garden say what?

during the growing season, the menu planning goes a little differently. it starts in the garden.  we all know i am a firm believer in planning a weekly menu.  it makes grocery shopping easier and cheaper.  it makes dinner prep easier. it makes life easier.  i like to have anywhere from 4-7 meals planned depending on my week or week and half ahead.  leaving room for leftovers and dinner out.
right now, i have quite the bounty of  rhubarb, greens and herbs.  perhaps you all are in the same boat...with some asparagus, garlic, and peas (i don't because the rabbits ate mine) thrown in for good measure.  so i scoured the internet for you and this is what i came up with...naturally, it told me to use the word "herby". a lot.

1. collard, bacon and parmesan frittata served with a mixed green salad
2. kale cobb salad
3. pork chops with cherry rhubarb sauce on polenta with herby, sauteed sugar snap peas on the side
4. tarragon salmon with asparagus (use fresh herbs throughout the recipe)
5. collard, potato and sausage gratin* with an herby salad (see below)
6. pork tacos* in lettuce wraps with cilantro rice (see below)
7. linguine tossed with kale pesto

and for dessert?
rhubarb cinnamon polenta cake

need a cocktail?
spring smash::strawberry rhubarb cocktails with honey whiskey

enjoy these late bites of spring.  soon, the summer stuff comes in....
.....
collard, potato and sausage gratin
2 potatoes, thinly sliced
1 small bunch of collards, cleaned and chopped
3 italian sausage links, chopped
1 cup of shredded mozzarella
1 cup of shredded parmesan
salt
pepper
olive oil or butter
1 cup of milk
heat oven to 375 degrees.  in skillet, brown sausage and cook through.  meanwhile, combine cheeses in a small bowl.  grease 9x13 dish and cover bottom with a 1/3 of the potatoes.  season with salt, pepper, and a drizzle of olive oil or bits of butter.  scatter 1/3 each of the collards, sausage, and cheese (in that order).  repeat twice.  ending with cheese on top.  pour milk over layers, cover with foil, and bake one - 1 1/2 hours (depending on the thickness of your potatoes) or until potatoes are fork tender.  enjoy.

slow cooker pork tacos
1 boneless, pork shoulder roast
1 small can of tomato sauce
1 teaspoon of dried oregano
2 - 4 cloves of garlic, chopped
3 T. of chilies in adobo sauce, use sauce only and add up to two chilies (they are HOT!)
combine the tomato sauce, oregano, garlic, and adobo in a small bowl.  spread over pork roast and cook on low in your slow cooker for 8-10 hours.  shred with two forks and serve. enjoy!!

new projects + things to share

howdy! what a beautiful monday it is at the farm.  we spent the weekend celebrating the end of planting season for mike, taking a sunday car ride, visiting grandma, and trying to find the home of a dog that showed up on our doorstep.  i'm going to work in the garden today and tend to a sick cat.  just wanted to tell you about a couple of things....

check us out on twitter: @clementinepandp

follow the sayings and antics of hendrix: @HendrixtheKid

the super inspiring, ashley english, (yes, THE ashley english who has the column at design sponge) linked to a post of ours from her blog.  i was so flattered!!

did you see the shop truck article? gabrielle from design mom featured it last week. she also linked to us, too!

olive us...super cute new show.  last week was about gardening.

you all should make this rueben bake. immediately.  it is so good.
.....

look at what we've been working on....
his cousin and my super mom friend, andrea, has a garden for the first time this year.  so far that garden has supplied the some of goods for a zuppa toscana soup and herbed grilled chicken with herby garlic bread.

filling the growing barrels

what do you think? would you like to grow edible treats in your yard or on your deck too?  if you already are...what are you growing??

planting herbs & greens with romy

we're working on perfecting these and the heart ministry center's community garden also has some up.  we're also working on different styles and options.  stay tuned....

bountiful growing barrels, raised bed built and planted, gate put up
clementine's p+p helped andrea till and build her raised beds, as well as, set up her growing barrels

meat + potato + greens = four

last week, i made a (1) venison roast in the crockpot and served it with smashed potatoes and collards.  needless to say, it was delicious and yielded some leftovers.  i love leftovers.  mike hates them.  so i have to get quite inventive.  folks, i present you with my genius....

2.  fried or poached eggs topped with havarti and served over warmed up greens with a side of toast.

3. beef {venison} + cheddar sandwiches with horseradish served with a herby salad.

4.  kale + potato cakes* with rouille served with italian sausages and salad.
.....

recipe for the collards...
drunken collards (thanks, amy!!)
fry 4 slices of bacon in a pan until crispy, add 1/2 finely chopped onion and a handful of chopped portobella mushrooms.  cook until soft, stir in garlic and let sit for one minute. add chopped collards.  add olive oil, if necessary.  saute until just wilted.  splash a shot of whiskey in the pan and stir around. serve warm and enjoy!!

* i just added wilted kale to my mashed potatoes which were already seasoned and ready to go.  i did add some breadcrumbs, as well, to help the cakes hold together in the pan more. also, i made my rouille with mayo, ketchup, chili powder, chopped garlic, fresh parsley, and cayenne pepper.
.....
in other news:
we are done planting!! bbq + a movie to celebrate.
i have a ton on tarragon, oregano, collards, kale, and butter crunch lettuce.  its yours if you want it.
my friend, bryce, told me to start this.
too hot to cook? here's what to do.
i need to scrub my house.
goodbye & good weekend!!

welcome to summer

welcome to summer party! found here!

summer is almost here!!  i am thrilled to have hendrix all to myself.  we opted out of any lessons, classes, or sports for the summer.   soccer was sort of a disaster (story for another time) so we learned our lesson and are going to wait another year or two before we commit to the daily/weekly shuffle to activities.  he's three so i think he's going to be okay. ha!  i do have a very loose list of summer plans and goals for our family, though.  what are your plans?  did you check out the list of free stuff happening in our area?  or did you see this list of places to visit in nebraska? 

here is what i have in mind for our family.....

make tents
eat smores
nurture our garden, so we can try these recipes
go on a roadtrip to somewhere in nebraska
be bored
go swimming
eat ice cream, popsicles, and other cold treats
go to the sarpy county fair
overdo it on watermelon
build our chicken coop
do free stuff
camp in the yard (we live on 180 acres, so there is plenty of "yard")
take part in the summer reading program at the library
build a sandbox for hendrix
hang a tire swing
run through the sprinkler
have potluck bbqs with our friends and family

forgot to make lunch

hendrix asked me what was for lunch.  it was 1 pm.  i had completely forgot to make lunch and we had a very empty pantry.  plus, i had a cold so i was in no mood to run to the store that morning. so here is what to make a for a hungry toddler.  thank god for gardens.

1 tortilla
small handful of cooked black beans
chopped spinach
shredded cheddar
cilantro

top tortilla with beans, spinach, and cheese.  bake until cheese melts and tortilla is crispy.  top with cilantro.  call it mexican pizza.  go back to sleep.

gardening + parenting

yesterday, hendrix and i planted some more carrots & beets. while, i was prepping the beds i asked him to fill a bucket with compost before we planted the carrots.  he replied, "because they're hungry?". promptly, he got a bucket and filled it without any help or questions.  i was amazed.  he has been displaying a lot of gardening and cooking knowledge, lately.  almost like it is second nature.  then it occured to me that the cooking and gardening that he and i have been doing his whole life was finally starting to rub off. he was getting it!! 
i visited with the ladies of the pathway program this week.  we focused on ways to get and keep their homes/lives organized.  as well as, how to work with their children to contribute thorough chores and meal prep.  we looked at ways to incorporate family calendars, chore charts, meal plans, and budget plans into their everyday lives. while, i was there one of the ladies shared with me that she had used some of my cooking tips (from our last class) with her children and they were now eating salmon*!! we all had a great time thinking of ways we could involve our children in the housework and what lessons they would take from it. 
....
if you are interested in gardening this week, why don't you check out the community garden at the heart ministry center on wednesday.  they'll be working and planting beginning at 5pm.

also, you can set up your own garden AND help the center by going to the plant sale.

*fyi: you can get a pretty good sized bag of frozen salmon for $4.99 at aldi.  and it is good!

meatloaf my kid will actually eat

so my kid will eat pretty much any fruit, vegetable, bean, grain, and eggs in any form.  he will not eat meat or fish.  unless, it is an all beef hot dog or breakfast sausage.  quinoa? sure! barley salad? sure! blueberries? sure! chicken? nope!  i am not overly concerned because i don't believe meat is all that necessary in a diet.  however, i am married to meat lover-mike.  so it can make dinner time tricky.  so i am always making our sides very veggie heavy and adding quinoa or beans, if necessary.  but, friends, i made a meatloaf that my kid ate....apparently hoisin sauce is the trick with this kid.  dude loves it. 

hoisin meatloaf inspired and adapted from this bon appetit recipe and time for dinner cookbook (pages 136-139)
1 1/2 lb. ground meat (i used venison)
6 pieces of bacon, diced
1" piece ginger, peeled and grated
1 large carrot, grated
1 bunch green onions, white and pale parts, sliced thin
1/4 c. hoisin sauce
3/4 -1 c. breadcrumbs
1/2 t. chinese five spice
in skillet, fry bacon until crispy.  remove from pan and add carrots, ginger, and green onions.  cook until soft and golden.  remove and let cool with bacon.  when cooled combine with ground meat, breadcrumbs, hoisin sauce, and chinese five spice.  form into a loaf and bake at 350 degrees for about 30-40 minutes.  during the last ten minutes of cooking time, drizzle another 1/4 c. of hoisin sauce over meatloaf. 
{can be assembled the night before &
makes a great sandwich the next day with a bit of coleslaw on top}
...i served it wirh roasted brussel sprouts and cauliflower drizzled with this ginger-scallion sauce from DALS. and, by the way, that salmon + brussel sprouts recipe is totally worth making. 

things i love this week

it is a rainy week here in nebraska, but the farmers could use it so you won't hear any complaints from us.  last year, it was so cold and rainy for so long that the weeds took awhile to emerge.  this year, it started out pretty warm and now the rain has taken this year's weeds to a new level.  already.  and it is only march.  i don't love weeds.  however, here is what i do love this week. 

iced green tea: i read somewhere it a good idea to start your day with some green tea as opposed to coffee.  i have been slowly eliminating my daily caffeine intake.  my morning glass of iced, decaf green tea with honey and lemon really has helped me feel more rejuvenated.

our new family doctor:  she is amazing.  if you need a dr. referral...ask me.

vitamin  d3: i recently learned that i have a super low level of vitamin d.  vitamin d helps regulate your mood, helps your body absorb calcium, and helps you not feel so tired.  my dr. has me on a vitamin d3 supplement and let me tell you....i really feel better.  it is wonderful to have a doctor that will listen to the words that are coming out of your mouth.  also, if i was a b*tch to you...it may or may not of been the {lack of} vitamin d talking.

homemade granola

big batches of quinoa

this felt wall: my imagination has me almost convinced that it is a good idea for me to turn our storage cupboard's doors into a felt wall.  i can almost see a baby sitting there, too. (baby fever much???)

this sunday is crafternoon day!! we'll be making easter egg garlands, treats for the bunny, and more.  we will also be gossiping and boozing.  i love crafternoon!!

hendrix has his first soccer game on saturday!!! i am so excited for him.  his uniform is so precious, it hurts my soul.  this is going to be a riot.  i can't wait for him to run and make new friends. 

these toy bin labels are changing the way we play.

.....
i hope this week has been kind to you all and that this weekend is even kinder.
also, if you need photos done of your family, kids, or pets...contact cami rawlings.  she is now scheduling for the spring.  she is awesome. 

spring is here! photo by cami rawlings

an open (love) letter to my son on his third birthday

my love,
dear lord.  what happened this year? i just wrote a letter to you.  you just turned two.  heck, you were just born.  no? my heart aches with joy and happiness at the boy you have become.  you are everything i dreamed you would be and more.  you are my heart. 
in a year...
you have managed to speak complete, complex sentences; potty train yourself in a week, make new friends, be the life of any party, memorize every tool catalog ever brought into our home, be your dad's best buddy, slide down slides too high for my boy, and show me what mothering is really about. you rode on a ferris wheel for the first time.  you rode in a dad's new tractor for five hours. you went to school for the first time.  you started doing chores and earning an allowance. you went from a baby to a boy.  you are the love and the light in this house.  no one gives better hugs than you.  no one is as kind to animals as you.  your imagination and story telling abilities are spellbinding.  your humor and dance skills are second to none.  you can drive a tractor and farm like nobody's business.

in the coming year, you will be on a team and playing soccer for a first time.  you will learn to swim better.  we will make even more friends, go on an adventure to massachusetts with your mommy, go fishing with your daddy, and continue to amaze me with your intelligence, humor, and kindness.
it has been a joy and an honor to be your mother this year and always.  it absolutely breaks my heart that you are getting so old so fast.  i hope you are always a momma's boy.  i am not sure if my heart could handle it if you weren't.  every once in awhile i can close my eyes and it is march 13, 2009.  you and i are sitting in sun filled, hospital room talking with our nurse.  you are laying on the bed in your over sized onsie and i am telling the nurse that you look exactly as i had dreamed.  hendrix, you are better than any dream.  you are better than anything my meager imagination could of come up with...you are what true love is, my boy. 
your father is and has always been enamored with you.  you and him talk about  how to spell words, what different tools do in your stihl catalog, and what bobcat you think he should get.  he wakes each day and tackles each day to make life better for you.  he once told me that he never wanted you to grow to be cynical like him. he wants you to have more faith in people and life.  with him as your father...i have no doubt you will grow up to be a kind man with immense faith in others and yourself.  he has only wanted the best for you since forever.  you are a source of immense pride for him and always will be his little buddy.  you are his right hand, farming man. please always listen and learn from your father.  he is what all men should be made of.  all he could say when you first saw you was how beautiful you were.

you are the greatest thing we have done.  we wish the world for you.  we wish you great happiness.  we wish you had any inkling about how much we love you.  happy birthday, my heart.
love,
your mommy

save time

it occurred to me last night while i was assembling today's dinner in the crockpot that i really had wished someone would of shared with me how  much of a time suck the mundane, daily tasks would be....you know, like how much time mothers actually devote to meal planning & prep, cleaning, appointment making, childcare arranging, clothes shopping (because they grow out of stuff every.single.day), diaper changing, etc., etc.  i spend so much time doing this stuff.  it is insane.  however, i have gotten pretty good at saving time in certain areas so that i can cuddle on the couch with the kiddo or the hubby, work in my art::workroom, or (better yet!) sleep. 
here's what i got for you:
1. just do the dishes.
yes, i know they are sucking your will to live but they will be even more of a bastard in the morning.  clean sink every night makes for a much happier morning.
2. prep dinner the night before.
if it is going to be a crockpot meal, assemble and stick in the fridge the night before.  just set to room temp first thing in the morning and turn on before you are out the door.  if it isn't a crockpot meal, still do your chopping and any assembling the night before.  it will make dinnertime way more enjoyable.
3. put it away...asap
the minute we walk in from school, playdates, or errand running we put away our shoes, coats, bags, whatever.  otherwise, it piles up in the entryway and kitchen table.  and that blocks the sunlight to my soul.
4. 5 minute clean sweep
most nights (unless i am so tired, i want to die) i do a quick run through of the main floor and just pick up.  that way, in the morning, things start out organized....notice, i said start out.
6.  chores are glorious
i recently started a chore chart for mr. h.  and it is awesome.  that dude makes his own bed, puts his dirties in the basket, and picks up toys.  all for $1 a week. if you can get the kids to do it...let them.  i also still have him convinced that vacuuming is fun.  and don't anyone tell him different.
7. break up the list
i used to do all the cleaning in one day.  sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, dusting, bathrooms - in one day.  that was stupid.  i thought i was going to die and spent too much time yelling at the kid and pets.  now one day i do floors.  another dusting and bathrooms. cat litter another day.  it doesn't take that much time and allows me to keep the house semi-clean while hendrix has some sesame street time,
8. avoid the pile up...at all costs
i am guilty of letting the laundry pile up to several loads.  like seven.  that is dumb.  because when i actually on my A-game...we have clothes to wear.  peed through pj's are not the end of the world.  you see where i am going with this.  my friend, anj, once told me she did laundry every day.  she has four kids and i thought she was nutso.  then, i came to my senses.  lady knows what she is talking about.
9. look at the big picture (in advance)
every month i make a list and attach it to my calendar.  the list is for appts that need to be made, sitters that need to be arranged, deadlines for activity sign up, daylight savings time, bills, scheduled mommy time, & hubby appointments.  it is my way of knowing what needs to happen and staying on top of it.
10. plan, plan, plan
i plan our following week's meals and activities (usually) every thursday.  then on sunday i take out meat to thaw, print chore charts, get any outgoing mail(bills) ready, and write it all down on the white board next to my calendar.  that is the most important part...writing it down.  otherwise, nothing happens.
11. take inventory
i am a cheap a$$ so i typically only buy kids clothes at consignment or thrift stores.  however, if you go when kids have really outgrown clothes...you won't find anything. it's how the universe rolls. so, twice a year, i take an inventory of hendrix's clothes (august/march) and make a list of how many pants & shirts i need.  then, i go shopping (by myself!!) to get it all.  i also check the clearance racks at target at the end of seasons to buy for the following year. shoes are the only thing i don't buy in advance or alone.  i have been burned one too many times.  kid has to try them on before i buy.
12. everything has a station
this year has been all about organizing and making a place for everything.  it makes it much easier on everyone if everything is in the same place.  diapers are always in the same place.  the same with the tools, art supplies, coat hooks, shoe catcher, hats & gloves basket, toys in the playroom, and bathroom stuff.  if it is not and you can't find your stuff....that is not my problem.  hendrix had to wait for the snow to melt to find his toy shovel.  when he finally did....he promptly placed on the porch where it belongs.
13. just let it go
the house will live on if it is not cleaned or perfectly organized every day. no one will die if you eat take out once in awhile. if someone shows up unannounced and it looks like a bomb went off...blame it on your housemates. that's what i do.

monday. oy.

no matter what your job is or how much you love said job...it is sometimes hard to avoid a case of the mondays.  and, boy, do i have it bad today.  i am in the process of converting rooms to art::workrooms and walk-in closets.  the entire upstairs is turned upside down.  gathering up gumption is difficult.  laundry is taking over.  disciplining a soon-to-be three year old is a wear out.
but, alas, tomorrow is tuesday.  the laundry is done....just looking for a home. i have a house to convert rooms in.  the three year old is being much kinder today.  in fact, he can make his own bed.

case of the mondays + fat tuesday

the rain is making me sleepy and totally unmotivated.  however, i have managed to stick to hendrix's new routine and it is only 8 am on monday morning.  that may be the only thing i accomplish today...and i am okay with that.  hendrix is going to be three soon and with that he has been going through a rough stage of absolute disobediance.  sometimes it is funny (in retrospect)...like when he says "i was being rude" after smearing non water soluble diaper cream all over himself and his belongings.  other times, not so much...like when he drops to the floor in the store and screams "NO" like a pyscho.  so, yeah, we are trying more routine and reward for good behavior.  immediate, tangible consequences for the naughtiness.  hendrix is a good kid 95% of the time.  but, man oh man, does that other 5% really wear me out. i dowloaded this chore chart.  i like it because it is simple enough for him to look at and understand.  also, it highlights the basics that i wanted him and i to work on.
.....

tomorrow is fat tuesday, so i thought i would share one of my favorite, slow cooker recipes. get some confetti and celebrate with these yummy recipes.
Jambalaya
3 pounds Whole Chicken, Cut Up
1 can (14.5 Ounce Can) Diced Tomatoes
1 can (14.5 Ounce Can) Chicken Broth
1 whole Green Bell Pepper, Chopped
2 cups French Fried Onions
¼ cups Hot Sauce
2 cloves Garlic Chopped
2 teaspoons Old Bay Seafood Seasoning
1-½ teaspoon Dried Oregano Leaves
¾ teaspoons Salt
½ teaspoons Black Pepper
1 cup Uncooked Regular Rice
1 pound Shrimp, Peeled And Deveined
Combine chicken, tomatoes, chicken broth, green pepper, 1 cup of French Fried Onions, hot sauce, garlic, seafood seasoning, oregano, salt, and pepper in your slow cooker. Cook on low for 5 hours.
Remove the chicken bones. Stir, if you’d like (shredding the chicken in the process). Stir in the rice and cook on low for about 1 1/2 hours or until all the liquid is absorbed and rice is cooked.
Turn slow cooker to high and add the shrimp. Cook for 1/2 hour or until shrimp turn pink. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup French Fried Onions when all done. Enjoy!
*You can just thrown in thawed, pre-cooked frozen shrimp, too.
*If you are making this when your gardens are thriving feel free to use fresh tomatoes, just add some extras all smushed up for their juice.

and for dessert, try this wonderfully easy & delicious recipe inspired from here.
Chocolate Pie
1 chocolate cookie crust, premade (found in baking section)
1 (12 oz) bag of semisweet chocolate chips
1 can of coconut milk, light works great
melt bag of chocolate chips, careful not to scorch the chocolate.  once melted, immediately pour into blender with coconut milk.  blend for a few muntues until completey smooth and blended.  pour into pie crust and let cool & set in fridge for at least four hours or overnight,  serve with whip cream, if you like

i am off to come to terms with my lenten sacrifice...sweets.  i got a sugar problem.  the problem is that i love baking and eating the deliciousness.  i got to stop before i get the diabetes at age 35.
enjoy your monday and i'll see you on wednesday with a full report on tomorrow's cooking class at the heart ministry center.

cheap chick

it took me a long time to figure this out...

and i am still learning.  prior to the best surprise of my life (aka hendrix) i was an overindulgent party girl idiot...then hello, wake up call!!  now i love to save and score things on the cheap.  part of the fun of planning our wedding was seeing how cheap i could do it.  and if i do say so myself, i did pretty darn good.  in fact, most of things i enjoy stemmed from trying to save money...cooking, gardening, crafting, decorating our house.
when mike and i first got together we ate out quite a bit, but then i started to experiment more in the kitchen.  cooking is always more fun when you are cooking for someone else.  then came pregnancy and baby...so did grocery budgeting and with it, the wonderful discovery of aldi.  god, i love that store.  we eat pretty good around here for about $80/week thanks to that store and my meal planning.
i started gardening when i planted some herbs in containers on my apartment balcony.  my cooking was getting more sophisticated (i.e. going from warming ragu up to making pantry marinara in bulk) so herbs were just what i needed, but they are so expensive at the grocery store.  so one day i saw some herb plants on sale and i was gardening in no time.  meeting mike really brought my gardening to the next level.  our old house had the best dirt.  i loved that garden.  thankfully, it is now our rental property so i still get to visit. 
with the wedding came a lot of diy projects...really bringing out the inner crafter.  i have always liked creating and building.  it is one of the reasons i chose to study architecture in college, but man did that wedding light a fire in me.  i am hooked on making free shit look good. 
actually, i love anything free.  for instance, i painted the whole inside of our house for free. most of our stuff is thrifted, free, or from a garage sale and you know what? i like it that way. 
i simply cannot imagine walking into nebraska furniture mart and getting a matching bedroom set.  first, i would feel like a poser.  second, i don't like matchy matchy. third, the sticker shock would just be too much.  oh, and a pet or kid would promptly scratch it the moment we brought it home.
how the hell did this happen to me?  how the hell did this former boutique worker get hooked on FREE? a surprise baby and a bad economy, i suppose.
....
here are some of my favorite spots to score a deal:
aldi (groceries)
new life thrift (everything)
restore (hardware/lighting)
under the sink (free paint/household cleaners)
hobby lobby (craft supplies)
menards (hardware)
super saver (bulk beans + grains)
target (diapers)
joe's collectibles
big wheels to butterflies (check out the last chance store, too)
dollar general (cleaning supplies/kitchen toiletries/party supplies/art & craft supplies)
ace hardware (hardware/plants)
qc supply (gardening supplies)
cirians (plants)
garage sales

what about you, do you like scoring a deal? what are your secrets?

party on with your (3 year old) self

construction crayons found here

lest you think it is serious around here all the time...we do party from time to time.  and boy! do we have a party coming...

hendrix is coming up on THREE...holy effing smokes.  and we all know his momma loves to plan a party (and that his daddy hates parties. but haters are my motivators), so here is the lowdown on hendrix's par-tay.
BE A BUILDER is the theme.
hendrix loves all things about building, farming, and landscaping.  he can name all construction vehicles on sight.  he peruses the stihl catalog every night before bed.  take him to a john deere dealership and he knows exactly what everything is, parked on their lot.  at menards he needs to check out the saws and lawnmowers.  yesterday, he told me he wanted to be a weed whacker when he grew up.  today he wants to be a cement truck driver when he grows up. you get the picture.  soooooooo....the party hats are hard hats.  the games will be pinata demolition and tower building.  the cake topper is a bulldozer.  blueprints are the decor. rulers, pencils, graph paper, and construction shaped crayons are the party favors. we will "construct" our own bird feeders. why? because if you build it...they will come.
.....
in other news....
this sunday is another "Go Big for Casey" Sunday Fun Day.  this one will be held at the dundee dell, with 25% of ALL food/drink sales made between 11am-1am going to support Casey K.

next week, i will talk more about making gardening and cooking accessible and fun for everyone.  i also tell you about my day at the heart ministry center and the day i have planned there on the 21st. hint: i need your help and recipes. and i will talk about my cheap ass ways. not whore/cheap ass. moneysaving/cheap ass.

and, last but not least, HAPPY CAKE!! to jackson. go blow up some candles, dude.

i heart valentine's day

i've always liked valentine's day.  even when i was single.  there is something so sweet and simple about the holiday...if you don't get caught up in the $$hullabaloo$$ of it all.  hendrix and i are going to make valentines this week.  we went with a non-candy option...BUBBLES.  they sell those tiny, party size ones everywhere...i got 24 for $3.  just enough for his classmates.  we are also going to make sun catcher valentines for his teachers and grandparents. 
here are some cute non-candy options for you to explore:
popcorn
ball
suncatcher
fruit
bugs
madlibs
at this point in my life, i think my favorite kind of valentine's is spent with both the men in my life.  and the food.  i like a holiday with food....breakfast will include heart shaped eggs in toast and floating hearts in our milk. (or iced coffee in my case) dinner is venison steak with bleu cheese sauce, crash hot potatoes, and roasted broccoli. and CHOCOLATE MOUSSE PIE.
i know it is cheesy. don't hate me. chances are someone will get sick and i'll scrap the whole thing. ha!

housekeepng

did you all survive the snow? better yet, did you enjoy it? i hope so.  we all had a great weekend.  lots of baking, sledding, cooking, and eating.  hendrix and i also did some craft projects together, but have yet to get to coloring a shirt.  i can save that for this week if it is too cold or boredom hits. 
hendrix also decided what HE will be planting in HIS garden.  he chose...carrots, peas, lettuce strawberries, sweet peppers, and marigolds.  some of his favorite things.  he will be entirely in charge of his little garden.  more on this later.
i did a lot of thinking about my garden, as well, and am considering moving more things to my container garden.  i hope to be growing a baby this summer and know that the container garden will be much less work and just as fruitful.
however, this week is all about making final decisions on what non-candy valentine hendrix is going to bring to school, mailing birthday invites, making seed orders, and continuing the organization battle i waged last week on my house. 
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please check these two facebook pages out:
GO BIG FOR CASEY Sunday Fun Days...if you are a midtowner or have ever been to the Dell then you know casey, go have fun on a sunday and help a great guy.
HEART MINISTRY CENTER ...they're on facebook! now you can be updated on their awesome activity and find ways to help. 
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i'm off to get this week started off right by drinking the rest of my latte.  i'll be back soon to talk about cute non-candy valentine options, valentine menu ideas for families, hendrix's big #3 party, CONTAINER gardening, and ways EVERYONE (anywhere) can grow food this year.

planning to be snowed in

photo: design mom

ever since the winter of '09 we have gotten real good at planning to be snowed in...even if we, ourselves, can get the drive plowed that doesn't necessarily mean that the county will come plow the road.  being that there are only three houses on this road for three miles and no businesses. 

sooooo...i always make sure to have plenty of food, milk, booze, diapers, and projects.  although, my whole house is one giant project so that isn't too hard.  and mike just plans on moving snow. secretly, i love being snowed in...except in 2009.  i did not love that because hendrix was 9 months old and had a fever of 103. scary stuff.
this weekend i am all stocked up.  here's what we will be doing to keep warm and busy....

• sledding and snowman building
• making red velvet cheescake brownies
• slow cooking banana oatmeal bread
• trying a new crockpot recipe....white bean, collards, and andouille soup!!
• finishing the "jet packs" for hendrix and jackson's birthdays
• coloring a t-shirt
• moving snow to make it to the volunteer fire dept.'s pancake feed at the legion hall in town
• planning our container garden (more on this next week)
• eating walking tacos and watching the superbowl

we hope you all enjoy the snow this weekend. check back here next week for ideas on container gardening, ways to be involved in the local food movement, and to hear about hendrix's birthday party theme. here's a clue: build.

soon-to-be three

hendrix has become a full fledged nose picker.  he is obsessed with tractors, tools, trucks, all things boy.  anything his father does...he does too. or better if you listen to his stories.  this is the time of year that i always start getting sick to my stomach with nostalgia.  hendrix's bff, jackson, has a birthday 1 month before hendrix's birthday and it always leaves me stunned that these boys are turning another year older.  hendrix is more and more of a little boy and less and less of a toddler every day.  it is heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time.  my brother once said that one of the greatest and worst things about having children is watching them grow up.  i love the nose picking, but i miss the blue, bulb syringe too.  isn't that gross?  only a mother....

crafty

our wedding was a DIY wedding...everything from the food to the decor to the wardrobe accouterments were made by myself or my super talented friends. even the photographer is our friend. obviously, this was to cut down on the expense but i feel it also added the personal touch that i wanted. it's like receiving a gift that someone made for you...you instantly feel the love and thought that went into it. 
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all pictures by cami rawlings of hurricane camille photography:

seating arrangement tree

table numbers

tables

each guest received a hot chocolate spoon made by
summer of orange poppy bakery.
summer is a wonderful friend of mine, as well.

 

the centerpieces were baby's breath

                                            

name(card)jars were inspired by jordan ferney's of oh happy day!

typography jars tutorial

the bouquet was made by my friend and florist, taylor larue

   taylor made

the billy ball "flowers" out of yarn

chalkboard buffet labels

inspired by say yes! to hoboken

pies + cake for dessert

cake by my friend, suzanne, of let them eat cake

banner by our friend (& officiant!!) michelle

yarn pompoms for the

garland, birdcage veil, and marti's headband

inspiration & how to can be found here, here, & here

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our wedding was super special because of our family & friends.  marti, brian, alissa, chip, brenda, michelle, suzanne, cami, cat, kadi, summer, and taylor went above and beyond.  i absolutely loved creating things and cooking food for our wedding.  but i absolutely love the the happily ever AFTER more. 

wedding nesting

mike and i finally were married last friday, january 20.  it was an evening filled with the people we love showing us their love for us.   the weeks and THE week leading up to the big " i do" were mostly stress free and fun until we all caught a cold (weird, i know. we NEVER catch colds. insert sarcasm here) and then it wasn't so fun.  apparently, this how it works for every bride.  not the catching a cold but the not so fun part.  i find this completely ridiculous. 
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the most important things to say about our wedding and marriage so far are...

• our family + friends are amazing people.  words will never fully express the amount of gratitude we feel towards them.
• i love being married and love my husband.
• hendrix is a ham and should never have juice.
• our wedding was wonderful and was made greater by everyone there.

see what i meant about hendrix being a ham?  he was a total nutball the whole wedding. it was his party too. (whoops! all photos by cami rawlings of hurricane camille photography.)
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after a week of recovery, i finally feel like cleaning, organizing, nesting, and planning.  the whole house went to hell while i was crafting for the wedding.  i am going through every room and filling tubs with the stuff that doesn't belong there...for instance, why did i have two drills, 5 gallons of birdseed, and 5 egg cartons on top of the fridge? good lord.  i am also having dreams about spring and gardening.  pinterest isn't helping.  mike is continuing to clear out the overgrown brush and it is making gardens dance in my head.  i am considering doing more container gardening this year.  it is much easier to maintain and i am hoping to be busy growing a human come summer.  also, our town may be adding a community garden and i hope to be able to help with that...in addition, to consulting* home gardeners.  is everyone still organizing and feeling refreshed about a new year? who is busy planning their 2012 gardens?
*only i will be consulting this season and i still have a few spots available.  email me for more information or leave a comment below. xo!