Back to reality!

This week was back to school for the girls!  And boy was it a big reality!  No more sleeping until 9a and staying up late.  It's been a crazy week needless to say but we survived. :-)  Now we are ready for our fun weekend at Disney!  

We transitioned from Christmas to Valentine's in our house last weekend.  I know some say its too early but I always go right from Christmas to Valentine's Day.  Just easier for me and its not like its that far away.  I am still working on some finishing some DIY projects but its turning out pretty cute!

Camryn's Party

Cam's party details are really coming along!  We are down to less then a week to go!  :-)

Girls Bathroom - Almost

Another room is almost complete....

I made these prints for their bathroom {inspired by Pinterest}.  Now only one more final touch and I will post pictures of the entire bathroom :-)

Laundry Room - Complete

It's finished!... FINALLY!  It's hard to take pictures of this room, so bare with them :-)

Almost time!

I know picture overload with the Egg Hunt... can't wait for tomorrow's fun!  Finally finished the sign!  Love how it turned out.  Thank you to wonderful pinterest!!

Egg Hunt

Our annual Egg hunt is this weekend.  I had been gathering ideas from pinterest to make this years a little more special.  It looks like we are going to have a pretty big turn out!  I can't wait til Saturday!  Its always a blast!

This is what boredom looks like. . .

Thank goodness for pinterest!

Good ole pinterest

I've been on a mission over the last few weeks to complete a few "to do's" on my pinterest list!  Obviously since Valentine's day is coming up they got priority on the list :-)  I am obsessed with my yarn hearts!  They are my fave, but I am also loving my framed hearts {top picture}.  I have one more valentine project up my sleeve for this weekend!  I'll be sure to post on Monday!

Wordless Wednesday - 01.30

I've become a little pinterest obsessed!

Recipe: Sweet and Sour Chicken

Ingredients

• 1 cup chopped onion (about 1 medium)
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 3 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons lower-sodium soy sauce

• 1 tablespoon grated peeled fresh ginger
• 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 2 (8-ounce) cans pineapple chunks in juice, drained
• 1 large green bell pepper, cut into 3/4-inch pieces
• 1 large red bell pepper, cut into 3/4-inch pieces
• 3 cups hot cooked white rice

1. Combine first 12 ingredients in an electric slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours or HIGH for 4 hours. Serve over rice.

**This is on our meal list for this week!

New Year = New Projects

It seems like once the New Year hits I get into house project mode.  All ideas are brewing through my head.  Pinterest definitely doesn't help.  I found this one photo gallery display that I LOVE!  Now I am determined to start this in my living room!  Isn't this awesome?! {this is from TatersandJello}

I've always wanted "barn yard" looking garage doors.  What a great idea and its less then $10 to do!  

Love how this bathroom mirror is framed out.... love this idea for the guest bathroom just in white!

I've been eyeing this idea for the bookcase in my office.  Looks like I'll be at Joann's this weekend for Fabric!

Tuesday Randoms

Yesterday I was on a mission to search for some fall decor for my dining room.  Since it was decorated for Halloween I had to put away the Halloween stuff but now my dining room is bare.  Of course I can put back my regular decor but was hoping to decorate for fall in there like the rest of my house, but no such luck :-(  There is absolutely NO fall decor anywhere!  Every store I went into its FULL of Christmas stuff.  Don't get me wrong I love Christmas but geesh!  I do have a few pinterest ideas I could do for some homemade decor and this point it looks like that's what I'll be doing!

I am still feeling pretty under the weather but I hoping this will soon pass.  This Momma does not have time to be sick.  Mom's don't get sick days :-)

The cooler is back in Florida so I am thinking we need a comfort meal for dinner tonight.... Baked Ziti it is!  Its one of the girls favorites so at least tonight at dinner won't be a fight!  This is a busy week for us so there might not be too much cooking this week.

Monday - Chick-Fil-A

Tuesday - Baked Ziti

Wednesday - Wing It (Daddy has the girls while Mommy has an appointment)

Thursday - Grilled Chicken, Veggies & pasta

Friday - Homemade Pizza Bagels

Recipe: Secret Ingredient Meatloaf

Secret Ingredient Meatloaf

Here's the magical recipe:

• 1 Pound Ground Meat (Beef or Turkey)
• 1 Egg
• 1 Box Stuffing Mix
• 1 Cup Water

Mix everything together, smoosh it into a loaf pan, and bake at 350 for about 45 minutes.

**I made this Tuesday night and it was sooo yummy!  And I really not even a fan of meatloaf but it was really good! The girls even liked it!!!  Double bonus!

My version.... yum!

Weekly Mean Plan: Week 6

Last week I feel off the bandwagon for meal planning.  But this week I am ready to try some new recipes!!Maybe its because its chilly and I am looking for some comfort food :-)

Monday - Chicken (Recipe called Worlds Best Chicken) - see below
Tuesday - Meatloaf
Wednesday - Penne & Volka Sauce
Thursday - Chicken/Side Dish: Orzo w/ Parmesan and basil
Friday -Baked Spaghetti




The World’s Best Chicken
Serves 4
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup Dijon mustard
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
Salt & pepper
Rosemary

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a small bowl, mix together mustard, syrup, and vinegar. Place chicken breasts into 9×13 baking dish. Season with salt & pepper.
• Pour mustard mixture over chicken. No need to marinate.   
  
• Bake for about 35-50 minutes or until meat thermometer reads 165 degrees. Season with rosemary.  

Halloween Goodies!

Before I know it, it will be time for Halloween.  Every year the girls have a class party so thanks to Pinterest I am hoping to make some cute treats to bring in for their parties.  So far I have narrowed it down to a few.... such cute ideas!

Weekly Meal Plan: Week 1

With these crazy week nights its a MUST that I meal plan for the week.  If not we will literally eat out EVERY night, just simply because its easy and quick.

I have decided I am going to blog about it weekly that way I can keep track and so I can share some yummy recipes!

Monday - Chick-Fil-A (This is our really late night, dance class ends at 6:30p)
Tuesday - Chicken Fajitas
Wednesday - Chicken Dish
Thursday - Chicken on the grill w/ Parmesan Roasted Potatoes
Friday - Crock Pot Pizza Casserole (See below)

Crock Pot Pizza Casserole

Ingredients

• 1 Box Spiral Pasta (uncooked but rinsed)
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 cup sliced pepperoni
• 16 ounces pizza sauce or pasta sauce
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions

1. Spray Large Crockpot 6qt or larger with non-stick spray.
2. In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef with the onion, garlic and green bell pepper. Drain excess fat.
3. Rinse pasta and place in the crock-pot with drained ground beef mix. Stir. Pour Pasta sauce and 1/4 cup water over noodle mix.
4. Top with shredded Mozzarella.
5. Cover and cook on low for 6 -8 hours (no peeking)

Recipe: Chicken Dish

Ingredients

• 4-6 raw chicken breasts
• Potatoes 
• Green beans (fresh or canned-really any green veggie would work. Broccoli is good, too).  

Arrange in 9x13 dish. Sprinkle with a packet of Italian dressing mix and then top with a melted stick of butter. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Recipes: Chicken Kiev

·  1  tablespoon chopped green onion

·  1  tablespoon snipped fresh parsley

·  1  clove garlic, minced

·  1/2  of a 1/4-poundstick of butter, chilled

·  1  egg, beaten

·  1  tablespoon water

·  1/4  cup all-purpose flour

·  1/2  cup fine dry bread crumbs

·  4  skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

·  Salt and black pepper

·  1  tablespoon butter

·  1  tablespoon cooking oil

Directions:

 1. In a small bowl combine green onion, parsley, and garlic; set aside. Cut chilled butter into four 2-1/2x1/2-inch sticks. In a shallow bowl stir together egg and water. Place flour in another shallow bowl. Place bread crumbs in a third shallow bowl. Set aside.

2. Place a chicken breast half between 2 pieces of plastic wrap. Using the flat side of a meat mallet pound chicken lightly into a rectangle about 1/8 inch thick. Remove plastic wrap. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with one-fourth of the green onion mixture. Place a butter piece in center of chicken piece. Fold in sides; roll up. Repeat with remaining chicken.

3. Coat chicken rolls with flour. Dip in egg mixture; coat with bread crumbs. Dip in egg mixture again; coat with with additional bread crumbs. (Coat ends well to seal in the butter.) Place coated chicken in 2-quart rectangular baking dish. Cover and chill for 1 to 24 hours.

4. In a large skillet melt the 1 tablespoon butter over medium-high heat; add oil. Add chilled chicken rolls. Cook about 5 minutes or until golden brown, turning to brown all sides. Place rolls in a 2-quart rectangular baking dish. Bake, uncovered, in a 400 degree F oven for 15 to 18 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink (170 degrees F). Spoon any drippings over rolls. Makes 4 servings.