Be The Change | Till Then Smile Often

September 20, 2013

Why I Bake!

Happy Friday everyone!! I am so excited for this weekend! I am literally parking my butt on the couch and not moving other than within my house. Okay I do have to go grocery shopping and walk Seamus but that is it! I have been going full steam ahead for way too long and my body is yelling at me! On Wednesday I pulled a muscle in my back and had to take the day off from work. All that stress and tension needed to come out and it was PAINFUL! I luckily have a massage mat that helped a little but it is still hurting so this weekend is much needed R & R!!! Luckily I have a ton of books and a full NetFlix watch list to keep me busy!

Enough about me, let’s move on to this weekend 5 on Friday. I get to share 5 things that have entertained me this week.

One. I reveal the real reason why I bake! *Blows kisses* Now you know! 😉

My Diet Plan

Two. This contestant from the X-Factor auditions realy blew me away and I started to ~~tear up~~ cry. It really got to me and was really good. Have a listen and you’ll know what I am talking about.

Three. This Cheesy Corn Chowder with Bacon and Gorgozola is on my must make list! I saw this on Jessica’s blog How Sweet It Is.

cheesy corn chowder with bacon and gorgonzola

Four. I posted this video of my pup on Instagram but this one is a little longer. You would think from the snorts and grunts that he was a big dog but Nope he is a Pom/Sheltie.

In all his little glory! Not so big now is he?

Five. Just something that I need to work on everyday. Hope this serves as a reminder to everyone to love who you are flaws and all.

Love Yourself

September 18, 2013

Crockpot Buffalo Chicken

I am switching things up a bit for What I Ate Wednesday and sharing my recipe for the Crockpot Buffalo Chicken I made this weekend. I used this chicken three different ways so it really helped stretch my meal plan and grocery money.

Ingredients: 4 Chicken Breasts ~ 1 packet of Ranch Dip ~ 1/3 cup hot wing sauce ~ 2/3 cup water

Directions: Add all ingredients into the Crockpot and stir to combine. Cook on low for 2-4 hours or until the chicken begins to shred easily with a fork. Remove all chicken and shred. When ready to serve toss in a bit more of the hot wing sauce.

Now to how I served it this week:

Option One: Served on a low carb Flax wrap, lettuce, tomato, Buffalo Chicken and topped with a bit of Ranch Dressing (Blue Cheese can be used).

Option Two: Salad with Romaine Lettuce, tomato, red onion, feta cheese, 1/2 a Pink Lady Apple, chopped Walnuts, and Buffalo Chicken.

Option Three: Buffalo Chicken placed on a bed of Riced Cauliflower. I had a small side salad also but not pictured.

What others ways would you use this chicken?

Also linking up with Liz from Fitness Blondie

September 17, 2013

Crockpot Caramel Apple Cider

If you have been reading my blog for the last few weeks you know the fall bug has been me hard. I am normally the crazy lady who never stops but it would seem that the Fall turns me into an Energizer bunny! This weekend was no exception! In addition to some Buffalo Chicken in the Crockpot and a Caramel Pear Pie I also made a Crockpot Caramel Apple Cider!! If I could install Smell-O-Vision I would because the smell alone would inspire you to make this recipe!

Ingredients:

5 pound bag of Gala apples, cored and cut into wedges ~ 2 pink lady apples, cored and cut into wedges ~ 1 orange, cut into wedges ~ 1 TBSP brown sugar ~ 1/2 tsp cinnamon ~ 1/2 tsp cloves ~ 1/4 cup caramel syrup ~ 4 cups of water ~ Cheesecloth

Directions:

Add all ingredients to a crockpot and cook on low for about 4-6 hours.

Every hour or so squeeze or mash the apples to help soften.

Taste and adjust spices as needed (I started out with 3 cups of water and since it was a little sweet I bumped it up to 4 cups). Strain the apples through a cheesecloth placed over a bowl or pitcher, twist and squeeze with a spoon to get out all the juice. You can garnish with a cinnamon stick if you are feeling fancy!

This recipe just screams Fall nights, snuggling on the couch and watching movies. Which is exactly what I did! Hope you give it a try and you add it to your must make recipes this season!

***Also you still have time to enter to win $150 J. Crew and $75 Target Gift card so go enter here. ***

Linking up with Jessica and Ashley.

September 16, 2013

Weekend of Baking

So remember when I said I had no plans this weekend???? Yeah that didn’t happen. Since it was Friday the 13th I wanted to watch the movie but it was not on T.V. when I tried to watch it and it wasn’t on NetFlix so I watch another Horror movie called Nine Dead it was kinda like Saw. There was nine people kidnapped and stuck in a room till they figured out what they had in common, every 10 minutes someones dies until they figure it out or all are dead. Not a great movie, but not horrible.

Saturday: The morning was filled with shopping. I was looking for something in particular and started out going to JoAnn’s Fabric, iParty, A.C. Moore, and Target. I ended up finding what I needed plus a few extras to finish off my Fall DIY Centerpiece. So at least it was productive.

Then I doubled up on the Crockpots and started to bake away!

First I started with a Crockpot Buffalo Chicken.

I got to use it the next day for a Buffalo Chicken Wrap, and a few other meals I have planned!

The other crockpot was for Caramel Apple Cider.

Sunday: I spent the morning doing chores then heading back out to A.C. Moore for some Red Sprigs. I knew I needed to add something to the table scape and I think it really added something to the table. What do you think?

After hitting up the grocery store for a few ingredients I headed home to make a Caramel Pear Pie.

So it was a lot busier than I thought it was going to be, but hey there is always next weekend!!

How was your weekend?

Linking up with Sami at Sami’s Shenanigans and Leann at Join the Gossip .

September 13, 2013

Cake Decorating | Books | Marilyn Monroe

Is it really Friday already? I feel like it has flown by, but then again it has been a super busy week. Either way I am so excited for this weekend. I don’t have any definitive plans for the weekend and I am not mad about it!

For those who know me well though I can never rest on my laurels (does anyone even say that anymore). Anyhoo, knowing me I can be found shopping, finishing up my Fall Centerpiece DIY project, baking and hopefully clearing out my DVR. If you want to get sneak peaks of all my weekend hooligans then check me out on Instagram here.

Now on to my Five Things I Am Loving, Doing, Buying etc this week.

One. I am so excited about taking a Cake Decorating class in October. It is 4 sessions for 3 hours each. It is no secret that I love to bake but everything I have ever made has all been self-taught so to actually learn from someone else will be a new experience and I can’t wait! I have thought about opening my own bakery but I am a little to scared at this point. We shall see what the future holds though, never say never.

Two. This was a book that I grabbed at the last second while waiting to checkout at the library, heaven forbid I be without a book to read every day. I am so glad I picked it up though. It was very thought provoking, and I found myself actually crying while reading this book. The pain and sorrow in certain parts was so overwhelming.

Details: Two women running away from their marriages collide on a foggy highway, killing one of them. The survivor, Isabelle, is left to pick up the pieces, not only of her own life, but of the lives of the devastated husband and fragile son that the other woman, April, has left behind. Together, they try to solve the mystery of where April was running to, and why. As these three lives intersect, the book asks, How well do we really know those we love—and how do we forgive the unforgivable? – taken from Amazon

Three. Since I redecorated my bathroom I needed to update my Magnetic Makeup Board. For the original instructions you can go here. I need it to match a little more with the new design. If you ask really nice maybe I will do a post on the new makeup board project.

Four. I love Marilyn Monroe, even though she left the world at a young world she was flawed but she was also fearless. She really went after what she wanted and didn’t make any bones about wanting what she wanted. I really respect and admire that quality. I can not remember where I found this image but it anyone has seen it let me know so I can credit properly.

Five. I haven’t decided yet what I am going to try and accomplish from my Fall Bucket List this weekend. It may be the Apple Cider or the Homemade Pie but I am going to try and finish my Dining Room Centerpiece. I am going for something sort of like this, thought it will be paired down a bit (I would like it a little simpler):

SOURCE

With this being the inspiration for the centerpiece:

Fall Centerpiece--> also convertible to winter centerpiece

SOURCE

*** Don’t forget the $175 J. Crew and $75 Target Gift Card giveaway is still going on so don’t forget to enter here.

September 12, 2013

Let’s Rock This Playlist

**Just a quick note that the Giveaway is still going on for $175 J.Crew and $75 Target Gift card for more info go here.

When Helene from Helene in Between tells you she is doing a one time links up of music you link up!!! She knows her music and she is always attending musical festivals and introducing me to new music. So the purpose of the link up is just to share music, whether it is music that inspired a decade or event. Music that you listen to repeatedly or just music that you love it is all fair game.

I love music and I listen to it all day long! I like music that evokes a feeling or mood. I like hard rock and Rap when I am working out. I listen to music to help me through a breakup, and music when I fall in love. My tastes are so varied but it all makes me feeling something. So hope you like some of my selections, and maybe you find a few new favorites! Enjoy!

Breakup Songs

Jana Kramer – Why Ya Wanna

Christina Perri – Jar of Hearts

Stressed Out at Work – Calming Songs

Little Black Submarines – The Black Keys

Healing Hands – Citizen Cope

Workout Songs

Feel Good Drag – Anberlin

Hero – Skillet

Bad Girlfriend – Theory of a Deadman

Love Songs

Falling in Love At A Coffee Shop – Landon Pigg

Never Stop – Safety Suit

Overall About Me Song

Ray LaMontagne – Trouble

Christina Aguilera – Stronger

What songs mean something to you?

Do you have songs that mark events in your life?

September 12, 2013

{Giveaway} Shopping Spree

If you have been reading any of my posts this past week or two you know I am all about Fall. I feel like I just had 5 Red Bulls with all the energy that this season is bringing me, so what better way to celebrate by winning a new Fall Wardrobe with not one but two gift certificates!! Go ahead and enter to win below!!

*************************************************************************************************

Happy Thursday!

School is back in full swing and fall is coming upon us quickly – so why not have a Shopping Giveaway so that one lucky winner can stock up on some Fall Fashion. Marquis from Simply Clarke and friends have teamed up to Giveaway a $175 Gift Card to J.Crew and a $75 Gift Card to Target.

Enter below to Win and make sure to give all the sponsors some love and thank them for the giveaway!

Simply Clarke / Bell Bliss / The Dwelling Tree / Fueled & Aflame A Girl Smitten / Dog Hair Is An Accessory / Stay Crafty My Friends / Well Worn Soles Classy Living / All That Glitters / A Beautiful Exchange / Just Bri Denim & Daydreams / Bonnie Cribbs / Dancin’ With A Dolly / Till Then Smile Often

a Rafflecopter giveaway

September 11, 2013

Time to Eat

Is it really Wednesday? I am kinda excited this week is almost over. I don’t think I have any plans for this weekend. Though I am sure that will change once the week goes on because lezbehonest I am not sure I know how to do nothing. There are pies to bake, projects to complete, shopping to do! Oh well at least I can still dream of a weekend of just plopping on the couch and doing nothing. On to this weeks What I Ate Wednesday.

Breakfast – Nothing spells weekend like a slowly prepared breakfast. This was 3/4 cup of egg whites and 1 whole egg, 1 slice of low carb toast, and a 1/4 of a cantaloupe. No morning is complete without some iced coffee.

Snack – I had another 1/4 cantaloupe and 3-4 ounces of sliced cheese.

Lunch – I will be switching up my lunch next week but for now you have my staple salad. Romaince lettuce, red onion, tomato, chicken, and Feta.

Dinner – Our Hostess with the Mostess provided me with the recipe for this Broccoli and Cheddar Soup. It really hit the spot and filled me up for game time.

Work has been a little crazy so I have been trying to fall back on what I know to stay on track. Check back in tomorrow for a big giveaway to help with a new Fall Wardrobe. Who could resist?

September 10, 2013

Homemade Herb Beer Bread

The Fall bug has officially bit me. I have so much energy for Fall fun it is a little crazy. I was so excited to start baking this weekend and I decided the Honey Beer Bread from Gimme Some Oven was going to be my first project from my Fall Bucket List. I love the smell of baking bread and since I was making a bunch of other things I thought this bread was perfect to try since there was no “yeast” and rise times. This was a mix, pour, bake type of bread. Please note that different beers will end in different results so if you have issues try a different beer.

Ingredients: 3 cups all-purpose flour ~ 2 Tbsp. sugar ~ 1 Tbsp. baking powder ~1 tsp. salt ~ 2 Tbsp. honey ~ 1 _12oz) bottle beer (I used Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy) ~ 1 Stick of Butter, melted ~ Herb Mix: 1 Tsp Basil ~ 1 Tsp Rosemary ~ 1 Tsp Dill ~ 1 Tsp Sage

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a loaf pan with Pam cooking spray or butter. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and herbs.

Using a wooden spoon, stir the beer and honey into the dry ingredients until just mixed. (Warm the honey in the microwave for about 20 seconds so its easier to stir in!)

Pour half the melted butter into the loaf pan. Then spoon the batter into the pan, and pour the rest of the butter on top of the batter.

Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until top is golden brown and a toothpick/knife inserted in the middle comes out clean. Serve immediately.

I originally tried a piece with butter but it wasn’t as good as with a little EVOO and some onion powder mixed together. I also made a version of this bread with 2-1/2 TBSP of Cinnamon and replaced the 2 TBSP Sugar with 1/2 cup of sugar. All other ingredients were the same.

I will be making all sorts of homemade bread this fall but this one was a different one than others I have tried and is worth a try!

Linking up with Jessica and Ashley.

September 9, 2013

Football | Shopping | Baking

This weekend feels like it went by in a blur! I was baking up a storm, shopping, and crafting! I don’t know what it is about Fall but it seriously lights a fire under my bum to get moving.

Friday was really relaxing after a long day at work. I clipped Seamus’ nails since they were getting a little long while I was catching up on some of my DVR programs.

On Saturday, thanks to Seamus I woke up at 5:45 am to let him do his business, but he did let me fall back asleep on the couch until 9:45 am. THAT. NEVER. HAPPENS!! I must have really needed the sleep. No alcohol was involved in this sleep fest, thank you very much! Needless to say that stressed me out to complete the crazy list of things I wanted to get done, so I made ate breakfast then headed out for some shopping.

I went to Home Depot for some finally pieces to upgrade my Magnetic Makeup Board project I did awhile back. Revamping it for the upgraded bathroom.Full project details to come!

Then I headed to Target and Home Goods. Can I just say how much I love Home Goods!! I always go in with one thing in mind and find a million things I want. Okay maybe that is a bad thing, but it also provides inspiration. Like this:

I need to DIY this pumpkin, $12.99 my buttkiss. I also saw this “wine glass”? Hark the herald angels sing! haha. Just kidding but it was Epic!!

These were the items I actually bought! Some were for my fall centerpiece DIY I am working on. Hoping to have it completed next weekend!

I also found this cute Halloween collar for Seamus! Doesn’t he look amused?!

After grocery shopping I headed home just in time to make some Broccoli Cheese Soup before the Ohio State Football game started! Go Bucks!!

I used Jenn’s recipe, she blogs over at Peas and Crayons. She hosts the What I Ate Wednesday linkup and her recipes are always spot on!! I did the stock part of the recipe in the crockpot then finished it off per the recipe once half time hit! It was so good and really hit the spot.

Once the game was over I took Seamus for a walk/roll. Since there is a park right by my house he tends to spend most of the time rolling in the grass than actually walking. He is so adorable I tend to just end up smiling or laughing. The joy on his face is too precious!

Sunday morning I woke up a little earlier and enjoyed an iced coffee while reading some magazines for inspiration.

Seamus decided to sleep in.

I got to experimenting on some Honey Beer Bread. I will post the recipe tomorrow after my co-workers vote on their favorite.

Then I spent the rest of the night watching the Patriots game, relaxing, working on the new Kitchen table centerpiece, the magnetic makeup project. I put on a hair mask, face mask, and painted my nails. You may want to close your eyes if you can’t handle to total sexiness that is the beauty treatment!! Bwaahhhhaaa! Just kidding.

Well that was the craziness of my weekend! I am completely zonked, but I am looking forward to this week! I have some great recipes to share, and a HUGE giveaway coming up!

What have you lovelies been up to this weekend?

Linking up with Sami at Sami’s Shenanigans and Leann at Join the Gossip.

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: