Veggie Garden Start

For a couple of months now we've been talking about wanting to start a "veggie/herb/fruit/anything that is edible and will grow" garden.  I searched around for planter boxes to buy, since the hubby isn't the most handy of men.  I came up empty handed, there is not much out there to buy.  Lot's of how-to's on building them though!  Chase agreed to take on this challenge and was actually pretty excited about it.

After a trip to Home Depot, he and Elle got to it in the garage a few Sundays ago.  I was quite impressed with the final product!!  They may not last for 20 years, but hey we will out of this house by then.  Somebody else's problem! haha : )  We used cedar wood planks (I wish they were a little thicker but that's all we had to choose from)

I had our landscaper bring us dirt, some of the good stuff that you can't buy at Home Depot.  And then we got to planting!  So far we have . . .

Tomatoes (2 different varieties)

Zucchini

Cucumber

Green Beans

Cilantro

Parsley

Thyme

Rosemary

Dill

Basil (heat tolerant variety)

Strawberries

Lemons

(l to r) zucchini. tomoatoes. zucchini. cucumbers down in front are green beans who haven't sprouted

(l to r) cilantro. basil. rosemary. dill. thyme. parsley. green beans along back who haven't sprouted

Loaded Baked Pasta

Sunday nights Chase really loves a big pasta dish for dinner.  I found my inspiration for this on Pinterest, then combined with a baked ziti recipe I have.  And this is what I came up with...

Loaded Baked Pasta

8 oz  sliced mushrooms
baby spinach, I did 2 big handfuls (or one pkg of frozen)
1  medium yellow onion
2   zucchini
1 lb  italian sausage
1 lb  pasta  (I used spinach penne)
2  garlic cloves, minced
marinara sauce (1jar)
1 c   mozzarella
1/2 c parmesan, or more : )

Cook pasta according to package.  In a small skillet saute the baby spinach with a little olive oil and salt.  Heat a glug of olive oil in a large skillet on medium heat.  Add the mushrooms, onions, and zucchini, cook until softened.  Add the italian sausage into the skillet and cook.  When the sausage is cooked all the way, add in the cooked spinach, marinara sauce, and cooked pasta.  In a 9x13 dish pour half your pasta, then a layer of mozzarella cheese.  Add the rest of your pasta and top with mozzarella and parmesan.  Cook for about 20 minutes at 425, or until the cheese is bubbly and yummy!

There are so many different variations of this you could try!   Add different seasonal veggies, different meats, or no meat at all, add some herbs (I forgot to buy some at the store that day)... Oh the possibilities!

Coyuchi

As you know, I had such a hard time finding crib bedding.  No hot pink and zebra stripes in this house!!  So naturally when I found a tasteful line, I wanted to share (I think on Gilt), Coyuchi.  It's such a beautifully sweet designed collection.  

George Crib Collection 

detailed crib sheets

They even have kids clothing!

Check out their other bedding and bath products for yourself!  

Chops

A few months back some friends had us over for dinner.  We never turn down dinner with these friends, Brooke is an amazing cook!  Check out her blog Plum Pie Cooks.  She made pork tenderloin, mac and cheese, asparagus and amazing pear and pomegranate salad.  I'm usually not a huge fan of pork but the marinade she used was so delicious!  It was so yummy that I copied her and made this meal for Christmas Eve dinner, and wow was it a hit!!

Since then I use this marinade any time I make pork chops.  This is not my recipe at all, but I had to share it with you.  A couple of the times I've used it, I didn't one or two of the ingredients on hand.  The chops were just as good without them though!  Check out the full recipe here.

Pork Marinade

1/3 c   dried cherries
1/3 c   dry red wine
1/4 c   balsamic vinegar
3/4 c   cranberry juice
4  garlic cloves, minced
6  shallots, sliced
3 tbl   rosemary, chopped

The original recipe says to marinade anywhere from 2 hrs to overnight.  When I use this on pork chops I grill them in a skillet.  The tenderloin I sear on the stove top, then finish it off in the over.

Baby Clothes

Not sure about you, but I have the hardest time finding cute baby clothes.  I guess my style isn't what is necessarily popular for babies.  No frills, fuss, or HUGE bows!!!  No stupid sayings, I love my mommy or My daddy blah blah blah!  Sorry for the short rant : )  If I had a fashion background I would seriously consider starting a baby clothing line.  It seems so easy!  Beautiful patterns, colors, simplicity. . .

I usually have the best luck at Old Navy and the Gap.  The Old Navy near my house can be sort of hit or miss and the Gap seems a little over prices sometimes.  And of course I LOVE anything from Tea Collection, but I have to catch them on sale.  Thanks to my new addiction, Pinterest : ) I have found a few other lines I really like.  Please Please Please pass on any good websites/stores you love.

Boden 

Not the cheapest, but not ridiculous either.  Cute boy things as well.  And a bonus they have adult clothes too!

Wild Dill

Lots of different brands.  Range of prices.  

esty user EcoStreet

If you're going to accessorize with headbands, I think these are precious.  Small, sweet, beautiful.  I really don't think that Elle would let me put these on her head anyways.  This etsy store has great headbands and knit hats.

kate quinn

Great basics, solids and sweet patterns.  Not the cheapest, but I do catch these on Guilt every once and a while.  

sweet peanut

I've also seen this brand on Guilt.  Haven't ordered anything from them yet, but love all the footed onesies for the fall.

Recently I popped into our new H&M and was really pleased with their selection, great prices and clothes!  Also Zara was definite hit!

Toy Boxes

I recently added shelves to Elle's room.  They're not the fanciest or prettiest, plane old cube shelves from Target.  The cubes that fit the shelves are not cute either.  Bad colors and bad fabric/material.  I took this opportunity to add some pink into her still very gender neutral nursery.  

This is so easy to do -- a very quick 30 min or less project.  This is key since Elle only takes 30 min naps! I'm almost done, 2 more to go...in other words 2 more naps and I'll be done!  

Steps:

1.   Place box in middle of fabric.  Making sure that there is enough fabric to pull over each side and glue inside the box.  

2.  Bring fabric over edge and glue.  Make sure with each glue, you're pulling fabric evenly.  

3.  Repeat with opposite side.  

4.  Cut out excess fabric on adjacent side (I cut out a square) leaving enough to fold over the top of box.  

5.  Glue flaps down, making sure fabric is smooth on other sides.  

6.  Fold fabric in to make a straight edge.  Glue onto side of box.  Pull fabric up and over box and glue inside.  Repeat on other side.  

7.  And there you have it.  

Sorry if the directions aren't the most clear.  I'm a visual learner so I took pics of each step.  If you're like me, just follow the pictures : )

Mustache Fiesta

This past weekend my lovely friends threw my bestie quite the fiesta of a wedding shower!  We divided up all the tasks and food to bring, and I was given the job of "mustaches."  Cue creativity!  The sticky mustaches have been done, so I wanted to do something a little different.  After a trip to Michaels, Party City, and Target I came up empty handed.  No inspiration at all.  After seeing a picture somewhere of a mustache straw (not sure where) I knew that's what I wanted to do.  Back to Michaels...

I bought plain and glittery black foam board and got to work.  I only used 2 different shapes, but should have done a few more.  To make your 'staches symmetrical, draw one side then folded it in half and cut.  Use poster board or another thicker paper as your template and trace onto your foam board.  You will need to make 2 overlapping holes in order for the straw to fit through them.

I was so surprised how easy the foam board was to cut out, honestly the foam cut faster than the poster board.  Also I bought a heavy duty hole punch -- don't waste your money!  Your plain old hole punch works much better, and the hole is bigger.

Hola amigos!