New Beginnings

With the start of September, it's also the start of something new. Obviously January is the start of the official new year and later on it's Spring that evokes a feeling of "newness" and of beginnings. But for me, the year always seems to start now.

I guess it's because for so many years we start the school year at this time and with each one there's a bit of excitement...seeing friends after a long summer away, getting new books with their crisp, clean pages that offer so much hope, and maybe even a new wardrobe if we're lucky. I remember thinking, this will be the year that my perfect penmenship and organized note-taking (with the help of my brand new mechanical pencil and fresh notebook pages) will result in an A in History. Of course by month 2 I'm ready to burn the History book. So much hope, so much anticipation, and endless possibilities. I think that this feeling in September will always be there for me, whether or not school is in the picture.

But this year, it is in the picture. Well, that's if you call 3 hours, 2 days a week "school" for my little Isabelle. It might not seem like a big deal, but for a new mom sending her baby off to be with "strangers" for the first time, it's a notable moment! Isabelle is very fond of her new backpack. Hmmm, what school supplies are in there today? Diapers and a change of clothes. That's what I call a fun day at school.I am happy to say that Isabelle's first week at school was a great success. When I dropped her off on day 1 we entered a room full of sobbing babies, so of course her little lip started to quiver and I had little hope that she would make it through the morning tear-free. But it turns out she was a champ and reportedly spent the full 2 hours playing in the "kitchen"...sounds like she's learned something after all those days in the bakement!

Last weekend we spent an afternoon in Fort Mill with friends. Isabelle being all cool, drinking her juicebox with a mohawk. I find it amazing that she remembers how awesome a juicebox is just after her one encounter with it several months ago. With the cupcake lady around, there are always going to be cupcakes. Looks like the sugar rush didn't take long to hit them.Little girl can eat a cupcake with the best of them.That's my girl.September is also my re-entry into the wedding cake world! The busy Fall season started off with a bang...two fun flowery cakes to get my creative and artistic juices flowing. These cakes are examples of why I have a love-hate relationship with my job. LOVE using my creativity, LOVE making gumpaste flowers, LOVE the feeling I get when I've dropped off a cake I'm proud of. HATE staying up till 2 am 3 nights in a row, HATE having a sore neck and back, HATE that it takes me away from my baby. But in the end I LOVE what I do and I'd HATE it if I couldn't do it.Gumpaste tulips in the making...Ta-dah! Pat Burgess and Joan Martin's yellow tulip cake:This wedding exemplifies the notion of hope, excitement, and new beginnings. I had the pleasure of being present at Joan and Pat's ceremony, probably the most moving and emotional wedding ceremony I have ever experienced. I had a lump in my throat throughout the whole service, holding back tears of happiness for these two lovely people. Both the bride and groom lost their former spouses and went through such sorrow and heartbreak, but there they were on this day, celebrating their newfound love for each other and the great possibilities of life after loss. Their children and grandchildren stood by their side, and the remembrance of their loved ones was in each person's heart and mind. It is a reminder that life is full of twists and turns, but also of great promise.
And what's a spectacular wedding without a spectacular groom's cake? Brian had a big hand in helping me create this personalized newspaper for the newlyweds (yes, all edible!)...on it were a few "inside jokes," most importantly a sudoku puzzle for the groom, and of course an ad for "the best cakes in Charlotte" (I couldn't resist)!After my hectic week I did something monumental. Something I really never thought possible. I went and got myself a massage. And then I signed up for a full year of monthly massages. Was I crazy? No, I actually think I was under some sort of spell caused by the lavender aroma. I did something that I thought only rich people with lots of free time do. And I have no regrets.

Now that's a great way to start off the "new year!"