Food, Friends and Family...

Last weekend, my husband and I traveled to Missouri to see our families, and throw an anniversary party for my parents. We spent most of the weekend cooking and eating, but it was a wonderful time and a great fall weekend.  

When we landed the temperature was a brisk 46 degrees, a stark contrast to the 80 degrees it was suppose to be in Northern VA that day. Our first stop in Missouri was lunch at Sonic, my favorite fast-food place. The closest one to us in VA is 45 minutes away and it's definitely something I miss from home.

After lunch, we spent the next hour helping my brother with his chemistry homework. I didn't so much as help as watch TV while my husband and my brother discussed chemistry equations and formulas.

For the anniversary party, I decided on a Fall theme. The weather in Missouri has been fall-like for several weeks now so it was perfect. I put together a menu full of fall dishes like butternut squash soup, harvest vegetables, honey glazed carrots, creamy spinach, baked mac-n-cheese and steaks, pork loin and hamburgers.

The best part, though, was the cake we had for dessert. About a month ago, I asked my brother to find a picture of my parents and their wedding cake. I thought it would be fun to have a replica made for the party. My brother found the perfect picture and I contacted Sonja of Celebrations by Sonja. She did the cake for my wedding and my family and I have been looking for an excuse to get another one. The cake was vanilla with a strawberry cream filling like my wedding cake. It was a beautiful cake and it tasted even better than I remembered.

The party was a great success. It was an evening full of laughing, looking at old pictures and catching up. Our families had a great time and I know my parents were so excited to see everyone. We look forward to seeing everyone at the next party.

Cake by Celebrations by Sonja

Here's to thirty years of love, laughter and happiness...

Thirty years ago today, my parents got married. Twenty-eight years later, I married my wonderful husband on the same date. Both weddings were lovely. They were full of love and laughter, friends and family.  

My mom has told me the story of the night before her wedding many times. It didn't consist of people running around trying to take care of last minute details or frantic break downs, no, it was my mom, my dad and all of their friends and family sitting around the table at my Grandparent's house playing cards. I feel incredibly blessed to have grown-up with the same people sitting at that table being a part of my life and showing me the true meaning of love and family.   

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad! Thank you for sharing your wedding date, your wisdom and your love. And to my husband, thank you for being patient, kind and always encouraging. I couldn't ask for more. Happy Anniversary.


Photos by Preston Dial Photography.  Cake by Celebrations by Sonja.