Cake Pops: Round Three

So I have some bad news and some kinda good news. Bad news first. Yesterday, I went to work, la de da, normal day, then at about lunch time, I got called into a meeting and got laid off. On the spot. Here's two weeks pay, there's the door. We will call you if anything comes up. It came totally out of the blue, and I am sure all five of us were equally shocked. I have since heard some rumors and some truths as to why it happened, and I understand, for the most part. But, there is no sense in making a fuss and a scene, i don't want to burn any bridges so I am taking it in stride.

So the first thing I did when I got out the door was text my sisters. My baby sister's hubby works for the same company, but in another department; thankfully, his job is safe. My older sister works for a company with a large influence in this city, she does a labour job so I don't think i could work there, but it is nice to get your woes out to someone and let people know you are looking. When I got home, I called my Mom, who was equally surprised. She told me first thing to get my butt to the Government building and apply for my Unemployment Insurance (EI) benefits. It takes almost a month to process, so she wanted to be sure I got that ball rolling right away in case I can not find something in the next two weeks. I had not thought of that, so I am glad for Mom. I got to the EI office and found out that they will send some people back to school as well, for re-training. Of course, there are many stipulations and not everyone is let into the program, but this morning I went back to the EI office and attended an information session about it. They also hooked me up with a career advisor, who told me the kinda good news, which is that I may be able to go back to school for business. Unfortunately, they only pay 50%, which means I would have to come up with the other 50% before September, and get into the program. And business is a popular one. So I may not be able to go that route, for now. And I may not be accepted into the program because I have already been to college, albeit 11 years ago, but still according to the government people, i have something to fall back on (Early Childhood). I just have to update my first aid & CPR. The career advisor also wants me to take two more information sessions, one for starting your own business (since I mentioned i want my own bakery someday) and one for job finding.

So now onto the rest of the kinda good news. I just got a phone call stating I can have a table at a local Flea Market that runs every Sunday, so now I will be spending the rest of the week baking! I want to make at least 3 types off cookies (chocolate chip, S'mores and chocolate, and maybe M&Ms). I am making 2 or 3 lemon breads and banana breads, and some cake pops! I started on the cake pops last night, before I knew that i would be selling. It was basically a make-busy project for this afternoon. I have only been out of work a day and a half and I am bored out of my tree.

Last night, i made up a white cake mix that i had added vanilla to, just like the last time.  This morning, i crumbled it up and mixed in a whole can of cream cheese icing, plus a bit of leftover, I scooped them out and got 63. Into the freezer they went for a few hours and now I am slowly dipping them.

They are giving me some issues, but not as many as the last time. I think it is the chocolate, it is very thick this time, so i am adding a bit of shortening to thin it out. I am using three types of sprinkles, as you can see. And I may leave some just plain as well. Horrible thought, but not everyone likes sprinkles :-)

Thankfully, I have everything here to make all my sweets, i just had to run to get an extra box of eggs and container of milk. I am also thinking of making some of my chocolate fudge for this weekend, and I want to make candy kabobs, I have everything but the packaging and have yet to find anything suitable in my city.

So I am hoping this will turn out and I can do it again to get a little bit of income until I get another job. EI only pays out (from what I am told) 55% of your wages...that is not a lot. I do not really want to go to another call centre and it is difficult to get a job in Saint John that is not a call centre that will pay a decent wage (I need minimum 11.50 an hour to keep this apartment). So, keep your fingers crossed for me, and i will update as the job search goes!!