A pound of this, a pound of that

I had a hankering for a sweet and simple dessert the other day, and wanted to try something I hadn't made before. I settled on a pound cake recipe from Cook's Illustrated, the best cooking magazine in the whole wide world. It was a laborious recipe but not overly difficult. It turned out superbly. D, who loves pound cake, said it was the best pound cake he'd ever had. I even whipped up some heavy cream for fresh whipped cream to go with it and the blueberries I'd just bought. I love being able to cook on the spur of the moment like this, and I can only do it when I keep some semblance of order and cleanliness in the kitchen. That way it's an opposite-of-stressful event. See me be happy!

Sleeping Late

I made a delicious and lovely carrot cake on Friday for a dear family friend who has cancer. I love being able to tweak recipes in little ways that make all the difference; being confident enough in my baking skills to add just a splash more of vanilla, a pinch of allspice, and so on. It makes me feel like I've accomplished something, a rare feeling these days. I have managed to keep certain parts of the house clean for a week straight, which is remarkable considering how messy we both are. I'm really happy when I can wake up to a clean kitchen sink and a closet floor that isn't an obstacle course I have to navigate on my way to the bathroom. It puts me in a saner frame of mind. So today is a good one, despite my having slept deliciously late...

Bride and Groom and Happily Ever After

My friend Heather's shower was today, and it was so delightful! I'm a bridesmaid, my first time at that. Everything one could imagine a bridal shower as being, with all the kooky decorations and shower games and the likes. I had a total blast! Also, I hooked up with one of her fiance's aunts, who is Indian, and is going to send me all kinds of recipes from her family, like homemade mango chutney! I am so incredibly pumped. However, D was upset when I got home and I ended up not going to a meeting. I am going to try again tomorrow...and my mom is coming over to help me organize my bedroom and ginormous closet, so that's super. I hold my head up towards the sky and shout "Show me myself!" You know what's sad and weird and scary? Half of the people you know who get married will wind up getting divorced...tmth!

the next right thing

I'm going to an al-anon meeting tomorrow. End the cycle, stop it dead in its' tracks. I am very excited about being in a room filled with people who have been right where I am and therefore not having to explain that underneath it all I deeply, truly love my husband. I need to hear that I am not a freak for this and that I can manage to pull myself out of the wreckage even if I can do nothing for him. ouch. Rediscovering the possibilities of a girl named Sarah, day 1.