Happy Friday!

Stopping in on this {lovely} Friday, to say

Hello 

Can you tell where "Miss B" and I ventured out to today??  Hint: Red Buggy :)

Target, baby!

Came home and saw this on Pinterest!  

LOL Who loves Target??!!

Funny saying of the day {from the inquisitive "Miss B"}:  Told "B" this morning, over a huge stack of blueberry waffles that we were going to a baby shower for baby sissy tomorrow!  Not even thinking about the word "shower" and how a 3 year old thinks...I though nothing about it.  She looks up from dipping her eggo into the glorious, sugary goodness and says, "WOW...does she get a big bath??!!"  

:)

Enjoy your weekend, lovelies!

"Miss B" & her Tea Party

Who doesn't {LOVE} a fun tea party??!!

Miss B and I put one on this morning.  "Make-believe" can be so fun, dandy and sweet :)  Especially when it's with your munchkin.  When I had set the table with lovely treasures and pretty linens, Miss B looks up at me and says "Where's the food and tea?"  lol... I looked down at her and said well this is where we pretend...OH!  A light bulb came on!

Later that morning, I was editing the pictures and overheard her tell the "make-believe" friends "No, we are pretending...that's what momma said :)" Oh!  I just love this age!!!  Full of life and funny, funny sayings!  

{Enjoy our sweet morning}

Ruffle Headband Tutorial in the works!  I will be posting instructions on how to make this lovely accessory!!!  

TUTORIAL: Ruffle Flower Headband {Picture} Tutorial

Have a beautiful day!

{HUGS},

Steph

Joining this {lovely} link party!

The Hollie Rogue

{Food} Friday...Rigatoni, White Beans, and Sausage

The love for food and enjoying "Family Time" in the kitchen is something I have always enjoyed.  Growing up, we didn't eat out...we cooked.  The whole family around the dinner table allowed us to share everyones day.  That is something that I grew up on and now have brought into my own families lifestyle.  Eating out is a treat, one that I thoroughly enjoyed the weeks of not feeling my best :)  But there is just something about cooking at home:

Yummy smells the house develops

Miss B running in for fresh chopped veggies

Jazz music

The excitement to try a new dish

Watching Miss B attempt to set the table

At the end of a meal, having my hubby give me a kiss and telling me that was one of my top 10 best dinners...We have definitely passed the "top 10" mark :)

A cute {Short Story}:

While cooking dinner this past Tuesday night, Mr. Adkins snuck in to steal a piece of cheese already prepared for the meal. Weeellll, Miss B saw him do it and she was off.  Looking up at the counter, she stood on her tippy toes and reached....turning around from my place at the stove, I saw her attempt.  Told her to wait on daddy.  Watching she and Mr. Adkins out of the corner of my eye, he gave her a piece of cheese and to not tell mommy.  About that time, I turn around and she was tip toeing out of the room...she turns around to me, puts her finger to her lips and says "shhhhhhhh"

Guess the secret is out :) hahaha

Ok, on to dinner!!

Loving my new cookbook:

Eat what you LOVE

Click here to purchase!  Mine was purchased at Ross for $5.99!

__________________________________________

Rigatoni, White Beans and Sausage

8 oz. rigatoni

2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth

3 garlic cloves, minced

3/4 pound turkey kielbasa sausage, sliced thin

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 (14 oz) can no-salt-added diced tomatoes, well drained

6 oz. (6 cups) baby spinach leaves

6 tablespoons finely grated fresh Parmesan cheese

Freshly cracked black pepper

1.

Cook the pasta according to package directions in a large pot. Drain and set aside.

2.

Pour the chicken broth and garlic into the same pot. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a simmer. Add the sausage, oregano, and olive oil.  Stir well.

3.

Stir in the beans, tomatoes, and cooked pasta to the pot.  Place the spinach on top of mixture.  Cover with a lid and turn off the heat.  Allow to steam for about 1 minute, just until spinach has begun to wilt.  Stir mixture.

4.

Serve with a heaping tablespoon of Parmesan cheese on top and seasoned with black pepper to taste.

Fit Tip:  Because the broth and sausage add plenty of sodium to this dish, use no-salt-added tomatoes.  Many brands now offer no-salt-added versions, some of which have as little as one-tenth of the sodium in the regular variety.

This will definitely be a {FALL} favorite in this house :)

Yummy!!!

Happy Friday, lovelies!!

Steph


Shared with these Link Parties!


House of Hepworths

Seven Thirty Three

Don't forget about our {Photo Prop}Wednesday...Giveaway going on now!!  Have you entered??

Giveaway

{Marvelous} Monday....No. 5

Monday, already!!??  Whew....  I totally skipped the Father's Day post that was intended for yesterday...was still trying to get over the nasty head cold...Nasty!  Feeling like a totally new person today....I think I could take on the world....weeellll maybe not that good :)

What would we do without fathers?  I do love mine with all my heart.  He is one of the most loving human beings and so caring.  Tenderhearted and trying to please all who are around him.  He is the BEST dad and the one the Lord knew I needed :)  So thank you, daddy for being such a great Dad...I love you.

Miss B with Papa at the Outer Banks

Now, to the best and most loving hubby....EVER...

Your love for Miss B is truly a Father's Love.  The time you share in tea parties and running around the house, brings only a smile to my face as I know you enjoy this role in life.  You fit this part completely and are one of the best father's any child could be blessed to have.  She calls you "Daddy" not because you are her father but because she loves you!  

An adorable little saying that she has just now started saying:

"Daddy, that makes my heart"

What she means: "Daddy, that melts my heart"

Oh!  What would we do without you, Miss B.

(better stop...the tears are flowing uncontrollably!)

Miss B so proud of the "paper" tie she made in Sunday School for her daddy :)

Please forgive me...I only had my phone to take the picture...haha

NOW...on to our {Marvelous Monday}!

{via}

Life on the V Side:  Gallery Wall

{via}

Two Thrify-Five Designs: Chair Re-do

{via}

Love of Family & Home: DIY Pallet Wall Art

{via}

Sassy Sanctuary: My Lantern

{via}

Reasons to Skip the Housework: 4th of July Wreath

Share a Blog

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WOW!  What inspiration!!!  You have got to check this blog out....{LOVE}!

She also has a shop!

{via}

& 

Facebook page!

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If you join the Savy Photographer page, please drop a line to let  her know who sent ya ;)

Enjoy your Monday!

{HUGS} & Blessings,

Steph

A Great {BIG} 'Thank you' and some lovely wreaths...

Introducing the Spring 2011 line was quite exciting for me ....EEEEK! :)  Lots of bold colors, including navy and coral (a couple of loves for me) :)...different fabric designs and ruffles! After opening the shop, I had one of my sweet fans {who also has an Etsy SHOP of her own and lovely (creative I might add) blog ~ Love of Family & Home ( She is the SWEETEST)}...ok back to what I was saying...contact me asking if she could do a blog post introducing her readers to my new line!!!  So kind...right?!

Tonya ~ Thank you...It meant the world!

Another shout out would be to my "BLOG" friend, Ashley from Domestic-Fashionista....she is absolutely, positively the {LOVELIEST}....Luv her!!!  From the get go, she has tweeted, blogged, posted, commented any way or form to get the Polka Dot Bungalow out there into the wide open world! That was a lot said, huh?..sorry!!  But it's the truth!  

Ashley ~ Thank you friend!

Love you gals!...a bunch :)

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Right before Spring, I received the Pottery Barn magazine full of BEAUTIFUL accessories and awesome decor.  {Ideas are the only thing I can afford :)}  And that is ok...I absolutely LOVED creating the wreath for my front door and sharing with you all through this tutorial.  

A couple of my readers sent along their wreaths inspired from the tutorial and I just HAD to share with you!!

Stacy over at Preppy and Pink

Emily over at Liberty Tree Photography {Look a that sweet, little bird}

Thank you ladies for sharing...love them :) 

What are the Spring crafts you've been working on??  

Would love to see!!

For Papa and Huney (and of course anyone else)

Miss B's new sayings....

~ Sunday School -----> "Huney School"

(post coming soon with Miss B going to Sunday School for the 1st time :))

~ Dinner -----> "Diffrence"

~ Something ----> "Sompin"

~ Doughnuts ------> "Polka Dots"

XOXO,

Stephanie

One of Miss B's favorite things...

Having a little person around the house sure has brought bliss, humor, liveliness, refreshment, joy and.... never a dull moment!  This morning started out no different.  Miss B woke up wanting to wear her Ariel "Little Mermaid" dress.   SOOO we pulled it out from the back of the closet.  (Glad it still fit!)   Once on, she twirled and squealed with delight.  On to breakfast we went ~ Smoothie TIME!  Many thanks to Papa and Huney for our new blender ***I blew my other one up while making a smoothie***

Isn't it pretty :0)

One of Miss B's favorite breakfast items is this beauty right here!  One way to get fruits in your sweet munchkins.

Smoothie:


1 banana
1 cup of ice
1/2 cup of Orange juice
1 cup of yogurt ( I usually use vanilla or strawberry greek yogurt. You may use any of your fav's)
1 cup of blueberries or blackberries
1 cup of strawberries
Almonds

Place banana, ice and orange juice in blender.  Blend until all ice is broken up. Add next three ingredients.  Almonds last.  Yummy!

 As you can see Miss B loves it.  She even asked for more :)

For Papa and Huney (and of course anyone else)

Miss B's new sayings....

First of all, the one that has been cracking me up since yesterday is when I ask her a question i.e. "Would you like to color?" Her response "Of course!" 

When you thank her for anything good she does..."No problem"

Miss B. has been learning her shapes. Welllllll... she got a hold of my pen this morning and drew on my grocery list...hahaha...She brought it to me and said "Wook, Mommy...a circuul"

and last but certainly not the least....

She was eating her snack of yogurt today and spilt the individual container on her high chair.  She looked up and said "Oh no, I made a mess"

Enjoy your Friday everyone!  What's on the agenda for your weekend??  

A pancake type of morning...

To start off your morning sweet and delicious, let me share with you a fabulous pancake recipe.  If you love pancake mornings like Miss B and I, then you will definitely enjoy these divine hotcakes!!  Momma introduced us to these a year ago. The recipe is from Ina Garten Barefoot Contessa Family Style Cookbook.  

Sour Cream Pancakes

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

1/2 cup sour cream

3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon milk

2 extra-large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

Unsalted butter

Fruit topping is optional...I enjoy bananas and blueberries

In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.  Whisk together the sour cream, milk, eggs, vanilla, and lemon zest.  Add the wet ingredients to the dry ones, mixing only until combined.

Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat until it bubbles.  Ladle the pancake batter into the pan.  Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until bubbles appear on top and the underside is nicely browned.  Flip the pancakes and then cook for another minute, until browned.  Wipe out the pan with a paper towel, add more butter to the pan, and continue cooking pancakes until all the batter is used.  Serve with sliced bananas, butter and maple syrup.

ENJOY!

Now, of course if you have a busy schedule and have absolutely no time to make a homemade recipe for pancakes...Bisquick is a great option :0)  Save the homemade for Saturday mornings with your munchkins.  Let them help you.  They take such pride in the small things like adding in the flour or milk (of course with mommy's help). These are the memories that last, believe me, Miss B loves pancake time!!!  "I hep' you, mommy!"

For Papa and Huney (and anyone else that would be interested :0):

...Miss B's funny sayings as of late

Just this past weekend, Mr. Adkins drove us to TN to visit with Papa, Huney, TeeTee (Miss B's Uncle ~ My brother) Nay Nay (Miss B's Aunt ~ My Sister-in-Love).  While there Miss B finally understood that Nay Nay had a baby in her tummy. (Yes, I will be an aunt in December ~ CANNOT WAIT!) Okay, back to the story.   She would walk up and kiss the tummy or talk to him. So precious.  Well, when came home to NC I was tucking her into bed.  Instead of "Nigh Night, mommy" she said "I wuv u baby, mommy" and patted my belly.  She said "Baby, in you shirt??" I started laughing so hard and replied "Oh no, not mommy...Aunt Nay Nay" she just giggled.  Children sure can put a smile on your face!

...Thank you Lord for the blessing you gave me in placing Miss B in my life.