February - CHECK

Back to see how I am doing on my New Year Resolutions.

What new things have I tried this month?!?! A few things actually...

Deep Fried Pickles

You would think I went to the state fair or something...but no, I didn't. They serve these at BWW. I was at lunch with a group of ladies on a Sunday afternoon after a day of bridesmaid dress shopping (so excited to be part of this wedding in September). One of the girls ordered these and I had to try one...they were sooo yummy!!! I loved them and I plan to add this to my list of food to eat @ the state fair!

Chicken Wonton Tacos

Tate and I went on a date night a few weeks ago. We went and saw the movie 'The Vow' and headed over to Applebee's after for 'late night appetizers'. I usually want to get the mozzarella sticks, but I thought I would change it up and TRY SOMETHING NEW :) These things were really good (and probably better for you)! I would recommend them!

[source]

I tried Zumba for the first time this past Sunday and I really liked it. They just started offering it at the gym I go to, so I finally decided to embarrass myself and try it. I got a really good workout (burned 500+ calories during the hour class) and felt very awkward the whole time. The class was FULL...with all different ages, sizes and personalities. I will definitely be attending again!!!

On to how the second half of my New Years Resolution...organization!!!

This month was all about organizing files and coupons. In order to do so...I purchased a label maker and fell in love with it the minute I turned it on!

Can be purchased HERE

No they didn't ask me to try this out and blog about it. It was on sale for $10...so I knew it was time to buy one and get to work on organizing anything that would require me to use this!!!

I went to town on our filing of important information! I went in and pulled out all the old stuff and put it in a 'shred it' pile! I then labeled everything with my new beauty!!! It was so much fun!!

I am a coupon hoarder...to some people! I very rarely purchase anything without a coupon...especially clothes! All stores seem to have coupons, you just have to find them! So with my coupon hoarding problem...they usually sit in a pile on the end of our counter and look over them frequently to see which expire soon. Well that was until last Friday...thanks to Sherry over @ Young House Love! She posted about 'Conquering Coupon Cluttering' and I instantly knew I had to buy that organizer. So after work, I stopped @ Tarjay and looked for 15 minutes....and then I finally found it! It was the last one..so I knew it was meant to be :)

I even used my nifty new label maker on it! Food coupons = restaurants since I have a separate organizer for grocery coupons. It fits in my purse so it's always with me and I love the notepad so I can write what I need and what coupon I plan to use for it. I also put down if the coupon is on my phone...because many stores now offer mobile coupons!

Being organized makes me happy and being happy makes me smile!!!

Baked Salmon

I am a very picky eater...so it seems that we are eating the same thing over and over again. Thanks to pinterest, we have switched it up a bit here and there. I decided that we could spoil ouselves a few times a month and I picked up some salmon at the grocery store. I knew Tate would just love it. I had tried it on our honeymoon and really liked it, so I was hoping I could make it to taste just as good.

What you need:
- Fresh Salmon
- Spices of your choosing (we used Tastefully Simple Seasoned Salt)
- A glaze of your choosing (we used Tastefully Simply Honey Teriyaki Sauce on mine and Pomengranate Chipotle Glaze on Tate's)

What to do:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees
- Lightly paste salmon with olive oil
- Sprinkle spices on salmon
- Cook salmon for 15 minutes
- After 15 minutes, paste glaze on salmon
- Cook another 5 minutes

My piece with Honey Teriyaki Sauce

Tate's piece with Pomengranate Chipotle Glaze

We served wild rice with our fish...which I love! This meal was delicious and it tasted better than what I had on our honeymoon. It may be that I love teriyaki sauce.

Oscars

I must not be on the 'up' of all the new fashion that is out there because I feel like I get more and more disappointed with what gowns were choosen. What you will see in my 'best dressed' is that there has been a theme throughout this award season and my taste. I am drawn to a certain color and of course...sequence :)

Giuliana Rancic

Giuliana looks fabulous...once again! I love the 'old hollywood' look. This dress fits her perfectly and I love the red lips. I also really love the detailed straps!!!

Robin Robinson

This dress is so beautiful and I think it is very age appropriate for her. I love that she is showing off her awesome toned arms! I also think she picked the perfect amount of jewelry.

Octavia Spencer

This dress makes Octavia look so sliming! She has once said in an interview that she's worn 3 pairs of spanx. I wonder if she did last night? I love that she won support actress for her work in 'The Help'. I am currently reading that book! When I finish the book, I plan to watch the movie!

Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez is the one that started the trend of the plunging neckline at the Grammy's so many years ago. This dress fits her like a glove. I even like the sleeves...so unique!

By now...you have caught on to my theme! I am in love with the nude dresses! I was very drawn to them when I went through all the pictures and before I knew it, I am choosen all nude dresses!

I watched the show and thought it was very, blah. It may be that I didn't know more than half the movies nominated, but I mainly watch for the fashion (of course) and to see the winners of the big categories and hear there speeches!

All photos courtesy of People.com

What did you guys think of the Oscars? Who were your best dressed?

Lent Season

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday. "Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. It is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption." (Catholic.org)

I have given up many things during this season in the past. Last year I gave up sweets...and it looks like I will be giving that up again. My office has a big candy dish @ the front desk and I am up there constantly munching on it! I have really sensative teeth so eating too much of it hurts! It will be hard to give this up because it is always in my face...but it will help me not have so much sugar that is not good for me or my teeth.

Did you give up anything for lent? What did you give up?

Wedding -Grand March-

PARTY TIME!!!!

We did our grand march as soon as we arrived at our reception. I was so excited to get inside and see everyone and see how our reception looked. We picked a couple songs for our grand march. We picked 'Eye of the Tiger' for our bridal party and 'Let's get it Started' for Tate and I.

 

Some of the bridal party

 

Best Man & MOH

 

I was so scared that Tate was going to drop me...hence the face!

CAN'T STOP SMILING!

Huddle up

SO MUCH FUN!

This picture cracks me up!

The grand march was just the beginning of a very fun filled night! Can't wait to share the rest of the reception with you all!!!!

Super Easy Lasagna

My mom has made this recipe as long as I can remember. It's the only way I make lasagna and I refuse to make it any other way...because every other way that I have heard is not this quick and easy. My mom got this recipe from a cookbook from her co-workers that they put together a LONG time ago!

What you need:
1. 8oz package of lasagna noodles (I use whole wheat)
2. 12 oz of mozzarella cheese
3. 1lb of ground beef or ground turkey (extra lean)
4. 1 jar of spaghetti sauce
5. 8 oz of ricotta cheese
6. Parmesan cheese

How to make (EVERYTHING IS RAW DURING THIS PROCESS...INCLUDING MEAT):
1. Grease 9x13 pan & preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Start with 1 layer of lasagna noodles.
3. Sprinkle chunks of meat over noodles
4. Sprinkle 1/2 of ricotta cheese around meat
5. Pour 1/2 of spaghetti sauce in pan
6. Sprinkle 1/2 of mozzarella cheese over everything
7. Dash Parmesan cheese over it all

After one layer

8. Do a 2nd layer (repeat 2-7 above).
9. Cover with tinfoil and bake for 1 hour.

Ready to cook

10. After the 1 hour of cooking, take off tinfoil and cook another 10 min.
11. Take out and let sit for 10 minute before serving.

You can also add veggies to this recipe. I am not a veggie person so that is why I don't.

The best thing about this recipe is you only dirty 1 pan. No need to boil noodles, ground meat, etc....just one dirty cake pan is all it is! People always comment when I make this recipe on how good it is and they can't believe that it all goes in raw. I can't believe people cook lasagna any other way :)

Hutch b-gone

Another furniture makeover! It's about time I get this post up here. I've had this piece done for weeks, but haven't gotten around to taking pictures.

I bought this hutch type thing off Craigslist for $60. I say  hutch, but it also could be a desk because the top folds down. It had a light in it...so I am not exactly sure what this was. I just knew I was going to be making it into an entertainment stand for our downstairs living room.

This piece is much bigger than the table I had done previously. It took a lot longer to finish. I am very happy with the results. I didn't take any 'in between' photos since I did the same steps I had done on a previous piece of furniture. CLICK HERE to see those steps!

I plan to make a wooden sign or buy one to sit on top of the surround sound reciever!

We store all our board games and Wii stuff in the bottom section

The basket holds all our remotes!

Happy Birthday Blog!

Happy First Birthday to my blog!!!

It was one year ago I decided to start a blog to share our life and to record great memories. I have enjoyed this past year and am glad that I started blogging.

The biggest change in the past year is that I got married! I went from being a engaged lady when I started this blog to a blissful married lady!

I have 21 great followers and have gotten to know some other great ladies through this thing we call the 'blog world'. I have even met a fellow blogger...Hi Andrea!!! Some of my girlfriends started blogging also...Love you Amanda & Lindsey!!!

I look forward to what the next year brings and hope you all continue to follow!

Have a fabulous and great weekend!!!

Chicken Dumplings Crockpot Soup

To say I was so excited when I saw Ruthie over @ The Chronicles of Ruthie Hart put up this recipe, is an understatement. I absolutely love chicken dumpling soup and have always wanted to make it at home. I made this recipe within a week of her posting it and was not disappointed. I knew I had to share it also.

What you need:
4-6 large boneless skinless chicken breast
2 tablespoons of butter
2 cans of cream of chicken soup
1 (15 oz) can of chicken broth
1 medium onion diced
1 tablespoon of dried parsley
6-8 refrigerator biscuits or crescent rolls (raw)

OK...as I just listed out the ingredients, I just realized I did something different when I made mine and it still tasted so good. I actually baked my biscuits before adding them to the crock pot and the recipe actually calls for you to put them in raw. Well I plan to make this again this week and I will make it the recipe actually says it should be made and will determine which is better. Anyways...back to the recipe :)

What to do:
- put defrosted chicken in the crock pot
- add butter, cream of chicken soups and chicken broth and stir to combine
- add the onion and parsley and stir again to combine
- cook on low for 4-6 hours stirring occasionally and shredding the chicken as it cooks
- 30 min to 1 hour before you plan on eating, cut the raw biscuits or crescents into small pieces and add to the crock pot. Cook on low for another 30 min to 1 hour.

*As I stated above, I actually baked my biscuits and then cut them up and added them to the crock pot. I certainly didn't add 6-8 because they were already so big from being baked...but it was really delicious...I guess you can make it either way*

Hope you all enjoy it as much as I did!!!