Canton and Easter Weekend!

I am so full, oh my goodness.  My family is all sitting around watching basketball, and helping my brother on his calculus homework.  We love math, we're cool like that.  My school had Good Friday off this year, and we took advantage by heading to First Monday Trade Day's in Canton, TX {Tall Tan Man was so excited}.

  

There were so many things I wanted to buy, but I practiced some self control. Tall Tan Man and I are not totally for sure where we are living after the school year so I thought it best to just look for inspiration.  I wasn't completely boring though...

I got OU cups {boomer sooner}, cross bracelet, cake stand, and lots of wooden letters.  I love the cake stand...

There were so many letters all over the place.  The prices were very reasonable, and my friend Sarah and I split a big bag for only $10.  Here are just a few of my ideas...

Tall Tan Man wasn't completely miserable...

He wanted to take this little girl home {so did i}...

We are really wanting a bulldog, but we will be waiting until the summer.  I can't wait!  The rest of our weekend was pretty lazy amazing involving lots of good food.

This cake might of looked like a hot mess...but it was good!  I will be posting the recipe this week!  

Hope ya'll had a great Easter!  He is risen!

{LJ}

Blueberry Breakfast Bake

Happy Sunday to you!  I don't know about you, but I love lazy Sundays.  I can't wait to have all my Sunday's with Tall Tan Man.  Have I mentioned that living apart while married is waaay more sucky than when we were just dating? Ugh.  Well, I have been trying to keep myself busy so I have done some major spring cleaning and closet purging.  I bet next fall I am going to wonder where all my clothes went... :) Last week I saw this {Blueberry Breakfast Bake} on pinterest, and it looked super yummy.  I can now confirm that it tasted super yummy!

Blueberry Breakfast Bake
Source: Quick and Easy Recipes and Alexandra Cooks

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
2 tsp lemon zest {1 large lemon}
7/8 cup* {+1 tablespoon sugar for top}
1 egg, room temperature
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups flour {+2-3 tbsp to toss with the blueberries}
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. kosher salt
2 cups fresh blueberries
1/2 cup buttermilk

*7/8 = 3/4 cup + 2 TBSP 

1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF and grease a 9 by 9 pan.  

2.  Combine butter, lemon zest, and 7/8 cup of the sugar until light, beautiful, and fluffy.

2. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until combined.

3.  Toss the blueberries with 2-3 TBSPs cup of flour. In another bowl mix together the remaining flour, baking powder and salt.

4. First only add half of the flour mixture to the batter and alternate with the buttermilk. Once well combined, gently fold in the blueberries.

5.  Using a spatula spread batter into pan. You will notice that batter is really thick {almost like cookie dough}.  Do not fret, it will spread fine! Sprinkle batter with tablespoon of sugar.

  

6. Bake for 40 minutes. Be sure to test with a toothpick to make sure it is done. You might need to cover with foil and bake for a little bit longer. :) Let cool at least 15 minutes before serving.

This week I am going to try to remember and be thankful for all that Jesus has done for me.  For giving me grace and mercy that I absolutely don't deserve.  Hope ya'll try to do the same this week!

{LJ}

Hostess Gifts

Hi there.  

I love giving and receiving gifts.  Gifts don’t have to be expensive to be special they just need to be well thought out.  I had three showers and I only took pictures of one of the hostess gifts… whoops.  For my first shower I gave the ladies pretty white platters from Homegoods with homemade cookies on them.  I did find one picture of the platters I sent to my Mother for her approval… I love white platters. 

If Tall Tan Man lets me {yes we discuss home decor} I would love a wall of platters.

{via}

One perk of this idea is when I get tired of the plate wall I will have plenty Christmas/Birthday gifts. Ha Who couldn't use another platter?  My bridesmaids threw me an absolutely {beautiful shower}.  For their hostess gifts I used my favorite new craft project. DIY mugs.

You can use my tutorial {here} on how to make personalized mugs.  I used picmonkey to create the images for the mugs. 

I love these tea towels from my guilty pleasure, Sample House.  

 

I love all my bridesmaids!  I miss them...

 Photo courtesy Caroline Jurgensen Photography

Tomorrow is Friday! Yay!  I can't to have a weekend with NOTHING planned!  

{LJ}

Lemon Crumb Squares {Pioneer Woman}

I love lemon desserts.  I think I actually love all desserts, but in the spring/summer lemon is my favorite.  I pinned this recipe a while back and with all the wedding planning I just got around to making it.  This recipe is easy, takes about an hour {prep, bake, cool and cut}, and I think it is pretty tastey.  This recipe is from Pioneer Woman and you can find her directions {here}.  My only suggestions is try to use to pan size she suggested, 8 by 11, or you wont have enough lemon per bite.  I realized this because I only have a 9 by 13.   You might also want to get 3 lemons...I must be an amateur lemon squeezer, two was not enough.  

If you are wanting some more lemon recipe's here are some of my favorites :)

Lemon Cookies

Lemon Bars

Lemon Balls

I just love lemons...

Alright ya'll, we are almost to the weekend which means I get to see MY HUSBAND.  :)  I am going to go do some cartwheels. 

{LJ}

Wedding Hotel Welcome Bags

Hello!  Can I just say I am so ready for spring to start? Yesterday it was 84 outside, and today it is 56.  I know I need to toughen up, because when I move to Colorado 56 is going to be a warm spring day.  My move countdown is almost three months, and it seems I am more ready for graduation than my seniors!  I can't wait to actually live with my husband!  :)  This living separate while being married totally sucks... it is much more difficult than I expected. 

On top of being apart Tall Tan Man got in a bad accident last week.  Scared me to death.  It could of been much worse so I am thankful he can still walk and is alive.  We are praying that the remaining pain and headaches go away with time.  Alright, enough of that sad stuff!  When our out of town guests checked into the hotel for our wedding they got welcome bags.  I wanted our guests to know how excited we were that they were there. 

Each bag contained:

• Homemade Cinnamon Rolls {Pioneer Woman recipe}
• Parmesan and Garlic Popcorn {MOM and POPcorn in downtown Mckinney...they ship anywhere!}
• Granola Bars
• Candy
• Water

We also wanted our guests to know where good places were to eat, things to do that were close to the hotel, and where to be when.  One thing I wanted to make sure to remember through the whole process was to be myself.  Tall Tan Man and I are goofy so I thought this cover photo was perfect :)  Thank you Meghann Jaline Photographie for taking our amazing engagements. 

Of course we had to make sure people knew they were in the great state of Texas!  I found these postcards in the Texas store in Stonebriar Mall.  

Hope ya'll are having a good week!  I only have 3 more days till spring break! :)
 
{LJ}