Pumpkin Chai Lattes & Rainy Days

(View from Daniel's balcony this eerie day.)

Well, it officially feels like Fall! Here I am sippin' on my Trader Joe's Pumpkin Chai Latte and reflecting on our past weekend. While babysitting little McCrae asleep to my left and sportin' some cozy sweatpants, I'm updating a quick blog post before getting some work done, and then waiting for Daniel to get back from work so we can probably talk about more wedding stuff...oh....and decide on what to pack for our trip to the Caribbean Islands! (T MINUS ONE DAY FOLKS. We leave TOMORROW!!! WOOT WOOT) 

(Oh my goodness, by the way...TJ's Pumpkin Chai Latte = SOOO yummy and for $4 a container...it sure beats paying the same for one cup of the Starbucks kind! Note* I don't like my lattes too sugary and sweet, so I only add half the amount of powder required!) 

So, last weekend was our engagement party! Daniel's parents graciously opened their home to over 100 family and friends. Me oh my. I nearly lost my voice after talking the whole night, greeting new friends, and seeing old faces! Thinking back to it, though, makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. I couldn't have wished for a more perfect evening to commemorate our engagement! (And seriously, a HUGE HUGE HUGE HUGEEEEEE thank you to both Daniel's parents and my parents. Daniel's parents spent hours and days (literally) putting together their home---getting the details right to the T. (From flowers to table settings, to lights up their palm trees...it was soooooo much work---to celebrate 'Daniel and me'. We feel SO tremendously blessed.) My parents and sister spent hours in the kitchen, the morning of putting together Three HUNDO egg rolls and won tons. DELICIOUS! 

Again---THANK YOU to our parents. We love you, adore you, and had way too much fun. :)

Our engineer print b+w photo above the outdoor fireplace mantel.

First gift EVER for the both of us from Lacey and David (Daniel's bro&SIL) as an engaged couple!

The present---an adorable honeymoon fund piggy bank! (Thanks, LACEY!!!! We've already started collecting in our new shiny piggy friend!)

Daniel's parents had prepared about 40 bottles of vino (and a giant Pacifico Keg from BevMo) for our event. (I actually think there was only half a bottle of red wine left by the end of the night. Success!!!!)

Omg, this photo does not do this justice. These were the chips/guac salsa/ and red salsa from the Taco company that was hired to cater our event. SO STINKIN DELISH it's not even funny. I could seriously drink the green salsa by the liters.

Our engagement party napkins!

We painstakingly made hundreds of these delicious little skewers filled with baby tomatoes, artichoke hearts, sundried tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and basil leaves. Theses, too, were all gone by the end of the night!!!!!

Mom's cream cheese won tons. Legit.

Our engagement photo resting on top of the fireplace!

One of the last photos of the night after all the chaos of a hundred people coming through had settled. My soon to be 'Sisters in Law" Lacey & Michelle. (They are SO great, and cute, and funny, and helpful...I could seriously go on and on. I am beyond excited to be a part of their family!)

**I'll post more photos of the engagement once I gather them up from family and friends. Unfortunately, I was too busy socializing and didn't get any photos during the actual engagement party. (Insert super sad face here since I'm obsessed with taking pictures, usually.)

Oh, and I finally replaced my Canon Rebel camera that was stolen from me last year! Here are some 'ghoulish' photos I took recently. I'm not big on Halloween, typically, but since I had some leftover decorations from years past, I figured I might as well put to use...so, I decorated Daniel's place!

Oh hi, not creepy at all.

Little ghosts out of tissue and cotton balls!

Which witch is which? 

 Alright, friends, the next time you'll hear from me will most likely be after our much needed/wanted trip with some special friends of ours! In the meantime, I need to get to work and watch this little guy. (P.S. He's twitching like crazy. It's sorta weird, and I read somewhere that dogs have dreams like humans. I wonder if this is true. If it is true, I wonder what the heck he could possibly even dream about. He's probably chasing rabbits. Yup, I can almost guarantee he's chasing them darn rabbits.)