30 Simple Tricks That Make You Look Smart

Mexican Dorito Casserole

So my quest continues (via Pintrest) to find new recipes for dinner. Both Pat and I have been getting bored with the same old meals, so I decided to try something new.  Sunday I made Dorito casserole from Jam Hands and it was easy! Mix ingrediants together, crush up some chips,layer and bake.

Mexican Dorito Casserole
Serves 4-6

2 c. shredded cooked chicken
1 c. shredded cheese (or more if you are a cheese hound)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup sour cream
1 can Ro-tel tomatoes (canned tomatoes with jalepenos-mild)
1/2 packet taco seasoning (or more- to taste)
Bag of doritos

1. Pre-heat oven to 350-f degrees.

2. In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients except doritos.

3. In a greased 2 qt baking dish, put a layer of crushed doritos (about 2 cups), then a layer of the chicken mixture. Repeat once more, ending with a layer of chicken mixture. Top with more shredded cheese, cover, and bake for 30-35 minutes, till bubbling hot.

Source: Domestic Chicky

Before and After (bathroom edition)

Before:

Minty Green

After:

Sandstone Cove (Behr 730C-2m)

Back to a neutral!

 (it photographs much better in the 2nd picture)

Now for some bathroom accessories...shelves, wall art and a pop of color/print) shade for the window!

Dinner tonight...Slow Cooker Jambalaya

So, with fall upon us (and our first frost/freeze warning in effect) something hearty and warm sounded delicious. It should be ready to eat by 6...and it smells delicious!

Slow Cooker Jambalayaadapted from AllRecipes.com
approximately 5-6 servings

1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into 1 inch cubes
1 pound smoked turkey sausage, sliced
1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
3 Tbsp dried minced onion flakes
1 cup chicken broth
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons dried parsley
2 tsp minced garlic
2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
white rice or instant rice (I used 2 packs of Uncle Ben's Ready Rice - Garlic & Butter flavor)

In a slow cooker, mix the chicken, sausage, tomatoes with juice, onion, garlic, celery, and broth. Season with oregano, parsley, Cajun seasoning, cayenne pepper, and thyme. (I do this the night before and put it in the fridge. I put it in the slow cooker before I leave in the morning.)

Cover, and cook 7 to 8 hours on Low, or 3 to 4 hours on High. Mix in cooked rice cook for about 15 minutes to warm through.

From Plain Chicken

52 Lists in 52 Weeks (Week 20)

List 20: Things that make me happy
Because sometimes I think I need to focus more on the positive in life

-my husband
-hearing old songs that bring back great memories
-sunsets
-nice people
-sleeping in
-naps
-lazy days
-warm/sunny days
-swimming
-laying out in the sun
-clean sheets
-being fresh from the shower clean
-desserts (especially cupcakes)
-chocolate
-texts from friends
-funny jokes
-new clothes
-magazines
-time with family
-time with friends
-vacations
-cruises
-being outside on a nice day
-walks through the neighborhood
-hearing the ice cream truck coming
-time inside
-lounging on the couch
-dreamsicles
-strawberry daiquiris
-being pampered
-fresh cut,colored and styled hair
-massages
-good hair days
-3 days weekends
-smiles
-hearing "i love you"
-hugs
-my mom
-my friends back at home
-scrapping/scrap weekends with the girls
-color
-Netflix marathons
-cuddling
-Fall
-date nights
-facebook
-blogging/blogs
-crafts
-pinterest
-anything pink
-holidays
-holiday decorating
-new car smells
-scentsy
-snail mail
-going home to visit

52 Lists in 52 Weeks (Week 19)

So, this week, our list is simply this:
"ME in a list....the good, the bad, the weird, the quirky."
The purpose of this list (however long or short you make it) is to open up and share things about us that make us individuals. It's silly to pretend we don't all have them and its even sillier to care if others will accept us for them or not (because the important people will). So spill!!

List #19

Me in a List... good, bad, weird, quirky

- I can say all 50 states in alphabetical order (we learned them in 3rd grade for a song)

- I have a really bad sweet tooth.  No dinner is complete without candy,  ice cream, cookies, etc...

- I married my high school sweetheart! We have been together for almost 12 years!

- I am very much an introvert

- I have a hard time meeting new people and developing friendships

- I have only broken 1 bone (my wrist) and been in 1 car accident (not my fault!)

- I have only ever lived 2 places in my whole life

-  I love garden gnomes and sock monkeys

- I started coloring my hair with a frost and glow highlight cap when I was 9 years old. ( I have since decided going to the salon is much better for my hair!) :)

- My parents are still married after 31 years

-  I hated school, and just knew I would be fine without furthering my education.

-  I love anything crafty, and wish I had more time to just play

52 Lists in 52 Weeks (Week 18)

List 18:

10 Things I Love about Sundays:

So I'm a little late with this one but here it goes..

1- Day 1 of my 3 days I get off in a week

2- I get to sleep in (which usually means 7 am) :(

3- Waffle Sundays (Sunday breakfasts as of lately)

4- Relaxing with my hubby on the couch

5- Our weekly grocery shopping day

6-  Being Lazy and catching up on my DVR'd shows

7- All laundry is done and clean for the week

8- Sunday shows: Desperate Housewives, The Amazing Race, HBO and Showtime series shows ( Dexter, Entourage, Hung..depending on the season)

9-  Talking with my parents on the phone

10- Knowing I only have 1 more day and then my weekend comes!!

Currently...

 

Loving.... Not having to run the air conditioning (or the heat), windows open, days off, creative/inspirational moods , fall, laundry is done, a clean shower, Waffle Sundays, Breaking Bad, Pintrest, new clothes, feeling free!!

Excited for... My parents to come visit at the end of the month, Raceway weekend party this Saturday, Halloween (seeing the neighborhood kids all dressed up)

Worried... No worries..just curious!

Creating....  3 ring Recipe Binder, kitchen Command center, canvas art, mantel decor

Hating... Detoured traffic, work related issues, falling asleep during my dvr'd shows and having to rewind, giving up my MN plates (after buying a house, it was time!)

Wondering... How the Mahoney's are doing in Colorado, why Maggie had to go so soon, how we should travel in December Fly or drive since our itinerary changed.

Craving... chocolate, greasy cheeseburgers, pasta

Hoping... nice weather days continue a while longer, to finish Breaking Bad this week, to become a little more organized 

Watching.... From Netflix in the past month: Your Highness, Paul, Jackass 3.5, Limitless, Source Code, Life as we Know It, Take me Home Tonight, You Again, Breaking Bad Series

DVR: Amazing Race, Desperate Housewives, Raising Hope, Charlie Sheen Roast, Whitney, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, ANTM, Tia and Tamera

Listening... to the wash machine spin and drain, Britney Spears Femme Fatale, ipod on shuffle (oldies and goodies)

Looking forward to... visitors at the end of the month, what the future holds