New Year Decor

So do you have all your Christmas decorations down yet and looking for great New Years decor to put up in place of some of your Christmas items? I found this adorable New Year's printable for FREE on Eighteen25. Not only can you find yourself a New Year's printable but you can also find lots of other great ideas for your New Years decor so check out this wonderful blog!

Wish list

Dear Santa,

This is my winter wish list. Below are things that I like and also things I like for Steven.

Making a list & checking it twice

I feel like things that we need for the house are never ending, so this is my way of making me a list. As we eventually get these items I can check them off.

Christmas Swag

Do you have Christmas swag? If not you should definitely spice up your door this holiday. I made door swag for the principal and vice principal at the school I am volunteering at. Door swag has not made it's way all the way up here to Canada eh, but it's popular on the coast in Mississippi. I decided to bring some Southern goodness to these wonderful ladies' office doors in the school.

Making wreaths are so- much fun and I really enjoy it! I am considering looking into selling my wreaths on Etsy?! If you would like some Holiday Swag just let me know & I can spice up your door.

Stove Top Italian Sausage Lasagna

One of our favorite dishes for dinner is the stove-top lasagna made with Italian sausage from Betty Crocker. We were 1st introduced to this dish back in January 2011 or so when Steven's sister, Christine and her husband came to visit us in Mississippi. They cooked us dinner one of the nights while visiting. We loved it & cook it often now. My fav. thing about this meal is that we always have left overs.

Ingredients:

1 lb bilk Italian pork sausage (we use ground spicy Italian sausage)

1 medium onion, cut in half , sliced (1/2 cup)

1 jar  of chunky tomato pasta sauce (26-30oz)

1 medium green bell pepper, cut into thin small strips

We most often add orange & red bell peppers as well

3 cups of uncooked mini lasagna noodles or medium egg noodles (6oz)

2 1/2 cups of water

1/2 teaspoon of Italian seasoning

1 cup of shredded Italian-style cheese blend or mozzarella cheese (4oz)

You can add basil if you prefer

We do not use mushrooms though it's in the original recipe

 

Directions:

1. In 12 inch skillet cook sausage & onion over medium-high hear, stirring often, until sausage is no longer pink... then drain.

2. Stir remaining ingredients expect for cheese and basil into sausage. Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally.

3. Reduce heat to medium; simmer uncovered until pasta is tender.

4. Top with cheese & bake in oven until cheese is melted.

 

Check out Betty Crocker for other great recipes!

 

New Family Tradition

So it looks like we may be having a new tradition in our family... and that is having an American Thanksgiving in Canada. That means 2 Thanksgivings which is double the yummy-ness!

Here is a before photo of the turkey. I am sad to say that I forgot to take an after photo of our delicious turkey.

My hubs did a terrific job at cooking the turkey.

I am pleased to say that I didn't catch anything on fire, burn anything and everything was edible.. YAY me!

My Canadian family enjoying American Thanksgiving at our house.

 

A big thank you to Mrs. Judy & Mr. Rob and  Christine & Mike for our gifts.

We really enjoyed our first American Thanksgiving in Canada and think our family did too!

Sneak Peak

Seasons greetings... Here is a sneak peek at photos my wonderful sister-in-law, Christine took for our Christmas card this year. Isn't she great at taking photos? We just love them! This is my favorite time of year, other than swim suit season of course. Have you gotten your Christmas cards all set yet?

Christmas Fever

How could I not have Christmas fever this year with seeing a white winter like this every day? Oh wait it's still technically Fall, but not to this girl. Every where I go & everything I see makes me just want to go crazy with Christmas decorations.

My 1st start with X-Mas decor begins with the front door of course! The silver wreath is our front door wreath. I still think it's missing a little something light blue, which I'll find & add later.  

This green, red & gold Christmas wreath is for family.

It's Beginning To Look Alot Like...

Okay Okay so I know it's only the day after Halloween but with all this snow I am so ready to hear Christmas music and see lights on the houses. Emma & Boozer are enjoying the snow, especially Boozer. He just loves hopping around in it and as for Emma, well she is adapting.

 

Poor Emma gets mini snowballs stuck in the hair of her stubby legs.

 

Our first "snow" picture of our new home :) I just love saying the words "our home"!

Me & my hubby, Steven on our many walks for the dogs.... Does everyone walk their dogs at least 2-3 times a day or are our pooches just rotten?

Potato Soup

Sometimes when you're sick and craving a bowl of warm soup you just have to make your own. After being in Mississippi for 12 days I guess my body just did not adjust well to the sudden cold Canadian weather. I felt pretty crummy for a few days when I came back and with everyone being gone to work I decided to make myself soup potato soup.

 

Ingredients

6 medium potatoes

3 thinly sliced green onions (I did not add any to this soup, though I usually do)

3 tablespoons of butter

3 tablespoons of all purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon of salt

1/4 teaspoon of black pepper

4 cups of milk

1 1/4 shredded American cheese

6 slices of bacon, cooked crisp (I like a lot of bacon in my soup.)

 

Directions      

Scrub potatoes and pat dry. Prick potatoes with a fork. Heat in a microwave for 3-5 minutes and let cool. Cut each 4 potatoes lengthwise. Scoop out white portion of each potato. Break up any large pieces of potato. Discard potato skins.Cut 2 of the potatoes into diced potatoes. (I like mine with the skin on them.)

                                                              

In a large saucepan cook 3 tablespoons of the green onion in butter over medium heat until tender. Stir in flour, salt, and pepper. Add milk slowly as stirring the flour. Cook and stir for 12 to 15 minutes or until thickened and bubbly. Add the potato and 1 cup of the cheese. Stir until the cheese melts.

                            

Top each serving with the remaining 1/4 cup cheese, remaining 3 tablespoons green onion, and the bacon.

                                                         

Makes 5 to 6 servings (5 1/2 cups)

 

 

 

Halloween Time Y'all

Aren't painted pumpkins sometimes just the cutest!

And they are super easy and fun to do.

Feeling Crabby

So my mom has been asking me to paint her a crab painting for over a year now after seeing the crab painting I made for me & Steven's kitchen. While thinking "Man what can I get my mom for Christmas?" it hit me! I should totally make her a crab painting that she's been asking for forever, especially while I am in town.

New addition to my mom's kitchen wall.

A Taste of Fall

Which do you prefer, pumpkin spice latte or salted caramel mocha from Starbucks? Or have you tried both from Starbucks & Tim Hortons? I liked both, though think I can handle more of the salted caramel mocha because the taste isn't as strong. Next I'd like to try the ones from Tim Horton to compare. Both drinks were quiet tasty.

On the left is pumpkin spice latte & on the right is salted caramel mocha.

 

And my hubby was my test tasting buddy on this beautiful day. Believe it or not I just discovered that I like the taste of pumpkin. Looks like I've been missing out!

Future Home Musts

Boy oh boy Pinterest certainly gets me excited about decorating our future home. Once we finally get one that is. The fireworks in my head just start going off & I get all sorts of grand ideas!

Some things are just a "must" for our future home...

 

 A sweet &cozy bedroom

             

   

 A kitchen with enough space & a nice chandelier

 

A warm living area

                    A chic desk space



         A bathroom with a
            two sinks & light colors




                             A welcoming entry way

Other "musts" include.....Lovely sayings &paintings

                                                                             hung throughout the house

 

Something pretty on our front door

A fun extra bedroom with a spunk of color

Love items that give a touch of the "old" look

A patterned chair                       

                                                              Sparkle

                  A neat lamp

                                                                                    

Chicken Roll-Ups

Guess who made dinner two nights in a row? Drum roollll please..... Me!

 

Ingredients

I got this recipe idea from Right At Home, but altered it based on what I had in the house.

• 4 small (4 ounces each) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 teaspoon of basil leaves for each chicken
• 1 red bellpepper
• 2 cooked sausages
• 4 ounces shredded cheddar cheese (about 12 Tablespoons)
• 1 1/2 cups canned, plain tomato sauce

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Place 2 chicken breasts in a 1 gallon Ziploc® Brand Freezer Bag and seal. Working from the thinnest to the thickest part of the chicken breast, pound each piece with a rolling pin, meat mallet or the bottom of a heavy skillet, being careful not to tear the meat. Remove the chicken from the bag and set aside on a clean plate. Repeat with remaining chicken breasts.

 

• Lay the chicken breast on a clean work surface or cutting board, horizontally, with the smooth side down. Layer each piece with 1 teaspoon of basil leaves, 2 tablespoons of  red bellpepper, 1 tablespoon of cooked sausage and 2 Tablespoons of the shredded cheddar (reserve remaining cheddar for later). Roll one long edge toward the other long edge to enclose fillings—like a wrap—making sure the edges overlap slightly. Fold in the loose (short) ends and secure with toothpicks on each side.

• Pour 1 cup of the tomato sauce into a 9-by-12-inch nonaluminum baking dish that’s at least 2 inches deep, and distribute sauce evenly over bottom of dish.

 

• Place the rolled chicken breasts, seam side down, in the baking dish. Top each roll with the remaining 1/2 cup of tomato sauce (about 2 Tablespoons each) and bake uncovered for 30 minutes.

 

• Sprinkle the remaining 4 Tablespoons of shredded cheddar (1 Tablespoon each) over the top of each chicken roll and broil on a low setting for an additional 5 minutes until the cheese melts and browns on top.

 

• Remove the baking dish from the oven, transfer the chicken breasts to plates, carefully remove toothpicks, spoon any remaining sauce from the baking dish around the chicken and serve immediately. Now dig in!

BBQ Pulled Pork

Last night I made one of my favorites for dinner. Delicious!!! Now I don't think any pulled pork can be as good as the BBQ at Shed's BBQ or Slap Yo Momma's BBQ in Gulfport. Hog Heaven BBQ & Blues in Bilioxi is also a great BBQ joint.

 

 

I got my yummy BBQ pulled pork recipe from Six Sisters Stuff.

 

 

Ingredients:

3-4 pound pork shoulder butt roast

3 Tablespoons paprika

1 1/2 Tablespoons salt

1 1/2 Tablespoons pepper

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp dry mustard

1/3 cup liquid smoke (though I would only use like 1/4 cup of liquid smoke)

1 tsp of hot sauce (This is something I like to add)

1 (16-20 oz) bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce

Directions:

Spray the inside of slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray (or use a slow cooker liner).

Combine paprika, salt, pepper, garlic powder, mustard and liquid smoke in a small bowl. Rub all over the roast, covering all sides.

This is optional, but I think it's a must: poke your roast with a large fork a couple of times to let the flavors really soak in.

Place lid on slow cooker and bake on low for 8-10 hours (or high 5-6 hours).

Shred meat when finished and add bottle of BBQ sauce.

Serve on buns or not and dig in!

For your sides you can fix up baked beans, macaroni, coleslaw, pasta salad or potato salad.

 

Fancy Fall

I don't really fancy the Fall weather, especially up here in Canada but I do love Fall colors. Back home in the deep South the beginning of Fall just usually means the temperature goes from the high 90's to the low 80-70's and that it's getting time to pull out your jeans. While here the leaves are turning those beautiful yellow & orange colors. Since I have SO much free time on my hands I decided to make a Fall wreath for my in-laws' door. You usually see wreaths on almost every door back home so I figured why not put together a quick one for here.

 

Fall around here... in Spruce Grove, Alberta

Pasta Again?!

 

When I told my hubby that I was cooking up Italian sausage, onions, bell peppers with tomato sauce & noodles his reaction was "Pasta again?". I can't help it, I just like noodles. But this recipe has a different taste than spaghetti, alfredo pasta, or regular lasgana and I really enjoy it!

This photo is from Betty Crocker where I got the recipe from for our yummy Thursday night dinner. I first had a taste of this easy recipe back in January of 2010 I think when Steven's sister, Christine & her hubby, Mike made this for us when they came to visit us in Mississippi. Me & Steven made it once while we were in Mississippi and tonight was my 2nd time making it in Canada. I find this meal takes no time at all to make and it is delicious. Check out Betty Crocker for the recipe and other yummy recipes.

Stewing Up Something Warm

Although I've been told the weather isn't that chilly, this fallish weather had me craving something warm. I'm just not use to experiencing 50-60 degrees (F) in August/September. I'm used to 90 degree weather. So I made us some Stew. Yummy!

Ingredients: 1 lb of hamburger meat, 1 package of stew meat, 4 big cans of tomato sauce, 1 can of Veg All (mixed vegetables), 1 can of green beans, 1 can of corn, a bag of baby carrots, and a 1/2 bag of potatoes.

Recipe: Cook stew meat covered in water in a large pot for 30 min.

Scoop out the cooked stew meat & let it cool

Cut carrots into smaller pieces & add to water. Boil for 30 min.

Skin & cut potatoes. Add the potatoes.

Add 4 large cans of tomato sauce, the can of green beans, the can of corn, & the can of Veg All and cook for 30 min.

Cook the hamburger meat in another pan.

Add the hamburger meat & stew meat. Cook for more 30 minutes.

Let stew cool down a bit & enjoy!