In 2013 I shared a lot of the recipes I’ve seen on Pinterest mainly, tried out, and mostly loved!
Here are the Top 5 viewed in 2013:
Loaded Potato Chicken Casserole
Have you tried any of these? Did you like it?
2013
Top 5 recipes of 2013
2013 Year in Review
Hosts: Megan: Shaping Up To Be A Mom Kate: Life As I Know It Camille: Friday We’re In Love Jessa: Life Of A Sports Wife Leslie: Violet Imperfection Cassie: Live.Laugh.L0ve Renee: coffee-n-ink Kristine: The Foley Fam
2013 has been another amazing year for my family. It went by way too quick as we watched our family grow, chase kids around and live day to day life. I hope you are ready for a long review, full of links, pictures, and a whole lotta cute kids!
January was pretty quiet except Travis, Zachary and I went to see Rascal Flatts (for my 11th time!) and we got upgraded from our cheap, nose bleed seats to 10th row side seats! That was a super fun surprise! And I also shared this easy recipe to make our own (Olive Garden) Zuppa Toscana Soup.
In February I turned 30! I don’t know where the time has gone but I don’t feel a day over 20! Travis threw me a wonderful surprise party with my friends and food! I was very surprised and so lucky to have my amazing husband, kids and friends to celebrate with! Tyler and I worked on a Valentine’s day project, and I shared my “love” blocks.
In March Travis turned 29! (Yep. I’m robbing the cradle!) We had a nice family dinner where I made Honey Pecan Chicken at Travis’ request. And Tyler moved to his big boy Thomas the Train bed!
April Travis and I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary with dinner out and no kids! And Zachary turned 11 with a super fun pirate themed birthday party! And I shared my thoughts on being done having kids.
In May we started out by going to see Elmo and Friends in “Sesame Street Live”. I’m sure you can only imagine how wonderful that was to a little 2 1/2 year old in our house! Tyler was in awe! Travis’ dad also came to visit and helped us get several projects around the house completed! Plus, I made a fun chalkboard wall in our house!
June was a busier month with parties and baby showers to host! Zach and Travis went to Silverwood with tickets I won on the radio and Zach had field trips to Bear Lake and to launch his rockets for Science and he wrapped up the 5th grade!
In July I kicked off the month with finally deciding to get my head in the game and get in shape! I did my very first Dirty Dash, we went to Silverwood, Travis’ work cruise on Lake Coeur D’Alene and then to the Oregon Coast for some much needed time at the ocean/Portland zoo with the kids. It always goes way too fast but we sure enjoyed it. And of course, I blogged about it all! First half, Second half, Oregon Coast, Portland Zoo
August we spent many days knocking things off our Summer bucket list before school started again. We went to movies, made play-doh, spent lazy days at the lake with friends, made s’mores, had water balloon fights. It made for a fun Summer break. And we finished up the summer with a trip to Montana to see Trav’s dad.
September started us back to school- where we now have a 6th grader! Back into our routine with open house, home work, chores and a regular schedule. It also meant that Summer was turning ONE! A bittersweet day knowing that this is our last first birthday but I didn’t let it get me down and we threw a bash worth “buzzing” about with a Bumble Bee party. And Travis is down 50 pounds since July!
October started with Travis and I seeing one of our favorite bands, BON JOVI! (So fun!) We celebrated Tyler’s 3rd birthday a little early with a super fun Monkey party where we played games and ate banana splits until we were so full! Then next day I found myself riding in an ambulance- because I thought I was dying! Luckily, I just had gall stones! And Travis headed to Montana for hunting season. Here I shared a little more about what we’re up to.
November I hit 30 pounds lost and had my gall bladder taken out. No need to keep it and wonder when I would feel like death again, right? Summer has really taken up chatting and loves to telling us “no no”. She has no problem telling me when she wants to nurse, wants her cup, wants to go to bed, wants up- She’s actually quite bossy! (Don’t know where she gets that from!) She also loves her daddy and her brothers, loves to read, dance to music.
December proved to be just as busy with getting ready for Christmas. We started with a trip to the North Pole via Lake Coeur D’Alene cruises. And Tyler loved seeing Santa! I made us new stockings- that turned out great considering I haven’t sewn since 7th grade Home Ec! Christmas was wonderful- And the kids got more than they know what to do with! But it was a great day! We had already saw family the weekend before, and we spent the day at home in our pajama playing with our new toys! (which I basically have slacked on blogging about everything this month!)
Now we are ready to ring in the New Year and see what 2014 has in store for us!
We want to hear all about your 2013! Grab a button and link up below!
Mia Mariu’s New Fragrance Collection {Giveaway}
Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.
I’m always excited when I get to do a review for something that I like, but might not actually buy for myself. And this was exactly that.
When I had the opportunity to review Mia Mariu’s new fragrance collection I was pretty excited. I had gotten a sample once before and I really liked it. So to get a full size bottle of Magia, a sweet and girlie fragrance, I was a happy girl!
The full size bottle smelled just as great at the sample and I’m excited to give one of Mia Mariu’s fragrances away to one of my readers!
Check out Mia Mariu on Facebook and Twitter!
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
Foodie Friday: Beef enchiladas
This was the very first real meal that I learned to make. I remember making them for my boyfriend before we went our winter formal in high school. (I guess I was feeling domestic to make him a homemade meal)
It doesn’t really get much easier either.
1 pkg of 8 count tortillas
1 lb of hamburger
taco seasoning
1 can of tomato soup
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
1 can of Fiesta nacho cheese soup
2 C. shredded cheddar cheese
-Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 9×13 pan
-Brown hamburger, drain any fat. add taco seasoning. (stir)
-Add all three cans of soup, heat through. (You don’t need to more than just warm it)
-Use some of the soup mixture and spread it on the bottom of the greased pan. You don’t need a lot, just enough to lightly cover it.
-Take a tortilla and add some of the soup mixture then sprinkle with cheese. Roll up and place in pan.
-Repeat with the rest of the shells.
-Save enough of the soup mixture to cover the top of the filled tortillas, sprinkle top with cheese.
-Spray a piece of tin foil so the cheese doesn’t stick and cover your enchiladas.
-Place in oven and cook for 25 minutes.
And you’re done! Eat up while it’s hot!
There are so many things you can do to make this your own by adding ingredients! But give this basic recipe a try and you’ll see how good it is!
Tuesday Top 10
Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve always loved the magical time of Christmas.
I remember coming out of my room, still dark in the house but lit up from the shine of the tree, seeing presents overflowing the floor and knowing Santa had been to our house.
Now, years later, that feeling hasn’t changed as I watch the excitement on the faces of my own kiddos. I love watching them open each gift, and the reaction it brings. There is no better joy than the smile on their little faces.
In no particular order, my Top Ten favorite things about the Christmas season.
1. Watching the kids open gifts.
2. Giving to others to make their day special.
3. The glowing tree
4. Looking at the Christmas lights around town
5. Going to see Santa
6. Spending time with family
7. A table full of delicious food to fill our bellies.
8. Staying in jammies and playing with our new toys
9. Watching the parade on tv
10. Christmas music
Merry Christmas from my family to yours!
Foodie Friday: Crockpot Lasagna
Ingredients
1 lb. ground beef
29 oz can tomato sauce
8 oz pkg. lasagna noodles, uncooked
4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 1/2 cups cottage cheese
Directions
1.) Spray the inside of the crock-pot with cooking spray
2.) Brown the ground beef
3.) Stir the tomato sauce in with the ground beef
4.) Spread 1/4 of the meat sauce on the bottom of the crock-pot
5.) Arrange 1/3 of the uncooked noodles over the sauce (I broke them into pieces to make them fit better)
6.) Combine the cheeses in a bowl. Spoon 1/3 of the cheeses over the noodles.
7.) Repeat these layers twice
8.) Top with remaining sauce
9.) Cover and cook on low for 4hrs
10.) Let the lasagna stand in the crock-pot with the lid off for at least 10 minutes
One thing Creating Through Life said about this recipe was that she will put this on high while she gets ready for work and then puts it on warm before she leaves and it’s perfect when she gets home. I cooked it as directed for 4 hours and my noodles were still a little hard, and the outsides were started to burn a little, so the next time I make it I will adjust it a little.
But it was delicious! (And I actually made it again last night!) YUM! Hope you’ll give it a try!
Recipe from Creating Through Life
