Little Man Baby Shower

For my friend's baby shower I was in charge of games, and decorations and my mom did the flowers and a baby sock topiary.  We chose baby blue as the color with white and silver accents.  

For the activites, we set up a few stations for people to do on their own and the played blind folded diaper changing and baby bottle chugging.  

I was able to order 8oz main jars, ikea picture frames, the baby bottles, and mustache banner on Amazon. Etsy had a lot of great little signs, but to be able to make more of my own personalizations, I made my own templates in Microsoft Word.  

This was the first baby shower I have ever even attended.  Although I got the majority of my ideas on Pinterest, there was very little direction as where to find all of the things needed to make them. What I didn't get on Amazon I found in Michaels, the dollar store, Home Goods, and Party City.  The baby food I got at BuyBuyBaby but then realized they sell at the grocery store.  

We set up an activity station for everyone to participate with instructions.  For the baby bottle chug - I got slow pour bottles, and filled them up 3/4 of the way with water.  I suggest Filling up only about 2 inches.

Plates and napkins from Party City.  I used extra mason jars to hold the utensils.

Blind folded diaper changing was really funny!  We put the diapers on with "poop" candy inside that they had to change without losing the poop.  

Diaper Decorating had the most participants! I bought diapers in size 1 & 2 and used markers I already had.  I recommend not to use very thin pen like makers - they tear through the diaper.

This is a plain bear from build a bear with a baby bowie from Target.  The parents can use the bow tie for the baby when he is born and the bear can go in his nursery.

For the guest book, I used a scrap book and instead of markers, coloring pencils so nothing would leak through to the other side. 

I got the idea for these mason jars on Pinterest, bought everything at the dollar store for the inside, but Essie polishes would be so nice with a larger budget. 

4x6 white Ikea frames, sign from Home goods

I made labels in Word by making a 1" circle and adding text to it.  Then I copied it spread out on 1 page and printed on a card stock sheet from the craft store and used 1" circle punch.  I suggest buying the individual sheets in 8x11 so they fit the printer easily.  I also used the circle with a number inside for the baby food game.  They all fit on one sheet for the number I needed.

We used 4 of these centerpieces for the tables, and out out a few smaller arrangements on mason jars.

Tea Party Brunch Birthday

This year I planned an all girls tea party for my mom's birthday... with lots of light foods and dessert to reflect.

from right to left:

white tray: west elm

pitcher: Waterford 

silver tray: overstock

sangria pitcher: crate and barrel

square silver tray: Pier 1

*hostess tip: freeze grapes and use instead of ice cubes to keep your drinks cold

My mom's non-alcoholic punch, that guests could mix with tonic water or sparkling wine, had white grape juice and grenadine

buffet table spread 

3 tier serving bowls - Bed, Bath & Beyond

silver acorn salt & pepper - West Elm

cutting board - Costco

Bud vase - Crate & Barrel

smoked salmon

goat cheese spread

tomatoes

gluten free

dessert table

white cake with raspberry mouse 

made these little cups with whipped cream (non sugar) and a mixture of fresh berries and berries mascersted in orange juice over night.

tea cups and saucers from Royal Dulton 

cake cutting set - Vera Wang

cake stand - Oleg Cassini from Bed Bath & Beyond 

Eat Cake napkins from Home Goods

My beautiful Mother and I

I am wearing a Michael Kors dress with a BCBG belt

My mom is wearing a Jones New York dress and Ivanka Trump flats

Food:

cheese tray, smoked salmon platters, egg salad, tuna salad, whitefish salad, tomato bruschetta, sushi tray, berry salad, assorted breads, cake, assorted cookies & pastries, fruit platter.

Thanks for visiting!

Jenya

Chicken and Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

I made this healthier version of the normal beef, veal, and white rice stuffed bell peppers common in Russian cuisine.

Ingredients:

- 1 Bag of assorted small peppers and 3 small green Hungarian peppers -cap and seeds removed
- 2lbs ground chicken
- 1 +1/3 cup cooked quinoa
- 2 onions chopped & separated
- 8oz canned tomato sauce
- 1cup chicken broth
- 2 Tbsp chopped dill (or herb of your choice, use more if you like)
- 1 tablespoon sour cream
- cumin - to taste, I used 3 tsps
- salt - to taste, I used 1 Tblspn
- pepper - to taste, I used 3tsps

Directions:

Stuffed peppers: 

1. Saute 1 of the chopped onions until golden brown and slightly caramelized - let cool 

2. Mix raw ground chicken, cooled quinoa, cooled onions, herbs, cumin, salt and pepper well in a large bowl

3. At this point I sauted about 1 teaspoon of the mixture, until cooked, to taste check for seasoning.

4. In a large dutch oven, lightly oil to bottom and turn to a low heat.

5. use a teaspoon to stuff each pepper until filled 

6. place peppers into the pot. Lay peppers on their side. Fill up the whole pot with one later, than start on a second layer, etc.

Sauce:
1. Seperately, saute the 2nd chopped onion until golden brown
2. Ad canned tomato sauce, let heat and slightly reduce
3. Add broth and sour cream to the sauce Heat until well mixed
4. season with a pinch of salt and pepper

Mix:
-Add sauce to pot with peppers, bring to a simmer and cook, covered, on medium-low heat for 45minutes.  

Note - If you have left over stuffing - you can make them into meatballs, saute on each side for 3 min and add to the pot.

This made about 10-12 portions. To increase or decrease this recipe maintain about 1:2 ratio of quinoa to ground meat.

The peppers came out soft and sweet.  I couldn't taste the quinoa in there at all really (for those who like me, do not love the texture of quinoa on its own).