My Life in the Kitchen

Over the past week, I have had a desire to make things. I made spice cupcakes, a peach cobbler with blueberry muffin topping, chocolate chip cookies with cinnamon, and macaroni & cheese {which was a complete bust}. After making and semi-enjoying the mac&cheese, I sat down to my computer and opened my Google Reader. There, at the very top, was the title to end all titles - "A Raspberry Rose Vanilla Cream Cake." Doesn't that sound yummy?? You can find the recipe at Tartelette. I will most likely be making this...and soon! :)

Elegance Bridal Gala

Last night, my Maid of Honor, MC, and I went to the Elegance Bridal Gala in Mt. Juliet, TN. {{I was the one in the black dress with the big, pink flowers on it. MC was wearing the cream dress with the fabulous purple shoes.}} There were a lot of great vendors there that are native to the area, which was great to see!! Internet research can only take you so far when the little, independent businesses don't have websites.

Here are some of my favorites:
1. Baughman Media Works (I entered the video contest)
2. Buy Invitation Only (no website; 100 invitations for around $85)
3. Dynamic Video (free Save-the-Date video)
4. Sweet Life Designs ($25 invitations if your the DIY type)
5. Destined 2 Wed (recommended a good honeymoon spot in St. Lucia)
6. Details by Margaret (I got a cup and a veil; so much fun and energetic; willing to work with your budget)
7. Relish (made two itty, bitty mock ups - so cute!)

Letter to My Mister

My first blog for Weddzilla was posted earlier today!! Go check it out - "Letter to My Mister."

Gym or No Gym

Six months from today, I will be heading to Miami, FL for a cruise with R and his family. While I'm not unbecoming, I would still like to shed a few unwanted pounds. Every girl wants to look good in a bathing suit. Well, I have been looking around for a gym to join. I have found three that are pretty decent.

1. Graves Fitness - $180/6 months; no joining fee; taxes included
2. Urban Active - $14.95/month; $100 joining fee; $50 joining fee until tomorrow; taxes not included
3. Anytime Fitness - $39.99/month; $49.99 joining fee; taxes not included

Somehow, as much as I want to join a gym, I can't justify it to my budget. I'm unemployed and would basically pay to work out in air conditioning instead of taking a walk/run around my neighborhood. I'm so confused and hate making decisions. Maybe I should just suck it up and use my neighborhood as my gym until I move. When I move, I want to get an apartment that has a fitness complex on site. That's my goal. Then I won't have to pay to work out.

For my budget's sake, I think I'll just use the neighborhood as my treadmill. Good idea?

Late Night Musings

On my drive into Green Hills tonight {which takes 20 minutes} and on my way back to Mt. Juliet {also 20 minutes}, I had lots of time to think. These are just random things, but I thought I'd share them anyway.

There is one thing I always look for when I drive out to the Green Hills/West End area of town, and that is about a pothole. A pothole?? Yes, a pothole. And, just why am I thinking about a pothole?? Well, I'll tell you.

At the 24/440 split coming from MJ, there used to be a pothole in the shape of a heart. I wish I had a picture of it, but I promise you it was there. On the bridge to 440. It always stuck out to me.

Throughout high school as I drove to school each morning, I looked at that pothole and was immediately cheered up. Recently, within the year, it was patched. However, you could still see the outline of the pothole that used to be, and I was still warmed by this pothole in the shape of a heart. {By now, you probably think I'm crazy. But, honestly, I have a point.}

Well, tonight I drove out to Green Hills to see Julie&Julia with MC, my Maid of Honor, and I noticed something odd. The road had been recently paved. They paved right over my heart pothole. It's gone. I no longer have something to look at but just a memory of a heart pothole that used to be.

But, here's my point, and I hope you don't think I'm insane for this analogy. I feel as if the heart pothole represented my heart. Before I met R, my heart was empty - thus the heart shaped pothole. Once I met R, my heart was full - ergo the filled in heart pothole. And, now that R has proposed and we are getting married, the pothole has been sealed over as if to say that we have made the right decision to spend the rest of our lives together. In essence, we sealed the deal.

Am I truly crazy for relating my love life to a pothole in the shape of a heart?? I hope not. I think I shall call it a sign from God. I think it sounds better!! :)

Photo: Flickr {jess.h}
p.s. This is not my pothole. It kind of looks like it though.