Thursday, November 29, 2012

Reindeer Feed

This is a delish, super easy recipe. It's great to have in the house to munch on during the holidays. I've had this recipe for a while and don't remember the original source. I have put my own twist on it. I like it because with the peppermint and white chocolate, it doesn't feel too heavy.

Ingredients:
6 Cups Rice Chex
12 oz (2 Cups) White Chocolate
12-16 miniature candy canes, smashed (you can smash them finely or more chunky, up to you)

Directions:
1. Lay down wax paper or foil onto a cookie sheet-or directly onto the counter.
2. Measure out the rice chex into a large bowl.
3. Add the white chocolate into a small bowl. Microwave on high for about 2 minutes. Every 30 seconds pull the bowl out and stir the chocolate.
4. Once the chocolate is smooth, pour in 1/2 of the smashed candy canes and stir together. Immediately pour entire chocolate mixture over the rice chex and stir to mix.
5. Spoon chex mix onto the wax paper/foil. Lay out in one layer. As quickly as you can pour the rest of the smashed candy canes on top of the chex mix. You want to make sure you do this as quickly as possible so that the candy canes can melt a little bit.

6. Let rest for at least 20 minutes. Break up the chex mix and place in an airtight container.

Yogurt Bites

Okay, so probably everyone of you reading this has seen a picture or pin on Pinterest about frozen yogurt bites, or something similar. I was no different. My son has been a picky eater lately but has always liked popsicles, so I decided to try this out. I didn't read any of the tutorials on how to make these, it is pretty self explanitory. Here is my spin on it.

What you need: yogurt, ziploc bag, spoon, wax paper, food coloring (optional)


1. First I divided my yogurt into 2 small bowls. In one bowl I added blue food coloring (made it a little more fun), I left the other bowl the natural color.


2. I cut a VERY tiny piece off of one of the corners on the ziploc bag. I then filled the ziploc bag with one of the bowls of yogurt.

3. Squeezing gently, squeeze little dollups of yogurt onto the wax paper. Repeat this with the next bowl of yogurt.

4. When you're all done making the little dollups/dots put the wax paper in the freezer. I put the wax paper on top of a big pot lid I had so that it sat more flat in the freezer. These freeze pretty quickly, an hour or two.

5. When frozen and ready to eat, I popped off the yogurt dots into a bowl for my son to eat. They are super easy to pop off when you put them on wax paper. The best part? Beckett loved them! He thought the colors were fun and I think he thought it was candy since it was frozen. A great way to deceive little ones :)

Suggestion: If your children are little, I would recommend NOT putting food coloring in the yogurt. It makes it more visually appealing, but it is a bit more messy when they are eating.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

BEST Christmas CD

Christmas Album

No, i'm not even kidding. This is the BEST Christmas CD i've ever heard. If you know me well, you know i'm obsessed with this come Christmas time! I grew up listening to this CD and I haven't found anything better since. It's one of those CD's that doesn't have 1 bad song and no matter how you're feeling it puts a big ol' smile on your face. My favorite song on this album is 'Go Tell It On The Mountain/Mary Had A Baby' by Vanessa Williams. Seriously, you can't help but get up and shake yo bootaaay when it comes on.
 
Give it a try. You'll never be disappointed.

Sunday, November 25, 2012

DIY: Christmas Hanging Decor

I LOVE Christmas decorations! I have really added to my collection these past few years. This year I made a few new decorations that I think added the perfect touch. They all ended up being some type of hanging decoration, which was not planned. They were all SUPER easy to make and easy to make it your own.
 
 
1. Falling Window Ornaments: All you need for this are ornaments (various colors & sizes), and ribbons or string. You want to make sure you have a sturdy top to your ornament; I hot glued the tops to the ornament to make sure they wouldn't fall apart. Then you string the ribbon through the loop, your going to want various lengths of ribbon. After that, you're ready to hang them up, it's that easy!  I just taped the top of the ribbon to the backside of the blinds. You can make as many or few as you want and adapt it to the size of your window.
;

 2. Window Bells: I found a great deal on these glittery bells at Target, just $1 each! Just like above I hung them from string and hung them to the outside of the window. It added a fun little touch to the porch decor. I also liked them because they sparkle at night with all that glitter!



3. Falling Snowflakes: For this last decoration idea you need popsicle sticks (lots), a glue gun, paint, and string. First I made snowflakes using different amounts of popsicle sticks, hot gluing them in the center. When done I painted them, I did half red and half white. Once they were all done drying I hot glued some cute brown ribbon in between each one. In my house, I thought it would be cute to hang up two strands of these snowflakes, one on each side of the fireplace. I liked the outcome!


Saturday, November 24, 2012

Studs

I don't know about you all, but I always feel lazy during the holidays. It probably has something to do with all the food that has been eaten! This morning I got back to the gym and got back into the swing of things, it felt great!
 
Have I mentioned that I love this time of year? I love doing all of the 'holiday activities'. There is so much to look forward to. For now, i'll look forward to all of the Christmas shopping I get to do:)



Sweater: Kohls
Pants: Target
Shoes: Steve Madden
Necklace: Forever 21
Bracelets: H&M
Purse: Nordstrom

Friday, November 23, 2012

Thankful

I hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving! I know I did. I love spending good, quality time with family and it doesn't hurt to eat some delicious food while we're at it. Our Thanksgiving was a fun-filled day that started off with a family Turkey Bowl, white versus black. My team, the white team won-hoo rah! It's a good thing we burned some calories because we sure made up for it with our Thanksgiving feast. Beckett sure loved being around family, he is always the center of attention and likes it that way! Love him. 

Beckett's Outfit:
Sweater: H&M
Jeans: Old Navy
Belt: The Childrens Place
Shoes: Toms (Lola Bella Boutique)

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Flowers

Todays outfit was inspired by summer. Sometimes I miss the warm weather. These pants were a staple in my summer wardrobe. I think they transition to the cooler months well, just throw on a cardigan or jean shirt like I did. I wish I could say I only wore these glasses because I thought they were cute. However, ever since Beckett was born my eyes have been getting worse by the day. I'm going to have to get a new prescription soon. I suppose it also means I can get a new pair of glasses...there is a plus side to everything! :)
 
Happy Thanksgiving Eve everyone!
Tshirt: Nordstrom
Jean Shirt: Forever 21
Jeans: AE
Belt: Buckle (old)
Shoes: ShoeBuy
Necklace: Forever 21

Monday, November 19, 2012

Melt In Your Mouth Chicken & Quinoa

This time of year I feel like it's especially important to eat as healthy as possible. With so many holidays that are surrounded with high calorie, fatty foods it is easy to gain some extra pounds. These recipes are healthy AND yummy, not to mention super easy!

Melt In Your Mouth Chicken

4 Chicken Breasts
1/2 C Parmesan
1 C Greek Yogurt
1 tsp garlic powder
1 1/2 tsp seasoned salt
1 tsp pepper

Mix all the ingredients together. Spread over chicken, covering it evenly. Place in a baking pan, bake at 375 for 45 minutes. When cooked, I sprinkled some more fresh parmeson on top.

Quinoa & Black Beans

1 tsp Vegetable Oil
1 Onion
3 Cloves Garlic
3/4 C Quinoa
1 1/2 C Vegetable Broth
1 tsp Cumin
S&P to taste
1 C Frozen Corn
1 Can Black Beans

Heat oil in a saucepan, saute garlic and onion. Add Quinoa, spices, and broth. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook for 20 minutes. Add corn and beans, cook 5 minutes longer.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Matching

I'm officially dressing for these cold (almost) winter days. These booties I found are my new go-to shoe. They are SUPER comfortable, which is key for my job, and go with all types of outfits. After getting myself and Beckett ready for the day I realized we were super matchy-matchy...it wasn't even planned! So, who won the red pants battle? Beckett, of course.  
 Beanie: H&M
Cardigan & Purse: Nordstrom
Tank: Forever 21
Scarf: AE
Pants: AE
Booties: Target
Watch: Gift
 Beckett:
Beanie: H&M
Top: Carters
Pants: H&M
Shoes: Toms (Lola Bella Boutique)

Friday, November 16, 2012

Button-Ups & Leopard

Oh my goodness, I LOVE a good button-up. They work well with so many different things. Sometimes, the simplest outfits are the best. I recently found this black shirt and fell in love! It's super comfy, made really well, and even has a bit of stretch. Mmmm....perfecto! For work I paired it with some comfy leopard flats.
 
Top: Nordstrom Rack
Pants: AE
Shoes: Steve Madden
Belt: Old Navy
Bracelet: Forever 21 
 

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

No Sew Christmas Tree Skirt

I've been married 3 years now and still haven't gotten a Christmas tree skirt! Growing up my mom had sewn hers and our stockings, so I've been biased ever since. Homemade is always better than store bought! This year I was lucky enough to spot this fab no sew Christmas tree skirt on Pinterest. It looked fool proof enough so I gave it a try.

What You Need:
  • Old tree skirt, or cut your own out of left over fabric
  • Fabric cut into 2 1/2" wide strips (as many different colors as you like, about 3 yards total)
  • Glue gun and LOTS of glue sticks
  • Ribbon to tie the tree skirt together (I made my ties out of the leftover fabric)

Directions:
  • Cut your fabric into strips. I bought 2 colors of fabric, 1 1/2 yards each and I had leftovers.
  • Start on the bottom edge of the opening of the tree skirt with your fabric & glue gun. You will glue the end down and with the rest of the strip you'll fold it over and glue it down as you go, creating little ripples. It's super easy! You keep doing that same thing all the way around.
  • When you get to the next row you can change up your fabric or keep it the same, overlapping it a bit with the first layer. Do this all the way until you get to the top.
  • When you're all done gluing the strips down you will want to cut out all of the little strings that appear from using the glue gun.
  • Glue or sew your ribbon on the opening of the tree skirt.

  • Option: You can sew this whole thing instead of gluing it. It's up to you! Either way will work great.
I really liked the outcome of my tree skirt. However, if I did it again I would have chosen more fabric options than just two. If you end up trying this out, let me know how it goes!

Monday, November 12, 2012

Aztec & Neutrals

Hooray for an outfit post! My husband took me out on a fab date to see Cirque Du Soleil. I was SO excited....I had been wanting to see a Cirque Du Soleil show for a long time. For the big night I wore a pair of aztec printed pants paired with a neutral black top. I found these pants for a great price at H&M. I have super long legs too which makes finding fun pants that are long enough a bit difficult. Long printed pants at a great price? Sold!
Top: H&M
Pants: H&M
Necklace: Forever 21
Shoes: Target
Bracelets: H&M

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Creamy Potato & Ham Soup

Made this recipe today for dinner. It was just what we needed on a snowy Sunday night. My husband has been raving about it ever since his first bite. I found the recipe off of Pinterest, here.

Pinned Image

Ingredients:
4 potatoes, peeled & chopped
1/3 C diced onion
1/3 C diced carrots
1/3 C diced celery
3 1/2 C water
1 C diced ham
3 chicken bouillon cubes
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 small clove garlic, minced
5 Tb butter
1/3 C flour
1 C milk
1 C half and half

Directions:
1. Combine potatoes, celery, onions, ham, carrots, and water in a big pot. Bring to a boil, then cook over medium heat until potatoes are soft. Stir in chicken bouillon cubes, garlic, salt and pepper.
2. In a separate pan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Stir in flour with a fork, stirring constantly until thick. Slowly stir in milk with a fork. Continue stirring over medium heat until thick.
3. Pour the flour mixture into the pot an dstir until combined. Serve with shredded cheese on top. Enjoy!

My Winter Musts

It's finally looking A LOT like winter outside! I love the beginning of winter because it means Christmas is right around the corner :) Here is my list of items I think are perfect for this time of year:

1. Vasanti - Brighten Up! This is an AMAZING face product. I got it in my Birchbox a few months ago and have been raving about it ever since. It has little enzymes in it and feels amazing when your done. It's the best exfoliation product i've tried.

2. Minnetonka Boots: I looove fringe. I have been eyeing these babies for months.
Womens Minnetonka Jody Boot
3. Motorcycle Jacket: We all end up wearing coats and jackets all winter, so you might as well have a variety so you don't get stuck wearing the same thing everyday. I love motorcycle jackets, they are a cute addition to any outfit. I found this moto jacket for a GREAT price at Forever 21.
 

4. Muted Nail Polish: I've always been a bit of a nail polish hoarder. It's fun to mix up your nail polish colors every so often to match the season. Lately i've been loving the darker, muted tones like this one from OPI.

SEPHORA by OPI - Nail Colour
5. Southwestern Vest or Cardigan: You absolutely cannot go wrong with layers this time of year. That being said, mix it up! Don't just go with a plain colored cardigan like I usually do. I found this southwestern vest at Nordstrom and fell in love. It would be cute with anything....jeans, leggings, or a skirt.
6. Olay Complete All Day Moisturizer: Of course you have to keep your skin well hydrated during the winter. I don't know about you but my skin gets super dry with these Utah cold months. Olay Complete Moisturizer is the classic facial moisturizer, you can't go wrong.
Olay Complete All Day Moisturizer With SPF15 - Sensitive 4 oz
7. Print Jeans: Colored and printed jeans have been all the rave. I've been on board with this trend and have been eating up printed pants recently. American Eagle fits me really well because you can order their pants in a long length (cheers to tall girls). Pair these pants with a simple T and scarf and you're ready to go.
Floral Jegging
8. Wedge Boots: Boots of course, are a necessity in snowy months. Love the look of wedge boots with cuffed up skinny jeans. These wedge boots from Old Navy are adorable, however, I could never find them in the store....only online.
Women's Lace-Up Wedge Boots  
9. Red Lipstick: I can't say I'm always adventurous enough to wear red lipstick, but I think its perfect with the right outfit.
  Lipstick
10. Beanie: Last but not least....a beanie! It's safe to say that most of us could live in beanies this winter. So comfy and cute. Loved this one from Urban Outfitters.
UO Slouchy Beanie

Welcome!

I'm making a dent in the new blog today! I've been thinking about making a blog for a while but kept second guessing myself. Finally I decided, why not? If people think it's boring, or weird, or pointless....so be it! I love blogging and being creative so this is a perfect outlet for me. I am your typical young mom. I have an amazing husband, beautiful little 18 month old son, and work full time. Needless to say i'm a busy lady, but I like to keep it that way. I am crazy about Pinterest, and I can actually say I try out most of the things I pin (welll....the recipes and crafts).  I can't say i'm the most fashionable person around, but I do love it. I like to cook and do the home maker thing, it's become something i've learned to love. This blog will be a place for me to jot down my adventures of motherhood and being a wife. I hope you enjoy :)