Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Life Changes and Being Me!
So I lied...cookie cake will come tomorrow. For now I am too excited not to share this!


Times are a changing for me again. Life always seems to have been a roller coaster of events for me, especially recently. I'm happy to say I'm on the exciting part of that coaster again. I would have said the up or down side, but I'm guessing it all depends on whether you like going up with anticipation or the euphoric fall down...either way, I'm going with the good part!

I've decided to continue my education! As most of you know, I have a culinary degree and have worked in various fields in the culinary industry my entire career. I've always known that being a chef was not the end all be all for me in my career. Don't get me wrong, I love being a chef, but my focus has always been on health when it comes to food. So...


I've decided to get my Fitness Nutrition Certification! This will allow me to enhance my culinary knowledge, as well as, help me help others understand how to cook and prepare foods in a more healthful manner! Also, since I've been developing recipes professionally for a couple of years now, I feel like this is a great opportunity to really further my career in that direction too!

I knew I wanted this when I went to culinary school, but I never got the opportunity. My incredible husband helped me realize that it is time to do this for me. I love that man...supportive and cute...I'm a lucky gal!  So, let the craziness being! I can't believe how I excited I am to take quizzes and tests again, but I am so looking forward to it.

All of this is to say that I have finally found my groove. For the first time in a long time, I feel like I have the opportunity to really be me and do my thing. I know it sounds cheesy, but I really do owe it to Tony. We are a great team and constantly change our roles to help the other person achieve personal goals. Right now, he is supporting my dream I can't tell you how much I appreciate him being there for me!

I never thought I would "go back to school". I remember older people in my classes (sadly, probably my age) in culinary school and how they were changing careers in the middle of their lives. While I'm not changing careers, I still feel this weird sense of change finding myself right now.

Would you consider studying more later in life? Are you doing what you though you would do?

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posted by Sarena Shasteen - The Non-Dairy Queen @ 7:58 PM  
32 Comments:
  • At October 19, 2011 at 8:03 PM, Anonymous Lee said…

    That's great news Sarena! Very exciting.

     
  • At October 19, 2011 at 8:07 PM, Blogger Heather Iacobacci-Miller said…

    You already know I'm soooo excited for you my friend. I love this for you!!!

     
  • At October 19, 2011 at 8:09 PM, Anonymous Estela @ Weekly Bite said…

    Congrats on your big decision Sarena! I am so happy for you :)

     
  • At October 19, 2011 at 8:15 PM, Anonymous Evan Thomas said…

    Congratulations, Sarena! I can see this definitely fitting your interests. You're going to be great at it.

     
  • At October 19, 2011 at 8:24 PM, Blogger Cotter Crunch said…

    well you know i am thrilled. You will be amazing! good things to come!

     
  • At October 19, 2011 at 8:25 PM, Anonymous Kris said…

    this is a GREAT move for you, I see your excitement every time you talk about it!! :)

     
  • At October 19, 2011 at 8:45 PM, Anonymous Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga said…

    I am soooo happy for you, Sarena!

    I didnt actually know you had a culinary degree. That's pretty amazing right there.

    And now this piece of it. So happy you feel you've found your groove, you are happy, this is what you want...as adult women, as wives and mothers, having this time to now pursue what we truly want is an even bigger gift now than it would have been at say age 20. I know how blessed you feel; I can sense it in the post.

    And your marriage and love for Tony and your partnership is always so evident..that alone is something so awesome.

     
  • At October 19, 2011 at 8:51 PM, Anonymous Amy B @ Second City Randomness said…

    That's awesome, Sarena! I'm excited for you to be that much closer to what you want to end up doing! :)

    I've played around with the idea of finishing the MBA when my college starts offering online courses for it (it's an upcoming thing for them!). But we shall see how it all plays out...

     
  • At October 19, 2011 at 8:54 PM, Anonymous Julie O. said…

    Awesome! That is so cool! I'm working on something similar. I'm a tech editor now, but I'm in my 30s and I've gone back to school for nutrition. I'm pursuing a master's and want to become an RD, and then be a nutrition writer. Nutrition is such a fascinating field with such great potential to help people. I'm really excited for you. I think you're going to love it!

     
  • At October 19, 2011 at 8:58 PM, Anonymous Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table said…

    Congratulations! What a neat degree. I wish I could go back again!! Looking forward to hearing more about it.

     
  • At October 19, 2011 at 9:13 PM, Anonymous MelissaNibbles said…

    Congratulations! This is definitely YOU. It's so nice to hear about the relationship you have with Tony. You definitely make a great team :)

     
  • At October 19, 2011 at 9:19 PM, Blogger Czesia said…

    This is awesome Sarena, I'm so glad you are finding your groove! I'm in school right now. I'm hoping to get my psych degree, and then my masters in counseling. It's a long, stressful road, but I am determined to live this one life following my dreams. I'm glad you are doing the same!

     
  • At October 19, 2011 at 10:13 PM, Anonymous Christin@purplebirdblog said…

    YAAAAAAAAAY! So happy for you friend, big hug! xo

     
  • At October 19, 2011 at 11:04 PM, Blogger Christina said…

    how exciting! congratulations! and those bars look so darn gooooood.

     
  • At October 19, 2011 at 11:17 PM, Anonymous Heather @ Kiss My Broccoli said…

    I know I already told you on facebook, but congratulations again, Sarena! It's so awesome how great a team you and Tony make. I always sense that bond when you mention him in your posts.

    I had no idea what I wanted to do until college and while I don't think I made a wrong decision, I have gotten to a point where I feel like I should be doing more. It's actually something I've been thinking about for the last few weeks. I said I'd never go back to school...but who knows! ;)

     
  • At October 20, 2011 at 12:22 AM, Blogger Stephanie said…

    Awesome!! Congratulations :) I keep saying that I want to go back to school... I just don't know what exactly I want to do yet. I did study to become an EMT in 2010 and later this year will be studying to become an intermediate EMT.

     
  • At October 20, 2011 at 3:58 AM, Blogger Stephanie Bishop said…

    Congrats, Sarena!! That is so exciting! And don't worry about being the oldest in the class...no one will know you're older! :)

     
  • At October 20, 2011 at 6:28 AM, Blogger Lisa said…

    Congrats Sarena! How exciting---you are going to love it!
    I am always thinking of something new I need to learn about, but I do try and hold back from the more difficult and more expensive things now...
    I'm doing yoga teacher training right now, just to be able to add that to my repertoire...learning something you're passionate about is fun!

     
  • At October 20, 2011 at 8:38 AM, Anonymous Susan said…

    Congratulations Sarena! This sounds like a great fit for you. I love that you are continuing to explore your interests and never settling. It's beautiful!

     
  • At October 20, 2011 at 9:21 AM, Anonymous Anna @ On Anna's Plate said…

    This is great news!!! I think more and more adults are going back to school-- I always have at least two or three "returning to ed" students in my classes-- and I usually love them! They've actually MADE the decision to go to school (as opposed to many of my 18 year-olds who have been forced there by their parents).

     
  • At October 20, 2011 at 11:03 AM, Blogger Fallon said…

    That is awesome! I don't think it is ever too late to go back to school or learn something new. I'd love to go back to school and study something in the nutritional field. I just need to be focused for it and right now I can't! Maybe one day.

    I look forward to your progress, sounds like you will learn a lot of new things. So exciting!

     
  • At October 20, 2011 at 12:11 PM, Blogger Emily said…

    I'm so excited for you, Sarena! This is wonderful news and I know this is going to be an exciting and fulfilling journey. You should be proud of yourself. I'm proud of you! :)

     
  • At October 20, 2011 at 12:19 PM, Anonymous Alayna @ Thyme Bombe said…

    Excellent! Congrats on this new venture!

     
  • At October 20, 2011 at 12:25 PM, Anonymous Heather said…

    This is fantastic news, Sarena!! I'm so happy for you!

     
  • At October 21, 2011 at 11:40 AM, Anonymous Kim-Cook It Allergy Free said…

    YAY!! That is so exciting! I did the same thing and then loved it so much I also went on to get a Master's in Nutrition! You will have so much fun learning about what you are passionate about! Best wishes on your new adventure! ;)

     
  • At October 21, 2011 at 9:02 PM, Anonymous Health Bee said…

    Great job! Keep on learning. I'm so excited for you.

     
  • At October 22, 2011 at 1:04 PM, Anonymous jillian said…

    Good Luck it sounds interesting! I am in the midst of a major career change, and it has been a great decision.

     
  • At October 23, 2011 at 4:00 PM, Blogger blessedmama said…

    Congratulations on the big change! It's nice you and your husband are so supportive of each other.

     
  • At October 24, 2011 at 1:47 AM, Anonymous Eleanor@eatinglikeahorse said…

    Great news - and so good that your husband is so supportive of you :-)
    Emotional rollercoasters are so exhausting; just glad you're on the up!
    Looking forward to the cookie cake too :-)

     
  • At October 24, 2011 at 3:52 PM, Anonymous thehealthyapron said…

    I ALWAYS love a challenge. I am a dietitian but decided to go get my personal training certificate bc I wanted to know more about fitness. Even though it's HARD, I'm learning so much! Kudos to you for following your true passion!

     
  • At October 24, 2011 at 5:47 PM, Blogger pureglow*16 said…

    the cookie looks really good... ;)
    i'm still in highschool so not sure what i can say about careers.... but i defintely have gone through alot of things i didn't think i would!

     
  • At October 24, 2011 at 8:00 PM, Blogger Simply Life said…

    congrats! what an exciting new adventure!

     
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Sarena Shasteen - The Non-Dairy Queen
Home: Atlanta, GA, United States
About Me: Lactose Challenged
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