At a Loss for Words and Wedding Cake Week

So --- I've been sitting here for the past 15 minutes trying to sort out how to start this post -- how to sum up what the past 10 days have been like for me -- and I just cannot do it.

I am completely and utterly at a loss for words.

I'm pretty sure that the past week was one of the best I've ever had --- in my entire life. That's not an exaggeration, folks --- it might even be a bit of an understatement.

I've had the honor (again... an understatement!) of spending the past 10 days with a man named Tim -- the guy I mentioned dancing with at loom the other week. I cannot begin to explain -- can't even imagine trying to put into words -- how WONDERFUL he is. He's rockin' my world harder than back-to-back rides on The Cyclone.... it's insane.

The thing is.... I'm not ready to share it yet. I'm not ready to talk about it. I think a large part of that has to do with the fact that I'm umm -- not 100% sure that I'm AWAKE. Oh -- I know, that sounds insane, but I'm being serious. I've been going through my days touching things in some vain attempt to ground myself... I feel like I'm, quite literally, dreaming.

It's that good.

OoOoOooooOh lordie -- my cheeks hurt from smiling! Enough!

This is Wedding Cake Week -- it's go time, boys & girls! I'm shutting down the shop this evening and spending the next 72 hours in my kitchen baking a red velvet cake that the groom's children have designed, a four-tier almond and caramelized pear wedding cake, candy cups filled with spiced nuts and cinnamon cashew brittle -- and maybe some macarons (I'm gonna have A TON of egg whites on my hands and these little guys would be a great use for them).

I think it's pretty safe for me to assume that the bride will be too busy this week to read what's written here -- so I'm just gonna go ahead and say that I am FREAKING OUT. Seriously ---- freaking the fuck out. Now -- both Sara and Simon have come to me (separately!) and told me that they don't care if the cake arrives in a big ass bowl -- they just want me to be a part of their wedding. Which is sweet ... I mean, it really is --- but ummm, the cake arriving in a bowl would be a catastrophe of insane proportions.

I know, I know --- it's all gonna be fine. I just need to calm down a bit. I know that cakes will taste good -- I've made three test cakes already and they're turning out great -- I'm just worried about building this thing. I'll be transporting it in pieces and building it at the hotel where the reception's being held... I've been reading up on tier techniques and watched about 20 videos on epicurious.com on how to pull it off.

I think a lot of my stress about this is that I haven't baked for most of the guests before, and there's been all this buzz about me doing this professionally here -- so I want to get it right, you know?

I just need to calm down and do it.....

*big long exhale*

Better.

I'll be sure to document the whole thing and write about it next week -- I'm doing all of the shopping and errand running during the day tomorrow -- and will bake off a few of the layers late tomorrow night -- but Thursday's gonna be The Day. I'm just gunnin' for Friday afternoon. I think the wedding's gonna be a blast -- and I'm looking forward to dancing, drinking and celebrating with my friends....

I have so very much to celebrate these days.