Beautiful Sunday

This was a perfect Sunday, friends! Church was awesome, as well as Sunday School, Chipotle for lunch was fabulous as always, then my friend Heather and I went on a leisurely walk for a little over an hour at Radnor Lake...so beautiful yet so close to Nashville.

They have a paved mile long road that you can go up and back on or you can venture out on several of their mulched trails. We went on the paved road for awhile and then decided to go on a trail to get back to the car. It is a wildlife reserve, so we saw all kinds of animals. Cranes, geese, tons of turtles, deer, ducks, etc. It was so beautiful to not be outside and it was so relaxing. We stopped in at my fav, Sweet Ce Ce's!!! We got back to our hubby's at Heather's house and then we went home. I begged and pleaded asked my hubby nicely if he would take me for a ride in our little "Barbie Car" red Miata with the top down since it was so nice and the sun was setting and of course we went on a little drive to get Derek some Sweet Ce Ce's. I'm proud that I had enough will power to say no to Sweet Ce Ce's (since it would've been my 2nd today). It was a perfect day!

Have a WONDERFUL week!

Spring Break Update-Finally!

Friends, This has been an absolutely CRAZY week!  I have been going non-stop since this weekend!!

Spring Break was great! The first part (Friday night-Tuesday night) was spent out west. We got back late Tuesday night and Wednesday-Friday was spent relaxing and cleaning up the house. Friday was my Hubby's 26th Birthday. We celebrated with Joey's Pizza for lunch (I surprised him :) and with Genghis grill (Mongolian BBQ) for dinner! We hung out with our friends TJ and Heather the rest of the night and I made an awesome peanut butter pie for Derek. I will be featuring this on my Friday's Four New Recipes hopefully tomorrow soon. Friend Heather and I ran 10 miles on Saturday and it felt really good! We made it before the rain came! I had a beauti control spa party at my house on Saturday evening. It was so nice afterward a long run! From then on I have been bust until today. Sunday-church, bible study. Monday-back to school, church league softball started/I ran 3 miles. Tuesday- school, Kenzi's Arbonne party. Wednesday- School, Derek's bowling league. Thursday- School......cook dinner and enjoy a movie and The Big Bang Theory's new episode, which was hilarious!

Here is our Spring Break recap and a smilebox slide show I put together tonight!


We flew march 18th from Nashville to la then to Vegas. Didn't get to Vegas until 11:30 and then drove to the Bellagio parked, walked around some and then went to go check into our hotel circus circus. Very different atmosphere. Couldn't believe the amount of kids in Vegas at such a late hour. We got something to eat at the deli in the hotel while Kenzi and Derek waited in a huge line to check in around 1:30 am. We didn't get to sleep until 2:30 pacific time. The next morning, we woke up and had breakfast with tom and sandy at the hotel. We checked out and went to the Venetian hotel where we got to go to the shops along the canal. The gondola rides looked so cool. We drove to see the Bellagio fountain show and it was so cool. Too short though. We left there and headed to the Hoover dam. It was really neat to see. We left there and stopped for dinner in Kingman, AZ at a cute route 66 diner. The cheeseburger, sweet potato fries and the root beer float were amazing! We stayed in Williams and then Sunday morning we got up and drove to the grand canyon. It was cold and cloudy but so breathtaking! What an awesome creation of God! The mountains out here are unreal! The whole landscape is something I've never experienced before and it is so cool. We are driving toward Phoenix now and the snow capped mountains are really beautiful! We stopped in Sedona to get out and stretch out legs (aka shop). The red rock formations are so amazing! Monday afternoon was cold: 50 and raining. We are sat in the in-n-out burger parking lot because the key fob stopped working and we  waited for the enterprise guy to come with a new car. We are suppose to be at an Indians spring training game at 1 and it was 12:49. On our way here, the cactus along the sides of the roads were crazy.  The Indians game was canceled because of rain on Monday. We came back to the hotel and rested. We went to dinner at the arrogant butcher in downtown phoenix with one of Mackenzie's authors, Austin Gutwein, he is 16 and wrote "Take Your Best Shot" he is so nice and generous for a 16 year old. Tuesday we got up and packed, went to mi mi's for brunch with Derek's first cousin Stacy and her kids and husband. Then we went to the reds spring training game for a little bit until we had to leave. Wish we would've checked our flights because we were suppose to leave at 4:55 and it's delayed until 6:15. We got back really late but it was a really fun trip. Wish the weather would've been nicer but such is life. Enjoy the slide show!

This picture slideshow made with Smilebox

Happy 26th Birthday, Husband!

Last year I posted all kinds of cute pictures of my hubby through the years and today I'm going to post some of my favorite pictures from this past year! So here's to you, Derek. I love you with all my heart and I'm so blessed to be able to share another birthday with you!

My B-day July 2010

Our 1st Anniversary-July 2010

Charleston, SC family vacation-July 2010

Ruby Falls, Chattanooga, TN Fall 2010

Michelle and Jeremy's Wedding Fall 2010

Skiing December 2010

Spring Break-March 2011

I need to learn to take more pictures!! Happy Friday as well!

Recipe Friday is back in action!

Scalloped Potatoes

2lb. frozen southern style hash browns. (cube ones)
1 stick butter melted and mix in hash browns
1/2 c. chopped onions
2 c. cheddar cheese
1 pint sour cream
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 tsp salt and pepper
mix well
2 c. crushed cornflake crumbs and 1/2 c. melted butter. Mix
Pour over potatoes.
Cook 350 degrees for 55 min or Crock pot High for 4 hours!

Baked Chicken Casserole

8 Chicken Breasts-boneless (I used only 4 because it was just for Derek and I)
8 slices of Swiss Cheese (I only used 4 again)
1 can of cream of chicken soup
1/4 c. white cooking wine (but you can use water-I used water)
2 c. crushed herb bread crumbs
1/4 c. butter melted.

Place chicken breasts in single layer in 9x13 baking dish. Place 1 piece of cheese on each chicken breast. Mix soup and wine/water and pour over chicken. Sprinkle bread crumbs over chicken and then drizzle butter over the chicken mixture.
Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes.


Old-World Manicotti

12 large Manicotti shells
4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
2 cups ricotta cheese
6 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or 2 tablespoons dried basil
1 (26-ounce) jar prepared spaghetti sauce, divided
1/2 cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 9x13in. baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain; rinse with cool water. Let pasta dry on paper towels.

3. For filling, in medium bowl, stir together 3 cups mozzarella with the ricotta and fresh basil. Using a teaspoon, carefully stuff pasta shells with prepared cheese mixture.

4. Spoon 2 cups spaghetti sauce into prepared baking dish. Arrange stuffed pasta over sauce. Pour remaining spaghetti sauce over top of pasta. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella.

5. Bake manicotti for 15 minutes. Sprinkle with Parmesan; bake for 10 minutes longer. Serve immediately.

Nancy's Vegetable Beef Soup

Makes 6-8 servings

2 lb. roast cut into bite-sized pieces or 2 lbs. stewing meat
15 oz. can corn
15 oz. can green beans
1 lb. frozen peas
40 oz. can stewed tomatoes
5 beef bouillon cubes
2 tsp. salt

1. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker. Do not drain vegetables.
2. Add water to fill slow cooker to within 3 inches of top.
3. Cover. Cook on low 8 hours, or until meat is tender and vegetables are soft.

Cooking with Heather and Tiffany

I am so excited to start this segment! Heather and I are best friends, running buddies, bakers, and chefs :) We have so much fun together and it helps that our husbands are best friends as well!

Here are some recipes/pictures to go along with the recipes.

Ingredients:

Servings:
12 12

12

Servings Size

• 
  

• 1 (1/4 ounce) package dry yeast
• 1 cup warm milk
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup margarine
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 4 cups flour

FILLING

• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon
• 1/3 cup margarine, softened

ICING

• 8 tablespoons margarine
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup cream cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
Change Measurements: US | Metric

Directions:

Prep Time: 1 hr
Total Time: 1 1/4 hr

1. 1 For the rolls, dissolve the yeast in the warm milk in a large bowl.
2. 2 Add sugar, margarine salt, eggs, and flour, mix well.
3. 3 Knead the dough into a large ball, using your hands dusted lightly with flour.
4. 4 Put in a bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place about 1 hour or until the dough has doubled in size.
5. 5 Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface, until it is approx 21 inches long by 16 inches wide.
6. 6 It should be approx 1/4 thick.
7. 7 Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
8. 8 To make filling, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl.
9. 9 Spread the softened margarine over the surface of the dough, then sprinkle the brown sugar and cinnamon evenly over the surface.
10. 10 Working carefully, from the long edge, roll the dough down to the bottom edge.
11. 11 Cut the dough into 1 3/4 inch slices, and place in a lightly greased baking pan.
12. 12 Bake for 10 minutes or until light golden brown.
13. 13 While the rolls are baking combine the icing ingredients.
14. 14 Beat well with an electric mixer until fluffy.
15. 15 When the rolls are done, spread generously with icing.

Read more: http://www.food.com/recipe/cinnabon-cinnamon-rolls-76864#ixzz1HX0VHek0

SOOOO yummy!!! yet so so so fattening! All in moderation,right?

So anxious!

Hey Friends!

Sorry for the delay on the recipes this week. I made some really good ones but I had to choose last night, blog about my recipes or pack for spring break vacation. I'm currently at school for the rest of our Professional Development but finished all my responisbilities, so I come to you quickly and brief!

Have a fab spring break to those teachers who are on Spring Break this week!

Adios! I'll be back Wednesday with a full update, followed by some special posts!

P.S. When I get to 50 followers or 100 posts, I will be hosting a giveaway or two!

Things to be excited about...

1. 5 days until Spring Break!!! We will be traveling a bit to:

And here:

And here:

(Phoenix, AZ for Spring Training)

2.  I am also so so so excited to start this series here and there:

3. I love Hubby's new toy:

The beloved Ipad 2! I'm in love with FaceTime because my brother has an iphone 4 and I can see him and my family in WV :) We still have the iphone 3GS.

4. I went to the place below for the first time on Saturday with a few of my girls! It was AMAZING!

Back to "watching" the PD course I have to finish by Friday and hopefully I will be finished with it TONIGHT!

A question for all my teacher blog friends (or other friends who have creative minds :):

How should I decorate my classroom next year? The first year, I did under the sea with fish and treasure chests, this year was a castle/fairytale theme. I really want something really cute. We aren't allowed to hang things from the ceiling because of fire code but I would love to come in over the summer and create something amazing if I thought of a great theme.

Night all :)