Trying to be the Hostess with the Mostest

Something I Love: I mentioned it in my birthday post that I love to host and have people over and last weekend I got to host a bridal shower for my bff Holly. I was so blessed the way everything came together, here is the rundown. 

The invitations...AMAZING. I have several friends that do invites and things and for this I had my dear friend Sarah, she has a business called U & I Invites her website is still a work in progress she says so let me just show you what she made for me...gorgeous right?! The skinny: the petal folds I had left over from my wedding...I thought it might be too much for a bridal shower invite but I also thought, "WTHeck, I'm never going to use them again and I had an even 40 and needed that exact amount." Then she made this beautiful piece using all the right colors and just so many pretty touches. I mailed them in a pink pearlescent envelope I purchased from PaperandMore.  

Next, is location. Last year I went to a baby shower at this clubhouse in a town home development in Yuma and just loved it. Amazingly enough with lots of calls and emails I was able to find someone who lived there and they let me have the party in their name so I could use the clubhouse for free. Here is some pictures I took the week before just so I could "visualize" my setup:) Nice big plush leather furniture and lots of seating. Great big kitchen for us to have the food in as well.

Okay now to the juicy details of the day. For food, her FMIL {future mother in law} was kind enough to "sponsor" delicious El Pappagallo's for lunch. I made these fun little diamond ring sugar cookies...very tasty if I may say so myself! Just the recipe from the Better Homes & Garden Cookbook and their powdered sugar icing with a touch of pink in it and then fun pearl and sugar sprinkles to dazzle it up a bit.

Here is THE cake. My sister is extremely talented and literally this is the BEST cake I have ever eaten, EVER.

Here is the drink station before people came so there is no ice in the ice bucket and the lemons are still wrapped. These are my most favorite drink dispensers. They are from Pottery Barn and we {my sister, my SIL, my mother} all purchased them and they were used at my wedding and whenever someone needs multiples we just borrow them. I also own the smaller version which is nice for normal sized dinner parties to just have cold water in.

The tables...I borrowed this idea from one of my bridal showers last year. I loved all the tiny vases and the look it brought. They had used antique ones at mine but I saw these little guys at Target in packs of 4 a while back and picked up a bunch. The little ribbon wrapped goodie is the shower favors and if you noticed the fleur di lis on the invite you will see I got them in cookie cutter form as well! In college my bff was a KKG {kappa} and their symbol was this and I have always loved it and thought of it so classy and of course, it always reminds me of my Holl Doll. I bought the cookie cutters at American Tradition Cookie Cutters-great value and I wish I would have known about them before my wedding! I also picked up some cute cowboy ones and adorable baby shower-esque ones for me when I ordered these so I'm ready for any upcoming occasion.

I hope you enjoyed checking out the shower from this last weekend. I couldn't have done it without my sister!! And to sign off here is a picture of the bride and her mother...who happens to be Petie at Pie Ranch and the Pickled Peach Cafe

One Year Ago...yesterday:)

Yesterday was our 1 year married anniversary! I cannot believe the first year has blown by as fast as it has. We have been together for over 6 years now and I fall more and more in love with him as the time passes. Here is a little photo fun to share with you...brace yourself it's a lot of pictures!

THE day

a ragweed concert 12.6.04

my very first shot of tequila circa 2005...he didn't know the monster he created

tanque verde ranch for some pictures with Britta {yes i rocked the brunette look for a little bit}

aggie house formal 2006

a fun night after the maverick in tucson

december 2007 at my graduation party

6.8.08 the day we got engaged

engagement photo shoot in wickenburg by britta van vranken

one of my faves

the best day

one of my faves...lost in our own little moment

check out those hops...

with our bridal partay

in the orchard

so happy

my dad's 1929 model A

and we are living happily...

25

Today is my birthday. The big twofive. So in honor of that I am going to share 25 things...and yes it's going to get random! {in no particular order}


1. I am so passionately - happily - blessed in love with my husband.
2. I love God, my family, my friends, agriculture/ranching, and America. In that order.
3. I have a crazy obsession with frosting and cupcakes but really it's the frosting on the cupcakes that gets me.
4. I am a Christian, a follower and daughter of the Living God. I cannot wait to meet my Savior. I pray that I may be less focused on worldly things that are only temporary and more focused on that which will last for eternity.
5. I love to feed people. I love to host people. Please come see me...
6. I love to shop, but I love to live in the middle of nowhere. Sometimes I don't think I live far enough in isolation...
7. I have THE best family in the world hands down. That includes my in-laws...seriously I think I could win the "best in-law competition"
8. My sister knows me, sometimes better than I know me. And I love that because sometimes I just want her to make my decisions for me. I also am so completely in love and protective of my big {older} little sister that it amazes me.
9. I have 6 nieces and nephews that can make my heart melt on the spot. I adore them and love them so much I cannot imagine what love for my own children will be like someday, if it can be bigger than the love I have for them.
10. I LOVE to sing to music in the car...side story: when we were little on family vacay my brother and sister would beg my parents to tell me to stop singing EVERY song...now my sister let's me sing as loud/long as I want. She even throws requests out there...the one true person I can sing and perform for with not one ounce of seriousness. And just so you know I don't sing seriously, I stink, but I am passionate thatisforsure.
11. I love lists. I love crossing things off lists. I will go so far as to add things to the list I have already accomplished just to cross it out.
12. I will take iced tea over any other drink any day of the week. My obsession began many moons ago when my mother would ask us force us kids to work in the garden all summer long and we would make sun tea and drink it like it was going out of style. {btw mom i enjoyed working in the garden even though i probably complained a little bit}
13. I love protein. Especially beef and lamb. I am 1000% a believer in the power of protein and cannot and will not live without its nutritional deliciousness.
14. I am an auctioneer. Yes, I can talk fast. Yes, I went to auctioneer school {they organized my fast talking}. 
15. I am half Croatian {Dad's side} and really really really want to go there...
16. I am half Montanan {Mom's side} and I really really really want to go back there...{okay mom brings the other half to me to be 1/4 German, Irish, Scottish and a mix of some other things...but I love MT so so much}
17. I am a cowgirl. Yes, that means I ride horses but they are my vehicle for gathering/moving/sorting cattle. I'm not a big "pleasure" rider...I find pleasure in riding horses to gather cattle.
18. I really really like sushi. My hubby and P introduced it to me in college when all I would eat is a california roll and variations of it...that is until hubby {then bf} said spoke loudly/firmly, "You cannot just keep ordering variations of the California Roll!!! Try something new!!"
19. I think I truly live in the Greatest State in the Union {direct line my hubby always uses} Arizona is beautiful from toptobottom and sidetoside.
20. I have a LOT of friends. And I love every single one of you {that is if you any of you read this...} I truly treasure each friendship and what it brings me. I also always have room for more friends...considering I have never met a stranger in my life I think my circle of amigos will continue to grow.
21. I really want every person to know that beef is good for you and that we {U.S. producers} provide the safest, most wholesome, affordable beef in the world. And WE ARE NOT factories...so kindly please stop using that word to describe us. AND we are true stewards of the land...if we weren't don't you think what we are doing would have phased out a couple generations ago...ahem. Think about it.
22. I have a little 7 year old girl named Jimena in Bolivia that I sponsor through Compassion  International. My sister has sponsored a little boy for I think 5 or 6 years maybe more. I have sponsored for almost 3 and I don't intend to stop EVER. Hopefully someday I can take on another child.
23. Good number...it's my berfday #, Michael Jordan's # and it means my list is almost done. I had no idea 25 things would take me so darn long.
24. The day I got married...one year ago tomorrow. Yes, I will have a lovely post to tribute that.
25. Thank you for participating in these random notions...and above all thank you God for all of your blessings. 


I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid. -John 14:27

Earth day is everyday for those who make their living from the land. -President George W. Bush

What's Green?

As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day,
everyone's doing what they can for the environment – recycling,
cutting back on energy use, biking to work.

There are many ways to be green. 
For America's cattle farmers and ranchers, green
is protecting the land that is both our livelihood and our legacy.
Green is constantly developing new ways to raise more nutrient-rich beef
with fewer resources and with a smaller impact on the environment.
If we all do our part, we can preserve our Earth for this
generation – and generations to come.

BEEF. For Earth Day & Every Day.

In honor of Earth Day’s 40th anniversary, we’re celebrating 40 ways cattle farmers and ranchers help the environment. Learn more at

www.ExploreBeef.org

Could Have Used These Last Week

Something I Love: Aren't these just precious!?! I so wish they would have come in last week so I could have used them on my parent's anniversary invites...and yes I said "come in" because I did pre-order these from USPS...I didn't want to have any snafu at the post office with a customer having a breakdown because they I couldn't get their hands on them.

Speaking of stationary and stamps head on over to Dreamy Whites for a minted.com giveaway!

for the love of grilled cheese

Dining Destination: Armadillo Grill 1904 E. Camelback Road Phoenix, AZ. 85016. Go there and eat the grilled cheese, tomato soup lunch special-it will change your life. Not to mention that if you need to get any OTB {off track betting} in this is also your place. 

If you don't remember April is Grilled Cheese Month I read about it on PW's Tasty Kitchen. But my love for grilled cheese sandwiches is serious and forever. Any chance I get I want to go here and eat their phenomenal 3-cheese grilled cheese and tasty tomater soup. There is something delicious about eating a GC that someone else made...kind of like having your sweet mama make it for you. I know it's a fact anything my mom makes tastes better than me making it...

A Little Invite Love...

Something I Love: My newfound fun in Adobe Photoshop and InDesign. I'm definitely not a pro yet but I'm working on some fun things for work and play. Below is a little invite I just did for my parents 30th anniversary. I would post some things I do at work but some of them are not as "fun". Happy Thursday...it's almost Fridaayyy! 

Crumbs Bake Shop

Something I Love/Dining Destination: Oh way back when...I don't know say February or so my wonderful hubby got the urge to order cupcakes from Crumbs Bake Shop. He ordered 6, 3 for him 3 for me:) Yeah, I'll be honest I'm a little embarrassed to share that I ate 3 all by myself but hey, I'm a champ. {I didn't eat them all in one sitting, fyi} 

He chose these three: Artie Lange {Vanilla cake with chocolate cream cheese frosting filling, topped with vanilla cream cheese frosting dipped in chocolate fondant and edged with chocolate and vanilla sprinkles} Baba Booey {Chocolate cake filled with peanut butter frosting, topped with peanut butter and chocolate cream cheese frosting and rimmed with peanut butter chips.} and Cookie Dough {Vanilla cake with chocolate fudge filling covered in our signature vanilla cream cheese frosting mixed with soft chocolate chip cookie pieces and topped with a chocolate chip cookie.} 

I chose these three: Red Velvet {Authentic red velvet cake with rich cream cheese frosting, topped with red velvet crumbs and edged with white sprinkles} Raspberry Swirl {Vanilla cake filled with raspberry preserve and frosted with a swirl our our classic vanilla cream cheese and raspberry preserve.} and Oreo {Chocolate cake topped with our classic vanilla cream cheese with crushed oreos mixed in and a whole cookie on top.}

L-R clockwise: red velvet, artie lange, baba booey, cookie dough, oreo, raspberry swirl.

one.word.DIVINE. 

They arrived in a cooler with dry ice, hubby was gone so I put in the freezer and took them out one by one nuking for about 25 seconds because I do NOT have the patience to let a cupcake thaw, for goodness sakes that's all kinds of crazy.

MIA

Well folks it's true--I've been swamped. Work has been crazy busy and my social calendar never slows down. I have wanted to write a funny post about all the food I have made but haven't taken pictures or blogged about...like creme brulee and and monster red velvet cupcakes with "the best frosting ever" {according to PW...sadly I didn't think it was the best but that's okay} I also have some dining destinations to share but haven't found the time yet.

I have also wanted to share some other news but don't know what to say. Just over 2 weeks ago a friend of ours was murdered on his ranch outside of Douglas. When I found out I was devastated, heartbroken and upset. They have 3 kids all the same ages as my brother, sister and I, we grew up together at Arizona Cattle Growers meetings. The family has faith in the Lord and that settles my heart - some. But I still cannot imagine the pain and grief that they have endured because of this senseless tragedy. Their lives and many others have been drastically affected because of border violence. They have voiced concerns for months and years and those requests for help have fallen on deaf ears. Now they and others including myself are DEMANDING action from our government. 

Ignoring the war zone that exists in our own country has to STOP. I do not have a solution for immigration {I doubt they would listen if I did} but I do know we deserve secure borders and we deserve it NOW. This week the Arizona Cattlemen's will unveil Operation ROB {Restore Our Border-named after Rob Krentz} and I will post information on the progress of this. 

Not to make you cry...but the day I heard about Rob's death I emailed his wife Sue my thoughts and prayers are with them and this is what she responded with: "Thanks Anna...always remember to treasure your husband no matter what...constantly tell him that. I appreciate your note...give your folks my best as well...we must unite to stop this...Love Sue"

So I hung this note above my computer at work and I work very hard to remember to appreciate not only my hubby but all those I hold dear in my heart.