Luc Turned ONE: all about his party

I can't believe my baby turned one. As cliche as it sounds, it really does seem like yesterday we were bringing him home from the hospital. Now he is off of formula and demanding real (as we lovingly say, "human" ) food. He is running around the house getting into everything, and beginning to say words. He definitely has his own fantastic little personality, and he is definitely MY little cuddlebug. Ohhhh, how we love to cuddle.

Ok, on to the party. If anyone knows me at all....they know I am a sucker for a party. I think I have kid birthday parties more for me than them. I love to plan and execute. It doesn't always turn out the way it was played out in my mind, but I have never been too disappointed. This party was no different.

My husband's one request was that I make this a "healthy" party. He doesn't like the idea of filling the kids up with two tons of sugar, and really, I am not such a fan of it either. We don't really do a lot of sweets around here, if we do give one it's in small amounts. However, I just didn't really think about making it healthy. I was pleased with how it all turned out.


I made yummy yogurt vanilla cupcakes with chocolate frosting. Everyone seemed to approve, and the kids were never the wiser. hee hee. We added some apples/caramel, PB & J sandwiches, chicken salad sandwiches, and I hand dipped some pretzels to the spread. For goody bags, I made some trail mix, and also sent home a big colorful envelope stuffed with a big fat healthy oatmeal chocolate chip cookie. The cookies were my favorite.


The decoration inspiration came straight from Martha Stewart. There is always something on her website that gets me excited. For Cash's first birthday, I used her website's idea for a monkey party. It was pretty stink'n awesome.

The party went well. We had some last minute cancellations due to illness, but I suppose that is to be expected in the DEAD of winter. We'll probably encounter that a lot with Luc's birthday until he's a bit older. Overall...it was rock'n.

Cash...My Hero

My husband- "Son, we gotta go pick up mom. There's something wrong with her car. Go get your shoes..."

Cash- After a thoughtful pause..."Well, I guess we have to get her. She's the only PRINCESS we've got."



Good logic.

Yummy Yummy Black Bean Soup

I found this great recipe for a healthy black bean soup that I just HAD to try. It turned out awesome. I even received high praise from my husband, who is quite particular about his food. It's pretty hearty, and feels like a chili without meat. Fantastic for these frigid winter nights. Try it out.

Follows these instructions to substitute a slow cooker for the Dutch oven in this recipe: decrease water to 3 cups. Cover and cook on high for about six hours, or until beans are tender.

Ingredients

For the soup:
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 medium-size yellow onions, chopped
1 medium-size red bell pepper, chopped
1 medium-size green bell pepper, chopped
5 garlic cloves, minced
4 teaspoons ground cumin
2 bay leaves
1 16-ounce package dried black beans
2 1/2 tablespoons chopped canned chipotle chiles
4 cups water
4 cups vegetable broth (chicken broth can be used as a substitute)
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

For the garnish:
1 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
1/2 cup chopped seeded plum tomatoes
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Directions

1. Heat olive oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and bell peppers and sauté until beginning to brown. Add garlic, bay leaves, and cumin; sauté for just under a minute.
2. Transfer mixture to 6-quart Dutch oven. Add beans, chipotles, water, and broth. Simmer on stove top until mixture reaches a boil.
3. Turn off heat, cover, and remove from stove top. Place into the oven and cook at 275°F until beans are very tender, about three hours. Make sure to check on the beans while cooking. If they look to dry, add more broth or water.
4. Remove Dutch oven from stove and transfer two cups of the bean mixture to blender; puree until smooth. Return puree to Dutch oven. Stir in lime juice, salt, and pepper.
5. Top each serving with a dollop of yogurt, tomatoes, and cilantro

LOOK! They Deserve Your Wide Eyed Stare!

These felt flower pillows make me swoon... really swoon. Who can make them for me? They seem easy enough. Check out the instructions from The Purl Bee.

Ohhhhh, how sad that I have a sewing machine and no skill to use it! I shake my fist at the goddess of Singer.

Where Do I Begin?

Everyone always writes sappy crap about what the previous year has brought, and how this new year is going to be a year of...I dont know...freaking wonderful stuff or something. Everyone is always glowing with anticipation of this new unwrinkled future. I kind of feel that way myself, but I don't want to glow. This "glowing" reminds me of when I was a kid in Kentucky spending time with my grandparents for the summer.

My cousin, brother, and I would always stay a few weeks in Somerset. My grandparents lived in the country, and in the evening we would sit on the front porch with opened Mason jars and wait. We waited for the lightening bugs to come out to play. These little magical bugs would appear slowly at first...a blink here, and a blink there. Then all of the sudden, they would be everywhere. The boys and I would run around the yard jumping and shouting in the night air, with nothing but the echo of our voices and the crickets making noise. After a few minutes we would begin our attempts to catch a lightening bug. I can remember sealing the Mason jar, and staring at the bug so close that my nose touched the glass. No matter how many air holes we poked in the metal lids of our jars, the little burst of light never made it to morning. Instead of waking to a continued magic, we woke to nothing but a shallow vessel filled with silenced insects. The romance had worn thin through out the veil of our summer night, and left us void.

Maybe this description is kind of dramatic, but I find it a fitting illustration. I don't want to wake up on Dec. 31, 2010 feeling void from another year filled with hopeful dreams that lay flat in the wake of my real life decisions. The definition of glow is "a light emitted by, or as if by a substance heated to luminosity." Emitted. To give forth, or release. Well, this year...I don't want to give my light away. I don't want to release it. I want it for myself; to last all year long. I want to sustain my motivation that pushed me to make resolutions for myself.

After thinking it through, I have decided on some personal goals for myself this year. In order to sustain my light, they aren't crazy, out of control, never going to reach when thinking in terms of reality goals. They are simple and meaningful goals that I can take one day to the next, while leaving no luminescence behind. Only leaving "the void" behind to echo in the dark without me.

New Year Upon Us...

"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each New Year find you a better man." - Benjamin Franklin

We have been out of town for the Christmas holiday, enjoying time with our family in Florida. It was a great trip, and I felt truly blessed to be surrounded by such special loved ones. It was a fantastic trip.

We returned home on Tuesday evening with plans brewing for another New Year's Day brunch. We had one two years ago, and had planned to make it annual. Last year, everything got in our path making it impossible. This year was a good year to revive the tradition. As the original brunch, we invited the Nichols' family and Plemon's family.

Since we put our suitcases down, we have have been cleaning and organizing. I've been so busy this semester that, sadly, cleaning has been put on the back burner. Things were always NEAT, but CLEAN...not so much. I went in full force with the deep clean. Needless to say, after two days of battle....the toothbrush (favorite cleaning tool) and I have won the war against dust/dirt.


All of this was to preface the fact that I haven't really had time to sit and think about the new year creeping in through the door. I finally sat down long enough to mess about a bit on the computer, and I found this quote by Ben Franklin. After thinking about it for a few minutes, it's been decided...this is my moto for 2010. I am still thinking about what this new year will mean for me, and how to make it the best year possible. I will get back to you on that one... As for now, be safe and have a lovely New Year's Eve. Here's hoping the new year will find you bright eyed and ready to fly.


Much love- Paperwings

Christmas Spirit is Upon Me!

Just wanted to tell you all Merry Christmas! I hope you are all surrounded by loved ones for the holiday season, and are able to appreciate the blessings bestowed upon you. I am so thankful for my wonderful husband, beautiful sons, and so much more. I am feeling festive and a bit sentimental, so forgive me. :) Love to you all!