All the little details

Since we were throwing a budget affair, I tried to incorporate as many little details as I could, without losing sight of what "really mattered". We incorporated touches of brown and aqua as well as sand dollars throughout the day. We had two different center pieces...sand trays (which we stained) with pictures, sand dollars and candles on brown runners and aqua candle lanterns with river rocks and a picture on the aqua runners. We made runners out of an aqua and brown print for the head table, cake table and guestbook table. One of my favorite details was our guest book. We used a coffee table book that was full of beautiful beach pictures. I think it is something that we can set out for years to come...and we got lots of compliments.

I wrapped the unity candles in leftover ribbon and ended up attaching a monogram from the invites at the last minute.

Kitchen Happenings

I have been very busy in the kitchen this summer...I take my wifely duties very seriously!! We will see how long it lasts when I start having to go to work everyday. I have discovered that I actually enjoy cooking when I have a plan and try new things!! So I have been scouring the internet, cookbooks and old magazines for recipes and making a weekly meal plan. So far in July I have tried 12 new recipes and we haven't had the same meal twice! (Aside from Turkey Burgers...a Saturday tradition)

Here's last weeks plan: M- Dinner w/Friends, T-Asian BBQ Chicken, W- Almond Crusted Tilapia, Th-Breakfast, F- Lime Ranch Chicken

And this week: S- Garlic Grilled Salmon, M- Glazed Salmon & Broccoli Rice, T-Honey chicken skewers & corn, W-Dinner w/Family, Th- Turkey Spaghetti, F- Quesadillas, S- Turkey Burgers

I have also been flexing my baking muscles...

snickerdoodle cupcakes- delish

s'more cookies- not bad

I also made strawberry shortcakes that were really good...so good I didn't manage to get a picture!!

Wedding Recap- Ceremony

Just a couple of pics from the ceremony. 

Wedding Recap- First Look

It is hard to believe that the wedding has come and gone...it feels like just yesterday Chad was proposing on the beach in OR. I have had fleeting moments of post-wedding blues...and even more moments of post-honeymoon blues. I am taking on the challenge of deciding on photos...luckily we get the rights to the photos so it isn't as tough as it could be. Today I am going to share with you our first look photos. We took pictures before the ceremony so Chad and I shared our first moment together on our wedding day in the sanctuary....just like the rest of the day it was a blurr! All photos by Kevin L. Brown.

Meal Plan Monday- Delayed

I have started to take time Sunday to plan out meals for the entire week. It has really made things a lot easier...it has taken away the 4:30 what-the-heck is for dinner anxiety and eliminated the need to go to the grocery store daily. Plus I am trying a lot of new recipes, because I am planning ahead. I have decided to share my weekly plan with y'all...if you want a recipe just ask.

S- Ginger Chicken & Brown Rice

M- Salmon Burgers & Broccoli

T- Taco salad w/ cilantro lime dressing

W- BBQ pulled chicken sandwiches- crockpot

Th- Turkey Meatballs & Asparagus

F- Crockpot chicken tacos

S- Turkey burgers*

S- Asian BBQ Chicken

Recipe Review

This is a recipe that I found in oxygen magazine(something I LOVE). It called for something called arrowroot powder. Arrowroot powder?? I had no idea what the heck arrowroot powder was, but I figured I could find it...no luck. After googling it I discovered it is a thickening agent much like cornstarch...but I didn't find it, so I didn't have it...so I made my own version of Ginger Chicken...and I liked it. Whew...I was a little nervous. So here is the Glacier-Eyed Girl Version of the recipe.

Ginger Chicken

12 oz. Boneless/skinless chicken breast

1/2 tsp olive oil

1 tsp minced garlic

1 tbsp chopped fresh ginger

1 med onion- sliced

1 pepper (red or green)- cut into strips

3 c broccoli florets

1 can low sodium chicken broth

3-4 tbsp low sodium soy sauce

2 c brown rice-cook according to directions (DUH)

Directions: Saute chicken in olive oil on med. heat until cooked through. Add garlic/ginger. Add remaining ingredients and bring to boil until vegetables are tender.

Serve over rice

(I added more soy sauce and chicken broth because I wasn't using the arrowroot.)

Things I heart: Personalized Wedding Gift

I have to say I got one of the best wedding gifts EVER....and it wasn't on my registry! I have a soft spot for anything personalized, crafty and creative. Leave it to my Aunt Sarah to come up with the most creative cookbook. (She is an artist, so she has an advantage...) 

So here it is: She took manila envelopes, cut off the closed end and "stapled" the in the middle to create a book with pockets. Then she went to town decorating it in her quirky, fun style. 

Here are the pockets...complete with her fav. recipes

Each pocket is a different section w/ correlating quotes

The front of the book...total scrapbook meets collage. It ties on the side with a ribbon.

I heart this cookbook!!!

 & I heart my beautiful, true-to-herself, genuine, fun-loving, spirit-filled Aunt Sarah (Fetus)

Puppy Parenthood

Kona- our little lady
Kai- our little guy
I have never in my life owned a dog...I had a hamster once, oh and a fish...but never a dog. After I meet my Chad I began to warm up to the idea of a dog. For a while now we have been talking about and looking forward to getting a dog. About 3 weeks after we returned from HI we adopted not one, but TWO 3 month old lab mixes from a local shelter. They are too cute, but I had no idea how much work they would be...Here are the top ten things I didn't know 2 weeks ago:

10. Puppies are like children...they consume your life! Potty training, walking 3x a day, feeding...

9. That I would start my day at 6:30 with a pooper scooper in hand.

8. On that note...I had no idea that I would be the sole poop picker-upper...my husband has yet to pick any of their little presents up.

7.  Walking two rowdy pups is really a two person job.

6. That puppies like to play rough...biting, barking and giving each other bald patches.

5. That I would eagerly await my husband's return home- so I can finally shower!

4. That they do NOT sleep through the night.

3. That it would completely end the "honeymoon" stage of marriage.

2. That I would spend the day dreaming of electric fences and the school year starting.

1. That I would fall in love with these two strange creatures...and although it is difficult, wouldn't want to change a thing.

Could I...

be this brave? I love this look. It is sooo chic, but I am not sure that I can pull it off. I am really considering it though...

DIY Bridal Portraits

Well the wedding and honeymoon have long pasted and it is about time I start recapping!!! For starters my bridal portraits. The budget was tight, and bridal portraits were one of those extras that got cut. Lucky for me I have a very talented best friend that agreed to shoot some pics of me. I really wanted some artsy shots so the week before the "shoot" I stripped and painted an old chair aqua blue....I love how they turned out.

(click to enlarge)
I made some adjustments the day of to my hair and make-up...this look felt too formal, not "me".