Monday, February 28, 2011

Another new recipe (Just noticed my sister posted the same one!)

I tried another recipe from my great new cookbook. Here it is if you want to try it. I made a couple changes that I will note:

Chicken Lasagna
Ingredients

9 uncooked lasagna noodles
2 cans condensed cream of chicken soup (I did 1 chicken, 1 cream of mushroom)
2/3 cup milk (I skipped the milk and added cottage cheese to thicken it up)
2 1/2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
2 cups cubed, cooked chicken
18 slices process American cheese ( I used shredded cheddar)

Directions
1.Cook noodles according to package directions; drain. In a large saucepan, combine soup and milk. Cook and stir over low heat until blended. Remove from the heat; stir in vegetables and chicken. In a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish, layer three noodles, a third of the soup mixture and six cheese slices. Repeat layers twice.

2.Cover and bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes. Uncover; bake 5-10 minutes longer or until bubbly. Let stand for 15 minutes before cutting.

Note: I just cooked my chicken in the crockpot with all of the ingredients (besides the noodles and cheese) and it saved a lot of time.


Saturday, February 26, 2011

Bathtub Markers

Sam (and Nic) love taking baths. I recently found these bathtub markers and Sam had a blast with them.

 Yes, that's marker AND chocolate on her face ;)
I love these two!!

All ready for March!




Friday, February 25, 2011

Day 30 — Hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365 days

Well, I think it took me about 45 days to do a 30 day blog post! It has been a lot of fun to have something to blog about everyday. I hope you have enjoyed reading it.

My hopes, dreams, and plans for the next 365 days. Wow, this is such a loaded question for us right now. We literally have no idea where we will be or what we will be doing after this summer. Nic graduates in May from Law School and will take the Bar at the end of July. We are currently looking for a job and that will really determine our whole future.

I guess I would say that my hopes and dreams would  be that Nic will be able to
A: Find a job
B: That his job will be one that he enjoys doing
C: That we can live close to our families (but I am really ok going anywhere we can find a job)
D: I hope that we can move out of our apartment
E: I hope that we can buy a new car

I know that doesn't sound too exciting, but at this point we are really uncertain of our future. I am excited and hopeful for the upcoming 365 days!

Thursday, February 24, 2011

FINALLY!

 Sam has pretty much no hair! I have been waiting anxiously for the time that I could do something with it. We finally were able to pull off pigtails. I am so excited.
 This is her helping
 This is the face that Sam makes when I take her picture and ask her to smile and show me her teeth


Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Day 28- Favorite Books

Jane Eyre
5 People You Meet In Heaven
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Autobiography of Martin Luther King
All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten
Fablehaven

Monday, February 21, 2011

Day 27-What’s in your purse

My purse is usually pretty well organized. I have...
4 ziplock bags (Medicine, Coupons, Sam--toys/snacks, Diapers & Wipes)
cell Phone
camera
ipod
3 pens
lip gloss
mints
wallet
hand sanitizer
sun glasses
tissues
book club book: Emma
powder
lotion
I know, I carry A LOT of things on me at all times!

Friday, February 18, 2011

Little America

I don't know what it is about me, but I LOVE staying in hotels. I love the nice TV with cable, the nice king size bed, the swimming pool, room service, so much space for Sam to run around, not having to clean...just everything about it (maybe I will feel differently when I have a house with some of those things). I especially really love the Little America. Nic and I stayed at the Grand America after we got married and I just love that place. The Little America looks so similar and is so much cheaper, so it works out really nice. Even though we are only 20 minutes from home, it still feels like we are away.
Here are some pictures of our evening so far...

 A girl after my own heart, Sam ran straight to the bed when we came in the room! It is SOOO comfortable.
 She had so much fun exploring all of the new hiding places
 Yummy dinner!
 Even better dessert!
View from our room

 Sam loved splashing in the pool
Tired out from swimming

Thanks Nic, I love you!!

Day 26-Favorite Music/Artists

Obviously Country music is my favorite. My favorite artists are:
Tim McGraw
Faith Hill
Chris LeDoux
George Straight
Reba
Pretty much 90's country music!
I also love Mariah Carey, Boyz II Men & Michael Jackson

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Day 25-Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs

  1. White Palace by Clay Walker
  2. Lovesick Blues by George Straight
  3. I've Got This Friend by Faith Hill
  4. All That She Wants by Ace of Base
  5. Too Much To Ask by Avril Lavigne
  6. Away In A Manger by Nat King Cole
  7. Watcha Gonna Do With A Cowboy by Chris LeDoux
  8. Party In The USA by Miley Cyrus
  9. Signed Sealed Delivered I'm Yours/You've Got Mail Soundtrack
  10. Need to Be Next To You by Sara Evans
Do you think I like Country music?

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Dinner & Dessert

I recently got a new cookbook and I am totally in love with it. The recipes are great and not too complicated. I wanted to start posting some of the recipes that I am trying. Here is tonight's dinner & dessert recipes:

Lattice Chicken Pot Pie
Ingredients

1 (16 ounce) package frozen California blend vegetables
2 cups cubed, cooked chicken
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of potato soup, undiluted (I used Cream of Chicken)
1 cup milk
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1 (2.8 ounce) can French-fried onions
1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
1 (8 ounce) package refrigerated crescent rolls

Directions
1.In a large bowl, combine the vegetables, chicken, soup, milk, cheese, onions and seasoned salt. Transfer to a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish.

2.Unroll the crescent roll dough and separate into two rectangles. Seal the perforations; cut each rectangle lengthwise into 1/2-in. strips. Form a lattice crust over the chicken mixture. bake, uncovered, at 375 degrees F for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. (Mine only took about 20 minutes)

Sugar Cookie Bars (recipe from my in-laws that is FABULOUS)
1 cup butter, at room temperature
2 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
5 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda

1. Prepare bars: In a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing after each egg. Mix in vanilla.
2. In a separate bowl whisk together flour, salt & baking soda. Add to wet mixture and mix just until combined. Spread on a greased, rimmed baking sheet (use a 13 x 18/jelly roll pan). The dough will be just like cookie dough- heavy & sticky- so it’s best to spray your hands with a little nonstick spray and use them to help mold the dough into the pan.
3. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-15 min, until light golden brown or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.

Frosting (Which is the real key to these!)
8 oz cream cheese
4-5 cups powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup butter
1/2 tsp almond extract or vanilla
Food coloring/Sprinkles
The cookie bar is nice and soft and the frosting is fabulous. My sister-in-law made these ones and they were great!

Valentine's Day

Nic and I had a wonderful evening out at the Roof. We had such a great table with such a wonderful view. I love how elegent the atmosphere is. It was a perfect place to celebrate Valentine's Day.




Day 24-A photo you took

Monday, February 14, 2011

Happy Valentines Day!

Sam had fun opening her Valentines gifts from Nic and I.

 She loves her books!
 And candy!
Here is the Valentines cake I made for Nic. It's a double heart, which is kind of hard to see in the picture. It's a fun pan and I had fun decorating it.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Friday, February 11, 2011

Day 22- Favorite vacation

I don't think any vacation can ever compare to our Honeymoon on Catalina Island. It will always remain a magical place in my heart. I dream of the day that we can go back there. Our roll of film was ruined when we developed it, so most of our pictures are pink and grainy. Sad, I know! But here they are...

Nic and I overlooking Avalon Bay



 This is the balcony off of our hotel room. I wish you could see the incredible view of the ocean behind me.
 Inside the historic Avalon Theatre
 My first time snorkeling!

 Our favorite restaurant in the entire world, Antonio's Pizzeria & Cabaret. If I had one wish right now it would be that we would magically appear right there, right now.  
 Isn't he handsome?



It is always around 70 degrees and sunny, perfect!

Kayaking in the Pacific Ocean, what an amazing experience!

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Day 20- Picture of yourself from 10 years ago

Yes, I graduated from High School 10 years ago!! That makes me feel so old.