DIY Cozy Blanket

December 18, 2013

So I'm making my midget a simple but awesome blanket to tote around the house. She seems to love a soft and fuzzy blanket and I think this gives her what she wants. It made with 2 layers of fleece with satin border. Fleece is fairly easy to work with and you don't have to prewash it, which i love. But I just love a cozy blanket

Cauliflower Mash

December 16, 2013

I love mashed potatoes, but if I want my hubby to eat them I have to make the healthy kind. To achieve this, the next best thing is cauliflower mash. Here's a simple way to achieve the same yummy texture and the kids love it too




Christmas Photos 2013

December 14, 2013

In the spirit of Xmas just wanted to share a few photos of me and the hubby and my adorable midget with Santa. Tis the season.


White Wine Herb Salmon

Well after hitting up the fish market at the commissary today came home with some very nice farm raised salmon. Between me and my hubby being busy this week, cooking has been simple chicken and veggies. I needed a change of poultry today. Most of the time I marinate my meats/fish/poultry because 1 Flavor and 2 I can just come home and cook. I'm a big fan of Weber marinade mixes and always trying to duplicate the recipe. As mom and wife when the tot and hubby are hungry, their hungry. So here's my White Wine Marinade, goo for fish or poultry. . .not so much red meat but hey you can do what you want with it. 

Updated Blog. . . .Yay

December 13, 2013


As you can see readers, thanks to my lovely friend Megs I have an updated new blog. Its good to have awesome friends all over the world. Thank you military life. Big thank you Meg, you've always been a great freind pushing me to new things and take it to the next level. Love you and miss you. She has a blog as well, Taking Notes, from coast to coast, if haven't checked it out, please do so. Its a lovely blog about daily life, her awesome photography, and of course her wonderful pups. 



Also wanted to give a big shout out to KotrynaBass and her wonderful template for making my blog look awesome, its just what I wanted and needed. Looking for a cool template or even a template for your own blog check out her Etsy KotrynaBassDesign. She also has a cool blog(Girl with a Movie Camera) about life, beauty and tons of fun stuff. Shes currently doing a giveaway ladies so check it out



Peanut Butter Fudge Drops

December 8, 2013

As always . . .Im waiting till the last minute to make a goodie for a squadron event. So I had to think of what I wanted to do. I know I wanted to make easy fudge and I also wanted to do peanut butter. I also knew i only had 2 hours, to make treat, get me and my midget dressed. I came across this recipe Here and thought how cool. I used dark and semi sweet chocolate instead of milk/semisweet, too sweet for me plus i love dark chocolate more than anything. PB Fudge Cups here we go. . .




Leftover Cranberry Sauce Greek Yogurt Popsicle

December 5, 2013

When I make my cranberry sauce its jellied, so its not chunky as you would call it. Doesn't mean you have to discard all that goodness. I love making homemade Popsicle with my tot and for myself all the time. So i thought I'd share this fun, simple, recipe. So whether you have leftover sauce or leftover pulp like me this is a great recipe.





Christmas Eve Gift Box Ideas

December 2, 2013

So I was browsing ideas for Christmas eve and came across the Christmas eve box. I think my toddler and hubby will love this one. One box with all the goodies needed to have a fun Xmas eve.





Operation Christmas Gift-Baby Bag & Accesories

I've decided that since I have this sewing machine that I must make at least one thing for a Xmas present. So I thought about it and I notice my midget starting to take interest in her baby dolls more. She loves taking care of them, we play all the time now. I noticed that she didn't have a diaper bag, diapers to change them, baby blanket and the list goes on and on. So I'm hoping this sewing project isn't that hard to tackle.






Candied Bourbon Sweet Potatoes

November 27, 2013

Now this has been my long time favorite during the holidays. My first time I cooked them was with my mother when I was 7. It was in a pan of course, but I have since perfected my mom's recipe to make it my own. So enjoy :-)




Homemade Jellied Cranberry Sauce

November 26, 2013

Need to fool your guest that you did buy the stuff in the can without buying the stuff in the can. So here's a awesome homemade recipe I use.







Bendable Elf on the Shelf & Grippy Too

November 25, 2013

This is our second year with the infamous elf on the shelf, ours is named Honey-Cotton. Last year I noticed it was hard to put here in certain positions. So this is me making her bendable and grippy. . . .with little feet too.




2 Ways to Peel and De-seed a Pomegranate

There are so many ways that people go about getting the seeds out of a pomegranate. To me it depends on the pomegranate. I have been peeling them since i was a child so it comes natural and naturally I've gotten pretty fast at it. So here are the two methods i use depending on pomegranate.





Citrus Marinated Chicken w/Lemon Vegetable Saute

November 24, 2013

Well I was playing in the kitchen yesterday and wanted something new for my veggie mix. I wasn't gonna blog about this recipe but at high request, here we go. I didn't take step by step pictures this time but next around I will have step by step photos. If you know our family its mostly meat and veggies for dinner. So my citrus chicken is one of my most popular recipe with my hubby and my midget. This citrus vegetable medley is a new family fav.




Healthy Breakfast Pizza

November 23, 2013

Shaneka has started making it a habit to ask me for content to add to "our" blog, so here's my very first posting. Love you wife!

When it comes to fitness and the like, I'm all about it. I've wholeheartedly adopted the mantra "Everyday is Training Day." Normally my weekends are active rest days consisting of either some type of steady-state cardio like running or rowing, or I'll choose a Crossfit workout of the day and blast through that if I'm feeling motivated. Today was the latter. After beasting it in the gym all week, you've got to refuel yourself for the week ahead with good, quality, healthy meal. Living with a trained chef is great, you should try it, but there are often times when I wish I could be as creative as Shaneka and think up and/or try some of the things I read on the interwebs; this is my attempt at doing just that.  Most of the time eggs and oatmeal top my list for breakfast, but today motivated me enough to put together something different... Breakfast Pizza. You read that right, pizza for breakfast.




Homemade Philly Cheese-steak Sandwich

November 21, 2013

Just finished a mud run(warrior dash) last weekend with my husband and all I want was a meat, cheese and bread. . . .Hey Philly sounds delicious right about now. So here's my homemade take on a Philly


Quick Easy Caramel Sauce

Got milk yesterday, after taking a week to remember. Most ask milk everyone has milk, well we drink soymilk but for a cappuccino at home I love good ole vitamin D, its not enough to make my tummy upset. So here's a quick easy caramel I made this morning, in less than 10 minutes





Turkey Toilet Paper Roll

My little Leila has been sick and has been driving me nuts, so in the spirit of thanksgiving. Thought a turkey craft would be fun today, its windy outside and were all in our pjs. Im always saving the toilet paper rolls, they always come in handy for a easy craft moment. So here we go.


Fruit & Vegetable Wash, Plus Peserver

November 19, 2013

A simple solution to making the berries last longer, taking the wax off apples and more. If you you cut and bag your own salad greens like I do,  this also help. 

Fruit & Vegetable Wash, Plus Preserver
(adapted from food.com/kittencalkitchen)



Nikkie's Homemade BBQ Rub

November 18, 2013

Hello everyone, having your own spices is awesome. I am one to buy my favorite mixes from McCormick and A1. But having my own special blends are great as well. I use this particular one for just about everything. Its easy to make and taste great on anything, from meat to fish. If I have to label it for a rub its similar to Memphis rub. So here we go.


Nikkie's Pumpkin Spice Caramel Sauce

November 2, 2013

Its October and it wouldn't be fall without some pumpkin caramel. My number one reason for caramel is coffee and ice cream. My midget just loves to eat it by the spoonfuls. But pumpkin caramel hits the spot once the weather starts to cool down. 



Candy Corn & Pumpkin Rice Krispies Treats

October 28, 2013

Well hubby's squadron is having a trick or treating event at his office for the kiddos. I needed to bring a snack, what sounds good to me and simple for the kids. . . . . Saw Candy Corn Krispie Treats from Glorious Treats and thought it would be PERFECT. Plus I added a recipe of my own for Pumpkin Krispie Treats

Candy Corn Krispie Treats(adapted from Glorious Treats)
16 Servings


Cellophane Fairy Wings

October 21, 2013

This was my biggest issue of what would be the best idea for her wings. She asked me for fairy wings, so there's my challenge. I know shes going to continue to play with them after Halloween and shes a tot. So whats the best idea to hold up to a 3 year old and the wind outside. I also wanted pretty wings not your traditional wings made from tights. These tutorials are my inspiration Here and Here.



My Version of Candy Corn Bag

October 20, 2013

Well I watched my tot wrestle with holding her tiny pumpkin bag for trick or treating and knew something had to be done. I found this awesome tutorial from No Big Dill . . .the tutorial is posted on Lemon Squeezy Home. My tot who is very outspoken said she didn't want it yellow, orange and white, so i took her to the store and this is what I came up with. I must say I love It.


Pumpkin Princess Tutu Costume With Wings

October 15, 2013

Well I got started late on my daughters costume but i think it turned out great. For a 3 year old she had a pretty clear vision of what she wanted to be this halloween, a tutu pumpkin with wings she said. I say to myself i think i can pull this off. This tutorial is my inspirations. So here we go.

Homemade Fabric Weights

October 8, 2013

Needed something cool, easy and simple to hold fabric down on my new sewing journey. I also had to use what was already in the house. Saw these somewhere on the net and thought I could do these.



My Sewing Table

October 7, 2013

Well this was made awhile ago, but thought it would make a great first blog. When I first got my sewing machine in February, It had nothing to sit on, so it literally got used on the box for two months I finally got fed up and decide to roam the thrift store for a deal. I finally came across a great size table. It was $24/ but because I had bought something a week before, i got 50% off so $12 bucks. I know i was excited. Now after asking my hubby for all kinds of info and looking on internet, this is what i needed to refurbish this great table. It took me a weekend.