A West Coast Wedding

{Are you still there? Are you still checking in with me? I've not abandoned you. Promise!}

FMG and I ran off to San Diego for a family wedding last weekend and it was utterly divine! I took a million and five pictures (of course) while trying not to get in the way of the actual-hired-and-paid-photographer who always seemed to show up just where I was headed. :) Go figure!

This is Amy and Robert... and bear with me through all of these pictures that focus on Amy's incredible dress!

The couple was married in a full mass at an Italian style church in Little Italy. It was cozy and intimate.

The birdcage veil, tiny bow detail on her waist and sweetheart neckline just about did me in.

Robert looked great, too. But I was totally smitten with the bridal styling!

Thank you Miss Videographer for providing the excellent back lighting! It was a wonderful weekend full of family and a georgeous wedding celebration full of love. More pictures later!

A Sprinkle

Our sweet counselor at school had a precious baby girl last week. Just before she had her we gave Baby C and CCG a "Sprinkle" at school. She already has a beautiful little girl and just needed a few things for the new princess.

In lieu of  a sheet cake or cup cakes, we decided to make a cake ball tower - the cake pops on top almost look like a bouquet!

In the center of the cake pop bouquet is a candy melt C. The flowers on the cake balls and pops are all made from candy melts.

Thinking it would look like an elegant petitfour, the cake balls were nestled in mini baking cups.

I really adored the way the flowers came out. They were fragile, but not so delicate that they were hard to work with. I "piped" them onto foil using a baggie with the corner snipped and  the left over melted candy. A quick swirl in really warm water every now and then kept it just the right consistency to flow but not spread.

The flowers were attached with more warm candy melt. The pops took a little more work to stick than the balls. :)

We weren't sure if Big-Sis-to-Be was going to be there or not, so we wrapped up a pop just for her. These would make adorable (albeit labor intensive) favors at a baby or wedding shower.

The set up at school... The tower was generally disassembled to transport to school. The balls rode nestled in a shirt box and the bouquet was left in tact, gently wrapped in plastic wrap and nestled in a box with air filled baggies around it. It arrived with jsut a few broken petals.

I can't wait to meet Baby Calissa!

Bicycle Built For Two

This was one of the BEST weddings I've ever been to. EVER. INMYLIFE.

There wasn't anything throughout the day that didn't have the bride and groom's finger prints all over it.

MJS & IS met in Colorado during a bicycle race. MJS was riding with her Dad and through a series of events IS tagged along with them. The wedding, appropriately enough, had a precious biking motif.

Some of my pictures came out great, and some didn't, but I need them so you can get the entire effect  (...and there are bunches... bear with me)!

The couple were married in Fischer Hall in perfectly tiny Fischer, TX  - just a hop, skip and a jump north westish of San Antonio. It's literally the oldest hall in Texas and it was quaint, rustic, and totally romantic.

Intentional or not, there was this precious heart shaped piece in the rafters above the altar.

The altar was just right - bedecked with sunflowers and the items they needed for their wine ceremony.

After the wedding party made their way into the hall, the "ring bearer" rode in on an orange bike and announced, "Here comes the bride!". I wish I had it on video. It was PERFECTION.

...and there she came! The lighting was divine. You couldn't have hired a team of lighting designers to recreate it more perfectly.

The couple blended two wines together and each drank from the glass as a unifying symbol - in lieu of a unity candle, sand, etc.

Meanwhile, the groom's dad serenaded them with a sweet song.

MJS's dress was amazing and she literally glowed! The vows were personal and meaningful to the bride and groom, alluding to their mutual love of biking.

The table centerpieces, though lovingly created, looked like they had just been plucked out of a field and landed on the long tables in the Hall. That petite pot of honey is local 'Killer Bee Honey', and living up to its tag line, it's to die for! :)

The cutting cake, adorned with hand blown orange and yellow posies, was on a table amidst cupcake after cupcake.

Each set of different flavored cupcakes (I died over a peanut butter and chocolate concoction.) was on a separate display and topped off with a daisy.

I wish I could have adequately captured the magical feeling that fell over the Hall as the sun was setting. It was like something out of a movie.

MJS and IS snuck off to take pictures after the ceremony. They rode up and down the two lane road in front of the hall on old restored bikes.  Yes! And it was wonderful!

Finally back inside and after dinner, the first dance was heartfelt and joyous. Then the bride and her dad danced - and invited all of the other fathers and daughters in attendance to join them. It was sweeter than the honey.

Towards the middle of the reception, the groom took the stage with the band and played a couple of songs.

I'm so glad we were able to be a part of their special day and I am totally in love with every single thing about their wedding. 

It won't be a stylish marriage,

I can't afford a carriage
But you'll look sweet upon the seat
Of a bicycle made for two.
We will go 'tandem'
As man and wife
Throughout our life
On a bicycle built for two.

Happy New Year- Chinese Style!

Chinese New Year was on February 3 this year - and its the year of the Rabbit. The rabbit year promises to bring quiet and peaceful rest after the tiger year that just ended.

We went to CCT's family's Chinese New Year party and indulged in some amazing, home cooked, authentic Chinese food prepared by CCT's father (with help from the entire T family).

I didn't know what to expect... but one thing was abundantly clear... It was ALL about the food!

I can't even begin to explain the scrumptionsness of each dish. The highlight for me were the dumplings and "secret sauce" that Mr. T makes. I die. 

CCT and GAR both took turns manning the dumplings. My mouth is watering thinking about the delicate wrapper and succulent filling. Seriously. I die. (Again.)

Jojo and I took brownies with red sprinkles and rabbit toppers to share. Red for good luck, chocolate for comfort, and the rabbit to symbolize how calm I'm going to be (was) when I woke up the next morning and realized I was still full.

Thanks CCT and family for inviting us!

The Poppy Party is (semi)Famous!

The Party Like a Kid blog is one of my favorite resources and a stand-by inspiration. Genius JMR sent them our pictures from Poppy's baby shower and we were featured!

Here is the  Welcoming Poppy post on Party Like a Kid and here is the full poppy themed baby shower on my blog.