A Weekend Wedding

This last weekend we made a quick trip to Utah for my nephew’s wedding.  As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, we boarded the plane in 60 degree weather and got off two hours later to 95 degree weather.  Thank goodness for that dry Utah heat.  Makes it so much more bearable.

I thought it would be fun to share with you a few of the photos I took over the weekend from the wedding.

The wedding took place in the beautiful Mt. Timpanogos Temple.

The bride and groom were radiant.

The attendants were all in different “variations on a theme.”  The bride wanted a vintage/shabby chic feel to her wedding and I think she did a great job.  The attendants looked darling in their vintage inspired attire and I loved the cowboy boots that some of them wore.

While we waited for the bride and groom to come out it was fun to visit with family and see all our cute nieces and nephews.

Hard to believe that in less than two months we’ll be celebrating the wedding of my boy. Can’t wait!

The reception was held in the bride’s backyard that evening.  They had a large white tent to help provide shade on the hot 100 degree day!

There was a lot of fun attention to detail which I love and appreciate so much.  I was loving this yellow, rod iron table and was wishing I had room to take it home in my suitcase.

I loved the chandelier hanging from the middle of the tent.

As we entered the yard we were invited to have our photo taken at the cute photo booth. Was also wishing I could take the sofa home with me. Think I need to find me one of these. The best part of this picture is that all my children are in it!

There was a lot of fun attention to detail at the reception which I love and appreciate so much.  I was loving this yellow, rod iron table and was wishing I had room to take it home in my suitcase.

The bride is a horse lover and has her own horse so it was fun to see some of her bridals that were taken with her horse.

Also loved the sweet sign at the entrance.

The food was simple but so pretty.  There were strawberries and creme and pretty sugar cookies and cupcakes.


There were pretty flowers as well as a beautiful wedding cake.
‘There was a fun area set of for the gifts and I am loving the wedding date pillow.

Two of my favorite people – my brother in law David and sister in law Tricia.  Also the mother and father of the groom!

And of course the darling bride and groom.  Congratulations Ryan and Sophia! So glad we could be there to share your special day with you.  I still remember the day Ryan was born and we visited him the hospital.  Hard to believe he is now a married man!!

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Blogher Food – Seattle

This last weekend I had the opportunity to attend Blogher Food 2012 in Seattle Washington thanks to Johnsonville  who sent me on this little trip.

I had never attended Blogher Food before so was excited to experience it for the first time.  I was prepared to be overwhelmed and to learn alot.

The conference was held at the beautiful Fairmont Hotel in downtown Seattle.  I had a beautiful room all to myself the first night until Jim and Tessa drove up for the weekend to join me.  There’s nothing better than a soft, fluffy spa robe!

My first night there I attended a private party sponsored by Johnsonville and I was excited to meet two of my favorite bloggers.  In fact, they were two of the first blogs I ever visited.  Jenny from Picky Palate is so sweet and just as darling as can be!  She has some of the yummiest recipes on her site.  Be sure and pay her a visit if you haven’t already.  The other blogger I was excited to meet was Amanda from Kevin and Amanda.  Amanda has lots of yummy recipes too and she has amazing photography!  Her photos from her recent trip to Italy are out of this world!!

Of course at a food blogger conference there is going to be a lot of amazing food.  In fact, the weekend was pretty much all about the food!!  The Fairmont did an amazing job with the presentation of all the meals.  I am totally loving the bagel holder!

The most intriguing presentation of the weekend was the DYI potato salad!  It took me a while to figure out what it was.  I also loved, loved, loved how they put the cones of candy into brown sugar!

We took advantage of being in Seattle and went to a Mariner’s game, in fact my husband went to two.  One night with Tessa and the next night with me.  Jim and Tessa were lucky enough to be present for the history making game the Mariner’s played against the Dodgers on Friday night.  I wasn’t so lucky – the Mariners lost big time the night I was there.  I think I must be some kind of jinx or something as they always seem to lose when I am in attendance!  It wouldn’t be a Mariner’s game for me though without some Dippin’ Dots.

It is also Wilkes family tradition that we enjoy dinner on the pier at Ivar’s before we go to a Mariner’s game.  Feeding the seagulls french fries is another tradition.  For some reason they weren’t very hungry that night and Jim had to work hard to get one to eat out of his hand!

Of course there a couple of visits to Pike Place Market.  What would a visit to Seattle be without that.  My favorite things is all the flowers.  Two of my favorites were blooming – sweet peas and peonies

I paid a visit to my favorite French bakery at the market – Le Panier and picked up some macaroons.

We had the chance to eat at a few of our other favorite Seattle places – CJ’s for breakfast and their amazing french toast, dinner after the game at Wild Ginger and then some ice cream at Molly Moons.

It really was all about the food this weekend! We visited a lot of old favorites and checked out  a few new spots, once of which was Serious Pie.  There was a bit of a wait but it was totally worth it.  The pizza was delicious.  I hear they have a Serious Biscuit too which we will have to check out next time!

Before we left town we had to make a stop at another Seattle food landmark – Top Pot Doughnuts.  We bought a fun assortment of flavors but I think my favorite was the raspberry old fashioned!

We also did a ton of walking so I am hoping that is going to negate the extra calories I consumed this week!  Cross Fit here I come!!

In addition to all the eating, I did attend some great sessions where I learned a lot and am anxious to apply what I used to the blog.  Thanks to all the wonderful bloggers I met who took the time to talk with me and give me lots of great blogging tips!

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Birthday Party Hat Tutorial

Several weeks ago I was asked to decorate a table for a birthday party at church for the women’s organization.

I decided that some fun and pretty birthday hats would be the perfect thing.  I also decided that no birthday table is complete with out cake.  So I used both.

Creating your own birthday party hats is easy with this tutorial

Today I have a Birthday Party Hat Tutorial for you.

I pulled an assortment of fun colored scrapbook paper out of my collection – pinks, blues, greens and yellows made a fun combination.  I also grabbed some crepe paper streamers and some rick rack I had in my craft room.

I first made some party hats.  I made a template out of some light weight cardboard.  I measured down ten inches on two sides and then connected those points with a curved line.  I just used a plate to get a nice even rounded line.

I traced the shape onto the back of my 12 x 12 scrapbook paper and cut out the hat.  Using some Zig Glue I glued along the straight edge and shaped the hat and glued the edges together.

The next part was the fun part – embellishing and decorating the hats.

I used left over paper to make some paper rosettes.  Directions or paper rosettes can be found here.

I had fun mixing and matching the papers for some fun color combinations.

I used some cake plates in the middle of the table to put the hats on and give them some height.

I used crepe paper streamers to create ruffles and rosettes to decorate the hats with.

All you need is some crepe paper and a needle and thread.  To make a ruffle just run a line of stitching down the middle of the streamer and them pull on your thread to gather it up.  Do it whatever length you need to go around the bottom of the hat. I used hot glue to attach the ruffle and other trimmings to the party hats.

To make a crepe paper rosette I ran the stitching line along one edge of the streamer and then gathered it in.  I cut the streamer 20 inches long.  After you gather it up take a few stitches to close it up.

I created a fun little crepe paper tassle for a few of the hats.  Just fold over about 3 inches of streamer over and over again – about 10 times.

Make slits on both of the folded sides.  Leave about 1/4 inch of unclipped streamer in the middle.  Smoosh it together in the middle and put a few stitches through the middle to hold it together.  Gently pull out the loops and fluff.  You can either hot glue or stitch it to the top of the hat.

Then of course I had to add cake.

I made 3 little mini cakes using my 4 inch and 6 inch cake pans.

I made some little cake flags using toothpicks and washi tape.

Think it turned out pretty darn cute if I do say so myself! If you have a special birthday or other celebration coming up that you’d like to include family and friends that live far away, don’t forget about hosting a Virtual Celebration.  Such a fun way to invite everyone to the party!

Happy Birthday!

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Banana Oatmeal Cookies with White Chocolate and Nutella

Super Yummy!

Those are the words my daughter used to describe these cookies.

I had 3 very ripe bananas on my counter and I wasn’t in the mood for my go to ripe banana recipe – The Best Banana Bread.  I thought about Banana Bars or Banana Cupcakes but none of those really did it for me.  I decided a banana cookie was in order.  A Super Yummy banana cookie.

Banana cookies combined with oatmeal, white chocolate and Nutella is near profection

I wanted a nice moist cookie but I didn’t want it to be too cake like.  I used 3 ripe bananas and oatmeal.  It gave it just the right  texture.

I also used cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice for seasoning.  Yum!

The crowning touch was the addition of white chocolate chips and a drizzle of nutella on top (thanks Lizzy for the nutella suggestion!)

Pretty much perfection for a banana cookie!

Be sure and push down on the cookies a bit before you bake them.

After the cookies cool drizzle them with the nutella.  I warmed the nutella up in the microwave until it was thin enough to drizzle with. Be sure to stir it well to get it drizzling consistency.  I put it into a plastic baggie and snipped off the corner and drizzled

So if you need to incorporate more fruits into your diet may I suggest Banana Oatmeal Cookies with White Chocolate and Nutella!?

AuthorLeigh Anne Wilkes

Ingredients

• 1/2 C shortening
• 1/2 C granulated sugar
• 1/2 C brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 3 mashed ripe bananas
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 C flour
• 3 C rolled old fashioned oats
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 2 C white chocolate chips
• 1/2 C Nutella melted

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• In a bowl cream together the shortening and the sugars.
• Beat in egg, vanilla and mashed banana.
• Mix in flour, baking soda, salt, spices and oats.
• Stir in white chocolate chips.
• Drop by spoonful onto baking sheet. Push down with your fingers or the back of a spoon.
• Dough is sticky.
• Bake for 8-10 minutes. Place melted Nutella into a plastic bag and snip off the corner to drizzle with.
• Cool on rack and then drizzle with Nutella.

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