Our Favorite Tee

Sometimes the best memories are tied up in ways I can't explain.

When cleaning out outgrown clothes, one of the few things I couldn't part with was Jay's Kermit Shirt.

I don't really know why-I decided to keep it, washed it and when Joseph saw it as I folded laundry his eyes lit up. I knew he loved it too. I had decided maybe Lizzy would wear it.

Being a one-of-each-kid family, there are not many hand-me-downs.

I made sure to take Lizzy's picture in it today, as I looked back through pictures on my computer I found only a few from my phone when Jay was 21 Months old. the same age Lizzy is now.

We love this shirt, Jay basically lived in it although I don't have the pictures to prove it, we do have the memories.

And now, some pictures of Lizzy in our favorite tee.

Five on Friday

Happy Friday!

I'm linking up with the Good Life Blog today with a fun 5 on Friday--

1. I spent every free moment this week (well, most every free moment) cleaning up and clearing out drawers, cabinets and closets.

Even though you wouldn't be able to tell it if you just casually looked around my house, I really did get a lot done and everything feels better, less cluttered and more organized. It's never really a job that is "finished" but I conquered a lot and donated lots of items so I feel prepared for the month ahead.

2. Speaking of the month ahead-I've got Valentine's Day on the brain and Joseph is always the hardest person to shop for. I created this printable Valentine to get us in the spirit of things starting February 1st. Feel free to print one for yourself and share the LOVE.

3. This fun moment from Sunday night might be my favorite picture of the year so far.

Just trying to keep everyone busy while Jen got ready to blow out her candles. Selfies help pass the time!

4. Lizzy's pickiness has resulted in my exploration of smoothies. A few nights a week, I've been making "milkshakes" for the kids using fresh and frozen fruits. So far, so good with Lizzy! Jay loves them too, but Jay has always been a great eater and Lizzy will not eat any fruit at all.

5. And since I've been experimenting with smoothies for the kids I decided to try one for myself for lunch today.

Apple, banana, spinach, frozen blueberries, ice, vanilla almond milk and a  heaping tablespoon of finely ground flax seed. It looks a tad scary but is really tasty! I'm impressed!

That's my Five this Friday! I( hope you enjoyed stopping in! Click on over and enjoy the link-up!

Valentine's Day Giveaway (This one starts February 1st)

What do you give the man who has everything for Valentine's Day?

Well, I don't know either, but I definitely have my thinking cap on!

I whipped up this little "list" to use as a way to celebrate Valentine's Day beginning February 1.

I plan to add something everyday until the "BIG DAY" to add a little "oomph" to this holiday.



Download and print one for yourself and get the Valentine spirit going at your house!

(Or print it out on the night of the 13th and fill it all in--it works either way!)

And I'm pretty sure if we stay in with our little sweethearts, this steak will be on the menu!

Now, when you figure out what to get the man who has everything--just let me know!
:)

Just some weekend fun and Jen's B-Day

Another fun attempt at pre-church pictures. Don't you love this? I do. Even though photos of these two at these ages is enough to make you want to smash you camera into bits just give them a handful of candy and call it a day. 

We've managed to have a few decent days to play outside between the Arctic Blast and the rains that have settled in.

The kids are really playing like friends at times these days. I couldn't be more thankful for these moments when they happen. 

We've just enjoyed the kids being kids most of the weekend around here.

Oh, and a great trip to the vet with the three amigos. 

I really don't know what I was thinking. I swear I was just running in for a second to pick Gus up after a bath and treatment. 

No snacks, no cups, no entertainment. 

90 minutes later here we are sitting at the Vet's pick up window, waiting on Gussy's medicine. 

Lizzy was over it, i believe. 

Found this little gem when I found my phone in the playroom floor the other night. 

Love you too, anonymous child. (I'm guessing Lizzy, she loves chatting with Siri any chance she gets.)


And we celebrated Jen's birthday this week.
Note: Every child in this picture is plotting a way to blow out the candles before Jenn. Even the baby.

 This was round 2. Jay was the threat this time....

 Eventually everyone enjoyed the celebration. (And got their own turn to blow out the candles) (5 TIMES)

I hope y'all have had a great time these last few wintry weeks, too!

10 minutes to Steak House Sizzle

So simple, So dreamy.

An absolute knock-out dinner every single time.

Now, let's rock this steak house steak in 10 minutes.

Are you ready to rrrrruuuuuuummmmmmmble?

Here's all you need--

Meat (I did 2-10-ounce NY strips today, they are on sale. 1 pound boneless rib eye easily feeds two --or even 4 people, get filet, strip whatever you prefer, but we usually get rib eye)
Vegetable Oil
Salt 
Pepper
Worcestershire Sauce
Optional:
Butter (if you really want to "go there", if you're trying to watch the fat/calories then you really don't need it.

Tools:
Oven Set to Broil
Ovenproof Skillet (this means Cast Iron or stainless steel with all steel handle)
Oven Mitt (I care about you! Take a second to check it for holes/worn places first)
Stove
Tongs

Set oven to Broil and put your skillet in on the top rack as the oven heats.

Remove steak from packaging and pat dry with paper towels or a cloth. coat both sides of your steak with a drizzle of olive oil, a pinch of salt, a few grinds of pepper and a few splashes of Worcestershire Sauce.

Grab your oven mitt and take the skillet from the oven and place it on the stove on high. Place steak in HOT pan with tongs. It should sizzle and steam, cook for 30 seconds and then flip. Cook for 30 more sizzling seconds then return the skillet.

Back into the oven and broil for 2 minutes, using mitt and tongs flip the steak (a note from the wife of your friendly insurance agent--please make sure your kids are FAR away if you have them, there will be some serious heat coming from the oven). Broil 2 more minutes.

Remove the pan from the oven. Move the steak onto a cutting board and cover (foil, lid of a pan, bowl, anything will work) to let the meat rest for a few minutes before cutting. (if you're opting for butter drop about a tablespoonful on top before covering)

This will be the best darn steak you've ever made.

You'll impress your guests, your spouse, even yourself.

If you like a steak Medium-Well add a minute or so to your broil time. That's all you should need.

This and a salad is perfection and feels oh-so-fancy any night of the week.

Steak, roasted veggies, a potato and bread are the perfect home-cooked date night, Valentine's surprise for the man who has everything, celebratory meal or anniversary dinner.

Now, keep this in mind next time you need a date night, but don't want to go out. Keep this handy for Valentine's Day coming up and you're all set!

I hope you love cooking your steak this way! Have a wonderful day!

New Year the End of Winter Break

I really don't know what to call this post--I wanted to call it "Didn't Lizzy look cute on New Year's Eve?" but that didn't seem right.

 I mean, she did look super cute, but that seems like too little to blog about, or superficial or something.

It is what it is I guess.

We went to the Myers for dinner and cousin playtime. The Barnes family was there too. There was easy cheese. I had also just told Weston that I needed more pictures of him in 2014--so here ya go.

The kids had fun and we were home by 9:25. Party animals, I know.

A few days into the new year the Ladds came for a visit. Charles and Karla went to cheer Vandy to victory at the bowl game and the kids all hung out with Joseph and I. He even took them "hunting". (No firearms involved--the backpack was loaded with iPads, iTouch, iPhone, snacks and Capri-Sun. They saw some squirrels and birds. They did manage to stay up there for an hour, so kudos to Joseph for an hour of entertainment that was technically outdoors.

The Nashville crew headed home on Sunday and we all prepared for the coldest weather in a zillion years. Dad was out of town, so it was up to me to keep us entertained and keep our pipes from freezing.

Two birds, one stone.

We're all thawed out now and school has started back. I hope you are staying warm and getting into you new routine for the new year! Have a wonderful weekend!

Rockin Roast Chicken and Revising Menu Monday

It's a New Year and another Monday!

This week I'm showing and sharing my experience making a Roast Chicken for the first time.
(Actually the first, second and third times!)

I've used the Pioneer Woman's Roast Chicken recipe and instructions--and using this chicken in a variety of ways. I'll also share with you what I learned along the way and how it worked for me in my real kitchen with my real family.

Here is the PW's recipe in its entirety. And it is awesome.

And here is the way I made it and the modifications I made getting it right for me (on the third time around).
1 whole chicken
1/2 cup butter softened
3 lemons
2 sprigs fresh Rosemary

The morning I'm cooking I set out a stick of butter to soften. I'm only using 1/2 cup of butter instead of the 3/4 cup the PW recommends.

When I'm ready to roast I preheat my oven, zest 2 lemons and remove the leaves from one sprig of rosemary. The PW says to finely--really, really finely chop the rosemary. After doing this for the first two chickens I used the food processor for the last one and loved the results.

So into the Cuisinart go the zest, butter and rosemary leaves.

Perfect! This chopped my herbs, mixed my ingredients and whipped my butter just slightly to ease the spreading. I'm so glad I did it this way instead of chopping, chopping, chopping and mixing by hand.

I rinsed and patted the chicken DRY. Not patted it mostly dry, as the first time I made this recipe--I mean DRY. It made smearing the butter a breeze. So easy that I used a rubber spatula and just used my hands for the portions where I wanted to smear butter between the skin and meat.

So easy!

Cut the three lemons in half, squeezed the lemon juice over and stuffed with remaining Rosemary and lemons.

Into the oven and the house smells absolutely amazing within the hour and once the chicken is done the possibilities are endless. I've used mine a number of ways and even used the bones for a soup base once I'm done. This is the universal meal that can spark your menu and your diet! Learning to roast a chicken myself can be scratched off of my kitchen bucket list. Now, here's a list of ways to use this delicious dish once you're done!

1.Chicken Salad-My kids love "Chick-fil-a" style with celery, mayo, relish, salt and pepper
2. Calzones-pick up some pizza dough, add chicken a little sauce and your favorite cheeses, fold and bake!
3. Tamale Pie
4. Big Salads
5. Chicken Enchiladas
6. Chicken, Apple and Provolone Sandwiches
7. Mexican Chicken Skillet
8. Mini- BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
9. Chicken Club Appetizers
10. Cheese Tortellini with Chicken-buy premade and add your favorite red or alfredo sauce
11. Chicken tacos
12. Ranch Lettuce Cups
13. Chicken Cheese Ball
14. Just as your main dish with roasted or steamed veggies. Can't go wrong this roasted chicken is SO juicy and tender!

About Menu Monday--I'm sharing one new dish from my kitchen every week and how we really prepare it and eat it. I've shared weekly menu plans which you can view here or by searching the Menu Monday label on the blog.

I cook A LOT and love to share ideas and tips and tricks that make life easier. The hope is that it helps some of my friends add new options to their menus and we all benefit. This spring for us is incredibly busy and instead of sharing a week's worth of dinners I've decided to share one really worthwhile cooking adventure every week. If there is something you've wanted to try but haven't yet--leave a comment and maybe I'll give it a try. This roasting of a chicken was something I've wanted to do for myself for a while, but I thought it would be too difficult it wasn't hard at all and got easier each time...not to mention the result was amazing!

Follow along to see what other new frontiers we'll conquer this spring! Thanks for visiting!!