Create a Little Foodie Party!

Finally!!!  Last week was crazy as first both girls were sick and then I was trying to pack and get ready to go to Vancouver but it's posted.  Pictures from the Create a Little Foodie party!!  As I explained in an earlier post, I made all the baby food for Emily and now Lindsay.  Some of my girlfriends wanted tips on how to make their own so I thought I would just use baby food as an excuse to have a party.  We had so much fun and it was actually productive so I hope to do it again soon.

Create a Little Foodie ~ Sneak Peak!

As I have mentioned before, I love making baby food.  It gives me great satisfaction to provide for Lindsay in that way and I also love experimenting with combinations for someone that can't talk back!  Baby making has been in the local water and I have had a lot of friends recently that have had children.  Most of them knew that I made all of Emily's food and had questions about how to make their own kid's food.  Sooooo... why not combine good friends, some wine, and a live tutorial on baby food?  We had such a good time and everyone walked away with at least a month's worth of food for their youngin'.  Here's a little sneak peak until I have time to upload all the pictures!

A princess or a sushi roll?

Halloween is over a month away but I feel a lot of pressure to chose Emily and Lindsay's costumes.  This choice could impact that future career path!!  I'm kidding of course, but I do love Halloween and the choice of Halloween costume is very important to me.  They could probably care less but I have to be assured that I will get some ultra cute photos on October 31st.  My husband thinks I am ridiculous and that I should just go to Gymboree and buy Emily a costume.  I want to make part of her costume or either be unique.  Last year Emily went as Madeline and granted most people had no idea who she was, but she was the only Madeline on the street!   

I love creative costumes.  Some I definitely wouldn't do myself but I do like the uniqueness or thought process behind their creation.  Check these out:

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I can't wait for Halloween!!!!

Bite Me - Blog Mash

So sad!  Last night was the season finale of HBO's True Blood and it was one of the few episodes that gave me the True Blood vibe that I have come to love.  If I had time (or if I had HBO since I have to go watch the show at a girlfriend's house), I would love to throw a True Blood party.  Since all I can think about our fall/Halloween crafts, I decided to do the Monday Mash on inspiration for a True Blood Party.  Totally Team Eric by the way!   

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I realize its a little early for me to crave pumpkins, but how awesome is the Eric pumpkin?!

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Remembering

September 11, 2001

That day means so much to so many people.  I feel like its the one day in my lifetime so far that is a defining moment.  One of those where everyone knows where they were when they heard the news.  Sort of like "Where were you when JFK was assassinated?" or "Where were you when the first man walked on the moon?"  It's amazing that our children have no recollection of that day.  I feel like that day and its aftermath are so apart of my thought process that I can't comprehend not knowing about that day and those who gave their lives.  Those born in the last ten years don't know the stab to our hearts as we watched the towers fall or how how our bubble popped and America realized that we were not untouchable.  Emily and Lindsay are too young to teach or explain about 9/11.  When they get older I will show them pictures and hopefully take them to Ground Zero.  I don't know if there is a way I can ever show them the loss to the nation's psyche though.

The girls and I spent the day enjoying the outdoors.  Emily rode her tricycle and blew bubbles at Lindsay.

   
We played with sidewalk chalk.  All hail Princess Emily and Princess Lindsay!

It was a perfect day and it's so hard to imagine that such a horrific action happened on a day just like this.  My heart goes out to the families that lost loved ones that day.  The mothers who would never see their daughters again, the babies who would never know their fathers.  I gave Emily and Lindsay extra kisses and hugs, sent Matt off to have some guy time, and I even took a nap at naptime.  I tried not to rush through the day or stress about getting housework done.  I wanted to enjoy the day, enjoy my loved ones and enjoy my freedom.  I am so thankful and so proud to be an American.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

It has been brought to my attention that I never posted pictures from my girlfriend's baby shower. Sorry Sara!  Sara and Kevin were having a little boy.  Both are very dear friends and I know that they love sports.  Most of the time girls say that but really don't mean it.  OR they really like tailgating and the entertaining that it involves but not the actual sport.  Sara is not that type of girl.  She truely loves football and baseball and any other sport that where a Louisiana team is involved.  Kevin is from New York so as a male it is just a given that he is a huge Yankee fan.  I figured it would be too complicated to try to make all of these Louisiana and New York teams mesh with maybe a sprinkle of North Carolina Teams like the Hurricanes.  Therefore, I went for a generic sports theme.  I was 8 months pregnant at the time and felt like a bloated whale so I didn't have the energy to do as many details as I would have liked.  I was very happy with the pennant banner and diaper cake though.  It was a great, relaxing party and everyone enjoyed showering Baby Stockwell with gifts.  Kevin and Sara have lots of wonderful friends and family that love him already so he is a lucky boy!

These cupcakes definitely didn't turn out like I wanted them to.  I learned a valuable lesson - I do not like working with gel icing.  It did not come out very easy for me at all and was very runny.  Unfortunately I decided to decorate these at the location so I didn't have a choice but to serve them.  I love the lifesaver pacifiers though.  Those turned out great and I used those as decorations on the table as well as cupcake toppers.

Party Bar - Blog Mash

Lately I have been seeing "bars" everywhere.  No, I'm not craving a drink (well maybe I am but that's another story).  What I'm referring to are party buffets.  I LOVE them!  Such a great concept to involve the guest in preparing their food so it can be completely customizable.  Anytime you are working with food is always an ice breaker and conversation starter as well.  "So...how do you take your grits?" is a much better opener than "What's your sign?".  Any food that you can add items to can be made into a bar.  In my line of work I see candy, cookie and ice cream bars all the time for kid birthday parties.  Foods bars are for adults too and make a great addition to a luncheon, wedding or adult birthday party.  Below are a few of my favorites from blog space.

Pancake Bar

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S'mores Bar

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Bloody Mary Bar

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Spud Bar

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Salsa Bar

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Coffee Bar

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Eggs Benedict Bar

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 Trail Mix Bar

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Happy Labor Day!

Does anyone really need a reason to make a dessert?  Well, I guess since I have been trying to lose a stubborn 10 lbs since Lindsay was born, I do!  What is Labor Day without good food on the grill, American beer and a red, blue and white dessert?  For some reason I believe (with no evidence) that rice krispie treats are better for you than cookies.  I realized this was passed down through generations of my family when I overheard my mother telling my daughter to chose the rice krispie treat instead of the cookie!

Even though I have tried to stimulate Emily's palate with combinations of apricot and lamb even before she had teeth, she resists any new food and is a very picky eater.  I made her a dinner of rocket hot dogs. I had planned to make the triangle top out of cheese but realized too late that I didn't have any in the fridge.  So one must improvise!  Ketchup is always a compliment to any food in the Wrenn household!

The adults had hot dogs with slaw and chili and grilled corn-on-the-cob.  I made a fantastic sauce for the corn thanks to my friend Kelley.  I pulled the husks back from the corn and slathered on a mixture of mayo, lemon juice, red pepper flakes, and parmesan cheese.  Then I pulled the husks back over the corn and put them on the grill.  Yum!

Can't have a holiday without sparklers!

So sad to say goodbye unofficially to summer :(

"Deere" Grant's 2nd Birthday

This is a REAL birthday party.  I love looking at the staged parties on-line and also at the much larger than mine budget parties where all the children are given matching Pottery Barn outfits as favors and it looks like it was catered by a five star restaurant.  Those give me ideas.  The party below INSPIRES me.  Its a real, DIY birthday party with lots of love, time and attention to detail given by the mother.  Jena was a girlfriend of mine from college and she was blessed with a sweet little boy, Grant.  Grant like his John Deere tractors so she thought it a perfect fit for "Deere" Grant's 2nd birthday party.  The party was held at Spanish Fort Kids Park in Alabama.  She made almost everything - the hats, banner, cake, table decor, etc.!  I can only imagine the time she devoted!  All the decorations such as baskets and hay bales were purchased at Hobby Lobby, Wal-Mart, Michaels and Good will.  The coloring book favors are from the Dollar Tree.  

Grant's shirt was designed by Daisy Faye Designs.  The kid activities for the party were the playground and all the picnic tables were covered with brown craft paper so guests could draw to their hearts content! 

I LOVE this!  Such a cute surprise and I can only imagine how excited Grant was to see the inside of the cake.  Kids think things like this are magic :)

Good job Jena and Happy Birthday Grant!!  We both hope this helps and inspires people to be crafty and to learn to do more with less!