Weeknight Date

Last month if you would have asked me how life would be after the corporate world, I would have told you about all the projects I would get done, the nice dinners that I would make before SMF comes home from work, etc. But somehow, life is still very crazy and those ideas have not come to fruition.

SMF and I had plans to go to a concert last night for our friend's band, and I had plans to make a nice, healthy dinner for us before we went out. Here is what we ate instead...  (please excuse the fuzzy phone photos)

Zippy's!!!   Ok, so it is not the dinner I had planned, but it is OH SO GOOD!! If you live in the Seattle area and have not been there, you are missing out. One of the best burgers in town (I am not the only one that says this..).

The handsome SMF eating his 'Number 11' burger complete with lots of spicy goodness.

Chocolate Malt, you have my heart.

After out gourmet dinner, we were off to the show to see the band "Julien". We have been friends with the bad members for a couple years, but this was the first time I have seen them live. Pretty awesome show! They have an electronica/rock feel; not your average sound, very unique. 

This was not the most exciting post I have ever written, mostly I just wanted to give a shout out to Zippy's and Julien for the great night (and SMF of course!). 

Engagement Shoot

As part of catching up, today I want to share our engagement photos with you. SMF and I had these done a few months ago by the AMAZING Two Bird Studio. Honestly, Jason and EB are a ridiculously cool and talented husband wife photography team that we are so blessed to have worked with and to now call our friends.  Next summer we will get to spend a week together as they shoot my best friends wedding one weekend in Lake Chelan, WA and Mark's sister the following weekend in Minneapolis and I couldnt be happier about it!

The shoot took place on an Bainbridge Island where Mark and I have spent many dates walking around town and exploring; much like we did this day. The weather was not beautiful, making for a not so great hair day, but we had a great time.

Here are some of SMF and my favorites....

The Life-Changing Cupcake

See this cupcake??

It changed my life. I kid you not.

In April of 2010 I found this recipe on a baking blog and decided to make it for a close friend’s birthday. It was a bog group of girls going to a cute restaurant for lunch and I wanted to make something special. I got such a reaction from the girls  that it got me thinking....If they thought it was fabulous, then why wouldn’t other people?

At that point, I had taken a few night decorating classes at the local community college, but cakes and baking were just an escape from the daily grind of my public relations job. 

I loved baking, so why couldn’t I make it into something more than a hobby??

There are a million reasons why not actually—To start, I have never been to pastry school, didn’t  know a ton about the materials used, the industry or how in the world I would get started. And then there is my full time job that I worked hard for. Blood sweat and tears for years to get to a position that I was proud of and then there is that degree I have in communications that would go to waste, etc, etc

So I continued baking for fun and eventually one of those girls from that birthday lunch called me and asked me to make some cupcakes for a baby shower she was hosting. Honestly, from there it is a blur. I got my business license, set up a website, researched recipes,  started a facebook page and watched TONS of YouTube videos on cake decorating (tons). 

Before I knew it I was BUSY! What?! But I am in public relations and advertising, I am not a cake designer….Well, times have changed and now so has my profession…

Ladies and Gentleman, I would like to officially update my 30 Before 30 list and tell you that I have started business. The SweetSide is open and ready for business. We have a kitchen space at the amazing A la Mode Pies shop on Phinney Ridge and couldn’t be happier about it.

We have big plans for the future… a booth at The Seattle Wedding Show,  a six week course at  The Bonnie Gordon College of Confectionary Arts in Toronto (I will share LOTS of photos, don’t worry) and the promise to create the best product that we can to our clients.

Please join me in my crazy adventure and let us know if you want a cake, cake pops, cookie pops,  cake push pops,  etc.

OUR WEBSITE  www.ilovethesweetside.com

OUR BLOG  www.thesweetsideshop.blogspot.com

OUR FACEBOOK PAGE (updated often) https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-SweetSide/114953428569124

Vancouver, BC Half

I just realized that I started this post and it never actually left the 'drafts' folder. This past May my good friend Melissa and I decided to run the Vancouver, BC half marathon. Now, I am not sure why I decided that I could run with this girl, I guess I had a momentary lapse in judgement. See, here is the thing... she has never run a half marathon that took her longer that 2 hours, in fact, I am pretty sure she has never run slower than 1:45....I, on the other hand had never ran one faster than 2:49...small difference. But as I mentioned above Melissa is a good friend, and this was  a 'warmup' run for her race season... so she stayed with me every step of the way and I ran a personal best of 2:39....I am pretty proud of that one and would really love to break 2:30 next time.

We had a great weekend exploring a city that is only 3 hours from Seattle, but neither of us had ever really visited. Here are some shots of our weekend.

Cute little ferry ride to Granville Island

Walking to the start line, I should have saved some of that energy

Our new (bright) headbands, we got so many compliments! Mostly because they are fun, not super fashionable

First hill of the course; sucking air already!

Melissa posing with one of the course cheer squads 

 This little saying always keeps me going

With the Chinese Dragon mid-course 

 Obviously with all the posing we were not super worried about our time

Finished!! What a weekend!

7 Days...

I have been meaning to get more blog posts out while we are engaged, but as always, life is crazy! So, I am going to attempt to post something everyday this week, even if it is just photos of our planning and daily life. Hope you enjoy!! 

Sorry about the low quality phone photos, I thin that will be a theme this week.

A few little fun props for the wedding.. more to come on that...

I made this wedding cake for an awesome client, crazy to do this so close to our own wedding, but we pulled it off!

Hair trial run! Soooo loving it!!

Hope you enjoy!

See you tomorrow!

Brown

As you may know, I have a 30 before 30 list. One of the tasks on there is "go brown (hair)" and just before I started this blog, I actually did it.
I liked it (quite a bit actually) but in the end, was ready to head back to my normal blond. Here are a couple photos

It really was fun, I am pretty sure that SMF liked it a lot, my mom hated it (not because she didn't think it looked nice, but because she just wasn't use to it) and I liked it pretty well. Maybe the brown will return in the fall...to be continued.



Have a great weekend everyone!!

Where in the world are the (pause) Lawson-Burfeinds?

So far 2011 has been pretty great, and I have a feeling that is is only going to get better. SMF and I have not only been crazy busy with planning our August 13th wedding, but also with our normal, everyday life.
SMF traveled a lot during the first few months of the year, mostly for work, but a little to ski too. He has hit San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, San Diego and Whistler.

SMF and his buddies in Whistler, he is the one wearing the pink pants (yeah, hot, I know)

We have a few trips planned for later in the year, first our 'minimoon' for a couple days after the wedding. I have no idea what we are doing, or where we are going, but SMF is taking care of every little detail...this is exactly what a busy bride to be needs; to know she is going to have a fab time, and not have to worry about a single detail. love.

Later this fall, we will be heading to Costa Rica and are open to any and all suggestions on accommodations. We are looking for anything fun, relaxing, romantic, adventurous, or just plain sweet. Leave a comment below if you have any ideas.

This has been a pretty text heavy post, so I will leave you with a few photos from our last big adventure, Maui. Aloha!

We are finally here!

Big guy, not afraid

Hiking Haleakala

View from our patio

View from the passenger seat

umm, "possibility of crime'??

Ready to zipline

Last night on the beach. l.o.v.e.