Favorite Things Friday: Holiday version

Oh my goodness how is Christmas NEXT WEEK?

I'm totally slacking this year! I have no idea what to get for Emma and I have not even ordered Christmas Cards... guess everyone will get New Years ones...

If, like me, you are looking for some last minute holiday ideas here are some things that have caught my eye over the last month

This quick DIY sign made from paint stirrers! Best thing is that this concept can be used for a sign anytime of the year... just need to modify the saying or image.

Just the other day I was commenting to Matt that no one would have the time to make popcorn garland for the tree... that's just aggressive. Plus, let's be honest, my children would pull it off and eat it... BUT these cute popcorn napkin rings are great and provide a bonus snack while waiting for a main course.

My girly heart swoons over these Nutcrackers! These are going in the file to make for Emma's room next year when i have a bit more time!

Maybe Santa needs some Peppermint Brownie Cake Pops!

This AMAZING wood-slice wreath could be used all Winter long. I swoon over this

Meal Plan Monday: Skinny Taste Cookbook AGAIN!

I've been cooking from The Skinny Taste Cookbook! for about three weeks now and I'm still loving it... Guess it might actually be time for me to buy my own copy of the cookbook and return Virginia's! In fact Virginia and Tim were over at my house for dinner last night and I had to practically beg them to let me borrow it for one more week!

Okay so here is the plan for the week:

SATURDAY:

• Slow-cooker Jerk Chicken Tacos (p.155)

SUNDAY:

• Skinny Shrimp, Chicken, and Sausage gumbo (p.234)

MONDAY:

• BREAKFAST: Corny Banana-Blueberry Pancakes (p.48)
• Buttermilk Oven "Fried" Chicken (p.151)
• Sweet Potato Wedges (p.277) 

TUESDAY:

•  Quinoa-stuffed peppers w/ sausage (p.242) 

WEDNESDAY:

• Naked Persian Turkey Burgers (p.156) 

THURSDAY:

• Matt and the kiddos will eat at his Aunt's for Thanksgiving 

FRIDAY

• Leftovers

SATURDAY:

• Butternut squash Lasagna Rolls (p.248) PRE-Made as I will be out of town
  

I love love love this cookbook and really recommend it for everyone!

Cannot wait to share all of the yumminess with you on Sunday and share how I did cooking from this cookbook all week.

Tomorrow I will be back with some additional details on the Gumbo that I made yesterday!

Kitchen "Refresh" Reveal!

About a month ago we embarked on a little kitchen "Refresh" 

Here is what our kitchen looked like before...

 

and here is what it looks like now after a new coat of paint, countertops, backsplash, and sink!

Here is the section where we removed a cabinet... I cannot wait to get some chunky wooden shelves in here! 

Until the shelves go up it is a good place for the Advent Calendar that I made last year! I just realized I never shared it before!

So there are still a few things to do but for now I'm happy with the progress that was made! 

Favorite Things Friday

My Sister-in-law gave me two beautiful wooden stamps for Christmas last year and I cannot wait to use this tutorial on block printing to make a few pillows for our sofa.

This DIY Cutting Board would make a great Christmas or host gift over the holiday season! 

Cannot wait to get some floating wooden shelves in our kitchen! I want our to be a bit thicker though.

This Shrimp and Avocado salad looks amazing! 

This Ice Cream Sundae in a box is the perfect gift for neighbors

Next week, I plan to use this great tutorial to make a burlap wreath! 

Meal Plan Monday: The Skinny Taste Cookbook

This week I'm cooking out of a cookbook that belongs to one of my besties, Virginia! When we were at her house last week for dinner I spied this cookbook and couldn't put it down. SOOO happy that she agreed to let me borrow it for a few weeks!

I'm cooking from The Skinny Taste Cookbook!

I'm loving my Sunday menu planning in my new kitchen!  P.s. - if you want to know when I got my personalized notepad just ask me for the details!

Okay so here is the plan for the week:

SUNDAY:

• LUNCH: Bangin Good Shrimp (p.116) & Less-Guilt Zesty Mango Guacamole (p. 118)
• DINNER: Orecchietti with Sausage, Baby Kale, and Bell pepper (p.181)

MONDAY:

• Pizza Night --- I worked late

TUESDAY:

• BREAKFAST: Cali Avocado Egg Sandwich (p.37) 
• DINNER: Turkey Bolognese (p.169)

WEDNESDAY:

• BREAKFAST: PB&J Overnight Oats in a Jar (p.23)
• DINNER: Mongolian Beef & Broccoli (p.190) 

THURSDAY:

• BREAKFAST: Corny Banana-Blueberry Pancakes (p.48) 
• DINNER: Italian Sausage with Pepper and Onions (p.159)

FRIDAY:

• Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken and Broccoli (p.161)

SATURDAY:

• So Addictive Chicken Enchiladas (p.171)  

I'm also going to make the below dishes ahead for Matt and the kiddos to eat while I'm out of town next week:

• Slow Cooker White Bean Chicken Chili Verde (p.75)
• Naked Persian Burgers (p.156)
• Cubano-style Stuffed Pork Tenderloin (p.205) 
• Cheese Baked Penne with Eggplant (p.254) 

Kitchen: BEFORE

Today will be the kick-off for our kitchen "refresh" and I am SOOO excited. Here is a look at what the kitchen currently looks like:

Lots of pink and tan... I'm so excited to say goodbye to the tan walls and pink counters....

but most of all I cannot wait to get rid of the cracked sink that started it all!

Today this cabinet will be going byebye...  so that the counter can be updated when the granite team comes tomorrow morning.

The plan is to tile the entire wall and install chunky wooden shelves.

Oh and I bet that you are wondering what I settled on for the counter and back-splash after posting this poll on the blog... I went with the Herringbone Marble. More specifically we purchased this Bergamo Herringbone from Home Depot

I'm slightly obsessed with it and think that it pairs perfectly with the white cabinets and the soon to be black counters.

Fall Dining Table

So Last year for Matt's birthday I surprised Matt with a "Bro Dinner" for his 31st. Eight dudes got together at our house for a catered steak dinner, scotch tasting, and cigars...

I of course took this as an opportunity to jazz up the old dining room table... I mean guys appreciate a good table setting and floral arrangement too right???

Here is what I did:

I dug through the old photo vault because I'm hoping to recreate this arrangement for a dinner that my boss is hosting tomorrow night.

I'll be sure to share the final product for tomorrow!