Woodland Baby Shower

Sweet Little Wyatt will join us later on in December, but we threw him one helk of a shindig this month! Livin in Kentucky, finding an open weekend between Bourbon Month Activities and UK Football was no easy task! But we did it and I had amazing help and support from two great friends and co-host. We pulled off an amazing evening couple's shower!

The decorations were easy for a woodland baby shower at my house - because I love owls, squirrels, hedgehogs and just about all little cute creatures! So I gave up the Halloween decorations and decorated for fall!

The color theme was sage green, teal blue, dark red & chocolate brown - I was really glad when Wyatt was a Wyatt and not a Wanda ... my color theme was not very girly.

We wanted it to be fun for all the guys but still feel cute and girly for the momma! We had dinner under twinkly light that my darling Husband spent a lot of time hanging. Don't worry we had beer, bourbon and fire for the boys.

Tables had burlap runner - darling sunflowers arrangements (done by one of the co-host and all from Costco!) We painted soup cans and drilled holes and dropped candles in each one!

The "Curtain" were hung with some rebar in the ground and then a giant PVC Pipe Contraption  Husband and In-Laws helped set up!  It was super easy and gave the driveway a really nice look!

Dinner was set up inside in Lucy' playroom our formal dining room.

Menu:

Spicy Ragu Pasta

Creamy Chicken Pasta

Cesar Salad

Rolls

One of the hubby's cut a bunch of wood chunks for us to use as decorations!



Outside we set up the bar with little snacks (popcorn, peanuts, dips etc)

Now for my favorite part! The SMORE'S BAR!!!!!!! We had an assortment of flavored marshmallows and chocolates and Jumbo Marshmallows!



The Desert Table Inside was adorned with a darling diaper cake, yummy grown-up cake, and the thank you's!

We used the favorite fall goodie - peanuts, candy corn and M&M's! We had each of the little jar toppers monogrammed with a "W".

One of my favorites was the "Polaroid" and mustaches! We had all the couples take pictures in the frame for little Wyatt!

Cute Momma!







Strawberry shortcake halloween costume

My little doodlebug is going to be Strawberry Shortcake for Halloween. This all started when we got a happy meal late summer at MacDonald's and in it was a Strawberry Shortcake Doll. She was entering this phase were she was in love with all sorts of small figurines. To boot, she keeps them in a metal lunch box ... I think my little one is in the wrong era! Strawberry's favorite friends are Buzz, Woody, a few smurfs, the Wonderpets and few other stragglers!!

So on random shopping trip I stumbled onto the green and white tights and that was that! I knew I could make her my version of a Strawberry Shortcake Costume

Costume Consists of:

Red Slip On Crocs

Green & White Striped Tights

Pink, Red, Green Tulle Tutu

Red Turtle Neck

Apron

Strawberry Treat Bag  (Me & Mema decided she NEEDED it from Pottery Barn Kid)

Tutu

Super Easy! Grab some elastic and make it to fit their little waste - then sew it together!

Next start slip knotting on Tulle ... I used Red, Pink and a Glitter Lime Green. I bought the tulle that is on the little rolls - not the big bolts. Figure out how long you want it, cut it twice as long, fold in half and start slip knotting.  When I finished I went back and added ribbon - same as the tulle - twice as long and slip knot.

Apron

I bought a little store bought white apron at Joanne's. I hemmed it so that it was short and the tutu showed through the bottom!

I also bought a store bought Strawberry Applique - and iron on ... WOW that part was hard! HA.

Then I bought pink ruffle stuff - I am sure those who actually sew know exactly what this stuff is called - it is by the ribbon - comes on bolts you buy it by the yard. It looks like the stuff that goes around pillows etc! I also bought a roll of red ric-rac. I used iron on seam glue! No Sewing - ok that is lie, I had to sew back on the side strap so you could actually tie on the apron - because I cut it off when trimming the pink stuff ... yep because that is just how all my projects go!

We had a test run tonight to make sure all things fit and worked together! I am not an emotional person, but I am prego, so that is probably why I almost cried when she got it all on ... she looked so cute and grown up, not sure what happened to my little doodlebug, sigh.

PS I just used extra ribbon to make two cute little pony tail holders.

Happy Tricker Treating!

Beef Stroganoff Recipe - Crockpot

I love to make things in my crock pot - because I can throw it all in there and do whatever I need to do for the day and then poof dinner is ready! It's like I didn't even have to cook and all the sudden there is a home cooked HOT meal ... love it.

On Saturday I went to the grocery store because we literally needed 2 of everything ... I am not joking, it was a cart overflowith type of event. I almost ran out of room in the CRV. I was also determined we would have some things for dinner ... not something you take out of box and heat up, but real dinner this week. (never mind doodlebug had mac & cheese last night while I fell asleep on the couch and woke up and fed myself Lucy Charms! Thank goodness she has a nice papa!)

Picture belongs here

Here we go - super easy! And really really yummy Doodlebug & Husband ate it ...
Serves 4 adults (about a million munchkins) with some leftovers

1 lb -cut up beef stew meat - it is cheap and will taste wonderful after it has cooked all day in the crock pot
1 cup flour
2tbs crushed rosemary, dill, & hot spice (I use norwoods, or cayenne pepper - whatever you got)
Put Flour & Spices in plastic bag - shake it up! Add meat to coat.

Dutch Over -
2-3 tbs olive oil
Coated meat pieces
Couple spoons fulls of garlic (4 fresh cloves)

Sear until brown on all sides - at this point I always burn my dutch oven, because I burn everything in my dutch over - I don't think they were made for electric stoves. Once browned add: 1/2-1Cup of red wine - make sure all the pieces are getting good and juiced up!

Add 4 cups beef broth (one of those cardboard containers)
Add 1 Can cream of mushroom soup
Add 1 can tomato paste (6oz)
Extra Spices: crushed rosemary, dill, & hot spice & salt and pepper

Stir till everything is good and together. Transfer to crock pot. Added .5 cup grated Parmesan cheese (because I love it). cook on low for 6-8 hours - you want to make sure you meat falls apart.

When close to done add a couple big spoons fulls of sour cream & parsley.

I par cook my egg noodles and add the last hour - they help thicken it up and I finds it all taste better mixed together, but you can just serve over the top like the do in the nice picture above (not mine by the way, I borrowed it from simply recipes - yes I just got a new fancy camera for my birthday - no I didn't remember to take a picture, jeez)  If you put them in there all day they will suck up all the juice.

Adding Mushrooms - I love them, Husband hates them - so I left them out. Secondly the last couple times I have left them in the crock pot all day they have made my dinner taste awful, at least that is only conclusion I can come up with. So if you want add them the last hour - or saute them and add them at the very end!

I had enough for a second dinner left over - so in the freezer it went for next week!

Enjoy!

Woodland Baby Shower

Fall maybe in the air but so are babies!! I swear I know so many ladies out there ready to pop I can't believe it! One of my Kentucky Ladies is ready to have her first little boy and we are soo excited for her. Of course what does that mean, we have to have a party - I mean what else would you do???

Mr. WCL will be here late December in time to snuggle in with his Momma for a long cold winter - there is nothing better than winter babies all snuggled in blankets, the fireplace going, drinking a nice cup of coffee while they coo in their crib (SHUT IT ... this is my fantasy and I will remember it anyway I want! HA)

We are having a fall Couple's Shower on the back patio - dinner, drinks and a Smore's Bar!! I can not wait. I have two fantastic mom's helping me put on this party and we have so many cute ideas.

I printed these on craft paper and it gives them an even cuter woodsy feel! I printed large labels that took up almost the entire envelope with the tree, owl & little fox on it! I bought my little creatures from stockberrystudio she has great digital artwork, I have used her stuff before! And she is super nice and answers my dumb illustrator questions - because I am self taught and my teacher kinda sucked! HA

Of course I spent at least 150+ hours on Pinterest looking for cute ideas for this shower ... which is were I found the original smore's bar idea. If you wanna take a peak at all the items I pinned go for it! Hoot-Hoot.

More to come! Hope you are busy planning some sort of Fall Festival at your house or at least decorating up a storm. I have been adding little characters like the ones above all over the house in an attempt to get ready for the shower! 

Salsa Queso; Great Mexican Appetizer

The weather at least for today, has turned a delightful, chilly. Never mind we started the month at 102.
Thursday Night, Saturday Morning, Sunday - all day - have been filled with football. I love college sports - I can't name every quarter back, or remember who beat who in the 1984 showdown, but I love to get in the spirit of college football. I love that in the South they dress up for games and start tailgating on Thursday's (I do not love the SEC, just making that clear - I will always cheer "GO BIG RED" during football- I was raised by a die hard Nebraska Fan). But I kinda secretly wish my daughter goes to school college in the South, because tradition there is soo cool.

Anywho - what to eat on game days! I came across this great homemade Queso - No, dad, it is not Velveeta cheese & rotel. But it was really good - taste like you might actually have it at a Mexican Joint - the real kind!  

2 Medium fresh poblano chile peppers
1 tbs olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 garlic cloves minced
2 medium roma tomatoes
1 cup half & half
1/4 tsp salt
3oz cream cheese
8 ounces asadero cheese (I found this at my local grocery store, and they never have anything out of hte ordinary - it was with the cheese by the eggs)
Fresh cilantro - handful
1-2 Jalapeno

Preheat the over to 425. line a baking sheet with foil. Halve chile peppers lengthwise remove seeds (this will burn the hell out of your eyes - be very careful). Place cut side down on baking sheet. Roast 25 mins or until skins are blistered and dark. Wrap in foil let sit on counter for 20 mins or until they cool down.
Pull off skins - chop peppers

In large skilled, heat oil over medium heat, add onion, garlic, cook until tender, add tomatoes, peppers, jalapenos, simmer till cooked - transfer to food processor and chop to liking. Return to pan, add half & half and bring to simmer add salt. Add both cheeses a little at a time and stir till melted and bubbly.

This does not reheat well - it taste good, it just is not as smooth ... so best to make and eat! WONDERFUL.

Enjoy! GO BIG RED ...

Back To School Board

Little Miss Doodlebug is back in "school". She started full time mid-August and really enjoys it. I am not going to lie - we are having some adjustment issues to being in school all day and not napping ... and by adjustments I mean she comes home every-day and cries until we can't take anymore and put her to bed. With that said, my friend reminded me the do not call it the Terrific Two's, sigh. It is a phase, we will get it through it ... this is what I keep telling my self, and my husband, the dogs, the mailman and just about anybody else who will listen to me :)

Now we have art projects, daily activity sheets, school calendars, show and tell Thursday, uniforms to wash and iron - so to keep it fun, I redid Doodlebugs bulletin board in "back to school".  I need to get all the cute pics of her in uniform printed and hung up, but hey at least this got done before December!

I also just got a fancy new camera, I have NO idea how to use - needed a few "test subjects"!

Mason Jar Thank You Gifts

These little jars are so cute all by themselves, but add a little spray paint, fabric, twine & a little tag - super cute! Easy cheap little thank you's for Birthday Parties, Teacher Gifts, Holiday give aways - you name it. I am for sure not the first person to think up this great little idea by, probably 50 years ... but I do think after all this time they still are a cute little gift.

I bought the small (not super small) ball canning jars. Cut squares of material (rough estimate, no real measuring here). Spray painted the tops in coordinating party colors. Printed off little tags that matched the invites. Cut what seemed like a thousands yards of twine.

Next step very important: if filling the jars with candy you like, buy extra bag. At my house it went handful of Swedish Fish in the jar, handful in my mouth, jar, mouth, jar, mouth -you get the idea.

I had a bit of trouble getting the fabric and lid to all tighten up correctly - but it could be the Swedish Fish induced comma I was entering. Tie them off with cute ribbon or twin and done!  Happy Eating,  I mean giving.