20 July 2010

Another Giveaway!

Again, not by me but by the brains behind Fabulous K Creative! She is giving away a $50 credit for some oh-so-fabulous Stella & Dot jewelry. Just peruse their site here and you'll see what I mean. :D

You have until Friday to get in on the action - so head on over and get yourself entered! And while you're there, you can check out the newly re-launched Fabulous K site. FABULOUS!

14 July 2010

I Scream For Ice Cream

Did you know that July is National Ice Cream Month? Not that you need another excuse to eat ice cream...or do you?! :D

In honor of this momentous occasion (enjoying a big bowl of the creamy stuff is an occasion in and of itself), I have decided to share with you my very favorite recipe for the simplest, easiest, tastiest Oreo ice cream. My husband Clay wholeheartedly agrees. After all, he and the ice cream maker are like this:


Oreo Ice Cream

2 large eggs
3/4 cup sugar
2 cups heavy cream (I die)
1 cup milk
1/2 package Oreo cookies, crumbled

After eating a few pieces, stick crumbled Oreos in the fridge. :D Meanwhile, whisk eggs together in a mixing bowl for about a minute until light and fluffy. Add the sugar a little at a time until dissolved, then continue whisking another minute. (Talk about an arm workout!) Pour in cream and milk, again whisking to blend. Pour into prepared ice cream maker and follow manufacturer's instructions. During the last two minutes of the cycle, add half to 3/4 of the crumbled Oreos. After transferring to a storage container (not that it will be there very long!), sprinkle remaining Oreos over the top. Yum.


What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Do you prefer homemade or store-bought? Please share the scoop on what you're scooping. :D

It's a Giveaway!

Not by me, but by the talented Ashley at Snowbird Design! (She did some amazingly cute invitations for Erin’s baby shower, which you can see here.)

She’s giving away a free print-yourself design, which you could use for snazzy shower invites, baby announcements, or maybe just a postcard to your friends to remind them how cool you are. :D

So head on over to Snowbird and get yourself entered!

13 July 2010

How to Glue Things to Other Things

Have you ever wanted to glue two things together but just couldn't decide what type of adhesive to use? Well, my friends - fret no more! This to That is a site that allows you to search based on the materials you're using and gives you the perfect glue for the job. Brilliant!

Because people (like me!) have a need to glue things to other things. :D

12 July 2010

Baby Shower

Yesterday some friends and I hosted a baby shower for my friend Erin and her baby girl due at the end of August. Here are a few snapshots of the fun... :D

Pretty friends. :D
Yummy petit fours from McKinley's Bakery!
Adorable sock bouquet - by Stephanie, of course!
Jared and Erin opening gifts...
...and more gifts!
Beautiful personalized board, hand-painted by my cousin-in-law Laura.
The baby's name spelled out in cute block letters by Stephanie and Lindsay.
A blessing jar to hold wishes from each person who attended the shower. What a great idea!
The lovely hostesses - and their little helper. :D

What fun to help the Halls welcome their new little one!

08 July 2010

Oregon Trail

This past weekend I was able to go to my friend Jaci’s wedding in rural Oregon. I had never been to Oregon before – and it was beautiful! As our little puddle-jumper of a plane flew into the Medford Airport, I thought to myself, “Why in the world did Jaci ever come to Texas?!” (No offense, Texas. You are a pretty state in your own way.) And not only was the landscape beautiful, but the weather was too! I think the high on Sunday was 82 – with a low in the 50s. :D

Jaci got married at a quaint little lodge in Applegate, an area surrounded by lush hillsides and welcoming vineyards punctuated by glassy rivers and streams. We had a little time to squeeze in a wine tasting before putting up decorations…


If you’re ever in the Applegate area, the Longsword Vineyard offers a lovely complimentary tasting. (The sparkling Chardonnay is best.) The patio is adjacent to a landing zone, so we got to watch several paragliders launch from the mountains in the distance and eventually float their way to the field in front of us. So cool!


There was just enough time to hang the pom poms and lanterns (which have now been in three of the roommate’s weddings!) and set the rest of the décor before getting ready. And Erin of EE Photography was there to capture each exquisite detail! We even had some fun writing their names in sparklers after the send-off. :D I can’t wait to see how the pictures turn out.


Jaci’s wedding was absolutely wonderful. She was a beautiful bride and I’m glad I got to share in her special day! Many wishes for a happy honeymoon and a joyous life together.

02 July 2010

Why I Don't Appreciate Membership Appreciation Day

When I came to work out yesterday, I was unpleasantly surprised by the swarm of people at the check-in desk. Yesterday, it turns out, was Member Appreciation Day - AND they advertised a free workout (which would probably explain why there was a gentleman in kickboxing class wearing jeans and Birkenstocks. I’m still amazed his shoes didn’t fly off during each set of roundhouse kicks.)

The gym I go to hosts such an Appreciation Day once a month. As of yet, I have not been able to figure out which day so as to avoid the gym at all costs. You see, Member Appreciation Day should be a good thing. But it’s not.

On Appreciation Day, the gym is always packed with vendors – local salons or banks, dentists or chiropractors, salesmen peddling those protein shakes and power bars, area businesses trying to drum up more traffic. The gym is laid out such that there is barely enough room for two people to pass in front of the cycling machines. So what happens when you add an 8-foot table and pushy salespeople? A traffic jam. Yuck.

On Appreciation Day, it seems as though everyone who hasn’t been using their membership decides to come back and workout – at the same time. This means the classes are more crowded, the machines are mostly full, and there’s a waiting line for the ellipticals! It’s not that I don’t like people, I promise. It’s just that when you’re all sweaty (and probably smelly) and everyone else is too, the last thing you want to be is up close and personal with anyone around you. Besides, I like myself some generous personal space.

The bottom line is that I don’t feel appreciated on Member Appreciation Day. Give me a free bottle of water. Start offering towel service. Continue to keep the gym clean and well-maintained. Hire instructors that actually show up on time for class. Offer me a free month of membership. These are the types of things that will keep me coming back. Pack the gym with pushy salespeople and newbies who hog the machines? You might as well push me out the door.