Thursday, November 29, 2012

So Thankful

Another year with so much to be thankful for:  a soon-to-be hubby, amazing future in-laws and another sister I couldn't love more, an incredible family of my own who's support of everything I do is unwavering, friends that seriously rock, the most lovable fat cat who makes me laugh everyday, a fantastic job, good health, and lots and lots of happiness!  So, to celebrate this Thanksgiving my parents came out to spend a few days with Nick and I in Colorado.  

Since I'm no Betty Crocker I must admit I was a little intimidated by the fact that I'd be responsible for the biggest feast of the year.  THANKFULly though, my friend Robyn (a Thanksgiving dinner pro) offered to show me the ropes.  She came by one afternoon to teach me how to homemake both pumpkin and pecan pie and then continued to stay for hours as she talked me through the rest of the dinner as I carefully took notes praying that my first turkey wouldn't end in a house fire and Chinese food for dinner. 

As my parents arrived they were impressed with how under control things were, the salt wasn't getting overused per usual, I hadn't baked the plastic bag inside the turkey, the potatoes looked edible.  And cranberries out of the can?  I got this! 



Watch out Food Network, I can bake now.

My two turkeys

Aw, our first turkey
 

Dad doing the honors

More of the spread
 

Dinner was so good the men volunteered to take dish duty, love this!

Pin it.
  
"Waiter, there is too much pepper on my paprikash.  But I would be proud to partake of your pecan pie."

I'm such a dork.

And to add to the fun, my mom's best friend Debbie (below left) and her husband Steve were also in Colorado for the weekend visiting her sister, Sandy (below right).  We spent two days together with them, one day down in Denver where Nick and I had the whole group playing cornhole, flip cup and even threw a little karaoke in there (keeping it classy) and then the next day we drove up to Erie, CO where Sandy lives for lots of football, chili and more good times.


Don't mind the patio furniture in our dining room.
  

I love Nick cheering for himself in the background :) 

We said goodbye to Mom & Dad Tuesday AM and after dropping them off at the airport we came home to find Moe sitting on the guest bed with this pillow.  Yes, he sits like that.

And finally, I stole this off of one of Emily Maynard's tweets I just love it.  Hope everyone's Thanksgivings were just as blessed!

Monday, November 19, 2012

Engagement Photos - Take 2


Nick and I met with our (awesome) photographer up at Heil Valley Ranch to give our engagement pictures another go.  Thankfully, this time the weather was on our side - it was a beautiful, fall Colorado afternoon.  You'll see in some of them just how bad the Boulder fires affected the area but overall it was a really great location.  I love the ones of us shot between the trees!  I'm so glad we did these pictures.  I think it gave us some insight onto the kind of pictures we want to take for our wedding day, less serious/artsy ones (hello Calvin Klein) and more smiling/genuine shots which is definitely more Nick & I...here are a few of my faves from the day!



Engagement Photos - Take 1

Our engagement pics are finally here!  We met our photographer at this great spot in Boulder and as we stepped out of the car it started down-pouring.  (Great day for white pants)  Our photographer Steve Stanton couldn't let a creative moment like that go so he kept us out there shooting in the rain.  And I mean, LOTS of rain.  At one point Nick looked at me and was like 'ummm, I think your makeup is bubbling' - cute.  We tried to warm up with some wine we brought from Kuleto Estates, the winery in Napa we got engaged at and enjoyed ourselves as much as we could until it became so insanely cold and wet we decided to wrap it up.  If you can get past the whole wet hair look these pictures came out pretty great!  Below are a few of my favorites from our first attempt...

 
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