Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Cajun Chicken + Rice Stirfry

Hey readers! Thursday night was my nanny's last night, so I decided to cook something extra yummy! I started off following a recipe, but lack of needed ingredients called for me to give it my own touch! The black font is the original, the red are my changes! Hope you enjoy!!


Cajun Chicken with Dirty Rice

Ingredients
1 teaspoon dried Cajun seasoning
4 ounces chicken breast- two, medium sized chicken breast
2 teaspoons olive oil- enough to drizzle across bottom of pan
2 garlic cloves, minced- few dashes of garlic salt
1 cup chopped onion- 1/2 a regular onion chopped & half a red onion chopped
1 green bell pepper, diced
2 tablespoons tomato paste
Few dashes Tabasco sauce, to taste- did not have, did not add. 
3/4 cup precooked brown rice- enough for two people

* I did not have recooked brown rice. So I boiled water, cooked the brown rice I had for 10 minutes, and set aside until time to add to veggie mixture!!

Make It
Sprinkle Cajun seasoning on chicken and bake or grill. Add oil to skillet; saute garlic, onion, bell pepper, tomato paste, and Tabasco for 2 to 3 minutes. Add precooked rice and saute for 5 more minutes. Serve chicken on rice.







Brands I Used:

McCormick 'Perfect Pinch' Cajun
Great Value chicken breasts 
Great Value 100% extra virgin olive oil
5th Season garlic salt (substitute for garlic cloves)
onion & green pepper from produce section
Hunt's tomato paste
Minute- Instant Whole Grain- brown rice


This made for a truly scrumptious meal! The plate photographed was mine, and I scraped it clean! Maybe because I hadn't eaten hardly anything all day, or maybe it was really freaking good! I'll make it next time on a full belly and get back to ya ;) Enjoy! This took probably 25 minutes to prepare and cook! Very quick, and fun! Be creative!!

PS: Today is the boy friend and I's fifteen month anniversary! Love you, sweetheart!♥




Monday, August 13, 2012

Announcing: 2012 Virtual Tailgate!!!!!



Hey, y'all! Happy "late Monday evenin' " to ya! I am double-posting today to share with y'all a football lovin'- recipe cookin' link up in honor of football season! The lovely lady that I introduced to you this morning, Kaitlyn, is throwing together this great link up! I'll let her explain the rest....



From Kaitlyn: 

Here's how it will work:

  1. Decide you're going to participate in this awesome event!
  2. Sometime this week (8/13-8/17) write a post on your blog, giving Wifessionals a shout out & link up and announcing the event and all these details (or just post the link to my page and they can read them here). This will spread the word and give your readers the chance to participate!!!
  3. On Monday, August 27th I will post the Tailgate on my blog. Create your own blog post featuring YOU making your most delicious tailgate food. You can make a dip, wings, a themed drink, anything! Make sure to post the recipe and at least one picture.
  4. Sometime between Monday (8/27) and Thursday (8/30), visit my blog and look for the little froggy at the bottom of the tailgate post. Click on him and link up to the Virtual Tailgate! (Thursday night are the first games, so the link party will close at midnight)
  5. Lastly, grab the link you are given and post it on your own blog and all of the links to all the other blogs will show up so your readers can participate too!!

Why do this? First of all, who doesn't love new, delicious recipes??? I figure I'll round up enough to last me through the entire football season!! Second, what a great way to meet other sweet women! Lastly, link ups and blog hops are one of the best ways to promote your blog and get your name out there!!

You basically win EVERY way you look at it.

So come on! Join in! All the cool kids are doing it.

I look forward to seeing all of your spirit filled and tasty creations!!!




Sounds amazingly fun, and yummy right! Five ladies, including myself, have already "RSVP'd," meaning we will be the first five in the linky, sort of like co-host! I am super excited, and am even beginning to think in my mind all the wonderful things I could share! So be sure to contact Kaitlyn for further details. And get thinking about what recipe you'd love to share with all of us football lovers! I'm a big fan on dip, especially ones involving cheese *wink, wink*!! 


Meet Kaitlyn {Wifessionals}

Hey everyone! First off, I want to give a huge thank you to Rachel for having me here today (: I recently started Wifessionals after I found myself in a completely new life from what I've been used to. I just married the man of my dreams, who happens to be in the Army. A week after we got married, we packed up everything in Nashville and moved all the way out to The Middle of Nowhere, Arizona. It's been a big change and I REALLY miss the South, but it doesn't look like I'll be headed back any time soon! We just found out we're now moving to Colorado!

I post everything from:
Delicious recipes - The crazy world that is the Army - Mishaps with our new boxer puppy - Fashion tips and tricks - The highs and lows of daily life - Random ridiculousness - Tips to save money - SO much more!

Basically, these are my confessions of being a wife....or rather, Wifessionals.

So come stop by and say hello! I love meeting new people. I'd especially love to hear from you if you know anything helpful about my new home in Colorado!!

God bless!
Kaitlyn



Kaitlyn and her blog, Wifessionals are my newest blog sponsors! If you've never visited Kaitlyn's blog, you defiantly should! She has been super great at including me and my blog in activities on her blog! Kaitlyn is super sweet and very inspiring! I'd love if y'all headed over to her blog to show some love, and be sure to tell her I sent you!


Friday, August 10, 2012

High Five Letters

Happy Friday! The title of this post might confuse you, it did me the first time I saw it on another gal's blog. You've all seen the "High Five For Friday" link up hosted by Lauren, and the "Friday's Letters" link up hosted by Ashley! Both are fantastic link ups... so why not combine them! So that is why this fabulous post is titled High Five Letters! 

{one}
Dear Thirty One package that arrived earlier this week... I am lovin' what you contain! Can't wait to share what I bought! Next Saturday I will reveal, can't before them because the photos showcase my mom's birthday present and my school lunch box! 


{two}
Dear Couch to 5K... thank you for exsisting. I started this program again (more details on why later) and I am so happy to be considered a "runner" again. I feel so great about myself post-workout! I will confess my previous couch to 5k experience later, along with the whole gist of Couch to 5k. If you are dying to know now, Google it.
New kicks I purchased for running, working out, and school! 


{three} 
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your grace, your everlasting forgiveness, and your willingness to listen and understand. Talking to you like I would to a friend is the perfect way to end every day, and begin one. You are an amazing God.♥


{four}
Dear Tyler, thank you for all you say and do for  me. Knowing I have your support means the world too me. Everytime something happens in my world, I want to run and share it with you asap. You are that person for me. "Boyfriend" has became a universal term for all things you are- they're are too many to type. Thank you for always being you, and for always loving me!


{five}
Dear Myrtle Beach, look out! Dad, Tyler, and I are headed your way!! Please grace us with great weather, and slim crowds! Thanks, you're the best!!









Thursday, August 9, 2012

CC: Facial Brush & Facial Cleanser + Review


Happy Thursday, readers! Today I am doing a vlog to talk about my "current crush"! Today it is a Pretika facial- cleansing brush and the facial washes I used with it! I got my little gadget about a month ago at a Marshall's for $29.99... SCORE! Sure it isn't pretty and pink like a Clarisonic Mia 2, but for $120 dollars less... it is freakin' adorable!




This video explains everything about my new little gadget, the Pretika Sonic Dermabrassion that I purchased instead of a Clarisonic Mia! I got it at Marshall's for $29.99 and they had many others to choose from! Hope you enjoy this review! 


Comes with a counter top stand, charger, and two remove-able crushes!


For cleaning this brush after I wash my face, I turn the brush on high, then lightly press against a bar of Dove soap. I let the brush spin on the surface of my hand, and once the water is no longer soapy, I hold the brush (still on) to a dry hand towel for 5-10 seconds. This cleaning method was recommended in the booklet and works great!


Mary Kay Velocity facial cleanser and lightweight moisturizer


Clean and Clear morning burst!


My Pretika facial brush has a plug to go in the charging hole, so it is waterproof! I use mine in the shower once a day- Clean and Clear if it is a morning shower, Velocity any other time! The steam of the hot water really aids the cleansers!!

I hope you found this video helpful, and I have convinced you to do your wallet a favor and search a local Marshall's/ TJ Maxx for a similar product! Like I mentioned, I absolutely love this product- quality, weight, functioning, everything! You can purchase the Clean and Clear morning burst anywhere, the Mary Kay Velocity might be harder to get unless you know a consultant personally. I love using Dove bar soap on my face as well so that is another option! Good luck achieving beautiful skin!!









Wednesday, August 8, 2012

WIWW: One Shirt- Five Ways

Hey, y'all! Last week I linked up at The Pleated Poppy, in the blogger Lindsey's weekly "What I Wore Wednesday" post! She created the link up as a motivation to get ready instead of staying in her pajamas since she is a stay at home Mom! I love the idea of this link up so I decided to link up again! 
I did my post a little different. It kind of has the feel of a 30x30 idea, where you pick 30 items and make 30 outfits out of the 30 pieces. However, I took a light-pink v-neck tee from Old Navy and styled it 5 different ways! I think I will be doing this time thing hopefully once a week. I am on a budget this year when it comes to close since it is only one income versus two. So I am trying to make more outfits out of the clothes I already have, instead of buying new pieces. I hope you like what I have done! Let me know what you think!





This outfit isn't something I would usually wear. Most of the time I would've substituted the khakis for jeans, and the wedges for cowboy boots. But this is an outfit I would wear to church, or to a work show with my dad. The khakis are several years old so I need to update those a better fitting- higher quality pair. But I think this is a "great mom" look for PTA or parent-teacher conferences, or maybe a causal day at the office. I didn't have a particular necklace I liked with this look but I think any neutral colored necklace or a simple pendant would look amazing! 



This is an outfit I would also wear to church during the summer months, out to eat, shopping, anywhere really. The statement necklace and wedges could be removed to "tone down" the "fancy-ness" of this outfit; maybe some sandals and a pendant.  I love this skirt because it is so comfortable! I would also wear this with the shirt untucked and a belt at my waist.



This is my kind of every day outfit. I love where the look of the belt is going. The jean jacket isn't something I'd wear all day, but keep in tow for when the sun went down and the temperature got cooler. This outfit is simple but cute, in my opinion, and I could wear it to so many different events and it would be appropriate. Change the shorts into jeans and you have what I wear to school 85% of the time. My white jean jacket is a favorite among my friends! I bought it for around $50 dollars and has been worth every penny! 



The pink shirt & red shorts are two items I would have never paired together until I saw Lauren, from "From My Grey Desk Blog" wearing a similar outfit- a pink wide strapped tank & red skinny jeans. Once I put this on I completely loved the look and started thinking of when I could wear it out! It will defiantly get packed for this weekends beach trip! I have had my long necklace for several years and love how it adds a little something extra to an outfit! 
My Toms were bought in the 'off-white' shade, and a dear friend Amy Shank hand painted half a butterfly on each. When my feet are together, it makes a whole butterfly. But when you are looking at just one shoe, from the side, it looks like a side view of a butterfly perched on a branch. They are adorable!



This is the most "dressed-down" outfit I put together. This is something I would wear running errands, to workout/ run in during the colder months. The layered shirts add extra warmth without bulk. If the underneath tee had some sort of fabric flower embellishment around the neckline, this would be double cute! Will have to look for something of that sort next time I'm out! These yoga pants are beyond comfy! I love them and wear them all the time! I would also wear this around the house during the colder months. I hate being totally un-put together at home out of fear I'll have to answer the door! I think this is a great outfit to pick the kids up in. From the car window your outfit will look fancier than what it really is. Double score!! Excuse my lack of shoes, my new grey kicks haven't came in yet but they would go great with this! Any tennis shoe would complete this super comfy look! 


I hope you like what I have done with this v neck shirt! It was only around ten bucks from the local Old Navy! They have tons of colors and different necklines! I also have scoop neck ones, similar from the ones from Old Navy, from Marshall's for around five dollars a piece. Solid color tees are a must-have for any women's closet in my opinion! Please let me know if you like what I have done with this post! I will for sure continue to do more if y'all enjoy seeing my outfit ideas!!



If you've been a faithful reader to A Dash of Southern lately, you've read about my awesome give away on Living the WifeStyle! I am giving away a Maybelline eye shadow pallet in Sunlight Bronze to one lucky reader, and a pack of four-mini bottles of Essie nail polish! You don't want to miss out on this giveaway! Tons of ways to enter and spread the word! The giveaway closes Thursday evening! 









Easy Pizza Quesadillas

Hello, lovelies! This week I am cooking up a storm to make "Nanny Mal's" last week awesome! Last night I made pepperoni pizza quesadillas and they were awesome! We ate them off the ottoman while watching Pretty Little Liars! Amazing combination. The recipe was easy to follow, however the tortillas weren't as crispy as I'd like them to be but they began to burn so we took them out of the skillet. Next time I will bake them to try to achieve crispiness and attempt to make them more healthy!




Easy Pizza Quesadillas

Ingredients:
8 flour tortillas (I used whole wheat)
8 ounces of shredded mozzarella cheese
6 ounces of sliced pepperoni
1 16 ounce jar of pizza sauce
(You could also add any other pizza toppings that you like)


Directions:
1. Heat a medium skillet over medium heat and fry the pepperoni until crisp - transfer to a paper towel to drain

2. Brush each tortilla with a thin layer of pizza sauce. You want this layer to be very thin!

3. Sprinkle cheese on top of the sauce on the bottom tortilla. Top with other toppings if desired. Sprinkle another layer of cheese and place the other tortilla on top- sauce side down



4. Preheat a greased skillet over medium heat.
5. Gently place quesadilla in the pan and cook for 3 to 5 minutes on each side, until cheese is melted and tortillas are crispy

6. Slice into quarters and serve with a bowl of warm pizza sauce


Enjoy♥


If you've been a faithful reader to A Dash of Southern lately, you've read about my awesome give away on Living the WifeStyle! I am giving away a Maybelline eye shadow pallet in Sunlight Bronze to one lucky reader, and a pack of four-mini bottles of Essie nail polish! You don't want to miss out on this giveaway! Tons of ways to enter and spread the word! The giveaway closes Thursday evening!