Hot Cocoa Party

A few days before Christmas we hosted a

Hot Cocoa Party for some close friends and family 

I had so much fun decorating for the party.. of course.

I made bunting, ball fringe and recycled some book page garland from the mantle.

 I just had some treats and sweets

a few snacks, pretzels and bison dip

 

I had big plans for jalapeno dip, chips, and one more baked dessert.

But the party almost didn't happen at all.

We woke up to our sub pump going crazy, and a flooded basement.

Thank goodness it was only around the walls of the basement .. so thankfully, no Christmas presents, or anything else was harmed...just a few paper boxes..

 

But the flow of water coming from underneath the basement floor into the pump ... was scary.

So fast, and the pump was filling to the top and turning on every 2-3 minutes..

Thankfully it never broke down...

 

So I texted everyone ... cancelling the party..

Then the water slightly let up, .... and I had prepared and baked... so we ultimately decided.... Lets just have the party.. and if the pump breaks and floods the basement... then we kick everyone out.. ha!

So on with the re-texting and the party was on....

 

Samantha was so excited.. Her two friends from school last year were coming, and she was literally in tears when I told her we couldn't have it...

 

So I did the best I could with running around like a crazy person, and got everything ready and cooking.

We had such a great time with our friends & family.

I wanted to take time out to see people who we werent going to get together with before and after Christmas, since we'd be in Ohio for a long time.

Blakely & Andrew.

She just the cutest thing! She went right up on the couch next to him & they sat there for almost 25 minutes watching Max & Ruby. We kept telling him to give her kisses.

Samantha & Allie

They came down to model a fashion show for us.



I made some delicious Hot Cocoa in the slow cooker, and set up a little Hot Cocoa Bar ... what I could get set up ...

 

Of course I made cupcakes.... cant let a party happen without em!

Hot Cocoa with Marshmellow Buttercream

So the party prep & food got cut short...

But it was a nice party ... full of friends, laughter, and good memories

New Dinners & Desserts



Crockpot Whole Chicken/Rotisserie Chicken

I found this recipe HERE.. on Pinterest of course.

So very simple.

I bought a small whole chicken and cleaned it.

 

Then got out a load of different spices.. Onion Powder, Paprika, Salt, Pepper, Thyme, Cayenne Pepper, Garlic Powder.... geez..

Mix all the spices together.

Put the chicken in the crockpot

Rub spices all over chicken.

Turn on and thats it.

I cooked mine on high for 3 hours, and low on 3.



If you like the kind of chicken that is super super moist and falling off the bone.. then this is a great recipe. The only thing that wasnt like a Rotisserie Chicken was no crispy crust. But I dont really eat the crispy skin part anyway. The whole family liked it .. even picky eating Andrew.

 

We're using the bones and dark meat to make soup stock tomorrow.. so it was a cheap meal, and its going to make us another meal tomorrow!

(served with steamed corn, and chicken stuffing)

I served the chicken with the Pioneer Woman's Blackberry Cobbler.

Amazing..

If you have Flour, Sugar, Butter and about 1 cup of blackberries.. thats all you need.

My hubby really liked it too.. as he claims he doesnt really like sweets.. yea right...

 

Easiest dessert I've found in a long time.. took a whole 4 minutes to put together.



 

And to add to our sweet tooth coma...

I wanted to make these for Valentine's Day but ended up with brownies instead.

 

Milk Chocolate Cupcakes with Cherry Buttercream Frosting

 

(via pinterest)



 

You can find the recipe HERE.. via Pinterest.. 

I made the cupcakes & then performed some cupcake surgery.

I realized I have no small heart cookie cutters... I need to fix that .. very soon...

So I found a tulip & flower instead.

Cut them out from the tops..



The cherry frosting was so good... I halved the recipe..





Cupcake in a jar.... I had a little time on my hands .... 

After my cupcake creating .. I made some pizza for dinner.

 

Birthday Weekend {Mama}

My Birthday weekend started on Thursday.

My Mom took the day off, and it was a gorgeous day .. almost 70 and Sunny.

We took a walk to the park and creek with her

And she made us a fabulous lunch

My all-time favorite.. She makes it every year for me on my birthday.

Pork Chops & Dumplings

I love this meal just as much as I did as a kiddo...

It was delicious.

Even Andrew liked the pork!

But she didnt stop there..

Dessert .. were some amazing cupcakes.

I may have had more than 2 that day.. and I dont care.. it was my um,, pre- birthday? haha

 

I cant beleive how nice the weather was..

Samantha was pretending she had a leaf blower of her own.

I took the kids home about 1 and Samantha and Andrew both took awesome naps..

 

Friday the day of my birthday it was the same weather.. warm and sunny nearing 70.

I took the kids to the park

 It had been a while since we fed the ducks, and they were waiting for SJ.

She was so happy.. We spent about and hour there, and then went home for more good naps and lunch.

Daddy, Andrew and Samantha spoiled me with a couple new sweaters, a HUGE bag of all kinds of Starbucks coffee,and some reading glasses from Anthropologie

It was such a nice birthday.. Im afraid it was the last nice day until ... gosh, do I dare say, April???

Saturday

It was a cold and rainy day..

we were supposed to go to a college trick or treat .. but when we got there people were all waiting OUTSIDE... in downpouring rain... so we decided to skip it and head to the grocery store where they also hosted trick or treat stations, little goodies for the kids, and we got some grocery shopping done too.. bonus!

Samantha was a dragon last year too.. but she insisted on being one again on Saturday.. she had fun walking through the store eating all her chocolates.. and samples.

 

Sunday

SJ and I headed to church

After we stopped at the cafe and had a little late breakfast.

It was still raining Sunday, so we stayed in most of the day..

And made Mahi Mahi fish tacos for dinner, they were sooo good.

Samantha didnt nap so BOTH kids were in bed by 8:30...

This never happens.

We ended the weekend on the couch watching Boardwalk Empire.. LIVE..

We usually TIVO it and sometimes dont get to watch it for days....

 

Wizard of Oz {Samantha's 3rd Birthday Party}

We celebrated Samantha's 3rd Birthday this weekend!

The theme of course was "The Wizard of Oz"

Here's "Dorothy" posing for me before her guests arrived!

 I tried to be very creative, and even managed to make some Wicked Witch legs/shoes and stuck them under her playhouse in the backyard..

 It was a hot one.. as always is on her birthday

But she did pretty well for no nap... YES... NO NAP..

She naps EVERY DAY for at least 2.5 hours...

 I think all the excitement was too much for her to settle down.

And she was in a pretty good mood .. only a few minor meltdowns..ha!

I wanted her to have a few girl friends there..

So Lily and Livia came for some party fun, and the girls were so cute together

I made up goody bags for the girls to take home.
In the bags were Bubbles, Sparkle Putty,  Little Sparkling purses, candy, Little Notebooks, Stickers.. all things that three year olds would like.
I popped some popcorn the old fashioned way on the stove before her party and put them in bags as favors, or to eat at the party.. there were so many leftover, so now Im eating them! ha!

She was REALLY into blowing out the candles this year...

Last year she didnt really know what to do.. But she was SUPER excited.

Today I gave her a cupcake after lunch and she made Daddy and I sing to her AND light a candle so she could "blow it out again" she said..

We served marinated jerk chicken tenderloins, hot dogs, fresh fruit and fresh veggies, orzo tomato & feta salad, and a variety of drinks.

For dessert..........the best part, right?
Cupcakes of course.. Red Vines, Lollipops, & Ruby Slipper Cookies

I made Red Velvet and Vanilla with Vanilla Buttercream

She loved opening her presents.. She got so many lovely gifts.

A desk/easel, clothes, new DVDs, Books, dolls, craft sets,

new shoes!

Her own personalized towel.. Thanks Maria!!!! I absolutely love this... I wish I had an embroidery machine!

Its very bittersweet that she is already three.

She had so much fun at the party, and continues to light up our lives each and every day...

Happy Birthday to our Sweet Girl!