Monday, November 29, 2010

FaithFest!!!

Saturday I sold Desserts and Bows at a Market days out in Bulverde called FaithFest. Each vendor had their own table. There were about 25 vendors there selling anything from jewelry to candles.It was my second year to do it but last year I only did desserts and I was 7 1/2 months pregnant and really wasn't into drawing a lot of business. This year I added bows to the mix. I had been making extra bows for weeks trying to get ready for it. I do my bows at night when Hannah is asleep and its like my little "escape time". I ended up with almost 50 bows to sell! I also made cupcakes and caramel apples.
Here are the cupcakes I decided to make. These are Chocolate with chocolate buttercream.
These are "my signature" Chocolate fudge pecan cupcakes. They are completely covered in Pecan Fudge icing.
These are Red velvet and Oreo!
I also made Pumpkin spice but forgot to take a picture. Another thing I made was caramel apples. Some plain with caramel and milk chocolate and the others were rolled in Oreo with milk and white chocolate drizzle.
I kept going back and forth on how I wanted to display my bows until I found the cutest Pink tree at Hobby Lobby. I decided to clip the bows on the branches and display some of them that way.
Here is my table!
My mom and dad helped me set up and my husband came a little later with Hannah. Hannah had a great time playing outside and seeing all the people. My sister came as well and helped with Hannah. We wanted to get her face painted and I really didn't know if she would sit still but she did great!
She got a Christmas tree with presents underneath.
Katie also took Han on the little train ride they had.
All in all it was a great day and I ended up making a pretty good amount of money. I sold almost everything!!!!

Friday, November 26, 2010

Going out to eat for Thanksgiving?

Growing up every year at Thanksgiving was very average. I figure most people stay home or go travel to go see family for Thanksgiving. We would usually go to my grandmothers (mommom's) house and do Thanksgiving there. Mommom and I would always be in the kitchen cooking up a storm. We would make anything and everything you could think of. And then of coarse after the meal there was always the dreaded dishes and the refrigerator FULL to the brim with leftovers. It wasn't that I didn't love those Thanksgivings of cooking all day and night for hours upon hours *sarcasm*, but a change of pace would have been nice (after all one month after Thanksgiving is Christmas and that's basically the same song second verse lol!) So last year my parents had the idea that we would try to do Thanksgiving out to eat. I really didn't know what to think about this but I was willing to give it a whirl. I was also pregnant last year so I had no desire to cook.  We went out to eat and  absolutely LOVED it. So this year I was super excited to do it again. We went to the St. Anthony Hotel in downtown San Antonio. It is the most gorgeous hotel and has the best Thanksgiving spread. They had a salad station with any salad you could think of, a waffle station, and omelet station, Breakfast buffet, Thanksgiving buffet with all of the traditional Thanksgiving foods, a carving station with prime rib, ham and turkey and of course they had an amazing dessert buffet. It was magnificent! Plus they decorate the hotel beautifully for Christmas.
Here is our little family in front of one of their Christmas trees

I have to admit... Hannah was having an "off" day. She was a handful. While we were eating she wanted to walk around and was being so fussy. We were trying so hard not to be "those" people with the annoying baby. She definitely gave us a run for our money.At lunch it was just my parents,sister and her boyfriend Wes and Wes's sister and her husband and baby. I recently just met his sister Catherine last week and we really hit it off. I asked her to join us for Thanksgiving and I was so glad she was able to come. Her son Tyler is almost the exact same age as Hannah.
This is my mom, Hannah and Tyler. Tyler was MUCH more well behaved than my little stinker ;)
Here's a picture of Catherine, Me and my sister Katie!

Here is our "original 4" as I like to say. Me, Kate, Mom and Dad!
Super Girl!!!! She loves to be "flown" around.
We had such a great time and I was STUFFED! We all came back to my moms house afterwards and the guys played video games and watched football and the girls just chatted and played with the babies and later that night we watched "The Santa Clause". It was a great Thanksgiving!



Wednesday, November 24, 2010

12 Days of Christmas-Day3


Its day 3 and today's topic is "Best gift you have ever received". This is a picture of me at my first Christmas. Is this not Hannah or what!
I have received a lot of good gifts through the years but the best and most memorable has to be the year I received my car! I was 16 (Christmas 2001) and had been wanting a car but really wasn't into looking or shopping for cars. I figured when the time was right my parents would just pick one out for me and that would be good enough for me (we've covered how much I value my parents opinion right? ha!) Anyways, we were having Christmas at my grandmothers (Mommom's) and I was NOT expecting a car. Christmas morning came and we always start Christmas morning by seeing what "Santa" brought us and opening our stockings. At the very bottom of my stocking was a car key. I was SHOCKED! I looked at my dad in disbelief and he said "Lets go outside!". This is what I saw....
I got a BRAND NEW 2001 Toyota Echo! I LOVED my car. I loved that it was little and that I could easily drive it and I loved that it was brand new and mine!
I was so surprised! Please overlook the white football helmet that once was my hair.... What was I thinking!


Monday, November 22, 2010

12 Days of Christmas and a Celebrity Sighting!


So I'm linking up with Aly and Molly and doing their 12 days of Christmas and today's topic is Christmas traditions. Since this is Hannah's first Christmas my husband and I are really excited about starting traditions with her. One of the traditions we definitely wanted to start was participating in Operation Christmas Child through Samaritans Purse. You basically create a "shoe box" (plastic box) of assorted toys and necessities for impoverished children around the world. Last year OCC provided 8 MILLION sweet children with gift boxes. I have made boxes before but this year meant so much more to me.  Now that I have a child who has SO MUCH, it makes me want to reach out to those precious children that don't have anything. To think... my small gift might be the ONLY gift they get all year. Samaritans Purse requests that people get plastic boxes because the children can reuse them to transport water.... How incredibly heartbreaking is that. I hope that this becomes a new tradition that my daughter can look forward to every year. We sure did have fun picking out stuff for our OCC friends from around the world. We decided we wanted to make a girl box and a boy box.

Hannah says "O.K. Mommy... We got the boxes now LETS FILL EM UP!!!!!"


This is some of the stuff we put in our boys box
 This is some of the stuff we put in our girls box. I got her a Princess Belle purse, gloves and necklace and I made the bow to match ;)
All ready to ship out to our friends!!!! (no Hannah... you cant keep the play dough)
We had so much fun on our first annual Operation Christmas Child tradition. I just cant help but wonder which little girl and boy might get our box ;)

On a COMPLETELY different note..... I just had to tell y'all that Hannah got her picture taken with a Celebrity today. Yep, shes already had her first star sighting. I was at Chick-Fil-a (because when am I not ha!) with my friend Catherine and I saw David Robinson (the basketball player) walk through the door. So I went up to him and said "Mr. Robinson, Our husbands are HUGE fans of yours and they would just die if you could possibly take a picture with our babies". He was so nice and was glad to take a pic. and here it is...
They both have no clue whats going on and are probably wondering who is this giant person (seriously ffreakishly TALL)
Anyways.... Ta Ta for Now! Happy Monday Y'all!

Sunday, November 21, 2010

O Christmas Tree.... O Christmas Tree!

Now I know its not even Thanksgiving yet but I just couldn't help myself, I HAD to put up my Christmas tree. In the 4 years that we have been married our Christmas tree has always been... well... Bleh! This year I wanted to buy all new stuff and try and do it right. Last year when I was pregnant we didn't decorate at all. So this year I am super excited to start decorating and make new family traditions of our own. We actually decorated the tree Wednesday. I really wanted my mom to come over and help me with the decorating. I don't know about y'all but I REALLY value my moms opinion. I will always ask her what I should do and whatever she tells me 99% of the time I will do it. I know that might seem like I don't have my own ideas or opinions but I figure... Hey Ill have plenty of time for my ideas and opinions when Hannah gets old enough to ask ME what I think on everything ha! Anyways.... we started to decorate and Hannah was in glitter heaven. She had a ball!
 She had to wear her Christmas tree outfit to decorate the Christmas tree in DUH!


We waited for Bri (Brian) to get home to put on the star.
 Finished product! I was really happy with the way it came out. We ended up putting it in the office because that way we can close the door and Hannah wont sneak in and start tearing it down ha!

Another thing that my mom helped me with is she MADE me a wreath. I LOVE it!


Friday, November 19, 2010

My little Turkey!

So last night was our Sunday School class annual Thanksgiving party. Our class has gotten so much bigger over the years especially since almost everyone has kids now. Since there was going to be so many people (including all the kids) we had it in our church's fellowship hall. I was really excited to go to this one since it was going to be the first Thanksgiving party in which I could bring MY child. Plus.... not gunna lie... I was REALLY excited for Hannah to wear her Turkey dress ha!
Here is my little Turkey girl BEFORE all of the excitement and food all over her face ;)
We had a crazy morning/afternoon yesterday plus it made it even harder since Hannah literally would not let me put her down ALL day long. She was being super clingy. My job was to bring a salad to the party. I had totally forgotten all about it until right before we were about to leave. So I told my husband to go to the store and pick up some salad and I would bring the bowl. Well guess what.... I forgot to bring the bowl. So he had to buy a bowl. We were meeting at the party and he got there before me so here he is walking into the party with 2 bags of salad mix and a big plastic bowl. Uggghhhh I was just a little embarrassed but hey... we are all friends so its all good. After we all ate all of the kids started playing and to my surprise (not really ha!) Hannah jumped right into the mix. She had a blast playing with all of the older kiddos. She fell in love with my friends little boy Chase.
Here they are.... She thinks he's her boyfriend (she likes older men)

As you can say she was just a little in awe of him ;) She had so much fun running around trying to keep up with all of the kids. I can already tell she is going to be my party girl.

O.K.... so I just LOVE this pic. I can just imagine her telling these kids..... "O.K. y'all, now I'm the boss around here so I'll decide what we're going to play" ha!

Here I am with my friend Rhonda and Stephanie with our babies.
We had a great time and I thought that the party would have worn my little turkey out but as soon as we got home she was ready for round 2. Aghhhh I love that little girl!



Wednesday, November 17, 2010

What I'm Loving Wednesday!!!


So can you tell I am LOVING these little "Linky things" ha! Well.... Last Wednesday I was LOVING my Momma so this Wednesday I am LOVING my Daddy!  He was the first man I ever loved and I never had to "learn" to trust him.. I always just did. He has always sacrificed everything for our family. He has been such a strong man of God and a great example for me. He set a high example in what I needed to look for in a husband.
This is the day I was married....
I had never been more excited and scared at the same time then on my Wedding day but I knew that even though I was getting married that my daddy would ALWAYS be there for me... and he has been.
When we found our we were pregnant with Hannah he wasn't exactly over the moon about becoming a "Grandpa" (even though we now call him Poppy) He didn't really know what to expect. Well let me tell ya.... as soon as that little girl came out he was hooked. He loves my little Hannah girl more than anything and I LOVE him not just this Wednesday but everyday!



Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Top 2 Tuesday


So I hooked up with "The Undomestic Momma" on her "Top 2 Tuesday"! I am loving these little linky things (at least that's what I call them. I don't know the official name ha!) Anyway.... This weeks top 2 is "Favorite Jobs". So.... without further ado here is my Top 2!

#1- My Favorite job that I have EVER had is being a Stay at home mommy to this little girlie!
If you were to ask me throughout any part of my life "What do you want to be when you grow up", the answer was always.... a mommy. I prayed for this little girl and I feel so blessed to be able to stay home with her and watch her grow. Staying at home definitely has its challenges. I must admit there are days when I need a break from the madness of my BUSY little one. She keeps me on my toes that's for sure. I always try and make sure that we get out of the house at least once a day even if its just taking a walk. She does not do well just saying cooped up in the house all day so its fun to go on our "daily outings". I don't know if I will remain a SAHM forever but I sure am enjoying it right now ;)


#2- My second Favorite job ever was my first job working at a bakery. I went off to college for 1 semester and came back to San Antonio to go to Culinary School. While in school I found a job at a bakery/restaurant called "Joseph's Storehouse". They make EVERYTHING form scratch and its all sooooo good!
I was pretty scared to start working there. It is a very well known bakery in San Antonio and I really wanted to do a great job. I jumped right in and learned all of the recipes. I learned more there then all the years I went to culinary school combined. I learned all of their famous recipes many of which I still use. It was a very busy place (which I loved) I would wake up at 5 am so I could be at work by 6. During the Thanksgiving and Christmas times were by far the busiest. There were only 3 bakers and we would produce up to 200 orders (pies and cakes) a day. Here are just some of the things we made.

This is the Caramel Apple Pie
 (From left) Apple Cobbler, Lemon meringue pie, Chocolate cake and Butter Pecan Cookies
Well that's my Top 2! Happy Tuesday Y'all!!!!

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Friends, Food and Shopping!!!

So Yesterday My friend Annie and I went to the "Boerne Market Days". Two of our friends were selling some of their things at a booth there and we decided it would be a fun thing to go and see them and also have a fun girls day and Oh did we ever! It ended up being just what we both needed. So Fun! and a perfect way to kick off the upcoming Christmas shopping. Annie has just started her blog so we decided that we were going to document every move and stop (so we could blog about it) So everywhere we went we took pictures.It was so much fun being able to stroll through all of the shops and the Market booths at our own leisure not having to worry about a fussy or unhappy baby. The day started off with meeting Annie and driving out to Boerne while sipping our Starbucks Salted Caramel Hot Chocolates. When we got there we went over to the Market Booths to find our friends Stephanie and Emily.

Here they are at their booth. Emily (on the left) sells adorable stationary and Steph (right) makes infused glass jewelry. They both also paint beautiful paintings. Emily actually made the painting in Hannah's room.

After that we walked around to all of the other booths and as we were about to leave I saw the CUTEST Turkey dress that I just had to buy for Hannah.
 I got it from the cutest woman who makes all kinds of Bows, Dresses, Tutus and flowers. Her business is called "Cutie Bow Tooty"! Isn't that the cutest name ever!
After that we were starving so we decided to go to the Bear Moon Bakery for lunch. This place is super famous for all of their baked goods and they also have great breakfasts and lunches as well.

Here we are at our table
We decided to share a sandwich and both get soup. So we got the French Dip Pannini and Roasted Poblano Corn Chowder. Seriously.... The BEST sandwich I have EVER had!
 The soup was amazing as well!


Then we made our way down to the rest of the shops and stopped by a place called Ella Blue. We both found these "Show Stopping" necklaces!

Then we wanted to get our picture taken together and these 3 older women saw us and came and told us they would take it. They thought we were so funny that they even wanted to take our picture with their personal camera. We got a big laugh out of that one.

All in all it was a super fun day and I must say... "Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas"!