Wedding Mumbo Jumbo Volume 3

Greetings and welcome to the third installment of my adventures in planning this wedding! For those who don't already know we are not doing a traditional wedding. We've both been married before and opted to do this a little differently. We are basically just signing the papers and then having dinner with family and friends after. Then the next day we leave on our honeymoon. I actually never had a honeymoon previously. If you think about it weddings are really more for everyone else than the couple anyway. :p We are both happy with this arrangement. You can read more about what's been going on in the first two volumes of this. I'm actually adding a "wedding/honeymoon" tab here so you all can follow along more easily. :)

Anyway on to the updates!

The other day my fiance had off of work so we did some wedding errands. It was actually nice to spend time with him. He's been working so hard lately trying to get enough money together for everything. I haven't gotten to see him much.

First we headed out for breakfast and from there we stopped at a local fabric shop. The other day he was in the area on a job site and he saw they were having a sale. He knew I needed material for my dress so we stopped. I did end up getting the underlay for the dress there. I almost got the lace for the overlay also but they didn't have enough. It's kind of a good thing I didn't get it because as it turns out the lady making my dress already has that exact lace. lol I actually ended up changing my mind about the color scheme a bit which is why I was going to get that particular lace. Now I don't have to. :)

The satin underlay fabric for my dress.

The underlay fabric with the lace overlay.

After we grabbed the fabric we headed to the bakery which was right across the street and got the cake ordered. I'm so excited. I'm sure they will do a great job with it because they are one of the best bakeries in the city. Probably one of the more infamous of them for sure. We didn't do a tasting there because we would have had to schedule it. We didn't really feel like having to go back and we know their stuff is amazing. So we just picked what we knew we would most likely enjoy. We opted for silver cake with pineapple filling. I know pineapple is tricky because the cake may slide but I'm sure they will be careful. We were going to pick it up because there is a $50 delivery fee. However after thinking about it I voiced my concerns to my fiance. I think it would be better to just pay them to do it. The streets where the restaurant is and on the way there aren't great. I would have nightmares of the cake meeting disaster before it even got there. At least if they ruin it we aren't responsible for it and can get some sort of compensation. If we ruin it...well we're just out the $$ and the cake. Plus they are just better equipped to move something like that than we are.

This is what the cake will look like.
(Not my photo. I can't find the original owner to credit. If you know who it's for please let me know.)

After the cake was handled we went to the Irish restaurant where we are having our dinner that night to reserve the room. We actually will probably end up with the larger room they have than the first one we saw. That one seats about 25 people but we have 35 invited. I'm sure not everyone is going to come but we'll see. Either room is nice. I just think it would be a little more roomy in the larger one. We got everything squared away with that though. They even gave us a really great deal on everything. I have to make little place cards so that they know who ordered what since we are doing plated meals. My fiance came up with the clever idea to put a fish, a cow or a tomato on the cards to signify what they ordered. This is because our menu options are beef stew, fish & chips, or we also have a vegan option which involves a stuffed tomato. I thought it was cute. I'm sure we will still have to figure out the details though because there are other things such as salad, and soup on there.

Once the restaurant was taken care of we decided to take some time for ourselves and we stopped at the New Orleans Museum of Art. It's actually something we'd been talking about doing for ages and just never seemed to get there. Since it wasn't far we figured why not? I had not been since I was very young, and he had never been. After that we went to have some lunch, stopped to grab a few things at the store and came home. It was a very nice day and we got a lot accomplished.

We're not far from having everything done now. Just have to order and pay for a few more things. Wednesday I'm meeting with the dressmaker for a fitting and to go over the fabric and details. In a couple of weeks I'm going to get my hair dyed. I'm finally getting it the color I've wanted for AGES! I have dyed my hair red before but it never turns out like this because it's so dark. My hair would have to be lightened which I can't really do myself. It takes me three hours just to dye it normally. lol Plus I'd be too afraid to miss a spot or whatever that I can't see. It's really something I need someone else to do. I never went to a salon because it's so expensive. I have a lot of hair and it would probably be over $60 if I had it done there. Fortunately I have a friend who is willing to do it at a reasonable rate. It's going to be so fun! Getting my hair done, and hanging out with her! She's giving me some toner to take home also so that it won't fade as bad before the wedding.

Getting my  hair this color.
 (Not my photo. I'm trying to find the original source again but not having much luck. I will update once I find it.)

Well, I think I've rambled enough for tonight. Until next time!

Wedding Mumbo Jumbo Volume 2

Hello, hello!

Well some updates on the wedding situation. Things are finally moving along instead of being at a stand still.

Tomorrow we're going to order the cake and turn in the confirmation form to reserve the room in the restaurant. The problem with the restaurant was resolved. They are actually giving is a really good deal.

Next week I'm meeting with the dressmaker so she can measure me and I can pick out the fabric for it. I got my hair pins today. I actually picked out a second hairstyle as a back up plan. I know the lady at the salon said she can probably do the first one but I like to be prepared. Especially for something that important. I've attached photos of the new hairstyle and the hair pins for you to look at. :)

I also found out the information I needed on my business as well. Since I am changing my last name I had to figure out what if anything I needed to change my last name on. It looks like I just have to do it with the secretary of state and the parish for my occupational license. (A parish in Louisiana is the same as a county elsewhere.) I can do the secretary of state one easily enough because by the time the wedding happens and I get to change my name it will be about time for me to do my annual report for them. So I can just make any changes then. As far as the parish it won't be long after we return when I have to renew my occupational license with them so again I can just kill two birds with one stone. I probably have to change it with my registered agent also. My tax consultant said I'm not required to do it with the IRS or LDR.

It's nice that things are finally going a little bit more smoothly. Hopefully it stays that way. I was about to pull my hair out last week. lol


**Disclaimer**
The hair photo is not mine but it was found on Pinterest with no link to the source. The hair pin photo is mine. 

Wedding Mumbo Jumbo - Volume 1

Clip art found in a google search for free wedding bell clip art. http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/freedownloads/ig/PSPTubez-com-Free-Sampler/Wedding-Bells.htm

I've decided to keep a small journal of the events leading up to the date. Then when we get back from our honeymoon I'll do more.


My fiance and I have both been married before. I however never had a honeymoon. So for this we decided just to go see a friend who is a judge and sign the papers instead of having an actual wedding to save some money and headache. We are having a dinner for close friends and family after however. Then we leave on our honeymoon the next day.  Despite the simplicity of the concept I've run into numerous issues already.

First it was the cake. I had the hardest time finding a bakery that wouldn't rip our eyes out and was actually open the day of the wedding. (It's on a Monday which I realize is unusual but it's the only day we could do it.) Still I think it's odd that so many places are closed on Monday. Fortunately we did finally find one. We're going to order it this week. Hopefully there are no more problems there.

I'm not sure of where this photo came from originally. I found it on Pinterest and there was no link back.

Then there was the manicure issue. For some reason there is not a single nail tech/nail salon in the area that could do what I wanted done. I wanted to get a gel manicure because it lasts a long time. It should last at least 2 weeks if not more. Which is ideal since I didn't want to have to worry about taking off or changing polish on the honeymoon. I just wanted to do the manicure the day before the wedding and then not worry about it for a while. Well, the problem is that even though most of the salons offer gel manicures almost all of them do not do nail art. There was ONE that said they could do it but they don't have the best reviews in the world and I was concerned about the job they may do. I considered going in and having a "test run". However by the time I would have paid for the test run and then the actual mani for the wedding/honeymoon I could have just bought my own gel kit and done them myself. Sooo... I did. Problem one solved. (I'm actually doing a series of blogs on the kit itself as well. Sort of a review on how it works as well as the journey to find the right mani for the wedding. lol)



Then came the hair situation. For some reason nearly every salon I went to gave me crazy looks and didn't think they could do the hairstyle I selected. (I showed them a photo.) I really don't think it's THAT complicated. It's just a fancy braid. I've actually done something similar to a friend. However, I cannot  braid my own hair like this unfortunately. It's just too hard to have to reach around to do it. Especially when I can't really see that way, even with mirrors. The lady at ULTA was probably the worse. Not only did she give me the crazy look but she acted as if I asked her to hike to a foreign country or something. She made a huge deal out of it and kept saying how intricate it was and that she didn't know if she could do it. She even suggested I come in for a test run, which of course I would have to pay for that also. Umm considering it was going to cost over $50 to do the hairstyle that's a big no. I'm sorry but I'm not going to pay to do a test run just because she isn't sure if she can do it or not. Last I checked they teach braiding in beauty school. All this hairstyle really would be is a sort of a cross between a french braid and a waterfall braid. Hell, I figured it out just by watching you tube videos. She went to school and got licensed. She should know how to do it. I really didn't like the way she spoke to me either. Anyway, I think I found a place that can do it. The girls there seemed a little more confident in their ability to do this. So *fingers crossed.*

I'm not sure of where this photo came from originally. I found it on Pinterest and there was no link back. I tried to find the source because I wanted to learn how to do the hairstyle but there were several pages with this photo and I have no way of knowing which one was the original.

I got these pretty cherry blossoms to go in my  hair instead of the roses.

Now the restaurant is being a pain. We basically just wanted to make a reservation for our group. That way no one has to wait an hour to be seated and it makes it easier for the restaurant also. Everyone was going to pay for their own meals.

They did show us this room and we were going to try and reserve it. However I think they totally misunderstood us as they were trying to sell us on some package where we have a minimum to meet. Umm, no... We can't and don't want to be responsible for paying the difference if some people don't eat or show up. That's why everyone was going to be in charge of their own bill. I thought I explained that the day we met with her but I think they got confused. So I explained it AGAIN. Now we're waiting to see what they say.

Sheesh... This was supposed to be a simple  thing but everyone else is making difficult. It's insane how even the most simple wedding turns into chaos.  We thought the hardest part would be to save up for the honeymoon but we're already mostly there. Crazy...

Battle Royale vs. Hunger Games

I don't normally do these types of posts but I figured why not? This is just a personal comparison. Please note that I am ONLY comparing the movies as I have not read Battle Royale in either it's manga or novel form. I have only read the Hunger Games books. This is my personal view/opinion on the two movies. If you disagree that's fine. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and view. I am not here to fight over this so please do not start an argument on my post.

I finally sat down and watched Battle Royale today. People have been comparing Hunger Games to that (mostly those who hate HG.) So I watched it with an open mind.

The main thing I found alike was that it was a bunch of kids killing each other and the government was involved in some way. In BR they straight up said it was punishment, in HG they said it was to help people "remember" what they did wrong. The back story for HG was more detailed or at least it was described in more detail. I may have to go back and watch BR again just to see if I missed anything. Subtitled movies are always harder to watch because you really have to pay attention. If you look away for even a moment you may miss something vital.

In BR it was a randomly selected class of school kids. (The entire class.) They also have no clue what is going on until they get there. In HG it was two kids randomly selected from each "district". Which would kind of be like each city in a way. The kids in HG know it's coming.

In BR there were more than two people who got out in the end.

In BR they were on an island where as in HG they were in places that were man made or specifically set up for them. In HG one girl starts the revolution and all the cities join in. In BR it's just a group of students who do it.

There were a few other similarities and differences but it would take me longer than I have to list them all right now.

I actually enjoyed both movies but I have to say I liked HG more for many reasons. As I said above the story was more detailed. Also I felt I could relate to the characters from Hunger Games more. This could be in part due to the fact that I only read the Hunger Games and I'm sure the language barrier was contributing factor also.

I guess in summary while there were some similarities in the two stories I feel they were also both unique in their own way. So I don't think it was necessarily a "copycat" thing. The author of HG may have been influenced by it, but most authors are influenced by other authors/stories in some way. Even if they don't realize it at the time. Then again the whole idea of a government controlling and abusing society and people uprising was not invented by BR. That story has actually been around (and used) for a long time. So really the few similarities could also just be a coincidence.

Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe

Several of my friends have requested my recipe for this, so here it is! Enjoy!

Ingredients

*No need to go to a special store for any of this. You can get these ingredients at most grocery stores. I generally shop at Walmart or Winn Dixie and they always have everything I need including the Basmati rice and Naan.. :)

•  1 Cup Plain Yogurt
• 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
• 2 Teaspoons Ground Cumin
• 1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
• 1-2 Teaspoons Cayenne Pepper To Taste (2 tsp will be very spicy, 1 will be mild. I tend to use 1 1/4tsp)
• 2 Teaspoons Ground Black Pepper
• 1 Tablespoon Ginger
• 2 Teaspoons Salt (Or to taste.)
• 3 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast Cut Into Bite Size Pieces
• 1 Tablespoon Unsalted Butter
• 1 Tablespoon Minced Garlic
• 2 Teaspoons Ground Cumin
• 2 Teaspoons Paprika
• 1 (8oz) Can Tomato Sauce
• 1 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream
• Cilantro ( You can use fresh or dry. This will be put on top after cooked so sprinkle to your desire.)

Directions For Marinade
In a large bowl, combine 1 cup yogurt, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 2 tsp cumin, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1-2 tsp cayenne pepper, 2 tsp black pepper, 1 tbsp ginger, and 1 tsp salt. Stir and then mix in chicken. Cover and refrigerate for one hour minimum.

Directions for Chicken
Grease skillet and place cut chicken breast pieces inside. Be sure to use a spatula or slotted spoon when you put the chicken in the pan to remove excess marinade. You don't want all of that in your pan. Some of it on the chicken is perfectly fine. Cook the chicken until white, no pink showing. Remove from heat and add to sauce once it's completed.

Directions For Sauce
Melt butter in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Saute 1tbsp minced garlic for 1 minute, stir in 1 8oz can of tomato sauce and 1 cup whipping cream. Season with 2 tsp cumin, 2 tsp paprika, and 1 tsp salt. Simmer on low heat until sauce thickens (about 20 minutes). Be sure to stir occasionally. When the sauce is ready add the chicken and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and garnish with cilantro before serving over Basmati rice.

* Best served with Naan. (I love the garlic Naan myself. I get it in the bakery at Walmart.)

Fried Dill Pickles

I absolutely love these. After having them in a restaurant once I had to figure out how to make them myself.  I hit the web and googled recipes. I found a few but none of them really worked for me.  So I threw this one together and LOVED it! It can be a bit spicy but you can adjust that to your liking. I was just chatting with a friend about this and decided to share the recipe with everyone. :) Enjoy!

 Ingredients:

Sliced Dill Pickles
Salt
Pepper
1 Egg
1 tbsp. Lea & Perrins Sauce
5-6 drops of Tabasco sauce
A dash of Tony Chachere's (if available in your area)
1 tbsp. flour
2 cups flour
8oz milk
1 packet of powdered ranch dressing mix
Bread Crumbs (I use Italian style but you can use whatever you like.)
Italian Seasoning Mix (Usually contains Thyme, Oragano, Marjoram, Basil, Rosemary and Sage. You can get them all individually I just find it easier to buy the mixed bottle.)
Parsley

Directions: 

Mix beaten egg with milk, Lea & Perrins, Tabasco and 1 tablespoon flour.

In a separate bowl mix 2 cups flour with salt & pepper, ranch mix, bread crumbs (as much as you would like), Italian Seasoning Mix, and Parsley. (Use seasonings to your liking.)
Dip pickles in egg wash then into flour to coat them.
Place the pickles into hot deep grease and fry until golden brown.
As you remove them place them on a paper towel lined plate to remove the excess grease.

Serve with ranch dressing to dip in.

Chicken & Dumplings Recipe

During the colder weather sometimes you get tired of soup and want something a little heartier and more filling. Sure here especially we have gumbos, but this blog is about something else. :)

This recipe is one I came up with loosely based off of what someone else I know use to make. I had no recipe when I did it the first time, I just winged it and it came out great! It's always a hit when I make it. This recipe does make a lot but you can always half it.

I hope you enjoy!

Chicken & Dumplings

Ingredients

Bisquick (For the dumplings. Directions are on the box.)
2 cans of cream of mushroom soup
2 cans of cream of chicken soup  
2 packets of powdered white gravy mix
Chicken bouillon cubes (At least 8, but more may be used as needed for broth.)
Chicken (I use 4 legs, and 6 breasts but it's up to you on which parts and how much of each to use.)
Seasonings to taste (I use parsley, bay leaves, salt and pepper, Tony Chachere's, a pinch of cayenne pepper, Italian seasoning, a pinch of rosemary, garlic salt, crushed red pepper and about 3 drops of Tabasco.)
2 cans of peas

Directions

Grease large pot with cooking spray (or use non stick pot) and place chicken inside.
 
Completely cover the chicken with water. (Usually about 8 cups or so. You will have to add more water as it evaporates.)

Add chicken bouillon cubes according to directions on how much water used. ie: I used 8 to start with for the 8 cups of water. You may have to add more as you add more water.

Heat to boil on medium heat and boil for one hour.

When chicken is done boiling, remove it from the pot and set aside in a bowl. Keep the water/broth in the pot. This will be your broth base.

After the chicken cools debone it and break it up into pieces.

Follow the directions on the Bisquick to make the dumplings. You will have to sprinkle it with flour also to make it less sticky. The box calls for making them into little balls. I prefer to roll the dough out after mixed and cut with a pizza cutter into rectangles. The choice is yours on how to make them.

Add seasonings and peas to the pot of broth and bring to boil.

Add dumplings. They will float at first.

You want to gently push the dumplings down a bit to mix them as the cook. Don't stir or you will break them up. Cook the dumplings in the broth for about 10min uncovered, and 10 covered.

Add the soups and gravy mix, and stir gently until the soup is dissolved and the liquid in the pot is rapidly boiling.

Turn down the heat and let simmer for about 20-25 minutes until the desired texture of your dumplings is reached.

Add your chicken, stir and serve.

*Note The dumplings may stick to the pot while cooking. If t his occurs you will have to switch pots to prevent burning.