Song of the Day

I woke up with this in my head...

I just love this song!



I'm forever yours.... faithfully... aaaahhhh brings me back to 6th grade slow dance!

PB&Chocolate Goodness!

i stumbled upon this easy recipe from ABC's Good Morning America for Peanut Butter-Choco Cookies! These would make for a great treat for any bridal shower or even favors for smaller weddings!



Ingredients
1 package (18-ounce) refrigerated Pillsbury sugar cookie dough, room temperature
1/2 cup peanut butter
1m package (8.5-ounces) Hershey's Kisses
*Special Equipment: 3 12-cup mini-cupcake pans

Cooking Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly butter three 12-cup mini- cupcake pans.
2. Knead cookie dough and peanut butter just until swirled. Press about 1 rounded teaspoon of dough into each cup of prepared mini cupcake pans. Bake for 12 minutes or until cookies are light golden brown. Cool slightly in pan.
3. When slightly cool make indention in center of each cookie. Remove from pans to cooling rack. When completely cool, place a chocolate kiss in the center.

Makes 36 cookies
Prep time 20 minutes
Baking time 12 minutes per batch
Frosting time 5 minutes

Life After the Party!

Ok, i've totally sucked at blogging as the month and weeks and days approached closer to my wedding day! But now, I'm back and married =) woohooo!!!!

Of course I want my pro pics like right this very moment - but must exercise some patience! The superbly talented Kristi Klemens shot my wedding, with the vibrant and incredible Melissa McClure as our 2nd shooter.

It's true what they say, the day flies by like a blur - so definitely soak it all in! There were some snafus along the way - I was sick up to the day before our wedding, I forgot the aisle runner, the flowergirl's petals and basket. But those were easily remedied... I sent my sister-in-law to the local grocery store and had her buy a dozen white carnations and then instructed our flowergirl to hand one carnation to whoever was sitting at the end of the pews...problem solved!

We decided to do a "first look" and pre-ceremony pictures because of daylight and we wanted to spend some time together before the madness of the rest of the day! We couldn't have made a better choice for us! We also bucked tradition in that we drove to the church together, along with my father!

Some sneak pics:
(i had custom hangers made for my bridesmaids from Etsy LilaFrances)











At the reception, we set up a photostation for our guests - with shiny wigs, mardi gras beads, santa hats, and those huge sunglasses for our guests to put on and be goofy! Photographer Cari Hollis specifically shot our photostation:











I cannot wait to see more pictures from our guests - and for the pro pics in 2 more months!

Song of the Day

I was relaxing today, listening to The Beatles and then decided to look on youtube for vintage footage of them in concert, etc... THEN i stumbled upon this amazing amazing talent... just give a listen... this acoustic rendition would be great to use for the bride's walk up the aisle

For the Keeper of the Rings

Is it possible to be in love with an item? If it is - then I am in love - like head over heels in love - with these embroidered ring pillows from L Jo Embroidery !

Death By Chocolate Martini

Chocolate lovers unite!

Here's a yummaliscious recipe for a chocolate martini for your engagement party, bachelorette party or signature drink at your reception!

1 1/2 oz Godiva® chocolate liqueur
1 1/2 oz dark creme de cacao
1 oz Absolut® Vanilia vodka
1 1/2 oz half-and-half

Mix 3 tablespoons Oreo cookie crumbs (available in most grocery stores in baking isle) plus 1 tablesoon powdered sugar on a flat plate. Coat rim of chilled cocktail Martini glass with lime and then dip rim of glass in Oreo mixture. Set aside.

Mix Godiva liqueur, creme de cacao, vodka, and half-and-half into a cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes. Shake vigorously and strain into the set aside cocktail glass. Serve.

And because there is never too much for chocolate lovers - I'd swirl some syrup in the martini glass too before pouring ;-)

As always - please drink responsibly!

Tutus for the too too cuties

Angelic and cherubic, these tutu dresses from I Luv U Tutu Much are indeed too too cute!

Rank and File Please

When addressing invitations to currently active military, it is proper form to include their military title and service designation.

For any senior officers, their title goes before their names, junior officers should have their name on one line and their title and branch of service on a separate line.

Senior officer refers to Captain or above in the Army, Air Force, or Marines; Commander of above in the Navy.

Non-commissioned officers do not use their rank, only their branch of service.

Rain On Me

A few entries ago, i entered a pic of a gorgeous bride under a cute and fun polka dotted umbrella (ella ella hey hey hey - dont ask - i cannot help it hahhaa)...

Now here is a great picture of the bridesmaids braving the rain too!



See - rain doesn't have to ruin your day - it's all in your attitude and finding a way to make it fun and creative!

Pic from Kerry Morgan

Song of the Day

Simple... Stripped Down... Pure...

I love this acoustic version of "Home" by Chris Daughtry

Fall Flowers

Most of the time, choosing blooms in season can save a ton of cash - yay, more for open bar ;-) kidding!!

Here is a list of blooms that are in season in the fall months:
- Aster
- Calla Lilly
- Chocolate Cosmo
- Chrysanthemum
- Dahlia
- Fuschia
- Hydrangea
- Lavender
- Marigold
- Parrot Tulip
- Snowberry
- Statice
- Sunflower
- Sweet William
- Winterberry
- Zinnia

Blooms Available All Year Long:
- Anemone
- Asiatic Lillies
- Baby's Breath
- Bachelor's Button
- Bells of Ireland
- Call Lillies
- Carnation
- Gardenia
- Hypercium Berry
- Iris
- Orchid
- Rose
- Stephanotis
- Sweet Pea

Don't Forget!

Just a couple of things to NOT do on your wedding day...

-DON'T forget to take all your regular prescribed meds (if applicable)

-DON'T forget to eat while getting ready, during the day - I mean, it doesn't have to be a porterhouse or anything - but for breaky-- maybe some toast or pancakes, water, eggs, -- warning---> this is not the time to start experimenting with huevos rancheros if salsa does tumbles in your tummy ;-)

DON'T smoke in your wedding dress before the ceremony - if you need the blip of nicotine - smoke outside, away from your dress - you don't want to risk burning a hole in your dress, and your dress shouldn't smell like smoke as you are hugging your loved ones ;-)

DON'T forget to b.r.e.a.t.h.e and just let it go - enjoy your wedding day and trust that everyone you hired will perform just as you envision.

I Scream, You Scream, We all Scream for...MAKEUP!!!

For the bride doing her own makeup - here's one from Lauren, a very funny gal who also gives kickass directions - even i could follow them! teehee

Song of the Day

Lovin' this one from Robin Thicke...

This is Why I'm Hot

hahaha!!! i'm singing the song sillies!

Recently, while looking for pictures of my parents to display at my own wedding, I found their wedding day pic, and surprisingly, also found a pic of my maternal grandparents and my maternal grandfather's parents...

I was overwhelmed with the gravity of it all - the lineage I came from and hoped to continue... I looked at their faces, then my own, trying to find similarities, something from them that was me...

Then it dawned on me, I am them - they are me...and if God blesses me with child(ren) I am them, and they are me--along with my ancestors...

I am now on a mission to find pics of my paternal grandparents on their wedding day and maybe their parents as well...but for now, here are the pics i found of my mother's side...

Top pic: my parents on their wedding day
Middle pic: my mother's parents on their wedding day
Bottom pic: my mother's father's parents on their wedding

Quickie Arm Workout

Okay, so let's be real here - you have a fulltime job, maybe a 2nd one, maybe a child or 2, and you are planning a wedding...

Sometimes you just can't get to the gym, right?

Here are a few quickie "at home" workouts from Erin Huggins that can do...

As always, please consult a licensed physician prior to starting any exercise program

Hey Batter Batter Batter!

As an homage to the World Series, I dedicate this post to baseball...

moment of silence commence..........................
....................................................
....................................................
moment of silence end

ok, now check out these super cute cake toppers from MagicMud

...it's like rayeee-yayn on your wedding day ...

ok i admit it, I am not a very good singer, but I love belting this one out by Alanis Morisette!

Even cooler than that part of the song is this pic of a beautiful bride with her umbrella ella ella hey hey!

Brides getting married in the rainy months need not worry - just pick up a colorful, fun, vibrant umbrella and embrace it!

Just Throw It in the Bag!

A great way to thank your awesome bridesmaids would be to give them a cool, functional gift! Gone are the days of the monogrammed tote bag - while not a "bad" gift, it's definitely been around for several years and is now something predictable... Shake things up with a laptop sleeve, wristlet in a hip pattern, or hand made clutch that your bridesmaids won't soon forget.


















All Images and Items from 1000 Markets Stores Didi Lemoure; CocoaDreams; BrianaE; Mareri; and J.E. Gaton

Wrap It Up!

Brrrrr - it's gettin' cold out there... okay okay - maybe not in SoCal or Florida - but for the autumn and winter brides in the colder areas, here's a great way to keep warm and still look like the diva you really are!







All items and images from ETSY Store SpAZooiE

Ring 'Em!

no no no not the 1988 MC Hammer song - i'm talking about wedding rings, engagement rings, rings rings rings!

Always a sucker for a great pic - here are just a few of my faves:









Images from JackieG Photography; Furious Photographers; Tinywater Photography; Simply Knot Photography; and In a Frame Photography

DIY Mini-Caramel Apples

This mini version of the fall fave caramel apple would be perfect for a bridal shower or rehearsal dinner treat! Feel free to substitute butterscotch chips, chocolate chips for the caramel...

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
4-inch lollipop sticks
Melon baller
Granny Smith apples (one apple makes about 8 mini apples)
Butterscotch or peanut butter chips
Chopped nuts, nonpareils, sprinkles, shredded coconut (optional)
Small paper candy cups

1. First, cut the lollipop sticks in half at an angle (the pointy end will go into the apple pieces easier). With the melon baller, scoop little balls out of the apple. Each ball should have a section of apple peel. Push half of a lollipop stick into the peel of each ball. Pat the apple pieces dry.



2. Melt the chips according to the package directions. Dip and swirl the mini apples in the melted chips, then roll the apples in nuts, sprinkles, nonpareils, or coconut, if desired. Place the mini apples in paper candy cups to set.