TYING THE KNOT ON THE KNOT!

We were very excited & giddy (ok, I was) to finally see the end result of the magazine and it was equally exciting when our wedding was posted on TheKnot.com!

Side note: Just such a good looking Groom that they featured him on the home page! Ha 

XO - M 

THE BUSACKERS IN HIGH GLOSS.

Yay, the magazine is out in stores! Only thing to say about this... "Tornadoes Can't Hold Us Down!"

P.S. Thank you again to the world's BEST wedding party!

XO - M

A BLUEBERRY & BLOG BINGE

So I thought I would start out this whole blog binge with something easy and quite tasty... if I do say so myself. B had last weekend off (YAY) and since summer is quickly coming to a close we decided to visit one of our favorite  spots. 


There were wonderful blueberries everywhere and since they were pretty budget friendly (3 for only $5) we ended up with a very blue fridge. So I decided to research some recipes and found this one here. It turned out really well and it was half gone by sundown (mind you I made it around 4 p.m.).

Ingredients

For the streusel:

• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg - Newlywed kitchen, thus no nutmeg & more cinnamon
• 1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
• 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

For the cake:

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature (3/4 stick)
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
• 2/3 cup sour cream - I used low-fat plain yogurt instead
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• Confectioners' sugar for sprinkling

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour a 9-inch round baking pan.

For the streusel:

Combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a bowl. Stir in the melted butter and then the flour. Mix well and set aside.

For the cake:

Cream the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on high speed for 4 to 5 minutes, until light. Reduce the speed to low and add the eggs 1 at a time, then add the vanilla, lemon zest, and sour cream. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture to the batter until just combined. Fold in the blueberries and stir with a spatula to be sure the batter is completely mixed.

Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and spread it out with a knife. With your fingers,

crumble the topping evenly over the batter. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool completely and serve sprinkled with confectioners' sugar.

Enjoy! XO M

COMING SOON...I HOPE.

When I decided to write a blog I was hoping to share the quirks of our everyday newlywed life. One of my favorite things about reading what other bloggers have to say, is the complex normality of life. It's like a sneak peek into the lives of others. A cure all for the thought that we all have had (don't lie, you are creepy like me) while driving... "where are is that person headed? who are they? what is their life like? are they happy or are they sad? oops I wasn't focused and cut them off... are they angry?"

But I have found that...

A busy life = lots to say = empty blog. 

So my goal (big step for me... B is usually the one with the typed out 'to do' list of life's hurdles) is to catch up on this blog. Here is a very minimalist sneak peek into my life the past month. 

Jackson Hole - Vacation

Mother's Stroke

Home Search

Career Direction/ Crash Course

Wedding Websites

BE BACK SOON! XO M

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

Kids... always wear your helmet!!

So happy to have the hubby home safe and sound. Don't take anything for granted. 

Meet Herbie

One of the things that come with being a newlywed is a slight (sometime major) downsize in living quarters... don't get me wrong it is 'beyond words wonderful' sharing our very own space with one another... & it also leaves room for some innovation in 'landscaping'. So maybe you can't call it gardening per say, but it is green, it does grow, requires water & sunlight (thats another topic). 


So here is my own little variation on an herb garden... now lovingly referred to as "herbie".
B: "How's herbie doing today? "
M: "Wow... we really need a pet."

{Vintage pop bottle carrier found in my parent's basement when they moved in}

{Sealed with painter's plastic and duct tape}

P.S. As a newlywed all you ever really need is duct tape & a hammer.

{Herbs bought cheap at the Mpls Farmers Market & terra-cotta pots spray painted gold}

{Lavender, Peppermint, Rosemary, Garlic Chives & Thyme}

{Introducing Herbie... small & contained... a perfect apartment companion}

{And his friend Rodeo}

Come on, don't laugh, you all knew it was only a matter of time

 before Rodeo made his debut on our blog. 

CLEARANCE CHIC?

Quick post... I had to share. 


As a young women, now married and out on her own, budgeting clothing has been tricky (and not always fun). So in order to continue saving and to alleviate any "you bought MORE clothes" discussions, I have begun looking for clothes in the overwhelming "clearance" section.


As I ventured to the back corner of Target, I quickly dove into the impending racks off half hung up clothing. This is what I found...


A cute wrap style black cotton dress...nothing overly exciting...but the tag is what got me...$8.59!!


After taking off the black fabric 'belt', replacing it with a small nude colored belt, and pining the v-neck (more work appropriate) this dress is an easy summer staple. 


Look for it in your closest Target, since it doesn't seem to have gone on sale online yet. 

P.S. The best part about finding these deals...holding out the tag and stopping Brett mid-sentence. "Is that a new..." - "Why yes it is!"

MINNEAPOLIS MARKET!

My new guilty (only because I have gone 4 times in the last month or so) pleasure is Saturday or Sunday mornings spent at the Minneapolis Farmers Market. There is nothing better than gradually strolling the endless rows with all senses at their peak. The smell of the freshly bundled mint, the bright toned tin-animal facade in the landscape area, the tunes of strumming street performers, the incredible tasty morsels of locally produced treats and even the seemingly indescribable feeling of energy shared amongst the diverse meandering crowds. The laid back community atmosphere is contagious.

{Quirky tin roosters that provide endless entertainment for me & the little ones nearby}

 {Fresh snap peas that were later steamed and tossed with soy sauce & garlic}

{Beautifully bright flowers to lighten up even the most shaded of apartments}

For more information on the Minneapolis Farmers Market visit: http://www.mplsfarmersmarket.com/

Playing Pretend.

Just received these from the production director and thought I would quickly share. These are just a few snapshots of the two day photo shoot I did in February for 3M. The images will be used for their Tekk Protection product line and is meant to be a lifestyle piece for DIY home projects. I will let you know when the actual marketing is up. 

Playing a newlywed (came pretty easy) with my 'husband' Eduardo from NY.

Off to the Races...

Opus Crit Race

Another race season began for Brett about a month and a half ago...no drinking, no junk food, early nights, & a wife that seriously needs to work on keeping us both healthy. Nothing I could do (even though I desperately wish) about this though...disk degeneration, undeveloped prongs, herniated disk?! 

Brett has a pretty painful & severely injured back (he is going to kill me for posting this) that is hindering his racing and frustrating the heck out of him...he is slightly competitive in nature! This has been 'terribly-wonderful' for our marriage, as we continue to work together everyday... only one bed = resolving issues before sleep otherwise one might 'unintentionally' get kicked or elbowed.

P.S. Check out this funny article, thinking about picking up a pillow before Brett gets home...

 4 Tricks to Sleep Better Together - The Nest

We are crossing our fingers and saying prayers that this will be resolved (without surgery) and that he will be able to run the Twin Cities Marathon at the end of September. 

Race Season Staples: 

Peanut Butter, Chocolate Milk, Popsicles, Cereal, Pretzels & Yogurt

Yummy Granola Balls:

Simply combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and then use a melon baller to make bite-sized granola balls.

2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats 
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut 
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter 
1/2 cup honey 
1/4 cup packed brown sugar 
1 tablespoon flax seed

Tip: Brett thinks they are best when they are frozen!

Into Real Estate I Go...

After a week filled with google searches, advice seeking emails, moving blankets, furnace filters & radon testing...I have finished my first closing today as an assistant! Thank goodness for such patient people. 

This was a model home that our company had owned and rented for the past couple years and it finally...and I really mean FINALLY...sold. It was so much fun meeting the family and walking through the house with them as there youngest son excitedly ran around choosing his new room. This is the reason I wan't to continue this journey into real estate...I absolutely love working with people. 

We are in the final stages of bidding out a new home for another lot in the same Orono neighborhood (bidding out = seeing what a house, currently on a piece of paper, might cost in reality). This will be another first for me and I am so incredibly excited to dive into some of the design elements...remember I work with ALL boys. 

Now....those 60 lingering hours of real estate licensing class to complete. ugh. 

LOTS TO BLAB & BLOG ABOUT.

After spending a few weeks tossing around the idea of starting a blog (B says too much of my day consists of 'screen time') here are couple things I can't wait to share...

On another note: Brett's Dad, John, is releasing his new book on May 1st & was interviewed on Faith Radio yesterday morning. Check him out!

Faith Radio Net :: Becoming Fully Engaged in Life
http://www.lifefmstore.com/product.asp?sku=9781609361150


XOXO Mallory 

The Busackers Are Blogging!

So here we go...twitter...blog...The Busackers are going social! 

Since Brett & I both blog at work, I figured we would share a little insight in our lives and what the newlywed world looks like. What a FABULOUS ADVENTURE!

You learn a multitude of things regarding yourself, your community, your relationships, your partner...and the real world (budget & finances ugh) when you take the leap into marriage... aka 'The Life Without the Parents"

So join us on our blog as we explore our new life together and learn what we are doing right & wrong...with help from you along the way!

XOXO Mallory