The Bundt Bakery

As most of you know, I LOVE to bake. Cooking on the other hand...not so much. Mostly due to the fact that I'm not a huge fan of the feeling that comes along with touching raw meat. However, I do not mind it one little bit to touch some fresh dough or watch ingredients come to life.

On a whim, I came up with the wonderful idea of baking a bundt cake a month. Silly? I'm sure it may be a little, but there is something special about baking with family and friends.

Today is the day before Halloween. Honestly, I don't tend to get into this holiday. I'm not one to go spend a fortune to dress up like someone I'm not. Nor do I want to have a contest at the local parties of which girl can look the slushiest in a skimpy outfit when it is starting to get bitter cold outside. With this being said, our plans for this weekend involve a lot of family time (typical of every weekend). I am so truly blessed to have a family that I can consider some of my best friends.

Last night, Momma and Daddy invited us over for our own "shrimpfest". Every now and then, we get the crazy idea to get together and randomly cook whatever we can think of. After spending the afternoon shopping with my mom for the last of the groceries, we picked up my adorable niece from pre-k and headed back to the house. The menu for the evening consisted of fresh salad, asparagus tips with olive oil and sea salt, grilled shrimp, seasoned scallops, and my own fried rice.

After the kitchen was cleaned, I started my bundt caking adventure. To stay in the "pumpkin" theme, I decided on a delicious pumpkin spice bundt cake with my own twists. 65minutes in the oven and "How to Train a Dragon" later, the cake was fully baked and ready to cool. Unfortunately, I was ready to cool down in a comfy bed as well. Therefore, we covered the cake and decided to postpone the decorating until...today.

Mr. Wonderful and I made it over to the fam's house just a little after noon. With my fancy glass cake dish in hand, I was ready to dive back into cake mode. Being the forgetful gal I am, I forgot the final touch...the stem! My amazing fiance' (supporting my crazy ideas) hopped to the store. Moments later, he was back with the last of the decor and the cake was complete.

October's Pumpkin Bumpkin Bundt Cake

-pumpkin spice bundt cake with a creamy cream cheese glaze

Just call me...the bundt lady.

One month down, eleven more to go!

Fairytale

First of all, let me say this: my momma is the most amazing woman I have ever met. After years of total dependence on this woman, there is something to be said when you wake up and realize you're no longer a little girl. I am a woman...a strong, independent, loving, compassionate woman, AND I am who I am because of her.

Secondly, the day that you walk into that store, walk into that room, step in front of a mirror in a breathtakingly white dress, and she's there...that's a milestone. From birth to bandaids...she's been there for everything. She's watched me make mistakes and learn from them. She's picked me up when I didn't think I could get up. She's cried with me, laughed with me, and shared with me. 22years of learning how to love from her, she has welcomed someone into our family as if they have been there all along. She has shown me that love doesn't fade, it multiplies. As I slipped into the most beautiful gown, lace enveloping me to the ground and beyond, I could look to her. I am so blessed to have my momma in my life.

Lord, thank you so much for my fairytale.