I’ve always heard that your 20’s are a crapshoot. It’s the time where you feel like you should be an adult but things just aren’t quite up to par. It’s the time when you try to discover what you want to do with your life, who you want to spend your life with, or really, who you are as a person.
The thing that no one told me was how fast your 20’s really go. Occasionally I’ll get nostalgic for my senior year in college (I think senioritis is contagious when you work at a college) and I that sinking feeling slips in that the year I’m pining for happened five years ago, FIVE YEARS!
It was exactly five years ago that the student newspaper asked that fateful questions, “where do you see yourself in five years?” My answer, “I can’t see where I’ll be in five months let alone five years.” And yet, here we are, five years later and let me tell you, this fifth year has been a doozy (and I have a sneaky suspicion that this next year will be even more so.
I didn’t expect much from 26. If you read my last year’s post you’ll notice that if ever there was a time that I didn’t know, that was it. I didn’t know anything about where I was headed, who I was headed with, and I was only starting to figure out who I was. 26 was full of ideas for new starts and beginnings.
I didn’t know what was coming for me in this year. I successfully made it through my first year of teaching, got in engaged in a field in Wisconsin, started a business with a rockin’ partner, convinced M to take a job 2000 miles away, made the decision to move towards my passions, and a few other odd and end things in between.
So what’s next? This year is all about moving and shaking (literally, well at least literally moving).
In May I’ll be packing up everything and moving to Northern Cali. I’ll be pursing new and exciting opportunities with my photography (and hopefully a book proposal if I get my butt in gear). In September I’ll be marrying my best friend in a beautiful country setting. And most of all, I’ll be enjoying ever second of life.
It’s going to be a big year, I can feel it.
(PS, beyond the giveaways listed below- I’ve set my eBook to be free this week. While it’s only for iPad right now, you can always download adobe digital editions and read it on your computer!)
- Bundt Cake:
- 2 cups 2% milk
- ¼ cup espresso powder
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¾ cup cocoa powder
- 2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- 1½ teaspoons baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 1½ cups whole milk greek yogurt
- ¾ cup pure maple syrup
- 3 large eggs
- Ganache:
- 8 ounces dark chocolate
- 1½ cups heavy cream
- Extra dark chocolate, shredded
- Preheat oven to 350˚ and grease 6 (preferably 12) mini bundt pan .
- Whisk together espresso powder and milk in a pot. Heat mixture until it is hot, remove from heat and whisk in butter. Let cool slightly.
- In a large bowl combine cocoa powder, pastry flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. Whisk together milk, greek yogurt, maple syrup, and eggs. Pour into dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
- Scoop out chocolate mixture and fill each bundt until ¾ full. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until a knife comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for 15-20 minutes. Carefully loosen bundts and remove from pan. Continue to let you while you make ganache.
- While bundts cool, cut chocolate into small chunks and place in a bowl. Bring heavy cream to a near boil and pour over chocolate. Let sit for 4-5 minutes and then whisk until chocolate is smooth.
- Drizzle chocolate ganache over bundts and sprinkle with chocolate.
*Adapted from my favorite bundt Cake from Heidi
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[Giveaway Details: A few of my favorite things]
That’s right, because I have a feeling big things are going to happen this year, I’m going big with my giveaway and doing three! All you need to do to enter is leave a comment below just saying hello (and mention which item you’d like to receive!) If you’d like to be extra nice, you can like my page of facebook or follow me on twitter, but that’s only if you want to- it won’t garner an extra entry.
This giveaway is is only open to residents of the U.S. (sorry!) and will run from now until Sunday, February 17th at 8:00pm central time. Winners will be emailed on Monday morning!
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Giveaway 1: The lovely people of Eat Boutique were nice enough to sponsor this giveaway. If you haven’t checked out their site- it’s such a lovely space and a wonderful place to find gifts for every occasion. Their focus is on local, artisan products (which of course, I love). I’m giving away their Valentines Sweets Gift Box (items may differ from what’s shown but I can promise you it will still be awesome!) I’ve been eyeing their Small Batch by Season box- just perfect!
Giveaway is over! Thanks to all who entered!
Giveaway 2: Another personal favorite from this year: Melissa’s Cowls. I’m giving away one of her cowls in your choice of color (she agreed to knit just for the winner!) Many of you may know Melissa from The Fauxmartha and as my business partner for Wooden Spoons Kitchen, but she’s also a rad knitter. Winter may be winding down but I promise you this will be perfect for next winter! (I was originally going to have a photo of me in my barley cowl but my cowl as gone mia- I’m sure it’s in my house, probably in that pile of laundry I’ve yet to put away…)
Giveaway 3: This giveaway is from my own heart. I’m a big proponent of local whether it’s produce or local businesses. I’ve been spoiled to have such an awesome wine shop in the town where I work. It’s such a wonderful space with the nicest owner so I popped in there and picked a couple things out to give to you! In this little package you’ll get this awesome wine glass holder that is made from old win barrels and a cute slate cheese platter (glasses/bottle not included). (and if you’re ever in Monmouth, IL- visit Market Alley Wine!)
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