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Monday, March 7, 2011

1ST BIRTHDAY PARTY SUCCESS!

Good Monday to all!
So this past Saturday was Chloe's 1st birthday-where has the year gone??!! Needless to say it was a great party attended by wonderful friends and family! Craig's Mom & Gram drove down from Canada to partake in the festivities!

I decided on Friday to prep as much food as I could, reserving a few hours before the party for final prep and cooking of the hot foods-timing wise it all worked out.

Thanks to our early rising daughter, we were able to get the house decorated Saturday morning. I know that a few weeks back I shared Chloe's decorations-well I took one of the napkins to our supermarket to have them put the design on her cake and here it is!



Cute right?! We loved it and it tasted good!
And they even made her a "baby cake"

She had fun tearing into it-she was kind of dainty about it, but once she figured out that is was cake and okay to eat she tore into it!

I has so much fun planning the party, and didn't skimp on the food. Now I know that I shared my menu a few weeks back, but working and hosting guests etc. I decided to scrap a few items on the menu and get help from the super market deli.
So here is what the final menu consisted of.

Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
Mini-Twice baked potatoes
Veggie tray
Fruit Tray
Stuffed cucumbers
Cheese and crackers
Mini Pita Sandwiches
Cake & Ice Cream

I made everything except for the pita sandwiches and the cake.
So I was asked by a few of our friends if I could share the recipes and or course I said I can-just check my blog!
So here they are.

Bacon Wrapped Shrimp

Ingredients:
Bacon (I LOVE fully cooked bacon)
Fully cooked shrimp-peeled & deveined
Garlic Powder

Directions:
Sprinkle Garlic Powder over the shrimp, then wrap each in a single piece of bacon. Place the wrapped single layer on a baking sheet and broil in the oven for 5 minutes. Serve with toothpicks and enjoy! Easy Peasy!

Mini-Twice Baked Potatoes

Ingredients:
Mini new Potatoes(Red skinned potatoes)
1/2 c Milk
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup chopped bacon
Salt & Pepper to taste
Chives for garnish
1/4 cup Olive Oil

Directions:

Pre-Heat the oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl combine the olive oil and salt & pepper along with the potatoes. Coat with the oil mixture and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 45 minutes. Once baked turn the temp down on the oven to 350. Remove the potatoes and once cool cut in half and scoop out the insides-leaving a layer around the inside to hold the potatoes "up" once filled. Put the potatoes in the bowl with the remaining ingredients. Fill each potatoe skin with the filling and place single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in the 350 degree oven for 5 mintues or until the cheese has melted. Take out place on a serving dish and garnish with the chives! YUMMY!

Everything was yummy and filling since this was a party happening during the dinner hour! I would say that my little Monkey enjoyed her first birthday! She not remember it but we have made memories that we can share with her later in life!

Like this one!

 And this one!

Cheers!

Erica

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

BLAH!!! Wednesday!

So yeah..it's Wednesday! YIPPEE...throw a party-NOT! I was up wayyyy to late last night cleaning for the in-laws visit. They roll into town this evening, and while they don't pull the white glove treatment when they come to visit I feel the need to have my house SPOTLESS! So yeah that's the reason for the blahs today. Upside to the day it's nice outside so I will be able to get out during lunch and walk and breathe in the clean Colorado air (no not a cliche-it really is clean).

As it stands right now I should be working-but clearly I find this to be a more enjoyable way of getting through my morning, but seriously I need to finish this blog up, drink my coffee in silence and work my little booty off!

I will post dinner tomorrow-I am cooking tonight, and I know you are dying to know if Craig got chili in a can last night-well he didn't I did what I do best second to cooking-I dialed Pizza Hut!

Happy Friday Wednesday (see already trying to fast forward the week)!


Cheers ~
Erica


PS-Little gossip to get you through the day! U R WC!

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Dancing with the "stars"-yeah this cast is a little light in the stars category!

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Kendra Wilkinson-Known for dating Hugh Hefner and posing for Playboy.

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THE KARATE KID!! Ralph Macchio-I had a poster of Ralph taped to the back of my bedroom door when I was like 11!

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Kirstie Alley-Cheers, Look Who's Talking, Veronica's Closet-that's about it for her!

There are more "stars" this season but I don't know who they are, why they are on this show so I think this one will be a snore fest!

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Tuesday Mash-Up

So it's Tuesday, and with my week being crazy I figured it was only fitting that my blog followed suit!
This blog is about everything and maybe a little bit of nothing!
First up dinner last night.
Now with a busy week at work and getting prepared for my in-laws to be here tomorrow I knew there was absolutley no way I was cooking last night-first I informed Craig that dinner would be chili in a can. Once we got home that plan changed. I managed to go beyond cracking open a can! Proud of me I know right...!?
We did have a "meal" that I made quite a bit when I was single-I give you rotini with mushromm basil sauce! Don't be fooled by the name I dolled it up-it's box of rotini noodles and a jar of mushroom with basil sauce! That's it..I won't go into the instructions for this one-I think it's self explanatory! Nonetheless-it was yummy!
Tonight-well tonight really will be chilie in a can-I have stuff to do in preparation of the in-law's coming into town tomorrow night!
I anticipate cooking so I will be able to share that with you!

Other stuff on my radar-well the Oscars, The Bachelor and the new cast of Dancing with the "Stars". Yup, you got me I like boring awards shows and reality TV!

While I enjoyed watching those awards being handled-even though I watching the entire show on fast forward-THANK YOU DVR! I really watch the show for the fashions! Here are some of my hits and misses! IMO

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Loved this simple, yet elegant look on Jennifer Lawerence!

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Keeping with the red theme-I am BEYOND loving this look on Sandy B. honestly this is my fave of the night! Eat your heart out Jesse James


Reese Witherspoon-simple and classy! She is a favorite!

Celine Dion-making new mother's this world over jealous! Think she's wearing spanx under the dress?


Can you say-"Hello, Old Hollywood!"-Amy Adams nailed the look!


Natalie Portman-Making pregnant women look good!


Cate Blanchett-I just don't get it!

All in all I think everybody played it safe in the fashion arena-but they were great to look at an commentate on nonetheless!

Well-I gotta get off my rear and get outside!

Cheers

Erica