• Life

    Prom 2016

    May 24, 2016 - By 

    Prom was a few weeks ago. The morning was busy with one Drew’s friend’s Eagle Courts of Honor and Alex had a soccer game luckily it was a home game. First thing that morning, I sent Drew out to Flowersmith’s to pick up the corsage and boutonniere. After all the hub-bub of the morning, we were able to get back to the house to finish prepping for the busy evening that awaited. Rob and I were asked by Drew’s group to host dinner. I had prepared the main dish, Stuffed Pasta Shells, the night before, so all I had to…

  • Life

    Last Jazz Band Concert

    May 10, 2016 - By 

    This last Monday we watched Drew’s last Jazz Band concert. I videoed all their songs and thought I’d share them with you. This is the program for the night. Drew is in the Jazz “A” Band. Salsa on the Side Don’t Know Why A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square The Pink Panther Sir Duke Cruisin’ for a Bluesin’

  • Life

    Making Ron Famous

    May 2, 2016 - By 

    The other day after work I was out running errands for Drew’s graduation party. I hate when I have one thing to get and it seems like the simplest thing to find and you can’t find it. Well, I had decided to forget about it and go home, which I wasn’t real excited about because Alex was not wanting to go to soccer practice. While dreadfully driving towards home, Rob texted me and invited me to go to the Draft House with some of his coworkers. I didn’t bat an eye before heading towards downtown. While drinking a beer, Ron,…

  • Lunch

    Pizza Monkey Bread Bites

    May 29, 2015 - By 

    Alex and I were home one night and I needed to make something quick and easy for dinner, because he was wanting to watch a movie. I thought it would be fun to get him in the kitchen and these Pizza Monkey Bread Bites were a perfect recipe to have him help with. Monkey bread is just the quintessential kid food! Servings: 24 Prep Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 15 minutes Ingredients: 3 (12 oz) packages of refrigerated biscuit dough – I used homemade dough recipe found here. 3 cups Mozzarella cheese 1 cup (2 sticks) butter 1 package of…

  • Recipes

    Hash Brown Casserole

    May 28, 2015 - By 

    If you’ve ever had the hash browns at Cracker Barrel, these are very similar to those. Just absolutely yummy! Servings: 10-12 Prep Time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 60 minutes Ingredients: 1 package 26 oz. frozen hash browns 2 cups shredded Colby cheese 1/4 cup minced onion 1/2 cup beef broth 1 cup milk 2 tbsp melted butter 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp salt 1/4 tsp ground pepper Directions: 1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. 2. Mince the onions. 3. In a large bowl, combine the frozen hash browns, cheese, and onions and mix well. 4. Combine the milk,…

  • Appetizers & Snacks - Recipes

    Chicken Bacon Ranch Bites

    May 27, 2015 - By 

    A while back I made Sausage muffin bites and they were so easy and delicious. I had some cooked shredded chicken and some bacon that needed to be eaten. I decided to try substituting those instead of the sausage. These Chicken Bacon Ranch Bites make for a savory muffin bite that’s great for a brunch or snack or a savory breakfast. Servings: 24 muffins Prep Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 35 minutes Ingredients: 2 cups shredded cheese (I used Mexican Blend) 1/2 lb. bacon (browned and crumbled) 1/2 lb. chicken (browned and shredded) 1 cup Bisquick All Purpose Mix 1…

  • Travel

    Everglades City

    May 26, 2015 - By 

    We left Naples and arrived in Everglades City a little after 2 p.m. and checked into the Everglades City Motel. When we were looking for places to stay in Everglades City there was only 3 or 4 motels, none of which seemed super nice. We booked this one, because it had really good reviews and the price was right. Our room was recently renovated. The furniture was nice and water pressure was good. I loved that they have bikes you can use and the staff was really helpful. We also got a discount on our airboat tour because we stayed…

  • Beef - Dinner - Pork - Recipes

    One-Pot Pasta Bake

    May 25, 2015 - By 

    Hope y’all have had a lovely Memorial Day weekend. Even though it’s a long weekend, I’m still going to need a quick and easy dinner resolution for this week. This One-Pot Pasta Bake is an awesome recipe. Dirty up one pan and have dinner ready in about 30 minutes! I’m also going to be having a frozen dinner I made last week, which was this easy peasy Lasagna. Servings: 6-8 Prep Time: 5 minutes Cooking Time: 20 minutes Ingredients: 8 oz. of pasta 1 lb. of hamburger meat or Italian Sausage 3 tbs. of Oregano 1 can of tomato sauce…

  • Recipes

    Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

    May 24, 2015 - By 

    Servings: 12 Prep Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 15 minutes Ingredients: 3 cups all-purpose flour 3 tbs. Poppy Seeds 1 tbs. baking powder ½ tsp. baking soda ½ tsp. salt 10 tbs. softened butter 1 cup light brown sugar 1/2 cup sugar or honey 1 tbs. grated lemon zest 2 large eggs 1½ cups plain low-fat yogurt Glaze: 1 cup powdered sugar 1 to 2 tablespoons lemon juice Directions: 1. Preheat over to 400°. Spray muffin tin with non-stick spray or if you prefer you can use cupcake liners and spray those with non-stick spray too! 2. Pour in flour,…

  • Dinner - Pork - Recipes

    Red Beans And Rice With Andouille Sausage {Crockpot}

    May 23, 2015 - By 

    I was happy to find this recipe, because I’ve been craving Red Beans and Rice for awhile. While I love Zatarain’s, eating stuff out of box just isn’t healthy. You know, it’s hello, SODIUM! This recipe offered a more authentic taste, like what you get in New Orleans with much less sodium. Servings: 6 Prep Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 3-6 hours Ingredients: 1 lb. Cajun style Andouille sausages, diced 2 (15 oz.) cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed 1 (14 1/2 oz.) can diced tomatoes (with onions and green peppers) 1/2 cup chopped green pepper 1 cup of uncooked…

  • Cookies - Dessert

    Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies with Bacon

    May 22, 2015 - By 

    The recipe for Peanut Butter, Chocolate Chip, and Bacon Cookies is a total treat. Who doesn’t love bacon and when you put it in a cookie, especially peanut butter with chocolate chips? Good gracious! Servings: 24 cookies Prep Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 10 minutes Ingredients: 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 3/4 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1/4 tsp. salt 1/2 cup butter, softened 1 cup creamy peanut butter (you can use crunchy if you prefer) 3/4 cup sugar + more for rolling cookies 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar 1 large egg 1 tbs. milk 1 tsp.…

  • Chicken - Lunch - Recipes

    Bar-B-Que Chicken

    May 21, 2015 - By 

    The other night I had planned to make Buffalo Chicken wraps, but then I realized I was out of Buffalo sauce. I had already cooked the chicken and had already shredded it, so I was kind of left to figure out what to do with the shredded chicken. I had a bottle of Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce waving at me from the pantry and then I got super excited. I also had some buns that needed to be eaten. It was a meal of destiny that ended up being a family favorite. Servings: 8 Prep Time: 5 minutes Cooking…

  • Recipes - Sides

    Strawberry Spinach Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette

    May 20, 2015 - By 

    Starting earlier in the year, I have been craving strawberries like nobody’s business! So now that it’s finally strawberry season, I’m a happy girl. I’ve also wanted to try my hand at making my own vinaigrette. This strawberry vinaigrette was the bomb! Amazing! I’m going to have a hard time buying store-bought dressing after making this. Servings: 4 Prep Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 0 minutes Ingredients: 1 bunch of spinach, chopped/remove stems 1 lb. sliced strawberries 1 container of feta 1/4 cup walnuts Dressing 2 tbs. Evoo 1/4 cup Apple cider vinegar 1 tbs. sugar or 2 tbs. honey…

  • Chicken - Dinner - Lunch - Recipes

    Pretzel Breaded Chicken Fingers

    May 19, 2015 - By 

    A couple weeks ago I posted the Cheez-It Breaded Chicken and it was so good, so now I’m on a quest to try all sorts of different breading. This Pretzel Breaded Chicken is crunchy and flavorful. My family loves pretzels and go through several bags of pretzel every month, so I was pretty sure this recipe would be a family favorite and it was! They were begging me to make it again the next day. Servings: 4 Prep Time: 25 minutes Cooking Time: 20 minutes Ingredients: 2 lbs. of chicken Breading Ingredients 2 cups of pretzels 1 tbs. garlic 1…

  • Life

    Crayon Crunch – A Personalized Adventure Book for Every Child

    May 18, 2015 - By 

    Doesn’t every child deserve to go on an adventure? I am excited to announce that Crayon Crunch is launching a Kickstarter campaign to be the first personalized children’s book that is inclusive to every ethnicity and special need. While most personalized books allow the reader only to customize the lead character’s name, Crayon Crunch is taking personalization to a new level.The printed picture book is filled with beautiful illustrations and allows readers to fully customize the lead character’s appearance. Including the name, facial features, eye color, hair color & style, skin tone and clothing. They even allow readers to add…

  • Bacon Wrapped Green Beans
    Recipes - Sides

    Bacon Wrapped Green Beans {Savory}

    May 15, 2015 - By 

    I’m constantly on the lookout for easy sides, because more often than not I’m guilty of throwing some canned corn or green beans in a pan and heating them up to go along side some of my favorite entrees like my Tangy Pork Tenderloin or this Chicken Cordon Bleu. So if you’re in need of an easy side that your family will love give these Bacon Wrapped Green Beans a try. Servings: 6 Prep Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 15 minutes Ingredients: soy sauce garlic powder 1 lb. of fresh green beans bacon Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 375°. 2.…

  • Life

    Walking down memory lane…

    May 14, 2015 - By 

    I don’t write a ton of personal stuff on here anymore, but I’d like to. Often I have all these thoughts and just can’t get them into coherent sentences. I’ve been feeling nostalgic lately. Today is always a day I really reminisce, because today is my Granddad’s birthday. He lost his battle with congestive heart failure in May 1999, so May is really a time he’s on my mind a lot. I’ll never forget the dreaded 2 a.m. phone call from my uncle. I listened to the answering machine just praying it was a wrong number only to hear my…

  • Beef - Dinner - Recipes

    One-Pot Cowboy Chili with Cornbread

    May 14, 2015 - By 

    Lately I’ve really been thinking about one-pot meals. Who doesn’t love making dinner and just dirtying one, single pot or pan? I know I do. This One-Pot Cowboy Chili is quite simple and with a house full of guys I need lots of food. This meal is one that has them pushing back from the dinner table full and happy. What more could you ask for! Servings: 6-8 Prep Time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 30 minutes Ingredients: Chili: 2 lbs. ground beef 1 medium onion, diced 1 tbs. garlic 1/3 cup of Chili Powder 1 can of Black, pinto, or…

  • Dessert - Recipes

    Strawberry Pudding

    May 13, 2015 - By 

    Since May is Strawberry month and it’s strawberry season, I’m sharing several strawberry recipes this month. If you missed my Strawberry Crumble recipe, you need to go check it out! I’ve also been craving these Chocolate Chip Strawberry Cookies. Today, I’m sharing a recipe that is so easy and mouth-watering. I took the idea of Southern Banana pudding and altered it a bit for this Strawberry Pudding. Servings: 8 Prep Time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 0 minutes Ingredients: 1 lb. of strawberries, sliced 2 boxes Vanilla pudding 1 box Strawberry Jell-O graham crackers 1 tub Cool Whip (12 oz. container)…

  • Travel

    Naples, Florida

    May 12, 2015 - By 

    After leaving Sanibel Island, we continued south for a stop in Naples. Naples has lots of metered parking along the streets as well as some parking lots. We probably drove around for a good 30 minutes looking for a spot as well as gawking at the beautiful homes. We were about to bale when we found a spot in front of Oh! Oh! Shoes on 12th Avenue, which was perfect because we were not far from Naples Pier. This area where we parked was filled with upscale shops and restaurants. Beautiful area with gorgeous landscaping and clean streets. It was…