Birthday Food and Support

What an amazing birthday!  Fun filled with friends, family, and food!

The day before my birthday, I went to dinner with my parents, sister and brother-in-law at a great restaurant in town.  We talked and laughed a lot.

Thanks, Ky! :)

I won a waffle maker from the amazing Free Spirit Eater a week or so ago.  It arrived on my birthday!   I will be waffling a lot in the coming days!  Wednesday, I made blueberry waffles for my roommate and me.  They were delicious!  I cannot wait to get into this!  I found waffleizer.com and am excited to try the recipes on there and more! 

On my birthday, my roommate took me out to dinner.  There is a little local restaurant in town that is so cute and fun.  I was so excited to go! 

In addition, I received my dream present from my parents.  A KitchenAid Stand Mixer!  I did tons of research (as I do) on the different models and types.  In my research, I happened upon the KitchenAid refurbished website.  What a find!  My mixer is as good as new, with a warranty, and I was able to ask for the one I wanted while not asking my parents to spend $500!

I heart my mixer!

Muffin mix.

The fact that they actually got this for me shows faith.  This journey has given me a lot of gifts, one being the ability to bond with my mom on a new level.  It is also a true love, something they see and feel in me every day.  As with most parents, they see their children go through phases and trials.  But when something is real, they do all they can to support and encourage.  I see the receiving of this gift as their support and encouragement.  And it means the world to me.

Friday night, I made my first recipe with the mixer.  I made pumpkin chocolate chip muffins.  It was incredible!  I have been using a stick blender the whole time I’ve been cooking.  First of all, this is really hard on my neck and shoulder.  It also takes forever.  With this new mixer, it took under a minute!  And there is no pain.  Total bonus!  (and it’s so pretty!)

Today, I made cookies.  Same thing.  So fast.  No pain. 

I feel very fortunate to have the support of my friends and family.  Life is good.