Saying Thank you

I had a very exciting evening Tuesday night! I had gotten home and Logan and I were doing our normal weeknight activites: dinner, laundry, unpacking more boxes (YES, I"M STILL GOING THROUGH BOXES, DON"T JUDGE) and he reminded me that someone had sent a wedding gift that was in a box by the back door and we needed to go open it! So he opened this large box and started to pull out what was inside and my heart stopped! Inside was the most beautiful Kitchen Aid Mixer off my registry! Some sweet friends of our family had sent it to us as a Congratulations gift and I was so shocked and excited that it made me cry! Made my whole week(or Year really)! I happily found it a spot in my kitchen and tucked it in bed and kissed it goodnight (I'm only kidding, but you know how it is when you get something new....you can hardly stand it because you are too excited !) So I went to bed and then it hit me and my mind began to race. I started thinking about what a nice gift we had been given, and then I started thinking about our parents. My mom and Dad bought their Kitchen Aid mixer a few years ago and Logan' mom got hers 2 Christmas' ago. Here I am at 25 and I already have mine! I began to feel so guilty, because our sweet moms cooked for their familiy everynight and made every birthday cake and catered to our every requests! They deserved to get this way before I did..and yet they waited! I then started to think about all our parents have done for us through our whole lives and I began to look around and the things we have. Some of them are because of our hard work, but some are because we have parents who love us and wanted to give us the best life possible! They give us furniture or buy us "just because" gifts and I look at mine and Logan's life and think.."How did we get here, to be so blessed?" It makes me cry to think how easy we have it...I am so undeserving of all I have been given, and so incredibly humbled! Our parents, lived in tiny rent houses that had the washer and dryer on the back porch and had one car and rode the bus to work when they were first married! And now I'm crying again because we don't know that kind of life. God has blessed us so much and our parents worked so hard so that we wouldn't have to sacrifice the way they did. It breaks my heart to think about how hard they worked to put me in private school, for my mom to stay home with us and how we never wanted for anything AT ALL! Honestly, I could go on and on about all our parents have done for us and continue to do! They never stop loving, they never stop giving and they never stop encouraging!
Take a moment and say "Thank you" to your parents for all they do and for the life they have provided to us! If you just stop and think for a few moments about all they have done for you....you will realize just how much they have given of themselves, their times, their money and their hearts! (and then you will cry again because it will touch you so much!)
XOXO,

WIFEY WEDNESDAY

I have been cooking a lot lately and My 3 favorite things I've made are:

1. Skinny Chicken Parmesean
2. Sweet Potato Squares with Lemon-Garlic Mayonaise
3. Baguette French Toast and Oven Fried Bacon

Today I will share one recipe:

Skinny Chicken Parmesean (I stole off the blog "The Girl Who at Everything") I loved this recipe and Logan did too!


Skinny Chicken Parmesan
adapted slightly from Skinny Taste

4 (8 oz) chicken breast halves, sliced in half
3/4 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon Italian seasonings
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tbsp butter, melted
3/4 cup reduced fat mozzarella cheese
1 cup marinara sauce
cooking spray

Preheat oven to 450°. Line a large baking sheet with foil and spray lightly with cooking spray.

Combine breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and Italian seasonings in a shallow bowl. Melt the butter in another bowl. Lightly brush the butter onto the chicken, then dip into breadcrumb mixture. Place on baking sheet and repeat with the remaining chicken.

Lightly spray chicken with a little more cooking spray (this makes it crispy) and bake in the oven for 20 minutes. Remove from oven, spoon sauce over chicken and top with shredded cheese. Bake 5 more minutes or until cheese is melted and chicken is done. Serve over whole wheat spaghetti or with a salad.

Makes 8 servings. 225 calories per serving (4 ounce breast)

FRIDAY FAVORITES

This is my only post this week....but Friday Favorites are always fun to talk about!

Friday Favorite #1:
THIS GORGEOUS FALL WEATHER! I love when the temps drop to the 50's and 60's! It's perfect! It makes me want to make hot chocolate, bake pumpkin bread and apple muffins and wrap up on the porch in a big blanket! I'm a dork I know....but those things make me happy and get me in the fall mood!

Friday Favorite #2:
Go Smile toothpaste! This is the best toothpaste I've ever used.You can buy it at Sephora or I'm sure online...you may come across it at a discount on some sites! MY favorite is the morning(energy) and night (tranquility) flavors. They are made to make your teeth really white! It is $30 for the pack. I know...$30 for toothpaste is a little silly....but trust me once you try it....you will be spoiled and not want to give it up! Don't get me wrong...I still buy Crest with scope and use it from time to time, but Go Smile is a nice treat for your teeth and your mouth! Originally these were something Logan ordered for himself....but I kinda took them over when I decided to try out his toothpaste selection one day! I've ended up using them more than he gets to...oops! I should probably order him some more to make it up to him...but I'm sure the same thing will happen again...I'd just use them all up again! haha

Friday Favorite #3:
Ferneau Seasoning

Those of you who are from or live in Little Rock...know about the famous Restraunt and Bar called Ferneau (in Hillcrest.) Donnie Ferneau is a well known Little Rock Chef and Restaurant owner....and he bottles and sells one of his secret ingredients (His Seasoning!) I use this for so many things while cooking. I use it on chicken before I grill it...I've used it on Tilapia...and my favorite way to use it...is on veggies when I grill them or saute them! You can buy it at Kitchen and Co. in Pleasant Ridge (and it's under $10...so it's easy on your bank account!)

That wraps up this weeks Friday Fav's!
ENJOY!

WIFEY WEDNESDAY!

I'm starting a new thing...Wifey Wednesday's! Basically it is my day to share a household tip, decor idea or recipe!
Honestly....I have nothing for you right now..because we have been SOOOOO BUSY!

In a nutshell, we got back from our honeymoon at midnight on Saturday, found out in the airport that Logan's sweet Granny has cancer and that it is not treatable. Granny is now home with hospice and not doing well. We have been over at his mom's almost everynight since we have been back...usually until about 10:30 or so each night. I have not been home to do anything (cleaning, laundry, cooking, etc). None of it has happend this week, except for last night!

I took a break and stayed home to unpack and clean because we have company coming Friday. In the middle of my very productive evening..I broke my toe! (Just the baby one...but it's a big deal, because it's black and blue and it hurts really bad...and I'm limping around like crazy! To be honest, I had a horrible day yesterday and had already had a really good cry on my way home from work...so by the time I dropped the bed on my toe and broke it..I didnt even cry. I layed on the floor for a minute..got some ice...and then after icing it for about 15 minutes...went right back to what I was doing. NOT FUN! Honestly, I just don't have time to be injured; so I'm ignoring it..HA!

Pray for us..and my sanity! It's been a hard several days! Thank goodness for a long weekend! Despite my bad day and night....my husband always follows through! Logan is the best..he came home at 10:30pm (from visiting and helping wiht Granny) and still stayed up for another hour and helped me with the guest room.....he even brought me Guido's pizza because he knew how bad my day was and knows that when I'm cleaning, I forget to eat all together! I apprecaite him so much...he is always taking care of me...in big ways and in small!

So no household or decor tips from this Wifey today....but I did discover a show that I like called Picker Sisters (on Lifetime). I had it on in the backgound last night while I was cleaning! Hopefully next week..I will have something fun to share!!! Sorry this is being posted on Thursday...( I wrote it last night but forgot to publish..oops :)

Love,

FRIDAY FAVORITES

You know what day it is!!!! Time for Friday Favorites!

I honestly think my favorite thing this week is my cell phone! I have talked to so many of my friends and had the chance to catch up! I have loved it! Since we are all grown up and live in so many different places ..our cell phones are at times our best freinds! We get to talk like we did when we saw each other all the time...and it makes it possible to keep our relationships the same! My girlfreinds are EVERYTHING to me ...and I'm glad I got to catch up with so many this week!

Some other Friday Favorites:

The OPI Gel Manicure that so many nail salons are doing now! It is so wonderful . I feel like we have evolved from the acryllic nail world into a more natural look. I love getting these manicures because they last for 2-3 weeks and they cost the same as a regualr manicure. (adding $7 for a french...which is my normal go to for my nails....unless it's fall and then you know I'll be bringing out the greys, browns and almost blacks... MY FAVORITE!)

Last but not least, I'm really liking "THe Pioneer Woman" Ree Drummund. It is not a way that you should choose too cook everyday ....once a week or once every other week will suit my hips just fine! But I really like her recipes! They are so down to earth and scream Southern! She has a great Cookbook out, AN AMAZING BLOG and she appears on the food network with her new show AUGUST 27th!!! I am so excited about this!!!

I tried one of her recipes this week and it was very good! (better the night I made it then the next day though!)

Recipe for Lemon Basil Pasta:

4 whole Grilled Chicken Breasts, Sliced
1 pound Penne Pasta, Cooked Until Al Dente
1/2 stick Butter
3 whole Lemons, Juiced
3/4 cups Heavy Cream
1/4 cup Half-and-half
1-1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese (or Romano)
Salt And Freshly Ground Black Pepper, To Taste
20 whole Basil Leaves, Chopped
Preparation Instructions
Cook pasta, reserving 1 cup of hot pasta water when you drain. Set pasta aside in a colander.

In the same pot, melt butter over medium heat. Squeeze in the juice of 3 to 4 lemons. Whisk together. Pour in cream and half-and-heat. Whisk until hot. Dump in cheese and whisk until melted. Add salt and pepper. Check consistency, adding some of the hot pasta water to loosen the sauce if needed.

Pour pasta and sauce into a large serving bowl. Sprinkle remaining basil all over the top, then add sliced chicken breasts. Serve immediately!


Happy Friday!!

FRIDAY FAVORITES

This is my first friday favorite post since I've ben married!!! YAY!
Well...I have a few favorites this week! (I will be brief because things have been way hectic!)

Favorite #!:
MY HUSBAND!
I just love him! He makes me laugh out loud multiple times a day! I've never met someone who really trys to make me smile like he does! I am very happy and I am so blessed to be married to such a loving and kind person! I'm sure there will be weeks where he is not on my Friday Favorite...but let's embarace the weeks that he is :)

Favorite #2:
Tontitown Grape Festival Food:
I tried Spaghetti for the 3rd time in my life last night. I'm so picky about this food...and I have to say Mama Z's provided the fried chicken and spaghetti and I ate it all! It was so good! I kind of want to eat it again tonight. The only thing that is stopping me is knowing that I'm going on my honeymoon really soon...and fried chicken two night in a row may not equal a pretty bikini figure!

Favorite #3
Erica Erck Photography! She was our wedding photogrpaher and she also did my Bridal Portraits. Erica is AMAZING! I loved working with her and honestly would recommend her to everyone! (She takes wonderful family and children portraits too!)

Wifey Whoo!

I love being a wife! I just wish that we were settled and not living amongst boxes. To walk in the house all you see if boxes and clothes. i hav laundry everywhere...Folded...but just everywhere in piles. We are in transition and in order for me to put laundry away....I have to move the old dresser out and the new in...but until I do that ..it gets to sit in piles. My clothes are in millions of different bags...and I find getting dressed in the morning is quite the chore. First i have to remember what bag my shoes are in. Then I have to hunt for the dress.....Jewelry is like looking for a needle in a haystack! I'm exhausted just getting ready! ha! CANT WAIT TO GET MOSTLY EVERYTHING SETTLED!

I did cook last night and the night before even with all the chaos! Tuesday night I Made Salmon Croquets with Green Beans and Corn (so exciting I know....not) I honestly looked through the whole pantry and created a meal out of what he had. (I HAVE NOT HAD A SPARE MOMENT TO GO TO THE GROCERY STORE!) Last night I made homemade Quiche and fresh fruit!
We love being newley weds...but are sooooooooooo ready for our honeymoon! It's so weird to go back to work and life instead of jumping straight on a plane and going away! We are so excited though....and it will be here so soon!
Can't wait to blog about the wedding when I have more time!

For now I'm just trying to be the best wife I can! Even though the house is a mess and I'm not unpacked and it's not decorated and the laundry is taking over...I still stop what I'm doing when my husband gets home and make sure I kiss him and listen to him talk about his day...and he does the same for me! I love that connection at the end of the day....it's brief..but it is my favorite 10 minutes...to just stop and catch up! I love it!

(oh on a differnt note: thought I'd share the Quiche Recipe...it is so good...my mom made it for my family a lot growing up!)

SPINACH QUICHE:

1 (9 inch) pie pastry
1 (10 ounce) spinach thawed and well drained (squeeze dry)
1 (8 ounce pkg. Swiss cheese
2 Tablespoons flour
5 eggs, beaten
1 cup whipping cream
2/3 tsp. salt
Pepper to taste
4 oz. sour cream
5-6 slices cooked ,crumbled bacon


--Cut cheese into strips and toss with flour and set aside
--Combine eggs,whipping cream, salt and pepper, sour cream
--Add spinach and cheese and bacon

Pour into pastry shell
--Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour

*****USE CAKE ROUND INSTEAD OF PIE SHELL