hannah & matt get married

This past weekend, one of my little sisters got married!

The wedding was at the park close to my parents house... we spent a whole lot of time at this park growing up so it was fun to have another great memory made there!

Here's the ceremony set up

Hannah and Dad

So pretty

{close up}

The new Mr. & Mrs. share their first married kiss!

Hannah did her own flowers... they were so pretty!

Family pic

The wedding party

The ladies of the family

Dad & Mom

Kevin & I

April & Mark

{sister & brother}

My sister, Angela, made the cake. It was lemon and the flowers were tissue paper flowers.

It was delicious and beautiful!!! I was so impressed!!!

My sister, Bonnie, was the maid of honor

My sister, Angela (who made the cake), was a bridesmaid

My sister, Marsha, was also a bridesmaid

Sarah's wedding is next... later this summer!

I made all the cookies for the cookie buffet. It was fun and yummy!

What a fun day! Yes, I listed a lot of siblings, maybe I'll have to do a post to introduce them all!

my awesome husband makes awesome food

If you remember from last year, Kevin always makes me an awesome homemade dinner each year for Valentine's day. Did I mention they are always awesome?!?!

We did our dinner on Friday because Kevin had the day off and I needed the oven all weekend to make lots of cookies.

This year he started with flowers and chocolate covered strawberries. He's made me chocolate covered strawberries every year we've been together for Valentine's Day :)

(I think he loves them as much as I do!)

Kevin actually cooks pretty often, but this is always the best meal of the year!

(haha! I just noticed the the sticky note on the drawer... that's to remind us the drawer is broken and to pull out gently... yes, it's been like that for a while now and yes, it will be like that for a while longer)

He made me some chocolate letters to eat while I was waiting for dinner to be ready

Finally, it was time to eat and it was soooo yummy!

Let's break it down shall we???

Bacon wrapped filet mignon, grilled asparagus,

homemade mac n cheese, & beef house rolls

Again... have I used the word awesome yet in this post?

Not that it's anything to compare, but I got Kevin this cute card. awww

and a fun pillow from this etsy shop.

It's a screen printed pillow with our initials stiched into the tree trunk. I love it and I think Kevin even likes it too (he does get kinda mushy sometimes)

We ended the dinner evening (yes, it pretty much took the whole evening to eat that all that food and then I was too full to do anything, but go to bed anyway) with some light and yummy homemade french vanilla ice cream

It's ok if you are jealous of me. We all know my husband is Awesome!!!

Happy Valentines Day!

new garage storage

This time of year I work, eat, & sleep so not much to report on my end of things.

However, Kevin has been busy! Last Saturday He and Pete worked on our garage storage/shelving.

Kevin even took before and after pictures so I'd have something to share :)

Here's what the garage looked like Saturday morning

and here's what it looked like by dinner time

It's going to be so nice to have some more organized storage and Kevin was even nice enough to do "my side" first! Also, I loooove the smell of fresh cut wood... if that came in a candle I'd so buy that one!

peanut butter cookies with chocolate hearts

I had this great idea to make peanut butter kiss cookies, but with chocolate hearts instead of kisses perfect for Valentine's day!

They turned out really cute and taste yummy too!!

Peanut Butter Cookies with Chocolate Hearts

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup peanut butter

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/4 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 bad Hershey milk chocolate hearts.

Cream butter and sugars. Add peanut butter, egg & vanilla - beat till smooth. Add flour, baking soda & baking powder until combined. Shape into 1" balls and roll in sugar. Place 2" apart on baking sheet and flatten slightly with your palm. Cook for 10 minutes at 375 degrees. Remove from oven and immediately place a chocolate heart on each cookie, pressing down slightly. Remove to wire rack to cool.

I love them fresh out of the oven while the chocolate is still all soft and melty... mmmm

 YaaHoo!! Featured on     

valentines wreath

Another project for my

 

pinterest challenge!

I found a super cute valentine wreath with a tutorial here on the Idea room (via pinterest of course).

It's pretty much the same techniqe as my chrsitmas tree pillow which means is was fun & easy!

Here's how my wreath turned out:

I used 3/4 yard felt and cut 3" circles.

The wreath form was from Hobby Lobby - I think it was a 14" form

(they only had one size for heart shaped ones)

I love it! I'm taking it in to work tomorrow to brighten up my office!

Shared on Whipperberry.com

chai latte cupcakes

Remember my

 

pinterest resolution?!?!

(see here)

Here's my first of  twelve pinterest projects!

Chai Latte Cupcakes

They tasted just like a cup of Chai Tea Latte fresh from my Keurig... which is delish!

The origional source for this recipe is a lovely website called The Culinary Enthusiast

Chai Latte Cupcakes

chai spice mix:

1 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2/ teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 ground nutmet

Mix all spices in a small bowl or bag and set aside.

cupcake batter:

1 stick butter

1 cup sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 eggs

2 teaspoons chai spice mix (see above)

1 1/4 cups flour

1/2 cup buttermilk

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon cider vinegar

Cream together butter and sugar. Add vanilla, eggs, & spice mix. Alternately add flour and buttermilk until combined. In seperate small bowl stir together baking soda and vinegar, then add to batter mixture and stir until combined. Fill upcake pan 3/4 full and bake in oven preheated to 325 for 17- 20 minutes.

frosting:

2 sticks butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 cups powdered sugar

remainder of spice mix

Beat butter until smooth. Add vanilla and spice mix. Gradually add powdered sugar until smooth. Add 1 tablespoon of milk if need to form spreading consistency. Ice cooled cupcakes and then devour them! 

My mouth is watering... if your is not, then you are a stronger person than I am!

Linked up at Whipperberry