– a candy shop full of different flavors of salt water taffy –
– a club sandwich the size of your face at Eat Chow –
– a windows-down drive along the Pacific Coast Highway –
– a gorgeous evening walking along the Newport Beach pier –
Christian and I spent an exciting and exhausting week in California house hunting and exploring the place we will soon be calling home. We are trying to let the excitement trump the overwhelming move and adjustment we have coming — an experience that we know will help us grow individually and together. So many of you have been so kind, helpful and encouraging and I can’t thank you enough!!
Happy weekend and Cinco de Mayo to all of you XO –
I love the fresh change of a tart dessert instead of something chocolate and heavy. Don’t get me wrong – I will never turn down a warm brownie, but if faced with the choice between rich chocolate and a refreshing tart dessert…I will usually choose tart unless my sweatpants are at arms reach.
There are a lot of key lime pie recipes out there and most all of them are pretty simple. I’ve tried a few different recipes and tend to stick with the ones that list fewer egg yolks. Lately I’ve been sticking with this recipe and it doesn’t disappoint!
1 graham cracker pie crust (or if you want to make your own it only requires graham cracker crumbs, butter and sugar)
1 14oz. can sweetened condensed milk
2 egg yolks
1/2 cup fresh lime juice (or key limes if you’re feeling like staying true to your pie, I understand)
1 TB lime zest (optional)
cool whip for topping OR heavy whipping cream + 2 TB sugar
Preheat oven to 350. Mix lime zest, juice and egg yolks together well. Add sweetened condensed milk and beat with whisk until blended well. Pour mixture into pie crust and bake for 15 minutes. Once pie is removed from oven and cool, refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.
To make whipped cream, combine one cup of heavy whipping cream with 2 TB sugar and mix with an electric mixer until stiff and fluffy.
If the Pioneer Woman says she has a favorite pizza, I have to try it. I have really been into making pizzas every since we received a pizza stone as a wedding gift. In addition to my undying love for carbs, I love how easy pizza dough is to make (only four ingredients!) and how quickly it cooks (10 minutes, y’all). I LOVE this pear & gorgonzola pizza, but I knew it was time to give Ree’s eggplant and tomato pizza a whirl.
I said, “Christian! Look at the dough — it looks like a BRAIN.”
He said, “no it doesn’t.”
Rude.
Absolutely delicious – even the meat loving guy in my house preferred this pizza over the steak pizza because it had so much flavor. Note: the second time I made this pizza I sped it up by skipping the eggplant/colander step and letting the eggplant sit for only a few minutes on the cutting board before patting them down with the paper towels. I couldn’t tell that much of a difference – still cleaned my plate!
I have loved maxi dresses for years. I think they’re comfortable, flattering and usually make an effortless statement all on their own – all while still allowing you to sit indian-style in a chair should you desire (bonus!). I have mentioned this particular maxi dress that I purchased for my honeymoon here, here and here, and this was the first time I wore it since our honeymoon.
There are so many ways to style them – heels, flats, a chambray shirt, jacket, hat, vest, the list goes on! I shared how to wear the same maxi four ways here and here – I think they’re so versatile. This eBay shop is a favorite of mine to search for jersey dresses.
I love an easy salad…because that’s what salads are supposed to be, right? Oh–and healthy. This quick salad has been my lunch go-to lately and has me really looking forward to shopping for fresh, local berries this summer in California. Adding strawberries to the balsamic vinaigrette is such a nice change – I love the additional tartness!
for the salad:
fresh spinach or spring mix
5-6 strawberries, sliced
1/3 cup goat cheese, crumbled
1/3 cup walnuts
for the dressing:
2/3 cup strawberries, sliced
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 garlic clove
1 tsp dried thyme
Wash and slice your strawberries. Go ahead and make your salad and slice extra strawberries for the dressing. Add the dressing ingredients into a blender until smooth and drizzle over salad.
Yum! Let me know if you try this salad. Thank so much for reading! XO –
To touch back on the wedding subject from last week, I have shared with y’all how much I adore Brittany Fuson‘s talent (like here), but I am so thrilled to share the fabulous bridal illustration she created for me.
When I saw on instagram that she sketched bridal portraits, I immediately knew I had to have one! Brittany is always so friendly, accommodating and easy to work with — her personal and professional style has me always following her to see what she’s up to. I knew I had to frame this special custom design with my other two B. Fuson illustrations — so fun!
I think she nailed it! A BIG thank you to Brittany for sharing your time and talent with me. For all the recent or soon-to-be brides out there — this is something I would definitely recommend asking for. Hello wedding present! Thanks so much for reading – XO –
I have been looking for a cute spotted dress for some time now and this simple shift dress fit the bill. I love a dress that works for church, work and play and this one has it all. Paired with a colorful clutch, bright lipstick and heels and it feels both youthful and comfortable – what’s better than that?
To any of you who follow me on instagram, I’m the cliche latte insta-pic girl. I am so obsessed with this espresso machine wedding gift from the fab Caroline of Between Your Ears, and I’ve neglected the coffee maker ever since we received it! It makes me never want to spend $4 on a latte again when I can spend two minutes making one in my kitchen. I couldn’t recommend it enough – I’m happily addicted (to both the espresso and the caramel and white chocolate syrup I flavor it with).
I am so thrilled to finally share a preview of our lovely November wedding with all of you. Head on over to the fabulous feature at The Lovely Find!!
Thank you so much to Amy and The Lovely Find for sharing these special moments and memories. Maybe it’s the newlywed sucker in me but every time I see one of the lovely images from our wedding day I get a cheesy grin across my face (and my groom does too). Fall is my absolute favorite time of year and I was beyond thrilled that the fall leaves and crisp air were present on our wedding day. Cheers to the memories!
My smartypants husband traveled across the country during a four-month period interviewing for residency programs. Wherever you see the little airplane, the CHBoo has interviewed in that state at least once and in some twice! I am so proud of him for receiving over twenty interview offers and have tried to completely encourage him to go wherever he will receive the best training. I mean…I can’t ask him to give me botox one day if I don’t think he’s good enough (kidding….but I am not kidding).
On Friday, Christian found out where he matched in Otolaryngology (ENT/ear, nose and throat) and where we will be moving for five years.
Drumroll….
We are moving to SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA!!!
Even better? So is my brother, sister-in-law and niece, Edie!!! Christian has matched in Otolaryngology at the University of California-Irvine and we will be in Orange County for five years. My brother and his family will be in San Francisco for one year and then will move 45 minutes from us to the University of Southern California in Los Angeles for four years in Radiation Oncology.
Thank you so much for your warm wishes, thoughts, prayers and support. We are so blessed with supportive families and friends and I have been overwhelmed with the love and encouragement we have received. We are so amazed, shocked, grateful and ecstatic that the Lord has guided us to this adventure and we are looking forward to starting our marriage in the golden state!
Did I go ahead and purchase JT concert tickets in Pasadena for this summer?
Yes.
Did I listen to Katy Perry’s “California Gurls” all weekend with the sunroof down?
Yes.
Did I pull out dvds of The OC and start watching them again?
Yes.
Am I totally excited and obnoxious?
Yes.
Thanks so much for reading and sharing in this exciting journey with us! XO –
I was so fortunate to be a part of the celebration of my niece‘s first birthday this week. This precious little girl is the queen of my family. I like to joke that she has more clothes than Mariah Carey and is usually being chased down by her many fans and paparazzi (yours truly being the #1 offender). She was born into this diva lifestyle and from one self-proclaimed princess to another – there’s obviously a mutual respect between the two of us.
Many of Edie’s adoring fans from her Caringbridge site have asked for more photos from her birthday celebration and I am excited to share some of the moments I was able to capture! I hope these photos warm your heart as much as they do mine.
A big thank you to everyone who sent birthday cards, gifts, prayers and love to Miss Edie and her wonderful parents, making her birthday extra special. She would thank you personally herself but is still tired from her birthday appearance and like Mariah, requires three days of vocal rest before making additional appearances.
LaLa is Edie’s grandmother, nanny and personal chef (check out the gorgeous birthday cake in Edie’s favorite shade of pink). Aunt Claudia is LaLa’s sister and is also known as Edie’s personal tailor who whips up most of her custom wardrobe. Edie keeps Aunt Claudia on a tight leash because if the outfit isn’t cinched in all the right places – she’s not interested.
Happy Birthday to a little girl who has taught so much to so many grown-ups. Thank you for allowing me to be your Aunt Kat and continue to learn from you and the examples of your loving and proud parents.
I had a special something in mind for a party coming up, and some tassel garland was the final touch I needed. I was shocked at how easy this was to put together — only one piece of tissue papper makes four tassels = amazing!
This tutorial was super helpful and easy to follow. An episode of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and a few steps created this tissue paper tassel garland — here’s how you can make one too.
Fold the square sheet of tissue paper in half lengthwise (or “hotdog” for anyone who was in Mrs. Grisamore’s class).
Then fold it in half again widthwise (again…or “hamburger”).
Then fold it again hamburger/widthwise.
Once you’ve done this, begin to cut the paper in strips, leaving about two inches at the top. I later found out that clothespins helped to keep the paper in place so I could cut clean, even strips.
Once you’ve cut all of the strips, cut the section in half. Once you fold it out you should have four sections.
Take a section and roll it up. Once you’ve rolled it, twist the middle section and loop it around to make a circle. Dab the base with a drop of hot glue and hold together for a few seconds, setting the glue.
Anytime I wrap a present or work on a craft project – Lu is front and center ready to pounce/drive me insane. She was in full terrorizing mode for this project and I have to share some photos I snapped of this brat.
“What me? No, I mean, I wasn’t messing with your dumb project. I don’t even care what you’re doing.”
I wouldn’t assume anything if there wasn’t tissue paper hanging from your mouth.
She harassed me into exhaustion and when she took a cat nap I was able to move much quicker! Continue making the tassels until you’ve reached your desired length and loop them all into a piece of twine.
That’s it! So easy and a quick touch of fun to any party decor. Thanks for reading! XO –
