Happy Day of Hearts!

Love is in the air...and flowers, and cards, and kisses, and yummy treats...yes, it's a "Hallmark" holiday - BUT - it's a day to simply appreciate those around you & make sure they know how much you love them. Really you don't have to 'buy' anything to express this - but hearing or seeing that expression of feelings is nice to have, regardless of who you are.

James is always good about sending me some flowies...not that I ask...he just does. This is the one 'holiday' I receive them... sometimes my bday too. But I'm not a huge "buy me flowers for every occasion" kinda gal...they're super expensive and die within a week.... 2 weeks TOPS if you treat em good. Here's my lovies:

So I took the day off from work to spend time with the fam. I wasn't planning on it, but because my running group meets Tuesday nights and because Kapri had a Valentine's Day party scheduled at preschool, I decided it was best.

Last night I actually made red velvet cake pops to take to K's school...she helped with the mixing...mamma did the rest. Cannot wait til she's hold enough to help with this whole process, haha!

wine is recommended to drink while cake popping...

Then first thing in the morning, I got up with Kapri and we made heart-shaped banana chocolate chip pancakes, courtesy of this recipe...SO. GOOD!

After eating, we got ready then gave dadda his Vday Cards...and snapped a few cute pics....

And dropped off K at school with her Valentine cards for all the kids and the cake pops:

Kapri's BFF, Chloe - only 2 weeks apart in age!

Then James & I went out for a little lunch date at a place we'd never been to before...Ki's Restaurant - in Cardiff, on 101, right across from the Charthouse. This place had awesome reviews...and the view was picture perfect...just what I wanted!

perfect day

After that we picked up Kapri, came home...and K & J took a nap...which gave me time to finally do my sister's 4 pillowcases she'd asked me to do for her new studio. She bought adorable coordinating fabrics, so I was super excited for the final outcome. Pics and a super-simple 'how-to' in my next post!  ;-)

Finally...I met up with my sister for our 50 min. group run & core strengthening session down in Mission Bay. Wow...what a packed, productive, love-filled day!

Trick or TrEEEEat!

Longest. day. ever! I thought Saturday was busy with 2 birthdays...today was wayyy more jammed.

James & I both took Halloween day off to spend with Kapri running all over the place. She woke up around 8am, we snuggled for a bit in our bed as we chatted about all the fun things that were planned for the day.

I started to get ready and James took her down for breakfast...then I got her primped & prepped in her pretty princess Belle costume, and finally jumped in the car to head to her preschool for a Halloween party they were hosting. Surprised we actually made it out of the house on time, by 9:15!!

I also brought in a bunch of Halloween Pumpkin Funfetti Cake Pops for everyone to enjoy! Amanda & I slaved over them the night before (same night as pumpkin carving) - I just cannot even handle the level of cuteness of these little guys!! A majority got brought to my work for the Halloween festivities, but I made sure to save enough for all K's school buds:

I was hoping to do pumpkin faces on them all...but the damn food pen was NOT happening - just getting one done was hard enough! Boo

The kids all looked so cute dressed up and it was so cool to see Kapri with all her buddies having fun. Too bad her freakin crown would NOT stay on her head...ahh well. At school they had fun indoor 'Halloween' inspired activities, a cute little mini-sized jumpy outside, got read a spooky Halloween story by one of the teachers...and finished the morning with a pizza lunch:



We left shortly after to have a little mini-brunch date all by ourselves, that's a rare thing these days ;-)

After picking her up around noon, we tried to have her take a little nap before the next outing...but that was a total fail.

So we got her dressed again & headed to my work for some light trick-or-treating and our annual Ice Cream Social. This was her 3rd year attending - here's here first and her second.

She also got to see her good friend Arden, who she's pretty much grown up with! A was dressed as princess Rapunzel from Tangled - just recently saw that movie with K & we loved it BTW!

Then we went back home to rest (no full nap again!) & eat a little food before our next & final outing.

I seriously have more fun watching K go Trick or Treating, than I had actually doing it myself when I was younger.

Seeing her happy & excited for something fun like this just makes me happy! This year we met up with some old high school friends and all their kiddos to walk the neighborhood & collect the goods!! After every house she's say "Need more mamma...more candy" - I have NO clue how many times she said this...it was a broken record no joke.

And she was definitely a bit on the groggy side, since we had 2 failed attempts at a nap. But we made it through. She even told me when she needed to potty and thank god we just happened to stop off at one of the kids' grandparents house...phew! I was curious how that'd play out this year!

She was a little apprehensive about going up to houses, especially the 'spooky' ones as she called them. Next year when she's older, she'll probably (hopefully!) be more receptive to it, not being as skeptical to knock on doors or not being as quiet while saying "Trick or Treeeeeattt!!" - but we'll see. I'm sad we didn't get more pics...but I don't have a camera at the moment, and my iPhone wasn't cutting it...ahh well.

Alexandria's Baby Shower

Last Sunday afternoon, I had the pleasure of co-hosting a simple, yet beautiful luncheon-style baby shower for one of my most treasured & admired friends, Alexandria...whom I've known since high school! She lives up in NorCal now, but came down to SD to visit her fam & friends...so of course we HAD to throw her a baby shower. And what better location, than at the delish Tomiko restaurant, where she both worked AND had her wedding reception at just 2 years ago...so the crew there are practically like a second family to her. How stunning is this bride???!

Alexandria ~ July 2008

Alex & Mitch....Mr. & Mrs.!!

We literally had like, 2 weeks notice that she was coming down...so we planned this in just ONE week...that's all folks! Can we get like a medal or something??

The Planners

I of course made her some stylish burp cloths...I had previously asked her to choose 4 patterns out of a bunch, without her knowing what it was for...so this was the end result...I love these things! They become quite a part of your daily 'shoulder' wardrobe, so why not make them cute!?

And of course I had to make her a diaper cake, as mentioned a few months ago...these things are essential!

Lastly, here's a pic of my little scrumptious bits of heaven that I found from Bakeralla - this chick is amazing! I made her cake balls before for Valentine's Day (here) - so when I saw these I thought they'd be perfect in 'baby' sized cones, for a 'baby' shower! I think they turned out pretty damn well!! They were a hit, so tasty & luckily I made a TON, so the ladies had lots of leftovers to take home  ;-)

Oh...and we had a Onesie Creation Station set up along the bar top...it was covered in the cutest stamps, paints, ribbon, iron-on patches, buttons, fabric pens & puffy paint - all the guest got to decorate a onesie & Alex picked her top 3, who won prizes. These ladies got SUPER creative - I was really impressed! We told Alex that she'd have to take a pic of little Ava in each onesie & send to us!!

It was such a wonderful day, a memory that I will cherish forever. Love you Alex!! You are going to be one of THE. most. incredible. mommies. EVER. I'm soooo happy for you & your new journey into parenthood! xoxo

"Baby" sized cake ball cones

Okay...so I'm a HUGE fan of Bakeralla - she's amazing...suuuuper duper talented. I want to be her when I grow up. My first encounter with making her delish cake balls was a few months ago when I made cake pops for Valentine's Day. Can you please just check out this utterly fantastic book she literally just came out with...buy it NOW - and buy one for me when while you're at it! You're welcome.

Anyway - while reading her blog on my Google Reader last week, (just after I found out I'd be helping plan Alex's baby shower in only ONE week)...I stumbled upon this little jewel - first thought: "I AM MAKING THESE".

I did just that...BOO....YAAA:

My very 1st one!

So, I started baking both a white & a chocolate cake on Sunday morning...let them cool for a bit, crumbled, mixed in cream cheese frosting, got messy with goodness, was a cake ball making machine (see pic, I swear)...let them chill for the afternoon...then after K went to bed, I started assembling, dipping, & sprinkling away. For 3 freaking hours....sooooooooo worth it!

"eat meeee"

Love is in the air...and kitchen!

A few weeks ago, I happily stumbled upon a FABULOUS site called Bakerella - this. chick. is. ahh. mazing. As soon as I saw these little "Cake Balls" & "Cake Pops" I was hooked & had my mind set on making these for Valentine's day this year for my co-workers, friends & family.

Last Thursday night I whipped these bad boys up...and literally was up soooo late getting them done in time to bring to work on Friday. But for my first time, I have to say they came out pretty DAMN good...I definitely know what I will & will not do for next time (trust me, there will be a next time VERY soon)...but all-in-all, I think they were a big hit!

I made almost 100 total of both Red Velvet cake & Chocolate cake pops...the RV ones were dipped in milk chocolate and the Choc ones were dipped in pink/vanilla chocolate...YUM-O. I never use this word but feel it absolutely necessary to use it with these scrumptious little balls of heaven--that sounds weird...but seriously...TOO good...they're flavorful, super moist and somewhat dangerous if you end up with a lil extra in your fridge 

;-)

It was definitely worth the time spent doing it!!