I've always longed to be a pastry chef

This declaration isn't as widespread as my more common known dream of living in Madrid or styling the shop windows on Main Street at Disneyland.  But, I do love to bake. My chocolate chip cookies are quite famous.  At least amongst my friends, family and coworkers.  Throngs of hungry college students loudly pronounce how 'awesome' they are, and did I 'really bake them myself?'  But to perfectly master icing and jimmies (east-coasters know I'm referring to sprinkles) and create a masterpiece over and over again.  That would be so much fun.  I live vicariously through this website though, Bake it Pretty. The blog is filled with cupcake liners, frosting, and decorations, and as my friend would say 'baked goods!'  The blog is fun but the website of their store is so much fun to peruse.  I plan on purchasing stuff from her soon and experimenting in my own kitchen.  

Cheap thrills

 A few months ago I made this little guy.

 

One sheet of photo paper and I printed the diagram from this site.  Creative Park 

And it was extremely simple. Just a sharp pair of scissors, scotch tape, some glue and I had an adorable perpetual calendar for my desk.  Easy, fun, and only took 30mins! 

Now I have found this site, Marshall Alexander, where you can print out  funky characters and decorate your workspace.  These are a little more advanced, but are accomplished with using only one piece of paper and using intricate folds and precise gluing to form a three dimensional model.  More 'cute' things abound here at Custom Paper Toys

Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy.

Most people know how much I love Disneyland.  I grew up going to the park at least once a month from the time I was 12 to about 23.  I've taken family members out of the park in a wheelchair, danced the night away packed in 'the hub' on new years eve, gotten in trouble with castmembers for doing cartwheels on tom sawyer's island, opened the park with Peter Pan, and there was the time that I threw up on main street.  And although I have visited the happiest place on earth more times than I can count this past weekend was just as special.  We have a routine, make that a game plan or even a plan of attack for the park. Our goal is rides, rides, and oh yes, more rides. It is a skill perfected over the past three years with the 'lunch bunch'.  This year we got through our first seven rides in less than an hour and a half.  This in the height of summer no less.  A feat worthy of a veteran Disney-park-enthusiasts' praise.  Sure it was hot, but it is August in California.  My salvation was a misting water fan from a soda kiosk.  Seventeen dollars was well worth the price for a plastic disney-character-emblazened water bottle fan.  I'll probably never use it again, but the memories were worth it. Plus it kept us all cool for the rest of the afternoon.  Until next time Disneyland.