Weekend Recap

So as you may already know, I've been out of town since Dec 20th visiting my fiances parents before Christmas, then my family on Christmas and then his family came to visit us where we live after Christmas.  It's been a busy ten days!  So I am linking up with Dateless in Dallas for a weekend recap (or in my case week recap!) linkup!

December 20-24

 

On Christmas Eve my fiance and I took his little brother to breakfast before opening gifts.

 We celebrated Christmas Eve with the fiances parents, his two brothers, and grandparents before we headed back home.  It was so wonderful to spend time with everyone. We had a delicious turkey and ham dinner with fruit salad, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and delicious dinner rolls.  I received a dachshund necklace (so cute!), PJS, many gift cards, the pups got some new bowls, and toys, and we both received cooling pillows! 

Which by the way are amazing!

After dinner we started heading home to my parents house.  We stayed overnight so we could wake up early on Christmas.  I am so happy to spend time with all my family and loved ones! For Christmas I received an ipad, ipad case, Michael Kors watch, Michael Kors slippers, $1k.  My parents gave us 3 canvas prints of our engagement photos.  They turned out so beautifully and I can't wait to hang them up!

 

It was 81 degrees on Christmas day!

 

The day after Christmas, the fiances parents took us all to Dave and Busters for games and dinner!  Then , the day after my fiances little brother had a baseball camp and we went to watch his game after camp ended.  After the camp, his parents took us all to Knott's Berry Farm for some rides and fun!  We were so exhausted by the end of the day we passed out as soon as we got home!

Then on Sunday evening one of my best friends from High School got married to her best friend.  It was such a beautiful wedding and the weather couldn't have been better!

How did you spend your weekend? I'm linking up with Dateless in Dallas for a Weekend Recap!  The only rules are:

1. It must be about your weekend
2. Provide both of our links (Showered With Design and Dateless in Dallas )
3. Include our button at the bottom of your post!

<center> <a href="http://www.showeredwithdesign.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" title="Weekend Recap"><img border="0" src="http://i1317.photobucket.com/albums/t640/lisanmcdermott/weekendrecap_zps495d0cdc.png" alt="WR" /></a></center> <br /> <br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://i1173.photobucket.com/albums/r593/janalynne528/SHOWEREDpostsignature_zps21a14d54.png~original" /></span></div> </div>

also Linking up with Life of Meg

Guest Post - Party Decor & Dishes

Hi there! I’m Emily from over at Martinis & Bikinis and I'll be entertaining for the awesome Lisa today while she travels for the Holidays. Over on my blog, I talk about anything from shopping, traveling, party planning, cocktails and my daily adventures in the Sunshine State.
If there's one thing I love to do is throw a good party, and since
Christmas is finally upon on us, I thought I'd share some fun ideas for
festive decorations and dishes for the holidays.

Holiday party decorating ideas:

Snowman place setting

Candy cane name tags 

Candy & Hot Cocoa Table

Festive Holiday Appetizers:

Fruit Tree via this site

Snowman Cheese Ball from Betty Crocker

Chile and Cheese Spirals from this site

Festive Spinach & Red Pepper Dip made by yours truly ;-)

Desserts:

Rudolph Sugar Cookies

Candy Cane Dip from this site

Hope I didn't make you too hungry with all these festive and delicious food ideas!



Enjoy and Happy Holidays everyone!
- Emily @ Martinis & Bikinis

Guest Post - New Years Resolutions

Good Morning, Y'all! I'm Melissa and I blog over at Simply Sweet Melissa :) 

I'm so excited to be guest posting today for Lisa (who I deem to be the cutest thing ever) while she is away enjoying a much deserved holiday vacation! Because Christmas is only a few days away, I thought it would be a great idea to share a few of my New Year's Resolutions! Every year I tell myself that I will follow through with the resolutions that I come up with, but in all seriousness, I've never stuck with them. But this year will be different! This year, the boyfriend and I plan to come up with a list that we will combine and put up somewhere in our condo so that we can see see it everyday and be held accountable by each other. Some things on the list will be sentimental, others practical and personal. 

And I know coming up with New Year's Resolutions isn't for everyone, and it's certainly not mandatory to do, but it will be fun to see what all we can accomplish in 2014 if we can just stick.with.it! OH! And be sure to check out my blog on NYE for our complete list! Enjoy...

1. Join a Gym

via

2. Never go to sleep in a bad mood or without saying "I Love You" first.

 

3. Have quite time reading the Bible or some sort of devotional daily

 

4. Attend a Blog Conference of some sort

5. Cherish and appreciate the friendships I have

 

6. Go on more spontaneous dates with Will

7. Learn to cook and make dinner at least three times a week

8. Spend more time with both Will's family and mine

9. Read one new book each month

10. Prepare and enjoy all of the seasons leading up to becoming a Mackvick ;)

 

 

Thank you so much Melissa for guest posting while I am away! I'll be back in town later this evening, but will be way to tired to write or even think about posting! haha! Plus Christmas is tomorrow! Enjoy your time with family and friends! xoxo 

Oh! And Don't forget to write about your Weekend Recap here.

200 Days Till Our Wedding & Weekend Recap

Today marks 200 days until we get married.  When we started we had 618 days to countdown.  That is seriously so insane to think about.  Luckily we really got the ball rolling on planning and are pretty much done.  All we have left are a few minor details really.

This is what we have checked off the list so far:

✔ Coordinator
✔ Dress ordered ( I received Nov 9!!) just need to try on and take for alterations
✔ Venue
✔ Flowers
✔ Registered
✔ Ring bearer pillow / flower basket  (Etsy)
✔ sand ceremony set
✔ Hair stylist
✔ Officiant
✔ Honeymoon booked  (need flight)
✔ Photographer / engagement photos
✔ Invitations (ordered !)
✔ DJ / lighting
✔ Photobooth
✔ Guestlist finalization
✔ Bachelorette booked
✔ Ordered Save the Dates and Sent out (Dec 3rd)
✔ Bridesmaids need to get dresses altered.
✔ Ordered veil, need to pick up (This week!)

Still need:
❑ order/send invitations (may/june)
❑ cake taste
❑ Dress alterations
❑ Jewelry / shoes
❑ Look for wedding bands
❑ Flight for Honeymoon

❑ Groomsman attire
❑ Flower girl attire/ring bearer
❑ Garter
❑ Menu Tasting (heck yes!!) (March)
❑ find Makeup artist (already had bad experience with one)
❑ need to make gifts for bridesmaids/groomsman
❑ Wedding license (May/June)
❑ plan Rehearsal/ dinner
❑ Finish card box

Phew!  So many things, but now it's just the final details! I couldn't be happier! 

Wedding planning sure is fun, but man it stresses me out at times!

 I'm just trying to enjoy it and cherish the moment!

This weekend was spent at my fiance's parents up North.  They live about five hours away from us.  I'll go more in depth when I return home (I'm still here till the 24th!)  
It is so much colder here than by us, although it is California and I bet a lot of you with snow are rolling your eyes at me.  I'm sorry! I don't do well in the cold! I've never really been around it!  40 degrees is cold enough for me!  Gosh I am such a wuss!  
Anyways, I'm linking up with Dateless in Dallas for  a Weekend Recap!  
Would love for you to share your weekend stories!

Only a few rules pretty please:
1. It must be about your weekend
2. Provide both of our links ( Dateless in Dallas & Showered With Design)
3. Include our button under your post!

<center><a href="http://www.showeredwithdesign.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" title="Weekend Recap"><img border="0" src="http://i1317.photobucket.com/albums/t640/lisanmcdermott/weekendrecap_zps495d0cdc.png" alt="Jacq's Blogger Tips" /></a></center><br />     P.S. Hope you all have a great Holiday! 

Guest Post From Sara

Hey everyone! I hope you are all set for Christmas!  If you need a last minute recipe, Sara from Life as a Hughes is kind enough to share one of her recipes for all my readers.  She is such a sweetheart!  And let me tell you, this oreo cheesecake is to die for!  
You don't wanna miss out!  Take it away Sara!

Oreo Cheesecake - pie or cupcakes

What you will need:

1 9-inch pie pan or cupcake pan (if making cupcakes you will need papers as well)

1 package OREO Cookies

2 packages (8 oz. each) Cream Cheese, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

2 eggs

When baking it is best to use everything at room temperature or as close as possible.  I usually pull the cold items out of the fridge in the morning and start baking an hour later once they have had time to "warm" up on the counter.

Directions: (for the pie, cupcake difference will be noted at the bottom)

1.  Heat oven to 350 degrees

2.  Chop your entire package of Oreos up.  Half will be for the crust and half will be for the filling.  For the crust you will want to put them in a food processor or chopper to make them into crumbs.  I made my entire package into crumbs because it adds more color to the end result.

3.  Take the half that you just made into crumbs and line your pie pan.  You will need to press them down firmly using the bottom of a glass or something similar.  The cream from the centers will hold it together enough once you have done this.

4.  In large bowl beat together the cream cheese and sugar.  Add sour cream and vanilla.  Once these are all mixed well together add the eggs, 1 at a time. 

5.  Stir in the remaining half of your Oreo cookies.  Make sure to get all the way to the bottom of your bowl so you don't end up with white patches :)

6.  Pour into Oreo crust.

7.  Bake for 20 minutes or until center is almost set.

8.  Place in refrigerator for 3 hours and then enjoy! :)

To make these into cupcakes you would only crumb/chop half the bag of Oreos for the center.  With the whole oreos you will place those in the cupcake liners as the "crust".  You will follow the rest of the recipe and cook for the same amount of time.

I hope you have enjoyed this little recipe of mine.  It is super easy and tastes delicious!!!  It is definitely hubby approved!  Happy Holidays!

Thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe Sara!  This is a must this Christmas! Now I just have to convince my mom that we need to make this, shouldn't be hard to do!

Have a very Merry Christmas everyone!  xox