Thursday, December 9, 2010

You should cook THIS for dinner tonight...

CHICKEN ENCHILADA PASTA


2-3 chicken breasts, cooked & shredded {Or I used shredded rotisserie}

2 tbsp. olive oil

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 medium onion, diced

1 red pepper, diced

1 {4 oz.} can diced green chiles

1/2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. cumin

2 {10 oz.} cans green chili enchilada sauce

2/3 cups red enchilada sauce

2 cups shredded cheese {I used Mexican}

1 cup sour cream

Penne pasta (I used bowtie)

Optional toppings: Avocado, Green Onions, Black Olives, Tomatoes, Sour Cream

Cook chicken, drain, and shred {or shred your rotisserie}. Meanwhile boil pasta according to package and chop the veggies

Heat the olive oil in a deep skillet and cook onions for about 3-5 minutes. Add garlic & red pepper and cook for another 3-5 minutes.

Add cooked chicken, green chiles, cumin, chili powder, salt, & enchilada sauces. Let sauce simmer for about 8-10 minutes.

Add cheese and stir until the cheese is melted and heated through. Now toss in the sour cream, but whatever you do, DO NOT bring to a boil! Cook on low heat or the sour cream will curdle. Stir until sour cream is well mixed and heated through.

Drain pasta & return to pot. Pour sauce over pasta and mix well. Serve and garnish with avocado, tomato, green onion, and a dollop of sour cream.


Even Sugarbear liked it. She'll eat anything I cook. She's a huge fan of salad though. She eats that before anything else.


Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Wanna know what I'm getting for Christmas???

YEP...THIS!
My amazing husband is getting me a Silhouette! In fact, it should be in any day now. Do I have to wait for Christmas for it? I guess it'll have to go under the tree. I buy vinyl cut-outs from etsy ALL THE TIME. Now I don't have to!



It makes scrapbook pages...not that I scrapbook, but if I ever decided to, I could!

...and cute cards...


...cool vinyl lettering like this...


...and even t-shirts! I can't wait to make Avie a "screenprinted" tee with her name or initials...


...and it even does glass etching!


...and cute paper crafts...


The possibilities are ENDLESS. I can't wait to create things with this! It's better than a Cricut! It's the same price, but you don't have to buy ANY cartridges!

Natchitoches Christmas Festival 2010

We took Avie to Natchitoches for the Christmas Festival Saturday. The weather was perfect...actually a little on the warm side, but it was still nice. We got there around 11 and watched one of the parades, then we headed down by the river to eat at Antoon's...very good restaurant. After that we met up with my friend, Michelle, at her step-brother's real estate company to watch another parade downtown.

This is Michelle's husband, Bernie, and their little boy, James. James turned one in August.





Isn't he a doll?


Michelle and I with our babies...


After the last parade, I walked in some of the shops while everyone sat on the curb and rested (you know I never get tired?). Then we found a spot on the STEEP riverband (I was a bit terrified of my child rolling down the hill and me flying headfirst to catch her...but luckily that didn't happen) to watch the fireworks. Check out this crowd. (if you can see it...it's pretty dark)




There were SOOOO many people there.


There fireworks lasted about 30 minutes...VERY much worth the drive. They were absolutely beautiful. I've seen them several times, but it's been atleast 6 years. The first one scared Avie but she got over it really fast and enjoyed the rest of the show. We both laid our heads on Chad's shoulder to watch the fireworks and for a minute, it felt like we were the only ones there. It was magical.

Merry Christmas! Welcome to our home!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!
I finally got my house decorated for Christmas last week. We put icicle lights outside on the house yesterday...first time in my life I've ever had lights on my house...even as a child I never had them! I'll take pics of that tonight!

Here is our tree! I wanted it to be taller and have more room to put gifts under it, so Chad put it on cinder blocks. Haha! Really...he did. But my tree skirt with the crooked monogram hides them!






I painted a bunch of these canvases for one of my holiday shows. The ones that didn't sell are in my house! I love them. They're fun, dontcha think?


I'm ready to hang some Christmas cards on my card hanger! I have 2 now. By the time Christmas Day gets here, there are so many cards on there that they are tripled up in the slots and you can't really even see anyone's! I love Christmas cards! I keep them!


So I framed a piece of wrapping paper and made a wreath with a wire coat hanger and balls from the Dollar Tree. Cute, huh?













Happy Holidays!!!

Mini Photo Session at the Mall..

Chad had to work last Sunday so after church, Avie and I went and had lunch and did some shopping...without the stroller. Let's just say that Avie LOVED that. But I was tired.

She spotted a snowman and I convinced her that he wasn't going to "get her" so she agreed to take some pics...





Seriously, where did she learn this pose?



Saints vs. Seahawks

For Chad's 30th birthday I bought him tickets to see the Saints play in New Orleans. He was so excited! We stayed at the W and walked to the game...then ate afterwards and were in bed watched the Academy Awards at 9! It was a nice weekend and I'm so glad we got to go away together for a couple of days.







Happy Fall Y'all!

I made this outfit for Avie to wear throughout the month. All I did was buy a top and leggings from Wal-Mart, sew orange tulle onto the shirt and applique it! I must say...she looked adorable in it.





...love this pose she's got goin' on...



I had to include pics of my table. I love decorating for Fall. I have almost as many Fall decorations as I do Christmas. The good thing about it...I start decorating for Fall in September and it lasts til the end of November!