Champagne Cupcakes and New Years' Dreams

Happy 2011!

Hans and I rang in the New Year in style! A new tradition (read: second year in a row) I have made Champagne Cupcakes to help ring in the new year!



This year I cheated a little bit and only made the frosting. The cupcake was just your traditional box french vanilla cake mix, but I put a little bit of champagne in as well for good measure. I guess that's what you call "Semi-homemade."

Frosting Recipe:
3/4 C Shortening
3/4 C Butter (softened)
3 T Champagne
2 to 2 1/2 C Powdered Sugar(depending on how sweet you like things). Note that the more sugar you add, the more champagne you will have to add to keep the frosting consistent.

In bowl, beat using hand mixer on low speed shortening and butter until combined. Beat in champagne and then sifted powdered sugar.

Top with strawberries :)



We met up with some good friends at Bonefish Grille for some good eats. I had mahi mahi topped with a crab and lobster cream sauce, Hans had filet mignon.

We enjoyed telling our favorite parts of 2010 - most of which had to do with getting married, getting engaged, or getting pregnant. My favorite *exact* memory was dancing our first dance and Hans playing me like a guitar. Hans' favorite *exact* memory was dancing our first dance and dealing with what has been coined the great train catastrophe - my bustle came undone before we started dancing and we handed my long train back and forth between the two of us.



The night ended with even more good friends and a pajama party at Lizzy's house (also, a tradition in the making). What a wonderful way to ring in a New Year!

My little guy

In one week I'll be dancing with you again. I can't wait for my impromptu, last minute trip to Chicago! I love this little man...and sometimes the distance is too far. Thank goodness for airplanes and webcams...

one

One month....already!

I love you more today than yesterday, but not as much as tomorrow!

I've got Sole.

Well, after my post-Halloween candy-enduced coma. Today started day 1 on the brand new eliptical. Approximately 80 days until the cruise... More out of shape than I thought I was.

Day One

Eliptical: 1. Jessica: 0.

Not defeated though.

Happy Halloween!

Hans and I will go without costumes this year...no parties...just looking forward to our first Halloween in our house, and being able to hand out candies to the kiddies.

To start off the Halloween festivities, Liz and I made pumpkins tonight after dinner (which was delish). She made the pirate, and I made the haunted house!

Officially Honeymooning

We booked it! Hans and I will be honeymooning on the Norwegian Cruise Line's EPIC. It is the newest of the their fleet, and in my opinion, is badass.

So, while everyone is in the wintr'y mix that is the Pennsylvania winter, we'll be sailing our way through western Caribbean. We fly from PHL to MIA and take our cruise at the beginning on 2011.

Ports of call include Costa Maya (Mexico), Roatan (Honduras) and Cozumel (Mexico). The ship includes so many fun things! The Blue Man Group will be on board, as well as a Cirque Show! There is an ice bar that is kept at a chilly 17F and waterslides on the pool deck!

Hans and I already have our sites set on a Mayan ruin excursion, oh, and a booze cruise :)

84 more days!

I love you, Babe.

Why do I look like I'm crying in this picture? Because I am. I was good alllll day getting ready for the wedding. I kept my composure and just enjoyed the entire day with my girlfriends and my mom. Shy of one emotional conversation in the car on the way home from the salon with my mom, I was just a HUGE ball of energy all day! I remember feeling nervous as my dad and I were sitting and waiting in the limo for everyone to take their seats. But I think I was more anxious to get the party started, than nervous. As my dad and I were waiting in the vestibule for the big wooden doors to open, my dad turns to me and says, "I love you, Babe." And I just about lost it.

I love my daddy.