Five Things Friday

1.  We had "spirit week" at school.  The first day was Bandana Day.  I wore my bandana proudly all day long.

Then I left school at the end of the day.  And proceeded to traipse through two stores before I remembered I was still wearing my bandana.....

Awesome.

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2.  We dusted off our skanky grill and cooked up some Farmers' Market brats.  Chili cheese flavored...

 YUM!!!!

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3.  Last fall, the lovely Jan gave me a start of her bittersweet vine.  I was pretty sure it would not survive the winter.  This week, however, when I went to check on it, I saw blooms....

 

I can't wait til I have my first orange berries. 

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4.  Three of my little ladies are reading The Hunger Games Series.  Yesterday, they came to my desk first thing to tell me where they'd read to the night before.  They stood there clutching their books, chatting excitedly.  It was so cute.  Then I realized they were each reading a different one.  They loved posing for the photo, even though it was just their hand and book.....

"Are you going to put this on Facebook?" says one little lady.

"Sure!"  I say.

"YESSSS!" squealed all three.

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5.  I learned a line dance for an assembly at school.  A little Boot Scootin' Boogie.

Today at 2:30, a few brave souls are joining me on stage.

Please have a moment of silence for us.

Then go learn it yourself.  And break it out at your next event......

You'll be the life of the party, I swear.

But you should probably wear a bandana around your neck too.

 

Because mom said so...

Sundays are my food experiment days.  Meaning, this is the day I try out new recipes.

I like to make something big on Sunday so that Monday night is covered with leftovers........and if I can get a few extra servings in a Tupperware for lunch that week, then that's a bonus too.

So while I'm not organized when it comes to having a "meal plan" for us, I do at least have a Sunday ritual that gets my week started off easily.

For these Sunday experiments, I've found that I always gravitate to crockpot dinners.  Mainly because they end up being simple.  But also because they usually have large servings.

One crockpot dinner my mom kept urging me to make was Creamy Chicken Italiano.  It was in a cookbook she had.  She promised it met all my Sunday requirements.

Then one day, while browsing Pinterest, I found a similar recipe.  Seeing a picture was all I needed.

 Crockpot Italian Chicken

(adapted from here and here)

a package of boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/4 cup of water
a packet of Italian dressing mix
8 oz. package of cream cheese - softened
a can of either cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup (I've used both)
your choice of pasta (bowtie for me)

Place the chicken in a crockpot, and add the Italian dressing and water.  Cook on low for about three hours.  After three hours, shred the chicken, then add the soup and the cream cheese directly to the crockpot.  Cook for another hour or so, stirring occasionally.  During this time, cook up your pasta.  Then after four hours, serve over a bed of your favorite pasta.....

As you can see, I like pepper.  Very, very much.

You don't have to pepper yours quite as much.

Or you can.

I support that.

Five (or six) Things Friday

1.  My sissy and her bebes came home from Hawaii.  Finally.  They've been gone since Christmas.  Our reunion was sweet.  The cutest niece ever was confused about the weather.....

2.  I was featured on Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms.  Most viewed recipe (again).  EEEKKK!  What alternate universe am I living in?  This doesn't happen to me.

recipe

3.  I stayed up til 11:00.  On a school night.  Because the mister surprised me with a movie.  Crazy times. 

4.  Mom made us a homemade pizza Monday night, so I wouldn't have to cook that first day back from spring break!  Mom is great.  So is her pizza.....

5.  My new skirt arrived!!!!  I was very impressed with the quality and fit!  Can't wait to wear it! 

6.  Two of my favorite pals had big baby news this week!  One revealed the gender of her babe, while the other surprised us with the early arrival of her little man!!!  So excited for both of my girlies. 

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And now a random haiku....

Forty school days left

  Spring has sprung, my tulips bloomed
The weekend is here!

People should write haikus more often.

Superstitious

I would not call myself that.

But when a black cat crosses your path......

THEN......

Turns around and recrosses your path........

You might feel your hair stand on end.

I did not like it one bit.

Yeah.  That happened.

And that's a mugshot of the culprit.

On his return trip across the street.

I mean, come on.

I think it was laughing at me.  Whilst my car came to a standstill.

He knew what he was doing.

Thrifting Frenzy

Spring break + perfect weather = lots of thrifting.

This week yielded lots of great finds.  While much of it will end up in the booth, these favorite items, most likely, will not.

At least I'm honest about my hoarding.

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I realize Christmas is months away, but when precious little vintage reindeer look at you with eyes like this....

You just have to take them home forever.  $1.98 for the pair.  Keepers.

Santa was pretty cute too, at only $0.99.......

Can't resist vintage pillows.......$9.94 for all three.......

The plan is to put these in the booth.  The problem with that is.......I love them. 

A silly little thermometer for $0.99........

It works too!  I shall keep it.  It's on my desk, and it makes me smile.

Another chevron throw for only $2.70..........

Fun colors...........very soft..........intended for the booth.  But the more I look at it, the more I like it.  So do I keep the one I found weeks ago............or this one?

And lastly, a vintage polka dot skirt for $5.98..........

Which I will sport as soon as I figure out how to style it.  I'm thinking a bright top for a pop of color.  A belt for sure.  What are your suggestions?

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Now mourn with me as my spring break comes to a close.

The countdown to summer is ON.

Linking up with Her Library Adventures and Apron Thrift Girl.

Five Things Friday

Since this week was spring break, I have really soaked up the not working thing.  I've done way more than five things, but these might be at the top of the list....

1.  The mister and I went bowling and had flaming sushi.....

2.  My friends and I threw a baby shower for a lovely mama-to-be....

 

3.  Had a legit spa day (massage, mani, and pedi) and came home with yet another color....

 

4.  Got to spend some time with my Grampy....

5.  Did a deep clean at the homestead.  Mom came over and was a beast.  She has some unconventional cleaning techniques.....

I had a serious "that's where those were" moment
when we moved the coffee table for vacuuming......

And kept thinking someone was standing on my
porch every time I walked by the open front door....

 

But really it was just my coat stand.  

Outside for dust bunny removal.

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Spring Break, why do you have to end?  I didn't even get a chance to start cleaning my special room.

I guess with 45ish days left of school, summer isn't too far away.

I'm so good at not working.

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 Linking up with...

 

Kelly Clarkson

I don't have much to say here.

I think my face speaks volumes......

Once upon a time, I sat through a Clay Aiken concert for her.  Because she opened for him.

I mean, come on.  Kelly opens for no one. 

I'm basically speechless.

Kelly in my hometown.  Singing all of her hits.  Sitting next to Nancy.

And it wasn't even a school night.

The icing on my spring break.

Another recipe you should make....

I love easy recipes.  Those requiring little effort and minimal clean up.  And those that are pretty on a plate.

For some reason, seeing an actual picture of a dish inspires me to make it.  Because before Pinterest, I wasn't too experimental in the entree department.

But now, when the caption "crock pot" pops up underneath a pretty food photo, I'm sold.

That's what happened when I saw that pork roast recipe:  pinned it, made it, loved it.

Then I discovered another recipe, a few days later, that required some of the same ingredients.

That's being thrifty, right?  Using what you have on hand??

Just another reason I had to pin and make this easy chicken dish...

Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken 

(copied directly from original source)

Ingredients:

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs, about 5

Salt and pepper

1 cup of honey

1/2 cup of low sodium soy sauce

1/4 cup ketchup

2 tbsp. vegetable oil

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1/2 cup diced onion

1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes

Cornstarch

Sesame seeds

Instructions:

1. Place the chicken thighs in the crockpot insert and sprinkle salt and pepper on both sides.
2. In a medium sized bowl, combine honey, soy sauce, ketchup, oil, garlic, onion, and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine well. Pour over the chicken in the crockpot.
3. Cook on low for 3-4 hours or high for 1 1/2-2 1/2 hours.
4. When done, remove chicken from crockpot and cut into chunks. Prior to putting the chicken back in the crockpot, combine some cornstarch in water and whisk it into the crockpot to thicken up the sauce a bit. Throw the chicken back in and stir around to recoat the chicken in the sauce.
5. Serve hot over a bed of white rice (optional) and sprinkle some sesame seeds on top.

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It's a keeper.  Because it met all of my requirements:  easy to prepare and clean up, pretty on a plate, and it'll make your house smell great.

Serving this up felt very restauranty.  Like I transferred it from a take-out container almost.  

Maybe it was the sesame seeds.  

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Linking up with: 

Featured!!

Last week I linked up with Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms.  I participated in her blog hop by posting that pork roast I'd made.

Imagine my shock and excitement when I checked her most recent post and found that my roast was her most viewed recipe that week.

EEEEEEEEEKKKK!!! 

DOUBLE EEEEEEKKKKKK!!!

Vintage Love

Not thrifted, but vintage...

That I paid way too much for on eBay.

But that I love.

It's turquoise people.  

What about my old scale?

That I paid way too much for on eBay.

But that I love.

It's green and turquoise.  An irresistible combo.

I should not be allowed to play on eBay anymore.

Auctions are bad.  Especially when you're determined to win.  And the cap you set gets bypassed because you are outbid.  So you exceed your pretend limit.

I should probably stick to thrifting.

Which I did a little of this last week when I found this precious thing for only $7.50.....

I knew taking off the nasty red vinyl cover would result in shabby table perfection.......

So shabby tables fall on my irresistible list too, I guess.

Along with vintage dish towels ($1.98 each).....

But I swear the towels will go in my antique shop booth. 

Probably.

I keep reminding myself that they do not match my kitchen.

They do not match my kitchen.

Linking up with Her Library Adventures 
and Apron Thrift Girl.

One Fish, Two Fish

Red Fish, Blue Fish....

I really wish I could take credit for this.

But I can't.

Thanks to Pinterest, I was able to host a "date" with our Kindergarten buddies in honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday with the cutest little themed treat!

I was very excited about this tasty delight, but I had no experience with Jello.  I do not buy it.  I do not eat it.

All I knew is that I needed twelve boxes of the stuff.  And that pouring 48 individual servings might make me feel like dying.

I was determined, however, because it was so darn adorable!

Anyway.

With one helpful sidekick, we knocked it out in less than an hour.  We had it down to an art.

Whit rocked on microwave duty......

I was a beast at stirring and pouring......

The sidekick had experienced a Jello mishap once in her life, and I was convinced it wasn't going to turn out right.  But miracle of miracles, when I went to check the Jello the next morning, it had set perfectly. 

So sidekick and I ~ Thing 1 and Thing 2 ~ who didn't even PLAN to dress similarly the next day....

.....could add the Swedish Fish before the gathering began.....

Dr. Seuss books were read.  

Much Jello was eaten.  

A few fish were spit out.  

But the date couldn'ta been beaten.

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Linking up with: