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Thursday, February 23, 2012

Need Your Help-Pot Luck Dish!

Hello Thursday, oh how I wish you were Friday!
My days seem all messed up this week!  I have been working longer hours at work the past few days in order to get off early on Friday!  

Friday I will be heading up to Minneapolis to attend a Butler Alumni Event!
I am really excited for the oppertunity to get together with fellow Butler Alum and watch the last Horizon League Basketball Game!
The evening is going to be full of cheering on our Butler Bulldogs in basketball, a yummy pot luck dinner, and I am sure talking about how adorable blue 3 is!

Here is where I need your help!  I am drawing a bit of a blank on what to bring to the pot luck.  I can't decide between bringing a dessert (cookies/Bars?) or some sort of salad.  I was leaning towards a pasta salad, because I figured a it would travel well!

Here are a few of the recipes I was thinking of making!
Any recipe really sticking out to you?  
Which one would you love to enjoy at a pot luck!
I am also open to any other suggestions!!


Do you have a specific go to dish for a pot luck?
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Wednesday, February 22, 2012

What I am Loving Wednesday-Kitchen Edition and Ash Wednesday

Happy Hump Day Everyone!  And Happy (do you say happy?) Ash Wednesday!
Just a few short days till the weekend!

Since it is Ash Wednesday the season of Lent is officially upon us.  For me each year I pick something to give up for Lent.  I usually spend a couple of days trying to figure out what exactly that one thing will be.  This year I have decided to give up Splenda and all forms of artificial sweeteners.  But also this Lent season I really want to focus more on the meaning of Lent and what the "giving up" of a specific item in my life truly means. For me I think it is easy to say oh yes I gave this up without thinking twice about why I gave it up, this year I want to change that! 

Now for what I am loving...
My what I am loving post today was sparked by my parents.  My parents have been talking for weeks about remodeling our kitchen.  Not sure how serious they are about this whole remodeling thing.  All their talk about beautiful kitchens has gotten me thinking about my own dream kitchen!

So what would my dream kitchen look like?
I love the look of an all white kitchen, bright, sparkling, clean clutter free, stainless steel, and clean lines.  Big windows with a lake view would be nice too!

Here are just a few kitchens I just fell in love with from Pinterest!




How lovely are all these kitchens?
I could see myself whipping up a wonderful meal in any one of these kitchens!  Maybe whipping up this or these?
Oh how I cannot wait to someday have a house!






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Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Obstacles

Obstacles

I feel this past year has been one full of surprises and unexpected obstacles/hurtles...
I needed a little reminder that there is something great within me.  I needed a reminder to believe in myself and trust that my day to truly shine is coming!

What do you need to be reminded of today?
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Monday, February 20, 2012

If I had the day off..

Hello Monday, I can't believe I get to see you again so soon!

If I had today off I could think of a million things I would have done today like... Sleep in, make pancakes for breakfast, baked... maybe I would have even treated myself to a mani and pedi!  The list could go on and on!

 A three day weekend would have been glorious!

 Any of you enjoying a lovely three day weekend? Alas I am at work, so I need to make the best of it!  But on the bright side I do have a great line up of recipes for you this week. Recipes that I am really excited about! 

 Shall we take a look at them? I think we shall! 
 Two of these recipes I made this weekend, but I am going to include them in our list this morning! Since the weather in Minnesota was beautiful (think sunny and 40's this is wonderful for MN) my family grilled all weekend! Grilling makes me excited for spring even more then I already am! Alright winter you can end already!  

Lets begin with a delicious side dish that was served along grilled scallops (and steak for my dad).  A healthy version of Cheesy Broccoli rice! Brought to you by Better Homes and Garden. 
I actually cooked the rice in chicken broth instead of water and added a bit of garlic!  I was happy with the added flavor!  Fresh steamed broccoli was also used.  Healthy comfort food is always a winner in my book!

Sunday I prepared this wonderful Italian Rice Salad from Cooking Light!  
Served along side grilled Tomato Basil Chicken (live near a HyVee?  go pick that chicken up)!!  I used grilled asparagus in place of the green beans.  The smoky grilled flavor from the asparagus added a great flavor dimension.  
This recipe makes a large batch of salad, perfect to pack for lunch!

Oh but wait there is more!  There are three more recipes in the line up this week!  
I did the prep work for these Skinny Taste Spinach Lasagna Rolls Yesterday!

They looked wonderful, and I cannot wait to eat them tonight!  I have had a serious lasagna craving the last few weeks!  


Stay tuned for the results!  Happy Monday!
And if you have an added day to your weekend enjoy it!

PS check out my guest post from Saturday over at Foodie Fiasco!   Kelly has a fabulous blog, I just love it!



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Friday, February 17, 2012

Puppies and Recipes

Hello Friday! 
Glad to see you again!  
Now can the weekend please not fly by, that would be much appreciated!

Before we get to pinterest recipes I have to share this with you, because cute puppies just melt my heart!

Yesterday afternoon my Alma Mater Butler University unveiled the newest Butler Mascot!  Throughout my four years at Butler our live mascot was the lovable and adorable Blue II.
Blue II was a highlight of every basketball game and well loved icon on Butlers campus (he even gets a huge birthday party every year)!!!
Well now Butler has a new cutie wandering around campus Trip the newest Butler Bulldog aka Blue III!  Third in line to be the official mascot of Butler University!
How cute is he (thats Blue II with him)!!
Just look at that face!  Such an adorable wrinkly face!!
Trip will be making his Butler Debut along with the original Blue and Blue II at this Saturdays Men's Basketball game!  I seriously wish I could be there to see that little cutie!

Now that I have made you all want to run out and buy an adorable bulldog  how about I share something tasty.  Like two delicious recipes I made this week.  Two more keepers off the pin board!

Lets start with the Kick'in Chicken Chili!
My dad made this  chili Monday night for our families impromptu dinner party!  We had Melinda and Mark over along with our family friend Renotta for a night of tasty food, relaxing and good conversation!

The chili was delicious (and we made this salad again); just enough spice and packed full of flavor!  This chili reheated great the next day at lunch as well!  Always a win!  My dad made the soup on the stove verses in the crock pot!

This next recipe fueled my love for roasted vegetables!  
Wow, that word sums up this recipe.  While this recipe takes sometime to prepare the time is worth it.  Especially when each bite you take is a bit different depending on what vegetables you get!  My favorite part of this dish was the roasted sweet potatoes and mushrooms!  Love me some mushrooms! 

So there you have it!  
Happy Friday Everyone!
I hope you all have a fabulous and relaxing weekend!








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Thursday, February 16, 2012

Still on Cloud 9

Say What?
It's already Thursday!  I have no idea where this week has gone but let me tell you I am not complaining.  I think I am still a bit on cloud nine from my weekend with Mark!

I figured I would share this with you today...

It's Ok Thursday!


Its Ok Thursdays
It's  Ok That... 
... I got back Monday night and I have yet to unpack!  
(now if only my suitcase was that organized)!
...After seeing The Vows this weekend I now want to watch every single chick flick I own!  Movie night anyone?
...I have stayed up way later then usual this week because I am putting apps on my Ipad.  
Any suggestions?
and finally
...that it is Thursday and I am just now getting around to sharing this weeks Pinterest Challenge Recipes!
Better late then never right?
Thats what I thought!

Only two recipes this week, well if you count yesterdays shrimp risotto thats 3!
So here they are!



And  just because this recipe was delicious I have to mention it again!
Delicious!
Happy Thursday Everyone, one day closer to Friday!!

Ps look what got picked up from Color Me Mine!
Very Happy with the end results!  The colors are so bright and vibrant, and the flowers ad a little something! !
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Wednesday, February 15, 2012

An Extra Special Day

Good Morning Everyone?
How are you all today, did you all have a wonderful Valentines day?  I hope so!
Despite being 15 hours apart Mark and I made the most out of Valentines day and our Anniversary with sweet cards and a wonderful Face Time Date!  Mark the wonderful boyfriend that he is surprised me by sending me these beautiful flowers.
(Mark let me know that the floral arrangement was called Lily Pulitzer)!
The flowers were such a surprise, and made me feel extra special.  He sure knows how to melt my heart!  I am a lucky girl!

I made my mom our family friend Renotta and I an extra special dinner to celebrate the day.  A creamy risotto studded with shrimp made for a simple yet elegant meal.  Caprese salad and wine rounded out this perfect meal!
I followed a Taste of Home Recipe for Shrimp Risotto with Spinach.  A bit of rosemary and basil were added to the dish which I thought added a nice depth of flavor.  Risotto is one of those dishes that is comforting and delicious all in one!

And for a little sweet treat after dinner, the three of us enjoyed Dark Chocolate Creme Brulee.
Because Valentines day just wouldn't be Valentines Day without a little chocolate!

How did you celebrate Valentines day?  Do anything special?

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