50 is Nifty!

Happy Birthday Mom, you wear 50 well!

My small four person dinner party for my Mom quickly turned into ten people! One of those people was my Aunt who last minute decided to fly up from California to be with my Mom on her birthday! Lucky for me, she is great at entertaining and shared some fabulous appetizer ideas with me.

 This sounds a little odd, but I assure you it's pretty delicious. Sliced cucumber topped with  a mixture of Greek yogurt, chives, salt and pepper, then Salmon Lox and finally a thin sliver of Grapefruit. Somehow, all of the flavors complimented each other.

 Stuffed mushrooms, hummus, pita bread, veggies, pasta salad and my favorite...Baked Brie and apples.

 Yummy cupcakes!

 Sisters!

 Cheers to being 50

Happy Birthday Mom!

Oh Christmas Tree!

 This year we got our Christmas Tree from Boring Bark, in Boring. We got an awesome Groupon for up to a 9ft tree for only $20! Smokin' deal. I am a horrible decision maker so Christmas tree shopping was quite the ordeal. It all worked out in the end though, and we came home with a beautiful tree, a pound of coffee (included in the Groupon), and a pretty wreath for our door!

Sampson was less than happy with the new addition to our home. As the tree was being stuffed through the front door, he cowered on the stairs, not sure what to think of this piece of nature we were bringing into our living room.  Once the tree was setup, I tried to coax him downstairs but had no such luck. I ended up carrying my 50lb timid little guy to the couch where he watched in fear (pictured below). As you can tell, he was just a tad bit skeptical of the whole ordeal.

 

 If you know me at all, you know I get a little...stressed, when things do not go perfectly. This is why you see Jessica and Mike doing the lights...I am the photographer. As you can see, Sampson has become a little more comfortable with the tree.

 It turned out beautiful. However, I did have way to many ornaments and still have enough to decorate TWO more trees.

 One of my favorite ornaments that Jessica got us last year for Christmas.

 Again, as the days progress he gets closer and closer...I sure hope he doesn't develop a taste for Christmas ornaments.

 Beautiful pine cone ornament from Mike's Mom, I love pine cones and there are actually quite a few on me tree.

 I got Mike three Dodge collector's car ornaments last year for Christmas.

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

I absolutely LOVE Christmas. Decorating. Cookies. Music. Family. Shopping. Pretty paper and bows. And DELICIOUS food!

Of course, I had to wait until the day after Thanksgiving before I could decorate...in order to make The Husband happy. After a weekend of cleaning and scrubbing, my house was ready!

 Our cute trees we decorated on Thanksgiving (Michael is rather proud of his)!

 Michael's Granny used to give the kids Santas each year for Christmas, and here are a few.

Nativity Scene from Granny.

 I really like snow globes.

 Sampson has his own stocking. It reads, "Dear Santa, I've been a very good doggie!" Let me just tell you, I think he is stretching the truth a bit.

 Sampson is not sure how he feels about the Climbing Santa to the right. They may or may not have become enemies in the last couple of weeks.

 All the decorating really wore him out (it was actually all the barking at the climbing Santa).

Christmas lights! Don't worry, we have since removed the Pumpkins!

Who would have thought

The other day, after making this absolutely scrumptious soup (recipe coming soon...), I had a LOT of Kale left over and was wondering how to save it from going to waste. I went on AllRecipes.com and found the easiest way to utilize my leftovers...

Baked Kale Chips

So easy, and so delicious. I seriously just ate them as they came out of the over and never had any extra. Here's what you do:

 - Preheat over to 350 degrees

- Lay out chip sized pieces of Kale on a cookie sheet

- Drizzle with Olive Oil 

- Season with a little salt

- Bake in oven for 10-15 minutes

- BE IMPRESSED

Healthy too! Sorry I do not have a picture. You will have to trust me on this, the flavor is wonderful and this savory treat is pretty healthy as well!

Unstuffed Shells

Yesterday was such a long day, by the end, I just wanted comfort food that was easy to make. I saw an idea in a magazine for these unstuffed shells and thought I would put my own spin on it.

You need:
1 lb. macaroni shells
1/2 box of cream cheese (or more)
1/3 cup parmesan
1 cup any cheese you want grated
1/4 cup chopped basil
1 lb ground beef
1 jar of marinara sauce (or any pasta sauce you think sounds good)

- cook noodles as directed on package
- meanwhile, brown the ground beef
- add pasta sauce into ground beef one it is done, let simmer for a few minutes
- drain pasta
- in a bowl mix cream cheese, parmesan and basil (doesn't have to be perfect)
- stir shells into the cream cheese mix
- spray a baking dish with a non-stick spray
-spread half of meat mixture onto bottom of dish
- pour the noodle mixture on top
- add the rest of the meat mixture
- spread the grated cheese on top.
- bake covered at 375 degrees for 40 minutes, uncover for the last 10.

So Tasty!!!

Michael and I both loved this dish and it made tons of leftovers for his lunches during the week - which is mighty convenient. This recipe is nice because there is a lot of room for variation. You can include different cheeses or use Italian sausage or ground turkey instead! I served this with a salad and Crescent Rolls we had left over from the night before.

This is definitely not a healthy meal, but it's pretty well-rounded with some healthy sides and it's the perfect comfort food some of us need on these cold winter nights! If you make it, tell me what you thought and if you did anything differently.

Do any of you have some fun comfort food type dishes you love?

Chirp

A few weeks ago for my Mother-in-law's birthday, I finally got to use my our new china! 

I made fresh creamy pesto pasta and a salad. Yum!

When we registered for this set, Michael said he would never use it because it's "stupid" to have plates this expensive. He told me while we're using the nice china, he would be using a plastic Scooby Doo plate (where this was supposed to come from, I don't know). I am happy to report, he did in fact use this china, and everyone survived!

They Call It Puppy Love!

We are loving these Fall walks...especially Sampson!

Yup...that's my husband, he occasionally forgets he is a human being.

Homemade Oatmeal Cream Pies (just like the ones from the store!)

I found this recipe on Pinterest and couldn't pass it up. I made them late one night and realized at the end that I barely had any powdered sugar, so I used regular sugar instead. It turned out fine, but next time I will definitely check my pantry first. My husband absolutely loved these and so did others who tried them. It was super easy and they look really fun too - just like the ones you buy at the store...but with less preservatives and they probably cost less too! this makes 15-24 cookies (at least) depending on how big you make them.

Oatmeal Cookies
1 1/4 cup Butter
1 cup Brown Sugar
1/4 cup Sugar
1 1/2 cups Flour
1 Egg
2 tsp Vanilla
1 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
3 cups Oats

Cream the butter, sugars, egg and vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine all other ingredients. Mix dry ingredients in with the wet ingredients. Cook at 375 degrees for 10 minutes. Let cool on cooling rack before add cream filling.

Cream Filling
1/2 cup soft Butter
2 cups Powdered Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla
2 tbls Heavy Whipping Cream

Combine in a bowl, beat on low until mixed well, then beat on high until fluffy!

Once the oatmeal cookies are cool, put a spoon full of cream filling on a cookie and add another cookie to make a sandwich, EAT.

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things...part 3

Books! I absolutely love reading and in a way it is my escape from a sometimes stressful reality. You can go anywhere you want to, meet so many intriguing characters and give your imagination a little exercise every once in a while. Now that we are reaching Winter, it is the perfect time to cuddle up with a book...which is sometimes the best cuddle buddy there is!

10. Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
     This book is fabulous - especially if you have kids. The illustrations are exciting and truly draw you into the story.            Another fun thing about this book? They are making it into a movie! So read it with your kids and follow up the experience by going to see the movie!

 9. Mark Twain: Autobiography Volume One

     Okay...I'll be honest, I have not actually read this book yet. But, I am hoping to get it for Christmas and you can bet your booty I will be diving right in! I have been excited about this book since I first learned of its existence. Before Mark Twain died, he wrote his autobiography. Unfortunately for the general public, he put an embargo on it stating that it could not be published until one hundred years after his death. That right there is enough to make me want to read it. He did this in order to ensure that no one mentioned in the book would be alive by the time the book was available to readers. There must be some scandalous information included! 


8. A History of Love by Nicole Krauss 
    This book was chosen for a book club I am in and I must say, it caused me quite the headache. This is because the book has so many story lines and connections that it is hard to keep track. However, it was all worth it in the end when everything came together. If you do choose to read this book, I recommend keeping some sort of character log as well as reading the book in its entirety in a short span of time. If you wait too long to finish, you might forget important things and miss out on some crucial connections. Everyone who read this book said they wanted to turn around and read it again after the last page. 


7. Unbearable Lightness: an autobiography by Portia de Rossi
     I never would have thought this story would appeal to me, but I truly found that I gained something by hearing her story. This is a quick and easy read that will give you some insight on the world of eating disorders. 

6. Hunger Games (series) by Suzanne Collins
     Such a fun series! This series was written for young adults, but once I started I could not put it down. Luckily, since it is written at an easy level - it was an incredibly easy read for me. The topic is kind of heavy and might be disturbing to some. I like the message it sends about our society as a whole and also the relationship our country has with other nations. Such an intense read!


5. Summer of the Monkeys by Wilsom Rawls
    This is another great book to read on your own, or with your children. My sixth grade teacher read it to me, and to this day, I still consider it one of my favorites. This is a coming of age story with an adventurous twist as well as great humor.


4. The Rum Diary by Hunter S. Thompson
    I loved this book because it was different than what I am used to reading. A friend recommended to me a while back and I read the entire thing in one or two days. This story is "cool" in a sense that the characters are people you want to hang out with. The book takes place in Cuba, which is the perfect getaway in this rainy winter weather.


3. The Likeness by Tana French



     This book is the sequel to In the Woods but is much better than it's predecessor. The first book is entertaining, and I definitely recommend reading it first. This is a mystery with many twists and turns that will certainly keep you on your feet. You might not want to read these at night when you're all alone.

2. Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (series) by Steig Larsson
     Incredible! When I first began this series I was very doubtful of the joy I would find in reading these books. After I struggled for the first chapter or two - I was hooked! It is hard for me to fathom an imagination capable of creating this plot and the characters involved. The first two chapters are very factual and technical and truly were hard to get through. It is so worth it and although the books are very long, you will find yourself wishing they would not end! Great for people who love to solve mysteries!

1. South of Broad by Pat Conroy
     This book gets the number one spot because of it's diversity and value to me in my life. Conroy is one of my favorite authors because his books are so sincere and real. This book takes place in the South and really makes you feel like you are there. While reading this book I frequently found myself thinking of the characters as my friends, only to realize...oh wait - they aren't real. A book club I used to be in read this book and I can honestly say, the discussion was one of the most meaningful discussions I have ever had with a group of people. It brought up so many feelings and thoughts and most people in the group got very emotional over the topics discussed. This is a long read and it's not necessarily a page turner. But in the end you will feel like you have gained something by reading this story and getting to know it's characters.

Fancy Dinner in Five Minutes

My husband and I absolutely love sushi. Sadly, it is not always in the budget and it is hard and somewhat costly to make at home. Luckily, we found a great (and incredibly inexpensive) compromise...Seared Tuna!

We purchased enough for both of us at Trader Joes for less than $4! It literally takes about five minutes to make, which makes it taste even better.

Heat Olive Oil in a saute pan
Coat tuna with sesame seeds
Place coated tuna in the pan and sear on each side for about a minute
If you want to do the edges, you can sear them as well using tongs to hold it in place (I did it)

When the tuna is seared, slice it into thin strips (kind of like Sashimi)

It's that easy folks! And it's so good. I mixed a little honey into the soy sauce and used that as a dipping sauce. We served it with brown rice (made in a rice cooker), steamed veggies and Edamame. My husband likes Siracha sauce on everything, so I can assure you, that was also present on the table.

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things...part 2

 Bridal Shower/Bachelorette Party

 Some of my favorite party tricks -


Candy Bar: I purchased fun vases from the Dollar Tree and filled them with pink and black candy, this can work for any type of party and it's easy to find candy of all different colors. On the table I also put packages of Ring Pops, perfect for a Bridal event.

 Photos and Flowers: An easy way to personalize a party for someone is by getting photos of them to put on display. Since this was a Bridal Shower I used pictures of the Bride and added some pink beads (which people could wear) and pink flowers to accent.

Sprinkled glass rims: This is something my Mom and I have been doing for years! It's the perfect way to add a little color to your party and it really looks like you went above and beyond with the details. You can slide a lemon across the rim of the glass or dip the top of the glass in honey (which would need to be poured on a plate so it's flat). Don't use too much of the honey will start dripping down the side. Sometimes it takes a couple tries to get it perfect.

We had lots of fun!

These Are a Few of my Favorite Things...part 1

I may not have any cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels, but I do have a lot of other favorite things! Here are a few of my favorite things in my home.

Thing One: My kitchen hutch, this was a garage sale steal! I have way too many items that belong in the kitchen, so the extra storage is much needed.

I also love putting anything and everything in Mason Jars, I got that idea from my good friend Kaitlyn!

Thing Two: A fun painting given to me by my Grandma. Apparently, my parents gave this to my Great-Grandmother a long time ago and it has now been handed down to me. My Grandma tried to give it to my parents first, but they did not want it. I guess I just got stuck with it by default, but I love it!

 Thing Three: Picture Walls!
 

 Thing Four: These amazing Sharpie drawings by a local artist. This are done of trees and each tree represents the seasons.  These were given to my for my Bridal Shower and will be something I keep forever!

 Thing Five: Super cheap shelves from Kohls ON SALE.

I reused some of the decor from our wedding!

Thing Six: Nightstands. This sounds funny, but for the first six months of living in our new house, we have gone with out nightstands and I have HATED every minute. I don't even have anything in the drawers yet, but I am a happy gal!

Thing Seven: Little dishes everywhere. I am so messy and scatter-brained, so this is a way for me to ensure that I will never lose my wedding ring! One by the kitchen sink is good too.

Thing Eight: SAMSPSON!!! Tehee, I am just joking, I just wanted to throw this picture in here because he is so cute.

Thing Nine: Jars. I absolutely love these etched glass jars from Anthropologie. I use one for buttons, one for cotton balls and one has a candle in it!

 Thing Ten: This item caused much controversy in our home when we first moved in. This is not something I can say was a steal or a deal. It is my wonderfully amazing, beautiful and magnificent shower curtain. Because it is from Anthropologie, it was not very cheap. Luckily, my mom came through for me and got it for me as a Bridal Shower gift...which I of course, coerced out of her long before my shower.

I have many more favorite things, and I think sometime soon I will share my favorite kitchen things! Part of why I love to cook is because I have so many neat kitchen tools that help me along the way! You should sit down and think of your favorite things!