Fleece Baby Cap

I've not been in the sewing mood lately. Actually, I haven't touched the sewing machine since Marin's birthday party! So, it was a big deal when I finally felt like sewing again. Made two tiny baby caps for a joint baby shower next week. The gals are both having boys. Not sure I "do" little boy stuff very well. All my fabric choices are so girlie. Hoping the yellow "x" gave these red caps a "boy" feel. So cute and simple. Only an hour start to finish on each cap (and that's with interruptions from the two year old in our home). Inspired by one of my favorite sewing blogs, but the pattern is courtesy of Martha Stewart.

Duck Update

Remember the tiny ducklings we purchased for Marin's 2nd Birthday? Well, here they are all grown up! So fun knowing they are having a full, fun filled "duck life." We received this photo from a firefighter that Steven works with. His brother-n-law is the keeper of Marin's ducks. Thanks, Jamee for the update!

Princess Long Legs

Oh, princess long legs, what have you done with my baby Marin? How I love my small toddler in a tutu. Her pink painted toe nails. Her love for dancing (jumping). And her incessant questions.

Marin: "Hey Mommy...what's that?

Me: "Ketchup, Marin."

Marin: "Oh, keeycup?"

Me: "Yep, keeycup."

Marin: "Hey Mommy...what's that?"

Me: "Milk"

Marin: "Oh, COW muck?"

Me: (Giggle) "yep, cow muck"

Steven (in the background): "No, Marin it's COW M-I-L-K"

Marin: "Oh....Hey Mommy, what's that?"

It's Pumpkin Carvin' Time

It's time to start thinking about this year's Pumpkin Carvin' Party invitations. It sure is fun to go back and look at pictures and invitations from the last five years. Just like the event itself, the invitations get better every year. I've got a fun idea for the 6th annual party invitations. So start thinking about what you'll carve this year and look for your invitation coming in October!

The Wedding {My 100th Blog Post}

So much I COULD say, but I'll let the pictures tell the story. Lots of LOVE. Lots of rain. Lots of dancing. Beautiful flowers and a beautiful, cool as a cucumber, happy bride. As well as an equally happy groom. Perfect.

Belly Brunch {Maternity Shower}

Photos by my lovely sister Katherine.

Monday’s Belly Brunch / Maternity Shower went well. The food came together and Tasha was given oodles of maternity clothes! Now all she needs is a belly to show off. Beth’s home was a lovely and comfortable setting for the gathering and everyone seemed to have a nice time. Tasha’s brothers and sisters put together a video called the “Joys of Pregnancy.” It was HILLARIOUS! I was crying it was so funny. Had to have been there to really get it.

The Menu
Green Chile Bake breakfast casserole
Raspberry White Chocolate Muffins
Peach Yogurt Parfaits
Blueberry turnovers
Bacon wrapped Beef Smokies rolled in brown sugar
Cream cheese stuffed mushrooms with bacon
To Drink: Peach Nectar Spritzers

Games
We played a couple of games, a maternity version of the “Price is Right” and “What Will Tasha Do.” To create the Pregnancy Price is Right game I preselected five items that most all pregnant women use. Palmer’s cocoa butter cream, saltine crackers, Tums, a body pillow and an herbal pregnancy tea. I downloaded a product image from Google and framed it along with a brief description of the product. Below each frame was a sheet of paper where participants put their name and their price estimate. In the end, the person with the closest price (without going over) won.

The other game was a more personalized. I asked a series of 10 questions that pertained to Tasha’s pregnancy making sure to add personal details and funny topics. Each guest was given a sheet with two answers to each question. They had to guess what they thought Tasha’s answer would be. After everyone had indicated their answers we had Tasha give us the answer. The person with the most matches (Sarah B) won. My favorite question/answer was:
Tasha stumbles up on a vintage crochet pattern for an adorable baby cap. Looking for ways to pass time in during the last few months, so goes to the store and buys yarn and a hook. In the end she:
a. Only completes half the cap before going into labor but finds the gumption to finish it once baby Marsh is three months old.
b. Looks for a completed vintage cap online because she can’t seem to get past the chain stitch.

Peach Nectar Spritzers

Photo courtesy of Williams-Sonoma

Found this recipe on the Williams-Sonoma website but made a slight modification...Sprite. Yeah, yeah, I know...not as classy or healthy, but I had a taste testing with a panel of volunteers and they all voted to add Sprite. It was a bit hit at the Belly Brunch.

Peach Nectar Spritzers

Ice cubes as needed

2 Cans (each 12 fl. oz) peach nectar

1 bottle (24 fl. oz.) sparkling mineral water

Sprite (approximately 24 fl. oz or equal to the amount of sparkling mineral water)

1 peach, halved, pitted and thinly sliced

Fill 6 tall glasses half full with ice cubes. Pour 1/2 cup of the peach nectar into each glass and fill with equal parts sparkling mineral water and Sprite. Alternatively, fill a pitcher half full with ice cubes, pour both cans of peach nectar into the pitcher and stir in the sparkling water and Sprite.

Garnish each glass with a few peach slices. Serve immediately. Serves 6.

Raspberry White Chocolate Muffins

Raspberry White Chocolate Muffins

1 cup milk
1/2 and 1/4 cup butter, melted and divided
1 egg, slightly beaten
2 cups flour
1/3 and 1/4 cup sugar, divided
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
1/2 cup white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a 12 cup muffin pan with paper liners. In a large bowl, combine milk, 1/2 cup butter, and egg. Stir in flour, 1/3 cup sugar, baking powder, and salt; stir just until flour is moistened. Gently stir in raspberries and white choc. chips. Spoon batter into baking cups. Bake for 24 to 28 minutes until golden brown. Allow to cool slightly before removing from pan. Dip top of each muffin in melted butter, then in sugar.

This recipe was given to me by my friend Libby. She's an excellent cook and her Raspberry White Chocolate Muffins are always a big hit! Trying to stretch the recipe a bit I made the mistake of filling 18 muffin cups instead of 12. Bad decision because these muffins rise so beautifully and mound so perfectly for dipping in butter and sugar IF you divide the batter evenly into 12 cups. Otherwise they are flat and impossible to dip! So, I learned my lesson and divided batch number two in 12 cups. Perfect! You can see in the picture that the mounded ones are much better looking.

Tips From My Friend Libby: Line your muffin pans with two paper liners. After baking, remove the ugly one. My oven never really browns these. I suggest cooking them only the 24 minutes, as long as toothpick comes out clean. If I cook them any longer, I tend to get a crunchy bottom that is unpleasant.

My Fella on the Front Page!

Pardon the blatant bragging, but I just had to share this photo of my Firefighter. He made it on the front page of Thursday's edition of the Beaumont Enterprise. Yep, that's him in the tiny photo in the upper right hand corner. Hot, hot, hot (wink).

Photos of A Friend

Once upon a time...a husband asked his wife for photos. He wanted glamour shots to capture the wife of his youth. Many moons later, she complied and asked her friend Krystina to photograph her. This is as close as I get to glamour shots (no hairspray required). Shana you are beautiful!