Wedding Wednesday: My Small Appliances

Let me preface all of this by saying I LOVE MARTHA STEWART! Love her, want to be her, wish she would take me in or at least invite me over for tea! I know not everyone loves Martha and I am sorry but you are missing out!

B and I did our registries right after the new year (mostly b/c my Martha Stewart online wedding calendar told me I was behind schedule - yes obsessive I know!). We decided to register at: Bed, Bath and Beyond due to the practicality of the items there and the bonus of 20% off coupons; CB2 the hipper and less expensive version of Crate and Barrel; and Macy's mostly b/c of Martha.

Macy's carries a whole line of Marta Stewart products in Martha's signature colors. The perk of this was that ALL of my small appliances would match. I love the colored Kitchen Aide stand mixers but was slightly disappointed to find out that you could not buy a complete set (stand mixer, hand mixer, blender, and food processor) all in the same color. The only color that you CAN is Martha Stewart's!

So here they are Martha Stewart's signature blue appliances and I just love them! (all pics from www.macys.com)

Hugs and Love: waterbobble

I saw these over at The Dieline and love them. They are water bottles that filter your water as you drink it! They are only $9.95 and come in a variety of colors! Check them out at bobble. I may have to break down and purchase a yellow one - maybe it would get me drinking more water!

(pic from The Dieline)

Shoe Crush: Shoe Help!

As I posted a couple weeks ago I am on the search for a pair of silver shoes for my friend's wedding and I am having a heck of a time! So I need some help! Has anyone seen any stylish silver shoes that are not sequined, sparkly, or platforms?

Here is what my friend sent us for inspiration:

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Here is what another girl already has (the pink is the color of the dress):

(picture taken by my friend)

Art Break: Swoon!

OK I love these and am now having a little dilemma. I have my order into the florist - a) do I go with the traditional real flower bouquet OR b) I cancel the real flowers and collect brooches from friends and family and make of these? Yes, they are wedding related but also a lovely piece of art! Learn more about these at Fantasy Floral Designs (all photos from here).

Wedding Wednesday: Let Them Eat CUPcake

Oh yes, you read that correctly CUPCAKES!

While we were home over Christmas we took a little trip to South Bend to meet with the florist and the baker. We picked this baker b/c B had previously purchased a birthday cake for me from them and it was out of this world. Also, other places, after finding out we wanted cupcakes, told us that we could do white or chocolate cake and they would put sprinkles on them....WHAT? They are for a wedding not my 5th birthday! We spoke with the gentleman in charge and I showed him the picture of the cupcakes I had wanted out of a Martha Stewart magazine. At first I think he thought I was crazy but he agreed to do it!

The cupcakes are going to be almond flavored cake with raspberry flavored jam on the inside. The flowers on top are all little meringues. We are still in the process of finding pretty cupcake sleeves and a cupcake tree to house them but that will come with time. In addition to the cupcakes for all to enjoy we are going to have a small cake at the top of the tree so we have something to cut upon my mother'sinsistence. We were ok with cutting a cupcake but that was not cutting it (ha ha) for her.

Below are what the cupcakes will hopefully turn out looking like. They will only be yellow and while flowers though. I think they are really beautiful and are going to be so much better than a frou frou cake!

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Hugs and Love: "Hug Me Again"

The pictures really say it all! Go check out these furry friends and others at

VivianneGalli on etsy!

Shoe Crush: Valentine's Day Heart Shoes

Now I know why I do not own a red pair of shoes. All of the red shoes I like are out of this world expensive. So instead of just red shoes here are some Valentine's Day heart inspired shoes!

(source for 1st two pics)

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Art Break: Walrus Monkey

Short post today. B and I are taking a bookarts class and we learned about pop-ups today. Here is something I made in class!

(picture taken by me)

Wedding Wednesday: I am Wishing

No not like Snow White at the well. I already have the one I love. No need for the singing, the well, and the birds.

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I am talking about our guest book. B and I talk about the guestbook and came to the conclusion that if we have a regular guestbook with pages and a pen for people to sign what will we do with it after? Will we read it? Will we keep it out under a coffee table? Will we store it in a box never to be seen again? All valid questions!

Now we are all about being cost effective so I was in search of an alternate solution to a guest book that we would actually appreciate. I saw people with big pictures that people signed the frame but we did not want a huge picture of ourselves (weird)! I saw people who bought old typewriters and had people type their message on the paper, cute but then what do we do with the paper and what if the paper runs out, do I have to go and put a new sheet in? Vetoed. In addition to these ideas there were millions more but none of them really were it.

Then I came across the Wish Wall! Perfect! It is a picture frame with what looks like a honeycomb inside. In addition to the frame you get small slips of paper of all different colors. People write their messages on the pieces of paper and then insert them into the honeycomb wherever they would like. B and I thought this was so cool b/c after all is said and done we can hang it on the wall and we are constantly reminded of the well wishes people wrote to us on our wedding day. It will also be a fun piece of art for the wall. The papers are removable so we can pull them out to read them and then put them back in the frame.

I ordered our wish wall just this past week and it came in the mail yesterday. It is a good size and it really cute! I cannot wait for people to write on the slips of paper and start creating our new wall art!

Sorry the picture is so small I had a hard time finding a bigger one!

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Hugs and Love: 1217

1217 is our house number! I am more than in love with our little craftsman style bungalow and have to share. I cannot wait until April 2nd when they put those keys in my hand and we can start moving in! Here are just a few pics!

(pictures compliments of Cumberland Realty listing)

Shoe Crush: Silver Wedges

In the process of looking for silver, non-wedge, non-sparkly shoes to wear in my friends wedding (I am a bridesmaid, wearing watermelon pink, and am supposed to find silver shoes that meet the criteria above - if anyone has seen cute shoes that meet this criteria PLEASE let me know!) I found these adorable silver shoes. I am in desperate need of a new pair of silver shoes due to the fact that the pair I currently own have a hole in the bottom and one sole is falling off. Why do I still have them you ask? Because I refuse to get ride of them until they are replaced! Everyone needs a good pair of silver shoes! These are very tempting since I have a $10 gift card to DSW but I may have to hold out a little longer. Especially since I have to buy my non-platform, non-sparkly bridesmaid shoes.

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Nom Noms: Super Bowl Sunday!

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It is upon us - the Super Bowl. Now I have to admit that I am not a huge pro-football fan, I mostly watch college football (GO IRISH!) but since the Saints are playing in the Super Bowl it is a must watch (Fiance - who we are going to call B from now - is from Louisiana). We are having some friends over and decided to go with a Mexican themed food selection. Our friends are bringing Margarita fixings and a dessert and we are making a three layer chip dip, which is super simple and Martha's enchiladas. Here are the recipes for both. They are super simple and taste excellent.

Layered Nacho Dip

Ingredients:

1 can bean-less chili (or with beans if you prefer)

1 block of cream cheese (plain, reduced fat - just not flavored)

1 package of shredded cheese (Mexican blend, cheddar, or whatever type you like with your Mexican food)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Take the cream cheese out to soften. In a 9 x 13 baking dish, I usually use glass but I don't think it really matters. When the cream cheese is soft enough to spread evenly distribute along bottom of baking dish. Next, evenly spread the entire can of chili in the baking dish. Top with package of shredded cheese (I typically use an entire bag - 2 cups but you can us less if desired).

Place baking dish uncovered into the oven and wait for the cheese to melt. When the cheese is all melted the entire dip should be warmed through. It takes about 15 mins or so depending on the oven.

Serve with you favorite style tortilla chips!

"Lighter Chicken Enchiladas" thanks to Martha Stewart (click on the link for the recipe!)

Boy, don't they look good? Yum!

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Art Break: Spare Bedroom Inspiration

Two major inspirations for this post: 1: the purchase of the house (well it is pending, the inspection is on Monday!) and 2. Viewville, one my favorite browsing locations on the internet. Obviously with any new house comes new things and since we are getting married in August many new things are coming our way and what is even better is we get to pick them out with the house in mind. Sadly, everything I want for our spare bedroom is not from a place we are registered.

Fiance and I are trying to decide on a duvet cover for our bed in the master bedroom and of course I fell in love with one that was too girly for his taste so it is going in the spare room! The duvet is from Pottery Barn and I just adore it.

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After seeing this duvet and knowing that we would need art for the walls I clicked over to Viewville and of course found something perfect to match. These floral photographs by Buck Holzemer would do the trick! These still lifes are from his Faded Glory series. In addition to the wonderful photographs I had seen these resin picture frames by John Murphy. They come in a variety of colors and will add a nice touch to the room.

Take a look below to see the photographs and frames. (I did a little photoshopping to get an idea of what the photos would look like in the frames). Now I just have to start saving my pennies so I can get my perfect room put together!

(photographs/frames)

Wedding Wednesday: The Dream Bridal Shower

I would love to have a Garden Tea Party Bridal Shower (hint hint to anyone who reads this). I love the idea of french macaroons and finger sandwiches. I think it would just make for a beautiful afternoon. What my actual bridal shower will be like has yet to be seen or discussed for that matter. So here's hoping!

I also have to apologize for the lack of links to the images above. I put all of these pictures together, closed my browser at work and for some reason could not get back to the page with the links. When I come across the pictures again I will update with links!

Days of the Week

Two posts in one day! How is that possible. Can you tell I do not have a lot to do at the new job?

I have been sitting here trying to decide on my days of the week posting schedule and I think I have it!

Would it not be great to be this organized? (source)

Monday: Shoe Crush (you always need a good pair of shoes to start the week off
with)

Tuesday: Hugs & Love (how I sign all of my e-mails to my friends so things I like
and mostly just random findings)

Wednesday: Wedding Wednesday (I figured I would keep the wedding posts reined
in on one day)

Thursday: Art Break (by Thursday we will need one)

Friday: Nom Noms (yes we talk to our cats and we call their food nom noms. No,
this will not be able cat food but my fiance and I love to cook so this will be something about food/cooking)

Saturday and Sunday are still up for debate. I may post and I may not since I am at home with errands to run. We will see how weekends go with posting before they get a special topic!

So here goes nothing!

I Cannot But Laugh Rebirth

Happy Groundhog Day and Happy Rebirth Day of the blog. Well needless to say things have been a little crazy in life for the past few months.

Here is a quick re-cap:

- I quit my job at the art gallery

- Started working more hours at the dance studio I taught at (working the desk not

teaching, boo)

- Quit the job at the dance studio

- Started working as a grants manager at a local university

- Still wedding planning - we are 6 months away

- Just put an offer in on a house yesterday - so we have been house hunting

- Currently looking for an additional job to act as a creative outlet

OK well I think that sums it up and all I have to say that is way more than anyone should really have to do in six months! Amazingly I have come out the other end and have not gone crazy!

I would love to have a "schedule" for the blog. You know Monday is something day, Tuesday is something else day, etc. but I have not fully come to a conclusion as to what the days will be. I mean there has to be a a shoe crush day and an art break day but from there I am unsure. There also may have to be a wedding update day since all of my free time seems to be devoted to wedding planning these days.

So stay tuned for what is to come! I hope that you are as excited about the blog rebirth as I am! Let's just hope I don't get swamped and can't post!