Trip to Texas

This past weekend, we went to Texas for my friend Megan's wedding. It was absolutely beautiful! We also got to visit Waco, and Brian got to see Baylor for the first time. Here are a few pics from that visit. I realized that I have almost no pictures of campus, so I was happy to snap a few on this visit. This was my first time back since I got my master's in 2006, and many things have changed (new residence halls) and many things were still the same, and I was excited to see it all!

Our mascot, is the bear. Here are Lady and Joy sleeping in their habitat in the middle of campus.

These few are of the Armstrong-Browning Library. This is probably one of my favorite places on campus, it is just an amazing building. It is home to the largest collection of poet Elizabeth Barret Browning "stuff." It is also a popular place for brides to have their portraits taken.  I so wish I could have had mine done there.

Another favorite place- Common Grounds. I was so happy they had pumpkin pie coffee the day we were there!

This was my little house in grad school, I couldn't believe it was still there!

Brian enjoying his first George's experience. (Please note the big o margarita in the bottom right hand corner, I couldn't go without having one)

Happy New Year!

 I hope everyone had a great new years! We had so much fun celebrating with some great friends. Everyone brought a dish to enjoy for dinner. I am lucky to know so many good chefs because dinner was beyond good.

 I got to use my wiggle woggle again. Shannon had these super cool candle holders that we filled with some small garland. They are from Crate and Barrel, and I think I might need to get my own.

 Here are the desserts I did. They were strawberry champagne parfaits with handmade chocolate garnishes.

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.

Cyber Monday

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday, and I can't believe we are now officially on to Christmas! I had a great week off, and I had one big project to work on, and it was a house out of cake. I have said before that I have not had much experience with making three dimensional objects out of cake, and I think that this one was good practice for me. The couple that now owns this house are the second generation of people that Brian and I have known to live in it. The new couple who owns the house wanted me to make this cake for their housewarming party. It was great to go and see how they had decorated and put their own touch on a house that I have always really liked.

 This pic is kind of old, it has taken me a few weeks to get it up here. Some of the CSRs and tellers at the bank got it for their branch manager.