Girls Night!!!!

When I got married to my husband Daniel, I automatically inherited LOTS of cousins. Luckily they were already my  friends:) They introduced me to girls night and I was instantly a fan. We've had lots of great nights eating great food, making great memories, laughing our tails off and just getting away from the boys for a night. I LOVE these ladies! They have been some of the best friends I've ever had, and I'm grateful for each of them:) 

So, to get ready for the holiday season we got together to try some amazing desserts and make Christmas ornaments! It was soooo much fun. Who new glass ornaments from Hobby Lobby and glitter would create such cute ornaments? Here are some pictures of ornaments we made:

The SPREAD!

So.Much.Fun!

Here are some simple directions for the glitter ornaments.

Supplies:

Clear glass ornaments (hobby lobby)

Glitter

2 Funnels-One for Glitter and one for liquid

Windex or Pledge Floor Polish-sounds nuts but it works

Ribbon

Paint pens, stickers, paint or whatever you want to decorate the outside

Directions:

Take one clear ornament. Using a funnel pour in just enough liquid to coat the inside. Pour out excess. Using another funnel pour in glitter liberally. Whatever doesn't stick will pour out. Place finger over top of ornament and shake the ornament until the internal surface is coated completely. Pour out excess. And that's it! It comes out just like this:

I cut the letters out of vinyl with my cricut then added details with paint pens, but you could just buy letter stickers from Hobby Lobby or Michael's. Add some pretty ribbon and you have a simple homemade ornament. 

I totally plan on making these as gifts this year:) 

There is nothing like a homemade Christmas gift! They are by far my favorite gifts.

Can't believe Christmas is less than a month away! I love this time of the year. Not the gifts or the commercialization but the excitement of Christmas morning, the time spent with family, the memories that old Christmas songs bring, advent calendars, Christmas programs at church, baking and the new memories being made. It IS the most wonderful time of the year! 

Merry Christmas Y'all!

With Love,

Emily

Chocolate Pecan Pie

Ladies and Gents this is the easiest, most delicious pecan pie ever. Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE better yet am ADDICTED to Pinterest! I have found some of the best craft ideas and recipes on there. If you don't know what Pinterest is you are missing out:) Moving on... Here is the recipe for this pie. It's a Paula Deen original, so how could it possibly be bad? Super simple and delicious. Enjoy!

Ingredients 

1   (9-inch) unbaked pie shell 

2 cup pecan halves 

3   large eggs, beaten 

3 tablespoon butter, melted 

1/2 cup dark corn syrup 

1 cup sugar 

1 Tspn Vanilla Extract 

3 ounce semisweet chocolate, chopped

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. 

Cover bottom of pie crust with pecans. 

In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and melted butter. Add the corn syrup, sugar, bourbon and the chopped chocolate. Stir until all ingredients are combined. Pour mixture into the pie shell over the pecans and place on a heavy-duty cookie sheet. 

Bake for 10 minutes. Lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees F and continue to bake for an additional 25 minutes or until pie is set. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack. 

And here is the finished product:

Try it and let me know what you think. I assure you there won't be any crumbs left once you serve it:)

With Love,

Emily

The First 365 Days

I can't believe it's been a year! One year since I married my best friend and my everything. When we were dating we used to talk about what we wanted our wedding to be like. Daniel would tell me that he was going to always take care of me and that one day we'd have our perfect day. Growing up together, 5 years of dating and 1 year of marriage later we are happier than ever. He is such a blessing in my life and I am forever grateful that God made him mine. How about a few wedding pictures for old times sake:)

The trees we made ourselves:)

The photographer called this picture "First Sight". I am such a blessed Lady!

The girls and I

 We were so happy!

I swept up birdseed in our bathroom for weeks:)

Finally:)

What a perfect day!

 So 365 days later it was time to celebrate our anniversary. Daniel was sneaky and planned a weekend getaway-without me knowing. For anyone who knows me, this was big! I'm quite the planner/control freak and I usually handle all vacations or getaways:) We went to Asheville for the weekend and went to the gorgeous Biltmore House! It was my first visit, and as beautiful as the house is the grounds and other attractions are just as magnificent! He ALSO planned a horse back ride on the grounds of the estate and it was my FAVORITE part!!! Here are just a few pictures from the weekend! If you ever get the chance to visit Asheville you must make a stop!

Cutting our cake 1 yr later...well one from the baker that looked just like it:)

The Biltmore House and the HUGE Christmas tree in front

Right outside the front door.

My favorite-the Lagoon on the back of the property. It was gorgeous!

Daniel on our horse back ride

Me with the house in the background

We had such a great time! 

After one year I can imagine loving anyone more. He is my best friend, love of my life, and everything I ever prayed and hoped for. I CANNOT wait for all the adventures we have left to experience together! 

Here's to forever:)!

With Love,

Emily

Decorating for Fall and Halloween Visitors!

 I LOVE fall ! The leaves have been gorgeous here in South Carolina this year. This tree is in our front yard and it has been beautiful to watch the leaves change from bright green to vibrant reds!

I had LOTS of wedding decorations left over so I decided to put them to good use! I made a super simple wreath. I took a vine wreath I bought at Hobby Lobby and hot glued paper leaves to the wreath. Added a bow and Ta-Da simple fall decorations. May have cost $7 all together.

My next fall decorations were almost as simple. I bough a little hay bail at Wal-Mart, used a cloth napkin from the wedding and 3 fake pumpkins. A little craft paint and here you have it, monogram pumpkins!

I don't really decorate for Halloween, so this is about as close to Halloween as it gets. When I was growing up, Halloween was massive. My dad and brother would decorate the house in the scariest  creepiest decorations ever. I, however, was never a fan. I loath scary movies, ghost, goblins and anything that would give me nightmares. I loved dressing up like a princess and getting candy, but heaven help you if you jumped out and scared me. You may be on the receiving end of my little fist:) Luckily there were no ghost and goblins that came to my door this year. I did however get a visit for a beautuful Princess Belle, and sweet little ghost, and a handsome little elephant. I had a school project on Halloween night so I missed the most adorable nerd ever. These little babies are so so precious. I've been lucky to watch them grow from tiny babies to adorable toddlers. I am blessed with some amazing girlfriends who let me spoil and love on their sweet babies until I have some of my own, and even then I'll always love these little guys! Enjoy these sweet little guys!

Princess Blakely and Sweet Ghost Gracie

Davis the handsome Elephant

Isn't this the cutest costume? Say hello to Max:)

Still more to catch up on. The end of the year is busy, busy, busy. Just a sneak peak of whats to come; Our 1 year anniversary, Chocolate Pecan Pie, Ah-Mazing Cheese Cake, Girls Night, Carrot Cake Muffins and Christmas Decorations!!! 

Whew! Can't wait to share! 

With Love, 

Emily

Bad Blogger

So, this is the first day I've looked at my blog....since SEPTEMBER 30th! It seems like that was last week and sadly it was almost 2 months ago. So with that said there is LOTS to catch you guys up on.

Business Trip:

On my last post I talked about going on my first business trip, which turned out to be a great experience. Flights went smooth and on time minus my luggage being sent to Wisconsin on the way home. I did not get home sick, which I totally expected to happen. I met a lot of great people in Lake Charles, Louisiana and would definitely go back. It was a neat place and reminded me a lot of Charleston. One thing about Louisiana...its flat! Very flat! This picture was taken in Cameron, Louisiana which basically felt like the end of the earth. I have NEVER seen the sun that big. 

The last full day I was there I had to travel to Dequincy which was about 2 hours from where I was staying. I happened to call my mom as I was leaving the doctors office I was visiting just to tell her where I was. Low and behold I was about 30 miles from where my Grandmother, my mom's mom, grew up. Merryville, La. Isn't that nuts? I had no clue and there I was, just around the corner from my roots. I was amazed. 

One thing I noticed while I was there was was that the sky was absolutely gorgeous. I snapped this picture coming back from Dequincy. Just gorgeous!

All in all I had a great time. I learned that I can handle being away from home for a week, find my way around  a strange city and state and can get on a plane without my hubby with only a few crocodile tears shed :) 

So that brings you up to speed with the first few weeks of October. Lord, there's lots more to tell, lots of pictures to share and LOTS of great holiday recipes that I've been trying out on my family:) So here's to LOTS of love and a promise to be a better blogger!

With Love,

Emily