pooped and a change

First, I am back from a wonderful weekend with my girls in Charleston. We went all out and my body is feeling it this morning...lots of pictures coming soon. Here is one to hold you over...



yes, that's a moustache

 

Second, I am feeling a blog make over. I am over the "patriotic" theme I got goin on so be on the look out for a fresh new look coming soon :)

See ya later...

I am off to Charleston, South Carolina for my bachelorette weekend with 7 of the most wonderful girlfriends a girl could ask for. Have a great weekend!

My Pasta Sauce Recipe!

Happy Tuesday blog friends! So I love to make my own pasta/spaghetti sauce...It just always tastes so much more fresh and healthy. I never seem to use the same recipe because I usually just make it up as I go but last night I tried to write down what I used. It was one of the best pots of sauce I have made so I thought I would share! Sorry if these measurements are not exact. It is best always to taste as you go when it comes to flavoring your sauce…Bon appétit!

• 1 pound of ground turkey or ground beef (I use ground turkey for everything)

• 1 can of diced tomatoes
• 1 can of whole tomatoes
• 1-2 whole Fresh Roma tomatoes (or whatever fresh tomatoes you have or like)
• 1 can of tomato sauce
• One medium sized onion diced
• 1 red bell pepper diced
• 3 cloves of garlic – minced
• Salt and pepper to taste
• ½ tablespoon of Crushed basil leaves
• ½ tablespoon Italian spices (can buy blend at most grocery stores)
• ¼ teaspoon of Nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon of Fennel seed (optional, some people don’t like fennel seed, Sayer and I LOVE it!)
• 1 cup of red wine
• 1 tbsp of Red wine vinegar
• pinch of Cinnamon
• Pinch of sugar

Brown meat in bottom of large pot on medium to medium high heat. Once it is almost done add the onion and pepper and cook until they begin to soften (about 5 minutes). Add garlic, spices and cook for one minute, stirring constantly. Add red wine and vinegar to de-glaze the bottom of the pan. Once all liquid is soaked up by meat add diced tomatoes. Reduce heat to medium. Stir for about one minute. In food processor add one can of whole tomatoes, one can of tomato sauce and 2 Roma tomatoes (cut in large chunks). Puree until smooth. Add this mixture to pot. Once all comes to a boil reduce heat to low and let simmer for about 20-30 minutes. Taste to add more salt or pepper. Serve over your favorite pasta! Makes about 6 servings depending on how much sauce you like.

xoxo

Wedding Inspiration

The wedding is less then two months away and I am busy busy busy getting things ready...here are a few pictures to give you some idea of what its all going to look like. Enjoy! (the first one is from our actual venue)

lots of burlap. blue mason jars. orange/coral/peach flowers. touches of turquoise...I cant wait to see it all come together!

We sent out invitations last week so I can post these now. I love how they turned out!! (this is just the digital copy so they look a little different in person)

Wedding Craziness

73 days to go till the wedding. I am so sorry for my lack of blogging...I love reading other peoples wedding inspired blogs but for some reason I have made no time for my own. I envisioned myself blogging daily about wedding ideas, colors choices, bridesmaid dresses, DIY, etc but somehow I have found myself being way too busy for that. This is what our kitchen table looks like right now...

Poor Sayer is just trying to have a nice meal at the table...kinda hard to do that when it's spilling over with wedding gifts (dont get me wrong, I love them!) and wedding craft projects. I love our apartment but in the middle of wedding planning I have realized we could use a little more space. I look forward to the day we have more space....and walls I can paint. I. am. so. over. beige. walls. A girl can dream.

We have pretty much taken care of all the big stuff for the wedding (venue, rental company, caterer, DJ, ceremony music, etc.) and now all thats left are the small details. I have to say...I enjoy the small details WAY more then picking the big ones. We sent out save the dates about 2 months ago or so. here is what they looked like!

I really like how they turned out and they looked even better in person. Our invites arrived last weekend so I have been busy working on those and hope to get them out next week sometime. I can't wait for people to see them, I think they turned out super cute!

I have been doing a lot of reading this summer. Mostly just chic lit...Its my go to for summer time while laying out by the pool. Here is a stack of books just waiting to be read on the nightstand in our guest room (I downloaded this really cool picture app yesterday...I cant wait to play around with it more)

I hit up our local Goodwill this spring and got a TON of books for like 25 and 50 cents. Who knew? I guess everyone else out there is not a book hoarder like me.

well thats all I have time for now...I will be back soon with more wedding updates. I PROMISE!

Hope everyone is having a great week so far! xoxo

Engagement Pictures Preview!

This weekend we went to Charlotte for our engagement photo shoot with our amazing photographers, Ben and Kisha Whitney. Here is a little preview they sent us last night...so excited to see the rest!!

More coming soon :)

My wedding shoe delima

I have had so much fun looking for wedding shoes but now I am starting to get a bit stressed out because I can't seem to make up my mind. My dress should be in any day now so I need to make up my mind soon because I will have my first dress fitting in the next month or so...

Here are a few of my favorites right now. I am loving the sparkle but I am open for any suggestions you may have!

found here. I would love to find something similar to this but in a smaller heel...I am not the most graceful person when it comes to walking in heels.

I love TOMS! I have a pair of grey ones and they are just so comfy and I love that they donate a pair to someone in need every time I buy a pair. My dress is very..whats thes word...large!..I guess you would say...and so my shoes will not really show unless I lift my dress so these would be a much more comfy option and they are so girly!! I love anything pink :)

 

I have found a lot of shoes on the Nina website that I really like but to me this is just so classy and timeless and I like both of the colors (Ivory and the other is a gold dusted beige which I think is really unique)

What shoes did you wear for your wedding?

I'm Back!!!

(I originally started writing this months ago and never got around to posting it)

After a blogging hiatus I am back...with good news...

WE ARE ENGAGED!!!

Sayer proposed on Monday, November 22nd and made me the happiest girl in the world. I feel so blessed to have someone so special who loves me so much. We are SO excited and I cant wait to share all my fun wedding planning ideas and get your advice on things!

We are getting married September 24, 2011 at The Dairy Barn in Fort Mill, SC. More details to come :)

20 questions

My sweet friend and Bridesmaid, Lauren, tagged me in this 20 questions thing and I figured it would be a good way to ease myself back into blogging. I have been ab awful blogger recently. Since Sayer and I got engaged I have just not had a lot of extra time or energy after work to blog. I know I know...not a good excuse. Who knew wedding planning was so stressful! Stressful but well worth it :)


Rule #1: The tagged person must write their answers on their blog and replace any questions they dislike with a new question formulated by themselves.

Rule #2: Tag 4 people to do this quiz (I've tagged 2). The tag-ee must state who tagged them.


1. What is one word that can be used to describe you?

Creative. I feel very blessed to have the creative gene (I get it from my Mom) and I have really enjoyed doing a lot of crafty things for our wedding this September. I cant wait to see it all come together! I started my own Etsy business creating personalized stickers for events about a year ago and have also been working on wedding invitation designs that I will eventually have on there as well...I have only had a few orders but I am hoping to be able to do more with it in the future. What would you say your word is Marj?


2. If you could have a dream come true, what would it be?

I know this sounds cheesy but my dreams are already coming true...I met the the perfect man for me, we are getting married this September, I have a great job and with in a few years we hope to be starting a family. Life does not get much better then that :) I would love to know what Ginny's dream is!


3. What would you do with a billion dollars?

Pay off my student loans, maybe buy a house for me and Sayer and save the rest!


4. What helps to pull you out of a bad mood?

A good laugh :)


5. What is your bedtime routine?

Wash my face, brush my teeth and then I usually read until I cant keep my eyes open...


6. What activities did you do in High School? If you could go back, would you do the same or something different?

I cheered and was very involved in my church youth group. I think the only thing I would change if I could go back would be to not be so concerned with boys and just have fun with my friends :)


7. What kind of books do you read?

Chic lit. Its me guilty pleasure. Also, I recently read The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo series and LOVED it...could not put it down.


8. How do you see yourself in 10 years?

I would love to be planning events and raising a family. Anyone who knows me well knows that I can't wait to have babies :)


9. What's your favorite piece of clothing you own?

right now, my wedding dress...its amazing!


10. Have you ever been skinny dipping?

thats personal :)


11. What's the first thing you do when you wake up?

Check my email, facebook and the weather.


12. If you could have any job, regardless of income, what would it be?

I would have my own event planning business but have assitants so all the stress would not be on me. I would love to plan weddings for other people.


13. If you could pick a new name for yourself, what would it be?

I would not change my name. I love it. My Mom picked it out just for me. I dont know anyone with my name. It makes me unique :)


14. If you had to choose between six months of sun or six months of rain, what would you choose?

Sun. no question. I am a sun girl all the way.


15. If you could only eat one thing for the next 6 months, what would it be?

Pasta. I love carbs!


16. What is the thing you enjoy about blogging the most?

hmmm...there are lots of things. I would say the top two are meeting friends in the blogging world and being able to keep my family and freinds up to date (althought I have NOT been good at it lately) on things going on in my life.


17. Do you prefer salty or sweet foods?

Salty. Cheese and crackers are my favorite salty snack.


18. What items are in your purse right now?

We recently traveled to London so I am carrying an EXTREMELY smaller purse then normal bc I didnt want to carry around a huge purse in the city. Right now I have my phone, carmex chap stick, passport, 5 dollars, my debit card and license oh and some cuticle oil. I am addicted to that stuff.


19. What is the best memory you have of you and the person that tagged you in their 20 questions?

I would say so far her wedding day (not that we did not have TONS of fun memories before that). It was such a blessing to be a part of Lauren and Zach's wedding. The wedding was BEAUTIFUL and everyone had such a great time. I loved dancing with Lauren and all the bridesmaids and celebrating her day...I cant wait for her to be a part of mine in a few months :)


20. What do you watch on television that you know you shouldn't?
Bravo. I. AM. ADDICTED. I cant stop watching the housewives, its pathetic...and Bethany is my favorite. I wish we were friends. Its sad, but I do. She cracks me up and always puts a smile on my face. I even got Sayer to watch a few episodes with me last night :)

Lucy Kate & Co.

My Etsy store was mentioned on Finding My Feet yesterday! Thank you Raechel for putting together this great list of Etsy shops. I can't wait to check them all out. I have been reading Raechels blog for about two years now. She has the sweetest little family and I love reading about all her creative ideas (and her house is super cute!) so check out her blog...

Have a great day!

xoxo

P.S. I am working on a new "section" of Lucy Kate & Co. and I can't wait to share it with you guys really soon!