a shout from the rooftop

Last weekend, my parents hosted an engagement party for Blake and me. It sure was a fabulous way to kick off the events that will happen between now and the wedding. The turnout was great, just family and close friends. The setting was an evening to night spent on a rooftop on Cherry Street (or 15th Street). The night was filled with great (homemade) appetizers, desserts and drinks. I couldn't have asked for anything better. So hats off to you mom and dad and thank you for a wonderful party. You were superb hosts. Let's do this more often! Oh and I'd like to give a special thanks to Ashley, Luke, Morgan, Evan and Brooke for coming out of town to join us for this special and fun evening.

 





There are more pictures, but I can't add them all here...that's just overwhelming! Point being...we had a FABULOUS time! And you can check out the Tulsa World engagement announcement (it landed in the paper Sunday after the party--July10, 2011)!

Huntin Deer and Christmas Cheer

Three days before Christmas and I am finished with my shopping list. Actually, I finished on Sunday! I admit, I went to the mall this past weekend and joined the crazies in their last-minute gift adventures, but I am done. Insert sigh of relief. All I have to do now is sit back and relax and await the arrival of Christmas...
I take that back. On Christmas Eve, I have a very big job in our family. A majority of my family gathers (weather permitting) at my parent's house for Christmas Eve pizza. We have been baking them for as long as I can remember. As a curious child, I always involved myself in the pizza-making process some how. I would sit on the counter in flour, play with dough, eat the pepperonis. As I grew up, I took on more important tasks, such as topping the pizza, watching the oven, and still eating bits of topping before it could make it to the raw dough. Now, with the help of a few others, I am the pizza nazzi. Pizza making takes skill. Each year, I get a little better and it's perfected one year at a time. I still use the original hand-written receipe Papa Bob (grandpa) passed down to my mom and me and he still supervises our efforts. Although I am sworn to secrecy, I have a couple secrets to share: dough is made about 4 hours before bake time and the sauce is made the night before. It has to set and settle so all the flavors can shine through. That's all. I might wind up missing if anymore slips out. All homemade. All delicious. All exactly how we like it. I look forward to blessing my family with another great homemade pizza dinner on Friday night.

I have already watched Christmas Vacation for the past 4 nights as I fall asleep and I can't wait until the 24 hours of Christmas Story. Those bunny pajamas and piggy troff, get me everytime! Love laughter.

On other notes...Blake has been enjoying his break from school and hunting...a lot it seems. I'm okay with it because he brings me the game for future dinners. I have yet to cook game, with the exception of dove nuggets for Ashley's wedding shower back in August, but I am looking forward to it. Dove and deer currently occupy a space in my freezer and I'm sure duck will make it's way in too. If you have any good receipes I should try, please share. Otherwise, I will be exploring the internet for them, and hope they are actually good!
In all the years Blake and I have been together, I have never been hunting with him. It's a guy thing, right? Well that might all change soon. We are trying to find a time, before duck season ends, where I can join him and the dogs and "pound some ducks" as he would say. I have used a shotgun once in my life at a skeet shoot where, I might add, I shot about 4 out of 50. If I shoot one duck, I will be a happy hunter. Blake will start back up in January for his last semester. What a great feeling to be graduating!

And for New Years, Blake and I will be going to Dallas for New Year's Eve/New Year's and spending some quality time with my best friend in the whole wide world, Kasey! I couldn't be more excited, especially since I haven't ever gone anywhere for NYE. YEAH!

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! May His love surround you always and especially during this special time of year.

"my friends are my estate" - emily dickinson

Once again, this weekend, I was reminded why I "work" to keep my long distance friends close. Don't get me wrong, long distance friendships are difficult, but somehow we always pick up where we left off so it's not really "work"!
What brought two of my best friends to town this weekend, was a sorority sisters baby shower. I couldn't have asked for a better night out with my friends. Most of my Tulsa girlfriends moved away after college and all my college friends moved back home or followed a job/career to another city. Although I'm coping by branching out to other groups and friends, nothing beats my besties. I especially love their [short-lived] visits to Tulsa and this weekend was no different. Until next time, I send my love to all your respective cities!

As far as this weekend...here is to you, Morgan and Evan! Thanks for the unforgettable memories and may all your dreams come true.

Love is the greatest refreshment in life. -Picasso

My best friend, Ashley, married the love of her life, Luke, on October 2, 2010. Many people know their love story, but for those who don't, here is my point of view.

Ashley and Luke met because we all lived in the same apartment complex. It was pretty much love at first sight. Jordan and I used to sit on the balcony just to see what he was up too when he pulled in the parking lot or we caught him leaving the apartment. We like to think we were Ashley's personal spies and looking out with her best interest in mind. Okay. I take all that back. We were just being creepers!

 Luke and Ashley loved each other and it showed with abundance. They had planned a trip to Colorado to visit Luke's brother and sister-in-law. There, in the Garden of the Gods, he proposed! See the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13Wbf8FGOY4

Close to 7 months later, they were walking down the aisle. Time flew by. The wedding was beautiful! I don't know that I can write about it. It was an experience that can't be explained or justified with words on this blog. Utterly perfect! But, I did include some pictures from the fabulous Saturday night affair. 

After the rehearsal dinner, we went back to Ashley's parent's house to have a last Ashley Stone slumber party. And what would a slumber party be without a trip to Wal-Mart? Not much beauty sleep, but a fun last night with Ashley Stone. The next morning was the bridal brunch. It was delicious. I brought my "infamous" sausage rolls--find receipe here: http://lindsayepps.blogspot.com/2010/10/infamous-sausage-rolls.html. After brunch, we kind of separated to get ready and reconvened at Ashley's to ride to the church together. We got ready, took pictures and they got married and we took more pictures. Forgive my lack of pictures, this is where the photographer's job came in.

After the wedding, we danced the night away at Five Oaks Lodge. Everything was esquisite and divine. To top it all off, Ashley and Luke escaped the wedding frenzy by HELICOPTER! Perfect ending to a perfect night. They spent the next week in the Dominican Republic.

 

 

...and they lived happily ever after!

More photos should be up soon at www.armasphotography.com/emert