Monster Birthday Bash

This year I decided to have my boys birthday party together. We have 3 kids with birthdays in 4 months. June, July, & September. Quinton in late July and Colton in early September so we had their birthday party in the middle of August. It worked out very well.

First we chose a neutral theme that would work for both of them turning 2 and the other turning 5. We chose monster because they are well our little monsters.

 

My little monsters blowing out their candles.

"adopt a monster" as a Party Favor. I ordered these monsters from oriental trading.

Something to keep the kids busy during the party.

easy and free banner I made. Check this link for the free printable.

I used the same 'end' pieces and pasted them on regular $1 multicolor party hats from the dollar tree.

 

Game for all the little monsters to play.

 

 

Now of course my personal favorite.... the food! lol

 

The monster cake.. one monster for each boy of course.

Food labels and invitations came from a wonderful designer and friend. check out her etsy site she can do any theme or custom design.

 

Yay! I was selected!

I have been signed up with houseparty.com (love this company) for awhile now and actually have been selected for a few parties. House Party is a website that lets you apply for different parties that you agree you will host an event based around that product. Its a great way for companies to get the word out about new products/tv shows/games ext. They send you a box of their FREE goodies and you host a party and invite your friends over to try it out.  Recently they have started another website along with houseparty called "Chatter box" which is like house party only with out the party. They send you free products for you to try out and give reviews and tell your friends about. I applied for their first box through chatter box and was happy to find out that I was selected.

McCormick Grill Mates is the chatterbox box I was choose to try. I just got the confirmation that my box of seasonings was on it way today. Be sure to keep your eyes out for reviews of the products! :-)

Homemade Last Name Wreath

You know that feeling when you have about a million things to do and not of those things sound like fun? I do. I have the boys birthday party coming up this weekend that I could be getting things ready for and even though I have planed... and planned... and planned... nothing I wanted to do sounded like a whole heap of fun.

so.... My distraction for the afternoon......

 

I have been wanting to make something like this but I'm not as crafty as I would like to be.

Its just a basic wreath which I added a burlap bow that I made out of burlap and some twine and attached some wooden letters to spell out our last name. I added a few little "primitive" berries/stars around where I thought it looked good and it was done. took me about 20 minutes and I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out.

 

I adore all things fall and this reminds me of fall.  I think its the burlap. I love burlap things. It has felt like fall the last few days even though it is August. there is a briskness to the air. (maybe I'm just already craving fall)

Our First Egg!

Have I mentioned we have chickens? well in case I haven't mentioned it I will tell you now. We have Chickens! 5 to be exact. My Mom got the kids their chickens for east this year and we raised them from little peeps.

The boys and I have been going out daily to feed  them. water, and clean their pen and the boys faithfully have been checking for an egg. "no egg today" they would say. It was so sweet. So the expression on their faces this evening when FINALLY they spotted our first egg was priceless. They were both so overjoyed and excited they had to take turns holding it and taking a picture with it. After awhile colton thanked the chickens for "pooping him an egg"

It took me quite awhile for them to put it down actually. I was quite afraid we would have a messy handed little boy when he fell with it in his hand. I am happy to report that did not happen.

Our first egg was a white one. I am looking forward to seeing more in the days/weeks to come. and maybe in a week or so actually eat an egg as I have been told you need to wait a week after they start laying to eat the eggs.

Yellow Squash Casserole

This is our first year we have had a garden. Well our first successful year having a garden I should say. Squash seems to be the most abundant thing to be coming our way so far. We pick about one a day or 2-3 every few days. I have always just fried it. I know yummy but I wanted to try something new since we have so much of it. So here it is.. squash casserole.. yummy too.

Ingredients

• 1 onion
• yellow squash
• 1/2 block Velveeta cheese
• Ritz crackers
• 2 eggs
• butter

Pre-heat oven 350
First sauté butter and chopped onion in pan and mix in chopped squash until soft.
add cut up cheese, 2 beat eggs, and about 15 smashed Ritz crackers and let melt together.
dump into a buttered baking ban.
for the topping melt 1/4 stick butter and mix in desired amount of smashed Ritz crackers (should be a dry mix) and sprinkle on top
Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes

Broccoli Ham Cheese Soup

based off my favorite Ree Drummond Broccoli cheese soup.
This will be perfect on a nice fall or winter day. I decided to make it tonight because well I just love broccoli cheese soup.. Its one of my all time Favorites

Ingredients

• 1 Onion
• flour
• butter
• 4 heads broccoli
• salt & Pepper
• 4 Cups Whole Milk
• 2 Cups half & half
• 2 Cups Cheddar Cheese
• Cubed Ham

First saute your onions in butter.till onions begin to become translucent add in some flour and this will be the base of the soup.

Mix in 4 cups whole milk and 2 cups half & half and add in salt & pepper to taste. Bring to a boil.

Chop up the broccoli. You will only need the florets. next add Broccoli to your mixture and reduce heat. Cover and let simmer for about 20 minutes.

When broccoli is nice and tender add in 2 cups cheddar cheese and cubed ham. I bought the already cubed ham but you can use whatever you like. let all that heat up and its finished.

 it really is that easy and delicious! I will definitely have to keep this as a nice fall stand by.