Tag: red velvet

Weekend Things

Lauren3 Comments

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!  I almost wrote “Top of the mornin’ to ya!” then decided that sounded seriously cheesy.  Although I may have actually written that on our chalk wall this morning…

Raise your hand if this weekend’s sunshine has you ready for full on spring.  Okay, so we had about an hour of wind and snow flurries on Saturday afternoon, but otherwise this weekend was so pleasantly warm and sunny.  I loved every single second and took full advantage by taking a walk on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Fact: I love walking 🙂

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Lunchtime stroll down the street (insert weekend walk #1) for a workday picnic = best way to kick off Friday fun.

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Prost Brewing is minutes from our house, yet somehow we’d never been!

Verdict: fun atmosphere, awesome Denver view and a good beer selection.  Plus… food trucks!

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Are you seeing these fries?!  Holy thick cut parmesan bliss.

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Apparently Joey did not want to be in this picture?

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So, the Avs lost… AGAIN.  Which I think means I’m bad luck and shouldn’t be allowed at hockey games, but these seats — given to me by one of our suppliers at work — were awesome and it was definitely the most exciting game we’ve seen this year.  Does anyone else feel guilty rooting on violence at a hockey game?

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The excitement I feel upon receiving the newest edition (almost just wrote addition) of Cooking Light is slightly embarrassing…

Insert weekend walk #2 to go get my hair cut.  The excitement I feel upon realizing the new hair salon I decided to try out is on the same street I live on, is pretty much at the same level of receiving Cooking Light (see above).  I really did attempt to take a picture of my hair, but selfies are just so uncomfortable.

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Saturday afternoon productivity: finishing all the painting in our living room and setting up our new island!  I am so in love!  The backside has a leaf that flips up so it can double as an eating area.  We need barstools ASAP!

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Close up of the falafel salad I was making on the island because it looks too pretty not to share 🙂

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Long story short: some of us may have had too much fun on Saturday night and pretty much spent most of the day Sunday being lazy on the couch… uh oops.  But around 3 PM, I decided getting up and enjoying the gorgeous weather outside might actually help so we took a stroll through the neighborhood (insert weekend walk #3).

This tree has buds!  Spring is so close I can taste it!  Or at least see it.

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Obligatory St. Patrick’s Day dinner at my parents’ never disappoints.  My mom actually cooked this corned beef and cabbage in the stout Joey and I just brewed!  How cool is that?  Dinner was followed up by a big slice of red velvet cake for my sister’s boyfriend’s birthday.  And because mom can’t resist an opportunity to bake red velvet.  I’m not complaining!

I’m hoping the spring weather continues this week (insert future walks #4-130948) because this whole getting to be outside without a heavy winter jacket thing is making me feel pretty happy.

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Did you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this weekend?

Does it feel like spring where you live?

What’s making you happy today?

10 Things I Learned While Finding a Wedding Band

Lauren1 Comment

Over the past few months, Joey and I have been on the hunt for a rockin’ wedding band.  Or make that a rockin’ wedding band that wasn’t already booked and didn’t cost an absurd amount of money.  We’ve spent countless nights at bars and in hotel lobbies and while finally booking a band was our #1 goal, I’d be lying if I said all the things we learned along the way weren’t my favorite part.

1. Most people don’t know how to dance.

While I plan on getting down on my actual wedding day, during the great wedding band search, I was all business.  I mean, it was serious research, right?  People watching became our favorite part of seeing a band and I was constantly wondering things like “is that really the most natural movement that person could come up with to fit the beat of the music??”

2. Brass sections are awesome.

The first band we saw had a killer brass section and there was no going back after that.  Any band without one suddenly seemed to fall flat.  I was starting to consider just booking a brass section.  They’re that cool.

3. Performance matters.

We were thisclose to booking a band when we decided to see them perform a second time just to be sure and they suddenly had all new singers — none of which knew how to perform.  If you’re uncomfortable on stage, then I’m uncomfortable watching you on stage.

4. Singers can make or break a band.

Look, my musically un-inclined ear wouldn’t know the difference between a great bass player and a so-so bass player, but even I can tell the difference between an okay singer and a good singer.

5. Every band loves Bruno Mars.

I’ll be darned if we didn’t hear “Locked Out of Heaven” performed by every single band we saw.  I guess I can’t blame them, I love it too.

6. Speedy communication is key.

This is actually a huge consideration for every vendor we’ve booked for the wedding.  I have no tolerance for someone who can’t return emails in a timely matter.  I mean, they take all of a few minutes to write.  I’m still in shock that one of the highly rated bands I emailed twice, never responded.  I’m looking at you, Raising Cain!

7. Bands are expensive!

We saw a band we really liked and they called to tell me they were booked but they had an “alumni band” that charged $7800.  And then I didn’t even want to know how much the actual band cost.  I think the band we booked is a steal!

8. Volume is a factor.

Our reception is in a big warehouse type building so any time we heard a loud band and I had to scream into Joey’s ear, all I could picture was our guests having to do the same thing.  You better believe I made sure our band could control their volume easily.

9. Two voices are better than one.

Take it from me, one voice for hours gets old real fast.  Plus vocal harmony sounds lovely.

10. Take your time.  The “research” is half the fun!

Although, if they hadn’t already been snatched up, I would’ve booked the first band we heard, going to all the shows ended up being a blast and I’m glad we “had” to do it 🙂  I’m kind of sad we don’t have any more performances to go to.  Well I guess we do have one more… the actual wedding!

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And while we’re on the subject of the wedding, we sent out our Save the Dates and booked a cake baker this week!  We went with Indulge Bakery for the most important of reasons… their red velvet cake!  Joey and I have been set on red velvet since we got engaged and I’m pretty picky about my red velvet 😛  They’ll also be making a chocolate cake with one layer of chocolate buttercream and one layer of vanilla buttercream.  Drool.

DJ or live band?

Weekend plans?

Favorite cake?