*hey there, it's christa*

In the End, It's Only Stuff...

All has been quiet on the blogging front since I've been living in the Dallas metroplex these past three weeks, and believe me, it hasn't been for the lack of something to say.

There's just been a whole lotta (and yes, I realize I said "whole lotta"...ha ha) unexpected drama with getting settled in, and suffice it to say, I can't wait for things to be nice and routine again (a.k.a. normal).

Now mind you, the Banisters' drama is not the salacious stuff of your average episode of Jersey Shore (thank goodness), but it's been crazy all the same, thanks to some seriously incompetent movers who aren't exactly some of my favorite people at the moment.

For the record, if anyone ever contemplates using Manchester Moving & Storage, don't! Trust me, you'll thank me (and will probably even want to hug me out of sheer thanksgiving) for steering you far, far away...

Basically, after patiently waiting three looooooong weeks for our stuff, (it was supposed to be "about a week," but that's really only the beginning of how ridiculously messed-up things were), the Manchester guys finally brought our stuff this past Sunday morning.

Thrilled that I'd no longer have to check in with them every single day (which involved hearing this very long, very syrupy hold message about how they understand how stressful a move can be and how they'll do everything to make sure your stuff is protected, blah, blah, blah), our delivery day was supposed to be a day of rejoicing.

After all, we'd finally get to settle into the home we'd been paying rent, utilities and lawn care for—and subsequently, weren't getting to use for anything but a mailbox and storage for about one box of my office stuff.

As you've probably have already guessed, rejoicing was about the last thing on Sunday's agenda. Turns out, just about all of our furniture, not to mention my dishes, glasses, etc. arrived in pieces. As Will put it, the experience brought all new meaning to Bob Dylan's song "Everything is Broken."

Our horrible move-in day all began with the destruction of my cute accent table from Pier One. Now I know, it wasn't exactly Ethan Allen. But it was darn adorable, and I loved how my giraffe print lamp looked just perfect sitting on top of it. And considering that the Manchester guys bubble wrapped and draped sturdy, padded cloths around every piece of furniture we owned, I was definitely a little shocked when my cute little table looked like an alligator had taken a bite out of it.

Mourning my loss, I reminded myself that it was only an accent table, and that I could probably find a suitable replacement in no time flat. Little did I know, though, that was only the beginning of a day filled with loads and loads of tears...and furniture that looked like it had endured a grisly death.

Only minutes after saying goodbye to my table, I eventually bid farewell to our lovely pillow-top bed and headboard (not even a year old, our mattress was yellowed, bloated and looked like it had been dragged through the Nashville's Cumberland river), our coffee table, flat-screen TV, armoire, dresser and a slew of my favorite dishes, pitchers and casserole pans.

While most people would probably assume it was the bed or the TV that officially sent me over the edge, it was actually the loss of my favorite yellow casserole dish that officially inspired the waterworks. For someone who loves to cook, pots, pans and dishes are like extended members of the family...it's hard picturing your kitchen without them, and now I was forced to do just that.

But after a good, loooong sob and countless theories on how people who have a moving company could mess up sooo bad, I started feeling a little dumb for getting so upset. Really in the end, it's only stuff, right? Unlike my hubby, my wedding pictures or my Dad's precious Bible that I've kept with me since he passed away in 1990, all of the furniture, the TV and the dishes, can be replaced in time. Those other things? Well, not so much, and they were all fine. 

Now I'm not going to lie, the experience of losing all these things still stings. There's still a slew of boxes I haven't gone through yet, and I'm sure there will be tons more stuff that's destined for the garbage bin.

And the past few days have downright inconvenient to say the least when you're filling out long claims reports and trying to find a new bed when you really loved your old one. However, compared to the recent flooding in Nashville where people really did lose everything including those aforementioned wedding pictures and family treasures, our losses are truly paltry in comparison.

If anything, the experience has brought the oh-so-wise words written in Matthew 6:20 to mind: "But store up for yourself treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."

I'm guessing that might also include movers who fail to bring your stuff to you in one piece...

A Long, Long Jaunt Down I-35

Well, I'm officially living in the Lone Star state now, and my, my, my what a crazy journey it's been! I gotta say moving is truly not for the faint of heart.

After finishing up the packing (whew!) and officially saying goodbye to my downtown St. Paul abode, my friend Krista and I (along with Blackjack, Will and I's trusty black Toyota Highlander and Gretta, Krista's bossy but oh-so-helpful GPS) made the sizable trek to the place where everything's supposedly bigger and there's mouthwatering salsa and guacamole around every corner.

And thanks to our 16-hour journey down I-35, I crossed off two more destinations from my list of "States I've Never Been To" (Kansas and Oklahoma, for the record) and enjoyed a steady diet of classic rock (given how many times I heard Boston's "More Than a Feeling," you'd think it was a current pop song) and really bad country music where the lovelorn mourn the loss of their dog, their wives, their sanity etc. etc. 

When I wasn't tracking down the next totally bad song for Krista and I to listen to on our severely limited selection of stations, the people-watching and regular truck stop visits kept us plenty entertained for the duration. Truth be told, for such a long trip, the miles totally whizzed by, and before I knew it, we were finally in my new hometown.

In addition to taking a super fun road-trip with a fabulous friend,  I FINALLY got to see Will after nearly a month...a reunion we celebrated with a downright fabulous meal at Mi Cocina (try the cheese enchiladas there, and they will change your life, I promise) and a late-night showing of Eclipse, the guiltiest of guilty pleasures, I know. 

Since we're still waiting for our stuff from the movers, (don't even get me started on that), I still sort of feel like I'm on some sort of bizarro vacation when I wake up every morning. Dallas doesn't really feel like home yet, but I hope as I start getting our house in order (by the way, I love saying "house" instead of "apartment," I feel all grown up now), it will, y'all.

In the meantime, Will and I are thankful to have a place to stay while we wait (something I'm not very good at). When we moved to St. Paul four years ago, we slept on the floor for a good two weeks. So needless to say, a comfy bed in a lovely air-conditioned abode is definitely a blessing. Well, that and a huge supply of anti-frizz cream for my hair. Since it's humid and about a thousand degrees, my hair definitely looks worse for the wear without a little help from my friends at Aveda.

Lemme just go on the record and say I'm thankful for them, too. And I'm sure anyone who's forced to hang with me would agree.

The Lost Art of Writing Letters

While packing for a big move is generally one giant hassle, I have to admit that I actually love getting rid of all the stuff I really don't need.

I've never been a pack rat by nature, and clutter drives me absolutely nuts, so any opportunity to streamline our stash (especially after four years in the same apartment) is always welcome.

But in all my overzealous fits of throwing junk away over the years, I've always held on to an unobtrusive, medium-sized box of letters and cards that have really meant something to me.

With Will starting his new job three weeks ago, I've spent quite a bit of time by myself in this ol' apartment. And while I've never been the girl who always needs someone around, (I'm pretty good at keeping myself entertained most of the time, thanks to a plethora of books, DVDs, and well, freelance work), those letters felt like old friends when I found them again.

Nestled inside were a couple of notes my dad had written me—one congratulating me on qualifying for the junior high spelling bee, another penned in his gorgeous handwriting (definitely not the norm for most guys) with a simple "I love you."

In between all the little scraps of paper and smaller note cards were a plethora of birthday wishes from dear friends like Tracey Bumpus, Jazzy Jess Dumoulin, Janet Chismar and Suzie Walter—some adorned with glitter (my signature look for the bulk of my Nashville era), others featuring very tan, very buff cowboys (a very funny reminder of my single days, courtesy of Ms. Chismar). A couple of my favorites were humorous cards from my brother, Casey, who at one time, always signed his cards "Your Brother Casey"—as if I'd forgotten my one and only brother. :)

And then, there were the letters—piles and piles of letters from people who'd taken the time to let me know they cared by simply writing. Some were from my Mom, detailing the day-to-day happenings since she made the move from our childhood home in Ladysmith to Colorado Springs. Others were from my pal Krista Bergstrom, assuring me that God really did have good things in store when I was discouraged and not quite so sure.

Once again, I also felt blessed to have such a witty, wonderful hubby. Can I just say it's incredible being married to a fellow writer? Not only did his musings make me laugh (and tear up) all over again, but they would probably, on occasion, jumpstart a cynical person's gag reflex because they're so darn sweet. I'm thinking Romeo could've even learned a few things from Will...

You know who else writes a really good letter? My friend Melissa Riddle. Not only are the cards themselves truly one of a kind, but when I re-read what she wrote before Will and I moved from Nashville to St. Paul, it really encouraged me as Will and I are about to embark on another new season.

After reading Melissa's cards, my tears really kicked into full force when I saw the sizable stack from my sister, Lindsey. Scrawled in her trademark bubbly style that's practically a cousin to my own, I'd forgotten just how much we'd written to each other over the years. While sipping a tall glass of lemonade, I can't tell you how much fun it was to relive her semester spent in Europe (all written on incredibly scenic postcards), to read about all the joys (and drama) of her high school and Bethel University years and to hear about the new joys of life since she married her hubby, Shayne and became a Mama to the sweetest little muffin ever, Miss Adelyn Grace.

Even though we're eight years apart in actual age, you never would've guessed it from reading, and her thoughtfulness was yet another reminder of how thankful I am to have her in my life.

I must say...sorting through the box was not only a fantastic trip down Memory Lane, but a reminder of how much I love letters (writing, receiving them and otherwise). While e-mails and text messages are definitely faster (and necessary) in our time-challenged world, there's something truly special about hearing from friends and loved ones the old-fashioned way, complete with a return address and a stamp.

7 Things I'll Actually Miss About Minnesota

Now that Will and I have started the oh-so-fun process of packing, this big summer move to Dallas is actually beginning to feel a little more real.

And as much as we've both complained about living in Minnesota (6+ months of winter will do that to you), there are a few things we'll definitely miss about the place.

After all, when you've lived somewhere for almost four years, you can't help but get a little attached.

So now, with no further adieu, here are seven things (in no particular order) that I'll miss about living in the land of 10,000 lakes.

My pal Krista B. (a.k.a. the "other" Krista)—Back in college days, I liked listening to my Brit rock loud—very, very loud. So while I was getting my dorm room in order, this girl walked by and had to see who the freak was with the loud music and all the green and gold Green Bay Packer memorabilia. Turns out, she was a fairweather Vikings fan, but she didn't hold my Cheesehead devotion against me since we had the same name and all. Cue: lifelong friendship.

The best thing about hangin' with Krista is that even though I've moved around quite a bit, (and she moved to Africa for a year, right when Will and I moved back to Minnesota—yeah, I wasn't bitter, ha ha) we've always managed to stay in touch and had absolutely no trouble catching right up (there's a reason Krista's dad calls us "Chatty Cathys") whenever we hang out.

And since we're both big fans of cooking, she's practically the only person who truly gets the undeniable importance of walking languidly through a Williams-Sonoma. Yep, she understands that you'd never want to miss out on any of the fantastic spice rubs or cool new kitchen gadgets, so every corner most be explored thoroughly. It's funny because every time we're there, we basically want the salespeople to box up the entire store and send it home with us because we want, well, everything they've got...

Caribou Coffee—I'm mostly a Starbucks girl, but I love absolutely love having Caribou as a delicious coffee back-up. In fact, most days that I'm writing at home, I'll walk through the skyways just for a Caramel Hi-Rise just the way I like it (skim, with the smallest cloud of whip on top). Plus, the baristas at my favorite Caribou (you know who you are, Jessie and Ashlee) not only whip up a great cup of joe, but keep me properly connected to the outside world.

All the Minnesota-isms—I love how everyone says "bag" like it's actually "beg." I also love how almost every time I tell someone who's not from Minnesota that I'm from Minnesota, the "yeah, you betcha" Fargo quips inevitably follow, even though Fargo is technically in North Dakota.

People also routinely inquire on whether I know Garrison Keillor personally and if I can score tickets to see him (I don't, and I can't). Equally intriguing is when I'm asked if I think Brett Favre will actually return and play for the Vikings this year (I'm not clairvoyant, but I think he will. Naturally, he won't actually decide until the night before he needs to make an announcement).

Saturday Breakfasts at Bon Vie—Since I haven't been to Paris yet, I gotta live vicariously through delectable French cuisine on occasion, and Bon Vie, an adorable little Parisian café in Cathedral Hill, does breakfast just right. Not only are the omelets simply out of this world, but the hash browns, well, I could go on about those for days. What's fun, too, is that the chefs are always switchin' up the menu, so you never know what treasures you'll find that particular weekend. In a word: Yum.

Landmarks, Parks and Those Walks on Grand Avenue—Thanks to living in downtown Minneapolis during my college years, I had plenty of time to explore all the sights...the Mary Tyler Moore statue on 7th, the cherry on the ginormous spoon at the Sculpture Gardens, the purple house where Prince used to live and lots, lots more.

But my latest chapter in Minnesota was in St. Paul, so it felt like I was living in a completely different city,  a welcome change of pace. I loved St. Paul for a lot of reasons—strolling by F. Scott Fitzgerald's place, checking out the very Euro-esque parks, not to mention the gorgeous St. Paul Cathedral and walking with Will on the always-picturesque Grand Avenue with all those fantastic houses that you make you downright envious on anyone who lives in them.

The Cooks of Crocus Hill—After I graduated from college, I was pretty sure I'd never step inside a classroom again. But since I've been back in Minnesota, I have absolutely loved taking cooking classes at The Cooks of Crocus Hill. Not only is the "homework" so incredibly fun, but I've learned things I never would've otherwise like making delicious fettuccine from scratch (yes, the actual pasta, not just the sauce) and whipping up delicious buttercream frosting that wasn't prepared by Duncan Hines first.

Noshing on Italiano at La Grolla—It's impossible to talk about our time in Minnesota without mentioning our favorite Italian restaurant, La Grolla. Not only is the atmosphere straight out of a Manhattan restaurant with  tables so close together that it forces you to get to know your neighbors, but I'm convinced that it's impossible to have a bad meal there.

Chances are, you'll be even more full than you ever thought possible, thanks to an array mouthwatering antipasto, to-die-for pasta dishes and a dessert tray that's out of this world. Who knew that using mascarpone instead of cream cheese would produce the lightest, most heavenly cheesecake you've ever sampled? I sure didn't before I tried theirs...and a meal there isn't complete without that—and a good cappuccino—to end things on the most exquisite of notes.

It May Not be Spring in Minnesota...

But my honey sure made it feel that way with his choice of flowers for Valentine's Day. Love the pink striped baby roses (yes, they have itty bitty stripes on them, how cute is that?).

2009: A Few of My Favorite Things

Since Oprah decided not to reveal her favorite things of 2009 (perhaps she will in 2010, considering it's her last year of her talk show and all), I decided to step in and, well, do the honors myself.

Of course, since my budget is considerably, um, less than Ms. Oprah's, everything here will be decidedly more recessionista chic. You know, cool but decidedly more affordable.

And now with no further adieu, here are a few of my favorites...

Food Network—The Magazine: Considering how much I love magazines (yes, I'm single handedly trying to keep the publishing biz alive with all my subscriptions) and Food Network, combining the two was nothing short of brilliant. From the make-your-mouth-water photography to the wide range of recipes it offers from Ina, Giada, Rachael and the like, you don't have to spend 30 minutes in front of the tube to get some great culinary information...just pick up the magazine, and you're set.

Mac Lipglass in "Revealing": While bright red lipstick looks fab on celebrities, I've just never been the girl who can sport the crimson hue without feeling seriously self-conscious. So needless to say, I've been on the lookout for the perfect nude-colored lipgloss with just a bit of shine for a really, really long time. I like doing up my eyes, after all, and prefer my pout to be more subdued.

But one visit to Sephora after the next, I've always been disappointed. While some lip glosses have been the right shade, they just weren't moisturizing enough. Others labeled "nude" were a sickly looking pink color that made my pasty white skin look downright corpse-like. Not a good look to say the least.

However, a chance visit to a Mac counter @ Macy's proved life-changing once I discovered "Revealed." Not only is it the right shade, but the texture rocks, too. Basically, I'm a happy girl who doesn't have to search for the right lipgloss anymore, which saves me serious time at the mall. Now please, please don't discontinue my shade, Mac. Deal?

MacBook Pro: Yes, I'm a Mac, and I've had a couple of white MacBooks that have lasted through thick and thin. And when you write full-time for a living, well, that level of dependability is a must. While I've always been more than happy with my MacBooks past, once I spied the gorgeous silver MacBook Pro with that sleek keyboard and black accents at the Apple Store, I simply knew I had to have it. So now that my old Mac has a happy new home in Colorado with my sister, I've got myself a new addition to my family of Macs. And I absolutely, positively love it.

Bvlgari Body Lotion: It's been said the best things in life are free, and I couldn't agree more when it comes to this lotion. It smells downright divine and was in my hotel room @ The Four Seasons in Los Angeles.

Nielsen-Massey Vanilla from Williams-Sonoma: Ina Garten (a.k.a. The Barefoot Contessa) always extols the value of using "good" vanilla, and after using this particular variety, I can say my baking has definitely improved. Take a whiff, and you'll notice how lovely and vanilla-y it smells, so you can only imagine what it'll do for your cookies, waffles, cakes, etc. (Incidentally, they also make great vanilla beans, too, which taste delicious in so many sweet treats).

MGMT's Oracular Spectacular: Whether you need some funky background music for a party or an energetic soundtrack for the requisite trip to the gym, I love, love, love this album. 

Proflowers.com: Want to make someone's day without breaking the bank? Proflowers.com delivers the floral goods with innovative bouquets at a decent price. Everyone I've ever sent something to from Proflowers has ooohed and aaahed.

Nick Hornby's Juliet, Naked: From High Fidelity to About a Boy to Slam, Nick Hornby's novels are always something I always look forward to. And his latest Juliet, Naked is some of his best work yet. I can already see Phillip Seymour Hoffman playing the reclusive singer/songwriter at the heart of this engaging story.

Dos Caminos in Vegas: Their chips and guacamole had me at hello. Not only is the guac handmade in a mortar and pestle table-side, but it's got this great spicy kick that elevates the already tasty avocados to an entirely new level of delicious.

Aveda Shampure candle: In my estimation, Aveda makes some of the best-smelling shampoos and conditions ever. And since "Shampure" has always been my favorite, it's probably no surprise that I absolutely adore the "Shampure" candle, too. Since it's soy, it burns nice and even, and the 25 different floral and plant essences will definitely liven up your apartment, house, bathroom, wherever...

Christmas With Adelyn

It's been nearly five months since I'd seen my niece, Miss Adelyn Grace on her 1st birthday, and my, my, my has a lot changed in such a short time...

Not only is she quite mobile to say the least (she practically runs—not walks—everywhere she goes), but she's talking up a storm. And that smile of hers has only gotten cuter as those little teeth have come in.

And her verdict on Christmas? A giant "Wow!" Yeah, it's one of her favorite words, and it made me smile every time I heard it. :)

 

The Countdown to Thanksgiving Has Officially Begun!

Confession time: It's only November 3, and I've already poured through the latest issues of Food Network Magazine, Martha Stewart Living, Everyday With Rachael Ray and Better Homes and Gardens, not to mention a few cookbooks in search of the best Thanksgiving recipes.

Yes, I absolutely adore making Thanksgiving dinner...every single course of it. Really, it's like the Super Bowl of meals for the home cook, and I look forward to (and start planning) for the big day several weeks in advance.

Hence all those magazine articles...

Now I'll admit, if I had to cook for a whole army of people (usually, we have 2 or 3 guests aside from Will and I), I might not feel the same way. But because there's just a few of us, I love the challenge of trying to get everything done in time in our very tiny, apartment-sized kitchen.

This year, I cheated a little and ordered a smoked turkey (Will has always extolled the many virtues of a smoked turkey, so I surprised him by ordering the one from East Texas that Oprah likes), so that will definitely make things easier cooking-wise since the turkey tends to take the longest (and ours already comes all ready to go). But if you're making your own, I highly recommend Sunny Anderson's recipe for turkey with peach rosemary glaze. I made this last year, and it was delicious.

So without having to do all the roasting myself this year, that will leave more time for the my favorite part of the meal—the sides!!

While it's definitely not rocket science by any means (although I definitely add my own touches from the original recipe), Thanksgiving just isn't Thanksgiving without green bean casserole. So I will make that, along with garlic red mashed potatoes and gravy (a once-a-year indulgence), homemade cheddar buttermilk biscuits, homemade sausage and cranberry stuffing and, of course, I'll serve all that with Barefoot Contessa's old-fashioned cranberry sauce. I love this stuff sooo much that I wrote a review of it on Crate and Barrel's website, the only place where you can get it. Trust me, it's way better than the stuff with the can imprint still on it.

As far as dessert goes, I'm still deciding what I want to do. I'll definitely make something pumpkin-y, but maybe I'll offer something else, too (an apple tart, perhaps?), so I'm still brainstorming that. Thankfully, I've still got, oh, 23 days left, but it's never too early to start, right?

So now that I've revealed mine, what are your must-haves for Thanksgiving dinner and why? Also, any good dessert recipes I must try pronto?

The 10 Best Things About Fall

I know, I know...when Fall arrives in Minnesota, well, it's officially one step closer to six months of winter which for the record, is no fun at all. Not one little bit.

Even with that ominous event always lurking in the back of my mind, it's impossible not to love this amazing season that's way, way too short in my humble opinion.

Simply put, it's spectacular for a number of reasons—reasons I'll explain in "Letterman Top-10 list" style right here, right now.

Coming in at #10: No more shorts or capri pants. Given that I have ghostly white legs that don't tan, and I'm not a tanning salon kind of girl, I'm don't exactly love wearing shorts or capri pants. But when it gets hot—really hot— in the summer months, what choice do you have in the matter? 

You just gotta own it like Anne Hathaway does. Or give it your best shot, anyway.

Sadly, my legs hate the sun so much that I still have "redneck socks" (a.k.a. seemingly permanent tan lines) from a bad sunburn I got two years ago while sitting by the Four Seasons' pool in L.A. for 20 minutes. Yeah, 20 minutes and unsightly tan lines to show for it two years later. Goodness knows how bad it would've been if I'd stayed out any longer...

#9: Bouquets of freshly sharpened pencils. Sure, roses are a great gesture of romantic devotion, but I always loved it when Tom Hanks' character tells Meg Ryan's character in You've Got Mail (via e-mail, of course) that he'd send her a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils if he knew her name and address.

I must confess that line gets me every time. Yeah, I'm a dork who loves school supplies...and I haven't set foot in a classroom (other than as a guest speaker) for years now.

Every fall when kids are getting their new backpacks, glue sticks and Jonas Brothers' notebooks, it's my tradition to pick up a few new school supplies (for the office, of course), too. There's just nothing like a bunch of new pens, cute notebooks, paper clips and post-its to make working at home feel more tolerable, lemme tell ya.

#8: Soup, Soup and More Soup. On a chilly day, there's nothing more delicious with crackers or a crusty piece of bread in my opinion. Whether it's butternut squash, a hearty bowl of chili or simple tomato basil, count me in. And making it myself? Well, that just makes the experience more fun.

#7: Better Movies, Actual Must-See TV. After reviewing dud after dud at the box office this summer,   fall movies couldn't arrive fast enough. And I'm thrilled to pieces for new episodes of "The Office," and "Castle," too, which beats re-runs any day of the week.

#6: Are You Ready for Some Football? We Banisters have been for months now. And thanks to Favre signing with the Vikes (yes, I'm finally getting used to it), we have three teams (the Packers, Vikings and Cowboys) to root for. Fun, fun, fun.

#5: Scarves, Scarves, Scarves. I adore scarves, but I've never figured out a way to wear them in the summer without looking ridiculous. But in the fall? No problem at all. I'm already excited about sporting all my favorites, Burberry and otherwise.

#4: Two words: Halloween candy. Do I really need to explain this?

#3: Beautiful Scenery: Anyone who knows me well knows that nature and I don't always get along, but ultimately, who can deny the  beauty of fall? I absolutely love the changing leaves, the crisp feeling in the air and taking long walks with Will with such a gorgeous backdrop.

#2: Pumpkin spice lattes. Yeah, I still love my caramel macchiatos, but once these babies arrive in stores, I simply can't get enough. So delicious.

#1: Special occasions. But what takes the proverbial cake when it comes to fall is all that I get to celebrate...Will and I's anniversary (October 8). Will's birthday (October 13). My mom's birthday (October 21). My pal Krista's birthday (October 23).There's certainly no shortage of fun (or cake) in the Fall months, that's for sure...

They Say It's Your Birthday!

Whew! Will and I have been celebrating a lot of birthdays in our family lately.

In the past two weeks, my aunt Ann, my mother-in-law Jo Ann, my adorable niece Adelyn, and my I-can't-believe-he's-really-all-grown-up brother Casey have all gotten a year older (or in Adelyn's case, reached that all-important one-year-old status).

Thankfully, I haven't eaten my body weight in cake yet. But I'll fully admit that wasn't exactly the picture of self control either when I indulged in a slice, or two, or three while in Colorado with Adelyn, her lovely parents and my Mom. After all, Adelyn hated both of her cakes with a passion (chocolate or pink vanilla chip with sprinkles, it didn't matter), and we couldn't let all that sugary tastiness go to waste, right?

Who knows? Maybe next year, Adelyn will be quite the enthusiastic cake convert. But I must say I was envious of her ability to push it away without as much as a second thought. It was also pretty cute when she was visibly upset when the frosting got all over her hands. Apparently, she likes her paws free of stickiness, and I can't say I blame her.

With all this birthday reminiscing this morning, I also couldn't help but notice the date on the calendar—August 4—and remember that we would've been celebrating one more today—my Dad's. He would've turned 57 years young today, and I'm guessing he would've wanted an entire pan of my Mom's brownies for his party. And vanilla ice cream, too.

Even more than my Mom who's not a big fan of sweets of any kind, he was always quite the chocoholic. He was also one of those incredibly annoying people that could indulge without gaining excess pounds the process, a magnificent gene I somehow failed to acquire. Sooo not fair.

It's been almost 19 years (!!!) now since he passed away, and sadly, my memories of him seem to get fuzzier with each passing year. But even all those years after his death, there are still so many everyday moments when I wonder what life would be like if he were still here.

Would he and my Mom still live in Ladysmith or would they have moved on? Would he and I still play  basketball in the driveway or would he whoop my butt at Wii tennis instead? I also wonder what he'd think of my life and my chosen profession. Would he be happy that I'm a writer? Or wish I'd pursued something else entirely? And since he wasn't around for the Internet revolution, I often wonder if he would've been a fan of things like Facebook, Twitter and e-mail or think they were silly (my guess is somewhere in between).

But most of all, I'd love a snapshot of our whole family together again (and for Will to meet him for the first time). He was always an enthusiastic fan of celebrating birthdays, so I'm guessing we would've had fun whatever we did. Even if it involved fishing, a passion of his that I've never shared.

And because I can't say it in person, I'll just say it here: Happy Birthday, Dad. We love you and miss you. If calories weren't an issue, I'd sooo have a brownie in your honor today. But I'm guessing you'd understand my quandary since I'm still trying to lose the extra pounds from all the cake I've consumed lately...:)