Monday, August 30, 2010

It's all in the details

What a whirlwind of a weekend! 2 showers: one bridal and one baby. Thank goodness for the baby shower because I just had to show up and enjoy, after working hard at my BFF's shower the day before.

Everything turned out beautiful and the ladies enjoyed themselves. One important thing to remember when planning a shower or party are the details. It's all in the details. Focus on the theme or a certain element or style to bring it all together.


For Devon's kitchen & recipe shower we had a cookie decorating contest (judged by the bride-to-be of course), cooking themed quiz & all the guests offered their words of wisdom on the 'recipe for a happy marriage'. All the games/activities were a load of fun, but the real fun was when Devon opened up her gifts with this special moment when her Mom held one of her 'gifts' and made the bride blush!

The food was also a very important element of the shower because it was after all, a kitchen & recipe shower. The menu included delicious Krispie Kreme donuts, fresh fruit, greek yogurt, muffin tin egg bakes, mimosa's and coffee. A very good spread if I do say so myself. The egg bakes were a big hit and the best part is that they were SO simple to make.

All in all, it was a very happy and beautiful affair. I am happy for this girl! Now she is ready to cook for her future husband with tried and true recipes from each party guest and lots of neat kitchen gadgets and equipment.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Our Sweet Day


This Sunday, Jeremy and I will be enjoying our 1 year wedding anniversary together. To celebrate the occasion, we will be road tripping throughout the great state of Washington and staying in Leavenworth, a cute little Bavarian town filled with sauerkraut, schnitzel and lederhosen.

Throughout this last year, Jerm and I have had some good times and some growing times. There were definitely growing pains as we adjusted to living together. He still can't seem to find some of his stuff (woops.. I didn't know he needed that!) But above all, we have held onto the fact that God brought us together. He has blessed our union and is an integral part of our relationship and how we relate to one another. Sure there are times when he drives me bonkers (and I suppose he might feel the same) but we made a commitment between God and ourselves to love, honor and cherish each other as long as we both shall live. Here are three things I've learned thus far from being a wife:

1.) One thing that I think has blessed our relationship is prayer. There are some things best left up to the Lord. He is the one who showed us the ultimate example of what love is and He is able to help and strengthen the bonds of marriage between a couple.

2.) We are best friends first and foremost, who love each other and love to make the other laugh. Laughter can constantly be heard at our house. Keeping that fun alive and kicking in your relationship keeps you young, keeps you happy and keeps those bonds strong. Who else is gonna laugh at your silly jokes but your spouse? :)

3.) And finally, forgiveness is a big part of marriage. When two people are together, they are bound to have misunderstandings and hurt feelings as a result. I can't tell you the number of times I know Jeremy have been forgiving of me when I am acting childish or selfish, or vice versa. Because we love each other, we know that the moment of our spouses lack of better judgment will soon pass so we forget and continue on as usual. Again, Christ has given us the best example of this when He continually forgives us for our daily short comings. Keeping that in mind definitely helps!

Jeremy is my husband, my best friend, my biggest supporter, my favorite comedian & my helper. Looking forward to spending many a year praying with, laughing with and forgiving with my J-mo!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Preparations & Plans

As we come closer and closer to my bff's big day, so do the other wedding festivities, i.e. bridal showers and bachelorette party. Because of this I am in preparation mode collecting all the materials, prizes and decor for the pre-nuptial parties. The kitchen & recipe shower is coming up and the invites are going out tomorrow. I am so excited to see it all come together. Here is a sneak peak for you.



Don't you just LOVE weddings!?

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Deceptively Delicious Mistake

My best girlfriend just got engaged last week and asked me to be her maid of honor. She was the MOH at my wedding last year. Our friendship goes way back, back to the days when I got my first professional job at a mortgage company (pre- mortgage crises mind you), back when I was thinner and had no problems with my arms or legs (oh the glory days) and when we didn't know any better. We were both 19 years old and we commiserated over awful dating experiences and that set in motion a friendship that has lasted 6+ years and going strong. She eventually left the company to go off to college and I stayed there for the next few years. Fast forward a few more years later and we both found ourselves out of jobs due to the economic downturn. Last spring she got a job at the current company she is at and then a got me on board. That's what friends are for, right!?

Anyways, back to the topic at hand; her engagement! Devon is so special to me not only because we share some awesome memories of hanging out in her college town every weekend one summer, or the memories of her helping me get through a very difficult relationship, but she is a friend who I share a common love with: Christ. When we first met we were not christians in any sense of the word but God used our circumstances to work together and become friends and then eventually we both found Him. And it is through Him that our friendship is strengthened. We have each seen the other in totally different places than we are now and it is through His love and strength that we are here today. Devon has been an encouragement, an inspiration and confidant in moving forward as a woman of God. I've seen where she was when I first met her to where she is now and I thank God that He took her to this place. I am so happy for her and her fiance Miles (who I absolutely adore- what a great couple!).

But I digress again; I am planning the bridal shower and bachelorette parties and thinking of cute little things to include and gifts to buy. While out shopping with my Mom this weekend I found this very cute cook book at Big Lots for only $3. I'm no one to pass up on a great deal like that AND I'm planning on throwing Devon a kitchen/recipe bridal shower so I thought this would be a cute thing to give to the bride. But once I took a closer look at the book after I purchased it, I realized it is a cook book for enticing your children to eat their fruits and veggies without them even knowing about it by adding purees to the recipes. Well that won't come in handy for at least a few years for them when they start having kids. I guess I will have to find another, more appropriate cook book for my friend. Doh!

After thinking about it a little more, this cook book will be perfect for my household seeing as my husband and I already have a slightly altered diet anyways. My hubby can't have white rice, white bread, any sugar, etc.. so adding more fruit and veggie type recipes to my repertoire will help liven up our usuals and of course get me ready for when we have little ones! Thanks Devon for the new cook book ;) and congratulations!!