Similar convos

It seems as though no matter where I am, I can find someone who is on a similar life journey as I am. Not to long ago I worked the evening shift at my job. Me volunteering to sit by the front doors during the NA and AA groups gave me the opportunity to talk in depth with a co worker that I normally give a polite smile to. Although we had probably worked together a couple dozen times, we'd never spoken before. He is older than I am, and has had differnt experiences, but he went from mananging a unit of a hospital to learning how to create things from wood. He was modest in his speech, but our conversation just reasured me that I am headed in the right direction.

I had another engaging conversation with an inspirational woman at a beauty salon. About a month ago I decided that I was going to cut my hair. Now, some may think that since I cover my hair (I am a Muslim woman that covers her hair), I lack the attatchment that most women have with their hair. That is completly untrue. I get my hair pressed somewhat regularly, and in between hair appointments I wash and flat iron it myself. Even though I love my hair I felt that it was time for me to see it in a new light, from its beginging stages. I made an appointment with a natural hair stylist; I didnt go to my regular beautician because I had to make this change alone.I had to get a feel for it before I recieved the opinions of my friends and family, and I have known my beautician since I was a child. When I arrived at the salon, I was greeted and after fillinng out some paper work my hair was already getting washed. The lady who was washing my hair began to tell me how she started off at one college aspiring to be a doctor, transferred to a state college and after taking several classes she decided to major in finance. After working in finance for a while, she sparked an interest in hair care, and she persued her interest by watching others already in the field and by asking lots of questions. And now she has a successful hair salon that specializes in maintaining your hairs natural curl. Initially I didnt realize that the lady washing my hair was the owner of the salon. When she was done washing she went on about her business, and after our conversation I had to smile becasue the universe keeps whispering to me "keep up the good work, your headed in the right direction".

My best friend is moving to New York, for her going away gift I made a Sex and the City themed basket. I made Chanel bags, high heel shoes, taxi cabs and martini glass sugar cookies and some vanilla cupcakes with a chocolate frosting. It turned out fab!I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Until next time...

Giving Some Thanks

Tunnel vision can be dangerous. Sometimes I find myself so obsessed with obtaining a "fulfilling" career that I loose sight of all of the other amazing things around me. When was the last time you gazed at the stars at night? I would not have been able to answer this question if google maps hadn't decided to lead my husband and I through the mountains on our way home from Thanksgiving with the family in Philadelphia. During our turbulent drive we passed through a town that had star in its name, the sky of this town was full of stars. It was so beautiful. As I drove, or rode, through the town I found myself wondering if I could remember looking at the stars in my regular routine. Knowing that I make no time to appreciate the gifts that God has placed on this earth saddens me.

I have to thank google maps for allowing me to realize that I have to take life slow. Enjoy the moments, while planning for the future. There are so many things that I want to do. I want to be able to appreciate nature, without the bug bites and allergies. I want to grow vegetables, walk more, recycle, and volunteer. I want it all. The amazing thing about my wants is that they generally become reality. Even though tunnel vision is dangerous, it allows you to accomplish goals. The secret to it is being aware of the things around you so that you don't miss out on all of the greatness that surrounds us.

Thank you Allah for blessing me with a wonderful family, a great husband, supportive friends, steady income, health, motivation, drive, perspective, personality, humor, knowledge, opportunity and every life lesson that I have learned, the difficult ones as well as the graceful ones.

Until next time...

Happy New Years!!!

First off I have to apologize for my absence. Unfortunately life got the best of me. My husband's transition to a new job, a new residence, my new job, and so many other things lead to me being completely exhausted. I gave myself two months off of life, and slowly but surely I am returning. I have to improvise until I can go on vacation, so if a mental vacation is what I need, then a mental vacation is what I get.

One fear that I think about daily is getting comfortable in a not so comfortable situation. Allowing time to pass and ending up in the same place that I started. Its not a far fetched fear. It happens everyday. You go to work to pay your bills, then you have children, so you are working to pay bills and take care of your children, and the next thing you know you are stuck. That fear is what is motivating me to put energy only in things that interest me. I have been employed at a place for four years, and I have hated it for three years. Some people say well, get another job...And what I say to them is give me another job. I have applied, followed upped, called, personalized, visited, and for whatever reason I was stuck in that miserable situtaion. Don't get me wrong I am grateful for being employed in this economic crisis, and I don't think that I am to good for any situation. But I know my potential and personality, and what it comes down to is that I am tired of people telling me what to do. I am tired of waking up dreading the next eight to sixteen hours, and I don't believe that is how my valuable time should be spent. Fortunately for me my patience paid off, and I am now a....nanny. Although this is not a career either, it is a wonderful break from the stress that I endured at the psychiatric hospital.

I am so grateful and proud of how much I accomplished in 2010. I set out a goal and achieved it. MarYumms is real!! Out of all of the answers to the "what am I going to do with my life" question, the only answer that makes me happy is establishing MarYumms as a real business. But as soon as I get excited about that idea, I become overwhelmed with anxiety, and fear of failure. But I am not going to allow those negative emotions to prevent me from fulfilling my dream. Last years goal was met, so with a new year comes a new goal. 2011 will be the year of cakes. Last year if anyone asked if I did cakes, I told them no but soon. This year I am taking cake orders! I have already created three beautifully delicious cakes. With God's help by the end of this year I will be ready to do wedding cakes. Now that will be amazing.

I have posted pictures of my first three cakes, I hope that they make you crave MarYumms, lol.

Until next time...



Strawberry cake with a strwaberry butter cream frosting. Please ignore the script, this is not the final version of the cake, I didnt capture the alterations.



Black forest cake. Chocolate cake with a cherry filling, vanilla frosting and chocolate shavings on the sides.



Marble cake with chocolate filling and chocoalte frosting.