Ready To Pop!

Ahoy! It's a BOY!!

Baby Shower 08.19.17

With 6 weeks to go, Kayla is ready to pop!

Cute baby shower favors.....all you need is a lot of popcorn, some clear party bags, ribbon, and some READY TO POP stickers from amazon or etsy!

Little Rowen was showered with LOTS LOTS of gifts, money, and love!! <3
A big thank-you to everyone for making food, for your gifts, and for coming out to the shower! :O)

KupKakes by Kayla (Colona)

Cake by Hedy 

setting up the food table....

MENU: taco dip with tortilla chips, chicken salad cups, bacon-cheddar dip in bread bowls, jalapeno poppers, veggie pizza, jello salad, pasta salad, onion dip & chips, chocolate fudge, Blue Chocolate-Dipped Rice Krispy Treats, cake, cupcakes, & soda.

<3 <3 <3

Ordered crib and dresser w/dressing table top!! <3

[Espresso Brown]

We can't wait to meet you Rowen Elliott!!!! <3 

Homecoming 2017

CONFESSION: 

I only went to the Homecoming for 1-hour total the entire weekend, buuuutttttt....I had THE BEST weekend!!! :O)

Highlights/Memories from Homecoming 2017:

• Nathan and Kayla moved back home this week, and Logan, Lindsey, & Kamry came in on the mail boat on Friday, so I was one super-happy Mom having everyone here!!! I just wish Peter could have been home.
• I cooked bbq chicken w/sides on Friday, we were invited to a family dinner at the Chesapeake House on Saturday, and we got crab melts from Four Brothers on Sunday. Oh! and of course, we had soft crab sandwiches at the Homecoming ---yummmm. 
• Julie and Derek skipped Homecoming again this year, but Mom & Dad had Denise's family staying with them.
• I got to spend some good, quiet time with Kamry!!! On Friday, I brought her home with me (after my one hour at the Homecoming) and gave her a bath and got her to sleep, and on Saturday, they brought her home early, but the four of them called it an early night too. Yaaa!!! I can't tell you how happy I was having them all gathered in the living room, eating snacks and talking and laughing (by 11:30!!!). 
• the weather was iffy all week but we only ended up with a storm through the night Friday, then pretty on Saturday! (muggy & buggy though) 
• Cameron designed this year's shirts. <3 
  
• I had a busy weekend at the b&b. $$
• from the 5 of us there were only a couple of pics taken!!

HOMECOMING 2017

After a week-long forecast calling for a wash-out weekend....look at this gorgeous Saturday sky!!

picture credit: nathan

Nathan helped with the setting up, working, and taking it all down afterwards, 

and of course....Nathan danced.....I'm sure the song playing is either "Jump On It" or "Cotton-Eyed Joe" LOL I have no clue what the popular song was this year because I wasn't there long enough to know...and I didn't even dance...not even the Wobble...LOL

picture credit: facebook

and he danced.....

picture credit: facebook

and he danced.....

picture credit: facebook

picture credit: CPM

enjoying a LAZY SUNDAY!!!

Cotton Candy Sky!!

I may not have spent much time at Homecoming, but it sure was an awesome "homecoming" having my family here!!! XOXO

Home Chef Review: Butter Cracker-Crusted Chicken

Butter Cracker-Crusted Chicken w/ Blue Cheese Sweet Potatoes 

This was the last of the three meals and the least impressive. Just your usual breaded chicken and roasted sweet potatoes. It was tasty though, just not over the top. Since this shipment was sent automatically, I didn’t get to choose the meals, but overall, I was very satisfied with the ease of preparing and the flavor of each meal. I normally only get the boxed meals while Peter is at work, but it was nice having 3 meals planned and ingredients on hand to cook them while he was home.

INGREDIENTS:

8 butter crackers

16 oz. sweet potatoes

¼ oz. fresh parsley

2 garlic cloves

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts

2 fl. Oz. liquid egg

6 oz. butter

3 oz. baby spinach

2 tsp. chicken demi-glaze

1 oz. blue cheese

Recipe {HERE}

summer bucket list--->update

August is half over and summer is quickly coming to an end! 

I have had a great summer and have actually enjoyed it!! 

Here is our Summer Bucket List ----update!

[click to link post]

- make pineapple ice

- celebrate the 4th of July

- watch the fireworks from the boat

- try a new restaurant

- Ocean City

- sunset at the beach  **

- boat to lunch 

- try a new grill recipe

- make smores

- make fudge *

(*our fudge was a flop---

tasted right and was good on ice cream, but we will have to try again)

(**want to catch a sunset at the beach with Peter next time)

what's left on the list???

- sunrise at the beach

- fly our kite

- go kayaking

- pick berries

- go fishing

:O) :O) :O)

Home Chef Review: Brasserie-Style Sirloin Steak w/Truffle Fries

Brasserie-Style Sirloin Steak w/truffle frites, green beans, & herb butter

OOPS!! They forgot the green beans! I added fresh corn on the cob to our meal instead. This was my first time cooking with truffle oil and the fries were a-m-a-z-i-n-g! The steak was simply prepared but delicious and melt in your mouth tender! The herb butter was a nice change from our usual A-1 sauce :O)

INGREDIENTS:

1 oz. butter

2 russet potatoes

¼ oz. fresh parsley

2 garlic cloves

6 oz. green beans 

2 sirloin steaks

½ fl. Oz. truffle oil

Recipe {HERE}

Meal #1 from Home Chef---A WIN!!!

Spaghetti & Ricotta Meatballs w/ Pecorino garlic bread

I skipped pausing a week of Home Chef meals, so while Peter was home we had a box show up. Peter isn’t the biggest Italian food fan, but he said this spaghetti was the best he ever ate! Super-easy but oh-so-good!

INGREDIENTS:

2 garlic cloves

¼ oz. fresh parsley

1 mini baguette

10 oz. ground beef

1 fl. oz. liquid egg

1 oz. ricotta

½ oz. pecorino cheese

¼ cup Italian breadcrumbs

6 oz. spaghetti

8 oz. marinara sauce

Recipe {HERE}