New Recipes From My Kitchen

A little bit of honesty coming out....
It's embarrassing to admit but for the longest time, Matt and I would get in bed (we usually always go to bed at the same time), cut the lights out, snuggle down and.......play Candy Crush.  I know, I know, seriously???  So much romance in our second year of marriage.

When I get stuck at a level or run out of lives, (and since i refuse to PAY Candy Crush) I move onto the next best thing...Pinterest.

I then keep myself up until all hours pinning dream kitchens and cute crafts that I will never have time to do.
On the flip side, I have my mouth to feed to the left of me (still crushing candies because he never dies) as I get his opinion on every good looking dinner recipe.  It is so convenient to have him right there to approve or disapprove of what could be on his plate next week.

Last week we tried two new recipes from my Food Board and both were winners!!

CROCK POT SESAME HONEY CHICKEN
From Skinnytaste

Recipe here: Crock Pot Sesame Honey Chicken


PESTO CHICKEN PASTA
From R & R Workshop

Recipe here:  Pesto Chicken Pasta

The Year Of 30 Continues

The year of the dirty 30 continues as two of my besties started their 3rd decade of life.

They share 9/11 as their birthday so the weekend before, we surprised Leslie at The Station in Raleigh with a fabulous patio party.  

I still wonder how I got so lucky to have such an amazing group of women to call my friends.

The weekend after, we celebrated Jackie in Morehead City with some sand, sun, boat and beach time.

Over the past 7 years, it has taken some adjustment to come to the realization that we do not all live in the same city anymore.  As the years pass and we continue to disperse throughout the country, I hope that we can still take the time to travel and meet up so that we can make memories together on these special milestones in life.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LESLIE AND JACKIE!!!  CAN'T WAIT FOR ANOTHER 30 YEARS!

The Man Cave Continues.....

I told you guys several months ago that we were creating the dear husband a "man cave" in our downstairs area.  Last night he finally admitted that it's no longer a TRUE man cave and....he was OK with it!  (must have been the paint fumes)

I had a vision for this room and it is finally coming together.

I do want it to be a place where Matt can enjoy his football and UNC basketball games, hunting shows and occasional trashy reality TV, but I also want it to be a "family" area that is pretty and inviting.

We hired Presley Custom Homes to build cabinets and built-ins on either side of the fireplace, a mantel, surround, and to build out our mudroom with my vision of function and storage.  Thank you Houzz.com!

As of yesterday, all the cabinets, trim and molding got their first coat of primer and I could not be more happy with the work that Nathan and James are putting into our house.  

These two spaces have come such a long way from yellow wood paneling walls with mint green molding. I cannot wait to see the final product!!!