Sunday, March 27, 2011

Chicken. It's What's For Dinner

Mmmm....We've had chicken almost every day this last week, and I figured by the end of the week when I had already made the "usual" chicken meals, I'd try something new. I found a recipe in a magazine for stuffed chicken breast. I didn't have most of the ingredients they were calling for so I improvised. And so I gove you my version.
Niki's Stuffed Chicken Breasts
8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
roccotta cheese
shredded mozzerella cheese
Grated Parmesean (topping)
1 cup Mayo
2 cups corn flakes cerial - crushed
garlic salt
2 cups spagetti sauce
1 lb spagetti
Preheat oven to 350 degree. Heat spagetti sauce in sauce pan. Prepare noodles as per package instructions. For chicken:
Smother a thin layer of mayo over chicken breasts then rub breasts in crushed corn flakes on both sides. Lay flat and spoon in a teaspoon of rocotta cheese, mozzerella cheese toward the bottom of the breast (long ways) and roll up from the same end. Use a toothpick to hold the breast rolled up. Sprinkle rolled breast with garlic salt. Place in baking pan - lighty greased with butter or Pam. Repeat with all breasts. Place in oven for about 45 minutes. Take out of oven. Immediately dribble heated spagetti sauce then sprinkle with mozzerella and parmesean cheese. Serve over a bed of spagetti.Voila!

 Dessert!
I just used a box of brownie mix and topped with chocolate chips, coconut and walnuts! (only 1/2 w/ cocnut 'cause only two of us like it)
Easy enough, right?
Don't forget to stop by my store and place an order by March 30th to recieve a free gift ($10.00 value)!
 I promise you'll love it!
Featured item:


Friday, March 18, 2011

Color: Green

Green:
Described as : The color green is associated with people that are slow paced and task oriented. They tend to go slowly and make the best decision. They are good listeners and communicate details well.
Ain't dat da trut?

I was walking around yesterday, St. Patty's day, BTW Top 'O The Morninin' :), and found myself surrounded in beautiful greens!
You have to love the clovers!
The beautiful Dogwoods! (not so green, but pretty, pretty!)

Holly Bush & Ivy

 And chocolate!
The kids are still off for spring break, so we picked out some plants to make a garden! We got strawberries, bell peppers & tulips :) We'll spend tomorrow planting them...I'll letcha know how it goes.
What are you gardening this year?

Monday, March 14, 2011

Welcome Warm Weather

Well, this week is Spring break for the girls. This means they need to be entertained. We have different friends scheduled to come over all week and a different movie and activity for each day! Today was butterfly cakes and Fruity Punch (recipe below) It's super easy and makes snack time that much more fun!
The butterfly cakes were made in these cute butterfly tins I got from a friend filled with just cake mixes then sprinkled with turbinado sugar. 
Fruity Punch
Recipe: makes 2 1/2 gallons
5 pkgs. Hawaiian Punch Kool aid mix
5 cups sugar
3 oranges
Water
Ice
Mix Kool Aid per package instructions with mix, sugar & water into a drinking dispenser like I used or a punch bowl. Slice oranges, discarding ends. Add ice and orange slices to drink mix, stir.  Voila. That's it! :p
Garnish glasses with orange slice and you can even sprinkle sugar around the cup rim.
And it looks pretty!
Happy Spring Break
Please go check out my Willow House Facebook page...

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Inspired by Iron

Iron is one of my favorite elements to decorate with. It's masculine, yet can be feminine.  Here's how/where I've used it at home.

My keys
 Candelabra & I'm not sure what the jars are..but they're cool :)
In the bathroom
In the bedroom
In the dining room
 My favorite places to find cool iron decor is at flea markets and antique shops... And I love to search through Google images for ideas - Google's my best friend!  What's neat is that most people think of iron as more of an outdoor element, but it's really functional both ways!  Do you use iron decor?
xoxo for now <3

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

How Serene

I have always wanted an asian inspired cottage garden. (If you can picture that). There's just something about English Ivy and the scattered chaos of color like the piercing red of a Japanese Maple tree or the bridges & pagodas - that takes me to a compfy place.
Here's some inspiration I found online. Don't you  just love??
(click on the images for source credit)






And this inspires some great ideas for back yard entertaining.....


The following you can find in my store. :)




I am not a gardener (usually), I mean, I buy geraniums every year from the Auxillary, but that's about as good as I get...Oh, and I pull weeds. But as far as growing anything, I'v never had much luck. So, pray for me that I have success with this.  LOL
Does anyone have a good recipe for moulton lava cake?

I've been dying for one of these and Chili's is too far away ;P

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Disney on a Dime

So, I've been planning a trip to Disney for us for years...Or at least in my heart, that is where I have always wanted to take the kiddos. But...it's an insanely expensive trip, especially for a family of 6. I have convinced myself that the only way to make that dream come true is have a "Disney Dish" (special savings, that is) I just started adding to the Dish last month, we had a few huge payments that were ending, so we figured it was the best time of any to start really saving. I opened the Dish with $100 and since 2/1 our total is up to $509.37. I had a half.com (from book sales) deposit and we got an escrow refund (I didn't even know you could get those :P) So, with the plan of:
6 Day Resort Reservation & Park tickets :       $2488
Estimated gas - (we are driving)                         $500
New tires ( to get us there & back safe)             $328
Food (pit stops) ($1 menu, baby)                      $100
Meals while @ resort (estimated)                      $600
Spending @ Resort (also plan on hitting up        $600

Disney Outlet)                                                  $4616
Misc. emergency or spending                              $384

Total cost to Disney                                          $5000
So....Just $4490.63 to go!
We are planning to go August 12-17, 2012. Its the end of the summer season (and pricing). (travel, discount or any advice would be mucho appreciated! :)



 I've added my little countain widget  :) so you can count down with us.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Fabulous Find

I've been wanting to find a vintage butterfly picture (kinda like the one below) for my bathroom...I've browsed everywhere and within my price range, i just couldn't find what i wanted or was willing to settle for, until.....



I walked into Family Dollar and found this really great butterfly picture.  I think I like even better than what I wanted. My hanging pendant looks so great with it, too. Don't you think?

Tip: small spaces can be dramitically impacted and your space can seem twice as large when you decorate with mirrors. They give the illusion of the space going on forever.