevitably manage to make a mess out of it. I did your standard retail duties: working at the cashier, folding and hanging clothes, maintaining store neatness, watching over the fitting rooms, and, my personal favorite, greeting people at the front of the store. As someone who loves fashion, I definitely enjoyed being able to see what new styles were being offered, giving people advice on what to pair items with and the generous discounts. However, it could definitely defeat me at times. The yummy-mummies who would take their toddlers to the mall, try on 18 items only ten minutes before the store closed and then leave all of the items on the floor? Yeah, that happened more than once. However, working at the mall taught me the value of good customer service and how rewarding it can be to make someone's shopping experience that much easier. Even when I was annoyed because someone knocked down an entire rack of clothes (yes, that really happened), I told them not to worry about it, cleaned it up by myself, and kept a smile on my face the whole time. I realized that you have to go with the flow sometimes -- and if you keep a smile on your face, you'll probably end up feeling better about a bad situation than if you let the irritation consume you.

Ah yes, the mall. I have spent countless hours here, both making money and spending it.

The Temp:
For a brief few weeks while looking for a full-time job over the summer, I temped as a "Director of First Impressions" (aka receptionist) for a up-and-coming company. I had one day to train with the person who was off on vacation and then left to figure out the rest on my own. I was vaguely familiar with the usual administrative tasks required of receptionists, but the whole desk seemed foreign to me. I had to fax, print, and manage the visitors/guests coming into the office, and could only rely on the memory of my brief training to do so correctly. I did it though. The first day was definitely the hardest, but I got the hang of it. I also was responsible for answering the phones and directing customers to customer services and helping them solve their problems -- and for someone who knew very little about the company (about 24 hours worth of knowledge), I had to be their voice of reason. I quickly had to learn how to provide excellent customer service over the phone, mitigate the angry complaints of callers,  and ultimately, help them get what they needed. Again, I had to learn a degree of patience on the job, but I also realized that I was able to learn and adapt quickly to a new environment and new things. After my brief temping period concluded, they actually called me back a few times to see if I could fill in again.

Meet my former BFF: The telephone. Always ringing, always with someone needing something from me on the other end.

Office Slave 101:
After temping, I became a full on administrative assistant for the rest of the summer and into the winter, pending my class schedule. With the help of my aunt, I got a job at a real estate attorney's office and was suddenly responsible for requesting municipal lien certificates and insurance binders, setting up appointments, putting together bank packages and sending them back to the bank and then doing other things around the office as needed. I was thrust into an office where I knew nothing about real estate or buying, selling and refinancing and had to learn to be quick and efficient while also getting things done right the first time. I had to learn to manage my time and prioritize so that I could get the appropriate documents at the time they were needed and make sure that I helped my bosses instead of hinder them and make them do more work. Ultimately, I learned, that at the end of the day, you want to be helping your team and making everyone's jobs easier as opposed to slowing them down. I proved that not only could I keep up, but I was able to take on more responsibility and be a go-to person for certain tasks.

One of my many excellent bulletin boards that I made as an RA.
This one was especially great because I was simultaneously able to use glitter while embarrassing my residents. 

The RA Years:

Just another night on duty.

From sophomore year of college up until graduation, I was a Resident Advisor. Now I know the stigma associated with RAs and maybe you personally had a bad experience with an RA, but I assure you -- we are not the bad guys. Being an RA was by far my favorite job to date and not only taught me a lot of important skills, but also taught me a lot about myself. I learned how to be assertive, diplomatic and professional, even in the midst of a crisis or when dealing with someone I might not have liked. I had to learn how to juggle my professional life as an RA with not just my academic life but with my social life as well. As you can imagine, I became extremely good at time management and prioritizing -- not only becoming a successful RA with great residents and a great community, but also managed to achieve a high GPA and still find time to have fun with my friends. That's not to say that I don't have my fair share of RA horror stories. Anyone who has worked in Residence Life has a plethora of stories to share: good, bad and hilarious, but all of those moments really made my college experience that much better. I got promoted to Senior Resident Advisor and was in charge of my own staff and residence area. I had to prove myself as a leader and motivate the others on my staff, and as challenging as it was at times, it was really rewarding to watch my staff grow and succeed. As an RA, I made so many friends and met so many people and it really was a great experience. I sometimes feel like having it on my resume doesn't really do it justice because I can't sum up my experience in a paragraph like this or even in a few lines on a resume, but I'm always up for sharing some stories!

This is my excited face after winning "Spiritual Program of the Year" for my "Stump the Priest" program. Jeopardy for priests!

Working Abroad:

I took this picture while walking to the tube station
at Kings Cross. I took the tube to work every day.

This past summer, I interned in London at a small magazine. This has also been one of my favorite experiences, but for obvious reasons (you can read my other blog if you want to gain a more extensive view of my experience). Not only did I have to figure out how to live in a foreign country on my own, but I also had to work a full-time job. I had to be completely self-sufficient, budgeting my money throughout the entire summer (my internship was unpaid) while still being able to do everything I wanted and learning how to get around in an unfamiliar city. I was completely new to the job too -- I didn't have any editorial experience prior to my internship, but I learned and learned quickly at that. I worked as part of a small team and was becoming familiar with the lingo as well as gaining more experience with interviewing, research, copy-editing and coming up with ideas for headlines. I was doing a lot of writing and loving it. On top of all of that, I was in an amazing city and meeting amazing new people. By the end of the summer, I felt like I was able to call the city "home," at least for a little while, and mean it. This job definitely taught me so much about the media industry, but living in the city taught me about being flexible, open-minded and the importance of taking risks (even when you're really afraid!)

Enjoying a sunny day on the River Thames... when I wasn't working, of course

Job Hunting: Mr. Right Turned to Mr. Rejection

If you read my earlier post comparing the job hunt to the search for "Mr. Right," then you'd know that job hunting is eerily similar to meeting a new guy/gal and going on a first date with them. Since my job hunt of about two months has yielded minimal results (very minimal), I have also come to realize that finding the right job is not without constant rejection, which again -- is eerily similar to the ups and downs of dating.

It seems as though I am constantly applying to jobs that seem to fit me and my qualifications: entry level, room for growth, hard-worker, attention to detail, excellent communication skills. However, despite the appropriate cover letter and well-groomed resume, I receive rejection emails littering my inbox claiming that while the company was "impressed with [my] qualifications, [they] have decided to pursue other candidates who appear to be a closer match for the position." I think back to the job description and requirements, and try to wonder what exactly it was that didn't qualify me as a "closer match," and unfortunately, can only think that, despite a considerable amount of experience and academic success, it still wasn't enough.

This, of course, makes me think of that horrible feeling of date rejection. You meet a guy/girl who seems to pretty much encompass what you're looking for in a significant other. The two of you flirt -- much akin to perhaps the back and forth of setting up an interview -- and then set up a date, which you assume will be successful since you meet their "qualifications" for the date. As you sit across the table from your date at dinner or next to them at a movie, inevitably, there is a period of  "sizing the other person up." You both try to see if this -- this date, this pairing -- is a good fit, just as you and the company you might be interviewing for are trying to determine not only if you have what they're looking for , but if you two could be in it for the long haul.

Then the date ends -- and this is where things get tricky. At the end of the interview, you get the handshake, the smile, the nod, all of the signs that you did a great job and that they like what they see. Similarly, at the end of the date, maybe there was a kiss and the promise that they'll call you soon to set up a second date. But somewhere, in the midst of the end-of-interview/date commotion, you have the great feeling that this is going to work out, while apparently, the person on the other end thinks otherwise.

You wait. And wait. And wait. In both instances (for a job and for another date), you're probably patiently waiting by the phone or incessantly checking your email. Days go by, and you're wondering what you did wrong and why they haven't called yet. You used all of your best date moves -- the coy smile, laughing at the appropriate times, staying interested and actively listening -- and yet, here you are, without a phone call, an email, or even a text message with a hint of hope.

Finally, you get something, but it's a rejection. Maybe it's in the form of an email or a brief phone call -- but whatever the medium, you didn't get the job and you didn't get the second date. While the company might say that they were impressed and you had excellent credentials, what it boils down to is not the very cliche "it's not you, it's me," but instead, it's reverse: it's not us, it's definitely you -- YOU don't have what we're looking for and YOU aren't what we need.

Then you head to the nearest grocery store, pick up a tub of Ben & Jerry's, preferably in their most decadent chocolate flavor, and sit in front of your TV watching reality shows that make everything look so easy while you're still jobless and now in need of a very long work-out.

I guess these past two months of job searching have made me a teensy bit cynical in the way that a bad break-up can. I suppose I've gone through so many different emotions--denial, anger, hope, then hopelessness again-- that I'm wondering when this bad break-up period is going to end and when I'm finally going to get a date, and a good date at that.

So many sad princesses without their Mr. Right.

Insider to Outsider

This past Friday night, I returned to my alma mater, Merrimack College, for a night filled with fun and friends. Not only was there a lot going on throughout campus -- a hockey game, a concert -- but there were a bunch of people I had promised to visit and reunite with, even if only briefly. It was a strange experience, though. Just a mere two months ago I was both a full-time student and living in the residence halls alongside fellow students. Now, I am living at home with my parents and have my Bachelor's degree under my belt. I realized I had made the transition from "insider" to "outsider" in the blink of an eye.

That may seem like a drastic thing to say considering, as I just mentioned, I haven't been out of school for more than two months. However, as I went to all of the events on campus last night, I kept thinking about how different I was than some of the students who surrounded me, especially the underclassmen. I am in a completely different state of mind and stage of my life. I'm in the process of making preparations to become completely independent and starting my career, whereas as I looked around me, everyone else is still trying to figure out what they wanted and who they were. Now, I'm certainly not saying that I have myself 100% figured out, but when I walked into my freshman dorm room three and a half years ago, I didn't have much sense of self. While I feel as though learning who you are is an on-going process throughout your life, I can certainly say -- and with conviction -- that I am more sure of myself and who I am now than I was when I began college. And that's how it's supposed to be.

So going back to visit old friends was a great experience, but I felt as though there was somewhat of a divide. I am now on the outside looking in. I'm the same age as many of the students and in fact, I am even younger than many of them as well, but I am transitioning to a completely new life. They're just not there yet and it's hard for me to find where I fit in with my friends who have yet to face the post-grad woes and those friends who are already well past that stage. When I visit Merrimack, I laugh and can relate to everything that is currently going on in my friends' lives obviously, but I don't feel as connected any more. Sure, these are my friends, but I'm not "in it" with them like I used to be and I guess it's difficult to figure out how to keep parts of that past present.

Though I am merely reflecting on my experience from undergrad to post-grad life, I think it can be applicable to any transitional stage of someone's life -- from childhood to young adulthood, single life to married life, old job to new job -- so I suppose that learning how to deal with it and make sense of these changes is something that will be useful throughout my entire life.

A slightly (and by slightly, I mean very) embarrassing picture of me cooking at home
as a bright-eyed freshman in college back in the fall of 08

Three years later, ringing in the new year and a new life as a post-grad at the end of 2011 into 2012