Sunday, September 23, 2012

I'm on a boat...

Haha remember that stupid song?  Well we are not on a boat this weekend, but if weather permits we will be next Sunday!  We kind of had a great deal for a used, fully updated pontoon boat fall into our laps, and Jake really didn't want to pass it up.  We are supposed to be picking it up this week so I'm anxious to see it because I don't even know what it looks like.  Jake saw pictures and then we had his stepdad go check it out because he is very mechanically savvy when it comes to cars and boats, and just about anything with a motor.

We will hopefully get in some good Sunday afternoons or evening cruises before the weather gets too cold...then we will just be counting down the days for warm weather again and spending muchore time out there next summer.

Pictures to come!


Monday, September 17, 2012

Apple Cider, Caramel....YUM

So, my phone case came in and I love it!  The prettiest shade of turquoise.  I wasn't sure if the picture was going to be the same as in person, but it was.  I'm thinking about getting a monogrammed sticker to put on the back of it, but I'm not sure if it would stick well to the rubberized texture of the case--anyone tried that before?  Believe it or not, the only thing I got after our wedding with my monogram on it was a purse that was a gift from my parents, but since I tend to wear out purses that one is no longer around :(  I need to get some more stuff!  I have really been wanting a small monogrammed gold pendant necklace, but finding one with a monogram as small as I want is proving hard (or at least, without paying out the wazoo for it).


My parents are up in Cape Cod on their anniversary trip this week and seem to be having the best time!  They have been texting me pictures and it looks like such a beautiful place.  They woke up early at the B&B to get on the morning ferry and they are spending the day on Martha's Vineyard today.  I will try to load some pictures and post on here.
 

I had a really fun weekend...I went to a Bridal show in Columbia with my friend Eden.  It was a lot of fun! I never went to any when Jake and I were engaged.  It was neat to see all the different vendors and all of the raffles/contests, etc.  We registered for a ton of free things so hopefully Eden will get a call this week that she won something!  They were giving away everything from $200 gift cards to full honeymoons. 

Before that, on Friday night I went over to my friend Shanti's and we baked some cookies and snacks for a girl's night in with our interior design friends on Saturday.  The cookies we baked were called Apple Cider Caramel Cookies and boy were they good!!  I love anything involving cider, and these were so easy to make too!  I thought I would share the recipe so that yall can try it out too...

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, nearly melted
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (7.4 ounce) box Alpine Spiced Apple Cider Instant Original Drink Mix *Not sugar free*
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 (14 ounce) bag Kraft Caramels

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. It has to be parchment this time.

2. In a stand mixer, cream together butter, sugar, salt, and all 10 packets of apple cider mix until smooth and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla extract, then mix in the baking soda and baking powder. Add the flour and mix until just combined.

3. With a standard (size 50) cookie scoop, scoop the dough scrapping off the excess as you go up the bowl. Flatten the dough slightly in your hand and place a caramel in the center. Work the dough around the caramel sealing well. Place the cookies two inches apart on the sheets.

4. Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until golden brown around the edges. After baking, carefully slide the parchment with the cookies onto the counter. Let cool until they are no longer soft but still slightly warm. Twist gently to remove, and cool the rest of the way upside down on the parchment or on a cooling rack.
 
 
Seriously, amazing.  I ate like a fatty king on Saturday because before Girl's Night I went up to the Yiasou Greek Festival with Iris and got a gyro & the American version of a  greek salad.  ALWAYS a winner in my book.  
 
That's all for now.  My hubby is finally back in town from his working out of town and softball tournament this past weekend (They got 5th overall :/ ) so we can finally relax and enjoy each other!!  The doggies and I have missed him a bunch...although Kona has been loving sleeping up on our bed:)  He was mad at Jake last night because he wasn't allowed up, haha.  

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Upgrade!

Yay I got a phone upgrade yesterday!  I didn't have too many complaints about my old phone other than that I was ready for a change and I hated the battery life.  I decided to upgrade to the newer version, the HTC Evo 4g LTE.  Loving it...

                        
TURQUOISE TPU Gel Rubber Skin Cover Case for HTC EVO 4G LTE (Sprint) [In Twisted Tech Retail Packaging]
                                
I just ordered this Turquoise case for it. Hopefully it will arrive soon because this phone is much thinner and lighter than the old one, and I am paranoid of how fragile it might be.



Not much else going on....although I have been having lots of fun with my sewing machine!  I've been teaching myself and getting lots of help from my friend Shanti.  So far I've made a slightly rough wine tote and  a couple cute stuffed toys.  The wine tote had a weird tutorial and I think there are definitely some things I would change to make the finishing cleaner.  I'm planning to make a table runner to go with our fall table cloth in the dining room, and I found a really cute pattern that I want to use to make a Christmas quilt.  I'm a little nervous to start on the bigger projects though.  Browsing and shopping for fabrics is my new addiction.  Pictures to come!