You’re Up to Bat!

Written by on in Book Reviews, Breakfast, Dessert, Dinner, Food Journal, Lunch, Reviews, Tidbits and Treats, Trips, Wedding

Since I last left you with my sensory ramblings, there are several things that have happened.

First, I finished The Time Traveler’s Wife. All of you who gave me a good recommendation were spot on – it was fantastic! The intricacies of the writing and plot line kept me eagerly coming back for more, so much so that it may have ever-so-slightly debilitated my productivity for three days straight. 😉 However, it was such a roller coaster of emotions that it was worth it. The strength of the love story made me blissfully happy…and the ending had me curled up in a ball on the couch with tears streaming down my face. I love when a book has the power to push so many different emotional buttons!

I’ve heard from several different people that the movie is heartbreaking. That it breaks too much from the book and leaves you disappointed. I must admit that I probably will end up seeing it, if only because I love Rachel McAdams as an actress. I will be sure to let you know my thoughts when I do.

Second, Bobby and I attended a beautiful wedding in Wisconsin over the weekend. The celebration was for one of his co-workers. The colors were a gorgeous red and black, which I later discovered was thanks in large part to a certain collegiate affiliation after I saw the groom’s cake.

I loved the black swirl pattern, which was incorporated throughout with the invitations, wedding programs and reception hall decoration. It was a very fun night.

When the last song was over, a big group of us headed back to the hotel by shuttle. It was interesting – and thrilling – when someone brought up a valid point.

“At the beginning of the night, you two were on deck. Now you’re up to bat!”

As the summer winds down and wedding dates are fewer and farther in between – I’m looking at you, Elise – Bobby and I really are the next couple among our friends to tie the knot. It didn’t hit me with its full force until one of his co-workers connected the dots for us. I love it when a few glasses of wine and a good baseball analogy can do that for you. 😉 This week, I’m traveling to Arizona for my final dress fitting (squee!) and to put together the programs, guest book, menus, etc. A full wedding decor detail post is in the works!

Last but not least, since I left you…I have been eating.

I know, I know. It’s shocking. But I couldn’t wait to show you a sampling of what I’ve been eating with. A few weeks ago, I was contacted by a representative of Oneida (Hi Laurie!) to receive a sampling from their Chef’s Table collection. Imagine my surprise when they sent me four each of the bowls, salad plates, dinner plates and mugs! It was an absolute dream come true for a bride-to-be.

I’ve been using these bowls to create beautiful cereal and yogurt creations for breakfast, as well as an unexpectedly warm lunch of split pea soup, which I craved in my cold apartment yesterday.

This was Amy’s lighter in sodium variety, which I topped with her sister, Olivia’s, croutons (they are not actually sisters but it would be cool if they were) that I received as a sample recently. These were the Vermont Cheddar & Dill flavor and blended seamlessly with a mix of Mexican cheeses.

It was a melt-in-your-mouth feast that made me ready for fall, my favorite season!

For dinner, I stepped back into summer one last time. This will likely be one of the last Strawberry Poppyseed Chicken Salads I enjoy from Panera for the season. Le sigh. They are wonderful.

All in all, since I last left you, life has been filled with flavor. I’m continuing to embrace the little things and enjoying every moment. I hope you are, too!

And with that, I broke the first rule in Susan’s post on Writing Tips for Bloggers. Too many topics! I hope you’ll forgive me. 😉 Check out that post, too. No surprise that it is very well written.

Hope you all have a Terrific Tuesday!

Question: What are you most looking forward to about September?

I am looking forward to cooler temperatures, my wedding shower and bachelorette party (two weeks away!!!!) and Bobby’s birthday. It promises to be another busy month!

Abrazos,

40 Comments

  2. omg. you look GORGEOUS in that dress!! BTW i put on the movie and i turned it off in 15 minutes. FAIL FAIL FAIL. i’m looking forward to winter foods/temperatures/being outdoors again

  3. ha! thanks for calling me out 🙂 only four days away…i cant wait for it all, but at the same time, every bride tells me the whole affair just flies by and to try and soak it all in. so those are my wishes for you because its starting to get surreal now.

    btw, i was following your convo with val the other day on twitter about the movie. i love love loved that book, but i agree with val (and others) about the movie. i saw it despite my reservations to let the book remain the only opinion and memory i have of the story, and yes, as you’d expect, the movie did disappoint. has there ever been a movie thats surpassed a book? i guess ive avoided seeing the movie version of all my real book faves to prevent this problem…

  4. I don’t even “know” you, but that on-deck-up-to-bat analogy gave me the CHILLS! such exciting fun times ahead for you 🙂 and I cannot wait to read about the details!

    that is SO awesome that Oneida gave you all of that – I love it.

  5. I agree with Julie – that Groom’s cake is TO DIE FOR. Someone please remind me if I get married to have a bucky “brides” cake. Ahem. Who needs towers when you have the buck-ster 😉

  6. I’m not ready for fall! It just means Chicago winter is around the corner brrr! Although I am looking forward to pumpkin. And apple picking. And hot cider.

    Ok, maybe I am ready for fall. 😉

  7. “Life has been full of flavor” I love this line! It’s so great to see you are embracing this wonderful time in your life! 😉

  9. I love the dress you wore to the wedding! You and Bobby are definitely next up to bat – I’m soooo pumped!!!

    Can’t wait to catch up tonight..

  10. Isn’t it funny how you notice all the little things at weddings once you’ve planned/are planning one? I love their cake- totally gorgeous. And how fun that they showed their big 10 spirit ;). Ah! You’re next- so cool. The bowls look totally fabulous. I love a big bowl. I guess I’m most looking forward to my birthday- September 2nd!

  12. hahah, that is a cool concept with the grooms cake! i love the black swirls too! but i like your colors more 🙂

    i need to read that book… I’ve been meaning too but haven’t gotten around to getting it yet.

  14. You’re so close to being a Mrs.!! I couldn’t be happier for you. I hope you’ll provide full details about the upcoming wedding shower and bachelorette party:)

  15. So fun you have the dress fitting coming up!!! Enjoy those moments… you will miss them once the wedding has happened and you can no longer go back and have wedding dress fittings 🙂

    One more word on TTTW, in case you aren’t sick of me talking about it… I think I may have mentioned this to you when we were at dinner, but if you are going to watch the movie, do NOT watch it right away. The summer it came out, I had just finished reading the book again that week (for like the 6th time, no joke) and so every word was fresh in my memory. Every time the dialogue strayed even slightly from the book, which of course was almost the entire time, a part of me was destroyed.

    And you know how I feel about the ending… grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr…..

    I swear I’ve read that book so many times that I am worried that I think the characters are real haha…

    Anyway, Mike loved the book as well but saw the movie years after he read the book and didn’t hate the movie quite as much as I did, so maybe after waiting awhile you could enjoy it. I actually did think Rachel McAdams did a good job, she is pretty much who I pictured in my head while reading the book so that helped. However, Henry’s character was not portrayed as well in my opinion, but I guess it all depends on what you visualized while reading the book.

    Sorry to ramble, I’m too obsessed for my own good 🙂

    Have a great week, Jenn!

    • Loved this comment, Val! I will definitely have to wait a bit longer to see the movie. It’s good to know Mike liked it – I’ve been trying to decide whether I should tell Bobby to read it. I think I will! 🙂

  16. Woo hoo you’re up to the plate – gonna hit it out of the park, right? 😉

    I love all the colors on your dress you wore to the wedding, too – makes you look even more beautiful than usual chica!

  17. I’m looking forward to school – I get to officially start my Dietetics classes, and I so crave that defined weekly schedule that school affords me. My work schedule is so all over the map that it makes the summer seem crazier than it is.

    Of course, once I’m in school, I’m sure I’ll wish it was summer again. But isn’t that always the way? 😀

  18. Aahhh, I guess I can cut you some slack for breaking the rules in this post. Rules are meant to be broken after all! 😉

    SO exciting that the wedding is closing in, it seems like just yesterday you wrote that post about the golf course visit. I am looking forward to the fall as well. It has been a brutally hot summer in the city. It will be nice to run outdoors, wear pants and use the oven again 🙂

  20. Beautiful cake – is it possible to have a wedding cake without a wedding? I’m thinking a personal-sized delicacy might be in order in the near future..
    I’m looking forward to being home in September – 3 and a half months on the road for work, and I can’t wait to nest and bake and knit and just be cozy. One can only sleep in a tent or car for so long without having a hankering for a little space 🙂

  25. Those cakes are awesome!!! and so pretty 🙂

    I never read Time Traveler’s Wife, but I saw the movie and it confused the heck out of me. I have a FAT crush on Eric Bana and love Rachel McAdams, which is why I wanted to see it.

    But yeah, it was depressing and weird. And I think I need to read the book then see the movie again to fully get it.

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