In the Oven Bakery: November 2011

I had the privilage to attend the Change A Heart Gala as a baker. My friend's husband is on the board for the organization and knows I am working on establishing myself as a baker. He asked if I would like to bake some cupcakes for the event and I gladly agreed! I spent more time debating the types of cupcakes to make, how many to make, and if they should be full sized cupcakes or mini-cupcakes.

Well, in the end, there were six types.

Chai Cream with Cream Cheese Frosting

Vanilla Bean with Vanilla Bean Frosting

Chocolate with Vanilla Bean Frosting

White Cake with Chocolate Butter Cream Frosting

Triple Chocolate

Chocolate with Cream Cheese Frosting

Additionally, I made little cookies that were designed after the event's logo. I had so much fun baking and being creative!

Here's the table set-up for the evening!

Good morning, friends.

If you've ever come over to my apartment, you may have noticed a few anchors in sporadic corners of my rooms. Some anchors on the walls, some on pillows, some adorning throw blankets, and a special stained glass anchor. I have a tiny anchor in my jewelry box that signifies something that means so much to me, Delta Gamma Fraternity. I am a member of the finest women's fraternity (sorry, I am biased), Delta Gamma.

I found Delta Gamma at the University of Akron as a freshman. I had moved up to Akron from Texas and didn't plan on staying long. My idea was to attend UofA for a year then transfer somewhere else. Well, that was until I fell in love. I met some friends and then heard about sorority recruitment. I urged my friends to go through recruitment with me and we did. I met the women of the Eta Chapter of Delta Gamma, which is the oldest existing chapter of Delta Gamma to date, during the second day of formal recruitment. I had met four other houses of women, but this was "home". I knew from the minute I talked to the women, I had found my home away from home. The minute I met my Rho Chi (now Rho Gam's) Ally, I knew she was really special.

Well, it was not until the second day that I could pick out which house she belonged to. I literally remember during the second round of recruitment sitting on a couch, talking to Annie M. saying "I know where Ally belongs." Her mouth hit the floor and she responded, "I don't know what you're talking about" but the look of terror in her eyes that I figured it out and cracked the code…priceless!

As a new member, I learned that Delta Gamma chose an anchor as their symbol and it served as a symbol of "hope." I wasn't a stranger to the symbol of the anchor, and combining it with the word "hope" made it even more special. As you would have it, my Rho Chi, Ally, became my big and I was initiated on 11-10-00…simply 111000!

It was in my three years at UofA that I did a lot of soul searching and growing. I found one of my best friends and formed many other bonds with some pretty amazing women. I was able to share my special love for Delta Gamma with new members, volunteer for the Akron Blind Center (DG's philanthropy is service for sight), sit in the presence of Gerald Ford and Linda Chavez during DG Lectureships, experience so many things that have helped me in my life as an adult, and spent so many fun nights with my girls doing silly things like painting the rock, attending Halloween parties, chapter retreats, and enjoying late night pizzas and stories. I guess you could say I found one of my loves.

Currently, I spend my Sunday evenings at Carnegie Mellon University advising the young women who serve on the Honor Board. I love being a part of Delta Gamma… What they may not realize, they are learning so much that will transfer through to their adult lives. They really challenge me to continue to grow and to see how I can do more good!