West Elm Mirror and Banana Pudding

Project #3

I am so very thankful to have a crafty husband. I absolutely LOVE West Elm’s Parson Floor Length Mirror, but right now I have way too many “want list items” for the new house to justify spending $399 on a mirror.
Instead of ordering the mirror, Chad and I went to Home Depot and Lowe’s for an unframed mirror, wood, and a can of stain (for the wood). After barely getting everything to fit in the SUV, we made it home and Chad started building our mirror! I can’t say I was much help at all with this project.

I think the mirror turned out perfect and we spent under $75 on all the supplies to make it!  I am one proud wife and getting dressed in the mornings for work is so much easier with my new full length mirror!

Also this past week, Chad’s mom was in town. Ms. Lisa, John, and Leah all came over to see the new house on Sunday. I made a Banana Pudding Poke Cake from a recipe on Pinterest. This cake is now one of Chad’s favorite desserts and this was my second time making it this summer. Since everyone was over at the house for dessert, we decided to use our Lenox - Butler's Pantry Gourmet china for the very first time.

 
Project #4

Our next project is going to be making a barn door into a headboard for our new king size mattress and frame.

Christmas 2012

 

Christmas Snowman Cookies (thanks to Pinterest)

Christmas as an engaged couple is definitely a different Christmas. It means more travel and splitting time with your families! We spent lots of time on the road, but it was great to get to see both of our families, make many memories, and start new traditions.

Chad, John, Leah, and I left Birmingham and headed for Monroe, Louisiana to spend Christmas with Chad’s family on the 21st. Chad has lots of cousins close to our age and we had a blast celebrating Christmas at Chad's grandparents' house with everyone. I can't remember the exact number of stocking that were hung, but it was close to 25!

The girls had fun working on gingerbread houses.

After getting to spend three days with Chad’s family in Louisiana, we headed back to Birmingham for one night before leaving for Troy on Christmas Eve. 

Birthday Celebration #1 for me and Leah

 

We love Papaw (Chad and John's granddad)

My mom made a caramel cake (my favorite) for my birthday cake and it was amazing! I can't believe I am 28 now!

Some of my favorite things to do on my birthday include: going to the Christmas Eve Service at church, riding around looking at Christmas lights, reading 'Twas the Night before Christmas (fill in the blank style), and eating cake. I was so thankful Chad was able to share this with my family this year!! Christmas Day we woke up and made mimosas and monkey bread before eating Christmas lunch all cooked by my mom.

Chad and my dad went hunting together for the first time

Mom and I baked some delicious Smores Cookies!

AND I got to meet John Harrison for the first time. I loved holding him and wish he lived closer than Nebraska!

 In summary, it was a great Christmas and the perfect way to spend my last Christmas as a Scarbrough!!

 

Merry Christmas
from The Scarbroughs 

Weekend Recap - Cookie Dough

Who doesn’t love cookie dough?

Source: family.go.com via Lauren on Pinterest

I saw the Pin above one night last week. The pin is linked to a recipe for Cookie Dough Bites with only five ingredients and no eggs. Finally it's safe to eat cookie dough!! Two days after finding the recipe I was still thinking about the Cookie Dough Bites and knew I had to make them. I added in some white chocolate chips. I didn't drizzle chocolate on mine this time but if I make them to take somewhere I will (just to dress them up).

My attempt:

Friday night a group of us went to Dreamland for Hart's Going Away Dinner and then headed to Good People Brewery. We will be sad to see Hart leave for Los Angelos, but can't wait to visit him!

 a little vintage decor at the brewery

ping pong at the brewery

Saturday was dress shopping with my roomie and Sunday was church with friends and the Closing Ceremonies for the Olympics. I think I cried  (happy tears) at least four times during the last two weeks watching the Olympics. The gymnastics competition gets me every time.

I hope you had a great weekend!!

Pinned It.

It's my tenth week in a row to link with The Vintage Apple for Oh, How Pinteresting Wednesday! This week's theme:

Creative Cooking

I thought all of these were really creative ideas! I'm constantly amazed by how creative people are!

Freeze whip cream on a cookie sheet and use a cookie cutter to cut out a heart.

Source: dondalees.com via Lauren on Pinterest

Summer Mimosa - Orange Sherbert and Champagne

Source: pbpickles.com via Lauren on Pinterest

Shut the front door. There is  a  Reese’s inside of that cupcake and Reese’s are my FAVORITE!

 

Source: bakeitinacake.com via Lauren on Pinterest

I have a bad feeling that this is a cake I'll be able to make more than once.

Source: imgfave.com via Lauren on Pinterest

Eat Dessert First.

"Life is short. Eat dessert first."

I have to start my Weekend Recap off with DESSERT! What better way to start of the weekend than with dessert? I headed home from work to try a recipe I'd seen on Pinterest that looked insanely easy and it turned out SO GOOD!! I don't recommend many things, but this you HAVE TO TRY!! You only need 3 things: crescent rolls, peanut butter, and chocolate chips.

Just roll out the crescent rolls, spread peanut butter on top, and then add chocolate chips! I had milk chocolate and white chocolate chips so I added a little of both and put them in the oven for 11 minutes at 375. I thought they turned out perfect. Now I just need to come up with a really good name for them.

 Chad and I spent Saturday afternoon at the pool and I'm getting close to finishing Fifty Shades of Grey (I've yet to figure out the obsession).

"You had me at CINNAMON ROLL."

Saturday night was DATE NIGHT!! We had dinner at Micheal's Steak and Seafood Restaurant inside Aloft Hotel in downtown Homewood (also referred to as SOHO). It's one of my favorite areas here.

As soon as we ordered dinner, we were served bread. Not just any bread, but CINNAMON ROLLS (dessert first, please and thank you). I decided this place had my approval before we had even seen our entrees. I am a semi-seafood snob. I love good fish and Micheal's definitely has my approval!! I had grilled salmon and Chad had blackened grouper. I've added Michael's to my TOP 3 restaurants in Birmingham. 

While we  were at dinner, we ran into another couple from Troy that is now living in Birmingham and stayed for drinks with them to catch up on some Troy gossip.

GUITAR HERO

Confession... At 26 and 27 we definitely spent part of our weekend playing Guitar Hero. I've never played before and let me just say - I AM BEYOND TERRIBLE!! It's frustrating to be so bad at something (especially when you have the level set on EASY), but at the same time it was hilarious and I'll definitely play again!!

I hope everyone had a great weekend!!