The Cake Topper

So, for my birthday, Hubby really went all out. He soooo wanted me to have the perfect day. We had lunch at my favorite restaurant. He even got it to snow (that perfect kind of snow, with the big, fluffy flakes that swirl around like powder) so I could go on a snow picture-taking spree. (I'm a big fan of snow.)

But the topper was the cake.


Chocolate cake. With chocolate filling. And buttercream frosting.


From a bakery.



With Bono.


How hilarious is that? How perfect is that? How sweet is that?

Um. Very. On all counts.

Apparently, there was some confusion at the bakery, so there was a worry that I'd get a Sonny Bono cake instead of a Bono cake. But that would have been (almost) funnier.

And there was some confusion before cutting in to the cake, as my aunt made the statement that the picture on the cake looked nothing like me at all. Uh-huh.

It was awesome. (So's he.)

Me.

I am:

a woman
a lady
a girl
a daughter
a sister
a friend
a wife
an in-law
an aunt
a godmother
a bff
a runner
a teacher
a yogi
a baker
a reader
an environmentalist
an activist
a pacifist
a chocoholic
a vegetarian
a U2 fan
a stress ball
a worrier
a perfectionist
an ear
a shoulder
a warm beverage drinker
tired
opinionated
quiet
solitary
hopeful
fearful
grateful
a dork
in love
nothing special
no one of consequence
trying to make a smaller footprint
thirty-five years old today.

Happy Christmas

So, it's shaping up to be a pretty low key pre-holiday here.

Christmas Eve will be just Hubby and me. That's never happened before. There used to be a function at my aunt and uncle's home, but not this year. We had invited some family for lunch, but they can't make it. So it's just us.

We have gingerbread bagels to enjoy for breakfast. We're (and by "we" I mean "Hubby") making pea soup for lunch. I'm sure hot cocoa will be involved at some point. Most likely fudge (because we've got lots). And we have soy egg nog, too. Maybe an evening walk to look at Christmas lights. I'll have to make the coffeecake for Christmas breakfast. I'm sure at least one viewing of A Christmas Story will be in order, because even though it's on for 24 hours, I always manage to see the same part over and over again.

It's a little bittersweet, though. Part of me likes the idea of just the two of us making our way through the day. It might be a nice rest-up before the madness and bustle of Christmas Day itself (a beautiful madness and bustle, but still, madness and bustle). But part of me kind of misses the idea of some Christmas Eve bustle. (Which is kind of odd, since I don't really like gatherings or parties, you know?)

Regardless of it all, the Christmas Dork in me waits all year for this magical stretch of days. And either with an extended family, or my little family of two, I'm so so so happy it's here!

Happy Christmas!

It's beginning to look a lot like...

The snow just makes it, doesn't it?

Stop me before I bake again!

Seriously. What am I thinking?

I already have the sugar cookies, pfeffernuss, peanut butter balls and (nutless) fudge from the last baking spree. But somehow, yesterday I decided that just wasn't enough. So I did this

and this

and this.

That (nut-full) fudge is on a plate because it wouldn't fit in here


with the rest of the (nut-full) fudge. And those were the last remaining glad-ware in my house that were not already full of edible crap.

Seriously. Who's going to eat all of this?

In addition to everything that came before, that is.

It's just me and Hubby. And I am giving it my all, don't get me wrong. But he ate two pieces of (nut-full) fudge then asked where the jalapeno popcorn was. And he was the one who thought fudge with nuts was a good idea.

I might have a problem. I'm looking into 12 step programs.

It's probably a good thing Christmas only comes once a year.

It is Monday....

I slept in this morning. Two hours later than normal.

When I got up, I did yoga. I did not run. Or get on the elliptical. Or go for a walk.

I took a long, hot shower. I did not shave.

I filled the bird feeder with bird seed.

I went to my favorite cafe and got a chai for me and some coffee for Hubby.

Now I am going to sit on my couch under a big, warm quilt and read my book and drink my chai.

Then I am going to make some pretzel-related candy.

Then I am going to cut up (eat) a pan of fudge.

Then I am going to make some tea and get back under my big, warm quilt and read my book some more.

Because I am on Christmas break.

Making Tracks

Today I ran in the snow for the fist time this year.

I left a perfectly straight trail of footprints behind me.

It was wet and sloppy.

I was splashed by a few passing cars (because not everyone feels the need to move over a bit for the runners).

It was windy. It was cold.

My knee was creaking more than usual with all the moisture in the air.

Little ice daggers were hitting my eyes.

And I had the biggest smile on my face.

I love running at this time of year more than any other.

I think it's fun defying the elements.

So if you hear someone outside your window, early in the morning, giggling?

That's probably just me out running. =^)