Little Owl Baby Shower

My good friend Beth and her husband were expecting a little girl last summer.  I was so happy to throw them a shower with the help of some amazing friends.  Their nursery theme was owls so we went with that and loved every minute of it!  It was supposed to be outside, but we had to switch EVERYTHING to inside at the very last minute due to rain....stressful, but it turned out and cleared up later in the evening.  Miss. Andi Katelyn arrived in August!

 Banner made with the fabrics in her nursery and felt letters.

 Made the onesie, flower and matching tutu for the little lady. 

Click on the picture for a tutorial.

 Ribbon wrapped water bottles

 Candy bar for favors, since the couple LOVES candy

Fun owl cupcakes and you don't have to be a master baker.  My friend store bought the cupcakes and then redecorated with oreos and other candy to create the owls.

 

 The cupcakes tasted good : )

 Andi's happy parents

Mason jars filled with water and a floating candle, wrapped with raffia. 

 S'more bar

Made with Reeses, Dark and Milk Candy bars, regular and large marshmallows and giant roasting sticks.  All found at the grocery store.

And here she is!

Photo taken by:

http://donthaophotography.com/

http://adorkableduo.com/blog/

Bruschetta

Ingredients	Amount
French Bread, thinly sliced	1 loaf
Sweet onion, finely chopped	1/2 onion
Fresh garlic, minced	2 cloves
Fresh basil, chopped	2 tsp
Fresh Tomatoes, diced	2 large
Olive oil	3 Tbsp
Feta Cheese, crumbled	1 cup
Grated parmesan cheese	1/4 cup

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Arrange the bread slices in a single layer on a baking sheet. In a bowl mix the onion, garlic, olive oil, and basil.  Gently toss in the tomatoes.  Top the bread slices with the tomato mixture.  Sprinkle feta cheese and parmesan cheese on top.  Drizzle with remaining olive oil. Bake 10 min in the preheated oven or until the cheese is melted and bread in lightly toasted.

I decided to spice up a traditional dish one day for my mom's birthday, she is a tomato addict.  I have to admit I do not like tomatoes, but this dish is so yummy it is one of the times I will eat them : )

Dice onion, mix with olive oil, garlic and diced fresh basil.

Dice your tomatoes (I like to use Roma, but any type will work).  Gently toss them into the onion mixture.

   Slice your french bread, or buy pre-sliced and arrange on a baking sheet.  Top with tomato mixture.

 

 Sprinkle your prepared bread with the feta and parmesan.  

Bake in the oven at 375 degrees for about 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bread is slightly toasted.

 

Anna's Nursery

 I love to decorate, so when we found out our 1st baby was going to be a girl, I was so excited to start her nursery.  Here is the finished product.  All of the items came from a variety of places....I will let you know below!   

Rocker, custom order from Babies R Us.  Dresser was refurbished, painted and new knobs put on by us...knobs from Hobby Lobby.  Night stand was also refurbished, painted and new knobs put on by us.

Mantle, was a great used find we fixed it up and painted it.  Picture frame and blocks custom order from ETSY, Bird bank and Owls from Pottery Barn Kids, Bird cage a find by my mom and a floral shop.  Shoes were my husbands baby shoes.

Every girl needs a Chandelier in her room right?  I found this little one at Home Depot for around $100.

Wall decal was also a custom order on ETSY.  Curtains and bedding were from Pottery Barn Kids.  Crib is Munire.  Crown molding was done by my husband and curtain rod was from Bed Bath and Beyond.

Lamp, flower and vase are from Pier One.  Little owl block, came with the custom name blocks from ETSY.

Book shelf built by my husband.  Filled it with lots of books, including this vintage one that my Grandmother read to her children and grandchildren.

 Us welcoming precious Anna into the world!

Thanks for checking this out!

Chicken and Dumplings

Ingredients	Amount
Butter	2 Tbsp
Chicken breasts	1 pound
Onion, chopped	1 1/2 cups
Celery, chopped	1 cup
Minced garlic	3 cloves
Frozen vegetables	1 pound package
Chicken broth	1-14 1/2 oz can
Dried parsley	3 tsp
Poultry seasoning	1 1/2 tsp
Skim milk	1 cup
Flour	1/2 cup
Refrigerated biscuits or homemade bisquick biscuits	1-7.5 oz package

Directions

Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat.  Add chicken, onion, celery, and garlic, cook for about 12-15 minutes or until chicken in no longer pink.  ***See below for optional change, boil ahead of time chicken*** Add mixed veggies, broth, parsley, poultry seasoning, mix well.  Bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Lightly spoon flour into a measuring cup, level off.  In a small bowl combine milk and flour, blend until smooth.  Add to chicken mixture, cook and stir until thickened and bubbly.  Reduce to low heat. Separate dough into 10 biscuits, cut each in half.  Starting in the center of the saucepan, arrange biscuits halves on top of chicken mixture in a spiral formation. Cover tightly and cook for 25-30 minutes or until biscuits are fluffy and no longer doughy.

 

This is a great comfort food recipe that everyone loves!  The change I did this time was make the chicken up ahead of time, to make it easy while cooking it later with a 19 month old.  I actually like it better this way and so did my husband.  ***I boiled 3 large fresh chicken breasts for 40 minutes.  Left them whole and placed them in the fridge once cooled.  When I was ready to make the meal and took them out and cubed them.  I add them in the recipe when it said to add raw chicken, and just didn't cook as long for that step***

Mix flour and milk in a separate bowl and then add to veggie and chicken mixture.

Place biscuits on top of the chicken and veggie mixture.

 Cover and cook for 25 minutes.

Yummy!

Make Your Own Play Dough

We ran out of play dough in the house and Aunt "JuJu" was over so we decided to make some!  It turned out great and Anna even helped.  I would just recommend not letting your little one put in the food coloring : )

Supplies:
A saucepan
1/2 cup salt
1 cup flour
2 tablespoons cream of tarter
1 cup cold water
Food coloring
1 tablespoon of vegetable oil

Directions:

1.  In a saucepan, combine salt, flour, and cream of tarter.

2. Then add water, a few drops of food coloring, and vegetable oil.  Mix until smooth.

3.  Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently.

4.  When the mixture sticks to the pan, sticks together, and is no longer slimy to the touch, you are finished.  

5.  Place it onto wax paper, and kneed a dozen times.  Let it sit.

6.  When it is cool it is ready to play with.  

7.  Store in a container with a tight-fitting lid or sealed plastic bag so it doesn't dry out.

 

Playing with it the next day!

Idea for playing with Play Dough for a toddler:

Use cookie cutters and practice shapes

Rolling pin

Make balls (Anna's favorite)

Poke it with things like straws, pens, popsicle sticks, etc....

Make it into pretend food and cook with it (with pretend kitchen of course)

Roll and stamp designs onto it...with a pie wheel, cups, toys, cookie cutter

Make hand and foot prints into it

Mold into your favorite animals and practice their names and sounds

Crock Pot Minestrone Soup

Ingredients	Amount
Onion, chopped	1 medium
Carrots, sliced	2 large
Zucchini, diced	1 large
Cabbage, shredded	1 cup
Minced garlic	2 cloves
Kidney beans	1-15 oz can drained
Beef broth	2 14 1/2 oz cans
Crushed tomatoes	28 oz can
Dried basil	1 tsp
Dried oregano	1/2 tsp
Salt	1/2 tsp
Black pepper	1/4 tsp
Elbow macaroni, cooked	2 cups
Parmesan cheese	1/4 cup

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a crock pot, except the macaroni and parmesan cheese. Cook on low for 7-9 hours or on high for 4-5 hours. Right before serving stir in the macaroni and parmesan cheese.

 

This is a great healthy soup with lots of veggies.  Put in the crock pot in the morning, forget about it and dinner will be ready.  Usually have lots of left overs too.

Wash and cut up your vegetables.

 Involve your little helper if you have one.  Anna has to help with everything these days : )

 Dump all your ingredients into the crock pot, except parmesan cheese and noodles.  Cook on low for 7-9 hours or high for 4-5 hours.

 

Right before your soup is done.  Prepare your noodles according to package directions.  The recipe called for macaroni noodles, but I didn't have so used mini bow ties, which turned out good.  Add parmesan cheese and as many noodles as you like to your soup.  Enjoy!

Cilantro Lime Rice

This rice is AMAZING!  Just like Chipotle and Qdoba!  Serve it with your Chipotle Chicken (click to link to recipe) and whatever burrito toppings you love!  I usually double this recipe when serving for more than 3 people.

Ingredients	Amount
Vegetable oil	2 tsp
Fresh cilantro	4 tsp
White Basmati Rice	1 1/3 cup
Water	2 cups
Salt	1 tsp
Lime, juiced	1

Directions

In a saucepan, heat oil.  Add rice and lime juice, stir for 1 minute. Add water and salt, bring to a full rolling boil.  At boiling cover, turn down to simmer over low heat until rice is tender and the water is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Add cilantro and fluff rice with a fork.

Heat oil in the pan 1st.  Then add rice, and squeeze fresh lime into rice.  Stir for 1 minute.

Add water and salt, bring to a full boil.  At boil, turn down to simmer on low heat until rice is tender and water is absorbed.  About 20 minutes.

 Once cooked, add fresh chopped up cilantro.

 Your rice is done.  Serve with chipotle chicken and favorite burrito toppings.  We usually server ours as burrito bowls, with chicken, pinto beans, cheese, salsa, rice, sour cream, etc...Enjoy!