Southern Saturday

Hey friends!

Let's talk about one of my most favorite things EVER!

Whiskey.

Bourbon.

Southern Comfort!

You see, now that I'm legal to drink (as of last Sunday), I've found myself indulging in something completely new to me.

Desserts with alcohol in them!

Wahhhhh!?!

This new cupcake place in town opened up called Crave Cupcakes. They offer cupcakes with liquor in them that requires you to be of age to taste & buy. I'm so loving this!

I haven't made it to Crave just yet, but I plan on it before my accounting class this week.

Okay, maybe that's not such a great idea lol!

But definitely very soon!

Anyways, a few weeks ago, I tried a Southern Comfort pound cake which I am determined to make...maybe this weekend coming!

A little time in the kitchen would be good for me.

So here it is. Please give it a shot. You'll absolutely fall madly in love with it!

Southern Comfort Pound Cake

2 1/2 sticks (10 oz) butter, softened
1 -6 oz cream cheese, softened
2 1/2 cups sugar
6 eggs
1/4 cup Southern Comfort, bourbon or whiskey
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups cake flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
Southern Comfort Glaze -below

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease and lightly flour a 12-cup Bundt or tube pan.

Using an electric mixer, cream butter and cream cheese at medium speed until nice and creamy. Slowly add the sugar beating at medium speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add eggs one at a time on low speed in 30 second intervals blending batter together after each addition. Blend in the liqueur and extract until just blended on low speed and gradually add the flour in at least three additions waiting until all is incorporated before preceding with the next addition. Increase speed to medium and beat batter for 30 seconds to improve elasticity.

Bake for about an hour or until internal temperature reaches 210 degrees F. You can also test with a toothpick inserted in center. If it comes out clean, the cake is done, otherwise, continue baking and check every 5 minutes with a clean toothpick.

Make the glaze during the last 15 minutes and remove cake when done. Slowly spoon the hot glaze over the cake while still in the pan gradually allowing it to soak into the cake. Use up all of the glaze waiting after each addition. Let cool in the pan on a wire rack for at least 2 hours. Invert on a large cake plate with a lip when ready to serve.

Southern Comfort Glaze

6 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons water
1/4 cup Southern Comfort (or bourbon)
3/4 cup sugar

In a small saucepan, bring all ingredients to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to medium low and stir constantly for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and use quickly, or keep warm until ready to use.

Y'all have got to try this! And if you do, please let me know! I'll post photos of mine when finished.

Also, I just saw something for pumpkin pound cake! Hello! Yum!

Tonight, I'm working a wedding that's nautical themed! Ah, how exciting! 

Xoxo 

Slow down sister.

Thank you to everyone!

Y'all gave fabulous advice about the big day. 

Which we're keeping!

11.17.12

You belong to Justin & I!

I had been searching far and wide for a photographer. It's the most important thing to me and I wanted to get it taken care of asap! Plus, Justin mentioned he wanted to go ahead and do our engagement photos. 

So after searching far and wide...

WE FOUND HER!

Meet Fierce Photography!

She gave us an offer I couldn't refuse, so I said yes! 

I think I see how this wedding stuff works....

You say "I do" to so many vendors and decisions before the wedding day that it actually prepares you for it when you get married! 

We're going to set up our engagement photos very soon so I will make sure I share them as soon as we get them! 

Speaking of photography....

I still am busy as ever!

Last week, my sister informed me on Friday that she had to have her senior photo for the yearbook by the following Monday! 

We both kept putting off her Senior photos due to our busy schedules...

But I think deep down inside, I was putting it off because I wasn't ready for my little sister to be old enough for senior photos.

I kept telling myself that she was still a little girl.

I think once you see these photos, you'll quickly see that she's not a little girl anymore. 

She is a beautiful woman now. 

Without further a do...

She is just the most gorgeous girl ever. And her personality matches her looks to boot! 

I love her so very much. 

Such a great best friend, sister, and now to add to the list, Maid of Honor! 

I just can't believe she grew up :(

Well, Daisy is hogging the bed and she's ready for some serious mum-and-pup cuddle time!

XoXo

This is a cry for ADVICE!

I hate awkward situations...

and I hate mean people that create them even more.

So Justin and I set a date way back when... 

We were so excited once we did so and it was even marked on my calendar as well as the one at the office for the wedding planner I work for...

Wedding binder has been made....Facebook statuses were posted.

Well back when we got engaged, one of the girls that's been dating a guy on the firedepartment that works with Justin was pretty fired up about us getting engaged before they did.

She eventually ended up deleting me on Facebook because she was so upset about this...

Well over the weekend, she got engaged...and added me back on Facebook.

Today her fiance told Justin that they have set a date for their wedding.

And it just so happens to be

ON THE SAME EXACT DAY WE WERE GETTING MARRIED!

Our day was perfect for us and it isn't a popular date or anything for any reason! 

Why else would they choose November 17th also? 

When Justin was talking to the other firefighter about this, the only thing the other guy had to say was "sounds like a personal problem to me". 

What do we do now? Keep the date? And hope that maybe they move it? Keep the date and make the firefighters choose which wedding to go to? Or do we bite the bullet and change our so hard to plan wedding date? We really worked hard to see if it was a good fit for us. I was so incredibly excited about getting married in November. 

Ugh.

It's so hard and it's really ruffled my feathers! 

What would you do if this happened to you?

HELP BLOGGER FRIENDS!

Bless their hearts ;)

XoXo

The brave & fearless

9.11 has always weighed very heavy on my heart ever since the tradegy happened. I was too young to really understand what was going on, I just knew it upset me. I remember when I came home from school, I just cried. I was in the 5th grade.

Now, I think I understand that it was a bigger picture. Maybe it was something to do with the fact that I was going to spend my life with a firefighter. I just remember always thinking about the families.

Now, when Justin goes to a call, I always deep down inside, wonder if he's ever going to come home after the call. I know it may not be like 9.11 because we're from such a small town, but even the littlest things can happen and I'd never see him again.

It's so sad and unfair that so many lost their lives on that day. It's incredibly unfair that one man plotted to take mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters away. These were people that were making an honest living. I'll just never understand.

I'm so thankful for all those that have served and for all those that went running in while everyone else was running out.

I'm proud to be an American & I'm very proud to be marrying one of the most amazing heros ever.




Another thing that has hit me very hard over this weekend is a local tradgey.
Friday night, a local family was on their way home from Beaufort. A man with his wife and 2 sons, one 2 the other about 5 or 6. His oldest son was at a sleepover (14).
The family was driving on a two lane road, when a driver hit the family head on. The driver that hit the family was apparantly driving in the family's lane coming right at them. The father tried to drive on the side of the road to get out of harm's way.
The man's wife was killed instantly as well as the 5 year old. The 2 year old was transported via helicopter, while the father suffered 2 broken legs. The 2 year old died Saturday morning.
It's completely broken my heart. The children all went to the school I graduated from and the father sold one of my good friends her first car. They were all so wonderful from what I understand and if they're anything like their father, I don't doubt it.
It just breaks my heart. I can't imagine having almost all of your family together, and then waking up the next day and it's just you and your oldest son. It's totally not fair. I know God does everything for a reason...but why? Those sweet little boys never did any harm and the driver that hit them is still living?

Lots of somber thoughts today.



On a positive note, I have 2 shoots this afternoon when I get off work...maybe that will cheer me up.


Make today wonderful and make sure you tell those that you love how much you really do love them.

Southern Proper

I've never really thought of it, I've just always known things to be the way they are. Up until I was walking to class one day and this guy was walking in front of me and his actions went like this.

Guy: open door for himself.

Door: then closes behind him.

I'm standing approximately 2 feet away!!!!!

Me: JAW DROPS!

OPEN THE DOOR FOR MYSELF!?!

In all the days of my life, I've never had this happen to me and I was completely beside myself. When I finally got to class, steamed and all, I sat there and wondered about this "guy". Yes, he's a guy. That's what he is. Definitely not a gentleman, that's for sure! As I sat there 2 things crossed my mind...1. He's definitely from the north or 2. He's been totally ill raised. Sad to assume those things, but I just couldn't help it. I know, maybe I don't get away from the South very often, but when gentlemen open the door for you, who would want to leave? I was in such shock that I had a huge blown out discussion with Justin and he was so puzzled that I was so concerned about this.

This has brought me to today's discussion. What is deemed "proper"? What is deemed "southern"?

For my wedding class, we were asked to write down traditions that revolved around our heritage. Well, being totally unoriginal, I decided to look up southern wedding traditions...and I was pretty surprised with what I found.

So yes, let's talk about all things from the sweet south. What's right, what's wrong, and a little lingo translation for ya!

• Everything is "precious". There's no getting around it. Once ya say it, you're stuck with it. It's not just babies, or anything cute at all, it can even be an old man walking down the street. "Precious" is used to describe EVERYTHING.

• We like our food fried and our tea sweet. We may be on a diet, but we'll find a way to make these things work. When I was on Weight Watchers (which I'll be doing again...soon), I made room for fried chicken. It was totally worth eating green beans and cabbage.

• Don't ever underestimate a southern woman. We are as powerful as any man by any means. Don't think you can hide anything from us because 1. we know you're lying and 2. We’ll find out from someone else if you don't tell us first.

• "Bless your heart" may not always be said in the sweetest way possible. It's often our go to phrase when we want to say something mean, but we can't.

• My number 1 always go to saying: kill them with kindness, always. It's like my mantra, ya know, if I had one. If you're nice to the mean girl, then you'll be looked at as the better person, and the mean girl will deep down inside know that you're being nice just to get to her. It always, always works...even on men too ;)

• Bake, a lot, with a pink frilly apron. This is my sister's go-to southern way. I wish I could bake like her. She makes all things wonderful. Next on my list of how-to is a Southern Comfort Pound Cake! Recipe to come soon!

• Pearls look good with everything. Though I may lack in wearing my string of pearls all the time, I do have a bracelet that I wear religiously. It's a David Yurman with pearls on the end of it. To die for!

• If you have nothing nice to say, then always say "bless your heart". It's the southern sarcastic saying that won't get you in trouble.

• Attend football games, parties, weddings, & baby showers at all costs.

• Monogram where & when possible. I feel extremely sorry for my future children.

• When planning a wedding, or any other soirée, refer to Emily Post's etiquette guide. And don't ever forget thank you notes! (Again, my grandmother is probably reading this and thinking I should follow my own advice, but I always try to send thank you's!)

• Always, always, always smile. It will get you a lot further. I'm the kind of person that if I don't smile, I look really mean. And that's never appealing.

 I hope somebody enjoys reading this! I know I'm not the best at blogging these days, but can ya blame me?

I'll even promise to post tomorrow too! :D

Happy Saturday!

Xoxo

The Insider!

engaged.

As of right now, it's all been wonderful! But you see, there is this little thing that has turned into a not so little thing. 

You know me...I'm one for loving pretty things. What girl doesn't, right? Well I obsess over big parties, events, etc. 

Ever since I got engaged, I was like "hey, let's have an engagement party?!" "Let's have one in October....of this year!"

Now I know, Emily Post is frowning at me right now, but we were so excited about being engaged that we wanted to throw one a little early since we're waiting so long to get married. 

Sooooo I'm going to share all and most details of the big party with you!

Ready?! 

Oh, all photos are from Pinterest! 

It all starts with an invite! Ours are in turquoise & gray saying "Amy & Justin are tying the knot, help us celebrate their engagement."

The location! It's not going to be tented, but there is a pavilion to the right of the tent. 

Signage leading the guests to the "shindig" ;)

Along with arrows pointing to cornhole, restrooms, etc.

Long tables with burlap runners and white linens and white padded folding chairs.

And the very obvious floral scheme of wildflowers in masons tied with twine! Except there will be a wide assortment of glass vases, jars, bottles, etc. in a line down the table with votive candles. 

Hanging jars in the oaks.

And bbq for dinner with a signature cocktail of "Apple Pie Moonshine" with a moonshine substitution (probably everclear or vodka). 

Desserts will be redvelvet cake pops and possibly lemon squares! 

Can't wait to celebrate! 

Xoxo

THANK GOD FOR BLOGGER!

There are some days where I used to think, "oh hey, I'm putting too many photos on here!" 

Boy was I WRONG!

I have been asked to write an article for a local paper about the Yemassee Mud Run & to include some of my photos....welllllll

Since my computer crash delima, I was unable to find some photos that I really could have used. 

Then my brain started working and oh! I could check my old blogs for photos! 

Ding ding ding!!! We have a winner!!! 

So I've been saved thanks to my blog! 

Cheers to that! Oh and having the day off from school & my actual job lol. Now I get to freely galavant as a photog. for the marketing business ;)