A Sweet Mess

In the nine birthdays that my husband has celebrated with me at his side, he has not let me make him a birthday cake. And I truly mean “let me.” He asks for (just short of demands) a store-produced birthday cake. I used to get my panties in a wad over this, but have come to the realization that the man just likes white cake and white icing from Kroger. So, I have bought him a cake every year. This year, I don’t have to study. I don’t have school. I am actually home. I have slightly more free time, and I begged him to let me make his birthday cake! He finally said I could, but then said it had to be wedding cake. Well, I don’t like to do anything half-way, so when I heard wedding cake, I spent all my time searching for the perfect recipe. I changed my mind several times, right up to the day I planned to begin baking. I spent more money on all the supplies and ingredients than I have probably spent on the cakes in years past. BUT, I was bound and determined to make him the best cake ever. And to have him ask me next year to make “That Cake” again! Now, I am no Martha, and I don’t know the first thing about making wedding cake, let alone a birthday cake from scratch. But do I let things like that stop me? NO! The cake took two days to complete, cake one night then frosting and decorating the next. Let me just say that I am not the cleanest baker, and did I mention that I don’t ever bake from scratch? Flour was everywhere, then powdered sugar. My poor mixer has never had such a thorough spattering and then cleaning. Here are the pics:

Needless to say, the cake looked pretty. It turned out just how I wanted. The icing was a bit of a struggle because the Wilton colors would not “mix” into the frosting well (any suggestions as to why???) and kept “pooling.” Josh came home from work and immediately wanted a piece. Exhausted and nervous, I waited for the verdict. Good grief, I had spent so much time, effort, and money making this THE cake to top all store-bought cakes. He bit into it and didn’t say anything. Seriously? He continued to eat (good sign, I guess) but only said “It’s good.” Then finished his piece and looked at me. No jumping up and down, no tears of joy for the homemade cake, no “This is soooo good, Janine, thank you!” I was so incredibly disappointed I can’t even put words to it. Well, when I finally tried it, I knew why: the frosting was amazing, the cake was good but it was so so so dry. I even choked a little on it! What a bummer. Ok, I didn’t hit the mark, but I think I will get another try next year, with a different recipe! Thank you to all of my friends and mom who contributed advice on this! Maybe next time I will listen a little better!

Pumpkin Head

When Josh and I lived in Lexington, we would host or attend an annual pumpkin carving party with our friends, Lindsy and Tim, and Abby and Jonathan. Of course, now that we aren't in Lexington anymore, we are starting new traditions in all areas of our life. I just couldn't leave the pumpkin carving tradition in Lex, so I continued it in Benton with our new friends, Stacey and Jarrett. Now, Jarrett wasn't big on pumpkin carving this year, but there is always next year! Someday we will lure him over to the fun side. We had a good time, laughed a whole lot, and carved some good pumpkins. I have to admit that I wish I could have it all and have my dear friends from Lexington down here with my new friends! We would have so much fun and it would be the Ultimate Pumpkin Carving Party! Now, that's what I am talking about. Oh, growing pains. :)

Poor Lexi: we had a great laugh at her expense...poor dog would not move with this on!

Josh really gets into it...he is so good at it though! Record time this year!

The carving begins...Jarrett is photographer.

My Halloween decor... (I am proud of this table, even though Josh says it's a little much!)

Finished Products:

Stacey carved the Posh Kitty, I carved the skull, and Josh carved the fire jack-o-lantern.

13.1

Last weekend I ran the Murfreesboro Half Marathon. It was my first half marathon, but definitely not my last! (I have a second one on November 7th, where I will run with my best friend Lindsy) After my triathlons last year I said I would do a half marathon, and, well, I did it. I have a strange fear of commitment when it comes to races, but I broke down with a little peer pressure from my friend Stacey. I gave myself 8 weeks to train for the endurance event and I was scared this wouldn't be enough, but it was plenty! Any more than 8 and I think I would have chickened out!! The most I ran in my training was 10 miles, and let me tell you that my body figured this out during the race when I hit the 10 mile mark! I was dragging from mile 10 to mile 11, but picked it up a little only to turn a corner and see the stadium (our Finish Line) a whole 2 miles away! One would think that having the end in sight would make it easier, but to have about 2 miles to go before you get to the end makes it so difficult. AND to top it off, we had a heavy head wind. The wind was so bad that I was wind burnt! But just as soon as I began cursing myself at mile 12 for signing up for another race in only a month, I hit my final sprint to finish the 13.1 miles! Here are my times:
Finished in 2 hours 9 minutes even.
Overall rank: 675th of 1556
Age/sex division rank: 44th of 156
I was pretty proud. Pretty glad to be finished! I beat my goal time of finishing in 2 hours 15 minutes. AND I had a good time with two friends: Stacey and Ashley. Here are pics of the event (of course!)

Before the race, before the sun came up.

Finishers! Ashley, Me, Stacey (I am the only goof still wearing my medal!)

Gettin' Our Stretch On

In Brookstone after the Half Marathon--we found the Massagers! Aaaaaahhhhh..

Ashley's husband, Lathan, has the BEST candy cabinet in the whole world...I was in heaven!