redecorating.

How do you like my $100 couch cover on my $25 couch??! I think its worth it. For starters, Andrew bought this gross couch off Craigslist and even though he said he cleaned and disinfected the best he could, he still wouldn't sit on it without a couch cover. Back at my old apartment, after Danielle left and took her white couch with her, Emily and I were left with a color scheme that didn't match the free brown couch she was given. I couldn't stand it anymore and searched high and low for a WHITE couch cover. Do you know how difficult it is to find a white couch cover?! Now I know why. White is not conducive to everyday living, especially with a dog who thinks he's welcome wherever he pleases.

The one piece of furniture I took with me was a white IKEA chair which perfectly matched my old apartment but now appeared dingy and yellow in my new home. After scrubbing and four cans of fabric paint, I produced a new(ish) gray chair! Now I've got another new(ish) gray couch! I do like the stretch fit of this version better than the tailored fit of my white cover. Same brand- surefit, which I ordered from target online. They have most of the options from the sure fit website but I ordered a few and can easily return to target in store the ones I don't like. Yay!

The Married Life.

Whoa! Where did the time go? The last time I posted was in January! Since then it's been a whirlwind of stuff. Andrew returned home from his deployment in April. It's been wonderful having him home, being able to finally play house, day in and day out. We are a happy little family with Teddy. 

So wedding talk. We were in California for one week which was definitely not enough time. 90% of it was spent doing wedding stuff. Next time we fly to California we have to stay for at least 2 weeks. EVERYTHING was done last minute. A lot of it was because I wanted to make all decisions for my wedding so I put off so many things like buying candy, making placecards and decorations and all that. Seating arrangement was done so late but only because people were constantly cancelling and then uncancelling their previous cancels, it was hectic. But somehow it all came together. Like my mother in love says, Those who are meant to be there will be there. The cancels even came in seriously the morning of the wedding, like before I even woke up, which was completely annoying but woosah- relax. 

Our rehearsal dinner was at the Hotel Sutter in Sutter Creek, about 15 minutes away from our venue in Ione. 

I loved this little hotel because of it's history. It used to be a brothel! Sutter Creek is an old mining town and this building use to house prostitutes on the 2nd floor and miners on the 3rd floor. Hotel Sutter recently revamped the entire place, getting rid of the "shared bathroom" experience on the 3rd floor. I was a little disappointed because I thought that historical fact that miners used to share a bathroom was gone, but for a business/hotel standpoint, it only makes sense for each room to have access to a private bathroom. 

Dinner was delicious. Pulled pork, cheese raviolis, garlic mashed potatoes, and green beans almondine. For dessert it was yummy cheesecake and triple chocolate brownies. There was a round of "Stand By Me" by my groom and his childhood friends who were all in choir together. Their choir teacher was our officiant. We ended the night running through the streets chasing the special Honey Moon making its debut after 95 years on Friday the 13th! The next one won't be until 2098!

Saturday- THE BIG DAY! My Maid of Honor, Danielle, and I woke up early and worked out. But not before a quick delicious breakfast on the hotel balcony - cheesy eggs, fresh fruit, and yogurt. We started our uphill climb because Danielle was convinced the gym was "right around the corner." False! I knew it was a bit further than right around the corner, but I needed the workout. Some abs and arms for the wedding dress! Proceed to the venue where we all get ready. I was mostly stressed because we had such a tight timeline but I had to keep reminding myself to relax and enjoy it. People always say your wedding flies by but to be honest, I felt like it went by at the right speed. I didn't feel like I missed anything. Well I take that back, I missed all the details, how the tables turned out, the candy bar, all the coming together. But as far as the music, the speeches, the atmosphere, I took it all in. It was perfect. I could not ask for a better day. With that being said, I did learn a few things about wedding planning that I would like to impart. 

1. Get started early.
I can't tell you how many times people kept asking me to make decisions and I continued to put it off. Right when I got engaged I hit the ground running. I went to bridal expos, toured venues, and went food tasting. It was fun! But it can also be very draining! Take advantage of getting your bridesmaids together and putting together programs, gift bags, all that. Since I planned my wedding from the other side of the country, I missed out on that fun! I can see how it would have all been very beneficial now. Plus, it's better to eat all those free cakes and cupcakes now before you have to fit into your dress!

2. DIY really means DO IT YOURSELF.
There are some pros and cons to DIY. If you are on a tight budget, it can definitely keep costs down. Also if you are particularly crafty, it is a great opportunity to personalize your wedding. However, this is very time consuming. For example, I "hired" my aunt to do the flowers for my wedding. In reality, that meant my Mom and my aunt. Though my mother and aunt loved getting all of that stuff together, it took away from her time with me when I was home a few days before the wedding. Also, my aunt didn't end up arriving to the venue with the flowers until 20 minutes before the ceremony- causing my parents to last minute scramble to unload and prep the tables. I missed out on calm family time with them before my big day and also some photo ops. Also, in the rush, my father forgot to set out the video camera so we didn't get any video. Luckily, my mother in love was able to capture the whole thing on her phone! Sometimes, it is definitely worth it to pay someone to handle these tasks on your big day. 

3. Assign an MC. 
We had a friend DJ the wedding and yes, I was aware of that risk from the start. He did a great job but just wasn't comfortable formally MC'ing the wedding. Fortunately, one of our guests with a big personality stepped up to the plate and really helped streamline the day. It is important for guests to know what is happening at what time and where things are. Example: "Time for desserts! The photo booth is in the back! Time to throw the bouquet, will all the ladies please line up?" Also, print a Timeline of the day for the MC, venue coordinator or wedding planner, and photographer, to give everyone an idea of how your wedding is supposed to go. Heck, give it to your immediate family/wedding party and all of your vendors. It's good to have all those involved on the same page.

4. Consider a reception dress. 
My wedding dress was an organza/chiffon mermaid style puffy mess. It bustled but because there were so many heavy layers of chiffon, the outer bustle actually broke and I had to carry my dress most of the night. It wasn't terrible but people were constantly stepping on me and it was just a lot of dress to deal with for an entire day. My dress was beautiful and I loved wearing it all night but perhaps consider something easier to dance in once all the "festivities" are done and it's just dancing til everyone goes home. 

5. Stores do not stock bridesmaid dresses. 
Having never been married before I was completely unaware of this one. I knew it took months for a wedding dress to be ordered but bridesmaid dresses? I had no idea!! I knew what I wanted my bridesmaids to wear for at least 5 months before I told them. And I withheld the information for no good reason. If you know what you want, tell people early. It will give them time to shop around for a cheaper tailor if they need to get it altered. 

6. When you know something, share it. 
Like I said before, if you know what you want, tell people early. I knew how I wanted my entire wedding to look but for no good reason, I kept it all in my head. Make lookbooks, timelines, etc and share them with the wedding party and vendors. When everyone involved is in the know, your wedding will go so much smoother. 

7. Consider a wedding planner. 
I couldn't afford one so this was out of the question from the beginning but consider it. Or consider appointing a good friend or even a bridesmaid to be your official time keeper for the day. Have all last minute questions forwarded to them, shut off your phone and be the bride. I was so stressed with trying to stick to the time line for the day that from the morning of to about 30 minutes before the ceremony, I was constantly on edge, looking at the clock. Know that even if you are the most meticulous and prepared planner, things can still go awry and nothing ever goes according to plan. But it will all work out! Somehow, everything got done on my wedding day and even though we ran about an hour behind, it turned out just fine. 

That's all I can think of for now. I'll try to add to this post as things come to me. Happy wedding planning! 

 

It's getting hot in here!

My bridesmaids, locking it up! ;)

Childhood friends forever. Pre ceremony relaxing.

Walking down the aisle with my Pops.

Being traded for a goat and some coin.

Officially married! (again)

  

 

The Vendors
Venue: The Heirloom Inn
Caterer: Motherlode Catering
Photographer: Chris Howard Imagery
Accomodations: Hotel Sutter
Florist: Lee Wright (family)
DJ: Neil Casquejo (friend)
Cake: Leslie Sallady (family)
Bride: Dress - Vera Wang; Belt, veil - David's Bridal; Shoes: Betsey Johnson
Hair & Makeup: Selene Yebra
Bridesmaid Dresses: David's Bridal
Groom & Groomsmen: Tuxedo - Black by Vera Wang

Protein Pancakes

Easy and filling, this is one of my favorite breakfasts.

1 scoop protein powder (I use chocolate)
3 egg whites
1/2 banana
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tbsp almond milk
1/4 c old fashioned oats

Mash banana with almond milk. Add remaining ingredients. Pour onto medium heat griddle sprayed with canola oil. When bubbles rise to top, carefully flip over. Cook all the way through. Top with leftover banana, blueberries or maple syrup.

You can also add a tbsp of chia seeds to the batter for some extra omega-3s! Enjoy!

My response to "Don't date a girl who travels"

Don't date a girl who travels because she is easy to please. All you need to have is a taste for adventure. Though she may be impressed by your fancy watch and new car, she knows that life experiences are so much more important.

You'll spend all of your hard earned money on expensive plane tickets and find yourself sipping fancy cocktails by the ocean. You'll have to get used to sleeping in strange beds and eating foreign foods. Instead of burgers and fries, you'll eat banh mi from a food stall or drink fresh juice out of a coconut from some man's street-side cart.You'll have to be ok with a high risk of food poisoning. But trust her, fresh fish can be so delicious.

You'll get "talked to" by your boss for putting in so many vacation requests but it doesn't matter because you still need a full time job to pay for all of these trips. However, if you're able to balance work and play time, the reward can be great. You can complain about your boring job but she will only remind you of the many things you have to look forward to and be thankful for. You won't need to live paycheck to paycheck because she is financially responsible or else she would not be able to lead such an adventurous life.

Don't date a girl who travels for she is independent. She has a free spirit but can appreciate a home and the value of putting down roots. But only if that's what she wants. She may not be the most creative or artistic but if she is good for her. Everyone knows you don't need to be crafty or a yoga instructor to appreciate Mother Nature and all she has to offer.

Though she may never need you to keep her happy, she is grateful for someone who may want to share these experiences with. She might forget to check in with you every day but that's only because she may have lost her wi-fi signal. She is considerate, thoughtful and loving all while still being exciting.

So never date a girl who travels unless you can keep up with her. And if you unintentionally fall in love with one, don’t you dare keep her. Let her go join her on her journey.

You can read the original post here.

Winter Storm Watch

The entire South is in a state of panic because it's cold. Schools and businesses are closed, people are sent home from work early, no one knows what to do because there is ice on the road! Normal television programming has been interrupted for the special WINTER STORM COVERAGE. It's a bit comical because we're not in a snow flurry. Just our roads are covered in a layer of ice. I'm assuming because we live in Florida that people don't know what to do with themselves when temperatures drop below 80*. Well, to keep things warm inside the house, I created the most delicious bowl of soup! It started off as the sauce to a spaghetti but I found it a little plain so the next night, I used that puree as a soup base and added some bacon. So delicious! I named it after one of my favorite breakfast places in Sacramento. Enjoy!

Bacon & Butter(nut squash) Soup
Adapted from original recipe here

4 slices of nitrate/nitrite free bacon
1 medium butternut squash, peeled and diced
3 tbs olive oil
1 cube vegetable bouillon
1 tbs olive oil
1/4 cup diced yellow onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 tsp poultry seasoning
1/8 cup mozzarella cheese
Salt and ground black pepper, to taste

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt the water and add the butternut squash. Cook until soft, about 12-15 minutes.
2. While your butternut squash is cooking, place strips of bacon on a grill (I used the George Foreman). Cook until crispy and set aside to cool.
3. Using a large slotted spoon, carefully remove the squash from the water and place in a large bowl.
4. Place the cooked butternut squash in a large food processor or blender. Puree the squash until smooth. Add water and bouillon cube and puree until the sauce reaches your desired consistency. You may need a little more or a little less water depending on the size of your squash.
5. In a large deep skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and sauté 3-5 minutes. Add pureed butternut squash. Stir in the mozzarella cheese. Season with nutmeg, poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper.
6. Crumble cooled bacon over the soup mixture and serve warm. 

Let me know how it turned out!

Busy Wedding Bee.

A few things have happened since I returned to Florida after a month long vacation in California! The day after I got back home, I went on an interview and was offered the job on the spot! Best thing is the position is on a surgical floor with an emphasis on joint replacements, my specialty! Well, my main knowledge set right now. Also, the hospital is only 2.6 miles away. And I was offered a position on day shift!! I am very lucky.

I have gotten into major wedding planning mode because my days off won't last for long. As well as when I was in Sacramento, my Mother-in-Love (her idea, not mine haha) really pushed me to make some decisions and get a head start on things. That really sent my mind reeling over all the little details I had yet to decide on. So, ever since I've been back I've been working on whatever I can. The problem is, I am not a designer nor do I know how to do anything on the computer except use Word and surf the web... So designing invitations with fancy fonts and this new thing I learned called swashes and programs, SO CONFUSING! Thank goodness I started early. Also, it's annoying when you have a really good idea in your head and no idea on how to make it materialize on the computer. Maybe I need one of those adult computer classes. Nevertheless, I did bang out some pretty beautiful envelopes in my opinion! Here's a little sneak peek!

Like I said, terrible at doing a lot of things on the computer but I'm pretty proud I figured this simple thing out. Ha! Not bad for having no budget for a calligrapher! Toot toot!

Also, how cute are the stamps that I used for my postcard Save the Dates?!

These two websites were very helpful for addressing my invitations. Word to the wise: know how many invitations you are sending out, not the number of guests. I know our guest count is at 150 but really we're only sending out about 85 invitations. At the Post Office I GROSSLY overestimated how many stamps we would need and purchased 360. Doh! Well, the cost of the stamp is rising so I guess it's safe to say I'm set for life.

• Real Simple: How to Address Wedding Invitations
• Martha Stewart Weddings: Addressing & Mailing Your Invitations 

Raw Chocolate Coconut Macaroons

I've been on a documentary-thon lately and am Hungry for Change! (See what I did there?) I'm choosing Forks Over Knives and trying a plant based diet. To kickstart it, my family and I went to my favorite raw food place, The Green Boheme. Everything there is completely raw and vegan and absolutely delicious! If you've never been there before or think being vegan is all about salads, think again! There's burgers, pizza, ravioli, and even enchiladas! Super tasty!

Anyway, for dessert they had some macaroons: vanilla chai and chocolate. But looking at the ingredients, I already had some on hand and figured I would try to make some myself when I got home.

Introducing my (raw, vegan) chocolate coconut protein macaroons!

1 cup unsweetened coconut threads
3 tablespoons coconut oil
2 tablespoons raw cacao powder (I used organic cacao nibs ground to a powder)
1 tablespoon bodylogix vegan protein powder in chocolate
1 tablespoon agave syrup
Salt to taste

Combine and pulse all ingredients in a food processor. Spoon onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Refrigerate for an hour or two and enjoy!

Anyone else trying to better their lives in 2014? Try these macaroons and let me know what you think!