Mom in the shot May 12th {Date Night}

Date nights are essential to a strong loving marriage.

Even if it is a quick trip to the coffee shop for an hour.

When you are married you MUST carve out time to spend to spend just the two of you.

{Hubs and I last week on a date}

When you have kids running around your feet, interrupting your conversations, making you spell half of what you are saying to avoid little ears, and simply needing you, it can be draining and straining on a marriage. So the time you can spend enjoying each other outside of being on the couch, is very very important. I hope all married couples get to do this. Even if it is once a month. Make the time, it is SOOO worth to reconnect.

Do you date night? What's you favorite thing to do? I am always looking for new things...

Hooking up with Em.

Airing out the boys {to infinity and beyond}

Bean got to go to Target and pick out some snazzy new undies {buzz and uddy were his choice}.

Get off the phone with the asylum, NO I am not potty training at 18mnths.

Poor little dude has some major diaper rash.

The Doc called for a little airing out, so on with the Buzz undies and outside we went.

I was pleasantly surprised and impressed that I did not need to hose off the back porch after playing outside for a good 30 mins.

Poor baby, hope his little bum is better soon.

Suggestions are welcome.

Wait for it... Pickle Marinated Chicken Tenders.

Ever look at a jar of pickle juice and think, what a waste.

Oh thats just me, I LOVE pickles.

I had always heard this urban legend that Chick-fil-A marinated their chicken tenders in pickle juice. So I thought if it is true and then it is good enough to try.

What you will need:

- Chicken Breast cut into tender strips.

- Pickle juice {my favs are below}

- Panko bread crumbs {I love Ian's whole wheat}

- Onion powder 1/2tsp

- Garlic powder 1/2 tsp

- Paprika 1/2tsp

- Salt and pepper 1 tsp of each

- 2 eggs

- Marinate your chicken in the pickle juice for at least an hour, but the longer the better.

- Beat eggs dump bread crumbs on a plate and mix in seasonings. Then pat dry the chicken on a paper towel and proceed to bread the chicken. Egg then crumbs.

- Fry up in some oil olive {just be careful the sugar in the pickle juice can burn}

Plate and serve. I made plain boxed corn bread, but I will be making this recipe next time {thanks Julie!}

Thats hot sauce, cause I love it just as much as I love pickles.

They were very good and just the hint of pickle to them.

Enjoy!

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Swag Swap weeks starts May 15th. Check out the list of shops and what coupon codes they are offering you during this week!!!

Buggies "A Very Cute Fruit Stand" 5th Birthday

I really never know where some of my ideas come from.

They live deep in a dark corner of my cerebral cortex and I pull them out as needed.

I wanted something fun, different, and colorful for Buggies 5th birthday party {just like her}.

After a little back and forth on the theme I went with a "A Very Cute Fruit Stand".

Hubs and I mapped out a plan {well mostly Hubs, I helped a little} to build the canopy out of PVC. After a little red spray paint it was perfect, then added yellow fabric and a little strawberry fabric ruffle to the front.

Buggie was in love. Makes my heart happy.

{scored her dress from Target for 8 bucks!}

I teamed up with Kori from Paper and Pigtails {you know she is my paper goods go to, not just cause she is a friend, but she is super creative and so much fun to work with} to make the invitation and signs.

These are pineapple shaped cups I purchased from Rhode Island Novelty. They had a little hole for a straw, super cute.

I knew I wanted to work with Renee from Bees Knees Creative. So I ordered the cutest strawberry cookies. {you will see more of her work below}.

I was stumped on watermelon, until I did a little Etsy search and came across Lather Tech. I knew I was wanting her soap to hand out but was not sure on the size, so Kathy was kind enough to mail me out a sample 2oz piece and it was perfect. This soap looked and smelled so much like watermelon, hubs made sure we told all the parents it was soap, haha.

I purchased some banana fabric and made little sacks and filled then with banana chips.

For a little fruit cocktail I went to Doodle R US and ordered some fruit shaped crayons. They were quick and easy to work with. And they paired perfect with the coloring sheet of Buggie my Uncle made for her.

I had seen something in a Martha {Stewart that is} mag, after attempting three times, I realized I am not Martha or her staff. SO I racked my noodle and thought how cute would it be to make cherry Dum Dum lollipop cherries. For these I ordered a box of just cherry Dum Dum's , thin floral tape, leafs cut out of cardstock and hot glue. I just wrapped the lollipops together to make them in pairs, then hot glued the leafs on. Done and done.

Fresh fruit was represented in apples, oranges, and little cups of blueberries.

And you remember those gumball flowers I made.

For the cake I went we a good old favorite, simple sheet cake with strawberry filling from Publix. All I did was have them do the basket weave in red. For $26 bucks it was so yummy. But for some added cuteness I took some bite size cookies Renee made and stuck them in. Along with a name cookie!

I had originally wanted fondant topper for the cupcakes I made, but then I thought how cute would little bite size cookies in stuck in cupcakes?! These cookies melted my heart the mintue I laid eyes on them. The little faces, I mean come on. I really wanted to shellack them and keep them for ever!

So thats it. It was super fun and the hugs and thank yous from Buggie made all of it SOOO worth it.

And thank you to the ladies at Pizzazzerie for the feature!

Mom in the shot May 5th {Momma & Buggie time}

Buggie and I went to Old navy the other day.

We were early, so played around in the car.

She looks SO big in this pic.

Oh wait she is so big, 5 now!

Speaking of her being 5, Pizzazzerie is featuring her party today.

Embracing with Em.

And the votes are in.

And I was honored to be sandwiched between The Vintage Pearl and Lil Blue Boo.

Could a girl ask for a nicer sandwich to be a part of?

So when I first got the email from Circle of Moms saying I was nominated I was SO excited. Then I saw what category it was, and I will be honest the wind was sucked out of my sails. Yes I have a little shop on Etsy. But the ladies I was nominated with are legit business ladies. Like store fronts, employees, ads in national magazines, legit businesses. With that said I am BEYOND honored to make the top three. I want to thank you for voting. And I know I HUGE thank is due to my family and friends who took time everyday to vote for me and also shared on FB. Everyday I logged in and saw the link being shared and all those comments from people I did not know saying they had voted for me, made me feel so supported and loved.

Thank you this was an amazing experience for me.

The list that came together from this voting is a great source for Mom owned shop/blogs,

I highly recommended checking it out.

As far as my shop, after this week I am planning on working hard to add new items. I will keep you posted.

Most viewed ever.

My Ticket Roll Popcorn Bowl Tutorial is far above my most viewed post ever.

I am making them this week for teacher appreciation week.

Putting some bags of popcorn, candy and movie gift cards in.

Busy week, I will be posting as I can fit it in. Then next week I am BACK full force.

PS

Praying for the safety of our men and women over seas more then ever today.

God bless America.