- quick recipe of the week -

Another Monday, but it's a short week! Hooray for Thanksgiving week! I know I have A LOT to be thankful for this year!

We had a FABULOUS weekend...absolutely fabulous! Stay tuned to see a fun post about what we did!

Today, I'd like to introduce you to Mandey from Mama and the Dudes...if you haven't ever visited her blog, than you haven't seen possibly the most adorable, adorable twin boys ever. (I'm serious, you will die when you see them, they are so cute). She's here to share with you one of her favorite guilty pleasures, minus the guilt. She shares this recipe with everyone because she feels like everyone should be able to have their favorite foods without feeling bad! (Amen to that Mandey!)

Red Pepper Alfredo

(adapted from Cook This Not That cookbook)
10 oz dried fettuccine
1 1/2 Tbsp butter
1 1/2 flour (whole wheat to make it healthier)
1 cup skim milk
1/2 cup half and half
3/4 cup chopped bottle roasted red peppers
2 cloves garlic, halved
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
Salt and Pepper to taste

Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir int he flour and cook for a minute until the two are fully incorporated. Slowly add the milk and the half and half, whisking to help prevent lumps from forming. Add the red peppers and garlic. Turn the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes. Pour the mixture into a blender and puree until smooth and uniform in color. Return to pan and stir in the Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper and simmer until the pasta is done. Drain the pasta and add directly into the saucepan. Toss evenly to coat.

- Add cooked shrimp or chicken, or some baby spinach for a little twist.

(Image credit Mandey)

Printable Recipe

Thank you Mandey, from Mama and the Dudes. This looks good, and healthy!

- we're leaving on a jet plane -

My amazing hubby surprised me and Ellie, on her birthday, with a 5 night family vacation in January! Woo hoo! I can not tell you how excited I am! We ALL need this vacation, and we will enjoy every single minute of it! 

Thank you so much Matt, I love you to pieces!

Yup, it's gonna be pretty fantastic!

- happy 2nd birthday to my sweet girl -

Dear Ellie,

Two years ago today, the world became a better place because you were born. You have blessed our lives in so many wonderful ways. Your smile, your laugh, the funny things you do to make us laugh....it all brings so much joy into our hearts.

You have grown so much in the past year. It's been simply amazing watching you grow. You are such a bright little girl, with an amazing memory, and an even more amazing vocabulary. The words you know simply amaze us, and you are always so proud of yourself when you learn new things.

You absolutely love dancing and music. You constantly ask us to turn on music so you can twirl. Oh, and the skirts...you insist on wearing your skirts every day so that you can spin around and dance. We just love to watch you dance.

You have such an adorable personality, and the best laugh ever. Your laugh is truly music to our ears. You are so loved by everyone around you. You are a beautiful little girl both inside and out. Your daddy and I are so blessed to have you in our lives.

(Image credit Nina)

Your amazing blue eyes shine when you smile. Your belly laugh is the best sound in the world. You make us so happy Ellie, and I hope we can make you just as happy as you make us. Thank you for bringing so much happiness into our lives.

(Image credit Nina)

You are a perfect girl, Ellie. Absolutely perfect! Happy birthday sweet girl. You will always be momma and daddy's little girl. We love you so much!

- quick recipe of the week -

Hello, hello, and happy Monday to everyone! I hope everyone had a fun and safe weekend. We hunkered down inside on Saturday to stay out of the chilly rain, but Sunday was absolutely beautiful and warm, so we enjoyed the sun and the gorgeous day!

Today I am so excited to introduce you to a real life friend of mine! Meet Jaymee, from e is for eat. I was so excited when Jaymee started her blog! She is an AMAZING cook and decided to start a blog to share all of her recipes. Jaymee and I have known each other for quite a few years, and we have made so many fun memories together...vacations to Mexico, late night wine parties, heated games of cribbage, and many, many dance parties complete with a lot of loud (sometimes slightly off key) singing to all of Journey's greatest hits..."Just a small town girl, livin' in a lonely world...she took the midnight train going anywhere".

She moved away a couple years ago to pursue an awesome job opportunity, and we sure do miss her! I love this girl! She is insanely awesome, and she is uber talented too! And have I mentioned that this girl can cook? Yup, she is fantastic in the kitchen!

(Jaymee and her sister, Heather, who I also adore...Image credit Jaymee)

Her blog is a super creative cooking blog that you absolutely must check out! She is working her way through the alphabet, posting numerous different yummy recipes for each letter. I am honored to feature her on my blog during her "g" week..."g" for my blog, great expectations!

Pecan Crusted Chicken Fingers
1.5 cup pecan pieces
3/4 cup brad crumbs
1 Tbs plus 2 tsp creole or cajun seasoning (an Italian seasoning blend would work too)
2 large eggs
1/4 cup olive oil
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, evenly cut lengthwise into strips

Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce
1/4 cup light mayo
2 Tbs honey
1/4 cup whole grain or Dijon mustard
pinch of salt
pinch of cayenne (optional)

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Mix together the ingredients for the honey mustard dipping sauce.

In the bowl of a food processor, combine the pecan pieces, bread crumbs, and 1 Tbs seasoning. Pulse for 1 minute and pour into a shallow dish. In another shallow dish or bowl, beat together the eggs, olive oil, and remaining 2 tsps of seasoning. One at a time, dip the chicken into the egg mixture and then dredge through the pecan mixture, shaking to remove any excess. Transfer to the baking sheet and bake, turning once, until the chicken is cooked through, and the crust is golden (approx 15-20 minutes). Remove chicken from the oven, and serve with the honey mustard dipping sauce.

(Image credit Jaymee)

Printable Recipe

These look great, and super kid friendly! Homemade chicken fingers are so much better than the frozen stuff.

Thank you Jaymee! I miss you friend! It's been waaaay too long! We definitely will be making a trip up your way soon!

And please, lovely readers, run, run, run over to check Jaymee's blog out. You will not regret it. Tell her little 'ole me sent you! She loves meeting new people!

- i am enough -

Thank you everyone, for all of your thoughtful comments and emails after my last post. My wonderfully, thoughtful husband even left me a sweet comment (in case you were wondering, he was the "anonymous" commenter that said "I love you" at the end of his comment...no, that wasn't just a weird blog stalker..ha ha!)

I know I can be too hard on myself pretty much every day. It's so hard not to sometimes, but I know I need to start trying to recognize the talents I do have. I know I can't be perfect at everything I do, and I need to start accepting that and being happy regardless. It's just gets so hard not to compare myself to others and be my own toughest critic. I'm just in a slump and feel like some things I have been working so hard on are not producing the results that I have expected, and that can be so frustrating. But all of your kind words made me feel so much better!

I had a wonderful weekend with my amazing family and that, along with all the positive thoughts sent my way lifted my spirits and put a smile on my face!

This needs to start being a daily mantra of mine ...

(Image credit wipkits.blogspot.com)

- will I ever be -

I try so hard.

I want it so bad.

But no matter what I do, I just can't get there...

The fighter in me says "just keep trying, you have to keep at it"

But that fighter in me is getting weaker...

I'm starting to think I have to just accept mediocracy...

...the mediocracy that I am.

It seems to come so easy to some people.

I'm jealous of those people, because for me, it does not come easy at all.

Am I being to hard on myself? Maybe.

But maybe not...will I ever be like those people I admire?

Will I ever have that talent that I lust after?

Will I ever be?

- photo dump -

As I am sitting here eating a "way too big for one person" piece of Ellie's leftover birthday cake, I am finding myself a bit un-inspired, with a major case of writer's block, and to be totally honest with you, kind of down on myself for a handful of reasons...so this post is just going to be a photo dump, without many words, as I can't find much to say right now. (Don't worry all of you lovely, caring, super sweet followers out there...it's just a minor case of the blues...nothing serious has happened to get me feeling this way!)

Here are a few more pictures of Halloween...Ellie looked adorable! She picked out the costume herself. She is absolutely OBSESSED with wearing big, fluffy skirts right now! She tried to tell me her jeans hurt her the other day when I tried to put them on her instead of a skirt...silly child! Actually, to be honest, she didn't ask to be a ballerina for Halloween...she asked to be a "ballerina skirt". That's right, if you had asked my child what she was going to be for Halloween, she would have replied "a skirt, a bayarina skirt"...hmmm, have you ever heard of a child being a skirt for Halloween? No? Well, now you have!

And a couple of random pictures...

It's simply amazing how much joy this girl brings into our lives!

I  absolutely can not believe my little baby is going to be 2 years old in one week!!

And a little sneak peek of her birthday party this past weekend...

P.S.- Dear Daylight Savings...I detest you and the way you have messed with my child's awesome sleeping schedule...she wakes up WAY too early now! sigh...