Simplistic Beauty

Time goes so quickly, and I am in shock that it is already November! But if you have read my blog before in past Novembers, you'll remember that it is one of my favorite months. I love the simplicity of Thanksgiving, the relief of having Halloween over, and the anticipation of looking forward to the Christmas Holiday!

As I was sorting through photos today I was reminded of some that I have been wanting to share...My cute little neighbor Chelsea that used to babysit my kiddos got married a few months ago, and I got to help with some of the set-up. She had an outdoor reception, and I loved how perfectly down-to-earth and sweet it was.

Everything had a vintage, antiqued feel, and it was charming in its simpleness. Chelsea made the flowers from tissue paper for the table decor and attached them to twigs to place in vases. The vases were placed inside a painted, empty frame over the top of burlap and surrounded with sand dollars. Adorable.

And I am in love with these kitschy little dessert trays made from plates or platters glued onto a candlestick or other type of base. Each one is so unique with its own personality. They served a variety of cookies along with cartons of milk chilled in aluminum tubs.

One thing that caught my attention as we were setting up for the reception was the fact that Chelsea and her new hubby were right there in the mix helping, fixing this and that, and laughing with others who were there to get things ready. I was so impressed that they were cheerfully preparing and that they were even present...that they hadn't stayed away and just showed up to greet people when all the work was done. What lovely people.

And did you notice Chelsea's wedding dress? I asked her mom about it and she mentioned that the traditional dresses were just not her style. When she spotted this one, she fell in love with it immediately and knew that it was just for her. I love a gal who paves her own path and delights in simplistic beauty....and in a gal who is as darling on the inside as she is on the outside.

Wedding Decor, and a Chat with Lorraine of "Event Envy"

Well, I promised more photos and decor ideas from last week's wedding celebration, along with some info about Lorraine's business. So, here we are!

First of all, I loved the colors of the event: hot pink and tangerine sprinkled with a little lime green. It was such a fresh and unique color combo. Above, we have the cake, designed by Desi, (and two of the orange lilies are actually made completely of sugar. Amazing!)

I fell in love with these flower arrangements from the moment I first saw them. They were tall enough that while sitting at the table, the flowers were above eye level, and you could still converse with the people across from you. Brilliant! And don't you love the limes in the bottom of the vase?


Another specialty that Lorraine's business offers is constructing false ceilings for your event. The draping of the ceiling, mixed with the lights was just so delicate and lovely. The covered chairs and tied ribbons also added a romantic flair.



Here we have the bouquet toss....


And guess who ended up with it? Yep--Little Missy, herself, proud as could be.


The "Thank You" table with boxes full of chocolate truffles for the taking(offered with "hugs and kisses" from the happy couple)...


And the final touch of the night...the arch of super-long sparklers for the newlyweds to run under as they took off for the evening.



So, if you are in the market for event planners, you can't go wrong with Lorraine Knox and her partner, Brenda Andreasen, who run the business, "Event Envy." They cater any event from corporate lunches, to baby and bridal showers, to private dinners, and of course weddings and receptions. Although they are based out of Las Vegas, they regularly travel to neighboring states for a variety of events, and most recently, Utah and Idaho.

I got to visit for quite a while with Lorraine before, during, and after this wedding reception. I find her business fascinating, and even decided that in my next life, perhaps I'll ask her to hire me as her go-fer-girl!

In chatting with her, she told me that the trademark of their company which sets them apart from their competition is this: They gladly customize everything. Whereas some catering companies have limited lists of menu items or decor to choose from, Lorraine and Brenda will tailor the details of your event to your specific preferences and style.

Feel free to email them at event2envy@gmail.com with any catering inquiries you may have. They'll be happy to help you!

Enjoy your day!

A Wedding and Oreo Truffles

Two things this morning...First, I recently returned from a fabulous weekend spent with my family. It was such a boost for me to be around my sisters and brother--I miss living near them so much! My sister's daughter got married on Saturday, and as most weddings are, it was beautiful! The weather was lovely for the outdoor wedding and reception, and it all came off without a hitch. (In the photo above, the bishop appears to be eating a cookie or something...he's actually holding his lapel mike closer to his mouth so we can all hear him!)


The wedding colors were black, royal blue, and silver, and the dessert table was amazing...silver trays and crystal displays filled with cakes, cheesecakes, fruit, and truffles, along with a variety of huge apothecary jars filled with candies in matching wedding colors: Almond Joy, mini Peppermint Patties, mini Milky way, Jelly Bellies, blue-wrapped Kisses, M & M's, and white chocolate-covered popcorn.



There were baggies available for filling up whatever and how ever many candies you wanted, and of course plates for your choice of desserts. It was so fun! I made nearly 200 Oreo truffles for the event, and they looked festive in their individual candy cups, and were a hit with my extended family that had never tried them before!

...Which brings me to my second item this morning. If you have never visited Your Home Based Mom before, you seriously need to make a habit of it! Her blog is where I discovered the recipe for the Oreo Truffles. Every other recipe I've tried of hers is fabulous as well. She takes beautiful pictures, and I love checking in with her to see what new entertaining item or recipe she has to offer.

One thing I love about these Oreo Truffles is that they are sooo simple to make, and yet so unique. My own little family can't get enough of them, and I was slightly embarrassed as I noticed from afar (I was working in the kitchen) that my two boys each had plates stacked with about 8 of them at the reception. (Apparently we need some etiquette lessons in the near future!) So anyway, here is the recipe. I really think you are going to love them!



Oreo Truffles
1 package Oreo Cookies (Leigh Anne says the off brands work well too)
1 8 oz. package cream cheese (softened)

Directions: Remove 9 Oreos from the package and crush in a blender, white stuff and all, to a powdery consistency. Set aside.

Crush remaining Oreos, and place in mix master. Add softened cream cheese and blend together with the whisk attachment.

Using a small scoop, (I used a 1 1/4" Pampered Chef scoop) measure out a small amount, roll into a ball, and then roll in the crushed Oreo crumbs. You want them to be bite-sized. Each batch makes 35 to 45-ish truffles, depending on the size of your scoop. I also rolled some of them in granulated sugar for variety, but everyone seemed to prefer the Oreo crumbs instead.


Refrigerate for a few hours or overnight before serving (this really is important, as they don't taste as good at room temp. Not sure why!). And, I froze my batches ahead of time, and they were just perfect! Enjoy these yummy truffles and check out the other amazing recipes Leigh Anne has to offer!