Krautfest 2016!

October 11, 2016October 10, 2016 / Jodi / 48 Comments

This past weekend was one of my favorites of the year! Time for the annual Brugnoli Family and Friends Krautfest Party!

Those of you who have been hanging around here awhile, might remember Krautfest 2015 or even Krautfest 2014.

The festivities kicked off this past Saturday in the beautiful Autumn weather at Conneaut Lake, PA with our dear “Oh Rob” welcoming guests and instructing newcomers on the sauerkraut-making process.

It starts with cutting…. 800 lbs of cabbage cutting!

The cut cabbage goes to the shredders, where experienced cutters teach newbies on equipment passed down through generations from grandparents…

and taught to new generations – where Moms teach sons…

and sisters show brothers….

and families do together.

It then gets measured,

and salted,

and pounded…

while friends and family chat,

and laugh,

and hug.

Old friends meet up after decades.

and new relationships bloom.

There is plenty of fun for kids of all ages!

From Jumbo Jenga…

to pick up sticks…

to lawn bowling,

and searching for bones and candy and money in hay.

There was pumpkin painting…

and t-shirt painting.

There was apple picking…

and apple pressing.

The kids loved learning how to turn apples into fresh apple juice!

and so did some of the parents and grandparents!

There was lots of food.

I made Grandma’s halupki – another Krautfest tradition served up next to hot dogs and kraut and homemade pierogies and cheesy polenta and fresh smoked ham and lots of other yummies.

There was an entire dining room table filled with desserts.

and of course plenty of wine.

There was tire swinging,

and bonfire-building.

There was Marty (hubby – on the left) and Martin.

There were quiet moments from afar,

and lots of singing and music after the sun went down and drew us indoors.

Even dogs of all sizes made friends!

Can you imagine a better time?

Thank you Joyce and Oh Rob! We love you! We ALL do!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Ahoy for Baby Boys!

October 10, 2016October 7, 2016 / Jodi / 38 Comments

Prussian Blue, Cobalt Teal Blue, Quin Gold Watercolor Whale 8x10

Prussian Blue, Cobalt Teal Blue, Quin Gold Watercolor Whale 8×10

After all the pink love last week, I had the pleasure of creating something blue and nautical for a sweet little boy we are preparing to welcome.

Prussian Blue, Cobalt Teal Blue, Quin Gold Watercolor Nautical Anchor 8x10

Prussian Blue, Cobalt Teal Blue, Quin Gold Watercolor Nautical Anchor 8×10

How lucky am I that one of my BFF’s had a grandson about six months ago and another BFF is having one within weeks of our granddaughter’s due date. Seems it will be one of the greatest joys in life to share motherhood and then grandmotherhood with life-long friends.

So yesterday was the “Ahoy It’s a Boy” shower, and I made a couple of watercolor paintings for this little guys’s nautical themed nursery.

I matted the 8×10 paintings with navy blue matting and framed them with white 11×14 frames.

It’s hard to take photos of paintings under glass without reflection and in good light, so these photos are a bit off in color, but I thought they turned out really cute, and I hope they will go well in this sweet little guys’s new room.

I thought it would be fun to make them into greeting cards too.

Can’t wait to meet you Baby Boy Griffith!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Go Pink Chex Party Mix

October 9, 2016October 6, 2016 / Jodi / 21 Comments

I made this fun pink chex snack mix for our baby shower last week, but it is very also appropriate this month for Pinktober.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and I have a few people very near and dear to me who are survivors – as well as the memory of a very special sister-in-law we lost at the age of 50 to breast cancer.

So Go Pink!

Celebrate… remember… create awareness… enjoy… by sharing this yummy treat with people you love.

Go Pink Chex Party Mix

Servings: a crowd
Print

Ingredients:

6 cups rice Chex cereal
6 cups corn Chex cereal
1 cup dry roasted peanuts
3 cups pretzels
2 12-oz bags Wilton Pink Candy Melts

Directions:

Mix cereal, peanuts, and pretzels in a large bowl.

Place candy melts in microwave-safe bowl, and microwave on High for one minute. Stir. Return to microwave for one more minute. Stir. Microwave for additional 30-second intervals if needed until completely melted. (My microwave only took two minutes total to completely melt.) Pour over cereal mix to coat evenly.

Spread in single layer onto waxed paper or parchment paper, and let cool completely.

Once cool, break into pieces, and store in airtight container.

I made a triple batch for our party. I made one with white candy melts, one with light pink, and one with bright pink, then mixed all together.

You could also make this with milk chocolate, dark chocolate or any other color candy melts to match your party theme or celebration.

It is really yummy…. and really addictive!

Enjoy!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Best Show in Town

October 8, 2016October 6, 2016 / Jodi / 28 Comments

The Old Dogwood in Autumn – October, Mars, PA

The Old Dogwood,
in her Autumn crimson cloak,
steals the show again this season
on the green carpet.

Nature….
the best show in town.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Chicken Lazone

October 7, 2016October 3, 2016 / Jodi / 30 Comments

Another week – another way with chicken for dinner.

And – OH what a way this is!

Have you ever heard of Chicken Lazone?

I believe it is a fancy word for “lazy,” but doesn’t it sound so classy and special?

And that is how this chicken dish tasted! Rich and creamy and spicy and classy and special!

Yes – it is another Five Star, Two Thumbs Up, Winner Winner of a Chicken Dinner!

Give it a try! You are going to love this one!

Chicken Lazone

Servings: 4
Print

Ingredients:

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast
2 tsp. smokey paprika
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp crushed chipotle pepper
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp coarse black pepper
1/4 fresh basil, chopped finely
1 Tbsp olive oil
4 Tbsp butter
1 lb pasta or noodles (I used Winternacht Spaetzle Swabian Egg Noodles I found at our local Aldi Market)
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups Half and Half
Fresh parsley, chopped

Directions:

In a large Ziploc bag, combine chicken with seasonings (paprika, garlic, onion, chili powder, chipotle, oregano, salt, pepper, basil) and oil. Allow to marinade for several hours.

When ready to serve, prepare noodles or pasta according to package directions.

While noodles are cooking, prepare chicken and sauce.

In a large skillet, melt 2 Tbsp butter. Add chicken breasts, and cook 4-5 minutes on each side. Remove chicken from pan and set aside. Add remaining 2 Tbsp butter to skillet. Allow to melt. Add garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes. Stir in Half and Half, and cook for 4-5 minutes until slightly thickened. Stir in cooked noodles/pasta, and toss gently to combine. Add chicken. Garnish with parsley. Serve immediately.

Enjoy!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Funsy Onesies

October 6, 2016October 6, 2016 / Jodi / 40 Comments

Book My Reservation – I’m Going to Grandma’s Onsie

Does any baby ever have enough onesies?

And why not make them funsies?!

For a fun little shower gift, I made these two little funsy onesies
for our soon-to-arrive baby girl.

Can you tell we are very excited to be grandparents?!

Pap Pap’s Perfect Princess Onsie

Just a little fabric paint, time and creativity, with a heaping scoop of love.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Ellie the Elephant

October 5, 2016October 3, 2016 / Jodi / 55 Comments

I’m not much of a seamstress,
but I have always admired those who excel at this craft.

When I learned I was to become a grandma to a sweet baby girl,
I had to make her something special….

Something soft…
Something pink…

Something to love…
Something to show my love.

So I went to Jo-Ann’s and bought a pattern,
and I gave it my best shot.

And while I pinned and cut and stitched…
I dreamed of being the Grandma my Grandma was to me.

I dreamed of our little girl falling asleep in my arms,
and I dreamed of her falling asleep with this little lovie in her arms.

and while I dreamed,
Ellie the Elephant was born.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

A Hot Air Balloon Themed Baby Shower

October 4, 2016October 3, 2016 / Jodi / 52 Comments

Oh what fun we had this past weekend celebrating the anticipation of the sweet baby girl we are awaiting with a Hot Air Balloon Baby Shower!

I made these miniature hot air balloons using super inexpensive 12″ white paper Chinese lanterns that I attached to quart-sized cardboard pulp berry baskets with wooden skewers and embellished with all the pink ribbon, yarn, sequins, buttons, lace, or pearls I had in my craft stash. I added a tiny battery operated tea light to each basket and hung and placed them all over the house.

It was such a collaborative effort of all the girls involved. Check out this amazing Aunt Squad surrounding the beautiful momma to be!

We had a hot air balloon cupcake cake,

Hot Air Balloon Cake Pops in a puffy white cloud,

and Hot Air Balloons, clouds and cherubic baby faced sugar cookies.

The favors were made using Eos Lip Balms to thank our guests for sharing their time and love with us.

A Hot Air Balloon banner with baby pictures of the mom and dad to be as babies themselves was a nostalgic trip down memory lane.

An Extra Large Basket Lady Pole Handle Wicker Storage Basket with pink and white balloons tied to it was filled to overflowing with children’s books guests brought in place of cards to start a wonderful library for baby.

The books were requested by a special insert in the invitation, and the overflowing abundance of new and extra special, well-loved books from people we love will be so cherished.

The time and love put into gifts blew us away. A very special Gram blessed Mom and Dad to be with this amazing handmade Hot Air Balloon quilt.

We also had a Hair Bow Boutique…

where guests were invited to create a hair bow (or two or three – like sweet Ella did) for baby.

And they surely blew us away with their talent and love.

Instead of a guest “book,” we had guests add their fingerprint and name to a hot air balloon watercolor painting that can hang in baby’s nursery as a sweet reminder of all who shared in her special party.

A simple game of “Guess the Baby Item in the Bag” had guests brainstorming

on what the heck starts with an “O” or “W” or “H”

while munching on fruit from a hot air balloon fruit tray (which we forgot to get a picture of – 😦 – sorry Jen!) – but looked a lot like this inspiration from Pinterest, as well as Hawaiian Ham and Cheese Sliders and Chicken Salad with dried cranberries and walnuts in miniature croissants, veggie pizza, and Strawberry Spinach Salad.

and yep – we had that yummy Salted Caramel Apple Sangria too!

My heart is surely overflowing!

Balloons are now popped, and the house is back in order. Grandma is still glowing, though, as we await the arrival of this already abundantly loved baby girl.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

PS Thanks to BFF Jill for being event photographer for Grandma-to-be who was simply too overjoyed and excited to even think about snapping pics! What would I do without you!? ❤

Salted Caramel Apple Sangria

October 3, 2016October 2, 2016 / Jodi / 37 Comments

Are you looking for the perfect Sangria recipe for your Fall party?

How about mixing some crisp chopped Honeycrisp apples with some light citrusy Pinot Grigio, decadent Salted Caramel Vodka and apple cider?

Drizzle a little caramel sauce for the finishing touch…. and you have

Autumn in a glass!

Doesn’t that sound divine?

Here’s how I made it for a recent gathering I had. It was quite the hit! Hope you’ll give it a try.

Salted Caramel Apple Sangria

Servings: a crowd
Print

Ingredients:

5 large Honeycrisp (or your favorite) apples, chopped
1/4 cup caramel sauce
2 bottles Pinot Grigio (or your favorite white wine)
1/2 bottle Salted Caramel Vodka
1/2 gallon Salted Caramel Apple Cider

Directions:

In a large punch bowl, combine chopped apples drizzled with caramel sauce, wine, vodka, and apple cider. Stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate overnight or several hours. Pour over glasses full of ice to serve. Enjoy!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Showers of Love

October 2, 2016October 1, 2016 / Jodi / 36 Comments

Showers of love
in pastel shades
of pink and ribbons
and braids.

Dreaming of cherubic
rosy red cheeks
and plump, chubby thighs
to pinch and kiss and squeeze.

Preparing for sweetness
for sugar and spice…
showers of love
my heart’s delight.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

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the creative life in between

cherishing the moments and exploring my passion for creativity… through art, photography, food, and writing

Month: October 2016

Krautfest 2016!

Ahoy for Baby Boys!