{Merry Christmas}

Our Christmas was full of so many special moments. Watching the joy on this little one's face was absolutely priceless. It's so hard to think that last Christmas we were just getting home from the NICU and when we hosted our families for dinner we were taking turns holding our peanut. Now fast forward to this year when we were taking turns running after the little busy-body… Ha!

Little lady Z loved opening gifts, had us all reading her new books, and soaked up having an audience with her jokester ways. It was so perfect that I went to bed pinching myself because I have dreamt of this life. I have dreamt of her, being her mama, dreamt of this little family of mine, dreamt of it and now I get to live it. As hard as this past year was I am truly getting to live my dream!

As for you, those of you that read, comment, have questions and suggestions, thank you!!! This blog has been part of the dream and I am so happy that I have this little piece of the Internet to share my story. So much in the plans for 2015 and I am excited to get things rolling!!!

I didn't get the chance to decorate the house this year and we kept our tree ornamentless but I did set the table and I love how it came out!

I’ll be sharing a New Years Eve and a New Years Day look on Monday before signing off for the week so stay tuned.

So tell me, how was your holiday?

xo

Natalie

#bebe

{On The Side: Sneaky Mashed Potatoes}

Continuing this series of shaking up my usual sides with recipes that are just as easy but will impress everyone. Sticking with potatoes again this time, I thought I'd give another take on a family favorite, the mashed potato.

I am not a big fan of mashed potatoes. They aren't gross; I just prefer my taters in a different form, preferably fried or roasted. But the mister, my stepdaughter and little Z are HUGE fans, so I had to try and sneak a little veggie in there... Full disclosure, O knew something was up but he is the pickiest of my eaters in the veggie department, so give them a try and report back!

Ingredients

Head of cauliflower (trim the stems off)

6 yukon potatoes (organic ones from stoppy are pretty great during the winter)

1 package of organic andouie sausage (turkey or chicken for us)

1 tbsp of olive oil for the pan

course salt and fresh ground black pepper

2 - 3 tbsp of unsalted butter

1 tbsp of milk

Recipe

Brown the sausage on both sides medium heat in a heavy pot. About 7 - 10 minutes.

Wash and cut the potatoes in 4.

Add potatoes and cover for 10 - 15 minutes. Stir everything up every few minutes so it doesn't burn. (all depends on the size of the potatoes)

You want to be able to put a fork in the potatoes but not to easily)

Add cauliflower and finish cooking. 12 - 15 minutes.

Uncover and let cook for 5 minutes.

Remove sausage and set aside for an appetizer or another meal.

Add potatoes, cauliflower, butter, milk, salt and pepper to a blender.

Blend to desired texture.

I reheated them hours after making them in the microwave and they tasted just as great, so it will be one of the sides I make ahead when we host on Thursday! I had been hoping to share a few other recipes before the holiday but it didn't happen, so I am thinking it may be a series I continue… Especially since I am trying to keep myself out of the same ol’ same ol’ rut. Any sides you make on a regular that you can recommend? Or that you'd like me to remix a bit? Please share!

Hope you all have a short week ahead with plans to spend some quality time with those you love because that is what it's about my friends. Trying to remind myself that!!

xo

Natalie

On the Side Series:

Smashed Lemon Potatoes

#dishes #bebe

{Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, One Year Old is What You Are!}

My girl turned a whole year old!!! How it happened, I do not know.

This has been the hardest and most incredible year of my life. What started with a scary visit to the emergency room and then an even scarier two days in a hospital bed, ended with an early visit from our babe. We didn't know the sex of the baby, had just had our baby shower and didn't even have the nursery set up!! None of that mattered.

What mattered was this tiny fighter that was showing us her strength. They had told us that they didn't know what damage had occurred and that she may not even cry, but boy she showed them. Came into this world screaming and showing us she was going to fight.

When they finally let me hold her, I didn't even see all the wires and tubes, I just saw my sweet sweet girl. Gripping onto to me immediately. That moment was like none in my lifetime. Even know my eyes fill up with tears thinking of how I never imagined a love like that. Ever. But my heart was exploding, with love, for this sweet peanut of mine.

Fast forward to a year later. And we are the parents of a one year old!!! She is sassy, smart, sweet and soaks everything up like a sponge and repeating everything.

Her vocab surprises us every day, walks everywhere, and loves Aiden (the dog). Her favorite activity as of late is to bring us a book so we can read to her. She'll sit in my lap, turn the pages and then bring another when we are done. More often than not we end up reading the same 3 or 4 over and over. (I actually hid a couple that I was reading around 30 times a day!!!) She gives hugs and besos, loves face-timing and her baths. Eats like a champ, I mean everything we put in front of her. Especially prefers veggies and cheese.

Now onto the partay, the theme came from Pinterest. And perfect because I sing twinkle twinkle every single night before bed. It was filled (like it birthdays should be) with all of Zoe's favorites.

We had a music teacher come and do a class, gave away instruments and grab bags filled with her favorites.

Served grilled cheese, pizzas, a cheese plate and fruit salad. But most importantly she had an absolute ball. I wish we could have invited all of our family but with a small town house 10 kids (and parents) had us bursting at the seams. And the party bags had all of her favorite things, and for a treat we included homemade animal crackers and her favorite fruit pouches from Happy Family!

The smash cake was a, no added sugar and butter free cake, made with whole wheat flour yogurt and berries. The frosting was cream cheese, applesauce, vanilla and raspberries. She was verrrry into the frosting. And I made this vanilla cake in a star pan for the rest of the guests. I'll need to work on my rustic frosting technique...

I love this birthday poster from Zoe's Tia Alyssa and I also displayed her monthly pics in the living room! (ps they are still there...)

It was a super special day, hoping to add some links to where I bought things and recipes this weekend, so check back or leave questions on the comments!

xo

PS Check out gift ideas here, holiday attire here!

#lifelately #bebe