Beautiful Heartbreak.

Love Hilary Weeks. She just released this video last week. 

It is such a beautiful message of hope and our Heavenly Father's love.


Beautiful Heartbreak:

I love

I found a mountain in the middle of my road.

I knew there was no way to move it

so I searched for a way around.

Broken hearted I started to climb it and at the top I found

Every fear, every doubt, all the pain I went through 

was the price that I paid to see this view.

And now that I'm here I would never trade

the grace that I feel and the faith that I find 

through the bittersweet tears and the sleepless nights...

Since it features Nie, she has probably mentioned it on her blog, so chances are you have seen it. 
I hadn't.

If you have already seen it, watch it again because it is such a good reminder to  
see the good and not give up
during difficult times (because at some point we all experience difficult times).

Happy Tuesday. 

Pumpkins and costumes and candy, oh my!

Our Hallo-week looked a little something like this---

 

Pumpkin carving accompanied by cider and homemade donuts (tradition!).

Treats for preschool.

Super Why! and Raggedy Ann.

The traditional Dinner in a Pumpkin before trick-or-treating.

This is how I make it (if you don't already have the easy recipe):

Dinner in a Pumpkin

Ingredients:

1lb ground beef, browned

2ish cups cooked rice*

1 onion, diced and sauteed (with beef)

1 can cream of mushroom soup

Optional add-ins:

mushrooms, sliced and sauteed

sauteed spinach.

1 can water chesnuts, chopped

1 can corn

salt and pepper

*I prefer brown rice since it has more fiber and nutrients before the sugar high... 

somehow that makes me feel better about the candy overload!

Directions:

Scoop seeds out of pumpkin*.

Preheat oven to 350.

Get rice cooking (2 cups water, 1 cup rice).

Brown beef and onions with a little seasoning salt.

Add mushrooms and spinach.

Add cooked rice, can of soup, corn and water chestnuts.

Season with S/P to taste.

Put entire mixture into hollow pumpkin and replace top.

Place on cookie sheet or casserole dish and bake for 1 hour. 

Serve with a big scoop of the cooked pumpkin flesh and a fresh salad. 

*I usually do this on pumpkin carving night so I can skip the step 

when things get busy Halloween afternoon

I hope you enjoyed a spooky Halloween! 

Now, welcome "Holiday Season"! (I cannot believe that.)

Tomato Pie.

I've been meaning to post this for roughly forever... And now summer and gardening are officially over.
BUT if you are like me, you still have a handful of green tomatoes ripening on the counter.
This southern specialty--tomato pie (yes, pie)-- right here is going to be the best way to use them, trust me. It is the perfect way to bridge the gap between summer and fall.

A dear friend of mine made something similar for us a few summers ago. Ben about died when he had it and we haven't forgotten about it since. SO so good.
I tried to recreate it here, and I think it turned out pretty dang delish (if you ask me).

Tomato Pie. 

1 recipe favorite pie crust

3 T grated parmesean

1 medium onion, sliced thin

5-6 ripe tomatoes, cut into thick slices

12 basil leaves, chopped

1 tsp fresh parsley, plus more for garnish

Garlic powder, to taste

S/P to taste

1/3 c mayo

1/3 c sour cream

1/4 c grated parmesean

8 slices fresh mozarella

Preheat oven to 375.

Roll pie crust into dish and poke holes in the bottom with a fork. Top with 3T cheese. Bake for 15 minutes.

While crust is cooking (then cooling), saute onion with butter until caramelized, set aside.

Reset oven for 350.

Sandwich salted, sliced tomatoes between two paper towels to absorb some of the juice for 3 minutes or so (otherwise pie will be really watery) then put in a mixing bowl.

Add basil, parsley, garlic powder, S/P and onions to the tomatoes to coat.

Layer tomato in cooled crust.

In a seperate bowl, combine mayo, sour cream, parmesean and a touch of S/P. Spread over tomatoes, then top with mozarella slices and parsley.

Bake 350 for 30-40 minutes or until crust is golden and cheese is melted and bubbly.

Let cool 10 minutes before serving.

My mouth is watering.

Love notes.

I can't bear to take these down (they've been there for two weeks+).

The top one appeared the day after I came home from two weeks in CA from my sweet hub. 

Apparently he missed me ;)

The bottom one appeared two mornings after that when my Cason noticed it was there.

Whether he was merely trying to mimic his dad or express his love to me, matters not. 

Children are so pure.

...just two of my favorite gifts I have received and I don't want to forget them.

My Best Friend's Wedding.

Just a little somethin-somethin I've been up to for the past few months, particularly the past few weeks (and the reason I've been MIA).

Wedding Bells were ringing and Dana knew just what she wanted, I only helped her get there:
A causal and classy backyard wedding in yellow and grey.  

I have known her practically my whole life and I have never seen her look more beautiful or radiant.

She was STUNNING. They were stunning. It was truly a perfect day. 

 

The flowers took the better part of two days, we had SO MANY flowers. But not too many, right Gwynne? 

I'm bummed that I didn't get more or better pictures of all that hard work!

Where to start...?

Details: The Ceremony Set.

  

 

 

 

Details: The Escort Card Table/Favors.

 

 

 

 

 The beautiful Minegar home (and the groom doing some last minute clean-up).

It was such a gorgeous day.

 

I painted almost 30 canvases to hang everywhere.  

 
Dinner was served from a taco cart--- the lovebirds live on tacos and chips and salsa.

 

  

 

Details: The Wine Table

 

 

 Details: The Popcorn Bar

(This bride LOVES popcorn... has since we were young.)

 

Details: The Cake Table

This was hanging behind the cake. 

Details: Guest Tables.

 

 

Details: The Photo Booth.

 

 

The Beer Boat.

 

(and Calvin.)

and The Happy Couple

during their very short-lived dinnertime. 

(I'm just glad I caught it on camera)

 

 

  The scene at the end of the night.
 

The ambiance was so perfect that the bride and groom were the last to leave! 

Aren't they precious?

 

   

I finally got to snag a photo with the beautiful bride. 

 

Yep, barefoot and pregnant-- the only way.

 These are just my own amateur photos (totally wish I had more) mixed with some from the brother of the bride. I know it's a lot, but I still missed so many of the details. 

I just can't wait to see the photographers bundle! 

I feel so lucky to have been part of such a wonderful day for such a special couple. 

It was a blast to hang out with the Cuny fam for a whole week

and

I love seeing my best friend SO HAPPY. 

For Like Ever!