My little Shadow

I have a little shadow.  She follows me around throughout the day, into the kitchen, to the living room, upstairs, downstairs, everywhere.

The other night, I was getting ready to go out with a friend.  We were going to go see a movie.  Smiley kept following me around my bedroom as I got dressed, did my hair and put on my make up.  The entire time she kept making comments like:
"The movie is going to be fun isn't it mom."
"Yep, we're going to have fun."
"We're getting ready to go, aren't we mom."

I kept trying to convince her she was going to stay home with Daddy, Sassy and Action and that they would have lots of fun together.  They were going to play games and go on a bike ride to the park.  She wanted none of it and when my ride arrived, the tears began.  She clutched onto me and it took lots of prying loose of fingers to get her to let go of me and into her Daddy's arms.  Let me note that it was reported to me that after about 1 minute of my being gone she was just fine.  They went on their bike ride to the park, had a yummy snack, played basketball had lots of fun.  Me, I had a nice relaxing evening out watching a movie, with a friend and a glass of wine :)

Anyway, before the crying began, Smiley decided she wanted to take pictures with me ~ she was being a goofball:

O{pin}ions

Sheesh, it's hard to believe it's already Wednesday.  And since it's Wednesday, that means another round of my O{pin}ions.

First up:

Slow Cooker Garlic and Brown Sugar Chicken

(Via ~ Six Sisters' Stuff)

This was super easy to put together ~ toss some chicken into a crock pot, mix up a few ingredients to make a sauce, pour the sauce over the chicken, cook it for 4-6 hours.  When it's done, you thicken the sauce over the stove and serve it all over rice.  See, super easy.  Now the review:  Hubby liked it... a lot, I knew he would, I thought it was ok nothing great, Sassy thought it was too sweet, Action decided he wasn't hungry after eating a few bites, Smiley ate most of it at the idea of having a cookie when she was done.  So, I will keep the recipe and maybe make it again, since hubby liked it :)

Next on the list:

Smothered Skillet Chicken

(Via ~ Yammie's Noshery)

Chicken, onion, garlic, tomatoes, mushrooms, green onion, seasonings... mmmmm......  

This chicken dish was delish!  I will absolutely make it again even better, the entire family liked it!

Finally:

Avocado, Tomato, Sprouts and Pepper Jack 

with Chive Spread

(via ~ keep it Skinny)

I made this for lunch one day.  I love all of the ingredients, so I thought together they would be amazing.  For me this was just ok.  I don't think I'll make it again.  I'm good with just adding avocado and tomato to my plain 'ol deli chicken sandwich to dress it up :)

That's it for this week, what have you been pinning?

(oh, and you can find me on Pinterest HERE)

My O{pin}ions

Time for another round of my O{pin}ions.  You know, my review of the things I've pinned and tried. (You can find me on Pinterest here)

Let's see, I'll start off with

Crispy Cheddar Chicken

(via Jamie Cooks it Up)

This is a recipe I will definitely make again.  The whole family liked it.  It was crispy, moist and tasty.

Next up:

Spaghetti with Tomatoes, Black Olives, Garlic and Feta Cheese

(via food and wine)

This hubby and I really liked! Since it is a light pasta dish, it is perfect for when a pasta craving hits on a hot summer day!  My kids ate it, they didn't love it, but they ate it.  Sassy also had a friend over the day I made it and she had two helpings :)  I would absolutely recommend it.

Finally:

Easy Chicken Marsala

(via The Savory Sweet Life)

This one was ok.  We didn't feel like it had much flavor.  I probably won't be making it again.

What have you been pinning?

Dutch Pancake

I call it a "Dutch Pancake"  a friend of mine calls it a "Pannekoeken"  either way it is easy and yummy!

Ingredients:

Put butter in baking dish and place into a cold oven, then turn on to 400°

While butter melts in the oven, mix up eggs, flour and milk

Recruit a helper to help whisk until smooth

Once the butter melts, pour batter into baking dish ~ close oven and let it bake for 20-22 minutes.

It will come out golden and puffy.

Cut into squares and serve with desired toppings.

Ingredients:

3 Tablespoons ~ butter, cut into pieces
6 Eggs
1 Cup ~ flour
1 Cup ~ Milk

Optional Toppings ~ Maple syrup, fruit, powdered sugar

Directions:
1.  Place butter into a 9x13 baking dish.  Place the dish into the COLD oven and turn it to 400°.
2.  Melt the butter (depending on your oven should take 5-10 mins) ** don't over brown
3. While the butter is melting, in a medium bowl whisk the eggs.  Then add in the flour and milk.  Beat/whisk until the mixture is smooth.  Immediately pour batter into your now hot baking dish.
4.  Bake for 20-22 mins, until puffed up and browned (don't open oven during baking)

Cut into pieces and top as desired.
Personally, I like mine with a drizzle of syrup and lots of fruit ~ raspberries, blueberries, strawberries and peaches are my favorite.

Someday Crafts

Chef in Training

Hope Studios

No time for anything except.... Family and Friends

Our weekend was busy, but was wonderful.
Friday night started off with dinner at our friends house.  The kids played, the adults conversed it was a great relaxing evening.

Saturday was state tournament day for Sassy.  They lost their first game.  Won their second game and lost their third.  The game they won was a great game.  Their defense was on, their bats were swinging.  All systems were a go!  The game was tied, and they won by stealing home.  Sassy had great hits all day long and made some awesome plays.

After the tournament, we headed to a friends (parent's of one of Sassy's teammates) house for a impromptu team get together.  Another fun night, conversation, cocktails, laughs and a couple intense games of shuffleboard ;)

Sunday, off to a gorgeous lake home.  Many of the girls from Sassy's softball team were there as well as their families.  We dove right into fun and relaxation.

 It was a beautiful day spent on the lake.

Needless to say, after such a fun/busy weekend (including sleepovers for both Sassy and Action) the kids were wiped out :)

Action's baseball season and Sassy's softball season have come to an end.  This means we have a few weeks of nothing (nothing scheduled anyway).  No rushing here or there in the evenings and weekends.  I am looking forward to relaxing evenings, long family bike rides and whatever else comes up.

An Evening Walk

Typically Sassy and Action play softball and baseball on the same evenings.  Meaning, Smiley, Action and I head one way to baseball to watch Action play a game or have a practice.  While Hubby and Sassy head a different direction to a softball game or practice.  But since their seasons are winding down ~ and end of the season tournaments are upon us, our schedules have changed a bit.  
Sassy actually had last night off.  So, Hubby took Action to his baseball practice.  It was nice to just hang out with the girls :)  We went on a nice walk and just relaxed. It was a beautiful night!

 Some little girl decided to play in her room instead of taking her nap and was a bit grouchy (perhaps that is an understatement!)  There was no way she was going to join us for picture #1, but changed her mind and joined us for #2 (I think I even see a hint of a smile).  So glad she did :)

Ready for my o{PIN}ions?

Alrighty, welcome to another installment of my o"PIN"ions.
(you can find and follow me on Pinterest here)

First on the list ~ a book.

Seriously, what's better than relaxing with a good book in the summer ~ I pinned this one awhile ago, hoping it would be good.

Miss Peregrine's home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs 

(via)

Here's what I thought:  This book isn't my typical read. There were "ghosts", "monsters" , action, adventure, and suspense. Lets not forget the love story plot line. This book grabbed my interest right away in the beginning and held it for the entire book. It's about a boy (Jacob) whose grandfather dies at the hands (paws perhaps, or maybe claws) of a wild animal. Well, that's what the authorities say anyway. But when Jacob finds his Grandfather lying down, dying on the forest floor, his Grandfather whispers his last words to him. What these words mean is a puzzle, one the Jacob is determined to figure out. And he does figure it out. Along with many twists, turns and a world you couldn't imagine.

I would definitely recommend it.

Ok, now onto the "good stuff"  I'm talking food and drinks!

First up, a beverage ~ Kalimotxo

If you're like me you're saying "Huh, Kalimo..... what?"  Basically it's a combo of red wine and coke (as in soda)  (24oz red wine and 16oz Coke) You can find the original recipe/post here.  

My opinion ~ gross!  I like wine and I like coke, but not together.  Not at all.  Hubby though, he drank it.  He said it wasn't "that bad".  I disagree.  It was "that bad".   Definitely deleting this one from my Pinterest board.

Do you like spinach artichoke dip?  I definitely do, so when I saw this recipe, I knew it was one I would be making ~ Spinach Artichoke Pasta, via A Life of Flavor

I liked this.  Hubby liked it, but as with all recipes I make that don't contain meat, he replied, "It's good, but it would be really good if it had some chicken in it."  Personally, I didn't miss the meat, but it would be really good with a little chicken or crab in it.  This is a "remaker."

Another pasta recipe ~ Ultimate Macaroni Salad via Hungry Couple

I found this to be a pretty tasty, creamy macaroni salad.  Sassy agreed.  No one else raved or crabbed about it, so I'll take that as they thought it was good, not great, but good.  I will probably make this again.  Just know it makes a huge batch, I will definitely halve it the next time I make it for just my family.

Finally a dessert.  A dessert posted by the Pioneer Woman.  Seriously, how could I go wrong?  I made her version of a Deep Dish Fruit Pizza.

I made this to share with a group over the 4th.  It was delicious and a definite hit!  I will absolutely make it again.  Mmm Mmm good!

That's it for now! What have you been pinning?

Fireworks, Family and Fun.... water included

First off, I hope you had a wonderful 4th of July holiday and found a way to relax and enjoy the day(s).
I know we certainly did.  We headed out of state and spent time at Hubby's Uncle and Aunt's lake home.  Next headed to his parents house, and finally on to my parents house.  We had fun, did lots of swimming and relaxing.  Here's our week, in pictures.

Sunset Swimming

4th of July Boat Parade

Bikini Wearing

Brand new baby cousin holding

Crashing

Fireworks Watching (from the boat)

Sunset Lovin'  (while watching a Little house on the Prairie Pageant)

And some donut making (and eating!)

We went to a couple of different swimming pools, both had diving boards, high and low.  I even did some diving ~ haven't done that forever!  Action gave me a "10" :)

We also went and saw the movie "Brave".  It was good, a little dark, but good.  I think Smiley would have been scared, but she fell asleep halfway through the movie.  We had had a fun afternoon at the swimming pool and she didn't get a nap in.  There were a couple of little girls with their mom and grandma sitting next to me and they left 3/4 of the way through, because they were scared.

It was super fun to visit with family and relax!  Tell me, what did you do?