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HAPPY 30th BDAY COUSIN JODI!!!

A very special birthday indeed - your 30th!  I LOVED turning 30 and I LOVE my Thirties - so I hope you feel the same Cousin Jodi!  And hope you had a wonderful celebration on June 10 :)

Here's the gift I gave Jodi.  One of my sewing projects I've been working on since down in Florida - Washable/Re-Usable Sandwich & Snack Baggies.  Simply turn them inside out, brush away any crumbs and wash (think a bib people - you get food all over a bib and do the same thing and use again and again).  I don't GO GREEN on everything in life but I try to do my best - this is one of my contributions to a Green World.  :)

What's so cute about this set is that is was made to match her Vintage Bicycle which used to belong to Jodi's grandma and her parents surprised her by restoring the bike (think old Schwinn with fat seat and big basket on the front).  So my Sandwich Baggie, Snack Baggie & Snack Sack will go well with her red and cream bike - for when she takes it out on a stroll to go have lunch on the beach down in NC.

Hope you like Jodi and hope you enjoy the recipes I included :)  Send a pic of you wearing the cute vintage bangle while riding your cute vintage bicycle, ok!

Happy 30th Birthday!!!

XOXO, Jen/Justin/Stella J. & Baby #2 

SIDE NOTE:  Found out a few days after this post Jodi & John were involved in a car accident - thank god everyone is ok - aside from being very very sore. 

The Set

(Snack Baggie, top/Sandwich Baggie, bottom left/Snack Sack, right wit bow)

The Snack Sack 

(great for a grapes, etc.)

I put a cute vintage looking bangle that was black with big cream colored polka dots which I think would look so cute on Jodi when she's riding her vintage bicycle!

 Recipe Card put in Sandwich Baggie

 Recipe Card put in Snack Baggie

Baby #2's BABY "Sprinkle" SHOWER

Thank You Tonya, our wonderful babysitter, for throwing me such a lovely and cute Baby "Sprinkle" Shower - it was so so sweet of you and I loved all the thoughtful details you put into my special day. We all had a wonderful time! Thanks to my family & friends for all your help in prepping &  most of all for celebrating Baby #2 with us today ♥

----We missed JoNana that day very much - but are excited about her road to recovery!----

  Now if I could get that CD of pics from you I can post how cute of a job you did with all of the decorations and the awesome food tables! Especially that Chocolate Fountain you had going - yum! ;) 

Britny and Sterling came down and stayed the night before 

Lilo, Stella & baby Riley

 My gift to myself, haha - burp clothes I made

 Got some really cute and creative gifts - like this "Cupcake Onesie/Romper/Socks & Wash Clothes Set Jill made

 The Sunflower Diaper made by my Aunt Snookie

 This photo is so HILARIOUS to me - and sick of me, haha!  I'm probably saying "Oh.My.God. HOW CUTE MOM!"  I'm holding a "Nursing Necklace" that my mom made me using her vintage beads from her days back in the 60's.  Babies hold onto the Nursing Necklace charms and play with them, etc. while nursing - I've worn it twice already as it's too cute to put away and wait to use till then.

The following pics were taken by Tonya to go along with what she put together for immediate family members of mine.  Each person was given a card to write something to the baby and then I will attach the photo here to their written sentiments for Baby #2.  Very sweet.  Tonya is all about making sure Baby #2 doesn't get the shaft on cute special things like Stella did when she was expected to arrive :)

 Mom & I

(and wearing the Nursing Necklace she made)

My sister, Amy

 Cousin Kelsey

Aunt Cassie

 Aunt Joyce

 Aunt Snookie

Most Precious Photo To Date!

This was taken by the photographer that was at the Mommy & Me Tea Party that we went to a few weeks ago - I was just emailed it today.  I could cry this is so precious to me!!!

The Playdate Playhouse Hosts CupCake Playdate MAY 2012

 Check out Stella's face - and then look at Sienna & Lilo - as if they are thinking "OK MISS Excited!

Lunch Time for the moms....and a special thank you to Hiba for giving each of us a little sample pack of her All Natural Homemade Facial Scrubs, Lotion Bar and Lotion.  Stella LOVES applying her mini lotion bar!

To visit her website and see about her products click here

http://www.lilysapunas.com/

 Lunch Time

Look at Stella stealing some of Lilo's cupcake crumbs from her plate!  Stella stayed there after all the kids went off to play to make sure she got all of the crumbs - hey what can I say our girl loves the sweets just like her mama!

The last time The Playdate Playhouse hosted a get together it was back in October for the Pumpkin Painting Playdate.  So this was alot of fun to do this in the Spring this time

The day couldn't have been more beautiful - and great company with 6 moms, 7 toddlers, and 4 babies - ALL BEING GIRLS EXCEPT FOR ONE (5-month old Baby Vincent) - can you believe that!!??  Usually Davis, Jill's toddler, is the ladies man at all of our gatherings but unfortunately she couldn't make it due to outpatient surgery.  And there would have been 8 toddler girls but Katy was recovering from having her 2nd baby - YEP, A GIRL "Hannah"  :)  Congrats Katy!!! 


So I gotta say - I do love lunchin' it out on our patio while Stella plays in her yard - and it's even better when my friends and her friends join us!   I thank my husband all time for "letting" me pretty up our yard over the last few years - cuz let me tell you that house nor the yard came this way - not without ALOT OF WORK on our part, more than I could ever bare to do again...and of course some hired hands when it came to the stamped concrete patio, etc.


For more pics of this playdate go on FB and "LIKE" The Playdate Playhouse (Lambertville, MI).  Click below to get right to the page on FB


The Playdate Playhouse Link on FB


 The Lunch Menu for that day was:

Kids Menu:  Lunchables (variety - ham, turkey or bologna) carrot sticks w/ranch, apple slices & a Juice Box for them or they were welcome to have what us mommies were having....which none of them opted for.  And ok - I forgot the carrot sticks till almost the end of the lunch and the apple slices never made it to the picnic table, what can I say Mommy Brain :)

The Mommy Menu was:  Curried Chicken Salad with Golden Raisins & Whole Cashews on a Crossaint, A Romaine Mandarin Orange Salad with Goat Cheese & Toasted Almond Slices sprinkled on top with a Homemade Balsamic Dressing.   Fresh Strawberries for a side....um, which I also forgot to put out on the table until later ;)

Dessert:  Mini-CupCakes that the kids decorated themselves by using frosting baggies that I put together (they squeezed out the frosting from the corner tip of the baggie) and colored sprinkles.

Stella had a BLAST - it was alot of fun.



And now for the recipes some of you have asked me for that day...ENJOY!

RECIPE:  Curried Chicken Salad

Serves 6

3 whole (6 split) chicken breasts, boneless, skinless

Kosher salt

1 ½ cups good mayo  (TRY just 1 cup of Mayo first - taste see if you like - I use 1 cup)

1/3 dry white wine  (if you leave this out it's not the end of the world, but much better with it)

¼ cup Major Grey’s chutney

3 tablespoons curry powder

1 cup medium-diced celery (2 large stalks)

¼ cup chopped scallions, white and green parts (2 scallions)

½ cup raisins, or more if you would like.

1 cup whole roasted*, salted cashews - OR Not Roasted, your choice (I do not roast them).

Boil chicken breasts. Set aside until cool enough to handle. Dice the chicken in large bite-size pieces.

For the dressing, combine the mayo, wine, chutney, curry powder and 1½  teaspoons salt mix, whisk, your choice, until smooth and creamy.

 

Combine the chicken with enough dressing to moisten well. Add the celery, scallions and raisins, and mix well. Refrigerate for a few hours to allow the flavors to blend. Add the cashews and serve at room temperature. 

NOTE:  I always make another batch of the dressing because I feel it needs more - however I don't use the entire 2nd batch so pour in extra little at a time until you taste test it's to your perfect dressing-wise.  I keep little bit of extra dressing I have and you can use for chicken deli sandwich spread or pour over a chicken breast and bake in oven, if you want.

*To roast cashews, place them in a dry sauté pan over medium-low heat and stir until they’re a little crisp, about 5 mins. 

RECIPE:  Mandarin Orange Goat Cheese Romain Salad

 SALAD:
• Romaine Lettuce
• Celery
• Green Onions
• Mandarin Oranges (Add Just Before Serving)
• Goat Cheese** (see pic below of the Goat Cheese I highly recommend using)
• Toasted Candied Almonds*

DRESSING: 
1/3 C Veg Oil
1/4 C Sugar
1/4 C Vinegar (I use Balsamic - but can use White, Apple Cider, or Red Wine Vinegar)

1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp pepper

Assemble the salad with all romaine first, then sprinkle all toppings except wait to put the Mandarin Oranges on just before serving if possible (diced celery, diced green onions, crumbled goat cheese (crumble it by scraping it out of it's package with a fork).

 *Pour large bag of sliced almonds (about 1-2 cups worth) into frying pan with about 3 TBSP of white sugar in with them - heat slowly on Medium and pay attention, stir once in awhile - once you see the sugar begin to carmelize transfer them onto a sheet of wax paper to cool.  Break apart the large clumps once cooled.  You can do this ahead of time and store in tupperware in fridge until you are ready to assemble your salad.

**Goat Cheese:  This brand or another brand is fine as long as it is packaged just like this, rather than in a tub, etc. - AND GET THE GARLIC & HERB ONE!

Tea Party at the Country Club

Sofi Stella, a children's clothing boutique in Monroe MI hosts a Mommy & Me Tea Party once a year in May at the Monroe Golf & Country Club.  This was our first time going and we invited Jeamma along too. 

Stella was such a good girl sitting at the table sipping on her raspberry tea which was really good, eating her lunch (ok just the french fries and few pieces of watermelon while Jeamma and I snagged a few bites of her gourmet like chicken fingers the club makes).   The spread for the adults was wonderful and each seat had a cute little cake pop waiting for us.

So the theme of this tea part is to wear the brand Dolly & Me which is a dress and a mini matching dress that fits your baby doll.  Well when Stella was a baby Britny lent us the cutest hand me down dress & matching baby doll dress - different brand and way cuter than the Dolly brands! 

It was a lovely Tea Party filled with a candy table, jewelry making kit table (which you got to take home your kit to make the extra bracelets and necklaces), face painting provided and Mini Manicures - which Stella LOVES to get her nails painted!

She also LOVED getting her face painted and would have kept the Butterfly glitter face on forever if it weren't for me wiping it away before bedtime. 

 This cake was DELICIOUS!

 "CHEERS!"

 Making friends - running around chasing each other - her favorite game to play

 The Candy Bar - where she got the cute princess choker candy necklace she is wearing here

 Mini Mani

 Jewelry Making with Jeamma

"Stella & Stella"  

(this is the Stell from "Sofi Stella" Children's Boutique)

Another Apron for The Stella Friendship Dress!

Thank you Claire for making this adorable apron - the pocket is a perfect touch too!  It was great to see you just before you headed out of town to start a new chapter in your life in D.C. - we wish you good luck and have fun!  xoxoxo

To see the full post of this dress from start to finish click here!

Original Post Showing You Dress Start to Finish

A Wonderful Mother's Day, 2012

I started today, Mother's Day 2012,  at 12:30 today....

Side Note:  Thanks for letting me sleep in Justin - not only could I do that any day, but never get too of course, today it was so needed & appreciated due to the string of insomnia nights i've been experiencing which have been really bad.  End of Side Note.

....and this is what was printed out laying on my keyboard.  I didn't see it right away because the first thing I noticed instead upon waking up and waddling into the kitchen with my robe on was the precious view outside our kitchen window in the backyard - it was Justin and Stella playing in the sun.  She was rolling around on our outdoor blankets that she loves to get out of the toy trunk and have us lay down in the grass.  It made my Mother's Day - seeing them out there, getting to sit back and just watch.

Later that afternoon we headed to my Aunt Joyce's where we had a great time & yummy burgers/brats on a picture perfect day with everyone.  

And HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to our moms, we love you :) and JoAnne - we missed seeing you this Mom's Day, xoxoxoxo

My Handmade Baby Gifts - Burp Clothes & Onesies

Introducing my Handmade Fabric Appliquéd Burp Clothes & Onesie Gift Set. 

"L" is for Lovely Leena"

Our good friends Sarah & Z, the parents of adorable Natalie, and the family we joined out in Las Vegas last summer welcomed their 2nd child and 2nd girl, Leena, to the world in January. 

I sew together one side of Terry Cloth with one side Cute Fabric which also seen on the onesie adorns a hand cut fabric letter appliqué sporting the baby's first initial.  I made a card as well that adorns one of my fabric letters. And I'm having alot of fun with these. 

So I've got alot of friends having babies (and some of Justin's important RTB clients as well).  Most of my girlfriends have just one child already, a girl, Stella's age and they all kinow what they are having...another girl!  But there are some exceptions to that but that is the majority with the 7 plus people I know having a baby this spring or summer.   I must say I wouldn't be able to do these in a timely manner if all of these people were like me and NOT finding out the sex - so thank goodness they did or are doing so and are sharing the name or at least the first intial with me so I can get a move on these!  Because between juggling my daily routine and time with Stella - it takes me some time to complete a set, but again that's because I have a toddler to take care of and go have fun with whether it be in the backyard, zoo, etc.  :) 

Ok, so I'll post these in the order as I've given them away as gifts...

 

Day 1 NO PACI. Day 190 BABY CLARK #2.

Stella has done awesome on breaking the habit of the pacifier - SURPRISINGLY to both of us.  I thought it would be a herrendous week and she proved us wrong! 

Just 12 more weeks to go till Baby Clark #2!