D.I.Bride: May 2011

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

A Picnic Blanket + Bride Q&A

Q: Why does it take you so long to post?
A: When I do a project, it usually keeps me up most of the night, so I don't do it the same day.. Next thing you know, a whole week or so has gone by. However, in the case of the picnic blanket project, it took me so long because I wanted to take pictures of it outside, and it rained for like 100 days straight.

Q: Why a picnic blanket?

A: For the weenie roast (the day before the wedding) I realized we would never have enough seating, so I thought I'd whip up some adorable picnic blankets with a monogram... and I love the whole monogram idea, but both of our last names begin with "S", so it works for everyone.

Q: Do you think it's a bit overboard for you to try and style a photo shoot like this? I mean comon, sandals, hats, lanterns, a picnic basket with wine glasses... who do you think you are?

A: yes, it's overboard. Totally and completely overboard. Especially since I didn't bother to get real nice pictures (without shade). But it makes sense, because I'm Mandy and that's just the way I do things sometimes.

Q: That's a huge picnic basket... why would you have such an over sized useless item... oh my.. wait... did you buy that just for the purpose of this photo shoot that's not a photo shoot?
A: What if I did?
Q: I'll do the questions, you do the answers!
A: Yes, I bought it at a tag sale to benefit MDOG. It was 50 cents. So there.
Q: Do you think it's a bit pathetic that you are questioning and answering yourself strictly for the amusement of your 5 blog readers?
A: Yes. Let's move along here....

Q: Actually it's pretty cute. How long did it take to make the blanket? How many more are you going to make? What are you going to do with them after?
A: It was probably a 20 minute process to sew, then another 20 to embroider the "S". I think I have enough fabric to make 5 or 6... and I suppose I'll just give them away afterwards, well I know I have to give away at least 2, the mother and mother-in-law already called dibs. So if you want an "S" blanket... you'll have to "call it" pretty soon.

Q: Why didn't you take a picture of the dogs on the blanket?
A: Oh, well, I thought I'd leave them inside to eat a tray of about 20 stuffed shells that I had planned to bring to my cousin and his wife to celebrate their new home.

Q: Oh my God. How many times are you going to be so foolish and let Bruno eat everything you make?

A: That's not really a fair question. Look at that face! He's still got some ricotta on his nose...

Monday, May 16, 2011

I'm here... really, I am!

I've been around doing things... the reason I haven't been blogging about those things is because they are boring - or repetitive.... I did tell you that I had to make 35 of those bags right? Yah... repetitive.

I've been working on my table, the chairs, I made a hat for the Kentucky Derby Party I went to...

Me, sister Katie, cousin Steffie

then I was backed up with mother's day activities - which I will post about later. Then there was a week of nice weather, so I was outside with the dogs. This past weekend we went to Maine and did some nitty gritty preparation for the wedding.

scrapped the porch ceiling

and then painted it...

And I did make some whoopie pies. I had been wanting to try out another recipe to see if I could find the perfect one to make for the favors for our wedding. So I tried a recipe that won the "best overall" at the Fryeburg Fair in 1998. But I have to tell you - I didn't think it was that great. I will admit that I probably made them too big, and they fluffed up too much, which made the filling to cake ratio a tad bit off. But the cakey part was dry... and no-one likes dry cake. Oh, they'll tell you if it's dry (Mom).

Anyway as I was tasting yet another failure, I was getting the filling all over my fingers. "I hate this" I thought to myself... "why does the filling always ooze out the sides of stuff?" Think about it: nearly anything that is sandwiched in between 2 pieces of something else always oozes out: ruebens, grilled cheese, whoopie pies, ice cream sandwiches. And this is something that I have always disliked about sandwich style food.

"What am I doing?" was the next thing I asked. And while I was talking to myself in my head, Dan walked in and asked the same thing; "What are you doing? Why are you making these again - nobody even likes them." Then it struck me: wait a minute.. I don't like these, Dan doesn't like these... why AM I making them for OUR wedding? Just because they are a Maine thing doesn't mean they are a good thing. So then, back to the drawing board. I had the idea of having chocolate covered blueberries instead. So I tried making some.

I'm not really wild about these either... plus they are super time consuming. Don't get me wrong, they taste good. But I think I am slightly turned off by the amount of work that would go into making enough for 120 people.

So then, dear reader, what should I do? I have a lobster lollipop mold, but I was going to make those for the welcome bags. I'm afraid that I am stuck once again.

What do you suggest for favors? Something that says, "Maine" and "Mandy and Dan" and "Thank you for driving 500 miles round trip for our wedding..."

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Dan's Birthday

Last Tuesday was Dan's birthday. Twenty Six. Man, he is getting old. So I thought I'd be a good little (future) wife and make some cupcakes and ice cream from scratch.

I wont be doing THAT again next year. He ate one cupcake, about 4 days later. Guess who ate more than one?

But - he did like the ice cream, and he has been dipping into that periodically.