The Wedding!

     After months of preperation Malia and Jason had their beautiful day.  It was absolutely perfect.  The weather was so nice and the venue was beautiful.  I'll stop talking and just show you some pictures.  Enjoy!

Charis and Dace who will be next to get married.  There's is scheduled for 4.09.11!

The "Kids" LtoR Gage (Steve and Diane's son), Dace, Malia, Breanne, and Mikaela.

More coming, soon!

Autumn Tablescapes

I got my creative juices flowing the other day and pulled some things together from around the house and got out some of my fall stuff from the attic.  Love the way it turned out.

I really like this napkin fold with the pocket for the silverware.  This was my first attempt and I ended up going with something different.

This pumpkin is covered with the neatest leaves.  They feel like faux suede.

Plates ~ HomeGoods

Mustard bowls ~ Ross

placemats ~ TJ Maxx

silverware ~ Gourmet Settings - Treble Cleff - Amazon.com

Halloween 2010

Stacy bought this amazing 9foot cat for the front yard!  I thought he was SO cool!  His head moved back and forth and his body lit up!  Here are some pictures of the boys on Halloween.

Dason, Bradley, and Patrick our neighbor.

Dason

Bree's kittens...Rock Star (the black one) Precious aka Little Bit (the gray one).  So cute!

Bradley was a Scarecrow and Dason was Scream!

Bradley

Dason.  Check out the white socks!  lol

MMmm Nutella

Can't remember where I found this recipe (maybe The Pioneer Woman), but I think it sounds wonderful!  Can't wait to give it a try!

                                                                                            Nutella Gooey Butter Cake

Prep Time 15 Minutes

Cook Time 50 Minutes

Ingredients

1 box (18-20 Oz. Box) Devil's Food Cake Mix

1 whole Egg

8 Tablespoons Butter, Melted

FOR THE FILLING:

8 ounces, weight Cream Cheese, softened

1 cup Nutella

3 whole Eggs

1 teaspoon Vanilla

8 Tablespoons Butter, Melted

16 ounces, weight Powdered Sugar

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Combine the cake mix, egg, and butter and mix well with an electric mixer. Pat the mixture into the bottom of a lightly greased 13 by 9-inch baking pan.

To make the filling: In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and Nutella until smooth. Add the eggs, vanilla, and butter, and beat together. Next, add the powdered sugar and mix well. Spread Nutella mixture over cake batter and bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Make sure not to overbake as the center should be a little gooey.

Serve with fresh whipped cream.

Fall Tablescape

I love, love, love fall.  I mean I really love it!  Lately I've been following a blog called Between Naps on the Porch especially on Thursdays when they have people post their tablescapes.  Some of them are absolutely beautiful!  So here's my feeble attempt at a couple tablescapes of my own. 

This one still needs some work but I wanted to do the napkin fold while I had the chance.  If I remember right it's call "Bird's Nest".

I found this insanely cute turkey at Marshalls/TJ Maxx/Home Goods (can't remember which one) but I instantly fell in love with him.  Especially because he's so much like another cute little turkey I got a couple years ago.  (That one's still packed away up in the attic.)  But he inspired me so I put some stuff together around the house.  I particularly liked the neat napkin fold where it's like a little pocket for the silverware. 

New Halloween Decorations

I got this cute little frame garland last week at Marshalls. 

I thought they were really neat, but the openings were only about an inch square and I didn't think a picture would show up very well in them.  So...I decided I'd print up a saying, cut it out, and put a letter in each frame.

I decided to use TRICKORTREAT and it fit perfectly!  The font I used was "Captain Howdy" and I printed it out with brown ink.  I think I made the font at 80, but I'm not positive of that.
I hung it over my fireplace and think it turned out great!

At another Marshalls/TJ Maxx I found some matching fridge magnets and some plain matching garland that I hung over the TV cabinet.  Sorry no picture right now of the magnets.

I loved them so much I bought a second set of magnets and another package of the frame garland for my daughter when I spotted them at a different store.  Now I'm on the look out for more so I can make some as gifts.  Fingers crossed I'll run onto some, but so far it's not looking good.

The Shower!

After much preparation we had the shower last weekend!

My beautiful daughter, Mikerdoo, was able to come in from CA, along with my wonderful sister, Stace, from AZ.  Everything turned out fantastic!  With the help of SO many people it was an awesome success and Punky Poo had a great time. 

                   Look at these BEAUTIFUL cake balls Val made!  Aren't they gorgeous?  That's a chocolate mint trifle I made in the background.  The cake in it was to die for! (Just ask Stace and Mikerdoo.)  I took a regular dark chocolate cake and after it was baked, poured on about half a bottle of Irish Cream coffee creamer.  Oh my heavens!  It was SO moist!

Getting ready.

Gift table.

Guests

Goodies

Val and Amie made this great boquet from the ribbons.

Thanks so much to Harriet for providing the paper goods and table decorations, Val for making the yummy cake balls that EVERYONE thought were amazing, and especially to Carly for help in putting it ALL together!  Oh, and let's not forget Jason who provided the awesome party trays and salad from my favorite eatery, Capriotti's!