So, I was looking for a nice easy not so sweet recipe for a birthday at work. I wanted to bake something, but didn’t know what to make. I was eating dinner at Ian’s on Sunday night and his sister, Sara, made cheese bread to accompany the beef stew. (really good!). It’s so yummy and tastes like the Cheddar Bay biscuits at Red Lobster. Next time i make it, I think i might use cheddar!

Anywhoo… this is my recipe from Sara:

Round Cheese Bread
 
Ingredients:
 
1 1/2 cups biscuit mix (I couldn’t find bisquick, so used “Jiffy” baking mix)
1 cup mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated parmesan
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 cup milk
1 egg, beaten
2 tbl butter, melted
extra parmesan (if desired)
 
–In bowl, combine the biscuit mix, mozzarella, parmesan, dried oregano, milk, and egg.  Batter will be thick.  (VERY thick)
–Spoon into 8 inch round greased baking dish (i used canola spray). It takes a little time to spread since its so thick!
–Brush melted butter over top, and sprinkle with extra parmesan if desired.
–Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes until toothpick inserted comes out clean.

I decided to use my Golden Acorn Oval Cinderella Casserole dish. This is my first time baking with pyrex. :) It was fun! I should’ve used this guy around christmas time!

Til it’s our Wedding Day!!!  :)

(source)

I want that birdcage veil above. Maybe with different netting… something more delicate.

It’s sort of scary to think about.. but at the same time I am so happy. So nervous. It’s not much time, but if I could marry him tomorrow, I would.  :)

In other news, I have a David’s Bridal Salon appointment tomorrow. I booked it a month ago and now it’s supposed to snow. I don’t care if i have to rent a tank, we’re going!

Also, Stay tuned for our Menu post. It’s just about finalized!

Good. Got that.

We’ve told our friends and family, strangers and friends of strangers. I told the world right here on my blog. It’s been 2 months and I’m still encountering people that still didn’t know we were engaged. My dentist didn’t know, my friends far away haven’t seen the ring in person. Each time someone says congrats or “let’s see it!” I get all giddy all over again and hold out my hand as if we were engaged yesterday.

It really is a great feeling. I don’t brag, I don’t just randomly hold out my ring finger to strangers. I keep it hidden sometimes, protected in my pocket. It’s hard when I talk about Ian though. The word “Fiance” is so silly sounding to me. Not that I don’t like it, or I don’t want to be his Fiance either, but we both agree that the word fiance is just an odd word. Most of the time I call him Ian to people, or I’ll say “my boyfriend”, or jokingly say “my soon-to-be hubby”. Sometimes I get messed up and say, “boyfr- oh, I guess fiancee now….” Which then makes that person say, “ohmigosh! Let’s see it!?” *Cue the warm fuzzy feeling* :)

The first thing we did was choose a time period for the date of our wedding. Well, I lied. I guess the first thing we tried to do was a guest list, but that still isn’t finalized (and I bet it won’t be for a while).

Anywhoo… we didn’t want a long engagement and Winter and summer are just too extreme weather for us. That leaves Autumn, which we both adore. Autumn was 11 months away. Practically “next year!” Which made my mom a bit nervous since I’m her first married out of 3. (Me too!) The second option was Spring…. of 2013. I pictured gardens and flowers, and Robins Egg blue lanterns, and pretty white fluffy decorations, and a gorgeous outdoor wedding somewhere with a view. BUT it’s Spring.. of 2013. That, to me, is a long engagement. That’s practically a year and a half. Nothing wrong with an engagement that long, but we didn’t want it. Meaning Fall of 2012 was the winner.

I can’t even begin to count the number of times we were told “Enjoy the engagement!” “Don’t let the planning be stressful!”, “Walk away when you disagree!”, “Enjoy it!”, Enjoy it!”

I’d nod and say, “yes yes I know”… but secretly, I was stressed from Day 1.

We needed a place! A church! and a date! I’m from NY, he lives in NJ. We didn’t even have a STATE at one point! We started just exploring places blindly.

Right around thanksgiving, we looked at a place, The Lodge at Lake Hird. A huge restored Lodge from the 1930s. Wood beams, wood floors, huge fireplace on one side, right on a lake, area on a back patio for a cocktail hour and everything. THAT was the description. It was umm… a hunting lodge. NOTHING AGAINST HUNTING LODGES, but for a wedding? Picture this: 20-something decapitated deer hanging on the walls staring at me and my guests. No thanks. (They can’t be removed, I asked.) Maybe I’d rent the place for Ian’s retirement party one day, but not a wedding. I was disappointed, and had a nice little freak out about how we won’t find a place for us that we can afford, and blah blah.

Oh yes, Budget. I won’t reveal the full extent of our budget. You can’t buy a new car with it is all I’ll say. We have two generous families (my mother is giving me half) and Ian’s family has offered any support we may need. Thank you all. <3

We're both self sufficient individuals, so accepting help and things is still new to us. I have been saving for .. oh… about 1.5 years. Ian and I have been dating for 2.5 now. Yes, I started saving before I was engaged. Right as soon as I knew, right when we started talking future plans, and possible marriage, I began a Wedding Fund bank account at the bank. I felt so adult-y!

Geez, I'm sorry… this is the longest post ever. I'll add more photos as an apology!

FAST FORWARD…

We choose Our Lady Queen of Peace as our Church. This is currently Ian's church, and will be mine when I move to NJ. It seemed right to choose it. It's a gorgeous church.

Right before Christmas, Ian and I checked out the venue called the Warwick Center. It has a chapel on the property (Mulder Chapel), with a reception room right underneath. (The Port Ewen Room). We had booked our church, so we choose that reception space! It’s got wonderful views of Warwick Valley in Warwick, NY! The views are really breathtaking, and these photos were from December. Just imagine with all the fall foliage!




The room in this photo is set up for another wedding (180 people!) ours will obviously look different with our designs and only 100 or so people!

Patio Space for Cocktails

thy have plans for a gazebo here, but maybe not before our wedding.

We also met with a caterer. He was fabulous. We choose a great menu, and are working out some kinks. Hope we can work with him. I’ll share the menu in my next post!

*opens up a huge book with gold edges and engraved cover*

Oh that’s not it…

*finds a tiny leather bound book with a tarnished brass buckle and handmade pages*

Here we go…

The story of Girl & Boy AKA Fox & Bear. It began over 5 years ago. Boy worked at design company. Girl hired at same company. Girl started dating someone else. That relationship was poo and ended. Girl realizes that she was in love with Boy all along. Girl tells boy, “I think I like you.” Boy tells girl, “Umm, I don’t know if we’d work as a couple. Do you want to go on a hike?” Girl agrees. The hike comes, it rains. Not just rain, completely downpours. We see a snake, and a bear, and make a fire out of a pencil and some napkins. We high five at our MacGuyver-ness. We eat some hotdogs, take some soggy photos, and head back to Boy’s house. We talk for hours, drink some home-brewed beer, and listen to lots of Radiohead & Decemberists. Things progress and more dates come about. We travel to Albany, and Girl goes on vacation with Boy and his family. Much fun is had. They decide that the hike was Their first date, and celebrate it every year. Suddenly the years pass and they find themselves celebrating their 2 year anniversary. Something clicks and Boy & Girl realize that they are each others one. November 5th, 2011. They go on another hike. Girl was told a bring a book. Girl forgets. She is handed a tiny hand drawn storybook entitled “Fox & Bear Go Hiking”. Fox and Bear are meant to be, and Bear asks fox, “Can I Marry You?” Girl is shocked, shaking. She looks up and Boy is holding a beautiful ring. His eyes are asking THE question. Girl cries a little, but before She is a completely sobbing mess, “yes!” she says, and cries some more, this time her tears fall on his shoulders. He doesn’t care. It was perfect.

Girl temporarily takes over her own craft blog to make it her Wedding Blog. (had to add it)

Now the Wedding planning begins. We have a date, and a reception venue, and *hopefully* a caterer (we’re waiting to hear his proposal). But these details are for other posts. :)

oh… and the ring:




PS: 150th POST WOOT WOOT!

*All Artwork in the Storybook was created by and copyright I.H. 2011*
Message me if you would like to re-post or use it for something!

After the thought of having 3 blogs and a wedding website (which is not a blog, but it was free and but don’t get to ramble on it)… ahem, the thought of three blogs was a bit overwhelming. I do not want to start neglecting my first blog. This one was my test to my internet writing skills. Am I able to connect with absolute strangers? I may have only 20-something readers, but I am extremely thankful for those 20-something readers.

For the next.. oh let’s see… 10.3 months (305 days! and probably a bit after) this will be my new wedding journal. (some regular crafting things will be posted as well!)

I apologize in advance if you hate wedding blogs and want no part in this. I wonder how many readers I shall lose…I’ve pondered that for a while, but decided, this is my blog. It is, above all else, for me right?

Keep tuned for event space, caterer things and details to come!

We went hiking in NJ and had a great view and the day just got better and better! :)

But…. I AM! My classes are Drawing I and 2D Design. I’ve been going for 3 weeks now, and will be posting updates and projects and my experiences on my Art blog (which made more sense anyway). And I added a Page up top, out of the way for anyone who wants to read about it. First post is here!

It’ll be going on til December over at my Art Blog, Tweed Fox.
Drop in for a hello and maybe a critique?

:)

I bought ziplock bags full of trim, buttons, beads, lace, and misc items.

$1 for a bag, I can’t pass that up. Such cute little trinkets. :)

I am obsessed with the vintage needles packaging. Now it’s all blister cards and paper. sigh…

Bag of vintage bobbins, $2.75 … only 5 actually fit my machine. I wonder what else i could do with these… some were awesomely old. :)

A Sweet little candy Dish!

But this is what i plan on using it for…

And More pyrex!

A little red Refrigerator Dish

And a lime green Single Serve Casserole Dish!


LOVE IT!!
I’m gathering items for use and display in my sewing room! Hopefully it’ll be ready to move in there soon.

Take Care. I have another post of antiques and things for tomorrow. Ian took me to Hawley, PA for my birthday. If you’ve seen my flickr stream, you have a sneak peek! :)

ALSO! A Very Good Coat Rack Readers and subscribers get a 15% off discount on anything! just enter FRIENDS2 during the etsy checkout :)

Sweet Sherbet

Invisible Button

Peachy Pair of Hair Clips - SOLD!

Blue Carved Shell Button Earrings

Tiny Pink Button Studs

Teal Carved Flower

AND Many More New Additions :)

I’ve decided on a design, some patchwork with a big colorful applique on top! :) I’ll show some progress photos as I begin. I Bought some great fabrics, i hope they arrive soon!

Got a bunch of Blue vintage sheet fat quarters from Jeni (ironsea)

photo by jeni (ironsea)

and some great fat quarters and a yard of some nice fabrics for backing from Whimsie Dots. She is a wonderful lady, and has sales most of the time!

photo by WhimsieDots

I want to mix vintage and modern. :) Hope i can pull it off!
I realize now that it’s going to be 90% vintage sheets!