Snow Day and Dip Recipe

I originally was suppose to fly out at 6:30 am today. However, the weather had another plan in store for me. My first flight was cancelled yesterday, and I was booked on a later flight. Today, that flight was cancelled and I was put on one at 5:50pm. By now you get the picture, that flight was cancelled on our way to the airport. So we turned around and headed home to bundle up by the fire.

On our way home, I was excited because now we had time to make our famous Snow Day Dip!!! It is super easy, and a perfect winter treat on a cold day like today. My parents discovered this dip skiing in Colorado one year and we have made it every winter since. (It is also a popular choice for Super Bowl Parties.)

Pull out a pie pan (I prefer a glass dish for this recipe). Spread 1 package of cream cheese along the bottom of the pan. (You can use any kind, original, low fat etc.) and the back of a spoon works great as a "spreader."
Next, add a layer of chili. Typically we use 1 can of Hormel Chili (beans or no beans, your preference). Today we used leftover chili that my mom made the other night. If you are snowed in and have leftover chili- MAKE THIS DIP!

Top it off with cheese. Usually we use the three cheese/Mexican shredded blend, but since we hadn't planned to make this today, we used what we had.
Pop it in the oven on 350 degrees and bake until the cheese is melted and begins to brown. Enjoy with chips, bread, crackers, anything and everything.
It is a PERFECT winter treat. And a huge hit for guys (my dad, uncles, and grandfather LOVE this). Stay warm tonight, and bake this delightful treat!

Basketball Season

The last two nights have been filled with.....girls basketball! Tuesday night, I headed to Vilonia with Lacey....This was a picture my cousin Hayley got of the two of us. Singing and dancing of course! The three of us headed to Vilonia to watch Lacey's sister, Shelby, and the CAC Sr. High girls basketball team. They play the number one team in their classification. Sadly the girls lost by four, but Shelby played the entire game and did wonderful! (Congrats girl, I am proud of you!)

Then tonight, I met my parents for dinner. We headed to the Jack Stephens Center to watch the UALR lady trojans play. It has been a "family tradition," since as far back as I can remember, to support the UALR (University of Arkansas at Little Rock) basketball teams. I can still remember watching Derek Fisher play for UALR back in the day. (For you "non-sports" fans, he plays for the LA Lakers).

The girls were playing a big game tonight against Denver. Both teams were 8-1 in conference play going into the game. UALR girls came up big and won! It was a great game. And we even saw a few familiar faces!
Here is our view of the game. I am sure you will find us here a few more times this year. Wishing UALR the best of luck this season! (And of course UA too!)

I have enjoyed this week. I have had the opportunity to meet with potential new clients, see wonderful venues in Little Rock, confirm a new booking, work a few days at Limehouse, and meet with a small business consultant to make sure I wasn't missing any critical info for Young Designs. Going to a country concert and bowling were just bonuses for the week.

Natalie and I took her sister Savannah and five of her friends to dinner then bowling the other night. We had so much fun with these girls.

They are all in the seventh grade, which took me back to my seventh grade year...Oh N'sync concerts, sleepovers, drama over the littlest things. It is funny to look back and remember the "teen" years. I think I will choose to stay in the "twenties" for now! : ) Hope everyone has an amazing week! Don' blink to fast or it will be over before you know it!

Time for a Country Concert

Tuesday I was thinking.... how I was SO ready for a good country concert. (It is my weakness) Then on Friday, I was given two tickets to the Martina McBride/Trace Atkins Concert for that night!!! So my mother and I had a "Momma/Daughter" date. We tried out a new restaurant in Little Rock (well new for us), the red room, then headed to the concert. Here is the only pic I got of us, sorry it is a little blurry.

Right at 7:30, Trace Atkins kicked the show off right!

I had forgotten how many great songs this man has!

This was when he was singing a few slow songs....

Then it was time for Martina McBride to sing....

I am absolutely JEALOUS of her AMAZING voice! She is one of the best female country artists.

And here are the lyrics to one of my favorite songs sung by Martina....It is definitely a great theme song if you need one with a powerful message. Enjoy....

"Anyway"

You can spend your whole life building

Something from nothin'

One storm can come and blow it all away

Build it anyway

You can chase a dream

That seems so out of reach

And you know it might not ever come your way

Dream it anyway

God is great

But sometimes life ain't good

And when I pray

It doesn't always turn out like I think it should

But I do it anyway

I do it anyway

This world's gone crazy

It's hard to believe

That tomorrow will be better than today

Believe it anyway

You can love someone with all your heart

For all the right reasons

In a moment they can choose to walk away

Love 'em anyway

God is great

But sometimes life ain't good

And when I pray

It doesn't always turn out like I think it should

But I do it anyway

Yea - I do it anyway

You can pour your soul out singing

A song you believe in

That tomorrow they'll forget you ever sang

Sing it anyway

Yea, sing it anyway

Yeah, yeah!

I sing

I dream

I love anyway

First Bridal Show

Hi!!!! I am so pleased to be able to do this post. Sunday, I was able to experience my first "real" event for Young Designs, the 2010 Arkansas Democrat Gazette Bridal Show in Little Rock. I was honored that Young Designs was one of the 200 vendors that participated this year.

In November, when I decided to launch Young Designs, I realized the bridal show would be an excellent opportunity for me to get my name and new business out there. Around 11 am on Sunday, I was standing in my booth and stopped for a second to realize this: in two months, I had accomplished the above picture. Honestly, at that moment, I was completely content, blessed, and so appreciative to everyone and everything that has gotten me to this point, that I didn't even care if a single person came by our booth, I was there.


Luckily, people did stop by, including many familiar faces that I had seen recently and hadn't seen in years! It was so much fun meeting with all of the brides, their grooms, mothers, friends, etc. I was pleased that we were able to book consultations with a few 2010 Brides! YAY! I really am thrilled to be able to do what I love! Here are a few pictures from the bridal show. I LOVE feedback so let me know the designs you love/hate/etc. and feel free to leave a comment below!




Pictured below are some of the marketing items we prepared for the Bridal Show....
Thank you to Limehouse in Little Rock, for donating our great giveaways!
More fun pictures....

The water and brownies were a big hit too!!!
And here's one for comic relief: The Young Designs Floral team for the 2010 show : ) (including me, not pictured). I absolutely love these three and wouldn't have been able to pull off flying back from New Orleans Saturday morning, and having the booth ready for the crowd at 12:30 on Sunday without my parents, and aunt Becki! Thank you, Thank you, THANK YOU!And my helpers during the show! (Side note: my Dad informed me that if I needed anything during the show, he would be on the golf course and would not have his phone, BUT he would be there to help load out at 5:30! Love him and was SO glad the load out was after his "group" finished on the golf course).

Well folks....That's a wrap on this years bridal show!!!!.....

For more information on Young Designs, check out our blog at: http://www.youngdesigns-events.blogspot.com/ and add it to the blogs you are following!!!

TSE: Overview of the Wedding Gallery

If you have been following my posts on the "TSE" conference, then you remember me telling you I worked at the Wedding Lunch/Gallery for the HOH (Hands-On-Hundred) program. Here are a few pictures of this years wedding gallery! Enjoy!

All of these vases/elements were made out of cardboard!!!This was the second area....more earth tones...

The third showcase....


And a few of the cakes...

Here is a closer look at the moss table skirt...

TSE: Day 5

Friday was a big day in New Orleans! TSE was wrapping up! I concluded the conference by attending two seminars, going to lunch at Emeril's restaurant with friends/colleagues, and getting ready for the evening's Gala Awards. The Gala Awards are like the "Oscars" for the event industry, it is the premier award. AOO events (who I interned with) was up for an award and they WON! I was thrilled for them. Here is David (owner) and Nick (producer) accepting their award!!!Then it was time for the celebration to begin! Here are some pictures from the Gala!

the drumline came through...
as well as a step show performance...
confetti and dancing to kick off the "celebration" hours!
He was SO talented....
My Favorite: Champagne Chandelier!!!



The Gala celebration was over the top, and such a wonderful way to end the week! TSE definitely was worth the trip to New Orleans and so much fun!