a baking adventure

After 12 hours of baking, the outcome could not have been any better.
I loved setting them up and seeing the final product. I catered my very first wedding! I can't wait to try it again!! I loved the cupcake stand, Steve did a great job on it. I definitely over bought supplies, but I am sure I will use them again soon.



She wanted her cupcake to stand out more and she loved the color pink so naturally I had to make the icing pink.

I made both of their cupcakes a little bit more unique so you could tell the difference.

My roommate is awesome and came to help me set up. The lighting in this place was no an ideal place to shoot photos, not for me anyways haha.


The final product and me! I was soooooo happy with the way this turned out! The cupcake stand looks beautiful and all the cupcakes fit!



I have no idea what these cake toppers were but she said that they were Toki Doki (?) dolls, "till death do us part," get it? So cute! I loved the way that the tie turned out, it was not easy making that thing!

I can't wait for the next big thing!

100 & the start of fall

100!
Who would have ever thought I'd get this far? Not me. Now I know that this may seem like such a miniscule number to the die-hard bloggers out there but for me, it has been 9 months of at least an update each month. Winning. This became so much more than just updating scrapbook pictures and has become part of my life.. to keep family and friend (who want to read it) updated on my life.



1 // Fall has begun, the weather is changing and I can't really tell if I am a huge fan of it yet. BUT now that it is Fall, I deemed it okay to buy a pumpkin spiced latter from Starbucks. They came out way too early for my liking. I am definitely an iced-coffee-all-year-around kind of girl, but I make exceptions.

2 // Fifa could not find a more convenient place to hang out while I studied and wrote a paper. Sometimes her being as cute as she is, I can't resist.



3 & 4 // Dresses! I am not a huge Forever 21 fan like everyone else, I think the clutter and lack of sizes gives me anxiety. Being small isn't all that great when you are searching for adult clothing and all you can fit into is children's sizes. BUT, I was in luck and found these two great dresses. I love things that tie, it makes fitting so much better. Now I do not have to stress over finding a dress for the wedding we have next weekend. I feel super adult in #2. Maybe I will stop being mistaken as a teenager? Doubt it.



5 // The best part so far, I got to go out to dinner with my parents. Now this may seem very strange to people, it is such a common idea; not for us. We never go out to eat as a family, I would much rather eat what my mom cooks for me than any place out, but meeting half way- this is the only choice we had. We enjoyed a nice Olive Garden dinner and caught up on everything. I don't know what is going to happen when I move to California! AH!



So far Fall, you are looking good. Stay in the 70's and I will be happy until winter hits *sad face*

vegan blueberry pancakes

I love pancakes for breakfast.
When I was young, my mom would make them silver dollar sized because I had this idea in my head that mini pancakes taste better than regular pancakes. I still, somewhat, have that same idea. I make Steve the normal size and myself, the minis.

The first time I ever used this recipe was with his mom. We tweaked the original recipe by one step: the baking powder. On the original recipe, they say not to change it to teaspoons, but I think it is better this way. The pancake batter is thick so beware when pouring it onto the pan. I like them a lot more thin, so next time I think I will add more soymilk. The thing I love about this recipe is most of these ingredients are usually on hand everyday- those are the best kinds of recipes!


Pancake Batter
Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1 tablespoon organic sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup soymilk
2 tablespoons canola oil
fresh or frozen blueberries

Directions:
Set a stove element with a pan to medium heat.

In a medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

Add the soymilk and canola oil to wet mixture. Add blueberries, making sure they don't all sink to the bottom.

Mix until smooth.

Spoon batter onto pan.

Flip when bubbles appear in the middle of the pancake or when ready.

Repeat until batter is finished.

Source: adapted from Food.com



After they are all finished, I like to top it off with some fresh strawberries and bananas. Plus heating up pure maple syrup for 30 seconds to make it warm!


Enjoy!

hello fall 2012

I can't remember the last time I went apple picking, but I remember it being awesome.

It still is.



The first day of Fall was amazing. It started out beautiful and, although it's raining now, apple picking was bright and sunny. Mostly 80's all day. I love having him around to pick the high apples that no one has touched yet!



The farm we went to was also beautiful. Tons of people were there and it was huge. Big fields of apples everywhere. There was a hayride that would take you farther out, but I am not a huge fan of them; too itchy. The town was so quaint, very "old-townish," if anyone even understand what I mean haha.



We picked 15lbs of apples. All different types. Grabbed an apple cider made from the farm and when we got to the car it was so delicious that we stopped to grab a whole gallon.


I can not wait to make more apple pie!!
Fall is already starting to look wonderful.


Oh, and on another Apple note, my iPhone 5 came on Friday! :) Let's just say I love and hate Apple all at the same time..

summer 2012

Today is the end of summer, can you believe it? I can not believe that I only went to the beach three times and lost my tan before the summer ended. I can not say that this was the best summer ever because I am pretty sure Road Trip 2010 was the best summer ever. BUT this summer was as fantastic as it could be while going to school. Instagram played a huge role in capturing all of it and it has become my most used and favorite app! I still love my DSLR too though :)


I want to remember.. going to the beach with Priscilla and all the moments we had throughout the summer.

I want to remember.. the first time Steve, Fifa, and I all went to the beach together (never again haha).

I want to remember.. all of the cool cupcakes I made!

I want to remember.. Fourth of July fireworks, twice.

 
I want to remember.. the Olympics and really watching them for the first time.

I want to remember.. spending time with Steve's family and how much his nieces loved me.

I want to remember.. all the funny pictures and tricks Fifa did.


I want to remember.. saying goodbye to my best friend was really crappy but I couldn't be more happy for her.

I want to remember.. I got accepted to graduate school.

I want to remember.. that Steve made me the most amazing cupcake stand ever and for that, I sat outside at a car show for 8 hours.

I want to remember.. going shopping with my mom for the first time in years.


I want to remember.. one of my really great friends got engaged.

I want to remember.. driving 10+ hours to North Carolina to see them.

I want to remember.. the painful, but amazingly awesome banana boats.

I want to remember.. how Elizabeth was such a momma bear to me.

I want to remember.. that I got to visit a vegan bakery I had been dying to go to.

I want to remember.. my first vegetarian food festival with Steve.

I want to remember.. my first made-from-scratch vegan apple pie!

I want to remember.. how we decided next year we are going to move to California when I finish school.

I want to remember.. that I can not believe how fast time is moving and I am loving every minute of it.


I know that next summer will be one of the most amazing summers ever and I cross my fingers at the idea of finishing with graduate school and moving away with the love of my life. It is what motivates me to study all night and stay in every weekend.

Welcome Fall 2012, I can not wait to meet you!



*This idea came from Elise Blaha who got it from Ali Edwards*