Minnie Mouse 1st Birthday Party!!

Happy 1st Birthday Holly!!!

We had an amazing 1st birthday celebration. Holly was surrounded by lots of family and friends! This was the only picture I was able to snap of the two of us!

 :( But, that's the price you pay being hostess to a one year old and her friends. ;)

I had several crafts leading up to this day and didn't take any tutorial pictures. However, most projects were inspired by others who had some awesome tutorials for you all!

I know you all are checkin' out my "cute as a button" Minnie mouse ears. :)

The Suburban Mom had the easiest tutorial I could find to whip these out quickly and budget friendly. 

The cake and cupcakes were inspired by many pictures, blogs and pins. I went with cherry chip cake so it flowed with the pink and white Minnie theme. I topped them with pink cream cheese frosting. Sprinkled with edible pearls and the ears are Hershey drops! They were delicious!  

Food is always a big test for me. Do we have a meal? Snacks? Just cake and ice cream? Well, since this IS for my 1 year old I went with finger foods! It was a nice, stress-less idea! Lots of my amazing friends brought a dish and we even had Minnie cakepops! It was a feast. 

No party is complete without the perfect birthday outfit! This is a Minnie inspired pillow case dress. I couldn't resist making one. They are too simple not to have one in every color! Plus, my favorite part is that they can be worn from a dress to a top as they grow! 

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!

~Keli~

Ballpark Burritos!

Ballpark Burritos

NY style and Chicago Style

I am a couponer and as a couponer I am always coming across free or almost free hot dogs. My boys love themselves a good dog! But, we get tired of the standard hot dog and bun. I came across these one day in a cookbook I have and thus a hotdog has never been the same since! 

First, you must learn how to braise a hotdog. Seriously. After having eaten them this way I may never eat them any way else again! Brings out all the delicious flavors that I never knew were in a frank.

Place the hotdogs in a skillet with 1/4 inch water and a drizzle of oil. Bring the water to a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer and allow the water to cook off while the dogs warm through. When the water has cooked off cover the pan with a lid to reduce splatter and allow the casings to crisp for 1 minute, shaking the pan a few times. Now, they are cooked and ready to be devoured! 

Chicago Ballpark Burrito

Ingredients:
1/4 c. mustard
2 tbsp white wine vinegar
1/4 c. extra-virgin olive oil
lettuce, chopped
2 tomatoes cut into wedges
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
pepper
salt
4 lg. tortillas
1/2 c. sweet relish
4 lg pickle spears
4 braised hot dogs

Whisk the mustard, vinegar and olive oil in a medium salad bowl. Add the lettuce, tomatoes and onions to the bowl, toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. One at a time, blister the tortillas on both sides. Build the burritos by piling some salad, topping with relish, add a pickle spear and a dog. Tuck in the sides, then wrap and roll the burrito. Repeat with remaining dogs.

N.Y. Deli Ballpark Burrito

Ingredients:

1 can BBQ baked beans

2 tsp hot sauce

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

black pepper

sauerkraut

1/4 c. spicy mustard

1c. beer

4 lg tortillas

4 slices Swiss cheese

1 small onion, chopped

4 braised hot dogs

Heat beans in saucepan. Spice them up with the hot sauce, Worcestershire and pepper. 

Combine sauerkraut, mustard and beer in a pan. Boil and simmer for 5 min.

Blister tortilla on both sides, place Swiss cheese on tortilla and let melt for 1 min. Transfer tortilla to a plate and top with beans, sauerkraut, onion and a dog. Tuck, wrap and roll. 

YUMMY!!!