New Home

I don't know when it happened, but somewhere between 2 years ago and today I found a new home.

To make a long story short, I have two very lovely parents who moved their children around the world and back for several years until they settled in Connecticut. Because we were so transient during my formative years (meaning, before adolescence), the notion of "home" does not come easily to me. When most people think of the word "home" and what it means to them, they're able to come up with a concrete image- perhaps it's the house they grew up in, dinner on the table at 6, or kids they knew in kindergarten whom they still have ties with/to.

I've envied those who have had a physical place to come back to, and often wondered if I would ever be settled enough in a place so that I could call it home.

Well, it seems as if I have made one. Cambridge/Boston has been my home for the better part of 10 years; ever since I came to college. I've become an adult here. Most of my friends are here. I walk around the neighborhood and greet people I know. Cambridge is my constant.

How is it that this happened? How did I create my own home when for so long I felt as if I didn't have one; that my "home" was traveling with my family?

I would argue that it might be marriage, but I don't think that's it. I think the turning point came before I was even engaged.

I think the real issue is that I had had a problem with the notion of "settling". Settled means stifled. I didn't want to be stifled. Therefore, I wasn't ready to settle.

Except being settled doesn't mean being stifled at all. And I think that I'm finally ready to accept that. I have a new life. I'm starting a new family. I'm starting a new career path. I'm okay with being settled. And that, my friends, is why I can officially call Cambridge my home.

Sticky Candy goes to France...

...and I come back engaged to the love of my life.

{Centre Pompidou}

{View from Sacre Coeur; Le surrealisme, c'est John; Bateaux}

{Apres nos fiancailles; Goofing off; Dinner at Chez Julien}

{WHERE IT HAPPENED; Love}

I am one big smiley mess today.

Dreaming away.

Les Macarons

Petit gâteau rond à la fois moelleux et croustillant, le Macaron est le produit emblématique de la maison Ladurée. Chaque saison nous lui rendons hommage en créant un nouveau parfum.

La nouveauté Automne Hiver 2008 :
Le Macaron Mangue Jasmin

Les parfums permanents :
Chocolat - Chocolat amer - Vanille - Café - Pétales de Rose - Pistache - Framboise - Cassis violette - Caramel au beurre salé - Griottes - Fleur d’Oranger - Réglisse.

Les parfums d'été :
Noix de coco - Menthe Glaciale - Grenadine.

Les parfums d’hiver : Citron - Marron - Praliné

Les Créations spéciales & éphémères :
Abricot Gingembre - Muscovado - Barbapapa - Havana - Ambre blanc - Rose Indienne - Anis - Orange Safran - Muguet - Pain d’épice - Fraise coquelicot - Poivre de Java - Citron vert Gingembre - Rosanis - Epices & fruits moelleux

The caramel au beurre sale (salted butter caramel) is my faaaaaaavorite.

New blog obsession

You will either love me or hate me for this.
cupcakestakethecake
cupcakestakethecake
cupcakestakethecake

The yummiest cream cheese frosting.

That's it, I'm making Red Velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting tonight.

Here is the most DELICIOUS recipe for cream cheese frosting from The Delicious Life.

Cream Cheese Frosting
1 8 oz pkg cream cheese, softened
4 tbsp butter, softened
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 c confectioner's sugar, sifted (after measuring)

1. in mixing bowl, cream together cream cheese, butter, and vanilla.

2. gradually mix in confectioner's sugar. 2 c is a guideline; use more or less to get desired consistency for frosting.