2 Cakes and a Wedding

Y'all.  Last week was insane.  I had two cakes due.  Two.  Throw in an infant and you have a very full week.  Did I mention we were also going out of town for a wedding over the weekend?  Yeah.  Insert major stress.

But it's over!  Wait.  I have to make 300+ cookies for an event this Friday you say?  Oh yeah.

Let's skip that right now, okay?  

The first cake I made was for a former co-worker of mine.  Her son was having his first birthday over the weekend and they were doing a New York themed party.  Her husband works in New York during the week and then comes home on weekends so they are in the city quite a bit visiting.  Here's what we came up with.

 

My next cake was a groom's cake for one of my roomies from college.  It was a surprise for her husband so I was determined to rock it out on this one.  She didn't want it too big as her wedding cake was enormous so we decided on a tool box for her handy man.

This was the set up at the wedding.  If you can't tell, the cake board for her wedding cake is a log.  Isn't that the coolest touch ever?  They had the reception in some middle of nowhere town surrounded by cornfields and it was so gorgeous and so her.  

Forgive me for not getting many pictures.  Someone was being little miss fussy pants as it was way past Natalie's bed time.  But I did get a few of her and her pops at the wedding.

So excited to be there....

After we ate and raided the candy buffet at the reception we were outta there.  Funny how weddings with a baby are so different.  No drinking, no dancing, just surviving.  Good thing she's cute, huh?  

We did get a change to snuggle 3 month old twins of a friend during dinner which was uber fun and totally gave me the baby fever.  But then Natalie started fussing and the thought of having to deal with two on my own closed my uterus back up in a jiffy.

Our Very First Canvas + Discount!

A long, long time ago, sweet Melissa from Easy Canvas Prints offered to send me one of their canvases.  I jumped at the chance seeing as I have been wanting to print several canvases and was anxious to see how their product turned out compared to others I have been investigating.  

I decided to print out one of our wedding pictures for the mantle.  It may or may not be the only wedding picture I have yet to print.  Perhaps we were married almost 4 years ago.  Hm.  Should probably get on that one.  Plus, I wanted to wait to print one of Natalie on a bigger size.

Anyways, the order arrived in just a few days and I was so pleased!  It turned out just beautifully and fits perfectly with our current decor.  Also, it was packaged very securely to prevent anything happening to it during the shipping process.  I would definitely recommend using them for your future canvas needs.

 

I chose the Gallery Wrap option and I really love the professional look of the piece.

Plus, as a bonus, if you "like" them on Facebook, they will give you 50% off plus free shipping on your first order!  How cool is that?  Definitely worth checking out!

*Easy Canvas Prints sent me one free 8X10 canvas in exchange for a link on my side bar.

Back Home Again...In Indiana

A few weekends ago, Natalie and I made our very first trip home to Indianapolis to visit family.  Since Matt happened to be in Hong Kong for work, it was up to me to take command of the first long road trip with an infant.

And can I just brag on my little girl for a second and say that it went so well?  I mean, I woke her up at the butt crack of dawn, she was fussy for maybe 2 minutes in the car, and then she slept for 3 hours straight without making a sound.  She then got a little fussy...but as you might expect, the drive from Northeast Ohio to Central Indiana has some stretches of road where there is no civilization in sight.  Weird.  I know.  So we went about 10 more minutes and when I was about to pull over, Natalie fell back asleep.  Score!

I had about 40 minutes left in the drive before I had to stop to feed/change her.  Perfect.  She was not at all pleased when I put her back into the car seat for the remainder of the trip, but 20 minutes of screaming on a 5 hour trip I can handle.

We stayed at my parents' house that evening.  Natalie did beautifully in the pack 'n play and only woke up once during the night because she is freaking houdini and escaped from the baby straight jacket (aka:  sleep sack).  It was actually welcomed, though, as I had picked up Matt from the airport that evening so she got to see him sooner than expected.

Natalie with my brother!

The next day, we traveled to Bloomington for a wedding.  But beforehand, we were able to catch a quick bite with Miss Shaina and her husband.  The visit went so quickly and by the time I knew it we had to go.  We had the best time and I cannot wait to make it down to visit her again.  Plus, Natalie keeps asking me when she gets to see that pretty lady again....

The wedding was so beautiful!  It was outside at the bride's parents' house which was so gorgeous.  Unfortunately it rained that day...but the bridal party was so easy going about the whole event.  Check out my sweet friend Mallorey and her rain boots she sported for the ceremony.  So her.  Just perfect.

The next day I hosted a small get together for my friends and family to come over and meet Natalie.  It went so well and for the most part....Natalie was a peach.  I'm so proud of her.  She had a very full weekend and was really well behaved.  But you could tell on Monday she was happy to be home and in her own crib. 

The whole trip did leave me feeling very confident in our ability to travel together...and I cannot wait to make it back home again!

Wedding + Cake=Good Time!

The weekend is over. And I'm actually kind of excited! I know. What the heck am I talking about, right? Well, the stress of the wedding is behind me and a cake that I have had hanging over my head for 9 months is finished!

Matt and I headed out Saturday morning for Michigan City at 7 a.m. We loaded up the Taurus with all of the cake (thank goodness it all fit!) and we were off! We made it to the reception hall in one piece and began assembling the cake. Two hours later, with several mini cake disasters averted, I give you my 2nd wedding cake ever!



Here's a view of the whole cake table they decorated:


They also requested a Groom's cake in the shape of Chewbacca. Apparently I was dealing with a seriously Star Wars obsessed groom. Please don't make me mention the bridal party introductions involving light sabers. No, I think I will just forget those....


This cake was my favorite part by far. I think it turned out awesome and the chocolate buttercream was to die for.


After we set up the cake, Matt and I headed out to get some lunch. We stopped by a pub to watch some of the Purdue/Ohio State game...and I can't believe I can actually say this...but we beat those stinkin' Buckeyes!! You have no idea how great today is at work. As a minority Ohio State hater in Cleveland...this day is one in a million.

GO BOILERS!!!

source

The ceremony was held at 2 p.m. so we scooted over to the church to see little Dara get married. It was a very emotional ceremony for her. Dara's dad died when we were in college so her uncle walked her down the aisle.



But everything went smoothly and here is the happy couple after becoming a Mr. and Mrs.!



Even Matt got into it! Rare shot my friends...



We had a few hours to kill before the reception began (?..not cool) so we hit up the outlet malls and then headed over to the reception. I got to see some old friends from college and it was just wonderful catching up with them. It made me miss Purdue and my group of friends so much. College is such a unique experience and I am forever thankful for my time there. Some of my favorite memories I will ever have are there and with those people and it was just fabulous to see them again.


Matt and I ended up making the drive home that evening since we wanted to get a few things done on Sunday. We pulled in the driveway at 1 a.m. Crazy long day...but it was really fun. We spent Sunday grocery shopping, napping, and relaxing. I do wish we had one more day to decompress after our busy weekend...but I have so many things going on next month to look forward to...I simply cannot wait for them to get here!


Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

A Night To Remember

Our reception was held at the same location directly following the ceremony. Here are some of my favorite photos from the evening:









Our favors were pink hard candies and chocolate golf balls wrapped in the organza bag. We also had custom made golf tees with our names and the date on them tied to the bag. By the way, if you want any of those tees, I still have hundreds.

The place cards at the table read, "A donation has been made in your name to the Human Fund." Totally hilarious Seinfeld reference that very few people understood...which made it even more priceless.

Papa's speech :)





Best Man's Speech (this is for you Cherry!)


Maid of Honor Speech


This picture cracks me up because it looks like we are attacking each other


First Dance


Father Daughter Dance


Mother Son Dance


Gramps! I adore this picture!


What's up Blue Eyed Bride? Thanks for coming!


This is little Paige. She loved my dress...or perhaps my boobs??





Jill's brother Eric was certainly the life of the party. My younger cousins were completely in love with him.

Our wedding night was spent at the Conrad in downtown Indianapolis. They left these yummy chocolate covered strawberries in our room. I was starving! Did anyone else not really eat at their wedding? I had one bite at dinner, was completely full (or nothing else could fit in me because my dress was so tight!), and then didn't have time to eat for the rest of the night.

And now, almost 2 years later, I am more in love with the man I married than I was even on this night. Thank y'all so much for indulging me with all of these wedding posts. It has been fantastic reliving the memories and sharing them all with you...my new friends!

Matt and I are going to be celebrating our anniversary this weekend with a special trip which I will fill you all in on when we get back. And I still have to do a post about the honeymoon!

Have a great weekend!!

Here Comes the Bride

Our wedding ceremony was held the evening of September 22, 2007 in Greenwood, IN. We got married outside on a veranda at a country club. We had absolutely perfect weather and everything was so gorgeous.

My BFF Jill's mama played the flute during the ceremony and did such a fantastic job. It was so special to me to have her there when I walked down the aisle.





My sister and I handmade our programs to match my invitations. This was one of those last minute jobs we saved so by the end I could care less whether the pink paper was centered on the black anymore. I think wine may've had something to do with it as well.





My brother walked my mama down the aisle.





Our beautiful mothers lighting the candles.





Our studly Pastor! You have no idea how many "compliments" I got on this guy! Sorry girls, he's married. But he sure was good lookin'!





After my bridesmaids walked down the aisle, our flower girl followed with her brother handing out roses.





And now the big moment!





Daddy and I arrived on a horse and carriage! I remember when we booked this place I thought it was totally cheesy...but it couldn't have been more perfect. No one really knew it was coming so when the horse was walking up there were a lot of people who were getting really mad at first because it was so loud. But then they realized it was me and all started cheering! It was really a super neat experience. And if anyone is interested, our horse's name was Gypsy.

Seriously could not love this man more.

Getting married!

We had two different readings during our ceremony. The first was done by Jill's brother Eric.





Our second reading was done by my second BFF AJ. Yes, I have two...get over it. Jill, AJ, and I were inseparable for years. They are the only people from high school I even talk to and they are my friends for life. AJ was so nervous he was going to mess up that he stayed over with us the night before and practiced over and over. There was some phrase in the reading about making love and he threatened to look over at me and wink during the ceremony! He didn't do it, but as you can see, this is all my brother could think about during the reading as he is cracking up in the background of this picture. One of my favorite moments...

Rings please!

United!

You may kiss the bride!

Married!

Matt and I got to take the horse and carriage off for a little alone time before the reception. Perfect time for a few pictures with my sweet!





And now....it's time to party!