{ TMB Photo Shoot :: Courtney Brooke }

Have you seen all the pics from our TMB photo shoot with the uber talented Courtney Brooke Winnie? I'm LOVING them! Take a look HERE and you'll be LOVING them too!

{ Photo Credit :: Courtney Brooke Photography }

{ Basketball + Birthday + Boyfriend }

You know what I love? Basketball! Especially CLIPPERS basketball. But do you know what I love more than basketball? Birthdays!! Especially birthdays at basketball games! But do you know what I love more than birthdays at basketball games? My boyfriend!!! So imagine how happy I was last night when I got to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday with him watching from the 10th row as the LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS totally dominated the New Orleans Hornets! Loved every minute of it!

Okay, so obviously that wasn't the real score, but at half time someone either goofed up or thought it would be funny to change the 55 to a 155 and the crowd absolutely loved it! Glad to have another win under our belt! GO CLIPPERS! And Happy Birthday my love!

{ Are YOU The Next MORMON BACHELOR? }

That's right! We're ready to get the ball rolling on Season 2 of TMB. Only this time it's going to be The Mormon Bachelor! Time to start getting excited ladies!

So if you or someone you know might be interested in participating in the next season of TMB, be sure to check out The Mormon Bachelorette blog by clicking HERE to find out more details on how to submit an application. Can't wait for the fun to begin!

{ Date Night :: Couples Yoga }

Monday night Matt came over for date night. I LOVE our date nights! We didn't really make any plans other than to have a nice meal together at home, and then we'd figure out something fun to do.

Lucky for us, after dinner "fun" walked right through the front door. Kiele and our friend Ryan were heading out to Yogurtland and invited us to tag along (that's not true...I invited us to tag along but they were happy to have us) so we enjoyed some fro-yo and then came back to the house. And that's when it all just happened. We started doing couples yoga!

To be honest, I don't even know how it happened really. I just remember Kiele grabbing a yoga book and the next thing I knew we were all on the floor being contorted into these crazy yoga positions. It was actually quite hilarious. And challenging! We took a few pics of our favorites as a keepsake of our Monday night date. And well, they were just too funny not to share. Have a good laugh on me!

{ I Wear My Sunglasses At Night }

The other day I was cleaning out my purse (something that doesn't happen near often enough, as clearly demonstrated by this post) and found FIVE, count them, FIVE pairs of sunglasses. (Why do they call them a "pair" when clearly they are one item? And pants too! Never understood that).

Anyway, sorry, FOCUS! I was seriously shocked when I found them all just swirling around in there. And kind of surprised that I'd collected so many. But I feel like there's an explanation as to why I need FIVE pairs, like "I need a pair for my beach bag, one for the car, one gold and one silver depending on the outfit, and one in my purse! I know, I know. It's an illness. I get it.

{ GOLDEN PEAR CAKE :: BOTTOMS UP! }

For some people, cooking just comes naturally. Well, not for me. I'm kind of a work in progress. Let's just say that if it weren't for Trader Joe's I'd be having cereal and milk for dinner every night.

But while I'm not that fabulous of a cook, I simply LOVE to bake! And when I saw a pretty picture of a Golden Pear Cake in a magazine, I just knew I had to bake my very own.

I think it turned out just like the original picture, which I was really excited about! Anyway, I had so much fun making it and eating it with with friends that I thought I would share the recipe so you can make a pretty cake of your own. Enjoy!

1. Arrange sliced pears in concentric circles over melted butter and brown sugar.

2. Spoon batter over pears and spread evenly to edge of pan. Bake 40 minutes.

3. Insert wooden pick into center of cake to test for doneness. Cool cake 5 min.

4. Use two hands and pot holders to carefully invert cake onto serving platter. Top with whipping cream. Enjoy!

GOLDEN PEAR CAKE

3/4 cup butter, softened (divided)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
4-5 medium pears cored, peeled, and sliced 1/2-inch thick
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
2/3 cup milk
Whipping Cream

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees F. Place 1/4 cup butter in 9-inch cast-iron or other oven-proof skillet. Melt butter in skillet over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar. Cook and stir until sugar is melted and bubbly; remove from heat. Set aside; cool. (Or, make brown sugar-butter mixture in saucepan; pour into 9-inch round cake pan, spreading evenly, and allow to cool.) Arrange pear slices in skillet or pan.

In small bowl combine flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside. In large bowl beat remaining 1/2 cup butter with mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Beat in granulated sugar until combined. Beat in vanilla. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition. Alternately add flour mixture and milk to to butter mixture, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined. (Batter may appear curdled.) Spread batter evenly over pears.

Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until pick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack 5 minutes. Loosen cake from pan; invert onto plate. Serve with whipping cream. Serves 8 to 10.

{ TMB :: Update!!! }

If you're looking for an update on The Mormon Bachelorette, might I suggest you click HERE! And stay tuned for more images from our photo shoot with local photographer, Courtney Brooke Winnie. I'm loving the gorgeous images she captured from our afternoon in HB. Here's a little sneak peak at what's to come...

{ The Perfect Patio }

A few month back I was perusing through a favorite blog and snatched up these beautiful pics for my "inspiration file." As I was cleaning out my hard drive the other day, I re-discovered them and had to share.

Don't you just love the way the blue and white stripes accent this perfect little outdoor dining scene? And the way the tiny boxwood trees and potted plants bring the scene to life? And not to mention they included some maidenhair ferns. My FAVORITE! Oh the dinner parties we would have if this were my patio!




{Garden Party created by: Scot Meacham of The Adventures of a Tartan Scot. }

{ My Dream Kitchen }

I've always been a saver. Ok, not always. I actually really love shopping. And I like traveling too. A lot. But seriously, I promise I'm a saver!!! And for years I've kept it a secret what I've really been saving my money for. But I can't contain it any longer. I wanna blow all my money on my very own DREAM KITCHEN!

I know you're probably thinking, "What? But you don't even own a house yet!" I know, but one day I will, and when that day comes, I will use my "kitchen money" to design that dream kitchen I've always wanted!

So what does this dream kitchen of mine look like? Well, its quite simple really. It must have clean, boxy lines. The cabinets must be white. The hardware must be nickel. The appliances must be stainless. It must have a rectangular farmhouse sink. The countertops must be carrara marble. The backsplash must be staggered subway tile. And the island must be butcher block. Ok, I guess I can be flexible on the last one.

Who says I'm picky? I just know what I want. That's all. Take a look at some pictures I've collected over the years that helped inspire my design ideas. Oh how I dream of owning this lovely kitchen someday...

{ Halloween Dinner Party }

I just LOVE dinner parties with my girls and our boos. Saturday night we invited the boys over to enjoy some home cooked Halloween eats and treats. It was kind of an all day affair. Erin and I slaved away in the kitchen cooking everything on her carefully thought out menu. The girl is the next Martha Stewart!

We enjoyed a freshly tossed salad with apples, walnuts and gorgonzola, the most delicious butternut squash soup with homemade cornbread croutons, sweet and savory paninis, honey mustard brussel sprouts (Erin and i love these from our missions!), and the most mouthwatering pumpkin streusel to finish it off! Oh, and don't forget the sparkling cider with frozen pomegranates to toast to the most delectable Halloween dinner ever!

PS- Could my boyfriend be any cuter???