wedding dress cookies

so, my friend and roommate caitlin is getting married in 2 weeks.  WOAH!  2 weeks!  craziness!

a few weekends ago we had a little "girls night out" to celebrate!  lele has some pictures on her blog as well. We had dinner out and then came back to Lele's house for treats and such.  Caitlin requested I make the cheesecake cookie cups that have become such a staple around our house.  These are always such a hit!  I'll also be making them for her wedding reception.

but the treat I had the most fun making, were these wedding dress cookies!

I was a little bit nervous about them.  In efforts to save time I just used the slice and bake sugar cookie dough.  BIG MISTAKE!  I didn't like how they turned out.  They expanded a lot more than I was used to and the taste wasn't as good.  lesson learned...but I think some of them turned out pretty cute!

It's fun focusing on someone else's wedding instead of my own at this point.  Happy 2 weeks until your wedding scott and caitlin!

who wants to lick?!

one of my biggest DIY projects for the wedding has been the invitations.
a. I love paper
b. I have a slight addiction to all things stationery
c. I have control issues and want it to be done just the way I see it in my head
d. I actually think it's kind of fun

I was excited to use one of my most favorite places for inspiration and paper products, Paper Source, for part of the invitations.  The week of Christmas I received a box...

that had these in it...

I'm weird. but I love my envelopes.  I also love Josh...he helped me assemble 100 invitations last week!!!

Christmas Fiesta Wedding Shower

This past weekend I helped host a shower for Scott and Caitlin!  It's been so fun to share are the excitement and stress of planning a wedding and preparing for marriage with a best friend AND roommate!  I was super excited to shower them with love, gifts, and chips and salsa :)

I made two banners.  "Scott and Caitlin" and "Feliz Navidad."  I wanted some extra punch...since it was a fiesta and all.  So I glittered some chip board letters and made the letters a bit crooked on the sign.  I also made some banners to string from the upstairs across the living room along with some twinkle lights!

Ryan painted the sweetest tree for everyone to leave their fingerprint and signature on. 

You can see more pictures on Lele's blog...be sure and check out the picture of the Swiss cake roll cake I made, just for Scott!  Love you guys so much!  So excited to stand with you on your wedding day!!!

lil' pumpkin shower - part 2

the food.  this is the good stuff. gotta love a good fall morning shower!

Keeping with the pumpkin theme we had a few pumpkin flavors but mainly stuck with yummy fall foods. From top to bottom:

Apple Walnut Salad

Homemade Quiches (Morgan went above and beyond!)

the cutest veggie display ever (Margaret Jane went all out!)

Pumpkin Ginger Bread

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

Sausage and Cream Cheese Casserole

(this is the best casserole ever, I was super happy Sarah made it!)

Hashbrown Casserole (I could eat this all.day.long.)

Cheese Grits (Lele, you can come to my house and make these any morning you want!)

Mango Chai Tea, it's Ryan's favorite!

It was all so yummy.  Seriously...if you need any of this food, I can give you names and numbers of all who contributed.  It was great.  Josh was sad there weren't very many leftovers.

lil' pumpkin baby shower - part 1

my friend Ryan is having a little baby girl, Olive, in February.  soooo...of course we needed to shower her with some love and decided November was the perfect time to throw a Lil' Pumpkin Baby Shower.  If you ever need to throw a shower might I suggest having wonderful helpers like these lovely ladies...

hellloooo fall boots!  but seriously, such fun women to work with (and fabulous cooks...more on the food later).

Here are some of the decorations we had at the shower...

pumpkins...naturally

diaper cake - duh! caitlin helped me put this one together! 

The top is always something I stress about but I love how this bow came together. 

happy girl!!! that means bows!

Lele made these adorable letters (seen in the group picture).  it was her idea to hang them from the mantle by a branch...super cute!  AND look at her sweet little fabric pumpkins.  lele, she's a keeper!

and for little "thank you" treats I made one of ryan's favorite treats, pumpkin chocolate chip muffins!

check back later for more of the food and highlights from the shower!

fire pit friday night

I think this would make for a fabulous fall tradition.  Friends...gathering 'round the fire pit every friday night...  we'll see how it goes.

last friday night I bought some of this to make smore's.

I got some dark chocolate just to just provide a different option.  I also saw in a magazine where they had used peanut butter cookies instead of graham crackers.  So i made some of those. (I wish I would have made the PB cookies a little crispier...they may have helped.  I didn't LOVE the PB with the smore, but some did).

we put up some of these...

josh made this...

and friends came!

it may happen again tonight!  who can know!

TREND: cupcakes

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Now what isn't more adorable than a little miniature cake?!

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Am I right? Who doesn't love a good cupcake?  apparently no one because they are certainly all.the.rage.

You can find them at weddings, birthdays and showers.  And now, they have their very own stores.  From Magnolia to Gigis to my personal local favorite (and the favorite of the former ms. underwood) Iveycakes in downtown Franklin, you can find cupcakes everywhere you turn. I also pretty sure there is some sort of cupcake competition show on TV at all times. So why are they are so popular?

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Well let's take a look at various cupcakes across the web and I'll let you know some things I've learned about making, baking, decorating, and serving the adorable cupcake.

1. cupcakes give you the chance to be a bit more creative with each cake.  Instead of having one cake...you have all these extra moments (cakes) to express uniqueness in flavor, design, and presentation.  I think people are more daring with cupcake recipes b/c if it's bad...it's just one little cupcake, not a whole cake.

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2. Unless you have a moment where you officially cut the cake and begin to serve...people are more likely to eat your cupcakes then to cut their own slice of cake at a party.  It's just easier.

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3. cupcakes taste delicious no matter how professional they look.  (In the picture below, I iced the the smooth mint green cupcakes.  I spent time to make it just right and look pretty.  Josh iced the white ones in the back...not really caring, just getting the job done.  People ate more of Josh's than mine.)

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4. I've never timed it out, but I think cupcakes can take a bit more time.  pouring each into the cup, icing each of them individually...

personal photo - cupcakes by elizabeth

5. the wrapper - there are so many cute cupcake wrappers out there these days.  I've noticed a lot of times after you back it you can hardly see the design.  So I've started backing them in white and using the "pretty" wrapper for when they are done just for display purposes.

personal photo - see, I baked it in this really fun wrapper and you can't ever see it.

both sets can be found here

6. the topper - folks seem to be really using cupcake toppers lately.  I think it's a good way to incorporate the theme of the event into what you are serving...and for those of us that aren't professional cupcake makers, it gives you and easy out for what to put on top!

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7. icing - I highly recommend Hello, Cupcake!  I got it for Christmas one year and spent some nights just playing around with all the different techniques they have.  I like it b/c everything can be done using a ziploc bag, tape, and scissors!  anyone can do it!

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cupcakes by elizabeth

My friend Elizabeth lives in NYC and knows a little bit about the cupcake world, she was interviewed by Cupcakes Take the Cake over here.  I really didn't need to write this blog and could have just linked you to that website, but oh well.  you got my 2 cents for what it's worth.

8. The Stand!  - here is how to make your own stand.  I like to stack different sizes of cake stands together...maybe I'm just lazy.

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 Even dogs like cupcakes...

Do you prefer serving a cake or cupcakes? Do you have any helpful tricks up your sleeve when it comes to making a great cupcake?!

TREND: Pom Poms

Martha Stewart...what would we do without her, right?  She and her staff come up with more recipes, crafts, and home decorating ideas then one person could possibly think of attempting in one life time.  I still think it's hilarious she was in jail and continues to be as classy and creative as ever.  Oh Martha!

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One of her DIY decorating crafts that has become quite popular for any sort of party...birthday, shower, wedding reception...you name it, are her famous tissue paper pom poms.  I first used them at my Christmas Party last year and I really loved how they turned out.  I continue to see them everywhere! Here are a few things I've learned while making them:

LESSON #1
Your tissue paper doesn't have to be the size they say.  It can be whatever size you want to make it - especially if you want to make the cute little puffs like we did for little laney's baby shower.

LESSON #2
I wouldn't think you necessarily have to use floral wire.  I felt like I needed to do it "martha's way" the first time I tried them and because of that I have enough floral wire to last for years...I would think a normal garbage bag twist tie - or something of the sorts - would work just fine.  Especially for the little ones, the big wire seems like kind of a waist.

LESSON #3
I tore a lot of my tissue paper when trying to seperate the layers.  It's not really  noticable after you pull them all a part...but I try to be careful from now on.

Here are links to some of my favorite uses of these cute little party gems!

I think a fiesta is a great theme to use them!
if only I would have seen this before I got bauer!
who needs to hang them when you can stick them to wall?
jazz up dinner by hanging them over the table or spice up a dessert table by making it the back drop

and...if you don't want to make them, there are tons of folks that you can buy them from!

happy pom pom making!

it's football time in Tennessee!

here's the deal...I like sports.  I like to watch them and play them (except baseball...I don't like to watch or play baseball...or frisbee, if that's a sport).  I don't claim to know all the players, or try and talk smack about why a certain team will beat another.  I don't know much sports history or trivia.  Regardless...I simply like sports. 

This weekend (today actually) is opening day for college football.  I like football a lot.  I always have.  My youth minister taught me how to throw a pretty mean spiral in high school and since then I've had a good appreciation for QB's. I like football.  Josh LOVES football. Typically I cheer for Vanderbilt.  My mom went there, we went to lots of games growing up, and I like to cheer for the underdogs.  Josh - he bleeds orange.  Always has...and always will.  I've never LOVED the Vols, but I don't mind cheering for them especially since they may be entering their days as underdogs as well (sorry babe!)

Why am I posting this on my blog? Well...I think I like sports so much because it brings people together.  There is fellowship and commrodery at every sports game...most of the time with strangers.  So, to kick off football season here are some of my favorite football party inspirations!

Hostess with the Mostess

Celebrations

Celebrations at home

and a party is certainly not complete without coordinating toilet paper:

and to make josh happy:

I also want to give our friend Jonathan a birthday shout out!  Not only does he love Billy Joel but he is a die hard Vanderbilt fan!  he's such a good dad, wonderful husband, and has been a great friend to Josh! 

Hope you have a wonderful birthday Mr. Whitehurst!

coconut cake recipe

I wanted to have a nice little laid back cookout for my birthday last night...30 people later...we had a nice bumpin' party.  I'm blessed to have such dear friends and I'm so thankful to celebrate life and live life along side each of them.

I REALLY wanted a coconut cake for my birthday cake this year.  I love me some coconut but I was afraid other people wouldn't so I had folks bring some other treats.  Next to the Crouse Cookies, it turns out the cake was quite a hit.  Who knew?

So I thought I would share the recipe courtesy of Pillsbury (my comments are italicized in red):

INGREDIENTS

1 can (14 oz) coconut milk (not cream of coconut) I finally found this with the ethnic foods, THAI KITCHEN
1 box white cake mix with pudding mine didn't have pudding and it turned out great
1/4 cup water
3 egg whites
3/4 cup flaked coconut
1 cup white vanilla baking chips (6 oz)
1 3/4 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

this recipe is for a 9x13 cake pan.  I wanted I nice little layered cake so I didn't necessarily double the icing recipe, but I just added a little extra of everything to make sure I had enough.  You could probably double it and be ok, I had just barely enough.

DIRECTIONS


1. Heat oven to 350°F for shiny metal or glass pan (or 325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Spray bottom only of 13x9-inch pan with baking spray with flour. Reserve 1/3 cup coconut milk for frosting. If you need more frosting for the cake remember to reserve more of the coconut milk for it.

2. In large bowl, beat cake mix, remaining coconut milk (1 1/3 cups), the water and egg whites with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Stir in 1/2 cup of the coconut until well combined. Pour into pan.

3. Bake 28 to 33 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely, about 1 hour.

4. Meanwhile, in 2-quart bowl, microwave vanilla baking chips uncovered on High 30 seconds or until melted. Stir; if chips are not completely melted, microwave 15 seconds longer, then stir until all chips are melted. Stir in powdered sugar, butter, reserved 1/3 cup coconut milk and the vanilla. Cover; refrigerate 30 to 60 minutes. (If frosting becomes too firm to spread, microwave uncovered on High 10 to 15 seconds to soften; stir until smooth.) we definitely had to microwave...I would think if you want to spread the icing at all you will need to do this.  but it turned out great!

5. Spread frosting over cake. Immediately sprinkle top with 1/4 cup coconut. Store loosely covered at room temperature.

I only took one picture the entire night (seriously...who am I? guess I was just busy livin' it up!) so I dont' have a picture of the cake...it was all eaten anyway so there aren't even leftovers.  Instead I'll leave with you this picture of people that I love!  Each make my life better.

they say it's your birthday...

today I am 28!...and feelin' great!

there is no birthday theme to report this year.  It's ok...hold back the tears.  This is a first.  However I think you will understand that all "theme" and "party planning" efforts have all been directed towards a certain event in March.  In the mean time here are the pictures I have from past birthdays...at least the past birthdays when I had a digital camera.

2009

theme: roller coasters and las palmas

2008

theme: Asian persuasion (for the Olympics in china)

2007

theme: emily

2006

theme: john Deere country cookout

2005

theme: Hawaiian luau