Sunny with a chance of meatballs!

Full confession: I am not a cook. Like many modern mamas, I look through Pinterest and search endlessly through food blogs to find ideas. As a working mom, recipes that are easy, freezable, and delicious are an absolute must. I often make freezer meals that Colin can take to daycare when I get home from work or after Colin goes to bed.

These mini chicken + carrot meatballs from Baby Foodie hits all three of my musts when it comes to a meal. I tweaked it a little bit and used seasoned panko breadcrumbs and added parmesan cheese. I would have added mozzarella cheese (because cheese makes everything better), but I didn't have any on hand. I made this as soon as I got home from work. It was ready by the time my husband and little boy came home from daycare after stopping by grandma and grandpa's house (10 minutes away) and picking up an acorn or two from the front yard. Because we all know that toddlers don't travel in straight lines. And all it takes is an acorn, a stick, a rock, a tree, the sky, air.... and my little guy is stopped in his tracks.

Anyway, this meal was a one bowl, one baking pan event. I served it with homemade pasta my sister in-law's grandmother sent over the other day and half of a baked potato. Dinner served!

Oh, hello there!

Welcome to my little corner of the (online) world. I am hoping this blog can be a place to document food, ideas, cool and quirky things, and little happenings. Whatever is worth chronicling.. remembering.. in my family's busy, crazy, and ultimately normal life. I hope you find something useful here.. or maybe just some way to say "Hey! That happens to me too!"

Today, my baby toddler boy is officially 18 months. Boy, where did the time go? Everyday, he gets a little taller. A little bit more sure on his feet. A little less baby. Right now, I am loving his hurried toddler walk and soft, baby voice. To commemorate his half-year until two, I'm looking back to half a year ago when we celebrated his 1st birthday party. It was a farm-themed birthday and such fun to put together.

View from the living room. We turned my parents' dining room into a farm ya'll.

Moo! Cow tables. I didn't mind getting these cheap because it was a one-time use product. We purchased these from Amazon.

Centerpieces created by a family friend. The bottles were from the Target Dollar spot (love that aisle!). She created the animals from card stock and hot-glued them onto wooden barbecue sticks. Leftover burlap and uncooked corn kernels and voila! Easy centerpieces. 

The "barn" is actually a shed. I laid out the pictures on the living room floor first before taping them onto the doors of the shed. The scarecrows were $1 each from Shoprite!

My sister created the layout. She's just got that touch!

My mother-in-law created the birthday banner, using burlap, foam letters she wrapped with bandanas from the Dollar Store, and a whole lotta hot glue!

Cider from the tap and $1 chalkboard signs from Michaels.

I have a thing for puns. The cornier (ha!) the pun, the better. Well, there had to be something for the adults right? 

I also have a thing for old-timey glass milk jars. Although these weren't very old at all. We ordered them from Webrestaurant Store. The wooden crates were a Craigslist find. 

I wish I had more pictures of the activities, but the kids loved this one! It was next a slide. 

An easy craft table for the older little kids. I covered it in brown parcel paper because well, toddlers don't like to color on paper! 

Another view of the small deck. You can also see the water table in the back. Another Craigslist find for $10! 

The balloons were a labor of love from a dear friend and the Cattle Feed sign was created by my very crafty mother-in-law. She used stencils and a printer cut-out of a cow. 

Fruit cups for a dose of something healthy. The cups made them easier to carry!

This cake was not home-made and was definitely my "splurge" for the party. However, Sweet Grace Cake Designs worked with me to create a cake that was in my budget and beautifully designed. This picture does not do it justice! It was a hit at the party and delicious, too!

We had activities indoors for the younger babies, or just babies who need a break from being outside win the sun. It was late September, but still very hot outside!

I was proud that we used every inch of my parents' (not very large) backyard.

Smiles all around!

My big boy! He seems so little then, even though this was only 6 months ago.

After most of the guests left, immediate family stayed to watch Colin open up his gifts. My sweet brother and sister in-law created a video that commemorated my boy's first year. Tears guys!

I wish I took better pictures, but the pictures above can give you a good idea of the labor of love it was to create such a memorable day. I received so many compliments from family and friends about how *well-behaved* all the kids were. I think that can be attributed to the many activities these very "disciplined" children were able to do independently. Happy kids = happy parents. 

Oh, look at the time! I tell myself I will go to bed before 10 pm every night, but the day always seems to get away from me. And, if I'm honest with myself, I was so excited to share my first post with you all that I can push that promise another night!