Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts

I want to remember this morning.

Last night after our dinner date at P.F. Changs, my husband and I grabbed some warm coffee at Corner Bakery Cafe and decided to stroll the outside shopping mall. As we walked toward Willams-Sonoma, I had an idea to look at cookbooks (this is the only thing that inspires me to cook-if they have pretty pictures). I then realized that Brandin has never been in this store and was surprised that a knife set could cost $1,500+ & $45 stirring spoons do exist...can you tell I buy our cookware at Target? lol I am IN LOVE with this store though! It makes we want to throw a dinner party every time I walk through those doors.

We headed over to the shelves where all of the desired cookbooks were on display. As we glanced through a few, I stumbled upon Two in the Kitchen-a cookbook for newlyweds. Although we aren't necessarily newlyweds anymore, it looked appealing. Brandin must have thought so too since he stood there reading (what seemed like every page) as I marveled within other book covers.

As I migrated to the cherry tomatoes, I noticed my husband walk to the counter with the book in hand. A huge smile danced on my lips. "So, we are going to cook together?" I asked. "Yes." He said. "Promise?" "Promise." And we walked out.

On our way home, he had me pick out a breakfast recipe as our first from the book. We both decided on Eggs Benedict and stopped by the store to pick up the ingredients for the next morning. 

It was 6am when Brandin got up and 6:30 when I finally put my feet on the floor. We were both awake before our little one and that was the plan.

We started with playing some Ray LaMontagne ('Let it be Me' was first to come out of the speakers) and lit a yummy smelling candle. Brandin wiped down the counter tops as I flipped the book open to Eggs Benedict and got the utensils ready. Ingredients were then put together in measuring cups and the team work began.

I started on the hollandaise sauce with cracking eggs and melting butter. Brandin started with cooking the fresh baby spinach, boiling water for the poached eggs and reading through the directions.

Brandin: "How do you spell ramekin?" (As he starts googling this item to find out what it is)
Me: (communicated the spelling) "Is that like a knife or something?"
Brandin: "I don't know but it looks like they're sold at Walmart....Oh wait, it looks like it's that small bowl our whisk is sitting on."
Me: "I think we should take some cooking classes..."

We had some good laughs.

As everything was just about done and Brandin poached his first eggs-ever, our little one awoke to a yummy smelling kitchen-bed head and all.

We set the table, prayed together and admired our work before delving in. "Mmmmmm" was all I could manage to say. Not only was this my first taste of an Eggs Benedict but it tasted SO DELICIOUS-a nice surprise to what I was anxious about.

We decided to make this a daily tradition. One meal a day-together.

The time that we were able to spend together (which doesn't come very often) was priceless. When you're married for a little while (3 1/2 years for us) there may be moments were you find yourselves wondering "what can we do together that we both will enjoy?" Finding time together that was meaningful didn't come as easily as it once seemed it was so we found ourselves asking that very question.

Although Brandin loves to cook a lot more than I do, it can seem like a chore to anyone at times and so uninviting. Doing this together though, makes it a lot more fun and even with a toddler in the kitchen, we can teach him what different utensils are (we may have to google some-ha!), the types of ingredients and tastes that trigger certain palettes.

His favorite part, eating the yummy goodness!

I will hold onto this beautiful morning and I look forward to many more of these sweet moments...

What do you and your husband/significant other do for fun to spend meaningful time together?

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Oak Glen-A Sunrise Trip to the Mountains.

Early this morning, I woke up bright and early with my little family for a trip to Oak Glen. We met up with my mom, brothers, grandma, a brother's gf, brother's friend and my niece to head to the mountains at sunrise for another family tradition.

The day was full of sun-kissed scenery, yummy food, playing in a flower garden, feeding animals, petting horses and enjoying the fresh, crisp air. A few times we did have to run from bees though...but we made it out ok! 

Here is a little sneak peek of the morning. I may have left my mind on vacation in the mountains...Enjoy!
When I try to take a picture with my littlest big brother...
Cozy fire in the cafe
 My other baby brothers will my sweet little niece, Emilee.
Baby love. This bug's belly is in almost all of the photos! Lol
Feeding the goats and sheep.
Such a great family day in the mountains! 
How are you enjoying November so far?

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Recently {Pretties with a side of caffeine, a morning walk + a concert}

Since coming back from vacation last weekend, I've had lots to catch up on in the shop. Luckily, I've had some beautiful and peaceful mornings to work in my craft room with a side of caffeine.

 These pretty bridal caps are going out to Texas for a photo shoot with Marilyn Duvall Photography.

My little love bug and I took a morning stroll through the neighborhood while daddy was at work.

This past Saturday, my mother in love, step father in love, husband and I went to see Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Eli Young Band and Kacey Musgraves at the Angels Stadium for the No Shoes Nation Tour. It was SO much fun (after we stopped baking in the sun)! We sang and danced the night away. Then, afterwards we had Lucille's BBQ (YUUMM) at about midnight. No biggie. :)

I started Unit 4 of my Wedding and Event Planning Course a couple days ago. This is the last unit before my virtual internship and I'm pretty excited to start some projects and apply what I've learned so far.
I just finished the lesson about "How to Beat Wedding Stress." With weddings that I've helped with, have coordinated and definitely my own, there are mounds of different stresses that a bride will encounter.
Wedding coordinators are supposed to alleviate as much stress as possible which means, that "stress" is now upon the planner. I know so many people think that being a wedding/event planner sounds like so much fun along with playing with lots of "pretty" details and perks. Although there are rewards, it's a pretty high stress job and knowing how to handle it, is essential
Sometimes, you may even be like a therapist. Brides have a lot on their plate and working side by side with them will bring up issues whether it's related to family, finances, the bridal party, decor decisions, etc. Being the "voice of reason" and/or the "listener" is certainly a part of the job title as well.
Here's to wearing multiple hats! 

Are you a bride or have been a bride? If so, what has caused the most stress and how did you handle it?

Have a beautiful week my friends!

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Weekend Recap {A vacay in the sun}

This past Sunday, my husband, my little love bug and I packed up to go on our first family vacation. We decided to go to Laughlin and meet up with our good friends, Chad and Tara and my momma even came out for a night! I was a little weary taking the baby to Laughlin but seeing how our rooms were only $24 a night at the Harrah's, we made it work and found lots of fun things to do with Levi. In actuality, the vacation seemed to be Levi's vacation seeing how he ate lots of goodies, stayed up pretty late, played in the arcade, swam his little heart out in the river and soaked up lots of sun (with mounds of sun screen of course)!
We all had such a great time! I brought my DSLR but I ended up taking most of the photos on my iPhone because I was too nervous that I'd break my Canon somehow.
Here's a little peek of this past weekend.

{enjoy}
On our way with a sleeping baby in the back seat.
Arcade time for little love.
A dinner night with some Mexican food!

Yummy Creme Brulee another night with my momma and step father.
Levi had dessert too...
Clear skies on the way home.
If you follow me on Instagram, you may have noticed the photo above because of the quote I posted on the way home from our trip. :)
Have a beautiful Friday my friends
Do you have any plans for this upcoming weekend?

Follow my blog via Bloglovin'.

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