Ok, first… slight delay on the website launch! Wednesday, November 18th at noon!
The web service I am using is having a problem with the background on my homepage being randomized. Sometimes it’s blue, sometimes it’s purple. It should never be either of those colors. Technology glitches, sigh.

On to the exciting news!

Condensed Version: I am receiving a Culinary Award from the National African American Culinary Arts and Hospitality Association (that’s a mouthful!) on December 8th at the Auburn Avenue Research Library for my achievements with Looking Glass Cupcakes! Hooray!

Extended Version: On Election Night, I was with Camron and Jill downtown on Auburn Avenue. Jill and I had just spent the day doing “Video the Vote” when her father called and mentioned he would be headed down to Ebenezer Baptist Church on Auburn Avenue to watch the returns. (note: if you are not from Atlanta or are hazy on your black history, you may not know the significance of Auburn Avenue and Ebenezer Baptist Church, so please click the links to get yourself educated! I don’t want to go on a tangent explaining their significance ).

Anyhow, there are people EVERYWHERE. Quite literally. There is a Barackmobile with all sorts of paraphernalia plastered on it, vendors selling Obama shirts, posters, artwork, etc, and people taking photos and videotaping for history’s sake. One couple was even recording personal messages from the passers-by for their unborn son to watch when he became old enough to appreciate it. Just thinking about that makes me a little misty-eyed.

Click Here to Play: Movin On Up – Theme Song from The Jeffersons

We hear “Movin’ On Up”, the theme from The Jeffersons playing on repeat from a little shop across the street with a neon sign that proudly says “SOUL FOOD MUSEUM” and a man in a chef’s hat is clapping his hands and singing along jollily. Naturally, Camron heads in the direction of the merriment; Jill and I had to finish up our Video the Vote obligations at the polling place, so we stayed behind. About 10 minutes later, Camron shouts at me from across the street and motions for me to head over there.

The Soul Food Museum sign had piqued my curiosity (who wouldn’t be curious!?!) and Camron has a knack for engaging in fantastic conversation with people, so I knew this would be interesting. I meet Doc, who was the gentleman in the chef’s hat singing along to the music radiating from his storefront. When you speak with Doc, you are truly speaking with a spiritual soul, and it is no wonder that he has achieved so much in his lifetime. He was such a kind spirit and had devoted his endeavors to being a chef since he was 16 years old. Doc has been a celebrity chef for 35 years, and has been recognized for his amazing achievements in dozens of newspapers across the country, not to mention appearances on television shows, and will be on Oprah in 2009! Now that is credibility.

I know, I know, get back to the award thing. Ok, so Camron, my eternal cheerleader (in the super-masculine sense of the word, of course) mentions that I have a cupcake business and raves about how wonderful they are. I tell Doc about the events that I have done, and give him some info on my website where he could see photos. Doc lights up and mentions that they are having an event soon, and would love for me to participate. Thrilled, I thanked him and we exchanged information so that we could discuss it further some other time when we would be less distracted by the significant moment that was about to occur.

Today, I give Doc a call and venture down there in the rain to meet with him regarding logistics for the event. Unbeknownst to me, he had submitted my name and information to the Board of Directors for the National African American Culinary Arts and Hospitality Association for an Achievement Award. I was floored that he had even considered me for such an honor, having just met a little over a week ago. I was humbled simply by the nomination. He continued, announcing that I had been chosen for the award. Crazy! Not only that, but I would be recognized at the banquet, have my cupcakes placed in the goodie bags for the event, and have a full-page ad placed in the restaurant guide for 2009, which will be in all of the hotels and convention centers around the city. Not to mention a logo and link on the NAACHA and Soul Food Museum websites. I am still whirling from the fact that Doc, this well-connected man who is already nationally recognized (Oprah for goodness sake!) thought highly enough of me to mention me to his peers.

Camron always mentions divine timing and being guided to be in the right place just when you need to be. I used to get flustered about being places on time, and he has proven over and over that you will be where you need to be when you need to be there. Basically, there are no coincidences. It’s so simple, it’s almost hard to comprehend. Jill and I had been on a totally different side of town for most of the day, and it just-so-happened that her dad would be at Ebenezer AND there was a polling place cattycorner to the church for us to finish our business, within earshot of that classic theme music of inspiration and hope. Law of attraction in action, my friends.

Now I have to write a biography, design an ad, get my business cards in order, clean up my logo, really launch the website, and make 200 cupcakes for the event (not to mention decide what flavor)…

I should get started

Until Next Time!