Edible Guest Favors

post from Wedding Soiree on 11 May 2011 10:25:00 PM. © Wedding Soiree

Favors - to give or not! This is always a sore spot when the subject is brought up during meetings. Are they necessary, the answer is NO. But, you have to admit it is always great to receive a gift. This is the reason why we always suggest edible gifts. We found a shelf full of olive oil, gourmet vinegar and more. The bottles came in all colors, shape and sizes. These would make great favors on any table. If you choose liquid or glass bottles, make sure you also include another option for guests who travel by plane.

We found Cuvee Vinegar on the bottom shelf (one of our favorite) - "A sparkling cuvee blend of select California varietals. Aging in white oak barrels removes the bubbles and enhances the bright aromas and flavors. Delicious on summer salads with blood oranges or in a vinaigrette with sea salt and cracked pepper."

Read The Full Article:
http://weddingsoiree.blogspot.com/2011/05/edible-guest-favors.html

Digg this

NEW FACES: Tonya Kelly

post from Fototails Photography on 11 May 2011 05:44:03 PM. © Fototails Photography

Morning photo shoot with Tanya Kelly, new to the modeling scene – but this beautiful face is sure to make an impact quick. With a quick one hour session we are starting her portfolio off with some head-shots, and of course a few more because I couldn’t put my camera down when someone is [...]

Read The Full Article:
http://fototails.wordpress.com/2011/05/11/new-faces-tanya-kelly/

Digg this

NEW FACES: Tanya Kelly

post from Fototails Photography on 11 May 2011 05:44:03 PM. © Fototails Photography

Morning photo shoot with Tanya Kelly, new to the modeling scene – but this beautiful face is sure to make an impact quick. With a quick one hour session we are starting her portfolio off with some head-shots, and of course a few more because I couldn’t put my camera down when someone is [...]

Read The Full Article:
http://fototails.wordpress.com/2011/05/11/new-faces-tanya-kelly/

Digg this

Newport Blue, A Crate & Barrel Wedding Decor Idea
By Nancy Swiezy Events

post from A New York - Newport Wedding BLOG on 11 May 2011 05:09:58 PM. © A New York - Newport Wedding BLOG

The Newport/Hampton Seaside Recipe

5 Blue Hydrangeas
6 White Roses
1 Bunch of Queen Anne's Lace
1 Bag of Moss Balls
1 Bag of Sea Shells
1 The Sedona Low Open Tote Basket

Hot Glue GunFlower PicksFloral OasisTray LinerClam Or Oyster Shell for Individual Salt and Pepper

Read The Full Article:
http://newportweddings.blogspot.com/2011/05/newport-blue-crate-barrel-wedding-dec
or.html

Digg this

Wedding Videography: Dani + Matt Film Save the
Date

post from Wedding Blog on 11 May 2011 04:10:51 PM. © Wedding Blog

[...]

Read The Full Article:
http://www.perfectweddingguide.com/wedding-blog/index.php/2011/05/11/wedding-vide
ography-dani-matt-film-save-the-date/

Digg this

Cinderella Wedding Dress a ball dress fit for a
princess-to-be

post from Creative Wedding Ideas Blog on 11 May 2011 04:00:30 PM. © Creative Wedding Ideas Blog

Cinderella Wedding Dress. See the best wedding gowns that will make you look like a princess.[...]

Read The Full Article:
http://www.creative-theme-wedding-ideas.com/cinderella-wedding-dress.html

Digg this

Cinderella Wedding Cake. See pictures of cool
Cinderella wedding cakes

post from Creative Wedding Ideas Blog on 11 May 2011 03:49:37 PM. © Creative Wedding Ideas Blog

Want a Cinderella Wedding cake? See the coolest designs for your Cinderella theme wedding cake.[...]

Read The Full Article:
http://www.creative-theme-wedding-ideas.com/cinderella-wedding-cake.html

Digg this

A Cinderella Theme Wedding - Dreams come true
with this Royal theme.

post from Creative Wedding Ideas Blog on 11 May 2011 03:26:25 PM. © Creative Wedding Ideas Blog

A Cinderella Theme Wedding - Dreams come true with this Royal theme. Hundreds of pictures and[...]

Read The Full Article:
http://www.creative-theme-wedding-ideas.com/cinderella-theme-wedding.html

Digg this

Recapping the Last Several Days

I haven't posted in the last several days so this post is going to be a LONG catch-up one!!....
Last Friday, Ilah and I got out {after her 3 1/2 hour morning nap!} and went and had lunch together. We drove to a lovely avenue of shops a short distance from home.We ate at a spot called Cheeky's. I went there with a girlfriend about a month ago and had a delicious salad; I ordered the same thing this time around too. Yummy!....

Ilah coloring before lunch....

I'm not sure if you can see Ilah's highchair cover, but I got it at Buy Buy Baby for just $9.99. It's a cover that specifically fits wooden restaurant highchairs and it's so compact. I love it. I was always hauling her shopping cart cover into restaurants with us, having it serve a dual purpose of also being a highchair cover. But this cheapy by Fisher Price is so small and compact and folds into its own pouch/carrying case and is so easy to put on/take off. As far as I know, it only comes in blue {which looks more like teal in person} - but I could care less about the color. I love how it has simplified things! Go here to order one online, or get the product information if you are wanting to buy one in your local BBB store. After lunch Ilah and I strolled through the beautiful shopping center and I stopped in at a few shops. Have any of you heard of/been to Charming Charlie's? It's basically a Claire's Boutique {MAGNIFIED x 10,000!}. I walked in and I was on overload with seeing all the items, in every color of the rainbow, and then some! After a while I literally felt as if my head was spinning. While although the place is super, super cute, I just couldn't handle it! Ha! I needed to leave the store to just exhale! Ha ha!! And wouldn't you know it, the concept of "Charming Charlie" came from a man. Meet Charlie....
A few exciting things happened while I was out and about last Friday. Dele called me right as I was about to go into Barnes & Noble. He asked how our day was going and I started yapping away about "this and that" {you know women and their "details" - men would much rather just know the "headlines" lol!}....so after I turn the conversation to how his day is going, he tells me that he won a big app contest that he had been working tirelessly on for the past month! He won best overall design {first place/top prize! $$$} AND also won in the category for best mobile app design! I married one smart cookie!!

My next bit of exciting news came just moments later when I got a text from a friend of mine who was 9 months pregnant, and just weeks away from her dute date. I had her on my mind for several days and shot her an email to let her know that I was thinking about her and that I was sharing in her excitement of being sooo close to meeting her little baby {they wanted the sex of the baby to be a surprise so they didn't find out!}. Right after I got off the phone with Dele I got a text from her saying "Home from the hospital : ) " She had the baby a few weeks early! I, and the majority of their families, thought for sure she was carrying a boy....but when text #2 came and it said, "Wanna guess what we had?!" I knew right then that she had a girl! And she did!! A beautiful, sweet baby girl!! We are so happy for them!! Congratulations Rishi & Michelle!!

While we were out, Ilah got her first lollipop from a sweet owner of a candy shop. I had no business being in a candy shop; Ilah was lucky to score that lollipop! Ha!.... After our outing, Ilah fell asleep during the drive home. With her maraca in hand! Ha!....
Saturday my little family of three took a stroll through downtown Alpharetta. There's not a whole lot to it but it was nice to just be out and get some fresh air....

While I was snapping the photo below, an elderly man walked by and seeing the size of our camera, asked me if I was a professional photographer. I told him, "No, I'm just a mommy". He said, "Whoah there. There's no small thing about being 'just a mommy'. You do everything under the sun". What he said made me pause. Furthermore, recognition from a stranger was super nice. After our little stroll though downtown Alpharetta, we went to Jilly's for a cupcake! My favorite is their salted caramel! Yumm!!! Dele always take the icing off and only eats the cake. Is he nuts, or what?! He says it's too sweet. In the meantime, I'm practically licking my plate to make sure I got all the icing! Ha ha!!
When we got home, Ilah went down for a nap and I headed to Hobby Lobby to browse their cookie cutter selection. Aside from the happy face cookies that I made for my friend Jennifer {who lives in Cali...Hi Jen!!}, I also made these zebra and pink heart cookies for her for Mothers Day.
Making sugar cookies and decorating them with royal icing is not nearly as hard as I thought it would be. This was my second attempt {well, first time on sugar cookies, since my first attempt was on chocolate chip cookies}. I've actually found it to be quite fun so now I'm wanting to step out of basic circle and heart designs and challenge myself to make other cute designs.

Hobby Lobby didn't have a big selection of cookie cutters. But while I was there, I took a few pics of some things that gave me some cookie ideas.....
I did end up going to Sur La Table on Monday, where I scored eight cute cookie cutters, all for $1 each.....

I got back home before Ilah woke up from her nap. When she did, daddy was outside washing our cars. Naturally, Ilah saw the water and was all about being outside with him. So she grabbed her sunglasses and went out to soak up the sun! I snapped these pics with my cellphone....
Sunday was Mothers Day! I woke up to a bunch of cards from Ilah - one included this cute little pin inside.....
Mother's day ended up being a GREAT day....but....I'm just gonna keep it very real: The day started out with me not feeling my best. I was in a total funk about this extra weight that is still on me and I simply didn't feel pretty. I was having an internal meltdown that outwardly showed. Dele got Ilah dressed for church but I just could not get it together. I went to the garage and cried. I called my mom, who was already on her way over to go to church with us, and I cannot tell you how hearing her voice made me feel so comforted and loved. I told her that I felt so bad that my meltdown was making us all run late for church and felt awful for starting our Mother's Day off like this. She told me that she was pulling in to our subdivision and to wait for her in the garage. When she pulled in, she walked up to me, put her arms around me and said that she loved me and that what I was feeling was something that most all women go through...that we all have off days and to not feel bad that I was having one. But of all days?! Mother's Day?! The extra weight that is still on me from having a baby bothers me greatly. I have lost some since my initial post about the topic, but I haven't made as much progress as I had hoped to by now, and I only have myself to blame. My family and friends tell me not be so down on myself - but I am. I have never in my life been at this weight and getting it off is harder than I thought it would be. I need to continue to persevere and believe in myself that I CAN get it off. Eventually, I got out of my funk. Having my mom there really helped soothe me. Isn't it amazing that no matter how old you are, that your mom can bring ease to what seems like an overwhelming situation? Ilah went down for her morning nap, we skipped church, and my mom and I did our gift exchange....
A few hours later, with my negative mood now lifted, I got dressed for our brunch at Monteluce Winery. The brunch was so-so, the service was so-so, the winery itself was so-so....but the memories of driving up there {because of the conversations and belly-aching laughter that we shared in} made that afternoon one that I will never forget!!

The winery does produce some amazing wine though! We each ordered a recommended glass of Monteluce's Dolce wine and it was so good. Dele and I don't drink much; usually just on special occasions. The homes on the winery grounds are so beautiful!!
Aside from the cards and brunch at Monteluce, Dele bought me two spa sessions {that I can't wait to use!}; Mama NEEDS a massage!!

On Monday I ran a few errands across town, grabbed a bite to eat at Alon's for lunch, did some cleaning at home and enjoyed playing for hours with Ilah. It was a busy day, but also a fun and productive one. I love balanced days like those!

Yesterday morning {Tuesday} I helped clean out our church offices with the Pastor's wife and some other women who also leant their time. We knocked it all out in pretty good time and then went and had lunch at La Parilla! Mexican food....yum!! And while although burritos and rice and beans and all things fried were starring me in the face and leaping off the menu at me, I ordered a salad. I ordered a salad at a Mexican Restaurant! Seriously, people. I NEED to lose this weight. I'm doing my best to make good decisions {just pretend you didn't hear me talk about cupcakes on Saturday}. Yesterday it was 94 degrees out!! Cripes!! It's only the middle of May. Oh man...how I am dreading the months of June, July and August. While I was out, I picked up a smoothie from THE BEST smoothie place....Smoothie King. Do you have one in your area? I have been to a lot of smoothie places and to me, Smoothie King is THE BEST, by far!
Last night my mom spent the evening with Ilah while Dele and I attended the BlackBerry PlayBook event in downtown Atlanta....because Mr. Wonderful won one!! We had an absolute BLAST being out last night!! It was quite an event!! Super, super, super fun!! We hopped in their photo area and took some fun, goofy pics. Here is one of them...Ha! What a fun night to remember!....
Today is a low key one. Laundry is in the washer and the baby is finally napping. I'm thinking that the "one nap a day" stage might be here.

* I'm having some annoying issues with Blogger so pardon any typos, or spacing issues, that you see in my posts. Once I hit "publish", that's it for me. If I see any typos or spacing issues after the fact, I'm choosing to ignore it now. Because if I go in to edit the post, everything goes whack and I have to manually realign everything again. This has been happening for some time now. I see the same issues on some other blogs so I know I'm not alone. Quite Annoying. But not the worst thing that's happening in the world.

Read The Full Article:
http://jessicaralph.blogspot.com/2011/05/recapping-last-several-days.html

Digg this

Save the date: Offbeat Empire at Geek Girl Con
this October (+PARTAY!)

People, I've got some SUPER exciting news to share today: the entire staff of the Offbeat Empire will be convening in Seattle this fall to present a panel at the Geek Girl Con, a weekend-long event October 8-9, 2011.

Click here to comment ?