Happy Christmas, Friends.

I posted this quote onto my facebook wall a couple of days ago and I couldn't agree with it more.

"Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. And if you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots and lots of time with them. - Unknown."

Life is about surrounding yourself with people who make you smile. People who make you burst with happiness. So, this Christmas - find those friends and family...and laugh. 

New HP Printer Giveaway!

One of my favorite religiously read blogs, The Pioneer Woman is giving away one of the new wireless HP Printers. You can send a picture from your phone to the printer without even being in the house!

Only one week left to enter!

Go here, to enter to win! All you have to do is enter in what your favorite Christmas treat is ... Eggs & Bacon, Pretzelini's, Pug Cupcakes!??!

Christmas Baking: Pretzelini's

Most of you know that I really enjoy baking even though I don't get to do it as much as I would like. But, I have two stipulations when baking; the end result has to be: 1. Tasty/delicious/give me some more, good 2. Cute/Creative/So pretty that you don't want to eat it. Well, number one being the most important.

Next up: Pretzelinis. For a lack of a better word.

Easy. Easy. Easy. Honestly, I don't really even have to put too many directions because they are pretty self explanatory. Lay out the waffle pretzels on a cookie sheet. Top with any type of candy you wish. I chose: Hershey Hugs, Hershey Dark Chocolate Mint Truffle Kisses and Rolos. Pre-heat your oven to 350. Pop the cookie sheet with candy-topped pretzels in the oven for no more than 2 minutes. ((I judged by the shiney-ness of the candy, when it looked like it was pretty shiney...take them out of the oven!)) Next, while the candy was soft and melting, I topped this Kisses with a holiday M&M. OR topped the Rolos with a pecan (they taste like Turtles!) Then - let cool down. Boom. Told ya it was easy.

Topping the pretzels with Dark Chocolate Mint Truffle Kisses. Say that five times fast.

 Ready to be put in the oven!

 Rolo's topped with Pecans.

My favorite were the Hug Kisses topped with M&M's. I think it's because they have stripes. Anything that somewhat resembles a zebra - I love. They almost look like you could lay your head down on a little Pretzel Pillow.

Now it's time to find my next recipe because today Meredith got me a super cute peacock apron from World Market for my birthday! 

Merry Christmas, friends. 

Again, I'm hoping I made santa's "nice" list:: because that Nikon5000 would sure take a lot better pictures than my cell phone. *wink,*wink.

Not Your Average Bacon & Eggs

This morning I walked into the office and told my co-workers that I had made them "Bacon & Eggs" for breakfast. At first their initial reactions were a bit on the surprised side - for one, that I actually woke up early enough to make them breakfast. They know I allow exactly enough time to get myself ready & out the door in the morning (no extra time for making breakfast!). And for two - that they were actually CANDY! One lady in our office is a vegetarian. I think her reaction was the best, i.e. "you know I'm a vegetarian" look. Then she realized that they were candies and asked if she could hang it on her wall. 

Looking for a quick, cheap(er), homemade gift to hand out this holiday season? Looking for a kid-friendly recipe that is sure to get lots of laughs?

Look no further. Bacon & Eggs to the rescue.

Bacon: 2 pretzel sticks

Egg White: White chocolate bark, melted according to package, then drizzled over pretzel sticks

Egg Yolk: 1 yellow m&m

p.s. 2 big bags of plain m&m's get you about 95 to 100 plain yellow m&m's. Maybe I'll make some green eggs and ?bacon? with the rest!

Sorry for the poor quality pictures - I actually took these on my cell phone. I'm asking santa for a new Nikon5000 for Christmas. I hope I make it on his GOOD list!!

Thanks for reading!

Chris & Lisa's Wedding Logo

Which one would you choose??

Winner will be announced after Chris & Lisa's wedding!

Thanks for reading!

3 for 3 - BOOM!

It's a Bay-BEE Shower!

So, since my last post was about my first Valpo friend - I guess it's only fitting that this post is about my first Nashville friend, Kathleen.

Kathleen and I met at the gym. Which ironically is funny to the both of us now since you would rarely ever see us both there at the same time (I guess I'll be honest - we're rarely ever there!). Anyways, we met around last November and pretty much gravitated towards each other. Kathleen is my creative friend. She likes to do crafts with me and doesn't mind when we are still doing them 5 hours down the road (she's got good craft endurance, it's a talent...really!). She's always there. She gives the best advice. And probably listens to me better than anyone I've ever met and believe me - I know I talk a lot! All in all...she's my great friend and just gave birth to a (bee)eautiful bay-(bee) boy (sorry, had too!), Logan! He's lovely and I can't wait to watch him grow before my eyes.

So, her friend, Sarah and I decided to throw her a bay-bee shower to welcome bay-bee Logan into the world!

The mascot of the shower.

The invitation. I think the honeycomb detail at the top was my favorite.

I printed these out and glued them to a wire. We had them poking out of the amazingly, delicious food that Sarah made. Speaking of, my mouth just started watering for her homemade baked brie. *Note to self* get that recipe!

Just in case you forgot whose bay-bee shower you were at. :)

And bingo...there is it, my cupcake stand! The cupcakes didn't come out exactly how I had planned - but sometimes you just gotta live and learn. I used a yellow peanut m&m for the body and piped on black icing stripes and antennas. Then piped white icing for the wings.

This was my gift to Kathleen. Which, I sort of think is funny because if you're a reader of the blog. I think it's the third post (she actually wrote) is about diaper cakes. So, Kathleen actually taught me how to make her diaper cake for her. Which I think is neat in it's own little way. Lastly, I want you to take a look at the bee topper! It's a piggie bank I found at TJ Maxx randomly. SCORE!

You didn't think I'd leave you hanging without showing you what precious baby Logan looks like? Brenna from Sparkling Seal Photography did an amazing job at capturing this little nugget! Personally, I think Logan is pretty dang lucky to have a mom like Kathleen. Congrats, lady friend!

Two posts in two days...someone check my temperature! Thanks for reading!!

It's a nice day for a (Black and) White Wedding!

Let me let you in on a little secret; I LOVE black and white weddings. The classic-ness (is that a word?) of the black mixed with the light and airy white. It's timeless and I think a perfect choice for any wedding.

Let me tell you about Michelle, she was my first official friend when I moved to Valparaiso, Indiana. Her and I used to drink Oliver soft red wine in her garage and talk for hours. She taught me how to make guacamole. She introduced me to Havarti cheese. She's one of those friends that I actually ENJOYED shopping with (although - it was much harder on the wallet, whoops!). She has a beautiful son, Aiden - and him and I loved to hate each other...and by hate, I mean we were best buddies. He liked to sing to Michelle. He liked to fall asleep in his car seat after eating powdered donuts. She's short but she can pack a mighty punch - she is one strong woman who I am honored to call, a friend. George most definitely is lucky to have found this lady.

When she asked me if I would help her with her wedding invitations. I was honored. I was honored that she would choose me to help with the identity of her classic black & white wedding (you figured I was going somewhere with the black and white, didn't you?). Well, bingo. Michelle told me that they were going for a classic, Audrey Hepburn style wedding. So, this is what I came up with for their big fat greek wedding. :)

Their logo. As a sidenote - George is fabulous to Michelle. They are one great couple that I ALWAYS enjoyed being around. 

outside of program

Inside of program. Lots of information...like I said - she had a big fat Greek wedding!! :)

Their invitation. Holy black you are GORGEOUS.

The menu was my favorite thing to design and with a caterer like Bistro 157 - it's hard to go wrong.

Michelle, I wish you years of wedded bliss and a lifetime of fun and happiness. BOOMSHAKALAKA. Love you and miss you dearly.