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I’m blogging from the road, something I’ve never tried before. This is going to be a quickie because I’ve never been able to read or write in the car without getting sick, and I’m not sure why I think typing will be any different, but here goes…
We had a great weekend in Missouri. It was wonderful to see all of my extended family, and last night’s baby shower was so fun. The food was great.
My plate…
I love party food. I ate sloppy Joe’s minus the buns but with chips, fresh veggie pizza (LOVE), pinwheel sandwiches, mini quiche, homemade pimiento cheese, and my sweet cousin Staci even made gluten free brownies after reading HEAB. Thanks Staci – they were so good! There was cake…
Me and my brother.
I can’t tell you the last time I had a piece of sheet cake, but I couldn’t turn down a piece of cake made especially for the HEABlet, now could I? 
There were also these little cream cheese mints made by my cousin Abigail…
I’d never had anything like these before, but they were heavenly. Thanks Abigail!
There was no yoga or walking this weekend. I just took it easy and enjoyed my time with the family. There was some sugar consumed…okay, a good bit, but I enjoyed every bite. Several of the recipes, I hope to HEABify and share with you soon. 
Many thanks to my cousins Staci, Dana, and Erin for hosting!
Many thanks to all my thoughtful relatives for your gifts. I can’t wait to get home and show Chris!
And many thanks to my mama for driving the whole way. Love you mom.
Yep, it was a great weekend, but I’m looking forward to getting home as I missed CD and the pups.
What’s your favorite go-to party food? I love the savory stuff: chips, cheese, and dips.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
{ 95 comments… read them below or add one }
I always go for the fruit platter at parties. Maybe it’s because we never have cut up fruit around here like melon; it just seems like such a luxury when it’s there!
I love queso at parties. Not sure why! Looks like you had fun!
yay! looks like so much fun
you are truly glowing!! your eyes are SO blue in that last photo.
safe travels home
Love this Heather! Love visits to see family, too
Your cousin made those mints??? They’re so cute!!
At the Arostegui house, it’s just a “have to” to have peanut butter M&M’s and chex mix at our parties. Not the best, but it’s not a party without them
Safe travels home!!
Mandy, Sounds like my kind of party.
I cannot control myself around those mini-quiches with their mini-crustseses.
Homemade mints?????? I’ve never heard of such a thing. What a sweet thing to make!
I’m so glad you were surrounded by so much love. You and the HEABlet (and CD) deserve it!
You are such a beautiful mama-to-be! What a lovely shower. I’m definitely with you on the savory items, I mean I love desserts but I just love anything crunchy, salty, and finger-food sized.
Glad you had a great time at the shower! I love the chips and dips at parties. I’m in heaven when there’s hummus or guacamole.
I am stealing some ideas from that food setup for the bridal shower I’m throwing in a month. I would have forgotten about veggie pizza and pinwheels otherwise. And I even have a spinach mushroom pinwheel that I love.
Glad you had such a good time. You looked beautiful as always.
ummm if i ever get preggo i’d better look as gorgeous as you!!
Wow, thanks Lauren. You just made my night!
Glad you enjoyed the shower! You look so cute
A sheet cake…no graduation or baby shower or funeral or prom or homecoming or you name it would be complete without one in the small, rural midwest town I grew up in! Nothing like some super sweet frosting, and you know what, I love it
The pic of you and your mom…you look happy that it’s done
but very relaxed in your spirit and soul. And not to mention, you have great hair! The cut, the color, the flow, ahhhh, it just screams healthy pregnant mama hair..but you had great hair before you were pregnant, that’s nothing new for you!
Glad to hear the loot was good
And go enjoy some downtime at home! You need it, I’m sure!
Awww, what a sweet baby shower!! How fun!! I can’t wait for baby showers to start for me!!
All of that food looks great and PIMENTO CHEESE!!!!!!!!!!
What a great get together! Glad you enjoyed some sheet cake:)
Looks like a wonderful weekend. Glad you had a good time!
The food looks amazing.
I love anything with fruit…chocolate covered, dipped, on a skewer. It all has my name on it.
I also love savory stuff at parties. Cheese plates, veggie pizza, fresh baguette pieces, yum!
Love the photo of you with your brother!
I love the vegetable trays at parties.
I am so happy you are having a great time Heather, pregnancy brings lots of joy especially when we are together with the loved ones!
Have a safe trip back home!
Ana
Glad to see you got to celebrate your incoming HEABlet with your family. I, too, love party food and tend to favor crudites, pinwheels, chips, and dips on the the appetizer front.
Safe travels!
it looks like you had an amazing baby shower. the food looks amazing and i am sure that you enjoyed every single bite. i would love to get the recipe for those cream cheese mints if you could get your hands on the recipe!!
Lindsay, My cousin just sent me the recipe for the mints:
Ingredients: 1 2Ib. bag of powdered sugar 1 8oz. cream cheese 1 tsp. peppermint extract small bowl of sugar food coloring and molds (optional)
Beat the cream cheese until well beaten… add extract blend in powdered sugar, little at a time… blend until mix is blended well, but so it is in pieces… if you only want 1 color, mix in food coloring with the mix… if you want more than one, get another bowl. divide up the mix evenly between colors, and mix the colors in… then take a piece of the dough, roll in in a small ball, and dip it around in sugar to fully coat it… u can then put them in molds or just leave them in balls… refrigerate or freeze… Enjoy
Anything with cake, cream cheese and chocolate or finger foods are a given. You’ve got a great family HEAB!
Question – if nut butters have been in the warmth for too long – i.e the trunk of a car while driving – and it’s been hot weather – will they go “bad”?…I’ve tried one jar and seems okay, but my stomach has been way off (digestion, cramps, bloated to the high Heavans)…of course could also be the enormous amount of sweets I’m eating…
Eatmovelove, I never refrigerate my roasted nut butters, but I do sometimes keep the raw ones in the fridge. CD and I eat them so fast, that they never have time to go rancid. However, if your jars were in heat above room temperature for an extended period of time, I would toss them – just to be on the safe side.
I just spent the last fifteen minutes trying to read the name on the cake! Hahhaa!
Homemade mints – that’s the sign of a real foodie right there! They look like Trix! Bet they were good.
Fartygirl, “Welcome Baby Demetra”
Oh! That is so nice! Enjoy every bit of your relaxing trip!
My favorite party food is chips and salsa!!!! And I just absolutely adore fruit salads
Hope ya didn’t feel to yucky after blogging on the road!
Cream cheese mints sound amazin…what actually are they?xx
Mapledreams, Following is the recipe for the mints. Lots of sugar, but oh so good! Ingredients: 1 2Ib. bag of powdered sugar 1 8oz. cream cheese 1 tsp. peppermint extract small bowl of sugar food coloring and molds (optional)
Beat the cream cheese until well beaten… add extract blend in powdered sugar, little at a time… blend until mix is blended well, but so it is in pieces… if you only want 1 color, mix in food coloring with the mix… if you want more than one, get another bowl. divide up the mix evenly between colors, and mix the colors in… then take a piece of the dough, roll in in a small ball, and dip it around in sugar to fully coat it… u can then put them in molds or just leave them in balls… refrigerate or freeze… Enj
awww what fun! I love any sort of sweets. If there’s a dessert platter I have to try one of everything.
The veggie pizza is the best, my favorite party food! So glad you had a wonderful shower and trip
A little sugar now and then won’t hurt, and makes the experience so much more enjoyable!
Fruit plates are a must! Also veggie plates with dips and hummus.
Cream cheese mints? That doesn’t sound like it would go yet at the same time it kind of sounds like they would, haha. It looks like you’re having a great time
Liz, Here is the recipe for the mints…so good!
Ingredients: 1 2Ib. bag of powdered sugar 1 8oz. cream cheese 1 tsp. peppermint extract small bowl of sugar food coloring and molds (optional)
Beat the cream cheese until well beaten… add extract blend in powdered sugar, little at a time… blend until mix is blended well, but so it is in pieces… if you only want 1 color, mix in food coloring with the mix… if you want more than one, get another bowl. divide up the mix evenly between colors, and mix the colors in… then take a piece of the dough, roll in in a small ball, and dip it around in sugar to fully coat it… u can then put them in molds or just leave them in balls… refrigerate or freeze… Enj
I’ve never been able to read in a car either, your party looks like it had great food and family! Congrats.
I pretty much kill the veggie tray and the chips and salsa. If there’s guac involved, watch out!
I love sheet cake so much…reminds me of parties every time I see one!
By fartygirl “I just spent the last fifteen minutes trying to read the name on the cake! Hahhaa!”
Me too!!
Ana
Ana, “Welcome Baby Demetra”
How did your protein ice-cream turn out?
looks like so much fun!
i’ve said it once but i’ll go ahead and say it again…
your bro is a beefcake
i always love hummus and veggies at parties
xoxo
Looks like a great time was had by all. You look fantastic! Did you get red Danskos ?
Stephanie, Haha – no, those are my brown ones, but I would still love a red pair. Hope you are doing well!
It looks like fun was had by all. My go to party foods are fruit and vegetables unless I know what is in anything. Have a great day!
Veggie Pizza is soooooooooooo good!! Have not had that in a long time! I am so glad the shower was amazing! I bet you got so many nice things and the cake was beautiful!!
Your mom is so sweet to drive, what a beautiful mom you have!
Have a safe drive back!
My fave party food is always fresh veggie trays, chips and dip, and for dessert I love strawberry pretzel salads!!!!!!
Katie, Haven’t had a strawberry pretzel salad in so long. Gosh, I used to love those things!
What a great party — I love veggie pizza too. My mom always made that for confirmation/graduation parties and it was always such a hit.
How could you NOT have some sheet cake — I’m sure the HEABlet loved it!
Have a safe trip home!
I like the savory/salty stuff. Chips, cheese, crackers, dips…all that stuff. I like the sweet stuff too but not near as much as I like salt.
I always start with the fruit or veggies – but my heart belongs to the sweets for sure!
awww looks like a lovely weekend Heather.
My mom made the same type of mints for my shower
in the form of roses colored pink of course 
I love our dress! If it isn’t maternity, I want one!
J, I love that dress, and it’s not maternity. So comfy, and it’s on sale right now! Here’s the website: http://athleta.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=46838&vid=1&pid=757713
How sweet! You look so happy, as always.
the veggie pizza is calling my name !!
you had such a nice WE – lucky you !
ah, what a great baby shower, being with all of your family! those gatherings are always fun!
Aww, the first of many Baby HEABlet celebrations! Soak it in, Mama!
Yeah..Yeah…Nice Baby Shower but more importantly, please post a couple more pics of the hottie brother
Roger that Melissa.
I love small house parties as to where all the guess “eating habits” are implemented into the dinner menu. When ever I have a small get together, I always consider what someone may or may not be able to eat. I thought the foods at your baby shower was appropriate!
Oh yeah! I love adventurous foods at parties! Anything that I have never tried…..I will go for!!
Down 22 pounds!!!!!!!
Awesome Shell!
It looks like a heart-felt event and you looked beautiful.
Parties bring out the inner chip monster in me, and as that description would suggest, I attack salsa and guacamole like a fiend.
Blogging from Montreal for the next two weeks – I’ll sample as much goat cheese goodness as I can in your honor
Thanks Rachael!
I always start out with something savoury, but I never forget dessert!
xo
Kris
Cream cheese mints? My! I can’t even begin to imagine.
I always ALWAYS go for the chocolate…. that and I used to be a sucker for bean dip until thankfully I recently created a vegan version that is much healthier. And those cream cheese mints are adorable! Love the colors!
That’s some awesome swag for the bambina–good thing you didn’t fly!
You enjoy to have a weekend off from your normal routine…glad to hear it was a great time!!! So excited for you and Chris!
I’ve been gone for so long, I hadn’t congratulated you on being pregnant! So congratulations!! You must be so excited. I’m glad that you’re well and it looks like you’ve got that “pregnancy glow”
Thanks Jessica, Good to hear from you!
It is okay to enjoy a weekend off from your normal routine(I do it too)…glad to hear it was a great time!!! So excited for you and Chris!
What a wonderful weekend… and such a pretty cake! I’m super intrigued by those cream cheese mints, I’ve never heard of anything like that but now i’m feeling like a google hunt is in order.
As for party foods, I’m ALL about the dips. Total dipping addict.
Kristie, Here is the recipe for those yummy mints. Enjoy!
Ingredients: 1 2Ib. bag of powdered sugar 1 8oz. cream cheese 1 tsp. peppermint extract small bowl of sugar food coloring and molds (optional)
Beat the cream cheese until well beaten add extract blend in powdered sugar, little at a time blend until mix is blended well, but so it is in pieces if you only want 1 color, mix in food coloring with the mix if you want more than one, get another bowl. divide up the mix evenly between colors, and mix the colors in then take a piece of the dough, roll in in a small ball, and dip it around in sugar to fully coat it u can then put them in molds or just leave them in balls refrigerate or freeze
Baby showers are such special events. You never forget them. This one looks extra special and you looks radiant, Heather!
Shirley
Awww, looks like such a fun shower!!!
Cream cheese mints!? I don’t even know where you could find such a thing! Did someone in your family make them?
What a lovely family celebration for the Heablet!
Mayapamela, Here is the recipe for those amazing mints:
Ingredients: 1 2Ib. bag of powdered sugar 1 8oz. cream cheese 1 tsp. peppermint extract small bowl of sugar food coloring and molds (optional)
Beat the cream cheese until well beaten add extract blend in powdered sugar, little at a time blend until mix is blended well, but so it is in pieces if you only want 1 color, mix in food coloring with the mix if you want more than one, get another bowl. divide up the mix evenly between colors, and mix the colors in then take a piece of the dough, roll in in a small ball, and dip it around in sugar to fully coat it u can then put them in molds or just leave them in balls refrigerate or freeze Enjoy [image:
]
Cream cheese mints?! I don’t even know where you could find such a thing. Did someone in your family make them?
What a lovely weekend with your family celebrating the Heablet!
Mayapamela, Yes, my cousin made the mints. Just sent you the recipe. Enjoy!
What a great spread at the shower! Yum!
Congratulations to you!
your brother is hunky and i like his muscles. haha
how in the world did she make those cream cheese mints? wow
Christina, Following is the recipe for the mints…my brother liked them too.
Ingredients: 1 2Ib. bag of powdered sugar 1 8oz. cream cheese 1 tsp. peppermint extract small bowl of sugar food coloring and molds (optional)
Beat the cream cheese until well beaten add extract blend in powdered sugar, little at a time blend until mix is blended well, but so it is in pieces if you only want 1 color, mix in food coloring with the mix if you want more than one, get another bowl. divide up the mix evenly between colors, and mix the colors in then take a piece of the dough, roll in in a small ball, and dip it around in sugar to fully coat it u can then put them in molds or just leave them in balls refrigerate or freeze Enjoy [image:
]
I always zoom in on the fruit and the desserts.
Oooh, is there possibly a recipe for those cream cheese mints?
I’m glad you had a great shower! It looks like it was a ton of fun. =)
Kaztronomic, Following is the recipe for the mints. So yummy!
Ingredients: 1 2Ib. bag of powdered sugar 1 8oz. cream cheese 1 tsp. peppermint extract small bowl of sugar food coloring and molds (optional)
Beat the cream cheese until well beaten add extract blend in powdered sugar, little at a time blend until mix is blended well, but so it is in pieces if you only want 1 color, mix in food coloring with the mix if you want more than one, get another bowl. divide up the mix evenly between colors, and mix the colors in then take a piece of the dough, roll in in a small ball, and dip it around in sugar to fully coat it u can then put them in molds or just leave them in balls refrigerate or freeze Enjoy [image:
]
Can’t believe it’s already shower time! You look gorgeous.
Thanks Lena!
Looks like so much fun!! Those lil cream cheese mints sound awesome!! It’s not everyday you get homemade treats like those.
Anyway, wonderful baby shower! 
I’ve always been a fan of “puppy chow” — its chex mix dipped in a pb/chocolate mixture, and then rolled in powdered sugar. So Good! I don’t know if that’s what it’s actually called, but that’s what we call it here (in the midwest
)It’s got chex mix, so it can’t be that bad for you, right?
Sarah, I’ve had puppy chow before, and it is AMAZING, and yes, there has got to be some kind of redeeming quality to it…chocolate has antioxidants.
Oh yay – I love baby / wedding showers! No worries about the sugar – how many baby showers does a person get? I’m with you on the savory though, there’s always some delicious cheesy dip that some aunty has made, how can you say no?
Sweetersalt, Not sure what the average number of baby showers is. I’m having two, and I’m hoping for lots of cheesy dips at shower #2 as well.
I’m with you – I tend to stick to the savory chips/dip and salsa/chips at parties. (Wierd since I never eat savory at home – always sweet stuff!)
Was that a rhubard dessert I see? Rhubarb is so underappreciated these days.
On the cream cheese mints, I remember making these for many weddings when I was a kid. They are best when you go easy on the mint and coloring, and pluck them furtively from the freezer!
A friend and I were just recently reminiscing about these just a couple weeks ago, and before that I hadn’t thought of them for years.
Shauna, Good eyes! Yes, that was some sort of rhubarb crisp, and I am regretting not trying it…I was too busy shoveling the sheet cake and gluten free brownies in my mouth…and of course, the mints as well.
Great seeing some of your family Heather! Loved the brother photo.
The party food looks delicious too!
Cream cheese mints!! Hehehe, you definitely were in missouri or iowa! I’m originally from Iowa, and a gathering of any sort was not complete without that classic blend of cream cheese, sugar, peppermint extract & food coloring pressed into a little mint mold… the thought of them makes me feel both homesick & actually kind of sick…
LOVE your blog Heather & congrats… I’m been reading for a loooong time, although I don’t think I’ve ever commented before – I just rarely have anything important to add!
Jamie, Too funny, and yes, those mints seem to be a must at every gathering my relatives have. I’d never had them before, but hope to eat them again someday. So yummy!
Thanks for reading my blog.