Thursday's Through The Lense - May's Favorites

Welcome back to my weekly photo post.  Since today is the last day of May (please, 2012, could you slow down...just a little bit?), I'm going to post some of my favorites of the month.  Enjoy!

Mom's famous 3-Layer Chocolate Cake

Just north of Phoenix on Memorial Day Morning

The Spokane area 

Gondolas on the Spokane River

Field in Idaho around the Grangeville area.  Not sure what the flowers are.

Same field, just a different section and unedited.

All were taken with my iPhone camera.  And all but the last one are edited with either Picfx, Camera+, Intagram, or a combination of all three.

Birthday Weekend

For those that don't know me personally, I am a holiday baby. I was born on Memorial Day weekend. Those of you who are also holiday babies (Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, etc.), you know what it's like:  no one is in town for birthday parties and everyone that is in town has other plans with their families. I don't remember many birthday parties as a kid. I think it may be that I didn't have many because of the holiday. I pray that my babies aren't holiday babies. And if they are, I will do everything in my power as a mom to make them feel special on their day like my parents did for me!

I am usually a bit of a birthday whore (apologies to those that don't like this word, but there really isn't much other way to describe it).  I LOVE the attention of being wished happy birthday.  In fact, I tend to rate your level of friendship to me on whether or not you text/call/comment on Facebook a happy birthday to me.  However I DESPISE being sung to in a restaurant.  No idea why...I just do. I will even wear a birthday pin at Disneyland/California Adventure and have random strangers and cast members wish me happy birthday.  But don't you DARE get the servers at a restaurant to sing to me. I will not be held responsible for my actions.  I digress...

This year, unlike years past, I have been just "blah" about my day. Maybe because it actually fell ON Memorial Day this year. Or maybe I'm finally growing out of being a birthday whore (HA!). Whatever the reason, I just wasn't into it this year.

But that was OK because I convinced Mr S to take Friday and Monday off (tech support doesn't take a break for a national holiday) and go with me to Arizona to see my parents. It was great!! I haven't seen them since the wedding in November, so it was definitely time. And while there wasn't a big to-do with them over my birthday either, Mom did make her signature 3-Layer Chocolate Cake (at my request).

 

Amazing...as always! 

So here's how the weekend went down:

Friday Mr S & I left at 7 am for AZ.  We got to Mom & Dad's about 3-ish.  BLTs for dinner followed by presents (some kitchen stuff from the wedding registry) and a trip to Wal-mart (in reverse order).  Mr S & I saved our pennies and dimes to buy my parents a new TV and Blu-Ray player.  Such a delight blessing them with something they needed so badly.  We spent the rest of the night setting it up, and the computer Mr S built for them, and making sure all worked the way it should.

Saturday we all ventured to Prescott for lunch at Red Lobster (birthday girl's request) and some shopping.  Saturday night we just chilled at the house and watched the newly set up Netflix on the new TV.

Sunday was breakfast at Georgie's followed by a quick grocery stop. That night we had steak and potatoes for dinner (another birthday girl request) and more cake.  Oh that cake is so good!

Monday Mr S & I left at 6 am and got home about 2 that afternoon.  Since it was my actual birthday we had a little celebration:  sushi for dinner and I got a new charm for my bracelet:

Pandora Camera Charm

While it was a bit of a whirlwind with all the driving we did on Friday and Monday, it was such a great weekend. I loved spending time with my parents and my husband.

I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weened too!

Wedding stuff

I have, once again, learned not to judge a book by it's cover. The bakery Hearts Home Farm uses is Jodee's Bakery & Cafe in Temecula. It's off the beaten path...as in I've NEVER been down this road in Temecula before...ever! And I wasn't impressed with their website and the photos offered there. I was very nervous about this adventure. But then I found their Facebook page and got much relief (more cakes...nicer looking cakes). And once I met Malinda on Saturday, all my fears dissipated.

Our package with the venue includes a cake in a certain style up to 90 people. So we were given a look book of cakes that meet that requirement. Found a few liked and ultimately went with a three tier design for 100 people in square tiers (we had to pay extra for the square and 10 extra servings, but not too much). There is a picture of the round version on my vendors page (just envision without the bird's nest on top).

Then we got to taste the cakes!! We tried four different combinations and picked our three favorites.

Bottom: Orange Cake with Midori Liqueur Drizzle and Mango Filling
Middle: Apple Spice cake with Caramel and cream cheese filling
Top: Chocolate cake with Belgium chocolate in two fillings and salted caramel in the third filling.

I can't wait to have this cake!! I hope there's enough for me to have a slice from every tier!!


(for more wedding info and pics and all that fun stuff, check out our wedding website)