Episode: Special Edition

My dad spoke at a homeschooling group's Father Daughter Tea Party this past Saturday. He was going to be speaking to just the dads so he asked me to record a video of some advice for the daughters. The girls ranged from grades first through eighth. I had some help from a sweet friend of mine, a homeschooling mom with a daughter in first grade. We came up with a concise list of 3 points. I wanted to post the video and share it with you so if you want to see it, you can. If you have homeschooling daughters and would like to show it to them, please feel free. There is no ground breaking information, just the heart of a 28 year old grown up homeschooled daughter.

 

Happy Monday!

Episode: April Birchbox Review

Sorry I didn't post a recipe this week. I'll make it up to you. I promise!!

Here's my April Birchbox Review...I was really tired, so sorry for looking/speaking like a crazy person! :)

Interested in joining Birchbox? Click here.

To shop around or learn more about the products mentioned in this video, click here.

Have a happy weekend!

Outfit Tuesday: The Day I Matched Kendi

Once upon a time, I wore this:

And later in the day, I checked Kendi's blog and she was wearing this:

And I was so excited that we almost matched exactly!

Hooray!

Also, I loved my Katniss braid.

Outfit breakdown: shirt, Old Navy; skirt, Loft; wedges, Target.

Have a very happy Tuesday, my friends!

Episode Saturday: How to "Make" a Journal

Hi!

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

Next Saturday, I hope you'll come back to hear the details of how you can buy one of these journals to help raise money for my friends' adoption to bring home Baby Roberts!

I hope you have a very, very happy Saturday!

Recipe Thursday: Drip Beef Sandwiches

Have I mentioned that I like the Pioneer Woman? Clearly I do because this is yet another recipe of hers!

I tried this one first from the recipe on her blog. But it's in her new cookbook, too, with a different twist.

I make mine just a little bit differently. You should make this immediately. And enjoy!

Drip Beef Sandwiches
adapted the Pioneer Woman

2.5 lb chuck roast
1 can beef broth
1 cup water
1 jar pepperoncini peppers
2 tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped OR 3 tbsp Italian seasoning

1. Throw everything in a crock pot in the morning.
2. Turn on low.
3. Toast some multi-grain rolls with some provolone cheese. Top with Drip Beef. Dip in the leftover liquid.
4. You can caramelize some onions, if you like that sort of thing. We do.

Happy Thursday!

Outfit Tuesday: Lace

Happy Tuesday, you guys!!

I saw a post from LOFT on Facebook Sunday night that said Monday is a great day to get really dressed up for work. Agreed.

So I pulled out my favorite lace skirt and got to work finding a shirt that I liked with it. This skirt is easy to remix because it goes with just about everything!

Outfit Breakdown: shirt, GAP (2011); skirt, WISH (2010); sandals, Shoe Gypsy (2011).

Have a fabulous week!

Episode Saturday (Sunday): What's In My Purse

Sorry for the delay...it's been another one of those weeks!

Zenni Optical
Tarte Lip Stain
Starbucks (for Gold Card info)

Have a very happy weekend!

Recipe Thursday: Chicken Stir Fry and Pineapple Fried Rice

Hi! Happy Thursday!

Have you noticed that I like the Pioneer Women's recipes? Well, I really do. I tried this recipe out while Ethan was out of town a few weeks ago and it was so delicious, I decided to make it while he was home! The verdict...unbelievably scrumptious!

I did tweak just a few things for our liking. I'll make note of them in italics throughout the recipe.

Chicken Stir Fry and Pineapple Fried Rice
Courtesy of the Pioneer Woman, original recipe found here

Ingredients
1/2 whole pineapple, cut into chunks, size of your choice (original says to slice in spears and skewer them)
2 cups brown rice, cooked *1 cup dry, 2 cups water
1 package of chicken breasts (original calls for 6 pork chops)
1 Tablespoon butter
1 Tablespoon olive oil (original calls for Canola or Peanut oil)
1 whole large onion, slice thin
6 Tablespoons soy sauce (more to taste, or if more liquid is needed)
1 Tablespoon rice wine vinegar
2 Tablespoons honey
1 Tablespoon sriracha, or other hot sauce
Salt To Taste
3 cloves minced garlic
2 whole eggs
1 jar (small) drained pimentos (I actually don't use this because I don't care for it)
1-1/2 cup frozen peas (I did not use peas when I made it for Ethan, but the first time I did and it was delicious!)
 2 Tablespoons soy sauce (additional)

Directions
-Cook rice according to package instructions. Set aside. (I actually do this the night before and keep it in the fridge to save time)
-Saute pineapple until they have good marks/color on the outside. Set aside. (I use my cast iron skillet, but this is where PW grills hers)
-Heat butter and oil over medium high heat, then add the chicken (or pork chops) to the pan. Saute until they have nice color.(of course, I use my le creuset)-Throw in the sliced onions and work them into the crevices between the chicken pieces. Shake the pan and move the onions around and let them cook for a good couple of minutes.
-While the onions are cooking, whisk together soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, honey, and hot sauce. When the onions are starting to soften, add soy sauce mixture. Shake the pan, stir it around, and let it cook and bubble up for a good couple of minutes until the chicken is completely cooked and the sauce is thicker. Pour it over the pork chops. Set aside.
-Add a small amount of oil to the same pan (without cleaning it) and return it to the stovetop over medium-high heat. Add garlic and stir it around, then pour in eggs (previously cracked in a bowl) and immediately stir them to scramble them a bit. Add peas, pimentos, and a couple of tablespoons (additional) soy sauce. Add cooked rice and stir it around to cook for a couple of minutes.
-To serve, pile rice on a plate, then top with a pork chops and onions from the sauce. Drizzle a little bit of sauce over the top.

So delicious. Enjoy!

Outfit Tuesday: Stripes

I like the website, Modcloth, a lot. They have a whole section of "longer lengths" skirts for people like me...girls with long legs who have a hard time finding skirts that are knee length to wear to work. However, Modcloth can be pretty pricey. I liked this skirt the first time I saw it and I happened to check in on it every few weeks. And finally...it was on clearance! They had 1 skirt left and it was in my size so I snatched it up! It is difficult to style because the colors are very distinct, but I'm working on it.

Also, I finally got the nude pumps I had my eye on. Woo hoo!

Run down: shirt, Gap; skirt, Modcloth; pumps, Target.

Have a very happy Tuesday!!

Episode Saturday: Discoveries

Happy Saturday!

Hope you and your family have a wonderful and worshipful Easter weekend!

Downton Abbey
Coconut Oil

Recipe Thursday: Shrimp and Grits

I am a true southern girl and I could eat cajun food every day, I like it so much. This recipe is perfect for me! And Ethan loves it, too.

My friend, Amanda, sent me this recipe a few weeks ago and I just got around to trying it out. Turns out...it was delicious! Not only that, but it was super easy and very quick to cook.

If you are not sure if you like grits, just take the plunge and try this recipe. Trust me. And I did not take that picture, but except for the tails, mine looked just like that! It's THAT easy!

picture courtesy of www.foodnetwork.com

Lemon-Garlic Shrimp and Grits
(Recipe courtesy of Food Network Magazine, online)

Ingredients:
3/4 cup instant grits
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese (don't buy the pre-grated stuff...the cheese you grate yourself is SO much   
      yummier!)
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/4 pounds medium shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails intact (our shrimp didn't have the tails still on
      them)
2 large cloves garlic, minced (I used the jarred stuff)
Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
Juice of 1/2 lemon, plus wedges for serving
2 tablespoons roughly chopped fresh parsley

Directions:
1. Bring 3 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat, covered. Uncover and slowly whisk in the grits, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 tablespoon pepper. Reduce the heat to medium low and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the parmesan and 1 tablespoon butter. Remove from the heat and season with salt and pepper. Cover to keep warm.
2. Meanwhile, season the shrimp with salt and pepper. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp, garlic, and cayenne, if using, and cook until the shrimp are pink, 3-4 minutes, tossing occasionally. Remove from heat and add 2 tablespoons water, the lemon juice and parsley; stir to coat the shrimp with the sauce and season with salt and pepper.
3. Divide the grits among shallow bowls and top with the shrimp and sauce. Serve with lemon wedges. Serves 4.
4. Enjoy!

If you try this, let me know what you think!

Happy Thursday!

Outfit Tuesday: Stripes and Dots

I've been wanting to branch out with some pattern mixing in my wardrobe, but have been too timid to try it. I decided that today was the day! I selected the pieces last night, making sure they worked together, and because I was running a tad late this morning, I didn't have the option to try to pick out a new outfit. I was forced to go with the stripes and polka dots ensemble. Overall, I'm very pleased.

Run down: shirt, Target; skirt, London vintage shop; shoes, Target (2011).

Happy Tuesday!