Cake Tasting

I'll admit it. Here is my problem.

I "buy" vendors instead of the product.

I have always been this way.

In 8th grade I wanted a new bike, so I started to save my money. I only saved about $30 or so when there appeared an add in the "Classified's" section of the news paper that someone was selling a 10 speed bicycle. So, we drove to see it, and "test" drive the bike. It was red. Old. Curved handle bars. Nothing classy. Nothing fancy. But, the man who was selling it was really nice. And instead of saving money for the bike I wanted, I bought the red beast. And never rode it much.

Fast forward to Senior year of high school. College search. My family and I walked into a college fair and stopped to talk to the first booth inside the door. Walsh University. It wasn't what I was looking for - not that I knew that then. But, he sold me. We visited. Mom liked it. I was really close to attending a school I didn't care for much. Thank goodness Bluffton waltzed into my life.

Same thing with the car. I bought a car sales man. Not my "Fergie". But, I do love her. And she is the best car ever.

So, we tasted cakes on Monday evening. Drove to Jean's house in a quaint block of Decatur and looked at many magazines and pictures of cakes from 1985. (Which was when Jean started to bake cakes...25 years ago) She was so sweet. Very accommodating. Made samples for us. For a hot minute I had convinced myself that it was ok if my cake looked like it was from 1987. I mean, it was a good year. AHB was actually born that year, so that could be a good thing...

In the car on the way home, we decided that Jean could grasp the type of cake we wanted if we gave her a picture to go off of. She was super sweet. Old. Adorable. Possible suffered from arthritis... Totally my weak spot...

When we had practically decided that she was a "Go" we got back to AHB's apartment where I left my notebook. It was at this moment that I realized I had made a huge mistake. Jean, Betty, and Lana were all cake lady options. After contacting them, we eliminated the most expensive option. Jean. I had called the WRONG ONE. UGH. Whattttt??

Well Jean. Thank you for making our decision easy. Your icing was lovely. Your cake was a bit dry. But, I think we will have to go with other people.

Word to the wise: Always take your wedding binder everywhere.


"AHB, would you like to add anything?"

"Ummm, yes."

"About cake?"

"Yes...that shredded chicken is gonna be damn good. And I make the best BBQ sauce in Macon County."

....

We have a meeting with Betty on Tuesday at 6. Here's hoping the cakes are a bit more...modern? :o)

mmp

Nothing says "I love you" like Liver.

Happy Birthday to my wonderful AHB!

Last night we celebrated another Year with a lovely meal, gifts, and an hour sitting in the garage trying to install one of the said gifts. It was a really great evening but it got me thinking...

It's funny how love shapes us.

I made liver for the second time in 4 months last night.
Things I have learned about liver in the last 4 months:
1.) It is a really slimy meat (well, it is an organ, maybe that is why it's slimy)
2.) The smell is only enhanced once it is cooked.
3.) It's pretty fragile - and if you don't get it in one piece...good luck.
4.) It will boost your iron levels immensely.
5.) My fiance loves it. Truly.

I am convinced that my grandmother has some how taken on the form of AHB through the somewhat "unusual/adventurous" things he likes to eat. Grandma loved liver, gizzards, and other things slimy that somehow fall into this category. Sometimes I think I am blessed to be cooking this food for the rest of my life because I used to be so grossed out by it when grandma used to eat it. :)

So, you have to watch this video. This is the first thing I watched when wanting to learn to cook liver. This woman is a riot. And loves her liver. Ha.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlnKjr5kYdA&feature=related

Happy Birthday Liver. And, even though it isn't my meal of choice I would like to quote Julie Powell from "Julie and Julia" - about liver being one of the most sexiest things you can feed someone...watch this clip from minute 4:03 - 5:45.
http://www.theawl.com/2010/02/cooking-the-books-julie-powell-makes-valentines-day-liver

Not sure I would say liver was sexy. But, it is wonderful to know he enjoys it so much.

A few "thank yous": AHB.
1.) Thank you for letting me broadcast your quiet life on this Blog.
2.) Thank you for falling in love with an older woman. (Me)


mmp

Real Life

I've always loved going to stay with my college roommate and her family. Her house has been conveniently located on my route from Illinois to Ohio, and it has always been an easy stop to stay with her a night or to just swing by for a visit on my way to and from. Her house has always been a "break from college life" that I think I continue to live. The "non stop, go go go evenings, late night programming, First Week, Graduation, student conduct, move in day" kind of life I live. When I go to her house we grocery shop on Saturdays, run an errand to Menards to purchase gutter protectors, play with Baby Girl, etc. It is established. It is every day America. It is SO drastically different from what my day to day is. I love it. In fact, I have envied it for a few years.

There is just something good about being in a home. Not that I don't consider my apartment Home, it's just good to be in a place that has two people building, dreaming, experiencing a life that they are building together. So, yes, I have envied the normalcy of the life of a 28 year old. :)

I think. But then I would come back to my slice of "real life" and be in love with it. I guarantee I am the luckiest person, with the best job I know. My home has 76 people who are building, dreaming, experiencing a life that they are building together. And I am a piece of that.

But right now I am in a 7 month transition. AHB and I are working to figure out what it means to combine our lives into a 2 bedroom apartment. We haven't even talked about what will get hung on what wall.

"Should we continue to hang your 'Breakfast Club' frame in the bedroom, or is that more of a "spare bedroom" kinda thing..."

"And what exactly do we do with that little gnome picture thing...."

BUT - we did pick out paint. Or, we grabbed a lot of things we might like, and labeled them with certain rooms in mind. Nothing too drastic, but nothing bland either. Paint. Paint is semi-permanent. And a slice of normal.

Outside of the wedding...I am almost more excited to build an apartment. To combine things into a good workable space. It's almost perfect.

mmp

Meet the Parents

When AHB and I started to talk about the "long term" we asked what still needed to happen before we decided to get engaged. It was important to us that our families be "on board" and supportive of our relationship, and with each other. I didn't want his family to think we were moving too fast...and I didn't want my family to feel like they didn't know him because they were 7 hours away.  So, we've really tried to take the time with each other to love the quirks our families have to offer. 


So, it brings me to this post. Meet the Parents. My parents are in the car as I type, headed to sweet D-town. We are embarking on the Meet The Parents Weekend. This will be the first time our parents will meet each other, and I couldn't be more excited. However, there is a lot that could happen. A younger Molly would have been nervous about this, but 28 year old Molly doesn't care. She doesn't care if her father wears his star spangled banner shirt (well that is a lie. she requested that her mother hide it....which mother agreed to.) , she doesn't care if embarrassing pictures are brought(because my sisters did an adequate job showing those the first time AHB came to Clyde), she doesn't care about most hypothetical situations - or the "what ifs". It will just be good for them to meet in person. 


However. The sisters. They have not been unleashed on the Berry household. This weekend is not the weekend the sisters meet anyone. My sisters are a force to be reckoned with. And, I adore them for it. This might not even happen until the wedding in November...which is really too bad. Everyone should get the chance to interact with these women. :) 


Agenda for this weekend: * Catering tasting

* Picking out paint for our new apartment

* Showing people the Masonic temple in person. If it is open. 
* Fun. 

Since some have asked...

Pictures from the night we got engaged.

ISTJ and the Untidy One

"Ok, what do you think I am?"

"ISTJ"

"Yep. You know me."

We attended our first Marriage Counseling last night. Not required by my church...well, maybe it is...but really it is a chance for Pastor Mike to get to know AHB better so he can customize our ceremony to our personalities. Annnnd, I suppose it is just as much for us to continue to think about some of the issues we might not consider initially about marriage and this next transition. :) Ha. 


Even though we only started to describe how we met and all that jazz, it was good to tell someone the story of us. (Even though in the back of my head I kept thinking..."maybe he'll tell us we shouldn't get married.")

When asking AHB if he was nervous as we walked up to the church he said "No."


"But what if he tells us we shouldn't get married?"


"Then we will take our services elsewhere." 

"We don't have services to provide. We NEED their services."


But, he isn't going to tell us we shouldn't get married. Because, I kept thinking about the phrase "It's your wedding." When Mike handed us the sample ceremony to look over it had many options for readings, vows, order of service, prayers, etc. At one point I asked if we could alter a part of the form and he said, "Sure, it's your wedding."  And it just got real. 

It's OUR wedding. How do we continue to plan to make this something completely reflective of us? In the end, we make the final decisions. Hoping that every piece of the ceremony and reception feels like AHB and I.  What a lovely thing to consider.

The question of the day that I ponder: What does a life look like that is completely us? 


mmp

Dishes

I have never been a huge fan of doing the dishes. It's maybe my least favorite chore. Maybe.
I am transported back to the horrible "tub of dishes" in my parents house. Particles of food in the bottom. Slimy. Gross. Ugh. There always seemed to be dishes in the sink when we were growing up...And I am not connecting this to bad housekeeping on my parent's behalf. No. I actually blame this on the fact that my sisters and I liked to use a new glass every time we got a drink of something. Pawsey women, back me up on this. Mom told us to re-use our glass. Nope. Hense, pile of dishes.

But, I digress...

Dishes. AHB first swept me off my feet (and there have been many times since then) with the simple act of getting up and doing my dishes. And, I melted a little. (But at the time, I really couldn't tell him that.)

And it makes me laugh to think of how my 28 year old self views romance and love. AHB doing the dishes after we cook a meal together is pure romance in my life. Who needs roses? And I am thankful for these pieces: The fact that I might be a hott-mess-of-a-house-keeper, but my fiance is as tidy as can be. I hate dishes, but typically as I sit after dinner on the couch, I hear him starting them in the kitchen.  I can make a mean dinner out of random pantry items. I do the shopping-and he helps me unpack when I get back to his apartment. 

It's a really good start. 

"Why are you still tweeting?" He hollers from the front room...

"I'm not tweeting babe..."


Well, it's something. :o) 


mmp

Say "Cheese"

As I sit down to type this, I start to think about all of the things that are important to people in weddings. I replay conversations had about what previous brides, and good friends, were willing to spend money on, and what mattered to them for their "Big Day."

Roommate: "I wanted to spend good money on beautiful flowers." 

And they were some of the most beautiful wedding flowers. Ever. 

Best Friend: "Say YES to THE Dress."

Folks, when this woman walks down the isle, you will be stunned by this dress (and the beauty wearing it).

Cari Lynne wanted good food. 

Amanda wants elegance and chic antique. 

Josh and Lissa wanted to entertain their guests in a beautiful way. (And it was one of the best weddings I've ever been to...) 

And the list could go on.

Best friend would also admit that she does not take photography lightly. In fact, many of these folks care very much about documenting life through photos. Which brings me to my post for the evening...

We are moments away from booking a stellar photographer. (I say moments, because we would have booked her today, except she was out of the office) I want you to fall in LOVE with her, like I have done. 

http://www.alidaduff.com/

Alida is a Millikin alum, and now works at Richland with my fiance. (love that.) She is fun. Has a great eye. And she and her husband have a very warm presence. I would be friends with the woman if she would let me. :) "Like" her on facebook if you get a chance: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Alida-Duff-Sullivan-Photography/60626298647

I love artsy candid pictures. Anything that has great lighting and a good angle will win over my heart any day. When trying to decide between packages, and what we really wanted to spend money on, AHB looks at me and says, "Are you going to be happy with this? Are you sure you will be able to get all of your "shoe pictures" that you want??"  What a great man. So, we decided to pay a little more (who needs to eat for the next 7 months anyhow??) so we could have a few more "artsy shoe pictures." In the end, I know I'll love them.

In other news: We've been engaged two weeks today. Now, I don't plan to count the days like this forever (or for much longer), but it has been quite the two weeks. 7 months to go, and I think we'll be done with the main details by next week. Hopefully.

"Alex," I ask, "anything you want to add to the blog?"

"Yes, No comment."

And, no comment it is. :o) 

mmp

The Official Knot Countdown: 213

213. What a daunting number. That is what theknot.com tells me everytime I pull up there webpage. 

"Hey Molly! Welcome back! Only 213 (212, 211, 210...) days left until the BIG day. Here are all the things you have neglected to do yet...."

Thanks, Knot. Appreciate it.

In all honesty, things have been going very well. We are still excited about getting married. (Ask Alex again in about 200 days...) We have done quite a bit in the last week and 1/2 and are looking forward to finishing up booking the things that needed booked last month. :) 

"Becoming Berry" was meant to be a fun bloggity thing that will keep family and friends at home updated on the planning that is happening in IL. Pam Miller will be excited possibly. She said I should have started a blog about cooking months ago. Well, Pamantha, this isn't cooking, but I think this has the potential to be quite fun too. And this  also prevents me from having to make the same "update" phone calls to 7 people daily. We are excited to share our planning, and discussions, and set events with our family and friends. Maybe I can even get AHBto blog once in a while? Yes??

It's sure to be comical, fun, and potentially Ah-mazing. Please. We are planning for a life here. And, it's us. We're funny people. He doesn't get upset with anything. I lose either my keys, phone, or ID Card on a daily basis. However, we've never planned a wedding together (or with anyone else for that matter....unless you count helping to plan and actually marrying one of your friends. Hmmm....maybe I get more points for that??).

Regardless, anything is possible. He could very possibly get mad in the next 213 days. And I could potentially lose more than just my keys. 

And, how lovely, we will be able to document it all right here. :) 

Shout out to the little sister who was able to make this look more like a fun blog, than a template with a bunch of birds. Thanks AKP. 

If you were wondering...

Here is the link to the church we will be married in, as well as the reception site. Not much for websites, but it gives you an idea at least! :)

First Lutheran Church Decatur - www.flcdecatur.org
The Masonic Temple (built in 1920 - quite a gem!) - http://decaturmasonictemple.com/


mmp.