Wedding Wednesday: Fun Traditions

Good Morning and Happy Wednesday!  I hope everyone had an excellent Memorial Day weekend.

Before I go into our Wedding Wednesday topic, I want to send a shout out to my dearest friend, and my maid of honor!  Her wedding is on Friday, and I can't wait to celebrate with her!

Her wedding brings me to the core of this post, FUN wedding traditions.

One of the most common traditions dates back to at least the Victorian era; "Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, and a Silver Sixpence in your Shoe".  Many brides still try to carry on this tradition today.

The something old signifies the bond with the past; something new is a bright look into the future; something borrowed is supposed to come from a happily married woman to impart her marriage happiness onto the bride; something blue is for purity, love and fidelity; A sixpence in your shoe is to symbolize fortune and prosperity.

Another great way to bring some tradition into your wedding day, is to start a NEW tradition.  Many families have a specific piece of jewelry every bride has incorporated into their outfit.  If you are the first in your family to get married in a while and you want to incorporate tradition, see if there is anything you can incorporate that will link you to "weddings-past" in your family.  You can also start a new tradition with your friends!

During my wedding, my awesome friends from college started a tradition that we will continue this weekend at my MOH's wedding; Pinning.  Before the ceremony, my friends pinned a pin from our university on the underside of my dress, gave me their blessings and we snapped a few photos.  Fast forward a year, and we are now coming up on my friend's wedding.  We plan to do the same.  I'll be passing the pin on to my friend.  As it so happens, it can act as the bride's "something borrowed" since the previous bride is to pin it onto the new bride.

I thought this was a really cool way to keep a reminder of all the amazing people we met during our college years on me as I walked down the aisle.  We weren't in a sorority, but you could definitely do something similar with sorority sisters.

Here is one of the photos the photographer took:

Regardless of what you decide to do, know that traditions are a fun way to do something personal that you, as the bride or groom, only know about.  Besides my friends from college, no one else knew that I had the pin on the underside of my dress.  It created a really special moment when I got to see some of my best girlfriends right before the ceremony.  They helped to calm my nerves, and gave me their best wishes.

Above all, have fun with it!

-Danielle

Wedding Wednesday: Everything's Coming Up Roses...

In an attempt to get back on schedule, today is again Wedding Wednesday!  Flowers are in bloom here at the Bear Necessities!

When Mr. Bear and I got married, we knew we wanted to get married at the same location as our reception.  The caveat was that we wanted the ceremony space to be outdoors and beautiful.  We ended up getting married on the grounds of an old Tudor mansion turned B&B/social club.  We spent more than I had originally budgeted for the total venue cost, but I quickly realized that I could easily cut my floral budget. 

Since we were getting married in a garden space on the grounds, it drastically cut the amount of flowers needed to make the space beautiful.  For the ceremony, we ended up with 3 potted flowering plants and some rose petals down the aisle.  The ceremony flowers were pretty easy to pull together.  We found 2 white bougainvillea plants at our local grocery store as part of a hanging basket set.  The potted plant at the altar was a white flowering plant my mom already had in her house.

The other flower arrangements we decided to DIY since we could cut costs.

**WARNING** If you decide to arrange your own flowers, make sure you know what you are getting yourself into.  Do research, make up some samples a few months before ordering your flowers, get the right supplies, and make sure you leave yourself enough time.

Arrangements my mom and I put together:

Bride’s bouquet

Bridesmaids’ bouquets

Groom’s boutonniere

Groomsmen boutonnieres

Moms' Corsages

Dads' boutonnieres

Cocktail hour table arrangements

(unfortunately no one captured any pictures of these)

Reception table arrangements

Cake topper floral arrangement (you'll notice the cake was leaning...the heat made it begin to melt)

We ordered nearly all of our flowers from a wonderful wholesaler in Maryland called Potomac Floral Wholesaler.  They have samples of flowers that are available online, but we actually called them directly and spoke to one of their sales associates.  We told him what we were looking for (types of flowers, colors and sizes) and he helped us figure out how man, which flowers, and what greenery to order.

Things we needed in addition to the flowers/greenery:

• Flower shears
• Green floral tape
• Floral wire
• Ribbons for covering the bouquet base
• MANY buckets for revitalizing the flowers once they arrive from the floral wholesaler
• A LOT of refrigerator space (We bought 3 wine fridges to store the flowers in all forms) also coolers to transport the flowers
• Thorn Stripper if you are using roses
• Corsage bracelets
• Cake topper floral form
• Tons of vases
• Boutonniere pins 

Tips:

1. Be sure to have your flowers arrive several days in advance.  You have to revitalize them when they arrive, particularly roses.  Roses will come in tight buds.  If you are looking for a fuller look, you need to give them time to open.  Additionally, you want to give yourself a few days in the event some of the flowers come damaged.

2. Leave yourself plenty of time to arrange and rearrange.  We started the day before the wedding.  If you have hearty flowers, start earlier.  We were rushing to finish the reception and cocktail decor at the venue the morning of the wedding.

3. If you have white or ivory roses, water on the petals will turn them brown, as will frost so don't overcrowd your refrigerators.

4. Above all, make sure you do a few test runs on bouquets, boutonnieres, and tablescapes before ordering your flowers.  This will give you time to find a professional if you don't think you will be able to actually get the look you want.

It was a lot of hard work, but they ended up looking wonderful and we saved more than 50% on our flowers.  I don't recommend this if you have very complex arrangements in mind, however, if you are going simple, this is a great way to save money.  Another option is to have the bouquets, corsages and boutonnieres done by a professional while doing the rest of the flowers yourself.

-Danielle

Recipe: Super Easy Ranch Pork Chops

Once again, I apologize for the delayed posts.  Last week was another travel week for work, and I was so tired I didn't have a chance to post anything.

Continuing on with the excuses, Mr. Bear and I didn't get much done this weekend that was blog-worthy, so I will start you off with a recipe I really love because it is so easy.

Before I give you the details of this recipe, please know that I used to HATE pork.  Every time I had had pork, it was dry and in desperate need of gallons of sauce to make it palatable.  This recipe changed my mind.  After making this pork, I realized I had only really had pork loin.  Pork chops with the bone in have so much more flavor and are much juicier.

Also note that the first time I made these, I thought the idea of a ranch seasoning packet on meat was strange, but I promise, it makes the dish.

This recipe is adapted from the original here.

Ingredients:

1/2 packet Hidden Valley Ranch Seasoning/Dressing mix
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2-3 pork chops (bone-in) 1/2"-3/4" thick
Dash of paprika

Directions:

Line a cookie sheet with foil.  Place a broiler pan over top of the cookie sheet.  (I don't have a broiler pan, so I use an all metal cooling rack.  I have one similar to this model from BB&B).  Spray broiler pan with non-stick spray that can withstand high heat (like Pam for grilling).

In a small bowl, mix your Ranch seasoning, and black pepper.  Sprinkle the mix liberally over both sides and rub into the pork chops.

Place pork chops in a single layer on top of your broiler rack.  Sprinkle each with a little bit of paprika (amount is up to you).

Bake at 450 degrees Fahrenheit for 20-25 minutes, or until cooked thoroughly.

Baking time provided is for 3/4" chops, reduce cook time if you went with 1/2" chop.
Pork should be cooked until internal temperature at the thickest part reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit.

Tips:

1. I like to serve with a vegetable, salad and potato (mashed are my favorite with this dish).
2. Your pork chops will likely have a strip of fat along the outside (opposite of the bone, see photo below).  Leave this on during cooking to trap in moisture, but feel free to cut off before serving.

3. If you want, you can cut the chop off the bone before serving too.

Here is what it looks like if you do decide to de-bone.  I again will stress that you should use the bone-in chop, even if you plan to de-bone.  It provides so much more flavor and holds in the moisture.  These get dry if you use the boneless chops.

(image courtesy of food.com)

4. Adjust the amount of Hidden Valley to your taste.  I only like a mild ranch flavor so I tend to go light on the ranch seasoning.  Feel free to adjust to your taste.

5. If you don't know what a broiler pan is, read this eHow article.  It is very helpful. :)

-Danielle

Recipe: Creamy Garlic Parmesan Pasta

Hello blogosphere!  My apologies for being MIA for a week.  I was out of the country on business, then recovering from some severe jet lag/stomach flu issues in our household.

I hope all the moms out there had an amazing Mother's Day!  It was great to spend some time with and see my mom yesterday.

Since I've been out of the country for a week, I didn't really have any new recipes that I have tried.  I figured I would share with you a recipe I've made a few times that we really love!  I plan to make this dish as a side tonight to go with some chicken as long as Mr. Bear has recovered from the flu.

This is called Creamy Garlic Parmesan Pasta.  I use it as a replacement for Fettuccine Alfredo.  You can make it lighter, and it is similar in taste to Pasta-Roni's Garlic Parmesan pasta.  I originally got the recipe from a blog called "The Cheese Pusher".  Original recipe here.  My version cuts calories by using a light butter and a fat free half and half.

Creamy Garlic Parmesan Pasta 

2 tsp olive oil (I use extra virgin)

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 tbsp butter (I use Land o' Lakes light butter with canola oil.  It is lower in calories)

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

3 cups chicken stock

1/2 lb angel hair pasta (you can use spaghetti, but I prefer the thin noodles)

1 cup grated parmesan cheese (you can use reduced fat if you prefer, but I usually just use the full fat parm)

3/4 cup fat free half and half (original recipe called for heavy cream, but I like to lighten it up and it tastes the same)

2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

In a pot, bring the olive oil to medium-low heat.  Add the minced garlic and stir, allowing it to cook for 1-2 minutes.  Do not let the garlic burn!  Mix in the butter until melted.  Add the salt, pepper, and chicken stock. Raise the heat to high and let the mixture come to a rolling boil.

Once you see your mixture come to a rolling boil, add the pasta and cook for as long as the box's directions indicate.  After reaching the pasta's cook time, reduce the stove to medium heat and mix in the parmesan until it is completely melted.  Then, turn off the heat and stir in the half and half and parsley.  Serve immediately.

Tips

1. I prefer to make this in a non-stainless steel pot.  I use Anolon Advanced cookware so that the cheese isn't too difficult to clean out of the pot.

2. My favorite brand of fat free half and half is Land o' Lakes, but I find that if you can find a generic store brand it is frequently comparable.

3. This recipe usually makes 3 or so side servings in our household.  Adjust as necessary.

4. If you don't have fresh parsley, half the amount and use dried.

-Danielle

Bonus Post: Liebster Awards

I was just nominated by Alyssa from Create Imagine Dream.  I'm sending a huge thanks her way!

The Liebster Award is given to new bloggers who have fewer than 200 followers.

As part of the receiving the Liebster Award, there are a few rules:

1. Say "thanks!" to the Liebster Award nominator on your blog and give them a gracious link back

2. Answer 11 questions from the nominator

3. List 11 random facts about yourself

4. Present the Liebster Blog Award to 11 other bloggers who have fewer than 200 followers, or who you think deserve to be noticed.  Don't forget to leave a comment on their blog so they know about it!

5. Copy and paste the blog award onto your blog, show off that bling!

Questions for me:

1. Why did you start blogging? I read blogs all the time.  It started when I began wedding planning and I continue to use them as a great source for home improvement projects and recipes.  I wanted to get some of my knowledge into the ether.  Also, my husband is a sports fanatic.  This provides a nice distraction when all our local teams are losing. :)
2. What is your favorite thing to blog about? I love blogging about weddings, mostly because I have already been through it.  Recipes and home improvement are newer to me, but I really enjoy those too.  Non-answer, I know.
3. What is your favorite color to wear? Purples.  Most purple colors look good on me in the summer and winter.  There aren't too many colors that I can wear all year.
4. What is your favorite food (and if there is a blog post, what is the link)? Breakfast food!  I made these for Mr. Bear a few weeks ago and they were phenomenal!
5. What is your goal for your blog?  I'd love to get a steady stream of followers who really enjoy and share my information.  I'd love to know I'm a helpful blogger!
6. Who is your blogger crush (you know the one that you constantly check because you want to be just like them)? Honestly, my friend Steph at Will Work for Shoes and Vodka.  She is a personal friend, so I might be biased, but she has an awesome voice for blogging and I always love her crafts and recipes.  I don't know how she finds enough time in the day to do it all1
7. What is your favorite thing to do on a Saturday afternoon? Doing new or interesting things in the city we live in.  I also do really enjoy watching movies and napping :)
8. Heels or Flats? Depends.  My office is really casual, so I usually wear flats.  I love wearing a great pair of heels and getting dressed up though!
9. What is your ideal vacation? Mr. Bear and I really want to make our next really big vacation a tour of Europe, but I love just laying on the beach.
10. What is your favorite movie?  Cold Mountain and Atonement (I swear I'm not depressing in real life :) )
11. What advice do you have for a new blogger?  Build up your content by posting regularly, when I know what days you post, I will check in regularly!

 11 Facts about Me:

1. I graduated college a semester early
2. I have a Bachelor's of Science in Business Administration, Finance
3. I work for a department of my company that builds eCommerce websites
4. My dream is to make it onto Jeopardy!
5. Throughout high school I taught people of all ages how to play tennis
6. I've sprained my ankle at least 4 times.  The very first time I sprained my ankle, I was standing still and shifted my weight.
7. I've never sprained my ankle doing anything athletic
8. I have never had a Twinkie.  When Hostess announced it was going out of business, Mr. Bear and I spent about 3 hours with some friends trying to track one down.
9. Growing up, I lived in 3 different houses in the same town.
10. My friends hate playing board games with me.  They are convinced I cheat or read all the cards ahead of time.
11. I met my husband in the 1st grade :)

Questions for my nominees:

1. What inspired you to start blogging?
2. What is the worst thing you have attempted to make for a blog post (craft, recipe, etc.)?
3. If you could go anywhere in the world, money is not an object, where would you go?
4. What is the stupidest thing you have ever done/said?
5. What is your dream job?
6. How do you decide what you will blog about?
7. What is your goal for your blog?
8. What is your current profession?
9. What advice would you give to new/er bloggers?
10. What are your favorite blogs to follow?
11. What is your favorite pair of shoes?

I only have one nominee so far:

Steph @ Will Work for Shoes and Vodka