Cha-Cha-Cha-CHIA!

Ok- so if you grew up when I grew up it's pretty likely that if someone mentions chia, you automatically add "pet" as the next word in their sentence. Well, on a trip to visit my family in Denver this year I learned otherwise. My Aunt works at an organic food & vitamin shop there and introduced me to Mamma Chia, which I was instantly addicted to. Come to find out, chia is SUPER good for you!!! It's got all kinds of awesome benefits- huzzah and who knew!? I even discovered an organic baby food squeezie (Happy Tot) that has chia in it (they call it "salba" though so they can trademark it or claim they invented it or whatever).

So the minute I got back to LA I went on a chia hunt- I discovered some of my good friends were already in the chia-loop and using it atop yogurt and in smoothies! To my surprise, Wholefoods did not carry Mama Chia- SAY WHAT?!? (YET... That was then, now they sure as heck do) after scouting around I found it but at nearly $4 a bottle, I wasn't going to be getting it often (or ever really).
I read the label on the bottle I had from Denver (below) and it seemed pretty straightforward- hydrated chia seeds, fruit puree/juice- BAM.

I used organic chia seeds my aunt had given me while on our trip- here's what I did:

Take a clean, empty water bottle and fill it about 1/4 full of filtered drinking water.

Add 1 T chia seeds to the bottle (I measure them, put them on a paper plate or paper towel and fold it to use like a funnel to get em in the bottle) 

Put the lid on the bottle and SWIRL the chia seeds in the water for about 2 minutes- this gets em hydrated and keeps them separated so they suspend like you want them to and don't clump up.

Add fruit juice, coconut water, etc. to make the bottle about 2/3 to 3/4 full (total) then top off with more water- this keeps price per bottle, calories & sugar down & still tastes awesome-

Shake well & refrigerate. Enjoy!! 

PS- added this gem from my grandma's house- hope you appreciate it as much as I do. Story of my life.

Hahaha. 

Logan's 1st Birthday PARTY VENDOR REVIEWS

TCKPhoto2012

I had such a blast planning Logan's Bubble Birthday in the park, and it would not have been the perfect day it was with out the following vendors- so I wanted to write up a review post and share the goodness.

Invitations/Printables:
Jayme Marie Designs on Etsy
Good lord I LOVE ETSY!!!! From my baby shower invites, to our birth announcements (both by Katie Did Designs) Esty is just a goldmine of brilliant designers who have the skills to make your event invites-printables-thank you notes-etc beyond FABULOUS!! While staying frugal .
I mention the birth announcements and baby shower invites by Katie because I LOVED THEM and only found Jayme when I went searching for a weenie dog invite specifically- since this is my first bigolereviewpost I thought I would mention her because if you are looking for invitations both shops/designers are really awesome!!!

HIGHLY RECOMMEND

Printing/Cutting
Westside Print Center
I was lucky enough to start working with these guys when I had an office job with the DDG Erica Courtney Inc. and they never dissapoint.
Greg & Co printed EVERYTHING for my wedding, of course our birth announcements, and everything for Logan's 1st birthday!!
They are well priced, efficient and great quality.
They cut out these adorable flags for me that they'd printed (love the little flags- thanks again, Jayme Marie Designs!!)

HIGHLY RECOMMEND

Photography
TCKPhoto
Woah. Ya, I'll give you another minute to soak up that GORGEOUS website. Tom's work is spectacular. AND a Packer fan? We like. This was an honor and a blessing to have him shoot Logan's party- we can't wait to do a family portrait with him and I wish I could act because if I could look like that in a headshot- I'd have me some mommy business cards made!
I can not recommend having a savy, perfessional, creative, sharp photographer at major family milestone events like this was. It frees you up so much to just enjoy the moment and MAKING the memories that TCKPhoto so perfectly captured for us to charish forever.

TCKPhoto2012

HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND

Entertainment
Bubble Mania & Co
If I had a nickle for every time I said out loud, "Thank YOU NPH for that fabulous idea or catchphrase from HIMYM" I'd be able to retire! Add to that another $.05 for every time something I saw on The Ellen Show changed my life and I could retire a whole posse to relax on an island with me!!
This was one of those cross-over moments that I simotaneously thank Neil Patric Harris AND Ellen.
NPH mentioned that this is what they did for the twins 1st birthday during a guest spot, and I thought it sounded BRILLIANT!! That's because IT IS!!!!!!
We chose the "outdoor playtime hour" because we didn't have any indoor space for the party- and for a 2 year-old and friends that was perfection.
Our bubbologist was helpful (had a lighter for the cake- which I forgot!), punctual and AMAZING with the kids!! We will hire them again WITH OUT QUESTION- especially when we have a partially indoor space and can get all up in the science (when Logan is a little older!)

TCKPhoto2012

HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND


Location
Mar Vista Rec Center
This was an easy pick because it's the park Logan and I go to weekly to play. Lesson learned though- make your reservation for a picnic area EARLY. We had wanted to do it the weekend before his Labor Day weekend birthday but when I called in July that was already booked. Also make sure you bring your reservation paperwork when you get there to set up. When I arrived a family with no reservation had an easy up, grills and all kinds of business set up in our area for their kids birthday- the office at the park is staffed 7 days and the woman working there was super sweet and helpful at getting them moved and clearing the area for us to get set up and par-tay. On that note- plan for that in your set-up time, just in case- it did put about at 23/30 minute ding in my getting the area ready, which meant quite a few less balloons than I had hoped for. No major biggie, but something to consider.
The fee is about $120 to reserve, totally worth it for us!

RECOMMEND

Decor etc.
Party City on Sepulveda
Ok, pretty sure there's got to be a less expensive option if I'd researched a bit more, but I did get EVERYTHING for under $150, with my 11 month in tow, and loved the look we were able to achieve with the exact colors I had in mind.
I'm a believer in "the rule of three" when you're planning ANY event- pick 3 colors and attach them to every detail you possibly can- it gives whatever you are doing a professional, cohesive, more-expensive-looking asthetic.
Logan LOVES yellow- so that was a natch, then I saw (on Pinterest, where else) a beautiful garden party set up with yellow, orange and turquoise. So summery- so boy with out being too boy (what does that mean, I don't even know...) SO I headed to party city and got
Table covers, plates, plastic flatware, cups, napkins, clear serving tongs and spoons, plastic serving bowls and trays, tissue paper, curling ribbon, crepe streamers, and balloons. It's a little too easy to go nut nut overboard in there- so be careful- try to lay out the look and make a detailed list before you walk in there.

RECOMMEND

Del Rey Party Rentals
Helium tank
Yes, I'm clearly insane. There is a helium shortage. Google it, I'm totally serious! I wanted to get a little mini disposable tank from Target or whatever- but no luck. Shortage. Wanted to just have party city fill em for me- but they couldn't guarantee they'd have it till the day before. Shortage. I HAD to have balloons (again, insane) so after calling every freakin party store on the Westside the only one I could find that had a small tank to rent was this place in Hawthorne (not exactly right next door.)
Pros- I had balloons!
Cons-
the drive there and then back there to return it
When I got there the told me they had no record of my reservation of the tank (I'd given a credit card number the week before to hold it) and after 15 minutes they found it.
Barley used the helium- not their fault, note that ding in my set up time above under the rec center review.

Still- their showroom is very nice and they are FULL SERVICE. They also seem pretty competitively priced.

RECOMMEND

Goodie Bags
Oriental Trading Co.
These looked fabulous thanks to Jayme Marie Designs- the little thank you tags were just adorable- and the bags were a snap to make (and UBER CHEAP) using a brown lunch sack, hole punch, ty tag and some curling ribbon!
I ordered bubbles (duh), crayons, little paper pads from OTC- they were super cheap, arrived fast and none of the bubbles spilled/leaked anywhere- SCORE.
I also baked giant home-made M & M cookies and stuck them in white CD/DVD sleeves from staples- super cute and easy (and agian CHEAP).

Other DIY stuffs
I have a friend that has a Cricut- we all need that friend. Or we need the Cricut. She cut out adorable Polariod-look photo frames that I framed a photo of Logan for each month of the year and lined up on the gift table. My initial plan was to hang them like a laundry line (like the flags in the top pic) but there was such wind I thought taping them down was better.

Food
Costco- beef and pork for the sandwhiches (very well priced), individual good fish cracker bags for snack table, Pub Mix (my husbands FAVORITE) for each table in little bowls, tortalini and pesto for skewers, Greek yogurt dip for slaw, juice boxes, water, and cake- their cake is great when you've got a crowd- serves like 40 people for $17 and is very moist & yummy.

Trader Joes-fruit squeezie packets for the kiddos

Sprouts Market- fruit for rainbow kabobs, everything for cous cous salad

Smart n Final- cabbage & carrots for slaw

Target- WINE CUBES which I HIGHLY recommend, they are cheap, the Cab/Shiraz is really good and they are good 4 weeks from when you open them! HOORAY!

What I would do differently:
          Not much- it was really such a perfect day!!
       
          Music! didn't really think of it :P should've brought our iPod and outdoor speakers

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOGAN!!!!!

How did this happen??? My son is ONE! OhEmGee, that can't be so!! It seems like just a few seconds ago we were all like....

and then before I knew it THIS adorable guy is our current roommate:

I just couldn't be happier, or more in love. 

When your little superstar reaches such a milestone as his FIRST birthday, celebration is absolutely in order- and with a one-income-family over here, that meant fabulousness on a frugal budget, which is fast becoming my specialty! 

Thanks to Pinterest (your bff and absolute worst nightmare when planning an event) I did some really simple, inexpensive things that came out really pretty- and thanks to my favorite website EVER- ETSY.COM I  had some stunning invitations, a banner and little thank you tags printed up that really made it extra special!! 

We gathered at the park by our casa to celebrate in the summer sun.

Here's what we served:

Root beer pulled pork (crock pot)

Crock Pot Korean Shredded Beef

The two above couldn't be easier- and fabulous to make-ahead. I put both in disposable containers and bought like a million Kings Hawaiian rolls from Costco so people could make little sammies.

I made the Asian-inspired slaw too- you will find the recipe in the same link as the beef (I mixed it there at the park as suggested) and also made-ahead a greek yogurt slaw for the pork- my husbands creation, but we use this awesome jalapeno greek yogurt dip from Costco- here's what it looks like....

so if you don't know where to find it this recipe is not super helpful

- mix shredded cabbage (purple and green if you can, shredded carrots, then add a few spoonfuls of this amazing dip, squeeze the juice of one to two lemons (just keep mixing and tasting, we usually use one but this was to feed a grip of people so doubled it)- little salt, little fresh cracked pepper, toss, fridge for an hour or more and it's sooooo good!!! 

I also bought cheese tortellini at Costco- boiled it, cooled it- stuck it on pretty bamboo tooth-pick skewer things and served it with pesto in a bowl- awesome, beautiful, EASY vegetarian option!!

For our side dishes I couldn't resist the famous "rainbow of fruit on a stick" from Pinterest:

I used 1 whole pineapple, 1 cantaloupe, 2 containers of strawberries, 1 container of blueberries and a bunch each of purple and green grapes. This made nearly 50 skewers.

Also, for the vegetarian friends that came, I made a cous-cous salad:

Since this was for a large crowd- I made 4 cups of cous-cous- and let it cool. Then added in a handful of chopped Italian parsley, a large jar of kalamata olives (drained, and sliced), 2 containers of feta cheese from Trader Joes, 2 red bell peppers (chopped) and 1 small red onion (chopped)- then, I drizzled in about 2 tablespoons of olive oil and squeezed a big fat lemon all over it- tossed it up and fridged it overnight.

We also set up general snacks, like Goldfish crackers and those awesome squeezie packets of fruit for the kiddos....

Is it necessary for me to mention there were cake pops?? DUH.

For the display I wrapped terra cotta pots (super cheap) in tissue paper & tied them with ribbon! EASY!

I also made the "Oreo Pops" which were really easy, AND contrary to what I found on the internet- I did not use double-stuff oreos I had bought a box of the regular ones at Costco and made them work! The trick was to separate the Oreo, getting all the frosting on one side- then dip the stick in candy melt press gently into frosting- glob on a bit MORE candy melt and gently press the other half back on- THEN, let them set up- let the candy melt dry for like 15 minutes before you try to dip them & decorate them. They worked out great!

Over all the party was just how this first year as a mother has been, lots of work, TONS of fun, messy, silly, laughing, dancing and togetherness. 

Happy Birthday my precious blessing, Logan. I love you SO MUCH!!!!!!! Thanks for an amazing first year- can't wait to see what the next one brings.....

Fall?! Football!!! Long weekend!! YAY!!

Sorry. Had to do it. Don't hate!! LOL

:D

So we plowed right through the most fun summer EVER, our first with Logan, and can not believe tomorrow is the first home game of the season!! WOW!!

I literally missed EVERY SINGLE GAME last year because I had much better stuff to do, as you know, and I'm thrilled to be heading down town tomorrow for some grown-up time, tailgating and foooootball!

I will be doing a feature on tailgating and perfect football food featuring some guest recipes soon, going to be collecting my data (eating it) tomorrow, so stay tuned for that.

In the meanwhile weather it's football or just end-of-summer-long-weekend hanging you've got planned for the next few days - here are some great recipes that might be just what you were lookin for!

Hope you have a FABULOUS WEEKEND!!!!

Summer Potato Salad

Peach Avocado & Heirloom Tomato Salad

Picnic post with 3 recipies

Picnic Steak Samich

Beer Can Chicken

Our Fabulous Ginger Wings

Cheesy Bacon Artichoke Party Dip

Grilled Lamb Pita Pockets

Black & Blue Burgers

Quick n Easy Blueberry Banana Cream Pie

Peach & Apricot Cobbler

Pinteresting Drunk Gummy Bears

If you're on Pinterest, you're guilty of saying to yourself, "Oh! Cool!! I'm SOOO doing that" like a thousand times since joining.
Just like me.

This one. I HAD to try. For the past several years (minus last year when I was a big giant not-going-camping-if-you-paid-me-preggo) we have taken a road trip camping up or down PCH. It's awesome. If I win the lotto we are moving to the coast in Big Sur. I'll write you from there.
Anyhow- not being huge, cranky, hot and pregnant this summer meant the trip was ON, and it also meant first camping/road trip for the little man!!

So of course in preparation I headed straight to my Pinboards and made a few notes on must-try-for-the-trip stuffs.
With so much to do prep wise we only had time for two of my ambitions musts....

#1 The glowing Mountain Dew....
Have you seen that one?? Apparently you add baking soda and peroxide to half a Mountain Dew and it glows like crazy! WOW!!! SO COOL!!!

NOT!!!!!!

I wish I had headed over to The Craft Patch first... (this is their photo below) and that is exactly how it went...

After doing some research when we returned it appears you also have to cut open a glow stick and put that in there. Um, thanks science. PASS. LAME.

#2 Drunk Gummy Bears

Fortunately theses little guys SURPASSED expectation. We didn't read the directions at all and have made them since actually following the directions and they weren't as good- 

for us they worked much better soaking in a ziplock bag. 

Toss gummies in bag, cover (they need to be drownin') in vodka- you can use flavored vodka, but we don't keep that on hand, so didn't.

THEN- let them soak and get nice n drunk for FIVE DAYS- the vodka will be gone, the bears much larger and feistier!!! 

We had an amazing trip- can't wait to go again next year!!!

Crockpot Lime Cilantro Chicken

Since my son is avocado obsessed - we've been buying them like crazy, and I'm ok with that because I love them too!! This was just a what-I-have-on-hand recipe I came up with during am nap so we'd have dinner that night.


What you'll need

2 limes (the juice of both, the zest of one)
1 handful chopped cilantro
1/2 an onion, chopped
1 jalapeno, chopped
2/3 c salsa
1/2 c chicken broth
salt, pepper
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts


Toss all that stuff in the crockpot.
Cook on LOW for 6-7 hours...my crockpot seems to run hot, if I go more than 7 hours whatever I am cooking is dryer than the Sahara. It's easy enough to tell when this recipe is all finished- at about 6 hours lift the lid, try to fork apart the chicken gently, if it shreds easy and is cooked through you are all set, if not let it go another hour for perfection.

We had this with some extra salsa, avocado and a few cold beers on whole wheat tortillas.

YUM

Turkey Teriaki Meatballs

Our son is ONE this week, which is just BLOWING MY MIND. He's such a full-on little PERSON now and I am loving every waking second- hopefully, with the birthday bash (photos & recipies comin' atcha) behind me I will be able to catch up here and get my back logged stuff posted and move forward in some kind of organized fashion- huh? What does that even mean?....

Logan pretty much eats everything we do now- which has been amazing- he eats avocado three meals a day because it's seriously his favorite thing on the planet and recently he got super into meat balls- so I tried a few different ways to keep it interesting. This recipe is more adult-centered because teriyaki and soy sauce are just WAY to salty for my little pirate- so when I made this he did partake in the peas & pasta- but his balls were pretty much plain w/ some herbs and garlic....more on the munchkin menu soon, I hope!

This was a snap

In a large bowl combine

1 lb extra lean ground turkey

1 T soy sauce 

1/4 c teriyaki sauce (we use Trader Joes)

1 egg

1/2 cup bread crumbs (add more if it seems too mush-mush, add a bit more teriyaki sauce if they are way dry for some wacky reason)

3 cloves of garlic chopped

1 small handful of minced onion

a few dashes of sesame seeds

Pre-heat your oven to 350 and form balls- place on a foil lined baking sheet.

Cook for 25-30 minutes, until cooked through.

Drizzle with extra teriyaki sauce.

Serve with rice, pasta, veggies, in a samich, udon noodles, little ones on a kabob stick- go nuts!!