Chicken and Green Olives

Chicken and Green Olives

Happy Monday! I know it has been ages since my last post. I recently started a new job and with so many new things to learn, I had less time for blogging. Boo! Never fear though, I am back with a delicious new recipe!

Chicken and Green Olives

        2 c. of cooked, shredded chicken breast

        1 jar of marinara sauce

        1 box of linguine pasta, cooked

        1/2 jar of green olives

DIRECTIONS:  Combine prepared ingredients and serve! I cooked my chicken breast in chicken broth in a crock pot all day and then, it shredded easily.

M and I both love this recipe! Plus, it is a bonus that it is so easy to make!

DIY Split Pea Wreath

DIY Split Pea Wreath

I have spent many an afternoon floating on my Pinterest cloud. The ideas there are endless and I never know what treasure of an idea I might find. I felt that the grand two-story entrance to our home needed a little VAVOOM! Of course, I found my inspiration on Pinterest...introducing the split pea wreath!

This beautiful wreath was originally posted {here} on That Red Headed Step Child and eventually made its way to Pinterest where I joyfully discovered it.

You will need the following items - it will cost less than $10 to make!

• 18" straw wreath from Hobby Lobby,  unwrapped
• 1 bag of hot glue sticks
• 3 bags of green split peas

I just started gluing like a mad woman. Take note, if you are messy like me, do not do this in the house. I had peas flying everywhere! I finished my project in the garage. :) Tip: Use alot of glue!

Once I finally had glued on all my peas, I gave the wreath a good coating of acrylic to protect it from the harsh Iowa weather and to give it some shine. TA DAAAAA! Here is the wreath hanging on our front door.

I wanted a wreath that I could leave-up year round and I feel that this wreath is very versatile. Right now, I just have a black ribbon on it, but I think I could really spice it up for the holidays with a red or gold ribbon. The possibilities are endless!

Have a great weekend everyone! TGIF!

Pumpkin Bars

Pumpkin Bars

Fall is officially in full swing, but in Iowa it still feels like summer! It has been beautiful for the past week or so with temperatures in the 80s. I am in heaven! Along with warm sunshine, M and I indulged in football, yardwork and PUMPKIN BARS this weekend!

Pumpkin Bars
        2 c. flour
        2 c. sugar
        2 t. baking power
        1 t. baking soda
        2 t. cinnamon
        1/2 t. salt
        4 eggs
        1 15 oz. can of pumpkin
        1 c. oil
        1 tub of cream cheese frosting

DIRECTIONS:  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together dry ingredients until well combined. Add eggs, pumpkin and oil. Blend well with mixer. Spread into greased 13x10 inch baking pan. Bake for 30 minutes. After bars have cooled, frost, cut and serve!

These bars are a fall staple in our house. What fall treats have you been making?

Spicy Pretzel Sticks

Spicy Pretzel Sticks

Happy Friday Everyone! Is it just me or has this week flown by? I love it!

M is taking a road trip to Kansas City this weekend with his father and brother. Ah, male bonding. :) Their one request? My famous spicy pretzels for a road munchie. I was happy to oblige!

Spicy Pretzel Sticks
        1 bag of pretzel sticks
        1 c. oil
        1 T. cayenne pepper
        1/2 t. lemon pepper
        1/2 t. garlic salt
        1/2 package dry ranch dressing mix

DIRECTIONS:  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together oil and dry ingredients until well combined. Spread pretzels on a baking sheet and drizzle with oil mixture. Stir until well-coated. Bake for 5-8 minutes. Remove from over and stir well. Bake for another 5-8 minutes. Remove from over and stir well. Let cool and enjoy!

Whenever I make a batch of these, for any occasion, the crowd goes wild! So simple and delicious.

Have a fabulous weekend everyone!

Vanilla Pudding Chocolate Chip Cookies

Vanilla Pudding Chocolate Chip Cookies

Football chaos has returned to our house with a vengeance. I love feeding M and his friends who come over to watch the games. Although both of our teams were losers this past weekend, my game day cookies were winners!

This recipe, from two peas & their pod, turns out soft and delicious every time. Even more perfect warm out of the oven with a nice, cold glass of milk.

     Vanilla Pudding Chocolate Chip Cookies
        2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
        1 t. baking soda
        1 t. salt
        1/2 c. butter, softened
        1/4 c. granulated white sugar
        3/4 c. packed brown sugar
        1 box (3.4 oz) Instant Vanilla Pudding
        1 t. vanilla extract
        2 large eggs
        2 c. chocolate chips (I love Ghiradelli 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chips)

DIRECTIONS:  Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. In a separate large mixer bowl, beat together butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract until dough is creamy. Add in the pudding mix. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating dough well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in the chocolate chips. Scoopy out rounded tablespoons of dough and place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool on the baking sheets for 2 minutes and then, remove the cookies to wire racks to cool completely.

Hopefully our teams have better luck this weekend. Happy Tuesday!

Linked up at Mandy's Recipe Box

Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday Everyone! This 'Favorites' series is focused on decorating inspirations for our new house. I have been working on window treatments and have been dreaming up many, many other ideas. M must constantly remind me - slowly, but surely. Here's to all of the 'must have everything done ASAP' people out there that are just like me!

{Gold Bar Cart}

{Hutch Bathroom Cabinet}

{Sheer Ikea Curtains}

{Stairway Gallery Wall}

{Curtain Tie-Back from Glass Door Knob}

Cheers to a beautfiul weekend everyone! Go Hawks!

Chicago!

Chicago!

Hi Blog Friends! I'm off to Chicago!! M's sister is getting married on Saturday. I can't wait to tell you all about my trip next week!

Have a fabulous holiday weekend!! xoxo

Lasagna Roll-Ups

Lasagna Roll-Ups

Oh, Pinterest! Yes, I do love you and all your inspiration - case in point, these Lasagna Roll-Ups.

I had a pound of ground Italian turkey sausage that M had found on his last solo mission to the grocery store so I modified the recipe a bit to win some brownie points. :)

          Lasagna Roll-Ups

        8 lasagna noodles, cooked and drained

        1 lb. ground Italian turkey sausage, cooked

        1 c. ricotta cheese

        1 c. of Prego spaghetti sauce

        1 c. of petite diced tomatoes

        1/4 c. of milk

        1/4 tsp. of red pepper flakes

        1 c. shredded mozzarella, divided

DIRECTIONS:

• Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 9x9 baking dish with cooking spray.
• In a medium bowl,  combine sausage, cheeses, milk, and pepper. In a small bowl, combine spaghetti sauce and diced tomatoes.
• Spread 1 c. of the spaghetti sauce mixture in the bottom of the baking dish.
• Spread the meat mixture evenly among the lasagna noodles. Roll the noodles jelly-roll fashion and place seam-side down in the baking dish. Top with mozzarella.
• Cover. Bake for 35 minutes or until hot.

It was delicious! I asked M "Would you like me to make this again?" His response? "H*ll yeah!" So, I guess we have our answer. :)

Linked up at Mandy's Recipe Box

Bike on the High Trestle

Bike on the High Trestle

On Saturday morning, M and I put the bikes on the back of the truck and drove 20 minutes north to Woodward, IA, to bike on the High Trestle Trail.

The trail is famous for it's 13-story and 1/2 mile long bridge over the Des Moines River, located between Woodward and Madrid.

It was a beautiful summer day and we biked the most popular stretch of trail from Woodward to Madrid- about 12 miles round trip.

At the 6 mile mark in Madrid, we parked the bikes outside of The Flat Tire Lounge in order to quench our thirst with some Summer Shandy's.

I am so sad that summer is slipping away from us - the unspeakable season is looming. :(

Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday, everyone! M and I are looking forward to a relaxing weekend at home after traveling to spend time with family last weekend. It should give us time to get caught up on house work before we are off to Chicago next weekend for M's sister's wedding. Fun times! To start the weekend off on a happy note, I thought I would share some of my favorite finds from this week.

Favorite Bite:  Cake Batter Blondies

Favorite Dream Destination:  Seychelles Islands

Favorite Feel Good Quote:  Words to Live By

Favorite Necklace:  Goldfish Necklace

Favorite Song:  Matt Nathanson

Have a FABULOUS weekend everyone!

Tortellini Sausage Bake

Tortellini Sausage Bake

After a long weekend in Wisconsin with M's family, we needed a filling dinner to recharge. This is an easy and delicious casserole that I adapted from {Carrie's Sweet Life}.

        Tortellini Sausage Bake

        1 bag of cheese tortellini

        1 package of turkey dinner sausage

        1 jar of alfredo

        1/2 jar of marinara

        1 can of black olives

        1 can of mushrooms

        1/2 c. parmesan

        1 c. mozzarella

DIRECTIONS: Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray. Fry sausage until it is browned on both sides. Cook tortellini as directed on the package. Combine all the ingredients well and spread them in the baking dish. Top with mozzarella. Bake for 30 minutes.

Linked up at Mandy's Recipe Box

Hello & Welcome

Hello & Welcome

...to my new blog! As an avid reader of blogs - beautiful blogs with pretty things and inspiring ideas, I thought it was finally time to create a place for my photos and favorite things!  I hope you enjoy and check back often! :)

You can buy this recycled wooden sign {here}