Obstacles

Obstacles

Source: s812.photobucket.com via Hilliary @ Happily Ever Healthy on Pinterest

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?

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!

Source: skinnytaste.com via Hilliary @ Happily Ever Healthy on Pinterest

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

Pantry Chicken and Beans -From Bev Cooks

Source: bevcooks.com via Hilliary @ Happily Ever Healthy on Pinterest

Black Bean Enchilada's-Cooking Light 

Source: myrecipes.com via Hilliary @ Happily Ever Healthy on Pinterest

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!

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!

Source: bhg.com via Hilliary @ Happily Ever Healthy on Pinterest

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!  

Roasted Garlic and Caramelized Vegetable Tostadas from How Sweet It Is!

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!

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!

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!

Roasted Garlic and Caramelized Veggie Tostados from How Sweet It Is!

Source: howsweeteats.com via Hilliary @ Happily Ever Healthy on Pinterest

Kick'in Chicken Chili from Better Homes and Gardens

Source: bhg.com via Hilliary @ Happily Ever Healthy on Pinterest

And  just because this recipe was delicious I have to mention it again!

Shrimp Risotto with Spinach!

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! !

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?

Valentines Day, Two Years Later

Two years ago today...

I put on a cute yet comfortable outfit, got into my car and headed to my favorite Starbucks. Unsure of what to expect my stomach was twisting with anticipation and excitement. Little did I know that a simple date at Starbucks would turn into the wonderful relationship Mark and I have today.  

As I sat across from Mark two years ago today I couldn't help but notice how easy our conversation seemed to flow, and how I felt completely comfortable being myself.  I couldn't help but think that there was just something different about him.  I was living in the moment and didn't want the night to end.  I guess you could say the rest is history because that first 7 hour date at Starbucks was what sealed the deal for date #2 and well here we are two years later.

  Two years later he still knows how to make me a happy girl, and continues to surprise me in the little thoughtful things he does.  

So as I say Happy Valentines Day to All of you, I want to say Happy Anniversary and Valentines Day (Us Day-as Mark put it) to Mark, my best friend. Thank you for your continuing support, acceptance and love.

Source: veronicas.tumblr.com via Susie on Pinterest

I hope your Valentines Day is full of Love and Candy Hearts (as my Valentines card from my mom put it) and of course chocolate!

Happy Valentines Day!

A Celebration

Why Hello There Monday!  Why I wish you hadn't come so soon, I would still like to be enjoying my weekend!

I don't think I could have asked for a better weekend.  I dont want to sound cliche but everything was perfect.

 I woke up nice and early Friday morning to spend sometime with mark before he left for work.  And then the day was mine to do whatever I pleased! A short workout and quick shower left me ready for some errands and a late lunch. However the highlight of my day was a brisk walk to a cozy coffee shop where I spent my afternoon hunkered down with a good book, sipping on delicious coffee and watching the snow swirl and fall! It was nice to just sit and enjoy the moment,and the moment was made even better when Mark showed up! After some impromptu "house seeing" Mark and I headed to get everything needed for dinner! Our plan was to have dinner all cooked and ready for his parents so we could sit and eat when they got there. But let's just say that did not happen. Mark and his dad braved the cold and grilled up a delicious dinner of shrimp chicken and loads of veggies, I used a few pinterest recipes to make dipping sauces for our meats and made this delicious Tomato and Mozzarella Salad with Fresh Basil!  Delicious! 

 The food was a hit, the conversation great, the board games amusing and the wine flowing! It was a night where you look at the clock and gasp because you have no idea where the time seemed to go! 

 Saturday started somewhat bright and early, with a brunch that was tasty and left everyone at the table saying yum!  We tried Northstar Cafe, my friend Ashley of Places to Go Things To Buy said I would love this cafe. And she was so right! From the Apple Cranberry muffin Mark and I split, to the ricotta pancakes, hot multi grain cereal and of course coffee I was extremely impressed. I told mark I think we found our Columbus brunch location! We ventured out into a blustery cold yet sunny day to explore a historic book store in German Village. 32 rooms of endless books, it was a bit overwhelming and slightly organized like an antique shop. But mark his parents and I enjoyed wandering through this old house for close to an hour. Mark and I relived childhood a bit and picked up Mad Libs and Where's Waldo (which was our post dinner entertainment)!  We parted ways with his parents and Mark and I went in search for our dessert! We stumbled upon a little cupcake shop and picked a few sweet treats up before heading to see... The Vows This was Marks suggestion as the weather was a bit to cold for us to wander in an out of little shops like we had planned! And I enjoyed ever minute of the movie, because sitting right next to me holding my hand the entire time was Mark!

 If you haven't seen the vows you really need to go see this movie. Perfect movie for Valentines day, shows what it means to truly love someone completely!   By this point in the day I was itching to go home and get all pretty for our anniversary dinner! 

Mark had made reservations at a fairly new seafood place in down town Columbus called 89 Fish. And for two seafood loving people such as Mark and I this was the perfect restaurant to celebrate 2 years together. Scallops with truffle risotto were enjoyed as an appetizer, followed by the most delicious crab legs for Mark, and a seafood stocked Cioppino for myself! Cioppinos are becoming one of my favorite dishes to order when out. I love the combination of mussels,scallops, fish and shrimp all cooked in a delicious broth with crusty garlicky bread! And i will admit i stole several bites of Marks crab legs! Even though we had picked up cupcakes earlier for dessert I just couldnt resist ordering the chocolate torte, Mark and I were in Chocolate heaven! To say the food was delicious is a bit of an understatement because it was fantastic. and our wait staff was accommodating beyond belief. Our waiter went above and beyond what was expected to make our evening wonderful.  In the three hours Mark and I spent at dinner nothing else besides him and I mattered. Everything this weekend made me realize all over why I first fell in love with Mark.  There was a hysterical moment involving a tip for the valet that left me running in search of an ATM. It was pretty comical, and yes Mark and I enjoyed round 2 of dessert in the form of cupcakes (which was accompanied by Mad Libs, Wheres Waldo, and anniversary cards)!   

 I was sad to see Sunday come, because goodbyes are never easy. But we made the most of our time together. We tried a new church and met up with Ashley and her husband Doc for a fabulous Geeek lunch! One thing is for sure Mark and I ate at some wonderful places this weekend. I always enjoy when Mark and I are able to meet up with Ashley and Doc. There is always lively conversation and who doesn't love catching up with a bestie!  I know this post has been a bit of a long one, but the weekend was just to wonderful not to share it with all of you!  I promise I will have the Pinterest Challenge recipes for you later this week!  

 How was your weekend? Tell me what you did!