Halloween 2015

Halloween 2015 was sometimes a challenge. Lenny has developed what I think is a totally understandable fear of the gore around the holiday. She's easily spooked right now, particularly by bugs and spiders and the like. What are you gonna do? It didn't keep us from celebrating, although it did keep her from Trick or Treating. It was her decision to skip it and she was very happy with it.

Halloween 2015 was also about decorating pumpkins. Thanks, Dollar Store, for the "easier than carving" plastic facial features. Seriously. THANK YOU.

Halloween 2015 was a five year old all dressed up as Skye from Paw Patrol and marching in her SK parade.

"Ruff ruff! WINGS!"

She was THRILLED.

Halloween 2015 was an after-school party on Friday with some of her classmates and besties. It's so fun to watch the kids play together and to get to know their parents.  I'm starting to feel like we're part of a community.

The mummy hot dogs and vampire donuts were a big hit, thanks Pinterest!

Also, I made a Kid Friendly Halloween Party Playlist on Spotify so you don't have to! That's 2 hrs and 20 minutes of good tunes for your future Halloween revelry, right there (play it on shuffle).

Halloween 2015 was about letting my kid make up her own mind and respecting her decisions. It was also about vampire teeth (which apparently, are not spooky). Vampire teeth. A lot. It was a lot about vampire teeth.

Five ways to turn your Superbowl Party into a SuperGras Party

The Superbowl is one of those sporting events that even non-sports fans can get on board with.  Who doesn't like hanging out, drinking beer and eating chilli?  Personally, I really get on board when the Saints are playing but even though Who Dat? nation didn't have the best season this year we get to celebrate because Nola is hosting!  Any excuse to infuse a little of my home-away-from-home into my daily life! 

Read on for my tips to bring a little of the Big Easy to your easy chair this Sunday while you watch the big game!

1.  Tunes

Sure, the game is on, but if I were you, I'd turn the sound down and crank some of these Mardi Gras classics up.

James "Sugarboy" Crawford - Jock-O-Mo 

Professor Longhair - Big Chief

Louis Armstrong - King of the Zulus

The Dixie Cups - Iko Iko

The Meters - Mardi Gras Mambo

Kermit Ruffins and The Rebirth Brass Band - Mardi Gras Day

Now that I've got you started go find some Dr. John, some Fats Domino and some Harry Connick Jr. or just tune into the best radio station in the world, WWOZ.  They've got you covered.

2.  Cocktails

Pat O'Brien's Bar introduced the Hurricane at the 1939 World's Fair in New Orleans.  It's said that O'Brien created the cocktail as a means to get rid of the large amounts of rum his Southern distributors forced him to buy.  

Ingredients:

2 oz light rum
2 oz dark rum
2 oz passion fruit juice
1 oz orange juice
Juice of a half a lime
1 Tbsp simple syrup
1 Tbsp grenadine
Orange slice and cherry for garnish

Preparation:

Squeeze juice from half a lime into cocktail shaker over ice. Pour the remaining ingredients into the cocktail shaker. Shake well. Strain into a hurricane glass. Garnish with a cherry and an orange slice.

3.  Eats

The options are endless, but a great #SuperGras party wouldn't be complete without Fried Chicken and Red Beans & Rice (feel free to go to Popeye's) and then filter all of your domestic energy into making these homemade Pralines - this great recipe is courtesy The New Orleans School of Cooking.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 

3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed 

1/2 cup milk 6 tablespoons butter 

1 1/2 cups pecans 1 teaspoon vanilla

Preparation:

1. Combine all ingredients and bring to a “softball stage” (238-240 degrees F), stirring constantly. Remove from heat.

2. Stir until mixture thickens (again stirring constantly), becomes creamy and cloudy, and pecans stay suspended in mixture. Spoon out on buttered waxed paper, aluminum foil or parchment paper. When using waxed paper, be sure to buffer with newspaper underneath, as hot wax will transfer to whatever is beneath.

Note: To roast pecans, bake them on a sheet pan at 275 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes, until slightly browned and fragrant.

Options: Praline sauce (add 1/2 cup corn syrup to mixture). Chocolate covered praline candy. Flavored pralines (chocolate, coffee, brandy, etc.)

Makes 1-50 pralines depending on size

4.  Activities

Crafts are a great way to keep the youngsters in your crowd occupied while you try to catch the half time show. Everyone needs a mask at Mardi Gras, so why not decorate some for #SuperGras?  You could cut some football shaped masks out of construction paper or go ahead and print out these great free printable masks available at the website Family Shopping Bag.

via Family Shopping Bag

5.  Finishing Touches

These wee cupcake toppers and flags would be equally at home on desserts as they would sliders, Muffulettas or other finger foods.  All you need is a colour printer, some toothpicks and some tape. 

Click here to download these super cute cupcake toppers from the good folks at Pizzazzerie

Pizzazzerie has also made these adorable Mardi Gras flags available for free here.

Last but not least, beads, beads, BEADS! As many as you can get your hands on to wear and share!

Lenny, after her first New Orleans parade, April 2011

Check out my Mardi Gras board on Pinterest for more inspiration!  Happy #SuperGras!

Turning Two: Part One

I figure since Lenny is still talking about her birthday it's OK for me to blog about her party a few weeks late.  There was a lot of daydreaming and pinning that went into planning this little shindig on my part and a lot of home repairs and building that went into it on the Robeau's part.  You guys, he built a pergola!  Like with wood and nails and stuff.  Crazy.  My man's a handy man.  

Here's a peek at what things looked like before the guests arrived...

Lenny and I share a love of Pinwheels.

She requested pink balloons.  I liked the idea of keeping them simple, solid coloured and mylar.  I feel like just having two makes more of a statement then a whole big balloon "bouquet" would.

Sidewalk chalk to let you know you are at the right place.

Hot Dogs!

I made a lot of popcorn bags and a lot of popcorn!

Pink Lemonade!

Pre-made cocktails (lemonade and vodka) in mason jars for the grown ups!

Note the toddler-friendly bowls of Goldfish Crackers and Raisins.  There were also Apple Slices which were a big hit.

Splash Pad Fun!

Ice cream cone shaped and scented bubbles for party favours.  Every Summer party needs bubbles.

Up next, photo booth good times!

Turning One: Part Two

This past Sunday, we celebrated Lenny's first birthday with family and friends.  We wanted to keep the gathering informal.  It was, after all, a baby's birthday party.  That said, The Robeau did a lot of work getting the backyard in shape and I cooked up a storm.  Some of the decorations are homemade, but most are from Dollarama, every mother's best friend.

I wish I could tell you that we spent a lot of time lounging under that lovely canopy in the back garden, watching our younger guests chasing each other and blowing bubbles.  But, no, there was a MASSIVE thunderstorm as evidenced by this picture of my mother, the drowned grandmother rat...

Now I ask you, is that a dedicated grandmother or WHAT?

The rain was so heavy I assumed that most of our guests wouldn't make it.  I thought the power was going to go out and that the six of us that were there would be sitting by candlelight, brainstorming uses for the obscene amount of potato salad I was sure to have left over.  But NO, our friends and family are a hearty bunch and they all showed up to celebrate Lenny and her birthday.  It was so lovely!

On the menu, we had a picnic-style buffet with all the staples and few new ideas to keep people guessing!

The Robeau's ever popular bbq chicken!

Super yummy Pulled Pork Sliders (recipe to follow)!

A new favourite of mine, Green Bean Quinoa Salad (recipe also to follow)

Tomato Watermelon Salad 

The obligatory Potato Salad

Later in the afternoon we stuffed ourselves with cake and cupcakes, which were prominently displayed on this amazing Elmo cupcake stand that Annette sent us for the party.  Don't you just love it?  Lenny sure did!

I was worried that it might all be a bit much for Lenny, having so many people in her house wanting to spend time with her and all the noise and fuss that comes with parties.  She took to the whole thing like a fish to water though.  I guess I shouldn't be surprised that my little leo is a social butterfly.

I'll be back tomorrow with some photos of our lovely guests, snapped by Aunt Mo, the official family photographer.

Open Letter to whoever it was that left the cheap ass red wine at my place after our Christmas party.

Thank you.

I had no idea $7 Merlot (of all things) could be so delicious and satisfying. Of course I had no idea it was cheap ass wine when I corked the bottle and tried it. I had no way of knowing. Because you didn't tell me. What I do know is that when you bring a bottle of cheap ass wine to someone's house you don't own up to it. You leave it on the bar and run. The same way you do if you leave a flaming bag of poop on someone's door step.

So I understand.

The thing is, I want you to know how much I enjoyed it. And then when I found out just how CHEAP it was? I enjoyed it even more. You've managed to appeal to both my "good taste" side and my "trash" side. Bravo, anonymous friend. Bravo. I love you. And I love Grey Fox Merlot.