Perfectly Purple




The past few weeks I have been doing some closet organizing and clothes sorting/purging.  I happened to find the scarf in today's post on one of those sorting/purging binges and really wanted to show this baby off! I came up with a pretty basic outfit, but the scarf is the focal point-as it should be, IMO. 




Perfectly Purple
Jeggings: Kohls (exact)
Shirt: Kohls (exact)
Cardigan: Old Navy (exact)
Shoes: Kohl's (exact
Scarf: Old Navy (not available online)

At this time of the year, you would not catch me outside in flats without socks on.  However, since I am taking photos in my house currently, I went ahead and just slipped the flats on.  (Sidenote:  I need a new pair of black flats. When the weather is right, I wear these things all. the. time. Ha!) 

Also, I think I need a trim.  My hair is looking a little crazy here lately.

Lastly, a little blog business to attend to:

In the wake of organizing, sorting, and purging my clothing, I was left with very little to work with.  Anything that was too big, too small, had holes in it, etc. got moved out of the closet and my side of the dresser.  Clothes were either trashed, donated, or stored.  Once I was finished, I took a good look at the remainder of my clothes, took stock, and started making plans.

All of this was in preparation for something that is coming to the blog soon.  This change will be the first of many that will be taking place over the next couple of months.  I am asking all of you for your patience and understanding as we do some updating around here.  

I will continue to post as regularly as possible and will also keep you all updated on what is going on around here.  This series could get rather interesting the next couple of weeks, so be share you are following on Facebook!




This post is part of the Operation: Get Out of Yoga Pants Series








Baked Sweet & Sour Chicken



Who loves Chinese? We order in Chinese at least twice a month because it's just... omgsogood!  (Well, and not to mention that the only two things that deliver in our area are pizza chains and Chinese.) So, anyway, my point is that it can get expensive.  I did some rummaging around on Pinterest (more like hours upon hours of searching) and found this super awesome recipe and wanted to give it a shot.  

This stuff is awesome!  The flavor is really great and I chose to serve it with white rice (for health and time reasons), but the original recipe was made with fried rice. I know it was great with white rice, so if you make it with the fried, let me know!

Before I give you the recipe and the directions, I want to warn you that this recipe takes quite a bit of time to make.  It takes at least a half an hour to do the prep and then an hour of bake time.  So, if you are like me and have children that will do this:  "OMG! IT IS SIX O' CLOCK AND DINNER IS NOT ON MY LITTLE PINK TABLE WITH MY HELLO KITTY SIPPY!  MY WORLD HAS ENDED!" ,then you need to start making dinner at 4:30.  If you don't have this problem...can I come eat dinner with you?

Baked Sweet & Sour Chicken



Ingredients:
Chicken Coating
3-4 boneless chicken breasts
salt & pepper
1 cup of cornstarch (in a bowl) 
2 eggs, beaten (in a bowl) 
1/4 cup of canola oil

Sweet & Sour Sauce
3/4 cup of sugar
4 tbs ketchup
1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
1 tbs soy sauce
1 tsp garlic salt

Directions:
*Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
*Rinse your chicken breasts in water and cut them into cubes.  Salt and pepper the cubes to taste.  Dip your chicken into the cornstarch to coat the chicken and then dip into the egg mixture. (Side note:  This is such a messy process.  Take your rings off and, honestly, use thin plastic gloves.  Otherwise, you will have to keep rinsing your hands off every 2-3 mins because the coating will become so thick on your fingers you won't be able to grab anything! Ha!) 
*Heat up your 1/4 cup of canola oil in a skillet so you can brown the chicken (not cooked through) before placing in the oven.  
*Place all browned chicken into a greased 13X9 baking dish.
*Mix up the Sweet & Sour Sauce ingredients (see above) in a bowl with a whisk and pour evenly over the chicken.
*Pop that dish in the oven and bake for an hour, turning the chicken every 15 minutes.

As I said above, you can serve this with plain 'ole white rice or you can use the fried rice recipe that is with the original recipe above.  

Thanks for stopping by again to see what this weeks recipe was!  Come back tomorrow for my newest style post!





This post is part of the From My Kitchen series.  Please feel free to browse the archive for more yummy deliciousness!










Valentine's Day Crafts for Kids

Has anyone else been stuck in the house for what feels like forever?  I have been trying to keep L entertained, but our rainy day basket stopped cutting it a week ago.  So did her new puzzles, her matching game, and pretty much anything else she got for Christmas she is now over.

We haven't done much crafting since Christmas, so I thought maybe now would be a good time to find some Valentine's Day themed things for L to make and I knew just where to look for those-Pinterest!

And now I am going to share what I found with all of you!



I did something similar to the paper hug last year for the grandparents, but this year I'm doing something a bit more different.  I have chosen to do one of these from the round up, but you aren't going to know until after Valentine's Day which one.  (I can't spoil the surprise the for the grandparents!) I will give you a hint:  I had to buy a craft supply I have never purchased before. ;) 

These are all cut and easy crafts to do with your kids while they are stuck indoors on these cold days. 

Tell me which ones your favorite!



Emerald & Leopard + Items I'm Coveting


First of all, I'm pretty excited about today's post. I'm linking up with the ladies of the TrendSpin Link Up and the theme this week is emerald green.  I love me some green-the darker, the better!  I had the perfect cardigan in mind and the rest just fell into place!  I'll show you guys in just a sec!

Secondly, I finally  figured out a way to set up a makeshift photo studio in the house!  So, I got to take my photos inside today!  Thank God because it was colder today than it was last week!  Brrr! Let me know what you all think of my "studio".  I am excited to try new things with my photos!

Thirdly, I have also been doing some major coveting lately so you all will get to see what I have been pinning to my Mommy's Wish List board on Pinterest. 

Okay, well, that's lots to cover, so lets get to it, shall we? 




Emerald & Leopard
Tee: Target (similar)
Cardigan: Target (no longer available)
Jeans: Kohl's (exact)
Shoes: Target (no longer available)
Scarf: Evie J (similar)
Belt: Target (exact)
Watch: Relic (Currently unavailable online) 

I tried something with this outfit that I always shied away from-a skinny belt at the waist.  I was always afraid that it would make my hips look twice as big! I decided to be brave when I got dressed and I am so glad I did! I love how this defines my waist and makes me look like I'm 20 pounds lighter!  

This just goes to show-don't be afraid to try new things with your style.  You may surprise yourself!

Speaking of surprising yourself, I am actually surprised at some of the items I have been coveting lately.

Check these out!


one || two || three
four || five || six
seven || eight || nine

What have you been coveting lately?






This post is part of the Operation: Get Out of Yoga Pants Series













Turkey Salsa Burgers

How's everybody doing today?  We have been staying home a lot here lately due to the cold and snowy weather that we keep getting.  I've kept myself busy purging, organizing, and cleaning all kinds of things.  I am determined to get some order going on in this house.

I've also had time to go through some of my recipes and pick some different things to show you all on the blog.  Casseroles do tend to get old, am I right?

How about a healthy burger today?

Yep.

I used 'healthy' and 'burger' in the same sentence.
Trust me.
You'll love these. 


I found and pinned this recipe months ago from SparkPeople and had only tried it once before making it last week.  The first time I made this recipe, I used the frying pan method in the directions.  This time I used my Foreman gill** and it worked much better for me.  I don't like the idea of popping grease with a kiddo running around, but that's just me. 

Turkey Salsa Burger

Ingredients: 
1 lb. lean ground turkey
2/3 cup seasoned bread crumbs (I used Italian)
4 tbsp. chunky salsa (I used Mild) 

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and salt and pepper to taste.
Divide into four patties.
Spray a frying pan down with cooking spray and cook over medium heat until thoroughly cooked; flipping once about half way through, about ten minutes. 

**When using the George Foreman grill, I sprayed the grill down with cooking spray and cooked two at a time for the same length of time, flipping at the five minute mark.  Grill times may vary.  Mine is older than Moses. 


I served these on regular hamburger buns because I didn't get to the bakery section in time to get the "good stuff".  :( I always try to serve whole wheat or whole grain when I make things that require a bun.  It just tastes better to me and it's healthier. 

I also served these with a pasta salad, making me feel like we were already in spring, and thus making me feel better about the weather for the duration of the evening.  Then, it snowed. Again.

I think these would be great with avocado or pico de gallo on top.  Even your traditional lettuce and tomato would be great. I ate mine with a smattering of ketchup and mustard.  The hubby ate his with ranch because I was out of mayo by the time I finished the pasta salad.  Oops! He said the ranch was good though!

What are some of your favorite ground turkey recipes?



This post is part of the From My Kitchen series.  Please feel free to browse the archives for more yummy deliciousness!




Literary Junkies: January Edition


Pink Heels Pink Truck

It's that time again for Literary Junkies!  Basically, we are going to talk books today, so, if you like books, stick around!  If you don't, come back tomorrow for a new recipe! Haha!

As per the norm, we've got questions that need answering, so lets get to it!

1.  What are you reading right now?  Tell us about it.
Well, I just started reading The Book Thief and.....it's not going so well.  I don't want to give up on it just yet, but I'm not really sure if this book is my cup of tea.  I'm going to give it another chapter or two and then make my decision.  However, if you are interested in what The Book Thief is about, here is the Goodreads synopsis:

It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still.

Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement. 

In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, award-winning author Markus Zusak, author of I Am the Messenger, has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time.

Sounds great, right?  I know!  I think it may be the writing that I am having a problem with....I don't know...I'll keep you all posted on this.

2.  Out of the 16 books that will be turned into a movie adaptation, which one are you most looking forward to seeing this year? (Article Link)
Okay, so, I'm really not a book to movie girl.  They tend to leave out (I think) crucial pieces of information when they turn pages into movies.  However, with that being said, I am curious about The Fault in Our Stars and Gone Girl.  Those were two books that I really enjoyed and would like to see what they have done with them for the big screen.  I also got some new books to read off that list, so that's cool! 

3.  What was the worst book you ever read?  
The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway....OMG...I had to keep pinching myself to stay awake.  Ugh. I don't mind some Hemingway, but that one....Oh, that was difficult. Ha!

4.  What foods or beverages have you spilled on a book while reading?  Anything good?
Chocolate.  I tend to eat chocolate and read.  I'm always smudging chocolate on the pages.  Haha!  I try to clean it off, but, ya know....Oh well...adds character...

5.  Do you picture characters as popular film or tv actors? Or do you create a whole new person in your head?
I create a whole new person in my head unless I have seen the character already portrayed in the movie, then I see that actor as that character.  

6.  . Out of all the authors you've read books by, who's brain would you want to pick the most?
Ohh geez....Umm....Joyce Carol Oates....Her characters are so amazing and....raw.  I want to know how to do that.  Her characters are the ones I relate to the most.  

And there ya have it folks!  Come back next month for more book talk! 
What are you currently reading? 

I Have a Dream (A Mother's Version)

In the spirit of today, I am going to share some of my dreams for L and her life. Since the day she was born, I have been trying to plant these little "dream seedlings" in her.  By parenting her with these dreams in mind, I hope that she eventually starts to embrace them on her own and carries them with her throughout her life.


I have a dream that L will always want to learn.  I hope she always keeps her curiosity.












I have a dream that she will always have a group of people to lean on that are outside of her family. 












I have a dream that she will always have a sense of adventure.  













I have dream that she will travel her own path and to the beat of her own drum. 












I have a dream that she will always try to see the bigger picture. 












I have a dream that she will one day hold a tiny hand in her own, with a voice that squeals, "Run, Mommy, Run!", and they do.











I have a dream that she will be confident and independent.  I hope she always knows how beautiful she is. 











What are your dreams?

Operation: Get Out of Yoga Pants (Live Free)



It's (finally) that time of the week where I bring you a new outfit to feast your eyes upon!  I will be honest-I really just wanted to show you guys the new shirt I got from my sister-in-law for Christmas. Ha!  Obviously, I'm wearing more than just a shirt, but the focus is on the shirt.  Ya'll, my SIL is so good she bought me a shirt that I had been eyeing for myself.  I didn't even tell her about said shirt.  I opened it up on Christmas Eve and was like, "No way!"

Oh, yes way.

Also, let me just tell you how COLD 27 degrees with blustery wind is with a very thin shirt and leggings on!  *sigh*  I really need to figure out an indoor studio.  Anyway, so if I look a bit weird in these photos...it's because I'm COLD!


Live Free


  


Shirt: Old Navy (gift)
Leggings: Target (similar
Boots: Urbanog.com (similar)
Bracelet: Kohl's (unavailable online)

Anyone else get any cool fashion pieces for Christmas?  
Tell me in the comments!  





Taco Shells & Cheese

AND WE'RE BACK!  I took quite a break from the 'ole blog over the holiday season and I am trying to get back into the swing of things.  I'm still working on blowing the dust out of my brain, so bear with me the next couple of weeks while we got a routine restored around here.

With that being said, I have a new recipe for you all today!  It was supposed to be my Chocolate Chip Cookie Dip that I made over the holidays, but my pictures disappeared, so I will have to re-make that one and take different photos. :(

So, today, is a very simple recipe....a college kid recipe, if you will.  My mother-in-law told me about this years ago when E and I were living together, stating that she used to make it for E when he was little.  We ate the crap out of it back in the day! I hadn't made it in a while, but those days between Christmas and New Year's were tough, so I made this and L loved it, too!

This recipe is simple, easy, and yummy!  You only need about 4-5 ingredients and it's quick.  This is perfect for nights that you don't have a lot of time or it's time to go to the store and you just don't want to go quite yet because, hey, the milk is still good and so is the bread and you have these ingredients that you know you can make something out of....Oh...am I the only one that does that?  ...Oopsie... :)




You will need: 
1 lb. ground beef
1 packet of taco seasoning
1 box of shells and cheese of your choosing
Salsa
Mexican/Fiesta Blend Shredded Cheese (optional)


Directions: 
***NOTE:  Prepare your shells n cheese in a larger than normal pot!  You will be mixing everything in with the shells and cheese.

Prepare the shells and cheese like you normally would.  While the shells are boiling, prepare the ground beef by following the directions on the taco seasoning packet.

Once your shells and cheese and the ground beef are ready to go, dump the meat into the pot with the shells and cheese, mix it together.

Now, add and stir in the salsa.  I always use a mild/medium salsa and I start with a cup.  If I think it needs more, I add to taste.  (I kept it pretty light this time since I was feeding it to the kiddo.) 

Make sure it's mixed well, serve in bowls, and top with shredded cheese!  You could even add a dollop of sour cream if you would like!


Now, how's that for an easy and yummy dinner?



This post is part of the From My Kitchen series.  Please feel free to browse our archive for more yummy deliciousness!






Goals of 2014

I debated on whether I should write this post or not, given that it is a week into the new year. However, I like to hold myself accountable and I like to share with you all, so below you will find my much anticipated (and very late) goals of 2014!

Personal and Home
Go completely to DIY Mixes
Read 20 books
Participate in NaNoWriMo
Completely decorate two rooms in the house 
Begin a yoga/meditation practice
Potty train L
Work on landscaping outside
Menu Planning
Create a Bucket List

Blogging Goals
Hit 800 "likes" on Facebook
Get organized (maintenance, posting, etc.)
New layout
At least one new blog series 

I have two large projects for this year that I am not mentioning because they are still in the beginning stages.  I am really excited about them and am hoping they each come to fruition.  I will be working hard to get these two projects up and running.  When they start shaping up and becoming bigger, you guys will most certainly be in the loop! :) 

So, what are your goals for 2014?



 

First Blog Post of 2014

First of all, I hope everyone had a fantastic holiday.  Secondly, I hope that the new year has started off well for all of you.  Thirdly, I'm baaaack!

I'm writing on the fly today.  I didn't have anything prepared for today, but I am ready to get back to blogging after my (so very lovely) break.  I had a lot of time to just be after Christmas was over and it was much needed.  I watched a lot of TV, I read a little, and I surfed Pinterest a lot.  The break gave me a chance to decompress and start thinking about what I wanted to do for the coming year.

I am not a resolutions person.  I fail at them-every. time.  However, I have found that if I make a list of things that I want to accomplish in the year to come, that works out better for me.  I try to be reasonable and I try to stick to things that interest me.

However, this year looks like it may be a bit different.

I have been creating my list for the past couple of weeks and there are things on there that surprised me.  I think it's because I am starting to become more insightful.  I have some simple things on there (read 20 books) and some that are more complex like establishing a yoga and meditation routine.  I plan on doing a much more in-depth post later this week on my goals for 2014.  I do have some exciting things under wraps for this year and I can't wait to tell you guys all about them when the time comes.

I've also been working on goals for the blog and I can't wait to share those with you all as well.  While on Pinterest, I have been looking at all kinds of blog things and I have gotten some really useful information and some great ideas.  I plan on implementing some of the things I have found in the coming months and am anxious to see how well they go over with you all.

This was really just a "Hey, I'm still alive!" post, but be watching Facebook this week for new post announcements!

Have a great Monday all!








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