I decided to do something a bit different today since I have been thinking a lot about my Spring wardrobe.  I am basically starting from scratch, so I have been pouring over countless spring looks for the past couple of weeks.  I have had several things catch my eye and I am actually excited to shop for Spring!

When I think of Spring, I think of bright and cheery colors, so that is what I stick with, despite what the fashion gurus may say.  I am a firm believer in wearing what you love, not what a fashion mag is dictating.

I'm also a firm believer in not spending a fortune on your wardrobe.  We are a one income family with a two and a half year old-we can't afford to go out and shop at designer locations and pay full price.  It just can't happen.  This is why I shop at TJ Maxx, Marshall's,Target, Kohls, Old Navy (not their jeans), and the occasional Wal-Mart purchase makes its way in there from time to time.  Do I love looking at things from the Gap, Loft, The Limited, and J. Crew? Oh, you bet I do!  However, I have a hard time paying their prices, so I am always trying to find similar items at a cheaper price.  I've also been known to stalk items until they get cheap enough for my wallet.  Ha!

Anyway, now that I have rambled on long enough (oops!), how would you like to see my Spring faves?

It snowed, again, here yesterday.  As I am writing this, it is still snowing and is supposed to until about 3am.  Ugghh!  I am so sick of the cold and the snow!  I am not a winter girl.  I love all other seasons, but winter, winter is not my friend.

However, I do happen to love a nice warm and hearty meal on a snowy night.

I realize that a chicken and dumpling recipe is pretty common, but I just couldn't help sharing this with you all.  It is a very simple recipe with tons of taste.  If you are looking for a way to spice up your personal recipe or you are in need of a simple chicken and dumpling recipe because, lets face it, those from-scratch dumplings can be intimidating, this is a great one for you, too!

I originally mentioned this recipe in My Top 10 Slow Cooker Recipes post.  Since September, I have been fine-tuning this recipe in hopes to one day get it on the blog.  That day has come!  I didn't tweak the original recipe much, but I did substitute something and add a couple of ingredients.

Sooo, this post was supposed to go up yesterday as a weekend re-cap, but it didn't.  Instead, it's going up today as a whats-been-going-on-around-here post.  I spent most of yesterday feeling like I was running behind, but I was truly just trying to catch up from the weekend.

L making a card for Daddy.

My "perfect top" cupcakes. It never happens, so I had to document it.

L adding the "special sprinkles" to Daddy's cupcakes.

The finished product.  Nice, huh? I was worn out by the time my head hit the pillow Friday night.  I signed up for my first 5k on Saturday morning.  I will be walking in The Color Run this year! Next year, I plan to run.  Wish me luck!  Saturday evening, L went to spend the evening with The Hubbs' parents and we went out to eat with my sister-in-law and her boyfriend at Lotawata Creek  We ate too much (but it was sooo good) and we came home and vegged on the couch for the rest of the evening. We slept in on Sunday, went to lunch with The Hubbs' parents for his birthday at Red Lobster, and came home and vegged some more.  The Super Bowl was on, but we only watched for the commercials.  Ha! I always have to see the new Clydesdale commercial and both of the commercials did not disappoint! I spent yesterday catching up from the weekend.  We had to run to the store and pick up a few things before the next round of snow came in (it's now here...snowing it's butt off..ugh) and I did my first work out on my treadmill yesterday.  Last night, L had her first play class at one of the local gyms.  We had loads of fun!  I counted it as a second dose of cardio yesterday-we did that much running around. That just about sums up the past four days!  I'll be back tomorrow with a new recipe!