"Will You be my Bridesmaid?" Cards

After David asked me the biggest question of my life I had to find a way to asks my future bridesmaids that was just a special. After searching the internet high and low I decided to make them some homemade cards with a special message inside that told them just how special they were to me.

Here's how I made them:

Supplies
Cardstock
Colored paper
Ribbon
Sissors
Glue
Stamps

Sketch out a bridesmaid dress.

Cut out, and trace onto colored paper.

Using ribbon, make a "belt" around the waist.

Cute dresses!

Cute out a background for the dress so it stands out.

Using stamps, write what ever message you want.

Glue it all together!

Admire your handy work, and personalize for each bridesmaid.

We are Engaged!

Sorry I've been away for a while but....... the title says it all!

Here's the story:
On Monday, April 30th David asked me out on a date Friday for BBQ at a local place we both love. Thinking nothing of it I said yes and looked forward to the tasty BBQ for the rest of the week. Well Friday rolls around and I'm sitting at my desk "working" when I get a call from the front desk saying that I have something up front. Thinking that it's some paperwork I have been expecting I walk up to the front desk and ask her who the flowers sitting on her desk are for. Surprisingly she says they are for me!

David has never sent me flowers at work and I was really surprised to get them. They were simple and came with a card that read "Surprise change of plans, so dress your best, I'll pick you up tonight at 7. I've taken care of the rest." So after texting my girlfriends, and chating with some friends at work I decided to go buy a new dress during lunch. I also decided to get my nails done after work "just-in-case".(I'm really glad I did those things)

At 7 on the dot (David is always an on-the-dot person) I get a call from David saying he's at my apartment. So I jump in the car and we're off. He takes me to a place in Houston called Brenner's on the Bayou. He says we are a little early for our reservation and asks if we want to walk around the property. So we do.At this point I decided that nothing was going to happen. He was way to calm and we were just acting our normal selves. Taking pictures and goofing around with each other. (I also kept getting my heals stuck in the side walk and that is not romantic.)

Finally we end up in the gazebo. We took a few more pictures there, then we stop and look at the restaurant. At this point David give's me a great big hug and then starts telling me how much he love's me and how much I mean to him, and how he wants to love me forever. (I am balling at this point). He then gets down on one knee and asks the words "Robyn Hanley will you marry me?"

Apparently I kept nodding my head for a while and then finally said YES!

After I finally calmed down I called my parents and my sister and told them the good news. We then went to dinner and had some amazing food. A couple next to us asked if we were recently engaged because of my smile and how I couldn't keep my eyes off of the ring. Then when we were leaving a waiter asked if we were the couple in the gazebo earlier, and told us congratulations. It was perfect night, and I couldn't have asked for a better man to be engaged too!

Chicken Enchilada Pasta

When browsing Pinterest for dinner the other day I found this recipe for Chicken Enchilada Pasta from Pearls, Handcuffs, and Happy Hour. She raved that her husband gave the recipe "5 stars and then some!" Since David loves enchilada's and is always asking why I don't make them I gave the recipe a try.  

 Chicken Enchilada Pasta - {Adapted from Pearls, Handcuffs, and Happy Hour}.

2 chicken breasts, cooked & shredded

2 tbsp. olive oil

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 medium onion, diced

1 red pepper, diced

2 tbs green onions

1/2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. cumin

2 {7.6 oz} cans green Mexican salsa {I used La Costena}

1 {7.6 oz} can home style Mexican salsa {I used La Costena}

2 cups shredded cheese 

1 cup sour cream

Penne pasta

Avocado {for topping}

Green Onions {for topping}

Shredded Cheese  {for topping}

Sour Cream {for topping}

Directions:

Cook chicken, drain, and shred.  Meanwhile boil pasta according to package and chop the veggies.

 

Heat the olive oil in a deep skillet and cook onions for about 3-5 minutes.  Add garlic & red pepper and cook for another 3-5 minutes.   

Add cooked chicken, green chiles, cumin, chili powder, salt, & enchilada sauces.  Let sauce simmer for about 8-10 minutes.

Add cheese and stir until the cheese is melted and heated through.  Remove from heat and add sour cream.  Stir until sour cream is well mixed.

Drain pasta & return to pot.  Pour sauce over pasta and mix well.  Serve and garnish with avocado, cheese, green onion, and a dollop of sour cream.

Admire and Eat! We had to go back for seconds it was sooo good!

Did you think you will make this?

DIY - Paint Sample Dry Erase Calendar

Even though I normally only do sweets on this website I wanted to share a calendar I made the other day!

While browsing through pinterest or etsy you see so many diy paint sample projects. What's not to love about them? First its cheap {paint samples are free} and second they usually are just plain cute. I finally decided to try a paint sample project of my own: a dry erase calendar!

Supplies:

• Lots and Lots of paint samples. I honestly don't know how many I used)
• A Cute Frame
• Glue {I like rubber cement}
• Scissors or a Paper Cutter
• Large piece of paper that fits in frame. I glued my calendar to back of the paper that came with it.
• Stickers or Pen for the dates
• A Ruler
• Dry Erase Markers

Directions {Based on a 14x18in frame}

1. Use your scissors or paper cutter to cut out 9 (1.5in x 1in) month letter square, 7 (2.25in x 1.25in) weekday block, 35 (2.25in x1.75in) day blocks and 2 (7.5in x 1.75in) note blocks.

2. Arrange all the pieces until you get the color pattern you like.

3. Write or add stickers to the  7 (2.25in x 1.25in) weekday block for the weekdays.

4. Start Gluing the pieces to the paper and let dry.

5. Place in Frame and admire your masterpiece!

How do you like to keep yourself organized?

Summer Strawberry-Basil Ice Tea

Summer is hot, humid, and the PERFECT time for summer drinks. A lady a work got a basil plant with a recipe for Strawberry-Basil Ice Tea tied to it. The recipe looked delicious and I had to try it! I hope yall enjoyed it as much as I did!

Tell me, what do you think of the recipe?

Recipe from Martha Stewart

Ingredients

• 8 black-tea bags
• 1 pound strawberries, hulled and halved (quartered if large)
• 1 cup water, plus more for steeping
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 cup fresh basil, plus more for serving
• Ice, for serving

Directions

1. Bring 4 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add tea bags, and let steep for 5 minutes.
2. Place strawberries in a bowl. Bring water and sugar to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, add basil, and let steep for 10 minutes. Strain over strawberries; discard basil. Toss to coat. Let stand until cool, about 25 minutes. Combine strawberries (with syrup) and tea in a pitcher. Refrigerate until chilled. Serve over ice, and garnish with basil.

Who Says There's no Cupcakes in Baseball?

With the end of my softball season fast approaching I decided to make some baseball themed cupcakes for the last game of the season. Unfortunately our last game got rained out and is now postponed to a later date, so the cupcakes that were supposed to be taken to the game were instead enjoyed by all of my coworkers.

These cupcakes were very easy to make and I bet every one around you will enjoy how adorable they look!

To make the grass:
Fill a ziplock bag with coconut flakes and add green food coloring. Close the bag and shake/rub together until all the coconut is colored green. ( sorry I didn't take a picture of this) Once it is colored to your preferred green lay out on a paper towel and rub to get any extra green off the coconut. Let sit until you are ready to decorate.

To make the baseballs:

Dip vanilla wafers in white chocolate. Let sit until hard. Take red icing and pipe on wafers to mimic a baseball.

To assemble cupcakes:
Ice the cupcakes with green icing. Cover with coconut and shake off excess. Top with baseball. Enjoy!

 

1946 Chocolate Bit (Chip) Cookies

A year ago when I was visiting my uncle in Wisconsin I heard the best thing in the world, he was giving me my Grandmothers cookbook. It's a The "Women's Home Companion Cookbook" published in 1946. It has very interesting sections about how you are in charge of the nutrition for your family and you you can be the envy of all your friends by throwing a seamless dinner party.

Well since I got the cook book a year ago I've been meaning to cook something out of it, but with Pinterest taking all my time every time I cooked or baked something I didn't even think about looking in her cookbook. Finally a made a point and I choose to look for Chocolate Chip Cookies.

I settled on the chocolate bit cookies and was I happy I choose them. The cookies turned out very moist and utterly delicious. I think this will be my go to chocolate chip cookie from now on!

All the ingredients

Freshly Mixed

Fresh out of the oven goodness.

You can't have cookies without a glass of milk!