The Apple Slicer

This is the best kitchen gadget ever
I am pretty sure this exact one I got my dad as a stocking stuffer a few years ago!
I wonder if he is missing it?
Probably - he is a big fan of the apple.
If you don't have one - hurry out and get one.
Look how quick I had an afternoon snack ready to go!



i cried. a little.

so today - i changed my name.
and honestly i was a bit emotional about it.
i have had this name for 28 years - i am attached to it.
i felt like i was letting go of myself
i felt like i was letting go of my family
where i came from
and who i am.
while i know that there is more to me and my family than a name.
it just hurts a bit.

my friends  have always used my first and last name -  in conversation.
it was never just anne and i loved it.
are they still going to use both? since i have a new name?
then i realized (thanks to my mom) that i'll have this name longer than my original name.
yes - i called my mother because i was emotional about changing my name.
good thing she put it into perspective for me.

i could not be happier to be married to an amazing guy.
i am proud to take his last name.
i could not have a better in-law family to share this name with
i know i'll make memories with this new name
it might just take a while.

City Market

on saturday the husband and i ran down to city market in kansas city

we had gone earlier this summer to pick up some fresh veggies

we lucked out this past weekend because they still had a lot of veggies 

and i picked up some nice fall home accessories. oh gourds!

i got a basket full for $3!!!! it was a steal - they are all sorts of crazy shapes and colors

* shout out to H. Roos - love the green marin bowl from C&B!

 

i also caught this lovely lady laying in the sun and i had to get her photo.

she really hates having her photo taken.

you think i'm crazy and making it up - i'm not.

just meet me at the court house

Our friends Little and Cody were married on Thursday evening . She arranged for a trolly to pick everyone up at McCoy's in Westport and drive us out to the JoCo Court House in Olathe. The mood of the evening - chill, comfortable, friendly and Shaffer style. I had never been to the court house but could not think of a better reason to go!  Little and Cody said their I-Dos in front of their very dearest friends and family. It was so wonderful to see the support from all of their friends that day.

 After the ceremony we headed back to McCoy's for a great dinner. I love how their wedding was on their terms and what they envisioned.  They kept it true to how they wanted to remember the day.  Cheers to Cody and Little - wishing you many years of happiness!! Thanks for keeping it real.

EM is a MrS!

my dear friend emily was married last saturday.
i had fun being a bridesmaid
everything went as planned
we were on schedule
the bride was gorgeous
the groom - super sweet in his converse
the weather was fantastic
the maid of honor gave one of the best speeches i have ever heard at a wedding
 the bride's father speech was special and endearing
the groom's family is the best dancing family that i have ever seen.
needless to say - i sat on the sidelines and did not dance.
are you surprised?
cheers to emily and ryan.
may the years ahead be as magical and special as your wedding day.
love you!

due to my maid duties - i failed to take pictures. sorry EM! so i stole this great pic from victoria.

the perfect pair

this weekend was spent celebrating my dear friend melissa - which i will normally refer to as Little. she is getting married 1 week from today to a very special guy. on friday evening we were out on the town celebrating her last night as a single lady. then on sunday i hosted a bridal shower for her. when i asked Little if i could host a shower for her and she agreed- my mind immediately started bringing ideas together. i have been to some pretty amazing bridal showers and i did not want to disappoint her. i had found on a blog a 'baby shower' idea for a girl that was having twins. the theme for the shower was 'the perfect pair'. well i figured i could probably with a bit of effort turn a 'twin' baby shower theme idea into a bridal shower.'together they make the perfect pair'. brillant - yes, because she and her soon to be husband are perfect for each other! the color scheme was yellow and grey which i think is super fab. my friend Vic designed the invites for me as well as a few of the fun decorations used at the shower. you can find her stellar work here.

i started making my list of to dos categorized: food, games, supplies, gifts & house chores.i had to find some sort of fabric or table cloth for sure to set the tone for the shower. see my kitchen table is smack dab in the middle of my house. i found an amazing table cloth in yellow and grey with a fab print at target. it was not on sale. which if you know me i only buy stuff on sale. but i didn't care, it was perfect. once i had found that table cloth i knew i could continue with the theme. i then started thinking about all of my friends that are super crafty. and i pretty much stole one idea from each of them. i completely give them credit for the ideas notated by their initials in the pictures. i can only take the credit for the execution. thanks friends.

my mom let me borrow my grandma's glass plates and cake stand. they are super antique and i love how vintagey they are. i thought they went great with the yellow and grey. the food was pretty good, i must say - chicken salad on ciabatta, orzo pasta salad, fruit and cupcakes. i also made a pear sangria that went over great on a sunday afternoon! my friend erica gave me the recipe for the orzo and it was a hit! thanks friend!.

I had so much planning and hosting this shower for Little. I think that she had a blast and felt the love from all of her amazing friends.

I cannot wait to celebrate Cody and Little - 1 week from TODAY!!!!!!!!!!! 

They are the 'Perfect Pair'.

holy tomatoes

My dad has a garden every summer. This year he planted the following: lettuce (green leaf and mesculin), broccoli, cucumbers, potatoes (yellow and sweet), onions (yellow and red), green onions, green beans, peppers, jalapenos, basil, dill, zucchini and of course tomatoes! I am sure there are more that I just cannot think of. He is quite the gardener with his neatly tilled rows, watering system and fencing to keep the rabbits out.

Just a few weeks ago he was telling me that his tomatoes were not doing well because it has just been way to HOT and for too long. Usually the continuously HOT days and nights are great for tomatoes. But the KC heat was taking its toll. A week later he calls to tell me that he and my mom just picked 300 tomatoes - the big hothouse tomatoes and romas!

I thought  myself - you just said they were not doing well how can you have 300!!! I then had the brilliant idea that I wanted to make marinara sauce. I had never made it before but imagined it probably wasn't that difficult. Thanks Barefoot Contessa for the recipe. I blanched, peeled and pureed the tomatoes. And added a handful of garlic cloves, onions basil and red wine. I ended up making 2 batches and 2nd batch I made I did not use the red wine and substituted tomato paste - it turned out a bit richer / thicker. I am pretty proud of myself for trying something new.  I now have 5 jars sitting in the freezer for use.

Thanks Dad for the veggies!