Let’s pretend it’s my birthday
So that I may have a raw cacao cake that looks like THIS:
Isn’t it stunning??
I wish so badly that I could take credit for it (and um, eat it) but alas I cannot—that gorgeous work of art was done by Meredith (a raw chef) and her friend. Incredible, huh??
So after gushing over the cake for a while, I got back to work doing desserts for the cafe and things were going beautifully. For a while. I was putting away everything and cleaning up my station when I got SLAMMED with some dessert orders. One of them was cheesecake, which we usually put into the fridge to soften before serving, but I had already put them back into the freezer—they were frozen solid onto the plate. So I grabbed the knife, started poking underneath the cheesecake and trying to release the little jerk…
Knife popped off the cheesecake, plate went flying, knife went into my finger. That’s right, I cut myself again. (2nd time at work, 4 times at school) So I ran over to the sink to rinse my gushing blood and mayjah props and thanks to Olu for saving the day—he cleaned up the glass from the plate and brought over the first aid kit and a sweet plastic glove for me to wear. So needless to say, after that I was ready to call it a night. Thank goodness the restaurant was almost empty or I would have been even more horrified.
The proof that it wasn’t too terrible:
I wasn’t too traumatized for a snack: Carrot apple ginger juice
And some kale chips 😀
I came home, talked to my love on the phone for a while, and then registered for a half marathon. Random remedy for a less-than stellar night 😉
This morning, Michelle and I went to The Yoga Room for the most beautiful and sweaty yoga class I’ve ever taken. It was my first time taking a real-life vinyasa class (as I usually stick to living room podcasts or Bikram) — I was sweating like a BEAST and my legs were shaking like all get out. The atmosphere was incredible – the studio is located in a room on the top floor of an older house and has windows so you can see the surrounding trees- and I was blown away by the instructor and owner, Laura. She is so genuinely kind and helpful- an amazing yoga guide. It was raining during class and she opened the windows during Savasana so that we could hear the rain and feel the breeze. It was pretty much the best thing ever.
So we left, shaking, dripping in sweat and happy, and decided to hit up that one place we love for some bfast.
I got the Thai Green smoothie (Young Coconut, Almond Milk, Dates, Mango, Spinach, Lemongrass, Thai chili, added Spirulina)
(I didn’t have my camera, but the crackberry takes pretty decent pics!)
And the Macadamia-Banana granola with almond milk (we made this on the first day of class)
Glorious.
I actually think I’m going to take a little siesta, do some New York City Ballet Company moves, make lonchi and then head to work. I’m doing desserts by myself again tonight, and we’re going to be busy. I think I got the disaster out of the way last night 😉
Have a wonderful Saturday!
xoxo,
G
Something to do: Don’t forget to enter Mara’s amazing giveaway!
Something to think:
It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living.
I want to know what you ache for
and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing.
It doesn’t interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool
for love
for your dream
for the adventure of being alive.
It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon…
I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow
if you have been opened by life’s betrayals
or have become shriveled and closed
from fear of further pain.
I want to know if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide it
or fade it
or fix it.
I want to know if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes
without cautioning us
to be careful
to be realistic
to remember the limitations of being human.
It doesn’t interest me if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can
disappoint another
to be true to yourself.
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.
I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence.
I want to know if you can live with failure
yours and mine
and still stand at the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon,
“Yes.”
It doesn’t interest me
to know where you live or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up
after the night of grief and despair
weary and bruised to the bone
and do what needs to be done
to feed the children.
It doesn’t interest me who you know
or how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
in the centre of the fire
with me
and not shrink back.
It doesn’t interest me where or what or with whom
you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you
from the inside
when all else falls away.
I want to know if you can be alone
with yourself
and if you truly like the company you keep
in the empty moments.
27 Comments
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that cake is beautiful!!! Have a fantastic day!
So Fitnessista readers: have you entered the MASSIVE cheese giveaway on my blog here??? http://www.imadedinner.net/2009/09/16/slow-down-savor-giveaway-post/
Sorry for the shameless plug my dear… but I didn’t think you’d mind!!
Of course we can pretend it’s your b-day- so long as I’m invited to the party and we’re going to eat that cake. It looks so lovely.
beautful cake gina! i am glad you enjoyed yoga yesterday 🙂
jenna
That cake looks amazing–I’d want to pretend it was my birthday too! 🙂
You know how people who sew have those metal finger covers? You need a metal glove – sorry you got cut again 🙁
That cake looks spectacular!!
I LOVE that poem. Who wrote that?
Sarah
That cake looks delicious! And it is really raw? Wow!!
hey be careful there edward scissor hands! your not going to have any fingers left when you get home 🙂 hehe hope tonight goes better than last night! im jealous of your schooling/work. looks SO cool!
The Yoga Room sounds so perfect… I love hot yoga but I would love, love, love to find a welcoming/relaxing studio like that! I’m sorry that you cut your finger again- it was all the cheesecake’s fault!
In-freaking-credible cake. Wowza.
Ahh, stay away from the knives, my dear!
Gorgeous cake! All of your posts from your experiences at 105 are so awesome! I am loving reading them.
Oh my that green smoothie and cake….oh my!
I had often wondered why or how you had never previously made it to a real in-studio yoga class as you’ve posted about that before. So, it was music to my yoga teacher ears to hear you say…you went! And what a glorious first class indoctrination…it sounds absolutely perfect, small, intimate, a great teacher, in an old house, and the windows open and the smell of rain during savasana. Wow, namaste friend, I am so happy for you! I remember many a yoga class back in the day where I would leave shaking, sweating, and feeling like I had just conquered the world. Sorta sounds like you just had that and what a beautiful feeling indeed!
And rock on for your half marathon! My fave distance is probably the 10k but half marathons are second. I like that you can pretty much just go out and run one without having to really buckle down and train like you would for a full marathon.
Glad you remembered my comment bout going away and doing something new and it turning out to be awesome and that you look forward to my comments, that you wrote in the comment-reply on your last post. That makes me smile. I know my comment is usually like the longest one on the page, but that’s ok with me if it’s ok by you 🙂
Of course the food looks fantastic in OKC at 105 and I wish I was there, too. I have just fallen in love with my new Excalibur so that takes the sting away but I do so wish I could do what you’re doing…but I’m a mommy now and that will always come first 🙂
Take care of that finger and here’s to you rockin’ the house down on a Sat night!
xoxo
averie
That cake is sooo gorgeous! Have fun tonight and BE careful!! 😀
Hope your phalanges stay in tact from now on!!! 🙂
Sure we can pretend it’s your birthday…as long as you can share the cake 😉
Wow that cake looks AMAZING!!!
I want to eat my computer screen. That cake looks so good!
Today actually is my birthday! I wish I had that gorgeous raw cake to celebrate!!
Love that poem….
The cake looks absolutely amazing:)
Hi Gina! This is my first time commenting, but I have been reading for awhile. I was wondering, have you ever tried Steel Cut oatmeal at all? Have you ever tried it in your breakfast cookie? Also, do you need to use the protein powder in the cookie? Love your blog! 🙂
oh my gosh I love that…”the invitation”.
So perfect. Thanks so much for sharing it!
so glad you enjoyed it 😀
That cake looks like heaven on earth!
Sorry about your finger, I hope the “slicings” end!!
But your food to make up for it look fab =)
That quote was incredible. It really it home for me, I loved it. Thanks so much for putting it up.
xo
K
it hit home for me, too 😀 so glad you liked it as much as i did
I would love o try that cake out, looks so good.
wow that cake is unbelievable!! holy yum! and yay for your first yoga class in a real studio!
question: what is the source of that quote? i really like it!