you know i didn't forget dessert....just the picture

[6] three chocolate mousse cake. need i say more. well i will. the mousse was out of this world. i imagine heaven being like mousse-sweet and light and full of handmade love!

Tis the Season to spend with family

we were blessed this christmas to have my parents in town for the week. it was such a fun and relaxing week filled with shopping, eating, cooking, eating, and sleeping. lots of pictures to keep you entertained. next christmas we will be in texas and hopefully in our first owned home!

[dinner at modern steak for christmas eve]

mom and me in the cutest bathroom ever

mom and dad

hubby and me

[Christmas morning]

thomas and snickers very excited to be up

roxie on toy overload

i think santa came.

and the stockings were....too full to hang

a couple more spoiled stockings

and thomas had TWO stockings. gotta love mom's handmade stocking since i had already filled his.

[cooking for the week]

cranberry salsa with blue corn chips

apple cider donuts

orange marmalade thumbprints-i did not make the marmalade. store bought worked just fine

monkey bread muffins-add extra sauce after done baking

xox-k&t

My First Christmas Dinner

it was my first christmas to be in charge of planning and preparing dinner. i started dreaming up ideas about a month ago (i wanted to be super prepared of course). i had grand ideas of cooking lamb or prime rib.....but after debate and looking at the dollar signs i decided to go with a ham and lots of homemade sides instead. i'll save the lamb for next year!!! So here goes:

[1] my honey glazed ham from target...my fav part actually so easy and delicious and i bought for 10 even though it was just us four so i could have tons of leftovers and make ham and navy bean soup (which is cooking right now!!!)

[2] the spread: duchess potatoes, sautéed garlic mushrooms, homemade rolls, corn bake, and not pictured mixed veggies(from a bag. frozen. gasp.). two things to note in this picture: i was way too hungry to take pictures before we ate and there is the nice bottle of tums right in the middle.

[3] Duchess Potatoes from Pioneer Woman

[4] 30 minute homemade rolls by your home based mom

these are TO DIE FOR. i will never used store bought again

[5] corn bake from my aunt vickie. its a tried and true recipe

i hope everyone had a delicious christmas as well!!!! the craziness of work and school has sortof slowed a little so i am hoping to get back to posting about running and cooking again!!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

k&t

Weekly Menu May 29th ~ June 4th

Mom's in town, which means lots of relaxation and of course trying some new recipes!!! There won't be a daily meal plan like normal because we aren't sure of which night's might be a girls night out ;). But, I wanted to share what we want to make this week!!!

{1}

Mini Whoopie Pies from HEALTH magazine. These look delicious but are a healthier alternative for someone trying to watch their weight but still have something sweet! Sounds right up my ally!!!!

{2}

Sweet Potato Crisps. YUM-O! This is a great snack or side to a summer dish. Sweet Potatos are my fav thing.

{3}

Asian Lettuce Wraps from the amazing women at Our Best Bites. I've made them before and decided it would be a great thing to make mom. They are soooo good!

{4}

Vanilla Frozen Yogurt Pops from HEALTH magazine. Another healthier alternative. I can't wait for these. I am in love with greek yogurt and then add graham crackers...yeah I'm sold!

{5}

Soft Baked Pretzel Bites. Yes, I know what you are thinking, not so healthy Kristen....Well, I don't care! I just had to try them after seeing them on a blog. I think I'm going to adjust the recipe for wheat flour and see if they still taste right.

{6}

Broccoli Apple Salad. Looks so fresh and yummy! Of course I will be using a low fat/olive oil mayo. I think this would even be good to add some cooked and diced chicken to if you want to make it a main meal with a little more body to it.

{7}

Buttermilk Pancake Cupcakes with Maple Buttercream. no words can describe how excited I am for these bad boys.

Thats the end of our things we want to try this week... Hopefully we get to most of them! But just looking at the pictures makes me so hungry! We are also making the priscuitto stuffed pasta shells again and my mom is making me some chicken salad!!!

{Recap from two weeks ago}

{a} The pancakes were good, just took forever to cook! But I would def make them again.

{b} That cake was delicious and so easy! Everyone at worked loved it! It's the perfect simple recipe and is easy to keep the ingredients on hand for any surprise guests or parties!

{c} I didn't get around to making the honey lime enchiladas...maybe next week when Thomas gets back.

{d} The pasta shells were TO DIE FOR! I am making them again this week. I love priscuitto so really I had not reserves on this one.

~Kristen~

Weekly Menu: May 15th

{Sunday}

A good start to the day.... Strawberry Whole Wheat pancakes (with flaxseed and all)!!!!

I also made this delicious cake for work tomorrow!

{Monday}

I have several pre-assembled frozen meals, so I decided to thaw one. Yummy Buffalo Chicken Pasta!!!

{Tuesday}

Honey Lime Enchiladas with some Dirty Rice.

{Wednesday}

Dinner with some friends :)

{Thursday}

Pasta Shells with Proscuitto and Mushrooms....Yummy! I have a strange addiction to Proscuitto. I love the stuff!

{Last Weeks Review}

{a} Refrigerator bran muffins were amazing! I love that they lasted us all week and I still have leftover batter in the fridge. I split the recipe in half because it was way too much for just the two of us.

{b} The sesame chicken was good, but way too much sauce for my chicken. Def didn't taste like take out sesame chicken but prob much healthier and a great alterantive!!!

{c} Oh the fish tacos~ Delicious, but will never make them again. They made our house smell all week no matter how many scentsy's and candles and vinegar bowls I had.

{d} The mexican lasagna was so good! I will def be leaving out the sour cream next time and may mix in the cream cheese with the tomato sauce mix.

{e} Tuscan Garlic Chicken was good, I thought it was a little flavorless, but it was a very healthy meal with whole wheat noodles and the baked chicken. Thomas really liked it.

{f} The homemade orange rolls I didn't get around to~ maybe this week!!!

{Enjoy a great week}

WILW~ on a friday night :)

{WILW~ON A FRIDAY NIGHT}

It's been a long week....I've been sick in bed for most of it :( I'm really ready for a new day!!! But tonight I will post a special What I'm Loving Today:

{1}

OPI nailpolish. Since we are budget conscious, I have been doing my own manis and pedis with OPI. They even have a Texas line...def made for me!

{2}

Look at these yummy peanut butter and chocolate cupcakes! They have a "secret" ingredient in them!!! Go check out the recipe to find out what!

{3}

Summer clothes of course!!!! Check both out at anthropologie!!!

{4}

These pupcakes are just adorable! Not sure I would make them myself, but they are pretty cute!!!

A realization (and some great recipes)

Well, I guess its time to admit that my blog has really become more of a food blog lately, not my intention, but i'll go with it!!!! So, I've decided to start posting my weekly projected menu for everyone to see with links to the recipes. I love trying new things and so each week I am making mostly new stuff. Keeps me on my toes and yummy food coming to the table!

{these will be a little out of order for each day}

{thursday-Cinco de Mayo}

Sugar~Lime cookies for Thomas to take to school.

Baked Southwestern Egg Rolls with Chipotle Dipping sauce

{wednesday}

Homemade Bagels~ I'm thinking one cheese and one cinnamon

Sloppy Joes ~making with ground turkey or chicken

{tuesday}

Sticky Coconut Chicken

{monday}

Baked Ziti ~I plan on using half ricotta and half cottage cheese instead of all cottage cheese

Cheddar and Herb Biscuits

I guess Mels Kitchen is really winning my heart!!!! I'll let you know if I modify any recipes :) Hope yall enjoy!!!!

~It's BIRTHDAY week~

It's Thomas' Birthday week and of course in true Kristen fashion, I decided to go ALL OUT when it came to our week of food! I wanted to make something special everyday and really make the whole week feel fun!

{Sunday}

Today was my fav day of the week. We spend the whole day laying around doing NOTHING but watch friday night lights. It was perfect. And we went to dinner just the two of us to a yummy mexican restaurant down the road. I actually did bake a few things for the week: his school birthday cake~ tres leches and my first attempt at the red velvet cheesecake...which I left out the most important thing to make it red velvet, the darn chocolate, so I ended up with a regular old cheesecake that is now in the freezer.

{Monday}

Thomas actual birthday. I got up early with him for school and made him some delicious red velvet pancakes.

For dinner, I had a full blown asian themed meal: Korean marinated beef, lettuce wraps, edamame, rice, stuffed mushrooms, and japanese beer. Pretty DELIC! It was really fun because we actually ate on our asian plates we got for our wedding and used our adorable rice bowls!!!

I also remade the red velvet cheesecake and we had that for dessert. It tasted amazing! Very rich, but very good.

{Tuesday}

I made a mexican tortilla pie which was so good. It made enough for two meals, which is saying alot since the birthday boy has a big appetite :) If anyone makes this recipe, I actually used wheat tortillas and ground chicken with mine to try and make it a little bit healthier.

{Wednesday}

Leftovers... I know BOO!! But we had so much left and had gone shopping all evening for new workout stuff for Thomas, it was just the easier option.

{Tonight}

I can't wait to make tonights meal. Crusted Chicken with a Jalapeno Popper Sauce. I am a huge fan of spicy and I think it will be a perfect last homemade meal for the week. I'm going to bake my chicken instead of pan fry to cut down a little.

{Friday}

We are having dinner with all of our friends to celebrate together!!! I can't wait! I love getting together for dinner and just having a good time.

Hope yall enjoyed my foodie post!!!!!

{KW}

What I'm loving this weekend!!!

1. I am in LOVE with headbands. Not just any headbands....homemade wonders. There are so many posts out there and I found two this week that I attempted this weekend and LOVE THEM!!! So the first one is made from fabric and elastic and is super easy, I may be adding them to my etsy shop...we will see. The second is my absolute fav and I want to share the tutorial with everyone because anyone can make these. I can only sew with straight lines and this was by far the easiest thing I've made: upcycled tshirt headband...all you need is an old tshirt, thread, and a hot glue gun...tutorial here....i didn't hand sew my flower on because hotglueing it was WAY easier and no one cal tell the difference.

2. I am LOVING cooking and baking!!! I made a buffalo chicken pasta last night and a candy

bar cake this morning...yes i know you ask cake this morning?!? why yes i did. I didn't try it

until the afternoon so its ok. Both were MAJOR hits with Thomas. He usually doesn't go for

desserts, let alone seconds!!! Well, it was good. Thats the important part. The pasta i decided to

double so I could freeze one meal, great idea in theory, but for my kitchen it was kindof a

danger zone for a few hours. :)

3. March Madness, which is the one time of year I truly lose my husband to his first love :). Its fun to hear him watching the game. I'll be across the house and hear yelling about something or this very specific "laugh" or "kackle" he makes when he gets excited about a play. Its HILARIOUS and just one of the gazillion reasons I love him. Hopefully next year we'll be cheering on our beloved Baylor BEARS again. :)

Well, I hope everyone else is finding fun things to do and is having some good laughs this weekend! We love yall~ Kristen and Thomas