Add a Splash of Color

The other night, I decided to get creative in the most easiest of forms. So, I copied my friend Jenn's idea and made rainbow cupcakes. VERY easy, yet a little time consuming. Just take white cake mix mixed up and pour batter into four separate bowls. Add as much or little food coloring to your liking in different colors. Line a cup cake pan with white cup liners and then start the process of spooning small amount of each color into cup cake liners. This will take a little while... and then bake as directed. Ta-Dah! Genius! I plan on doing this for my nephew in Star War colors this summer...So, Just relax and a have a cup cake I say!

Newest Addiction

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE allrecipes.com!

I spend at least a good hour there

just browsing new, easy recipes.

I may not be the best of cooks,

but I adore trying new recipes

and making out my grocery list

and writing out all the ingredients I'll need.

If you need a place to go that has tons

and tons in every directions of food anything...

Go to allrecipes.com

It will become addicting I assure you.

Try Grandma Ople's Apple Pie.

Over One thousand, 5 star reviews.

I had it the other night from my book club

and it's to die for!

Alexa's Bridal Shower & Recipe

Alexa, my other fabulous cousin is getting married at the end of August. Can we say "kill them now" to Carrie & Alexa for pretty much having their weddings back to back?!?!? I mean srsly. What's a girl to do but TWO showers, TWO dresses, TWO new pairs of shoes? I'm tellin ya, it's such the tizzy. LOL Okay. I hope you here the sarcasm crap in that speech but I LOVE them both and my whole childhood/growing up/seen every crap stage/lowest cry moments are all wrapped up with these two. Therefore, i was happy to do it! LOVE YA!

Anywho, today was Alexa's bridal shower and the color theme was complete opposite of Carries.
You can see her shower by clicking here. For Alexa's shower it was all about black & white with a POP of red. Scarlet red. Oh how i LOVED this color scheme.



The invite. My FAVORITE invite I've made yet!



The bride to be. Well sorta--haha Alexa!



Notice the candle holders? They might look familiar LOL because I used them at Carries only they were hot pink! But, we all agreed we LOVE like ADORE them in the red. Yep, I'm vain enough to admire my own creation. I can do that you know.




Reminds me of Twilight. Red/Black theme though Alexa hasn't a clue what Twilight is about.



Carrie & me were talking today and we decided that I'm a punch aholic. Only without the alcohol part. I'm always expanding my punch recipes so with Alexa's I found this OUT OF THIS WORLD Strawberry Daiquiri Punch recipe. Not to mention but uh...it color coordinated perfectly!

Strawberry Daiquiri Punch
1 bag of frozen strawberries
2 cans of frozen limeade mix {though I say only use 1}
3 cans of frozen strawberry daiquiri mix
2 2liter sprites chilled
3/4 cup of pineapple juice

In punch bowel combine limeade mix/ daiquiri mix/ pineapple juice and pour your first 2liter of chilled sprite. Add frozen bag of strawberries on top to add decor and as a supplement for ice.



I had so many cups of this. I had to go the bathroom SOMETHING FIERCE after the shower!

And of course I ALWAYS do favors...I came up with this WAY cute idea of giving out a little bag of Oreo cookies. It color schemed SO WELL. There was so many people there that I ran out!

And Hailey...out of all the food we had She went right for her bag of Oreos.

I think though for awhile...I'm CLOSED for all Bridal shower business. But wait...you wanna hear a really funny joke that's not really a joke? My Other...other cousin Melanie SHE'S GETTING MARRIED IN OCTOBER! I'm tellin ya people, it's apparently wedding season in my family in my DEAR FUTURE LATE HUBBY didn't get the memo!

Thee Dinner is Served

Well, Apparently I can cook.

Or...at least I try and make it look pretty :)

Okay, so I'm NOT really a cooker. I might be -could be but I really don't have anyone to cook for and "try" to impress.

HOWEVER

They say that to get to a Man's heart is through his stomach.

Well, DEAR FUTURE HUBBY WHO IS BEYOND LATE

Does this help? Will this entice you to come out of your closet?

Not THAT closet but at least what ever dumb ugly rock your hiding under!

Whelp. Anywhos this is the dinner I fixed on Monday and it really turned out well So I decided to share! Enjoy :)

Bow Tie Asparagus W/ either--you decide--Chicken, Shrimp, or Ham.

{we prefer shrimp} 1 box of shrimp scampi "Sea Pack" brand from Sam's club

1 cup of Heavy cream

2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese

3 cups of asparagus cut into pieces

1 cup of diced tomatoes

1 box of bow tie pasta

1 tablespoon diced garlic

In large saucepan cook the whole box of shrimp scampi or chicken

Cut asparagus into pieces. Enough for three cups. Then place in a microwave baking dish and cover all the way with water. Cook in microwave for 10 minutes.

Dice tomatoes for 1 cup.

After shrimp is done remember to remove the hard shell at the end. Let sit.

Bring water in large pot for pasta to boil then add pasta. Cook for 8-9 minutes.

In another sauce pan bring heavy cream, Parmesan, and 1 tablespoon of diced garlic to boil. Stirring constantly.

After pasta is done, drain well and drain the asparagus.

Add all ingredients back into large pot. Serve on plates with light parsley sprinkled on top and enjoy!

Bridal Shower & Recipes

Carrie's shower took place this past Saturday and PHEW!!!!!!! is all I got to say.

Okay, well also that it turned out VERY lover-ly.

One shower down and one more to go.

We had such the crowd at Carrie's house and I want to send a major shout out/thank you to Jenny B. for staying over with me and Carrie and working just as hard to help us out.

The only bummers is that

A} I WISH I took more pictures of family shots with Carrie but everything was just going by so quickly and making sure enough food was out etc...that your mind wonders and photos get pushed to the "no-go"

B} Somebody needs to give my computer a spanking & "talksie" because AGAIN it wont let me upload the video I did of Carrie growing up that I showed at the shower.

And C} The florist we went through was SO tacky and lousy that that's all I'm gonna say cause I'm getting mad all over again. POO on them!

The invitation sent out {address/number whited out for creeper control} and the picture of Carrie below was inserted with it.

We or should I say Carrie {I'm too short to reach LOL} worked so hard on hanging the white lanterns I picked up at Dollar tree months ago for 50 cents.

I at least handed the tape and gave advice :)

I wanted to showcase some of the many engagement photos of the lovely couple, So on small marble side tables around the room I displayed this every so cute setup.

The limes, limes, limes part. We loved it and SO easy to do.

Oh the food... the food! And also...one small advantage of not having your mother dearest around is that you don't have to ask for permission to spray paint her huge gold candle stick things hot pink!

Spinach Dip. This was mine and Carries first time making it and it's SO easy. At the bottom after pictures is the recipe requested from face book.

Our family FAVORITE that made us think it's Christmas. Mini Cheesecakes. Ummmm so good. And then our summer favorite mini fruit pizzas.

Southern comfort Punch. Okay "funny" haha- ditsy story that my cousins shall never let me live down is that last year when I was searching a good punch recipe on good old Martha.com

I came across this FABULOUS punch called "Southern Comfort" punch.

Now, me...being the doesn't drink person just thinks "How cute is that name!" "This IS the south so it must be an old southern recipe that I've never heard of."

Alright, so HOW was I to know that this is called that because "southern comfort" is an alcoholic drink?

So by request again at the bottom of pictures is the recipe to the "clean non-alcoholic" newly named "southern punch" recipe.

Suckas!

Yes. I ENVY this apron. Hey Alexa! Ya wanna order this for me too at Christmas? Birthday?

The table after everyone was gone and it's all cleaned up. Too cute I tell ya!

Carrie advertising the favors. Wal-Mart had strawberry and strawberry kiwi smackers chap stick on sale. And you know me, I just couldn't resist giving these out as favors.

How adorable is this picture? Girlie happiness in a bowl is what I say.

Spinach Dip
1 package of Frozen spinach
1 16 oz. sour cream
1 cup mayo
1 dry package of vegetable mix
Cook frozen spinach till boiling. Then cover & simmer for 8 minutes. Drain well.
Mix all ingredients and spinach and let chill 4-to 8 hours. Serve w/ wheat or Italian bread.

Southern Punch AKA Southern Comfort without the real "Southern Comfort"
2 frozen lemonade drink mix
1 frozen orange juice mix
1 1/2 cup pineapple juice
1 liter of sprite
1 navel orange.
1 Lemon
1 cup of coconut to sprinkle on top
Put the frozen drink mixes in first. Add pineapple juice. Then Sprite on top till the top of the bowl --you may not use all of it. Cut navel orange/lemon into slices. Place as floating top. Sprinkle coconut on top to finish if off. Repeat to refill.

As I said at the top. One shower down. One more to Go! Yay for Alexa!

PS. Have you voted on my poll yet?
It's coming up soon as a post and I will be allowing comments...So VOTE!