Saturday, December 21, 2013

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

Friday, December 20, 2013

Guest Post by Kimberly from Big Hair High Heels



I am so very excited to have Kimberly from Big Hair High Heels as my very first guest blogger here today! You can read my guest post on her blog about my Christmas Wishlist here. Kimberly is incredibly sweet and has an amazing sense of style!  She's going to be sharing her favorite Holiday outfit trends.  This girl is so trendy, I may need to take her shopping with me!   Take it away Kimberly!


Merry Christmas everyone! My name is Kimberly and I write the fashion/beauty 
blog Big Hair High Heels. Isn't Christmas the best?! Family, friends, parties, food, gifts, ... and of course fashion. I love everything about fashion, but mostly I love that it is ever changing. It's so fun to keep up with what is trending for the seasons.  Holiday fashion is better than ever this year, mixing color, patterns and textures for fun looks.
I have incorporated all of these trends into my top 3 favorite holiday fashions.
Take a look..

Tartan+Fur


Let's start with something casual. This look would be great for a little bit of last minute Christmas shopping or lunch with the ladies. I love tartan this season, it just screams Christmas. Layered with denim and fur makes for a fun, toned down look with just a punch of Christmas fun! 

Leopard + (Faux) Leather

Who would have thought that these two very extreme fashions would be "in" at the same time?! Paired together, this makes a great outfit choice for a semi-casual Christmas party.
Leopard made it through the fall and doesn't seem to be making any near exit for winter. Plus, everyone needs an excuse to wear leather pants. If it seems a little too extreme for you, just opt for leggings with accents of faux leather instead.

Blush + Burgundy

I could not be more thrilled that these two pinkish tones are super hot this winter! They pair together perfectly. Since staying in the same color scheme, I chose to play with textures to add a bit more dimension.  A sequin top, fur collar, and fun tights makes this festive outfit very appropriate for a dressy Christmas party.
 
I just love this time of year! Fashion this season is fierce...so don't be afraid to step out of the box a bit.   You can check out lots of fun fashion ideas, holiday makeup looks, and even toddler fashion here.  Also, If you would like to know where to find any of the items above, make sure to check out my blog for all the details.

Thanks so much Lisa for letting me share a little Christmas fashion with your readers! I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!

-Kimberly @ Big Hair High Heels
 


Thanks so much Kimberly for sharing your amazing Holiday Fashion! I absolutely adore your leopard and faux leather leggins outfit!  Anything leopard and you've got me hooked!  So fabulous!  Anyways readers, if you have not already, be sure to check out Big Hair High Heels, she really has the best taste in fashion!

xo

Also, I'm pairing up with Dateless in Dallas for a Weekend Recap!  
Would love for you to be a part of it! Starting Monday!


Weekend Recap




Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Engagement Photos {2}

Linking up this Wednesday to share my other set of engagement photos! If you missed last weeks first set and my terrible experience, you can catch up here.  This time around, we had a much better experience.

My talented friend Jewel from Airbrushed Brides creatively did my airbrush makeup and my hair.  She did a fantastic job and I recommend you book her if you live in the OC area!

Ok enough about me blabbing (You can tell I am so much happier about these photos and my experience than I was with my first set)  
Here are some of my favorites from our outdoor shoot!


Ok, I had to add this, because I think it's hilarious.  It reminds me of "American Gothic," the famous painting of the farm couple and a pitchfork.


P.S Thank you all so much for helping me reach 100+ followers! 
You are all so amazing and I am so grateful!

NC Belle in Boots

Also, I'm blogging over at Big Hair High Heels today sharing my Christmas Wishlist, 
check it out here.

If you aren't already following my Etsy shops Instagram account for more wedding inspiration/ideas, you totally should! (And tell me you are stopping by from the blog!) 
I sell aisle runners, engagement mugs, glitter dipped items, ring dishes and more! 
(P.S. I also share giveaways and exclusive coupon codes in my Facebook Group too!) 

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

CrockPot Lasagna


I love when I get the chance to cook a home-cooked meal for my fiance and I.  Although some days I really don't have all the time in the world, especially now during the Holiday Season.  I try to come up with new ideas and quick, healthy options for dinners during the week.  It's boring to eat the same thing every day, right?  Here is a quick and easy recipe, that my fiance absolutely loved so much (He's pretty picky) he even went for a second helping!







 



Monday, December 16, 2013

Weekend Recap



Hey loves!  Hope you all had a fantastic weekend! Here's my little weekend recap, and feel free to link up, grab my button, and share your weekend stories!  It's a great way to meet new friends and blog-buddies!

Friday:  The fiance had his work Christmas get together.  We enjoyed lasagna, homemade sangria, veggie dips and all the good stuff!  
It was such a fun night to share with such great people. 
I even met a few new friends!  
It's always great to have new people and inspiration in your life.

Saturday:  I went to a nice lunch with my mom, and we went to Hobby Lobby to buy more supplies to finish my Wedding Card Box. ( I'm making it myself! I'll share photos when it's complete!)   I decided to wrap all my Christmas gifts while I was at my parents house, so I could use their wrapping paper!  Don't judge me!  After the fiance got home from his games (He coaches travel baseball for 10-14 yr olds!) we watched Christmas movies and enjoyed our night in, which is very rare in our household!

Here's my sweet fur pup laying over my gifts that I was about to wrap!

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Sunday: On Sunday we woke up and went to breakfast together (we never get to!) The weather here in So Cal was beautiful, but 81 degrees for mid December is a little ridiculous don't you think?  When B headed to his baseball games, I was pretty lazy doing laundry, and packing for my trip the upcoming week around the house (I like to get a head start on packing, I'm weird).  After his games, we went to a nice steak dinner.

Overall we had a pretty laid back weekend compared to some.
How did you spend your weekend?

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 I just had to share a photo of the sky last weekend- it was so pretty not to!






Showered With Design




Thursday, December 12, 2013

His and Hers Holiday Gift Guide

His & Hers

Aqua Di Gio  -  BBQ Tools Womens SlippersWomens Purse - Michael Kors Watch


When it comes to gift giving, I always try to come up with the best ideas.  My favorite gifts are personalized and well thought out, however when you are running out of time to purchase the perfect gift and need some ideas quickly, this list does the trick! I've compiled a list of ideas for both men and women.  I know at times it's difficult to decide what to get someone of the opposite sex.  So here's some inspiration that might spark some other great ideas!  

What are some of your favorite Holiday Gift ideas?

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Engagement Photos {1}

We had an interesting experience with our "first" professional photo shoot.  It all started one rainy Wednesday morning, I had woken up to shower and head over to get my makeup and hair professionally done.  Let's just say, I had a horrible experience.   MY makeup looked awful, and my hair practically fell out because it was raining outside. (Of course it was the ONLY day it rained that week..figures)  

You can take a look  at my awful makeup here.  (If you promise not to laugh)

 After my makeup and hair were done, I head home to quickly fix my horrific makeup and pick up my fiance so we could head to what was supposed to be our "outdoor" shoot.  Things didn't turn out as expected because of the rain, and my photographer called to tell me we have to do the photo shoot indoors.  My heart dropped.  All of this planning, all my visions of the perfect photo shoot were gone.
I began to freak out.  I even cried a little, but since I hated my makeup I no longer cared.   He told me the studio in which we were to shoot was full until later that day which means we had to wait Longer.  It really felt like a day of waiting around.

Finally when it was time to head to the studio, the waiting didn't end here.  We arrived with no sign of our photographer.  He called ten minutes later and his wife had gotten in an accident and he had to pick her up and take her home.   Not to mention the traffic was horrific because no one knows how to drive in the rain.  Luckily she was ok, and everyone was safe.  So we waited some more, and thankfully he showed up safely and we began taking our photos.  Here are a few photos from our first photo shoot:

 Also linking up with Belle In Boots.

NC Belle in Boots


 

Friday, December 6, 2013

The Easiest Crockpot Pot Roast

Do you ever feel like you have little to no time to plan dinners throughout the workweek?  Its understandable that life gets busy, but there's no excuse to have your diet fall behind in second.  My all-time favorite meals (especially in winter)  are made with a crockpot.  If you don't have one, you really should invest in one.  They have made my life so much easier on so many levels.  I usually prep all the veggies the night before and have them in a bowl ready to be thrown in the crock 5-10 minutes before I head to work.  The best part?  I get home from work and all I have to do is eat my wonderfully made dinner.  I can kick back, relax, and enjoy quality time with my fiance and our fur babies.