Story Turns Two

My amazingly talented sister-in-law, once again out did herself.  With a two month old baby and a busy toddler, somehow this SuperMom finds time to create a colorful and detailed birthday celebration.  ”You Are My Sunshine” was the theme.  Precious. It fits Story’s personality perfectly.

This little momma pulled a few all nighters to make sure each detail was perfect and thoughtful. Brace yourself friends…it’s pure cuteness.  Oh, and did I mention my sister-in-law said this year she “was not going all out”…. Her not going all out is me going ALL out times 100!

The colors were bright, cherry, and oh so happy!  Each food item was creatively displayed.  What was for breakfast?

“Sterling’s pigs in a blanket” (in honor of Story’s baby sister).  ”Ya Ya’s Egg Casserole” from the kitchen of Story’s wonderful grandmother, Ya Ya.  ”Sweet T’s banana bread” made by Story’s other sweet grandmother, Sweet T.  ”Donut Holes” from the best donut shop in WF.  Easy to eat, pretty to look at, and oh so tasty!  There’s more…

Who knew cereal could be fun to eat?  A cereal bar with trix, fruit loops, and coco puffs.  Serve yourself in a small or big cup with these adorable polka dot spoons.

The cake was full of colors that shouted out HAPPY.

Party favors were some sweet treats that each guest could place in a to-go cup with “you make me HAPPY when skies are gray”.

And here is the star!  This precious little girl is filled with the most joy, love, and tenderness than anyone.  Dressed in her colorful, polka dot bubble, she is oblivious to her cuteness.  Her lil’ mommy let this bubble outfit be her inspiration in color and design.

This hot pink cadillac escalade was the big HIT of the party.  Story enjoyed driving it up and down the street, with “Pops” and “Daddy” chaperoning the entire time.   That’s me, “Honey”, with the birthday girl.  Such a doll face.

What a party!  I hope you all are moved, encouraged, and inspired after seeing such a special celebration.  I believe it’s about time I start planning Baby Innamorati’s first birthday TODAY…

Keep Celebrating. XOXO.

Ooey-Gooey Cheesy Panini

For the past 5 weeks I’ve been craving a Scholtzky’s Original Cheese sandwich.  Before I was pregnant I had such great control over “cravings”.  Unfortunately things have changed.  When a craving hits me, I gotta have it…

Thankfully, there is a Scholtzky’s conveniently located about 3 minutes away from my house, where I have spent the majority of my lunches. I’ve even introduced this miracle meal to my other pregnant lady friend.  Let’s just say, pregnant women LOVE it.

Well I started to feel guilty for eating lunch out EVERY day and not to mention a little silly for showing up at the same time, basically in the same clothes (leggings and a Northface), so I decided I should try recreating this heavenly sandwich at home.  How did it turn out?

1 ciabatta roll, 1 slice of cheddar cheese, 1 slice of provolone cheese, lettuce (should be shredded), mustard, black olives, tomato, and Louisiana Hot Sauce for dipping.

Heat panini grill then add sandwich to the grill.  Cook until the cheese is melted.

After giving this a go, I have decided that if you are craving a Scholtzky’s Original Cheese sandwich, you better go buy yourself one and don’t feel guilty for one second!  You just can’t beat their unbelievably sinful bread…

Don’t get me wrong, this panini was yummy, but it just can’t be compared to Scholtzky’s.  If you are craving an ooey-gooey cheesy panini, then this is the recipe for YOU.

Oh, and I forgot to mention…I just rediscovered Sour Cream and Onion chips.  The world forgot to tell me how GOOD these fattening chips are.

Head to Scholtzky’s, order an original cheese (no onion), a bag of sour cream and onion chips (the real kind, don’t be healthy by picking baked), and a Dr. Pepper.  Indulge.  Enjoy.  And be satisfied.

Mangia Magia!

Homemade Blueberry Muffins

Now that I am about 15 weeks pregnant, my pregnancy cravings are in high gear.  Before I only had food aversions, which meant that basically everything made me queasy except peanut butter, cheetos ( I know weird, right?), and a baked potato.  Well, goodbye food aversions, hello pregnancy cravings!

My latest craving has been blueberry muffins.  Not just any blueberry muffin, but a specific type.  The kind my mom would make me as a little girl.  A muffin from a bakery or grocery store wouldn’t do the trick, so this AM I decided to spend some time down memory lane…and it was delicious

These muffins are the best.  They are simple and made in the cuisinart…I’m not kidding. So dust off that cuisinart and lets get to baking! Bon Appetite!

1 3/4 cups flour, 1 tablespoon baking powder, 3/4 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 2 large eggs, 4 tablespoons crisco, 3/4 cups buttermilk, 2 cups of fresh blueberries.

1). Mix together the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon in the cuisinart for a few seconds.  Save the mixture in a different bowl.

2).  Combine brown and white sugar and the eggs.  Mix for 1 minute.  Then add the crisco and buttermilk.  Mix for a minute.

3).  Add the dry mixture and pulse 3 to 4 times.

4).  Fold blueberries into the mixture.  Spray a muffin tin and add the muffin mixture to the tin.  Bake at 400 degrees for 18 minutes or until light brown on top.

These muffins are best eaten right out of the oven with your favorite morning beverage.  Since coffee and I are no longer friends, Lady Grey Tea is my indulgence.  Mangia Mangia!

Only in the Falls.

Back in November, I partook in the most fascinating and entertaining experience in good ol’ Wichita Falls, which is my hometown.  This laid back town is where I was born and raised into an “American Honey”.  Just listen to “American Honey” by Lady Antebellum and you will get a perfect image of my childhood in the Falls.

So, back to my story.  Many people in Wichita Falls anticipate the day when an elder  makes their way to Heaven.  Morbid, I know, but kind of true.  Now, before you get to judging, let me explain WHY…

ESTATE SALES.

Have you ever heard of one?  Sure.  Have you attended one?  Maybe.  Have you ever arrived 20 minutes early to make sure you go in first?  Probably just a Falls thing.

Stop numero uno.  I began laughing as my mom pulled up to this house.  ”Are you serious?  You’ve got to be joking!”

As we waited in line I ran into a handful of people I knew from way back when.  There is not one place you can go in the Falls and not run into someone you know.  I just love that about my sweet hometown

And what did I find at this stop?

A vintage fur jacket!  Price: 15 bucks! And ladies, this is REAL.

They were even selling this woman’s wedding dress from Neiman Marcus!  That just made me sad  This woman’s kids needed to keep that!

Our final stop was even more impressive….

Unbelievable, right?  This line wrapped around the sidewalk.  Finding a parking spot was quite the adventure too.  I didn’t purchase anything at this one, but my Mimi sure did.  She found some true treasure!

Only in the Falls…

Uh, Oh, HELLO!

For the past few Christmas’ and Thanksgivings, I always make Monkey Bread (aka. bubble bread).  You would think after years of making this yummy bread, I would remember  a few things about the recipe.

You would think….

Well, this Thanksgiving AM I woke up extra early to begin the process.  As I read the recipe, I realized I FORGOT to make the dough the night before, so it could rise overnight.

Shoobie doo….

Thankfully I didn’t have a mini melt down. (I tend to have those in moments like this)  Instead, I laughed at myself for a few minutes, then began searching for another bread recipe.  I had only a few hours, so this was quite the task to find a recipe that was simple and….FAST.

Then I remembered Neiman Marcus…

Now for those of you that have never experienced a hot popover with strawberry butter, I am so sorry.  Please go Neiman Marcus Cafe today, and bite your teeth into one.  I promise, you will not be disappointed.

These light, airy, hot, and elegant treats will you leave your mouth watering.  The last time I made these was at the age of 16. So, 10 years late, I pulled out the wrinkly recipe, and whip up some decadent popovers.

My popovers were a hit with my hub’s 95 year old Italian grandmother.  Now, anytime you impress Grandma in the kitchen, it’s a compliment that will last a lifetime!  She ate the whole thing!  Looks like I have a new tradition on Thanksgiving Day.

Good-bye bubble bread, hello Popovers!

 Sweet Grandma, she has taught me how to make Italian Wedding soup, gnocchi, two different pasta noodles, and more!  Maple Walnut ice cream is her absolute FAV ice cream which we cannot find anywhere in Dallas.  So, I pulled out the Old Fashion Ice Cream Maker, and created Maple Walnut.  Let’s just say, she was beside herself!

What am I thankful for this Thanksgiving?  The life of Grandma Innamorati.  She is full of life, charisma, humor, sas, and strength.  Love you!

Keep Celebrating. XOXO. AH.

A Thankful Heart.

This past week, the hubs and I hosted a family dinner at our new home.  We wanted to thank our family for all their love, support, help, and energy they have poured into our lives.   It was the least we could do to say “thank you”.

One of my favorite  dolce nientes is feasting over a home-cooked meal, sippin’ on delicious vino, all with the ones you love the most.  It was such a heart fulling evening.

My dining room table doesn’t have chairs yet, so we used the breakfast table for the dinner party.  It worked out perfectly.  I decided to used white, gold, with a touch of red to celebrate the Christmas season.

Merry, Merry!  White lilies with red berries in this fab vases.  Simple, yet it makes a statement.

My favorite holiday appetizer is warm brie with a brown sugar, buttery, kahlua and pecan topping.  Mmm, ooey-gooey goodness.

Three herb, buttered new potatoes.  I used dill, parsley, and chives.  Easy, quick, and delicious.

These asparagus are the easiest thing to make!  All you need is sugar, salt, pepper, and olive oil (that’s it).  Drizzle these thick greens with olive oil and season with sugar, salt, and pepper.  Roast for about 7-9 minutes at 400 degrees.  Then bon appetite!

This picture does not do any justice for how delightful this tilapia dish truly was!  Capers, dijon mustard, grainy mustard, and creme de fraiche. Combine all ingredients and pour over fish.  Bake and indulge.

Dinner left me with a full heart and full belly.

XOXO. Keep Celebrating.

Just Another Day in Paradise

Before I get started on my adventures in Kauai,  I come with good news! Our duplex has finally leased! Praise the LORD for He IS faithful!  Thank you for all your prayers and support.

Yesterday was a day of perfection.  We enjoyed a brisk jog in the morning before adventuring out to Tunnels, an incredible beach, with insanely massive waves.   Supposedly the swell came in, so to say the  least, the waves were large and in charge.

The Hottie and I dined at a restaurant called Post Cards.  I absolutely LOVED it.  Super healthy and fresh.  All ingredients were local and organic.  Mmm, mmm, mmm! I vegged on some fresh sea scallops, quinoa, broccoli,  roasted tomatoes, and a roasted beet salad.  Our sweet waitress thought we were so “cute and sweet”, that at the end of the meal she took us around the restaurant taking pictures of us

Today, the hubs decided to take on the golf challenge at one of the top 100 golf courses in the USA.  This is a Robert Trent Jones golf course, named Prince (That doesn’t mean much to me, but I’m sure it does to you golf lovers out there).  Let me tell you, it was pure Royalty!  The rolling hills perfectly colored green, the luscious vegetation,  the most colorful wild roosters roaming the course, the breezy blue ocean, and the stunning mountains made the two of us stand in awe.

Oh, and did I mention that I could sit in this comfy chairs as my love practiced is golf swing?  Royalty.

Tonight will be an easy and super casual evening.  Dinner at the bar.  Early to bed.  Late to rise

Keep celebrating. XOXO.

Aloha!

Aloha sweet friends!  I’m so sorry for my long absence these past few months.  Life has been filled with fun  travels with the hubs, weddings (best friend Annie),  many XOXO cookie orders, counseling, and da da da dom…becoming home owners!

Yes, that’s right.  The Hottie and I purchased our very first home.  After the big move, we decided we needed a vaca.  So, what better place to go, then Hawaii!  As I sip on a rita with the love of my life, and watch the Lord paint a breathe taking sunset, my heart is deeply moved.

So, I’m back to bloggin’.  Oh, how I’ve missed the days of writing, sharing, and creating.

Kauai is absolutely stunning.  It has mountains, the ocean, colorful flowers, and huge trees that cover the ground.  The people are friendly, greeting you always with a cheerful “Aloha!”   The fruit is sweet, bright, and juicy.  Oh, and the weather…perfection.

My hubs had the wisest idea to take a 7:00 AM flight so we could get to Kauai by the afternoon to embrace it’s beauty at its finest.  At first, I was a bit weary of this early morning, but it was sooooo worth it!  Thank you lovey

I sneaked a photo (shh, don’t tell American Airlines), as we began our decent into Kauai.  Don’t you just want to dive into those fluffy, white clouds?

Our first afternoon at the St. Regis, included a bottle of cham, the girliest chandlier (I wonder where I can fit this in my new home), and an ocean view room with a welcoming sunset.  From the words of my sweet friend Lindsay Billingsley, “Praise be!”

This is the lobby of the St. Regis.  Yes, those are the massive mountains that we gaze upon during breakfast.  The flowers are absolutely stunning!Our morning began with french pressed coffee (aaaammmmaazzzing), a steamy workout, fresh grapefruit juice, yogurt, and mini danishes.  This is such an AH kinda of place.

The rest of the day was spent napping in the sun, getting lost in the ocean view, sipppin’ on skinny girl margaritas,  and my Hottie being such the stud by taking on paddle surfing.  Pretty sure I prayed the whole hour and half he was gone.  I even ran to the other side of the ocean to see if I could fine him.  Thank the Lord he returned with a beautiful flower, and great stories

My heart is full.  My body and mind is at peace.  I’m thankful for this sweet reminder of our God’s power, creativity, and beauty.

Now, off to indulge into some sushi and sake.

Aloha!

One Reason.

“Forget all the reasons why it won’t work and BELIEVE the ONE reason why it WILL.” I stumbled across this quote on my friend’s FB page yesterday, and it struck me right through the heart…. I    L   O …

“Start Spreading the News

I’m  leaving today. I want to be apart of it. New York, New York!” Mmm, I can’t help but sing that Sinatra song every time I think of NYC. Big city lights, loud taxi cabs, an array of smells, night …