I say it all the time, but… this year is flying by. I can’t believe that it October already. I am very excited about Fall, though I’m sure I’ll blink and it’ll be Christmas. It snowed in Salt Lake today. Yikes. Did I mention how much I love living in Arizona? The rain and the cooler temperatures have been lovely. The evenings are absolutely perfect. I can break out my scarves soon!
Things that I have done since my last post:
June: I baked a wedding cake! My friend J. has been trying to get me to get into wedding cakes for a long time and I finally did. It was soo much fun!! Did I mention I was also a bridesmaid in the wedding, and that it was in Minnesota? Par-tay! Thankfully my lovely friend the bride wanted a ‘naked’ cake (no fondant to worry about) and her parents had recently renovated their kitchen so I had double ovens and a lovely large island to work with. Took all day Friday, but it was worth it. I was pleased with how it turned out, and everyone was really happy with it. Nice to get away for the weekend, spend time with friends and meet J's family!
Here’s a picture of the finished cake:
August: I took the GRE! I had forgotten how uncomfortable testing centers can be. The last one I was in was on the U of U campus when I took the LEED GA exam in 2011. (Passed first try!) The creepiest part was the campus felt deserted as I took the test on a Saturday and no one else seemed to be around. This time I went to a facility that was very professional, but the A/C was out so we had a very loud portable unit. Thankfully, they provided headphones to block out the noise, but I was seated very close to the unit. I also had the good fortune to be seated next to a man wearing some extremely strong cologne. As one sensitive to smells, I was nauseous for most of my exam. (Between the cologne, and the disinfectant wipes they used to clean the desks in between users.) However, I pushed through and finished my 4-hour exam. Working on my Grad school application now. I have a campus tour scheduled next week for ASU and I am stoked!
Also in August: My friend A. cut my hair and helped me go blond again! I love my new look! It has been years since I have dyed my hair! I also took a short weekend trip up to Utah for my Brother’s Birthday. Good to see family, and just hang out, I hadn’t been up there since Christmas. And last, but certainly not least - C. and I got a Behind-the-Scenes tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesen West! It was incredible! Soo interesting to see the similarities to other FLW buildings, while being very unique to the site. FLW is still one of my favorite architects!
September: Went on a day trip to Sedona! It was perfect weather for our hike, and we had a fabulous group of friends. Towards the end of the month C. and I went to the Heard Museum – neither of us had ever been. Very interesting! We’ll have to go back once the renovations are completed. Also in September, I started and completed a Whole30. Basically I ate veggies, fruit, meat, and nuts for the month. No dairy, grains, legumes, sugar, or soy all month. It’s amazing I still have friends. It was not an easy thing to do, but I’m glad I stuck with it! I even baked a couple of cakes during the month, which was extra tricky because I couldn’t taste test them! But I finished strong. Pretty sure I got some food poisoning the day after I finished. Still reeling from that a little bit!
My favorite things about Whole30 was really paying attention to what I was preparing and eating. I had to plan my meals so I was sure to eat breakfast, and I took my lunch to work every day. I tried some fun new recipes during the month, and further confirmed that although I enjoy eating it, I really, really don’t like the smell of cauliflower! I felt great all month, and although I didn’t weight myself before I started, my clothes are fitting better so I consider that a bonus! Overall, it was a great experience! And part of a journey to a healthier lifestyle for me :)
Welcome October! My whole life, Spring has been my favorite Season. I love the flowers, and the hope that winter is finally ending. Now, after living in Arizona for over 3 years – Fall is my new favorite. As S. would say, it’s my favorite flavor profile. Truth – I love pumpkin everything. Another truth – cinnamon is my absolute favorite. This weekend I am making the cake I wait all year long to make – my pumpkin gingerbread cake with shortbread crust and homemade caramel sauce. I am soo excited!
So, 30 Before 30 books updates. I tried reading the Bronze Bow on my way to Minnesota for the wedding and didn’t connect with it. I later tried reading Someday, Someday, Maybe and after a couple of chapters knew it was not a book I would enjoy. So next up was The Princess Academy. I loved it! I had forgotten how good it was. Such a delightful read! I have been busy working on a painting for S’s family as a thank you for letting me stay with you gift. Once that’s finished, I will probably get back to reading…and continuing my Doctor Who marathon!
