Little Man Party!

My son just turned one! We had a great "little man" party with little man food and cupcakes and a really fun photo booth. I think the adults had more fun than the kids at points. I was getting a few questions about how I set it all up so here you go!





































































I decided upon the little man theme because my little guy is well...not petite. So to outfit him to look like a little man I bought him a "tie" onsie and bib to rock on the big day. I chose a color scheme based on the invitations I ordered. Red, light blue and black.

I decided that a little man party should have little man food. So men like...beer...ok root BEER floats. The root beer float station was a hit! Don't forget the whipped cream and cherries. Men like burgers and fries...ok sliders and curly fries. Little sliders with pickles and all the fixings. They were really great but I made way too many. I estimated one per child and two per adult. Then of course for me its a necessity to always have fruits and veggies. Another side...hmmm well my husband loves chips and dip so I thought little individual dips would be fun. It was a little time consuming but well worth it for the 7 layer Mexican dips. I would definitely make them again especially for smaller gatherings. For dessert it just made sense that everyone would get their own little cupcakes. I made all chocolate cupcakes with butter cream frosting. I split the frosting in half and used food coloring in one batch to make it light blue. Sprinkles on top and they all looked wonderful!

For decorations:

I glued toothpicks to "cupcake toppers" and put them in the fruit and veggies.

I punched circles out and strung them along twine for garland.

I hung a happy birthday sign over the food table so it didn't look so bare above.

For the photo booth I chose a corner of the house that doesn't get much traffic. I set out props that made for good "little man" pictures. Hats, glasses and ties. I knew everyone needed some whiskers so I set out chocolate mustache pops. I hung a blue sheet that matched the party colors and made a garland from twine and crepe paper. We set up a tripod but with the different heights for adults and kids we ended up holding the camera the whole time.

The party was so much fun and really not too much work to put together. I hope your next party is a blast too!




The chocolate mustaches were from Bon Bono at Etsy

The invitations and cupcake toppers were made by Belva June at Etsy

The Happy Birthday sign is from Cow Country Creations at Etsy

Onsie and bib made by Chic Couture Boutique

The plates, napkins forks and knives: Oriental Trading

Recipe for the 7 layer Mexican dip from The girl who ate everything

Valentine Garland

Happy Valentine's Day! Here is a fun and easy craft to make with your loved ones. This is sure to spread the spirit in the house.
Supplies:
We used twine but ribbon or even fishing wire will work.
Paper, various colors
Heart shaped cookie cutters (if you don't have this, draw one, cut it out and trace it)
Hole punch or exacto knife.

We wanted various shades of pink red and orange so we got a couple sheets of each folded them in half and traced the cookie cutters. We cut them out with scissors and punched them with the hole puncher on either side. If you do not have a hole punch use an exacto knife to cut two parallel 1/2" cuts. Run the twine in through one hole and out the other. Continue until you have the perfect amount of hearts for you. String them on the mantle or a door. Anyway your heart desires.

Happy Valentine's Day. Hope its full of hugs and kisses!

My Memories Suite Digital Scrapbooking Software Giveaway!

Congrats to "The Doherty Clan"!!! You won!

Thank you to all who entered and don't forget there is a coupon code at the bottom if you would like to purchase it!



I have been given the opportunity to give away one My Memories Suite Scrapbook Software Pack! (a $40.00 value). I was able to use the program this past week and it was so easy and fun. My sons birthday is in a couple of weeks so I thought I would create a page in honor of him. What do you think? I used an already put together page and customized it as I wished. I added more photos and text and embellishments and the best part is no sticky glue fingers. Scrapbooking via PC is definitely for me. There are so many creative ways to use this software. I think I will print and frame it to have out at his birthday party.

So how do I get this? you ask.

Easy! This Friday, January 27th, I will choose a random winner from the comments under this post.


To enter please visit www.MyMemories.com and choose your favorite digital paper pack or layout, then comment on this post telling me which ones you like best. ( Make sure you leave your email address if you have an anonymous comment.)

For extra entries:

Follow the My Memories Blog:
Like them on Facebook:
Follow on Twitter:
Or Follow This Blog!

Make a separate comment on this post for each that you do!

If you simply cannot wait, no sweat! Here is your very own Share the Memories code that provides a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store - $20 value! Feel free to share it with family and friends.
Code: STMMMS47841



Click here for the My Memories Suite link

Good Luck!

Giveaway!

Check back soon to find out more about a new giveaway and coupon!

Food Matters

In October of last year while traveling to see my family I became utterly exhausted. Around 7:30 the night before I was suppose to get on a plane I ended up at the emergency room. I know that my exhaustion and raised heart rate was caused by lack of sleep from having two little kids, jet lag and not taking anytime out to rest. However, I could tell that the foods I was eating while on vacation were making me sick and making me feel dramatically worse. When I returned home from my trip I started to seek out more information on nutrition since I knew there was a strong link between how I felt and what I ate. I started to watch documentaries on Netflix and came across three that have drastically changed the way my family and I are eating and living. I highly recommend you check out the following.

Food Matters

Forks Over Knives



Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead









My husband and I decided for us it would be best to do a juice cleanse and then from there make healthier everyday choices. We are all or nothing people. We knew that if we wanted to make a real change we had to do it all at once. The results have been amazing. We both have lost ten or more pounds in the first 10 days and our bodies are seriously changing. We want to cut down on dairy and meat almost completely. Does this mean no cake on my sons 1st birthday coming up in February? Absolutely not. It does mean that I wont eat left over cake for the three days after. It does mean I will serve more fruits and veggies at the party. I hope you take the time out to watch one or more of these movies and start to educate yourself on nutrition and health. Take charge of your well being! Your body will thank you for it. I think sometimes its nice to be reminded that "you are what you eat". I will keep you up on the great new recipes we are trying and how my kids are taking to this new change :)

Pulled Pork

I am from South East Virginia which is right on the North Carolina boarder. One of my favorite foods from this area is barbecue. Since moving to Italy I am in a severe deficit of barbecue intake. Since I have been crock pot happy lately (Check out Crockpot girls on Facebook) I thought I would try out some pulled pork crockpot style. I used a bottle of my favorite bbq sauce, apple wine vinegar and water two weeks ago with a pork loin. The hubby asked if I would try some Carolina vinegar based bbq this week. I found this great post from Savour Fare in 2009 and thought I would share.


It looks so easy!!

Pom Poms!!!

Have you seen this decorating craze? I tried to make them but mine never quite turn out like these. Check out Simply Nesting HERE.



Offering 10% off your order today only! Use coupon code MONDAY at checkout. If you are planning on decorating with pom poms this fall use this oppurtunity to save!

Paula's Fried Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich on the Food Network

Paula's Fried Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich on the Food Network

I made this the other night. It's definitely a dessert! I left out the butter after cooking and cut back on the sugar. It was plenty sweet and so good! My little one loved it too!



Side note: You can't buy peanut butter in Italian stores. They don't eat it. Crazy right?? I made peanut butter cookies for a few last year. They loved those "peanut cookies".

She's my cherry pie!

Well, as you can see by my last post cherries are in season and as my daughter displays....DELISH! My hubby thought for his birthday instead of cake I should make cherry pie. From scratch. Yes, he requested, from scratch. My heart raced a little but I was up for the challenge. My baker friend Antonetta offered me a great recipe that she had used before so I had my main man pick up 3 kilos of cherries on the way home from work from the lady that sells them out of her car at the gas station parking lot. Now in the States that sounds uber sketchy and you would never do this but here in Italy its the norm.

I started to pit and pit and pit cherries, took about an hour but I think that is because I would pit 10, eat one and so on.






I combined ingredients for the filling and because I am a mother of two wee ones I put it in the fridge over night knowing that tomorrow I could roll out the crust.










I had a bit of trouble with the crust but now I know...flour the board REALLY WELL!



Plus I started to use a trick I saw on the food network to pick it up without tearing it by rolling it onto a rolling pin and unrolling it right into my dish.







I didnt want to make a full cover crust on top and it was easier for me just to go ahead and lattice the tops. Besides, it looks more Martha that way, don't you think?









Well, I baked and they turned out AMAZING! The Mr. told me so :) There I am with my pies. Yes, I know, I look a little rugged but I promise I was up all night with the baby, not the pies! I gave what was left of the pies to my Italian friend today, apparently she has never had cherry pie before, go figure! I'll let you know the verdict from her next week.







Here is a little Warrant to jam out to while you read Antonetta's recipe if you so desire! 1990 was a great year, don't you think? :) Thank you again girl! It was great!


For a double crust pie (including a lattice top) the crust recipe is:

2 2/3 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup shortening (makes crust flaky)
1/2 cup butter (gives crust flavor)
7 to 8 tablespoons ice water
(some people make it with only shortening, some make it with only butter, I like both)

-Place flour and salt in mixing bowl and if using a mixer, put it on stir for 15 seconds. Cut shortening and butter into small cubed pieces and add into flour mixture. Turn mixer back on to stir speed and mix until shortening particles are size of small peas..about 30-45 seconds. If you don't have a mixer, I've seen them use a food processor and mix everything by 'pulsing' the mixture.

-If using a mixer, continue at stir speed and add ice water 1 tablespoon at a time (very important). Keep adding water until all ingredients are moistened and a dough starts to form and hold together.

-Divide dough into two halves. Roll each half into a smooth ball and flatten slightly. Wrap each one with plastic wrap and stick in refrigerator for 15-20 minutes. (I usually make one ball slightly bigger to use for the bottom crust.)

*Easiest way to work with pie dough is make sure everything is cold. I refrigerate the shortening and butter then place them in the freezer right before I'm going to use them- for about 15 minutes.

Pie Filling:
-4 1/2 cups pitted cherries (a few more or less, depending on how much fruit you want in the pie)
-1 cup sugar (if cherries are pretty tart and you like it really sweet, add a 1/4 cup more sugar)
-1/4 cup quick cooking tapioca (for thickening.. I've seen/read a few times where they've substituted 1/3 cup of all-purpose flour in place of tapioca. just in case you can't get your hands on some.)
-1 tablespoon all purpose flour
-dash salt
-a dash of fresh lime juice (optional)
-1/4 tsp almond extract (if you don't have almond extract, you can substitute w/vanilla extract, but almond is the standard for cherry pie. I've even seen where you can even add a 1/4 tsp of both, if you're feeling adventurous :)

Mix all pie filling ingredients evenly and let stand in fridge for about 10-15 minutes.

-Roll out the ball of pie dough for the bottom until it's about 10 1/2 inches in diameter, or about 1/8 inch thick (this also depends on how big your pie dish is. You're smart, so I'm sure you know how big you need to roll it out for the top and bottom. :)

-Put the bottom crust in pie dish, add cherry pie mixture.

-If using a full crust on the top, place the top piece of rolled out dough on top of the cherries then on the edges, take a fork and crimp the bottom and top crusts together. Cut five slits into the top of crust for venting.

-If you wanna get fancy and do a lattice top, roll out top dough and cut into 8 1/2 inch strips, then lay strips over top of cherries to form the lattice. 4 strips going one way and 4 strips going the opposite way.

-Once the top crust is on, make an egg wash in a small bowl using one egg, 4 tbsp of water and a dash of milk. Beat the mixture together and then brush over the top of the crust. Just brush enough over entire thing so it looks thinly coated. You won't use the entire mixture..just a little bit.

-Place pie in oven at 425 degrees and bake for 15 minutes then reduce to 350 and bake for 30-40 minutes.

** once you start to see the crimped edge of the pie crust getting golden brown, if you don't have a pie ring, cover around the edge of the pie with tinfoil for the rest of the baking time so it doesn't burn.

Also, towards the end of the baking time, when you have about 5 minutes or so left, take the pie out for a second, brush a little egg wash on it and sprinkle a bit of plain white sugar all over the top. Makes it pretty!

If you'd rather have an oatmeal crumble top instead of a pie crust top, do this...

Mix together the following with your hands until it forms little crumbles then refrigerate until ready to use. Once ready to use, just spread out over top of cherries and bake like above:

1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup light brown sugar
6 tablespoons flour
1/4 tsp cinnamon
8 tablespoons softened unsalted butter

This really is easy to make if you can prepare for it. Just seems like a lot of steps but trust me, it will be well worth it!

Ciliege

In Italy it's common to see a truck or van on the side of the road selling whatever produce is currently in season. Right now it's CHERRIES or in Italiano "Ciliege"! I bought this for about Five Euro, or $7.00. I taught Marcella how to use the pitter and well, that was the end of the cherries!

Party Hardy

4th of July is right around the corner! Are you hosting a party? If you want to go all out, get some inspiration from HWTM! I once threw a party for my daughters 2nd birthday with a great spread like this below. There were lollipops sticking up out of m&m's and all sorts of yummy candy. It was beautiful! Problem is that kids do not just stand here as seen below...they try to devour every grain of sugar in front of them. My adult party guests spent about an hour yelling at the kids to "drop it" "thats enough" and "i'm going to count to 3" (my current way of letting my daughter know that my head is about to explode). I finally just removed it all so we could all play. So, party it up, just minimize the sweets or put out appetizers that parents wont mind their little ones shoveling in their mouths.

Flower Power

How adorable are these baby bloomers by Baby Aspen? What a great shower gift! Sure to get you oh's and ahh's. Get the Bunch O Bloomers at Amazon for $25.00!

I'm BACKKKK!

HI! My little one is now 3 months old!!! I am feeling like a healthy person again! My little angels also give me almost an hour in the morning of quiet ( if I put Barbie on that is). Time to blog again! I'm going to get my brain in order and pull together some ideas to share. Hope I haven't lost everyone in the process :)

Here is what keeps me so busy these days :)

Baby Legs

Have you seen these adorable baby legs? If you need a shower gift or have a little one on the way I highly recommend them! I would not buy them for any child over one years old as my daughter won't seem to keep them on, but boy do they come handy when changing diapers! They run about $10.00-$12.00 each or you can buy a cute matching set of 3 for $30.00. Use this coupon code "FAVE10" and save 10% on their website from their "FAVORITES" category for a limited time!

Please Please Me...

I have become intensely frustrated lately. I am about 6 months pregnant and therefore slow and tired and just trying to get through the day with a two year old. It is hard for my psyche when I am unable to perform to my previous standards and have to "ask" for help. My hormones have me a bit emotional of course so that means more tears during heart felt commercials and nastier words during quarrels. I am ,however, particularly concerned with my husbands demands. He wants me to make sure his socks are washed and together and in his drawer when he needs them. I cannot wrestle the left sock monster in my condition...doesn't he know that?!? So dear, please please me.....and don't complain! You might lose a limb in the process!