My mom threw us a wedding shower when we were back home. She had asked what theme I wanted it to be and I had bees on the brain, Dylan and I really want bees, and she went with it. It was great! 

My mom’s take on a cute banner she found here.

She had this amazing cake made by her friend Pam and guess what, its gluten free! It was seriously some of the best cake, gluten free or not, that I have ever had. Pam also made little cupcakes with tiny little bees and buttons and crafty flowers. Super talented. Check out the little succulent cupcake she made for a contest! Love!

I have a crazy awesome family. That’s a fact.

We had another wedding shower here with Dylan’s family and I regretfully did not take any pictures, but it was great and had a blast eating good food and hanging out with friends and (soon to be to me) family. Our sweet friend, Meghan, made us these great monogrammed fanny packs. She even used the font and little flag symbols from the invitations we designed. So great!

-Zon

 Crazy weather we are having. I feel as if everything is just late this year, is all this rain our april showers? Crazy. We had a sunny date day and we were alright with that, especially Emma.

Tank: Threadless – gifted

Skirt: H&M – thrifted

Shoes: Chacos

Backpack: Jansport – punk trade

Sunglasses: local shop in the strip

Perfect day for ice cream in the park! 

-Zon

1 cup of coconut flour or blanched almond meal

3/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder

3/4 tsp baking soda

3/4 tsp celtic sea salt

9 eggs

1 cup of coconut oil or butter

1 1/4 cup of pure maple syrup or honey

2/3 cup of strong brewed coffee

1 1/2 tbl. of pure vanilla extract

1. Preheat your oven to 350.

2. Combine your choice of flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt in a small bowl, whisk and set aside.

3. In another bowl, place all eggs and with a stand or hand mixer whisk all eggs.

4. Add in the coconut oil/butter, maple syrup/honey, coffee and vanilla extract until combined.

5. Pour the dry ingredients in with the wet and mix on low until all the ingredients are incorporated, then mix on high for about a minute until the batter is smooth. (batter will be thick)

6. Divide the batter between 2, 9-inch pans that are lined with parchment paper.

7. Bake for 30 minutes or until your knife comes out clean

8. Let cool for 15-20 minutes, then flip out of the pan and prepare your frosting.

1 cup of unsalted butter

1/2 of powdered sugar, or *powdered xylitol

3/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder

4 tbl. of coconut milk

2 tsp. vanilla extract

pinch of salt

*to powder xylitol, place 1/2 c of the xylitol in a coffee grinder or magic bullet and mix until it’s a powder texture

1. Cream butter in a bowl, then slowly add in your powdered sugar/xylitol until combined

2. Slowly add in cocoa, coconut milk, vanilla and salt.

3. Mix until combined and your frosting is chocolaty and fluffy!

-Zon

The red head and I went to McConnells Mill this weekend, for our date day, a state park outside the city. It was quite beautiful, I had never been, so it was a treat for me. I loved all the moss and I yelled “It’s like fern gully up in here!”

It’s good to get away now and then and have a little adventure with your love. It seems like Dylan and I have been learning more and more about each other, some pleasant growth and some painful. But the times that are the hardest have been so sweet when we figure it out together. I seriously wouldn’t trade this life adventure with anyone else in the world. Its great one with you babe!

-Zon

Fact: Planning a wedding is hard stuff.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the details and the process, the the DIY aspect and all but there is so dang much to think about.  And the thing that has seriously crossed my mind on numerous occasions is, 

“why haven’t we eloped yet?”

Fear not, we’re pressing on! It will work out in the end. (It has to, haha)  It is very easy to quickly get wrapped up in ‘things’ and the “this is what you’re supposed to do” aspects. Which makes me so thankful when I’m freaking out over nonsense, I have a guy that brings me back to reality and reassures me that it will all work out. I’m a fan of the less is more principle and keeping things simple, so when life becomes busy, cluttered and utter madness I just have to go back to keeping it simple.

Thank you family and friends for helping us and encouraging us through this time.

You all are the greatest!

-Zon

The date has been set! It’s official! Mark your calendars!

Go to www.rookewedding.com for more information and to rsvp.

Thanks!

-Zon

PS  Artwork by Dylan Rooke Directed by me

It’s been two years since the EF5 tornado ripped through Joplin, MO.  A crazy two years. 

I’m not going to spill out all of my thoughts and emotions that happened on that day or the days that followed, you’ll hear enough of that today from fellow JoMo people on facebook. 

After hearing and seeing what’s happening in Moore, Oklahoma, all I keep thinking/praying is ‘Bless this Mess.’

To help the students of Moore, Oklahoma, that could use some creative healing in the days to come go here to find out how you can help. Art feeds is an amazing organization that is 100% for the kids.

-Zon

As promised in a former post, I’m sharing our engagement story. We have had a quite a few people ask us to tell the story of the proposal so I thought I would just share it here. 

Dylan and I have wanted to get married for a while now but we both wanted the parents blessing over the whole deal so I already knew next time Dylan saw my dad that I  would know what would follow. I was a little bummed because that would take away from the mystery and surprise of a proposal, I love surprises, but nonetheless excited to be with Dylan in the end.

I flew out to Missouri to be a part of my best friend’s wedding. Dylan needed to stay in town for a fundraiser our church was hosting.  The thought had briefly crossed my mind that he could surprise me out there but then they announced that he was doing a live painting during the fundraiser, I knew he wouldn’t be showing up.
My mom had invited all the siblings and significant others over for a birthday dinner for me on Sunday while I was in town. She had been acting funny all day but I didn’t think too much of it.

My parents had come back from the grocery store and started on dinner. I had come in to see if there was anything I could help with and to talk with my grandma, who was visiting for a little bit. My dad had rushed in  with the trash gathered from around the house and tied it off real quick, like he was in a hurry, he then handed it to me and asked me to take it out. I remember thinking that this was odd because my dad always takes out the trash, but I didn’t see any reason why I couldn’t, so I said sure.

As soon as I shut the door, to go through the garage to head to the back yard, my parents started rushing my siblings and grandma  from one of the house to the back yelling “Go! Go! Go!”
…I didn’t hear this.

I opened the back door and turned to the left to head to the trash can and I hear a voice behind me say my name. I jumped. I spun around and Dylan is sitting on the little bench my parents have nestled in between some bushes and trees in our side yard. I told someone later that I was more shocked at the sight of Dylan in my parents back yard than I was of any stranger in an alley way in Pittsburgh. My only words were, “What are you doing here?” repeated several times in different tones as the realization that he was actually in front of me was settling in. He laughed and said a few things as he got up to walk over to me, he told me he flew into Kansas City that morning and rented a car and drove down. Still not realizing he was there to propose. He started hugging me and said, in a really slow and shaky voice, “Amber I love you so much.” I immediately pushed him away from me and said, “Wait! Is this happening right now?!” Haha.
He  backed away got down on one knee and proposed.
I quickly asked if he asked my parents. He reassured me he had and I said yes!

We were hugging again and he said “you know your family is watching us right?” haha I turned around and I saw a bunch of hands waving in the windows and my dad raised the window and asked if I said yes. My sister was videoing the whole thing, I’m kinda glad she did.

Dylan had talked with my dad a few weeks before and let him know there was a surprise for me that he was working on so my parents had a hint of what was to come. When he got into town he met my parents in a grocery store parking lot. They barely said hello and Dylan barked out “I want to marry your daughter!” haha My parents laughed and talked to him a bit and when my dad asked him if he loved me he choked up.
Hearing this story was the only time I teared up during the whole proposal time. It was so sweet!

The picture below is how Dylan imagined it would happen, with me walking over to him on the bench and being surprised and maybe crying.