Twig and Berries {we play with food}

Made this lunch plate for Bean the other day.

And when I shared it on Instagram, it got some rave reviews.

So I wanted to share how EASY it is to make this super fun lunch.

Here is what I named "Twig and Berries"

When I make a fun plate, it usually starts with what I want to make then, comes the search of the pantry and fridge for supplies.

What I used for this was:

- tortilla wrap

- peanut butter

- banana

- blueberries

- stick pretzels

- space goldfish

- in the picture above I used strawberries for the wings but you will see below the second time I made it I used spinach.

- eyeball candy {yes I have these in my pantry, just for food fun plates, I got them at Target}

Make you tortilla and fold in half. Then cut in half again, kitchen scissors are my best friend. Then use them to shape you birds...

The stars in the space goldfish make the BEST beaks.

Then pile some pretzels and blueberries for the nest.

So easy.

So fun.

Play with your food, you will not regret it!

Mom in the Shot {Sept 15, 2011} Check out the new bloggie design!

Ok first things first, how do you like my new bloggie digs?

There is a few things I still need to do, like new buttons and such.

But when I got the artwork from Amanda over at Pencils and Daisies

I could not wait to put it up.

More to come on this talented lady, she is amazing.

Here I am deciding to grow my hair out. For real this time. I am going to get past the stupid ponytail stage and get long locks, its be 10 years people.

This needs to happen.

And here I am thinking wow, I can really pull off short hair. Maybe I shouldn't grow it out.

Have I told you I am a gemini, the most indecisive group there is?!

So what will I do?

Jury is still out.

Ha.

Embrace the camera people, its freakin AWESOME.

What we ate Wednesday {Homemade Sauce with Chicken Sausage}

I love making things that the longer they sit on the stove the better they get.

You know incase you get into an intense game of Candyland and forget you have something

cooking, never happened to me {eyes shift to the side}.

Here is my homemade sauce recipe, fair warning I am not Italian so there is probably some major protocols missing, but this works for me!

What you will need:

- 28oz can of peeled plum tomatoes

- 2 tbsp olive oil

- 1 tbsp chopped garlic

- 1/2 tbsp sugar

-1 tsp kosher salt

- 2 tbsp cooking sherry {or red wine}

- a package of italian chicken sausage {optional}

- bag of spinach {optional}

- pasta

- parmesan cheese {optional}

Sorry for the lack of prep pics, I was slacking, story of my life.

-If you are going to be adding sausage, in a large sauce pan remove from the casing and cook over medium high heat until cooked thru.

- Remove from pan and add olive oil and garlic {or you can start at this point}.

-Cook garlic until just turning golden and then add tomatoes with liquid {if you cooked the sausage this is the point to deglaze all the yumminess stuck to the pan.}

- If you have potato masher, use it to mash up the tomatoes. If not a wooden spoon will work.

-Stir in the sugar, salt, and sherry.

- Add back in the sausage, cover and turn to low and simmer.

And here is where the magic happens. Just let it hang out in there.

Cook your pasta right before eating and at this point I would add the spinach to the sauce and stir it down while the pasta cooks.

Then plate and serve with some cheese and if you are feeling frisky some red pepper flakes.

I make this sauce pretty much every time we have pasta, but change it up, maybe make meatballs with it...

Enjoy!

Pinterest Project Party {Streamer Ball Birthday Bomb and Blue Moon Cupcakes}

I had a bigger project plan for today but our AC broke.

Pity party of one please.

Fingers crossed today it gets fixed.

So here are two smaller but still fun projects inspired by my Pinterest boards.

I love surprises.

Like BIG time, hence why we did not find out what we were having with both Bug and Bean.

So when it comes to birthdays and other present giving holidays, making surprises for others makes me giddy.

{Image from my Must Make Board}

My little sis had her birthday last Friday and knew I wanted to make her what I am calling a "Streamer Ball Birthday Bomb".

Gathered some fun stuff and got to wrapping.

I give her this candle scent every year for her birthday.

I stuck little treats and pom pom balls in little spots. I would have used confetti, but I am pretty sure my parents would have banned me from their home, since that is where she opened it.

Just keep wrapping, just keep wrapping...

And then after several fits of anger at the streamers twisting, I was done.

She loved it and so did the kids helping her.

I also made her some cuppie cakes.

But not just any, Blue Moon Cupcakes {from my Must Grace My Lips board}.

They were BEYOND.

Make them, promise you will be VERY happy.

So there it is, my Pinterest Project's for this week.

Question, would you like this to become a linky party? Would love to if what you think.

Did someone say Halloween?!

As the Halloween catalogs start rolling in, my daughters mind has started reeling.

Everyday it changes.

"Mommy I want to be Jessi for Halloween."

"Um how about I be My Little Pony."

Or get this new one.

"Mommy I think I want to be a Barbie Motorcycle Girl."

Um that got squashed in two secs my friends.

But really it is Sept 7th, October is knocking on our doors.

I plan on upping the Halloween decor this year.

Which means lots of DIY.

So I thought I would share two projects from last year.

DIY yarn wreath.

Coffee filter yarn ball bats. Which I happened to share a year ago today...

Anywho happy crafting and I will be back with some new stuff for this year!

XO

Our week thru iphone pics {Aug 27-Sept 2}

Did I just really type Sept 2nd?

Holy crap, sorry that freaked me a bit.

Anywho here was our week, minus the ugly cause who wants to see the time outs, the fighting, the messes or any other thing you can think of between a almost 2yr old and 5 yr old can do.

See this...

Yes that is a WALL of rain. Every single day, this is what awaits us at pickup time for school.

Welcome to Florida.

I was upstairs picking up when Bean went MIA.

After a little search I found him behind his door brushing his teeth and talking to R2.

No big deal, ha.

Buggie started back at dance this week and trying to keep a 2 yr old boy still for 45 mins, is no fun. So we do A LOT of "ready set, GO!" outside...

Buggie doing another project at Lowes Build and Grow workshop.

She loves this time with her Daddy.

And the smell of lumber, which cracks me up cause so do I.

Then this happened.

I am calling it "puddin massacre of 2011".

Yesterday we built a little fort after school and watched Rio. Kids loved it, until Bean started knocking it down every two secs, insert yelling here.

And lastly a little video of Hubs getting the sillies out. He is the best Daddy ever.

Wish you all a happy LOOOOONG weekend.Now go get the sillies out.

Mom in the Shot {Sept 1, 2011}

It has been forever and a day since I have done an Embrace the Camera post.

But its like riding a bike.

So here I am hopping right back on and pedaling like no ones business.

Here I am at home, scratch that, I mean Target. But check it, see that cart?! Its void, void of children, which totally made it a photo op!

Snookie was not the first girl to rock a bump.

I have been stylin a quiff, since I was knee high to a grasshopper, ok not really, more like the past 7 yrs.

But SOOO before Snookie's ever appeared on MTV.

Oh and speaking of MTV.

I remember being a kid and dying to stay up and watch the VMA's, and when I heard that

this week was the VMA's, I was stunned.

Here is the thing, I can not care about the VIDEO MUSIC awards, when you DO NOT play music videos!!

PLAY MORE MUSIC, and stop making "celebrities" out of teen moms.

Ok sorry for that rant, but I mean really...

And there is this kid.

He steals my heart everyday and challenges my soul even more.

Love him...

Wow, did not even need training wheels.

Now have you been in FRONT of the camera lately?

Link up with Em.