abundant life

Tasty Tuesdays: lucky #21

2009-11-10T09:54:00.000-08:00

Well hello November! Can you believe we are just 2 1/2 weeks away from Thanksgiving?!? I for one am in total shock at the rapid rate with which this year is coming to a close. I started Tasty Tuesdays back in June of this year and it seems like yesterday. What a whirlwind!

In honor of the month of Thanksgiving, I have decided to dedicate the next three installments of Tasty Tuesdays to some of my favorite Thanksgiving recipes. This is by no means an all-inclusive list, but rather just a few of my faves that I've been making for several years now.

Today's recipe is for a homemade cranberry sauce that I first made four years ago. Had I known how ridiculously easy it was to make your own cranberry sauce, I would have banned the canned version a long time ago. This is a recipe from Better Homes and Gardens and if you have never made your own cranberry sauce, this is your year to change that.

Ginger Lime Cranberry Sauce

Ingredients:
1/2 C sugar (I use Splenda)
1/2 C pure maple syrup
1/2 C water
1 1/2 tsp finely shredded lime peel
2 T lime juice
1 12-ounce package fresh or frozen cranberries (I always use fresh)
1 tsp minced fresh ginger (I don't use fresh)

1. In a saucepan, stir together sugar, maple syrup, water, lime peel, and lime juice. Bring to boiling and reduce heat.

2. Simmer, uncovered, about 3 minutes or until sugar is dissolved.

3. Stir in cranberries and simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

4. Stir in ginger. Simmer, uncovered, about 6 minutes more or until berries have popped and mixture starts to thicken, stirring occasionally. Cool.

I always make this a day or 2 in advance because it holds up beautifully in the fridge for several days. I love recipes like this because it allows me to cross something off my cooking/baking to-do list.

a few tricks and a whole lotta treats

2009-11-09T08:38:00.000-08:00

While I've never really been a huge fan of Halloween, I do like the opportunity to dress up, wear crazy makeup, eat yummy pumpkin treats and see my nieces dressed up in their insanely A-dorable costumes. This year's festivities included all that and a whole lot more.

Since I had a big bash to attend/host later in the evening, I headed over to see Minnie Mouse and her cat, Figaro in the early afternoon. Haylee and Meredith made quite the pair and I'm so glad I was able to snap a few photos with the girls. I am a proud aunt and happen to think my nieces are the cutest girls in the whole wide world. Check out Haylee's red lips in the photos...I die!

After I had properly documented (photographically speaking) my nieces' Halloween 2009, I hightailed it home to prepare for the night's festivities. First, I had to get busy icing the cake for the birthday boy. Who knew making orange icing could go so darn tricky? That icing is a finicky little bugger.

Once that was done lickity split, I had to get myself ready. Since I'm pretty much anti-spending any money on a costume I'll be wearing for one night, I put together a "fairy princess" ensemble combining a thrift store wedding dress (borrowed from a friend), fairy wings, a tiara and a wand (all borrowed from Pearl's dress-up collection). Twas a makeshift costume, but you can't beat the $0 price tag. I figured if I put on enough makeup and glitter, I could make it work. Once I had piled on more glitter than you would see at toddler beauty pageant, I was out the door and headed to a "Bloody Birthday Banquet."

Halloween happens to be my friend's (Nicholas) birthday. Obviously, the party planning crew (i.e. me) was in full swing for another rip-roaring birthday bash. Here is the text from the Evite:

Come one and come all, our dearly departed. It's time once again to get the party started! We'll eat and we'll sing. We'll dance by the pool. A birthday we're throwing for our favorite ghoul. Nicholas is aging and since you're his buddy, please come to a banquet that's sure to be bloody. Werewolves and goblins, a vampire or two, you better bring food or the food might be you. After dinner we'll toast and sing by the fire, then more guests will arrive in their ghostly attire. Your absence we would most certainly lament, so please, by all means, beware of the basement. All guest must select a course to provide. If you fail to do this, may fate be your guide. The night draws near and fills with more terror. Forgetting to RSVP might be your last error. So be sure to steer clear of the cellar with wine. We look forward to this time to drink and to dine.

I was given full access to his primo kitchen to prepare my dishes for the "potluck." To say it was a dream would be a gross understatement. I only wish I had such facilities at my disposal on a daily basis. I would definitely host my own cooking show and put it on my blog for your enjoyment. I digress...

I made baked shrimp with feta, tomatoes and artichokes, green beans with caramelized onions and pears and beer bread. Also included in the spread was pork tenderloin, mixed veggies, spaghetti (random), cornbread, salad and a couple of dips. I was a snob and ate mostly my own food - ha!

The dinner setting was as delightful as the food. There was a lovely table set up outside underneath a white tent with twinkle lights. It rivaled a scene out of a movie.

We also felt the need to test out the dance floor in between courses. Luckily, Krystal and I had the perfect ensembles and were more than up to the task. Some others joined in as well.

It was only a slight diversion and we were back to the food. Obviously, every birthday celebration requires a birthday cake. I baked up a real doozy: my rum-soaked cake with cream cheese icing.

After the candles were blown out, the cake had been cut (and devoured) and the kitchen scrubbed down, it was time to prep for the may-juh after party that was scheduled to commence at the witching hour. The haunted house had to be set up in the basement, the bedroom had to be turned into a photo studio (see pics below), the sink had to be filled with beverages, the fog machines had to be filled and the disco light needed to be hooked up. Whew! It was loco, but we got it done and it was time to party...or in my case, cut a RUG!

This party was B-U-M-P-I-N-G, BUMPING! Holy cow. I don't know if I've ever been in a house with so many people. And let me tell you that in the span of about 4 hours, I did NOT leave the dance floor for more than a few minutes. I was a dancing machine, and had the time of my life. Highlights included "Thriller," "Don't Stop Believing," "Groove is in the Heart" (shoutout to Michelle and the fousins), "Billy Jean," "Shout"...and so many more. Gosh, I don't think there was a song that didn't prompt me to bust a move AND sing out loud! Here's a video for your viewing/listening enjoyment.

Obviously, breaks for pictorials were absolutely necessary. Here are some of my favorite shots of the evening.

After the last bag of trash had been taken out and the last dish was dried, a few of us enjoyed a much-deserved dip in the hot tub. It was the perfect end to a memorable night and I'm so glad I was a part!

for your Sunday viewing pleasure

2009-11-08T13:25:00.000-08:00

Here are just a few pictorial treats for you on this lazy (at least for me) Sunday afternoon. I figured if I wasn't going to do a legitimate post with actual content, I should at least provide you with some entertainment. You're welcome!

Hope you have a great rest of your weekend and check back tomorrow for (fingers crossed) a substantial post...

cop-out post #1

2009-11-07T18:53:00.000-08:00

My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him.
He only, is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold;
I shall not be shaken.
Psalm 62:5&6

Yes, I realize I'm already resorting to an "easy" post, but in my defense, this scripture really spoke to my heart this week. I have been reading the book of Psalms for a couple weeks now, and I can't begin to tell you what an encouragement it has been.

If you aren't currently reading a particular passage in scripture/doing a Bible study, I implore you to dig into Psalms. Whatever it is you are going through at this particular point in time, be it joy or sadness, hope or despair, I can promise you these verses will most certainly uplift you.

May you have a blessed Saturday night!!!

it's official!

2009-11-06T11:10:00.000-08:00

Inspired by Brookie, I decided to "make it official" and become a member of National Blogging Month. I figured I'm 6 for 6 at this point, so why not get crazy and make it known that I'm attempting to post every day for 30 days.

I'm feeling cautiously optimistic and figure if nothing else, I can resort to posting a scripture or a quote if/when I'm pressed for time. You may call this a cop-out, and to that I would say, you are right.

So make sure you check back and see how I do!

that's one doodle that can't be undid, homeskillet...

2009-11-06T07:36:00.000-08:00

And I couldn't be happier! I can't believe I am just now posting this AMAZING news, but better late than never, right?

In case the (ridiculously adorable) picture above is not a total giveaway, my "little" (she'll always be little to me) cousin Li-Li is PREGNANT!!! Yes, this is the same cousin who got married this summer. Nothing like getting a head start on things, eh?

Lianna and Ed are ecstatic at becoming parents, and I for one cannot wait to meet the little babe, be it a boy or girl. On a side note, it should be known when Lianna called to give me the news, I was screaming out loud in the car...literally shrieking. I was SO not expecting it and she totally caught me off-guard - love it!

So congrats fuzz! You are the cutest little pregnant girl I've ever seen and I can't wait to see your bump in person!!! Until then, keep it a-cookin'!

tickled blue

2009-11-05T10:44:00.000-08:00

Since Brooke is technically my "first friend" (as in, my age, not my sister's friend, not a family member, etc.) to be "for shizz up the spout" (i.e. with child), I couldn't pass up the chance to post the sex of the baby.

here's a little pictorial of the fab four and don't worry, this was pre-preggo status

(I totally stole the pic off Meg's blog, but I LOVE it and had to use it in my post.)

So just in case you couldn't infer from the title, Brookie (and Freeland) are having a BOY!!!

As she said on her blog, they were 100% convinced they were having a girl, so this came as quite a surprise. Nonetheless, they are thrilled and so am I. I cannot wait to meet their little boy, and am still in shock that my high school friend's eggo is preggo. Seems like yesterday we were watching the SNL Chris Farley special, working at Sonic, quoting "A Night at the Roxbury," eating at Joe's Crab Shack and just being too cool for school in general. I guess some people decided to grow up...ha ha.

Congrats Brooke and Freeland on the big news!

Thanksgiving Challenge!

2009-11-04T14:33:00.000-08:00

With the holidays just around the corner I have decided to take a cue from several bloggers and join the Thanksgiving Challenge.

The Thanksgiving Challenge is twofold – you limit your grocery spending for one month, flexing your economic muscles and you use the opportunity for reflection. What better month (Thanksgiving) to give thanks to God for what we have?

The "original" challenge is to limit your food budget to $100 for the month of November. I think this is based on a two-person household, so you may want to move this number depending on the size of your own family. I will challenge myself to spend less than $70 on food for the entire month of November.

This includes:

groceries
meals at restaurants
miscellaneous food purchases – including drinks

This does not include:

freebies
purchases made with gift cards
meals paid for by another individual
potlucks

Here are the rules I am following -

Track your food purchases for 1 month, spending no more than $75
Non-food grocery items (toilet paper, shampoo, etc) do not count
You start with whatever you happen to have in the fridge/pantry

Some people choose to donate the money they saved to a charity. I think this is a great idea, and since I'm competitive, I'm definitely up for the challenge!

Let me know if you join. I'd love to hear about it!!!

P.S. November is National Blog Posting Month, so apparently (seeing as though I've posted every day since 11/1), I'm unofficially participating in NaBloPoMo. Everyone participating posts on their blog every single day of November. This could get interesting...wish me luck!

Tasty Tuesdays: the big 2-0

2009-11-03T08:34:00.000-08:00

As promised, today's Tasty Tuesday recipe comes straight off the menu of Michelle's Thirty, Flirty and Thriving Soiree.

Since the birthday girl is a connoisseur of all things chicken salad (as in she gets a chicken salad sandwich pretty much any chance she can), I knew I wanted to include a variation to serve at her party. I found a Cooking Light recipe that piqued my interest, and I made a few of my own tweaks along the way.

Curried Chicken Salad on raisin toast

Ingredients:
2-3 chicken breasts
1/4 C finely chopped celery
1 medium-sized honeycrisp apple, chopped
2 T raisins
2 T craisins
1/4 C mayo
1 T curry powder
1 T dijon mustard
2 t water
salt
pepper
loaf of raisin bread

1. Season chicken breasts with garlic salt and pepper and bake off in the oven.

2. Allow chicken to cool and chop into bite-sized pieces.

3. Combine mayo, curry, dijon, water, salt and pepper in a bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and stir to coat.

4. Refrigerate for at least 2-3 hours to allow flavors to marry.

When you are ready to serve, lightly toast each slice of the raisin bread and top with a heaping spoonful of the chicken salad. Serve immediately.

Since I adore mixing sweet and savory flavors, I thought the raisin bread was the perfect vehicle for serving the chicken salad. I purchased my loaf in the bakery section of Walmart. Please note I used plain raisin bread, not cinnamon swirl raisin bread.

*Another big Tasty Tuesday shout-out to my dear fousin China who made my easy peasy pumpkin soup a couple weeks back. She couldn't believe how "creamy the soup came out even though there is no cream in it." I concur wholeheartedly and I'm once again tickled pink that someone tried a Tasty Tuesday recipe. You go Glen Coco!

Reader question: What has been your favorite Tasty Tuesday recipe so far?

forever on the dance floor

2009-11-02T08:50:00.000-08:00

So for about three years now, I've been dreaming and scheming for Michelle's 30th birthday. I HATE that I don't have a lucrative paying job and had to adhere to a pesky little thing called a budget because I had a big vision, but as we all know, ambitious ideas tend to require hefty sums of money. I'm full of vision, but lacking in the monetary department. What can ya do?

(*Prepare yourself for a marathon post. This is by far the most picture heavy and lengthy post I've ever done. Apparently, in addition to the party details, I also decided to include party planning 101.)

When I asked Michelle what she wanted/envisioned for her birthday party, her reply was that she wanted her wedding all over again. Hmmm...should be easy enough, right? Glad she wasn't expecting too much. Ha! I immediately set to work brainstorming ideas, and came up with an elegant cocktail party complete with copious amounts of homemade appetizers, signature champagne cocktails and details scattered throughout to make the night extra special. Here's the copy from the invitation:

Michelle's turning 30 and we're getting set
to throw her a party she'll never forget!

She's means the world to me and to you,
so a festive affair is a definite "do."

We decided to invite all those she holds dear
to help us celebrate her 30th year!

Join us for music, drinks, fun, and food,
And a night that's sure to put you in a good mood!

You're cordially invited to her celebratory soiree.
The night promises to be classy in every way.

I was a busy little bee a good five weeks prior to the actual day planning, prepping, organizing and trying to think of every little detail I could add that would delight Michelle and fill her with glee.

Just in terms of party planning tips, I highly recommend sending your evite out about three weeks before the event and then follow up with a couple guest reminders. Pick your theme and attempt to incorporate it wherever possible. Make sure to visit Party City, Target or similar store to purchase plates, cups, utensils and a few basic decorations to reinforce your theme for the night. I did this several weeks in advance and it was nice to be able to cross something off my list early in the game. When planning your menu, keep your guest of honor in mind and try to include their favorite foods and flavor profiles. Choose a couple appetizers that can be passed and be sure to include items in your spread that require little to no prep, i.e. veggie crudites and dip, a fruit, cheese and cracker platter, etc. Don't be scared to ask for help because you'll definitely need some extra hands in the kitchen. Also, I was able to do a lot of my food prep a couple days in advance. I was able to bake off the chicken for the chicken salad, chop all my ingredients for the crab cakes, caramelize the onions for the pizza and organize the general timeline for the food prep on the day of the party.

Once the big day arrived, I would like to say I had everything under control and was as cool as a cucumber, but I'd be lying. In all actuality, I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off. I had to ice and decorate the cake, pick up the balloons, gather together all my supplies, finish my playlist, make the crab mixture, make the chicken salad (so the flavors could marry), chop fruit for the champagne bar and soak pears in the rum mixture. This was all prior to setting up for the actual party.

When I got to the party location (Nick and Michelle's house), I had to set up the sign-in table, champagne bar, candy bar and dessert table. I also had to decorate for the party in the pink, green, silver and black theme. I used pink napkins, silver food plates, green dessert plates, pink "Michelle" confetti and I placed framed black and white pictures of the birthday girl throughout the house. I also framed three pictures of Michelle with a big mat for her guests to sign. I placed this on the front table with the candy bar.

Amidst the set-up, I had to get myself AND the birthday girl ready. It was total chaos. This set me back a good 45 minutes on my timeline, but luckily I had my parents there to step in and save me. Seeing as though I still had to assemble the chicken salad toasts, make the crab cakes, prepare the pizza and chop & bake the sweet potato fries, I needed all hands on deck. Suffice it to say, no matter how well you plan, be prepared to hit a few snags come party time.

Speaking of all that food prep, this is the menu I decided on for the big bash:
vegetable crudites with Greek yogurt dip
hot spinach and artichoke dip with pita chips, sourdough bread and tortilla chips
curried chicken salad on raisin toast
spicy sauteed cocktail shrimp
fruit and cheese platter with grapes, blackberries, figs and Havarti
panko-crusted crab cakes
pear and gorgonzola pizza with caramelized onions
baked brie with pears and apples
sweet potato fries

It should be duly noted my parents made the baked brie and the hot spinach & artichoke dip. Thank you parentals. They were divine!

Per usual, I set up the food along their awesome buffet counter. I still remember seeing their house for the first time and I was overwhelmed with excitement when I spotted the long bar. From the moment I laid eyes on it, I had visions of delectable party spreads dancing in my head.

The "champagne bar" was set up on the island and featured Michelle's Thirty, Flirty Fizz which combined rum-soaked pears and champagne. There were also fresh strawberries and peaches soaked in peach schnapps. Guests could mix 'n match to the heart's content.

When the guests began to arrive, I put the crab cakes and pizza in the oven. Once those were finished, I quickly plated them and passed them out to the lucky guests who arrived in a timely fashion. The pizza was a real crowd pleaser and was gone lickity-split.

Obviously, there was a dessert table which featured the birthday cake: a white cake with raspberry mousse filling, fresh berries and a butter cream icing. There were also devils food cake cookies, chocolate-covered strawberries (thank you Elisa!) and dark chocolate chex mix.

As mentioned previously, the party goers were encouraged to frequent the candy bar and make goody bags to take with them. The favorite was definitely the candy corn, but there were also Skittles, honey nut chex mix and M&Ms.

The guest of honor (Michelle, duh) looked ravishing in her party frock. Like a fine wine, she just gets better with age. I don't exaggerate when I say she hasn't looked so beautiful since her wedding.

There was a good turnout to celebrate 30 years in the birthday girl's life. Guests included family, a fousin, old friends (as in 20+ years) and new friends. It was so fun to have people there from all different stages in Michelle's life.

I was particularly happy my parents were able to come and hang out for a couple hours. It was truly an "abundant life" moment.

Once the party was rockin' and rollin', it was time to play the "video/slideshow" (not sure what else to call it) that Nick and I had put together (I supplied pictures and he did the technical stuff) for the party. Again, this goes back to the details I was trying to include to make it feel like a wedding.

And what would be a party without cake? Well, not one I'd like to go to - that's for sure! There might not have been 30 candles on there, but I think she'll still get her birthday wish!

As could be expected, Michelle's #1 request was for there to be dancing, and "by God, there will be dancing." I compiled a playlist in an attempt to encourage said dance party and I think I was successful. Haylee had great fun spinning around the dance floor, and the guest of honor enjoyed a spin out on the dance floor with her main squeeze.

The REAL dance party got cranked up around midnight and included Michelle, Natosha, Jess, Elisa and yours truly. Highlights include "All the Single Ladies," "Benny and the Jetts" (27 Dresses anyone?), "You Can't Escape My Love," and "Don't Stop Believing." But perhaps the MOST memorable would be our reenactment of "Forever on the Dance Floor." We channeled the YouTube video and Jim and Pam's wedding from The Office. I wish I had the video to post, but unfortunately, it's on Nick and Michelle's camera. Sad day...

The night wouldn't be complete without a mini fousin photo shoot outside, so that's exactly what we did (after the majority of the guests had bid us adieu, of course).

We also let Nick take some pics with us too...ha ha.

When it was all said and done and we were in our pajamas watching "13 Going on 30" (at approximately 4 in the AM), I felt really good about the night. The birthday girl got to dance the night away and had a blast. I say that equals a success in my book.

Thirty, Flirty & Thriving

2009-11-01T17:13:00.001-08:00

Whew! October is over and I feel I can breathe a sigh of relief. It has been a birthday bonanza, but I think I can officially hang up my party planning hat...at least for now.

As you read in a previous post, we celebrated my sister's birthday this past week which involved multiple celebrations. Obviously, this is 100% necessary for any birthday, but it was especially important given the monumental age she was reaching: the big 3-0.

We headed to Gloria's for our standard family gathering. The birthday girl was in need of a margarita fix and Glorias was just the ticket. The poor thing hadn't had a margarita since September of 2008, so needless to say, she enjoyed every sip!

Food was also consumed and I had my requisite 8 bowls of black beans. I think they might be under new management because my food was especially tasty that evening. Of course, the waiters were forced to sing the obligatory birthday song and you can bet Haylee was all over that free dessert.
Haylee: the chocolate monster
the birthday momma with her 2 girls
a lovely shot of the ladies (minus meredith)

Once we were sufficiently stuffed, it was time for cake and birthday presents. Well, we first had to have a dance party in the car. This was most definitely a necessity. jammin' in the car

I had spent the better part of 3 weeks putting together a photo book to commemorate 30 years in Michelle's life. While it certainly didn't do her life justice, I think she appreciated the effort and liked looking at the old pictures...the spiral perm was not a good choice. You live and you learn.

Pearl, I mean Haylee took the opportunity to put on every piece of her dress up paraphernalia. She was a diva/chef/princess/fairy. I LOVE that she's such a girly girl and wouldn't have it any other way.

haylee playing dress up with her papa

Back to the birthday girl. She had requested my mom's infamous chocolate-chocolate cake. It's a chocolate cake with chocolate chips and homemade chocolate butter cream icing. It is so rich you can hardly have a sliver without going into a sugar coma. She's been making it for our birthdays for as long as I can remember and that frosting is too die for. I should note that I learned from my mom to NEVER use canned icing. Thanks for teaching me that valuable lesson!

It was a nice low-key night to celebrate Michelle's life, but the real celebration was taking place the following night. Stay tuned for the party post!

Tasty Tuesdays: #19

2009-10-27T08:44:00.000-07:00

Hello my blogging friends! It's a crisp autumn day outside, but at least the sun is shining down and the ground has dried up. I'll take what I can get!

As some of you may know, I hosted Michelle's big 30th bash this past weekend (massive post to come), and of course, this included a fairly expansive food spread. In light of the overwhelming response I received to a few of the items, I will be featuring select recipes from the party over the next few weeks. Aren't you lucky?

Today's recipe is completely original and was basically created in my head. It was a big hit, so I'm assuming that equates to a success. My inspiration came from a salad we regularly made at the lake house this past summer. In fact, I believe it's been a previous recipe on Tasty Tuesday's (easy sbp salad), and highlighted pears and blue cheese. I went with gorgonzola cheese in this case, but it was the same general idea.

This recipe is super easy and the only time-consuming step (caramelizing the onion) is completely optional.

Rachel's Rockin' PGO Pizza

Ingredients:
1 refrigerated pre-made pizza crust (gasp if you will, but I wasn't about to make a homemade crust)
1 container crumbled gorgonzola cheese
1 large pear, thinly sliced
1/2 C caramelized onions* (optional)
drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with non-stick aluminum foil.

2. Unroll pizza crust on foil and sprinkle cheese evenly over the surface.

3. Arrange the sliced pears over the cheese and top with onions.

4. Drizzle with balsamic vinaigrette and bake for approximately 15 minutes or until the crust is cooked thoroughly.

I also added some baked chicken I had leftover from another dish. It was just a smattering and is entirely optional.

*To caramelize onions, slice thinly and cook in a skillet with just a touch of butter (or liberally sprayed with cooking spray). Once onions begin to turn opaque, sprinkle with sugar (or splenda) and continue to cook until they are a nice golden color. These can be stored in the refrigerator until you are ready to make your pizza.

a caddyshack bash

2009-10-26T14:56:00.000-07:00

Two weekends ago (yes, I'm a bit behind), I helped host Meagan's Caddyshack-themed 26th birthday party. I've been dying for an excuse to go argyle-crazy for a while now, so the golf theme has been a long time coming. I'm glad Meg agreed to it for her theme!

Here's the wording from the invite:

Put on your plaid pants and argyle sweater vest,
to make sure you're dressed in your golfing best.

Making a bird or eagle is fun,
but celebrating Meg's birthday is like a hole in one.

This course is free of trees, ponds and sand
and the company promises to be very grand.

So choose where you'll play, the front or back nine,
By the end of the night, we'll all be feelin' fine!

On the day of the party, I followed the instructions and got dressed in my "golfing best" and scooted on over to Meagan's to set up. Crystal was gracious enough to lend a hand, and with her help, we got everything ready in no time. The balloons were blown up, the streamers were strung and the putting game was plugged in. All we needed were our fellow golfers to get the party started.

Once people started arriving (in their festive get-up), we wasted no time digging into the spread and toasting the birthday girl. Party nibbles included queso, 7-layer dip, pizza rolls, pigs in a blanket, spicy shrimp, black bean and corn salad, edamame, veggies and dip, popcorn and cookies. I went back for seconds...or maybe fifths.

The putting game was a huge hit and the dance party out on the deck outside was pretty rockin'.

And of course, what's a party without a cake made by yours truly? I made Meagan's favorite amaretto cake with cream cheese icing.

Meagan also made Irish coffee for a late night pick-me-up. It was a great idea and definitely gave me the caffeine buzz I needed to dance the night away. All in all, I had a great time and hope the birthday girl enjoyed herself.

Happy 26th Meg! I hope this year's a real "hole in one!"

an EPIC celebration

2009-10-22T08:23:00.000-07:00

Today is a very special day in history. In fact, 30 years ago today marked one of the most influential days of my life. Granted, I was not born (or even a glimmer in my parents' eyes), but what occurred on that day would forever change my life.

On October 22, 1979, Michelle Renee Lawrence was born. Rumor has it my dad wanted to name her Aubrey, which we always detested growing up. (No offense if this happens to be your name or if you wish to name one of your children Aubrey. I'm actually quite fine with the name these days.) Anyway, Michelle was quite a tough baby given to fits of crying which could only be soothed by LONG car rides...bless my parents. It's quite apparent that even from birth, she simply did not wish to go to bed. Even then, I suppose she was afraid of missing out on something.

Three years later, I came along and we've been nearly inseparable ever since. I attribute this to the fact that Michelle is not your typical big sister. While most find their little sisters annoying, it was (and is) quite the opposite in our relationship. From day one, she wanted me around and this continued throughout grade school, high school and into the present. She always let me hang out with her and her friends...and even her boyfriends.

While we did have our fair share of fights and we definitely had to "divide" the backseat up using invisible boundary lines during long road trips, we still sustained a very unique relationship. I can't imagine growing up without doing gymnastics with her, watching TGIF with her on Friday nights, opening presents with her on Christmas morning, surviving moves across country during high school, attending countless concerts together and basically every other life happening. I cannot imagine "doing life" without her, my best friend.

She has always been my #1 fan despite my less than gracious attitude towards her at times. Her love is unconditional and her heart is bigger than Texas. God has graced her with the uncanny ability to extend grace when others remain bitter. She is a true, loyal and amazing friend even when particular people do not return the sentiment. She is a faithful wife and a selfless mother. Her girls are beyond blessed to be able to call her "Mommy." She loves my parents far better than I do and the patience she demonstrates is overwhelming. I could go on for days, but I shall exercise restrain.

More than anything though, Michelle loves life. Her appetite for "good times" is insatiable. As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, even as an infant, she refused to go to the bed. This has not changed. She still has the mindset that she will miss something if she goes to sleep, so she consistently wills herself to stay awake as long as possible. As much as I give her a hard time about this, I really love this about her and find it quite endearing. I mean, she wants to really live life. How could I blame her? She was the one who was always up for the concert, the night out on the town, the margarita at happy hour, the impromptu dance party, the late showing of a movie, the icecream at Marble Slab and the list goes on. Granted, things are a touch different with the babies, but I know in her heart, she's still that girl.

So HAPPY, HAPPY 30TH BIRTHDAY MICHELLE!!!

You are hands-down one of the greatest blessings in my life. Even though I may not always show it, you mean the world to me. I pray God would rain down peace, love, happiness and joy that's overflowing in this new year in your life. And here's to being "thirty, flirty and thriving." Cheers to the next 30 years!

happy birthday meggers.

2009-10-21T14:30:00.000-07:00

Because I just couldn't let the day go by without wishing a dear friend happy birthday...I had to do a quick mini-post.

HAPPY 26TH BIRTHDAY MEG!!!

We have celebrated about 12 birthdays together and I look forward to celebrating another 12 more. There is something so special about long-time friends, and I'm so fortunate to be able to celebrate another birthday with Meagan.

I hope you have a wonderful birthday. May this year be your best yet!!!

P.S. Stay tuned for her Caddyshack party post.

a big FAT lie

2009-10-20T18:26:00.000-07:00

You probably do not know this, but this week is Fat Talk Free Week. Fat Talk is negative self-talk and has NOTHING to do with being overweight, average weight, or even underweight. Fat Talk is when we say things like:

- "my thighs look huge in these pants"
- "i ate SO bad today" (what makes something bad? does food actually have character traits?)
- "i've got to get rid of this double-chin (or flabby arms or belly or whatever)"
- "i can't wear skinny jeans. my hips are too big."
- "i hate summer. i refuse to wear a swimsuit in public."
- "ugh...don't take a picture of me. i look so fat."
- "gosh, you eat so healthy. that must be why you're so skinny and i'm not."
- "i've got to get to the gym because i've been eating so much (or my clothes are too tight or my stomach's pooching out...)"
- "if only i could look like her, i would be so happy."

This list does not even BEGIN to scratch the surface in terms of comments I hear every single day and have heard my entire life. Fat talk does not benefit anyone. It is detrimental, not only to yourself, but to every single person around you.

Please, please view the short video below. It is time to break the cycle we, as women, have become so accustomed to all our life. It is so common for us to talk about different areas of our body we hate or how we wish we looked like a particular person.

Please make a commitment to actively pursue positive self talk. I know it's not easy because we've grown up in a society that has warped our sense of self and jaded our thoughts. But I beg you to think before speaking those comments aloud. You don't know who's listening. You don't know who is struggling with body image and how it may affect them. When you tell them they "look great and have they lost weight," you don't know the inner struggle they might be going through and whether or not they are miserable. Be so careful in front of your daughters, your nieces, your sisters, your mothers...

God created you and me (and every human being) in His own image. We all have intrinsic value because of that...period. There is nothing, not education, beauty, social status, body shape, physical fitness, etc. that makes one person more valuable than the other. "You were made to fill a purpose that only you can do and there can never be a more beautiful YOU."

Tasty Tuesdays: the 18th installment

2009-10-20T07:48:00.000-07:00

Happy October 20th to all my lovely readers! I can hardly believe I've been doing this post for 18 weeks, and I can't fathom the idea that we are just 11 days away from November. What has happened to 2009? In just a few short weeks, I'll be trimming the tree while singing my heart out to the NSYNC Christmas CD. But...let's not get ahead of ourselves!

Being the avid baker I am, today's recipe is easily the most used in my entire repertoire. Everyone should have an easy frosting recipe that requires no measurements, double-boiler or recipe card. This frosting has graced countless cakes, cookies and anything else deemed frosting-worthy. It can also be easily tweaked to include different flavors and dies beautifully using a little food coloring.

So without further ado, I bring you today's Tasty Tuesday recipe.

1-2-3 Buttercream

Ingredients:

2 sticks butter
6-8 C powdered (confectioners) sugar
2 T cream or half & half
1 t vanilla (optional)

1. Cream butter until light and fluffy.

2. Add powdered sugar about 1/2 cup at a time.

3. Add cream a little at a time until you reach desired consistency.

Quite honestly, I NEVER measure this recipe (with the exception of the butter). I just add powdered sugar until it looks like frosting and is the right consistency for me to ice my cake. Obviously, I prefer a thicker icing so that it holds up well on my cake and doesn't droop off the sides.

If you've been using icing in a can all your life, I hope the ease of this recipe will inspire you to at least try your hand at homemade frosting. It is so worth it and tastes world's better than anything processed/pre-made. I promise!

*BTW, a big Tasty Tuesday shout-out to my sister and cousin Li-Li who both made my banana bread recipe and received RAVE reviews. Kudos ladies and I loved getting the feedback.

you only get one shot.

2009-10-14T15:37:00.000-07:00

After seeing this on a couple of blogs and finding it fairly interesting, I decided to jump on the bandwagon. The caveat is you have to answer each question with just one word. Have fun reading and do it yourself if you want.

1. Where is your cell phone? bag

2. Your hair? frizz-ball

3. Your mother? selfless

4. Your father? hero

5. Your favorite food? mexicana

6. Your dream last night? nonexistent

7. Your favorite drink? champagne

8. Your dream/goal? legacy

9. What room are you in? office

10. Your hobby? cooking

11. Your fear? freewill

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? God's will (i cheated)

13. Where were you last night? home

14. Something you aren’t? greedy

15. Muffins? blueberry

16. Wish list item? n'espresso

17. Where did you grow up? dallas

18. Last thing you did? file

19. What are you wearing? dress

20. Your TV? functional

21. Your pets? n/a

22. Your friends? mosaic

23. Your life? blessed

24. Your mood? calm

25. Missing someone? sister

26. Vehicle? andi

27. Something you’re not wearing? makeup!

28. Your favorite store? williams-sonoma

29. Your favorite color? pink

30. When was the last time you laughed? today

31. Last time you cried? puzzled

32. Your best friend? related

33. One place that I go over and over? a-town

34. One person who emails me regularly? poppala

35. Favorite place to eat? HOME!!!!

And even though there are no rules, I'm tagging Kori, Lyric, Brooke and Meagan. So if you're reading this, you have to do it!

Tasty Tuesday: the 17th recipe

2009-10-13T07:52:00.000-07:00

I know I've said it before, but I adore the flavors of all, specifically pumpkin. I like pumpkin in everything: pie, cake, cookies, soup, pasta, oatmeal - the list is endless. However, it is hardly acceptable to serve anything pumpkin-flavored outside of the fall/winter months. Can you imagine bringing a pumpkin pie to a 4th of July barbecue? The horror!

Be that as it may, it is our duty to enjoy all things pumpkin to the absolute fullest during these months when it is appropriate to consume the orange colored fruit. (Yes, a pumpkin has seeds, therefore, it is technically a fruit).

Today's recipe features pumpkin and happens to be one of my favorite pumpkin recipes. It comes from BHG and is so easy and really highlights the natural goodness of the pumpkin as opposed to masking it with tons of sugar, cream, etc.

As a fair warning, if you're expecting something sweet and reminiscent of pumpkin pie, prepare to be sorely disappointed. This soup is for pumpkin lovers and will be off-putting to some.

Easy peasy pumpkin soup

Ingredients:

1 15-ounce can pumpkin (not pie filling)
1 14-ounce can reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 cup fat-free milk
1 T brown sugar
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

1. Stir together pumpkin, chicken broth, and milk in a large saucepan.

2. Stir in brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg. Heat just to boiling.

3. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes.

I have served this as a first-course for Thanksgiving dinner for many years. It can also be paired with a salad and bread for a super easy weeknight meal.

i'll take the chipper chicken.

2009-10-12T13:22:00.000-07:00

Actually, make that shrimp (also a cheap alternative) in our case...allow me to explain.

This past Saturday marked another fousin foray into the kitchen and I couldn't be more pleased with our results. Upon hearing that our favorite China doll (Christina) would be journeying our way for the weekend, I knew we must make plans post haste to kick it old school and cook up a little dinner while enjoying each other's exquisite company.

*If I haven't said it before, getting in the kitchen with my fousins has become one of my most favorite things in life. I love to try new dishes and experiment with new flavors ("there's nothin' like experimentin'...who's ready for some chromo-magnificence"), and actually having a group to cook for/with makes the entire experience so much more rewarding. In addition, it's also fun to cook with those who are open to expanding their food horizons and who like to have impromptu dance parties while working in the kitchen. And finally, cooking a meal it home is extremely cost effective and it's always more enjoyable to dine at your leisure. I love to linger at the dinner table for at least an hour.

The menu was set several days in advance and featured:
spinach, pear, blue cheese and walnut salad
baked shrimp with feta and tomatoes
baked sweet potatoes
roasted green beans and artichokes
beer bread

Upon arriving at the Mendez chateau, we promptly got busy in the kitchen sauteing, chopping, mixing and the like. All hands were on deck as we prepped the feast and I can honestly say I loved every minute of it. I wish we could do family dinners everyday. Wouldn't that be a treat?

In between the arduous manual labor, Haylee got in on the action and had some special fousin time herself. Not only did she join in the dance party, but she also got tossed in the air repeatedly by China who made the mistake of doing it once. Children are never satisfied with experiencing something fun only one time. They want you to do it over and over and over again.

With all that dancing and toddler tossing, we really worked up some hearty appetites. Suffice it say, when the dinner bell rang, we loaded our plates with the delicious goodness and ate to our heart's content. Twas delicious indeed and the conversation was equally delightful.

We rounded out the night by watching Jim & Pam's wedding, and we all agreed the final scene made the entire hour of mediocre content worth it in the end. And to be honest, I think I could do anything with my fousins and it would be a grand time.

it's too late to apologize.

2009-10-11T18:06:00.000-07:00

Okay, not really. But I did have the pleasure of hearing the song live this past week at the One Republic concert. View the videos below for some sound bytes of the set they played.

While I was definitely a fan prior to the conert, I became even more impressed upon hearing them live. They sounded exactly like they do on the radio which is such a rarity these days. I was also really taken with their stage presence and overall talent.

Their new album (which happens to come out on Tuesday) is chock-full of greatness and I highly recommend downloading it on i-tunes if you have the chance. I think you will really enjoy it.

it's her party, and she'll cry if she wants to.

2009-10-11T17:05:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, we celebrated Haylee's 3rd birthday with a Dora-themed fiesta extravaganza.

Michelle did a bang-up job planning the big bash and left no detail untouched. From the Dora-emblazoned cake to the massive spread of Mexican inspired food to the party favors to the festive pinata, the party was a hit from start to finish.

The gang was all there with all sets of grandparents present and some of the birthday girl's best friends. She was beyond thrilled to have so many of her favorite people in the same room and let out a squeal every time someone new came to the door.

The kids played outside in the mini bounce house and on the swingset, but perhaps the highlight was the Dora-shaped pinata. It is quite a marvel to watch three and four-year-olds take a wack at Dora's face. Haylee was a bit timid at first, but once she observed some pinata pros, she was reluctant to give anyone else a turn. In fact, she proceeded to have a full-on meltdown every time one of her friends was given the opportunity to take a swing. My competitive nature must be rubbing off on her.

The guest of honor's spirits were quickly lifted with the birthday song and her chance to blow out the candles on her Dora cake. She had been asking for a Dora cake for at least a month prior to her birthday and when she finally got the chance to dig in, she was in cake heaven. I can't say I blame her. A good cake is easily the highlight of every party.

As if that weren't enough, the fun didn't stop there. The birthday girl had a pile of presents to unwrap, and received enough dress-up costumes to last her a lifetime. There was Minnie Mouse, Cinderella, fairy wings out the yin yang and a myriad of princess acoutrements to delight even the prissiest of girls.

All in all, it was the perfect way to bring in a new year in my precious niece's life. I know I've said it before, but I can't imagine loving someone as much as I love my little Pearl. She can be a total toot, but when she asks for a "giant hug," my heart melts completely and I want to give her the world. So here's to an awesome 3rd year in your life. I can't wait to be a part of your story!

you don't need to bring pizza. they got food there.

2009-10-08T09:29:00.000-07:00

I hope you enjoyed my party post in the form of a poem. You may be thinking it was a total cop-out, and you know what? You might be right, but I just have so much in the backlog of posts that I had to get things moving.

So, again, in the interest of getting my blog "up to date," I shall be brief with my birthday post. After all, "brevity is the order of the day." Indeed.

Last Wednesday, September 30, 2009 was an absolutely lovely day to celebrate my birth into this world. The weather was sublime and the company truly delightful.

I was able to leave my place of work early and took full advantage of this by enjoying brunch outside at my favorite spot, Breadwinner's. Copious amounts of sweet baked bread and pancakes were consumed and I had the pleasure of dining with some of my favorite girls: Michelle, Haylee, Meredith and Kori.

I also received a very cute birthday sussie from Kori all the way from San Francisco. Thank you again so much friend for the adorable cupcake mug and Starbucks gift card!!

The day continued with one of my favorite activities, napping. Yes, I took a nap with Pearl and it was absolutely divine. There is nothing I love more than a mid-afternoon nap in a big, comfy bed.

Once we were rested up, it was time to head to Urban Crust for my birthday dinner with the fam. This new restaurant is located in downtown Plano and features wood-burning oven pizzas and a hip rooftop bar complete with an ice block to keep your beverages cool. I was very impressed with the snazzy bar, unique decor and inventive menu.

We started with some calamari and a couple of salads. All dished met my approval and we happily gobbled them up while waiting for our pizza.

Once the pizza came, I was in foodie heaven. We chose two pies: one with roasted chicken, caramelized onions, marinara sauce and mozzarella and the other was topped with fig preserves, goat cheese, prosciutto, arugula and a drizzle of balsamic. Holy Yum! The combination of salty and sweet enraptured my taste buds and I savored every delectable bite. Needless to say, we devoured every last morsel and there were no leftovers to take home...a rare occurrence for us to be sure.

We rolled ourselves out of the restaurant and back to the parental's home for a little cake and presents. I received a super cute Vera Bradley ID keychain from my sister and Nick and money for a pair of Toms from my parents. Thank you family!!!

And what kind of cake did I have you might ask? Well, I am happy to report the pops made me a strawberry cake with homemade strawberry cream cheese icing. Wow wowie wow is all I can say as words fail to do this strawberry goodness justice. It might be the best birthday cake I've ever had, so thank you so much Dad for delighting us with your culinary prowess.

I could not have asked for a more perfect day and I felt overwhelmed by love from beginning to end. Thank you to all for your birthday wishes, cards and gifts. You sure know how to make a girl feel loved on her birthday and I am beyond blessed with all those in my life.

happy birthday pearl.

2009-10-07T13:42:00.000-07:00

A slightly belated, but very HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my favorite three-year-old in the whole wide world!!!

Haylee Grace, you are a girl after my own heart. We have quite a few things in common, but it is our affinity for all things cake (having a particular affection for frosting) and dancing that I love the most. You have the uncanny ability to spot cake a mile away, and you are one of the select few who share my passion for dancing. I pray you always dance like no one's watching. It is one of the greatest joys in life.

May this new year in your life be marked with new discoveries and countless opportunities for laughter. You have brought unspeakable joy into my life and I am exceedingly proud to be your Aunt Chie-chie. To say you're a blessing is a gross understatement, at best.

I love you more than all the frosted cake in the universe! Happy Birthday Hay-hay!

Tasty Tuesdays: Sweet 16

2009-10-06T09:06:00.000-07:00

I apologize in advance for my major blog slacking. I am so behind on my posts, but promise I am working on my birthday party, my family birthday celebration and Hay-hay's Dore-themed fiesta birthday party. Ahhh...so much to do, so little time.

But that's not what this post is about. You're here for a recipe and I plan to deliver. Today's recipe is definitely one of my go-to recipes when I need a quick, no-fuss recipe for a batch of cookies. The beauty of the recipe is not only it's simplicity, but also it's range of possibilities. Since the base is a boxed cake mix (gasp), you can create dozens of different varieties by simply purchasing a different flavor of cake mix. Brilliant, no?

I have made these using spice cake, strawberry cake and yellow cake (with chocolate chips added). But perhaps my most popular variety is the beloved childhood favorite, funfetti cake mix cookies. This is what I'll be bringing you today. The recipe couldn't be easier, so if you have children, I highly recommend getting them involved!

Funfetti cake mix cookies

Ingredients:

1 box of funfetti cake
2 eggs
1/3 C vegetable oil

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

2. Stir together ingredients (by hand) in a medium-sized bowl.

3. Drop tablespoon sized balls onto a greased cookie sheet.

4. Bake for 8-10 minutes.

5. Allow to cool before removing from cookie sheet.

The cookies lend themselves to a soft, cake-like texture which I happen to adore. I'm not a fan of crunchy cookies, so these are perfect for me. My cake-mix cookies are always a huge hit with everyone, and I encourage you to experiment with all different flavors. I particular like to use a strawberry cake mix and add chopped strawberries to dough. I am also partial to using a yellow cake mix and adding chocolate chips.

Enjoy and whatever you are cooking in the kitchen, have a Tasty Tuesday!