Wedding Bells are Ringing...Again!

It seems like I do a lot of the whole "going to weddings" thing lately!  If you know me, you know that this is not really my most favorite past-time, but the most recent weddings have been special ones.  

Especially this one.  

My dear sister, who also happens to be a dear friend of mine, and her sweetheart  of 6+ years, who also happens to be a good friend of mine, finally tied the knot this weekend.  In Utah, 6+ years is a LONG time to date, and boy was it quite a road for them.  But, as it was mentioned at their luncheon, they are one of the sweetest, kindest, most compatible couples I know.  And it was impossible to be anything but happy for them.

  

Well, except for the part where he is beginning USAF training and therefore taking her across the country to Mississippi.  That sure stinks for me.  I can't even think about it without becoming a quick puddle of sobs.  

Anyway...

The party was a lovely one.  My sister is a fan of all things vintage and so lace was in abundance, old jars, old books, and beautiful fresh peonies, roses, freesia, and ranunculus were everywhere.

I try to hide the fact that I used to make wedding cakes for a little entrepreneurship endeavor of mine, back in the day, but lately people who know keep asking me to help them out with cake stuff.  I happen to know how to do that and I also don't know how to say no.

So there's this whole "naked cake" thing happening in the world of wedding cakes right now.  

I can't say I think it is my favorite way to have a wedding cake, but my sister loved it. 

Since brides get what brides want, I obliged.  Much to my surprise, I actually liked the way it turned out!  The fresh flowers and bunny topper helped make it look really sweet and garden-party-ish.

And there is the happy couple.  They were sweet and didn't do any of that dumb smash-the-cake-in-each-other's-faces thing.  (I am obviously a fan of the old-school feed-it-kindly-with-a-fork method).

So, mazel tov!  

And there you have it.

Wedding Cake

I'm avoiding writing a 20 page paper that is due in less than 24 hours.  That is more than one page an hour, a task I am confident I could accomplish if I didn't have to work, sleep, eat, or breathe.  As for the accomplishing of the task, it will happen.  It always does.

For now, I wanted to upload a picture of a little (okay, not so little) project I completed this past weekend for one of my sweet friends from my time at Idaho State University.

I have been doing cakes since I was 16, but it has been a loooong time since I made one, especially a wedding cake.  I think it turned out well (for being so out of practice, I was thrilled with the result!).  And a little secret?  I have never done a whole wedding cake in fondant!  I was happy with the way it turned out, and I think they were too.  I'm especially happy that it survived the three hour drive from my house to her reception too!

After 5 years of not doing cakes, I have another one to make this coming weekend for my sister's wedding.  Her cake will be really easy, but it is still pretty funny!  Two in two weeks!

Well, I guess I better get back to my paper.  Too bad my professor won't accept a cake instead...

Spring Break and Non-shower-wedding-work-party

I was very busy over Spring Break. I hardly had a day where I didn't stay booked all the way through, but in some ways it was my favorite way to spend the week.

Did I finish all the bazillion tasks I needed to accomplish? Nope. Hardly.
Did I have a little bit of time with each, some friends, family, and strangers? Sure did.

I used to be so good at taking photos of everything, but not anymore.  Instead I have to steal pictures of my accomplishments and events from other people who are better at remembering to take them.

Here are a few pictures of the non-bridal shower-shower that I planned and hosted for my sister.

Okay, so the truth comes out.  I like to eat while I chop.  Lies.  But holding a piece of bread in your mouth while you chop onions proves to stop one from crying.  And proves to make said person seem like a weirdo.

 

Market French themed showers require paper wrapped flowers and locally crafted lavender soap for party favors.

The "table-scape."

Dishes from Anthropologie and Tai Pan Trading.

Veggie sandwiches (mediterranean, California veggie, and goat cheese/pear) wrapped in paper. And lots and lots of fresh fruits! Yum!

"You can't have a party without fancy cheese!"  (Apparently that is how we ALL feel in my family.)

We also had a pear/cherry/goat cheese salad.

  

And of course, the desserts had to be divine! French macaroons and mini fruit tarts from Gourmandise, and Petit Ecolier cookies.

 A little something for a finishing touch...

(We forgot to get a photo after I had written on the blackboard, but good enough...)

And that is how you throw a shower folks.  Well, at least at my house!

Spring Break 2013

Wow.
I was expecting a nice relaxing Spring Break since I didn't plan any big trips (as I would have loved to).
Not so.
It is a good thing I didn't go anywhere.
I have a bazillion and three things to take care of this week and I already feel like the time is going by so quickly I won't have enough time to do it all!
Silver lining?
I don't have to do all this AND work at the same time.
Thank the heavens!

To Do:
Plan and execute 1 non-shower bridal shower
Plan 1 baby shower
Plan and execute 2 wedding cakes
Write 3 twenty page papers
Complete 2 modules for one class
Complete 1 final exam for another class
Prepare 1 Relief Society lesson (because I will be at one of the weddings the weekend before I teach)
Clean my room and bathroom
Do laundry
Get my hair done (cut and color)
Grade 10,000,892,489 papers (yeah, I'm that far behind)
Buy patio furniture
Run
Breathe

Happy Easter.

Happy Easter, for it truly is a day to celebrate.
For me, and this tough heart of mine, Easter and the celebration of our Lord and Savior's sacrifice in the garden at Gethsemane, on the cross at Golgotha, and every day since through His merciful Atonement, it is a day of gratitude.  For everything I am now, and everything I am yet to be, is because He loves me.  And He loves you too.
Happy Easter.

Beat Up

I feel like I've been punched in the face
and had my neck wrung.
No, seriously.
That is what my face and my neck feel like right now.
I have no idea why.
Can stress cause bruises and massive sharp pains?
Ones that last for over 30 days?
Because if so, I should be black and blue.
I'm so tired of trying to figure out why I have these problems and always being told I'm too fat.
I am too fat.
But, I have done everything in my power to change that and nothing seems to work.
And anyway, I've never known anyone to get a bruised face from being too fat.
Ugh.
Summer can't come soon enough.

Anti-Bullying Project

Once in a while I have these little glimmers of moments where I see that I might be actually making a difference in the lives of others.

Today, watching the video that a few of my students and I began the journey of creating over a month ago, I realized I may have made a difference for those girls.  Hopefully in the same way we hoped to when we embarked on our Anti-Bullying campaign for our school.  Especially for the girl-stuff bullying.

What an adventure!  I am impressed by all that I have been able to learn, all my girls have been able to learn, and all we have been able to accomplish together.  Too many people believed that 2nd/3rd grade girls don't have the ability to advocate effectively for the things they struggle with. Too many people said it was too much work, too complicated, and not worth our time.

But they were wrong.  We did it.  And I think we made a change in the world, if only a small one.