Five things.

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Today I received an email from one of our registries informing me that there are only "8 weeks left until your big day!" I can't get over how fast the time has gone. It makes me crazy excited that our wedding will be here so soon, yet slightly anxious for all that's left to be done. I'm not stressed though, promise. 

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Cheremosh's concert at the Cowles Center was fantastic. It was so strange to not be backstage among the chaos that inevitably drives everyone slightly crazy before show time. I was, of course, nervous as I waited for the curtain to come up for Pryvit, and found myself counting/tapping/thinking through the steps and combinations that I knew in my head more than once during the program.  This was actually the first dance concert I've ever watched in full from the audience in my life. Everyone did an incredible job, and I'm so proud of all the dancers. 

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It's my mama's birthday this Thursday. I can't think of a better way to celebrate with her than to actually do just that in person - we'll be home in time for dinner, Ma!! 

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Yesterday afternoon, Andrew and I went to the beach that's just a few blocks from our apartment. It was crowded, but felt absolutely perfect to be out in the sun. It made me want to take a vacation to someplace tropical and hot with fresh sea food and bright sunshine. For the time being, though, Atwater and Lake Michigan will just have to do. It's so nice to have it so close by! 

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A big congratulations to Alex at Life. Law. Luck: happy wedding planning!! 

Andrew's birthday.

Andrew's birthday happened to fall the day before I was leaving for Madison to take the bar, but I was definitely not going to let that get in the way of our celebrating his day. You only turn 26 once, right!? 

For his birthday present, I bought this chalkboard that's now hanging in our kitchen (we've wanted one for a long time...and surprisingly, it's really hard to find one that's not "school-room green" in the middle!). He doesn't get to have his real birthday present until April, though, when we'll go to Chicago for dinner at Girl and the Goat (see it on the chalkboard?? Girl + Goat? I was really proud of this, by the way...)! I had been trying to get reservations since November, and finally, before Christmas, I was able to get us in...at the end of April. That was the first Saturday night opening they had! Needless to say, we're really excited, and are so looking forward to a sunny and warm night out in Chicago in about a month. 

And what kind of birthday would it be without a cake? Andrew had requested something special from the Milk cookbook - filled with desserts and baked loveliness from the Momofuku Milk Bar bakeries in New York. These recipes are quite involved - most everything requires several components - but OH MY WORD, these are absolutely the best cakes I've ever had. We made one at Christmastime for my birthday, so we knew that the recipe wouldn't disappoint. Andrew's birthday cake was (are you ready?!?) a pistachio layer cake, made with homemade lemon curd, pistachio frosting, and milk crumbs. Unreal. 

Perfectly nutty (but not overpowering at all) and with just the right hint of  citrus from the lemon curd, this cake was amazing. Apparently it's one of the favorites at Milk Bar, and I'm not surprised. My favorite components of it are the pistachio cake and milk crumbs (powdered milk, sugar, flour, cornstarch, butter and salt baked, then broken up and sprinkled with melted white chocolate). Seriously. Not healthy AT ALL, but who cares. It was worth every calorie. And it looked so pretty, too! 

It complemented our dinner of smoked roast chicken, macaroni and cheese, and green beans perfectly! We FaceTimed with our families and wished they were able to join us, but getting to "see" everyone we love was the next best thing. I hated leaving the next day...but at least there was cake for Andrew to eat while I was gone! 

I love you, Driy!! Hope you had a wonderful birthday!