Cookout with a Golf Theme

We had a cookout on Friday and invited B's Friends over since most of them hadn't been to our house yet. I was excited to host a party, but had to watch my decorations since they were for a 29 year old. :)

I made these centerpieces out of deer moss, golf tees, and golf balls. The one below was on our breakfast bar {edible chocolate balls}, and the other on the kitchen table.



I also had a theme drink - Arnold Palmer's! {tea, lemonade, raspberry vodka}

And some of these...

And of course yummy food! The burgers and dogs didn't make the photo.




We also had the yummy golf cup cakes that I showed in THIS post.


Everyone seemed to have a great time!









******Recap on B's actual Birthday...
B started his birthday on Sunday with my family. We celebrated with brownies and presents!
Then he got on a roll and wanted to open a present-a-day until his actual birthday. I held him off for one day, but then he opened his gifts from his mom the day before his birthday.

On his actual birthday we went to P.F. Changs and he opened his presents from me!

And more brownies!

Golf Cup Cakes

I made cupcakes for friends coming over tonight. Although my hubby turned 29, I can't help but throw a good theme party. So I decided I would do very minimal decorations involving golf. {Post to come on the cute centerpieces I made!!}

I'm not much of a baker, but have learned that having an oven with a pre-heat and working timer are key to producing something yummy.
After the help from my friend Allison a while back for THESE cupcakes, I've tried a few more times on my own.

So, first I baked the cake mix {did you know the first time I attempted cupcakes I had to call Allison and ask her where those boxes were? had no idea cake mix was the same as cupcake mix...I've come a long way} but DID NOT put the cupcake cups in the pan. She gave me the tip that it'll take the color out of the cups, so I just placed the cupcakes in there after they were cooled.

Next, my friend Jordan gave me her tackle-box-like icing kit, but since I am not crafty in the department of cake decorating, I couldn't figure out how to use it. So I went back to my old way of shoving icing {I like the cream cheese kind and then use food coloring to tint} into the corner of a Ziplock baggie and cutting the corner out and using a tiny spatula to spread the first layer on.

I started with mixing green food coloring for the grass part and then using my Ziplock baggie with plain icing to draw a golf hole flag {I'm sure there's technical term but I've got no clue what it is}. I started out a little small but got better the longer I kept doing it!
Next I mixed in red food coloring and used a new Ziplock baggie to shove the icing in to fill in the flags. I was going to do red and blue, but got a little ahead of myself and just did them all.

And here they are... I know most of you can make ones even better but I was pretty excited!

Favorite Verse

Over on Kelly's Blog, her Show Us Your Life segment is to share your favorite verse from the Bible.
I loved reading other people's blogs and what made a certain verse so meaningful to them.

If you remember THIS post a few weeks back, I shared one of my favorite verses and one I prayed continually for many years, many times a day.
Delight yourself in the LORD;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it. Psalm 37:3-5
This verse helped me through the want of finding a mate for my life. Just like the linked post above, I would have gladly waited longer if I knew what God had in store for me!

My favorite Book of the Bible is James. There are so many verses in that book that have meant so much in my life, and while I'd like to list them all here, you can check the book out later. :) But here's one I like to keep close,
Whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. James 1:2-3

What is yours???

Decorating Slump

Remember this post from a couple months ago? Over. It. I need something else on this floor but I don't know what. I need help. But it needs to be cheap. And I have picky taste. Not a good combination.

Curtains? I bought the pricey crown moulding wood blinds {ok, they weren't that bad if you order from this site} thinking that would let me get away with not having window treatments in the living room and breakfast area. But I think that's failed. What do you think?

I love this fabric, and would love to put 'fake' long curtains with medallions high above the 3 windows {but only on the two ends}, but it's pricey!! And I can't find a fabric I like better. Boo.

Do I need to paint? I'm afraid to paint. We picked Macadamia Nut when we built in hopes it would 'match everything'. It does, but is it boring?

Our theme is horses/Keeneland/jockeys. Anything you can think of?! Please help me!:)

Happy Birthday Hubby!

I'm so excited to spend our first 'married' birthday together today! You are such a good husband and more than I ever thought, dreamed, or prayed for. You are a blessing in my life and bring joy to your friends, family, and anyone you are around. I thank God for you daily and praise him for all your years of life.

****************************************************

B's celebrating his last year in his 20's {as his sis lovingly said} today. He's chosen to eat at P.F. Changs tonight {YUM!} and then we'll come back home and open presents and eat dessert {he chose brownies, but I've got a twist on them}.

The first year we were together we had friends over to his house for a party.

Last year, I planned a surprise party for Brian with his guy friends on his actual birthday.
{This is Alison with the chocolate molten cake party favors I made for everyone who came}

This year, we're planning on having his guy friends {and our life group} over to our home for a cookout and cornhole since most of them haven't been over yet. I have a feeling this cookout will be a little different than the one 2 years ago {sans beer pong, staying up until 3am, grilling out, etc.}. My how we've grown up...ha!

I'll post pictures of his birthday and birthday cookout this weekend {MIL and SIL}!

Have a great night!

Bringing Out the Best

B and I got these books the other day...

They are a 'her and him' book that's separately written to each person. Our intention was to get another study to do together, but these books just kept popping into my head after we looked.
I am pleased to say I've been excited about my choice. I'm already on chapter 3 {which is huge since I hate reading and have to read something 2-3 times before I 'get it'}. It talks more of how to be a better wife and gives examples ~ which I like. The books we did during pre-marital counseling were good, but they lacked the example part and left us wondering if what we were doing was OK! It also uses scripture to remind you that it's actually God showing you how to act towards the person you've chosen to spend your life with.

I know I'm a newlywed, but in my book, it never hurts to keep working hard and continue studying even if you don't feel like you need to. Our philosophy is to continue to grow and learn together BEFORE a major problem arises to be able to dissolve it better and have the right tools in our bag. Hopefully we'll be able to keep it up...check back in a few years after kids! :)

BTW~I found a very sweet note from my hubby this morning out of nowhere and for nothing...his book must be as good as mine!

Happy 4th of July!

Let me start by saying I am ashamed at my lack of picture taking this weekend. I'm not sure what went on with me...but I did not get very many cute pictures!

With that said, we did have a lot of fun!
B and I have been spending a lot of time hanging out with our friends and family. It seems like lately the weather has been so nice that we want to go out and share with everyone! However, it was definitely getting time for a date night. We hadn't made it to one of my favorite patios yet this summer {Atomic Cafe}, so we planned to go on Friday night to eat dinner and dance to the music...well...I was so excited I didn't eat lunch knowing they serve big portions and in turn I got a headache that lated most of the night so we left after we ate! BOO! I was so disappointed, but at least our food was super yummy and the weather was perfect! In B's famous words, "we'll have plenty of time to come back and eat here...we've got the rest of our lives together". I'm not good at looking at it like that but glad he is!

On Saturday I layed by the pool with friends and B golfed. Then we hung out around our house until heading downtown for more food and fun.
I was so excited Adam {my closet follower} took a shower in our 'guest bath' that day after golfing. I've been begging people to spend the night and use the guest room/bath room for a while now. Weird I know, but I feel like those 2 rooms never get used!

Heading downtown to see the fireworks and listen to live music~Here's the only pictures I managed to snap!






On the actual 4th, we went to church, celebrated B's birthday with my parents {pictures to come later}, took a 2 hour nap {!!}, and layed by the pool for a few hours. So relaxing!

I also have a project to share with you that was pretty easy. I worked on it today since B was golfing {I know you all are shocked!! ha}. I've been having a hard time finding a handtowel to use in my kitchen that I don't actually want used...you know? I have wonderfully monogrammed ones that I received as a wedding gift, but I like using those. Instead I made one that matches our kitchen decor {well, it has yellow in it which is what I hope to incorporate}. It's a pretty easy project that took 10 minutes.
Materials I used were:
Unstitch
Ribbon
Fabric
Napsack handtowel (from Dollar Store!)
iron
Heat'n'Bond
I'll let the photos show you how...






I also painted this and used my Cricut with the letters to add above the towel rack in the guest bathroom. It still needs to be hung above by B by ribbon that matches the bows. I decided I better use something other than our monogram before I went 'over the top' and someone has suggested... :)