Older/Younger

Things that make me feel older:
•Having to type 3 as my first number in my age. Really - I keep going for the 2.
•Realizing that a movie that "just came out in 1994" actually came out 16 years ago. And that some people I know were only 4 years old at the time.
•High School Reunions
•Getting upset about "kids today".

Things that make me feel younger:
•Hanging out with my awesome friends.
•Being able to be spontaneous with my plans.
•Playing with my niece and nephew.
•Ending my age with a 0. It's just 30, not 31, or 37, or 39.

There have been a few things that happened to me lately that have given me some conflicting feelings about my age. Thirty has been a terrific year for me so far. Seriously - some really wonderful things have happened, and I truly believe it's just going to be such a full year that I'll always look back at this age and think " yeah, thirty was great for me!" But I still sometimes feel old. What are some things that make you feel younger or older?

A Banana Copenhagen Cupcake

This is amazing. Like I may have mentioned (like a zillion times), it's my birthday this week.
My boss, who dabbles in baking on the side has decided to make me cupcakes to celebrate. I know, I know. Best boss ever. (and she doesn't even read this blog, so I'm not kissing up).
I had a choice of cake flavors, icing flavors and toppings. I'm not exaggerating: there were at least 10 options for each. I almost went with yellow cake with chocolate icing and M&Ms as a topping, but I figured that everyone in the office would beat me up if they knew I had so many options and went with "the usual".
So my final decision was....
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Triple chocolate cake
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with cappuccino icing
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... and sprinkles!

So the big question is: WHAT WOULD YOU CHOOSE?
scroll to the bottom of this page to vote!

Turning Thirty

I turn thirty this week. Thirty years old. The big 3-0.
Age is a really weird thing, isn't it? I mean, it does stuff to us that not much else does, and yet aging is unavoidable (to an extent). Like my mother says, getting older is "better than the alternative", so why does it affect us the way it does?
There's a girl in my fiction writing class that, when asked to tell about herself, responded, "I'm thirty and I'm okay with it."
So funny! And in those few words, she really told us a lot!
In the movie, 13 going on 30, the teenage girl in the movie wants to be older and thinks "Thirty and Flirty and Thriving" is just the perfect age to be!
As I flew past my mid-twenties and starting being "Late" twenties, I began to act really crazy about my age. I would make people guess how old I was instead of just telling them. I would pretend to be younger. And that's really weird and wrong. I know that.
So, I'm turning 30 this week, and I'm going to embrace it. I'm letting everyone know: I'm turning 30. I'm a capable adult. I work hard, I have amazing friends and a loving family. I love God and God loves me. I am okay with where I am in this life. So I'm turning 30. I'm not going to lie about my age, or make people guess anymore. I'll let people know: I'm 30. And I'll relish the moments when they say "You don't look a day over 29!" or whatever people say.
And one day soon, when someone asks me to say something about myself, I'll be able to reply: "I'm thirty and I'm okay with it."

12 days of Christmas: Day 1

So the 12 days of Christmas "Bake-Fest" begins. I plan to bake something every night for the 12 days prior to Christmas.

Day 1: PoppySeed Torte

This is my Grandma's recipe, and when I asked my dad what he wanted me to bake for the Holidays he said, "POPPYSEED TORTE!"
So for his birthday I baked him Poppyseed Torte. I have never made this before so I wasn't sure how it would turn out.

CRUST:
1 cup Graham Crackers
1 cup flour
1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Instructions: Mix well and pat into a 9X13 pan. Bake at 325 F for 20 minutes (until brown)

FILLING:
1 1/2 cup milk (use 1/2 cup to mix with cornstarch)
5 eggs (separated)
1/4 cup poppyseeds
1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
2 Tbsp. cornstarch

Instructions: Combine milk,beaten egg yolks and sugar. Cook in double oiler until dissolved. Add poppyseeds and salt.
Mix Cornstarch with 1/2 cup milk and combine with the rest. Cook until thick, stirring constantly.

ADDITIONAL FOLD IN:
2 Tbsp knox gelatin (unflavored)
1/4 cup cold water
5 egg whites
1/2 tsp. cream of tartar
1/2 cup sugar

Instructions: Melt gelatin into 1/4 cup cold water. Add to cooked mixture; cool filling and add vanilla--DO NOT LET SET.
Beat egg whites--add sugar and cream of tartar
Fold into cooled mixture. Pour into crust and refrigerate.
Frost with 8 oz. Cool whip

I after cutting the torte--we realized the poppyseeds had floated to the top. I had never eaten Poppyseed Torte before--but I was consoled by my Father and Grandmother that it tasted the same. We tried to figure out what could have made them float. It still tasted delicious!



Dad enjoying his Poppyseed Torte!