diy: Fall Wreath

Welcome to the Hathaways!  I thought our entry way needed a little sprucing up, so I found some great ideas on pinterest for fall wreaths.  I went to Walmart and bought 1/4 yard of four different colored fabrics, and then followed the fabric rosette tutorial and made flowers in all different sizes.  The wreath at Walmart was only $3.50!  Then I wrapped the wooden H with twine, and hot glued the flowers onto the wreath.

I'm pretty excited with how my first pinterest craft project turned out!

Take A Hike: Perimeter Trail

While Ryan was at Badger Boy State this year, I spent a week is Colorado with my family at our favorite spot in Ouray.  We rented a Jeep from the KOA for one day and took Imogene Pass to Telluride. 

But we also went on a couple great new hikes that I want to share with you.  The Perimeter Trail is one that the city has been working on expanding over the last couple of years.  The goal is to give a scenic view from above around the entire city of Ouray.  It starts at the north end of town, right across from the visitor center and Hot Springs pool.  It is easy to follow and well marked with signs.

I think it is really neat how they carved out areas in the side of the mountain for the trail, and it has amazing views along the way. 

It goes past Cascade Falls and continue around the city over Box Canyon Falls.  You do not need to pay to continue over Box Canyon unless you want to go down into the canyon itself, then there is a small fee.  To get through the area where the canyon had been blocked off, they made a tunnel and steps on the other side with a railing.  If it is your first time to Ouray, I think it is a great trail to start off with to get you used to hiking in the elevation.  You will end up back in the parking lot of the hot springs/visitor center.  Happy Hiking!

Andrea + Ben

I was desperate to find someone to go to Colorado with one summer. Luckily I met Andrea through my friendship with her sister and she was ready to take on an adventure of a lifetime with me. We didn't know much about each other prior to the trip, but after a 16 hour drive we realized we hadn't stopped talking the entire drive. We shared many things in common, and learned alot about each other during that week. We were both single, and were waiting for the right guy to come into our lives. We spent mornings around the campfire encouraging and confiding in one another. That trip has been a significant part of my life that I won't forget. Now a couple years later it is ironic that we have celebrated each others weddings only a few months apart. Ben & Andrea make a perfect couple, and I look forward to hopefully going on another trip someday in the future now with our significant others. I hope you enjoy the video I put together of a snapshot of their day.
andrea + ben from Rachelle on Vimeo.

Celebrating Owen

This past weekend my girlfriends and I put on a baby shower for our good friend Dawn.  She is due in November with precious baby Owen Matthew, and we had a great time showering her with love.

This Owen banner was made with some material and burlap from Hobby Lobby.  Hot glued the triangles together and then onto some twine.  Used a permanent marker and stencils for the letters. 

We had some cute baby boy clothes hanging from twine as decor and made a diaper cake.

I made some Cookie Dough Stuffed Cupcakes combining 2 recipes I found on Pinterest.  If you are a lover of cookie dough like I am, you will love these cupcakes! 

Cookie Dough Stuffed Cupcakes

For the cupcakes I used Betty Crocker Extra Moist Yellow cake mix, and made as the directions on the box indicated.  Then rolled some Pillsbury chocolate chip cookie dough into 1 inch balls and placed in the middle of the batter in the cupcake tins.  Once cupcakes were cooled, and added the frosting.

Frosting:

3 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature

3/4 cup brown sugar, packed

3 1/2 cups powder sugar

1 cup flour

3/4 tsp salt

3 tbsp milk

2 1/2 tsp vanilla

First beat together the butter and brown sugar until creamy.  Mix in powder sugar until smooth.  Beat in flour and salt.  Mix in milk and vanilla until well blended.  

Then I placed the frosting into decorating bags and used an 1M Open Star tip. 

Catching Up

Since I was gone from the blogging world for the past 6 months, I thought I would catch you up on what the Hathaway family has been up too!

1.  Ryan and I celebrated our last Christmas being single!

2.  Planned a wedding in 5 months and got married 1-7-2012!

3.  Went on an amazing honeymoon to Riviera Maya, Mexico to Secrets Silversand Resort.

4.  Built some rockets...one of my husbands new hobbies. 

5.  Had a fun weekend in Wisconsin Dells with our good friends from Minnesota at the Kalahari. 

6.  Celebrated Grandpa's return home from the Honor Flight 

7.  Graduated from the Radiologic Technology Program, passed my boards, and got a job!

8.  Ryan threw me an amazing Graduation Party!

9.  Spent Memorial Weekend in Eagle River with great friends.

10. Ran the Madison Mud Run.  

11. Were toilet bowl champs in the Oshkosh Streetball Tournament.

Its been an amazing 2012 and I am looking forward to many more adventures to come!

Ryan + Rachelle

I finally was able to upload the video I made for our wedding reception.  We played this following dinner at Pullmans Trolley Banquet. With the help of Danae Herrmann Photography, we took the pictures and video footage on Thanksgiving morning in Wrightstown and High Cliff State Park.  It was a busy time of year to plan a wedding and had to take advantage of every free moment!  Hope you enjoy!
Ryan + Rachelle from Rachelle on Vimeo.