Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Happy Hump Day: On the Move...

Here we are again...goodness that Holiday weekend just FLEW by, didn't it? Hopefully everyone had a fun-filled, safe Labor Day weekend and came back refreshed and ready for a short work week.


We have some "movers and shakers" in our midst!

In an economy where we hear so much negativity about the real estate market, we are pleased as punch for these happy new homeowners! As a former Realtor, I know the hunt for the perfect house can be a long, stressful, and tedious process, so congratulations!! While I personally hate moving, I love the decorating and rearranging part...getting new stuff or seeing how your old is suddenly revitalized by a "new look" in a new home.


HH recently created several "just moved" cards for different clients. Scroll on down to take a peek. One of them is actually an invitation to a going away party, but it still relates to moving and was just too cute not to include!


This is a great, not to mention cute, way to get the word out to friends and family that you have moved. I personally love receiving them because it is also an excellent reminder to update my Christmas Card List!


Enjoy!!


Nothing quite as exciting as your first home!

HH hand drew this gorgeous house from pictures the owners sent. These cards can be used for the announcement, as a momento, or just plain correspondence...and what a great gift!

What an exciting announcment -- a move and a new house...and just in time with a new baby on the way! And check out that PSA essential stamp from HH Design House! We love our stampers!

And for those that are moving, their friends are honoring them with a special farewell. We did the coordinating cards for friends to share a blessing for the leaving couple.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Happy Hump Day: Recipes, Reading, & Relaxation

Last week I blogged about the beginning of school...this week we're talking about the "three R's" again, but they don't have a thing to do with reading, writing or arithmetic! That's right, we already have a little breather in the form of a favorite holiday...Labor Day!

Labor Day became a national holiday in 1894, although it dates back to 1882 in New York. Always on the first Monday of September, it provides one last "hoorah" for the summer.

This holiday is celebrated many different ways. For some it's out on the lake or lying on the beach...others it's a picnic or barbeque... still others it's floating in a pool or hanging out at the house. In any scenario, Labor Day for most involves good food and an extra day of relaxation.

At last count I (LG) have 11 magazines subscriptions...I know, I know - this seems like quite a topic jump, but bare with me for just a minute. While many months they pile up beside my bed, I love to steal some quiet time with a magazine (or good book for that matter). They never get tossed without reading, although some do wait awhile for their turn. I was roaming the recipes on the site for my Better Homes and Garden magazine when I noticed all their "Labor Day Recipes" and decided to share.

This Labor Day weekend I plan on making a dent in my bedside magazine stack, catching some last rays of summer (with SPF of course!), and enjoying something yummy from the grill.

What are your Labor Day plans? What's your favorite magazine?

This weekend remember to Read something fun, enjoy a good Recipe, and spend some time Relaxing.

Scroll on down to view these tasty sounding recipes from Better Homes and Gardens.
Enjoy!


Reggae Baby Back Ribs
Ingredients
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons finely shredded lime peel
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 pounds pork loin back ribs, cut into 6- to 8-rib portions
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup dark rum
3 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon cooking oil or olive oil
1 small fresh habanero chile pepper, finely chopped*
Mango-Guava BBQ Sauce

Directions
1. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, ginger, salt, lime peel, cumin, and cinnamon. Sprinkle mixture evenly over ribs; rub in with your fingers. Place ribs in a resealable plastic bag; seal bag. Marinate in the refrigerator for 8 to 24 hours.
2. For mop sauce: In a medium bowl, combine broth, rum, lime juice, oil, and habanero pepper. Cover and chill for 8 to 24 hours.
3. For a charcoal grill, arrange medium-hot coals around a drip pan in a grill with a cover. Test for medium heat above pan. Place ribs, bone sides down, on the grill rack over pan. (Or place ribs in a rib rack; place on grill rack). Cover and grill for 1-1/2 to 1 3/4 hours or until ribs are tender, brushing with mop sauce every 15 to 20 minutes. (For a gas grill, preheat grill. Reduce heat to medium. Adjust for indirect cooking. Cover and grill as above, except place ribs in a roasting pan.)
4. While ribs are cooking, prepare Mango-Guava BBQ Sauce. About 15 minutes before ribs are done, brush some of the mango sauce over ribs. Pass the remaining sauce. Makes 4 large servings.

Mango-Guava BBQ Sauce: In a small saucepan, combine 1 1/3 cups chopped mangoes; 2/3 cup packed brown sugar; 2/3 cup chopped onion; 1/3 cup lime juice; 1/4 cup olive oil; 1/4 cup guava paste; 3 tablespoons honey; 2 tablespoons tomato paste; 2 cloves garlic, minced; and 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Cool slightly. Transfer to a food processor or blender. Cover and process or blend until slightly chunky.



Margarita Grilled Corn
Ingredients
8 ears fresh corn in husks
4 tsp. finely shredded lime peel (peel from 2 to 3 limes)
2 tsp. kosher salt or sea salt
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 tsp. chili powder
Small Limes (optional)

Directions
1. Carefully peel back corn husks, but do not remove. Scrub ears with stiff brush to remove silks. Rinse ears. Pull husks back up around corn. Place in large pot; cover with water. Soak 2 to 4 hours; drain well. Peel back husks and pat corn dry with paper towels.
2. For lime salt, in small bowl stir together lime peel and salt. Brush some of the butter on corn. Sprinkle lightly with lime salt and chili powder. Fold husks back around ears. Tie husk tops with strips of corn husk or 100% cotton kitchen string.
3. For charcoal grill, grill corn on rack of uncovered grill directly over medium coals for 25 to 30 minutes or until tender, turning and rearranging occasionally. (For gas grill, preheat grill. Reduce heat to medium. Place corn on grill rack over heat. Cover; grill as above.)
4. To serve, remove ties from corn; peel back husks. Pass remaining butter, lime salt, chili powder, and limes for squeezing.



Creamy Cherry Cobbler with Pound Cake Topper
Ingredients
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
6 cups fresh or frozen unsweetened pitted tart red cherries
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 of an 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 of a 10.75-ounce loaf frozen pound cake, thawed and coarsely crumbled
2 tablespoons butter, melted

Directions
1. In a large saucepan combine granulated sugar and cornstarch; stir in cherries. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Remove from heat and stir in almond extract.
2. In a small bowl beat together cream cheese, brown sugar, and lemon juice with an electric mixer on low to medium speed until smooth.
3. Spoon about half of the fruit mixture into a 2-quart disposable foil pan. Dollop cream cheese mixture over fruit mixture in the foil pan. Spoon remaining fruit mixture over the cream cheese mixture. Cover pan tightly with foil.
4. For a charcoal grill, arrange medium-hot coals around edge of grill. Test for medium heat over center of grill. Place foil pan on rack in the center of grill. Cover; grill for 15 minutes. Uncover pan. Sprinkle top of fruit mixture with cake pieces and drizzle with butter. Keep pan uncovered. Cover grill; grill for 10 minutes more.
(For a gas grill, preheat grill. Reduce heat to medium. Adjust for indirect cooking. Place foil pan on grill rack over burner that is off. Grill as above.)
Cool on wire rack for 30 minutes. Serve warm. Makes 6 servings.

*All recipes are taken from Better Homes & Garden Magazine

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

P is for Party Feature!

We over here are big fans of Party-Mama and Blogger Extraordinairre Christi of P is for Party! We have been working with Christi for a few years on the FAB events she hosts, and are excited to mention that today she has a fantastic post from her latest fanciful fete!

Being surrounded by a house of ALL boys, Christi jumped at the opportunity to host a girly event and we settled on a color-scheme of pink and purple, inspired by her too-cute ottomans pictured below!

Christi does not overlook a detail, and we helped her create the invitations, number cards, drink sign, Rice Krispy Flags, Shopping Bag Decals, and Drink Flags!

Thanks, Christi, for allowing us to party with you and for always just being plain fabulous!

Click Photo to visit the Entire Post.
Photos thanks to Ellen Johnson.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Happy Hump Day: Back to School

Happy Hump Day and happy back to school week for many people!


That's right, summer has flown by and there are many in some form of back to school mode this week...parents of school age kiddos, teachers, other school administration etc. Where did our summer go???


As I mulled over the blog post topic for today, I was reminded of a conversation that took place between my husband and I just this past Sunday.


We had run a quick errand and passed a group of young boys playing basketball in our neighborhood...various bikes and scooters lay in a haphazard pile where their owners eagerly let them drop as they hopped off in anticipation of shooting some hoops. On our way back home a short time later, there were no boys or a single bike in sight. Sheldon (my husband) wondered out loud why they had all gone home when it was still fairly early in the evening. Knowing school started the following Monday for a lot of districts I replied "They probably had to go home to get ready for the first day of school."


Silence.



Sheldon: "I really hated this Sunday night growing up".



LG: "Really?? I loved the first day of school!!!"



That's the truth. I loved, loved, loved the first day of school...more accurately I suppose, preparing for the first day. New Clothes. New Supplies...notebooks, paper, pencils, pens, markers, map pencils, and more! Finding out what your new teacher was like, who was in the same class, who had your same lunch period...these were all things I looked forward to. I still love to wander up and down the aisles when stores put out their back to school merchandise. Which brings me to this question, HH and I LOVED back to school, did you?



In true HH Design House fashion we have much available for this occasion:
Stampers & Labels

Enclosure Cards

Water proof labels for sippy cups

Family stationery for notes to the teacher

Teacher notepads for notes to the parent

Cute napkins to spice up your kiddos lunchbox


Scroll down to enjoy our "back to school supplies"!


























Also, with school back in session, don't forget about your child's fall birthday party! HH Design House is here to help with those party invites too!
So, get out your "to-do" list you neglected all summer and send us your projects...consider it your first Homework Assignment of the Year!

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Happy Hump Day: It's a Happy Hump Day Birthday!

Happy Hump Day Friends, and a VERY Happy Birthday to Alyson!


Alyson is one of HH's BFFs and a frequent customer of HH Design House.


As you can see below she leaves quite a paper trail! We started with her wedding invitation and have since done Baby Shower invites, Birth Announcements, Birthday Parties, Christmas Cards, Going Away Party invites, and invitations for various parties Alyson has given! As a former wedding planner, Alyson's parties are FAB...her attention to detail is extraordinary!

Alyson's Wedding Invitation...the FIRST one HH designed in hand calligraphy!


Alyson's Baby Shower Invitations...yellow because they didn't find out with their first! I have total respect for people with that much will power. I'm pretty sure I speak for HH and myself when I say "I will go crazy waiting the few months it takes to find out boy/girl during pregnancy, much less wait nine months!" That's right...no self restraint here...




We have done the birth announcements for both of her precious daughters. They are expecting another little girl soon! We can't wait!!




Every year this party planning diva comes up with such FUN themes for parties! We can't wait to hear what's next!!






We have done her Christmas Cards for the past four years...how cute are these kiddos??!!


Alyson came up with this one two years ago, and after using it in a promotional email last year, it was the big seller in '08! Such a trend-setter, that Alyson!



A party lover herself, Alyson has hosted many parties and we have loved being able to create exciting invitations for the occasions!





So long, farewell...when Alyson and her family moved to Denver we designed the "Going Away Party" invitation with a "Sex in the City" theme in conjunction with the Movie Release.



Happy Birthday Alyson...hope you have a WONDERFUL day! Thanks for letting us celebrate your life with you!

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Happy Hump Day: Ready for the Weekend

Happy, Happy Hump Day!

Is it just me, or has this week felt reeaally long? I have been ready to cross this hump all week long! Maybe we're just ready for the weekend...

"What's that you say, what do we have up our sleeve for the weekend?"

Well, since you asked, HH and I will be participating in The Boutique Bridal Show of Galveston Island at the Hotel Galvez this weekend. Come by and visit...check out the website...http://www.bridalshowgalveston.com/

Perhaps this will seem a little "out of order" since we did just do a baby shower post. However, in honor of the upcoming Bridal Show, we are featuring past wedding invitations, save the dates, programs, party & shower invitations, paper products, and everything else wedding related. So scroll on down and get sample what we'll have to offer if you browse past our booth this weekend!


Need to get out this weekend? Join us at The Boutique Bridal Show of Galveston Island!! Already married? Come by anyway...There will be tons of vendors and so much to see!


Details:

Sunday, August 16th

12-4

Hotel Galvez, Galveston Island


See you then!


Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Happy Hump Day: Showered With Love

Happy Hump Day Friends!


HH Design House has recently had the opportunity to jump on the seemingly baby boom bandwagon (between the two of us alone we have 7 pregnant friends!) designing baby shower invitations. Which is so fun for us because we also get to "ooh & awe" over all different kinds of bedding, nursery decor etc. After all, who doesn't love sharing in baby excitement??



Scroll down to check out several of our most recent shower invitations inviting guests to shower these mommies-to-be with LOVE!

Earlier this summer HH went to Dallas Market. She whipped up some new versions of an old favorite for our imprintable line...one for each - boy, girl, and those that wait to be surprised!


Special Delivery! How's that for sharing a bundle of joy!!


Check out these options for a stylish shower invite...in pink and blue of course!



Look what the tide washed in...this little guy will be welcomed into the world in style! This preppy invitation was just the beggining! We also created matching thank you notes and the shower hostesses had a wall plaque and cookies made to match the general theme of the nursery. HH and I attended the shower and can attest, Baby Davis' mommy received lots of love and gifts for her impending arrival at this shower recently held at the Sugar Bean in Evia on Galveston Island.

YUM, YUM - these adorable cookies were made by the amazingly talented Stephanie Conti, to complement the above invitation! Local Readers....Stephanie makes AMAZING Cookies, and Cakes, too! Contact her at sconti6655{at}sbcglobal.net or 409.744.3868!

Oh baby, baby...quite literally actually, as this future mommy is expecting boy/girl TWINS!

Lots of Love to all our Mommies or Mommies-to-be and their precious babies!!! Leave us a comment and let us know which is your favorite, or give us a new idea of a theme or design you'd like to see!



Monday, August 3, 2009

I just can't quit you, Pottery Barn.

Ever since having our Registry at Pottery Barn in the Spring of 2007, I get their emails all the time! You have to hand it to their e-marketers...they are relentless!

For a while, I thought I already had everything I needed from there and would delete the emails as they came in, but today's caught my eye!

You can now go to Pottery Barn and they will help you plan your party...PB style! I loved browsing for a while, looking at suggested decor, menus, entertainment, etc....though I DO have to say their downloadable invitations are no substitue for HH creations!

Check out the link here and Happy Planning!