I'm/We're trying to be more fiscally responsible.
Of course, this decoy doesn't work if either you or your significant other is, well, loaded. But for Darrell and I, pulling this one off was an easy sell. Of course, it required participation from Darrell as well, because by using this excuse he was also barred from ordering a drink. And it also isn't a good idea to pull this strategy out if the sole purpose for getting together with the group of people is to drink. But since we were getting together with friends to go to Buffalo Wild Wings, it was perfectly believable that we weren't ordering beer to go with our wings because we were trying to cut back a little bit. And really, if you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, chances are you are legitimately trying to be more fiscally responsible, so it really isn't even like you are lying!
Tales of a South Dakotan married to a North Carolinian
Friday, November 30, 2012
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Maple Pecan Cinnamon Rolls
I know what you are thinking. Homemade cinnamon rolls? That sounds time consuming. That sounds like I have to do lots of planning ahead. I know that you are probably thinking that because that's what I thought every time I saw a recipe for homemade rolls. The recipes always seemed unreasonable--if I wanted to make them in the morning for breakfast, I'd have to get up at the crack of dawn to make sure the dough would have enough time to rise. Most recipes do have the option of pre-making the dough and then storing it in the fridge so that it is ready to use in the morning, but that requires planning ahead. What about those mornings when you wake up and just decide--I want cinnamon rolls? What's a person to do--especially if you don't have a container of the Pillsbury ones waiting patiently in your fridge?
Well, this is the recipe for you. It isn't exactly super speedy--especially compared to those ready-to-use refrigerator varieties--but it's certainly speedier than most yeast recipes. And I dare say that when (because there will be another go at these rolls. You can bet on it) I make these rolls again, the process will go even smoothly than it did the first time. In fact, the person I found this recipe from claimed she could go from ingredients to finished product in an hour. I wasn't quite that efficient with my first attempt at them--but practice makes perfect.
Maple Pecan Cinnamon Rolls
(recipe found here--check the link out for lots of pictures of the process)
For the Dough:
3 cups flour
3 tbsp sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup buttermilk (if you don't have buttermilk, just mix 1 tsp lemon juice or vinegar into 1 cup milk and let sit for 10 minutes)
6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted and divided
1/3 cup maple syrup
For the Filling:
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup chopped pecans
2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp salt
1 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
For the Icing:
2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
3 tbsp maple syrup
1 to 2 tsp milk
1 cup powdered sugar
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the buttermilk, maple syrup, and 2 tbsp of the melted butter. Stir until just combined. Transfer the dough to a floured work surface and knead until smooth (it will still be very soft and a little sticky, but will be smoother and less lumpy). Place in a lightly floured bowl, cover, and chill for 20 minutes. To make the filling, combine all of the dry ingredients in a small bowl. Add the melted butter and stir with a fork until the mixture looks like wet sand. Prepare a 9-inch cake pan for the rolls by brushing with 1 tbsp melted butter and preheat the oven to 425*.
Once chilled, flatten the dough into a rectangle about 12x8 inches (flour work surface lightly if dough is still a little sticky). Pour 2 tbsp of the melted butter on to the dough and spread around. Pour the filling over the dough and spread it evenly over the top, leaving about a 1/2 border around the outside edge. Press the filling down slightly to pack it on top of the dough. Starting on the long side of the dough, roll the side up, pressing as you go, to create a tightly rolled log (work slowly in case the dough sticks to the work surface slightly). Pinch the seam closed and cut into eight even pieces. Transfer each roll to the prepared pan and brush with the remaining 2 tbsp of melted butter. Bake for 20 to 23 minutes, until golden brown.
To make the icing, cream the butter in a medium bowl and then add the sugar. Mix until the sugar and butter start to come together. Add the syrup and whisk well, until the mixture is smooth. If it is too thick, add a teaspoon or two of milk. Allow the cinnamon rolls to cool for about five minutes before topping with the icing.
I will warn you--these suckers are sweet. Darrell and I could each only eat one at a sitting. So prepare to have leftovers of these (don't worry--they taste just as good reheated the next morning), or serve them to some friends (and, you know, impress them with your mad skills).
Well, this is the recipe for you. It isn't exactly super speedy--especially compared to those ready-to-use refrigerator varieties--but it's certainly speedier than most yeast recipes. And I dare say that when (because there will be another go at these rolls. You can bet on it) I make these rolls again, the process will go even smoothly than it did the first time. In fact, the person I found this recipe from claimed she could go from ingredients to finished product in an hour. I wasn't quite that efficient with my first attempt at them--but practice makes perfect.
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| We may have drowned the middle one in a little too much frosting. Whoops :) |
(recipe found here--check the link out for lots of pictures of the process)
For the Dough:
3 cups flour
3 tbsp sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup buttermilk (if you don't have buttermilk, just mix 1 tsp lemon juice or vinegar into 1 cup milk and let sit for 10 minutes)
6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted and divided
1/3 cup maple syrup
For the Filling:
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup chopped pecans
2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp salt
1 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
For the Icing:
2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
3 tbsp maple syrup
1 to 2 tsp milk
1 cup powdered sugar
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the buttermilk, maple syrup, and 2 tbsp of the melted butter. Stir until just combined. Transfer the dough to a floured work surface and knead until smooth (it will still be very soft and a little sticky, but will be smoother and less lumpy). Place in a lightly floured bowl, cover, and chill for 20 minutes. To make the filling, combine all of the dry ingredients in a small bowl. Add the melted butter and stir with a fork until the mixture looks like wet sand. Prepare a 9-inch cake pan for the rolls by brushing with 1 tbsp melted butter and preheat the oven to 425*.
Once chilled, flatten the dough into a rectangle about 12x8 inches (flour work surface lightly if dough is still a little sticky). Pour 2 tbsp of the melted butter on to the dough and spread around. Pour the filling over the dough and spread it evenly over the top, leaving about a 1/2 border around the outside edge. Press the filling down slightly to pack it on top of the dough. Starting on the long side of the dough, roll the side up, pressing as you go, to create a tightly rolled log (work slowly in case the dough sticks to the work surface slightly). Pinch the seam closed and cut into eight even pieces. Transfer each roll to the prepared pan and brush with the remaining 2 tbsp of melted butter. Bake for 20 to 23 minutes, until golden brown.
To make the icing, cream the butter in a medium bowl and then add the sugar. Mix until the sugar and butter start to come together. Add the syrup and whisk well, until the mixture is smooth. If it is too thick, add a teaspoon or two of milk. Allow the cinnamon rolls to cool for about five minutes before topping with the icing.
I will warn you--these suckers are sweet. Darrell and I could each only eat one at a sitting. So prepare to have leftovers of these (don't worry--they taste just as good reheated the next morning), or serve them to some friends (and, you know, impress them with your mad skills).
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Wedding Wednesday: Picking the Bridal Party
As I mentioned right off the bat, one of the biggest factors that can increase the cost of a wedding is the size of the guest list. But many brides also forget that the size of the bridal party can be a huge cost factor as well. Let's look at a few things to keep in mind when determining who--and how many--to ask to stand up with you on your big day.
Bigger isn't always better
This is may be just a personal preference, but I think large bridal parties are overwhelming. I know that some people just have that many close family members and friends, but when there is a whole entourage of people at the front of the church, it can get easy to lose the bride and groom. And I find this to be especially true when looking at photographs of large bridal parties--it gets to be hard to "see" everyone because you are trying to cram so many people into the frame.
Choose people who will make you wedding day better--not more stressful
The people in your bridal party will be around you the entire day of your wedding. So if you have a friend who is only tolerable in small doses, it is probably not wise to ask her to be in your bridal party. And that cousin who is more critical than helpful? Probably not a good idea to ask her either. Stick with people who make you smile, who make you feel relaxed, and who won't try to steal the limelight from you on your big day. Don't let yourself feel guilted into asking people to be in your bridal party--if they truly get offended that you didn't include them and subsequently hold it against you, then they probably weren't truly your friend in the first place--or at least weren't friends with you for the right reasons. But if they are truly your friend, they will understand and respect your decision, and probably still offer to help in whatever way they can. (And in fact, some might even be relieved not to be asked to be a bridesmaid because being a bridesmaid can be somewhat of a financial burden. Which brings me to point three....)
Don't make being a member of the bridal party a huge financial--or time--burden.
This is a huge one for me. By asking someone to be in your bridal party, you are pretty much acknowledging the special role he or she plays in your life. So don't turn around and take advantage of those special people in your life by asking them to shell out tons of money--or dedicate hours of their time--to be a part of your big day. Obviously there are some financial commitments; I pretty much expect that when someone asks me to be a bridesmaid that I'll be expected to pay for a dress (and possibly matching shoes and jewelry--more on bridesmaid dresses later though). But as the bride, you can make this burden a little bit easier by selecting items that are reasonably priced, or even paying for an element of their wedding day attire (make the jewelry their bridesmaid gift, for example). Also, be understanding when planing the bridal shower and/or bachelorette party. If you have your heart set on going to Vegas, understand that some of your bridal party might not be able to afford the trip (or at least make sure they are aware of--and okay with--this "obligation" from the start).
And even though you may have lots of wonderful DIY elements that you want to add to your wedding, don't expect your bridal party to help you put those elements together. Sure, you may have friends that are as DIY-minded as you are and would subsequently love to help out, but you may have other friends who are not comfortable with those kind of projects--or who might not have the time to spend four hours on a Saturday to help you put together invitations. Be understanding of these things--remember, you asked them to be in your bridal party because they have a meaningful relationship with you; a wedding is not a good excuse to take advantage of that relationship.
Bigger isn't always better
This is may be just a personal preference, but I think large bridal parties are overwhelming. I know that some people just have that many close family members and friends, but when there is a whole entourage of people at the front of the church, it can get easy to lose the bride and groom. And I find this to be especially true when looking at photographs of large bridal parties--it gets to be hard to "see" everyone because you are trying to cram so many people into the frame.
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| Images from Style Me Pretty |
And there are obviously the financial considerations of having a large bridal party--more people in the bridal party means more people to pay for at the rehearsal dinner, more bridal party gifts to buy, a larger limo/vehicle to transport everyone from the wedding to reception (if you are planning to do that)--the list goes on.
Choose people who will make you wedding day better--not more stressful
The people in your bridal party will be around you the entire day of your wedding. So if you have a friend who is only tolerable in small doses, it is probably not wise to ask her to be in your bridal party. And that cousin who is more critical than helpful? Probably not a good idea to ask her either. Stick with people who make you smile, who make you feel relaxed, and who won't try to steal the limelight from you on your big day. Don't let yourself feel guilted into asking people to be in your bridal party--if they truly get offended that you didn't include them and subsequently hold it against you, then they probably weren't truly your friend in the first place--or at least weren't friends with you for the right reasons. But if they are truly your friend, they will understand and respect your decision, and probably still offer to help in whatever way they can. (And in fact, some might even be relieved not to be asked to be a bridesmaid because being a bridesmaid can be somewhat of a financial burden. Which brings me to point three....)
Don't make being a member of the bridal party a huge financial--or time--burden.
This is a huge one for me. By asking someone to be in your bridal party, you are pretty much acknowledging the special role he or she plays in your life. So don't turn around and take advantage of those special people in your life by asking them to shell out tons of money--or dedicate hours of their time--to be a part of your big day. Obviously there are some financial commitments; I pretty much expect that when someone asks me to be a bridesmaid that I'll be expected to pay for a dress (and possibly matching shoes and jewelry--more on bridesmaid dresses later though). But as the bride, you can make this burden a little bit easier by selecting items that are reasonably priced, or even paying for an element of their wedding day attire (make the jewelry their bridesmaid gift, for example). Also, be understanding when planing the bridal shower and/or bachelorette party. If you have your heart set on going to Vegas, understand that some of your bridal party might not be able to afford the trip (or at least make sure they are aware of--and okay with--this "obligation" from the start).
And even though you may have lots of wonderful DIY elements that you want to add to your wedding, don't expect your bridal party to help you put those elements together. Sure, you may have friends that are as DIY-minded as you are and would subsequently love to help out, but you may have other friends who are not comfortable with those kind of projects--or who might not have the time to spend four hours on a Saturday to help you put together invitations. Be understanding of these things--remember, you asked them to be in your bridal party because they have a meaningful relationship with you; a wedding is not a good excuse to take advantage of that relationship.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Belly Pictures: Weeks 17-20
Halfway there! Although I suspect that I am significantly less than halfway done in terms of my growth--considering baby is only in the ballpark of seven ounces right now and will likely be over six pounds by the time he/she is born (or--knowing the way things work in my family--over eight pounds), it's safe to say I've only seen the tip of the iceberg on the growth scale. And that's also evident a little bit from these pictures--over the span of four weeks there really hasn't been much significant growth (although there is definitely a difference looking back to some of the earlier weeks). I have had co-workers tell me that I've definitely started the pop in the past few weeks (which had lead to an increase in the number of hands that touch my belly), but I still feel like I'm at that stage where I kind of just look a little fat instead of pregnant. But that's probably just the hormones talking.
Quick disclaimer--I know that I definitely look bigger in Week 17 than I do in Week 18 (and even Week 19); prior to taking the Week 17 picture Darrell and I had a turkey dinner at my grandpa's church, which was, well, quite filling. So my week 17 belly is half-baby half-turkey, which is why it is somewhat disproportionally sized compared to the other weeks.
Other fun things to note: I've definitely been feeling the baby move for a week or two now. Usually it's just small little rolls and turns that I can feel from inside my belly (which is a little weird, for the record), but every now and then I feel a swift kick or punch. In fact, Darrell even got to feel one of those kicks on Saturday, so that was exciting. We have our ultrasound scheduled for December 10th (thirteen more days! Not that I'm counting....)--no plans to find out the gender, but excited to get a peek at this little bugger!
Quick disclaimer--I know that I definitely look bigger in Week 17 than I do in Week 18 (and even Week 19); prior to taking the Week 17 picture Darrell and I had a turkey dinner at my grandpa's church, which was, well, quite filling. So my week 17 belly is half-baby half-turkey, which is why it is somewhat disproportionally sized compared to the other weeks.
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| Week 17 |
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| Week 18 |
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| Week 19 |
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| Week 20 |
Monday, November 26, 2012
The Power of Pregnancy
(written August 30th)
Well, I'm currently 7.5 weeks pregnant, and have so far been blessedly free of any major symptoms. In fact, if it weren't for the sticks I've peed on and the preliminary OB/GYN visit, I'd consider questioning the fact that I was indeed pregnant. Because while I've had a few bouts of nausea, most have been directly connected to some sort of foul smell (which--apparently--my sense of smell might also be heightened). And yes, I've been feeling some fatigue, but even without the pregnancy I think that my crazy schedule of full-time job, soccer coaching, and part-time job would be enough to make me fatigued.
Recently, though, a dairy aversion has started to set in. Not all dairy, just, well, chunky dairy. Like yogurt (but not the frozen stuff) and cottage cheese (and that's the last time you'll hear me mention those items until this aversion is long gone. *Shudder*). And, naturally, according to one of those fancy week-by-week pregnancy updaters, I find out that around eight weeks my dear parasite (call it what you want--the darn thing is a parasite. I love it to death--but it's still a parasite) begins the ossification of it's bones. Excellent. Just the time to get a dairy aversion (as Darrell pointed out, the whole vomiting and food aversion thing all seem very counter-intuitive to what a pregnant woman's body is trying to do). So, I casually send Darrell an email letting him know that we'll need to make a conscious effort to get dairy-rich foods into my diet (like broccoli and spinach), as well as plenty of the actual dairy items that I can still tolerate (which, thankfully, still includes milk and cheese). And oh, speaking of cheese--cheese and crackers sounds delicious. And that was it for the email. Just a casual mentioning of cheese and crackers. Well, I get home that night to find a platter with not one, but two different types of cheeses all sliced up and ready to eat, and a box of Triscuits. Ah-mazing.
And to make this even more outstanding--this is all happening during a week where my schedule is straight ridiculous. Monday and Wednesday both I was working at Excel until eight, and today (Thursday) we have soccer in Vermillion, which means I won't be getting home until after nine. And oh, did I mention that it also happens to be Labor Day weekend this weekend, and Darrell and I are supposed to be getting ready to head out to Wisconsin to go camping? And that, because of the drive, we are needing to leave immediately after practice/work Friday afternoon so everything needs to be ready to go before then? Needless to say, Darrell is pretty much taking care of everything. And not just everything that we need for camping, but everything that needs to get done around the house as well. Like making dinners (and cleaning up--every night this week). And doing laundry. And who knows what else. It's safe to say I'm pretty darn lucky.
Side note: I considering typing this up--sans pregnancy references since we haven't officially told anyone yet--and publishing it on the day that it was actually happening, but I was too worried that the ever-intuitive Mama Shirley (and even Darrell's sisters) might start to get a little suspicious because Darrell was being too nice for just normal day-to-day stuff. And since we already have pretty fun ideas in mind for how we want to tell our families (with surprise being a key element), I couldn't risk publishing this and raising any red flags. So, off to sit in my "Drafts" folder it goes.
11/26 Update: You know that dairy aversion I mentioned? Hasn't really gone away. Although it has gotten a little better--I can actually say the word "yogurt" without gagging and a few weeks ago I had a (small) spoonful of cottage cheese. And I don't have to banish Darrell to a different room of the house if he wants to eat yogurt. Thank goodness milk and cheese are still a-okay though. Oh, and this post is also the last time you'll hear me refer to the baby as a "parasite"; despite my very accurate reasonings for calling the baby such, Darrell was none too thrilled with that moniker. Instead, we coined the name BOB (Baby On Board) to refer to the baby. So if you hear us use that name, that's why. We have no idea if baby is a boy or not--and no intent of using the name BOB even if it is a boy.
11/26 Update: You know that dairy aversion I mentioned? Hasn't really gone away. Although it has gotten a little better--I can actually say the word "yogurt" without gagging and a few weeks ago I had a (small) spoonful of cottage cheese. And I don't have to banish Darrell to a different room of the house if he wants to eat yogurt. Thank goodness milk and cheese are still a-okay though. Oh, and this post is also the last time you'll hear me refer to the baby as a "parasite"; despite my very accurate reasonings for calling the baby such, Darrell was none too thrilled with that moniker. Instead, we coined the name BOB (Baby On Board) to refer to the baby. So if you hear us use that name, that's why. We have no idea if baby is a boy or not--and no intent of using the name BOB even if it is a boy.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Giving Thanks
Since I plan to take the rest of the week off blogging so that I can focus on family time over the holiday, I figured I would put my normal "Wedding Wednesday" on hold and spend a moment giving thanks instead.
And while I could rattle off the "standard" list of things I'm thankful for, which really hasn't changed since last year or the year before (except, of course, that I'm thankful this year for the baby growing in my belly), I'm going to focus instead on a specific thing that I'm thankful for--namely, a specific group of people that I'm thankful for, and especially thankful for the fact that I got to spend some quality time with them last night.
I have known these girls (separately and together) for the better part of my life. KWills, on the far left, lived just down the street from the house my family moved into when I was five. She and her mom brought us cookies to welcome us to the neighborhood, and we've been friends ever since. Eddy, to my left, and I have gone to church together since, well, about as long as I can remember. I met Jen (to my right) in seventh grade through the other two. Seventh grade was also the year I joined these three on a club soccer team, and we spent many fun years playing together and traveling to tournaments together. In fact, for most of our years on the team, these girls and I were the defense of the team--I was the keeper, Jen was my sweeper/center back, and Eddy and KWills were my outside backs. So many good times.
Countless years later, we still get together whenever we have the opportunity, and it's like we've never missed a beat. While I could go on about why I love spending time with these girls, the best way I can think of to sum up why I these girls are so important to me is to say that last night while we were hanging out, we (unintentionally) had discussions on all three of the "taboo" conversation topics: sex, religion, and politics. And I don't mean that as a bragging point that we all share the same views and perspectives on those topics and subsequently have no problem discussing those issues; in fact, quite the opposite is true. But these are all girls who will never judge you for having an opinion different from theirs, and are always open to engage in conversation with people of different opinions to widen their own knowledge, not to push their opinion on others. There's no right or wrong, just open-mindedness and acceptance of who you are. And for that, I am thankful.
And while I could rattle off the "standard" list of things I'm thankful for, which really hasn't changed since last year or the year before (except, of course, that I'm thankful this year for the baby growing in my belly), I'm going to focus instead on a specific thing that I'm thankful for--namely, a specific group of people that I'm thankful for, and especially thankful for the fact that I got to spend some quality time with them last night.
I have known these girls (separately and together) for the better part of my life. KWills, on the far left, lived just down the street from the house my family moved into when I was five. She and her mom brought us cookies to welcome us to the neighborhood, and we've been friends ever since. Eddy, to my left, and I have gone to church together since, well, about as long as I can remember. I met Jen (to my right) in seventh grade through the other two. Seventh grade was also the year I joined these three on a club soccer team, and we spent many fun years playing together and traveling to tournaments together. In fact, for most of our years on the team, these girls and I were the defense of the team--I was the keeper, Jen was my sweeper/center back, and Eddy and KWills were my outside backs. So many good times.
Countless years later, we still get together whenever we have the opportunity, and it's like we've never missed a beat. While I could go on about why I love spending time with these girls, the best way I can think of to sum up why I these girls are so important to me is to say that last night while we were hanging out, we (unintentionally) had discussions on all three of the "taboo" conversation topics: sex, religion, and politics. And I don't mean that as a bragging point that we all share the same views and perspectives on those topics and subsequently have no problem discussing those issues; in fact, quite the opposite is true. But these are all girls who will never judge you for having an opinion different from theirs, and are always open to engage in conversation with people of different opinions to widen their own knowledge, not to push their opinion on others. There's no right or wrong, just open-mindedness and acceptance of who you are. And for that, I am thankful.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
"I'm Not Drinking" Decoy #3
I promise to have some non-pregnancy related posts later this week/next week (yay for getting to do baking over the holiday!), but for now, here's another useful strategy for hiding your pregnancy at a bar or social event.
Order a beer (or drink of some sort), but don't really drink it. If/When someone asks, claim to not like it very much and pawn it off on a significant other (or friend).
I'll be honest, this was a challenging guise . We were at JL Beers with a friend, and I knowingly ordered a beer that was a little bit more up Darrell's alley than mine so that it would be easy for me to claim that I didn't like it. But let me tell you--it's really hard to sit there and eat a delicious burger with a full beer in front of you and Not. Drink. Any of it. Regardless of the fact that it was a beer I didn't particularly care for anyway.
The ploy worked well, though, because when the guys were ready to order their second round and my friend realized how much beer I still had left I sheepishly admitted that it was a little "too hoppy" for me so I was having to drink it slowly. And he shrugged it off without an issue (actually, he may have called me an amateur, but given the circumstances I suppose I can handle a little bit of an insult).
I will say, though, to "sell" this decoy a little bit, you might want to take occasional "sips" of the beer. If you aren't comfortable taking tiny sips and ingesting even a small amount of alcohol, you might be able to get away with just raising your drink to your lips and tilting it backwards and having it hit your lips a little bit. And then, if there's the opportunity, have your significant other take a swallow out of it to help make it look like something is actually being consumed. And unless you have really astute friends (in which case, maybe make sure they are a few drinks ahead of you by this point), you should be able to slip this decoy under their nose without much issue.
Order a beer (or drink of some sort), but don't really drink it. If/When someone asks, claim to not like it very much and pawn it off on a significant other (or friend).
I'll be honest, this was a challenging guise . We were at JL Beers with a friend, and I knowingly ordered a beer that was a little bit more up Darrell's alley than mine so that it would be easy for me to claim that I didn't like it. But let me tell you--it's really hard to sit there and eat a delicious burger with a full beer in front of you and Not. Drink. Any of it. Regardless of the fact that it was a beer I didn't particularly care for anyway.
The ploy worked well, though, because when the guys were ready to order their second round and my friend realized how much beer I still had left I sheepishly admitted that it was a little "too hoppy" for me so I was having to drink it slowly. And he shrugged it off without an issue (actually, he may have called me an amateur, but given the circumstances I suppose I can handle a little bit of an insult).
I will say, though, to "sell" this decoy a little bit, you might want to take occasional "sips" of the beer. If you aren't comfortable taking tiny sips and ingesting even a small amount of alcohol, you might be able to get away with just raising your drink to your lips and tilting it backwards and having it hit your lips a little bit. And then, if there's the opportunity, have your significant other take a swallow out of it to help make it look like something is actually being consumed. And unless you have really astute friends (in which case, maybe make sure they are a few drinks ahead of you by this point), you should be able to slip this decoy under their nose without much issue.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Our New Guest "Room"
Since we've started telling people that we're expecting, Darrell and I have been fielding questions right and left. Many of them I expected--When are you due? (April 13th is the "official" date.) How have you been feeling? (Pretty good, actually.) Are you going to find out what you are having? (No.) Some I was a little surprised by--Were you trying? (Not that it is any of your business, but yes, we were trying, it was not an accident.) How long had you been trying for? (Again, a little personal, but if you've been paying attention to the posts you'll know we started trying in May and were pregnant by the end of July.) There has been one question, though, that made me laugh a little bit--Have you decided which room you are going to turn into the nursery?
Here's why that question is humorous--our house only has two finished bedrooms. Obviously the person who asked us that question did not know that (and clearly thinks we are well-off enough to be able to afford a house with a multitude of bedrooms), but for someone privy to the facts, it's a comical question. Because there was really no debate about it--we were going to be turning our guest bedroom into the nursery, and subsequently be without a guest bedroom (at least until we finish the basement--if we finish the basement).
Now, while I knew that this had to be the arrangement, the hostess in me did not like eliminating the guest bedroom. I want to be able to invite company to our house, and when they come, I want to be able to offer them a nice place to stay, not expect them to get a hotel room (or make arrangements for them to stay at my parent's house). So, we did some cleaning and rearranging and moved the guest room to the basement.
It isn't exactly five-star or anything, but it's a start. We've even run some extension cords into the area so that our guests will have access to electricity. I'm still hoping to find a few rugs or something for the floor because, well, cement can be cold and uncomfortable to walk on. And you know, maybe some window treatments. After that, all we'll need are guests! Any takers?
Here's why that question is humorous--our house only has two finished bedrooms. Obviously the person who asked us that question did not know that (and clearly thinks we are well-off enough to be able to afford a house with a multitude of bedrooms), but for someone privy to the facts, it's a comical question. Because there was really no debate about it--we were going to be turning our guest bedroom into the nursery, and subsequently be without a guest bedroom (at least until we finish the basement--if we finish the basement).
Now, while I knew that this had to be the arrangement, the hostess in me did not like eliminating the guest bedroom. I want to be able to invite company to our house, and when they come, I want to be able to offer them a nice place to stay, not expect them to get a hotel room (or make arrangements for them to stay at my parent's house). So, we did some cleaning and rearranging and moved the guest room to the basement.
It isn't exactly five-star or anything, but it's a start. We've even run some extension cords into the area so that our guests will have access to electricity. I'm still hoping to find a few rugs or something for the floor because, well, cement can be cold and uncomfortable to walk on. And you know, maybe some window treatments. After that, all we'll need are guests! Any takers?
Friday, November 16, 2012
Breaking the Baby News to Darrell
One of my favorite moments so far in this pregnancy was telling Darrell that he was going to be a dad. As you read yesterday, Darrell was out of town until after dinner the day I peed on a stick. Rather than break the news over the phone, I decided to wait until he was home, which gave me ample time to plan something a little on the elaborate side (and, well, keep me occupied so I didn't go completely stir-crazy waiting for him to get home).
As you may recall, Darrell has sent me on a scavenger hunt or two for presents in the past. And, nerd that I am, I thoroughly enjoyed the scavenger hunts. Well, since I know that Darrell is as much of a nerd as I am, I decided to send him on a little scavenger hunt of his own. Except I wasn't nice enough to give him just word clues; instead, he had to solve Sudoku puzzles, pair the highlighted number in each row up with a letter in the alphabet, and then unscramble the letters to find the location of the next clue.
It was totally nerdy. But awesome. And to reward him for his efforts, I had a small gift certificate placed with each clue.
Harold's Photo because Darrell has always talked about buying a flash for his camera so that he'll be able to take better indoor shots (definitely important with a newborn), Barnes and Noble so we could buy our first pregnancy book (we went with What to Expect when You're Expecting), and Target because, well, Target is awesome and has everything you would ever need (baby on the way or not). For his final clue, the letters unscrambled to spell the word "pregnant", although it didn't take him solving the puzzle for all eight letters to figure out what the word was. This revelation was naturally followed by lots of jumping and hugging and general excitement (mostly on his end--I was still a little bit in a state of disbelief). And then because Darrell decided he wouldn't possibly be able to settle down and go to bed anytime soon he insisted we head out to Target and Barnes and Noble and redeem our gift cards (thank goodness for stores open until 10:00).
We were pretty disappointed in the gender-neutral clothing selection at Target, so we settled for getting a blanket instead--still just as cute, and still pretty weird to think in a mere five months we'll have a little baby to wrap in the blanket!
As you may recall, Darrell has sent me on a scavenger hunt or two for presents in the past. And, nerd that I am, I thoroughly enjoyed the scavenger hunts. Well, since I know that Darrell is as much of a nerd as I am, I decided to send him on a little scavenger hunt of his own. Except I wasn't nice enough to give him just word clues; instead, he had to solve Sudoku puzzles, pair the highlighted number in each row up with a letter in the alphabet, and then unscramble the letters to find the location of the next clue.
It was totally nerdy. But awesome. And to reward him for his efforts, I had a small gift certificate placed with each clue.
Harold's Photo because Darrell has always talked about buying a flash for his camera so that he'll be able to take better indoor shots (definitely important with a newborn), Barnes and Noble so we could buy our first pregnancy book (we went with What to Expect when You're Expecting), and Target because, well, Target is awesome and has everything you would ever need (baby on the way or not). For his final clue, the letters unscrambled to spell the word "pregnant", although it didn't take him solving the puzzle for all eight letters to figure out what the word was. This revelation was naturally followed by lots of jumping and hugging and general excitement (mostly on his end--I was still a little bit in a state of disbelief). And then because Darrell decided he wouldn't possibly be able to settle down and go to bed anytime soon he insisted we head out to Target and Barnes and Noble and redeem our gift cards (thank goodness for stores open until 10:00).
We were pretty disappointed in the gender-neutral clothing selection at Target, so we settled for getting a blanket instead--still just as cute, and still pretty weird to think in a mere five months we'll have a little baby to wrap in the blanket!
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Disbelief
(11 August 2012)
Just peed on a stick.
Just got a positive pregnancy test.
Kind of having a hard time believing it.
Which is stupid. Because we were trying. Because for the past few months I've been hoping to miss my period and get pregnant. And this time it happened. And I'm pretty much shocked. Maybe the excitement will set in once I tell Darrell. But he's out of town until 9:00 tonight.....
Pregnant? Me? That's going to take some getting used to.
Just peed on another stick twenty minutes later.
Still positive.
Gulp.
Ready or not.....
Just peed on a stick.
Just got a positive pregnancy test.
Kind of having a hard time believing it.
Which is stupid. Because we were trying. Because for the past few months I've been hoping to miss my period and get pregnant. And this time it happened. And I'm pretty much shocked. Maybe the excitement will set in once I tell Darrell. But he's out of town until 9:00 tonight.....
Pregnant? Me? That's going to take some getting used to.
Just peed on another stick twenty minutes later.
Still positive.
Gulp.
Ready or not.....
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Wedding Wednesday: On Dieting
Shortly after getting engaged, I had a few different people ask me what "wedding diet" I was going to go on. My initial reaction was to be upset by their question and the implication that I even needed to go on a diet prior to getting married. However, the question was usually followed up by the statement "not that you need to go on a diet or anything, but I just figured you would since everyone else does".
Here's my two cents on that. "Diets" are terrible ideas (sorry if you thought you were going to be getting an analysis of the different, popular wedding diets in this post. You aren't). Most diets produce results that are difficult, if not impossible, to maintain. And long-term, constantly going on and off diets can actually be bad for your body.
Now, that isn't to say I'm against people wanting to look their best at their wedding. I totally understand that these are pictures that you will (hopefully) cherish for the rest of your life and you want to look good in them. But ideally, you'll want to look good after them as well. Personally, I think I would get upset looking at my wedding photos if they were images of a much slimmer me that I had lost shortly after getting married. I feel like the pictures would "taunt" me with an image of what I could look like, and make me feel guilty for how I currently looked.
The solution? (Yes, I do have one. This isn't going to be a total Debbie-Downer kind of post. Although I'm sort of in that mood today which maybe explains my choice of topic.) Find a lifestyle change that will work for you. Lifestyle changes aren't easy--but the results and benefits are much longer lasting than a 30-day juice cleanse diet. Start small if you need to--cut out one fast food meal per week. Go for a 30 minute walk one night per week. Switch your afternoon soda to a glass of water. Pack a handful of carrots with your lunch. Sure, you may not see results as immediately as you would if you jumped on board with an extreme diet plan, but trust me, you will see results. And they will be much easier to maintain because you've built the habits into your daily life--not into some crazy liquid diet that you'll drop immediately after the wedding.
It's one thing to look your best on your wedding day. But to be able to maintain that change and continue to look your best (and even continue to fit into your wedding dress) five, ten, even fifteen years down the road? Now that's an accomplishment to be proud of.
Food for thought.
Here's my two cents on that. "Diets" are terrible ideas (sorry if you thought you were going to be getting an analysis of the different, popular wedding diets in this post. You aren't). Most diets produce results that are difficult, if not impossible, to maintain. And long-term, constantly going on and off diets can actually be bad for your body.
Now, that isn't to say I'm against people wanting to look their best at their wedding. I totally understand that these are pictures that you will (hopefully) cherish for the rest of your life and you want to look good in them. But ideally, you'll want to look good after them as well. Personally, I think I would get upset looking at my wedding photos if they were images of a much slimmer me that I had lost shortly after getting married. I feel like the pictures would "taunt" me with an image of what I could look like, and make me feel guilty for how I currently looked.
The solution? (Yes, I do have one. This isn't going to be a total Debbie-Downer kind of post. Although I'm sort of in that mood today which maybe explains my choice of topic.) Find a lifestyle change that will work for you. Lifestyle changes aren't easy--but the results and benefits are much longer lasting than a 30-day juice cleanse diet. Start small if you need to--cut out one fast food meal per week. Go for a 30 minute walk one night per week. Switch your afternoon soda to a glass of water. Pack a handful of carrots with your lunch. Sure, you may not see results as immediately as you would if you jumped on board with an extreme diet plan, but trust me, you will see results. And they will be much easier to maintain because you've built the habits into your daily life--not into some crazy liquid diet that you'll drop immediately after the wedding.
It's one thing to look your best on your wedding day. But to be able to maintain that change and continue to look your best (and even continue to fit into your wedding dress) five, ten, even fifteen years down the road? Now that's an accomplishment to be proud of.
Food for thought.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Chunky Pecan Pie Bars
To me, the biggest indicator of a successful recipe is one that people request the recipe for. Sure, it's always flattering when people look at a picture of a recipe or the ingredients of a recipe and say "wow, that sounds so good, I can't wait to try it". But when I'm actually sharing my food with others and after sampling it they request the recipe for their own collection, I know I've found a winner.
Such was the case for this recipe. I was in charge of preparing a dessert for a lunch with some extended family this past weekend, and with Darrell's input, decided on this recipe that I had torn out of a magazine quite a few years ago (actually--the decision was pretty quick. This was the first recipe I showed Darrell, and when he saw the photo he said "make that one" and refused to look at any more recipes). Then at the lunch, I had two different people request the recipe (and Darrell--who was quite pleased with his decision--may have eaten three pieces).
It certainly mimics the flavors of a pecan pie (but with chocolate!), but has a crust that is much less fussy than a pie crust (if you are in to making those on your own and not just buying a frozen one). Plus, you definitely get more servings out of this than you would a pie, so it's more bang for your buck. Definitely one to keep in mind for the holidays!
Chunky Pecan Pie Bars
(from a Nestle ad in a magazine)
Crust:
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup brown sugar
Filling:
3 large eggs
3/4 cup corn syrup
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tbsp butter, melted
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups (11.5 oz pkg) semi-sweet chocolate chunks
1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans
Preheat oven to 350*. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan. Beat flour, butter, and brown sugar in a small mixer bowl until crumbly. Press into pan. Bake for twelve to fifteen minutes or until lightly browned. In a medium bowl with a wire whisk, beat eggs, corn syrup, sugar, butter, and vanilla. Stir in chocolate chunks and pecans. Pour evenly over baked crust. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until set. Cool completely in pan on wire rack.
Enjoy!
Such was the case for this recipe. I was in charge of preparing a dessert for a lunch with some extended family this past weekend, and with Darrell's input, decided on this recipe that I had torn out of a magazine quite a few years ago (actually--the decision was pretty quick. This was the first recipe I showed Darrell, and when he saw the photo he said "make that one" and refused to look at any more recipes). Then at the lunch, I had two different people request the recipe (and Darrell--who was quite pleased with his decision--may have eaten three pieces).
It certainly mimics the flavors of a pecan pie (but with chocolate!), but has a crust that is much less fussy than a pie crust (if you are in to making those on your own and not just buying a frozen one). Plus, you definitely get more servings out of this than you would a pie, so it's more bang for your buck. Definitely one to keep in mind for the holidays!
 |
(from a Nestle ad in a magazine)
Crust:
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup brown sugar
Filling:
3 large eggs
3/4 cup corn syrup
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tbsp butter, melted
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups (11.5 oz pkg) semi-sweet chocolate chunks
1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans
Preheat oven to 350*. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan. Beat flour, butter, and brown sugar in a small mixer bowl until crumbly. Press into pan. Bake for twelve to fifteen minutes or until lightly browned. In a medium bowl with a wire whisk, beat eggs, corn syrup, sugar, butter, and vanilla. Stir in chocolate chunks and pecans. Pour evenly over baked crust. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until set. Cool completely in pan on wire rack.
Enjoy!
Monday, November 12, 2012
"I'm Not Drinking" Decoy #2
This one is a little bit more limited in its application, but if you can make it work for you, it's a great one!
Insist that you are dehydrated/have a headache from some strenuous physical activity.
I first dropped this excuse the afternoon after my 10K; my brother's baseball team was having a fundraiser at a bar, and not a person questioned my decision to drink water once they had heard I ran a 10K a mere five hours earlier. I may have gotten some grief from a few people, but my slight gimp from sore legs and incredibly lethargic demeanor seemed to sell them on the fact that I, in fact, probably shouldn't be drinking.
Of course, this excuse is not only extremely dependent on there being a reason for you to be dehydrated, but also on it being believable that you accomplished said physical activity. If I had tried to pawn my dehydration off on completing a triathlon, it's doubtful anyone would have bought it. But since people were aware the road race was going on, and know that I lean more toward physical activity than being sedentary, no one really doubted me. Plus, my immediate family all knew I had been training, so it wasn't like the whole event came totally out of the blue. But, if you were wily enough, it could be possible to pull this one off as a total lie. Because aside from Darrell, no one was at the race and able to verify whether or not I actually ran.
Update: I also discovered that the 10K/strenuous activity excuse works as a good decoy to distract from the fact that you might be eating more than normal. Because it's totally believable that someone training for a road race, or even just doing more intense than usual workouts, is going to have an increased appetite. But again, it's certainly helpful if these claims fit in with the perceptions people have of you; if they know you are someone who has never ran more than a mile in your life, it might be a hard sell to convince them you aren't drinking/are eating more because you are training for a marathon. So make sure to be realistic.
Insist that you are dehydrated/have a headache from some strenuous physical activity.
I first dropped this excuse the afternoon after my 10K; my brother's baseball team was having a fundraiser at a bar, and not a person questioned my decision to drink water once they had heard I ran a 10K a mere five hours earlier. I may have gotten some grief from a few people, but my slight gimp from sore legs and incredibly lethargic demeanor seemed to sell them on the fact that I, in fact, probably shouldn't be drinking.
Of course, this excuse is not only extremely dependent on there being a reason for you to be dehydrated, but also on it being believable that you accomplished said physical activity. If I had tried to pawn my dehydration off on completing a triathlon, it's doubtful anyone would have bought it. But since people were aware the road race was going on, and know that I lean more toward physical activity than being sedentary, no one really doubted me. Plus, my immediate family all knew I had been training, so it wasn't like the whole event came totally out of the blue. But, if you were wily enough, it could be possible to pull this one off as a total lie. Because aside from Darrell, no one was at the race and able to verify whether or not I actually ran.
Update: I also discovered that the 10K/strenuous activity excuse works as a good decoy to distract from the fact that you might be eating more than normal. Because it's totally believable that someone training for a road race, or even just doing more intense than usual workouts, is going to have an increased appetite. But again, it's certainly helpful if these claims fit in with the perceptions people have of you; if they know you are someone who has never ran more than a mile in your life, it might be a hard sell to convince them you aren't drinking/are eating more because you are training for a marathon. So make sure to be realistic.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Imagination Overload
(written July 6, 2012)
So there has been one mildly amusing aspect of trying to get pregnant that I've been noticing. You see, I tend to have an overactive imagination, and lately I've been atributing any and all "unusual" body process to the fact that I *must* be pregnant. A few examples for your entertainment.
--That slight stomachache I woke up with? Definitely not related to the fact that I drank a lot of water before bed and now really have to pee. It's clearly morning sickness.
--That unusual smelling fart (or slightly off-color urine)? Totally a pregnancy sympton.
--That massive craving for Mexican food? Must be a pregnancy craving. Nevermind the fact that for as long as I can remember I've been prone to food cravings that have been known to last until I give into them. It's bad enough (and frequent enough) that Darrell is actually not looking forward to this aspect of my being pregnant.
--That lightheaded feeling when I stood up too fast? It's like it has never happened to me before and must mean my body is adapting to housing a parasitical fetus.
So there has been one mildly amusing aspect of trying to get pregnant that I've been noticing. You see, I tend to have an overactive imagination, and lately I've been atributing any and all "unusual" body process to the fact that I *must* be pregnant. A few examples for your entertainment.
--That slight stomachache I woke up with? Definitely not related to the fact that I drank a lot of water before bed and now really have to pee. It's clearly morning sickness.
--That unusual smelling fart (or slightly off-color urine)? Totally a pregnancy sympton.
--That massive craving for Mexican food? Must be a pregnancy craving. Nevermind the fact that for as long as I can remember I've been prone to food cravings that have been known to last until I give into them. It's bad enough (and frequent enough) that Darrell is actually not looking forward to this aspect of my being pregnant.
--That lightheaded feeling when I stood up too fast? It's like it has never happened to me before and must mean my body is adapting to housing a parasitical fetus.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Wedding Wednesday: Choosing Your Photographer
Last week, I mentioned that many couples use Save-the-Dates as a way to showcase some of the images from their engagement photo shot. Well, in order to have engagement photos to share, you should probably start by selecting a photographer to take the photos. Now, some brides use different photographers for their engagement and wedding photos, but many photographers offer discounted engagement sessions if you book them for your wedding. Plus, shooting an engagement session gives you a chance to get to know your photographer and get comfortable with them so that your wedding photos will feel more natural.
I could list off a million different tips for selecting a wedding photographer, but there are a multitude of articles out there already about that topic (just Google "choosing a wedding photographer" if you don't believe me), and for the most part, the lists are all pretty comprehensive. However, since Darrell and I were one of the unfortunate ones who made an unlucky photographer selection (and have the bad wedding pictures to prove it), there are a few pieces of advice I want to be certain to share that will hopefully save other couples from our bad fate.
--Trust your instincts
When Darrell and I had our initial meeting with our photographer, his "studio" space was nothing more than a converted garage/shed (in a not-so-nice part of town). I was slightly uncomfortable, but we found out soon that they were in the process of moving to a new location (in a much nicer area), so we ignored that concern.
--Take a look at the quality of their equipment
While meeting with the photographer, Darrell--who had recently purchased an SLR camera himself--noticed that they had one of the models that he had been considering. He asked how they liked it, and they responded with "we've actually found that it doesn't take very good pictures". In retrospect, this should have been a major red flag. From the research he did, Darrell knew full well that the camera they had was more than capable of taking quality pictures, so if it wasn't performing well it was probably due to user error. But, we dismissed it, because they started bragging up a different camera model that they had, and we (foolishly) trusted that they knew what they were doing.
--Don't be influenced by extra bells and whistles
Our photographers came from a strong graphic design background, and we were certainly impressed with some of the things they were able to do with their images. However, no one really wants a wedding photo that has a trendy "ripple" design, and superimposing images on each other is only so cool. And besides, none of those "edits" are really all that impressive when the quality of photo that you start with isn't very good. So if your photographer is offering all sorts of extras or is strongly advertising something other than their photography skills, be warned that they might be compensating for something.
--Be thorough when you look through their portfolio
The best way to guarantee that your photographer will be able to get good shots of your wedding and reception is to look at images they have shot at the same venues you are using. Photographers are naturally more comfortable shooting at a familiar location, and they'll know where and how to get the best shots at that particular place. However, even if they haven't shot a wedding at the exact same location, make sure they have at least shot a wedding at a similar location.
This is the piece of advice I really wish I had known prior to choosing our wedding photographer. We looked through their photos, and the images were pretty great and had the type of style we were looking forward, so we really didn't have any pressing concerns. However, after getting back our (terribly awful) images from the church ceremony and family pictures at the alter, we realized something about the portfolio: all the weddings he had shot had been outdoor weddings--a far cry from our church where no flash was allowed during the ceremony.
--Make sure you are totally comfortable around them
If you leave your meeting with you photographer feeling like you were biting your tongue about something because you weren't comfortable saying it, chances are they aren't the right photographer for you. While this kind of goes back to the idea of trusting your instincts, feeling guarded around your photographer will ultimately have a negative affect on your photos. Darrell and I had an engagement shot that we really wanted to take out at the Palisades near Garretson that would have involved some careful maneuvering on rocks in the river. At the last minute, we chickened out about asking them to take it because we didn't think they'd be comfortable with it--and I still regret that. Additionally, they put us into some poses that were not very "us", but rather than say something we just did what they said. And wouldn't you know--the pictures of us in those poses were not keepers because we (shockingly) looked uncomfortable. To this day, one of my favorite wedding photos is one that our photographers did nothing to stage; I simply asked Darrell to pick me up and carry me, praying that our photographers would be intelligent enough to capture the image (which, thankfully, they were).
I know photographers can be expensive, but you (hopefully) only get married once, and it's worth the investment to hire someone you know will give you quality images of the shots you want. I read this in about every article I looked at prior to our wedding, but foolishly dismissed it. My logic was that everyone takes pictures at a wedding, so we could save some money on our photographer and then I'd just compile photos from my family and friends to fill in any gaps. Well, I'll tell you from experience, that logic only works so well. Sure, my friends got some decent shots of me getting ready, and lots of guests got pretty good shots from the reception, but not many guests take pictures during the ceremony. And those formal shots at the alter? There aren't a whole lot of people around to snap extras of those. And even if there are--your photographer is likely the one with the best angle. To my knowledge, there is not a decent picture out there of Darrell and I at the alter (with my gorgeous bouquet), nor a salvageable picture of Darrell and I with his family. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but it's just as true that not having those pictures will leave a hole so large that even a thousand words won't be able to fill it. So choose your photographer wisely.
I could list off a million different tips for selecting a wedding photographer, but there are a multitude of articles out there already about that topic (just Google "choosing a wedding photographer" if you don't believe me), and for the most part, the lists are all pretty comprehensive. However, since Darrell and I were one of the unfortunate ones who made an unlucky photographer selection (and have the bad wedding pictures to prove it), there are a few pieces of advice I want to be certain to share that will hopefully save other couples from our bad fate.
--Trust your instincts
When Darrell and I had our initial meeting with our photographer, his "studio" space was nothing more than a converted garage/shed (in a not-so-nice part of town). I was slightly uncomfortable, but we found out soon that they were in the process of moving to a new location (in a much nicer area), so we ignored that concern.
--Take a look at the quality of their equipment
While meeting with the photographer, Darrell--who had recently purchased an SLR camera himself--noticed that they had one of the models that he had been considering. He asked how they liked it, and they responded with "we've actually found that it doesn't take very good pictures". In retrospect, this should have been a major red flag. From the research he did, Darrell knew full well that the camera they had was more than capable of taking quality pictures, so if it wasn't performing well it was probably due to user error. But, we dismissed it, because they started bragging up a different camera model that they had, and we (foolishly) trusted that they knew what they were doing.
--Don't be influenced by extra bells and whistles
Our photographers came from a strong graphic design background, and we were certainly impressed with some of the things they were able to do with their images. However, no one really wants a wedding photo that has a trendy "ripple" design, and superimposing images on each other is only so cool. And besides, none of those "edits" are really all that impressive when the quality of photo that you start with isn't very good. So if your photographer is offering all sorts of extras or is strongly advertising something other than their photography skills, be warned that they might be compensating for something.
--Be thorough when you look through their portfolio
The best way to guarantee that your photographer will be able to get good shots of your wedding and reception is to look at images they have shot at the same venues you are using. Photographers are naturally more comfortable shooting at a familiar location, and they'll know where and how to get the best shots at that particular place. However, even if they haven't shot a wedding at the exact same location, make sure they have at least shot a wedding at a similar location.
This is the piece of advice I really wish I had known prior to choosing our wedding photographer. We looked through their photos, and the images were pretty great and had the type of style we were looking forward, so we really didn't have any pressing concerns. However, after getting back our (terribly awful) images from the church ceremony and family pictures at the alter, we realized something about the portfolio: all the weddings he had shot had been outdoor weddings--a far cry from our church where no flash was allowed during the ceremony.
--Make sure you are totally comfortable around them
If you leave your meeting with you photographer feeling like you were biting your tongue about something because you weren't comfortable saying it, chances are they aren't the right photographer for you. While this kind of goes back to the idea of trusting your instincts, feeling guarded around your photographer will ultimately have a negative affect on your photos. Darrell and I had an engagement shot that we really wanted to take out at the Palisades near Garretson that would have involved some careful maneuvering on rocks in the river. At the last minute, we chickened out about asking them to take it because we didn't think they'd be comfortable with it--and I still regret that. Additionally, they put us into some poses that were not very "us", but rather than say something we just did what they said. And wouldn't you know--the pictures of us in those poses were not keepers because we (shockingly) looked uncomfortable. To this day, one of my favorite wedding photos is one that our photographers did nothing to stage; I simply asked Darrell to pick me up and carry me, praying that our photographers would be intelligent enough to capture the image (which, thankfully, they were).
I know photographers can be expensive, but you (hopefully) only get married once, and it's worth the investment to hire someone you know will give you quality images of the shots you want. I read this in about every article I looked at prior to our wedding, but foolishly dismissed it. My logic was that everyone takes pictures at a wedding, so we could save some money on our photographer and then I'd just compile photos from my family and friends to fill in any gaps. Well, I'll tell you from experience, that logic only works so well. Sure, my friends got some decent shots of me getting ready, and lots of guests got pretty good shots from the reception, but not many guests take pictures during the ceremony. And those formal shots at the alter? There aren't a whole lot of people around to snap extras of those. And even if there are--your photographer is likely the one with the best angle. To my knowledge, there is not a decent picture out there of Darrell and I at the alter (with my gorgeous bouquet), nor a salvageable picture of Darrell and I with his family. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but it's just as true that not having those pictures will leave a hole so large that even a thousand words won't be able to fill it. So choose your photographer wisely.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
"I'm Not Drinking" Decoy #1
One of the most challenging things about trying to get pregnant, and then hiding said pregnancy, was coming up with reasons why I wasn't drinking. For many people this isn't an issue, but for those of you who know my family you know that alcohol and my family are 100% synonymous with each other. It doesn't matter if it's my brother's amateur baseball game, a trip to the lake cabin, or a Sunday afternoon watching the Twins/Vikings--you can bet there will be booze. So in order to keep our efforts a secret, Darrell and I came up with a variety of schemes to keep them from noticing that I wasn't drinking--and as they'll tell you, the decoys worked!
It didn't take long at all for us to have to implement one of our decoys. Not but a week after we started trying we went over to my parent's house to help them move some furniture, and it took all of five minutes for them to offer us a drink. Now, we were well aware that the likelihood of my being pregnant was slim to none, but we didn't want to take any chances (plus I was dying to try out some of our "tricks"). So it was time to implement ploy number one:
It didn't take long at all for us to have to implement one of our decoys. Not but a week after we started trying we went over to my parent's house to help them move some furniture, and it took all of five minutes for them to offer us a drink. Now, we were well aware that the likelihood of my being pregnant was slim to none, but we didn't want to take any chances (plus I was dying to try out some of our "tricks"). So it was time to implement ploy number one:
Request a drink, but make sure it's something you know they won't have available
Mom: Can I get you something to drink?
Me: Sure. Do you have a bottle of wine open? (I made sure to check their counter first to ensure that in fact, they did not)
Mom: No, your Dad just finished it last night. We can open another bottle though.
Me: Don't worry about it. You don't need to open a bottle just for me.
Mom: Well, can I get you something else then?
Me: No, that's fine. I'm not really in the mood for anything else. Besides, it's getting kind of late and I have to work tomorrow anyway.
The beauty of this decoy is that you are still asking for something, so it doesn't look like you aren't drinking. And when they tell you they don't have what you are requesting and offer you something else you can easily play it off as you aren't really in the mood for anything else. And now if you slide in a "piggyback" excuse (I have a big test tomorrow; it's getting late, etc), that excuse won't look as obvious because you've already asked for a drink. This decoy could work at a bar setting as well; just make sure you know in advance what their drink selections are. Order a seasonal beer that you know they just took off the tap, and when the bartender says they don't have it, say you need some more time to think about it. And if they don't ask again what you want, great. And if they do, just say you'll pass. And then lament to your friends about how all you really wanted was the Boulevard Chocolate Ale.
(Oh, and by the way--in case you've been living in a hole for the past two months, it's Election Day. Celebrate the end of political ads by getting out and casting your vote!)
(Oh, and by the way--in case you've been living in a hole for the past two months, it's Election Day. Celebrate the end of political ads by getting out and casting your vote!)
Monday, November 5, 2012
Disappointment
(written June 2nd, 2012)
Missing your period while on the pill and not trying to get pregnant? Totally worthy of inducing a panic attack.
Missing your period while not on the pill and trying to get pregnant--but then not actually being pregnant? Totally disappointing.
Guess there's always next month.
Missing your period while on the pill and not trying to get pregnant? Totally worthy of inducing a panic attack.
Missing your period while not on the pill and trying to get pregnant--but then not actually being pregnant? Totally disappointing.
Guess there's always next month.
Friday, November 2, 2012
Pumpkin Doughnut Holes
Look at me posting two food recipes in one week! Clearly evidence that I'm back to feeling more like myself, and not some tired, run-down version of me that doesn't have an appetite for food.
I was immediately drawn to this recipe because it reminded me of our baked doughnut holes that we love. And the inclusion of some pumpkin/fall spices? Brilliant. So brilliant, in fact, that I don't really have much else to say about them. Other than you need to make these. Maybe multiple times (I know I will be!). I'm thinking they'd be the perfect addition to a Thanksgiving brunch--or, you know, any breakfast in November?
Baked Pumpkin Doughnut Holes
(original recipe found here)
Yield: 24 mini doughnuts
1/3 cup canola oil
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup milk
Preheat oven to 350*. Spray a mini-muffin tin and set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together oil, brown sugar, egg, vanilla, pumpkin, and milk until smooth. Add the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups (cups will be full!). Bake 10-12 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool slightly. Pour sugar and cinnamon into a plastic bag, add doughnuts, and shake until well-coated.
A few additional notes to make. We felt like the taste and texture of these was a little bit more like muffins than doughnuts, but that certainly isn't a deal-breaker. Also, I felt that the pumpkin flavoring was a little under-whelming for what I was expecting; next time I might try adding a little pumpkin pie spice to amp up the pumpkin. Lastly, if you don't serve these immediately, don't expect them to stay nicely coated like in the picture. I've found that it's nearly impossible to dry out a dessert recipe with pumpkin in it, and the moistness of these doughnuts are no exception. As a consequence, the cinnamon-sugar coating soaked into the doughnuts overnight. It certainly doesn't affect the taste at all, and I still got lots of compliments on them this morning, but if you are going for presentation points when you serve these I would recommend tossing them with the cinnamon-sugar mixture shortly before serving.
I was immediately drawn to this recipe because it reminded me of our baked doughnut holes that we love. And the inclusion of some pumpkin/fall spices? Brilliant. So brilliant, in fact, that I don't really have much else to say about them. Other than you need to make these. Maybe multiple times (I know I will be!). I'm thinking they'd be the perfect addition to a Thanksgiving brunch--or, you know, any breakfast in November?
Baked Pumpkin Doughnut Holes
(original recipe found here)
Yield: 24 mini doughnuts
1/3 cup canola oil
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup milk
1 3/4 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp allspice
1/8 tsp cloves
For topping:
1/3 cup sugar
1 tbsp cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350*. Spray a mini-muffin tin and set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together oil, brown sugar, egg, vanilla, pumpkin, and milk until smooth. Add the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups (cups will be full!). Bake 10-12 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool slightly. Pour sugar and cinnamon into a plastic bag, add doughnuts, and shake until well-coated.
A few additional notes to make. We felt like the taste and texture of these was a little bit more like muffins than doughnuts, but that certainly isn't a deal-breaker. Also, I felt that the pumpkin flavoring was a little under-whelming for what I was expecting; next time I might try adding a little pumpkin pie spice to amp up the pumpkin. Lastly, if you don't serve these immediately, don't expect them to stay nicely coated like in the picture. I've found that it's nearly impossible to dry out a dessert recipe with pumpkin in it, and the moistness of these doughnuts are no exception. As a consequence, the cinnamon-sugar coating soaked into the doughnuts overnight. It certainly doesn't affect the taste at all, and I still got lots of compliments on them this morning, but if you are going for presentation points when you serve these I would recommend tossing them with the cinnamon-sugar mixture shortly before serving.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Belly Pictures: Weeks 10-16
As promised, here are my belly pictures from weeks 10 through 16. They're perfectly awkward and I really want to crop my head out of each one of them, but I'll just swallow my pride and post them as is. I suppose that there will be plenty of opportunities for me to over-share and embarrass myself throughout the course of this pregnancy that I shouldn't let a few goofy photos bother me that much.
There is no rhyme or reason to us starting with Week 10; when we found out I was 5 weeks along, but hadn't noticed any changes, so didn't think to take a picture. By Week 10 I still hadn't noticed any change, but it dawned on me that once my body did start to change it would probably be a good idea to have a reasonably normal body picture of me to compare it to. So we took a picture that week and haven't looked back. Maybe once things start to change significantly I'll post pictures more often, but for now expect to get them in groups (because otherwise trying to identify any change is practically impossible).
This is really the first week that I've actually felt like I'm starting to show; I've even had a few co-workers commenting on my bump so I know something's visible (of course, to people who don't know I'm pregnant it probably just looks like I've let myself go--definitely looking forward to looking unquestionably pregnant and not just like I'm putting on pounds). The only other difference that I've been able to notice is in the boobs--you can tell in Weeks 10-13 that they are definitely growing, and then by Week 14 I caved and bought a much more appropriately-sized bra so they are back to looking a little more like normal, albeit larger (and not like they are threatening to fall out of my bra and shirt).
In (mostly) unrelated news, we had a successful Halloween yesterday with plenty of trick-or-treaters, although we did end up with a little bit of leftover candy.
I swear it's totally a coincidence that we started out with 3 Musketeers, Milky Way, Skittles, Snickers, Starbursts, and M&Ms and only had 3 Musketeers and Milky Ways left over. Honestly.
There is no rhyme or reason to us starting with Week 10; when we found out I was 5 weeks along, but hadn't noticed any changes, so didn't think to take a picture. By Week 10 I still hadn't noticed any change, but it dawned on me that once my body did start to change it would probably be a good idea to have a reasonably normal body picture of me to compare it to. So we took a picture that week and haven't looked back. Maybe once things start to change significantly I'll post pictures more often, but for now expect to get them in groups (because otherwise trying to identify any change is practically impossible).
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| Week 10 |
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| Week 11 |
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| Week 12 |
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| Week 13 |
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| Week 14 |
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| Week 15 |
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| Week 16 |
In (mostly) unrelated news, we had a successful Halloween yesterday with plenty of trick-or-treaters, although we did end up with a little bit of leftover candy.
I swear it's totally a coincidence that we started out with 3 Musketeers, Milky Way, Skittles, Snickers, Starbursts, and M&Ms and only had 3 Musketeers and Milky Ways left over. Honestly.
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