The Carnival Wedding

May 19, 2011

Looking for a fun theme for your summer wedding??

This is one of my favorites!

Maybe for my 2nd wedding….

Things to love on a Wednesday!

May 18, 2011

Cat house TeePee

Bad Ass Pet Collars

A Gorgeous vanity

Perfectly Cute Shelf

3-5 pm Holla

High Heels

French Macaroons & Champagne

Vintage Wedding Toppers

Must Take Wedding Photo List

May 17, 2011

I thought I would share my Oh so helpful “must take photos” list for all you soon to be brides out there.

This list is a collaboration of my photo needs and other lists I came across while planning.

In retrospect, it was one of the best ideas I had.

Yes, my photographer was flabbergasted when I emailed it to him the week before my wedding.

He said no one had ever given him a list before, let alone one of this caliber.
*Enter Bridezilla*

In the end, it was a real saving grace. ( no pun intended)

Your wedding day gets so crazy and time flies.

Trust me, you are not thinking about what photos you want to have taken in the middle of it all.

And you shouldn’t have to.

Your job is to look fabulous… and eat cake.

SO, make your list and give it to…… your photographer, their assistant, your day of coordinator, your maid of honor.

SOMEONE!

And let them be in charge of it.

They can check off the list as the day goes on.

Most of the shots on my list were basic shots my photographer would have taken regardless but after planning and researching for a year solid I saw some great photos that I wanted to make sure we took.

Shes’ makin a list, checkin it twice!

GETTING READY

• Bride’s dress on hanger

• Close-up of bride’s shoes & jewelry

• Close-up of bride’s bouquet & Prayer book with rosary

• Bride in curlers/getting hair done or having makeup applied

• Bridesmaids getting their makeup / hair done

• Mom’s getting ready and hanging out in House

• Bride putting on garter

• Mom and/or bridesmaids helping the bride arrange her dress, bustle the train, etc.

• Close-up of dress details

• Bride together with bridesmaids

• Bride hugging mom

• Bride hugging dad

• Mom or bridesmaids putting finishing touches on bride, adding the veil, etc.

• Bride spending moment alone in Bridal Suite

• Bride with family

• Bride with Bridal party and umbrellas outside in yard

• Full-length shot of bride all dressed and ready to go

• Groom

• Groom putting on tie

• Groom with Groomsmen

• Close up of Boutineer / pinning on

• Groom opening Gift from Bride

• Grooms men hanging out in house or cellar/ smoking cigars

• Groom with dad, hugging

• Groom with mom

• Groom with his family

• Groom with Grooms party / showing argyle socks w/ pant legs pulled up

THE REVEALING

• Groom waiting for bride to approach from behind

• Close-up of Bride’s face when she sees groom for the first time

• Close-up of groom’s face when he sees bride for the first time

• Groom and bride hugging

• Groom and bride- American Gothic Pose in front of Barn

• Bride climbing over white fence bare foot

• Bride and Groom laying in grass looking up

• Formal couple shots in bridal suite / Near fountain out front

GROUP PHOTOS

• Jumping

• Umbrella shots

• Groom carrying bride

• Bride with groomsmen

• Group shot of bride, groom, and wedding party

CEREMONY

• Groom looking ahead, waiting for the bride to arrive

• Wide shot of ceremony space from the back

• Guests arriving

• Ushers helping grandparents and special guests to their seats

• Close up of details (programs, hankies, ceremony structure, décor)

• Groom and groomsmen waiting nervously for bride to walk down aisle

• Guests sitting down, waiting for ceremony to start

• Harpist playing

• Bridesmaids walking down the aisle

• Wedding party standing at the altar

• Bride just before walking down the aisle with dad hugging

• Back shot of bride and dad beginning to walk down the aisle

• Full-frontal shot of bride and dad walking down the aisle

• Back shot of bride and groom together at the altar with officiant between them

• Close-up of each hand as the rings are exchanged

• Close-up of bride’s face, as seen over the groom’s shoulder

• Close-up of groom’s face, as seen over the bride’s shoulder

• Shot of both sets of parents’ faces as they witness ceremony

• The kiss

• Happy couple walking back down the aisle together, as married couple

• Bride and groom walking out of ceremony space, hand-in-hand

• Bride and groom & witnesses signing the marriage license inside the house

BEFORE THE RECEPTION
(During the cocktail hour)

• Bride with her entire family

• Groom with his entire family

• Bride with groom’s parents

• Groom with bride’s parents

• Bride being lifted or carried by groom

• Cocktail hour & kegs on back deck

• Games being played in side yard

• Close up of wedding bands on hands together

RECEPTION

• Close-up of details (place settings, , gift table, sweetheart table, cake etc.)

• Close-up of centerpieces

• Framed photos out front on barn wall and sign in table

• Everyone coming in

• Wide shot of entire room after guests arrive, possibly taken from above

• Bride and groom’s first dance

• Crowd’s reaction to dance

• Groom dipping bride

• Bride dancing with her dad

• Groom dancing with his mom

• Bride and groom hugging guests, close-ups of faces

• Food

• Striped straws at bar

• Chalkboard menus for buffet and bar

• Best man, MOH, Best friend making a toast to the couple

• Bride and groom’s faces as they listen to the toast(s)

• Guests dancing and cutting loose on the dance floor. Tip: Ask for a slow shutter speed to get a blurry/focused effect)

• Cookie buffet and boxes

• Guests filling up boxes with cookies to go

• Bouquet & Garter toss

• Groups of friends sitting together at their table or dancing

• Bride and groom whispering to each other

• Parents and family dancing

• Bride and groom cutting the cake

• Bride and groom feeding each other

• Recessional line / everyone out side as Bride & Groom leave

• Bride and groom in front of car (laying on hood if possible)

• Bride and groom in back seat of getaway car

• Back of car as it drives away with decorations

It doesn’t hurt to show your photographer examples too.
Hey, you are paying for these photos, might as well get what you want, right?

Here were some of the photos we recreated

For some additional help, check out this article on “How to Edit Wedding Photos – ShootDotEdit’s Expert Tips” which I think has a ton of great tips as well!

You can check it out here: http://shootdotedit.com/2018/04/how-to-edit-wedding-photos/

Raspberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

May 16, 2011

Last weekend for Mother’s day I made a delicious coffee cake for the moms.

It was such a crowd pleaser I wanted to share the recipe with you guys!

I added in my own notes & action pics to help you along the way.

Raspberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

INGREDIENTS

Cake: 2 ¼ cups All-Purpose Flour 1 cup sugar ¾ cup butter, chilled ½ tsp baking powder ½ tsp baking soda ¼ tsp salt ¾ cup sour cream 2 eggs 1 tsp pure almond extract

Filling: 250 g cream cheese ¾ cup raspberry preserves ½ cup sliced almonds

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour a 9-in. springform pan.

I doubled this recipe and could only find 1 of my springform pans, so I was forced to use a regular 3″ deep 9- in cake pan. It worked just as well. So if you are in a bind, just make sure you butter the heck out of it and it will also work.

2. In a large bowl, combine flour and ¾ cup sugar. Cut in butter using a pastry blender or fork and work into coarse crumbs. Set aside 1 cup of crumb mixture in a small bowl.

I used my hand for this step. As long as you work fast so the butter stays cold ,it’s the easiest way to mix and blend evenly. The pastry blender will just get gummed up and cause you more work.

3. Into the remaining crumb mixture, add baking powder, baking soda, salt, sour cream, 1 egg, and almond extract. Using the paddle attachment of your mixer, mix well. Spread batter over the bottom and 2 in. up the sides of the springform pan. The batter should be about ¼ in. thick on the sides.

The batter is pretty thick and you are able to smear it up the sides of the pan without it sliding back down. This creates a kind of collar for the fillings and hold everything together when you slice it.

4. Using your electric mixer, beat the cream cheese until soft. Add the remaining ¼ cup sugar and beat until combined. Add 1 egg and blend well. Pour this mixture over the batter in your springform pan. Then, carefully spoon the raspberry preserves evenly over the cheese filling.

5. In a small bowl, combine the 1 cup reserved crumb mixture and sliced almonds. Sprinkle over the top.

This mixture seemed a little powdery to me but once it baked ,the butter pulled it together into a consistent crumb topping.

6. Bake for 45-55 minutes or until cream cheese filling is set and crust is golden brown.

This particular cake is tough to gauge *doneness* since the cheese filling will remain runny till cooled. Trust your timer on this one, not the toothpick test. Any cracking on top is also a tell tail sign that it is ready to come out.

Cool for 15 minutes. Remove the sides of the pan. Serve warm or cool. Refrigerate any leftovers.

Serves 12. Bon Appetit!

Tip: You may want to let it cool for about 30-45 minutes in order for the filling to set. If it is too warm, the filling may become runny when slicing.

I recommend making this the night before so that the cream cheese filling can completely set up.

Happy Friday the 13th!

May 13, 2011

Friday the 13th happens at least once a year due to the modern calendar. There’s only one this year, which is today but watch out: three in 2012 (January, April, July).

The No. 13 itself has long driven people crazy, in large part due to Friday the 13th. Some people are so obsessed that triskaidekaphobia was born — the fear of the number 13.

That fear has led the human race to make some strange decisions and exhibit unusual behavior in the past.

Here are a few examples:

Most High Rises, have no 13th floor

(The building I work in skips from 12 to 14)

But doesn’t that technically make the 14th floor actually the 13th?!

Hospitals and Hotels Regularly don’t have a room number 13

Many Airports Skip the 13th gate

Airplanes have no 13th aisle

Italians omit the number 13 from their national lottery.

Many cities don’t have a 13th Street or a 13th Avenue.

This city tempted fate

If you have 13 letters in your name, you’re said to have the devil’s luck.

Like, this guy (Charles Manson).

Tarot Card number 13 is the Death Card, depicting the Grim Reaper

Have a safe day!

Faux Fireplace Mantels

May 11, 2011

I want one.

Zumba; I would be better if I were drunk

May 9, 2011

In the last few weeks I have made my exercise regimen of choice Zumba.

If you aren’t familiar with Zumba, my definition of it is : A mixture of high energy Latin moves, hip-hop, and a touch of belly dancing done at a fast pace to maintain optimum heart rate and still be low impact.

For a more formal definition, check out the Wikipedia site.

Warning: You most likely will feel like an idiot while doing it.

In-between combinations of high speed salsa and meringue moves the instructor will yell “encouraging” things out like; let your body move, relax and feel the music , be sexy!

Things that all seem impossible for me to do during this solid hour of jumping and hip rolling.

Even though I have a background of dance training, I have never felt more white and awkward in my life.

I really shouldn’t ,considering I’m in the same boat as the other 50 people in the class.

Which is an eclectic collection of woman (and one crazy man), who range in ages 18-50 in oversized T-shirts and easy tone sneakers.

It isn’t this group so much that makes me feel out of place, I can relate to them and I can tell by their faces most of them feel just as out of place.

But it is the handful of girls who have the “flavor” and the disgustingly energetic instructors that make me want to go home and eat cheese on the couch.

My insecurity could also be because I don’t like watching myself in the mirror, or because I feel like the tallest girl there, but I really wish I could take this class drunk.

I say this for 2 reasons.

One being that I can loosen up a little bit after a drink or four.

I stop being so self conscious and I can just be myself a little more.

If I was drunk in class, I think I could focus way more on the task at hand and get a really good work out.

My second reason is that everyone thinks they can dance when they are drunk.

Regardless of if they actually can or not, the drunk person always has a completely skewed perspective of themselves and they think they are awesome!

So even if alcohol didn’t actually MAKE me a better dancer by helping me to let my guard down, it would at least make me think I was. That’s all that really matter I guess.