So another color combo that I have been toying with is Navy and Peach.

Yellow

One concept I am struggling with for the wedding is color. Which to use, how much of what.
The wonderful site Style My Pretty has these great inspiration broads that you can play around with, mix and match. I've been using these to work with images and find colors that work for me. I really love flowers Yellow and here I love the yellow with the contrast of the dark woods. Thoughts or any other color suggestions?

Oh sweet Dallas.

Dallas is a city like no other.

April's issue of D Magazine has a list of the top 52 things you must do in Dallas. "You're not a true local unless you've done them all."

I'll list some of my favorites, but really and truly this list is great so take time to explore yourself.

(in no particular order, with no great rhyme or reason)

1. Eat Bob Armstrong Dip at Mattio's - Done. Its great.
2. Eat frozen grapes at the pool by the Joule - Never have I done this at the Joule.
3. Get fake boobs - Yes, so Dallas. me however, not so Dallas.
4. Go to the Plano Balloon Festival - every year growing up

These are just a few that either made me laugh or brought back memories. There is so much to love about Dallas and according to this list I have to get busy!

Better Late Than Never... Right?

So Ive really fallen off the blog radar, but I'm back! AND ENGAGED!!! It happened a few months ago, but I figured it is a pretty big, monumental moment and how dare I with hold this from my blog!

It was my birthday and I new that Douglas had a whole day of activities planned. I made me french toast for breakfast, got my car detailed (may not seem like a big deal but oh, how I was grateful!), went to a movie, went on a Segway tour of downtown Dallas (we look like huge dorks but it was so fun!)
After the tour we were going to dinner at our favorite restaurant, Momo's.
But before dinner I would get my third birthday present. This was really the perfect day. Since we've been engaged I've learned that my love language is quality time... he really hit the nail on the head with this day.

We had dessert at my parents after dinner with both families.

I still just stare at it...

And the fun and smiles just continued because the next night we had an awesome NYE party with only the best friends ever! So much for fun and happy memories to come!!!

Stuffed Squash

While Fall is my favorite season, Halloween has never been my favorite holiday. So I more than welcomed Douglas' idea to cook a fun fall dinner, pass out candy, and watch the Rangers.
Now this recipe below is seriously so easy, delicious, and great presentation (great if you are having people over)

Stuffed Squash (thanks to Mr. Alton Brown)

• 4 small acorn squash, 1 to 1 1/4 pounds each
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces
• 1/2 pound ground pork
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup chopped celery
• 1/4 cup chopped carrot
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 1 1/2 cups cooked rice
• 1 (10-ounce) package frozen spinach , completely thawed, drained and chopped
• 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
• Generous pinch of salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

(Next time I might use more veggies and less rice and add thyme or rosemary)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Cut 1-inch off the top of each acorn squash and scoop out the seeds. If necessary in order for the squash to sit upright, cut off a small portion of the bottom. Put 1 of the 4 pieces of butter in the cavity of each squash. Set squash on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Set aside.

In a large saute pan over medium heat, brown the ground pork until no longer pink. Remove the meat from the pan, add the olive oil and saute the onion, celery, and carrot until they begin to soften, approximately 7 to 10 minutes. Deglaze the pan with the white wine.

Return the pork to the pan along with the cooked rice, spinach, pine nuts, oregano and salt and pepper, to taste. Stirring constantly, heat mixture thoroughly, approximately 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat. Divide the mixture evenly among the squash, top each squash with its lid and bake for 1 hour or until the squash is tender. Serve immediately.

Enjoy!

Gotta Get Away

I am the kind of person who is always planning my next trip. I love returning from a trip and sleeping in my own bed as much as the next guy, but there is nothing, nothing like being in a new city with new sites, smells and tastes!

I have at least 100 places on my "must see" list. Most everywhere I have been I want to be sure to go back at least once. In my mind it is silly, crazy, dare I say selfish to have all of this world - every bit of it so different to all of our senses - and not take advantage of as much as we can.

(Disclaimer- I am a dreamer. It is a blessing and a curse. My mind never stops working. I think up wild, beautiful ideas and most often do what I can to make them happen- within reason)

I'm not sure what I'm getting at with this entry, other than the fact that I am itching beyond reason to get AWAY! It has barely been a month since I have been back from a weekend trip to New Orleans, and I could not get back to that city any sooner!

Not even a month before that I got to spend a week in Santa Fe. It is not the least expensive hobby of "cultural research" but ohhh so rich are the rewards!

What's not to love??

I say it every year, but I love fall. Technically it is here, but in Texas we have to be patient... or use our imagination. But really, what is not to love??
Fall flavors.
Maybe there something in the air that makes the spices taste better this time of year

The State Fair of Texas.
From the fried [anything] to the pig races and of course Big Tex, none other can compair.What else can I say? It's Boot Season.

Who doesn't love game day?! Sic 'em.

adulthood

Lots has been going on I'll be sure to fill you in on soon but first....
Dwellinggawker?!?! I know these people are just full of all the good stuff!

Oh. and I moved. Hello Adulthood! (as Americans we get to say that many times. when we vote, graduate college, get a job, PAY BILLS!!! and probably once more when we get married,... and have baby) Funny, I think. Some of us take it in more stages than others but we are all working to get to our own "Adulthood" Well, I'm excited and ready for this stage! And who knows what is next. The Lord has been doing lots of really great things lately. Really taking charge, surprising me in awesome fun ways, and reminding me I'm HIS.

Tasty Menus

I really don't even know what to say for this post. Yep, that is a menu card. Made of CHOCOLATE. If you love chocolate like I do, there is not much that completes an event quite with the same unique, tasty, elegance that chocolate does.
To top it all of this chocolatier is from Texas!
(yet another great find from weddinggawker)

A Great Find

A few weeks ago I discovered a horribly wonderful website. Horrible because it sucks me in and I could spend hours on it. Wonderful because... it is wonderful! (If you already knew about it, we all know I can be a little behind the curve.)

Foodgawker is a beautiful site of other blogger's beautiful pictures and wonderful recipes. I've made several recipes from this site already, but most recently I made Chicken Pesto Meatballs this weekend while my grandma was in town. It was a hectic evening and we didn't really get to start cooking until about 7 (which I'm sure my grandma wished she was already getting ready for bed). Luckily this was the perfect dish. They were so easy and so delicious!

You should also know Foodgawker has a sister site for weddings (AWESOME!) and crafts (not my greatest love, but still really cool)

Hear me out...

You love chocolate, right? That cake looks awesome, right? It is super moist and yummy and good for you... kinda.
Okay, now don't go running when I tell you it is a Vegan Chocolate Avocado Cake (no, I'm not vegan, but never hurts to cut fat where you can). I was hesitant too but please trust me, and if you don't go to Joy the Baker and read her blog and all of the raving comments.

Here is the recipe if you are up for it, I promise it will not disappoint:

The Cake
3 cups of flour
6 tbsp of unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
2 cups sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup soft avocado, well mashed (about 1 medium avocado)
2 cups water
2 tbsp white vinegar
2 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Sift together all dry ingredients except the sugar. Set aside
Mix all wet ingredients (including super mashed avocado). Stir sugar into wet ingredients.
Add wet and dry together and mix with whisk (by hand).
Pour into two (greased) 8 or 9-inch rounds. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes.
Allow to cool completely before frosting

Avocado Butter cream Frosting (Alton Brown)
2 small to medium avocados
2 tsp lemon juice
1 pound powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Mash avocados very well. Put in stand mixer (using whisk attachment) with lemon juice and whisk until smooth and color is slightly lightened.
Add powdered sugar a little at a time (adjust to the sweetness you like). Add vanilla.
Put in refrigerator if not using right away. Don't worry, It won't brown.
Enjoy!

I've been cooking up a storm lately so there is more to come, but I had to share this!

Detox in Santa Fe

(I'm really struggling and this is the only picture it will let me up load)

I am a horrible relaxer. I've never been able to sleep in (9 o'clock is pushing it and I truly can't tell you the last time I slept that late). I have trouble enjoying just sitting when I know there are things (laundry, errands, baking, yoga) that need to be done. I constantly need to be doing or at least thinking about doing something.

This past week I relaxed. refreshed. and reloaded. I spent the week in beautiful Glorieta, New Mexico. My friend's band was leading worship at the collegiate week and in between morning and evening services but I had no real schedule. We ate many great meals. This place, featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, was so great that we made sure to go 3 separate occasions (one dinner, one breakfast, and maybe just to take pie back to the hotel)

Some mornings I read at the lake with a coffee. Some mornings I went to service. One day I actually think I slept in.

We spent some time at the square at Santa Fe. Reading, listening to an awesome cute old band play folk music and watching the couples dance. I was on a mission for the perfect turquoise ring. I had the color, size and shape in my mind and I was not really willing to settle when I was a city covered with the stuff. I ended up finding a stone I love and I am going to have a family friend back home make my ring.

We went to an art gallery that a local man told Jenny about. My words mean little here. Go to her website. I have so many favorites and so many that just took my breath away.

I spent a lot of time a several tucked away coffee shops or one of a kind book stores.

We spent a day just driving up a mountain stopping at different looking points... once to eat a piece of pie :)... but also just to sit and be still and talk about anything, hiking a little, reading some more.

So no, maybe I didn't completely stop. I think for me to do that I would have to go to a monastery. But I did slow down. People in the city move so quickly, always aware of the time. Last week, I had no agenda and wore no watch. I haven't been able to really enjoy a book in forever. I had about 10 great meals which is always counted as success. Lots of good conversations, but also lots of good quiet. I am refreshed and trying to retain some bit of that piece of mind.

The perfect noncolor

I love a beautiful crisp white wedding.
It is not for every venue or personality type, but when done right it is one of my very favorites.

Clean, classic, and even whimsical.
Thanks to the wonderful StyleMePretty

Baking therapy

I've said before that after long day nothing helps better than a little baking. Well this has been a long week so I was for sure in need of some baking therapy.
I came across a recipe for Kara's "Bikini" Muffins. Apparently when I was little I loved these muffins, but I couldn't quite say zucchini.Here is my somewhat altered recipe for Zucchini muffins
2 cups of zucchini grated
3 eggs
3 cups of flour -- I used 1/2 wheat 1/2 all purpose
2 cups of sugar-- I used about 1 cup of sugar and 3/4 cup of honey
1/2 t of baking powder
1 t of baking soda
1/2 t of salt
1 cup of oil-- I used oragnic applesauce
3 t cinnamon
3 t vanilla
a cup of chopped nuts
zest of a lemon
1 cup of craisins or raisins
Mix everything together except the flour and zucchini. Then add the flour and zucchini to the mixture alternating a little at a time. Bake at 350. The recipe makes 24 muffins or 2 loafs of bread. For muffins cook about 15-2o. For bread cook 40-45.
Now I'm not releasing this post like these are the best zucchini muffins I've ever had, so if you have another recipe or suggestions for tweaking this one I'm 100% open to them!

4 in 3 weekends...

One down 3 to go. I love weddings, but when they fall so close together it can get a little repetitive. The last week's bride (and a wonderful friend since I was about 5) was creative and added great little touches to make it "their" day. I look forward to seeing what else is in store these next few weeks!

Dinner In

Ok I feel better. I was not loving the look of the blog lately so I was just staying way. So now that I've cleaned up we can move on. Just like cleaning your room or taking a shower. kind of.

Well now, As much as I love to food, it is great that Douglas and I can share that love. We don't get to cook together much right now because we are both living with our parents, but last night we stayed in and made a delicious chicken parmigiana. Its simple, for sure nothing fancy, but oh so yummy! Thanks B. Flay
You may be wondering why the pasta is black. Its squid ink! One of our favorite things is trying fun different things. We new it would look cool on the plate and we see them make it on Iron Chef so why not try?! The meal was awesome and I must say, we make a great team in the kitchen!

Everything is great about this Pie.

Easy.
Probably not too bad for you.
Soo Delicious. (so worth whatever calories)

(sorry for the crappy iphone pic)

Strawberry Pie with Balsamic Glaze.

Now I kind of combined a couple recipes and ended up having to make a few alterations because I was not going to go to the third store to find mascarpone cheese, so I made it work with what was in the fridge and again I must say it is delicious. (next time hopefully I can try the macsarpone)

Here is the recipe that I started with and followed most closely:

A pre-made graham cracker pie crust

2 lbs. fresh strawberries (sliced or quartered)

1/2 cup regular sugar

zest of 1 orange

1/2 a small lemon juiced

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

1/3 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1/4 tsp. salt

8 oz. mascarpone cheese

1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar

Mix well with the regular sugar, orange zest and half the lemon juice. Set aside for 30 minutes.

Whip the whipping cream, powdered sugar, vanilla, salt and remaining lemon juice, with an electric mixer. Once it’s good and whipped, add in the mascarpone cheese and whip again just until it’s well blended.

--This is the part where I strayed. I used organic vanilla yogurt, sour cream, whipping cream and powdered sugar. I don't have measurements because I was just working to get the consistency right.

Spread the mascarpone mixture evenly into the pie crust. Now stick it in the refrigerator.

Your 30 minutes should almost be up now. Strain the juice from the strawberries into a saucepan. Put the strained strawberries on top of the pie and put it back into the refrigerator. Add the balsamic vinegar to the strawberry juices and boil it until it becomes a syrup. Take a pastry brush and brush the syrup over the strawberries until they are all glazed. You may not use all the syrup. Put that pie back in the refrigerator for at least an hour.

The orange zest and lemon juice make it fresh. You can't go wrong with strawberries and the balsamic vinegar adds the perfect flavor.

Summer Challenge

While I do still hope to be satisfied with my "swimsuit body" this summer, there are two things I plan to do that might make that a little more of a challenge: cooking and eating. More adventurously. I want to cook things I haven't cooked and eat at places I don't usually eat.
Keller's Drive-in is one eatery on my list is one that I have been to, but it has been ages. I didn't provide the link because it is the kind of local goodness that doesn't have a website. Unfortunately, I have a horrible memory so I can't sit here and tell you I remember the burgers are great and they have the best fries in town. The thing I do remember is sitting in the back of the car and enjoying the atmosphere (it's an old drive in, nothing fancy).
As far as cooking goes, who knows where I will start there. That's always the tough part for me. I always want to make desserts, but that's not always the smartest option. I've been reading tons of food blogs lately (and welcome any suggestions). I will let you know where it leads. Adventure is the key.

It's Complicated

It's Complicated was one of those movies I wanted to wait and watch on my couch rather than the theater so I might be a little behind in posting this. The plot was cute but I think what I was really drawn to about the movie was the set and Meryl Streep's character, Jane.

It opened with a gorgeous birds-eye-view of California and the Spanish tile roofs. Jane's house is Spanish style ranch home. A perfect kitchen. For some reason Meryl's character thought it needed remodeling, but I would take it 100% as is. Pot hangers on the wall, open shelving for dishes, window overlooking plentiful herb garden, marble island, viking oven. No, nothing to change.

But I guess if you are a french trained chef you might have higher expectations. This is the bakery she owns. I think here will be something like this in heaven.

Good movie. Great set design.

In Your Dreams

It must be bad when your body knows you need a vacation so badly that night after night it takes you on one in your dreams. Thanks brain. Its been a good year since I left Texas.

Last night I got to go back to what is probably my favorite place on earth. Florence, Italy. I went there 3 summers ago and had the time of my life. My dream was so vivid that I recognized the cobble stone streets and buildings, smelled the cheese and bread, and tasted the gelato. I even took the same short cut that I used to take when I walked to school. It was pretty great

I've been doing a lot of soul searching lately... turns out I just need to go back to Italy. Well, I may not be going back tomorrow but until then I will keep dreaming because a wise friend once told me that it is important to dream.