Fall Manifesto {2014}

Happy Fall! I'm so excited that my favorite season is finally here!

Labor Day has always marked the beginning of fall in my book. We spent Labor Day weekend at the beach saying good bye to summer, and last night putting out all of our fall decor.

There is so much stuff that I love about fall...the cooler weather, sweaters, scarves, apple, fall beers, yummy candles.

This year, instead of a fall list of things to do, I decided to make a list of things to make and eat. Because really, I love my fall foods! And there is nothing like a cool fall day followed by an evening of baking delicious goodies!

Its actually still to warm here to make crockpot potato soup or cheddar apple muffins. But hopefully it will cool down soon! But until then...there are definitely a few Blue Moons in the fridge, and with any luck, I'll find my favorite pumpkin tea at Target this week!

What are you favorite fall treats? I am always looking to try something new!

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The Party Ends + Continues at the Hotel {Wedding Recaps}

We'd gotten married, we'd taken pictures, we'd danced (and danced and danced!) and we'd cut the cake.

And before we knew it, the party was ending.







Our photographer was taking the last picture of the night.

Photo Credit: Ruby Star Photography

Our DJ was playing our last song.


Our limo was leaving Stewart Manor Country Club.

Photo Credit: Ruby Star Photography

But we weren't going to let the reception ending stop our party.

My parents organized a little after party at the hotel. After going up to our beautifully decorated room to drop off our luggage (and ditch the heels I'd been wearing all night long!) AJ and I headed back downstairs to hang out with our guests for a little bit.

guest photograph
this is the only one I could find of the after party!

And before we knew it, it was time to go to bed so we could get up in the morning to head here.

Can you believe it? Its over! These recaps seem to have flown by just as quickly as our actual wedding did!

I do have one more little thing to share with you next week, but then its time to move on to something else. Just like real life I guess, hahaha!

I hope you enjoyed these recaps as much as I've enjoyed sharing them with you :)

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Project Life 2014 {Week 18}

Happy Friday!

Are you looking forward to the three day weekend? I am! We have lots of fun plans - a crawfish boil, a concert, some crafting and, of course, relaxing!

I'll be working on this wreath and of course Project Life! I'm all the way done through Week 18...now I just need to order the rest of the pictures so I can get moving on the next weeks!

Week 18 | April 28 -May 4, 2014

This was the first week back at school after Spring Break. We had Super Hero day at school - and I wore my neon pink tights (I didn't retouch that picture at all - they are THAT pink!) And the Mets played the Phillies, so we were able to wear our awesome 10.5 Phillies/Mets shirts (thanks T&J!) We also did some fun things around the house - like tapas date night, made a chalkboard burlap runner, sealed all the windows (okay, that wasn't so fun!) and relaxed with some Corona (that was fun!) 

And I made a whole bunch of waffles to freeze for breakfasts later in the month (one is heating up as I type!) I love making waffles and bread and granola bars for us. It just makes me feel like I am doing something really really good for our little family. You see, I used to be the pickiest eater. And I'm so excited whenever I try something new (like homemade waffles vs. Eggo!) 

But, I'm still a little bit picky. Like, I don't eat ground meat or seafood. I just don't like the texture. Usually, its not an issue, but I'm a little nervous about it this weekend. Remember how I said we were going to a crawfish boil. Well, I don't eat seafood.

So, usually I just quietly eat other things - like the potatoes and corn and desserts! - but sometimes people notice and some people make a huge deal that I don't eat seafood. And it kind of drives me crazy. And I never know what to say, because I don't want to be rude, so I just sit there and don't say anything at all. Or I apologize that my tastes aren't to their liking. But there has to be a better response!

Which leads me to a question for all of you...what do you do when someone comments on your eating habits?

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Cake + Pie Bar + Almost Taking Out My Cousin with the Bouquet {Wedding Recaps}

The night was quickly coming to an end (sadly!) But we still had a few things left to do before dancing the night away.

And one of those things was cutting the cake.

We were really excited about the cake, because it was a chocolate cake with a white chocolate mousse filling and was supposed to taste like Devil Dogs from Drake's Cakes. Of course, the only bite of cake we had was the one we fed each other. There's always the frozen top layer we will have in a few months, I guess!

Photo Credit: Ruby Star Photography

Photo Credit: Ruby Star Photography

We had a really hard time cutting the cake. They asked AJ (the lefty) to put his right hand on the knife and me (the righty) to use my left. The theory was that AJ would actually cut the cake and I would just have my hand there looking cute. Except neither one of us could cut with the opposite hand, so it ended up being the tiniest, wonkiest piece of cake ever cut! Which is why we can't stop laughing in that top picture!

Photo Credit: Ruby Star Photography

But just in case someone didn't like cake, we also had a pie bar. We had such a hard time choosing our second dessert option - torn between apple crisp (because it was fall) and cheesecake (because its my favorite). But then our venue coordinator suggested a pie bar. And we loved it! From what I hear, the pie tasted very good, although we didn't really get any of that either! Man, I really failed at the "make sure you eat at your wedding" advice!

Photo Credit: Ruby Star Photography

Where I really needed advice was on how to throw a bouquet at the group of girls and not at the table next to them! At the last second, I was told I had to throw over my shoulder, and not above my head (because of the beams up there!)

Yeah...I could have definitely used some practice with that!

Did you have any throwing mishaps at your wedding? And did you get to actually eat your cake? I'm still sad that I didn't!

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Bachelor Party {Mini Album}

Happy Tuesday!

I am so glad that I finally found some time to scrapbook this week and I was able to finish up this mini album that I started way back in February!

Last summer, I made two mini albums with the Bella Blvd. Engaged at Last line - one for my shower and one for my bachelorette party. So I wanted to make a matching one for AJ's bachelor party. But AJ's bachelor party was a lot closer to the wedding than mine, so it took a long time for this album to get put together.

I left a blank journaling square to fill in where they ate, what they did, etc. But I have to get the information from AJ, and I keep forgetting to ask him! That's what happens when I scrap when he isn't home.

Do you ever create matching albums or mini albums for events? I can't think of too many things were I'd be able to do this, but I loved doing it for our bachelor/bachelorette parties!

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Surprises and Secret Dances {Wedding Recaps}

Last week, I told you all about the dancing. 

But, I'd saved a few special dances for their very own post. And here it is!

I had picked out the song for our father-daughter dance many many years ago. When I was little, my dad would always sing "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" to me. Even though it isn't a traditional father-daughter song, its always been our song and I really wanted to use it for our dance.

The original plan was to surprise my dad with the song, but he had picked out a different song ("I Loved Her First") so I decided to tell him my plan and let him decide. Fortunately, he was totally on board with my song. 

Photo Credit: Ruby Star Photography

Turns out, he'd thought of it, but was worried it was non traditional and harder to dance to. But we practiced dancing to it over the summer, and it was perfect that day!

There was another surprise at the wedding though. AJ's mom passed away while he was in college, and at first, he was not planning to have a dance. But, a few months before the wedding, he told me that he would like to dance with my mom, and wanted to keep it a surprise from her.

Photo Credit: Ruby Star Photography

He chose "When You Need Me", one of my mom's favorite Bruce Springsteen songs. And she was totally surprised! I'm really glad we were able to keep this one a secret!

There was one more secret at the wedding. Man - I didn't realize how many secrets and surprises were involved in this wedding until I started writing this post!

My brother is definitely more reserved that I am. As in, really funny and sarcastic and probably the funniest person I know I say probably so my husband and father don't get upset, but he definitely is, but he doesn't like to be forced to be the center of attention.

Normally, that is just fine, since I love to be the center of attention. It worked out really well growing up, most of the time. But this time, I really wanted to dance to "You've Got a Friend in Me" from Toy Story with my brother. And he didn't want everyone to stop what they were doing and look at us out on the dance floor all by ourselves. So we planned a secret dance.

Photo Credit: Ruby Star Photography

Basically, the DJ warned up right before he played the song, but he didn't tell anyone else what was going on. Of course, it didn't stop everyone who knows us both from gathering around us in a circle!

And it didn't stop me from singing along with every word of the song (much to the surprise/shock/dismay of my brother...)

But it was so great to be able to share that special moment with him, especially since we haven't lived in the same state since he went off to college...seven years ago!

Our last dance, which was a surprise to us when planning our wedding was our "second dance". When our DJ asked what song we wanted for our second dance, I was so confused! I'd never heard of a second dance before.

But basically, after the parent dances, AJ and I were called out to dance to another song that is special to us, "Who Are You When I'm Not Looking". And unlike the first dance, after the first part of the song, we asked all of our guests to join us.

Photo Credit: Ruby Star Photography

Did you have, or have you seen, a second dance before? What surprises did you have in your wedding?

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And We Danced {Wedding Recaps}

Once we were introduced, danced and toasted, it was time for the real fun to begin.

And so, in no particular order in chronological order, here are the pictures of the dancing, the laughing, the singing and the partying!

Photo Credit: Ruby Star Photography

 Yes, we fist pumped. AJ's from Jersey...it was bound to happen.

Photo Credit: Ruby Star Photography

Photo Credit: Ruby Star Photography

And we line danced. Electric Slide and Cotton Eyed Joe. Cotton Eyed Joe was the only song I took my shoes off for. Of course, Allie will tell you that "took them off" is an understatement. I kicked them off across the reception hall, sending them flying towards the head table, right between the legs of a waitress!

Photo Credit: Ruby Star Photography

 Even Nonni got in on the on dancing action!

Photo Credit: Ruby Star Photography

And there were shots, and singing...

Photo Credit: Ruby Star Photography

And lots more dancing (and maybe a short time that I didn't wear my jacket. I got super overheated after the shoe-kicking-jumping-up-and-down-for-four-minutes that was the Cotton Eyed Joe!)

Before we knew it, it was time to cut the cake, throw the bouquet, eat pie and dance some more! But all that has to wait for another post (or two or three!)

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Wedding License {Scrapbook Layout}

Hi everyone!

It seems I took an unintended blogging break last week.

I was on Spring Break and my parents came to visit. We went to Mississippi, shopped, ate and spent lots of time outside.

But now they are back in New York, and I'm back at school, and getting back to blogging!

This layout, featuring lots and lots of Bella Blvd papers + a Project Life Wedding Mini kit card, is about a very very crazy day in New York.

Because AJ and I were getting married back home, but very very far away from where we were living, we had to pack a lot of things into short trips. On this particular day, we had to get our marriage license, have our final meeting with our wedding venue and meet with the priest preforming our wedding ceremony. All before Labor Day weekend started!

I think the journaling explains the hectic day really well :)

"August 30, 2013 was a crazy day. It would be our last chance to do any in person meetings before wedding week! We started off the day by getting lost on our way to the Nassau County Clerks Office to get our marriage license. Once we found it though, everything wen smoothly! Then we headed to Dunkin Donuts for a quick bite to eat. There people there thought it was our wedding day because of our clothes - white lace dress (me) + suit (AJ. We are + drove up to Stewart Manor Country Club to meet with June and Mom. We made our final menu choices (including a quesadilla station for cocktail hour + a pie bar for dessert!), chose our cake (chocolate w/ white chocolate mousse filling) and picked our table linens (napkins that exactly match our bridesmaids dresses - yes please!). Unfortunately, the meeting ran late. We had to leave Mom to finalize the table set up so we could go to St. Rose. We were super late due to traffic on the Southern State. I think Fr. Ken was mad, but he warmed up to us. We went through our ceremony choices, then headed home to go out east."

Fortunately, we got everything done, and had a wonderful Labor Day weekend!

Which is more than I can say for this week. We had a wonderful time, but I definitely didn't get everything done!

How was your Easter or spring break? What did you do?

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Shower Flowers {Scrapbook Layout}

Happy Tuesday!

This was a crazy, but fun, weekend. One of my closest friends was married in California! I loved seeing our friends, meeting her family and celebrating her and her new husband.

And in addition to all that fabulousness, it was the first time I'd ever been to the West Coast so I got to see the Pacific Ocean for the first time (that is a layout waiting to happen!)

Unfortunately, AJ couldn't attend the wedding because of work. During a two week span every year called "turnaround" he has to work every day - even weekends! - and he cannot take any days off. Of course, the wedding fell during those two weeks! He was really upset to have missed the wedding, and we definitely missed him there. But in a silver lining - I was super proud of myself for traveling to all the way to Orange County on my own!

Speaking of things AJ couldn't attend, I still have one layout from my bridal shower that I haven't shared (the others are here, here and here!)

I'm not sure why, but it was very important to me that AJ have flowers delivered to my bridal shower. I was so excited when he did, so they got their very own layout!

Just like I did for all of the other layouts, I used the Bella Blvd Engaged at Last line, but I also added in some Project Life cards from the Clementine kit for a little color. They matched the card from the florist so well that I couldn't help but add them!

Were there any little things that you really wanted at your bridal shower, like my flowers? Did you get them?

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Wedding Party Intros {Wedding Recaps}

AJ had a really cool idea for the wedding party introductions.

He wanted to use a different song for each pair. And he wanted to match each song up to something that meant something to him and each groomsman.

And since almost all of the cool wedding stuff is about the girls, I thought this was a great way to give the boys something cool too!

We ended up not doing separate songs for the parents and grandparents. I'm not sure why...we had songs picked...but I think it was late in the wedding planning process, and it just didn't happen.

So here are the songs we would have chosen:

Grandmothers: I Love You and Bushel and a Peck
AJ's Dad + Aunt: I Can't Dance
My parents: Stuck Like Glue

Photo Credit: Ruby Star Photography

And since we actually did play different songs for the wedding party. Here are there songs!

Josh and Kerry: Kokomo

Photo Credit: Ruby Star Photography

James and Ali: Killa Cam (I tried to find the clean version...but I couldn't. If you are at work/around kids/just don't like hear curse words I wouldn't click it!)

Photo Credit: Ruby Star Photography

 Jim and Sarah: The Joker

Photo Credit: Ruby Star Photography

 Tommy and Allie: Total Eclipse of the Heart

Photo Credit: Ruby Star Photography

 Mike and Liz: There is No I in Team

Photo Credit: Ruby Star Photography

And then it was time for us to walk in! We walked in to The World, and now every time I hear it I think about our wedding.

Photo Credit: Ruby Star Photography

PS. I love that picture on the bottom left, because you can see my dad patting AJ on the shoulder as he walks by. I love that :)

What song did you walk into for your wedding?

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Escort Cards {Wedding Recaps}

Right next to the failed guest book, we had our escort cards.

The original idea for the escort cards was a bit crazy.

We were going to use branches to make a tree, then tie the leaf escort cards to the tree, and people would take them off of the tree.

Until we actually tried to do that. And realized that someone was going to get the whole thing knocked down on them trying to untie it!

So we went a bit of a different way with it.

We decided that the leaves fell off of the tree. Because its the fall, you know?

Photo Credit: Ruby Star Photography

And they landed every so elegantly under the tree.

Photo Credit: Ruby Star Photography

And you know what? I actually like it this way better!

Photo Credit: Ruby Star Photography

Did you have any last minute changes to any of your ideas? Did you prefer the idea in your head or the one you ended up with?

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Honeymoon Album {Part 4}

Happy Tuesday!

I'm a little sad about sharing the end of my honeymoon mini album today.

It has been so fun sharing this with all of you, and reliving some of my favorite memories from our trip to Sandals Emerald Bay.

Sunday was the start of our "Bonus Days". You see, most of the people we met at the resort were only staying for one week, which would have meant leaving on Sunday for us. But we were staying for 10 days, so everything after Sunday morning was a bonus! Sunday, we got our favorite seats at the pool again, with the cute little in the pool table. And we played pool that night. I wasn't very good, but it was fun!

Monday, we hung out at the pool for most of the day. We were supposed to go snorkeling at 1:40, but just before the trip, it started to pour! So the trip was postponed until the next day.

It was also Canadian Thanksgiving. So we went to the Canadian Thanksgiving dinner that night! Of course, I thought of Tracy :)

Tuesday we were able to get another cabana on the beach! I was so glad, because I loved hanging out there. We stayed there all day, until it was time for our rescheduled snorkeling trip. To be honest, we debated not going. It was our last day, we had a great spot by the beach, the weather was gorgeous. But we decided to just go anyway and it turned out to be awesome. It wasn't very long, maybe an hour, and we saw some really cool fish on the coral reef!

And when we got back, our favorite seats were open by the pool! So we hung out there for a bit as well.

That night, before our second dinner at the French restaurant, we walked around the resort and took some pictures. They one on the top left is my favorite, and the one on the bottom right is the background on my phone right now!

Wednesday morning we were sad to be leaving. But we had one last omelette breakfast - wow did I eat a ton of omelettes while we were there! And then we just hung out and waited for our car to the airport. When the cars first got there, everyone jumped to get on them, but we stayed back and ended up getting a private car to the airport! It was a great way to end our trip.

And before we knew it, we were back in Florida, and after one more flight, we were back in Baton Rouge!

I wish we could go back tomorrow, but I know that's not possible, you know, because of work and all that. Maybe for an anniversary trip one day?

Where did you go on your honeymoon? Did you ever return for another trip?

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Post Card Guest Book {Wedding Recaps}

Alright guys, I have a confession about our guest book.

It was a super cute idea, and I really loved it. But it didn't work out that well.

You see, the guest book was set up right when everyone walked in from the cocktail hour, and right next to where they got their escort cards.

But, we didn't really talk about it at the reception. Our dj was awesome about announcing for guests to use our instagram hashtag (#katieandajtogetherer) but we never announced about the guest book.

So only four people signed it.

But I still really liked the idea of it. The idea was to buy post cards from all the places we lived.

Photo Credit: Ruby Star Photography

 Guests would write a note on the post cards.

Photo Credit: Ruby Star Photography

And put them in the mailbox that I painted with our new initials.

Photo Credit: Ruby Star Photography

And I would make a scrapbook out of them.

But, like I said, only four people signed them. So I think I'll just include those four in our wedding scrapbook instead!

What type of guest book did you use? Did your guests sign it?

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