Make It

Hello Friday! 

Hello new month, with new and exciting things!

And Hello Amazing Recipe!
Sweet Potato and Chickpea Stew with Quinoa

Two Words sum up this recipe... ok maybe three. 

Make this ASAP (that is more then 3 words ASAP is like 4 words in one)!

When the entire dinner table is silent because we are practically scrapping our bowls clean I think we have a winner of a dish!

So run to your nearest store, get all these fabulous ingredients and make this colorful and delicious soup for dinner!  Yes I (and the rest of the family) enjoyed it that much!

Thank You Sissy for sending me this recipe, my sister knows me all to well!

Happy Friday everyone, enjoy a wonderful weekend.  See you Monday with a new line up!

Looking Forward To...

Hello Thursday, and Hello March!

How is it already March?

Source: tumblr.com via Christina on Pinterest

Is everyone having a good week?  Enjoy your extra day in February?

I just have a feeling that March is going to be a good month!  It is already starting off great!

This week has had some unexpected turns in it.  While the unexpected is not bad I am looking forward to an evening of good food, laughter and some good wine at my favorite restaurant!

The RedWood Room!

I will leave you with these words on this fine Thursday morning.  These are the words that have been getting me through the week!

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

Is there anything you are looking forward to this evening?
Happy Thursday!

Listen

I loved Shel Silverstein growing up.  

The Giving Tree was one of my favorite books!

I can still remember curling up for a bed time storing and listening to either my mom or my dad read me the Giving Tree as I drifted off to sleep. 

A  few weeks back I ran across this poem by Shel Silverstein...

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

I just had to share it with you all today!

Happy Wednesday!

Touching Base

Hello Lovelies!

How are you all on this lovely Tuesday morning?

Im doing well but the state of Minnesota cannot decide what season we are in.  One minute it is 41 and sunny the next we have a severe winter weather advisory!  Can I just jump on a plane to someplace warm?

St Thomas would be nice!

I thought I would take a look back today at the goals I set for the 2012 year.  I wanted to see how I was doing at keeping my New Years resolutions!

Check out my 2012 goals here!

So how am I really doing...

I would say some goals I am doing really well on and others I could still use some work on!

Running a Race:

This is one of those goals that is a work in progress.  I had both races planned out that I wanted to run, unfortunately shin splints and tendonitis has kept me from running.  But I am determined to run a race by the end of this year!  

Not sweating the small stuff:

 I have noticed I am a lot more conscious about letting the little things get to me (I still let somethings get to me more then they should).  I am trying my hardest to sit back and let things happen as they will.  Trust me for a type A person like myself this is not easy, but hey I am a work in progress!  

The path to healthy living.

This is one I can safely say I am succeeding at!  Even though I am not running I am cross training and changing up my weight routines!  Feels good to get into a new routine!  The pin challenge that I have embarked on is helping me to expand my healthy cooking, and to be honest I am loving all the healthy recipes I have been trying!  

Loving Myself, and improving relationships 

This is a tough one, because I find it extremely easy to pick out the qualities you dislike about yourself. 

I am trying to focus on the positive things about myself verses beating myself up about all the things I disklike.  Sometimes this is easier said then done, but hey like I said above I am a work in progress!
Improving relationships was another big one with me.  I wanted to spend more time forming deeper connections, and spend more time listening to the people I love.  As far as my relationship with God and growing deeper in that area I can say I am trying.  This new year has brought about new struggles espicially the struggle of knowing there is a plan.  My biggest problem is I want to plan to happen now when in reality its not entirely up to me.  Yes this I am struggling with, but with time things change.  

How are you all doing with your new years resolutions or 2012 goals?
Are you checking in on your progress from time to time?

Oldies

Hi There!

Everyone have a relaxing weekend?
Anyone watch the oscars?  I caught  little bit of it last night,  however I missed the red carpet which is always one of my favorite parts!

Anyone have a best dressed?
I really liked Gwyneth Paltrow's dress.  I just like the shape of it for some reason

Now I have to say my brain still seems to be in weekend mode this Monday morning.  I am having a hard time switching my brain from relax mode into work mode!  I have to say that this past weekend was exactly what my body needed.  I had no to do list this weekend, can you believe that.  I am the girl that lives by a running to do list.  I almost feel lost without one, but this weekend I ditched the to do list and went with the flow.  And man oh man did that feel good.  

Friday I had the Butler Alumni Event in Minneapolis.

 We cheered on our Butler Bulldogs who unfortunately did not pull off a win.  But that is ok I still had a wonderful time meeting new people.  It was good to get out and socialize.  I was a bit nervous going to this event because I knew absolutly no one!  But everyone was welcoming and made me feel comfortable!

Saturday I slept in and had a lazy morning in my PJs... Finally! 

I enjoyed a slow morning of coffee, and chatting.  It was nice not to rush through these morning rituals that seem so hurried during the week!   A quite night in was the perfect ending to a slow paced day. 

The relaxing vibe of the weekend carried over to Sunday with a slow pace morning before church followed by a large pancake brunch.  Yes I made my favorite pancakes!  

I would much rather be home munching on leftover pancakes and more then likely still in my PJ's!

For this weeks dinner I decided to go back and make some old favorites, because nothing really stood out to my taste buds as I looked through my pin board.  I know that is hard to believe when there are still well over 1,000 pins!

So what oldie am I bringing back this week?

Queue BBQ Chicken Burrito Bowls!

Always delicious, and always unique!  I feel like I have not made these in forever. 

We will also be enjoying Renotta's famous spaghetti!

But don't worry I still have two new recipes to highlight this week. 

The first is from the pin board.  Tortolini Ministrone soup from Taste of Home. 

I made this soup yesterday night for dinner when I couldn't find sweet potatoes for the second new recipe of the week!  The ingredient list remind me of my Grandmothers Ravioli soup which is one of my favorites.  I cannot wait to enjoy this soup for lunch today!

And the second recipe is this Stew...

Sweet Potato and Chickpea Stew with Quinoa-From Naturally Ella

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

My sister sent me this  recipe on Saturday and I knew I just had to make it!  The stew features chickpeas, sweet potatoes and quinoa!  I had fully planned on making this for Sunday night dinner but when you cannot find sweet potatoes that presents a bit of a problem!  Yum!

I cannot wait to try this recipe!  My sister knows me so well I just have a feeling I will love this soup!

Lets take on last look at the final recipe from last weeks pin challenge!
Pantry Chicken and Beans From Bev Cook's

I baked the dish just as the recipe was written but served my portion with pan seared tofu!  I think this recipe has a lot of potential, but I want to play around with it a bit!  I left out the anchovy paste because I didn't think my family would like the flavor it lended.

So there you have it!
How was everyones weekends?
Did anyone else have a relaxing and lazy weekend?

Friday Friday Friday!

Hello Lovelies!

It is finally Friday, and one word sums up this week... long!

I am ready for a little R&R this weekend.  But tonight is all about my Butler Bulldogs!

 Thank you everyone for your input yesterday on the pot luck dishes, I ended up making this salad...

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

I was all ready to bake up something yummy but just lost my motivation as the day went on (does this ever happen to you?).  The salad came together in minutes, and will be a perfect dish to snack on during a game! Maybe the chocolate pretzel cookies or red velvet brownies will be a special treat this weekend! 

Now lets look at this weeks dinners.  

Lets start with Lasagna Rolls from Skinny Taste.  Lasagna is one of those dishes that screams comfort food to me, but I hate how tedious and time consuming the prep time can be!  Lasagna was always a favorite meal growing up and when I was younger I would eat a half pan of my moms lasagna.   Yes a half of pan just for me!   Now I have to say that lasagna rolls are my new favorite way to enjoy this favorite comfort food of mine.  Easy to assemble can be made ahead of time and all the flavors I love! 

I added some vegetarian sausage into the mix and oh man was it good!  Great addition to an already wonderful recipe!

Make these!

Our next meal went from Italian to Mexican with Black Bean and Cheese Enchiladas from Cooking Light.  

My picture did not look as neat as theirs.

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

The sauce on these enchiladas were delicious, but I think there was a bit to much of it.  The enchiladas fell apart as I served them.  But that did not stop these enchiladas from being down right delicious!  I am for sure going to make these again, only next time with less sauce!

The third week in this weeks pin challenge has yet to be made. 

 Pantry Chicken and Beans. 

Come yesterday evening I just did not have the energy to cook.  So this lovely dish is going to be dinner on Saturday night!  

On a totally random side note this lovely little skirt brightened my day yesterday!

Love the salmon pink color, this JCrew skirt is the bright color part of my early morning!
Anything brightening your Friday morning?
Happy Friday Everyone!

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!

Chocolate Chip Pretzel Cookies?

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

I have been dying to make these cookies-Salty and sweet yes please!
Southwester Black Bean and Corn Salad-Skinny Taste

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

Guacamole Burchetta-Just A Taste

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

This could be fun and just let everyone top there own bread!

Tortelini Pasta Salad-Our Best Bites

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

And because we need one more dessert to drool over!
Red Velvet Brownies-From Smells Like Home!

Source: smells-like-home.com via Hilliary @ Happily Ever Healthy on Pinterest

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?