Weekend Recap: Summer in the South

We had a fun, activity filled weekend and I'm sad to see it go! I had originally planned to take my mom to a candle making workshop on Friday as part of her Mother's Day gift, but the workshop was cancelled due to Covid. I decided to keep my day off so mom and I could still enjoy some quality time together. 

We picked up the most delicious sandwiches from Goat. Sheep. Cow and headed to White Point Garden, a beautiful park with water views at The Battery to enjoy them. I've always wanted to have a picnic there and with mom being in town and so many restaurants being closed, this seemed like the perfect time to do it. 

We basically had the park to ourselves with the exception of a few people scattered about. It was close to 90 degrees out so but the shade made it manageable. 

After lunch we scooped up Sawyer from daycare and headed out in the boat to enjoy some time on the water. Sawyer is beyond obsessed with the beach and swimming these days. Watching his eyes light up with excitement when he plays in the water and the sand is the best.

On Saturday Sawyer was living his best life playing on a giant water slide for his friend's 5th birthday. He is definitely fearless and didn't think twice about getting in the middle of things with all the bigger kids.

When the Kona Ice truck shows up at the party!

He enjoyed his first snow cone...

so much so that he felt the need to later hide and eat it.

Sawyer and I headed to my parents house on Sunday to spend some time with my dad since I didn't get to see him on Father's Day. I think the highlight of the weekend for both my dad and Sawyer was taking a tractor ride. 

Cheers to long weekends with family and friends!

Earrings I'm Eyeing

Wearing fun statement earrings can really spice up an outfit and can be a total mood booster in my opinion. It's similar to that feeling when you just get your hair done and you immediately feel more confident and pulled together. Pre-pandemiv, I would often find myself throwing on something quickly like a simple dress or a plain top and jeans in an effort to get out the door on time. Adding fun earrings helped distract from the lack of effort I put into the rest of the outfit. I also love to gift earrings to girlfriends for birthdays and Christmas.They are one size fits all and you can never have too many. Below are some that I've been eyeing and would love to add to my existing collection and they all have really great price points!

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12 Recipes for Cinco de Mayo

What’s a Cinco de Mayo celebration without chips, salsa, queso and guacamole?! It's one of my favorite holidays because everything is so colorful and festive and it’s also a good excuse to indulge in Mexican food. 

To be honest, I will most likely order some sort of takeout because I haven't been to the grocery store lately. But for those of you that have a stocked fridge, I’ve rounded up a few recipes that are perfect for a stay at home celebration. The good news, these recipes are great for any occasion...perfect for those future gatherings we are all dying to host. Step your guacamole game up a notch with a unique spin on the classic dip. Or give some of these cheese covered dishes a try. And don't forget the cervezas! 

What are some of your favorite Mexican inspired recipes?

Mexican Street Corn Dip

via The Cookie Rookie

Honey BBQ Slow Cooker Chicken Taquitos

via Kristine's Kitchen

Cilantrao Lime Fish Tacos

via Skinnytaste

Loaded Gucamole

via What's Gaby Cooking

Chicken Enchilada Roll Ups

via The Girl Who Ate Everything

5-Ingredient White Queso

via The Baking Fairy

Cilantro Lime Rice

via Cooking Classy

Smothered Baked Chicken Burritos

via Carlsbad Cravings

Mango Guacamole

via Fit Foodie Finds

Low Fat White Chicken Enchiladas

Homemade Fresh Tomato Salsa

via Little Broken

Last but not least, a little something sweet. How good do these look?

Churro Cupcakes

via The Domestic Rebel

Grilled Pork Chops with Chile & Pineapple

Staying at home these days has its challenges but there are also some advantages. I've found myself spending a lot more time in the kitchen and I'm not mad about it. I've also found time to do things I haven't done in a while like sitting on my back porch during the gold hour and reading a magazine from cover to cover. I came across this pork chop recipe in the EatingWell magazine a few days ago and was immediately drawn to the idea of cooking something with fresh pineapple. Pork chops are rarely ever on our dinner lineup so this seemed like a good time to branch out and try something new. If you're looking for something refreshing and flavorful to cook this weekend, I highly recommend firing up the grill and giving this recipe a try!

Grilled Pork Chops with Chile & Pineapple

Ingredients

½ cup chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for garnish

½ cup pineapple juice

1 serrano or jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely chopped

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon lime juice

1 teaspoon salt, divided

½ teaspoon ground pepper, divided

1 pound boneless thin-cut pork chops, trimmed

1 medium pineapple, peeled, cored and cut into 1/2-inch-thick rings

1 large red onion, cut into 1/2-inch-thick rings

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 

Lime wedges for serving

Instructions

Step 1

Preheat grill to medium-high or heat a grill pan over medium-high heat.

Step 2

Combine cilantro, pineapple juice, serrano (or jalapeño), honey, lime juice and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a blender; puree until smooth. Reserve 1/4 cup for serving. Transfer the remaining mixture to a medium bowl and add pork chops. Turn to coat and let marinate for 5 minutes.

Step 3

 Brush pineapple and onion slices with oil. Remove the pork from the marinade and sprinkle with the remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Grill, flipping once, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of a chop registers 145 degrees F, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Grill the pineapple and onions, flipping once, until lightly charred, 4 to 5 minutes per side.

Step 4

Serve the pork, pineapple and onions drizzled with the reserved sauce. 

Serve with more cilantro and lime wedges, if desired.

Recipe credit: EatingWell Magazine

Sawyer's 1st Birthday: A Classic Winnie the Pooh Party

Just two months ago we were celebrating one whole year with Sawyer. It's one of those big moments that has always lingered in my mind, but when the day arrived, it was hard to believe. Time has really flown by, just as everyone said it would. The days are long but the years are short. We've been living the reality of all those typical phrases I'm sure you've heard.

We celebrated Sawyer's birthday with a big party at our home with family and friends. I chose to go with a classic Winnie the Pooh theme because I selfishly loved Winnie the Pooh when I was a little girl. I figured this may be one of the few chances I would have to pick a sweet theme that didn't involve action figures. 

My wonderful mom prepared and set up all of the food. She has a catering business so this little party was a breeze for her and she was a lifesaver for me. Everything was so delicious. 

Oh and did I mention that my talented girlfriend did all of the flower arrangements. It took a village to pull this party off but it was all possible with the help of family and good friends.

Sawyer's only focus was the balloons. 

Meanwhile, the bigger kids enjoyed the jump castle outside. 

He was not a fan of the cake and I will take partial blame for that. I ordered a lemon cake with cream cheese frosting for the guests and a plain vanilla cake with cream cheese frosting for his smash cake. There must have been some miscommunication because he ended up with a lemon cake, which did not go over well. However, if he's anything like me, sweets won't be of interest to him. 

I guess we will try again next year. 

How cute are these little  bee cupcakes?

I found a classic Winnie the Pooh story book that I used for guests to leave a message for Sawyer. 

Taking photos with kids is nearly impossible these days.

The Lowcountry Kettle Corn favors were a hit. 

We had a blast celebrating with everyone. I can't believe my baby is ONE!