What A Crock!

Can we all just freeze for a minute to talk about how wonderful freezer meals are?

Now, some may call me crazy but in order to understand my train of thought I must start from the beginning.

The Bone & I just bought a house in September of 2012.  I've never had to actually grocery shop like a grown up before and stock a kitchen- trust me, it's not for the feign of heart.

After acting like we were in college & stocking up on what we consider "staples" (Nutella & Ramen Noodles)- we looked at each other & decided that we can't keep eating this way- weight & health wise.  (Not gonna lie- it was fun while it lasted!)

After my obssession with Pintrest grew more & more, I came across the wonder of freezer meals.  The Bone & I love to eat and comfort food is our ultimate favorite.  Between crazy work hours and late night eating, freezer meals became the perfect solution.  Besides, all that fresh produce we bought can actually last loads longer than we thought!

I came across great blogs that explained how it worked and we decided to try just a couple of what we thought would taste good.  One particular blog provided a shopping list & recipes: all the fixin's for my first  
   freezer meal E XTRAVAGANZAAA!!!

 

My first go at it was with a recipe The Bone & I both were interested in: Chicken & Dumplings.

 

 

INGREDIENTS:

3 Medium Size Chicken Breasts

2 Cans Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup

2 Medium Golden Potatoes

1/4 cup Peas

1/2 Cup Diced Onion

1 TB Parsley

2 TB Butter

Enough Water to Cover Ingredients

1 Can of Biscuits

 

DIRECTIONS:

Place Chicken in crock pot..

2 Cans of Cream of Chicken Soup

Then remaining ingredients: potates, peas, onions, parsley, butter

Cover with water

Put lid on..and put on high for 4 hours.

Break up the uncooked biscuits into fours & drop in crock pot & stir around (I shredded the chicken using 2 forks at this point).

 

Cook them for 30 minutes..

 

 

It will panic you for a split second after 4 hours because it looks super soupy but trust once you put those biscuits in they will soop up the liquid & make it a hearty stew-like meal.

 

 

Excuse the lighting, I'm playing with the settings on my camera.

 

 

 

AND gone!  In a matter of minutes....like the tiki themed napkin?  My grandmother bought me a napkin holder with these napkins in it...fun theme for when outside looks like this:

 

Welcome to New York in February! 

Crock Pots & Snow Storms!

 

Live Happy!

ntb

Netflix Throwback!!

As much as I try to be a grown up, especially now owning a house, but sometimes when the weather is snowy & cold- I cozy up to my newest love...my Roku.

For those who are not aware, a Roku is an amazing little device that those with wireless internet can subscribe to Netflix or any other internet based entertainment channels. It's so small that you are able to transport it to any TV you have!  It comes with a really small remote that is lighter than air- but be careful because if you are like me you'll be losing it in your sheets!  My Roku remote has a button for Netflix & Pandora...that's right- Pandora Internet Radio right through my TV!!! So addicted to this device! (No, I am not endorsed by this company- I just love it!)

 I have Netflix & Amazon Prime (at least my amazon.com obssession has paid off!).  With Amazon Prime I have access to FREE television shows & movies...that's right FREE!  It works the same as Netflix without the subscription & monthly fee.  All you need to login is your amazon.com account.  Of course you can always search for something and if it's not offered in Prime you can always purchase or rent. 

Through my journeys of internet TV I have become reacquainted with some of my FAVORITE television shows from way back when...specifically speaking: Dawson's Creek.

 

There is nothing better than reliving your youth (& awkward adolescence) with the visual love of the Creek Kids.

For 'ol times sake, let's take a step back in time to remember some of the best moments of DC- starting with...

 

When Joey sang "On My Own" from Les Miserables- every girl in my grade knew the lyrics by homeroom the next morning.  It was the "I have a best guy friend I'm in love with but he's doesn't know" anthem...and trust me, if you didn't have a "best guy friend" you found one just to sing that song.

 

Then of course, the end of season 1 has a grand finale kiss that made watching this whole agonizing season worth it- Joey and Dawson are finally together, the world is now right.

 

Years later and season after season of Pacey vs. Dawson- the creators did a wonderful thing by providing loyal viewers with a series finale that all other series finales will be compared to- we know exactly what happens in the end.  No questions.

 

My favorite scene from the finale (No spoilers here):

 

 

I have a point to make...I promise.

 

After doing a little comparing of television shows for teens today, I can't help but notice how provocative they are!

There are shows that provide very different examples of life to the youth of today rather than what I grew up with.

 

For example, in Dawson's Creek, watching it now at 27 I can label it cheesy but in a different way.  The way they speak is so mature for their age and some situations they find themselves are unbelieveable...literally not believable.

 

On the other hand, the way that the guys treat girls are completely different than the movies & tv shows out there now.

 

Dawson didn't just fall for Jen because she was the new mysterious girl and he wanted to see what he could get out of her- he wooed her, tried to romance her.

 

Pacey is the ultimate- no television character to date is as romantic, honest & outright charming as Pacey.

 

Let me provide the best example:

 

 

That's the kind of love girls today should be holding out on- not just a text or Facebook message back.  This is the message that young girls should be getting.

 

I know I went out on a little bit of a tyrant but this has been on my mind for ages now!

 

So, in the future, if I have girl- I am happy for Netflix & my Roku to be able to provide Dawson's Creek as a (somewhat) lesson on how relationships aren't perfect...but there are ways to learn to know imperfect people perfectly.

 

Live Happy!

ntb

A Little Sparkle To Start the Day...

During Christmas, my mother bought me a Poinsettia for our new house.  I quickly learned that real plants are far more high matience than fake plants (fake it 'til ya make it).  Now that being said, that Poinsettia served it's purpose throughout the holiday- aka 1 full week until it started to show signs of weakness.  I watered, I nutured, I pruned, I moved it to sunnier parts of the house- to my dismay, we soon said goodbye to our Poinsettia. 

After the New Year I came across a gorgeous Orchid for only $10.00!  I figured I could get a second chance at this and read the instructions on how to maintain: three ice cubes once a week, keep it in a 55 degree environment with non-direct sunlight.  I could do that.  Three weeks later, I get to wake up to this everyday:

 

Is this not THE most gorgeous, simple beauty you've ever seen?

Just looking at it makes me happy. (Excuse the bare walls- we just moved in!)

 

I was playing around with my camera- so here's a few more pictures.

 

The sunrise was hitting the petals perfectly- you can see the sparkle.

 

This is my favorite.  I couldn't believe that my camera could take this picture!  What you can learn when you actual change the settings!

 

Live Happy!

ntb*



To Do As If

My good friend began her blog the beginning of the year and I've been enjoying reading & being a part of her world so much that I wanted to give it a try myself!  Let me introduce myself...

I'm Nicole-

jackie of all trades, master of none.  I've named my blog "Fake It 'Til You Make It" because that is one of my FAVORITE phrases.  I love it because it references all aspects of life: career, family & lifestyle.  I believe that when you dress for the job you want, put a smile on your face & a fist in your pocket and buy that pair of shoes anyway- you are on your way to the life you want- the life you create for yourself.  I am always all over the place and have so many different interests- let me get you up to speed on my life:

I am a first time home owner, currently in the process of starting a preschool in my home, (dream come true!) and aspiring (here comes the list:) chef, photographer, DIY-er, stylist, decorator & blogger.   Life's too short to live the same day twice right?  So join me on my journey as I attempt a little bit of this & a little bit of that...you don't know unless you try!  I don't really know what I'm doing but you gotta fake it 'til you make it!

 

I will be posting all different kinds of things- be it recipes, DIY inspirations, lifestyle quips as well as take you along my journey of making a house a home, a portion of my house a business & ingredients into edible food! 

 

Live Happy!

ntb*