Oven "fried" chicken

This chicken dish was a complete hit with both John and bb, and I felt good serving it, because it was as healthy as a 'fried' chicken will be.  I found this recipe from the book I featured on this post, but made a couple of changes like I usually do with recipes.  The only reason I do that is because I don't have the certain ingredient(s) the original recipe calls for, and I need to substitute it (them) with something else. 

 ingredients: 
-1 lemon
-3/4 cup buttermilk
-3 tbsp of fresh rosemary
-2 lbs chicken (I used just the drumsticks)
-2/3 cup cornmeal
-1/3 cup bread crumbs
-1/4 parm cheese
-4 tbsp unsalted melted butter
-1/4 tsp of salt and pepper each

how to:
-preheat the oven to 425 degrees
-grab 2 bowls (one for wet and one for dry) 
-grate the zest of the lemon into the 'dry' bowl
-squeeze the juice of the lemon into the 'wet' bowl
-add the buttermilk, rosemary and salt and pepper into the 'wet' bowl
-soak the chicken into the 'wet'
-stir together the cornmeal, bread crumbs, and cheese into the 'dry' bowl along with the zest
-grab the chicken (1 piece at a time) from the 'wet' and into the 'dry'
-arrange the pieces into a pan and drizzle with the butter
-bake for 35-45 minutes

*note* 
The above ingredients and how to is from what I've used and is different from the original.
I removed the skin from the chicken beforehand to remove excess fat.

I served them with some baked potato wedges and green beans!  Enjoy!  :D

DIY - alphabet chart

I haven't mentioned in my blog before, but I used to be a teacher before I became pregnant with bb.  I taught 1st and 3rd grade, and have many years of experience in different day cares, after school programs, sunday school, and even as a teacher's aide.  I made the choice to be a stay at home mom and definitely do not have any regrets, but this project did bring back some fond memories from years before. 

Some of you might be reading this post and thinking that this could've been put onto the wall a lot easier with less effort by just using push pins or staples instead, but they just wouldn't have been as cute and I didn't want to leave staple holes all over my wall!   I got the cable idea from one of my very favorite diy blogs (here). She used the cable to display her children's art work, but since bb is only 15 months old, I used the idea to display abc's instead.  

1.  paint the unfinished wood circles and attach the sawtooth hangers

2.  when the paint is completely dry, attach the wood spools using wood glue

3.  twist and double knot the hanging wire to the spool

4.  pin the alphabets (or whatever you want to hang) onto the wire

5.  after you place everything on the wall, attach the decorative animals using wood glue

6.  the finished cables - the alphabets are printed off from my computer, and I used mod podge to seal them onto the scrapbook paper

I ended up with 2 different cables because 26 letters is just too long.  The alphabets might come off later, but I'll be using these cables for something else for sure!  Hope you enjoyed this diy.  Thanks for visiting!  

To hat or not to hat

Every year, I end up buying a hat or two thinking I will definitely wear hats this year - but I always feel awkward with them on my head, and the hats go back into the corner of my closet.  This fedora, I purchased this spring, again thinking that I'll be utilizing hats more.  Well, today was the first time it saw the light of day, and I'm thinking it might go back to collect dust with the other hats I have.  I guess I'm just not used to it, but here's to hoping my collection of hats won't grow without it being used, and that they'll be seeing the light of day more often! 

The perfect little dress

May I just say, I totally scored on this cute little dress from one of my all time favorite stores, anthropologie.  The dress was originally $128 (which I would never pay for), but I got it for (drum roll) $39.99!!!  How freaking amazing is that?!  The dress is just perfect for this coming summer.  I love the pocket detail and the long slit in the back as well as the ruffled skirt below. 

Five - us

I would like to dedicate today's five to my hubby, John aka johnjohn.  Tomorrow already marks our 5th year together as a married couple, and I know deep in my heart that johnjohn tries every single day to make me as happy as any married woman can possibly be.  So, to my hubby, here's a short letter:

My dear hubby, johnjohn,

I know this may not be the most intimate way to tell you

just how much I really appreciate you since this is on the

world wide web, and everyone and their mamas have

computers and internet nowadays... but you know I'm

not very good at talking to you face to face about my

feelings so here is a letter.  Happy 5th anniversary, honey!

We've made it to year 5, and it wasn't difficult at all.

They say year 1 is hard, year 3 is bad, and so on and so forth,

but these last 5 years have been easier to me than

anything else I had to do before I met you.  I know

in my heart and soul that God has made me for you and

you for me.  We are the opposite, but the same somehow.

There are a billion reasons why I appreciate you and

love you, but I don't think I can name all of them here, so

I'll just type a few.  You love me no matter how

demanding, obsessive, and anal I am, you support

everything I do and say even though it might make no sense,

 you eat my cooking every night without complaining

(and I know I'm no Bobby Flay and some dishes are questionable),

you remind me to pray to God when things are not in my control,

and most of all, you made me the mommy to the most adorable

baby there ever was (at least to us).  Thank you for these

and so much more.  I love you so so much, and I cannot

imagine my life without you.  You're my best friend and

a wonderful daddy to our bb.  These last 5 years have been

amazing, and I can't wait to spend more fabulous years

with you.  I love you with all my heart.  -your wifey

Happy Memorial Day weekend, my fellow bloggers! 

Turkey burgers with homemade guacamole

I'm all about healthy eating when it comes to feeding my family.  I do enjoy a spurge now and then, but I try to make sure that all three of us eat healthy and clean.  So, when cooking with protein, I rarely use beef, but more poultry, pork, fish, and even tofu.  Last week, I made this turkey burger using lots of vegetables and lime juice.  They are the perfect and healthy burger for this season. 

Ingredients for the burger:

- 1lb of lean groud turkey

- 1 red bell pepper

- 1 small onion

- 2 green onions (use both white and green)

- a juice of a lime

- 1 tbsp of crushed garlic

How to:
- preheat the oven to 375 degrees
- chop the veggies into small pieces and mix them with the turkey to form 6 - 8 patties (depending on how big you make them.)
- put them into the oven for 15 minutes

- while the burgers are in the oven, grate some cheese to top (I used pepperjack and mild cheddar for bb)

- after they've been in the oven for 15 minutes, take them out and top them with cheese (the white cheese is for bb)
- place them back into the oven for about 5 minutes

Ingredients for the guacamole:
- 2 ripe avocados
- juice from 1 lime
- 1/2 tsp of garlic powder
- pinch of salt and pepper

- take the burgers out of the oven and let them rest for a bit

- top with the guacamole and whatever else you want (we just had lettuce)

- enjoy!!  :)

Polka dot planters

Here is a super easy diy/paint session!  I've seen some beautiful planter pots at home supply stores starting from $30+, and I was not about to spend that much on something I was going to leave outside!  So, I decided to make decorative pots myself.  All you have to do is paint a terracotta pot (which costs around $5), let it dry completely, and use a dot sponge to make polka dots with a different color.  These are now proudly standing outside on our front porch.  This morning, I saw a neighbor lady smiling at these while doing her morning walk.  Super simple and cute!! 

Pink and flowy

 After my very long search, I have found the most perfect maxi skirt!  This skirt has all the qualities that a summer skirt should have;  with its flowy fabric, fun bow tie, bright color, and pockets, I can see myself in this skirt all season long.  I am now done with purchasing maxi dresses/skirts for the year!  Yes, I said it!  I am done-zo!!!

Leather in TX heat!

I've been looking around online searching for cute ways to wear cropped shorts.  I found everything from colorful blazers to open knit sweaters; I thought I'd pair them with this faux leather jacket that I don't part from during the cooler seasons.  Well, it's no cooler season here in Texas.  This jacket was just for the photos, (you're welcome) and I ended up hanging it in the closet for the rest of the day.  Perhaps we'll see this outfit again 5 months later...

Five

Today, I will be revealing to you something very personal: spaces in our home!  For today's five, I'm revealing to you my favorite spaces in our own home!!  Like I shared in an earlier post, we moved into this house about a couple of years ago, and there are still much to be done.  However, these 5 spaces have had some TLC recently, and I am completely happy with (for now anyway).  Hope you'll enjoy the pictures and be inspired somehow!  Thanks for visiting and have a happy weekend, my blogging friends!! :)

 {our living/family room.  we recently purchased this rug, and we're loving it!}

 {one of bb's walls in his nursery.  we love how even his shoes can become decor}

 {Our breakfast nook... this room makes me happy... we changed the chandelier and the table recently}

 {our dining room has more of a 'traditional' feel, but I like it, esp. our photo wall - in black and white}

{the sitting area in our bedroom.  totally comfortable and stylish chairs from none other than target!}

The healthiest cookies that you'll ever eat!

If you're like me, you're on pinterest as much as you're on your own blog.  I just love that site; it has so many great ideas on everything that a stay at home mom could need.  I would like to say that the recipe for these cookies are my own because I've changed quite a lot of the ingredients from the original, but I can't take all the credit.  I found this blog on pinterest, and will probably go back to it more later. 

I'm telling you, I would let my 14 month old bb eat these for breakfast!  Super healthy, no sugar (just from the fruits), salt, egg, or butter!  I can only call these 'cookies' because they're still really delicious!  I hope you'll all give this a try!  Thanks for visiting!! :)