I don't have much creative thought at the moment. Too much going on(at least that's my excuse) and not enough exciting material to share. So here's an abridged version of the goings on of Mr. and Mrs. Ellis these last few weeks. Or at least what I've been meaning to blog about for awhile.
The entire month of October was a blur. My brother got married to my lovely new sister-in-law. And in a funny twist of fate giving her my maiden name(practically, off by one letter). She's amazing and I am so proud of my brother, I love them together. Here's some of my favorite pictures from their wedding weekend. I was using my brother's camera, becoming the unofficial photographer(who couldn't figure out the camera no less) but it made me REALLY want a new camera. Christmas maybe? *hint hint*
(Okay so apparently Photobucket is having issues tonight, I will try to post all the pictures again in the morning.)
Halloween came and went pretty quickly. I dressed up as a nurse and Matt(after much pleading) dress up in his football gear. Not really a costume but at least he looked the part. Halloween night we went to my parent's house for a potluck/trick or treating. And I will admit...this is the first year I haven't gone trick or treating. Yes, I have still gone out and gotten candy until this year. I guess I decided being married kind of discounted me from getting free candy finally. My baby sister has always loved me going with her to get candy so I don't feel too silly for doing it for 21 years. But this year I hung up my pillowcase and we passed out candy at my parents while everyone else went around the neighborhood. That's when I discovered the only thing better then getting free candy(with a few strange looks) is getting to sit out front comfortably handing out candy to cute little kiddies. Until... A certain little 12 year old kid came to the door. We gave him candy, and he says, "Hey I like your costume." Um thanks(me) "Do you wanna go out with me?" Uh, no. Awkward...
Not too much going on so far in November. But it has FINALLY cooled down a bit. I'm not holding my breath that it will last but somehow those fall scented candles(and scentsy) and my new Fall inspired decor(really just rearranged furniture, an entry rug, and new curtains) seem so much better when it actually feels/smells like Fall outside. Not to mention chai tea which never tastes as good cold and cupcake obsession taking a pumpkin theme. I really would share the recipe/pictures however the cupcakes didn't really make it much further then just being made. I'm pretty sure we ate the entire dozen in two days before we even got around to icing them. I guess that's a good thing, I'll have to make them again and actually attempt the frosting I was envisioning. It might be wonderful.
Well I hope you are all enjoying the cooler weather I will add pictures as soon as I can.
Oh and a quick shout out to my friend Lacey who just got engaged! I'm so happy for you two I can't wait for the wedding:D
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Vote for me
Hey all, I'm trying to win a Trash the Dress/Rock the Dress photoshoot through Noyan Photography. If you have a minute, I would really appreciate if you would go to their Facebook page... http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/noyanphotography , "like" the page, then go to their photo album and comment a vote on my picture. I'm the one on the red couch.
Our wedding photographer was less then awesome so I would really love to be able to have pictures of me and my dress that I like.
Thanks in advance!
Our wedding photographer was less then awesome so I would really love to be able to have pictures of me and my dress that I like.
Thanks in advance!
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Review: Vine Expressions
First Review. You ready for this? I thought I'd start with one of our favorite dates in the area.
These are NOT my pictures, I still can't find my camera cord so I'm borrowing for now. I'll make a note on who took the pictures.
Vine Expressions is a small wine bar in Gilbert in civic center shopping just south of Warner on Gilbert Road. It's really quiet and rarely busy, the atmosphere is laid back and the people behind the bar are great and know a lot about wine.
Obviously they have a huge wine list for about $7 and up by the glass and their daily featured wines go for $5-$7. Half the place is the wine store, it's like functional decor and you can buy a bottle of wine and drink it there, take home a bottle of something you tried by the glass or just wander looking at the selection. For the non-wine drinkers there is good beer selection too. I couldn't tell you what else they have to drink because I don't usually get past the featured wines.
They also have great app plates and small meals. Or what they call "noshes". We like to sit at the bar or they have some tables and couches to relax in. There is always things going on mostly on weekdays like wine tastings for $10-$15 that includes 4 different wines and an appetizer plate and a discount on wines by the bottle.
There is live music some nights, but the good kind in the background, not the can't hear each other talk kind. Our favorite is Brian Willia, a great acoustic guitar player. All their upcoming events are on the website. http://www.vineexpressions.com/
But, by the way, they are closed Sunday and Monday, I've learned that the hard way and I don't enjoy driving up Gilbert Rd through downtown unless I absolutely have to. Happy hour is from 11AM-6PM with some discounts on wine by the glass but we don't usually get there until around 7 or 8 so not sure how crowded it gets.
Next amazing(?) post to look forward to...
My experience with Bountiful Baskets! Okay so this week I'm just splitting with one of the ladies from The Nest local boards so I can get some apples(apple pie anyone) but I'm looking into getting our own soon. It sounds like an awesome idea. Here's the website, more info about this whole BB thing next time.
http://www.bountifulbaskets.org/
P.S. Photo by Hilen Cruz and by the way I'm not liking the photo uploader on here.
These are NOT my pictures, I still can't find my camera cord so I'm borrowing for now. I'll make a note on who took the pictures.
Vine Expressions is a small wine bar in Gilbert in civic center shopping just south of Warner on Gilbert Road. It's really quiet and rarely busy, the atmosphere is laid back and the people behind the bar are great and know a lot about wine.
Obviously they have a huge wine list for about $7 and up by the glass and their daily featured wines go for $5-$7. Half the place is the wine store, it's like functional decor and you can buy a bottle of wine and drink it there, take home a bottle of something you tried by the glass or just wander looking at the selection. For the non-wine drinkers there is good beer selection too. I couldn't tell you what else they have to drink because I don't usually get past the featured wines.
They also have great app plates and small meals. Or what they call "noshes". We like to sit at the bar or they have some tables and couches to relax in. There is always things going on mostly on weekdays like wine tastings for $10-$15 that includes 4 different wines and an appetizer plate and a discount on wines by the bottle.
There is live music some nights, but the good kind in the background, not the can't hear each other talk kind. Our favorite is Brian Willia, a great acoustic guitar player. All their upcoming events are on the website. http://www.vineexpressions.com/
But, by the way, they are closed Sunday and Monday, I've learned that the hard way and I don't enjoy driving up Gilbert Rd through downtown unless I absolutely have to. Happy hour is from 11AM-6PM with some discounts on wine by the glass but we don't usually get there until around 7 or 8 so not sure how crowded it gets.
Next amazing(?) post to look forward to...
My experience with Bountiful Baskets! Okay so this week I'm just splitting with one of the ladies from The Nest local boards so I can get some apples(apple pie anyone) but I'm looking into getting our own soon. It sounds like an awesome idea. Here's the website, more info about this whole BB thing next time.
http://www.bountifulbaskets.org/
P.S. Photo by Hilen Cruz and by the way I'm not liking the photo uploader on here.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Ah Kids.
My story for the week is thanks to the sweet charming little boys(sarcasm implied just a smidge) that I've started nannying. These two are hilarious and adorable and have so much energy it's crazy. The last two times I've seen them to interview/meet them they've been bouncing off the walls being typical little 5 and 7 year old boys trying to outdo one another and show off because I was there.
My actual first day of picking them up from school and watching them was Thursday. Everything was going great, I talked to their teachers and got them in my truck. I asked about their day at school and then the stories started coming about who did this and what this girl said, I'm trying to keep a straight face while they're telling me these stories so seriously. Then we pull up to a light and the 5 year old who is sitting right next to me says, "Hey look at my muscles!" and does the arm pose. I say wow look at those and do the same thing with my arm and say look at mine! He looks at my arm and points and says, "You need a Shakeweight!" Um, excuse me???
I can't stop laughing about it. This is why I love little kids, they say whatever is on their minds. And scares you at the same time because you know they are listening to everything other people are saying and commercials which can be even worse.
It's been a busy but good week. I got myself a handy dandy organizer(my mother is so proud) so hopefully I will be on top of everything and get all my projects done sooner then later. My immediate project is to clean my room(my mother didn't ever get through to me on that) and find my camera cord so I can post pictures of California and do my first review...cheap date nights in the East Valley!
My actual first day of picking them up from school and watching them was Thursday. Everything was going great, I talked to their teachers and got them in my truck. I asked about their day at school and then the stories started coming about who did this and what this girl said, I'm trying to keep a straight face while they're telling me these stories so seriously. Then we pull up to a light and the 5 year old who is sitting right next to me says, "Hey look at my muscles!" and does the arm pose. I say wow look at those and do the same thing with my arm and say look at mine! He looks at my arm and points and says, "You need a Shakeweight!" Um, excuse me???
I can't stop laughing about it. This is why I love little kids, they say whatever is on their minds. And scares you at the same time because you know they are listening to everything other people are saying and commercials which can be even worse.
It's been a busy but good week. I got myself a handy dandy organizer(my mother is so proud) so hopefully I will be on top of everything and get all my projects done sooner then later. My immediate project is to clean my room(my mother didn't ever get through to me on that) and find my camera cord so I can post pictures of California and do my first review...cheap date nights in the East Valley!
Monday, September 13, 2010
I'm a bad blogger
Who knew that in order to have a blog, you have to update it. Hmm.
Well I, Katie, am back from California after my almost month long stint enjoying the beautiful weather (85 degree highs) and working normal hours for the first time in my life. I quite enjoyed sitting at a desk and getting to go to lunch every day. The news of the month is that my brother Sean is getting married, he and his awesome bride-to-be Kate are planning a San Francisco City Hall wedding NEXT MONTH:) I'm trying not to let this give me the wedding bug again that I so recently got better from. Notice how I said better, not cured.
But I'm not complaining, I get to go right back up to my favorite state in a month for all the fun festivities including possibly the coolest wedding reception ever at their favorite local bar. Can't wait.
I think I keep jinxing myself by teasing(threatening?) to put pictures up here because I was without my camera cord in California, then lost my camera altogether when Matt came out to visit me and brought my cord with him. I came home to AZ thinking that I'd never see my sweet little camera again and voila, someone found it and it's now safely with me again. However, now I need to find my camera cord before I can post any pictures. I think I have a problem.
The hubby and I have been married 3 months. Time flies. This year has gone by so fast yet the last couple weeks have seemed to go by so slow. I hate this part of the year in Arizona. It seems that everyone is exhausted from the heat that won't quite go away for another month. And everyone is busy with school and work and no one has time to do much of anything. I'm the kind of person who always is looking forward to something and I can't ever be without a project. So I'm undertaking a new project of finishing all my old projects and then organizing our little house. Truth be told we have a lot of "stuff" for such a little house. And a shed full of who knows what, I'm sure I don't know what we stuck in there when we moved in and forgot. Which brings me to the reason that I now have time to do these new/old projects...
I quit my job! I'll admit it sounds kind of crazy to quit a job in this economy but while I was gone I decided that I didn't need a job that stressed me out and I was disrespected in, especially when it didn't really help out much financially(ah the joys of a student's salary). And no sooner had I quit when I discovered something else that would help pay bills and is something I already love doing. I'm going to nanny! Right now I only have a couple jobs each part time but surprise surprise, there is no shortage of people needing someone to watch their kids. And I love kids and if I can get paid to snuggle babies I'm a happy camper. It's not much but it gives me the flexibility to take on whatever comes our way in this crazy changing world of being a newlywed. I never thought we would have too many opportunities. Even a year ago, I had hoped but didn't know we would be in the place we are today. Heck, 3 months ago I didn't know how much we would like being married. It's a nice feeling.
So maybe eventually we will post some reviews, or pictures. But I'm getting the updating down first. And learning not to ramble so much as I am so prone to doing. Thanks for listening.
*Katie*
Well I, Katie, am back from California after my almost month long stint enjoying the beautiful weather (85 degree highs) and working normal hours for the first time in my life. I quite enjoyed sitting at a desk and getting to go to lunch every day. The news of the month is that my brother Sean is getting married, he and his awesome bride-to-be Kate are planning a San Francisco City Hall wedding NEXT MONTH:) I'm trying not to let this give me the wedding bug again that I so recently got better from. Notice how I said better, not cured.
But I'm not complaining, I get to go right back up to my favorite state in a month for all the fun festivities including possibly the coolest wedding reception ever at their favorite local bar. Can't wait.
I think I keep jinxing myself by teasing(threatening?) to put pictures up here because I was without my camera cord in California, then lost my camera altogether when Matt came out to visit me and brought my cord with him. I came home to AZ thinking that I'd never see my sweet little camera again and voila, someone found it and it's now safely with me again. However, now I need to find my camera cord before I can post any pictures. I think I have a problem.
The hubby and I have been married 3 months. Time flies. This year has gone by so fast yet the last couple weeks have seemed to go by so slow. I hate this part of the year in Arizona. It seems that everyone is exhausted from the heat that won't quite go away for another month. And everyone is busy with school and work and no one has time to do much of anything. I'm the kind of person who always is looking forward to something and I can't ever be without a project. So I'm undertaking a new project of finishing all my old projects and then organizing our little house. Truth be told we have a lot of "stuff" for such a little house. And a shed full of who knows what, I'm sure I don't know what we stuck in there when we moved in and forgot. Which brings me to the reason that I now have time to do these new/old projects...
I quit my job! I'll admit it sounds kind of crazy to quit a job in this economy but while I was gone I decided that I didn't need a job that stressed me out and I was disrespected in, especially when it didn't really help out much financially(ah the joys of a student's salary). And no sooner had I quit when I discovered something else that would help pay bills and is something I already love doing. I'm going to nanny! Right now I only have a couple jobs each part time but surprise surprise, there is no shortage of people needing someone to watch their kids. And I love kids and if I can get paid to snuggle babies I'm a happy camper. It's not much but it gives me the flexibility to take on whatever comes our way in this crazy changing world of being a newlywed. I never thought we would have too many opportunities. Even a year ago, I had hoped but didn't know we would be in the place we are today. Heck, 3 months ago I didn't know how much we would like being married. It's a nice feeling.
So maybe eventually we will post some reviews, or pictures. But I'm getting the updating down first. And learning not to ramble so much as I am so prone to doing. Thanks for listening.
*Katie*
Saturday, August 7, 2010
2 Months and Counting
So we've been married for 2 months now. It doesn't seem like that much time has passed. Our wedding feels like it was a few days ago. We still haven't gotten everything done and back to normal yet. Married life is better then anything I could have imagined it would be. I never knew I could be completely happy just sitting on a couch watching my Husband(still love getting to say that) play video games. Or cook me dinner. He's too good to me. However, I'm a hopeless procrastinator and since we rarely have the same days off together I keep pushing things to the back of my mind like finishing thank you notes. Oops.
But now I need to get my butt in gear because I'm leaving Monday(very short notice) for California to work for a little while. A desk job for once. Right now it looks like I'll only be up there 2-3 weeks. The bummer part is Matt has to stay here for work while I'm gone. We're hoping to work something out for a weekend but it's definitely going to be a new challenge for us. I've been trying to get a new job for a long time now and while it's not ideal timing, it's a great opportunity, is temporary, and will really help us out in the long run.
At least I love the area I'll be in, Matt will have his Madden '11 coming out next week to keep him busy, and I'll have plenty of time without a vehicle to spend hours working on this lovely blog. Maybe I'll give ya'll some wedding pictures soon. I know you're all so excited.
(side note, I'm really trying to refrain from lol's and emoticons, so sorry if my sarcasm comes across awkward in my blogging. I wonder if they have lol-anonymous.)
Stay cool friends, it's been ridiculously hot lately. 110 degrees is not my idea of a good time.
But now I need to get my butt in gear because I'm leaving Monday(very short notice) for California to work for a little while. A desk job for once. Right now it looks like I'll only be up there 2-3 weeks. The bummer part is Matt has to stay here for work while I'm gone. We're hoping to work something out for a weekend but it's definitely going to be a new challenge for us. I've been trying to get a new job for a long time now and while it's not ideal timing, it's a great opportunity, is temporary, and will really help us out in the long run.
At least I love the area I'll be in, Matt will have his Madden '11 coming out next week to keep him busy, and I'll have plenty of time without a vehicle to spend hours working on this lovely blog. Maybe I'll give ya'll some wedding pictures soon. I know you're all so excited.
(side note, I'm really trying to refrain from lol's and emoticons, so sorry if my sarcasm comes across awkward in my blogging. I wonder if they have lol-anonymous.)
Stay cool friends, it's been ridiculously hot lately. 110 degrees is not my idea of a good time.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Return to baking
It's been awhile since I've baked something. I don't cook to save my life(I can cook I just choose not to) but I love to bake. So I decided to tackle a baking project I've been eyeing for awhile, Kahlua cake! So I went out and got a bundt pan, which was more expensive then I thought it would be, and I had a half bottle of Kahlua, I figured that would be plenty. Here's the recipe if you want all the particulars. Easy Kahlua Cake Recipe
So just a note, 1 Cup of Kahlua is more than you think. But I managed to use a cup and save a little bit for the glaze, unfortunately Matt didn't know I was saving the little bit in the bottle and I had to rescue it. So I ended up with a bit less for the glaze.
The only thing I would recommend to do differently then the recipe is not letting it bake so long. Or if you do keep an eye on it. This is also the first time I've used a bundt pan so I let the edges get a little brown, but the inside was perfect.
The Kahlua taste was stronger then I expected it to be but the cake turned out really good. I want to try this recipe with other things like Baileys maybe. And work on the glaze too. But I'll definitely be making this again.
Here are the pictures...
I forgot to take a picture until after we'd made a dent in it. A pretty big dent for two people I'll admit.
That's all for tonight. More later on us, our high maintenance dog, and life as it is right now.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
First post
Hi everyone, welcome to our blog! I finally got around to making it since this seems more fun to do then anything else on my to do list, like thank you cards(which I still need to do almost 2 months after the wedding, oops) or that pile of clothes I need to go through. So here it is, we hope you enjoy this blog about the happenings in our lives, our reviews and recipes, and anything else I find the need to ramble about. More coming soon!
*Katie*
*Katie*
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