Wednesday, January 1, 2014
A New Year | 2014
A New Year! Always a perfect time to start over, start fresh. Get a leg up, or a head start. A great time to crumple up all the things we didn’t do in the last year, and write a brand new, list of amazing things (big or small) we wish to accomplish in the next year.
2013 has been a crazy year....beyond crazy. But in a YAY, fabulous, can I do that over again type of crazy. It was the first year that really I didn’t have anything that really dampened/or yucky-fied my overall mood. I guess except a lovely story about the USPS delivering an empty box to my sisters house, which should have been filled with Christmas presents.
But that, is definitely a story for a later date.
No, today I’m excited to dust off this poor, neglected blog, and I’m resolving that I will pick up the pieces, and lovingly nurse her back to health. I feel like I’m a horrible friend to her...
"I’m Sorry I haven’t been able to spend time with you, but between deployments, kids, school, and a growing photography business, I just fell off the radar.” Not nice....not nice at all.
So on my freshly starched piece of notebook paper, between lose my last 30 lbs of baby weight (from 3 years ago), and de-clutter my life, I have BLOG, written in BIG, BOLD letters.
I’ve realized that I may not be an every day blogger, but I still have plenty to share in words and pictures. I’ve really honed in on what this project should be about, and I can’t wait to share it with you!
xoxo See you in 2014!!!
Posted by Lesley at 12:38 PM 6 comments
Labels: Mommy Blogger, New Years
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Bbq Chicken Pizza
You know the age old question....if you were stuck on a deserted island....what three things would you bring....
well besides a boat....so I could actually get off the island....I would have to put a lifetime supply of BBQ and Pizza up there as part of my "top three" things.....Then.....one night....back in the early 2002....I was introduced to something spectacular....that would not only shake up my limited culinary box....but also allow me to combine two of my three "island" things.....and leave room for a new third item.....
a lifetime supply of chocolate....
GENIUS!
This finger licking, napkin needing, delicious pizza....will shoot anyone to the top of their cooking game, and it's so stinking easy!!!!
Ingredients
or as Teresa from the RHONJ likes to say....."ingredients-es"
1 lb skinless chicken breast halves
(best to get the thin sliced chicken breasts)
1 1/3 C. purchased bbq sauce
6 oz. shredded Gouda cheese
6 oz. crumbled Feta cheese
16 oz. purchased Pizza Crust
(I like Boboli)
1/2 medium purple onion sliced into rings
1/4 C. fresh Cilantro
Directions
in a large resealable bag, combine the chicken breasts with half of the bbq sauce (2/3 C.) Marinate in the fridge anywhere from 4 hours to overnight.
Preheat oven to 450 degrees
heat grill pan to medium high. Cook chicken flipping on each side to cook evenly. Cook 15-20 minutes, or until juices run clear, and chicken is no longer pink. Cut chicken into small pieces.
Spread the remaining 2/3 C. bbq Sauce onto purchased pizza crust. Sprinkle with Cheeses, top with onion and chicken. Place pizza in oven, and cook for 12-15 minutes.
Remove Pizza from Oven. Sprinkle with fresh Cilantro.
Posted by Lesley at 8:38 AM 41 comments
Labels: bbq, Dinner, In the Kitchen, pizza, recipe
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
My Pinteresting Week
A Fantastic way to reinvent the Photo Display
Wish I had these when my sons were newborn...Totally adorable Onesies with detachable Bowties
How cute are these, perfectly sized little summer dessert.....
Perfect way to combine all the amazing tastes of summer in one gorgeous dish
I know how i'm serving Margarita's at my next party!
A totally unexpected and unique Hostess Gift.
Come follow all my Pinterest Boards, and find out all the things I'm loving!!!
Posted by Lesley at 8:31 AM 1 comments
Labels: Must Haves, Must-Haves, pins, pinterest
Monday, July 16, 2012
Not Your Mama's Margarita Cupcakes
Stop the Presses....
You're taste buds will NEVER be the same after this post.....
Last week, I had the immense pleasure in partaking in bunco group's annual Drunko game. This usually is played around a gorgeous pool...on a warm summer evening. Tiki torches are burning, the harmonious sounds of Jimmy Buffet playing in the background....
some hunky husbands/bartenders, to cater to our every whim....
and since I'm obsessed with Themes.....I had to bring a little sumthin sumthin...that screamed "drunko"
so why not combine my love of Cupcakes.....with one of the best summer drinks in THE universe....
FANTASTICO!!!
Before I could say "guardar uno para el chef"
translation: "save one for the chef"
my bunco playing friends had snagged them all....only leaving me with a few crumbs...a lime wedge...and plenty of "oh my god"...and "those ROCKED"
The only other downside, besides not being able to partake in the overload of yumminess....
was trying to explain to my 4 year old, why he couldn't lick the batter.....
I could just imagine explaining to my husband, why our son was completely ripped....singing a bad rendition of the elmo song, and calling him stud....
Margarita Cupcakes
Ingredients
Cupcakes
1 box white Cake Mix
8 oz. liquid Margarita Mix
2 oz. tequila
1 oz Grand Marnier
3 egg whites
2 Tbs. vegetable oil
1 Tbs. grated lime zest
Lime Buttercream Frosting:
8 Tbs. softened butter
8 oz softened cream cheese
Juice from 2 Limes
1 Tbs Margarita Mix
1 tsp lime zest
5 Cups confectioners sugar
cane sugar
Fresh limes
Posted by Lesley at 10:46 AM 2 comments
Labels: bbq, Cupcake Recipe, In the Kitchen, party ideas, Summertime
Saturday, January 7, 2012
What I've been stalking this week!
Ah-choo!
and just for the record, will not be contributing to any ransom demands to return father winter to us....sorry....
Posted by Lesley at 9:10 AM 1 comments
Labels: the mommyhood, Weekly reads, weekly roundup
Friday, January 6, 2012
In The Kitchen: Red Leaf Salad With Creamy Buttermilk Dressing
Posted by Lesley at 9:41 AM 1 comments
Labels: In the Kitchen, Lunch, Salad
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
A New Year's Resolution Giveaway!
Happy Happy 2012...
Posted by Lesley at 11:54 AM 39 comments
Labels: Giveaways, Must-Haves, New Year
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Happy New Year!
Posted by Lesley at 7:00 AM 1 comments
Labels: Must-Haves, the mommyhood
Friday, December 30, 2011
Mr Sweet Eyes
I think God new exactly what he was doing when he designed my children.....especially when he designed Mr. Stinkeroo here....
Posted by Lesley at 8:04 AM 1 comments
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
In The Kitchen: Fried Apple Fritters
I've spent the better part of the last 2 days, working diligently to clean up the toy, wrapping paper, and packing peanut explosion that detonated in my living room on Sunday morning...
Fried Apple Fritters
Posted by Lesley at 7:00 AM 4 comments
Labels: Apple, Baking, In the Kitchen