Pulled Pork Bites and Beer-garitas? Yes, please.

You all have got to check out the Eat Yourself Skinny! blog - she has amazing recipes that are pretty easy and don't involve a ga-zillion ingredients.  I got the recipes I am sharing in this post from her and they both were tasty and yummy (and JWP approved)!

We took it easy for the Superbowl as I wasn't feeling the best.  However, somehow and even though I was on my death bed (slight exaggeration), I was able to whip up the following: 

BBQ Pork Bites

(mine did not look like this....they didn't have the phyllodough shells, so I had to use the sheets)

Skinny Beer-garitas

(once again, mine did not look exactly like this). 

The beer-garitas are AMAZING!!!! They will be my go-to drink from now on!

What did you guys do for Superbowl? Any recipes to share?

xoxo,

M

Expanding the menu choices...

Ok, so, if you know me, you know that I'm not the best in the kitchen. I mean, I can follow a recipe and make a meal, but, I'm not good at just whipping things up in the kitchen with stuff I already have.  However, recently, I've come across some reeeeallly tasty dishes that pretty much incorporate things you have in your 'fridge and cabs' (I'm serious!).

  

Starting at top left and moving clockwise:

• Mexican casserole (JWP claimed that it was the best meal I've ever made)
• Mexican casserole
• Egg cups (hash browns, bacon, cheese, and eggs)
• Egg cups
• MJD brushetta (baguette, mozzarella, plum tomatoes, spices, and olive oil - bake for l0-15 mins)
• Baked chicken (sorry, I only got a picture of the raw chix before) with potatoes, sweet potatoes, and carrots

I'm excited to have 4 more items to add to my MJD Cooking list - hopefully you will add some more to yours as well! Enjoy!

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Oh, and one more thing, Organic Coconut Oil is the best 'ish ever! I've been using it for baking and cooking and both JWP and I are in love with it - check it, ASAP!

xoxo,

M

Making a list and checking it (off) twice...

So, this weekend was VERY productive in terms of checking off some "to-do's" from my long and continuosly expanding (thanks to my wedding blog stalking) wedding checklist.  I accomplished the following: (1) designed our invitations; (2) designed our save the dates; (3) made a sample bridesmaid bouquet; (4) started making our favors (which isn't exactly going the way I hoped, but, I'm trying out some possibilities and wishing for the best); and (5) made the most adorable heart wreath to hang from our sweetheart table.  I am feeling VERY satisfied with my progress....now, if only Monday and a little thing called work didn't come back around. I hope you all had a fantastic weekend. 

Oh, and just to brag...I also channeled my inner domestic goddess and whipped up some delish meals, I'll post about them in my next post.

xoxo,

M

Cake or no cake?

I am just not sold on the idea of wedding cake - I know, I know, crazy, right? Maybe it's because I never really eat the cake at weddings or because they are so darn expensive, but, whatever the reason, I am envisioning a dessert bar for our wedding. I mean like cookies, rice crispie treats, banana pudding cups, pie, brownies, etc., etc., I think it sounds like a splendid idea, don't you? Inspiration from here:

and here:

Holy heck it's been a minute....

So, who would have thought that the day after my last blog post would become one of the best days of my life?? Seriously, who would have thought? Well, it was because (drum roll, please) ..... I got engaged, ya'll! It went a little something like this:

Marisa and Justin recently remodeled and moved into the home that Justin's maternal grandparents built in the 1960's.  Needless to say, their evenings and weekends consisted of working on the house.  Marisa and Justin usually had "date night" on Wednesday nights, but, due to the work on the house they hadn't had a "date night" in a while.  So, the Tuesday before Justin proposed he asked Marisa if she wanted to do a date night that week.  Marisa had an event to go to after work on Wednesday, so, they decided on Thursday instead and that their date night would consist of driving out to the beach and watching the sunset and then heading to a local sushi restaurant.  Marisa always thought she would know when Justin was going to propose because he tends to sweat a little more and get a little flushed when he is nervous - so, she was not expecting that this would be the day that Justin would ask her to be his wife.  They headed out to the beach and although Justin drove past the street that they typically turn down to go to the beach, Marisa was none the wiser.  Marisa and Justin walked out to the beach, sat down on the sand, and talked, mostly about things they still needed to work on at the house.  After awhile, Justin asked Marisa if she was getting hungry and she responded that she was, so they decided they would leave and head to sushi.  Justin got up first and helped Marisa up, once Marisa was up, Justin asked Marisa if she realized where they were and he pointed to a tiki bar that was near a house on the beach.  At once Marisa realized that they were near the house where their mutual friend had his graduation party last June and on the beach where Marisa and Justin had talked all night.  Marisa said to Justin "oh my gosh, it's where Josh had his party" and she turned back around to face Justin and found him down on one knee with a ring in his hand.  Marisa and Justin don't really remember what all was said after that, but, it obviously involved "i love you's," "will you marry me?," and "yes." 

Taken right off of our wedding website...now, isn't that sweet :) So, really, this whole engagement/wedding planning thing is very time consuming and the real reason I haven't been blogging. But, I have so much to tell you and share with you, and really, to get back to one of the main reasons for starting this blog, so much to get out of my head!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and a Happy New Year...and look out for more posts, likely to be about ....you guessed it...wedding stuff! Wedding planning can really take over your entire being, but, you know what??? I wouldn't change it for the world - so excited to be Mrs. Powers, oh, in, about 283 days...just sayin!......AHHH, I need to get back to planning....

This crazy, beautiful, craaazy life of mine.

Peeps:

 I know, I know, I know ....I've been slackin' BIG TIME in the blog department (thanks for calling me out, Mere) - ha! Sorry, my life has been busy and full of packing, after work events, moving, unpacking, etc. etc.  I promise to get back into the groove with the blog soon!

xoxo,

M

Longchamp Tote for $2.00 - wha???

Umm, so, I do not mean to brag - but, I just walked to the thrift store next door and got this AMAZING Longchamp shopping tote in perfect condition for $2.00.  Happy Friday to me!! and to you too!