clean plate club

so I have to share our latest favorite dinner discovery!! In less than 30 minutes you can put together a meal that everyone will demolish! Promise! :)

below is what's left of dinner tonight!  I am lousy with the pictures, but just count yourself lucky there are any pics at all! heehee. Sandra Lee, eat your heart out!

pitiful picture, but it was so good, there was nothing left to take a picture of! haha

Parmesan Crusted Tilapia, garlic & citrus olive oil sauteed kale, & sauteed mushrooms & squash
Parmesan Crusted Tilapia - this is where Sandra Lee reference comes into play! Store bought, freezer section. Tastes like homemade and great to keep on hand for fast prep nights in the kitchen.

Kale: wash real good, tear out thick stems. mince garlic. add citrus flavored olive oil to pan & saute garlic. (Holy moly. Y'all gotta try citrus flavored olive oil!! I am hooked after day one!) add kale. sautee until slightly wilted.  add seasoning to taste.  I used Paula Deen's seasoning salt 

temecula olive oil. heavenly.

Mushrooms & squash: I needed to use the squash that was about to go bad so I cubed it along with some mushrooms. chopped onion. Put EVOO in pan, added minced garlic, saute, onion, saute. added mushrooms & squash, saute. add seasonings. I used a couple of the new Deen Brothers seasonings and WOW. flavorful!! Hints of sweet and spicy chipotle from the Sweet Poppin' Chipotle & the Funky Chicken seasoning is loaded with salt, garlic, pepper, parsley, among other spices - I could eat it by itself!

can't wait to try the hatch chili olive oil! 911!!

Deen Brothers spices are soon to hit the market! Stay tuned! :)

Seriously, we had a houseful of empty plates.  This is an easy new favorite worth sharing! Hope you enjoy too! :)

Planning a party...

for a one year old should be as easy as 1-2-3 and it is!  There is an old rule (ha - since when do I follow the rules) that says for each birthday a child has, she should have the equivalent number of guests to the age she will be.  A one year old should have one guest and so on and so forth.  Well, I agree to this rule to an extent.  I don't necessarily believe we should only have ONE guest, but having been to a few birthday parties for one year olds, the parties tend to be more for the adults than for the kid who has just about no idea of what's going on.  Frankly, the birthday girl or boy seems a little overwhelmed with the number of guests & activities, so that's why we have decided to keep it simple.  No guest list, no invitations, no messy clean-up.  Just fun in the sun for whoever wants to stop by and say hello! 

We're planning for a picnic in the park complete with finger foods, lemonades, and other yummies made from fresh and local ingredients.  If there's one thing I remember from a party it's definitely the food, and I want this to be special - even if small.  It's also important to me to support Savannah and shop locally (as much as possible) for our goods, so I am going that route for everything that needs buying.  We'll hand-pick our strawberries for the cake & flowers for the table, and I have been scouring local thrift stores for old linens to use as tablecloths.  I want a vintage feel under the Spanish Moss in Forsyth Park.  What a gorgeous setting, and it's one of our many favorite outdoor spots here in Savannah.  Swing sets, sunny days, live music, and fellowship with close friends and family.  Sounds like the perfect way to celebrate Naomi's birthday and my birthing day!! Excitement ensues. :)

I have found a few inspirational pics online.  I want it to be picture-worthy and memorable...well, at least for Mama & Deddy! ;)

the banner around the Oak tree is a must!

I love the colors on this old vintage tablecloth

Daisies & mason jars. Perfect combination! :)

LOVE this!! Used for a wedding, but I adore all the elements that go in to a thoughtful outdoor party!

Gorgeous.

Now there's an idea - chalkboard for birthday messages. Note the over-sized lacy tablecloth too!

Doesn't this look just like a picnic in the lowcountry?

To be such a simple party, I sure am putting a lot of thought into this! Heehee. What can I say? May 11 is a special, special day!!

on a more positive note...

we had THE BEST weekend!  "Declutterfying" is my job for the week ahead, so I will spend the week trying to organize this mess.  Below are a few pictures from this past weekend - Sand Gnats opening game Friday night, followed by Saturday in the park and beach day Sunday.  We tend to stay outside and soak up the sun every chance we get. Lovin' this summertime weather!

first Sand Gnats game of the season!

I'm sorry if this is your husband, but I had to get a shot of super dad!

Super Dad: one who carries diaper bag, toy baseball bat, and stuffed bunny tucked into britches all while conversing via telephone while little ones jump in bouncy house while at ball game. Also note sippy cup in left pocket. Super Dad, indeed!

our spider monkey taking off on Saturday afternoon

seriously. best crawler ever! she'll be walking within the month!

ok, take a look at the back of this outfit. Little girls are so much fun!

Deddy captured this moment perfectly - Naomi is loving her baby...cue the "aww" from Mama!

leaving baby in the dust!

"Im gonna get you!"

:)

Beach day on Sunday afternoon

she loves her new tent!

playing peek-a-boo with Deddy

"Peek-a-boo, I see you!"

All smiles all the time! Well, most of the time! :)

cheesin'!