Then, I  got to remembering the hot days of summer, and how I definitely encourage the ‘up do’ to my brides when we are in the hot, hot months of summer.  Plus, it just looks good!

Check out these ‘cool’ looks for Spring…

Cute {up do} accented with a Rosette Fascinator

Love the {detail} in this Silver Fleur Bridal Headband!

The {Perfect} Pom with a Flower Fascinator

{Classic} Braid with Blossom Fascinator

Perfect for Curls {Fancy Pom}

Beautiful {Beaded} Headband

Elegantly Loose {Side Swoop}

{Delicate} Feather Whisps

Behind the Scenes!

Having {Fun}!

{Stacy!}

{Photography} Stacy Able Photography

{Hair & Makeup} The French Pharmacie

{Hair Accessories} EMilliner {check out her Etsy shop HERE}

Love!
Morgan

No big whoop.

So, I’m reminiscing about the good ‘ol days…of 2011. Laura + Scott and their awesome, what will forever be coined as, ‘My Zoo Wedding’. Which wasn’t even “IN” the zoo. hehe. But very close to it. It was a very beautiful setting, with many very beautiful people. The very talented an sweet photographer, Wendi Chitwood with InBloom Photography captured the day beautifully!

Don’t you just love them?

Love! Morgan

Vendors!
{Wedding Planning} Ashley Weddings & Events
{Photography} InBloom Photography, Wendi Chitwood
{Venue} White River Gardens, Indianapolis Zoo, Jackie Sabrosky
{Caterer} Centerplate, Beth Knight
{Flowers} Peppertree Floral, Andrea Lutz
{DJ} Event One DJs, DJ Tony

Elise also created the cutest bunting sign and hung it above the birthday table. The mini tea sandwiches were made by Elise’s mom Vera and they were da bomb. Everything was just…perfect :)

XOXO
Morgan

Check out Elise’s blog! {here}
For fun bunting ideas on Pinterest click {here}!
DIY Pom Pom’s click {here}

In the February issue of Martha, there they were….staring at me in all their deliciousness.

{Coconut Thumbprint Cookies with Salted Caramel} mmm….

So, naturally I had to make them and say to myself, “I will just eat a couple, then take the rest around to friends and family tomorrow.” Totally justifiying the whole thing.

But in reality, I probably ate over half the batch. But WORTH IT! They are amazing and I encourage you to make them yourself. These would be the cutest Spring favors for your party or wedding guests. The coconut on the outside and the salted caramel middle, Yum! Everyone will love these treats on your cookie buffet or at each place setting as a favor.

Things {you need!}

3 sticks Butter unsalted, room temperature

1 c Sugar

1 1.5 tsp Pure Vanilla

3.5 c Flour

Table Salt

2 Large Eggs, lightly beaten

12oz Sweetened Coconut

44 {yes} 44 Individually Wrapped Caramels {I used Kraft}

6 tbsp Heavy {not light} Cream

How to {do this!}

Preheat oven to 350. Beat together butter + sugar on medium until pale and fluffy, then beat in vanilla.

Place mixer on low and gradually add flour + 1.5 tsp table salt, beat to combine.

From the dough, make 1 1/4 inch balls. Dip each into beaten eggs then roll in the coconut.

Place balls on parchment-lined baking sheets + press indentation into center.

Bake for 10 min.

Re-press indentations and return to oven for 9-10 more min.

Let cool on wire racks.

Place caramels in small sauce pan with cream. Stir constantly until melted. Spoon into cooled cookie centers and top with coarse salt.

Enjoy! XO
Morgan

{Links}
View this recipe on Martha! {here}

I think I’ve been on a blogging vacation, even though I never do it. Is that bad? Any who, I’m totally gonna get better at it starting……NOW! with the sweet, adorable, love bug Daphne and her first birthday. Daphne’s mama, Amanda (mom & friend extraordinaire) threw an amazing soirée with mini hamburgers, angel food cake, out-of-this-world cake pops, mini hamburgers, and the list goes on….

For Mini Hamburger Recipes click {here}
For Cake Pops! You have to turn to the amazing Bakerella {here}
Sweet Potato Fries {here}
Out of this world Angel Food Cake {here}

{They have} yummy ingredients like, peanut butter, butter and Nutter Butters mmmm….{lots of butters. but yet, still good for you. hmmm..}

and brown sugar…

and this is how you do it…{nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah}

Food Items you will need:

{1 lb} nutter butter cookies
{4 c} Special K cereal
{1/2 c} butter
{1 c} karo syrup
{1 c} brown sugar
{1/2 c} peanut butter
{1 tsp} vanilla extract

Required Topping
{12 oz} pkg semi~sweet chocolate chips
{1/3 c} peanut butter

Let’s do this! …

*grind up those nutter butters in your food processor until course. place in a bowl with the cereal.

*in large saucepan combine butter, karo syrup, & brown sugar. cook over medium high heat until bubbly, stirring once in awhile (approx. 3 min.). take off of heat.

*stir in peanut butter and vanilla until combined.

*add in cereal and cookies and stir it up!

*unload yummy goo into a buttered 9×13 in pan and spread evenly

*microwave chocolate chips and remaining PB in microwave safe bowl and spread it on top. you’re suppose to let it cool and cut into small proportionate sizes. {or scoop some out while everything is warm…whatever.}

to make it valentines day-ee…
I made small white chocolate hearts {with added red food coloring} using melted chocolate and a ziplock bag. I cut a {tiny} bit off the end and piped onto silpat {or waxed paper}

LOVE!!
Morgan

You may need to Click on some of the Photo’s to see {Description & Quantity}

{Details}

{Full View} only a small space to work with ;)

{My Flowers} were super fun to create! For my table centerpiece I used a tall pink glass vintage vase that {really isn’t vintage} from my beloved TJMaxx, filled with pink tulips, pink garden roses (that looked close to peonies and were available this time of year), miniature pink roses, white carnations (totally underrated!) and ranunculus. My bridal bouquet was just three stems of pink hydrangeas tied with black silk ribbon and an accent of black and white striped thinner ribbon. My three {milk glass} vases came inexpensively from Vintage Vogue.

My {paper creations} i.e. Menus, dessert cards, and other cute items came lovingly from The Wedding Chicks amazing blog under their free downloads. I embellished them with cute light pink rose “press ons” from a line of products at Hobby Lobby called Spare Parts.

I printed my {Gimme Some Sugar} sign from Martha Stewart Weddings. Very easy, and I’ve used the templates sooo many times.

On my {dessert dresser}, which came out of my guest bedroom (the dresser, not the goodies), was filled with Mexican Wedding Cookies, Mini Vanilla cupcakes decorated with silver dragees, Mini Pink Coconut Cupcakes, Cotton Candy Meringues from Sprinkle Bakes blog and Strawberry Marshmallows from Kroger {uh…awesome surprise! Have I just overlooked these strawberry marshmallows at Kroger?!? or have they been calling my name for years? I don’t wanna know}

{My Cake} I iced it with a cloud pattern and cut out a clip art silhouette of a couple and placed it on top. Paper roses were added too!

{I love Silhouettes} so I used them a couple times throughout my design. To distinguish the bride and grooms seat I took two black oval frames from Hobby Lobby. Then, I visited The Wedding Chicks again for the ‘bride’ and ‘groom’ font to print it on white paper and used clip art for the faces but you could totally use you and your fiancé.

For my {curtains} which were really 90″ square overlay table cloths ;) and all my other beautiful white linens… they were from the amazing Creative Coverings. I love that company!!

The {White Chiavari Chairs} , coveted by many brides, were from A Classic Party Rental up in Indy. They have all the colors and finishes of chiavari’s anyone could possibly want!

And this was what {I} looked like all day at my booth. “My booth, my booth my booth my booth!”

Love!
Morgan

Vendor Thank YOUS!! My booth would {not} have been awesome without your generosity!

{Linens & Curtains} Creative Coverings
{Chiavari Chairs} A Classic Party Rental
{Booth Rental & Show Sponsor} Perfect Parties
{Flowers ordered and selected from} Artful Blooms

Any who, I sadly waved goodbye to my pregnant sister and her Greek {and cute} husband as they ventured back to Iowa today where they live {she works for the government ;} and was super sad {so were the doggies}

Then I thought… sock monkeys. Normal reaction to sadness, right?

However, Sock Monkey SLIPPERS are even better. So, I bought them for my new nephew or niece from uncommongoods.com .

I ordered them up, got them in the mail, fell in love with them instantly, but thought they were a bit too large for a baby. More like, a toddler. But then I remembered…{Sock Monkeys} never go outta style, the kid will grow into them :)

Here’s a link to make your very own, albeit cute.. SOCK MONKEY{S}!

From hubpages.com:
http://ahhhhh.hubpages.com/hub/howtomakeasockmonkey

Just remember. It all comes back to the {sock monkey}
Love!
Morgan

{First} start with at least two champagne glasses…

{Pour} slowly and enjoy quickly!

I love the idea of a New Years resolution and always ask everyone around me what theirs will be for the upcoming new year, and yet, I have never made one for myself. It gives you a fun reason to better yourself, even if it only lasts a few months, weeks…days :/ But, none the less, it’s a great excuse for good- so this year my resolution is to practice opening the champagne bottle ;)
Happy {almost} New Year! xo Morgan