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Friday, December 18, 2009

Holiday Card Contest


Last year my December issue of Real Simple came with the most fantastic game I have ever played. The magazine created a Holiday Card contest in which people compete for points by receiving Holiday Cards. Bryan and I get really into it. Since this is our second year playing, the game we have become a lot more competative and sneaky. (He's going to hate when he opens up the card from my mother).
Here are the rules and score sheet:
Points: Cards from
Dentist, Hairdresser, insurance agenct, etc. +.5 each
Your own mother +.5
Another relative +1
Friend via e-mail +.5
Your boss +1
Good Friend +1
Friend with a good inside joke in the card +3
Long-distance friend, devoid of any personal message +2
Long-distance friend, with a personal message at least three lines +5
Anyone who inlcludes a handwritten personal note of more than five sentences +5
Long-lost friend who hasn't been heard from in 20 years +10
Lose point when:
Card and envelope are the same piece of paper -1
Signature is imprinted rather than handwritten inside card -2
A photo of a helpless pet in a holiday costume -3
Your name is incorrectly spelled -4
Card plays annoying music -4
Highly religious card celebrates a faith different than your own -5
Same card you recieved last year -6
Return address lanel was provided by charity to which the sender may not have actually contributed -7
Family newsletter includes information about someone's medical history -8
Family newsletter is from an ex who is gloating over something -10
Long-lost friend who hasn't been heard from in 20 years asks for a place to live or money -20
Bonus Points:
Gilded Envelope +.5
Handwritten return address +1
Card in which all family members signed their own names +2
Newsletter or family photo in the card +2
Card with moving parts +3
Handmade card +4
Oversize card requiring extra postage +5
Card sent from a foreign country +6
Card with check, cash, or gift card +20

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Our Home For The Holidays







Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Snowing in Knoxville

This is the first snowman I have ever seen in Knoxville. It is actually snowing.





Friday, December 4, 2009

I am one of those people....

Mika turned three yesterday (21 in dog years) luckily she's not spoiled rotten and didn't get any presents, especially not any dog beer. When we threw her a 1 year old birthday party we realized she has better friends than we do; her friends come w/ gifts, that makes them better.





- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Packaging is everything

Well, maybe not everything but it sure can make a simple gift look unforgettable. Now that I am half way finished with my Holiday shopping I am looking into new ideas for package wrapping and came across some beautiful decorate tape. I continue to think of additional uses for the tape.

http://www.happytape.bigcartel.com/




Saturday, November 28, 2009

Honeymooning in Belize

We are going to Belize for our week-long honeymoon. I have to admit, when the wedding stresses me out I am more excited about the honeymoon than the wedding.

http://www.lasterrazasresort.com/




Our Honeymoon Package includes:
  • Welcome cocktail upon arrival
  • 7 nights in penthouse unit with private rooftop pool
  • Local round trip transfers from San Pedro Airstrip to the resort
  • All Inclusive Meals
    • Enjoy a full breakfast, lunch and 4 course dinner ordering A la Carte from our Restaurant Menu.
  • Half Day Snorkel Trip for two
    • Be amazed at the marine life you will experience at Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley
  • Serenity Spa & Wellness Center Relaxation Massage for two
  • Golf Cart for a day
  • Sunset Sailing Cruise for Two
  • Private Candlelit Dinner on the beach
    • Dine by candlelight with a dedicated server attending to your needs. Dinner includes a four course meal with dessert and a chilled bottle of champagne

Wedding iphone Applications

Wedding Planning can be easier for those smart brides with iphones. With millions of applications there are dozens related to wedding planning. Here are the most useful wedding planning applications:
ibridal gown: This application will help each bride find her perfect. You can search by designer, style, silhouette, and so much more. I wish I had this before I bought my gown. Wedding Day: This application gives you an exact countdown until the wedding, not as helpful but fun to have.
My Wedding: This application is very helpful; it allows you to create to-do lists, keep appointments and even RSVP's.
iWedding: This wedding application is great for the very detailed bride. It's easy to use and offers everything needed to stay organized. Great budget feature allows you to watch your spending.




Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Wedding Cakes

I will admit that the wedding cake falls very low on my priority list but here are some of my favorite I have found through wedding planning. Mine is not pictured below but is very simple and classic.










Sunday, November 22, 2009

Twins

Tonight I received great news that close friends are pregnant with twins. I am so floored with happiness for them. This only further confirms my desire to also have twins.





Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Bryan and I


If we were animals I think we would look just like this....

Umbrella For Two


Where is the world can I find an umbrella for two? I have searched everywhere!

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Snow In Colorado

When everyone's facebook status brags upon what they are doing on the state's snow day, I can't help but daydream about all the fabulous things I could do if I had a snow day. It doesn't snow in Tennessee and I am having withdrawals.


A Marriage to Admire

From the New York Times:
"The couple now spend more time together than at nearly any other point since their early years together. On many days, they see Malia and Sasha off to school, exercise together and do not begin their public schedules until 9 or even 10 o’clock. They recently finished redecorating the White House residence, the first lady requesting an outdoor rocking chair for her husband to read in, the president scrutinizing colors and patterns, said the White House social secretary. The pair recently began playing tennis. (He wins, she admitted; for now, he added.) This summer, the first lady surprised her husband for his birthday by gathering his old basketball buddies for a weekend at Camp David.

Barack and Michelle Obama are also a more fully fused political team than ever before, with no other jobs to distract them, no doubts about the worthiness of the pursuit dogging them. Theirs is by no means a co-presidency; aides say the first lady has little engagement with banking reform, nuclear disarmament or most of the other issues that dominate her husband’s days. But their goals are increasingly intertwined, with Michelle Obama speaking out on healthcare, privately mulling over Supreme Court nominees with the president and serving as his consultant on personnel and public opinion. When they lounge on the Truman Balcony or sit inside at their round dining table, she describes how she believes his initiatives are perceived outside Washington; later, say advisers, the president quotes the first lady in Oval Office meetings.

If winning the White House represents a resolution of the Obamas’ struggles, it also means a new, higher-stakes confrontation with some of the vexing issues that fed those tensions. Their marriage is more vulnerable than ever to the corrosions of politics: partisan attacks, disappointments of failed initiatives, a temptation to market what was once wholly private. Some of the methods the Obamas devised for keeping their relationship strong — speaking frankly in public, maintaining separate careers, even date nights — are no longer as easily available to them. Like every other modern presidential couple, the Obamas have watched their world contract to one building and a narrow zone beyond, and yet their partnership expand to encompass a staff and two wings of the White House. And while the presidency tends to bring couples closer, historians say, it also tends to thrust them back to more traditionbound behavior."

One of a Kind Wedding Dresses

If you're getting married or just enjoy the beauty of wedding dresses these are a must see!




My friend's newest wedding gown design! They're up on Etsy now, so go check it out!

Go to button + boo to check it out!

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Dog Anything

I am truly a sucker for anything dog related. Here are some of my favorite dog pictures that I have had saved on my computer for some time now. Get ready to make aww noises.....











Sunday, October 18, 2009

Croissants

A grocery staple for me is a roll of croissant dough. I use the dough for everything but croissants it seems like. Sunday morning I used the dough to make doughnut holes. I take the dough from the tube and size a 1/4 inch of dough off and roll into a ball. Then drop into heated oil for under a minute, cool and toss in a sugar and cinnamon mixture. It's so simple, cheap and delicious. Bryan was pretty blown away and speechless.





I also love to make delicious, flaky lunch sandwiches with the dough. I unroll each triangle, top with lunch meat, cheese and onions (just mine) and bake at 375 degrees for 12 minutes.
Alternate toppings:
Three cheeses
Mozzarella and tomato sauce
Pizza sauce, pepperonis and cheese

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Bridal Shower

My sister's Bridal Shower was so much fun to put on, a lot of work but worth every second. We really focused on the details to make it perfect.
My mother and I made homemade salad dressing for the favors. They were so delicious and fun to make!
I very much enjoyed decorating all of the chocolate cupcakes. Here colors were brown and pink which worked perfectly for the chocolate cupcakes with fresh garden flowers.

I put together recipe books for the guests to take home. Recipes included the salad dressing, cupcakes, salads, smoothies and side dishes.