Checking In

I can't believe it's been almost a month since I last posted. Well, I guess I can, but it really just seems like yesterday that the fiance was out of town and I found that splendid Jane Austen inspired movie.

I just really haven't had words lately. So many things to share, but a completely blank canvas which I have not been equal to filling as of late. No real rhyme or reason, who knows. I hope everyone has been having a fabulous summer. Mine is going in fits and starts. The weather can't seem to make up its mind whether it wants to be summer or fall, makes it slightly challenging when it comes to morning wardrobe selection. I hope you are taking it all in and enjoying every second of summer. I'll eventually be around to visit everyone. Time seems to be handing me the short end of the stick lately.

Lost in Austen

The fiance has been away for a conference, which has left me staying at his house to take care of our puppy dog Kara while he is away. Last night I stumbled across this movie/mini series called Lost in Austen. It was quite accidental, but it had an interesting premise and the user review decided it for me. I wasn't looking for anything in particular, and I'm always up for Jane Austen.

Incredible. It's not often that I'm lost for words when it comes to Jane Austen and my favorite work, Pride and Prejudice, but...wow. It takes liberties, but then, this kind of movie is intended to be that way. I'll be honest, I'm watching it again right now. The basic premise is that a modern English girl, a Jane Austen enthusiast, accidentally switches places with Elizabeth Bennett, right at the beginning of the story. It's an incredibly interesting twist on my favorite novel. I cannot recommend this movie enough. Seriously, go watch it. Also, fair warning (since I didn't notice this when I started the movie) it's about 3 hours long. Completely worth it though. I almost even think this Mr. Darcy can rival that of Colin Firth...which is near sacrilegious for me to say. He definitely wins for the lake scene. Seriously. Go. Watch. I'll be here finishing it myself when I should be sleeping.

The fiance has promised to watch Pride and Prejudice with me soon...the A&E Colin Firth version, of course. :)

Summer Tales, Volume One

My brothers are coming to visit me this weekend while my parents go to a conference, I'm so excited to spend some sibling time with them. On our way to meet up with my parents again on Sunday, we'll be stopping to pick up one of my younger cousins to go and spend a week with the boys. Reminds me of when her older sister and brother and I would spend a week each summer at my grandparent's house. Initially it was just me and Ariel, but when her brother was old enough he joined us for our week-long visits. We have all kinds of fun and crazy memories from those summers, stories that elicit insane giggles even now. There was one visit in particular that was one of my favorites, it was quite an eventful week.

It was the summer that Ariel and I started wearing training/sports bras. We were beyond cool. (trust me, this is important) As always, it was blazing hot - typical desert weather. Not bad if you have air conditioner and a house that likes to stay cool like our grandparent's do. I think there may have been some thunderstorm type weather, I don't remember exactly. But for some reason, the power went out one afternoon. It wasn't bad at first, but as the day went on, it got fairly hot. We of course made a game of it, as we did with most things that came our way. Well, Ariel's brother got to run around wearing just his shorts, boys stink like that, Ariel and I weren't happy, it was TOTALLY unfair. We tried to convince our Grama that it was so hot that we needed to walk around in our sports bras. I guess it must have really been hot (or she just knew, cause our Grama is amazing) because she let us do it. We strutted around thinking we were just too cool for words. To be honest, it did help cool us down.

Despite the heat, we were actually (initially) disappointed when the power came back on because it interfered with our no power game we had devised. We compromised with being able to watch Homeward Bound 2 but still pretending that the power was still out (ya know, minus the television...and the microwave popcorn)

Pardon me while I have an excited wedding moment...

I always anticipated having a lot of fun planning our wedding together, but I think I seriously underestimated just how fun it would actually be. Even the littlest things have brought huge smiles and giggles. Of course the fiance teases me all the time about it, but he actually loves how excited I've been lately. It seems like everything is just falling into place since we booked our reception venue. We have our wedding party asked and confirmed. I found my dress!!! My mom and the fiance's mom came with me and we found THE dress at the first store we went to, 4th dress I tried on. I absolutely adore it, I didn't want to take it off. Now all I need are shoes and whatever jewelry I'm going to wear. We found the most amazing and delicious caterer, they are SO nice. We'll be booking them by the end of next week. I seriously cannot wait to eat at our reception. (we did a tasting a couple weeks ago) I have already asked my mom and the fiance's mom to make sure I get something to eat at the reception.

The fiance's parents are throwing us an engagement party/kitchen themed shower this summer, so we started off our registry with kitchen items. Talking about our entertaining wants and selecting things we would love to use was really exciting. What's even more exciting is that some of the items are being purchased. The fiance's counterpart at work was the first, her gift is the only one that I know what it is. (unintentionally) Let's just say that I absolutely love her to pieces and she is beyond generous. I came home last night to find a fairly large box on my doorstep from one of our registry stores. I was so excited, even though I have no idea what it is. I could probably figure it out if I wanted to though, I'm sure. The fiance says he knows what it is. He's so cute about the gifts.

We are just about 10 months away now and things are just perfect. I am so happy and having so much fun. Everything just makes me smile. I'll be even happier when we find and book our photographer, videographer and florist. Those are the only other major vendors we have left to figure out. Hopefully we will have everything sorted out and booked by the end of the month, including our honeymoon. It's really exciting, if slightly overwhelming to look at honeymoon options. There are just so many great choices and packages. The fiance is taking point on that topic though, which is both incredibly romantic exceedingly helpful. I love how involved he is with everything. He's not overbearing, but I get input and help making decisions. Did I mention that he's absolutely perfect? I'm so very, very blessed to have such a wonderful fiance.

Crossroads to the Front Row

Choices. We all make them, every single day. Some are as mundane as what shirt will I wear today or what should I make for breakfast. Others choices have greater impact on our lives and the direction in which we are headed. We come across many crossroads and paths throughout our lives and we must choose which direction to follow. Some decisions are easy, others take a while to think about and weigh the options. Regardless, once the choice is made, we set off in our chosen direction and the alternate route is closed off, at least from that particular point of entrance.

Sometimes I wonder about the choices that we make to bring us to where we are today. My musings generally have to do with choices that were outside of my control. Typically, this is in the form of nostalgia. Imagine your closest friend. The one with whom you can share everything in complete honesty without worry of judgment. Someone who shares your joy and your pain, your ups and your downs. Someone who shares your faith and in who you see God. Now multiply that by 6. That was my family the last year or so of college. We were the closest of friends. It's difficult to describe such a deep friendship, such an amazing dynamic, unless you've experienced it. There is truly nothing like it. I cherished it and reveled in it until the end. I'll never understand why we were ripped apart through petty jealousy and stupid hormones. But we were. Fractured and splintered, small pieces of what once was. I can't say that I am sad, because I am blessed to have known such friendship and love for the time in which it was mine. It has changed me for the better.

There was another group of friends very similar to ours. We were all friends, sort of an extended family. But there were two cores. Mine split apart. The other, the one that I started out being a part of freshman year, has stayed strong. I am so thankful for that, that they have managed to overcome everything and remain strong. It is a true blessing. I don't go on Facebook much these days, I got over it after we spent countless hours on it when it first came out as a college network. (and that was before apps and the other gadgets and games it now boasts) I have pictures from my core, from the good times, the memories. And I love them. Sometimes it hurts, but I can still think of the good times fondly. The beautiful pictures of new encounters and adventures amongst the other core of friends, the ones still intact and strong, makes me smile while simultaneously pulling at my heart strings. Bittersweet. Nostalgia. Communication amongst old friends is an interesting thing. Interesting to see which communications people work to renew, choose to keep, allow to dwindle, or which they seemingly refuse to acknowledge.

I have been blessed to have many friends over the years. I have many acquaintance with whom I love to meet. While on occasion there have been larger groups, I have always had a small circle of truly intimate friends. I get along with many people, quite happily so, but have always seemed to keep a smaller circle of those closest to me. It's not intentional or by design, it just how it seems to work out. And, truth be told, I am happy. I deeply cherish those I hold closest. Quality, not quantity, is what fills my life and warms my heart. I would rather have one very dear friend than 100 mild acquaintances. But sometimes I see friends who have many, many close friends (or what appear to be close friends) and I wonder if I've done something wrong. It leads me to the what ifs, a game which I but rarely indulge, for it is typically without purpose. In discussing certain wedding plans, there are quite a number of close friends of both myself and fiance who will be invited. But I have noticed that I have only a few friends from high school and college with whom I am truly close and have invited. I see others who have dozens of friends from these chapters of their lives and I wonder if maybe I'm wrong somehow...or maybe they just function differently than I do.

I believe that God brings people into our lives when we need them or when they need us. Everyone has something to share, something to teach us. If we are smart we will embrace these opportunities as often as we can. People pass in and out of each others lives, leaving their footprints behind as a mark. And from these people, the few, true souls we are meant to share our lives with, remain with us. That is not to say that some people are bad or unimportant, just that everyone has those people with whom they are meant to develop deep and meaningful relationships. By definition such friendships cannot exist with everyone. It would diminish their importance and purpose. Someone once described our lives as a theatrical production in which we get to fill the audience. We get to choose who is in the front row of our lives, who is in the back, and who isn't even inside the theatre. It's quite an interesting concept, one which I have thought about on many an occasion. The front row cannot hold an infinite number of people, nor should it. Some seats rotate, others remain constant, yet others may still be open waiting to be filled. No ones front row has the same number of seats. After all, each life is as unique as a snowflake, thus the architecture of our personal theatre is unique in its style and design. Relationships are not perfect, life would be boring if they were. These front row relationships are the most important in my life. I know who is in my front row. Who is in yours?

All Stars

God is recruiting an all star team. That's what my friend said when I called to tell him that one of our student technicians passed away yesterday morning. He couldn't be more right, he couldn't have said it better. Our office is mostly shocked, I think. One of my friends is mad, very mad. I think she expected it more than the rest of us. I thought he was doing better. The good part is that he's no longer in pain, his brain is no longer bleeding, he is at peace. I for one, am still a little shocked. I didn't know him as well as I would have liked, but I always had fun when he was in the office, we had some great conversations.

Please keep Matt's family and friends in your prayers. This was a short, fast battle. He got sick around Christmas. His brain was bleeding, and they discovered he had cancer. Over the weekend he went back to the hospital and there was more bleeding. The doctors said the damage from the bleeding had been done and there really wasn't much they could do to stop it or prevent it from happening again. Like I said, fast. Shocking. Prayers are good.

Summer is Coming

May. Graduation time. A time of changes, of new beginnings. Greetings and partings.
The overcast June gloom is setting in early, bringing with it an unusual bout of chilliness.
It's beautiful though, the beautifully annoying parrots are returning.
Our garden is blossoming, a bright splash of green across the back bank.
Summer is in the air.
I'm looking forward to long, sunshiny days and cool, refreshing nights.
Swimsuits and sunscreen, watermelon and lemonade.
Catch up on reading, writing and pictures.
Try out new baking recipes, finish my cake classes.
Wedding plans, projects and fun.
Here's to summer. Your timing is impeccable.

How Time Flies

Time certainly flies when you're busy having fun. We had the memorial desert trip for Moe. It was intense, fun, sad, wonderful, memorable, emotional, closure. We had a carpet of purple flowers welcoming us on either side of the road as we drove into the flats, it definitely set the tone for the weekend. We knew Moe was there waiting for us. The valleys were covered in purple flowers. Now, I haven't been going to the desert for very long, but some of our friends have been going for close to 20 years. They have never seen purple flowers out there, not like this. Yeah. Intensity. The crack of dawn ride was incredible, watching the sunrise from the top of a dune after being cleansed with white sage by her brother was an amazing experience. Camp was huge, so many people. The ride out to the memorial valley was epic, so many people whose lives she touched. I know she was right there with us, loving every minute of it. I broke my quad. Well, my quad broke, but it wasn't my fault. I think it was Moe's way of telling me I am ready for a bigger bike. That's what I get for showing off for her playing in the dunes above the memorial valley. It makes me smile.

We booked our reception venue last Friday. It's such a relief to have that figured out. We met with a caterer last night and will hopefully have the food booked by the end of next week. Everything will flow together after that, the venue was the biggest obstacle/stresser. I'm getting so excited. We registered for kitchen stuff over the weekend, it was a really fun experience. And, let's be honest, those little scan gun thingies are incredibly fun to play with. The fiance's mom is throwing us a summer kitchen Jack & Jill wedding shower so she needed us to at least register for kitchen related items. I'm looking forward to completing our registration, it really is a fun experience discussing and deciding on the items we would like to have for our life together. It seems so simple, but it's really meaningful and a lot of fun.

Photostory Friday: Crazy Daisies

Hosted by Cecily and Mamarazzi

A bit overdue, but here are the pictures of the grand finale cake we did in my fondant and gumpaste class. Let me just tell you that this cake was a comedy of errors in the making. I iced and covered the cake before we left for the desert that Thursday night to keep it fresh (and minimize the work I had to do when we got back Sunday night for my class on Monday). I made the mistake of covering it with saran wrap.
I came home to a hug fondant bubble and wilted, wrinkly sides. I had ripped the fondant a bit in the first covering and had planned to recover it anyways, but this definitely made sure that I had to recover it. I stayed up till about midnight on Sunday making all of the daisies, only to walk into class Monday night and realize that I'd left them at home. Funniest part is that they were sitting on the table, right next to the cake! I did the garlands and borders and trinket box in class and added the daisies when I got home. The pictures don't show it very well, but I did a very light sparkly dusting on the cake itself to make it shimmer a little bit. (and to hide some of the imperfections in my fondant covering)
I really like the design itself. I combined two designs from the books to make this one. I loved the daisies spilling out of the trinket box on another cake, so I decided to use that for the center of my finished product. The cake itself was a yellow cake with vanilla flavored buttercream filling and icing under the Wilton pre-made fondant. We used that for class, and honestly, I don't think it's half bad. It has the taste and flavor of an airhead, in my opinion. All but one person at work liked the fondant. I guess it's all just a matter of taste. This is definitely one of my favorite cakes though, so bright and cheery.




Hosted by Cecily and Mamarazzi

Much Ado About Cakes

We went to Disneyland for my littlest brother's birthday instead of having a big party. He really wanted to go to Disneyland, and a big party just didn't seem to fit into the crazy baseball schedule they've got going. I seriously do not know how my mom does it. She's got to be superwoman, I'm absolutely convinced. Since we didn't do a big party, my aunt and uncle offered to do a cake for my brother at Easter for the family. Since I didn't get to make him a big, fun cake for his birthday, I got to make him a smaller cake for Easter. This is the first and only pre-formed pan cake that I have ever made. Some of the contours were a but more challenging than I had expected. But I am overall pretty satisfied with how it turned out. The little imperfections actually work for this cake, being a pirate ship and all. My brother was really excited about it, which was enough for me. The cake itself was a white cake with butter flavored buttercream icing.

This is the birthday cake that I made for my cousin Ariel. We almost always have a cake for her at Easter since her birthday. Since I've been learning to make cakes and can always use the practice, my aunt and uncle took me up on my offer to make the birthday cakes this year. My
Cousin loves bright colors and gerbera daisies. Her favorite color is green, which is why the accent border is green. I had a lot of fun making the daisies, even though I had to repair a few petals that I broke. Gumpaste gets very fragile once it dries...at least when I make delicate flowers. My cousin knew what the flowers were right away and absolutely loved the cake. It was a gluten free dark chocolate mix with an irritating but delicious cream cheese filling and butter flavored buttercream icing. All the decorations are gumpaste or a gumpaste/fondant mixture.