12.28.2010

baci's baking - Grandma Sholl's Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies

The last recipe of the year is a special one to me and my family - my Grandma Sholl's Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies are the perfect thing to back and frost for cut-out cookies!

Grandma Sholl's Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies

2 eggs
2 t. vanilla
4 T. milk
1 cup sugar
3½ cups flour
⅛ t. salt
¾ t. baking soda
2 t. baking powder
1 c. butter

1) Preheat oven to 350 °.
2) Beat eggs, vanilla, milk and sugar together in a small bowl and set aside.
3) Stir flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder together in a large bowl.
4) Work the butter into the flour mixture (like you would with pie crust) using a pastry blender.
5) Stir in egg mixture.
6) If dough is not stiff enough to roll out add flour little by little.
7) Refrigerate dough for one hour (it can be refrigerated for several days).
8) Roll out on to a floured surface and cut with a cookie cutter (or for round ones I just use a drinking glass from the cupboard).
9) Sprinkle with sugar before baking if you choose not to frost them.
10) Bake for 8 - 10 minutes. Cookies will rise and be soft. Set on wire rack to cool.

12.25.2010

Merry Christmas to All. . .


Everyone at baci wishes you and yours a very, Merry Christmas!

12.23.2010

The Perfect One

A big obstacle to overcome when planning a wedding is picking vendors, and picking the right ones.


Step 3—Picking the Perfect Vendors


As I am sure all of you know, vendors are the people you like to truly think hard about before involving them with your BIG day. For Eric and I, there were a lot of things we already knew we wanted, but was not sure if we could have them. One, because of budget, and two, because the place or person was already booked for another occasion.


As soon as Eric and I got engaged, he called Knights of Columbus Hall to see if the date of October 8th was available. By much surprise, it was still available, and of course we took the opportunity and booked it right away because in Defiance, Ohio there are not many reception halls that hold 500+ people.


We then asked Father Kill one Sunday after church if he had October 8th open, and we fit right in between two other couples—a week before and after us. So we have our church and priest booked. A sub category of the this would be everything you have to do before you can get married, such as: marriage license, take a test, and a couples conference, but that will be a whole other post when that time comes J.


My mother also knew exactly who she wanted as our caterer, Classic Catering by Kim Brown. She used them for my sister's wedding and wouldn't think of having anyone else!


The next big thing is booking a photographer, which is something incredibly important to me. However, there are so many talented people to choose from that it's been rather difficult to narrow down. My sister created an amazing spreadsheet comparing each photographer's packages side by side so we can compare them on an apples to apples basis. We're currently making appointments to meet with the few we've selected and hope to make a decision shortly after the holidays. Wish us luck!!

12.21.2010

baci's blog has a brand new look!

If you stopped by the blog today, you may have noticed that a mini face-lift is taking place. First of all, we have completely removed "Designing Woman". . . while incredibly clever on my part, lol, it was getting confusing to have another name in the mix. So, the blog will simply be known as baci's blog from here on out - sweet and simple.

Also, we moved a few items off of our sidebar and created room for advertisements. Hopefully they'll be beneficial and not bothersome. If you're interested in advertising on baci's blog, contact me directly - amanda {at} bacidesigner {dot} com.

One last thing was to add the cloth-like texture to the background, I think it is a fun and warming element that will only add to the design of the blog. It also matches my Twitter background, and that's always fun!

So let us know what you think! We love comments, suggestions and pretty much any type of feedback :o) Happy Tuesday!

baci's baking - Puppy Chow

Also known as Muddy Buddies or Puppy Food, no matter what you call it, the delicious peanut butter, chocolate and powdered sugar combination is the perfect treat for the holidays!

Puppy Chow
(Original Recipe from Chex.com)

9 cups Rice Chex, Corn Chex or Chocolate Chex cereal (or combination)
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 t. vanilla
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1) Into large bowl, measure cereal; set aside.
2) In a 1-quart microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter uncovered on High 1 minute; stir. Microwave about 30 seconds longer or until mixture can be stirred smooth. Stir in vanilla. Pour mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated. Pour into 2-gallon resealable food-storage plastic bag.
3) Add powdered sugar. Seal bag; shake until well coated. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.

12.20.2010

Handpicked - A Man's Wishlist

Anyone still Holiday shopping for that special guy in their life? If so, you are in luck. Below are nine things that just about any guy (especially the geeky ones) would love to open any day. Of course, these are not limited to holiday gifts, but with the biggest [last minute] shopping day around the corner, now is as good of a time as any to let you all know about them.

1) Microsoft XBOX 306 250GB w/ Kinect - $399.99 - One of this season's "must have" gifts. I cannot guarantee that they are still available where game consoles are sold, but it is worth a look. How many times do you wish your man would do some physical exercise rather than sitting on the couch playing video games. This may not happen when you are around, but it definitely does when you are not. With the new Kinect, your body is the controller. Think of Wii, without the Wii-mote. If your man already has a Playstation 3 console, consider the new Playstation Move controller for an experience similar to the Wii.
2) Apple iPad - $499-699 - I'm sure you have heard about these for quite some time now. What you may not know is that the iPad comes in three capacity choices (16, 32, or 64GB) and two connection options (WiFi, WiFi+3G). The memory is up to you because all of those choices will hold quite a bit of information. As for the WiFi vs WiFi+3G option, I would save the extra money from the WiFi+3G and instead go with the WiFi only option and also add a Mobile Hotspot (refer to #5 below).
3) Philips Norelco Bodygroomer - $69.99 - As a man who goes from a cleanly shaven face to month(s) long beards, I can say having a good electric trimmer is a must for any man. This particular trimmer has a razor foil design on one end and a trimmer with combing guards on the other for multi-use functionality. If your man (or you) does not like any form of facial hair, he may be interested in a Philips Norelco SensoTouch 3D Wet/Dry Shaver.
4) The Pacific HBO MiniSeries - $63.99 - If your man is a history buff or just a fan of Band of Brothers HBO MiniSeries, then The Pacific cannot miss. A similar World War II MiniSeries that follows the intertwined stories of three Marines as they fight the Japanese in the Pacific campaign. Even Amanda thought the last series was excellent!
5) Wireless Mobile Hotspot (AT&T, Sprint, Verizon Wireless) - varies - Ever wish you could access the Internet on your computer anywhere you have cellular service? Well now you can. The Wireless Mobile Hotspots allow you to connect multiple WiFi devices, such as iPads (refer to #2 above). Some of the newer smartphones from the top providers also have this feature available so you may want to check with your sales representative before buying a separate component (however, you will notice significantly less battery life on your phone and you may miss phone calls when connected - again, check with your sales representative).
6) Smartphone (AT&T, Sprint, Verizon Wireless) - varies - If your man does not have a smartphone yet, please consider allowing him to get one this holiday season. I promise you will be using it just as much as he. The ability to have the Internet, music, calendar appointments, and email at your fingertips at any moment is life-saving. Once you get one, you will never know how you functioned without.
7) Grilling Tool Set - varies - Amanda bought me a nice Grilling Tool Set for Christmas last year and I made good use of it during the summer months. [She benefitted from it, too!] Having the right tools for the job makes every job easier and more enjoyable. The link directs you to a Google Shopping page, so take some time to look through the different options. Just about any one would be a wise choice.
8) Sony Smart TV w/ Google TV - $799.99-1399.99 - I'm sure many of you would expect to see one of the new 3D TV's listed here. As excited as I am for 3D TV viewing at home, I am still not entirely ready to jump on board. It is still a very new technology, requires the purchase of other items, and there is not a lot of content available. Google TV on the other hand allows for internet browsing and YouTube viewing right on your television set. This is also new technology, but it will be easier to update since it is software driven rather than hardware driven like 3D. Not to mention, even Kevin Bacon is on board with the new Google TV (video below)
9) ThinkGeek - varies - If you have a "geeky" man, just browse the website and you'll see why it's here. :)

Best of [shopping] luck!


Questions, comments, suggestions? Feel free to contact me: ilario {at} bacidesigner {dot} com or comment on this post.

12.17.2010

For Your FYI

If you didn't see the hysterical episode of The Middle where Axl says, "For your FYI, according to beardguru.com, I'm showing advanced hair-growing for my age," you probably think I'm a bit of a moron. I swear I'm not, it's funny stuff, I swear.

Anyway, I have a reason for writing. Two actually. One is that I wanted to make sure everyone saw the awesome Printer-friendly Link that was added with baci's baking Cookies and Cream Cupcakes recipe yesterday. I'll be adding these to all baci's baking recipes going forward to make your recipe printing a much, much less stressful process. Let me know what you think!

Reason two is that we'll be in and out of the office this holiday season, so if it takes four days for a reply, know that we haven't disappeared under a rock. We're simply enjoying the time with our friends and family, you know the great and meaningful stuff this time of year is all about. We appreciate your patience in advance. Starting Monday, January 3rd we'll be back in the office full-time and ready to start the new year with a bang! In the meantime, I'll have several blog posts saved up to keep you occupied :o)

Happy Friday!!

12.15.2010

A Special baci's baking Thursday Edition - Cookies and Cream Cupcakes

Per request, I made these tasty Cookies and Cream Cupcakes from the awesome food blog Annie's Eats for a second time for the faculty at Ilario's school. This time though, they didn't just want the cupcakes, they wanted the recipe! So here it is, in all its glory on a Special baci's baking Thursday Edition - Enjoy!


Cookies and Cream Cupcakes

For the cupcakes:
24 Oreo halves, with cream filling attached
2¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 t. baking powder
½ t. salt
8 T. unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 2/3 cup sugar
3 large egg whites, at room temperature
2 t. vanilla extract
1 cup milk
20 Oreo cookies, coarsely chopped

For the frosting (this makes enough for two batches if you don't go crazy with frosting):
8 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
6 T. unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 T. vanilla extract
4 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
2 T. heavy cream

For garnish:
Oreo cookie crumbs
24 Oreo cookie halves

Cupcakes:
1) Preheat the oven to 350˚ F.
2) Line the wells of two cupcake pans with 24 paper liners. Place an Oreo halve in the bottom of each liner, cream side up.
3) In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt; stir together with a fork to blend and set aside.
4) In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the butter and sugar and beat together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Blend in the egg whites one at a time, beating well after each addition. Blend in the vanilla extract.
5) With the mixer on low speed, beat in half of the dry ingredients just until incorporated. Add the milk and beat just until combined, then mix in the remaining dry ingredients.
6) Gently fold in the chopped Oreos with a rubber spatula until evenly incorporated, being careful not to over-mix.
7) Evenly divide the batter between the prepared cupcake liners. Bake for 18-20 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through baking, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
8) Allow to cool in the pans 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Frosting:
1) Combine the cream cheese and butter in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat on medium-high speed until smooth, about 1 minute.
2) Blend in the vanilla extract. Beat in the confectioners' sugar until incorporated and smooth, 1-2 minutes.
3) Add the heavy cream to the bowl and beat on medium-low speed just until incorporated, then increase the speed to medium-high and whip for 4 minutes until light and fluffy, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.

Assembly:
Frost the cooled cupcakes as desired. Sprinkle with Oreo crumbs and garnish with Oreo halves.

Wedding Wednesday | Nicole Richie's Wedding Dress

If you haven't seen it yet, then I feel privileged to be the one to show it to you! Nicole Richie and long-time love, Joel Madden, got married this weekend at her father's estate. Not only were their two adorable children the flower girl and ring bearer, but they had an elephant roaming around for good luck! And with all of that wonderfulness, this Marchesa gown is my favorite part:

Photo from Fashionista

Stay tuned for photos of the other two (yes, I said TWO) Marchesa dresses that she wore on her big day!

12.14.2010

baci's baking - Mounds Bars

If you love coconut, this will become your favorite holiday treat! It's incredibly simple to make and keeps well in the freezer. Enjoy!

Mounds Bars

3 sticks (1 1/2 cup) butter
1 (14 oz.) can of sweetened condenses milk
2 pounds powdered sugar
1 (14 oz.) packages of coconut
1 (12 oz.) package of semisweet chocolate chips

1) Melt butter and milk together over low heat.
2) Mix sugar and coconut into mixture and place on a large cookie sheet with edges.
3) Refrigerate at least two hours.
4) Melt chocolate chips and pour over top of chilled coconut mixture. Let cool in the refrigerator again.
5) Cut candy into small pieces and serve.

12.13.2010

Handpicked - Great Gifts Under $50

While searching for the best gifts around, I kept wanting to include all the awesome presents we bought our friends and family this year. . . but I didn't want to spoil the surprise, so I tried, as best I could to find wonderful gifts that aren't under our tree (not yet, anyway - wink, wink). AND, serious bonus here, turns out all the gifts I found were under $40, not $50 - HOORAY! You can use that extra $10 to account for tax and shipping. I'll also be sure to make shipping deadline notes when applicable.

Happy Holiday Shopping!

1) Korres Never Enough Set Exclusively at Sephora - $35 - Every girl loves to be spoiled in the shower with smell-good flavors so this great set from Korres with five Showergels and five Body Butters (a $90 value!) is an awesome gift. Included are these amazing scents: Basil Lemon, Jasmine, Rose, Guava and Fig. {Be sure to check the delivery schedule to confirm an on-time delivery}
2) Monogram Candle Pot by Pottery Barn - $25 (plus free shipping and free monogramming, WIN!!) - {For standard Christmas delivery with monogramming, order by December 20th at 5:00 pm PST}
3) Tiered Hostess Apron from Pier 1 - $14.95 - {Want to skip the shipping worries about whether it will arrive on time? You can check store availability to see if it's at your local Pier 1.}
4) Custom Address Rubber Stamp from Sweet Papery's Etsy Shop- $21.95 - I think this is honestly the best gift ever - everyone can use it, yet few people would buy one for themselves! Love it! {This one needs to be ordered right away though - order from Sweet Papery by 12/15 with rush shipping to receive in time for Christmas}
5) Crumbs Bake Shop Holiday Season Taste Pack - $24.00 - The best cupcakes on earth can be delivered right to your (or your loved ones') doorstep!
6) TasteBook - starts at $19.95 - Hands down my favorite gift to give. TasteBook is a the easiest way to collect, organize and share your favorite recipes with friends and family by creating one-of-a-kind family cookbooks. {Order by Tuesday, 12/14 to ship with UPS Ground OR Buy Three TasteBooks by 12/19 and get FREE SHIPPING}
7) The Sartorialist by Scott Schuman (Paperback) available at Barney's New York - $25.00 - Know someone who loves fashion and is already obsessed with the blog of the same name? Then this is the perfect gift!
8) Vinturi Red Wine Aerator at Crate and Barrel - $39.95 - You've seen this on my list before, then we got one as a gift last summer and I promise it truly is wonderful! {Want it by Christmas? Order by noon CST on December 22nd}
9) Peppermint Bark from Williams-Sonoma - $26.50 - Everyone loves it, so you can't go wrong for anyone on your list! {For standard Christmas delivery, order by 12/22}

shirley | edith Holiday Cards Still Available for Purchase



Haven't bought your shirley | edith 2010 Holiday Cards yet and think it's too late to ask? Well, it isn't! Order your holiday cards any time until Saturday, December 18th and they'll be shipped out first thing the next day via USPS. To skip the Etsy log in, click on the button below to buy now!







Stay tuned for a great Handpicked post later on today - Great Gifts Under $50!


Happy Holidays from all of us at baci!

12.08.2010

Wedding Wednesday | Milk and Cookies Inspiration Board

Cutest thing ever!!! That's all I can say about Love and Lavender's Milk and Cookies Styled Shoot because the photos say all the rest. This yummy theme would be perfect for a backyard wedding or a shower. Love it!

For more incredible photos by Jonda Spurbeck Photography and a complete list of involved vendors, check out the two original posts: I & II.

12.07.2010

baci's baking - Pear Crisp

This one sure is tasty - I'm eating it as I type!! I had several left over pears from our Thanksgiving Day place cards so I went on the search for a good pear recipe and there's no better lady to get one from than Ms. Paula Deen! This recipe for Pear Crisp is so simple yet seriously delicious - enjoy!


Pear Crisp

6 large pears (about 2-1/2 pounds) peeled, cored and thinly sliced (I used my apple corer/slicer and cut those slices into three thinner slices each.)
1/4 cup warm water
1 lemon, juiced (I cheated here, too. I squeezed some lemon juice from the fridge over the pears to lightly coat them.)
2 cups rolled oats
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups brown sugar
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
2 1/2 sticks butter, melted (I subbed Earth Balance so our arteries didn't shut down immediately after eating. . . lol!)

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2) Combine pears, water and lemon juice in a greased 8 by 8-inch baking pan.
3) In a bowl, combine oats, flour, sugar and cinnamon.
4) Pour in the melted butter and stir to make a crumbly mixture. Spread the topping evenly over the fruit.
5) Bake for 45 to 55 minutes or until the topping is crisp and browned.


Don't believe how simple this recipe really is? Watch Paula make it herself in no time flat :o)

12.02.2010

Rings

Jami and Eric's Wedding Journey

Step # 2 was getting my ring sized because my fiance' bought the ring a few sizes too big :-)

After he proposed, I told him that he should have asked my ring size, however, he said to me "It wouldn't have been a surprise if I asked you your ring size, plus, I wouldn't have gotten to see you almost cry."

Eric and I took my ring in on November 16th. We thought it would be a simple process of soldering my ring to the correct size that would have normally taken at the most a week.

We were wrong.

Eric called that Saturday, the 20th, just to check on it (only because I was bugging him so much...I was missing my ring already). That is when we found out that the ring had been shipped back to the manufacturer to have them solder, so the jeweler wouldn't possible ruin the ring since it was such a drastic change in size.

I call on Tuesday, the 23rd, to get another update. "They had to send out for another ring because of the change of the size," is what I heard when I asked about my ring. Of course, I was devastated because that meant I did not get to show any of Eric's family for Thanksgiving or the rest of my family.

At this point, I had only had my ring for approximately two days and now I won't have it until who knows when. The jeweler tells me it should be back here sometime next week, at the latest the end of the week, which would be December 3rd.

Deb (Eric's mom) and Desi (my future sister-in-law) asked me Tuesday, November 30th if I had gotten my ring back, I replied, "No, they said by the end of the week, but I'm not getting my hopes up. I just pray that it will be back by Monday." Well someone must have been listening in on our conversation because Wednesday, December 1st, I got a call saying my ring was finally in!!! Obviously, I was ecstatic.


2 weeks and 1 day later I got my beautiful ring back :-)

tips for tech (and non-tech) brides

While looking for the bride on a computer picture from my last post I stumbled upon this great blog article on wedloft by weddingwindow {dot} com. The article suggests "6 Tips for the Tech-Savvy Modern Bride". I didn't think I was the only one out there suggesting the use of technology for your big day. bds+e can help you with any and all of the suggestions listed in the article.


Using Technology to Your Advantage Aides with Wedding Preparation

In a world where brides have easy access to technology, there are many brides who do not utilize tech resources to help ease the wedding preparations. Many Brides still choose to use the traditional 3-Ring Binder for their wedding preparations. However, in today’s technological advances, many brides and grooms are able to plan their entire wedding using the benefits of the Internet and other technological advances. Using wedding websites to keep track of guest lists, table setting charts and RSVP’s is all the rage for the modern bride.

1) Record the preparations of the dressing process at the Bridal Salon with a video camera. It seems that many details of dressing the bride seem to be forgotten, once the bridal gown leaves the bridal salon. Details such as creating the perfect bow-tie, buttoning the grown, or instructions for steaming your wedding gown are a distant memory when your wedding day approaches. To help with all the little details try to videotape these tips and tricks from the bridal salon during your fittings.

2) Record a video of the dance lessons for the bride and groom’s 1st dance!
On the same idea of keeping a virtual memory of the bridal gown instructions, record your dance lessons to refer back to. Dancing can be very complicated to learn. And it can be even more difficult to train a dancer who has already learned the incorrect dance steps. By recording the dance lessons, the bride and groom can refer back to the videotape when practicing at home.

3) Use Internet resources like “Google Documents” to keep organized. Info such as guest lists or wedding budgets are easy to manage in a safe online account. This is so that both the bride and groom can have access to them at any time.

4) Read wedding blogs and forums. These resources are always a great help to any bride. Wedding blogs and forums where brides can ask other brides questions and opinions on wedding planning is a great help. Brides will be able to ask specific planning questions and get DIY project ideas from other weddings, etc.

5) Create a custom wedding email. Creating a custom email specifically for the wedding is a great trick. This will help separate work and personal from wedding specific emails. Plus when brides are attending all the must-see bridal shows, brides can give away this custom email, instead of their personal email. This will insure a safe and spam-free personal email for the bride.

6) Create a custom website to stay organized and keep your guests informed. Creating a wedding website from a site such as www.weddingwindow.com can completely help brides during the entire wedding process. Brides will be able to tell the couple’s story, give important new updates and event details to all of the guests. And of course, guests will be able to RSVP online, making it even easier to confirm they’re attending, so the bride doesn’t have to wait by the mailbox all day long.


Questions, comments, suggestions? Feel free to contact me: ilario {at} bacidesigner {dot} com or comment on this post.

12.01.2010

Wedding Wednesday | A Royal Wedding Inspiration

With the recent rumors that the amazing Bruce Oldfield will almost certainly be the dress designer for newly engaged Kate Middleton, I just had to create a Royal Wedding Inspiration Board! The gorgeous sapphire engagement ring that used to be Lady Di's and Kate's off-the-rack engagement announcement dress set the tone for The Wedding of 2011. Judging by Kate's classic style and love for basics from BCBG and Diane von Furstenburg, I think this might be a glimpse into what we'll see on April 29th - the epitome of vintage elegance with varied blue and gold tones.


Row One: Bruce Oldfield Style Gene Bridal Gown; Boutonniere and Footwear Images from 100 Layer Cake (By the way - their new site is LIVE now!!); Jan Kish La Petite Fleur Cake Photo from The Knot
Row Two: Headpiece Image by Brandy J Photography; Engraved Invitation by Arzberger Stationers
Row Three: Bridesmaid Bouquets and Bridal Bouquet Images from Style Me Pretty



What if baci held a Royal Wedding Viewing Party - complete with invitations, petit fours and a champagne toast - would anyone be interested? Obviously we'll all be watching it, so why not make a party out of it! Please comment with your interest and I'll start planning the festivities :o)

Wedding Wednesday | baci's tech offerings

Hello world. My name is Ilario and I have the distinct pleasure of being married to Amanda.I am also the entire tech department for baci designer stationery + events. I have an interest in new technological doo-dads and thingamajigs, but mostly I work on finding ways to have technology work for me; not against me. In a nutshell, that is what I do for bds+e and a few other small businesses. I am here to help you all use the technology that bds+e provides to work for you and your future spouse on your big day. Keep reading and you will find what some of those provisions are ...

baci designer stationery + events offers a host of electronic apps for its clients. In addition to Amanda’s extensive Wedding Spreadsheet that organizes the many decisions that need to bemade by the happy couple before their big day, bds+e can assist you in setting up a specialwedding email to be used for the many emails dealing with your big day and access to the multiple technological offerings by baci. Each couple may also set up a website to display information about their big day. The website can hold information pertaining to the time and location of the ceremony and reception along with maps and area-attractions, updates on the planning process, and forms for electronic RSVPs or well-wishing by guests. Clients will be able to upload any wedding/engagement photos and display a slideshow on their own wedding website. You can even have a private wedding calendar to share with your soon to be spouse and/or the public to keep everyone up-to-date on important meetings and dates.

Any and all of the information listed above can be shared with any of the bds+e staff for assistance and, of course, I am always available for any tech questions and to help you along on every step of the way.

Questions, comments, suggestions? Feel free to contact me: ilario {at} bacidesigner {dot} com or comment on this post.