Small Kitchen Fire...

It's not the first time, and sadly, probably not the last.  This just proves to everyone that I am not a cook.  I try...sometimes I succeed, sometimes I catch the stove on fire.  Just so you  know, the fire was small.  The flames only covered about a quarter of the burner...it was very small.

Thank goodness I have Jonathan - the calm rational one in "emergencies."  In retrospect, I may have overreacted.  I mean pacing quickly in the kitchen shouting to myself what to do when a pot boils over and the burner catches on fire probably wasn't the best solution.  Jonathan calmly stood back and let me freak out.

"Oh!  Salt!"

Like I said, this is not the first time this has happened.  The first time it happened, I went to work the next day traumatized.  My co-worker told me to pour salt on it.  The next time we had a fire, I poured salt...a lot of salt...as in I took the big container of salt you would use to refill your shaker and dumped it on the stove until the flames stopped.  This may only work with grease fires...I don't know.  But I didn't want that mess again, so I took the shaker and I shook my little heart out.

The flames got smaller but were still there.  I start pacing again.  What do I do, what do I do???  As I was about to reach for the fire extinguisher, Jonathan calmly takes a measuring cup and walks to the sink, gets less than a cup of water, walks back to the stove, pours, and the crisis is over.

Now, I have to clean up my salt mess.  (Just so you know, this picture does not do it justice.  It doesn't show the mess on the other side of the burner and a lot of the salt turned black.)

Resolution Recipe: Spinach and Chicken Pizza

I'm a Pizza Hut kind of girl when it comes to pizza.  Thin Crust, meat lovers or just cheese, extra sauce.  So when I saw a little old lady making Spinach and Chicken Pizza at HEB, I was a little hesitant to try it.  But 2012 is about trying new things, so I did.  And it was, delicious!  Don't let the word spinach scare you.  You can't taste it at all!  I often can't eat leafy vegetables because I can't do the texture of certain foods.  But like I said, you can't taste it at all.  It was very yummy.  So we bought the ingredients, and with the HEB Healthy You (I think that's what it's called), we saved $4 on the ingredients. It's super easy and a great meal!

You will need:

• Pizza Crust (We used a whole wheat, ultra thin crust.  The thinner the better.  We all know carbs are bad.)
• Pizza Sauce (We used traditional, but they also offer a few different flavors.)
• Shredded Chicken (You can make your own, but we used HEB Fully Cooked and seasoned shredded chicken. We used about half of the package.)
• Spinach (We used a handful.)
• Velveeta Cheese (or any other kind of cheese you like)
• You can also add diced tomatoes, onions, peppers, etc.

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.  Cook your chicken if needed.  Roughly chop a handful of spinach leaves.  Spread sauce on the crust (as much or as little as you'd like; we used 2 tablespoons). Spread the chopped spinach leaves and chicken over the sauce.  Pinch some Velveeta cheese up and place it randomly over the pizza.  (Don't use too much cheese or it could easily turn into not-so-resolution friendly.) Add any other toppings, seasonings, or garnishes you'd like.  Pop it in the oven for 8-10 minutes or until the edges of your crust or slightly brown.  For crispier crust, put the pizza directly on the rack. 

We made this for lunch today, and Jonathan's exact response was "F***ing good, babe!"  I think this is one is a winner. :)

There was enough ingredients left over to make another pizza or use them in other things.  I am going to try to make/find and post some other recipes that you can use so you don't waste the left over sauce, chicken, cheese, and spinach.

Enjoy!

National Ditch New Years Resolution Day

Did you know that today was National Ditch New Years Resolution Day?  I did because I happen to see it a couple of weeks ago on some website.  So I've been trying to at least make it past today...you know, to avoid being a cliche.  :)

Jillian Michaels has been kicking my butt, but I may or may not have had ice cream for lunch yesterday...  I haven't completely given up my resolutions yet!  I've been doing more crafts, trying new recipes, and am about to kick our diets into high gear.  (Those recipes will be posted as I find...and like...them.)

Are you still working on your resolutions?  Which ones have you abandoned?  You only have 349 days left of this year!  Or 318 if you believe in the whole 2012 thing...

Just a t-shirt and jeans...

We all have ugly clothes we are kind of embarrassed to admit we own.  There may even be times when we wear these unflattering, ill-fitting, ugly clothes out of the house.  Why?  Because they're...comfortable!  I can't seem to throw away a grey t-shirt that has a cowboy roping cattle on it.  I am the furthest thing from a cowgirl and have had the shirt close to 10 years.  It's my favorite sleeping shirt simply because it's sooo comfortable!

Everyone likes to be comfortable, and I refuse to let people continue to think you can't be cute and comfortable at the same time.  Usually, we have to choose one or the other.  (See: Shoes.)  I don't want my hips to look big just because the clothes or soft.  I don't want my butt to look wide and flat just because I want to wear "lazy" jeans.  I hate this "cute or comfortable" way of thinking!  Why can't it be both!?

Another great thing to this "just a t-shirt and jeans" look is it can be as budget friendly or splurg-a-licious as you'd like.  Since I'm a budget girl, I like to buy things I can wear no matter the season or reason.  I like things I can wear to a summer bar-b-que or a cold day at the office.  And we all know t-shirts are essential in the Texas heat, so they're a great option.  But a t-shirt to the office?  Umm...yes. :)

I bought this t-shirt from Cato.  I almost put it back because I thought the blue might be too bright.  But, it was flattering and comfortable (gasp!) and I don't own anything this color.  Tip: A bold color or print makes a great t-shirt that can be worn for multiple occasions.  It automatically makes your ordinary t-shirt a little more special.

Work:

Camisole: Charlotte Russe

Jeans: Old Navy

Shoes: Missoni for Target (only $11!)

Necklace: gift from Mom

Elephant Ring: Maurice's

Glasses: RayBan (prescription)

My job doesn't really have a dress code.  I could wear my pajamas or an evening gown and it would be okay...strange, but okay.  For those offices that require a little more professional appearance, you could easily switch the jeans with some slacks.  I added the camisole underneath to dress it up a tad.  For colder days, you could just ad a neutral cardigan or blazer.  Tip:  Trouser jeans in a dark wash can be as comfortable as lazy jeans, fit almost every body shape perfectly (think slim hips, nice butt, flat tummy) and instantly look dressier than other jeans.

Casual:

Jeans: Target

Shoes: Payless (only $10!)

Ring: Hannah D's

Necklace: umm...Cato, maybe?  A million years ago...

It's easy to wear t-shirts to the grocery store, but like I said, this bright color and ruching on the side is a great upgrade from my Corpus Christi Hooks t-shirt with the stain on it...  I paired it with some slip on tennies and simple accessories.  I cuffed the pants because I love that look for a casual outfit.

Night Out:

Cardigan: Ross

Jeans:  Old Navy

Booties:  Ross

Clutch:  A little stand at the VF Outlet Mall several years ago
Necklace: Old Navy

Ring: Charlotte Russe

Most night out outfits are far too dressy or far too trashy for the type of dates Jonathan and I go on.  We like to look nice, but booty shorts, sky high heels, and a see-through sequin top is not my style.  Neither is a long evening gown or bright red cocktail dress.  We go to dinner downtown or to the movies.  (Bowling, roller skating and bingo are next on our date night list.)  Anyway, this is the type of night out outfits I would wear on a date.  I dressed the t-shirt up with a lace-back cardigan, super sexy black peep-toe booties with silver studs, a cute clutch, and my favorite necklace and cocktail ring.  In the summer, I plan on wearing this shirt with some leather shorts like these with some gladiator sandals...I'm so ready for summer.

Jonathan often says to me before we go anywhere, "Sorry I'm not dressed up."  I always reply, "I'm just wearing a t-shirt and jeans."  And, it's true. :)

Wreaf?

Sorry for the lack of posting this week.  I decided to take it easy this week since I hadn't been feeling well.  I was happy to wake up on this beautiful Saturday morning and actually feel like getting out of bed.  I refused to waste it on the Kourtney & Kim marathon.

I loved the rosettes I made on my frame, and since I needed some practice, I decided to make this wreath.  I wrapped the styrofoam wreath with twine (adhered with hot glue), added rosettes (made from t-shirts), and a bow (also made from t-shirts).  It was pretty easy.  The wrapping took the longest, but I did it while watching...the Kourtney & Kim marathon... :)

If you want a funny story...Jonathan tends to take advantage of my gullible-ness.  We had a conversation that lasted at least 10 minutes on how to say "wreath."  He had me questioning the correct way to say it all day.  Wreath?  Wreaf? Wreath?  :) Isn't he sweet?

I love the way it turned out...now, if only I had gotten a wreath hanger for our front door when I bought the wreath...

I'm working on a new post that I think you'll like.  Stay tuned.

Happy Saturday!

What I made for dinner: The ultimate meatball sandwich

You may have seen or heard me talk about the awesome spaghetti bread we've made.  Well, the Rhode's White Bread Dough we used for that comes in a package with 3 loaves...what to do with the other loaves...

All-Out Italian Madness...first the spaghetti, then rolled pepperoni and mozzarella in a loaf, and now, Jonathan's idea for the Ultimate Meatball Sandwich.  Such an easy weeknight meal and super yummy!


You will need...
1 loaf of Rhode's White Bread Dough (at room temp)
Meatballs (we used HEB's fully cooked Italian Style, 16oz.)
Your favorite Marinara (we used Bertolli since it was free with the meatballs)
1 egg white
Mozzarella
Parmesan and whatever other seasoning you like (I used oregano and Italian seasoning)

Step 1 - Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Roll your dough flat on a greased cookie sheet and cover with plastic wrap.  Let stand for 10-15 minutes.

Step 2 - Prepare your  meatballs.  You can make homemade, but I'm a lazy part-Italian.  We used the fully cooked kind, and they were delicious.  (I dabbed the excess grease off of them before mixing them with the sauce.)

Step - 3 - Mix your meatballs with the marinara and spread it in the middle of your bread dough.  Top with cheese.

Step 4 - Fold your dough over to make a giant stuffed envelope.  Brush with an egg white and top with Parmesan and seasoning.

Step 5 - Pop it in the oven for 25-30 minutes or until all of the bread is completely baked.

Slice it up, and enjoy!  :)

Shop Your Closet

Jonathan and I have started to look around at new places to live and have realized moving is really expensive.  So, for the next few months, we are going to save, save, save!  This means no more shopping...for the most part. :(  But, I have experience not being able to shop, so I have some techniques that can help fill the void.

If you want home decor, it's easy to just make a craft, given you already have some supplies laying around the house.  (No shopping for that either... The next few craft posts will be done with things that are either in my craft basket or laying around the house.)

But, unless you know how to make your own clothes (I do not), you have to be creative with what you already own.  My solution - Shop Your Closet.  In order to successfully shop your closet, you must be able to see everything in your closet.  Therefore, organizing and shopping go hand in hand.  (Don't worry - once your closet is successfully organized, you can shop your closet as often as you want without organizing.)

Note:  I realized during this challenge that our "cluttered" is not the average person's "cluttered."  So, to show the full effect, I cluttered up our closet quite a bit.  :)

Step 1 - Purge.

When shopping/organizing, I find it's easier to start from scratch.  Take everything out.  If you're not up for a big challenge to start with, start smaller by only doing half (or whatever you feel comfortable with).  If your closet seemed cluttered or packed full, by emptying it, you can see and appreciate the space your home offers.  Even if you only have a closet 2 feet wide and 1 foot deep, its space your home is offering you, so take it!

Step 1.5 - Admire.

It's cheesy, but just admire the empty closet.  When I see an empty space, it makes me think about how I can use it more effectively.  I find that when some people move in, they don't move out of space until they are literally moving out.  By "moving out" of your closet for even a few minutes, you can see your closet it for not only what it is but also what it has the potential to be (like you did when you first moved in).  Yes, I'd like one of the closets you see at Ikea, but that's not going to happen right now.  Appreciate what you have.  You're much more likely to love your closet if you know what it has to offer you.

Step 2 - Examine.

Begin putting each piece back in your closet, but only one piece at a time.  You also need to admire your clothes.  Sometimes, I forget I have something because it's been stuffed in and overshadowed my other pieces.  Basically, repeat step 1.5 with your clothes.  Look at each piece, and ask yourself these questions.  If you answer "no," stop, and toss it in the "not my closet pile."

• Do I like it?  (If no, is there anything else in my closet I could add to it to make me like it more?  i.e. necklace, cardigan, brooch, etc.)
• Does it fit?  (If no, am I losing/gaining weight and will fit in it?  If no, do I plan on losing/gaining weight?)
• Do I wear it?  (If no, is there anything else in my closet I could add to it to make me more likely to wear it?  i.e. necklace, cardigan, brooch, etc.)

Step 3 - Systemize.

Create a closet system that works for you.  If you wear flats every day and heels only sometimes, make the flats more accessible.  I change my closet up every month or so in order to wear more of my clothes.  I find that if I put things toward the back, I often forget they're there.  I sort my clothes and shoes by type (flats, boots, wedges, heels; dresses, cardigans, camisoles, etc.), and then by color.  That's what works for me.  It may take a few failed systems to figure out what works for you.

Step 4 - Shop!

Pick out a few objects you really like and pair them with things you don't wear often.  Create outfits that you've never even thought about before.  Experiment with pattern, color and texture mixing.  There is no wrong or right!  Get creative!

With your new closet, it will feel similar to shopping since it's now aesthetically pleasing.  I mean, would you rather shop at a clean, neat store or a messy store with clothes on the floor and broken hangers snagging your sweaters?  Your closet is where you start your day.  It should make you feel confident and beautiful, not messy and stressed.

Some extra closet organizing tips:

• Use baskets!  We have baskets for hats, handbags, scarves and belts, and even socks in order to free up limited drawer space.  The large basket/hamper at the underneath the shelf is full of sandals and flip-flops.
• You can save room by turning one shoe the opposite direction.
• Keep your jewelry in your closet so you can see it against your clothes.
• Buy shoe shelves.  We have three underneath my side of the closet.  You can buy them from Wal-Mart or Target for $10-15 depending on size.  They are easy to put together and even stackable.
• No wire hangers!!!!  We can't afford fancy wooden hangers, so we use black plastic.  Using the same kind of hanger makes your closet look neater, even when it's not.  Make sure they're all facing the same way and not tangled together.  Remove all broken and unused hangers.  Have a designated spot (ours is at the back of our closet) for unused hangers.
• If you don't have wood chips or sachets to freshen the smell in your closet, attach a dryer sheet to the wall behind your clothes. (I prefer dryer sheets over wood chips or sachets.)
• Move your clothes around often to get a new shopping experience.
• Here are some options for your "not my closet" pile - revamp or use for crafts, sell to a place like Plato's Closet, donate.

I'm interested to see what your "new" closets and "new outfits" look for!  Share below in the comments!  Also, if you're really puzzled on how to make your closet work and how to maximize storage, post or email a photo, and I'd be happy to help you!