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Saturday, October 31, 2009

Shopping on Saturday

Today marc and I went with our friends matt and kara hartness (aka future neighbors) to help them find some things for their new house! I'm so excited about their new house because she has let me help them pick out and do a lot of design stuff for their house. Of course with the help of my mothers assistance since she is the pro and all! She has taught me everything I know about decorating. I really enjoy it and love to help others. I remeber when we built our 1st house and was so clueless, but being that my dad is an amazing builder and mom is an incredible decorator, I have learned a few things.
All that to say I feel like the hartnesses house has become my baby ( my project). I have become way too emotionally involved but loving every second of it. They are a couple of weeks out until move in, but I will post pics of the finished project when its completed!
So today we got some important items that were a must have!
We went to io metro in Rogers and found an amazing dining table for 50% off and some beautiful chairs to go with it. Plus we got a decorator discount of 10% from my mom. I have decided I am a pro at spending other peoples money! But at least I make them get good deals so really I save them money in the end!

Fun chairs



Truck loaded! Karas pumped!



Funky legs of the table



And one of my favorite things that will be going in the house... Her awesome uttermost pendants that my mom and I picked out! They are just gorgeous!



Can't wait to see the finished project with all the fun goodies we have found! (for less)!


Here is a sneak peak of the outside!!!



Have a great weekend!

-- Post From My iPhone

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Hostess with the Mostess




Today marks the 6th consecutive day of Hostessing the mostess people in my house in 1 week!

It all started on Friday when these beautiful girls came to stay with me for our pi phi centennial celebration! Mare and Kirstin are some of my oldest, dearest friends, and of course my pi phi sisters. We have all known each other since pre-school. WOW, we go WAY back. It was a blast catching up with them. (More on my fun pi phi weekend in a different post)




I had these yummy Ricks cookies waiting for them at the house to start off our fun weekend!




They left Monday morning around 9 and then I hosted a team "fun day" at my house at 9:30 for the people I work with. There are about 12 of us total. We also celebrated 3 birthdays with some yummy Ricks cakes. They had their very own so they would each feel special. I designed their cakes according to their personalities. We had a great day hanging out and playing games!




Monday night my mom came in town, and Marc had guys over to play poker.
Tuesday night my sister was playing in the state volleyball championship in Siloam Springs. She played her last volleyball game ever because she is a senior. The coach asked me to have everyone over afterwards because I am the only one she knows in this area with a house. (She was my coach for 6 yrs and she was Megan's coach for 6yrs. I think I probably owed it to her after her putting up with us for so many years!) Soo... After the game, the WHOLE team came over to my house for dinner. That would be a total of about 30 people in my house. WOW again. I did not cook, Marc's step dad, Keith came over and made some yummy BBQ, beans, and potatoes! It was fabulous.






Yes this was in front of my house...





Tonight, being Wednesday night, I'm hosting community group at my house!

Tomorrow being Thursday- Marc and I are hosting a table at the Loving Choices banquet. (I guess that doesn't count since its not really at my house, but still!)




After all of this hosting the mostess people ever I feel like this:


Lets just say I'm looking forward to my weekend of nothingness!

Whew!

Sunday, October 25, 2009

More fall!

I'm loving fall but it is going by way too fast!

















The trees are breathtaking In northwest Arkansas right now!


-- Post From My iPhone

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Pumpkin cake anyone?

A couple of days ago I delivered a meal to our friends, The Blaggs, because they just had a beautiful baby girl.
I wanted to take them something that had some type of fall flavor. I was reading this blog and found this amazing pumpkin cake recipe. I have to say I was a little nervous about making it, but it turned out really good. I was nervous because it is all from scratch and I don't always do so well with the "from scratch" types of things. I usually go the cake mix route.

So here is the recipe for Pumpkin cake(or bread...or cupcakes...or whatever mood you're in!)
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1 15 oz. can pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling!)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Cream cheese icing (you can make it or buy it- I bough it)

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Beat together eggs, oil, pumpkin, and sugar.

Stir in other ingredients until well mixed. (I use the mixer for this part too.)

Pour into a very, very well sprayed (like, the cooking spray should almost be pooling in the bottom of the dish) 9x13 pan.

Bake for 30 minutes or until center springs back. (Might take 5 minutes longer depending on your oven)

After the pan cools, frost the cake with cream cheese icing. But feel free to treat it like brownies, or bread, or whatever your heart desires.

It turned out really well, and very moist! The cream cheese icing is perfect for on the top.
I just though I would share it with you, because it was not hard and it is very delicious!

On another note, I'm very excited for this weekend. I'm heading to OKC to see my friend Liz and to go to a U2/Black eyed pea concert! It should be a super, fun girls weekend!
I will try to take pics and tell you all about it afterwards! Have a great weekend!

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Tommy Van Zandt

The other day Marc asked me if I was interested in going to a fundraiser thing with him for this Friday night Oct. 9th. I immediately asked, "well what is it for and how much?" He began to tell me the story about this man, Tommy Van Zandt.

This is his story:
Following a devastating ice storm in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Tommy fell from a ladder while cutting tree limbs and suffered a severe neck injury leaving him paralyzed at this time from the shoulders down.
Washington Regional Medical Center became the scene of many long days filled with countless friends and deep prayer. After Tommy’s initial surgery and lengthy hospital stay in Fayetteville, he was transported to Craig Rehabilitation Hospital in Denver, Colorado which is world renowned for treatment of neck and spinal cord injuries. His therapy at Craig has been an incredible blessing. Tommy is now spending most of his day in a highly specialized wheel chair that provides him with some freedom and mobility. He is also working on weaning himself off the ventilator with the help of a diaphragm pacer intended to help promote independent breathing.
As Tommy’s homecoming approaches tentatively on September 10, new hurdles have been set for the Van Zandt family. Tommy and Robyn have two sons: Ross, age 17 and Jack, age 14. At home, Tommy will require 24-hour care for at least the first few weeks and daily care will continue for months, even years. This will put an enormous financial strain on the family. Insurance will cover very little of the home care expense. In addition, during this transition period, it will be a while before Tommy can return to work at Sage Partners, the Fayetteville-based commercial real estate company he co-founded and co-leads.

For some reason this story has really impacted my heart, as well as Marcs. I know for me, it made me think that I too could have been in this same exact situation as this family.
Marc spent a whole day up in trees, trimming limbs while helping others out after the ice storm. He could have easily fallen just like Tommy. It also encourages me to see the attitude of his wife. She has a whole new role of being his caretaker for the rest of their lives. I can't imagine how their lives have changed since February. It definitely makes me have a heart check of thankfulness and dedication. Through all of this, Tommy still gives God all the glory and is singing His praises. What an encourager he is to so many people.

All that to say, Marc and I are thrilled to be attending his "Nite out" event. People have a put a ton of time and energy in to making this a great night for this sweet family. I wanted to try and help get the word out.
The nite will consist of food, drinks, a band, and a live and silent auction. The auction items are incredible. To purchase tickets or to see more details about this Friday night, you can go to: http://www.friendsoftommyv.com/party.html
and if you would like to read more of his story, you can go to their blog, http://www.friendsoftommyv.blogspot.com/

Tickets are $100 each, so if you are looking for somewhere to give, this would be a great opportunity for you! Maybe we will see you there! Hopefully we will see you there!






Thursday, October 1, 2009

Falling in Love with Fall

Today is October 1st!
I can now officially decorate for fall and can say goodbye to summer. I have really been trying to hold out til now! I think since the weather has felt so fallish the past month, it feels like fall has been her awhile already.
Over the past 4 years, I have developed a serious love for fall that I didn't even realize I had. It started when Marc and I had our 1st apartment right after we got married, and I wanted to decorate the outside of it. I went all out with the cornstalk, hay bale, pumpkins and mums! Since then my love has grown. Summer used to be my favorite season because I'm madly obsessed with the lake, but fall is in close 2nd!

Yesterday was an exciting day! I got 2 fun punkins from hobby Lobby (its all 50% off already) and my sweet hubby surprised me with two pots of beautiful yellow mums! Yay I'm so excited. I think another reason I love fall is because I'm also obsessed with the color orange, therefore ALL fall decor matches pretty much everything in my house!

Getting excited for all things Fall......

the Ozarks beautiful foliage


mums ...


Punkins... Ahh I love them!


The ultimate fall decor



a taste of fall...
The smell of fall...
Now these little yummy looking treats I found on Bakerella's website !
Go there for the full recipe. If I get brave, I might attempt them sometime this fall!

I mean so adorable!



And of course.... Razorback football, no matter how bad we are!

So Happy Fall Yall! Enjoy it before the evil cold sets in!