Rancho Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano

It feels like forever since I've posted on my blog...and then when I look back, it really has

been forever!

Before Halloween in fact.

I've almost missed out on a whole holiday! Thanksgiving will be here before I know it, and I have so many great Thanksgiving posts to share with you, {including lots of free printables}!

...and so much to be thankful for.

It wasn't a conscious decision to slow down on blogging, it just happened that life got

really busy all of a sudden...in a good way :) For those that already know, this won't be

new information, but for those that don't know, here is a peak into what what I have

been doing lately.

My home church, Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, acquired a new venue...Rancho Capistrano in San Juan Capistrano. Since I am the current Wedding Director for Saddleback Church {and have been since 2002} I have had the good fortune to be involved in helping develop policies & procedures, doing demographic research for cost analysis, composing a new brochure, and interviewing preferred vendors. It has been a wonderful experience to be on the ground floor of something so amazing.

Also, we recently held an open house ~ a full week ~ of days welcoming the community to our newest venue. I was blessed to be a part of the open house each day as part of the wedding ministry, and spent a lot of time at Ranch Capistrano meeting amazing couples that desire to be married on our campus.

Initially I thought that I would be "giving something" by being there; whether that be my experience with weddings in general, my familiarity with being part of the wedding ministry at Saddleback, or maybe to help inspire couples to make changes in their lives and start doing things "God's way" so that between now and the date of their marriage they are honoring God by the way they conduct themselves in their relationship.

But the truth?

The truth is that I was incredibly blessed by the time I spent at Rancho Capistrano. To be a part of something so magnificent, and represent a ministry that God has shaped me for, was truly a gift. And what I didn't expect is that the stories that I would hear, the people that I would meet, the lives that would be changed, and the extra-ordinary work God is doing through ordinary people would bless me. I will forever be changed, and am incredibly humbled by the experience and the time I spent serving God and His people through the open house at Rancho Capistrano. If you haven't been to Rancho Capistrano, I encourage you to take the time to experience it! Services start on Christmas Eve, 2010.

I've also been doing a lot of wedding & holiday party planning, as well as doing ordinary life while trying to be the best wife and mom I can possibly be to my family.

Anyway, back to blogging about party planning!

Martha Stewart's Harvest Pumpkin Soup

Ingredients Serves 6 to 8

• 1 small sugar pumpkin, halved, seeds and stringy fibers removed and reserved
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3 cups homemade or low-sodium store-bought chicken stock
• 3 cups water
• 1 sprig fresh thyme
• 1 small parsnip (about 4 ounces), peeled and coarsely chopped
• 1 small Yukon gold potato (about 6 ounces), peeled and coarsely chopped
• 1 small turnip (about 4 ounces), peeled and coarsely chopped
• 2 small shallots, minced (about 1/4 cup)
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 3 tablespoons heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon packed light-brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons coarse salt
• Freshly ground pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place pumpkin halves, cut sides down, on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until soft, about 50 minutes. Scoop out flesh, and puree in a food processor (you should have 2 cups).
2. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add reserved seeds and fibers from pumpkin, and cook for 4 minutes. Add stock, water, and thyme, and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for 9 to 10 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, melt remaining 5 tablespoons butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add pumpkin puree, parsnip, potato, and turnip, and cook for 5 minutes. Add shallots, and cook until soft, about 4 minutes. Add wine, and cook until liquid has reduced by half.
4. Strain pumpkin-seed mixture, reserving broth and discarding solids. Add broth to pumpkin-wine mixture. Bring to a simmer; cook 20 minutes. Let cool.
5. Pass soup through a food mill into a clean saucepan, or puree in a food processor in small batches until smooth. (If soup does not reach desired consistency using a food processor, press it through a fine sieve to remove any remaining lumps.) Heat soup in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in cream, sugar, salt, and pepper, and serve.

From Martha Stewart Living, October 2007

{REAL WEDDING} Napa Valley Shabby Chic Wedding

In trying to keep up with my vintage wedding posts, I have been admiring this touching backyard wedding I found on The Wedding Chicks.

The wedding took place in the bride's parents home, and the bride & groom exchanged

vows underneath a big cotton wood tree at sunset. If that isn't sentimental enough, they

pulled together rickety furniture, desks, drawers, frames and doors, along with lots of heirlooms that were found around the barn, the bride's parents home, and her grandmother's home to celebrate the day.

If that isn't sweet and sentimental, I can't image what is. However, the day was bittersweet; along with their tears of joy, there were tears of sadness brought on by an unfortunate event that occurred 2 days before the wedding...you can read all about that on The Wedding Chicks.

Location: Winters, CA (Backyard Wedding)
Cake: Solono Baking Company
Coordinator/Florist: Amanda Dannenberg
Photographer: Marin Kristine Photography

Southern Bridal Inspiration Shoot

I'm still trying to get caught up on some wedding posts that I have found and love, including this charming Southern vintage bridal photo shoot found on Elizabeth Anne Designs. An entire team of talented Dallas professionals collaborated on this shoot, led by Catie Ronquillo Photography and Lauren Kelly Events.

Lauren and Catie wanted to weave old elements into a natural atmosphere to rework the current vintage trend into something new. These designers' vision was to ensure that nature was enjoyed in every capacity along with additional pops of color, and without too much fuss.

Well done!

The following Dallas wedding vendors contributed to this inspirational wedding shoot:

Photography – Catie Ronquillo Photography
Floral – Lauren Kelly Events
Antique Shop – Laverty’s Antiques
Makeup – Faces by Angela
Hair – Salon Wabi Sabi
Cupcakes – What About Cupcakes
Bridal salon – White Gown Showroom
Long dress – “Barcelona” by Blue by Enzoani
Short dress – “Audry” by Stephanie James Couture

{REAL WEDDING} Shabby Chic DIY Iowa Wedding

I am just so impressed with brides that want to not only include amazing design elements,

but they want to do them all themselves! Planning a wedding takes an enormous amount

of personal time but being able to handcraft all the personal touches is something

quite extraordinary.

This bride, who's wedding was featured on The Wedding Chicks, wanted a shabby chic theme, and executed perfectly! The beautiful photography is my Amanda Basteen Photography.

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/3cCLSl/www.weddingchicks.com/wedding-chicks/featured-weddings-events/60644/iowa-gorgeous-diy-wedding//r:f

A Southern Style Wedding Shoot

So here is another beautifully styled shoot. I know I say this a lot, but I think this one might be my favorite styled photo shoot to date. I looove it!

It just oozes style, charm, sophistication, vintage, innocence, true love...

the concept was created for Southern Weddings, by Jen with Green Wedding Shoes &

Carissa with JL Designs {who also did the florals}, and the gorgeous photography by

Stephanie Williams.

My favorite element is the "Hint of Mint" bar where guests could create their own cocktails with their choice of bourbon + sweet tea {southern style} OR run and peach nectar {California style}, then muddle some mint, and select their type of sugar and fruit.

Original Source: Green Wedding Shoes

Vendors
Concept + Design: Green Wedding Shoes and JL Designs
Styling: Green Wedding Shoes
Photography: Stephanie Williams
Flowers: JL Designs
Makeup and Hair by Nyrie using Jouer Cosmetics and Unite
Prop Rentals: Found Vintage Rentals
Wedding Dresses: Temperley London
Paper details (invite, mint bar tags + sign, name cards): MaeMae Paperie
Hair Pieces: Lo Boheme
Linens: Wildflower Linens
Bride Shoes: Shoebuy.com
Groom Shoes: 6pm.com
Models: Chris Marino and Amanda Rau