Love Is Sweet.. A Toast to Ten Years of Marriage!

The appropriate gift on your tenth wedding anniversary is supposed to be tin. At least, that's what they say. Before my husband and I became parents, we had all kinds of different ideas for our first big milestone anniversary. In the old days (pre-kids) we would make a habit of going away to celebrate. We purposefully got married in April not only for the incredible weather pretty much everywhere, it's a great time of the year for travel (I also saved on flowers for the wedding, everything was in bloom!) Since the kids are so young, and we're not ready to be away from them for an extended period of time, we decided on an anniversary gathering.  "Shabby Chic" was the theme, it's all about the burlap and lace! We decided to keep it really small and simple, mostly bridal party and family were invited.

I've always loved crafting, I can't help but throw myself into whatever event I land upon, the devil is in the details people! When I started gearing up for my wedding ten years ago a planner was born! I literally bought a book titled, "Fire Your Wedding Planner." I dove head first and didn't come up for air until the day of the wedding (barely). The fun part for me is creating all the tiny details.  For my our wedding I just about made everything from scratch, I've spent many a night hot gluing myself to stuff, all in the name of love of course!

Centerpieces

Who doesn't love a take-out box favor?

Customized Programs

Place Card Table

Customized Place Cards & Holders

Bridal Bouquet of Roses and Stefanotis

Ceremony

Cake Table

Ten years ago you had to work with your florist to create bouquets from scratch as well as discuss cake designs and concepts with your baker. Before Pinterest started improving parties across the world, crafty folks were forced to get uber creative and use their imagination. It was all about web surfing, magazine clippings and inspiration boards. On any given day I could be found hoarding swatches of fabric, hot glue and perhaps some bows here and there. I loved every minute of it and it was all worthwhile, our wedding was fantastic and there wasn't a cloud in the sky! And yes, I did consult the Farmer's Almanac to check and see what time the sun would be setting on my wedding day so that I could be sure and get the sunset in all of our wedding photos (quit judging me).

Don't get me wrong, I'm a sucker for Pinterest and pulling ideas from where I can. There's just a rush I get when I've created something I've never seen anywhere before. That's one of the reasons I love Crafster, an awesome crafters site with plenty of incredibly original ideas from some insanely talented people.

For the tenth anniversary party I decided to take a back seat and get some decorations from some of my favorite Etsy shops and share them all with you! Etsy is a wonderful site where you can support local shops with local goods for sale (a great tool for all you budding party planners trying to step up your game!)

Let's talk invitations.. We had scheduling issues so the invitations were actually sent very late but nevertheless they were adorable! Proteus Marketing & Design provided these mason jar invitations that were too cute to pass up! They were double sided with a really cool linen effect that blended perfectly with the party decor.

Speaking of decor...

The awesome Amanda of Chalkity Chalk made us this lovely chalk sign we kept on display. I love how it ties into the invitations! We decided to go with lots of candlelight to keep the mood intimate and romantic. The rustic appearance of the candle holders from The Birch House Market went perfectly with our "Shabby Chic" vibe. I purchased garden stakes from the Dollar Store (score!) to hang mason jars and candles along the walkway with the gorgeous lace rosettes hand crafted by the talented Sunshower Flowers. The picture unfortunately does not do these justice, they are so delicate and ornate, perfect for any occasion!

Guests were encouraged to sign our "Guestbook," our vintage type writer picked up at a thrift shop last year. We chose organic popcorn as favors and thanked everyone for "popping by."
This beautiful vintage burlap/lace garland from The Pickled Peanut was just right to help decorate our vintage Baldwin piano. I'm thinking we should have called this the "Vintage Shabby Chic" theme (there seems to be a pattern here).

Just next to the favor display was the bar. In keeping with the flow, we offered our guests their pick of a mason jar with tags to fill out so they could keep their glass. We served the red wine in moonshine jugs and the hard liquor in these awesome vintage (there it is again) "genie in a bottle" type colored decanters. The adorable 'DRINKS' sign with jute was provided by the Lace, Twine & Burlap shop and the cool straws were from Party Paper Straws. It's always fun to serve a signature cocktail for your party, this time around we went with a Raspberry Moscato Sangria, it was dee-lish! 

Whenever I am entertaining, I call on my good pals over at Naked Wines for a case of the good stuff. They have an awesome program and you get $100 off of your first case! #MBMWineClub

Now that we've got the drinks covered, let's move on over to the sweets!

 The incredibly talented Brandy's Bites provided the delicious red velvet cake and the insanely moist carrot cupcakes! How cute is that mason jar design???

The "Sweets" table was adorned with tiny wooden cylinders in keeping with the rustic theme. We kept our thermal signature plate from our wedding all these years and our guests had fun finding their personal messages from ten years ago. The burlap cake banner came from Rustic Daisy Designs and the burlap "Love is Sweet" banner was provided by Bridget from At Company B. This particular fabric garland from Liquid Stars Fabric Creations & More was perfect for the dessert table, it was just long enough and the beautiful color and patterns don't photograph nearly as good as it looked in person.

Who can resist balloons wrapped in tulle?

The key to any party is knowing who to invite. Keeping it close and personal for this occasion was just the right move. We wanted to relive some memories with close friends and family that have watched us grow as a family over the years. This way we could spend more one on one time with everyone and perhaps even enjoy a little jam sesh at the end of the night!

This cool sign was provided by SoCal Wedding Gal.

The gorgeous pink and mint colored backdrop was created last minute by the lovely Chrissie at Party Paper Scissors, she is a busy mom and she still found the time to create this custom banner for our party! The lovely "10" banner from Raw Edge Sewing Co. on the right was filled with such detail and we loved having this over our food table. We kept the food light, just appetizers and desserts is all you need! Mmmmm...

Adorable Heart Garland by 10 Paper Lane.

It doesn't matter which way you go when celebrating your special anniversary. Whether it be a lavish two-week trip to Hawaii (how I miss you Maui), or a small gathering of friends and loved ones that may or may not end in spontaneous performances and lighting heart lanterns on fire at 3am  outside your house desperately trying to catch the wind (don't ask). All that matters is what brought it all together in the first place, love... And love should always be celebrated!

Essentially yours,

Erika

Homemade Birthday Breakfast Cupcakes

A new and growing trend online are these "Funfetti Birthday Pancakes" parents are making for their children the morning of their birthday. I'm all for cooking my little guys a special breakfast and indulging a bit on their birthday, like any parent I want to mark the occasion and make them feel as special as possible. Still, I'm having a hard time rationalizing feeding my kids cake batter (essentially) in the morning. 

Perhaps it's because I don't make a habit of filling them with sugar and hydrogenated oils on ANY morning that makes this breakfast hard to swallow (pun totally intended). Maybe it's because I've worked hard to show our children food doesn't come from boxes or cans, and I've tried to instill a real sense of what they are putting into their bodies. I've seen parents go so far as to feed their kids cupcakes first thing in the morning on birthdays. Hey, I'm no party pooper. I love celebrating life as much as the next stay-at-home mom (we really know how to let the freak flag fly, don't let the yoga pants and minivans fool you).

I feel bad for the children, really. I couldn't imagine being able to function properly after dumping that into my stomach. Let alone a developing brain trying to cope with a "sugar coma." Sure they get a moment of pleasure off of this sugar high, which also sends them spiraling into a terrible sugar crash. As always, I was on the hunt for an alternative to this "dessert-fast." 

I usually do not have to stray very far when looking for creative and fun ways to keep our kids interested in food. Weelicious has a ton of awesome recipes for kids and toddlers. Sure enough I came across this wonderful recipe for Breakfast Cupcakes. These cupcakes are "pancake fluffy" AND made using actual ingredients. I personally substituted the cream cheese with plain greek yogurt and I used applesauce instead of sugar and.... Voila! Birthday Breakfast Cupcakes for my boys and I to enjoy!

What's your favorite birthday recipe?

Essentially Yours,

Erika

Top 10 Tips for a Healthy Homemade Super Bowl Party!

"Are you ready for some footbaaaaaaaaaaaaawl?"

I'm not a dedicated fan to this high impact aggressive sport, but I do have fond memories of sitting on my dad's lap as a kid while he cheered on the 49'ers. The sound of football on tv in the background on Sunday afternoons brings me right back to my childhood. Once I was married, I sort of adopted my husband's team and followed them during the playoffs. Hey, I enjoy a good beer and wings were sort of my "thing."

Super Bowl parties can be loads of fun. Getting together with a room full of people excited to root for their team can be pretty exciting. Unfortunately, this can also mean enduring some not so healthy food options. I'm all for letting loose every once in a while, but some of the stuff that gets offered at these parties can be pretty scary. Does accepting an invitation to your super bowl party mean I have to subject myself to loads of preservatives, additives and GMO's?

Seriously?

So I decided to search for some pretty awesome Super Bowl party staples that could be tweaked in order to not completely abandon all my beliefs. For me, it isn't so much about the indulgence of it all. More so, when you've spent all year eating whole foods in an all natural well balanced diet, the guacamole stadium stacked with frozen/ boxed or canned food made of artificial flavors just doesn't seem appealing at all. If you've ever felt this way, then keep reading!

So here are a few tips that helped me to keep my family happy AND healthy this football season.

Tip#1 Recipe's Were Meant To Be Broken:

Daphne Oz: Relish Recipe

• Don't feel pressured to stick to the recipe. If there is an old favorite you absolutely love, you don't have to completely abandon ship. You can replace a few simple ingredients to turn a "heavy" dip into a simple and light surprise. I substitute sour cream or cream cheese with plain greek yogurt, it keeps the texture the same without the dense flavor. Daphne Oz's Fish Taco Coleslaw is the best I've ever had, I was able to substitute with plain greek yogurt and it was still amazing!

Tip #2 Up the Ante On Your Ingredients:

• You can switch all of your ingredients to healthier options i.e., organic, free range and grass fed dairy if any at all. During the holidays or for special events I will pay the extra for raw milk, it's a stretch for the wallet, but the fresher the ingredients the better the taste.

Tip #3 Keep It Conscious:

• I prefer fair trade whenever possible. You'd be surprised how different you can feel about a dish if you know its ingredients were naturally grown, cruelty-free or the employeespaid fair wages for their work. If I can't find organic or raw ingredients, then I shoot for locally grown fruits or veggies. I'm infamous for scouring the local farms on the weekend to gather my bounty. 

French Onion Greek Yogurt Dip w/
Kale, Pita & Carrot Chips

Tip #4 It's Never Too Late to Teach An Old Dog New Tricks:

• If your dedicated to your dip recipe, then try changing the sides for variety. Chips don't necessarily have the market cornered, feel free to change it up with some veggies or fresh toasted pita bread. 

Yummm..

Tip #5 Change Is Good (Or So I've Heard):

• Try changing how you prepare your dish. Skip the frying and try baking or roasting for a different, lighter approach. This alone will be appreciated by all party goers who are watching their waistline. The Crockpot is a wonderful friend in the kitchen, these Honey Bourbon Glazed Wings were made in my Crockpot and they were so tender and delicious! You can find the recipe here.

Tip #6 Get Creative, Be Inspired:

• I love the fried green beans appetizer at P.F. Changs, the boys just go wild over it. I'm addicted to their Spicy Mayo, so I decided to re-create it at home. One of the best parts of making everything from scratch is you get to put together all the pieces in your mind as you go along, using your senses. It makes it all the more rewarding when you finally nail it! Turns out, I like my Spicy Mayo a lot more!

Tip #7 Round Up The Troops:

• Don't commit yourself to just one set of recipe's. I like to mix and match different styles from some of my favorites. Ina Garten has a great Tomato Soup w/ Grilled Cheese Croutons recipe, and Giada's Beer Battered Cremini Mushroom Caps are a hit! Both excellent party options for the Super Bowl or any get together.

Quinoa Pizza Bites - just add your
favorite Marinara to dip!

Tip #8 Challenge Yourself:

• I always like to use special occasions / parties to help push my own limits. I use it as an opportunity to take an ingredient I'm not particularly fond of, and incorporate it into my theme. Therefore, I'm challenging my mind and my taste buds. Turns out I wasn't much of a fan of Quinoa, as healthy as it is I just wasn't interested in the texture. In this case the quinoa bites replaced the traditional pizza pie at most football parties. These Vegan Quinoa Pizza Bites helped to change my mind and inspire me to incorporate more quinoa in my repertoire.  Which leads me to my next tip..

Tip #9 Diversify Your Portfolio:

• Appetizers are like shoes, you can never have too many. I'm pretty sure that's a famous quote, right? It's always best to have some diversity for all the meat lovers, vegans, vegetarians or pescaterians in your life.

Tip #10 Have a Backup Plan:

• When in doubt, the Internet is your friend. If a new recipe is a total flop and you don't have time to get super creative, Pinterest can be a lifesaver. If you don't keep a well stocked pantry with a variety of different grains, spices or condiments, then you don't have time to sort through a million pins only to find out you are missing items. In which case, SuperCook is for you. It's an awesome website where you can type in the ingredients you have in your pantry, and it will provide you with a list of all the possible recipes you can make. Brilliant!

Bonus Tip:

Entertainment is key at any soiree, and that isn't exclusive to the adults. Sometimes the sitter cancels and being a parent I find it best to make other parents feel as though a gathering is "kid friendly". There isn't much we do without our little ones, so we understand completely. Making them feel apart of the occasion by providing crafts or activities is a great way to spend time with your friends and family. At the end of the day isn't that what it's all about anyway?

And so it begins..

What is your favorite go-to Super Bowl Party Recipe? 

Essentially Yours,

Erika

The Ultimate Mom's Night Out!

It's official... Mommy bloggers know how to par-tay!

I had the pleasure of joining my fellow mommy blogger and partner in crime Modern Boca Mom for some good ol' fashioned mommy fun at Mom Baby and Beyond's Ultimate Mom's Night Out!

Between meeting a ton of new vendors with awesome products, hanging with some new awesome blogger friends and raising money for an excellent cause, there was no shortage of fun at this first annual event.

I did what any reasonable mom would do when she's managed to break free from the nest for a few hours, I found the wine table!

Wines for Humanity is an awesome company that connects two of my favorite things, wine parties (duh) and raising money for charities!
Here's how it works, you host a wine tasting at your next party, everyone has a great time and learns about terrific wines and the proceeds go to a charity preventing homelessness. It doesn't get much better than that! There were quite a few "party" vendors who offered services for hosted parties, but I'd have to say this was one of my faves.

Everyone knows I'm pro "baby-wearing", I wrapped my youngest and never looked back! These wraps however are gorgeous! No reason you can't wrap and still be fashionable!

Dreamcatcher Wraps are beautiful! This non-stretchy fabric is imported from the Czech Republic and Germany. It's soft, durable and colorful! Plus it promotes something near and dear to my heart, Babywearing!

The Lil' Marc table stopped me dead in my tracks! It's as though the potty gods had poured their mercy upon me and offered up a solution to my potty troubles at home!

It isn't easy helping little guys learn to properly use the toilet, UNTIL NOW! This pint sized urinal is great party convo if nothing else! I couldn't wait to bring one home (yes I bought one, you would too!) and try it out with my two boys, they just love being able to go pee like daddy and now they can!

Our next stop on the blogger train was at the Nommerz table. These "treats without cheats" were dee-lish and perfect because this mommy was starving!

I'm convinced it's the only reason I survived the rest of the night! Their protein bites and bars are all natural, organic, gluten and dairy free. Right up my alley!

After that yummy treat I had to hit the Keurig coffee bar (yes, I said coffee bar. They thought of everything!), I've heard so much about this new Keurig model 2.0. I needed to get a look for myself! So okay, when I first heard of Keurig I thought it was a total waste of time and money. What's the sense of buying a coffee maker that only brews a cup at a time, I would have to keep the coffee maker I already have for holidays and parties. Not anymore, the 2.0 model comes with cup sized serving and now carafe sized serving as well! NOW, they have my attention! I've been going back and forth with the hubster on whether this is right for us, I'm so glad I was able to try it out because it is most definitely for us!





Look who I ran into at the coffee bar! My good friend and fellow blogger Lindsay from You Are The Roots!

There is a wonderful sense of comraderie between bloggers, no shortage of that at this event. It was a pleasure meeting some new ladies all with such diverse contributions to the blogging world.

We all gathered at the awesome Insta Cam  booth! Here I am posing with some of my new friends; Newsy Parents, April Go Lightly and Susy Pops! Can we talk for a minute about her cake pops? They were so popular this blogger couldn't get a taste! A room full of pregnant women and hungry mommies cleared her gorgeous cake stand in minutes!

Time for a little pampering!

The ladies at Jamberry were happy to take care of that! These nail decals were adorable and super easy to apply! This was definitely one of the popular tables!

I happened to fall in in love with the Budsies table...

A company that brings your child's artwork to life in the form of stuffed animals! This idea is genius! 

Providing thoughtful gifts while fostering a child's creativity, win / win!

This crunchy mama couldn't help but be drawn to the beautiful setup at the Jolie Bloom table (her gorgeous hair stopped me dead in my tracks honestly), everything smelled great!

I can't wait to try some of her products, her blog is adorable you guys should definitely check that out too!

Overall it was a great evening filled with fun, laughter and tons of prizes. There was a great raffle with some pretty cool products and the proceeds went to a great cause. The real reason we all joined together, for more awesome Turtle Power for James! The Coral Springs community as well as surrounding communities have really come together for this local family, it was truly an honor to be a part of this awesome event. Anything that brings people together in the name of compassion and kindness makes this hippie heart beat just a little bit faster. There is already rumor of #UMNO15 with Mom, Baby & Beyond, I can't wait!

Besides...

Us mommy bloggers really know how to have fun!

Essentially Yours,

Erika