Ahoy It's A Boy- Nautical Shower..

This past weekend, I traveled to Amelia Island, Florida to co-host a baby shower for my best friend (she is due the end of the month) When I found out she was expecting a boy, I immediately started planning a nautical themed shower in my head (and on Pinterest) We both share a love of all things nautical, so it seemed like a natural fit. Since I live nearly three hours aways, when Joy's local friends Kristin & Heather volunteered to co-host I was over the moon excited. Both ladies were great to work with. 

Invitations..

I worked with my friend Christine, at Great Oak Circle to design the invitations.

I printed customized address labels, and host seals...

Decorations..

With three people hosting, it was important to work together to ensure the decor was cohesive. Below are some of the elements that we created.

 

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Diaper Cake and Diaper "wreath" (nautical lifesaver)

 

Mason Jars with red straws & kraft paper hang tags

 (always an acceptable cup in the south)

 

Nautical knot ropes, and napkins with Lifesavers tied to them.. 

 I decided to be crafty, and cut a box to make it into a boat & wrapped the present in the haul

 

BabyGap  has the cutest nautical onsies this season. They made for great decorations and are a take away for the mom to be.. 

Food and Desserts..

Joy has celiacs, so we worked to ensure the menu was gluten free, and had something for everyone. I worked with Leah from PrintasticDesign on coordinating Nautical paper goods. 

 

Spinach artichoke dip, & corn chips

 Fruit boat (hallowed watermelon filled with fruit) and Fish Trifle (blue jello, with Swedish fish)

Nautical themed food tents, and anchor paper from PrintasticDesign

 Gluten Free cupcakes

Nautical themed inserts from PrintasticDesign

 

Ocean Punch
2 packets blue Kool-Aid
2 (2 liter) bottle Ginger Ale
1 (64 oz) bottle White Grape Juice
whole container of pineapple sherbet

 

Deviled egg boats

 Vegi Skewers and dip..

 Guest take away's Goldfish, and packaged brownies (bag toppers from PrintasticDesign)

Shower Snapshots. 

Lottie opening her Big Sister gift. This girl is enamored with horses (nay's) she even tried to ride her new stuffed horse. C was excited to see she liked it as he had picked it out

 

me with Lottie (the big sister of the Baby) 

  I think it is safe to say she loved the cupcakes

 Are you hosting a shower or birthday party soon?

I'd encourage you to check out  PrintasticDesign

for printable that will take your party to the next level!!!

& be sure to enter the GIVEAWAY below for a $25 credit to Printastic Design!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Crock Pot Chicken & Dumplings with Vegis

So I have been wanted to try one of the zillion crock pot ideas I have been pinning for a while, and decided today was the day. I gave C a few options, and he decided on Chicken and dumplings.. I followed the recipe for the most part making substitutions as noted below.. 

Ingredients. 

• 1 pound of boneless skinless chicken breast thawed 
• (we used 1lb of chicken cutlets b/c we already had them)
• 2 tablespoons of butter 
• (we only put in 1)
• 2 10.5 oz. cans of condensed Cream of Chicken soup 
• (we used the light version)
• 1 can 14 oz. of chicken broth
• 1 medium white onion, diced
• 4 flaky refrigerator biscuits
• 2 cups of mixed vegis (optional)

Place chicken in crockpot, and top with butter, cream of chicken soup, chicken brooth, and onions. Cook on high for 4-6 hours or on low for 8 hours (we opt'd for the latter since we were running errands all day

 

After the chicken has cooked for the proper amount of time, it is time to add the biscuits. Cut/pull the biscuits into small pieces (roughly 8-10 pieces per biscuit)and add them to the mix. Return the lid, and cook for an additional 30-60 minutes. (depending on how you want your "dumplings")

 

Remove your chicken and shred it.  Add the chicken back to the crock pot and serve. It will serve 6-8 people. I heated up some mixed vegis for a side for C (seen below)

As I was serving C, I thought hum.... I should add these to the mix, for more of a pot-pie type dish. I did and was quite happy with the outcome! We both enjoyed the meal and decided we would make again!

Hershey's Cupcakes..

This week is employee appreciation week at work! The management team each owns a day, & we work together to ensure the week is a success..  During the week we do little things to thank the employees for their hard work and dedication. Thus far we have decorated the employee area, written personal cards, and added a coffee maker to the mix! There is one thing that is a sure win the the staff.... food.... Thus far they have enjoyed chips & salsa, and brownies.. and tomorrow they will receive Hersey's Chocolate Cupcakes

I found the recipe here..   it is also written below.. 

 

HERSHEY'S "PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" Chocolate Cake

• 2 cups sugar
• 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2  eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup boiling water

Directions..... 

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans. I opt'd for cupcakes so I lined muffin cups with paper bake cups.
2. Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour batter into prepared pans bake cups.
3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes Fill cups 2/3 full with batter.  Bake 22 to 25 minutes.. Cool completely. Frost. 

The site denoted it would make 30 cupcakes but I only managed to make 15 (I might of filled them a little more than it called for, I like fluffy cupcakes what can I say)

"PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE FROSTING

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
2/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Melt butter. Stir in cocoa. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency.
Add small amount additional milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla. About 2 cups frosting.  I also added mini Hershey's chocolate chips.
 

Windsor Castle & Surrounding areas..

We opt'd to go to Windsor Castle for changing of the guard. You head west  about twenty miles from London. Taking the circle line to Paddington Station, and then to Slough. (you have to buy an additional ticket to Windor. You will make the change at the Slough station. We pre-bought online, and then just picked up at Paddington) Note that the castle opens at 9:45 (and there is usually a line, we arrived at 9:30, and were 20thish in line)  Be sure to side on the left side of the train, as you can see the castle as you enter the town, and also views of the Thames.

 

Things to do at Windsor:

• There are decent shops, both in town & around the train station
• Visit the Windsor Guildhall where Charles and Camilla got parried
• Great statue of Queen Victoria (in the center of town) Doll House- Queen Mary's doll house is crazy amazing (see below) It is several stories, and has working plumbing, lights, etc. CRAZY!!! and truly shows how the royal family might of lived in the 1920's. Be sure to check out the garden which is only shown when the drawer is pulled out.  
• St. George Chapel -(Please note St. George Chapel is closed to tour on Sunday (but you can go to service)
• Changing of the Guard - Changing the Guard at Windsor Castle encompasses colorful spectacle and British pageantry. The ceremony usually takes place at 11:00 within the Castle grounds daily from April until the end of July and on alternate days for the rest of the year, weather permitting.

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Changing the Guard, also known as ‘Guard Mounting’, begins with the Windsor Castle Guard forming up outside the Guard Room. In due course, the new Guard will arrive, led by a Regimental Band, Corps of Drums or occasionally by a Pipe Band. During the 45-minute ceremony, the handover of duties will take place, including the changeover of sentries. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the old Guard will return to Victoria Barracks in Windsor town. When The Queen is in official residence, the parade takes place on the Castle Forecourt. We were able to get front row seats for changing of the guard! It was great. and the adorable dog stole the show!

 

 

 Additional things to do in Windsor:
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You will see a tiny pub between the Edinburgh Woollen Mill  and Cyril Howe’s gift shop on the corner.  This is a small, but great place to eat.  It is still locally owned and the food is terrific. (recommend by my friend and totally on point)

Christopher Wren Hotel -terrace is a great place to have a drink and watch the boats and swans on the Thames.  

Walk to Eton and walk all of the way down the High Street to the College (high school in England). 

 

London.... take 3...

our 3rd day in the city of London..

We started our day like most on the Tube- taking the Piccadilly line to Holborn, and the Central line to St. Paul's.  St Pauls Cathedral. We loved the Cathedral. It might be my favorite in London. There are no photos allowed inside, but I truly went to town taking photos outside! As you can tell.

 

 

We also went to Kensington Palace. (which is the Queensway stop on the circle line)While Kensington Gardens are beautiful (even in winter) I was less than impressed with the Palace tour. I am not sure what I was expecting (but knowing that Diana lived there while raising Henry and William, and that Will and Kate have a cottage on the grounds.. I expected more) The palace is truly very Touristy.. and felt like a Disney version of a British History lesson, rather than seeing historical/modern state apartments. We snapped a few photos out front, checked out the Queen Victoria Exhibit (which was worth it)

 While I love the wallpaper in the hallway at Kensington Palace. This speaks to how the palace has been turned into a bit of a tourist attraction, and is less historical then other Castles we visited.

then headed to the nearby Queen Anne's Orangery for afternoon Tea. 

 

Following Tea... C and I visited Harrods,  meet my college friend Stephanie for drinks at Wine Bar near Charing Cross (I'll update with the name when it comes to me) and called it a night semi early so we could reflect on all we had done, and things we wanted to due during our time in London..