What's Hap-Pinning Wednesday || Recipes

Happy Wednesday! Other than a spat with a few fellow students in one of my classes, today has been a great day! Tell me if I'm wrong on this: We have had two weeks to sign up in a group for a group assignment. TWO WEEKS. The due date was yesterday and as of last Thursday I was still the only one in my group. I emailed the professor and he told me to wait a few more days and that the assignment was easy enough to complete on short notice. Sunday morning I got an email from a guy in class saying he joined the group - great! Since there were two days left to complete the assignment he and I split it 50/50. Along with the assignment we had to do a peer review over how each person helped. I was designated the group leader so once he got his part turned in to me I added it with mine and logged in to Blackboard (online classroom) to turn it in only to notice that 2 others had joined the group. It was due yesterday at 10 PM. Why would you join a group a few hours before the assignment is due? I, once again, emailed the professor to ask his advice and he tells me to give them part of the assignment (that is already complete) and he'll extend the due date a week. So not only is the assignment already due, but we already turned in our peer review for just the two of us. I don't feel it's my responsibility to make sure these two that waited so long get to participate. I just don't. Am I wrong? It's just annoying to me that I have to hold the slack of others due to more than likely laziness. Ahh.. End of rant - sorry for that!

Anyways, today I'm linking up with Jessi and Jenn for What's Hap-Pinning Wednesday! Since I shared our fun weekend with you and a day in the life post already, I thought I'd share with you a recipe (done two ways) that has been hap-pinning a lot over here. :) No, I did not get the recipe off pinterest, it's one I've been making for years, and the pictures are definitely not pinterest-worthy, but it's oh so good!





Original Ritz Chicken


What you'll need:
-chicken tenders (or breasts, I just prefer tenders)
- 10-20 Ritz crackers (depends on how much chicken)
-6 oz plain Greek yogurt
-Ranch dressing mix (dry)
-seasoned salt (optional)

Preheat oven to 400°
Coat baking dish with Pam and set aside

Crush up your crackers and put in shallow bowl (or plate).
In another, mix the yogurt and ranch seasoning.

Sprinkle seasoning over your chicken, dip it in the ranch mix, cover it completely with cracker crumbs and place in baking dish. If you happen to have any crumbs left over, sprinkle them over the top.

Bake for 25 minutes. I always make extra so I'll have plenty to top a salad with for lunches - so good!

The night of this picture, I was cutting up the zucchini and watching TV when a Red Robbin commercial came on and it got me thinking - This would be so good with something like their campfire sauce (y'all know what I'm talking about, right?)!

So that very next week you know what I did? I made it with my own kind of campfire sauce. Tate came in and made a face - you know the "what in the world are you doing" face - but the first words out of his mouth after he took a bite were "this is really good"! Well, thanks!

BBQ Ritz Chicken

What you'll need:
- Everything listed above +
 - 1/2 cup BBQ Sauce (I use Sweet Baby Rays)

After mixing the ranch dip, add in the bbq sauce and make it the exact same way as above.  Sadly, I don't have a picture of these because I wasn't exactly sure that we would like it - thanks to Tate's face!

These are so good and really so simple! Now that I've switched it up once, I'm going to continue switching it up! Next: Honey Mustard Ritz Chicken. Because, duh! I'll let you know how that one turns out.

I hope you enjoy one of my Ritz Chicken recipes. Have the best day!

Life Lately

Oh how I've missed my little blogging world! I haven't quite adjusted to my new schedule yet, but I'm trying. Time management is key here and there just isn't enough time in a day for what I need to do. The last time I checked in with y'all I confessed and lied - ha! I thought I'd catch you guys up with a Life Lately post with lots and lots of pictures and then we'll talk Easter later this week - we've been busy!

Softball is becoming a new normal around here. While I watch the games Brylee does things like steal my shades and run around trying to sneak into the dugout with Tate.

And sometimes she likes to unleash her future track star self. She wore herself out and mama did not get upset. ;)

I started back to school two weeks ago. I'm only taking one class but it's an online 5-week course with a lab. It's super stressful if I don't stay on top of it (reason #1 I've been slacking in the blog front!) I did my best to get ahead in class since we were headed for Dallas last weekend for a short spring break trip. But, I ended up taking my books with me and did some reading in the car.

We had Pappasitos once we got to Dallas. To say we love it is an understatement. Tate and I shared the combo fajitas and it came with shrimp stuffed with a jalepeno and cheese wrapped in bacon - omg it was so good!

That next morning (Friday) morning we got up and ready. The plan was to go to the Zoo but the forecast showed a 90% chance of thunderstorms all day so we opted for the Aquarium instead. Tate and I have been before and loved it but I guess a ton of people had the same plans and the place was jam-packed! We still had a good time but there were so. many. people! Sidenote: it never rained!

These two guys were hysterical! I started making this clicking noise and they went crazy making that same noise. Needless to say, it stirred up a crowd. 
 
 



And of course the flamingos where B had to show us how they stand. She LOVES her "mingos".

After the Aquarium we walked a few blocks over for lunch. We decided not to 'plan' lunch and just find something within walking distance since we were downtown. Tate spotted a TGI Friday's but the wait was forever long so we walked across the street to a Cajun place. Our waitress was great but the timing and quality of the food were terrible! Can't say we didn't try something new, though. Tate and B did entertain us (and the tables surrounding) with B's new cheetah. I'm not sure which one loves it more.

A few weekends ago Tate went hunting in exchange for a trip to the outlets in Allen with no complaining, so that's where we headed next. This is the only time it "rained" - it was like a light mist that lasted less than 5 minutes. We did our shopping, he didn't complain, and we got some ice cream once B woke up from her stroller nap.

That night we went to the Magic Time Machine for dinner. If you ever go to the Dallas area and have kids, go! Even if you don't have kids, go! My Nana always took us when we were kids and we loved it! The servers dress in costume and each table is a different setting. It's so fun. We sat in a mushroom and our waitress was Poison Ivy, although Brylee kept calling her Ariel.  One of the drinks on the kids menu is called a Magic Bubbly Potion and I remember always getting one when we were kids. Brylee loved hers.

And now they have adult ones too!

Saturday morning we got up, had brunch and headed home. We decided to go home Saturday so that we had plenty of time to recoop, grocery shop, catch up on laundry, etc on Sunday - best decision ever! Tate went to an arena football game with an old coach friend and B and I caught up on the Voice. She dances while they sing.

Sunday we went to San Angelo for lunch, attempted to see the Easter bunny, got some last minute Easter things at Target (and checked out their patio furniture) and ended our day trip at the grocery store. Tate dropped me off and went to Lowes while Brylee napped in the cart - made this shopping trip a breeze!

I have no idea how that's even comfortable. And just for grins, she's been known to do this before. :)

 

Monday night I thought I was going to be lost without the Bachelor, but hello DWTS! I totally forgot it started that night. Brylee gave me a quick fashion show and then we watched our dancers!

 

Tate had a game that we skipped because Tuesday I had to complete 2 tests and a lab! Why oh why did I decide it would be a good idea to take such a demanding class with such a busy schedule?? Oh yeah, because I need to finish!

I had Friday off so we left for Odessa for Easter and my nephew's birthday party - but that's another post for another day. :)

And that's life lately. A whole bunch of softball, studying, and a quick vacation. 

I'll be back tomorrow with What's Up Wednesday! :)

Easter Pinning!

Okay, first things first - if you didn't read my post yesterday you might want to go to that first. This next part will make more sense! :)

True. I did break my nose and never got it fixed. I was 11 and my dad and uncle were redoing my grandparents porch. It is super long and they had planks laid every 2.5 feet or so. I was going outside to ask my dad what he wanted for dinner (my mom was calling it in) and while turning around on the planks (that I was told not to get on) I fell and hit the bridge of my nose. The ER doctor could have popped it back in place but didn't and now it's crooked. 

True. I do have a scar from a penny! I used to drive a brown mustang with light tan interior. I was getting in one day during the hot summer and sat on a penny! The dang thing burned me and for a few weeks I had good ol' Abe Lincoln on the back of my leg - it seriously burned his face onto my leg. I wish I had a picture of this. Now I just have a tiny line from where it scarred. 

False. I did break my ankle but only once. I did, however, break my arm 3 times in the same place. Soccer was very rough on me - ha! for 6 years straight I was either in a cast, boot or sling of some sort. That is why I initially wanted to be in orthopedics - if you read yesterday you'll know why I changed my mind. :)

Now that that is out of the way - can y'all believe Easter is next weekend? My nephew's birthday also happens to fall on Easter this year so it will be a family fun filled weekend for us! Linking up with Jessi and Jenn today for a few of my plans for Easter this year. 

one // I will be making a Hummingbird cake! Yes ma'am! I love love love hummingbird cakes! I used to use a recipe I got out of a Southern Living cookbook years ago until I found Shay's recipe! It's still so, so good without all the work! :)

two //Because I have 3 different Easter celebrations to go to I will also be making Shay's Carrot Cake Cheesecake! Cheesecakes are my ultimate favorite and carrot cakes just scream Easter to me. I can't wait to make this!

three // I'm starting the Resurrection Eggs with Brylee this year - it starts today btw! Beth shared this a few weeks ago on her blog and I love it! You probably have everything you need already!

four // Three celebrations calls for three different treats, right? I always make this little "snack" for all holidays! It's so fun to change out the M&M colors and sprinkles and it's just so darn good. Warning - it is addicting! 

Have a wonderful afternoon, friends!

What's Hap-Pinning | Living Room Edition

First off, Happy Texas Independence day to my fellow Texans out there! :) I've always told Tate he could move me wherever he wanted just as long as we didn't leave Texas! Good thing he agrees with me.



Moving on. 

I think anytime you buy or rent a new house there is always something you wish were different about it whether it be gutting an entire room or something simple like the color of a wall. There always seems to be something you would have done differently. When we first started looking at homes here the one we were living in didn't even seem like an option to me. I had my heart set on another one and when the sellers pulled out from the offer I was devastated. We had looked at our house once and not one single thing appealed to me - small kitchen, wood paneling EVERYWHERE, terrible carpet, awful wallpaper, tiny closets, old appliances, ugly blinds - nothing! I guess there is one thing I liked - the front door because I would be seeing my way out to never return.  When the above sell fell through (that was our 3rd offer) I was ready to call it quits. My realtor called me a few days later and asked me to meet her at this house alone. She said the house had charm and a ton of potential but I thought she was crazy. To please her though, I met her. Before we even walked through the house she told me to close my eyes in each room, imagine it being a different color with my furniture in it and throw in some life (the dogs, B's toys, cups on the counter, etc) and then open my eyes to the room. If after that I still had no desire for the house we'd start over. 

Y'all, she was so right! Our house was built in the 70's so the layout isn't something I wanted but it was common then. The kitchen is tiny and that's something we won't be able to change. The closets are small but they work. But the bedrooms are huge! The living room is huge! The walls, wallpaper and carpet can totally be fixed! This house does have so much potential and I am glad I get to be the one to start the renovating of it. Since this won't be our forever home, I can get it started for another family to love later. 

Linking up with Jenn and Jessi for What's Hap-pinning Wednesday.

 We both agreed on the living room and a fresh coat of paint in each room as our first priority. We are counting the hallway and entry way as the living room also because they will all be the same paint/trim/outlet covers.  My inspiration now, then you'll see what the living room originally looked like on down. I'll show the after pictures when it's complete!



I would have never picked those colors together but after playing around with swatches and spending nearly an hour in Lowes looking at gray, they work! Our furniture is that color brown so I was set on a cream color, the gray is the color Tate picked. I was so against gray and brown but after finding inspiration from pinterest I'm in love! I'm so glad we went with the gray because the cream would have taken forever to cover the wood.  The navy is the other main color and the other 3 are accents.


My first inspiration photo... this is what I based the entire living room off of. After Tate accidentally ( I use that loosely because I think he meant to do this) painted the trim gray also, I kinda liked it instead of white. 

 
Although I wouldn't use yellow, I love the idea of a colored pocket door! Tate wants to get rid of it but I love this!

 
The color we've picked out for our floors.

 
This won't be a 'do now' project but I'm hoping to paint our doors white or replace them with white doors. I think the white will brighten up the gray and floors. 

 
Where I got the inspiration for the accent colors.

To see all these pins and more check out my Living Room board on Pinterest.

Sidenote: The house was never on the market. To make a long story short the lady lived in a nursing home and her family had little by little began moving things so the house was never "complete" when we started looking therefore I have no other before pictures other than the ones I took.

Here are the before pictures: 

Entry way

 

 Looking into the living room from the entry way.

Looking into the living room from the dining room.

Looking into the living room from the hallway (pocket door).

Fireplace.. obvious! Ha!

Hallway. The far right of the picture is that pocket door that leads into the living room.

Now, enough pictures. Here's our checklist:

Living Room, Entry Way, Hallway

// paint wood paneling and walls - Check - Valspar Silver Dollar

// new floors (living room and hallway) - almost! We've decided and bought just haven't done it

// white wash fireplace - changed  my mind because I like it how it is :)

// new curtains and blinds - curtains - check! I found some I love on Zulily, blinds - in the works

// rug and throw pillows - this is the pillow above but I think it's too big. I've found some super cute pillows and rugs at Home Goods I may get.

// paint trim (white or gray) - I thought white but after Tate "accidentally" painted gray, I kinda like it

// fire place screen - I found a few things I like on pinterest but we haven't decided

// new ceiling fan and light fixtures - I like these for the hallway and entry way and we can't decide on a ceiling fan

// collage wall - will this every really be complete?

// entry way table and decor - have a bookshelf for now, working on decor

// doors - replace or paint? I love the look of the white doors and I think they'll look great with or without white trim

// pocket door - Tate wants to get rid of it, I like it. We'll see.
// outlet and light covers - haven't found them yet but I what a brushed nickel

Whew! That was a lot - sorry! But I'm super excited about finishing this up and can't wait to show y'all the finished look!