Christmas in Review

Hey there!

I am sorry for disappearing for like...a week.  I know that is terrible blogger etiquette and that some of you have probably already given up on my return, considering that a week of absence in internet-land in basically thirty years.  To those of you who are still around, thank you.  I will not apologize anymore, because I'm trying to get a head start on one of my resolutions - not apologizing for doing what I know is right.  And, after about four meltdowns in a matter of days, I knew taking a little break was right. 

As much as blogging is my life, there are other components of life that creep in and we suddenly find ourselves waking up at 5am to make breakfast for 22 strangers when we really just wanted to stay in our Christmas pajamas and cuddle with the Mr. Pedantic in our lives. 

But, enough of that. Let's talk about Christmas! 

Christmas in Review {Pedantic Foodie}

I hope you got lots of socks.  Socks are basically my favorite gift.  Socks and glitter and lip balm. This year, I received all three.  Mr. Pedantic tucked a gift box of three EOS Lip Balms in my stocking and I swear I have not stopped smelling/using them.  Forget about the new Wusthof, or the gorgeous ruby ring, I'm just obsessed with my multiplicity of lip care options. 

Christmas in Review {Pedantic Foodie}

After spending all of Christmas Eve day with Mr. Pedantic's family, we ventured over to my parent's home for the evening and spent the night in my "old" room, so we would not miss out on the joy and delight of racing my siblings out to the tree the following morning.  

Christmas in Review {Pedantic Foodie}

Shiny paper was torn, tissue paper flew, and after an hour and a half of thrilling surprises and the happiest of tears, we were readying ourselves for church - all donning the same Christmas Day glow. When church was over and we were back by the tree once again, the family arrived.  

Over the past few days, the board games have been incessant, the laughter boisterous, and the joy overabundant.  My heart had felt nearly as tired as my body over the past few weeks, but family is a magical kind of tonic. 

Christmas in Review {Pedantic Foodie}

There were so many precious, meaningful, story-book-worthy moments this season.  I watched Mr. Pedantic dance with our favorite 3-year-old as she hummed a simple tune that was more captivating than any the radio has offered.  We finally surprised my father - the most notorious of guessers - with his Christmas gift.  Mr. Pedantic read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" to me on Christmas Eve, just before we closed our eyes.  

Christmas in Review {Pedantic Foodie}

But, one of my very favorite moments came the day after Christmas, when my uncle sat down at the piano and freely played renditions of our favorite Christmas songs, which we would hum for him if he could not quite remember the tune.  He does not read music, not a note, but he can match any tune you can hum.  The familiar melodies flowed easily from his fingertips and I sat there on my parent's sofa, completely content and truly thankful for all that lay around me. 

Christmas in Review {Pedantic Foodie}

It is always hard for me to let go of the holidays, and this year is no different.  However, I hope that with each Christmas that passes, my joy is learning to be planted less in the temporal, and more so in thankfulness. Thankfulness for the lasting treasures that I constantly see around me. Thankfulness for my family and my husband.  Those joys are not lost when the Christmas tree is packed away. 

Now, I know you want New Year's recipes so I'll be back soon!  xoxo

Sincerely, 

Pedantic Foodie

Two Weeks...

Two weeks.  As I typed that my stomach did a backflip.

Two Weeks {Pedantic Foodie}

Excited.  Anxious.  Nervous.  Unsure.  Enchanted.  Dazed.  It’s all happening. 

I am striving to be present, but instead I find myself in a near-constant dazed and robotic state.  It still does not feel real.  Friends ask me what I have done, and what is left to be done, and I have no answers.  There is just so much that I have no time to list or explain, I simply do.  Wake, eat, work, and alternate between squeals of joy and tears of utter exhaustion.  

I’ve given up on the idea of keeping the massive amounts of “stuff” contained, and so my room slowly grows smaller and more overtaken with each day that passes.  The strange part is, I'm okay with that.  This is from the lady who used to iron her sheets before bed.  Yikes!  Hopefully these are steps to becoming more balanced.

In two weeks, I will be wearing the most beautiful dress I have ever seen, hugging so many dear and much-missed friends and relatives, and smiling more than I ever have before.  In just over two weeks I will be on a plane, darting through the air for my much-anticipated honeymoon. Those promises fill my heart to the brim.  

The marriage license has been obtained, the programs ordered, the dress altered, the thank you gifts bought and wrapped, and the suitcases (halfway) packed. The tasks are becoming fewer as the days slip away.  My pursuit to hold onto these moments is much like trying to grasp at a wet bar of soap.  The countdown blocks are moving so fast and my mind cannot seem to keep up with them.  

Today is my last day of work.  Well, of the work that requires me to leave my home each morning. I am looking forward to trying to get to bed at a more decent hour and beginning my tasks before the sun shows her face.  There’s lots to be done, and so much to be savored.  I do not want to miss a single, beautiful moment of the next fourteen days. 

For now, I get to go care for my now wisdom-toothless fiancé.  Mostly we are just eating a lot of this soup, which happens to be ahhhmazing!  

Thank you so very for joining me on this journey.  More wedding memories/mayhem coming soon.  Oh, and food too.  This is a food blog, after all. 

Sincerely, 

Pedantic Foodie

 

Summer Bucket List [ 2016 edition ]

1. Make Brioche.  I just bought this book (it had been on my Amazon list foreverrrrrr) and now brioche is definitely happening.  I have only made it once in my life and it was good, but not incredible.  I am determined to reach incredible by the end of August. 

2. Go on more picnics.  I have yet to go on a picnic this year and just typing that makes me sad.  The fiancé's allergies have been extra icky this year, so we have had to hold off, but I am determined to soak in a few long, Summer nights with brie and berries before the Summer comes to a close. 

3. Give pies (or some manner of sweet, baked treats) to random people for no particular reason.  Because I need to force myself to stop thinking about my own to-do lists and focusing on making the kind humans around me smile. 

Summer Bucket List {Pedantic Foodie}

 

4. Treat myself to a pedicure and try an adventurous color for once I actually checked this one off the list last week with my sweet sister.  I was brave and went for a lovely shade of aqua with gold glitter (because, always glitter) and I love it.  (See the evidence above.)  I finally resisted all 327 different shades of pink. 

5. Take a few mornings to just relax...and then go out for a belated breakfast that hopefully involves fried chicken and/or chocolate chip pancakes.  Even if that means missing the Farmer’s Market once in a while.  Deep breaths, you can do that sometimes.

6. Make multiple batches of this ice cream Because it tastes like cinnamon rolls and I die of happiness every time.  

7. Go berry picking and bake a blueberry pie.  Why have I never baked a blueberry pie?  Oooh, could I serve the pie with the cinnamon ice cream?  Please say yes. 

8. Take a weaving class and learn how to make those cute wall-hanging things everyone is suddenly posting all over InstagramMy sister and I are planning to start this one soon.  The results will be shared, no matter how hideous or tangled they are. 

9. Preserve at least one thingI am debating between sweet pickles and jam at the moment.  I feel like having jars of preserved Summer flavor in my pantry will make me feel like a very good wife come November when I feel overwhelmed by all that will have changed, and all that I'll likely be doing wrong.  It is the little things that can pick up my confidence. 

10. Go on a few new and inventive dates with the fiancéWe get in ruts.  Often.  But Summer is not the time for ruts, it's the time for evening trips to the seaside and new, bold, and adventurous ice cream flavors.  

11. Plan a wedding. Oh yeah, that.  Hmm... I think that is more of a to-do list item now that I think of it...

Happy Summa-Summatime!  Please share what’s going on your bucket lists this Summer in the comments!  

Sincerely, 

Pedantic Foodie