I wanted to make IV's 18 months birthday special. I mean, he did turn a year and a half!
And as you saw in yesterdays post - we had a little photo shoot...
The photo on the left was my favorite and the one I used. The one on the right just captures who he is right now. He loves to copy us and really, anything we ask him to do...he will. But what I should have done, was use this next photo as his 18 month picture.
I mean really?! That face!
Ok - gift time:
At his MyGym class, he loved this toy - so I knew he'd be excited when he opened it.
And finally - after dinner, he had (didn't eat though) a pumpkin spice whoopie pie.
That's all for today, Friends. I have a to do list that is way too long today.
I've been working on a few things for Halloween night - and IV's first Trick or Treat.
You see - this is my Mom's fault. All this "let's make all these events really special and a big deal". Yeah, that's all her. Growing up my Mom used to make EVERY DAY special - sounds very mushy, but it's true. She could make something as simply as getting your braces off into a party.
So seeing it's his first time - I had to make it {somewhat} special - so I am planning a little dinner and cocktail party for after IV's heads out to Trick or Treat.
Appetizers, pumpkin spice martinis, Witches wine, maybe order some sushi - cupcakes for dessert...you know - something small. Ha!
Here is a sneak peek at one of the items I just finished.
And - seeing I'm so excited for Halloween - I've decided to share my party straw flags with you all! Feel free to download the straw flag file here.
Happy Wednesday, Friends. I'm linking up with Mrs Bear again with week for Confession Wednesday.
This week is all about my sweet IV.
I confess...I took IV to the Library yesterday for a free reading time class. I judged every. single. Mother in there...and pulled IV out early once it was time for "open play". The mothers and children didn't look like people I would normally hang out with and their children were a little too snot nose for my liking. Get a tissue... Just sayin'
I confess....we won't be back to that Library again. But I will try another.
I confess...I take work conference calls like this and I wouldn't have it any other way.
I confess...I'm slightly obsessed with cutting IV's food into fun shapes.
I confess...I think when IV signs "thank you" - it's the cutest thing in the world.
If you want to confess today - be sure you go over to Mrs Bear's blog and link up! Oh, and while you're there - wish her a HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
I seriously love Fall - the crisp air and chilly mornings are keeping IV and I in our jammies...snuggling on the couch. Seriously. He sat with me for and hour & a half this morning. It was dreamy.
And seeing IV is taking one long nap from 12-3p during the day - it gives me the opportunity to catch up on work and I even manage to sneak in some Fall baking.
I swear - I bake just so the house smells amazing.
On Monday - my Mom had the day off for Columbus Day...so we had our "2nd Annual Shopping & Fall Baking Day" - which reminds me...we need a t-shirt for that. (some of you will get that joke).
On Monday - one of my favorites had to be these - Mom's Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. Ohhhh...a couple of these with a glass of wine at night - now that is dreamy!
My Mom is such an amazing cook/baker. All her cookies, cakes and candies come out so good. I really do aspire to be just like her.
And we had such a great day, that we're doing it again before Halloween to make some custom Trick or Treat chocolates!
As for today - I found a recipe for cinnamon roasted almonds. They are a salty/sweet treat.
And - after IV's 3.5 hour nap, we went outside to stretch our legs...but needed to bring two Sharpies.
Two posts in one day? Sure, why not. I had to post the winner of a new blog header first thing this morning! So again, congratulations to Traci from The Andresen Family Blog.
Ok - next up. Pumpkin Spice Lattes and a bonus recipe.
Ingredients: 2 cups milk - I used unsweetened almond milk 2 tablespoons canned pumpkin 2 tablespoons sugar or sugar substitute – I used Splenda 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice 1/2 cup strong brewed coffee (or 1/4 cup of espresso if you have an espresso machine)
Directions:In a saucepan stir together milk, pumpkin and sugar. Cook and stir over medium heat until steaming. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and pumpkin pie spice. Combine with black coffee and enjoy!
And last night I made turkey wraps and needed a soup to go with it. I decided on Spicy Pumpkin Soup. I snapped a quick photo with my phone to share - it was so good and the perfect pairing with the wrap.
I kind of winged this recipe...
1 can pureed pumpkin
1 small onion chopped
1 cup skim milk
dash of cayenne pepper to taste
Directions: simmer onion until translucent, add to pumpkin, milk and cayenne, simmer for 10 minutes and enjoy.
Trick or Treat was never a huge deal to me and my sister, but I do remember the excitement I felt as the clock slowly clicked away, finally reaching 1pm. Yup, growing up - our town had Trick or Treat the Sunday before Halloween - lame! It was from 1-4pm...even more lame.
One of the things I remember most were the rules. My Mom never let us go into other peoples neighborhoods, we could only "take one" if that's what the sign read and we had to have a cute Trick or Treat bucket...not the dreaded PILLOWCASE.
So guess who won't EVER be Trick or Treating with a pillowcase?
We didn't take IV out last year - I just thought he was too young. Is he still too young in my opinion?yes...but we are taking him to our neighbors that we see daily and just to take some photos.
Yesterday I made him his first Trick or Treat pail.
a 43 cent beach pail, 99 cent ribbon and stickers for $1.99 - all from Michaels Craft Store
Isn't it funny how these little things your parents did while growing up just stick with you?
Ok - don't forget if you want to enter my Blog Header giveaway - today is the last day to enter!
I planned on posting my crock pot Apple Butter Recipe today - but while taking photos on the finish product this morning - IV wanted to steal the spotlight...as he should.
So here is the finished product. Such a simple receipt of peeled, cored and cubed apples in a crock pot with 1/2 cup of water, tsp of cinnamon and tsp of all spice. Set it and forget it (for about 5 hours) - and this is the finished product. I put this spread on IV's toast this morning and it was to die for.
I've been working on quite a few Holiday projects lately and thought I'd share one of them with you all.
If you're like me, giving a gift is one of the best parts of the Holidays. I love dressing up Holiday bags with fun tags and ribbon...but I wanted something more cost effective and more personalized.
So after designing our own family labels, I figured that you all may be interested as well.
I've created six different Christmas label designs to choose from. However, if you are looking for something different - I'm flexible:
Have a themed Holiday party? Like an "Ugly Sweater Party" or "Cocktail Party" - We can create a custom label for gift bags or wine bottles.
Do you give out cookies or baked goods? We can create a label for your very own cookies.
Have your own idea? Let me know and we'll get it done.
Labels are 31/3" x 4" and are sold in pack of 24 for $20. You can pick one design or all the designs. All 24 are customizable to your needs.
I mean, how adorable is this gift bag?
And if you are a wine giving during the holidays, why not put your own custom label on it?
Email me at allie.gregory@gmail.com for more information or to place an order. Paypal preferred. All ordered ship the next business day.
Four individual, plastic glasses of wine. Each glass has a plastic cover - in case you don't finish or want to keep it covered while at the beach, concert or wherever. The "Bottle" of wine was $14.95 plus shipping and totally worth it. We bought a bottle of Merlot and Pinot - the wine isn't bad either.
You can only buy Stacked Wine online if you live in California, but if you go to the website, they'll direct to you another vendor that ships to all states - that is what I did, no issues.
Here is my adorable glass of wine at our tailgate party in Hersey Park.
Cute right?
Ok - onto the giveaway. I mentioned yesterday that once we reached 100 fans, I'd host a giveaway. And seeing so many of you liked the new header I designed, I figured I should give a custom header away.
