pineapple

seriously, i know this post is so random.  i love fresh pineapple.  i think people don't buy it because they think it's too hard to cut.  a few years ago i watched someone on the food network do it with ease.  seriously, they do everything with ease, i'm so jealous :)  anyways- ever since then i've been eating them like crazy.  i ate at least two a week when i was pregnant with will.  here's how to do it:

simply slice the top and bottom off.  if you're making a fruit tray- don't even think about decorating with that top- please, throw it away.  fruit is pretty on it's own.

stand the pineapple up and simply slice down the sides, turning the fruit as you go.

this is what it should look like

cut it straight down the middle, then quarter it.

cut off the center core, it's hard and not good to eat.  i'm sure there are ways to use it, i just don't know any of them.

cut into cubes and enjoy!

it's super easy and so much cheaper then buying the precut pineapple in the grocery store.  and it's SO much better than the kind in the can.  like i said, this post is totally random.  it's just what we snacked on today after lunch......thought i would share! 

it's beginning to look a lot like easter

my kids will decorate pine cones for any season :)

place cards made by jack

these were made with a kit from michaels.  the boys love them!

my sister gave me these treasures last easter.

another hand print creation from 2008

my dad came for the weekend to celebrate easter (early) with us.

he even made us the bunny cake.  it was the sweetest gift. 
i wish my sisters could have been here to eat him with me.

grandpa's cake was a big hit!!  when i was little the bunny sat in green grass (green colored coconut). 
since jack is allergic, the bunny had to make some adjustments. 

easter craft

last easter we made these little bunnies

to recreate these- follow same directions using fabric paint and pens.

this year i decided to change it up a bit.  we made easter cards using only the littlest hand in our house.  i let the boys write on the back of the cards.  here's how we did it:

notice i have baby wipes handy- they are helpful when you're painting.

you can use a paint brush, or your finger to cover the little hand.  really little ones tend to close their fists, so you may want some back-up to open the fingers!  we made white bunnies- brown or pink would be sweet too.

stamp the card with your child's hand, allow prints to dry

i let jack add the eye, heart nose and whiskers.

i made sure to give anna michael credit for all of her hard work.

finally i let the boys write messages on the back.  next we will send them out to some special people 

it's totally simple and it sort of looks like a bunny.  my favorite part? sending mail,  real mail.  i loved it as a kid (thanks to beth, my cousin & pen pal), really loved it in college, still look forward to it now!  there is something about a handwritten note that makes me happy. 

happy easter!

spinach artichoke dip

i'm a simple girl.  jordan won my heart over with spinach artichoke dip, chicken wings and a few beers.  that was our typical date night 10 years ago.  it's pretty much what a good date night looks like these days too :)  jordan found a recipe for spinach artichoke dip in a magazine years ago.  together he and i have perfected the recipe with a few changes.  it's really easy and so good.  here's how we make it:

1/2 cup chopped onion, brick of cream cheese, 2-3 cloves garlic, frozen spinach, 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, jar of artichokes. 1/4 cup of mayo (or a little more if you like it....i do)- go ahead, tap into your inner paula deen :)

most important part- squeeze the life out of the spinach- that is the entire box of thawed spinach! 
use a dish towel to get out all of the water.  do the same to the artichokes.

dump everything into your mixer.  if you don't have one, stir.

top with parmesan or mozzarella cheese, bake 350 for 30 minutes.  serve with pita chips, tortilla chips or whatever you like.

ok, this has nothing to do with dip- but she's just cute :)

also, i wanted to thank my brother-in-law for helping me make some changes to my blog. and when i say "helped" i mean he did the changes.  seriously, he was doing math to change picture sizes- who knew?  chris, you're  the best.  i owe you some spinach dip :)

our friends

last night we hosted a celebration for our good friends who are moving in a few weeks. 

we became friends only a year ago.  their son zachary and jack go to preschool together.  they invited us for a cookout one sunday afternoon and within an hour we were "old friends."  we joked last night how this has been such a quick year.  steve said that our relationship was moving too fast, it's them not us.....that's why they have to leave.  they totally broke up with us :) 

there is a positive to this move (besides the whole new, great job thing, that's good too).  they are moving to NC!!  what are the odds?  we pass their exit on our way to my family's house!  we will be visiting them soon.

so NC, you lucky little state.  you already are home to my family and some of my very best friends.....now you get another.  the party theme was NC of course.  we served NC bbq with all of it's sides. 

we had popcorn for the kids.  on each container i had facts about NC.
  i totally tapped into my inner nerd for this party.  i taught NC history to my 4th graders a few years back.

we had a station where everyone could leave a note for the family.
 i also included pictures in the back of the album.

as a favor for the guests we did note cards with the new address attached to the front.

favor tag

since they're "desserting" VA for NC, we did a dessert bar.

more NC facts

i made s'more pops to remember a camping trip we did together last summer.

to my sweet friend, renee-  i miss you already, and you're still here.   i am grateful for your honest and loyal friendship.  i am excited for this new chapter in y'alls story.  i know it's gonna be a good one.  xo, stephanie

strawberry party

i am loving this new party theme.  it was actually my friend, heather who requested it for her daughter's first birthday.  she wanted strawberry- minus the shortcake :)  

happy 1st birthday olivia.

you've been egged!

so i found this really fun idea here at tip junkie.  i thought it would be fun to play this little prank on some of our good friends last week while they were away on spring break!  you should really do it to your friends and neighbors.  it was a fun way for the boys and our friends to spread a little easter cheer :)

start with a giant box of plastic eggs

print them out, we laminated ours...because we're nerds :)

cut sting, tie in loops with knots

close the egg around the knot

now, the fun begins- "egg" your friends and family!  we left jelly beans for their trouble

even annie p was in on it!

my sister-in-law loved this :)  hee hee

hang the eggs on the trees!

like i said, this was really fun for the kids to do!  i hope everyone enjoyed our little decorations too :)