1st Birthday Sneak Peak!

We had such a wonderful time at Hadley's 1st Birthday party yesterday!  We had about 35 guests total, gorgeous weather, delicious food, a one happy birthday girl!  I will do a proper post once I get all the pictures (our sweet friends Grant and Kandi took pictures for us yesterday)!  These are a few Kandi posted on facebook and I wanted to go ahead and share!

One party foul yesterday!  I was getting Hadley ready yesterday afternoon and gave her a quick bath and put her in a cute green outfit to wear before the party (dress and bloomers).  Then we came downstairs and Hadley was playing in the family room and I was cutting fruit in the kitchen.  Brandon had just gotten home from the store and went to play with Hadley when he noticed water on the floor and thought a drink had gotten knocked over, but couldn't find the drink anywhere.  He picked Hadley up and she was wet and he kept looking for the spilled drink.  I asked him what was going on and I tried to help him find the source of the water.....and then I realized Hadley had no diaper on!  In all the craziness of trying to get ready for the party, mommy forgot to put a diaper on the birthday girl!  Thank goodness this was pre-party and pre-party dress :)




 

Holy Kids Meal!

One humorous encounter this past weekend I wanted to share (and I don't want to forget).  We went out to dinner on Friday night to Calhoun's.  They have delicious steak, BBQ, and ribs.  I decided to get Hadley a kids meal - her second kids meal (first being at Salsarita's - a cheese quesadilla).  I opted for a grilled cheese and side of broccoli.  I kid you not, she ate the entire sandwich, minus the crust, and every bite of broccoli!  We know she is a good eater, but woah! 


Similar to what she ate!


I told Ms. Sarah, one of her sweet teachers at Nanny's, that we ordered her a kids meal over the weekend, and she said with a smile, "let me guess, she ate the whole thing?"

Party planning

Hadley's birthday party is less than a week away.  I'm so excited....and a little stressed! 

This weekend I was busy getting things ready for the big day.  I picked up her party dress and some things from Party City.  Her dress turned out so cute!  I purchased it at Weepeat Boutique.  The owner custom makes outfits for kids and I know the lady that does all the monogramming and applique there.  I will share pictures after the party of the actual dress, but it is similar to this style (I ordered a different print with an owl applique).

I had so much fun working on her monthly picture banner (which turned out so, so cute!).  You can see in the picture below the one I ordered from Any Good Idea's Etsy shop.  It's hard to believe how much she has changed the last 12 months.  I plan on displaying this in her nursery after her party since the colors match her room (added bonus!).

I love the idea of these tissue poms.  I bought some pink and green tissue paper and attempted to make some over the weekend.  They don't look as good as the ones below, but I think they will look cute hung up on our patio (crossing my fingers for great weather on Sunday).

Here is the invite we sent out.  I purchased the design from Bubee Prints Etsy shop and then ordered the invites from Vista Print.  They turned out so cute!

I'm waiting on one package, complete with banners and cupcake toppers from Burley Girl Design's Etsy shop!  I love everything in her shop!

And I've just about got the menu planned out:

• Chicken Salad on Croissant
• Garden Pasta Salad
• Fresh Fruit
• Spinach Dip with chips
• Cupcakes from Gigi's

I believe we are going to have a big turnout for the party (umm, I decided this weekend we need a bigger house)!  I can't wait to see Hadley dig into her birthday cake!

A couple new recipes, great for fall!

I tried a couple new recipes over the weekend that I thought I would share.  Both were super easy and delish!

Southwestern Corn Bake

Ingredients:
17 oz can cream-style corn (I used 20 oz frozen)
2 eggs, beaten
3/4 cup yellow corn meal
1 tsp. garlic salt
6 tbs. oil (I used about 3)
1 4 oz can roasted and peeled diced green chilies
2 cups grated Cheddar cheese

Mix together all ingredients except chilies and cheese. Divide mixture in half. Place one half in a greased 8x8x2" baking dish. Mix together the chilies and cheese; lay on top of corn mixture in dish. Cover with the remaining corn mixture. Bake at 350 degrees 35 minutes. (I actually just mixed all the ingredients and then baked).

Crock Pot Salsa Chicken

Ingredients:

3-4 chicken breasts

1 packet of taco seasoning

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 cup of your favorite salsa

8 oz sour cream

Place chicken breasts in crock pot and sprinkle taco seasoning on the top.  In a separate bowl, mix soup and salsa.  Pour mixture over chicken.  Cover crock pot and cook on low for 6-8 hours.  Just before serving, shred chicken, top with sour cream and let sit for 5-10 minutes and stir.  Serve over rice or in taco shells.

(We loved this but will add black beans, corn, and maybe jalepenos next time for added kick!)

Football season....finally!

I'm so excited football season is finally here!  This time last year I was as big as a bus ready to give birth.  Can't believe how much our lives have changed since then!  Last fall was crazy for us....just settling in to our new lives with a newborn, football was the last thing on our minds!  I love football season here in Knoxville.  There is no place I'd rather be this time of year!

This time last year on 9/8/10

We decided to skip tailgating and heading down to the first game of the season.  It was nearly 100 degrees outside we thought it would be fun to have some friends over and watch the game with our babies!  Plus, I love any excuse to pull out these fun platters!

Here are some pictures of our weekend.  My sister and her daughter, Olivia, spent the night Friday night.  I snapped some cute pictures of our girls in their orange!  Then some party pictures!