Thursday, July 18, 2013

Welcome The Newest Member Of Our Family!




Oliver!!!
 
 
We rescued Oliver when he was less than 3 weeks old.  His Mother abandoned him, so we took him in.   We had to bottle feed him every few hours just like a new born.  Here is Oliver when we first got him weighing in at only 6 oz.
 
 
 
At such a young age Oliver already appreciates the finer things in life such as Lilly Pulitzer
 
 
and Dom Perignon
 
 
It is amazing how much Oliver has grown in just a few weeks.
 
 
Yesterday the vet ordered Oliver to sport this fashionable sweater vest so that he stops scratching a cut on his neck hahaha.   I think he pulls it off well, although not the best outfit for summer.
 
 
I think he may be the cutest fur baby ever, but I am biased. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Wedding Wednesday: Three Months to Go!

    So we officially hit the three month mark.  Yikes!  I sort of panicked when I realized we had only 90 more days to go.  Last week I may or may not have gone to Michael's almost every day, because I felt like any tasks not yet done needed to be completed ASAP.   Today, I still  feel like I still have a wedding to do list a mile long, but I have calmed down.  I do still have 90 days.   I am happy to say most of the big stuff is done, at this point it's all the little stuff and crafting I need to work on.

Here is where I am in terms of my list accomplishments and near future "To Do's" with less than THREE months to go!

1. Pick a Date -----------------CHECK

2. Reception Venue ------------ CHECK

3. Church --------------------------CHECK
* So excited to be getting married in the church I grew up in.

4..Band ------------------------------CHECK

5..Photographer----------------CHECK

6. . Wedding Dress and Veil--CHECK
* So. Excited. This makes everything feel so real

7.Engagement Party-------------CHECK
* This was not on my check list, but my parents hosted a fabulous engagement party for DFH and I over Christmas so I had to add it to my check list

8. Announce Engagement in the paper---------CHECK

9. Ask Bridal Party To Be In Wedding ---------------CHECK

10. Take Engagement Pictures- scheduled to do these in August.

11. Hire Organist for Ceremony ----------------------CHECK

12. Reserve Hotel Rooms ----------------------------CHECK

13. Choose Bridesmaid Dresses--------------------CHECK

14. Book a Florist---------------------------------------CHECK

15.Pick and Book a Rehearsal Dinner Location------CHECK


16. Register--------------------------------------CHECK



17. Choose Save The Dates--------------------------------CHECK

18. Rent Chairs---------------------------------------------CHECK

19. Order Groom and groomsmen attire

20. Research / Book Videographer

21. Research/ Book Transportation--------------------- working on the contract

22. Book Hairstylist--------------------------------CHECK

23. Book Makeup -- I have my trial set up for the next time I am home in NJ

24. Attend Caterer Food Tasting--------------------CHECK


25. Meet with our minister-----------------------------CHECK

26. Ask KLS to sing at our ceremony -----------------CHECK
* So excited for her to sing at our wedding!

27.Complete Guest list ------------------------------------CHECK

28. Research Invitations --------------------------------CHECK

29. Order Invitations                                                CHECK

30. Set up wedding website--------------------------CHECK

31. Book day after wedding photographer             CHECK

32. Research Honeymoon -------------------------CHECK

33. Book Honeymoon                                         CHECK

34. Decide on Ceremony Music

35. Find/Order reception decor items - Most of this is done just need to finish some DIY Ideas

36. Finalize Welcome Bag ideas

37. Decide on Table Number design                  CHECK ( need to finish crafting these)

38. Decide on Place Card design

39. Order Thank You Cards ---------------------CHECK

40. Pick out Bridal Shoes/ accessories

41. Surprise Bridal Shower!! --------------------CHECK
* This was not on my to do list, but I had to share: My mom and bridal party hosted the best bridal shower ever for me last weekend! I was shocked! I think I was shaking the whole time. I can't imagine a better shower!


42. Send Save The Dates -----------------------------Check


43.  Pick out wedding bands                                 CHECK

44. Send out invitations

45.  Research Send Off car

46. Research / Order Favors

47. Hair Trial- scheduled for the next time I am home  CHECK

48.  Dress fitting

The list goes on.....


Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Italian Burgers

One of my favorite things about cooking is when you invent a recipe and it ends up being delicious. As usual the other night DFH and I were scratching our heads trying to come up with a tasty meal using ingredients we had around the house. We had a pound of lean ground beef, some mushrooms, homemade tomato sauce from the night before, and more basil and peppers from our garden that we knew what to do with. And so our Italian burgers were invented







Ingredients:

1. 1lb ground beef

2. Handful of fresh basil ( approx. a quarter cup)

3. 4oz sliced button mushrooms

4. Pinch of salt and pepper

5. Pinch of garlic salt

6. 1 jalapenos

7 1.5 cups of tomato sauce: ( I used homemade since we had some from a meal we cooked the night before but store bought would work great too. I wish I remembered how we made our homemade sauce but it was something that ended up being thrown together )

8. two tsp olive oil


Instructions:

1. Place ground beef in a large mixing bowl and sprinkle ground beef with salt pepper and garlic salt to your liking.

2. Chop up the basil into small prices and add to the ground beef mix.

3 Knead/mix the ground beef and make 4 patties of beef with your hands


4. Cook patties on the grill until cooked to the temperature of choice

5. Meanwhile chop mushroom and jalapenos into small pieces.

6. Add olive oil to a sauté pan and sauté mushroom and jalapeños for five minutes until they start to brown.

7. Add tomato sauce to sauté mixture and let simmer for 5 minutes.

 8. Pour the tomato sauce mix over the burgers.



 
ENJOY!