Vacation and the Idea House

We just got back from a ski vacation in Steamboat Springs. We got a great deal because we went right before high season. It was so nice to get away and not have any worries for a few days. Steamboat was beautiful, and I got to see my friend Hannah on the way there.

One night we went to a restaurant where we got to cook our own steaks. It was a lot of fun. Brian did a great job cooking our NY strips.

The picture above is terrible, and somewhere in the blur is a bear. We were standing by an outdoor fireplace, and this baby bear came walking down the steps. It was kind of sad though, because since the bears are all supposed to be hibernating, this guy might not have much of a chance to make it to spring. We were talking to one of the guys who works at the resort, and he said that the natural resources people might be able to trap it and find a den to place him with.

and here we are on the slopes. THe weather was beautiful.

I also got to go tour the Southern Living Idea home with the Elizabeths. This was my second time to go, but it was neat to see the Christmas decorations this time around. I need to find my pictures form the first time I went, because naturally, there were some great ideas!

Merry Christmas!!!

 I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. I am enjoying my first white Christmas, and it has been a great day to be with family and friends! We started out the day watching Christmas Vacation. Then, it was on to the church to help serve meals. I have helped coordinate the Christmas day dinner for the last 3 years, and this was the biggest year yet, we served over 1300 meals to residents of Griffin today. I am so thankful for all my wonderful volunteers! Above is a cake I made for a co-worker to take to a family party, it was red velvet with chocolate ganache filling, and I made my first icing poinsettias.

Above is my table set up from Christmas Eve. Both sides of our families came over for chili after the service . I recently inherited a wiggle woggle from Brian's side of the family. His great- aunt had this made back in the 60s, and along with the piece I have the magazine article that describes how to use it (which I thought was pretty cool). A wiggle woggle is two curved pieces of wood with holes for the candles. I decorated mine with greenery, hydrangeas, fuji mums, button mums, carnations, and roses. I can't wait to use it at other times of the year! I also used the table cloth and napkins that my great-grandmother made to go with her dining room set (which I also inherited).

Ice Cream Smash Cake

 Here is a smash cake I did for a one year old photo shoot. I was told that there was an ice cream theme for, and the little girl's aunt had this super cute cake plate made. When I find out who did it, I will post details. So, I just recreated what was on the cake plate on the cake.

Cookies for Santa

 A while back, my friend Cindy, who is an amazing photographer, check her out here, asked me to do some goodies for her Santa pictures she is doing this weekend. She wanted cupcakes for the little girls to have cocoa and cupcakes with Mrs. Claus and a wrapped up sugar cookie for each child to take home.

Above is a cake I did for one of my co-workers at Grace. Her son and daughter in law have birthdays that are ten days apart. So, she gives them a joint birthday celebration.