» Oak Mill Bakery

So David took me to one of his favorite bakeries yesterday afternoon. It's in Niles, IL and from the outside, it looks like any other typical European bakery that specializes in kolaches (hope I didn't spell that wrong..). But once you go inside, you are welcomed with smells of all sorts of delicious pastries, coffee, and even some floral scents from the neighboring flower shop.

I couldn't take my eyes away from their gorgeous cakes. I thought Mont Blanc had the prettiest cakes but now I'm torn! We took home the Ambrosia, which is half hazelnut cream, half chocolate, raspberry truffle layers, white chocolate, and sliced almonds on the icing. Yum.

some of their beautiful cakes

probably just 1/8 of their whole pastry/dessert section

I'm totally going to eat another piece with my Dunkin Donuts hazelnut coffee this morning. :)

» 2011 update

I can't believe that it's already mid-August of 2011! I just signed in while I was at work and realized that my last post was from the beginning of 2011. This year has seriously whizzed by and I can't believe that it's already almost fall.


I know that there are some of you who will read this so this is for you guys, as well as for myself so I can see in the future what my life was like back in 2011 :]


I'm still dating David and we are very happy. I've never been with someone that I felt so strongly about. I think I used to throw the "L" word around without realizing what it truly entailed. It's not simply just an emotion or a saying you say to someone you are dating. I truly love this man that sometimes my heart feels like exploding. He makes me feel so safe and he takes care of me in a way that no one ever has before. When I'm sad or frustrated, he really does care and will take the time out to try and make me smile again. The way that we started dating was definitely unconventional but I think that the reason that we were acquaintances at first, then quickly became friends.. only to realize that I was intrigued by him and here we are... :)


I'm working at PCNation, which is an electronics company (check us out!) that mainly deals with sales via phone or the web. I'm working as their Amazon liason, so if you order something from Amazon and PCNation is the merchant company, I will see your order! I really like it here.. the work environment and my co-workers are fun so it's definitely not a job that I dread waking up for every morning. I will be switching some of my responsibilities around soon and there's word around here about a promotion so keep your fingers crossed for me!


Family's good. My cousin Jane is expecting her 2nd child, a baby girl in November of this year so I'm super excited for her! My other cousin Sarah is off to college this year.. I can't believe she's at that age..


Friends are good.. I think since the late portion of last year and all throughout this year has helped me realize who my true friends are. I think that the people I consider closest to me were people that I never thought would be that close with, but our personalities fit and they are people that I would not hesitate to do anything for. They got my back so I got theirs <3


Anyways, I'm sorry I don't have any pictures or whatever. This is a boring post but at least when I look at it the next time I update (maybe like 8 months from now LOL), I'll know what was going on with my life.


Til next time,


Sylvia

» 2010

As December comes to an end, I've been reflecting upon my life. 2010 has been one of the craziest years of my life. I turned 23, graduated college, almost got kicked out of the house, broke up with someone I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with, rekindled friendships that are so dear to me, fell in love again, and really started to commit myself into having a relationship with Jesus.

As I think upon these past 12 months, I'm hit with waves of nostalgia. Where I am is a million miles away from where I thought I was going to be. I'm filled with worry, anxiety, and fear... but at the same time, I know that my God is going to provide me with anything and everything I will ever want or need in my life. I just need to learn to trust in Him more.

I have lost a lot of relationships this past summer and I wish things weren't this way. I am praying for those people whose hearts are so bitter towards me. I just need to be patient and give them some time to forgive me. It sucks waiting when all I want is to be normal with them, which probably is selfish of me, but I will wait. I don't want to give up on relationships that were at one point so strong that I would have given up my life for them without a second's hesitation. I still would do that for them. I just hope they know that...

Marriage is something that I've thought a lot about this past year as well. As most of my friends are now getting engaged or have already gotten married, it's been weighing on my mind a lot. Especially since after Sam and I broke up, I realized how close we were to have gotten married. With all of the underlying problems we had that didn't surface until this summer, I can't even begin to imagine what a disaster it would have been if we had taken that next step forward in our relationship.

Anyways, enough dwelling on the past. I realized that I made the mistake of changing who I was in order to please someone else. He is not at all to blame completely for the demise of our relationship. In fact, I take more of the blame because I was the one that let myself sit by and change for someone who I loved. I found someone who loves me for who I am. We've been friends for about 5 years and I think that helped immensely. Normally, I'll date someone new.. someone that I meet and grow interest in. This time, we grew in our friendship over the summer and eventually started dating. The difference between this relationship and all of the other ones prior is that we are going to keep it God-centered. I think that this is the reason why it's been so successful so far.

» Anticipation . . .

I don't want to get too excited... but wish me luck. Some great things might happen soon :)

» Not a single regret...

All I can say after what I found out today, I am SO thankful I got out of my relationship with you before I was committed for the long run.

Your whole entire family can judge me all day and everyday. I already know that they are (try not to gossip so much, dear). And you know what - I expected nothing less from them.

Thank your family for showing me *exactly* the reason why I wanted to leave. They absolutely solidified my decision and I have no regret. You keep saying that this wasn't the reason and that me changing for you was the reason, but honestly? I could've dealt with that. Your family and how quickly they pass judgement, I can't deal anymore. I dealt with it for 6 years. Enough is enough.

» Happiness.

All I ever wanted for my life was to be happy. People around me have called me naive and said that I wasn't thinking realistically. I know that I'm still fairly young, but all I ever wanted from my life was to be happy. I don't need a ton of money, a huge house, many cars, etc.

Is it really that simple-minded of me to want to be happy with my family, friends, husband, kids, co-workers? To be happy with the job that I'm praying for?

There are so many people around me currently that do not want to see me happy. I started dating someone that makes me happy, but we found ourselves in situations where the people closest to us didn't want to see us succeed. Friendships were broken, trust was lost, and people felt betrayed.

Throughout these past months, I realized that I care too much about what other people think. I need to be selfish and let myself be happy. I know I can't rely on myself to get out of this situation so I need to rely on God.

Be happy.

» Waiting.

Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart - Alicia Keys.

Life is definitely not easy. Relationships are hard to maintain and I need to get my priorities straight.