Green Baby Shower

I've been pretty busy the last couple of weeks in preparation for a Green Baby Shower for one of our best friends. Here's what Lynn, Mary Jo and I did to incorporate the theme of green and eco-friendly:

• Invitations were printed on seeded paper. Just plant the card into soil to grow your own herb garden of basil and chives, the seeds are embedded in the cardstock.

• To decorate, we used fresh-cut flowers from local organic growers and origami made from recyclable paper. We folded origami animal families. I love the mommy Loch Ness monster and the even more elusive Loch Ness baby.

• We did not use any disposable plates and utensils. I actually brought out our pretty cloth napkins.

• When possible we used organic and/or locally grown ingredients for food/drink. I used organic flour, cocoa, butter and eggs for these cupcakes
  

• Gifts were encouraged to be organic and/or non-plastic.

• The diaper cake centerpiece made from eco-friendly diapers. We decorated it with more supercute origami animals.
  

• Party favors for the kids: Coloring book from the Discovery channel's "Planet Earth" series printed on recycled paper, organic animal cookies, and origami paper. Packaged in a cute reusable insulated lunch bag. For the adults: Handmade goat's milk soap, organic loose-leaf tea, and a reusable shopping bag that zips up to wallet size.

• We tried to go green all the way but Peter didn't want to serve organic beer and wine. You know how he is with wine...forget green, he'd rather it taste good.

• Our keepsake craft was to design and embroider felt onto cotton fabric squares. They will later be sewn together to make a quilt for the baby. I had so much fun doing this, I am seriously considering learning how to sew and quilt.

• I think this is the cutest cake topper ever. It looks simple, but it took us over an hour to make! Who knew an origami chick was so hard to do? Tim did a great job with the egg. I had only one left so there was a lot of pressure to crack it just so...

The mommy and daddy to be!

There's nothing quite as cute as...

...Footie pajamas

Where'd Daddy go?

Lauren points towards the garage as she hears the car driving away. She's sad that daddy's gone to work.

Chocolate Chocolate Cupcakes

I made these cupcakes tonight and I'm posting about them because Peter claims they're the best cupcakes he's EVER had. I used 65% bittersweet chocolate for the cupcakes and 85% for the ganache. If you're a fan of bittersweet or dark chocolate like Peter, then you will LOVE these.

MMM. Don't they look good. Just looking at them makes me thirsty for a tall glass of milk.



For the recipe, visit a fellow "Tuesdays with Dorie"-er, Clara, from Iheartfood4thought

Christmas Wishlist Tag

Early Christmas Tag

I just got tagged by Vicki, so here it goes. And in keeping with our Buy Nothing Christmas, I will add that I don't mind receiving used or re-gifts.

Christmas Wish List:

material stuff:
1. Books I hear Marian Keyes (my favorite chick lit author) and David Sedaris have new ones out. Kinda out of the loop in the new book area. Have been trying to read more lately.

2. Stand Mixer. Been baking a lot lately and I keep having to borrow my moms mixer since my hand mixer broke.

3. Cookbooks

"big" stuff:
1. Sofa or sectional for the family room
2. Landscaping in our backyard

others (for the baby):
1. pajamas
2. books..she loves books
3. wooden puzzles

super wishes:
1. Time to spend with my family
2. Health for the whole family
3. Contentment
4. An addition to our family (yes, we're thinking about it)

We Wish You a Buy Nothing Christmas

Peter and I have made a radical decision. This year we are going to try to have a BUY NOTHING CHRISTMAS! GAh! Whatchootalkinboutwillis?

I came across this article, Hundred Dollar Holiday, and it really got me thinking. How much did I spend last year? Do my friends and family remember what I gave them? Do I remember what I received? I wracked my brain and I couldn't remember what my mom gave me last year...isn't that terrible? Do I have so much STUFF that I don't remember where and who it all came from? Did the true meaning of Christmas get lost in the piles of wrapping paper and ribbons? Was I so busy shopping that I didn't spend enough time at home, reflecting and celebrating the REAL Christmas? I looked around our house and was just appalled at how much stuff we have accumulated...I still had things in boxes that I never used, clothes with tags on them and even stuff still in their shopping bags that I'd forgotten that I'd even bought! I wondered if other peoples' homes looked like that. Do we all just have too much STUFF?!

So, I suggested Buy Nothing Christmas (you can read about it here) to Peter and he agreed. We're not going to go cold turkey, we will have a Buy (Almost) Nothing Christmas. We will TRY not to spend on gifts.

I told my sister about it and she looked at me funny and the first thing she said was, "Aww, how boring..that's gonna suck!" I told her not to worry...we will still give gifts! I LOVE PRESENTS!!! But our gifts will be homemade or creatively recycled. We will enjoy baking, knitting, and crafting. If we do buy anything, we will try to limit our spending or only buy a gift of "experience" like tickets to a show or something. So all my friends and family out there who are reading this: I promise that all of our gifts will be thoughtful and heartfelt...and don't be offended by creative regifting! Early shopper that I am, however, I've already bought some things for my friends' kids...so too late to change that. If I happen to come across something that I can justify because I know the recipient will absolutely love and treasure it, then I may just go ahead and buy it. It's the reckless and thoughtless buying that I'm trying to curb.

After explaining to my sister that weren't going to spoil the gift-giving fun on Christmas morning (or midnight, when we open presents at our house), she joked, "Do you know how to make an XBox 360?"

How about an XBox 360 cake?

I hope you guys understand what we are trying to do and hope you don't think we're being grinches or fuddy duddies. If you want, join us! Let's take Christmas back from the big box stores! If you don't want to have a Buy Nothing Christmas, then at least keep some of the ideas of less spending, less impact on the environment, and experiencing more joys of the season.

For creative ideas and alternatives for gift giving, visit this site with ideas on how to simplify the holidays.

Yes We CAN!

Si, Se Puede!

Kaya Natin 'To!

Cutest. Yoda. Ever.

As Halloween approached, people asked about Lauren's costume? Will she be a princess? Some kind of cute baby animal? Or adorable insect?

None of the above.

Lauren was Yoda. Peter was Darth Vader, I was a Jedi. We were one of those annoying matchy matchy families. And we loved it!

Cute I am.

Her costume was so perfect...especially since the weather sucked. The thick, fleece jedi robe kept her warm. The headpiece/hat (also made of thick, soft fleece) shielded her ears from the cold and her head from the rain.

Some of the characters that showed up at the party. If anyone showed up without a costume, we threw sheets over their heads. Instant Ghosts!


Yoda with a cheerleader and Dorothy


My friend, the Addict (don't ask what kind)


Lauren, Darth, and Grandma in front of our neighbor's garage..complete with inflatable cemetery...I thought it was a bit much, but the kids LOVED it!

We had a little get-together at our house. A couple of my friends brought their kids and we all went trick-or-treating. A couple of big 'kids' got some funny looks from neighbors handing out candy :::cough::Cowboy and Cowgirl in our party who are in their 20's:::cough:::. Young at heart, I guess. Halloween has no age limit.

Lauren uses the force to get an extra piece of candy.

Our neighborhood was the perfect Halloween host. There were practically no cars on the road, well-lit streets, impressively decorated front yards and friendly neighbors. After trick-or-treating we made our way back to our house for pizza, corn chowder, deviled eggs and rum-spiked apple cider. The kids decorated Halloween cookies and the adults relaxed and watched the game on TV. I had a great time, I think my friends did too. I hope this is the start of new Halloween tradition. I'm already thinking up next year's costume.....

Even Yoda needs milk! Getting ready to take a walk with Uncle Ed the next morning

Lauren enjoyed sorting her candy. We enjoyed eating it.