BLT Mac n Cheese, Chocolate Chip Raspberries and MORE Good Stuff!

Well hello there!

I stumbled on a recipe today that has me curious.

BLT Macaroni and Cheese!

I mean, talk about a double whammy of comfort food.....

Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato Sandwich and Macaroni and Cheese.

Love 'em both!

I haven't made it yet but I think maybe one of these days soon I will:)

YUMMY!!!

BLT Macaroni-n-Cheese   

 Ingredients:

1 loaf (32 oz) prepared cheese product, cut into large cubes

1/4 cup butter

4 cups whole milk

* 1/8-1/4 tsp ground mustard (optional)

1 package (16 oz) elbow macaroni

2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese (8 oz)

2 cups small cherry tomatoes

1 bag (9 oz) fresh spinach (or lettuce of choice)

1 lb bacon, crisply cooked, crumbled

1 cup plain or Italian-style panko crispy bread crumbs

* * Personally, I will saute chopped onions in a bit of butter to add to this dish.

Directions:

1.  In microwavable bowl, place cheese cubes, butter and milk. Microwave uncovered on High 8 to 10 minutes, stirring with whisk at the 4 minute interval.   Stir again after 8-10 minutes; repeat microwaving until all cheese is melted and mixture can be stirred smooth, 

a total of about 15 minutes.  Stir in ground mustard if desired.

 * If you prefer, melt cheese on the stove top.  

2.  Heat oven to 350°F. Cook macaroni in boiling salted water 3 minutes less than directed on box (macaroni should be firm). Drain; place in 15x10-inch (4-quart) glass baking dish. Pour melted cheese sauce over macaroni; mix well. Stir in shredded cheese, tomatoes and spinach.

3Cover dish with foil; bake 30 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle bacon and bread crumbs evenly over top. Bake 5 minutes longer or until top is lightly browned. Cool at least 10 minutes before serving.

source: adapted from a recipe found on Betty Crocker

don't stop here!

after this munchkin you'll find one of our favorite treats.......

Chocolate Chip Raspberries!

Pretty self-explanatory.......

We used white chocolate chips but have used dark and milk chocolate also.

All three are Goooood!

Just clean the strawberries, place a chip in each and pop 'em in!

(I've probably shared this on here but it's worth repeating:)

Hmmmmm....what else can I pass on.......

Got it!

If y'all are like me, you get MAJOR cravings!!!!!

What to do, what to do!

How about this?

Cure cravings and get water down.....works for me.

At least, I hope it does!!

I leave you with this little gem from the beloved Dr. Seuss.

(i think he's genius:)

XOXOXO

Suzanne

Questions and Answers on Goals, Change, Aging and Style.......

We have a really gray, rainy Monday going on,

which suits me just fine.

I've worked hard organizing a few rooms lately and just feel tired.

And lazy.

So on this dreary Monday, 

a blog post might be the most ambitious thing I do:)

My blog challenge topic today is to answer a few questions, so here goes.......

Question #1.  What is your #1 goal this year?

Goal for 2015

I didn't mention this earlier because I only just thought about it.
 And by "adventures", they don't have to be BIG to be an adventure.

Question #2.  What is your philosophy on aging?

Well, I believe it is part of life.  We can fight it or figure out how to make the best of it.

Some days I believe this more than others, but basically, that's it.

I spend a lot of time thinking of ways to enjoy life in the coming years

and be useful and happy.  Worth thinking about, right?

Re: looks......I have my crappy days for sure,

but overall, I would like to think I don't go crazy fighting the process.

Laugh lines.....got em!

Wrinkles from the sun?

Yes.  Wish I didn't have so many and that I wouldn't continue getting them,

but for much of my life I worked HARD for that tan. 

Like I said to my girls when they were younger,  (Sometimes I still say it:)

"You get what you get and you don't throw a fit".

I asked for that tan and therefore these wrinkles.

At least I enjoyed getting them.

I love Jamie Lee Curtis' thoughts on aging.

I like her look too.......especially her hair!

Question #3.  Can people change?

I believe they can.  I believe I have.  In many ways.

I believe there are aspects of us that must change the longer

 we live and the more we learn.

I believe we need change in the world and we need to be open to change sometimes,

because it will happen.

But I also believe some people can't.  Or rather, won't.

Whether they are conceited enough to think they don't need to, or just

plain stubborn enough to refuse to, some people will never change.

We all know people like this.

Which is why I BEG my girls not to marry someone, thinking they will

change them.  Better know it's just not gonna happen.

It may for awhile, and you may get that special person who does,

but it's too much of a gamble when talking about marriage.

CAPICHE?

Good way to look at it.......

Sometimes this is the truth.

 Question #4.  What is your favorite accessory?

This one's easy!  My daughter is a "Stylist" at Michael Kors Lifestyle Store.
(that's what they call sales associates:)

Anyway, I've always liked his bags but I have since come to LOVE his watches.

Before this, my favorite accessories would have been bracelets, 

but now I have to say watches.
They're a good look for me and quite reasonable.
What I REALLY love is that he likes mixing metals.......I do too.
And he believes in layering bracelets with the watch.........I do too.

So we are a perfect fit:)

Have a great day!!!!

XOXO

Suzanne

SUPER Simple Organizing Tips To make Decorating NEXT Christmas EASIER...

Well HOWDY!

I hope y'all had a very, MERRY and BLESSED Christmas!

Question:  Are you one of those who can't wait to get the decorations down?

Or are you like me, leave them up till after New Year's........AT LEAST;)

Either way, these tips will help.

I know we all get tired eventually and just want get the house back, and if you're like I used to be, that means you CRAM the stuff in boxes till next year.

Then next year, you open boxes full of STUFF......some of it broken, ripped, stained.........basically ugly and un-useable.

Well here are a few simple tips to help. (common sense, but who has common sense? hahaha)

By taking a day or at least a few hours to do some of these, next year when you drag the Christmas boxes out, you can be a bit more FESTIVE as you deck the halls!

1.  Take a look around your house.  Do you like what you see?  Did your Christmas Decor this year turn out pretty darn cool?  Or AWESOME?  Then here's what you do.  Go around the house and take pictures.  Wide angle, close up......especially if there are smaller items that you had placed "just so".  Load the photos on your computer and create a file or print them out and place the photos in a folder.  Next year, look at the pictures as you decorate.

It seemed my nutcrackers and village houses landed in just the right place this year:)

2.   Packing up........ As you take down your ornaments, get rid of any that are broken or irreparable in any way.  Seriously.  Unless it's a sentimental and/or incredibly valuable ornament from Great Aunt Bee, get rid of it.  Frankly, even if it is, you should probably get rid of it.  Chances are it won't be nearly as sentimental to whoever inherits it as you are.  Just sayin.  And if you didn't use some ornaments.......just know there is a good chance you will never use them.  So throw em out, donate or something:)

3.  Pack carefully.  This is something I NEVER do.  But this year, I will.  I kinda like the ornaments we have now and want to keep them around.  Wrap fragile pieces in tissue paper.  Make dividers using pieces from a cardboard box or even use egg cartons.  You can try packing them in plastic cups.

 Hey, you can stuff tissue in ziplock bags if all else fails.  Use your other decor........christmas towels, artificial snow.......stuff like that, for padding.

My husband bought me Christmas plates this year and you can bet they will be packed up right!

4.  Christmas Lights.  Oh gosh.......the dreaded Christmas lights.   Make sure all lights work and then roll them neatly on cardboard.......pieces or old rolls of paper towel.  Do this for garland and ribbon that came unwound also.

5.  Gift Wrap.........Here's the deal.  We all save crappy bags that should be tossed because they have been used for 5 years.  AND.......we buy rolls of new paper and forget about what we already have.  Go shopping TODAY and buy some half-price bags, bows and paper.  Make an inventory list and keep it on your phone, in your wallet, on the computer.  Anywhere and Everywhere.......just keep it and look at it before you buy more. * * *Extra Tip: If you shop all year long, then WRAP all year long.  Why not.  Just record what you have and who its for.  Important:)

What can I say???  I really liked the rustic touches we added this year to a HUGE white tree, like the plaid and birch gift wrap.  When I saw it on sale for 1/2 off today, I grabbed some for next year:)

6.  Christmas Cooking.........Did something turn out really great this year?  Or really awful?  Did you receive a food gift that you just have to make next year?  Rather than keeping every recipe that sounds good, keep the ones that you know are a SURE THING.  They should be in a special notebook for Holiday Cooking.  Then, when you come across a recipe that might be a keeper, you can place those in there too.  I have the mother load of Christmas cookbooks and guess what.......we eat the same things every year.   Remember.....Simplify!

Alrighty then, I guess that's it from this us.

You might.......no, you probably DO have better ideas.  But this is HUGE progress for me and maybe it will also help you.

And next year, when everyone else is freaking out over their Holiday preparations,

we'll be feeling pretty chill.

At least that's the plan:)

XOXOXO

Suzanne

Cool, Random Tips to Make you Look Smart!:)

. . . . .well, maybe you know these already:)

but just in case, i thought i'd share them with you.

 i hope you had a wonderful Christmas,

and are looking forward to an
even more wonderful new year!

here are the "smart" tips i promised. . . . .

oh but wait. . . . .
there's more!

there, now don't you feel smarter just knowing some of these?
haha...if only it were that easy, right?
now we just have a ton more to remember!
have a good one. . . . .
Suzanne

for my girls.......

i titled this for my girls,

but you can read it if you like:)

i have a board especially for them on Pinterest.

it has fashions i think they would like, songs we love,

LOTS of advice and little things i want them to remember.

you know, when teenagers are at or approaching the dating scene,

you can't be there enough for them.  

And with my ballerina turning 18,

i need to REALLY make sure she is prepared:)

here are some of my recent favorites.

sorry for all the pics!

sweet girls,

please know this.......

there will be many things to celebrate...

and disappointments along life's path.

there's always a choice to be made.

make good choices.

you were raised with christian morals and values.

never feel you have to compromise them.

people who truly love you and care about you

will never ask you to change.

as for dating and relationships........

remember this.......

i love this one.

what a guy!

 i especially want you to read and remember these next two.

i love them both and couldn't choose my favorite,

so i am including both.

i'm gonna print these out and plaster your walls with them:)

because

someday you will be faced with choices.

you need to be prepared now;)

i love you!

two SIMPLE steps to SIMPLIFY your life.......

seriously.....

only TWO steps.

hard to believe, i know.

because we ALL want a simple, HAPPY life, right?

well, here you go......

as i think about this, it is easy.

but we make it difficult, 

worrying about things.

like what others will think if we don't volunteer as always,

not saying no to time wasting activities,

creating clutter.....

on top of clutter.

i'm as guilty as the rest.

but i really, truly am going to try and remember these two steps.

because this really says it all.....

identify what's important to you and get rid of the rest.

and i know it's not truly easy in the course of every day life.

but maybe, just maybe,

i can make things a tiny bit easier if i remember this:)

if you need more steps to simplify,

check out this list of 30 tips to simplify at 

marcandangel

have a SIMPLY happy day!

Suzanne

Friday Favorites......Beauty Tips and Favorite Looks

happy friday!

(actually, i thought it was Thursday when i woke up)

i was so convinced that when i saw "Friday" on the morning paper,

i thought they made a mistake!

duh......

i'm just a little freaked out cause

that means it's LESS than a week till Miss Taylor Ballerina

heads to Boston Ballet for 5 weeks.

YIKES!

i can't think about that right now.

because.......

i have to show you a few of my favorites!

beauty tips:

i love when i see something demonstrated so simply,

 like these eyes...

~simply natural eye shadow

light shadow on the lid, light/med brown in the crease,

touch of black eyeliner on top lid and smudged brown shadow liner lightly under the eye, followed by black mascara.

 talk about timeless.

(one make up artist says lining the top with black and the bottom with brown creates a soft, sexy eye.  so there you go:)

~this next eye is obviously more dramatic but the step by step photos are so clear,

no need for words:)

~layer your eyeliner

liquid eyeliners are popular,

but this pro says they are too hard for the average user to apply accurately.

ahem.....she must mean me:)

anyway, she suggests layering eyeliner to get a precise look and stay put wear.

start with an eye pencil and apply to eyelid.  

then put liquid eyeliner on top, following the line you

already drew.

supposedly it's perfect and lasts! 

~make-up brushes

according to total beauty,

we only need basic makeup brushes.

1.  Foundation Brush (?)

2.  Concealer Brush

3.  Fluffy Powder Brush

4.  Blush Brush

5.  Small Blending Brush

6.  Flat eye brush

7.  Precision angle brush

8.  Lip Brush

i guess you could say that means i don't need the other 10

 i must have floating around:)

~get rid of blemishes with vinegar?

that's what they say!

apparently you mix one part apple cider vinegar with

10 parts water. 

put it in a clean glass container and after washing your face.

dab the solution on your blemishes with a cotton ball.

you can apply it several time/day without drying  out your skin.

vinegar helps adjust the PH balance in your skin, treating and preventing blemishes.

go figure!

worth a try:) 

~toe nails

How to get white nails -- make a paste using 1 tbsp peroxide

 and 2 1/4 tbsp baking soda. 

Let this paste sit on your nails for 5 minutes and voila!

 White nails! Totally works!

moving on to my favorite looks.......

i love her hair.

so pretty!

the hair i would have if i could.

but mine is too short.

not straight at all.

and my husband would probably ask me what's wrong with my hair.

but i love it:)

~boho purse/handbag

by the way, which is it?  purse or handbag?)

i grew up calling it a purse.

my grandma called it a pocketbook.

and it seems most people i know down here call it a handbag.

whatever, i LOVE this boho/gypsyish

 purse/handbag/pocketbook!

can't you just see it with jeans, sandals and a white tank top?

(my favorite look:)

speaking of favorite looks,

i am such a casual person.

i would wear jeans everyday of the week.

(and pretty much do:)

so it's no surprise that these 4 looks have a pair of jeans.

starting with my favorite look right now.......

cute, cute, CUTE!

and what do i love about the second one?

jeans, of course.

paired with a dressy/glitzy tank top in cream.

all the gold (i'm into gold or rose gold these days)

basically just all the natural colors mixed with denim!

the one above is a great go to a movie or shopping outfit.

the jeans are the PERFECT shade of faded denim 

and the natural tan sandals and purse are

perfectly.....NATURAL:)

this last one i must have "pinned" 10 times.

every time i see it i love it more!

if i can't wear cream/white with my denim,

give me soft grey!

 but the shoes are not me.

cute, but not me:)

and LASTLY, the most perfect beauty tips of all time......

 CIAO!

Suzanne