June: Cake Decorating Classes

For the month of June, I took a Wilton Cake Decorating Basics class at Joann's. It was a lot of fun and I think this is one of the new experiences that I will not only remember, but will be able to utilize for years to come!

Success Number 1: I took the class by myself...didn't even have anyone to go with or lean back on! I am the type of person who is hesitant to do things by myself and am really proud to have taken on this challenge. It was also great to have a fun class every Monday night all month long!



I didn't enjoy the "homework" aspect of the class. Before each class I had to bake a cake or cupcakes and make/color frosting which made it a bit of a burden. Looking back on it though, it wasn't actually that big of a deal (except the first time when my whole cake not only cracked in half but the top ripped off as well). I did enjoy all of the time I spent in class and all the things I learned.

Success Number 2: I learned how to decorate cakes. Several Christmas' ago my mom got me a cake decorating kit which I enjoyed trying to learn how to use. I sort of figured it out but there were always certain things which I could never get to work. After this class, I not only know what I did wrong during my initial trails, I have a much better understanding of cake decorating basics. Even the techniques that I thought I knew, I am now much more capable of...still have a lot of practicing to do! Some of the techniques I learned are simple steps that really make the cake a lot more professional. I am considering taking the second class in the Wilton series but we'll have to see.

May: SF Bus Tour

I have lived in the Bay Area for as long as I can remember. I have always lived under 45 mins away from the glorious city of San Francisco and yet I rarely enjoy all that the city has to offer. When I go to the city, I go for a particular reason and then depart right after because I don't know enough about the city to go somewhere else and I don't like the idea of exploring the city when I don't know very much about it. This is why I was really excited about a guided Double Decker bus tour of San Francisco.

It was quite a lot of fun. Every time you rode a bus, there was a tour guide telling you about the various neighborhood you were traveling through, facts about the city or corny jokes. The tour guides were informational and pretty good, overall. While I will probably never forget some of the stories I heard 6 times throughout the day, I feel like I understand the city a bit better. I had no idea that China Town was so close to Union Square. It was great to spend some time out and about.

We received an "All Loops" pass from my parents for Christmas. There was a downtown bus loop, a Golden Gate loop, a Sausalito loop and a Night Tour loop. All were really fun and covered a different part of the city. I might have to keep a map of the tour loop when I travel the city so that I can remember what was going on right next to each loop! Immediately afterward I felt like I new the city pretty well but it is funny how quickly I forget things.

The double decker was fun, but a little chilly up top. It did start raining a little as well toward the very end. I was well prepared with lots of layers but still was pretty chilled on the final Night Tour loop. When we finished our last loop, we got some soup and sandwiches to warm us up and fill us up after the long day. Overall, it was a great day and definitely an experience to remember!

Pictures to come.

April: Volunteer work on Alcatraz!

Well, April brought a little bit of difficulty. My brilliantly thought out and carefully planned schedule of things to do this year turned out to not be quite carefully planned enough. Apparently, other businesses and organizations do not want to operate on my schedule. Psh, what's that about? Luckily, I had a back-up "new thing" this month so I wouldn't falter on my bucket list! Actually, I think having back-ups is a good way to just include more new and exciting things into my life. Hmmm...maybe I should consider this in my plans for future months!

So, for the month of April, I am officially announcing that my bucket list item was to volunteer on Alcatraz! I have been to the Rock on several different occasions (school field trips, bday extravaganzas, etc) but I have never quite experienced the island from this perspective before! Being a volunteer swap day, we met really early, got to SF really early, and left on the staff boat really early! The weather was a tad confusing so I brought everything from short sleeves and a sun hat to a water-proof wind breaker.

While on the island, we were given an introduction to the history of the gardens and the restoration work. Then, we got to spend a couple of hours doing hands-on weeding in the gardens. It was nesting season for the birds, good thing we had gloves on to avoid what the birds left behind! I really enjoyed it. Weeding at home is not quite as nice as weeding surrounded by hundreds of birds and a gorgeous view of the Bay.Can't forget the group photo in front of some plant donations from RBG! Great day for a new experience!

March: Shooting Range

For my March activity, my boyfriend Brian and I went to the shooting range. Brian's brother (and his girlfriend-who is also an excellent shot) hooked us up with guns, cheap ammo, shooting and safety instructions and even lunch afterward! Having never held a gun in my life, I was glad to have extensive safety training prior to even holding the gun in my hands. It is nice to think that if I happen to come across a gun at some point in my life, I will know how to handle it safely and unload it without accidentally harming myself.

After we were comfortable and ready to go, we went out to the range. Boy was it cold! It was indoors so they had to keep the air circulating. We started with the targets fairly close and moved them out as the morning progressed and we started using larger guns.

We started off with a .22 pistol. This ended up being my favorite gun. I think it was because it was the lightest weight. I found it the easiest to hold and did pretty well hitting the target too!

We actually both did pretty well considering we were newbies. My target here is from the .22 and Brian is with his target from the 9 mm. Not to shabby for first timers!

As the last hurrah, we were able to shoot a rifle. It was difficult if not near impossible to tell if you hit the target or not. I'm sticking to the story that the shots at the bottom of the paper target weren't mine and the one right up near the bulls-eye had to be mine. Brian might disagree however. But, no one knows so that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Overall, it was definitely a really great experience. Couldn't have done it without the good instructions and guidance. I had a lot of fun and great company; which made for an excellent weekend!

February: Flying Trapeze

Flying through the air with the greatest of ease!

Now, I am not crazy, I swear. I had someone convince me to do this with them. At first, I thought it sounded like fun. Right before going, I thought we were insane! But let me tell you, it is the most amazing experience ever!

I can only do a 1/4 pull-up, I can barely do push-ups, I am not the most athletic person (to put it mildly). However, I can not only fly on the trapeze, I can do a catch too. Anyone can do it. You utilize the force of gravity (and the lack of gravity) in order to accomplish these tricks.

Want to know how to do it?
1. Climb up a really large ladder.
2. Get harnessed in, safety first.
3. Hold on to the bar with one hand, platform scaffolding with the other.
4. Put chest forward, hips back.
5. Put both hands on the bar.
6. At the call of "Ready!" bend knees and prepare to jump off platform.
7. At the call of "Hep", jump off said platform and swing on the bar!

That's about what my first jump entailed. As I did a couple more, however, I managed to get my knees hooked under the bar, let go and extend my arms out above and behind my head. I felt like I was a little kid playing on the jungle gym again.

The most exhilarating part, however, had to be when I reached out and caught onto one of the instructors, letting go of my bar and hanging onto him for dear life. This is called a "catch". It is oh, so, amazing. My friend and I were a mess of excitement, exhilaration and hyperness for several hours after our 1.5 hour session. I almost felt sorry for those who had to listen to us.

Video of my catch to come soon!!!

Beware though, if you do go, you will be sore that night and for the next couple of days. Not only was my upper body sore but my abs were throbbing. It was so totally worth it though! I'd highly recommend it to anyone!

January: Ceramics Painting

For the month of January, I decided to experience the joy of painting ceramics. I have ALWAYS wanted to go to one of those ceramic painting places. The actual making of the ceramic pieces would be fun, but I feared that it might be more frustrating. As I am just getting used to this idea of trying new things, let's start off a little easier, shall we? To paint something in your own design and have it be usable for everyday life? Amazingness.

Let me tell you, I was looking forward to this activity. Is it bad that I had my whole artistic plan for my piece figured out a week before I stepped into the door on the day of ? My artistic vision just somehow came to me and I couldn't resist but to make it become a reality. My mom, one of my friends and her mom all came with me, a mother/daughter event was just what the doctor ordered for all of us.

I have to say, there is no better way to be artsy than to go make the mess somewhere else and not have to clean it up. You are free to utilize their paints, stencils and tools. You just have to supply the creativity. I guess I must clarify though, I did make a mess, wet paint on my sleeves. (it did come out though - success!) One day I will stop being a klutz...I hope. Enjoy some pictures of the fruits of our labors!


It is disappointing to have to wait a week in order to have the final product but well worth it. I might just have to make a whole dining room set...alternating colors for a mismatched but complementary set of round plates and cups! This trying new things is going to make me broke!

2011 Bucket List!

My new year's resolution for 2011 is to do new things. I am sick of talking about something cool and then coming up with some excuse not to do it. This year, I am going to stop putting off those things that I have always wanted to do. I have created a 2011 Bucket List, per se, something new to do each month. Now, these aren't going to be those crazy things like go sky diving or travel to Europe - I don't want to jump out of a plane and I am not really to the traveling to Europe stage (that one I will have to put off for awhile still). I am talking about those little things that I always say "oh that would be cool!" and yet never do. Time to enjoy life, look forward to something new each month and experience those things in life which you look back on with fond memories! So 2011, here I come! I will try to document here, to the best of my blogging ability :)