You Won't Be Single for Long Vodka Cream Pasta

Ever taste something and it just unexpectedly blows your taste buds away?  Well this dish did that to me!  I wanted to try a new pasta dish, but have always been a little nervous about cooking with alcohol.  One day I just got my nerve up and decided I would give it a try!  As a HUGE Rachael Ray fan I trusted that her recipe would bring me success! Knowing that Rach wouldn't let me down, I cooked a very tasty dinner appropriately named "You Won't Be Single for Long" ... whether your in a relationship and want to make a special meal or trying to impress that special someone, this recipe found here, will help you catch 'em ... hook, line and sinker!  For an extra zing top with Parmesan Cheese! Enjoy!

COLOR INSPIRATION: Red & Yellow

With this beautiful weather in North Carolina, you can't help but to feel extra cheery these days.  Today's color inspiration are a slightly "odd" combo, but can be worked together beautifully to create a fabulous palette for any wedding.

Dress your girls in a soft shade of yellow and add red detail in a sash, shoes or hair piece for a fun POP!

Isn't this just a gorgeous bouquet?!?! Who can resist Roses & Lilies! 

I absolutely LOVE this modern cake with just enough of each color not to go over the top!

 Send your guests off with a sweet treat to end the night!



Spiced Springtime Sugar Cookies

Aren't these cookies sooooo freakin adorable!  I can picture them as a super cute gift in Easter baskets or making them as a great activity to bring your loved ones together for the Easter Holiday!  Find the recipe here pick up some cute cookie cutters and enjoy a creative project over the weekend!  HAPPY EASTER!

Touring Tanglewood Park

I am working with a bride who has come to be a dear friend of mine.  Her wedding is set for next June and she has always dreamed of an outdoor wedding.  One of the places we visited for a possible wedding location was Tanglewood Park.  I have always heard about their festival of lights around the holidays, but have never been myself.  We went on a nice sunny afternoon and had a very pleasant visit as we toured the different sights on the ground that ceremony's and receptions could be held.  This is a beautiful sprawling park with a lot to offer!  Take a look at some of the pictures we snapped below!

This is their ballroom, they were setting up for a prom the following night.  If you want to be on the golf course with beautiful views but enjoy the feel of a classic ballroom this is the spot for you!

The barn was so cute and quaint!  We got to sneak a peek while they were preparing for a wedding with a little southern charm.

This was the arboretum, a beautiful patio for a ceremony!  I can picture everything in bloom and all the guests patiently awaiting the bride.

 Me and Pernice! She is going to make a beautiful bride!

Who Stole the Cookies from the Cookie Jar?

Chocolate Chip Cookies are a fabulous all weather treat!  When it gets cold, it's all about snuggling by the fire eating cookies & drinking milk and when the summer comes, who can resist rocking on the porch eating these goodies sipping fresh squeezed lemonade?

I found this wonderful recipe a few years back (kudos to who it belongs to!) and have used it many many times to make these delicious soft chocolate chip cookies.  One thing I absolutely love about them is that the recipe makes a bunch and the cookies stay soft for a long time!  Try it out and brighten someone's day with some fresh baked Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies!

Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 1/4 cups of all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup of butter, softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup of white sugar
1 (3.4 ounce) package of instant vanilla pudding mix
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup of chopped walnuts (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Sift together the flour and baking soda, set aside.

2.  In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar.  Beat in the instant pudding mix until blended.  Stir in the eggs and vanilla.  Blend in the flour mixture.  Finally, stir in the chocolate chips and nuts.  Drop cookies by rounded spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.

3.  Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in preheated oven.  Edges should be golden brown.  Makes about 36 cookies.

Sweet Gestures

 

A very close friend of mine is graduating from University of North Carolina Greensboro this year.  Of course, like any other graduate she is excited about it and ready for graduation to come and school to be over.  Despite our friends urging her to have some type of celebration she decided she wanted a low key celebration with none of the hoopla of invitations/announcements and parties.  As good friends we respected her wishes until .... recently!

Her husband called me asked me and another friend of ours to help him with a surprise.  He wanted her to have graduation announcements to share this momentous occasion with close family and friends.  Within a few hours; a couple of e-mails, some wording changes, 3 design options and an e-mail to our friend who did the printing ... Ta-Da!  A beautiful announcement for a beautiful person! Boy was she surprised AND absolutely loved her announcements!!!!  Doesn't she have such a sweet husband!?!?! 

If you remember I said my friend is graduating from UNCG and if you notice the color of the invitation print is purple, which are not the school colors.  We made the graduation unique to her because she loves purple.  When designing invitations don't be afraid to take a chance, anything that you can include that is special to you makes them that much more special!

CONGRATULATIONS GIRL!  WE LOVE YOU AND ARE PROUD OF YOU!

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Cooking is something I adore almost equally as Weddings.  Gathering friends and family around the table over a good meal creates special memories just as amazing as those of weddings and other special events.  I love cooking new things and trying new recipes.  A couple of weeks ago I stumbled upon this recipe for Chicken Tortilla Soup and just had to try it out.  The end result was and AMAZING dinner.  Call over a few friends and try it out this weekend. 

Picture Courtesy of Food Network

The DIYer In You!

I am a lover of all things DIY (Do It Yourself).   I love being able to use my creativity to come up with something beautiful that at first glance may seem a little complicated.  DIY weddings are all the rage right now and are a great way to save money if you want to splurge on that dream venue but still want beautiful décor (of course)!  There are tons of wonderful websites out to help you find and create DIY elements of your wedding.  Take a look at this DIY wedding … isn’t it gorgeous?  Ever thought about using this website as a wedding planning tool???

That’s right … get this look with Dollar Tree!  Isn’t it beautiful!

FIRST BLOG POST!!!

I’ve been going back and forth for a couple of months about whether or not to blog.  For a couple of years I’ve enjoyed following a few blog’s including Southern Weddings, Alexa’s Photography and Events by Design on a regular basis.  So I thought why not join in the fun? I love reading about their passions (which also happen to be some of mine) so why not blog about mine too?

Welcome to my blog of Weddings, Cooking, Special Events and all life MILESTONES that are MEMORABLE!