busy.. busy... busy..... and some really great bread

So I have been super busy the last week or so since my last post, sorry everyone.  We threw the fisherman party (I promise a post with decorations and cupcakes to come later)  and have been doing allot of work around the house.  Over the weekend my husband and I had a few people over to watch the UFC fight.  I had planned a night out with one of my best girls so I decided to whip up some crock pot white bean chicken chili for everyone so they didn't have to order pizza.  I used a recipe from Perfect recipes for having people over by Pam Anderson.  I changed a few things, here's a copy of the recipe. 

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Rotisserie-Chicken-Chili-With-Hominy--Chiles/detail.aspx

I used chicken breast, since that's what I had and just threw all the ingredient's into the crock pot (skipped cooking the onions and spices).  I used hominy and white beans and did not blend the hominy and broth (I think I would do this next time though).  Everyone loved it!  We had green onions, limes, cheddar and sour cream for topping.  YUM!!!  I had some leftovers for dinner last night and it really did turn out good. 

 I love this cook book! and have made quite a few recipes from it.  It has beautiful pictures and lots of tips on how to make stuff for big groups, things you can do ahead of time, etc.  If you get a chance check it out.  

I also decided last minute that I wanted to make something sweet.  I have been holding on to this recipe for cinnamon pull apart bread that is so beautiful I had to try it.  So Saturday morning after the chili was in the crock pot I made this recipe from Joy the baker.

http://www.joythebaker.com/blog/2011/03/cinnamon-sugar-pull-apart-bread/

I cheated and used Bridgeford frozen dough (the loaf kind).  Just threw it under a towel and let it rise and then followed all the other steps.  It turned out amazing!! and oh soooo pretty.  Here it is.....

This was a hit with the husband and the friends that got to try it (the husband ate most of it).  When I woke up Sunday all that was left was so sticky Cinnamon and sugar goo on the platter....the guys destroyed the rest after I crawled into bed.  hahaa!!! You MUST try this.  When I make it again I will make the dough from scratch, but it is so much easier to use the already made kind. 

Fisherman BIrthday Party- Decorations and Crafts

So I started to work on decorations and crafts for the fisherman's birthday party last week after I decided what I really wanted to make and what I didn't really need.  I loved the cupcake toppers and had all the stuff in my craft area so I went to town ;)  First I designed and printed some round stickers.  I use Adobe CS3 illustrator for EVERYTHING.  I love this program and am glad I have taken classes on how to use it cause there is allot to it.  I used my Scallop Circle Punch to cut out scrapbook paper in blue and green and then just stuck the stickers to the paper.  My paper is colored on both sides and is pretty thick like card stock so my cupcake toppers aren't floppy.  I taped the scallop paper to a coffee stir stick and Ta-Da! Cupcake toppers!

I even had some paper that had a water design on it :) to bad you can't really see it........

I love these ones with the fish on them!

I made 4 of each topper and I am also going to make some cupcakes with the blue frosting, goldfish crackers and mini pretzel fishing poles like I posted in my last post.  I love them but they look like allot of work so I am only going to make a few. 



I also made some paper bag boats.  I am going to fill these with gold fish crackers and maybe some gummy worms.  If you have never folded a paper boat it's super easy! and they are so cute. You can find direction's if you google "how to fold a paper boat".  I have made these for valentines day before, with heart doilies as sails.  Love boats :) just filled them with valentines day candy.  I used pretty red and pink paper.  This time I wanted them to look more "rustic" and love the way they turned out with the paper bag paper.  I decided against making sails since he is a bass fisherman and his boat does not have a sail.  Here's a picture. 



The Fisherman's birthday party

So the good friend I was talking about in my last post is having a birthday party and I volunteered (more like begged) his beautiful girl friend to let me help with decorations.  She is currently in school so she only has time for studying. She gladly gave me the job.  Woo-Hoo!  The man who loves trains also is a big time BASS fisherman!  so Fisherman party it is!! I have never thrown a fish themed party and have been spending lots of time searching the web for ideas.  So far this is what I have found that I like and want to try to incorporate.....

This room full of waves and fish is soooo cool!!!  I never would have thought of doing this.  I know the dollar tree by me has streamers 2pk for $1 and big packs of balloons. I hope they have blue......

Picture from http://craigandwhitney.blogspot.com/2010/01/taggs-fishy-party-invitations.html

I love these cupcakes! I will be making little cupcake tag thingies like the top ones and maybe some with bass on them.  The bait bucket cupcake wrappers are amazing....not sure if I have the energy to make these though...... This blog also has a cute pendant banner and I think I will make one. 

Thanks to:  http://blog.amyatlas.com/2011/08/reel-er-in-fishing-party/

 Defiantly going to make some blue frosted cupcakes with fishing poles and gold fish! What a great idea. Thanks to: http://yellowfence.blogspot.com/2011/03/fishing-cupcakes.html

Ok I will be posting pictures of the projects in a few days......

Stay tuned :)