Cheers!

Let's raise our cupcakes to toast yet another wonderful year.  Despite the ups and downs through the year, I call it wonderful because there are more things to be thankful for than before...It's almost a year  of blogging for me now and I want to thank my followers for supporting me on this sweet journey.  I look forward to the new year and hope that it brings success and joy in all our endeavors. 

Coming to the more important question now.  Do I make new year's resolutions?  Not any more.   I cannot seem to make logical resolutions even if my life depended on it and to hope that the illogical ones are kept intact would be a miracle at best.  So, I've changed my philosophy slightly..."be flexible" is my new aim...It will allow me to cater to each situation without breaking any resolution.  How's that for perfection?  Okay, so it's a little cheating, but it's smart cheating.  Cheers!

Mini Ornaments

Ornaments are not just meant to adorn a tree or the body. Sometimes they are meant to bring joy to the tongue and tummy. No, seriously I mean it. We eat with our eyes and nose first and so a treat has to entice our palate with looks and aroma. These tiny delights were designed with just this in mind: rich burgundy, sky blue and little flakes of snow. Here's wishing everyone a very happy holiday season ahead. Cheers!

Traditions

Of all the winter traditions that are around, my favorite one is making a snowman...it brings back memories from my childhood where a negative 36F did nothing to freeze my spirits (northern Canada).  From toboggan rides down steep hills to making 'angels' in the snow, my only worry in life was climbing back up the hill covered in 9 feet of ice and snow.  I consider myself very lucky to have enjoyed a healthy and happy childhood and this holiday season I wanted to do something for those who don't have either.  I didn't know how until my place of work hosted a holiday craft fair.  So I put on my baking gloves and created some red velvet winter delights.  And while spreading the word on La Tangerine Cakes and Treats, I ended up raising money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital which strives to bring hope to the lives of many who cannot go out and make a snowman of their own...

Happiness

Who says you can't have a slice of tangerine cheesecake for breakfast because it is not healthy?  If you think about it, it has all the elements of a balanced breakfast: carbs, protein and fat (flour, sugar, fruit, eggs, dairy and butter). So why is it then, that inspite of the combination, it is not the healthiest item on your plate when you start the day? The answer lies in the word 'balance'.  While all the components are accounted for, the balance is just on the wrong scale.  Hence the overall end product earns its designation as dessert- something to be eaten cautiously unless you are Heidi Klum (I am convinced that this wouldn't affect her gorgeously stunning profile either). 

Extrapolating this process to my life has made me realize that while I may have all the components present to make me happy (family, occupation, hobby and faith) unless I strive the right balance amongst them, I cannot win.  We hear about people who excel in their chosen path and we try to copy their success.  While chasing the super-success stories of people around us we must realize that one can truly excel in only one aspect of life and everything in between is all about BALANCE.  So pick up a spoon, dig into your favorite treat, sit back and think of  what would make you most happy and then choose wisely to bring in that happiness...