roasted yum

i simply love roasted vegetables. love, love. many people get excited with their seasonings, but i stick with a few swirls of EVOO and some salt n pepper and let the magical heat do the rest. aaron and i attended a dinner party last night and i brought a pan of roasted veggies and a green salad. i think i'm obsessed with vegetables. i try to work them in at every turn. at least that's what aaron thinks. here's what i roasted last night:

broccoli
sweet potatoes
butternut squash
brussels sprouts
onion
carrot

divine is the best word to describe them. i had the leftovers today at lunch. i could eat them for hours. does anyone want to do an eating contest of roasted veggies? i think i'd win.

my happiness project

A few months ago I read The Happiness Project by Gretchen Ruben. An excellent read. I highly recommend it to every one. It chronicles her quest for increased happiness for a year. She attacked the project in a very organized fashion including developing personal commandments, resolutions, and splendid truths. The book title jumped off the shelf at the library because for many months (years?) I have had the nagging feeling of needing to be happier. This is not to say I don't have much to be happy about; in fact, it is the exact opposite. I have so much to be happy about and I feel like I am not relishing all my blessings like I should. I feel like one day, when some blessings have reached their expiration, I will look back and sadly wish I had enjoyed them more.
After reading Gretchen's tale I have decided to begin my own Happiness Project. Part of any good goal is writing it down to shore up your accountability and what better accountability is there than what can come from your peers? So, I'm putting it out there. I am announcing my project and will be sharing my progress (and any setbacks) via monthly posts. This is huge for me because I am very private, but it's time to shake things up a bit. Will you join me by starting a Happiness Project of your own? The Happiness Project Toolbox makes it very easy to get started. I'll be laying the foundation for my project for the next few weeks, so come January 1st, I'm ready to rock n roll. I'd love a friend in the adventure!

Gingertect

i think the paring of gingerbread and architect is a fitting title for me now. we lucked out with an amazing teacher who is currently being courted by the Food Network for her cake decorating skills and travels the nation!
in no way am i a pro, or even approaching pro status, but i know a thing or two about the Christmas confectionery delight and can't wait to sharpen my skills each december. after seeing what others did in my class i've already begun planning for next year!here is my finished product. my baby. e was pregnant while taking the class and i wondered aloud if i loved my gingerbread baby more than she loves her real baby. perhaps? i went with a log cabin motif. not being the creative type, i figured i could glue more easily than come up with an actual design.

the beginning stages of assembling. i forgot to take a picture of the nightmare that was baking our houses. hopefully i can get one from erin!

obviously overjoyed with the process. or a product placement for golden grahams.

one proud mama. this is not the complete masterpiece i envisioned because i ran out of time. it felt like iron chef at the end and i was racing against the clock. oh well. i'll tuck the unused ideas away for next year.

katie took the more colorful route.

erin kept it classic and elegant.

all 3 beauties on display. i loved seeing how even though we did the entire process together, all of our houses turned out different and are a reflection of our personalities! i had a blast, girls! next up, cake decorating!

wedding weekend!

last weekend was sandy's wedding. it was a blast, but can i say that i'm very thankful that all of my close friends are married because i don't want to be a bridesmaid ever again? the two weddings where i've been in the wedding party have been quite the workout. however, it was an amazing day and everything was beautiful, especially the bride!a quick shot at the temple.

after the ring ceremony. aren't the sword detail and all the blues amazing? i felt like i was going to see richard gere any minute.

a little cheetah time on the dance floor. the three of us haven't been together in years!

aaron was such a great sport all weekend. i pretty much didn't see him all day except in small 5 minute increments.

oh sandy, i miss you already! my sadness began to settle in at the reception and is still present. i guess we both couldn't be in san diego forever. i'll have to watch for flights to chicago.

if you want to see more pictures, i think my mom posted a bunch on her facebook page!