Monday, October 31, 2011

Tarleton Homecoming and Halloween Weekend In {Pictures}

Z and I met at Tarleton during homecoming my Senior year. How fitting that we were there with only 2 more weeks until the wedding!! Back to where the love began...


Our little Acer got to come along for homecoming weekend!!




Me and sweet little Mavery!!




Z and I watching the homecoming parade!
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For Halloween this year Z and I went for a more inexpensive/funny costumes
Can you guess who we are?




In case you still have not figured it out...we were Amber and Gary from Sixteen and Pregnant/Teen Mom.



These were the freakiest but very yummy finger cookies!


Hope everyone had an amazing weekend and is having a very SPOOKY Halloween Monday!!

Xoxo,

"E"

Friday, October 28, 2011

Santa Baby....Here Is My {Wish} List

I know its a little early to start wishing about gifts for Christmas, but Hobby Lobby has had their Christmas decor out since May.

Here is what I am dreaming of currently, as I am sure it will be added to:


This Zara bag is absolutely to die for and would look absolutely fabulous on my arm!


Urban Decay Naked Palette...I love love these colors!


Gold Glitter Toms, sigh, they have been on my wish list for a while now


Tory Burch Flats, very classic


Faux Fur Vest...I mean I will take the Birkin too but I am trying to be realistic here.


An Erin Condren Life Planner!! This would help with our life as newlyweds and my recipe planning weeks!!

So what's on your wish list?? I know you are already dreaming of what Santa will bring you on Christmas morning!!!

Xoxo,

"E"

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Wedding Wednesday: Wedding {Planning} Confessional


While planning our wedding (which is less than 3 weeks away) a few things have driven me bonkers...so here is my confessional

I confess.....That if I get asked one more time what earrings, dress, hair style, shoes, makeup my mom is wearing for the wedding so someone else can decide theirs I am going to scream. at. the. top. of. my. lungs.

I confess.....that when we say our ceremony and reception are adult only. That is what it means. Adult only.

I confess.....that when we put on our wedding invitations our ceremony and reception are adult only. That is what it means. Adult only.

I confess....that if one more person treats me like I do not like children because WE (yes, Z and I both chose this) decided to not allow children at OUR wedding, I am going to thump them between their eyes.

I confess...that if someone shows up with their child, children, anything not over the age of 21 to our wedding, I will not just give you the stink eye, but I will give you the worst look you have ever gotten and politely remind you what our invitation said.

I confess....that if we knew what we knew now and we were back in November 2010 when Z proposed, we would have done a destination wedding.

I confess....that if one of my bridesmaids really decides to wear a black feather in their hair and/or decide to be a diva on my wedding day, I may ask them to sit this one out.

I confess....that even though all of these things drove me crazy and I am so excited about marrying the love of my life, I am a little sad that the planning process will be over soon.


Now that I have confessed and I am sure judgement is now being placed by all you mommies....anyone else like to try a confessional?

Xoxo,

"E"

side note: Z and I plan on having children, yes more than one, one day in the distant future. Us not wanting your adorable bundle of joy at our wedding is not anything against you or your loved ones. But its our day and we want to spend our day with our friends and not someone having to worry what their child is doing. (last time I explain myself on this one)

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

{Erin} VS. The US Postal Service

Dear US Postal Service,


I am sure you have heard, if not experienced for yourself, but planning a wedding is a bit stressful. Not stressful in that you don't think you are making the right decision stressful. No, it's stressful in like you want everything to be perfect stressful.

 I know it's a lot to ask for EVERYTHING to be perfect on your ONE big day in your life, however it is what I demand and will not take anything less than perfect.

 When we went months and months searching for the most PERFECT invitations to send out to all of our guest, one thing that did not come to mind was stressing whether or not our guest would get the invites after they passed from my trembling hands to yours.

 When my mother and I spent 15 HOURS making our invitations because it was that much cheaper to do them ourselves, we did not expect to get down to the week our rsvp's are all suppose to be back and find out that people had not received invitations.

When I come to buy the most adorable wedding cake stamps, yes remember that I paid money to send out our invitations, I did not find it necessary to drive all over town dropping off batches of invitations because you are too lazy to sort them.

When my friends who were previous brides told me to drop 10 invitations off at a time so that it would insure that they made it to the addressed, I did not think that dropping off 200 invitations to one post office location would be that big of a deal.

I, however, was very wrong about you. You have to be lazy or just incompetent. I had nightmares about people not getting invitations and guess what, my nightmare came true!!

Do you know how embarrassing it is to text someone to find out if they are coming to your wedding or not to only find out they did not receive an invite?

From now on I will make sure that I do your job for you and break up any large amount of mail to make your job a little easier.

Xoxo,


"E"

aka a VERY VERY angry bride!

Thursday, October 20, 2011

New Wine, Wine Glasses and A Gift to Me {From} Me

Last week during our crazy planning week and everything else I had going on, I become a little bit of a booze hound (totally not proud to say that). By that I mean I drank 3 glasses of wine on Monday and 3 glasses of wine on Tuesday....must have been a rough first of the week.

The new wine I tried is absolutely delicious! I will be buying some more very soon, like tomorrow.



The wine is a blend of red called Hot to Trot...and man was it Hot to Trot...I couldn't just have one glass the first night.




My beautiful new wine glasses that one of our friends bought us from our registry. They are pretty big so I am going to say they are the reason I drank so much.
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Now for the bit embarrassing part....

When I get ready in the morning I have to have a towel wrap on until I am ready to walk out the door because I can not get ready with clothes on.

I have had my past towel wrap since I was a senior in high school...a whole 6 years




Do you see those awful bleech stains and how raggy it looks???

Well here is the new and way improved!!!



Its even monogramed with my new last name!!!!!!!

Xoxo,

"E"




Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Wedding Wednesday - Towel {Cake}

For my most recent shower two of my good friends made me a towel cake. I have seen diaper cakes for baby showers before but never a towel cake! It was so adorable I did not want to take it apart!

What you need to make a towel cake:

2 wash clothes
2 hand towels
2 bath towels
ribbon
wooden stick
decorations




With the wash clothes folded long ways, you saftey pin the two ends of the towels together and then roll up into a pin wheel like ball. Wrap with ribbon and use a sewing pin to keep in place.

Do the same thing with the hand towels and bath towels. They used a wooden stick in the middle of everything to keep it upright and placed the "cake" on a charger from hobby lobby.

On Sunday I was so sad to break everything down but at least I have the pictures and new towels!!

Xoxo,

"E"


Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Double Date To The State Fair of {Texas}


Hello.....is anyone there....anyone out there....

Sorry I have been MIA this last week, our life has definitely kicked into overdrive since we only have 1 MONTH until the wedding!!!! (I am not excited one bit as you can tell)

Last wednesday we had a double date at the State Fair with Chase and Alyssa. Pretty much I go for food and to look at new cars, then I suffer my food choices with a tummy ache later.

But hey the State Fair only comes once a year....here are a few highlight pics from our double date


I just figured out instagram and I thought I would hightlight Fletcher's Corny Dogs because I love them soooo much! I could eat them every night for dinner!


Alyssa was ready for a roadtrip to Destin, since every family drives a mini van there


Getting ready to wack the chicken - ps we did not plan on matching


You have to really stretch to get the chicken to fly


Fried oreos...yummy


Z had to try fried ribs....disgusting


Seriously the most amazing root beer you will ever have in your life! They do not even serve it over ice because its THAT cold


A pot belly pig that looks like our little acer!


My high school mascout was a porcupine!


Delta Zeta's mascout is a Turtle turtle!

We had so much fun on our double date and will be having even more double dates very soon since Chase and Alyssa are moving a block away!!!

Xoxo,

"E"


Friday, October 7, 2011

Recipes Of The Week - Brownies and Pizza


This past Saturday we had a Texas Ranger watching party at our house and I was super excited not to just have friends over but to try new recipes and my new serving ware!!!

I got both of these recipes off of pinterest (my obsession) and the pizza dip was gone in about 10 minutes! Both recipes are super easy to make and big hits!


Pizza Dip

Recipe via Closet Cooking Blog

Pizza Dip

A layered, hot cheesy dip with all of the great pizza flavours including pizza sauce, cheese, pepperoni, olives and green peppers.

Servings: 8

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Printable Recipe
Ingredients
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup mozzarella, grated
  • 1/4 cup parmigiano reggiano (parmesan), grated
  • 1/2 cup mozzarella, grated
  • 1/4 cup parmigiano reggiano (parmesan), grated
  • 2 ounces pepperoni, sliced
  • 2 tablespoons green pepper, sliced
  • 2 tablespoons black olives, sliced
Directions
  1. Mix the cream cheese, sour cream mayonnaise, mozzarella and parmigiano reggiano and spread it across the bottom of a pie plate.
  2. Spread the pizza sauce on top and sprinkle on the cheese, pepperoni, green pepper and olives.
  3. Bake in a preheated 350F oven until the cheese has melted, bubbling and golden brown, about 20 minutes.
I did not put the green pepper or black olives in the dip because Z does not like either one and I used small sliced bread from Central Market to dip with.



Peanut Butter Cup Brownies
Recipe adapted from Nestle’s Very Best Baking

Makes 40 brownies as adapted

1 box of your favorite brownie mix
1/2 cup peanut butter chips
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray or grease 40 mini-muffin cups.

Prepare boxed brownie mix as directed. Spoon batter evenly into muffin cups (about 1 heaping teaspoon). Bake for 13-15 minutes or until top is set and a toothpick inserted into center comes out slightly wet. After brownies are out of the oven, wait for centers to fall. This will happen upon cooling. If not then tap the centers with the back of a teaspoon to make a hole for the peanut butter.

Place peanut butter in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 45 seconds then stir. While brownies are still warm spoon about half a teaspoon of peanut butter into the center of each brownie. Top with semi-sweet chocolate chips and peanut butter chips. Cool completely in pan.

Let me know if you try either one and/or if you have any yummy recipes I should try! I love trying new recipes!!

Xoxo,

"E"


Thursday, October 6, 2011

Loving All Things {Pumpkin}


Not only do I love fall because it is no longer 100+ in Texas but I get so excited because all stores (well most of them) come out with yummy pumpkin goodies!!

I was one of those people who couldn't sleep the night before Starbucks started serving their Pumpkin Spice Lattes....its that bad!!

Here are some of my favorite pumpkin food/drinks:



This pancake and waffle mix is at World Market and is so amazing! For only $3 you can make very yummy pancakes!



Of course the Pumpkin Spice Latte


Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins...goes great with the above latte

personalized pumpkin

I am planning on painting some pumpkins this weekend to decorate the outside of our house!!

What do you love about fall and all of the yummy pumpkin flavored goodies??

Xoxo,

"E"

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Wedding Wednesday - Tux Rental

Getting Z's tux was a lot of fun and a lot of work. We had already decided that we wanted to get the tux from Jos A. Bank, but going in I thought that I wanted all of the guys to wear brown tux.

Once we got into the store and saw the brown tux in person, it was definitely not something that was for us.  Z did not like them at all, so I couldn't make him wear something he did not like.

One thing about Jos A. Bank that we liked was the quality of their tux. We had previously visited Al's Formal wear and were not impressed. The downside of Jos A. Bank is that no one in the store knew how to work their computer program for renting tux.

We probably spent a total of 3 hours over 2 nights and still got nothing accomplished due to no one knowing what they were doing. That was a little frustrating but none the less we did get the tux rentals set up and Z's ordered!! Since we do have such a big wedding party, Z's tux was only $7!!





Z was not too excited that I was snapping pictures the whole time, but he is going to look so handsome on our wedding day!! (insert awe's here)

Xoxo,

"E"


Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Product Review - {Ice Cream} Machine


We have gotten so many amazing gifts from our wedding showers and one of Z's favorite is the Cuisinart Ice Cream Machine.

He literally made ice cream 2 times last week because it was so easy.



He read the directions all by himself and made it!



All of the yummy toppings we got with our ice cream machine!


So yummy!!!

This makes ice cream really fast, only 20 minutes, and it comes with a bunch of easy recipes!

Xoxo,

"E"