Chicken Florentine Pasta.

Recently I've been on a Pioneer Woman kick. I find her neat to watch and her recipes seem, for the most part, simple and easy. On one of the shows I watched last month, she made chicken florentine pasta and I knew I had to try it! I had a friend coming over and it sounded perfect! Plus it gave me a reason to finally use my wok [that we received as a wedding gift, uh, over a year ago].

For Pioneer Woman's step by step visit here. But for my less than Pioneer Woman step by step keep reading.

Chicken Florentine Pasta
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 pound Penne
• 4 whole Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
• Salt And Pepper, to taste
• 2 Tablespoons Butter
• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• 4 cloves Garlic, Minced (I used Tastefully Simple Garlic Garlic)
• 3/4 cups Dry White Wine
• 3/4 cups Low-sodium Broth, More If Needed
• 1 bag Baby Spinach
• 2 cups Grape Tomatoes, Halved Lengthwise
• 4 ounces, weight Parmesan Cheese, Shaved With Vegetable Peeler (I used shredded)

1. Cook pasta according to package directions in lightly salted water. Drain and set aside.

2. Cut chicken breasts into chunks and sprinkle on salt and pepper.

3. Heat butter and olive oil over high heat in a large skillet. Add chicken chunks in a single layer and do not stir for a minute or two in order to allow the chicken to brown on the first side. Turn the chicken and brown on the other side. Cook until done, then remove chicken from the skillet.

4. Turn heat to medium. Add garlic and quickly stir to avoid burning. After about 30 seconds, pour in wine and broth, stirring to deglaze the pan. Allow the liquid to bubble up, then continue cooking until it's reduced by at least half (most of the surface of the liquid should be bubbling at this point.)

5. Turn off the heat. Add spinach, tomatoes, chicken, and cooked pasta to the skillet. Toss to combine; the spinach will wilt as you toss everything. Add plenty of Parmesan shavings and toss to combine. 

6. ENJOY! 

My notes: Next time I will let the wine cook longer, only because while eating the meal I could still taste the wine - OR I'll use double the broth like she suggests. 

Otherwise, this was really good! I love spinach and I love pasta and I love chicken so this was bound to be a winner. 

Happy Cooking!

Dump a pomegranate.

Do you love pomegranate but hate struggling to get the yummy seeds out to enjoy one? Are you short on time? Does this sound like an infomercial yet?

Well. . . have I got the solution for you!

I call it DUMPING A POMEGRANATE!

Step 1. Cut the fruit across its middle instead of top to bottom.

Step 2. Hold one half face down in your palm above a bowl & beat the bottom of the fruit with a heavy object. I used a wooden spoon.

3. Do this beating method for a couple minutes [longer if you're extra frustrated that day] and watch the seeds fall into your bowl. 

It's not the most graceful procedure, but it's as hassle free as I could find. It beats picking the seeds out one by one and this method gets most of them out sans the nasty white tissue stuff! 

Happy pomegranate eating!

Build a snowman.

My husband is part of a Fight Club through church (a men's non-physical fighting program) and each week they have assignments. Some are physical, some are spiritual, some are memorizing Bible verses. This week one of his assignments was to build a snowman!

We got a fresh snow on Wednesday but by Thursday afternoon, much of that snow had melted. We still had a little bit in piles in our yard so we figured it was best to do it now. Forecast calls for no more snow in the next week, and he only has one week to get his assignment completed.

Over a year ago, I saw this cute idea online to make an upside down snowman. I was so determined to do it last Winter. HOWEVER. . . we got like maybe 2" of snow it seemed and I wasn't able to get one made before Spring.

I told Mike what I wanted to do and he was game! It was so fun. I haven't built a snowman in years. I missed getting my gloves soaking wet and tromping through snow to find the "clean stuff" so Mr. Snowman doesn't look like he wrestled with piggies!

So here was our final product! What do you think?

Here's Mike with the little guy.

Happy Snowman Making!

De-fuzzing a coat.

I love my wool pea coat.

I bought it from Target last Fall to wear for work and I've worn it pretty much every day this Winter. What I don't love is how fuzzy it gets. It collects all kinds of fuzz over time and that doesn't fly with me.

Last night I made it my mission to "de-fuzz" my wool coat. I have a sweater comb, but that just wasn't doing the trick. Then my husband mentioned he'd used one of our knives to de-fuzz his North Face fleece recently. Genius that man is!

So I got to work. It took me about 10 minutes from start to finish and I was DONE! I definitely recommend it! I found it worked best to use a serrated knife because the teeth do all the work to pull the fuzz out.

Happy de-fuzzing!

L'Oreal Paris Magic BB Cream.

Have you tried the new L'Oreal Paris Magic BB Cream? Oh, I have! Yes, I received a complimentary product from SheSpeaks and L'Oréal to facilitate this review, but I'm glad I got the chance to check it out for free!

I am part of She Speaks, an online community powered by women who love to get the latest scoop and share what's hot. She Speaks gives you many ways to have a say, share and inspire others. One of the perks of being part of this great business is getting to try products (full sized stuff, y'all!) and give my opinion on them. I've tried Clear shampoos and conditioners, panty liners, face washes and even Torani Flavor Syrups. The latest product? L'Oreal Paris Magic BB Cream!

Do I like the BB Cream? Sure. Will I buy a tube after this one is empty? Probably not. Before using BB Cream I was using a tinted moisturizer from Aveeno and I think I'll keep using that. A lot of the reviews other women have written have praised this stuff for being so amazing! But I'm not going to lie if I don't really like something.

So...

Let's get real.

I have ugly skin. I get breakouts. I have big pores and my complexion stinks. [So don't hate me after you see these pictures.] I'm always looking for a good makeup to help me out. I'm not a big fan of thick foundations and that's something I like about BB Cream. It's thin and doesn't feel cakey. It comes in four tones.

They don't need to have 400 different tones, because it's MAGIC! (insert LOL) No, but seriously, it starts out white...

... and changes color as you blend it in to match your skin tone. That's pretty cool!

But the coverage? 

It doesn't help with any red in zits or help smooth out my complexion. I am not thrilled about how my skin looks after I'm done applying it. As you can see from the picture below, on the left is before and on the right is after applying BB Cream. 

Not much different.

However!! I do think it helps minimize my pores. Like most, my pores are more noticeable on my nose. I really do feel like the BB Cream helps reduce the size of my pores. See below, left before and right after. It definitely helps me feel less self-conscious.

So if you've got great skin already but struggle with large pores, this is the product for you! If you're interested in joining SheSpeaks visit their site and sign up. www.shespeaks.com/home

Happy Pretty-Making, ladies!

Twice Baked Potato Casserole & Unclogging Pipes.

I love twice baked potatoes.

I also love casseroles.

When I saw a recipe that combined these two delicious creations, I had to try it. 

On Friday, I had a couple friends over and I used them as my guinea pigs for this recipe that I found on Six Sisters' Stuff blog, though it originates from a different blog. I didn't even think to take pictures while we were preparing it, because about 10 minutes into the prep process we had a hiccup - I told my friend to put the potato peels down the garbage disposal (bad decision) and like you'd guess, we clogged the pipes! THIS I had time to film! You're welcome!

On the bright side, I learned that it's not real complicated to open up your pipes and get whatever is clogging it - out! Just make sure you have a big tub or bucket underneath for the water when it comes flowing out. 

Now, hopefully the clogging hasn't grossed you out completely, because the actual casserole was DELICIOUS! But again, no progress pics. Only the picture of the final product AFTER we'd devoured most of it. 

---

Twice Baked Potato Casserole

(Recipe from Sippity Sup)

INGREDIENTS:

• 5 lb russet potatoes
• 10 sli bacon
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 0.5 c unsalted butter, melted
• 1 c sour cream
• 0.25 c chives, minced
• 2.5 c cheddar cheese, grated
• 2 t kosher salt
• 0.5 t pepper
  

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Peel potatoes, and cut into 1-inch chunks. Place in a large saucepan, and add enough cold water to cover by about 2 inches. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, and reduce to a simmer. Cook until tender and easily pierced with a paring knife, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a colander to drain; return to pan, cover, and set aside.

2. Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add bacon, and cook until crisp and browned, turning once. Transfer to paper towels to drain; let cool, and crumble into pieces.

3. Using a fork, mash the potatoes in pan until light and fluffy. Add the cream cheese, butter, and sour cream, and stir until combined and smooth. Add the chives, 2 cups cheddar cheese, half the bacon, salt, and pepper. Stir until well combined.

4. Transfer to a buttered 3-quart baking dish. Top with remaining 1/2 cup cheddar cheese. Bake until top is slightly golden and potatoes are heated through, about 30 minutes. Remove from oven; garnish with remaining bacon. Serve immediately.

---

I can't use the Mike Meter on this one because he didn't get a chance to try any, but my mom did stop by Saturday and I gave her some to take home. She told me it was delicious! And she rated it a 10!

So, there ya go. Everyone loved the Twice Baked Potato Casserole! 

Happy Cooking!

Being handy.

I consider myself pretty handy with a screwdriver and a nut.

But enough about my drinking habits and my husband....

I know my way around a tool box and I like to fix things. I like reading instructions and I like feeling the accomplishment after a project is finished!

In the new home I've done my fair share of tool-related projects.

So far, I've installed blinds.

I read the instructions for the first window, but by the end I was a pro and did a second window without them!

The screws that come with the kit strip so quickly! And I'm here to say that the rubber band trick really DOES work. It helped me removed a stripped screw six times a couple times.

I've also successfully rigged my $100 bargain treadmill so I'm not forced to walk at a 45' incline. Okay 45 might be an exaggeration, but it felt like that until I realized I was missing pins to lift the legs. Until I get pins from the hardware store, my hillbilly pins screwdriver will work just fine.

See: hillbilly rigged bathroom curtain.

Also, our "new" desk is constructed from 2 file cabinets and a $5 door from the Habitat Restore. More on that later... have I mentioned how much I love projects?

Happy Fixing and Rigging!

Wine and Canvas.

If you have not heard of Wine & Canvas yet, listen up!

I recently had the opportunity to attend a private party at a friend's house organized by our local Wine & Canvas. What it is... a painting party where you drink. WIN WIN!

They are held all throughout our region and I know they're all over. You can go to www.wineandcanvas.com to see if there is one near you.

The painting my friend chose to do at her party was Dandelion Circus.

I showed up, grabbed a drink, and was given paints, brushes and a blank canvas. Beginners to experienced painters alike can enjoy it! The instructor tells you what color and where to paint. And if the stars align, your painting ends up looking prettttty good!

We started with coloring our background and creating "bursts."

Then we added grass and started the dandelion stems. 

Finally, we added extra flyaways and put on finishing touches.

It was fun seeing all the other party goers and how everyone's painting turned out differently.

I had so much fun and I plan to check the calendar often to try and get to another paint night! I'd encourage you to find a Wine & Canvas in your area and grab some friends! 

It was so fun!

Happy Painting!!

Favorite wedding gifts.

I'm in my late 20s. Crap, when I say it like that, I feel especially old.... Doesn't matter. The point is I have had a lot of friends get married the past few years and I've attended a ton of weddings. It's just that season in my life. That and the baby mania. And I love seeing my friends find love. I'm happy that I'm one of those lucky people and in 2011 I also got married.

A friend of mine recently asked me what our favorite wedding gifts were that we received. To be honest, I loved almost all the gifts we received, but my favorites were the ones that I could tell people put a lot of thought into as well as the ones that were so practical that we've probably used them daily or weekly. I've come up with my favorites (which I already sent to my friend who asked) and will share them with you, too! I've probably forgotten some, too. But you won't know it if I did!

First up... my return address stamp! My friend Kelly got us a gift certificate that we used on the Three Designing Women website to pick out which stamp we wanted.

I really liked this idea! It's something we use constantly and especially at Christmas time when we send out Christmas cards. Since we moved, I needed a new one with a new address. I got on the TDW site which directed me to other sites that carry their stampers, I ordered a new design and voila, it was in my mailbox! I think the stamp is so much more classy than return address label stickers!

Next up is our step stool. My hubby and I are both pretty short and this thing is SO handy! We keep it in our closet and it gets used every few days. We did actually register for this at Menards, but the fact that our friends got it for us was great!

Another great gift was my group of baking supplies! I got some mixing bowls from Crate & Barrel and  nesting measuring cups and spoons from Target. The nesting of the cups and spoons is great for saving space and they're pretty to look at =)

And the thing that gets used EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. is our wall clock. Again, this was something we registered for at Bed, Bath & Beyond. This was one of the last things to get "packed" when we moved from our old house and one of the first things to be unpacked in the new house. Since it's a clock, obviously it gets used all the time, but I think it's beautiful and I love how big it is.

I still need to hang it on the wall, but I'm waiting until we paint the living room wall to do that. This is as far as I've gotten in the painting department.

Picking out a color. It's hard to tell in this picture, but it's a gray/blue. The swatch just sits here, taunting me until I bite the bullet and buy a gallon of paint!

I digress.... If you've got weddings to attend this year, I urge you to buy gifts 1. off a couple's registry, but also 2. something they'll truly appreciate and use. And if you do buy straight from the registry, make it fun! Add some personal touches so they know you put some time into their gift. Unless you don't put time into it. Then, in that case, just wrap it and put it on the gift table... it's YOUR gift. Do what you want =)

Happy wedding shopping!

Getting settled.

Happy New Year everyone! I realize I'm about a week late, but with my Christmas post being late, I figured I'd keep with pattern and do this one late, too!

As I mentioned, my husband and I sold our house! Over the holidays we were living with family because the timing of moving out of our old house and into our new house didn't quite match up according to OUR plan. But in hindsight, we were fine. My aunt and uncle took us in for a few weeks and we are forever grateful for them. And when the day came to sign the papers on our new house, we were more than ready!!

Now that we're FINALLY in our new house, I've already started some projects that I've put on a list dating back to about a year ago (I was a little antsy, eh?). I couldn't wait to get my wreath on our new front door!

I made it for under $20. I bought the wreath hook, grape vine wreath, red berries and black "D" from Hobby Lobby. All the items were on sale, so it was a cheap craft!

My plan is to rotate this wreath as the seasons change. For now, I think it's a great winter wreath.

Also, while at Hobby Lobby, I found a smaller "D" in the raw wood section. I keep seeing posts on Pinterest for wrapping these letters in yarn. Well, it just so happened that at our White Elephant family gift exchange, my dear hubby took home a box of multi-colored yarn. You know, just what he's been wanting...err, what his WIFE has been wanting! I got right to work on that baby!

It was more complicated than I thought it would be with the D being a closed letter, but I eventually figured it out. I like how it turned out. Right now, it's sitting in our spare bathroom until I find a permanent home for it.

Since we weren't at our own home over Christmas, the friends' and family's sweet cards got thrown into a folder until we could display them. Literally within 3 days of moving in, I had this assembled on my cabinet.

I really wanted to be able to see all my loved ones' Christmas cards! It's so simple to put together, and it frees up the refrigerator doors. It's important to note, the string or ribbon you use should be pretty tightly tied. If it's too lose, the photos will slide down and just hang at the bottom of your cabinet.

As I do more projects around the house, you bet I'll be posting more. I know there is no stopping me. Afterall, I have a Pinterest board named "New Home" and that's just the tip of the iceberg!

Happy 2013!