Party streamers, take two

Loving these fun (and inexpensive!) ideas for party decor!

And so easy peasy.

1.

Chevron streamers

{HERE}

2.

Fringy streamers

{HERE}

(Made the later in blues for the baby shower!)

Speaking of parties, I came across this great website for gorgeous disposable dinnerware and party goods.  It's called Smarty Had a Party - Check it out {HERE}.

Be sure to bookmark these fun ideas for your next shindig!

~images via betsy white & oh happy day~

First cookout of the year

Who would have ever thought that it'd be over St. Paddy's Day weekend?!

Unheard of to have sunshine and 77 degrees in mid-March here,

but I will take it!

Today's recipe shall be called:

French Onion Burgers with Mushrooms & Fontina

Yummy.

Ingredients

Burgers:

1 lb lean sirloin

Seasoning salt (like Lawry's) and pepper, to taste

4 kaiser or brioche buns, toasted

Topping:

1 red onion, chopped

4 oz white button mushrooms (half package), thinly sliced

Dash cayenne pepper

Salt, pepper, herbes de Provence (to taste)

1 tsp sugar

1/4 c water or stock

Fontina cheese, shredded (enough to top 4 burgers)

(Any quality, white, melting cheese could be substituted.  Example:  Gruyere, provolone, mozzarella)

Sauce:

1/2 c light mayo

~1/4 c finely chopped parsley

2 cloves garlic, minced (4 if they're small!)

1 tsp mustard

1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper

Salt, to taste

Directions

Shape your sirloin into 4 patties.

Tip:  Make an indent in the center of each patty...this helps prevent them puffing up into a ball-like shape and being too small for your buns.  (You can thank Rachel Ray, the self-acclaimed Burger Queen, for that one.)

Season with seasoning salt and pepper, to taste.

Set aside.  (Or in the fridge if you're planning on grilling later.)

Make your topping.

Saute onions in olive oil for approximately 7 minutes, or until soft and slightly browned.

Season with dash of cayenne pepper, and salt and pepper to taste.

Add mushrooms.

After approximately 1 minute,

add 1/4 c of liquid (water or stock) and teaspoon of sugar.

Cook for an additional 6 minutes or so, until mushrooms are tender.

Set aside in a small bowl until you are ready for it.

Note:  If grilling later, you can re-heat in the microwave to ensure a warm topping.

Shred cheese.

Meanwhile, make the sauce.

Mix mayo, parsley, garlic, mustard, salt & pepper together well.

Set aside.

Fire up your grill to medium-high heat.

Grill burgers for a total of 7 minutes, flipping once.

Then, add a generous spoonful of the topping to each burger.

Top with shredded fontina cheese.

Cover the grill and let cook for an additional minute or so.

(Until the cheese is ooey gooey!)

Meanwhile, toast your buns.

Spread the sauce on one (or both) sides.

Assemble, and enjoy!!

So garlicky and good.

(Reminds me of "The Dane Burger" for those of you who have been lucky enough to try one at the Great Dane in Madison, WI.)

Serve with your favorite veggie salad, chips, & cold beverage.

(We thought the sea salt and cracked black pepper kettle chips were a perfect fit.)

And why not a festive St. Patrick's Day brownie? 

Mmmmm.

While you've got the grill going,

you might as well go ahead and cook up some brats & sausages for the next day.

:)

Hope the sunshine and heatwave lasts!

Cheers to the rest of a fabulously relaxing weekend, m'dears.

P.S.  GO BADGERS!!

Who are you rooting for in this year's NCAA tourney?

~photos by b~

One step closer.

"...Darling, don't be afraid,

I have loved you for a thousand years,

I love you for a thousand more...."

That image + This song = Beautiful!

Pretty sure Christina Perri didn't sing this for her unborn baby,

but I'd say that it certainly fits!

(Sorry, Edward and Bella - you're old news.  Baby A is where it's at!)

38 weeks tomorrow!

"One step closer," indeed!

So in love already...I am bursting at the seems!

P.S. I think his dad is, too...

<3

~image via pinterest / photo by b~

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Best holiday ever! At least in this Irish girl's opinion.
Hoping to hit up a FREE live session by "Atlantic Wave" @ Paddy's Pub tonight.
For a sample listen - which will be sure  to jump start your Irish spirit -
check out their website {HERE}.

:)

Here I am on the Emerald Isle

with a little Irish blessing to start your day!

May the sun shine down on you & the luck of the Irish be with you
today...and always!

Sláinte!

P.S.  Why didn't I think to make myself this adorable tee for today's festivities?!

Rats.  Next time! 

~photos by b / images via pinterest~

Madewell, spring edition.

I am loving ALL these fresh spring looks over at Madewell.

{HERE}

(But let's face it, I'm generally on board with ANYTHING J. Crew has a hand in.)

Stripes! Florals! Polka dots! Brights! Pastels! Textures!

It's like the Easter Bunny exploded...

and I mean that in the BEST possible way.

Can't wait to sport all the fun pops of color and pattern this year!

~images via Madewell~

Are you as busy as you think?

As someone who is no stranger to being busy,

I admit that I have said "I don't have time" on more than one occasion...

"I don't have time to clean my car."

"I'm too busy to get that outstanding paperwork taken care of, mole checked out, mess picked up", etc.

However, after reading this fascinating article,

I have a different perspective on "time".

The last paragraph particularly struck me...

Change your language. Instead of saying "I don't have time" try saying "it's not a priority," and see how that feels. Often, that's a perfectly adequate explanation. I have time to iron my sheets, I just don't want to. But other things are harder. Try it: "I'm not going to edit your résumé, sweetie, because it's not a priority." "I don't go to the doctor because my health is not a priority." If these phrases don't sit well, that's the point. Changing our language reminds us that time is a choice. If we don't like how we're spending an hour, we can choose differently.

Eye-opener, eh?

As I prepare to enter mommyhood and eventually re-enter the workforce,

I know  I will be tempted to say "I don't have time."

It just better not be when my son wants to read a book,

or my husband wants to go on a date,

or when I see a long-distance relative's name appear on an "incoming call"...

I hope I will be wise enough to evaluate my priorities and make time for what, and more importantly, who are important.

For one thing we are not guaranteed in life is time.

In the meantime, some things I'd currently  like to "make time" for include:

- reflecting on how wonderful it is to be pregnant
- deep spring cleaning

- relaxing and enjoying my last few days of solitude and relaxation

(this includes date nights with the huzz!)

- making sure I go to church every Sunday

- keeping in touch with my family and friends

What are you going to strive to "make more time" for in your busy lives?

~image via wall street journal & pinterest x 3~

Farmhouse sinks

I don't care if they're white marble, copper, slate, or stainless steel.

I love them all.  And I want one in my kitchen.  Right now.

These ones especially make me swoon with kitchen envy...

Aren't they amazing?!

Which one is your fave?

~images via pinterest~

Ombre headbands

OMG.

How adorable are these for spring?!

I want to make everyone I know one right now.

Tutorial {HERE}.

Here are some lovely models to show off the cute headband look,
especially useful for those "messy hair days" we all have from time to time.

LOVE.

P.S.  Did anyone watch the Bachelor finale last night?
Sooooo terrible.  Great recap {HERE}.
(Now I remember why I don't watch these kinds of shows.  Example:  The only thing this season made me want to do is go to Switzerland.)

~image via chasing our sunshine & pinterest x 3~

Interesting baby reads

1.

Blown out vagina.

Sorry for the crudeness of this sub-title,

but let's face it, unless you have huge hips and a cavernous vagina,
such that your baby just flies out,
(and I sure as heck do not),
that is what happens after you squeeze a watermelon out of your little cooch.

Funny, yet not so funny at all, my sweet little one!

A I come to terms with what is about to happen to my lady bits,

I found this post {HERE} regarding care for your said "blown out vagina"

both terrifying, helpful, and oddly hilarious.

Note:  I already stocked up on Tucks pads.

2.

Bringing up Bebe

Is French parenting style superior?

This article {HERE} has certainly piqued my interest.

Thinking about ordering this book for my post-partum reading pleasure.

I mean, who wants one of those rambunctious, ill-behaved, spoiled little brats you see running around in public like they own the place?!  Eeek. Not me!

My children are going to be little saints.  Obvi.

3.

Weaning and Depression.

I will freely and sadly admit that I had not heard of this phenomenon.

While (thankfully) post-partum depression has been getting appropriate attention, I think this is equally important! As someone who plans to breastfeed, I am grateful I came across a beautiful and heartfelt personal story over at Cup of Jo.

{HERE}

Happy reading!

I hope you learned something new.

~images via pregnant chicken & amazon.com~

Pork Chops with Apples, Stuffing, & Greens

With my due date right around the corner,

I have been testing quick and easy recipes to make post-baby.

(Read:  When I have the energy of a sloth.)

Here is one brought to you by a couple in our birthing class for 

Pork Chops with Apples and Stuffing.

Literally 3-ish main ingredients.

(And 2 meals of leftovers!)

How hard can that be, right?

Ingredients:

6 boneless pork loin chops (~1 inch thick)

1 package (6 oz) crushed stuffing mix

*Chopped onion and/or celery (if this is how you prefer your stuffing - like me!)

1 can (~21 oz.) apple pie filling

Olive oil

Salt & pepper, to taste

Directions:

In a skillet, brown pork chops in olive oil over medium-high heat.

Meanwhile, prepare stuffing according to package directions.

Spread pie filling into a greased 9x13 inch baking dish.

Place seared pork chops over the pie filling.

Spoon stuffing over the pork chops.

Cover with foil and bake at 350 for ~35 minutes.

Uncover and bake ~ 10 min longer.

During the final baking time, 

you could make whatever quick-cooking vegetable side dish you prefer,

but since we should all be upping our intake of dark leafy greens,

why not make Spicy Swiss Chard?

Beautiful and delicious.

(My husband actually requests this.)

Here's the recipe:

It is seriously awesome - perfectly spicy!

An amazing combo with the sweet applesauce and hearty stuffing.

Or, another one of my husband's faves...
Simply saute baby zucchini in a little olive oil.  Season with salt and pepper.
Voila!  Cute and delish.

Regardless of your choice in side dish,

"pork chops with apples and stuffing" is a keeper!

(And, when served with a tall glass of skim milk, it covers all major food groups.)

Bonus.

Bon apetit!

P.S.  My apologies again for the horrific foodie photography.
Now that boards are over, ordering a new camera is HIGH on my priority list!

~photos by b~