Loving Local

After a pretty long and stressful week, I was more than happy to celebrate the beginning of the weekend with some of our favorite things and some new things.

First off, Sparky and I were offered up two free propane heaters from our favorite local OKC spot, The Wedge on western (where we were engaged).  Of course, they were free because they couldn't get them to work.  They said if we could get them to work then we could have them.  Sparky's response, "I'm freaking McGyver"...unfortunately this McGyver doesn't own a truck.  We were able to get a friend with a truck to help us transport the heaters to our home; so we also enjoyed a dinner at The Wedge while in the process.

Afterward, we headed down to the local Plaza District for an art showing and some local supporting.  I was able to score a cute handmade hair pin that I'm going to try to work into the wedding and a handmade Christmas gift for a friend.

Also....

We randomly picked out Sparky's wedding band!!!  local and handmade.  Perfect.

It was a joyful and local filled night.  Do you support your local artists and businesses?

Keep on Keepin on.

I Am Meant For A Flash Mob

Somewhere out there...there is a flash mob waiting for me.
I know deep down that I have been and forever will be...meant for a flash mob.
There exists out there for me...the perfect flash mob.

Seriously.

Song...

or...

Dance...

I am taking secret invitations.  I will audtion if need be.  I would be perfect for your flash mob.

Such as this flash mob sung by a beautiful chorus in Canada.


or...

This dancing flash mob in Liverpool.


or...

This Sound of Music flash mob in Belgium.


I'd be perfect.  Just sayin.

Keep on Keepin on.

Oldie But Goodie: Summer 'Stache

I found this photo of Sparky from last Summer and thought it'd be fun to share it after sharing all of our awesome engagement photos.  I think I took this photo last summer because of the goofy mustache that Sparky grew out and refused to shave for way too long.  This was before the mustache craze hit mainstream and became cool with everyone.

I'm glad those days are over...but they did leave for some good memories.  I'm pretty confident those glasses were a garage sale find as well.

I'll try to get an even more recent pic from this past week's newest trend of Sparky's. 

I love that Sparky...mustache, garage sale sunglasses, and all.

Keep on Keepin on.

Engagement Session: Some Early Faves

Our wedding photographer, Aimee Adams, recently posted a few photos from our engagement on her facebook page.  I'm so thrilled with the photos!  It was so windy, cold, and early when this session took place and it was all worth it!  Her artistic style is so perfect for Sparky and I.  I'm so excited to see what comes together for our January wedding nuptials.  I sure hope it snows!!! 

Aimee says there are about 130 amazing photos total from our super fun e-session.  We should get the rest in about a week.  I will share more of my faves soon after we get them all!

 Keep on Keepin on.

The Dog Days are Over

No!  Not those dogs!  Silly goose you.

Today was not the best day for me.  I arrived home defeated and tired.  But as soon as I listened to Florence and the Machine's "The Dog Days are Over" and I danced around the house with those four little buggers pictured above (with Sparky endearingly and oh so lovingly watching my spaziness)...I felt and continue to feel a gazillion times better. 

So, I'm sharing the change in my mood and hoping it could possibly do the same for another.



Keep on Keepin on.

The Walking Dead: Survival Test

Sparky and I have been addicted to The Walking Dead on the AMC channel since it premiered on October 31st.  Tonight is the season finale and I'm so sad and excited all at once. 

So, Sparky and I went to the website in our addicted state and found the Survival Test.  awesome.  I love anything game related.

Sparky and I both had the same results: The Father Figure

You've got live exprience, and your gentle manner, compassion, and wisdom attracted others making you the nucleus of the group.  That's just fine because you need people as mush as they need you.


You've lost alot (both before the apocalypse and after), and a sense of community helps ease your depression and gives your purpose. 

I never thought I'd be this interested in a zombie show, but I guess you never say never, right?

Keep on Keepin on.

This Years Love

Well, I have 50 minutes left in this day to post a blog.  Since this month's theme is about my mood and life as it is right now, you will probably be getting a lot of posts about music that is representing my moods and life right now.

Sparky and I have been listening to a lot more music lately in preparation for the wedding. Music is already normally quite the fixture in our lives, but it's even more prominant now.  Anytime I hear a song, I try to listen to every word and music note and emotion.  Now, my listening is on steroids.  We just finished watching a random movie on Comedy Central and the movie had a great song during a kissing scene.  It's a song and artist that Sparky and I both knew and loved...but had forgotten.

Now that song is stuck in my head and I have no complaints about it.  It might be wedding worthy somewhere.

Enjoy some David Gray, "This Years Love":



Keep on Keepin on

Pumpkin Muffins

ZEITGEIST. You have 31 days to try to capture the mood of your culture and your life as they exist right now.

Today, I want to capture my mood and life that exists right now with a recipe.

I haven't posted a recipe in a long while, so today seemed perfect as any other day to follow up what's going on with our tummy's.

Work can be a pretty life consuming or life defining aspect of your life.  Many of us spend 40+ hours of our week staring at the same computer, sitting in the same chair, staring at the same people, talking to the same people, saying the same things, blah blah...you get what I mean.  So when you work in a world of cubicle heaven hell, one of the sadly exciting days to look forward to is the day of another co-workers birthday.  Well, at least for me.  I can't speak for everyone else.

I soooooooo look forward to birthdays with the group of peeps that have become so dear to me not only at work, but in my real life.  The people one works with can become either your worst enemy or your life savers.  Luckily for me, I have the latter.

Today is a triple threat b-day.  Every work birthday is an excuse for everyone to break out their baking, culinary, and/or creative skills...a nice break in a monotous world of government contracts.  One friend shared her yummilicious recipe and it is now forever in my mental rolodex.  It is so simple and scrumptious and it would be devious not share.

Pumpkin Muffins
1 box yellow cake mix
1 can pumpkin mush
1/4 cup water
1/2 bag of cinnamon chips (or butterscotch chips or white chocolate chips)
ground cinnamoin (as desired)



Yes, I buy a lot of store brand products if I can't find it organic.  If i'm going to waste my calories and ingredients I might as well do it on a budget.  I'm cheap.  But you know what?  They are scrumptious!



Cinnamon Chips.  These little buggers had me running around ragged. 



Mix cake mix, pumpkin mush and water in a bowl until smooth.  Add ground cinnamon as desired and mix.  Add 1/2 bag of cinnamon chips and mix.  Bake at temperature and time directed on cake box.  DO NOT MAKE CAKE AS INSTRUCTED ON BOX. 



I baked the normal sized muffins at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. 




How delicious does this look??!!



I also made quite a few mini muffins.  These actually turned out great especially for grazing at work.  I baked these for 350 degrees for about 15-20 minutes.  I just kept checking on them.

It is so simple that it feels like you're missing something!  My friend's recipe said to sprinkle the ground cinnamon, but I had a great accident and dumped about a few tablespoons worth of cinnamon in my first batch.  whoops.  THEN, I had the most difficult time finding cinnamon chips around Thankgiving (I went to three different grocery stores!) and ended up settling with butterscotch and white chocolate chips.  They turned out AMAZING...if I do say so myself.  Everyone in Sparky's family was asking for the recipe. 

This has turned out to be Sparky's new favorite snack.  He claims that there is something evil in them...it might be the cinnamon.

So I decided to make some for today's work birthdays and they have been a hit.  I finally found some cinnamon chips during my normal trip to the grocery store right after Thanksgiving.  This time I made a batch with cinnamon and another batch with butterscotch chips.  They are both fabulous.  Sparky prefers the butterscotch. 

Give it a try and don't be afraid to make mistakes or changes.  You never know when it could turn into a beautiful or yummy mistake!

Keep on Keepin on.

"You're a part time lover and a full time friend..."

ZEITGEIST. You have 31 days to try to capture the mood of your culture and your life as they exist right now.

Today, I want to capture my mood and life that exists rigt now with a song.

I'm actually going back a few years, but I know must of you will go, "oh, yeah"  or "awww" or "ohhh" or ..."that's silly".  You'll probably just click off and move on without any thought whatsover.  However you choose to react, I'm in the mood for The Moldy Peaches' "Anyone Else But You" sung by Michael Cera and Ellen Page from the movie Juno.  I just crack up at the thought of Michael Cera in his short yellow running shorts and Ellen Page walking around with the huge bottle of OJ.  Plus, I love the words to the song.

Favorite line at the beginning:  "You're a part time lover and a full time friend..."



Keep on Keepin on.

NaBloPoMo

So, I think I am mentally going to truly attempt a marathon...a blogging marathon...again.

I did my first and only NaBloPoMo blogging marathon two years ago in November.  I took a month long hiatus right afterward.  I have been wanting to attempt another marathon ever since, but my everyday for a month blogging skills are seriously lacking. 

I saw this month's theme on NaBloPoMo today, and I thought, "what the hey..."  Whatever that really means.

The theme you ask?  Zeitgeist

huh?

NaBloPoMo says, "The theme for December is ZEITGEIST. You have 31 days to try to capture the mood of your culture and your life as they exist right now. Use every tool in your blog box: words, photos, music...?"
Let's see if we can learn and indulge this splendid concept together this month. 

P.S.  I predict I will fail this "post everyday for a month" concept...umm....tomorrow.

Keep on Keepin on.

Engagement Photos: Sneak Peak

Sparky and I had our engagement photo session with our photographer Aimee Adams this past Saturday morning at 7:00 in the morning.  Our sunrise session was so fun...and windy.  She sent over a couple of pictures straight out of the camera as a little sneak peak of what is to come.  I'm so excited to see the rest.

 
Keep on Keepin on.

Love in Europe

One of the funnest parts of planning a wedding is...planning a Honeymoon!

I'm so excited to report that Sparky and I just put our deposit down on a romantic trip to Rome and Paris in July.  I know it's a 6 month delay, but I could not let us a plan a trip to France without attempting to be there during the Tour de France for my sweet Sparky!

The Tour de France ends in Paris on July 24th..eh hem...aka my birthday!  So we have triple reason to celebrate that day:  our marriage, the toure, and my b-day!  This will be the most amazing trip/b-day with my new hubby!

I've never been to Italy so I'm so ecstatic to visit this country...AND I have family that lives in Rome.  Summer can't get here any quicker.

 We'll be making a trip to the Vatican museum (which probably makes my mother so very proud and jealous all at the same time)

The Colosseum

and I'll get to re-visit the Eiffel Tower now with my new hubby.



and venture back to the Notre Dame de Paris



me lighting a candle at Notre Dame in March 2008



I'm so excited for pasta, baguettes, history, culture, and of course spandex (cyclists)...and of course Sparky!

Keep on Keepin on.

Picture Wall

I mentioned a while back about the empty wall in our front living room that was to be dedicated to a few of my piddly photographs.  I actually had the photos up shortly after that post but have yet to post about it. 

I had made a random trip to the local Target, probably out of boredom, and stumbled happily upon some picture frames on clearance.  They were wood frames already matted to 8"x10".  I can't remember now, but I'm pretty confident they were discounted to somewhere under $10 each.  Which was great because I was looking for 4 total!  And 4 frames they had.  I also got a 5"x7" frame that matched.

This is the bare wall before (ew)

 And here are some "After" shots.  (I really need to work on my indoor photo skills.)

Each of our dogs are in a row with a photo of Sparky and I in the middle. awwwwww.

View from my "spot" on the sofa.

And if you didn't notice, I went ahead and splurged on two pillows I was stalking at Target.  I was hoping they would go on sale, but they never did.  I gave in...willingly. 

Keep on Keepin on.

Bree's Shower

A few weeks ago, a few friends/co-workers hosted a baby shower for another friend/co-worker over at my humble abode.  I'm super behind in posting pics because I haven't had the time to pretty them up.  The photos I took were seriously lacking.  It was a combination of the bad lighting in my home and my bad bad bad camera skills when it comes to indoors and bad lighting.  But I just need to get over it and share the baby shower love anyway.  AND...since Bree is scheduled to be induced this upcoming Friday (if she doesn't go into labor between now and then...crossing my fingers) I figured it was the perfect time to share.

One of my favorite things for showers are GAMES.  Games are actually one my favorite things ever but for showers they are especially fun.  They are a great way to break the ice and for strangers to interact with one another.  For Bree's shower, I made a memory board game (top left of pic) to play.  We also played "guess that baby food" and the "Don't say baby" games.  Super fun in my opinion.  Plus, it's a good excuse to give prizes to guests for coming.

My living room.  This is where people sat to enjoy their food goodies, play some games, and watch Bree open some gifts. 



Bree is having a little baby boy and his name will be Jaxen.  I cannot take any credit for decorations or anything remotely crafty in all this wonderfullness.  I supplied the home and the other girls took care of the details so well!  The home was adorned with blues, blacks, reds, little "J's", and photos of Jaxen from his ultrasound.

This was the baby tree done by one of the hostesses, Natalie.  So cute. 

 

Food table.  The food consisted of delcious warm turkey sandwhiches, tortilla rolls, chips & dip, "uncircumcised weenies", and cheezes. The centerpiece was a large glass vase filled with blue and black ornaments, sports ornaments, little J's, and photos of Jaxen.



This close-up of the center of the table shoes you the detail that Miriam and Natalie put into the decorations.  How gorgeous is this?!

I so wish I had gotten a better photo of the dessert table.  Natalie, Shelleye, and Miriam did a gorgeous job with the fruit kabobs, cupcakes, and baby food (kick-ass chex mix).

Of course there had to be some OU. 

This is our friend Julianne who just had little Miss Piper six weeks before this photo was taken.  LOVE.

Bree received so many genious and adorable hand-made personal items, like this J.  What's in the box?  The cutest thing ever I tell ya!

Natalie is so super genious and crafty.  Natalie put together this cute cupcake box filled with onesies and other baby items shaped like cupcakes! 

Jaxen will be styling in these skull shoes. 




adorable!

Let's play guess that hand!  Just kidding.  sorta 

Uncircumsized weenies!  or you can just call them croissant wrapped weenies or pig in a blanket.  I thought the festive baby boy reference was fun.


Keep on keepin on.

Our Wedding: The Photographer

The one item Sparky and I agreed to splurge on for the wedding is having an awesome photographer.  Even if everything goes completely wrong on our wedding day, I at least want a great picture of me either crying or laughing if off.  As long as the true memory is there and documented beautifully. 

There are so many wonderful and incredibly talented professional photographers in this world and it was very difficult to decide.  I had searched and searched and contemplated for a while for the perfect photographer for us.  I had been torn and confused for awhile.  Then, magically, a friend e-mailed me the link to a photographer used by another friend.  I instantly fell in love.  It was definitely love at first sight and my decision was made. 

We are still working out the logistics but we will be using Aimee Adams photography aka Lovebirds Artistic Weddings.

We have a fun sunrise engagement session scheduled for next weekend and some goodies for the actual wedding day!  I am so excited and so looking forward to working with Aimee.  You must must check her out!

Keep on Keepin on.

We Must Be Crazy

So after pondering, thinking, eating chocolate, discussing, contemplating, eating chocolate, and having internal battles...Sparky and I changed up everything about our little wedding.

Instead of a September 10, 2011 wedding day, we decided to be even more uncoventional and purposely move up our wedding to January 22, 2011.  Two months from now.  I know we must be crazy.

We had talked about it before and flirted with the idea, but we kept convincing ourseves that it was either going to be bad weather, really cold, short notice, and just a plain bad idea.  Even with all the cons, we knew in our hearts that it was totally for us.  Here's why:

We just want to be married.  We don't want to wait.
We hadn't planned on having a huge extravagent wedding anyway.  We have the perfect venue at our house so the date was up to us.
We seriously LOVE the song January Wedding by The Avett Brothers.
I'm incredibly impatient once I make up my mind.  (The problem is getting myself to make up my mind.)
This would prevent us from eloping or just going to the courthouse which would have probably upset some important people.
We like a challenge.
I think Winter is beautiful.  I'm kinda hoping that it snows.  I think it's romantic.
Most people have a Spring or Summer wedding.  Some have Autumn.  Winter weddings are so rare.
We want to keep it as simple as possible.
The less time I have to spend money is better for the budget.
Did I mention that we just want to be married?

Here are some inspirations that have made me love this new decision:

Let's see if we can pull off a small, intimate, casual and romantic wedding in two months and within budget. 

Keep on Keepin on.