Tonight's meal was GREAT!

It's Day 5 of Lent and I must say it was a GREAT DAY!

I had a veggie sub from Publix and I was so nervous to try it because I mean C'MON what is sub with NO MEAT on it. But I sucked it up and tried it. It was an experience. That first bite I could only think "omg, I cant eat this with no meat on it!" but it was okay and I killed it!!!

So, tonight I decided that I would cook dinner tonight versus going out to buy something. I spent all day today looking for different recipes online and came across one that sounded really good. I made Spaghetti with a creamy spinach sauce. I went grocery shopping for my ingredients at like7:45pm ( kinda late I know) and decided to add a few other veggies to help me fill myself up. I must say that the finished product was SOOOOOOO GOOD and I felt content after one serving :-) Thank goodness for something good. After Friday's soup fiasco, I needed this! And the best apart it all is that I HAVE LEFTOVERS LOL!!!

I also got my Food Network magazine today (which always makes me happy!!!!) and inside of it was a recipe book for smoothies. (I thought that it was ironic because I had just said that I was going to make smoothies instead on eating candy which btw is my WEAKNESS!!!) I was so stoked about this recipe book that I took it to the gym to look at while I was on the elliptical (a cookbook at the gym smh). I found two I wanted to try and tonight I had a raspberry-orange smoothie and I must say it has done its job in fulfilling my sweet tooth for the night. YAY! too excited because I don't feel so bad about what I have had today. So day 5 was a great day!

Tomorrow should be yet another interesting day because I am going to try somethings that I'm know not to like. I told my BFF that I am going to try some of those things that I have hated as a child and see if my taste buds have changed as an adult. I think that now is as good a time as any since I am trying new things with this no meat thing. Let's cross our fingers because lots of those things that I don't like are really good for me (how ironic LOL). Any who, I'm outtie for the night.

So, until next time...SMOOCHES!!!

It's Day 3!

Well Actually Day 3 is actually over but any who!!! SO thus far I have been doing very well without meat being apart of my diet. I have found so many options (well that is really cause I have been in the Buckhead area all week and on the Southside the choices are slim) to accommodate my new diet and i must say that I am so happy with this decision and feel really good about myself.

Day 3 (Friday) presented to be the most difficult day for me only because I was in the kitchen baking all day and had to make myself take a break to eat. I had eggplant parmigiana for lunch (delish btw) but didn't even stop to think about what I would have for dinner.I ate some salad thinking I would find something and yea that didn't happen. I just came from Walmart and bought this potato soup (you know since I love potatoes) thinking it would do the trick only to find out that its GROSS! I tried to fancy it up with some herbs and spices from the cabinet and that did nothing but make it worse. Needless to say, into the trash it went. As I sit here typing,I am finishing up my salad from earlier and partaking in cheese and crackers.

What I learned from today was that I am going to have to sit down and plan out some meals for the week. While prior to this change I could just close my eyes and pick anything, I now have to think about what I want and can have to eat. Starting next week, I think I am going to be cooking alot more. Let me tell ya, I am uber excited about cooking some new things and seeing what works and doesn't work well with this oh so funny palate I have.

This whole process is making way more conscious about what it is I put into my body and I can honestly say that I want to do better than I was. I have found myself replacing meat with candy (BAD IDEA!!!) so I am going to try and change some (key word here...) of that candy to fruit or something.

So..............I just wanted to update everyone on how this is going for me and on that note....I'M OUT!!!! Until next time....SMOOCHES!!

It's time for Lent again!!!

Hey everyone!!!! As you know, I created this blog a year ago to express how I was doing as I gave up alcohol for Lent. My posts became few and far between because I had so much stuff going on and it didn't seem like I just had the time to sit down at my computer and blog about the happenings in my life. Life became so convenient. I was sending emails and tweeting from my phone while I was on the go. Any who, I could go on and on about how busy I had become or what I thought was busy but that is not why I am writing. It is Lenten season again and I am oh so excited to see how the experience will not only change my life but draw me closer to God which something I am longing for.

So, with today being Ash Wednesday I woke up from a horrible nights sleep and decided to turn what could have easily been a bad day a GREAT one. Darting out of bed at 7:45am to head to the gym was the only way I could think of to jump start my day. While there, I could only think about how good i was going to feel about not eating meat and increasing my water intake. I thought about how much I am going to learn about myself in my connection group (small groups that we have at my church) and having corporate prayer each of these 40 days with my church family (click on the "PRAY HERE" link). After putting in my 60 minutes there I beautified myself as best I could (that rain just was not agreeing with my hair) and went to spend some time with my family. As I was preparing for lunch,I was excited to reveal to some family that I would not be partaking of meat for the next 40 days and as sure as I made that statement we headed to Ted's Montana Grill (meat joint in my eyes).I went at it with an open mind and had a very filling lunch! Nothing could take my joy. I could go into more and more details about my day but I will end with that. But I will say this, I am facing these 40 days head on and I am ready for what God has in store for me. I see a bright future for me and I am ready to take those steps to get there. The past couple of weeks, pssh, really the past couple of days have opened my eyes up: I deserve much more than I have been accepting from all those in my circle and tomorrow is not promised and I want to give God all I have for as long as I can.

So as I finish up my half of my veggie burger and begin to nibble on my favorite snack (Stale gummi worms), I encourage all of you that are letting go of something for Lent to not think of it as a struggle but just as a sacrifice. Christ sacrificed so much JUST FOR US and letting something go for 40 days will never compare. Do not jump into this Lenten season without thinking and praying about what you should sacrifice. God will show you what it is. And for those who have figured out what they are going to do without, every time you find yourself thinking about that thing(s) say a simple pray. Replace that thing with some quiet time with God. Ready for day 2!!!!

Until next time.....SMOOCHES!!!!

Business is WONDERFUL!

It has definitely been a while since I had a post BUT that can be seen as a good thing! My business is doing great! Oh my goodness...When I think about how far along I have come from just a year ago I get so excited. Since my last post I have been asked to make my first wedding cake for a client (I did one in school but this is my first bride), I sold cupcakes at a fall festival, created many new flavors, and gotten many new clients.

My bride is very much in love with my work and I was so humbled to hear from her and her wedding planner about what great things they have heard about me. I couldn't believe that my name was getting out there like but trust me I was so glad to hear of it. Before I was officially hired she of course wanted to have a tasting. I have to admit that I was so nervous about this task but my best friend told me to stay calm and do what I do. I get my best ideas just laying around and that is exactly what happened. I came up with so many different flavor combinations that i wanted her to try and she loved them all. I impressed myself!!! (That is always good :-) ) Needless to say I GOT THE JOB! So be on the lookout...May 2011 SMOOCHES will be at a wedding!

A few weeks ago I was a vendor at a fall festival for a middle school and I got many rave reviews on my cupcakes. Now I am anticipating a very busy Holiday season and I am thinking of ways to attract new business and deals for my existing customers. I am excited!!!

Below you will see some pictures of some of my recent work! Also, be sure to follow me on Twitter and Facebook... www.twitter.com/SMOOCHES_INC www.facebook.com/smooches.sweetsbyelece

Until Next Time.....SMOOCHES!!!

Dora Funfetti Cupcakes

Pink Lemonade Cupcakes

Set up and ready to sell at the fall festival

Butterfly Marble Birthday Cake

Key Lime Birthday Cake

It's that time of year again

Here I am at 5:04am blogging because I was awaken from my slumber due to an excruciating sinus headache. I had not realized that it is that time of year again when I have to endure what I consider pure agony and try to get as much rest as I possibly can. While some people look forward to this time of year because of the cool, crisp weather I must admit my feelings are completely different. I hate the feeling of wanting to be sleep but just cannot because I am uncomfortable. I think the worse part of it all is that I take every pill known to man and even use a neti pot to give my self some relief and it is never enough. The doctor always tends to diagnose me with a sinus infection but I have said for years that i convinced that it is much worse than that because no one i know has to deal with this other than me. I guess what they say is true...life is just not fair.(smh) I got up this morning at about 4am in pain and can do nothing but sit here and wait for it to subside and continue on with my day as planned.

This is my life and what choice do I have but to sit here and live it. As I continue to watch the clock and see the time tick away I am reminded that I have to get up and get dressed in about 30 minutes. ::sigh:: Today is sure to be a long day full of complete crankiness from me. Beware everyone I come in contact with on this day. Restless chick on the loose :-/

Until next time..SMOOCHES!

Be Still and Know that He is God

So after my last post I have had some of the most interesting conversations... many unplanned about my future. You know, whether it be my career or personal life. Somethings I want to hear and then some i dont and just not ready to deal with. But anyway, from all of the conversations I had pretty much left me with one lesson...I have to trust God to supply needs. That in itself is not the easiest thing in the world. I have to know in my heart that God will be there and not just leave me stranded but you know im human and i get impatient and tend to ask God.."WHEN WHEN WHEN will you answer those specific prayers I have prayed?" And God continues to say in His own way that what it is I keep asking for I am not ready for and just to be patient. Im sure you know how hard this is. Much easier said than done. I find it hard sometimes to continue to have a smile on my face and pretend like I have it all together when I know Im not all that great on the inside, but i mean what else is there to do??? It is what it is and this is my life and I know that all i can do is live it the best way I know how to.

Right now, there are so many things that I want right at this very moment and I am getting completely frustrated with because I am not seeing the results I want to and I can only wonder if this is meant for me BUT a good friend told me this weekend that I can only be me and take these kinds of things slow. God, I hear you talking to me and using others to get the message to me. Im working on my patience.

And this was another night that I needed to vent somehow...

Until next time....SMOOCHES!!

Lack of Consistency

I wake up some days and I love my life. I wake up on other days and I am like what am I doing here and is this what I am here to do. I see so many people being successful and then i look at me and im like "Forreal Elece! Is this really where you are allowing your life to go right now?" I recall a time in my life when I was so vibrant and each day I was looking forward to the next and now i wake some days and im like I have absolutely nothing to do. I mean please done get me wrong cause i love being in a quiet place enjoying me but when you start adding other people its another story. Idk its really wierd cause im so wishy washy...

I have my moments when I feel so lost and empty like im out here all by myself and no one understands me and it hurts sometimes but then on the other hand im like maybe no one is suppose to understand. Lately there has been a slight disconnect with me and people that arer closest to me and i do think that I cant really let it all out because thats not what people expect from me. UGH! It just gets frustrating. Idk. I have never felt like this for more than a week at a time. Like I said, there is just a lack of consistency in my life in general and it being a year since i graduated i dont see much change in my life. There is some but not much.

Anyway, needed to vent.

In culinary news...im still baking away and im getting more and more business. My website will be up really soon and I am super excited about that. Just keep me and my business in your prayers. I think Im done for the night.

Until next time...SMOOCHES!