Boy, n.: a noise with dirt on it.

Within the last few weeks I've really started to realize I don't have a baby boy anymore... he's turned into an actual kid. Its crazy. How is my little boy growing up so fast?

Best Friends.

Relaxing in mommy and daddy's bed.

We'll never forget the day you were born.

The same day our lives changed forever.

Love you Dantae!

american chop suey.

Last night I made this simple quick american chop suey. Found it browsing through cdkitchen.


Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion -- finely chopped
1 large yellow bell pepper -- cored, seeded, and chopped
a clove of garlic, finely chopped
1 pound ground beef
28 ounce can diced tomatoes with their juices
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 cup water
1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
salt and black pepper
1 pound macaroni, ziti, or penne
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese


Recipe:
1. In a skillet heat the oil. When it is hot, cook the onion and yellow pepper over medium heat, stirring often until the vegetables soften. Stir in the garlic and cook for half a minute. 
2. Add the ground beef and cook over medium-high heat until the meat loses its pink color. Drain the fat.
3. Add the tomatoes and their liquid to the meat mixture. Stir in the tomato paste, water, oregano, red pepper, salt, and black pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil. Cover the pan and simmer the sauce for 30 minutes. 
4. Meanwhile, cook the pasta as stated on the box. Drain the pasta and stir it into the meat sauce. Serve in bowls, sprinkle with Parmesan, and serve at once.

So simple. Yet delicious.

 Was a hit with mini-mike too.

“a mother's heart is always with her children.”

Happy (Belated) Mother's Day.

I wanted to be able to post this yesterday, you know on time for mother's day; but I was to busy making the rest of my mother's day craft/gifts. Between the two cats, the (almost) two year old, and my procrastination it becomes difficult to finish anything. But here it is only a day late.

Here's my little helper.

"Say Cheese."

The red/pink one was the first I made.

(Bad blogger, didn't really plan out the pictures.)

The second one was blue/purple.

(couldn't resist a sherlock cameo.)

 The third another blue/purple combination.

I got this idea from Danielle at D & G Stories. She has tons of cute ideas, check her out!

She used the same tutorial for the felt rosettes but I figure I should post that too. Check that out at Mrs. Priss.

We delivered them all yesterday. (my mom, mike's mom and mike's step-mom.)

Hope they loved them.

oh, its another rainy day.

Its been a dreary day week, so in order to cheer myself up I figured why not buy something I've wanted for a long time; (retail therapy is always what I need.) a sewing machine.

Straight stitch, zig zag stitch, and a button hole attachment. And I'm sure more, but I'm new at all this. (which is why I bought the one my mom told me to buy.)

Plus it comes with 3 decorative skins... my favorite being zebra print.

I also thought these would help brighten the day. (taken a couple days ago when it was sunny.)

I just love fresh flowers.

Now off to finish my mother's day craft/gifts. Pictures to follow.

a sneak peak.

After making four "save the date" cards trying to find the right design, style; the fifth one was the winner. I want it to be a surprise for everyone receiving one but I couldn't help putting up a little teaser.

About 49 more to go.

little boy's sanctuary.

So even though the kitchen (close) and our bedroom (barely there) aren't finished, (I'm the master of starting projects.) I have already started the browsing for ideas on Dantae's BIG boy room. Mike would really like him to have a car bed; I plan on getting soon at a local second hand shop. So I'm thinking of going from there with a car theme. All boys (even big ones ) love cars.  Below are pictures I've found that inspire me.

http://www.raftertales.com/

I really like the idea of the road map design on the wall. And the headboard made from license plates.  Plus all the bold, primary colors are what I picture in my head.

http://www.littletikes.com/

This is the type of car bed I like. Pretty basic. (Mike will want to sticker it up on his own.)

after 20 mins. of looking at google images...

I started writing this with the car idea then I saw these pictures. Needless to say, new ideas are brewing.

http://walldecalskids.com/

http://www.ohdeedoh.com/

http://www.dotcomwomen.com

http://www.rosenberryrooms.com/

And we all ready have..

I'm definitely liking the music idea and a chalk wall, I would have loved that as a young girl.  More on what I decide later. Pictures of the kitchen and bedroom will be posted soon.

yummy food. happy family.

So I'm off to a bad start. I made a meal (Chicken Enchilla Casserole) trying a new recipe and meant to take a picture for you guys, but of course I forgot and just dug in. Anyways, I will still share the recipe from the March 2011 issue of Cooking Light.

Shopping List:      
cooking spray
4 chicken thighs 
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
1 cup frozen corn
3 oz cream cheese
1/2 tsp ground red pepper
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp salt and pepper
2 cups chopped onion
6 garlic gloves
1 cup fat-free chicken broth
2/3 cup salsa verde
1/4 cup water
2 tbsp chopped green chile 
9 (6 in) corn tortillas
1/4 cup shredded cheddar

Recipe:
1. Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. coat pan with cooking spray. cook chicken til cooked through out.
2. Place shredded chicken in medium bowl. Add 1 1/2 tbsp cilantro, corn, and next 5 ingrediants (cream cheese, red pepper,              cumin, salt and pepper). toss to combine.
3. Return skillet to medium high, add 1/2 cup onion; saute 5 mins. add 3 garlic gloves; saute 1 min. add onion mixture to chicken mixture.
4. Combine remaining 1 1/2 cups onion, remaining garlic, broth, salsa, water, and green chile in a medium sauce pan on medium high heat. bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 15 mins.  Remove from heat and let stand 10 mins. Process in a blender til smooth, add 2 tbsp cilantro to blender.
5. Over medium high heat cook tortillas 1 1/2 in. on each side. then cut into quarters.
6. Spread 1/2 cup salsa mix in bottom of 8 in. square baking dish coated with cooking spray.  Arrange 12 tortilla quarters over salsa. Spoon half of chicken mixture over tortilla. Repeat layers finishing with tortillas. Pour remaining salsa over top. Sprinkle shredded cheese evenly on top. Bake at 425 for 15 mins. Top with remaining cilantro.


Its so delicious, definitely a hit in my house. Let me know how you like it.