A Mix of Favs

J would love to eat anything Mexican every day, twice a day.

I would love to eat any pasta every day, three times a day. (Yes, I seriously just one-upped J's eating preferences in my own blog)

Anywho.. lets get back on course here..

I was browsing good old pinterest and came across this recipe.. and coincidentally enough, my girl over at Chocolate Broccoli, posted this bad boy of a recipe... Best of both worlds: Mexican Pasta!

So I mix and matched what I liked from each recipe and came up with this..

Ingredients:
Jumbo Pasta Shells
Lean Ground Sirloin
Chopped Yellow Onion
Chopped Red Bell Pepper
Cilantro
Garlic
Taco Seasoning (I made my own to hopefully reduce sodium.. see here)
1 can Enchilada Sauce
4 oz. Cream Cheese
Mexican Shredded Cheese
Toppings: Sour Cream, Sliced Avocados, Taco Sauce

Directions:
Cook noodles as directed on the package. Preheat oven to 350*.

Brown the ground sirloin in olive oil and garlic, remove grease, add taco seasoning. Sautee onions and red bell peppers until tender. Add a handful of cilantro and cilantro. Warm until cheese is melted and thoroughly integrated with the meat mixture.

Place a few tablespoons of enchilada sauce on the bottom of a baking dish. Spoon each noodle with the meat mixture, add mexican shredded cheese and top with enchilada sauce. Bake for 20 minutes.

Remove and serve with additional toppings (avocado, sour cream, taco sauce) and a side salad.

Enjoy!

Randomness

As I was reminded this weekend by Mrs. Massey, I have been neglecting my blog.. So here are some updates on where I have been.. and some of my favorite things at the moment...

At the beginning of the month I was in Scottsdale.. Cant beat the view.. except that when I took this photo was the only time I saw the view in daylight.

Then it was off to Baltimore a few days later.. where they had just gotten their first snow the day prior.

The Harbor is beautiful.

But the hotel creepily encourages you to use binoculars to stalk people outside?

I had an event at the National Aquarium - so a photo op was necessary!

I am home, safe and sound for a few days then I am off to my favorite town

I got home and started working on my second "job" (& my most favorite, by the way).. Helping Miss Jenna B plan her wedding!

We have a date set, a venue booked, a dress almost picked, a color scheme, and a budget started. WHEW! She's been a busy lady this month - and all the fun stuff starts now - the deets! Loving it. Every.single.part. Thinking about taking some courses in wedding planning - may make me better to help my friends! If anyone has taken courses, design courses, really anything, let me know - I would love to chat about it!

We hosted Supper Club this weekend - Italian evening... here's a sneak peak of my tablescape.. More will be posted via Chocolate Broccoli this week, so be sure to tune in over there!

We tried this new beer this weekend... J is a fan. I dont think it tastes any different than regular Bud Light, but what do I know?

Loving my Party Ideas board on Pinterst... its fab!

Can I have this?

Or this?

Can I get this tutorial?

Thats about all I got for ya this week... Happy Monday!

Love is...

Love is..

Little Bit of This, Little Bit of That

Oh life... how you have been crazy. Just got home around midnight on Sunday, heading out Saturday, and trying to have a life in between... here's a little update for yall:

I came home to this OCD closet:

Wanna know what this makes me want to do???? SMOOOOSH 'em together!!!! Hahaha - funny story, when J&I first started dating this is what his closet looked like and Heather and I in a drunken stuper on a fun night - smoooooooshed it all. It felt so good. I am resisting the urge for now, but we will see....

I also came home to this:

Dont get it??? Guess whats missing!?!? ::celebration dance::

Yep! That guy has been donated - niiiiiice!

This little lady - is doing MUCH better after her gross accident:

And one of my BESTEST of BESTESTS is engaged. I L.O.V.E. Jenna and Philip and am oh.so.excited. for them to get married! H&I got to get a few drinkys and dins with the bride to be this week:

Pretty amazing updates in my opinion.... hope to have more for you next week... lots of love!

Love is..

Scottsdale, Arizona this week/weekend....

Overprotective Momma

Sunday night we noticed Layla was bleeding on her foot.... and upon further expection we found this:

EW!!!!!!!

So I went into Overprotective Momma mode and cleaned her up, put on a bandaid, put on a sock and taped that sucker on.... Not sure she was happy with my ghetto bandage!

Monday morning we spent visiting Auntie Heather at the vet.. where they clipped, pulled or something the nail off... without a peep from Boog, but closed eyes and hands over ears from Momma ((Even Auntie H wouldnt touch it!))

So happy to see this booger face all good again & cuddling with her family!