Showing posts with label Summer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Summer. Show all posts

Monday, June 2, 2014

Make It Monday: Margarita Chicken

 
Two things I love: margaritas and the crock pot (or slow cooker). Oh wait - chicken too! This Make it Monday post combines all three of those to make Margarita Chicken. And guess what? Your kids can not only eat it, they will love it too! No worries - there is no tequila in the recipe.

Thanks to Red Tricycle, I found this versatile, low fat chicken recipe from Crockpot Gourmet that you can serve over brown rice, couscous, quinoa or over a bed of greens with veggies and a citrus vinaigrette.

But let's talk crock pot though first. Four problems I see with the crock pot -

1) People don't use it enough. Hello....it's soooo easy. Throw in the ingredients (no thawing necessary), walk away and come back 4-8 hrs later to a homemade meal. Now why are you complaining about dinner again?!?!?

2) People think you have to be a "mom with kids" to use a crock pot. If you're single or a couple, just buy yourself a Food Saver and vacuum seal the leftovers. Note to moms; you too should do this. If you're already cooking, why not make a little more, vacuum seal the extra and wah-la you have yourself another meal on another night that will literally take seconds to heat up.

3) People associate "crock pot" with unhealthy. That's incredibly naïve. There are a gazillion recipes online and crock pot cookbooks that cater to people's dietary needs; vegetarian, low-carb, Paleo to name a few.

3) People think that once warm weather hits, that it's time to put the crock pot away. So not the case. Not all crock pot meals are cold weather soups and stews. In fact, there are several light, delicious summery meals that will save you from standing over the stove on a hot day.

Moral of the story - USE A CROCK POT. And make this meal. :)

Margarita Chicken
 
Ingredients:
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1/2 cup limeade (frozen limeade works)
  • 1/2 cup orange juice
  • 1 cup water or chicken broth
  • 3 cloves minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon dried cilantro
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
  1. Mix rice, limeade, orange juice, water, garlic and cilantro in bottom of crock
  2. Add chicken to crock and sprinkle the top part that is not covered by liquid with the cayenne pepper and salt and pepper
  3. Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8 hours
Note: You may want to use an oval crock for this so the liquid not be as deep and the chicken will not be submerged.

Monday, May 19, 2014

Fashion Forward: Summers Do's & Don'ts


 
As we eagerly anticipate the season of fun and frivolity, it's time to prep our closets with some of summer's biggest fashion trends. Thanks to Glamour's online fashion section (author- Avery Matera), here are 11 summer fashion Do's and Don'ts:


DO go girly with a white lace top
You can dress up a white lace top with a skirt and heels or dress it down with denim shorts and sandals. Even try pairing it with moto boots and a leather jacket to turn the feminine piece into something more edgy.
 

DON'T underestimate the power of a T-shirt dress
The throw-on-and-go T-shirt dress is perfect for summer. Wear yours from day to night by transitioning into slightly fancier footwear and some fun accessories. Bonus: T-shirt dresses are easy to travel with - they rarely wrinkle and don't have to be dry-cleaned!

 

DO try a new sunglass silhouette
Whether it's round, cat-eye, oversize, or aviator, try a sunglass shape you've never tried before.
 

DON'T be afraid to show a little skin
Though it's more of a weekend look than one for work, the crop-top trend is wonderful for summer. Pair a loose version of the trend with a high-waisted bottom to avoid showing a little too much tummy.
 

DO add a pop of color
Find a brightly colored bag or shoes to pair with your wardrobe basics - it'll infuse a little summer into an otherwise neutral outfit.
 

DO try overalls
Overalls are no longer just for kids - they're a great way to update your shorts collection. Style them with anything from a button-down to a tank top. Most important, find a fit and length that flatters you.
 

DON'T wait until Memorial Day to wear white
And don't stop wearing white on Labor Day either. White is the ultimate summer neutral and feels so light and airy that you should try styling it head-to-toe once in a while.
 

DO invest in a dressier pair of shorts
They don't have to break the bank, but have a pair of shorts in a more tailored silhouette or non-denim fabric on hand. In the right cut and fabric, they can work for a casual office look or a dressy night out - just leave your denim cutoffs at home.
 

DON'T put your boots away
Just because it's summer doesn't mean that you can't wear boots anymore. Sure, they're heavier than a summer sandal, but they add a little edge to sweet summer shorts or a sundress.
 

DO make sure you have a classic white shirt
Summer is no exception for the classis button down. Basically, every outfit looks polished when you start with a crisp white shirt - you can even throw it over a bathing suit at the beach.
 

DO continue to layer
Layering isn't just for winter months and heavy clothing. Simply adding a T-shirt under a sundress or a button-down over a bustier is ideal for summer. Try this styling trick when you're totally bored with your favorite summer outfits.

Monday, July 23, 2012

Summertime beauty dilemma solved


The Beauty Dilemma: Your fingernails and toenails have an icky yellowish tint.

I can't remember the last time my toenails weren't painted so you can only imagine how freaked out I got when I took off the polish to discover my toenails had this funky yellow tint. After ruling out "Yellow Nail Syndrome" (yes it's a real but rare condition) or a fungus infection, my prolonged wear of nail polish is to blame.

While dark-color nail polish may be incredibly trendy and a summertime must, consistent wear can leave your natural nails looking like they’ve been permanently dyed a scary shade of sunflower. So what now?

The solution: To restore your nail beds to their natural nude hue, mix a few drops of fresh lemon juice with 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide in a plastic bowl. Completely saturate a few cotton balls in the mixture and rub your fingernails and toenails until the stain is removed. Moving forward, be sure to double up on your base coats!

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Sweet Sunday: A summertime must


Gosh it's been forever since I've done a Sweet Sunday post. Lance had a runny nose this morning so I stayed home from church, went on a nice power walk and figured since I have a minute while Barney streams on the tv, I'll post a dessert for you to try this week.

Saw these Jello Cookies on Pinterest and meant to post before 4th of July so you could do red, white and blue cookies but that clearly did not happen. Lots on my plate lately hence the lack of posts. Seriously though - who would have thought to put jello in cookies?!? What a fun bright and colorful cookie for summer. If you're brave enough to bring the kid's to the grocery store, you can make this a fun outing to pick out their special jello color/flavor.


Another fun thing is the batter is moldable like playdough. Wash up their hands, whip up the batter and let them create sculptures while the oven heats up like they did over at I Heart Naptime blog...


~Jello Cookies~
Yields: 2 dozen | Prep: 20 min | Cook: 10 min | Ready in: 30 min

Ingredients:
3.5 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1.5 cups salted butter softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
4 (3 oz) pkg jello (use any flavors you want)

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2) Beat butter in large bowl with mixer until creamy. Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Blend in egg and vanilla. Mix flour and baking powder in a separate bowl. Gradually beat in flour mixture.

3) Divide dough into 4 sections. Sprinkle 2 Tb of jello onto each section. Knead together with dough. You may want to add a few drops of food coloring to make the dough more vibrant.


4) Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in the extra jello from the packets. Place, 2 inches apart, on baking sheets. Flatten with bottom of bowl.

5) Bake 8 to 10 min at 350 on lined baking sheets. Cool on baking sheets 2 min. Remove to wire racks and cool completely.

I hope this ends your weekend on a sweet note. Enjoy!!

Monday, July 2, 2012

Looking for a new book? Summer's best reads


Bury your feed in the sand and your head in a book as you kick back and relax this 4th of July weekend. If you've already made your way through Fifty Shades of Grey or found that it's not your thing, here are a few others that will grab your attention and keep you reading all summer long:


 Need comic relief? Girl Walks Into a Bar.

The debut book from the former Saturday Night Live cast member Rachel Dratch, is a hilarious midlife memoir about laugh out loud adventures, the unexpected joys of dating and becoming a mother when she least expected it at age 44. A look into how unpredictable and beautiful life can be.

Amazon reviews: 4.5/5 stars. 44 reviews.

Love compelling characters? The Chaperone.

In Laura Moriarty's historically based novel, you'll meet the irreverent Louise Brooks, who at age 15 - a few years before achieving fame as an actress - teaches her caregiver, Cora Carlisle, to live life to the fullest. The Chaperone is the enthralling story of two women  and how their unlikely relationship changed their lives. In this layered and inventive story, Moriarty raises profound questions about family, sexuality, history, and whether it is luck or will - or a sturdy combination of the two - that makes for a wonderful life.

Amazon reviews: 4.5/5 stars. 36 reviews.

Got a flair for the dramatic? Gone.

Lose yourself in Cathi Hanauer's tension filled tale of a woman who becomes a single mother when her husband vanishes after driving the babysitter home. Gone is an outstanding novel about change and about redefining, in middle age, everything from one’s marriage to one’s career to one’s role as a best friend, parent, and spouse. It is a novel about passion and forgiveness and knowing when to let something go and when to fight to hold on to it, about learning to say goodbye - but, if you’re lucky, not forever.

Amazon reviews: 3/5 stars. 10 reviews.


Want some perspective? Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake.

Anna Quindlen, in her witty and irresistible memoir, looks back at - and celebrates - every stage of womanhood. From childhood memories to manic motherhood to middle age, Quindlen uses the events of her own life to illuminate our own. Along with the downsides of age, she says, can come wisdom, a perspective on life that makes it satisfying and even joyful. Candid, funny, moving, Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake is filled with the sharp insights and revealing observations that have long confirmed Quindlen’s status as America’s laureate of real life.

Amazon reviews: 4/5 stars. 110 reviews.

None of these doing it for you? Check out Oprah's 2012 summer must read's HERE. There's a book to suit every mood.