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.

winter weekend

word on the street is there is going to be snow this weekend.  which is a good thing since it is taking everything in my power to not plant greens in my food garden.  i have found myself having gardening talk with everyone this week.  i desperately need spring to be here, but i also find myself wanting some snow too.  so in the spirit of snow...here is an easy recipe for you to try this weekend:

grated veggie soup (from time for dinner)
4 c. chicken broth, veg broth, or water
2 cups grated veg of choice (i often use onion, carrot, celery, and some greens)
2 T. cream of wheat or grits
2T. olive oil
S&P
parmesan cheese
bring broth to a boil.  stir in veggies and return a boil.  reduce heat, stir in olive oil and grits or cream of wheat...continue to simmer and stir occasionally until soup thickens.  season well and serve with parmesan on top. enjoy!

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!