Give thanks

I realize how important social interaction can be. The holidays make me feel a sense of love, togetherness, and family.

I hope I can adequately show my friends and loved ones just how much they mean to me. I appreciate how each person has helped me develop and grow.

Thank you for making me examine my desires and goals.
Thank you for showing me my potential and my unique abilities.
Thank you for sticking with me through all the trials I've had to suffer.
Thank you for guiding me through my dark periods.
Thank you for allowing me to explore my creativity.
Thank you for helping me become me.

Thank you!

Fear of the Unknown (in Business)

Many of you know that I have been throwing business ideas around for the last, oh.... 3-4 YEARS. I've talked a big talk about starting a business, but never felt like I was good enough or knew enough to actually  do it. Well, this month I'm actually doing it. I stepped out of my comfort zone and took the first baby step towards a new career and a new me.

For those of you that don't know- I cook. And I cook A LOT! And I've always thought about doing this for a living, but never had the guts to move past the "dreaming" phase. With the help of my mother and my husband, I spoke with a friend of the family who owns a catering business and told him my ideas. He listened and gave me his honest opinion. He encouraged me to try things out and see what happened.

He asked for a sample of my work so he could taste my creations. Monday I baked like I'd never baked before and took a plate of my half moon pies (pineapple-filled pies most often found in Hawaii) down to his catering kitchen so he and all his staff could weigh in on my work.

I was SOOOO scared about showing my work off to someone outside my immediate family. Especially someone who cooks for a living!

And guess what? HE LOVED THEM! He loved them. His wife loved them. His kids and all the staff loved them. In fact, they loved them so much, they want to feature them as a dessert in their restaurant and asked for a price list so they could work my pies into wedding quotes for their catering business.

I was on cloud nine. I never really thought I would be taken seriously by professional cooks. And now? Well... now I am more determined than ever to make my dream a reality.

Look out world! Sani is cooking her way to success!