Junior League CocoaVino Ball 2012

Happy Wednesday friends! We are already through the first half of the week. I hope you all enjoyed a nice, relaxing, long-weekend. We sure did! We spent our weekend at the beach just enjoying our little family of three. :)

I just realized that I never blogged about my Junior League fundraising benefit ball, CocoaVino from this past April. I, along with my fabulous league sisters worked so hard to make this event a Smash, ( which it truly turned out to be). So, here are some photos from CocoaVino April 2012! Enjoy! :)

This is an excerpt describing our event from the newspaper.

With much excitement, the Fundraising Events and Development committee is pleased to announce the League’s annual fundraiser, CocoaVino.

The black tie dinner gala will take place on Saturday, April 28, 2012, at one of Pasadena’s oldest and most prestigious addresses. The evening will begin with cocktails/wine tasting and live music along with a silent auction featuring one-of-a-kind and unique prizes and packages, followed by a seated dinner. After dinner, guests will be invited to sample some of the most delectable chocolate desserts in town.

Cocoa Vino gala is the primary source of funding for the League’s community programs and all proceeds will benefit the Pasadena Junior League’s current focus area, Nurturing Children through Family Support.

Here is a photo of me, along with all of the ladies from our JLP Fundraising Committee who made Cocoa Vino 2012 possible!

Love you girls and had a great year working on this committee with you all!



Here I am with my handsome hubby!

The dining room of the BEAUTIFUL, Valley Hunt Club.

Our gorgeous flower arrangements designed by Jacob Maarse.

Some of the silent auction items

more silent auction items

fabulous wine tasting!

Our guest of honor, Los Angeles news anchor, Ms. Colleen Williams of NBC news.

The beautiful garden.

The entryway.

One of our hot-ticket auction items!

Another beautiful auction item!

Our fabulous dessert bar!

We had such a great time and I can't wait to attend as a guest next year!

I just found out that next year I will be on the Junior League of Pasadena's Early Readers committee. This was my first choice for next year's committee placement and I am thrilled to be able to work on such  a fine cause.

Below, is a quick little bio on this particular committee. With a teaching background as well as "mama experience", I hope to really get involved in making a difference in these precious little children's lives! What a blessing to be able to work with God's children. :)

Family Literacy

Junior League volunteers will act as family literacy coaches, reading a story to preschool children, then leading a fun activity based on the book, at the monthly Early Readers’ Book Club, a program of Mothers’ Club Family Learning Center.

All families that attend, including many parents who are English-learners, take home a copy of the book. It also comes with an audio CD of the book that parents can use if they do not feel ready to read out loud in English to their children. 


Junior League volunteers, parents and their kids take part in Early Readers’ Book Club, a program of Mothers’ Club Family Learning Center.The League is strengthening its longtime relationship with the center by providing regular volunteer support for the monthly club, which helps parents learning English and their preschool-age children.

Friends, Food and Guess Who Is Feeding Himself ?

On Thursday evening, we had my husband's Grandparents and their dear friends Reene and Harvey over for dinner. I made stuffed Manicotti with Italian Sausage, Broccoli, cheesy bread, Key Lime Cake, Shrimp Cocktail and Spinach Dip.

Sorry for the poor picture quality. I used my cell and we had dim lighting. :)
Anyway, here are our sweet friends.

We had a fabulous time!! Little Mr. Robert had so much fun with his guests! He played ball with them, he ran around in the back yard with them, he even got his Great Grandpa William to feed his little toy monkey!

Here are some pictures from Thursday night's dinner and the Key Lime Cake I told you all about earlier in the week! P.S, the cake was fabulous!! You really do have to try out the recipe in my previous post!!

Yummy Key Lime Cake

Cheesy Manicotti

  

Shrimp Cocktail and Spinach Dip

I also wanted to share that our little one has started feeding himself! He feels so grown-up with his spoon and his little dish. He even offers to share his food and feed us as well! Here are some photos of my little man from dinner this evening. :) They just grow-up too fast!!!

Ready to show off his new skills!

Look Mom!

Anybody want some?

It's fun to get messy! :)

And back in for more . . .

 Hope you're having a wonderful Saturday!

Blessings,

Let Me Introduce You To Penelope

Today was a busy day filled with a one year Doctor's appointment for Mr. Robert, a trip to Target, Grocery shopping and my favorite store . . . Trader Joe's! Whatever part of the country or world you are reading from, I do hope you have the opportunity to visit a Trader Joe's at some point! It truly is the best!

I can literally wander around Trader Joe's for hours! I just LOVE everything about that store. The amazing foods, the cool trail mixes and oh, the fabulous freezer section. I always find something fun and new to add to my grocery cart.

Well check out today's find from my local Trader Joe's!

Trader Joe's carries Pineapple plants and for a bargain of only $12.99.

 So, I am now the proud new owner and caregiver of a beautiful little pineapple plant!

We have named her Penelope . . . it just seems to be a fitting name for  a  Pineapple don't ya think?

I'm not sure if I have shared with you all  my love for Pineapples? My dining room has a pineapple decor for the Summer months. I have a huge pineapple welcome sign from New Orleans on my front porch and I have a pineapple Pandora bracelet charm from my sweet friend Melissa ( who lives in Hawaii).

I don't know what it is about a pineapple that just brightens up my day and makes me smile!

I did a little research on the history and meaning of the pineapple and here is what I found:

The Meaning of The Pineapple



The pineapple has served as a symbol of hospitality and warm welcome through the history of the Americas.

Christopher Columbus wrote the first account of a western encounter with the pineapple in the journal of his second discovery voyage across the Atlantic. He and his men landed on the Caribbean island of Guadalupe where the sailors enjoyed this sweet, succulent new fruit, which had already become a staple of native feasts and religious rites.

In 1493, Columbus first brought the pineapple back to Renaissance Europe that was largely devoid of sweet foods, including fresh fruit. The pineapple's exotic nature and sweetness soon made it an item that soon acquired both popularity and curiosity for centuries after its European arrival. For two centuries, as European horticulturists struggled to perfect a hothouse method for cultivating pineapples in Europe, the pineapple became even more a coveted commodity. In the 1600s, King Charles posed for an official portrait while receiving a pineapple as a gift.
In colonial America, hostesses would set a fresh pineapple in the center of their dining table when visitors joined their families in their homes. Visiting was the primary means of entertainment and cultural exchange, so the concept of hospitality was a central element in colonial life. The pineapple, then, symbolized the warmest welcome a hostess could extend to her guests, and then often it also served as the dessert for the meal. If the visitors spent the night, they would be given a bedroom with a bed in which pineapples had been carved on either the bedposts or the headboard -- even if that was the master bedroom.

Creative food display became a competition among the hostesses, because it declared her personality and her family's social status. Hostesses tried to outdo one another in creating memorable dining events. In larger, more affluent homes, the doors to the dining room were kept closed to create an air of suspense and excitement over the preparations of the hostess. Colonial grocers sometimes rented pineapples to hostesses desperate to create a dining experience above their financial means. Later, once that hostess had returned the pineapple, the fruit would be sold to more affluent clients who could afford to actually buy and eat it. Regardless of ones financial ability to actually buy and eat the pineapple, however, visitors to the homes that displayed the pineapple felt particularly honored that the hostess had spared no expense to secure one in their behalf.

By the Gilded Age, which was the era in which Samuel Couples lived, through the present day, the pineapple became a familiar symbolic image of welcome, good cheer, and warmth and affection between all who dwell inside the home.

And there you have it  . . . the meaning behind this beloved fruit! Now, I just hope I can keep my little plant alive and well! :)

Blessings,

 Sarah 

Teaching Compassion To Our Children

Today is "Teach Me Tuesday" and I want to talk a little bit about teaching compassion to children.
Compassion is definitely something we are taught.
We learn compassion through others actions. Compassion is by definition;Sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.

As a parent you might be asking yourself, " How do I help my children grow into compassionate, caring, kind people when we live in such a self-absorbed culture and society."

Jesus taught us, (his children) compassion through his actions. We already teach our children as babies how to eat, how to talk how to walk and how to love . . . you better believe it, our children also learn compassion through us. You are your child's first teacher.

 "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it."  Proverbs 22:6

The Story Of Robbie & Monkey

I want to share a story from around our house this week. About two weeks ago my Aunt bought Robbie a little stuffed toy monkey. Robbie has not put this monkey down since Aunt Becky gave it to him! I started to notice the real love and bond forming between Robbie and this little monkey. Monkey has made various trips to Grandma's house, the grocery store, social events and church. Monkey even participates during dinner and with bedtime prayers. :)

Today, I walked into the living room and found Robbie "feeding" Monkey with his bottle. When I walked closer Robbie proudly held up the bottle and said, "baba". I said, " very good Robbie. .. your feeding Monkey the baba. Let Mama try". I held up the bottle to Monkey's mouth and made a smacking sound with my lips. I then picked Monkey up and proceeded to pat him on the back as if I were burping him. Well, Robbie thought this was just about the best thing.Robbie immediately grabbed the bottle from me, stuck it up to Monkey's mouth and smacked his little lips together. Just as I had done. When he finished he picked Monkey up, patted his back as if burping him and gave him a big hug and kiss.

It touched my heart to see the compassion and love already blossoming in my baby's little one year old soul.

This post is especially for young mothers who need to realize the HUGE importance of their job and influence on their young children. In the midst of a hectic day when you feel stressed, anxious and pressed for time. When nothing seems to be going right and your frustration level is rising by the minute, they are watching . . .  who? Your children, your most precious gifts.

Remember to teach them compassion through your trials and theirs. Make everyday a learning opportunity. The dishes and laundry will still be there tomorrow, but a teachable moment is more valuable than gold!

Do you remember learning this song in Sunday School as a child?  Listen to the song below by pressing the play button.

Please be sure to pause my music feed at the bottom of the page. :)

This song is meant for children, but to me, as a parent, it is such an excellent reminder that my child is always watching me, listening to me, learning for me. This convicts me to be careful what I say, what I do and how my little boy perceives my actions.

This scripture always comes to mind when I think about teaching compassion to our children.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9  "And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."

We must be a living example of Christ's love and compassion for our children.
Teach your children to show Jesus' love and compassion to their brothers and sisters and to you their parent.
To their friends and teachers.
Remember compassion starts at home.

Here are some excellent ways to teach your children compassion:

• Help with kids. Help a church in your town that has a latchkey program. You and your kids can do simple things such as serve refreshments.   
• Serve a holiday dinner at a street mission. When our kids were preschoolers, our family served a Thanksgiving meal. The other volunteers not only didn't mind, but they gave our kids small tasks to do.
• Bring a meal to a house-bound elderly person. You can do this through a program such as Meals-on-Wheels or by adopting a senior citizen in your church or neighborhood as a "grandparent."
• Do construction or maintenance outdoor projects. Our family has joined a church-school group that was cleaning an elderly person's yard. Another time, we joined a Habitat for Humanity chapter repairing a home. (Some chapters let you bring children under sixteen.)
• Visit a nursing home.

Blessings,

Marvelous Monday

Happy Monday! It has literally been months since my last Marvelous Monday post! So here is what I'm loving this Monday!

Haha now don't laugh . . . but I love NBC's show SMASH! I know a little Corny . . . but what can I say I'm a musical loving nerd! This is currently on my IPod and I'm loving it!

The other night, my dear sweet friend Amanda( pictured above with her beautiful little girl Paige) had me over for a girl's movie night! Rich was out in the field training, I was visiting my parents ( who live on the same street as Amanda and her dear family) and Amanda's hubby was working late, the babies were asleep . . . so, this called for a Girl's Night In! Amanda made some A-mazing warm, chewy cookies with yummy ice cream on top. Then, we rented a super chick-flick, "The Vow". So much FUN!! Thanks Amanda, I so needed a night off. :) Super cute movie for all you hopeless romantic movie watchers like myself!

I am a huge Food network fan! I have so many favorite chefs. . . in fact, too many to name them all! Recently, I have started watching The country singer Trisha Yearwood's new show on Saturday mornings called Trisha's Southern Kitchen!

Trisha shares fabulous family recipes, stories, songs and so much more!

On Thursday, I am hosting a dinner for my husband's Grandparents  and their dear long time family friends at our home. This is one of Trisha's dessert recipes that I can hardly stand the wait to make!! I will definitely be making this cake on Thursday!!

Doesn't this just look DE-VINE!!!! I mean really!!!

Here is the recipe, I will let you know how my cake turns out on Thursday!

From the kitchen of Trisha Yearwood

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16 Comments

Difficulty: Moderate

Cook Time: 30-60 min

"We had a big birthday party for my daddy when he turned seventy. He was a pretty humble guy and was embarrassed that so much attention was being focused on him, but he ultimately loved visiting with all of his friends, some he hadn't seen in a long time. Over two hundred friends and family signed the guest book that night; that's a testament to the man. I think of him when I make this cake because we served it that night. I miss my daddy, but there are always things to remind me of how much fun we had as a family."
-Trisha Yearwood

Ingredients

CAKE

1 3-ounce package lime-flavored gelatin

1¹/3 cups granulated sugar

2 cups sifted all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

5 large eggs, slightly beaten

1½ cups vegetable oil

¾ cup orange juice

1 tablespoon lemon juice

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

½ cup Key lime juice (from about 25 small Key limes or 4 large regular limes)

½ cup confectioners' sugar

CREAM CHEESE ICING

½ cup (1 stick) butter, room temperature

1 8-ounce package cream cheese, room temperature

1 1-pound box confectioners' sugar

Cooking Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and flour three 9-inch round cake pans.
In a large mixing bowl, mix the gelatin, sugar, flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Stir to mix well.
Add the eggs, oil, orange juice, lemon juice, and vanilla.
Divide the batter evenly among the 3 pans and bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Test for doneness by lightly touching the tops of the layers or inserting a toothpick.
Cool the layers in the pans for 5 minutes, then turn them out onto racks.
While the layers are still hot, mix the lime juice and confectioners' sugar and pour it over the layers on the racks. You can pierce the layers with a fork to allow the glaze to soak in better. Allow the layers to cool completely as you prepare the icing.
Cream the butter and cream cheese. Beat in the confectioners' sugar until the mixture is smooth and easy to spread. Spread the icing between the layers and on the top and sides of the cake.
The cream cheese icing is optional. This cake is beautiful and tastes great with just the glaze poured over it.
Key limes can be hard to find. Substitute regular lime juice for key lime juice without sacrificing flavor.
FROM BETH: This is a very moist cake. It can also be baked in a 9 x 12 x 2-inch pan to be easily served in squares.
FROM GWEN: This recipe comes from family friend Angela Spivey. She uses whichever variety of lime is available in the local grocery.
Serves 12

Courtesy Trisha Yearwood, "Home Cooking With Trisha Yearwood."

Oh, and before I forget. A few weeks ago, one of my sweet readers asked me about the name of this particular baby product. I LOVE this little helper called The Itzbeen. It keeps track of when you last fed, changed, nursed, diapered baby and how long baby has slept! A lifesaver, let me tell you! It is available at Target and Amazon.

And finally . . .

My new pasta bowls that my Mama bought me for Mother's Day! Just because they make me smile and the thought of eating warm, cheesy pasta from them makes me very happy!

I think that's about it for tonight friends! Have a great week!

Which reminds me of a cute quote my Dad was sharing with me from the great Sophia Loren;

Blessings,