grown-up prom

Remember how the best part about going to a high school dance was spending the whole day getting ready with your girlfriends?  That's just what we did this past Sunday.  The credit all goes to John and Tash, whose fabulous idea this all was.  A group of us Homebuilders (young marrieds class) girls spent a couple hours at my place sipping champagne (well, those of us who weren't pregnant), trying on dresses, and painting our nails while our wonderful husbands were down the street at the Croziers' place cooking us a fancy dinner.  We had a blast before the evening officially began and then went on to enjoy a lovely group date night away from our kiddos.  We even had a prom-style photo station!  We must make this an annual event!

blomberg boys don't sit still

What a week!  Mark and Heidi got to come to Seattle before they leave the country again so Liam got to meet his cousins Eli and Jack for the first time in person!  Now they'll know each other better when we talk on Skype.  It's been a whirlwind of visiting the zoo, kiddie pool, Ballard locks, Great-Grandma, jumping on the trampoline, staying up late, roasting marshmallows, and fighting over toys.  Ahhh, toddlerhood.

a piece of cake

Every non-scheduled Saturday morning this summer we have spent strolling the Edmonds Farmer’s Market; Liam strapped to Phil’s chest in the carrier and waving to everyone we pass.  This weekend was no exception.  I sipped my pumpkin spice latte and filled my canvas bag so full of organic veggies that it dug into my arm.  To counter all that healthiness we were sure to stop by the booth that makes fresh mini doughnuts.  This was a great way to start a day of baking inspiration.

In preparation for an “Under the Sea” themed double baby shower I was throwing on Sunday, I whipped up a batch of cupcakes and had way too much fun with my frosting piping set!  Fish-delish!

Couldn't help but hum the Little Mermaid soundtrack as I worked!

That evening was a birthday party for my cousin Stew to commemorate him surviving a quarter-century.  I decided to go all out and bake him a 4-layer cake with alternating layers of carrot and devil’s food chocolate.  I’m not much of a rule-follower so I can’t resist messing with recipes.  So, for the carrot I went beyond the usual cinnamon and vanilla and threw in some ground ginger, almond extract and a touch of cocoa powder, just to give it harmony with the chocolate layers it would reside next to.   I frosted the whole thing in a cream cheese icing and covered it in orange polka dots.  I wish I would have thought to take a photo before it was devoured.  Instead, I will post a poem written for me by Stew’s roommate in praise of my bakery creation:

HANNAH.. in honor of your complete dominance and skill in bakeryism, I have written an acronym out of your glorious name.

H: Hot diggity dog, that was a GooOOOoooD piece of cake!

A: Amazingly talentedesteresterest baker

N: Never before have I tasted perfect perfection of double, almost triple rainbow, but today I did.

N: No nonsense heavenly carrot/chocolate cake, aka carocolate!

A: A+

H: Happiness.

because my to do list isn't long enough already....

For me, September always felt like the new year rather than January.  Maybe it is from growing up with teacher mom who's schedule revolved around the school year.  Or, maybe it is my intense connection to summertime that causes me to feel a sense of mourning and rebirth at it's end.  This past year has been the best and craziest of my life so far.  I had a baby, quit a job I loved and started my own business which I love even more. It's been a year of self-discovery, euphoric joy, unexpected heartbreak, overwhelming thankfulness and overpowering love.
I have been feeling the need for an outlet to express the inner monolog I narrate in my head all day, so I decided to jump on the blogwagon and put it out there for the world to see, even if no one reads it.  Well, my mom probably will (if her dial-up internet is working that is).