Our Halloween Turtle

I'm not much on the idea of Halloween but I do love all of the little kid costumes and of course Jada in her costume. We got her this turtle outfit last year but she wasn't a fan of the hat. This year she loves all of it. She even smiled for this blog post.

Petunia Pickle Bottom - I'm in love with my diaper bag

For Melissamakah (my week long birthday holiday) day 3 I got the most wonderful gift from Miles. I have been eyeing the Petunia Pickle Bottom "Cake" diaper bag even before I knew I wanted a baby. So naturally when we got pregnant that is what I wanted. Then it was just a matter of girl or boy to decide on the color. Clearly we are having a boy so then it was the question of black or brown. Does it match the baby's room or does it match the stroller? So you are probably reading this thinking to yourself how ridiculous I am and you are probably right but after a lot of back and forth I went with black. I don't want to push my black stroller with a brown diaper bag. And would I really showcase my diaper bag in the baby's room once the baby actually gets here? HA probably not. Even though the bag was a little (a lot) more than I wanted to spend or should spend I needed it! We did luck out so I told Miles this would be the perfect birthday gift (two months early). The deal was that if he bought it it had to be put up and never looked at until my birthday. IT'S ALL MINE NOW AND I AM IN LOVE!

This might be a little preview of what the baby's room looks like even though I said I wanted to wait until it was done. 

Tonight we also had dinner at Abuelo's with some pretty special friends of ours. It seems the older we all get the harder it is to get everyone together, A birthday is always a great excuse to see as many as can make it. Good mexican food, great company, a beautiful/stylish insulated bag from Ashley/Dustin, a bag full of goodies for the baby from Rob/Amie & a cookie cake with a big lady on it. I really enjoyed tonight. Thank you everyone. It really meant a lot! 

Melissamukah

When it comes to my birthday some might say I am a little spoiled by my husband. For some reason Miles has always thought that my birthday should be something extremely over the top and special. It has become not only a day of celebrating me getting another year older but a week of celebrating. Each day Miles gets me some special gift and then I get my main gift on October 15th. Those that know us have learned and joke that this week is something we like to call Melissamukah. So with the baby coming this year I set a limit and told Miles not to go overboard because stuff for Gavin was much more important to me. Did he listen? It is day 2 of the birthday holiday and NO he did NOT listen.

Day 1 - I went into a shop downtown about a month ago and fell in love with this little antique end table that matched my baby's room perfectly. At the time I didn't have my chair in and as we all know I still don't have my furniture in so I decided to pass on this great item and wait until I knew what I needed. I was on the phone with Miles while looking at this end table but he really had no idea what it looked like. So yesterday when it appeared in the garage I was shocked. It is no surprise that Miles ignored the shop owner with her idea for which one I liked and went straight to the one I had seen a month ago. Yes, we are that couple. I'm not going to share a picture of it just yet but as soon as we get the crib and dresser I will get things in place and show off the end result. Week 16 of my furniture order being placed and still nothing. I would not recommend getting furniture at the Baby's Room in Rogers unless you order it the second you think you might want to get pregnant. Sorry for the side rant.

Day 2 - I got home from my nephews soccer practice and  Miles was showing me how to use the new baby monitor and he had this set up in the baby's room in front of the monitor. I got the sweetest ring from David Adams Jewelers that has Gavin Witt on it. I'm in love with this baby and he isn't even here. The best part about this gift is it was made to fit my right hand but since my fingers are swollen and FAT and my wedding ring won't fit right now I have this one to wear instead.

Other Events:
Miles had another client (Callie Summers) send him home with a baby gift after a photo shoot he did. 3 baby Einstein books, a snack pod, a bathtub corner cubby, a colorful rattle & the most precious book called Belly Button Book! I read the whole thing to Miles and got excited about reading it to Gavin soon. Thank you Callie!!!

Week 33

I feel like all Miles and I do anymore is either 1. work or 2. think about this precious baby that will be joining this world in seven weeks. Although work is necessary, the baby is way more exciting. I am not someone that likes uncertainty of any kind. So when we found out we were having a baby and then having a baby boy the lists immediately started developing so that maybe I could wrap my arms around what is about to happen. I mean nine months should be a long time right??? WRONG. And the idea of making a list to plan for a new addition to our family was unrealistic. People say that until you become a parent you really have no idea what you are up for and that is so true. We don't know what we are doing and still with all of that uncertainty I am beyond excited for what is to come. I am so far out of my comfort  zone right now and still have a peace about it all knowing that Miles is going to be right here and this is OUR adventure. Plus with a name like GAVIN WITT this is bound to be a cool kid :) 

Now that that is out of the way here is an update one what we have done and what I will start stressing over soon. The baby's room is no longer a guest room which my sweet husband has to kindly remind me of every time I call it that. We didn't have to paint the room because after two years of being in this house I still like the color and it matches the fabric I picked out perfectly. We got our chair in last week and it is the most amazing chair I have ever sat in. I had a vision for the chair that I wanted and now that it is in it is everything I had envisioned. I sometimes go in that room and sit in my chair and think about having a baby soon to rock to sleep. Miles and I also found the perfect curtains for our bay windows. While he was at a wedding I went out and bought some curtain rods and decided I was going to waddle up a ladder and hang them myself. Then after learning that I was not strong enough to screw in the screws I waddled back down the ladder and let Miles put them up the next day. My mother as you know agreed to make the bedding and just this past weekend got them almost all the way done. I was a little worried about the fabric I picked out but she did such a good job and they are better than I expected and even wanted. I thought about putting up some teasers of the room but then decided the final product would be better. The only thing holding me up right now is the Baby's Room (the store). My furniture has taken about 14 weeks at this point to come in and still nothing. A little annoyed to say the least but they promised us it shipped yesterday. 

We had our first baby shower last weekend. The girls really made us feel special and I fully plan on creating a blog post soon for that fun day. We got so many things for Gavin. Last night we got in our Chicco pack and play. It was quite the adventure watching Miles drag that thing out. Who knew you could have that much goodness in one box. Tonight we got a package from his parents and it had our video monitor in it. YIPPIE!!! Another toy for us to get out, play with & hope we don't break before the baby gets here. Here are a few pics we took below as well as a few fun gifts we have gotten that are practical and we have no idea how to use them. FUN STUFF! 

                              Miles had a client surprise us with these baby TOMS. I'm in love. Thank you Lisa!!!

      I found this little camera onesie online and as cheesy as it is had to get it for Miles. Gavins first camera around his neck. 

Chicco Playard - Graphica

                                    My sister got us this Chicco 360. Pretty sweet contraption :) 

                                                                   Summer Infant Video Monitor 

29 Weeks

This Thursday will be the start of week 31 of my pregnancy. At 29 weeks (on our 2 year wedding anniversary) Miles asked if he could take some maternity pictures of me. If you know me you know I do NOT like pictures of myself. After a near meltdown in the dressing room while trying to find an outfit I gave in because it is important for us to remember what it is like to have a sweet baby boy growing inside of me. Every time he moves it just blows me away that all of this is possible. I don't love being pregnant but I sure am excited to meet Gavin in 9.5 weeks. If you don't like my big belly don't scroll down :) 

Vintage Shower & Sweet Harper Grace

Kim - Joe - Cade - Harper

A while back (a long while back) I hosted a baby shower for my sister. As you are starting to notice I do not like traditional "baby" stuff. So when I found out I was having a niece it made planning the shower that much more fun. Little girls are EASY. My one request from my sis was I don't want a lot of pink. Clearly she wasn't interested in traditional either. I personally LOVE pink but went with the next best thing PURPLE mixed with a touch of mossy green and gold. Some of the stuff I used was new and some was stuff that I found around the house that just worked.

Invitations:
I couldn't do store bought invites for this shower (not that there is anything wrong with store bought invites). There was just nothing that was PERFECT. I had my mind made up what I "NEEDED" so my husband helped bring my idea to life. We sat down and this is what we came up with. It fit my theme just the way I envisioned it.

On the Menu:
I wanted to keep this fairly simple but still appear very fresh. This was toward the beginning of my pregnancy so energy was something I was lacking and food was starting to become a burden. I don't think I even at one of the cupcakes that I made for this shower and don't think I have made a batch since (even though I heard they were tasty).

• Chicken Salad Crescent Sandwiches
• Fresh Fruit Cups
• Cupcakes (of course)
• Veggies
• Chocolate
• Purple Punch

Decor:

• Cupcake Holder (decorative tree found at OOPS that just happened to be perfect for cupcakes)
• Metal Serving Tray and Utensil Holder from POTTERY BARN
• Glass Beverage Dispenser (Bed Bath & Beyond)
• Wooden Boxes (repurposed from a gift that was sent to us)
• Glass Canisters 
• Small Canning Jars (Walmart) with customized labels (created by Miles)
• Tulle & Ribbon (Hobby Lobby)
• Birdcage, Eggs, Paint & Moss (Hobby Lobby)
• Utensils, Napkins & Plates
• Harper Banner (homemade craft)
• Diaper Cake (one of the other hostesses graciously offered to make this)

The Gifts: 

• Petunia Pickle Bottom Diaper Bag (my favorite diaper bag company)
• Tutu Outfit with Matching Ruffle Socks (The Baby's Room)
• I Love My Auntie Onesie 
• Legging with Bling on the Bottom (Three Monkeys) with a matching headband

                     Me -- Kim -- Mom -- Grandma -- Aunt B -- Kerry -- Lindsay

Here are a few shots my husband and I have taken of sweet Harper Grace so that you get the entire picture of why this shower had to be so girly and custom. We just love this precious girl!

WE HAVE A NAME

With three months and twenty days to go it is all starting to sink in. MILES AND I ARE HAVING A BABY!  As you know we were pretty secretive with the whole name process. We really wanted that to be something that was just us and then make people love it once we KNEW. I went through the 100,000 name book, the unique name book and the massive web search all the while keeping a running list of prospects. If both Miles and I didn't love the name it did not make the list :)  With that said, we know! Baby B will be named  Gavin Witt Boyer. Gavin because we love it. Witt because it is Miles middle name and a big part of the business we have worked to build. Boyer because that is what we are. I hope you all love it as much as we do. If you don't just keep it to yourself because it isn't going away (hahaha).

If the name wasn't more excitement than you could take here is what I have been doing lately. SHOPPING! Not shopping for little boy clothes but shopping for little man Gavins wardrobe. As you can see he is going to look a lot like his daddy! I just got a gap package in the mail today which are not shown above but trust me they are pretty stinking cute. Lindsey & Matt Lovelady got G his very first pair of Sperry's (top left). How cute are those??? Thanks again guys. We have received several other fun gifts that aren't shown above but trust me they are all adorable!!! The little lion was something I had been eyeing prior to getting pregnant and then it just so happened that it matches a portion of the fabric for the bedding my mom and I will be making. WE WILL HAVE TONS OF PICTURES TO COME AS THINGS KEEP MOVING ALONG.

As I'm sure you can tell my husband created this entire blog post for me (at least the picture part of it). I don't typically like photos of myself but I have had several requests for "bump" pictures. I am still a little hesitant about my growing belly being the center of attention. It just isn't natural. The first photo was taken in June while we were in Rhode Island. As you can see I was hardly showing if you can even tell. The second photo was taken in Alabama. Still not showing very much but getting there. The last set of photos were taking last minute on the side of the road on our way to Cade's birthday party. 

Aside from choosing a name, shopping and growing we have of course been keeping busy. I have made several passes at my own closet trying to make room for my "big girl" clothes. If you can get enough energy to actually clean it out, the best time is when you are preggo. Nothing little and cute is appealing at all and goes to the helping hands pile :) Gavin has been kicking and rolling for weeks now. He even kicked the dog the other day. It was pretty neat the first time Miles felt it. This little boy is strong. I am still sleeping good between bathroom breaks at night. I am LOVING food! I am HATING heat which is reflected by our high bill this month. I'm not sure what else to say besides I am loving the thought of meeting Gavin SOON! Check back soon because we have our 3D/4D ultrasound on the 18th!

Baby B Makes Three

Half way there!  Awhile back Miles and I found out that we were having a baby. Yes, it was planned but not expected so soon! It was a "hey Miles guess what" kind of moment followed by a "WOW" followed by an "is that a good wow or a bad wow" from me :)

The FIRST TRIMESTER was tough. I know everyone always told me how tired I would be and how food just wasn't the same, but I think I always just thought to myself "It couldn't be that bad". Well let me just tell you how it really has been for me and why my blog has been neglected.

Nausea -

• From the time I woke up until I went to bed I felt like I could throw up. Luckily I never did. 
• Brushing my teeth in the morning and sometimes at night made me gag. 
• After the first month I learned to despise chicken (which WAS my food of choice most nights of the week prior to being preggo), Cheeto Puffs and Mac & Cheese. I still will not eat any of them even at week 20.
• Sometime it got so bad that Miles would have to hide his food or eat in the other room because the thought of him eating it would make me want to throw up. 
• Disliking food led to not cooking which is why there have been no blog posts in a while. If I cooked it I wouldn't eat it. 
• AND THE WORST: not being able to tell the people at work that the smell of the food they are heating in the kitchen makes you want to run out the front door

Sleep - 

• All I wanted to do was sleep. At work I wanted to sleep, when I got home I wanted to sleep and then when night came I could not sleep. Vicious cycle!

Tears - 

• I have to admit, I haven't been the crazy basket case that apparently some people become. Miles says I have actually been pretty easy to deal with. BUT that is not to say I haven't had a few random moments where I cry in a movie that I would normally not be affected by or have a minor melt down because OMG I AM HAVING A BABY!!! 

With all of the above you also have to somehow put on a smile and act like you are 100% because you can't tell anyone the good news or why you feel terrible. 

People said "Don't worry, the SECOND TRIMESTER will be better". When the second trimester came and I still felt like crap I began to lose hope that I would ever be normal again. BUT I did! Finally I feel like a human again. Lazy just isn't my thing and it was starting to get the best of me. Now the Nausea is for the most part under control but then you step into a whole new set of issues. 

Weight Gain - 

• I don't know about you but I am pretty consistent with my weight. I have pretty much always been about the same size. As I get further along in the second trimester my baby gets bigger and bigger. Example: right now I am growing a baby inside of me that is the size of a cantaloupe. OMG I AM HAVING A BABY!!! So naturally as the baby grows into larger fruit and veggies, I am growing into sizes that are unfamiliar to me. NOT MY FAVORITE! 
• Not only does your belly grow, but other parts of your body start to grow...

Clothing - 

• During the first trimester it was cute that I had to unbutton my pants when I sat down. Now that I am in the second it isn't so cute that I can't button or zip my pants. Which leads to my second bullet...
• Maternity clothes...UGH! Do they even make cute maternity clothes around here? I feel like I am wearing a body suit when I put on a pair of those pants with the elastic waist that goes up to my boobs. They are comfortable though :) 
• Dresses are my new best friend! 

Potty Breaks - 

• Lets just say I get up anywhere between 3-5 times a night...
• How do you get any work done when you are expected to drink that much water???

Out of Breath - 

• Walking across the house can wear you out depending on the day. Maybe a slight exaggeration but still it is pretty bad.

Sleep - 

• The more pillows the better! 

Now for the fun part of the second trimester: IT'S A BOY!!!! ISN'T HE CUTE????

We finally had our first ultra sound and found out the gender of baby b! The switch from baby/it to a he/boy is a real eye opener. So what's to come????

Baby Furniture -

• We found the perfect crib, dresser & hutch at the Baby's Room in Rogers, AR. My parents graciously offered to buy them for us. I will have pictures to share in about 10 weeks when it all comes in. 

Baby Bedding - 

• TOUGH TOUGH TOUGH
• If I were having a girl I could decorate 10 nurseries but since I am having a boy it has been a little bit of a challenge. All of the pre made bedding is less than thrilling. SOO...we have picked out fabric to have it made. I just need to make sure it goes with my furniture before we begin. Pictures to come as we make progress. 

Names - 

• Names are HARD! Your child has to live with this for the rest of their life and it is all your fault if you pick a bad one :) Needless to say we don't have a definite name yet but several prospects. NO I WILL NOT SHARE UNTIL IT IS PICKED AND DEFINITE. 
• If you throw out names before it is decided people pick them apart. 

Baby Clothes - 

• Let the shopping begin! 
• I want my baby boy to look like a little man not like a baby blue mess :) Personal preference for sure. 

Well that is a brief look into what pregnancy has been like for me so far. I'm sure nobody cares but it is nice to have it written down somewhere to look back on one day. 

Chocolate and Peanut Butter Pie

Miles and I typically have very different interests when it comes to sweets. Not that we don't love all sweets but when you have to pick sides Miles loves brownies and most of the time stuff with fruit on it. I on the other hand LOVE ice cream, cookies, cupcakes. Really anything with chocolate in or on it. BUT there is one thing we both agree on and it is peanut butter! I found a Chocolate and Peanut Butter Pie recipe that is a must try. WARNING...it is super rich!!!!

Recipe:
1 Ready made chocolate pie crust (I have the homemade crust recipe if you really want it but the store was out of chocolate wafers when I went to make this)
1- 8 oz package cream cheese, cut up
3/4 cup peanut butter - CREAMY
1 cup sifted powdered sugar
2 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup whipping cream (NOT whipped cream) - it comes in a carton in the milk section
2 tsp sifted powdered sugar
3/4 cup miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips

Step 1: For filling, beat cream cheese and peanut butter till smooth. Add the 1 cup powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla; beat until combined.

Step 2: In a chilled mixing bowl beat whipping cream and the 2 tbsp powdered sugar until soft peaks form. Gently fold about 1/3 of the whipped cream into the peanut butter mixture. Fold remaining whipped cream and miniature chocolate chips into peanut butter mixture. Spoon into crust. Cover and chill for about 2 hours (I leave mine in over night).

Creamy Chicken Bake with Mashed Potato Casserole

A while back we had the pleasure of hosting dinner for some of our favorite people and kids (Kim, Cade, Ashley, Dustin, and Cameron). Except for the plate of food on the floor because of my nephew, dinner was a success. Cade even got to hold his first baby. I have since made this dinner for the Kenyon's so that I could spend a little time with their new baby Joel. The best part is you can make the potatoes the night before and bake the day of. I served a peanut butter pie with dinner but that post will come later :)

Creamy Chicken Bake

Recipe:
6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 to 2 cans of cream of chicken soup (it calls for cream of broccoli but that just didn't sound good to me)
1/3 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 jar of sliced mushrooms (I did not use this time because my husband hates mushrooms)
1/4 cup grated marmesan cheese
1/4 cup dry bread crumbs (I use about double that because I like my chicken crispy)
2 tbsp butter, melted

Step 1: Place the chicken into a shallow baking dish. Stir the soup, milk, garlic powder and mushrooms (if used) in a medium bowl. Spoon the soup mixture over the chicken.

Step 2: Stir the cheese, bread crumbs and butter in a small bowl. Sprinkle cheese mixture over the soup mixture.

Step 3. Bake at 400 for 30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. I baked mine for an hour!!!!

Mashed Potato Casserole

Recipe:
6 medium baking potatoes such as russet
1/3 cup sliced green onion - I did not use
1 or 2 cloves of garlic, minced
2 tbsp butter
1- 8 oz carton of sour cream (I use light)
4 to 5 tbsp milk - this was not enough for me but I kept adding milk until it was the way I like it
Parsley to taste or Chives

Step 1: Grease 1 1/2 qt casserole; set aside. Peel potatoes. Quarter potatoes. Cook, covered, in boiling water for 20 to 25 minutes or until tender; drain.

Step 2: Meanwhile, in a small skillet cook the green onions and garlic in the butter until tender. Mash and drain the potatoes (LOVE LOVE LOVE my Kitchenaid mixer). Add in the onion mixture, sour cream, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper. Gradually beat in enough milk to make smooth and fluffy. Transfer to prepared casserole. Cover and chill up to 24 hours.

Step 3: To serve, bake, uncovered in a 350 oven for 45 minutes or until heated through. If desired sprinkle with parsley.

Note: I put the chives in during step two.

Recipes came from my Better Homes and Garden cookbook

Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup

I don't normally cook with rotisserie chickens because I hate dealing with meat on bones but here is a super easy recipe for a creamy chicken noodle soup I stumbled upon in my Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade cookbook. I kind of feel like I am cheating when I cook like this but lets face it, we don't always have tons of time to cook from scratch. Plus this provided me with excellent lunches for work.

Note: I made this when it was still cold outside :)

Recipe:
1 store-bought roasted chicken
1 cup diced celery
1 cup dice carrots
4 cans (14 oz each) chicken broth
2 cans (10 3/4 oz each) condensed cream of mushroom soup
2 tsp fine herbs (blend of chervil, chives, parsley, and tarragon)
2 cups egg noodles, cooked

Step 1: Remove the skin and bones from the chicken. Shred. In a crock pot, place chicken, celery, and carrots. Stir in broth, sou, and herbs. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Step 2: Cover and cook on high heat for 3 to 4 hours or low heat for 8 to 9 hours (I of course did 4 because I refuse to leave my crock pot going when I am not home)

Step 3: When soup is done, stir in cooked egg noodles and heat.

Headband & Tutu for Harper

May 12! That is the day that my sweet niece Harper Grace Phillips is going to be born. Since this is the first baby girl in my side of the family, I have had a hard time keeping myself from going overboard with the gifts. Ok...I did go overboard but who is counting :) I made a beautiful tower of gifts for the shower we hosted at my house (photos to come in a later blog). There was no way I was pulling a gift from that for her "work" shower. SOOO I decided I would make something in the spirit of being a new crafter. Every little girl NEEDS tons of cute bows and headbands! It is just necessary. So I figured out how to make rosette flowers and crafted a headband. No headband is complete without a matching tutu. So I crafted one of those too! Check out the end result!

Chicken Penne Florentine

Miles and I had a busy weekend with a birthday party, engagement, baby shower, and BABY JOEL being born.  Needless to say I have been neglecting my blog. When I got home from work it was time to break open the cookbook again (really just a printed out recipe from a site called myrecipes.com). Miles had two new client meetings today so it was a great opportunity for me to have dinner ready when he got home from those. 


ON THE MENU TONIGHT: Chicken Penne Florentine - Green Beans - Fruit Salad

Chicken Penne Florentine Recipe

• 1tsp olive oil
• 3 cups thinly sliced mushrooms (which I did not get to use because Miles hates mushrooms)
• 1 cup chopped red bell pepper
• 3 cups chopped fresh spinach
• 1tbsp chopped fresh oregano 
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1 (16oz) carton 2% low-fat cottage cheese
• 4 cups hot cooked penne (I used whole wheat penne)
• 2 cups chicken
• 1 cup shredded reduced fat sharp cheddar, divided
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese divided
• 1/2 cup milk (it calls for 2% but I used skim b/c that is all we buy)
• 1 can reduced fat cream of chicken soup

• Preheat oven to 425
• Heat olive oil in a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and bell pepper; sauté 4 minutes or until tender. Add spinach, oregano, and black pepper; sauté 3 minutes or just until spinach wilts.
• Place cottage cheese in a food processor; process until very smooth. Combine spinach mixture, cottage cheese, pasta, chicken, 3/4 cup cheddar cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, milk, and soup in a large bowl. Spoon mixture into a 2-quart baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup cheddar cheese and remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Bake at 425° for 25 minutes or until lightly browned and bubbly.

Chicken Enchiladas - Marbled Cream Cheese Squares - Best Friends

Chicken Enchiladas

We have declared Monday nights as the Post/Boyer dinner night. It seems like there is just never enough time in the week so instead of never seeing our best friends we came up with an excuse to see them once a week. One Monday at our house with me cooking the next at theirs with Ashley cooking. We always make sure the food in yummy because Miles, Ashley, Dustin, Cameron (the baby), and myself watch the Bachelor afterwords. If you bring food you can always talk your husband into watching a show that he claims he hated but really truly enjoys. Week before last I decided Chicken Enchiladas sounded good. These aren't like normal enchiladas. They are closer to baked burritos but delicious none the less. Since I have to cook after work I always try to plan ahead so that it is either almost done (chicken cooked the night before) or easy enough to cook in an hour or less. I served black beans and basmati rice with this dish. 

RECIPE: 

• Chicken Breasts (I used approximately 4-5) - I cook mine on the stove for about 45 minutes in boiling water and then shred by hand while they are still hot
• 1-10 oz can of cream of mushroom soup - I used reduced fat cream of chicken instead because of one picky girl - not mentioning names :) 
• 1/4 cup chopped green chili 
• 8 oz sour cream 
• Tortillas
• 1 cup shredded jack cheese 
• 1 cup cheddar

Preheat the oven to 350. Combine chicken, soup, chili, and sour cream in a bowl. Mix well. Spread mixture into the center of the tortillas. Roll up to enclose filling. Arrange in a greased baking pan. Sprinkle with cheese. I sprinkled cilantro on top for extra seasoning. Bake 30 minutes. 

*I added cheese inside the soup mixture before I filled the tortillas but that is just my preference.

I just had to share of picture of Cameron Allen Post (above)!  Isn't he a doll????

Marbled Cream Cheese Squares

No Post/Boyer night is complete without a desert! This is obviously made the night before as well (hence the pony tail and workout apparel). I know I know...work out clothes while making rich brownies. That is so ME! They were a lot of work but turned out to be INCREDIBLE if I must say so myself. 

RECIPE:

Cream Cheese Mixture:

• 1 cup cream cheese softened
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoon finely grated orange zest (if you don't know how to zest go to bed bath and beyond and get a zester)
• 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice (I bought 2 medium sized oranges to do this)
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1 large egg

Chocolate Mixture:

• 8 oz dark chocolate, chopped
• 1/4 cup cold butter
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten with 2 tablespoons of cold water
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

Preheat the oven to 350. Butter a 9" baking pan. Beat the cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer (AGAIN, LOVE MY KITCHENAID MIXER) at high speed until creamy. Beat in orange zest and juice and cornstarch. Add the egg, beating until just blended. 

Chocolate Mixture: Melt the chocolate and butter in a double boiler over barely simmering water. Set aside to cool. Stir in the sugar and vanilla. Add the beaten egg mixture, followed by the flour. Pour the chocolate mixture into the prepared pan. Drop tablespoons of the cream cheese mixture over the chocolate base. Use a thin metal spatula to swirl the mixture together to create a marbled effect. 

Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until slightly risen around the edges and set in the center. Cool completely in the pan before cutting into the squares. 

*I stored mine in the refrigerator overnight. 

MY FAVORITES: KitchenAid & Williams Sonoma

Normally I blog about the things I cook or craft. Today I decided to tell you about a few of my FAVORITE things to use in my kitchen.

1. KitchenAid Stand Mixer (kitchenaid.com)
On my wedding day everything was absolutely perfect. Since we are wedding photographers we see a lot of gifts from the groom to the bride the day of. The most popular gift choices are jewelry, bibles, sweet handwritten notes. You know the mushy gushy stuff. My husband to be decided to do things a little differently. If you know Miles and I at all you already understand that abnormal is our style. So when they brought in my gift to open from Miles it was a little bigger than I had expected. If you were in the room with me that day you would have known by the look on my face that the KitchenAid mixer I received from Miles was PERFECT! He knew that I had always wanted one and did not get it at any of my showers. Most women would probably be angry that they received an appliance but NOT ME! Any men reading this blog take note...you cannot go wrong with a KitchenAid mixer. Do NOT go the cheap route because it will not be the same. I use my mixer every single week and am truly in LOVE!

2. Williams Sonoma Mixing Bowls and Cups (williams-sonoma.com)
As nerdy as this sounds the other main kitchen gift I had been talking about long before the big day was even in the picture was the Williams-Sonoma mixing bowls. Something about a good mixing bowl just makes baking that much better. One of my best friends knew this about me and for my wedding gift got me  my set of 3 porcelain mixing bowls. These are no ordinary mixing bowls. They are heavy duty with pour spouts and handles. Sadly when I went to write this post, they no longer carry this item. Then for my birthday last year she surprised me with something I didn't even know existed. THE MATCHING MEASURING CUPS (also not available anymore). Ashley Post, if you are reading this, you are the BEST!

What are your favorite Kitchen items???

Cookies with Cade

I got home from work today to be greeted by my sweet little nephew Cade sitting in my dogs crate eating a banana Laffy Taffy. Of course we did NOT put him in there, but every time he comes over we just can't keep him away from it. :) Kim (my sis) needed my husbands help with some invitations so I of course took advantage of having a little time to myself with Cade. I decided it was time to introduce him to the world of baking. What better way to start than Outrageous Chocolate Chip Cookies. These are a family favorite probably because they have every great cookie in one (Nestlé Milk Chocolate Chips, peanut butter, oatmeal, brown/white sugar). Cade had me drag over a chair and we went to work. His sweet little hands made me a nervous reck with my favorite William Sonoma measuring cups but we made it work. Just like his Aunt Missy, his favorite part was the KitchenAid mixer. While the dough was chilling in the refrigerator we paused for some dinner. With Cade in the house it was the perfect night for some Kraft Mac & Cheese and Fish Sticks. After dinner Uncle Miles played with cade ON THE REFRIGERATOR and Kim entertained Jada while I put the cookies on to bake. Warm Cookies and Milk topped of the eventful night with the Phillips.

 I LOVE MY NEPHEW and can't wait to meet my niece Harper Grace in May. 

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins

Taco night at the Boyer's house. It seems like when I don't have time to pull a complete dinner together tacos always seem to be a good dinner to fall back on. The good thing about that is my husband could eat tacos, burritos, quesadillas (you get the picture) EVERY single night of the week if I would let him.

Miles mentioned after dinner that I haven't blogged in a few days so I decided to whip up a new muffin recipe. I LOVE LOVE LOVE packaged muffins. I know that seems like a strange thing for someone that finds great joy in baking but they just taste so yummy. For my first attempt at homemade muffins I went with and EASY recipe from my Better Homes and Gardens recipe book. They were pretty good but could have used a little more sugar (keep in mind that since I love the packaged muffins, the sweeter the better). None of the recipes in this book had chocolate in them so I had to improvise a bit but here is what I ended up with



                                       OATMEAL CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS

Muffins:
1 1/3 cup flour
3/4 cup oats
1/3 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg, beaten
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup cooking oil

1. Preheat oven to 400. Combine flour, oats, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and set aside

2. In another small bowl combine egg, milk, and oil. Add egg mixture all at once to the flour mixture. Stir just until moistened (batter is still lumpy)

3. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups (2/3 full).

4. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown

Yesterday Miles and I celebrated our second Valentine's Day as a married couple. We had a wonderful dinner at Bordino's (drinks, calamari, pasta, desert). I couldn't be more in love! As much as I love going out to eat with my hubby, I REALLY love cooking him dinner. So tonight after we took Miss Jada for a walk I decided to make something new. I found a few great recipes and dinner is served.

ON THE MENU

Crispy Baked Cod

Roasted Tomatoes with Garlic and Herbs

Basmati Rice with Edamame 

Raspberry Lemonade

Crispy Baked Cod Recipe

• 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 clove garlic (I used the polaner chopped garlic)
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs (I chose to use the Italian bread crumbs)
• 2 Tbsp minced fresh parsley
• 1 tsp finely grated lemon zest - I am new to using my lemon zester but think it is fantastic
• 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 Tbsp reduced fat mayo 
• 4 skinless cod fillets, about 6 oz each
• Salt

1.  Preheat the oven to 350. In a small skillet over medium low heat, melt butter. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add bread crumb, stir to coat with butter, then cook, stirring frequently, until light golden brown, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in parsley and lemon zest. Let cool. Combine mustard and mayo in a small bowl. 
2.  Rinse fish and pat dry. Sprinkle each fillet lightly with salt, then place on a rimmed, foil-lined baking sheet and brush with mustard mixture. Press 1/4 of crumbs onto each fillet
3. Transfer baking sheet to oven and bake until until fish is no longer translucent and flakes easily, 10 - 15 minutes ( I cook EVERYTHING about 5 minutes longer than it recommends). 

                **I got this recipe from an old issue of all you magazine**

After dinner it was time to make desert for community group tomorrow...OUTRAGEOUS CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES!!! 

Joe's Birthday - More Cupcakes

Due to my recent interest in baking anything that starts with a cup and ends with a cake, my sister asked if I would make cupcakes for Joe (my brother-in-law) for his birthday party. The list started out pretty simple and then she added in all the kids. Of course I told her I would but Joe really loves boring yellow box cakes with simple chocolate icing. So I decided to take a yellow cake recipe I found in one of my cookbooks and then jazz them up with a chocolate butter cream icing.

I had spent the whole day with my sister registering for my new little niece that will be here in May so by the time we finished that and I bought everything at the store I was a little rushed on time to make the party. Then when I got home from the store I realized that I was almost out of flower. Miles to the rescue. While I got things moving he ran to the store and came home with not one but two big bags of flour. Anyone who knows Miles is probably laughing because that is such a Miles move. A few weeks back he went to the store to buy a printer cartridge and came home with a new printer because he saved money. Anyway back to cupcakes...So I successfully whipped up 36 yellow cake cupcakes, iced them all, and made it out the door in about an hour and fifteen minutes! They were delicious. If you don't believe me take a look at Cade chowing down!!!

**Sifting 2 pounds of powdered sugar when you are in a hurry is not a fun task. Miles was really excited to help so he had to be in the post this week! Jada of course helped clean up anything that hit the floor.

Bring On The Babies (diaper cake)

So my friends have officially passed the wedding stage of life and are moving into the baby stage. I couldn't be more excited for each and every one of them. With babies comes baby showers and with baby showers comes NEW CREATIVE OPPORTUNITIES!

I love making diaper cakes. What I don't love is traditional diaper cakes. So when asked to make a "Large" diaper cake for a Cardinal Baseball themed baby shower here is what I ended up with. Each layer of the cake is actually two layers of rolled diapers. I just hate lumpy cakes so I had to find a way to make it smooth like a real cake. Then to bring in the theme a little more I chose cardinal (bird) ornaments, tulle, and ribbons from hobbylobby.com. To make it a little more personal, I painted the JOEL letters to add to the front.  Throw in a little tissue paper, hot glue, and baby accessories and here is what you get. I just can't wait for the Kenyon baby to get here in March.

Peanut Butter Surprise Cupcakes & Furniture Shopping - Just Another Saturday

After all of the snow we had this week, Miles and I were both READY to get out of the house for the day. Before we made it out Miles cleaned the house for me! That's right...my amazing husband cleaned. I was busy working on some details for my sisters baby shower. I KNOW I KNOW, the shower isn't until April. But if you haven't heard IT IS A GIRL and I couldn't be more excited. May have gone a little overboard buying gifts for her already.

Our first stop of the day was Kennedy Coffee. I had a carminilla and Miles had a mint mocha. They have the most wonderful chocolate whip cream. Most of the rest of the day was spend furniture store hopping. We went in looking for a coffee table and left with an ottoman for our living room and a whole new set of office furniture for Miles. We had put off revamping the office but decided it was time. His poor college desk just wasn't going to make it much longer and the chair he so loved was just falling apart. SO in a few weeks we will get it all in and I will post our new finds!


With the superbowl tomorrow I felt it was necessary to make cupcakes for the big game. There is nothing worse than showing up to someone's house with nothing, even if they tell you not to bring anything. I decided to combine a few recipes and ended up with a homemade peanut butter surprise cupcake with creamy peanut butter icing. The BEST part is the Reeces cup baked in the center. Even Chloe (the cat) showed her interest in cooking tonight. Enjoy the photos! They were delicious!!!!

SNOW DAY

We woke up this morning to LOTS of ice and snow. Of course neither Miles or I took the day off to enjoy the beautiful snow, but we did manage to sneak in a 15 minute lunch break to play with the dog in the backyard. Jada absolutely loves the snow. She loves to run laps, jump, and eat the snow. Basically she just goes CRAZY! Here are some fun pictures we took of our play date which later turned into a photoshop lesson from Miles on how I can arrange my photos for my new blog. SUCCESS. My first photoshop collage.

My New Blog

My husband Miles always gets to create fun little posts that show what he is good at (which is photography). SO I decided that it was time for me to have a blog. Nothing too serious, but just fun day to day life with the Boyer's. This way I can show everyone my new hobbies I take on every week.{COOKING} and {CRAFTING} keep me sane while my husband works so much.  This gives me an outlet to have a little extra fun with all of my projects and share them with you! For my first post I am going to show off the delicious cupcakes I made today as well as our dinner date night meal.  Homemade Vanilla Cupcakes with a Butter Cream Cheese Icing and Chicken Salsa Verde Tostadas ENJOY!