Family Photo 2013

There is something about keeping visual record of the years. We have done family portraits each winter we've been married. It makes me so happy to look at my little family. Thank you, Jerry Wofford for getting behind the camera.

I'm holding still, so as not to be hit by my very talented husband. Results: totally rad high kick.

Hello

It's been sometime since I've posted. We've all lived a year and several months since. Right around the time I stopped, I was taking a blog class and started stressing about making my posts beautiful and perfect for you, my readers. I've missed writing, and it hit me that when I am blogging, I'd best stick with what's authentic for me- sometimes I don't have time to make each post gloriously arranged, and that's ok.

Noteworthy happenings:

• In September, I started a new job doing marketing at a local hospital
• Ryan has a new band, Shake Shake; we do cool band stuff all the time now
• At my new job, I have the opportunity to go to yoga three times a week
• I ran a marathon last April
• I visited Boston (LOVE) and Ryan visited New York. We both went to Denver

I would have never guessed my favorite cake to make so far would be vanilla bean. This cake is out of this world delicious. It uses a real vanilla bean- which is about $10 a bean, but totally worth it. This is another Sweetapolita recipe. The icing tastes like vanilla ice cream. Seriously.

Part of the joy of cake baking for me has been sharing it. I got to enjoy this cake with five of my dearest friends (including my husband).

Every fall gets very busy for me with a large fundraiser at work. Things are falling into place, but steadily requiring more time. My goal this year is to not disappear from public, but find reprieve from work in the company of friends.

The Mustache Makers Who Went Before Us

Remember this picture of Ryan and I making mustaches out of my hair?

I ran into this today...and felt proud to be a part of a charming legacy.

Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire

[Image from Awesome People Hanging Out Together, linked from Somewhere North]

Cake

I cannot stop thinking about cake. I am obsessed. Here are some desserts that sound ridiculous good:

• Poured Fondant Petit-Fours
• Another take on Petit-Fours
• This Chocolate Cake
• A Ten Layered Cake? And that chocolate icing looks awesome too...
• Fourteen layers? Oh my!
• Stephanie, I just made this for you in my heart.
• Red Velvet Cake is so luscious looking
• Oh Lord. Chocolate cake again. Marshmallow Frosting.
• Homemade Oreos
• German Chocolate Cake...my father in law's favorite
• This cake looks like Walter

Finally, this apricot breezer cocktail looks amazing.

[Photo: Smitten Kitten]

Chocolate Cake

The blog Sweetapolita has such beautiful photos of cakes that I was inspired to work hard in the kitchen...something I rarely do these days. Thank you for the tasty recipes and the fun I had baking! This chocolate cake with malt chocolate icing and toasted marshmallow frosting is amazing. I did it in two night stages, starting with baking the cake and ending with stacking and frosting.

I tried to document the process...including the amazing buttering of cake pans with a paper towel and soft butter. The flour just eases on so smoothly! Note my kind of (seriously) ridiculous need to clean my utensils as I go. And oh my goodness, how good do those layers look? And drumroll, please...the final product.

We just got home from eating it. So yummy. Maybe I like to bake now. Only time will tell.

Pretty Party Finds

Maybe I am dreaming about my birthday in September. Mom says I used to start planning my next birthday party the day after I had one. I spend the majority of my blog reading time on event blogs these days...enjoy some recent finds.

This cake is dreamy. Sprinkles are so magical, and I am in love with gentle light pink these days.

Yes, these diy drink umbrellas are so very lovely!

These tapers sure are purdy and super serious about celebrating.



[Images: Sweetpolita,Martha Stewart, Olive and Cocoa]