For Goodrich(er) or Poorer

Single digits. And a cat video.

2011-08-25T10:26:00.000-05:00

Well, it's almost here. We're in the single digits folks. After over a year of planning, I'm getting married in 9 days.

Nine.

Let's put that in perspective, shall we?

9 days ago was last Tuesday.

9 days from now our milk expires.

2 days from now will be my Saturday as a single person.

9 days from now my last name will change forever. Okay, more than just my last name will change forever, but you get the point.

I'm sorry....WHAT?!

Thankfully I'm surrounded by family and friends who are beyond helpful and supportive. They're my rock and I don't know if I would be sane (okay, pseudo-sane) right now without them. Love y'all.

But, if you didn't get it before, here's a little look into how I'm feeling right now. I think this little guy gets it. And I don't even like cats.

OMG is right, my friend. OMG is right.

Super Simple Pesto Sauce

2011-07-13T22:43:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the neglect again! I think it's probably safe to say that blogging won't be a regular thing until Camp ends. Saddest day, right? Or somefing.

I thought I'd post really quickly, though, to share a recipe that I've used a few times in the past few weeks. Fiance approves, so that's how you know it's good....okay, not necessarily. Homeboy loves almost everything. But it's good, trust me.

I needed a new sauce recipe for a present I received: A PASTA ROLLER AND CUTTER ATTACHMENT FOR MY KITCHENAID! I know, right?! Fiance's parents are the best of the best. So, for homemade pasta, I knew I needed a sauce that wouldn't be too complicated so that I could focus on making the pasta itself. I adapted my recipe from none other than PW. Her Pesto Cream Sauce recipe looked so tasty, I knew I had to try it. But I didn't want to make the pesto. Lazy, right? You can judge. So here's what I came up with!

This recipe can be made per person, even for just one or two. You can make it and put it on low heat and you'll be good to go. In my eyes, it's the perfect go-to sauce!

Super Simple Pesto Sauce
Remember that this is per person, so adjust accordingly to how many you're feeding!

1/4 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon pesto (store bought or your own, up to you!)
1 teaspoons cream cheese
grated parmesan cheese (not the green shake-y Kraft cheese, please! It's in your best interest, promise.)

In a saucepan on medium heat, add the cream and butter. Stir until the butter is completely melted and incorporated. Add the pesto and stir. Honestly, on the cream cheese I guessed on the measurements. I just added what looked like it would work, and would add more as it melted to thicken the sauce. It's always easier to add more, not take it away! But let's be real, cream cheese is cream cheese; I welcome it at all times. Add the parmesan cheese and stir. I usually do a generous pinch, which normally ends up being around two teaspoons. It's salty, like the pesto, so taste after you add it to see what you think!
After the cheese is melted, turn your saucepan to low heat and stir occasionally. When your pasta (measured per person) is cooked and drained, add immediately to the saucepan and stir all the lovely goodness together.

And there you have it! Tasty and simple. I don't think you could ask for anything more.

Progress...and some mushiness.

2011-06-23T22:31:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the lack of postage. After my dad and I's Aussie trip I had to hit the ground running. Camp started (yayyy!!!) and wedding planning began full force. Here's what we've been working on:

Pennants pennants pennants! Shout out to my bestie Avery Sarah for helping me with all the sewing. Homegirl's got talent...and a new ruffle foot for her machine! (P.S. You should check out her etsy shop! She makes the cutest stadium dresses. Love love love them.)
Shoe shopping. I bought the expensive shoes, tried them on and they didn't look so good, sent them back, thought I found another pair only to discover that they'd already sold, found out they're not made anymore, emailed about 15 random fashion bloggers to ask if I could buy them, no such luck, panic, back up shoes, disaster, constant reminding that they're just shoes. Welcome to my brain, it's cozy here.
We found all the blue mason jars we need! Hallelujah.
The tea bar. Get ready for some amazing mixes. Think QT style.
Guestbook. It's cuuute.

But I think the most exciting thing that we've finished is...REGISTERING. After hours (literally, like 7 hours on a Saturday. I know, Fiance's a trooper) and hours of researching and scanning and re-scanning and deleting, we're finally finished! You can check it out here, here, here, and even a little bit here. We did our best to spread out items and pick things that I truly believe we'll use. But I had to constantly remind myself that not everything has to coordinate yet; we're young! We can get away with mismatched things for a while.

All in all, this past month's been a blur. But a recurring thought I've had is this: I am so, so blessed. Between my family, friends, and an amazing Fiance, I sure do have a good life. And I'm getting excited for the wedding, not stressed, which I take to be a good sign.

Speaking of my Fiance (if you don't like mushy things, now's the time to bow out), happy birthday a day early, love! This is the last birthday we'll spend as an unmarried couple...weird! So blessed to be marrying this hunk.

Look at that smile. I'm melting. Thanks for 4 amazing years! I'm so blessed to be marrying a man with a heart for God, children, and serving others. You're a daily source of encouragement and strength and I don't know where I'd be without you. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you. You da best.

There, I'm done. Wasn't too bad, was it?

I'll have some food posts soon. I think I've been slacking on that front. But as Fiance can attest, I think you'll like the recipes! They're focused on fresh, farmer's market ingredients. And it can't get better than that.

Intro to Marriage, Part I

2011-05-21T14:40:00.000-05:00

Me: "Well, I just don't know. I love the look of white bedspreads because they're so crisp and clean, but we probably won't be able to paint our apartment, ya know? And we have the time to play with colors and funky patterns before we have to be super grown-up. But for the plates, I mean, I just CAN'T BELIEVE that they would be double the price at another store! That just doesn't make sense. Why are they so much cheaper? Do they have a deal worked out? Or WHY are the other stores charging that much? It's just so strange, ya know? (long pause) Hey....are you there?"
Fiance: "Oh, I thought you were just talking stuff out with yourself. What were you saying?"

I just have to laugh when that happens because you know what? I can't blame him. Half the time, I am calling to talk things out. And I can't help but smile and think, "So this is what marriage is like." Granted, I understand a year from now it won't make me so smiley but hey, I'll laugh while I can.

Unfortunately I do this to him a lot. Especially right now during The Registration Period. It has capitalized letters because it's a pretty big deal...this is a big step towards the marriage. A stressful step. Like on a Stairmaster. Or on an escalator that's going too fast and you feel like you don't have enough time to step on AND maintain your balance (it happens to you, too, don't lie). Whatever, you understand.

Because here's the problem...I'm planning for an apartment/living space I've never seen. We don't know what city we'll live in, let alone what apartment complex, which is daunting in and of itself. But planning the decor for an unknown space? Drivin' me crazy. Fiance and I had a "pre-registration" day on Monday where we visited stores to compare products and prices. I thought this would make me feel better, give me better direction for what I want. False. I'm more confused than ever.

Normally, my problem lies in too many good options. 8 piece nuggets or char-grilled chicken sandwich? Pumps or wedges? Puppies or...fat puppies? All good options. But what if I don't like anything? That's the current situation. Not that I love it all, but that I'd rather not have any. I'm wondering (read: hoping) it's the current awkward-ness of the year. You know, not-quite-spring-but-not-summer-yet thing. Do new styles get released in June? If so, I'll wait until then.

If not, well....we'll just see what we end up with. On the bright side, Fiance doesn't really care what it looks like. He keeps reminding me that it doesn't matter because we'll be married. I politely remind him that it would be nice to live in some semblance of decoration, but he's right, in the end it doesn't really matter...too much. Lesson learned.

P.S. Remember this post about registering? I'm going for a Wii. Dream big, right?

A cry for help

2011-05-09T19:29:00.029-05:00

Okay, guys. I need some help here. I've fallen in love, and this love is definitely unrequited. Why? Because it's a pair of shoes.

These, to be exact.

Sigh. Aren't they lovely? Aren't they perfect? Aren't they just a littleeeee bit over my price range? Okay, a lot. I know it's my wedding day, but I just can't pay that much for shoes. Well that's a lie. Because I really want to, but I think I'd just feel bad...right? I would, wouldn't I?

I know I have some expert shopper friends out there, so help a sister out, please? Here's what I'm looking for: cute, pretty, that's about it. Okay, not it's not. I'm looking for a thicker heel, but a cute thick heel. Conundrum, I know. I'm going to be walking on grass, so I need something that will prevent me from being wobbly or sinking in the grass. I'm clumsy enough as is, so I don't need my shoes to cause more problems. I've been looking at wedges, but they're borderline too casual. I love these because they're wedges, but dressy. And I love, love, love the chiffon flowers. I don't want ivory shoes...at least, I don't think I do. I want something I can wear again. Not saying I won't wear ivory shoes again, but the likelihood is a lot smaller. And I do need heels...3 inches to be exact. Then I wouldn't have to hem my dress! I know, right? Perfection.

So there it is. I've been searching day and night and I feel like I've exhausted all my options, but maybe you guys have seen something different! I'm welcome to any and all suggestions at this point.

Sydney so far

2011-05-04T06:40:00.002-05:00

So far I've loved Sydney! The jet lag's killer, but it's been great seeing seeeestorrr. And we're also here during Sydney's Fashion Week...AWESOME to see, but lotssssss of "I might as well not even try today" clothing experiences. But hey, they're doing their summer fashions and it's almost winter here, so I don't really look like the craziest person out here.

Here are some pics so far!

Day 1...ish (We arrived on Sunday but didn't start "sightseeing" until Monday...hence Day 1ish)
Breakfast at The Coffee Club. Delicious! Dad was a little freaked out that a Starbucks Caramel Macchiato isn't, well....real. So he was very interested in his tiny cup.

We did a beach walk from Coogee to Bondi Beach...chilly and rainy, but beautiful! Plus, we started it off with gelato covered in melted Nutella...no shame. Hey, we walked it off, so it's all good.

And I think this is my dad's favorite picture from the trip, so I have to post it.

Day 2
Dad and I did a hop-on hop-off bus tour while Em was in class. Not many good pictures because it was cloudyyy. And we caved and had Starbucks. You can judge all you want, but I find Starbucks in other countries SO interesting. Also, America, we've been doing the scone ALL WRONG. The Aussies know what's up.

BUT we did get to go see Much Ado About Nothing at the Sydney Operahouse! Let me tell you....it was AMAZING. Ohmygoodness. So great. So great that I just need to stop trying to describe it lest I do it more injustice by rambling like I am now. So...here's a picture of Dad and Em outside!

Day 3
Best. Day. Ever. Emily got out of class early, so we took a bus to Hyde Park (named after the one in London) and visited the Barracks Museum (we went to one in honor of you, Mom!). Sydney history is fascinating. Obviously, I couldn't take pictures in there, but here's one from the park!

We're sisters, and I have an awkward claw-like hand.

Then we went to Pie Face. Hello, wonderful. I've tried to be good on points while I'm here, but this was the only thing that I ate every. last. bit. I had the Chicken and Mushroom, Em had the Thai Chicken Curry, and Dad had the Steak and Peppercorn Stacked--stacked meaning that they put mashed peas (sounds weird, but so good!), mashed potatoes, and gravy on top of the pie. They were all deliciousss! And this is me being a super tourist. You can judge. But don't judge my lack of neck. Or my chipped nail polish...I forgot to take it off after my engagement shoot with the lovely Amanda Scott. So leave me alone.

After lunch we went on a coffee cruise around Sydney. Great food and great commentary. I'm a sucker for informational things like that. I know I said this earlier, but I find Sydney history fascinating; it's such a young country, and yet was modernized in such a short period of time. The weather was perfect, so I got approximately eighty billion pictures of the Operahouse, give or take 79.9 billion. Here's the one I like the best!

Wait, what's that you're saying? It looks like EVERY other picture you've seen of the Operahouse? I know, I know. But it's mine, so I like it.

We followed the cruise with Em giving us a tour of University of New South Wales, where she's attending this semester, concluding with a visit to her house and meeting her lovely flat mates, then eating some amazing Thai food! Like I said, best day ever.

Overall the trip's been great, so I'm looking forward to the rest! Taronga Zoo tomorrow (KOALASSS! I finally get to meet one after years of "K is for koala and Kayla" in alphabet name games), SHOPPINGGGG on Friday, and more beach walks on Saturday!

Then, it's back to the real world. And wedding planning. Real wedding planning. Which I've neglected for a long time....but I'm choosing not to think about that right now.

Something old, something new...

2011-04-21T21:24:00.000-05:00

Something borrowed...well, that's kind of gross, isn't it?

I don't know if I ever mentioned this, but I have a dress. A wedding dress. A dress for my wedding. Because I'm getting married.

It's white and I love it. That's all I'm going to tell you. I like being mysterious. That and Le Fiance doesn't want to know ANYTHING about what I'm wearing that day. Nothing. Which is kind of okay with me, it just gets hard to keep my mouth shut. Oh, the things we do for love.

But now that I have the dress, I'm running into problems. The old adage "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue" is great and all, but what's old that I could wear on my wedding day? That kind of weirds me out. And I'd like to borrow something, but what? What do you borrow from people? Thinking about it kind of gives me the shivers. The new part is easy: dress, duh. And so is the blue. One of the first presents Fiance gave me was blue rope bracelet; it's plain, it's kind of camp-y, but I love it. When he gave it to me he said "Every time you look at this think of me" (cheesy, judge) and I do. And he has a "matching" yellow one, so somewhere on my person will be the blue bracelet. But can you double up on them? Can I get blue shoes, too? Then it would be "Something old, something new, something blue and another thing blue" right? Does that count? Or can I just change it altogether?

I know that somehow, some way I will have all things "something." But what do I borrow? I want to borrow accessories (again, can't say much because of Fiance) but I'm kind of (okay, REALLY) picky. And can I buy shoes and wear them and count them as "old"? I just don't know these things.

But the main thing is I have a dress. OH and a fiance. A wonderful one, at that.

What did you borrow on your wedding day? Or did you opt out of that tradition?

The "I Dos"

2011-04-11T14:40:00.013-05:00

I think hands-down, one of the hardest things about wedding planning is remembering what comes after: the marriage. Don't get me wrong, I think about the marriage part all the time. We're going through premarital counseling right now, so we're DEFINITELY learning about how things "really" go (I know what you're thinking, "Wait, it's not all cuddles and romantic dinners?" I know, it surprised me too! Kiddingggggg.). But somewhere between the cake tasting, decoration making, and vendor confirming it's easy to lose sight of what the wedding means and symbolizes, the joining of two people. Forever.

And maybe that's why I struggle so much with the vows. To me, the vows are what "make" the ceremony. The vows are, in essence, a snapshot of the couple; it's the part I wait for and look forward to at every ceremony. What are they promising to do? To have and to hold? Or to take out the trash every Tuesday and let her cook one chocolate dessert every week? I think traditional vows are perfect for some couples, repeating words that have been voiced for centuries and saying the same things your parents said is a powerful thing. I also like non-traditional vows, ones that are unique to the couple.

But I see issues with both. The traditional vows are just that...traditional. I love them, I do, but Scott and I aren't exactly traditional people and our wedding will reflect that. I think the words are touching, but just not "us." Then there are non-traditional, which are cute, but sometimes leave people out of the loop and asking "Wait, what'd he just say?" or "Was that supposed to be funny? I don't get it." Granted, I know this is our ceremony, but it's still a day that we're sharing with people and I don't want to have to plant people in attendance to laugh at the right time. That's just awkward.

So I think we'll combine both, traditional and non-traditional. Maybe we'll just re-word some things and make it more "us" or maybe we'll google "vows" and see what happens (Is that bad? Because that's probably what we'll be doing.).

Either way, I can practically promise you that some of what this darling couple says will make it in there. Seriously. I cry every time I watch this.

Gene + Jill // Two Pease in a Pod from capture studios on Vimeo.

I mean, really? So adorable. I die.

So what were your vows? Did you go the traditional route, or choose to write your own?

My Nightmare

2011-04-02T08:14:00.003-05:00

I've had wedding nightmares before. You know, it's my wedding day and Mom says, "Oh, hey, p.s. I forgot to send out wedding invitations so we just used the phone system at church and everyone will get a voicemail about it." And then the flowers show up and they're huge, gaudily pinkish-mauve roses and the wedding planner whips out forest green tablecloths and everyone thinks it's beautiful. Sick. I've had those before.

But this nightmare, this is of an entirely different caliber. I think every girl dreams not only of the day itself, but what she will look like; her hair, make-up, and of course, the dress. She looks stunning and she feels like a knock-out. That's what girls dream of. So when I start having nightmares regarding how I look and feel...well, that's just downright nasty, subconscious.

It goes a little something like this: I'm walking down the aisle with my Dad. He's smiling and patting my arm, while I'm a little bit teary eyed but can't keep a grin off my face. I shift the positions of my arms a little bit....and something feels wrong. As I lift my arms, I realize that I haven't shaved under my arms in what appears to be, oh, three months or so. Horrified, I slam my arms down and keep them there the remainder of the day. In every picture, my arms look huge because they're glued to my sides.

And the worst part? This is not a one-time dream. To date, I think I've had it about seven times. Awesome.

So, friends, if you see me move in limited ways, you'll know. If you come up to hug me and it's like hugging a T-rex, you'll know. And most importantly, if you see Emily slip me something pink that glimmers in the sunlight in the middle of the ceremony, oh, you'll know. So don't mind me if it looks like I'm doing a strange dance mid-ceremony, I'm just sparing everyone the trauma of unsightly underarm hair. You're welcome.

Sweet Corn Tamale Cakes

2011-03-26T09:44:00.004-05:00

Last week my family and I went to a Mexican restaurant here in town. For most people in our area, this is not uncommon (let's be real, most people have Bueno almost once a week); for me, though, well let's just say I'm not a big fan of Mexican food. It makes my tummy feel funny.

So imagine my surprise when we ordered a dish that I LOVED. I mean, downright wanted to stop eating and take it home just so I knew I could have it the next day. I didn't, of course, because I wanted to eat it then, too. My mom and I looked at the menu online because I needed to decide what I wanted before we got there (I'm notorious for taking wayyyy too long to decide at the restaurant) and we saw on the appetizer list something intriguing: sweet corn tamale cakes. Hmm. I like corn, but I don't like tamales. But it was topped with avocado so of course I said, "Sign me up!"

After dinner, I declared that I would recreate the dish at home. I had to. I needed to have a recipe like this in my life. I would say I came pretty close...of course I didn't get everything right, I knew I wouldn't. But that just gives me an excuse to go back, right? Perfect!

Enjoy the recipe! If I had to do it over again, I would probably double the recipe. This cake wasn't dense necessarily, it just didn't rise like the cakes at the restaurant. I considered baking it in muffin tins, but was hesitant about the baking time. Let me know if you try it!

Sweet Corn Tamale Cake with Creamy Avocado Topping
Adapted from Knead for Speed's recipe

Corn Cake

1 can (14-15ish oz) sweet corn, drained--YES, sweet corn. Nothing else. Hence the sweet corn cake.
1/2 cup masa harina (you can find it at Wal-Mart in the Hispanic food section!)
3 tablespoons yellow corn meal
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 1/2 tablespoons butter, softened
a little over 1/4 cup honey--I just let it overflow for a second. I like sweet things, okay?
3 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons skim milk

Creamy Avocado Topping

1 avocado
3 tablespoons whipped cream cheese--get it out of the fridge when you start making the cake. You'll want it to be a little bit soft.
a little bit of honey
one Roma tomato

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8x8 baking pan with cooking spray.

Using a blender or food processor, blend the sweet corn until it's smooth but still a little bit chunky. Set aside for later.

In a small bowl, combine the masa harina, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt. Save for later.

Beat the butter until fluffy using an electric mixer. Make sure you're using a bowl big enough for all the ingredients, but not so big that you feel like you're just chasing the butter around the bowl. I'm speaking from experience, here. Add the honey, corn mixture, water and milk to the butter. Mix to combine. Then add your masa harina mixture to the honey/corn/butter/etc mixture and mix to combine.

Pour your batter into your baking dish. Cover with foil and bake for about 35-45 minutes. Allow to cool for about 10 minutes before serving.

While it's baking, you can whip up the avocado topping. Slice the avocado in half, remove the pit, and cut the avocado into medium-sized squares. Place in a small bowl. For the cream cheese, I used whipped for two reasons: one, I felt like it would coat the avocado better and two, I'm on Weight Watchers and still really wanted cream cheese so this was my solution. Measure out the whipped cream cheese and add it to the avocados. Drizzle a little honey in, to taste. Using a rubber spatula, stir all ingredients together until the avocados are coated and it looks like the honey's been incorporated. Cover and put in the fridge until you serve the corn cake. Dice up the tomato and set aside.

When you're ready to serve, cut the cake in squares (Knead for Speed even recommends using a cookie scoop! I think I should have done that) and top with avocado topping and diced tomato. Drizzle a little more honey on if you wish, and enjoy!

What not to wear

2011-03-17T14:25:00.005-05:00

Thanks for your comments regarding the arbor! I think I've come to a decision....I'm going to go with the fabric-draped arbor! Not sure if I'll use color fabric or not, but I just think it will be the right touch of whimsy. Or something like that.

I thought that deciding upon the arbor would open the gates to decision-making across the board...how wrong I was. I still have so, so many decisions to make. So. Many. Decisions. But I have been making some progress! The biggest accomplishment is purchasing bridesmaids dresses. They're CUTE, let me tell ya. Now all we have to decide is what the boys are wearing, what shoes I'm going to wear, what kind of veil I'm wearing, how to decorate the mantle in the lodge, what's going on the aisle for the ceremony, what our programs will look like.....okay, so we've still got a way to go.

But the awesome news is...WE'RE GETTING OUR ENGAGEMENT PICTURES TAKEN SOON! I'm. so. excited. We're getting them taken at Camp, where we met. Now the most pressing decision for me is....what the junk do I wear? Seriously. I love fashion and styling, but I'm so lost. Do we "theme" the shoot? If so, I'm not really up for wearing our Camp gear; Chacos and Nike shorts aren't exactly the most "bride-like" attire. We're probably going to bring a quilt to the shoot (I know, kind of engagement-cliche but I like it) and Fiance's going to bring his ukulele, but other than that I really have no ideas.We've thought about doing a picnic-y type thing, with me baking some treats and what not, but I didn't know if that was too much. So, again, I'm asking for your help! I do have an idea on one outfit but still need help. I've been making some style boards on Polyvore but am still open to suggestions! I'm lookin' to this gal for style inspiration, too. Because she's adorable. And I love her.

Also, do you think I should get my make-up done for this? Seriously. It's a pretty well-known fact that I'm, well, less than skilled with makeup. Also known as if I leave the house with anything more than mascara and blush it's a good day. I've been debating this for a while and didn't know if that was too much.

So help a sista out. Let me know what I should wear! I know that you're not completely familiar with my closest (thank goodness) but generics work well, too! Looking forward to your opinions. I know I've got some super-stylish friends out there.

Help, prease?

2011-03-07T13:40:00.017-06:00

In my hunt for all things wedding, I've noticed that I gravitate towards decorations that could be considered "whimsical." The problem, however, is that they also could be considered "childish" or "trashy." There's a very, very fine line between these adjectives. And I feel like I'm gravitating towards the "trashy."

Yeck.

A source of major concern is the arbor. Do I want to decorate with real flowers? Do I want to decorate with streamers? Pom pom streamers? Honeycomb balls hung on streamers? Chiffon draped over the arbor? The answer is yes. To all of them.

Honestly, I think my main concern is this: I don't want people to think that I'm taking my marriage lightly. Believe me, I understand that marriage is a blessing, but I also acknowledge that it takes work. Lots of work. Fiance and I are under no illusions that marriage will always be hunky dory; it takes time to adapt to living with another person, and even 50 years down the line it will still be difficult.

But does that mean I can't have loads of tissue paper and streamers everywhere? I honestly don't know. As a couple, fiance and I aren't exactly the most serious people. And by that, I mean we're goofy. All de timez lolz (Too much? Yeah, I figured.). So at the reception, I know we can get away with having some fun little decorations around. But is it pushing it to have them at the ceremony?

Basically, I need your help. Do we go pseudo-traditional and have flowers on the arbor? Or do we go with the whimsical-ness of streamers and pom poms? Or do we combine a little of both, with chiffon-like fabric and some other decorations? I'm letting (read: begging) y'all help decide!

So here's what the arbor looks like (it's from behind but you get the idea). It's kind of pixelated, but it can be found here:

And here are the options (click on the links for bigger pictures!):
This was my original idea for the arbor. Simple and sweet. I still love it. If you need picture inspiration, check her photos out. I LOVE them.

These are some garlands made of dyed coffee filters. I love this. In different colors, I think it would be beautiful!

Ohhh my dear, I love this, too. In shades of light pink and turquoise? Yes, please.

Oh doilies. My weakness. So pretty. Can you picture garlands of these? I can.

So I know these are on a car, but can I still think it would be super cute on an arbor!
...and then there's these. This one's the perfect color, and this one's just plain gorgeous.

So what do you think? Which one do you think would look the best with my whimsical wedding? Looking forward to hearing your opinions!

diy? Try d-i-die.

2011-02-28T17:21:00.005-06:00

From the beginning of wedding planning, I have decided to make a lot of things for this wedding myself; not all, mind you, but a lot of things. I like knowing that the ceremony and reception will have personal touches, things that I made specifically for Fiance and I's special day. And, let's be real here, I did like (okay, love) the idea of having control over things. If I make them and mess them up, my fault, try again! If someone else makes them and messes them up...bad news. So, so bad. Plus, I had over a year to make everything, right?

Oh, how wrong I was. Now, here we are, six months out from le wedding and what have I made? Uhmmm....nothing. I've purchased some things, but overall, the whole DIY thing isn't going too well.

This is where the panic sets in. I know it's probably too soon, but it's happening just the same. Gone are the days that I could claim I had a year to make things. Sigh.

So, my friends, if you get an invitation to a "super fun girl's night!" bring a glue gun, a paintbrush, some thread, and a good attitude. I'm putting you to work.

The good news? I have a dress, a venue, a caterer, an officiant, a photographer, a bomb set of bridesmaids, and a smokin' hot fiance.

Bring it on, September.

And because I know you're dying to see...here's a sneak peak of some centerpiece ideas we're working on! And some fabric to be used elsewhere. And flowers from Fiance because he's the best. And my kitchen table, but we're not bringing that to the wedding. That would be just plain weird.

Contradiction Cookies

2011-02-21T20:58:00.005-06:00

I've never claimed to be a simple person. As my Grandpa puts it, "Girl, you're what we call high maintenance." I think I'd have to agree.

I'm a woman of many contradictions, especially when it comes to food. Oranges? No thanks. Orange juice and Pellegrino? Sign me up. (Like I said, high maintenance.) Ham? I'd really rather not. Ham and cheese quiche? Yes, please! (Secret's out, Mom! I really do like it.) Cheesecake? Not so much. Debbie Thomas's cheesecake for Tea? Ohhhhhh snapppp, I'm in. Mexican food? My stomach hurts thinking about it. Cafe Elote? Get in the car, we're leaving now. (I blame this girl for dragging me along..and by dragging I mean I prayed for a snow day so I didn't have to go to work and could tag along.)

Well, my friends, I now present you with another food contradiction. I've never been a fan of anything mint flavored. To be honest, (nerd alert) it reminds me of asthma attacks. Anyone else have to suck a peppermint and drink warm water during an attack? Anyone? No. Moving on.

As much as I hate mint flavored things, I borderline despise mint and chocolate. It just plain weirds me out; chocolate needs to be enhanced, not funkified.

Here comes the contradiction: these cookies. Oh. My. Lanta. I first had these cookies about a year ago at Fiance's house. It's his Grandma's recipe, and his mom had made them for Christmas. The second I ate that cookie, I saw the chocolate and mint light: it all made sense.

And so, I share them with you. It's only right. But don't worry, I'll spare you the recipe Fiance sent me; I'll put it this way, it took me a while to decode. Daises=flour, etc. He's a goob, that one. But I love him.

Andes Mint Cookies

1 cup butter
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 Tbsp water
1 tsp vanilla extract
3.5 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
Andes mint baking chips or Andes mints

Preheat oven to 375.

Cream together butter, both sugars, and eggs. Add water and vanilla, stir to combine. Then add flour, baking soda, and salt and mix together well. Now, here's the part where you can get creative! I add in about 3/4 a bag of Andes mint baking chips and mix it all up and love my life. But, since I'm generous, I'll give you some options. Also known as what I think is the original way of making them. If you want to make things look a little fancy, you can wrap the dough around half an Andes mint and seal the seam with a pecan. Mmm.

I used just scant of a cookie scoop and ended up with around 75 cookies. But don't worry, these things disappear like David Blaine. Okay, that's weird. Ignore that.

Bake for 8-10 minutes and love your life. Make sure you keep a secret stash for yourself. You won't regret it.

Jillian who?

2011-02-13T16:12:00.002-06:00

I think I've found it: the perfect wedding workout.

It's not crazy intense, so I know won't give up too easily. It's achievable; I've done it before and I know I can do it again. And most importantly...it's SO. MUCH. FUN.

Move aside, Jillian Michaels. You scare me even when it's just yoga. I need someone who's more encouraging. You know what, better than that. I don't want the person to even say a single word. And I've found just that.

Ready?

Have you ever played this before? It's SO fun. I think I could play for hours. They even have a "Just Sweat" portion that's made for workouts! Yes, please. My goals for working out pre-nuptials aren't just to lose weight, it's mainly to tone and get in the habit of exercising. This game is something that I think I could actually keep up AFTER the wedding. But, that also involves having a Wii. Which we currently don't. Just throwin' that out there, do what you want with it.

And before you even ask, yes, I dominate. And by dominate I mean I at least have some kind of weird white-girl rhythm goin' on. That counts for something, right?

Cake lust

2011-02-04T16:10:00.007-06:00

For some unknown reason, snow days always make me want to bake. A lot. More than usual, which is saying something because the "usual" for me is a borderline obsession. I got away this time with making Dulce de Leche Blondies (Heaven. In a pan. You'll get the recipe, don't you worry) but alas, my family does not appreciate the abundance of baked goods in a house we're forced to stay in. Weird, right? I know. Maybe I'll get to sneak some scones in later.

Okay, no I won't. I already asked and Dad said no. Saddest day of all days.

So instead of baking, I'm focusing all my energy onto looking at wedding cakes. This is something that I've struggled with. Mainly because I love cake. But wedding cakes are OUTRAGEOUSLY expensive. I mean really, over $900? For a cake without fondant? Ridiculous. But I digress. I struggle with this because...it's cake.

Basically, I love cake. Fondant is icky. It tastes gross and they peel it off before they serve it anyway, so why pay for it? Stick with buttercream; the words I could use to describe my love for buttercream are just plain wrong, so I won't.

However, this is not to say that I don't enjoy and appreciate artisan decorated cakes. I do, I truly do. There's so much time and skill that go into them...I would never have the patience for it! I just think that for my own wedding cake, I would like something more...simple. And easily edible. I like cake too much to have one that's so gorgeous that I won't let anyone touch it.

Sufficiently confused? Welcome to my life.

Here are my top five favorite cakes so far. Let me know what you think!

This cake kills me. I've seen a lot of them lately, but I don't care. The ruffles! Ohh...I die.

And this cake....just. make. it. stop. So perfect. I want it in my life forever and always.

I. Love. This. Cake. Simple and elegant. I'm a sucker for flowers on cakes. Think what you want.

If I were having a candy bar, I'd be all over this one. Candy + cake= sheer brilliance.

I think this one might be my favorite, though. I'm a sucker for peonies.

So there you have it. The cakes I've been drooling over. And who knows, maybe I'll bake something within the next 24 hours to cure my affliction.

You hear that, Dad? Can I can I?

Just trust me on this one...

2011-02-01T10:11:00.005-06:00

Welcome to snowcation 2011!! I can't lie, I LOVE this weather. Being curled up with a book and some hot chocolate, sign me up!

The recipe I'm sharing today comes from Sage Culinary Studio here in Tulsa. This was, hands down, the staff's favorite recipe! It's easy to make, and for the most part you'll have these ingredients on hand. We made this for classes, but also for birthday parties for the kiddos. It was always a hit! If you're in Tulsa, I highly recommend checking out Sage! They offer classes for kids, and the adult classes? Forget about it. De-lish-us.

Now, when you see the title of this recipe, you might wince and shake your head in confusion. But listen, you have to trust me. This recipe is so simple and delicious, you might find yourself making it all the time! Okay, maybe not all the time, but pretty often. Enjoy!

Melting Tuna Calzone

Adapted from the recipe found here, on Sage's website. Scroll down to the bottom for a list of recipes. Check out the Chicken-Ooh-La-La. DIVINE. Seriously. Spring for the Boursin Garlic and Herb cheese and you won't regret it.

1 can tuna in water, drained and flaked
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup shredded carrot
1/3 cup finely chopped celery
3 tbsp. mayo
2 tbsp. sliced green onions
1/2 teas. lemon juice
1/4 teas. dried dill weed
1/8 teas. pepper
1 package Pillsbury Crescent Creation (have you tried this stuff? Brilliant, I say.)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl until well mixed. Press out the crescent dough on a well-floured surface until it is roughly 16x11. Cut the dough into six squares and spoon the tuna mixture into the middle. Spread out the mixture slightly, but not to the edges; it will spread as it cooks, but you want to make sure that you don't get lots of dough on the edges. Fold the squares in half diagonally and use a fork to crimp the edges to seal. Once the edges are sealed, do not press the tuna mixture. Don't want it coming out the sides! Bake 12-14 minutes until deliciously golden brown. Serve with a veggie-loaded salad. Yum!

It's all in the details

2011-01-20T12:33:00.003-06:00

I think the most-received piece of wedding advice I've heard so far is "Don't worry about the details. It will all come together!" While that may be true, I think it's the details that I have the most fun planning.

Each wedding, naturally, varies completely based upon the couple; 10 girls could all have the exact same colors, dresses, flowers, tuxes, etc., and I still believe the end result would differ completely. It's the details that make the wedding unique! I know that weddings should focus on marriage, and I think too often the decorations and planning center too much on the bride. But even when I lose sight of what the wedding is really for, a celebration for the beginning of a new journey, it's the details that bring me back to earth; the details are what make the celebration individual to us.

I can tell you right now that there will be at least 3-4 weddings that you've seen in the past year or will see before mine that will look similar to what ours will look like: mismatched centerpieces (complete with blue mason jars, obviously...one of the biggest trends in weddings this year, I guar-an-tee), bunting banners, khaki suits...yes, you'll have seen it before and will see it again at our wedding. But what you won't see at others will be the details that Fiance and I have specifically chosen to fit us. And I like that, knowing that he and I made these decisions together that will set our ceremony apart from others and make it uniquely ours.

Will other people notice the differences? Maybe, maybe not. But it will make the day easier, more fun for me when I know that certain things have been chosen simply because he and I thought it would be "us", cute, or just plain funny. Some of these small details you'll probably hear about beforehand, others you won't, simply because I like the element of surprise at my wedding. What's the fun of knowing ahead of time? I want you to at least be able to have something to do! Other than eat delicious food, of course.

I will give you a sneak peak, though....are you ready? Brace yourself.

I love this bride's hair. I won't have the giant flower, though. Not NEAR gutsy enough for that. You should check out the rest of this gallery. It's amazing! And in Oklahoma, too! Love. It.

I know that's not a big detail, but to me, it's a detail just the same. What are some of the details you cherished the most/will cherish the most at your wedding?

Chocolate Lovin'

2011-01-13T10:19:00.003-06:00

If you're anything like me (and let's just hope you aren't), sometimes you just need chocolate. And you need it in a hurry. You don't want to mess around with making anything, so maybe you eat a small candy bar, pop a few chocolate chips in your mouth, or eat a spoonful of frosting (What? No one else does that? Awkwardddd).

Well, let me introduce to you the perfect mini dessert to fix your chocolate wants and needs. 3 ingredient brownies...what more could you ask for? Okay, there's a lot of things you could, but you shouldn't. Dip the brownies in a simple ganache and you, my friend, have the ideal snack. The best part is, you probably won't have to go grocery shopping! I know, right? You're welcome.

When I found this recipe the other day I knew I had to try it, and after I tried it I knew I had to share. Enjoy!

Nutella Brownies

Recipe adapted from I'll Have What She's Having

Ingredients

1/2 cup of Nutella
1 egg
5 tablespoons of flour

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Mix your Nutella with the egg, stirring until smooth. I used a fork for this part, just to whisk up the egg a bit before combining it with the Nutella. Add the flour, and stir until everything is incorporated. The consistency will be strange (at least, it was to me) so don't get worried. It's all good! Literally.

Grease a mini muffin tin and fill the cups about 3/4 full. I used a rounded 1/2 tablespoon, and that was perfect. Bake the brownies for about 10-12 minutes. The original recipe for the brownies calls for dusting them with sugar, but I went a different direction. A chocolate direction. I took the road less traveled, if you will. And it HAS made all the difference. Too much? Yeah, I figured.

Easy Chocolate Ganache

Proportions and recipe adjusted from the lovely Bakerella's recipe

Ingredients

1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons heavy cream
2 oz chocolate chips

Bakerella's recipe calls for heating the butter and cream in a saucepan until just before the boiling stage. You can do that! Or if you're super anxious like me, you can microwave it for about 45 seconds. Just make sure you watch it so that it doesn't boil. Add in the chocolate chips and let it sit for a few seconds, then stir until everything is smooth and glossy and loveable. Dip your mini brownies into the ganache, twisting as you pull up so that the strings of ganache break. And there you go! You can eat immediately or let the ganache harden a little. Up to you. The choice is yours.

And there ya go! See? I told you it was easy.

Famous Fiance

2011-01-07T09:49:00.006-06:00

I don't know if y'all know this, but I'm actually marrying a celebrity.

Okay not really. But I wouldn't be lying if I said that people think he's a look-a-like. Of whom, you ask? Oh, just you wait.

The first comparison I don't mind as much. I can understand where people are coming from; he's a music major, he's got dark glasses, and he's (kind of) got the hair. So when people compare Fiance to Artie from Glee, I'm not that upset.

The second, however, I have a slight problem with. Justin Bieber. Really?! I mean, I guess I understand the hair thing, but come on. I'd like to think that he's a better performer than that.

But I guess you can decide for yourselves. I think he's more handsome/studly than every male celebrity combined. I mean, look at this face. What's not to love? Plus, he's famous in his own right. Or is it infamous? Either way, it's good enough for me.

Pictures are from here and here.

The only frosting recipe you'll ever need

2011-01-03T11:43:00.002-06:00

This year, like it was for many others, was a whirlwind year for me. Constant changes and excitement, I feel like the best way to sum up my year comes in one word: transition.

I had to transition from the role of pupil to teacher during my semester of student teaching. That in and of itself was a learning experience in so many ways. I had to transition from college life to the "real world"--complete with all the excitement and disappointment that brings. Shifting from a girlfriend to a fiance, well, I couldn't have asked for a better transition!

And now, in 2011, I'm preparing for another year of transitions. New job, wedding planning, the actual wedding...and more things that I'm sure I just don't know of yet! And I can't wait.

I don't have many resolutions for this year, aside from just remembering the most important part of the wedding (my dress, duh. No, just keedinggg, the marriage!). But one that I plan on keeping is to blog more. For real this time.

So, in order to keep up with my resolution, I'll leave you with this, the only frosting recipe you'll ever need. Trust. Me. If you've never tried Swiss Meringue Buttercream (also referred to as SMBC on some blogs. I don't feel like I've gained to experience to use such acronyms) you must. You have to. Brave through whatever fears you have, and you won't regret it. I promise. It will sound weird, using egg whites and what not, but you just have to trust me. This frosting is so versatile. I've made caramel, chai spice, and peanut butter flavors! And I can't wait to try more.

Swiss Meringue Buttercream

This recipe is a combination of a million different recipes, but here's the basic recipe that I've found works best. I did, however, use this list of specific ways to improve the frosting. It really helps!

2 large egg whites
1/2 cup of sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 sticks of salted butter, cut into pieces
any flavors you wish, to taste

Combine the egg whites and sugar in a bowl. If you have a stand mixer, go ahead and use that bowl. I don't like dirtying more dishes than necessary! Place the bowl over a pot/pan of boiling water, making sure the water doesn't touch the bottom of the bowl. Stir the egg whites constantly until the sugar is dissolved. Then, using the whisk attachment, beat the egg white mixture until white and glossy. This might take a while, about 3 minutes, but the key is that the mixture must be cool. Seriously, it has to be room temperature before adding the butter. Switch to the paddle attachment on your mixer, add your butter 2 tablespoons at a time. Mix on medium speed, making sure to mix well after each addition of butter (about 10 seconds). After adding all the butter, turn your mixer on the high setting, and let it go. It will take a while, it will look curdled and nasty, but just let it happen. At about 5 minutes, your frosting will begin to come together. After your frosting is complete, add your vanilla extract and whatever flavors you wish! Set the mixer on low, make sure it's all mixed up, and you're good to go! Frost cupcakes, cakes, spoons that you plan on licking later...what? You don't do that, too? I never said my resolution was to eat better. =) Enjoy!

Holiday Food Inspiration

2010-12-08T11:00:00.006-06:00

The Holiday season has to be my favorite time of the year. How can you be sad when there are Christmas lights surrounding you? I love when friends come home from school for breaks, waking up on Saturdays to "Breakfast Bagel Sandwiches"--a Saffell specialty--with my sisters (Becky, you count) and parents, and wearing scarves and coats and all sorts of winter accessories.

Another thing I love about the Holidays, though, is the food. Oh, the food! I think for this one time of year, people are allowed to eat what they want, and indulge with (little to no) regrets. Okay, there's always going to be some regret, but just don't think about it too much and you'll be fine.

So, in honor of the holiday season that I love so dearly, I've compiled some recipes from some of my favorite sites that you can share with your family and friends during the most wonderful time of the year! Some I have tried, some I have not. So if you try something and like it, be sure to let me know!

**Sidenote** Sorry about the lack of pictures. I'm a copyright-phobe (does that even make sense?) and I don't want to use someone else's pictures without permission! That's a BIG no-no. **End of Sidenote**

So, first things first, appetizers!

I think these Cheddar Puffs look to die for. I've always wanted to try them!

Mystery rolls...oh, you don't even KNOW until you've tried them. So simple. So delicious.

Check out these ham and pretzel bites from Pennies on a Platter. Yum! Fiance's been asking about these for a while...my bad, yo.

Confession: I love, love, LOVE mushrooms. Another confession: these look absolutely divine. Smitten Kitchen, always a winner!!

This dip is delicious! Serve it with some pita chips (Stacy's, to be exact) and you'll have everyone begging for the recipe!

Main courses:

Okay, call me crazy, but I think this recipe for Roasted Yorkshire Chicken looks de-lish-us. Super simple way to roast your first chicken! I say that, but I've never roasted a chicken. Maybe this holiday season will be the first? Yeah, doubtful. Also, they're having a Le Creuset giveaway on this post, so hurry on over! Dream come true, I tell you.

I don't know about you, but I'm pretty picky when it comes to lasagna; it has to be perfect in order for me to even remotely enjoy it. This roasted vegetable lasagna, though, looks like it comes pretty darn close to perfection. What could be better than a big helping of lasagna and a nice salad? Nothing. And if you haven't checked out In Good Taste before, you should!! She features lots of weeknight recipes that always look delicious.

Try this sherried tomato soup from none other than PW if you're looking for something to warm your insides. Delicious!! Even with the sherry. I know, right? Scandyyyy.

Nothing screams Christmas like roast beef, right? Okay, maybe not, but I think this herb rubbed version is a nice alternative to the standard roast beef! Served with some mashed potatoes? Yes, please.

Anddd if you're indecisive like me and can't think of just one thing to make, I think this Fantasandwich would be a great idea!! I mean, really. Four sandwiches in one? Please and thank you.

Sides/breads/things you really want to eat but don't know what category they fit in:

Check out this different take on roasted potatoes. Plus, it can function as either an appetizer or a side! I like dishes that are just as indecisive as myself.

I love sweet potatoes. I also love cumin and paprika. Therefore, one can assume that I would LOVE these crash hot sweet potatoes! I've used the spice mix before on sweet potatoes, and it was wonderful. I was just too lazy to do the whole "crash" part. What? I'm a workin' girl.

I know, another potato recipe, but have you heard of hasselback potatoes? I've seen them all over the blogosphere, but have yet to try them. Here's 10 different ways to try them!

Oh dear. These rolls. Melted butter BEFORE you even cook them? Count me in. You can always trust PW to make things non-caloric to spice up your table. Plus, she won a throw-down with Bobby Flay. I think I can trust that these are crazy tasty.

I think this layered salad from Real Mom Kitchen looks delicious! You should also try her parmesan knots. I hear nothing but AMAZING things about those!

I'm not a huge fan of bleu cheese, but this salad looks so good! And what a great way to use pomegranates. Mmmm.

Now for my FAVORITE part! Dessert!

What would Christmas be without hot chocolate? Answer: I'm not really sure, but I don't ever want to be around if it disappears. Here's a new take on a classic! Hot chocolate on a stick. And if you're feeling in the Christmas-giving-spirit, you can make some for your friends, hand deliver them, and have them make you a glass while you wait! See? Sometimes, you gotta think outside the box.

Or, if you're feeling particularly baker-like one day, I think these Mexican Hot Cocoa Cupcakes would be a delicious alternative. Caramel hidden beneath fluffy spiced cream all on top of a chocolate cupcake? Only if I must.

These chocolate caramel tartelettes from Sophistimom look absolutely heavenly. If you've never looked at her recipes, make sure that you're prepared for the onslaught of hunger that accompanies her posts. Her photography is breath-taking! She also made these cupcakes based on the movie Elf. Dear Jaime: stop being so creative. And can you please come take pictures of my food? I think it'll boost my cooking confidence. Kthanks.

What dessert section would be complete without a shout-out to Bakerella? That would be a travesty. While I haven't made this Maple Walnut dessert at home, I can tell you that this is hands-down one of my favorite restaurant desserts. Make it. Now.

I know cinnamon rolls don't necessarily qualify as a dessert, but they should. But who am I kidding, I'd eat them all day every day if I could.

And for all you English majors out there, I think you know what I mean when I say this is an essential Christmas dessert. Known as "Goo" in our department, this stuff disappears in two seconds flat. If someone feels the need to sneak some of Dr. Agan's Goo back for me to T-town, I wouldn't mind one bit.

So there you have it! My wayyyy too long-winded list of holiday food inspirations! Hopefully, I'll make some of these soon and I'll be able to give you reports on how they taste!

In the mean time, what's one of your favorite holiday recipes? Is there one thing that you have to have every year? Or something that's become a tradition in your family? Please share! Especially if it's a tasty recipe. I wouldn't hate that at all.

Registering and Le Creuset

2010-12-02T08:57:00.006-06:00

I've been told on more than one occasion that registering for wedding schtuff single-handedly makes up the most stressful part of wedding planning...I can understand that, but why? Is it because of conflicting decorating styles? (Probably.) The groom-to-be registering for silly things like frozen food? (Most likely.) Or is it because the future bride wants anything and everything she sees? (There we go.)

I know that the registering process won't begin for Fiancee and I for a while, but I still find myself taking notes at Target. From bath towels to a new Wii, I picture our future life together which, by the way, is always EXTREMELY well-decorated and always involves food. But I bet you could guess that already. But the question I find myself asking the most is "What exactly are we allowed to register for?" Am I really allowed to register for a Wii? Or do I just stick with the normal bedding and kitchenware items?

And then I begin to wonder, how much is too much? How many place settings to I register for? 8? 12? Do I dare register at Williams-Sonoma, hoping and praying that someone gets me a Le Creuset 5 1/2 quart round dutch oven in Caribbean, only to be disappointed because I know it's way too expensive? Do I register for every-day dishes AND china?

Then, I thump myself on the head, knowing that I always ask way too many questions and stress out way too soon. You register for what you need, Kayla. Not what you want. Even though a Wii would be SUPER nice (hello, instant Netflix), I know that's not something Fiancee and I need from the beginning. We have our laptops, we'll have a TV, and that should be enough.

Plus, Christmas is coming up. So maybe the things we want and don't necessarily need could be asked for now. Or, let's be real, I don't have any problem hitting up eBay for a used Wii. No shame.

So for now I'll just take notes, looking at the things we'll need (like dishes) and not what we (okay I) want (like a Le Creuset 5 1/2 quart round dutch oven in Caribbean). But that leaves me with a question...what are things you wish you had registered for? Or maybe wish you hadn't? Did you regret registering for both china and every-day plates? (That's seriously a battle in my head). Or did you regret registering for too much? I'm all ears for words of wisdom.

I hope you had a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving holiday!

And just in case you were wondering....this is a Le Creuset 5 1/2 quart round dutch oven in Caribbean. Just in case you needed a visual.

Beautiful, ain't she?

Addiction

2010-11-13T12:39:00.008-06:00

I think it's probably pretty obvious by now that I have a serious addiction to chocolate. I mean, it's bad. You know something's not right when you'll willingly eat celery all day just because you know that means you can have a milkshake later. And out of the HUNDREDS of recipes I have on my computer, it's safe to say that over half are chocolate. What can I say? I'm in love.

Well, friends, even if you don't share my affinity for all things cocoa, I'm here to share with you a recipe that will make you addicted, too. Believe me. When I say this stuff is good, I ain't lyin'. You'll just keep going back for more. And the best part? So. Easy. I've had this at bridal showers, at home, and even my lovely future mother-in-law made it for our girl's night for Camp! Even then, I found girls who were originally hesitant hovering over the bowl waiting for seconds.

And I know that you'll see the recipe and think to yourself, "Self: why on earth is she posting a recipe with ice cream in it? Doesn't she know it's November?" Yes, yes I do. But you have to trust me on this one. We're friends, right? Answer: yes.

So here it is, y'all. Enjoy! This is a perfect recipe for dessert-time during the holidays!

Cappuccino Punch

Ingredients:

¼ cup instant coffee granules
½ cup sugar
1 cup boiling water
2 quarts milk (and for the love of Pete, don't use skim! You'll be fine. Promise.)
1 quart vanilla ice cream, softened
1 quart chocolate ice cream, softened

In a small bowl, combine the coffee granules and the sugar. Stir in the boiling water until the coffee mixture is dissolved. Then cover and refrigerate until chilled. No, seriously. You have to let it cool down. I know it’s hard, trust me, but it’ll be worth it.

Just before it’s go-time, pour the COOLED coffee mixture into a 1-quart punch bowl and stir in the milk. Then, add scoops of your ice cream and stir until melted.

Serve to family, friends, or yourself on the back porch while reading a good book. Be prepared to be bombarded with pleas for the recipe!

"Definitely. So true."

2010-11-01T10:43:00.006-05:00

The bridesmaid dress is a very peculiar thing, an oddity that I have yet to have a pleasant experience with.

I think it's safe to say that I have many OCD-esque qualities, and having everything match and being absolutely perfect kind of falls into that category. If the bridesmaids dress is blue, then anything else that is blue has to be that exact. same. shade.

Needless to say, I'm running into problems. I'm very particular about the shade of blue I want, and it's starting to look like no one really has that color in stock. Granted, I know the winter months are coming, and the Tiffany's-blue-but-more-blueish-than-that-but-maybe-more-aqua color that I want isn't really en vogue at present. But even online, how am I supposed to know if that is the color that I want? The tiny swatch at the side of the screen does nothing for me. What if it's more aqua than blue? What if it's not even close at all, and it's a mint green? I don't want my bridesmaids looking like they have a strange obsession with mint ice cream.

I know that I'm not exactly the most fashion forward person (let's be real, if I could wear a v-neck and cardigan every day, I would...and I have for probably the past week), but I would like to think that I do know a thing or two about what is and is not a good look for a wedding....and everything I'm seeing is NOT a good look. And if it gets even relatively close, it's out of this world expensive. I just don't see the point of shelling out that much cash for something that I can guarantee they WON'T wear again. And I've considered the whole "same color different dress" idea, but I need to find the color first, and even then I feel like the dresses still need to be a little bit cohesive style wise. (Am I sounding like a control freak yet? Because I am...)

I want my bridesmaids to look and feel not only beautiful, but comfortable. And I really do want them to be able to wear the dress again. So, at present, my solution is to start looking outside the normal bridesmaids dress designers and maybe look at more "un"bridesmaids dresses. But what if they're TOO un-bridesmaidsy? I mean, I think there's a line that I shouldn't cross, but I'm afraid that I will. Like patterned dresses...is that too much? Our wedding will be pretty casual, but I'm not sure if it will be that casual.

What do you think? Are patterned dresses a "no-no"? And be honest, do bridesmaids REALLY wear their dresses again? I don't want to go along thinking that they like it and will wear it again, when everyone else knows they won't. (Think 27 Dresses: "You can shorten it and wear it again!" "Definitely. So true.")

I just don't know these things.

But I DO know this: I have the best bridesmaids ever. They're willing to wear whatever I ask, but I trust they'll tell me when they don't like it....hopefully.

Saying "Yes! Well, maybe. What do you think? You're right, this is it! Isn't it?" to the dress

2010-10-16T00:47:00.005-05:00

The wedding dress, I would venture to say, is the part of the wedding that little girls dream about the most, and the part that newly engaged women look forward to.

I am not that girl. This is the part that I am dreading. It's not because I'm worried about how I will look or how expensive the dress is going to be, although those are important factors. I'm worried because I don't think I'll be able to pick just one. What if I find "the one" and then later decide it's not? What if I find one and think it's the one, only to find a more "the one" one later? WHAT IF I DON'T FIND ONE AT ALL?

Welcome to the mind of the most indecisive girl on earth. I can't even make up my mind when I go to Chick Fil A (it's all chicken, Kayla. How hard is that?), so needless to say the dress experience is making me a little bit anxious. I thought I knew what I wanted, but everyone said that when you try on what you want you'll hate it. So then I started looking at gowns that I didn't like, but that doesn't even make sense, does it?

And then comes the style question: do I want trendy? classy? sassy? ivory? white? strapless? a-line? mermaid? all of the above?

Maybe I'm nervous because the wedding dress is at times more the focal point than the bride herself; this one component can single-handedly make or break whether or not the bride looks....well, like a bride. The dress is supposed to reflect the bride's personality as well. So that would mean mine would be....awkward. Really, really awkward. And indecisive. Which means it will have all kinds of crazy elements in all the wrong spots.

Not exactly my idea of a pretty gown.

But, regardless of my anxiety, I must go at some point. And when I do, I know that eventually, somewhere out there, there will be a dress for me. And it will be pretty. And I will love it and [hopefully] never look back.

I also know that there will be chocolate involved in the celebration of finding the dress or in the post-defeat shopping trips.

So, I guess this is actually a win-win situation, right? Well then. Maybe I'll go shopping sooner than I thought.

Goodbye, wedding diet

2010-09-26T13:35:00.002-05:00

...hello cookies.

First things first... why did no one inform me that I spelled my future last name wrong in my header? I'm embarrassed. Guess that means I need to practice my signature more! I don't hate it.

Next...if you're not in love yet, get ready to fall head over heels. If you are, well, tell your loved one they'll have to take a back seat for a while.

If you ever went to OC, chances are that at one point or another you've had a cookie from Eileen's. They're absolutely delicious. My roommates and I used to go on Saturday's junior year for breakfast. Do not judge unless you've had these cookies. Everyone I know instantly becomes addicted, and on more than one occasion I brought these cookies to Stillwater by request of le fiance.

And now I am more than happy to present to you, my friends, the recipe. Please disregard the quality of le picture. I may be a working girl (AH!! I HAVE A JOB!) but still don't have enough money for a good camera. Sigh. Also, excuse the weird looking frosting. Somehow all the cookies got stuck together, and I figured a bad picture is better than none at all.

Eileen's Cookies
adapted from this recipe
--Note: If you switch out vanilla extract for almond extract, you'll get Lofthouse cookies instead! Win win situation if you ask me. However, I doubled the measurements in the frosting for the extract, so make sure you taste it and adjust as needed.

FOR THE COOKIES:

1 box Pillsbury white cake mix (yes, you have to use Pillsbury. You need the pudding in the mix!!)
⅔ cup flour
2 large eggs
⅓ cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons sour cream
1 teaspoon almond extract

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Mix the dry cake mix and flour then add the eggs, oil, sour cream and extract and mix well.

Roll the dough into about 1" balls (cookie scoops work perfectly!) and place them on a Silpat-like sheet. Seriously, I wish I was lying, but you need one to make these cookies.The point of these cookies is melt-in-your-mouth-goodness, so you don't want a brown bottom! No crisp cookies here. Plus, they might overbake if you don't use one. Which is bad. Very, very bad.

Flatten the balls using the heel of your hand. You don't want them too thin, maybe just about 1/2 an inch thick. The edges might be a little crackly, so feel free to touch them up. Or, if you're like me, you just want them in the oven as fast as you can, so you don't really consider presentation. And you know what? That's okay too. Too many Martha Stewarts could be a bad thing...right?

Bake for about 10-12 minutes, depending on how big you made your cookies, how your oven works, etc. You'll just kind of have to play around with it. I baked mine for 12, and you'll know they're done when they're kind of firm in the center. But remember, don't over bake! The bottom of the cookies are supposed to still be light if you did the right thing and used a Silpat (what? They're amazing. And yes, you DO need one). The point is melty-ness, not Chips Ahoy. -Beginning of rant- am I the only one who can't stand Chips Ahoy? I mean, if you're going to skimp on chocolate chip cookies, the least you could do is break and bake. Come on, people. -End of rant-

When you take your cookies out of the oven, let them cool off a bit and harden up before transferring them to a foil sheet to completely cool down. Now it's time for the icing..

FOR THE ICING:

½ cup Crisco
½ cup butter, room temp
½ teaspoon salt
¼ cup milk
2 teaspoons almond extract
1 tablespoon meringue powder (go to the specialty baking section of Wal-Mart near the party planning stuff. It will be with the Wilton products)
½ envelope Dream Whip Mix (this will be near the Jello. Normally on the top shelf!)
1 pound powdered sugar

Beat the Crisco and butter until the mixture is smooth and blended together. Add the salt, milk and almond extract and beat for one minute. Add the meringue powder, Dream Whip powder, and powdered sugar and mix well. Use a spoon or spatula to make sure everything's incorporated. Then, carefully beat on medium-high for about a minute (I think mine took longer) or until the frosting becomes light and fluffy. Taste your frosting to make sure you have enough extract. At first, the powdered sugar will be a little overwhelming, but I ended up adding more than 2 teaspoons of the extract. What? I like it, okay.

Let the cookies come to room temperature before frosting them. Obviously, I didn't pile up the icing as much on mine as Eileen's does, but I ended up regretting that. Just spread the icing on with an offset spatula, or if you're feeling artsy-fartsy go ahead and use a piping bag. But only if you must. Now, this is when the original recipe states that you "MUST use sprinkles"...however, if you're like me, then you have an issue with texture and get super weirded out by sprinkles. But, I realize that not everyone's like me (weird, right? I know.) so feel free to add them if you wish. The following step, however, is a must. Seriously. Trust me. You need to store the cookies in Tupperware or place them on a cookie sheet and cover them pretty tightly with plastic wrap after frosting them, and leave them for a few hours or overnight. This little step makes all your efforts worthwhile; it gives the frosting the perfect texture. And...well...I just can't explain it. It's just plain divine. So don't skip that step!

Then, enjoy! Share with your friends and family! And ignore the fact that you just started Weight Watchers. You get flex points, right? Right.

Top 5 No-No's

2010-09-08T15:46:00.005-05:00

I think it's already happening....I am becoming bridezilla.

I don't think there's anything wrong with knowing exactly what you want and how you want it, is there?

Crickets.

Let me rephrase. I actually don't think I'm becoming a bridezilla...I think I might feel like one because my answers to "the questions" about wedding planning aren't necessarily normal. But when am I ever normal? Let's be real here.

Here's my top 5 list of things that I hate hearing right now:

1) "What? NO TUXES?!" Whoa, sorry. Didn't realize that's a wedding must-have. But apparently, it is. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE tuxes; they're chic and sharp. However, there are couple of things to keep in mind. First, Scott wears tuxes all the time for school. He looks uber handsome and I love it. BUT, we're going for more casual. And if he wears tuxes almost twice a month (if not more), then that really special element of wearing a full tuxedo is missing. That feeling, my friends, might be replaced with a vest. A khaki one. And he's REAL excited about it. Second, we're getting married at a ranch. Tuxedos. At a ranch. Think about it.....wait for it....weird, right? Exactly.

2) "Why don't you have your dress yet? You've been engaged a month." ....exactly. I've been engaged a month. I know a lot of girls who can pick out their dresses the day after the proposal and be perfectly satisfied, and it makes me jealous. I, on the other hand, will buy a pack of gum from QT and the instant I sit in my car will be second guessing if I made the right decision. If I get a dress now, there's no telling what will be going through my mind come April. This question can also be replaced with "Where's your honeymoon?" and the answer will remain the same.

3) "What exactly is the budget for your wedding?" I really, really wish that wasn't true. That information should be strictly voluntary.

4) "Wait...you're using WHAT as decorations?" So maybe I have some crazy, pseudo-tacky ideas. Will they be at the wedding? Maybe, maybe not. But if they are, smile. Just like this lovely couple.

See? They're in love. And they have bunting as decorations. And no one's dying or is confused that they're at a circus.

5) Saved the best for last..."You're waiting a YEAR to get married? Oh sweetheart, that's just not a good decision." Well, whether it was or not, that's the decision we made. Could we have gotten married sooner? Yes, if we wanted a winter wedding. My lil Maid of Honor is traveling to the Outback in February, and I wouldn't do this without her. Yes, I realize that you can get married while in school. However, for Scott and I, these were not the right decisions, and I think that's okay. Everyone's different. Will we be regretting this decision around May? Yeah, probably. But I want to be able to look back on wedding planning and smile, not pull my hair out. And for me, that means a year-long engagement. I wish I could be someone to pull it off in a sixth of the time, really I do. But for me, that's just not feasible, and never in a million years would I drag Scott through it with me.

So, wedding world, there it is. I believe that weddings are a celebration of the couple getting married, not just the bride. If that means that Scott wants tuxes with cowboy boots and spurs, done. Or if that means khaki suits, let there be khaki! If that means Chick Fil A nuggets somewhere amongst the catering festivities, then bring on the Roasted Honey Mustard sauce. And if Scott decides he wants a giant Jello shape thing instead of a groom's cake, I'll gag a little bit, and proceed with finding the most perfect mold.

So in the future, dearest readers, make sure you use caution when talking to a bride. Maybe her style isn't the same or she's doing things "wrong." In reality, she's not. It's her wedding, so let her have her day! No couple should be second-guessing on their wedding day what others will think.

Will our wedding be weird? Maybe. Will it be us? Definitely. And I think that's the most important.

Just a boy and a girl in a little canoe...

2010-09-01T12:54:00.004-05:00

So, here we are. I'M GETTING MARRIED! And instead of creating a whole new blog, I decided I'd be frugal (what?) and just re-use my old one. It was lonely and neglected.

ANYWAY. This won't be limited just to wedding-ness, I'll still be posting recipes (no, really this time) and other things. But since wedding planning is the most recent, let's start with that.

First: I HAVE A DATE! September 3rd, 2011. Mark it down. I know that it's Labor Day weekend, but you have a year notice. You'll be fine. Promise. Second: I HAVE A VENUE! It's amazing. They're amazing. I basically get to do whatever I want with the lodge, which I LOVE! Except touch the chandeliers...which have shotguns on them. I like to think that it adds character....right? There will also be some surprises in regards to the location. But I'll let you find those out when you see them in person! I'm tricky like that. Third: I HAVE BRIDESMAIDS! And I love them. I didn't exactly ask them in a creative way (or even ask them at all...sorry Emmy and Becky) but they're all in! Which is good, otherwise I would be a very depressed bride-to-be.

Now that we've got all that out of the way, you should probably know a couple of things...a) I will be asking for advice on a lot of things. I'm the first to get married from my family and am severely lacking in the wedding etiquette department. That, and I've got crazy tunnel vision and when I want something I narrow in on it, even if it's tacky. So PLEASE, give me your honest opinions!! b) This is basically going to be a completely DIY affair. Why not? I've got a year. So if I stumble on something amazing, I'll be sure and share.

So I guess to conclude my post, I do have a question: since my wedding is 367 days away (what? judge.), do I start planning decorations now? Or do I wait until March-ish?

Le sigh. I just don't know these things.

I do know one thing, though. I'm crazy excited to spend the rest of my life with this guy.

Spice Up Your Life

2009-12-25T15:00:00.016-06:00

Listening to: "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby

Ok, I have a confession to make. If you've known me for any time at all, you probably know this already, but I just feel the need to put this out in the open. Ready? Brace yourself...

I. Hate. Oranges.

Phew, glad to get that one out in the open. But seriously. I think they're annoying to peel, they don't taste good half of the time, and they're gross with chocolate. Hence, I hate them. Don't get me wrong, I like versions of oranges like clementines, or on occasion even a glass of orange juice. But the fruit themselves? I'll pass, thank you.

So you'll imagine my shock when I saw a recipe for orange chai cupcakes and actually wanted to try it. But I need to clarify, while I hate oranges, my love for chai runs strong. It's like Christmas in a cup! How can you hate that? So, instead of including orange juice, I modified it for my taste. And it was a success! Extreme success. My whole family approves, so I know yours will too!

But just a warning, this frosting is good. REAL good. You may find yourself eating it out of the piping bag...but you know what? It's the holiday season. Treat yourself, you deserve it.

Chai Cupcakes with Spiced Swiss Buttercream

makes about 24 mini cupcakes and 8 normal cupcakes (I ran out of mini pans, ok?)

Really, REALLY adapted from this recipe

Cupcake Ingredients:

2.5 cups sifted flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed firmly
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 chai tea bag
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup buttermilk

Preheat the oven to 350F. Spray cupcake pans of choice with baking spray or pop in some cupcake liners.

Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg in a medium bowl and set it aside.

Using the water, brew your tea. Whatever method you choose should work fine. I boiled the water in a small saucepan then added the tea bag. Leave the bag in for about 3-5ish minutes, it all depends on how strong you want it! Remove the tea bag and put aside to come to room temperature.

Combine oil, sugars, eggs, and vanilla extract with a mixer. Mix at medium to high speed for 5 minutes, making sure you scrape down the sides of the bowl often.

If you don't have buttermilk, on hand (let's be real, who does?) there's plenty of substitutions. I put 1.5 teaspoons of white vinegar in a 1/2 cup measuring cup, then filled it with milk. Put that in a separate bowl and let it sit for 5 minutes and you're good to go! Combine the cooled tea and buttermilk (or substitute) in a separate bowl.

Add the dry ingredients and the buttermilk/tea mixture to the sugar mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until fully incorporated and the batter is smooth.

Distribute into your cupcake pans of choice, baking about 12-15 minutes for the mini ones and 20ish minutes for the bigger ones (sorry, I didn't really watch the timer!). They'll become a nice golden brown and you should be able to insert a toothpick and pull it out clean. Let them cool completely before frosting.

Frosting Ingredients

2 large egg whites
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1.5 sticks of salted butter, cut into 12 pieces
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Put the egg whites and sugar into a glass bowl that fits snugly in the top of a saucepan, but doesn't completely fit inside. Boil water in the saucepan, making sure that when the bowl sits on top it doesn't touch the water. Stir the egg whites and sugar over the water until the sugar dissolves. Then, remove from heat and beat the mixture until it becomes white and doubles in size. Add the vanilla and spices on a low speed, then add the butter one piece at a time, mixing well after each addition. It might look curdled and gross, but don't fret! It will come together, I promise. After all the butter is added, continue beating for about 5-10 minutes until everything comes together and becomes fluffy and pretty. Put in a pastry bag (or freezer bag, in my case) and pipe away! Then, eat the rest with a spoon and have no regrets.

Happy Holidays, all!

Homemade Hot Chocolate...mmm!

2009-12-05T22:34:00.005-06:00

Listening to: "Baby, It's Cold Outside" by Leon Redbone & Zooey Deschanel

Ok, ok...I know the music's a little cliche for this time of year, but it just seems right! Judge.

Speaking of judging...you might feel like doing just that after this recipe...but you have to trust me. It's good. Realllll good.

So I was just sittin' in my apartment thinking about how much I wanted chocolate [as usual] and how I wanted a tasty drink, something of the Starbucks variety...THEN I remembered that I'm broke, and it doesn't make sense to go to Starbucks for a hot chocolate.

So I did what I always do...consult Pioneer Woman. Duh. I remembered seeing this recipe and thought, why not?

Instead of saving the chocolate goodness for later like she does, I just dove straight in. I'm a risk-taker, what can I say. And it. Was. Perfection. Really rich, but so great.

Make this for your next wintry day, and you won't be disappointed.

Homemade Hot Chocolate

(adapted from Pioneer Woman)

Makes enough for one if you like really rich hot chocolate. It could make two if you're a weirdy.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup heavy cream (just trust me)
1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate (I just used Hershey's chocolate chips, but you can use the nice stuff if you so desire and just chop it up)

Heat cream in a sauce pan until it bubbles a little bit but isn't completely boiling. Remove it from heat and stir in the chocolate. Here's where you can get creative! Add some mint extract for a nice little peppermint treat, a little bit of vanilla extract to add a little somethin' somethin', or a dash of cinnamon to spice stuff up. Whatever frosts your cake, sweetheart.

Whisk the chocolate and cream together for a while. You want to make sure that they don't separate later. I'm all about unity.

Then, heat up some milk in a mug. The chocolate mixture is pretty rich, so just kind of guesstimate how much you'll want to add to your milk. Stir in your chocolate mixture and ta-da! Homemade chocolate milk. Finish with whipped cream, marshmallows, or whatever you want.

See? Not hard at all. And DEFINITELY not as expensive as Starbucks. Just lookin' out for you.

Enjoy!

Beginnings and Indoor S'mores!

2009-11-25T00:05:00.006-06:00

Listening to: "Sweet Disposition" by The Temper Trap

Hello, all! So here it is...I caved and made a food blog! You'll have to bear with me on the times when I don't post pictures. I just have a point-and-shoot camera that doesn't produce the high quality pictures that I would like, so for now it might just be recipes sans pictures! You'll live. Promise.

My first recipe is a childhood favorite of mine. I would always bring it to elementary school on my birthday. I found it about a month ago and have made it a couple of times and it's always a hit! Give it a shot. You won't regret it.

[Picture from Not So Secret Family Recipes]

Indoor S'mores

Ingredients:

8 cups (13 oz box) Golden Grahams cereal
6 cups (10 oz bag) miniature marshmallows, divided: set one cup aside for later!
1 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips
5 tablespoons butter or margarine (make sure to cut it up! It will melt better)
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Heat the 5 cups of marshmallows, chocolate chips (If you get the smaller, 8 oz I think, bags feel free to dump the whole thing in...a little more chocolate never hurt anyone!), butter, and corn syrup in a medium saucepan over low heat. Keep stirrin' until it's all smooth and melty. Remove the pan from the heat and add the vanilla extract.

2. Refrain from eating chocolate mixture with a spoon.

3. Refrain from eating chocolate mixture with your finger. Just speakin' from experience, here.

4. Pour the cereal into a large bowl. Make sure it's big enough that you can really stir it around.

5. Pour marshmallow mixture over cereal; stir until well coated. Stir in remaining marshmallows. You have two options for serving this tasty delight (I know, right? I'm just so generous). If you want to go traditional, press the mixture into greased 9x13 pan. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm then cut it into bars. If you want to get fancy, cover a cookie sheet with parchment paper and just dollop out some of the mixture into individual servings. Refrigerate until you can't stand it anymore and have to try one.

So there it is! Make it for your next event, pot luck, or rainy day and you're sure to be a celeb in no time.