Hocus Pocus

    Happy Halloween!

    No cute little trick or treaters here yet tonight. But I've got the candy beside me, ready to go if they do decide to come knocking! 

    As you all know, I l-o-v-e LOVE the Clemson Tigers. Spending four years of my life there sure made an impression on me. I am so thankful to call it my alma mater, even after...yes, even after losing to Georgia Tech this past weekend. 

    It was a heart breaker but Charlie and I had the time of our lives! We met some amazing people at the game, and had a blast, even if they were all Tech fans. Plus, Charlie surprised me with some pretty spectacular seats. I won't complain :) No fussing at him for a few weeks...at least! 

    I'm still proud to be a Tiger! All in, always. 







    Not to mention...my parents made the 6 HOUR hike to Atlanta last night, for a 2 hour visit!! God bless them and their hearts. I love them more than anything in the world, and those two hours with them last night are going to make this week the most perfect week in the world! 

    Oh...and we got these Halloween goodies, as well as some apple turnovers and apple cider (two of my fall favorites)! Oh, the happiness :) 

    I hope your night has been filled with all the wonderful candy you could ever imagine! Or really cute trick or treaters :) Happy, Happy Halloween! 

    ...Not that I want to wish it away, but bring on November and December!! WOO HOO


Happy Saturday!! {guest blogging}

    Good morning and Happy Saturday to you lovely people :) 

    I'm normally not a Saturday blogger, but today I wanted to send you over to the sweet EmCain's blog! I just adore her here in this blog world, and I know you will too!! 
    My post focuses on relationships and all of the crazy things that other half of ours brings to our lives! Go ahead, if you're looking for a read this Saturday morning, head on over there!

    I hope you all have a beautiful Saturday. We will be freezing our booty's off at the Georgia Tech stadium tonight. The TIGERS are in town! Woo Hoo! GO CLEMSON! 

Halloween Party Inspiration!

    I plan on doing a little Halloween celebrating this weekend, and my inspiration is below. Happy Halloween weekend my friends! Happy Friday! xoxo, Julie

    SNACKS
    Green Slimed Popcorn via Purple Chocolat Home

    Jack-O-Lantern Oranges!

    Empanadas, Fondue & 7-Layer Dip via Divine Dinner Party!




    Apricots & Raisins via Olive and Cocoa


    BREAKFAST
    Chocolate Pumpkin Pancakes!

    Mummy Dogs!

    Chocolate Milkshake!

    DINNER

    Halloween Mini Salads via All You

    Spaghetti Peppers via Macaroni Kid

    Quesadillas via My Recipe

    Mummy Rolls

    Veggie Skeleton

    Slime Punch with blood rim via Parent's Magazine

    DESSERT
    Pumpkin Pudding via Cooking Light

    Homemade Carmel Apples covered in Halloween colored sprinkles!


    Mint Chocolate Chips via Betty Crocker

    DECOR
    Scary Front Yard-I was able to find 4 tombstones at Walgreens!

    Creepy Table with white table cloths, candleabras, pumpkins and spider webs!


    Don't forget the...
    MUSIC PLAYLIST
    Monster Mash-Bobby Pickett
    Thriller-Michael Jackson
    In the Air Tonight-Phil Collins
    People Who Died-Jim Carroll
    Long Black Veil-Dave Matthews Band
    Ghostbusters-Ray Parker
    People Are Strange-The Doors
    Iko Iko-The Dixie Cups
    Black Magic Woman-Santana
    Creep-Radiohead
    The Addams Family Theme-Charlie Addams
    I Put a Spell on You-Screamin' Jay Hawkins

Big Girl Purchase

    That's right!! I finally made my first big girl purchase...

    At first I thought it was dumb, but since then...I've talked myself out of it, and now I'm believing that it was a very smart investment. 

    What did I buy you ask? 

    FRYE BOOTS. Sheesh. My pocket book cries just hearing those words. 

    They were a bit pricey...and trust me, I am not a $$$$ girl. I don't spend money like that. My parents raised me better than to blow money, and I have a boyfriend who keeps that engrained even as the pay checks are coming in. 

    But people, I had been drooling over these boots. You know how that is, right? I mean just drooling. So I bought them, but ONLY BECAUSE...they were on big time sale. 

    By big time sale I mean. They were $50 off on piperlime then I got an additional percentage off because I paid with my Banana card. I know...I spent money, to save money. Dumb. But oh these babies are beauties! And from what I hear they are supposed to last forever. 

    I ended up going with the Frye Paige boots. They are riding boots and I promise I've worn them everyday since they arrived on our door step. 

    Do you own any Frye boots? Please tell me somebody has a story of how their pair last for 10 years?? I'm really hoping mine last that long. I vow to take good, good care of them. 

    So there it is. My first big girl purchase, with my very own money. Weird. 


Welcome Back...again

    For one week now, I've been going crazy. Why? 

    ...because I depend on the internet. 

    Remember the post below, where I apologized for being a terrible blogger. And remember how I promised that I was going to be so much better about blogging, and blah, blah, blah. 

    Well it wasn't a lie...it's just the day after I said that our internet and cable bit the dust. People, I haven't used my computer in exactly one week!! Let me tell you, I am super dependent on this little baby and I am so very happy to have it back in my lap. 

    What did I miss most?? Getting to blog!! Seriously. I had no idea how much I enjoyed this, and missing out on the lives of all y'all and then not getting to chat every day has made me want to pull my hair out. 

    We are back in business with our internet and cable as of today! PRAISE THE LORD! And I am so excited about catching up with all of y'all! 

    So, can I get one more welcome back??? :) Pretty please. I promise I'm here to stay. 

    Here's what we've been up to for the past week...
    We are a divided house and  
    this past weekend there was a bit of a rivalry in this relationship :) 
    Clemson played Carolina...and guess who won??
    GO TIGERS




     xoxoxoxoxo. 
    So happy we got to spend the weekend with them again! 

     So much love for my alma mater. 
    Clemson is playing in Atlanta this weekend. 
    WOO HOO! 

     I am such a big nerd. 

     We hung out at the lake on Sunday. 
    Gorgeous! 

    It's been driving me crazy that I haven't had a desk in our apt! 
    So the other night I got rid of our not used dining room table 
    and turned it in to my desk :) WOO! 

Too funny NOT to share....

    I was literally rolling after reading this blog post from sellabitmum.com and just had to share.  I promise we do not encourage these techniques at our photo shoots!  LOL... Hope you all are having a great week and looking forward to the family farm shoots on Saturday!!!  :)  ~Krista


    Top 10 Tips for a Successful Holiday Family Photo Shoot

    I took my kids out to the woods on Sunday to take Holiday pictures. I was so proud of myself this year since we were doing this so early this year, it was still warm out AND I took them to nature instead of the highway overpass that I took them to last year..you remember that don’t you?

    So after many years of experience – I have my top 10 tips for you to have a successful do-it-yourself Holiday photo shoot.
    1.  Purchase new wool sweaters for your kids. THEY ITCH. and THEY BITCH through the whole session.

    2.  Take your children to the woods  and listen to their screams because you make a joke about bears being nearby.

    3.  Take your children to a place where they just happen to see a friend and then eldest child is visibly humiliated that she is “dressed up” and “with her mother” and “posing for pictures with her sister”

    4.  Serve them chocolate for breakfast so they are bouncing off the walls and then CRASH HARD.

    5.  Forget any and all candy bribes to try to get just “one more shot and then we get a lollipop” so they start running away almost immediately.

    6.  Yell at your kids once they start the “she’s touching me” crap after you’ve told them to move closer together and act like you like each other.

    7.  Make sure the shoot starts infringing on lunch and/or nap time because nothing says “perfect shot” like a toddler throwing herself upon the ground.

    8.  Have toddler, upon throwing herself upon the ground, get a big gash in her cheek from the brush. In the woods, Where the bears live.  Blood. Blood is perfect for a photo shoot.

    9.  New shoes! Love the comfort of new shoes for a photo shoot. Bitching of sore feet from new shoes only starts about 3 minutes into the shoot.

    10.  Take your kids holiday photos yourself. Don’t bother hiring this out because nothing says holiday cheer when you are yelling to your child “just effing smile NOW or you are going to have to move out so I can find a new family for the card this year!!”

Berry Chantilly Cake

    Have you ever had the Berry Chantilly Cake at Whole Foods? If you haven't, then you need to go out and try it right now! It's so light, fresh and delectable! I first had it last month when a co-worker Stacy brought it to a going away party, and today another co-worker Lori made an exact replica! I, of course, devoured it. From online research it looks like this is Whole Foods "signature" cake, and for good reason! It's now my "signature" cake for my future birthdays and personal milestones! Thankfully Lori shared the recipe with us below! Yum! Happy Tuesday! xoxo, Julie






    Here is the recipe Lori used and it is spot on! She said that she did not make the cake from scratch but used box cake mix. It was delish!
     
     
    Berry Chantilly Cake
    This recipe is a close copy of a Berry Chantilly Cake from a popular organic grocery chain. The ingredients were copied from the listing on the cake container itself. The original cake calls for orange Flavedo which is simply orange zest. This recipe substitutes Gran Marnier instead but feel free to use the zest instead if you like. The overall measurements were calculated based off of other tried and tested recipes. The apricot glaze is an easier method than making your own from scratch but will yield the same results. If you try it and feel it’s not exactly right let me know. I no longer have the original to compare it to. None of the markets here in my new city sell this cake. Hope you enjoy!


    Ingredients

    Yellow Cake:
    1 cup butter
    1 1/2 cups white sugar
    8 egg yolks
    3/4 cup milk
    1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    1 cup + 2 Tablespoons unbleached cake flour
    1 cup unbleached unbromated flour
    2 teaspoons baking powder
    1/2 teaspoon salt

    Directions

    1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour 2 – 8 inch round pans. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt three times to ensure maximum integration. Set aside.
    2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg yolks one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the milk, mixing just until incorporated. Pour batter into prepared pans.

    Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until tops spring back when lightly tapped. Cool 15 minutes before turning out onto cooling racks.

    (Make sure to use unbleached, unbromated flour to ensure your cake comes out like the original! Measure all flour portions by pouring your flour into your measuring cup rather than scooping. Scooping will pack the flour in and almost always add too much to the batter causing the cake to be dry or not rise.)



    Mascarpone cream cheese frosting:
    2 cups of heavy cream

    8 ounces of mascarpone cheese, room temperature

    8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
    1 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted

    1 teaspoon almond bitter essence

    Directions
    1. With an electric mixer on medium speed, whisk heavy cream and almond bitter essence until stiff peaks form (be careful not to over-beat, or cream will be grainy).
    2. In another bowl, whisk together mascarpone and confectioners’ sugar until very smooth.
    3.Gently fold whipped cream into mascarpone until completely incorporated. Use immediately.

    Raspberry Puree:
    Ingredients

    2 pints raspberries
    1/4 cup sugar
    1 tablespoon lemon juice

    Directions
    1. Combine raspberries and sugar in a saucepan. Cook until raspberries are broken down, about 10 minutes.
    2. Remove from the heat and strain through a chinois to eliminate seeds.

    Berries:
    Ingredients

    1 cup Fresh strawberries, stemmed, halved

    1 cup Fresh raspberries

    1/2 cup Fresh blackberries or blueberries

    3 oz. Grand Marnier
(you can also use orange extract)
    1/4 cup Orange juice

    Directions
    1. Combine Grand Marnier & orange juice. Whisk until blended.
    2. Place berries in a shallow bowl or dish, cover with Grand Marnier mixture.
    Marinate for 30 minutes.

    Apricot Glaze:
    Ingredients

    1/2 cup (125 grams) apricot jam or preserves
    1 tablespoon Grand Marnier or water (can also use other liqueurs)

    Directions
    1. Heat the apricot jam or preserves in a small saucepan over medium heat until melted.
    2. Remove from heat and strain the jam through a fine strainer to remove any fruit lumps. (If using, add the liqueur at this point.)
    3. Let cool until it is only slightly warm and then glaze the fruit on top of cake, using a pastry brush.

    Assembly:
    Place one completely cool layer of cake on a cake dish and add frosting to top. Frosting should be slightly higher near edges than in the center. Add raspberry puree to layer then add a layer of fruit. Next, add the second layer of cake and frost the entire cake with Marscopone frosting. At this point you can add piping to the top rim of the cake as well as the sides if you like. Piping at the top will help to keep the raspberry puree from running down the sides. At this point add the raspberry puree then top with the remaining fruit. While the apricot glaze is still warm brush the fruit with a thin layer. You may also add sliced almonds to the top and sides of the cake if you wish. Place the cake in the refrigerator until ready to serve. This cake is best served cold.

Paper Lanterns

    I'm a big fan of hanging paper lanterns at casual events. There are several different options in hanging and lighting them, and a good, basic article can be found HERE. I've found them without lighting attachments at World Market, as well as at some party stores and online. Basically, you can get very simple with them by hanging them with fishing line without lighting, attaching them to Christmas lights or battery-operated LED lighting, or going more technical and hanging them with lighting cords.  However you do this, you are bound to get a fun effect!  Happy Monday! xoxo, Julie










    If you see a picture and know who the credit belongs to, please send me the info and I will add immediately. I am also happy to take down any pics by request of the owner. Thanks!

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