5 on Friday

As we prepare for back to school, this weeks theme is all about school...I am excited to get back in the swing of things. I love school!

1. Does back to school have any meaning for you this year? (Either kids in school, teacher, or still in school)
2. Did you enjoy back to school shopping?
3. Who was your favorite teacher and why?
4. What was your favorite grade in school?
5. What was your favorite subject?

...AND my answers

1. I am excited about back to school every year...school means work for me, I love teaching!
2. I love back to school shopping (I think it may be a requirement for teachers)!
3. My favorite teacher was my English Lit. teacher my junior year of high school...she made reading enjoyable and turned it into a life long passion.
4. Well from a teacher stand point I would say Special Ed. PreK since that's what I teach...I also loved Kindergarten.
5. I love science (not when I was in school), now with my PreK kids...I love seeing them learn through fun science experiments. When I was in school I LOVED history, and I still do!

Happy Birthday

Happy birthday to my wonderful husband Drew!




Drew,

You are the light of my life. Everyday with you is a blessing and I cherish the moments that we spend together. You are such an amazing man. I love how you provide for and take care of me. You are such a great handy man and that is truly a blessing...I love seeing all the neat designs in your head come to life. Thank you for loving me with all of your heart. I love you and I look forward to many more birthdays!

Love,
Jennifer

Sugar and Spice, and Everything Nice

Yesterday I had the pleasure of honoring my good friend Melissa and her soon to come little girl Leah. We had a great brunch at Dessetapalooza to honor Melissa. I definitely think Miss Leah is well stocked. Upon entering the shower I was welcomed by a mound of gifts. The Lovelace's are definitely ready for a little girl and I know that little Drew is ready to be a big brother!

Five on Friday

I have seen a lot of sites on Fridays that have a five on Friday, be it 5 questions or 5 random thoughts. I figured I would give it a try and do a combination...I make no guarantees that this will be a weekly thing (although I will try my best)...so here we go, I will give it a whirl!

This weeks focus will be on MOVIES:

1. What is your favorite movie ever?
2. What movie have you seen most recently in theaters, did you like it?
3. What is your favorite genre?
4. Do you have a favorite actor/actress that you have to see in movies?
5. ...if so who?


My answers:
1. The Princess Bride
2. Transformers: The Dark of the Moon...YES!
3. Chick flicks/ comedy (although I do like Marvel Comic movies)
4. Not really
5. ... but I do like Johnny Depp in Pirates

Poppy Seed Chicken

Tonight for dinner, I made poppy seed chicken...it is probably Drew's favorite meal and it brings me back to the days of Sound Invention (my high school show choir). I thought I would share the yummy goodness with you, keep in mind that this is comfort food there is nothing healthy about this meal.


Poppy Seed Chicken

Ingredients
6 skinless chicken breast
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup water
2 rolls of ritz crackers crushed
2 cans cream of chicken soup
2 cups shredded colby jack cheese
3 Tbs. poppy seeds
1 stick of butter melted

Cook chick and shred, arrange in casserole dish. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir together soup and water in sauce pan over medium heat to remove lumps. Remove from heat and add sour cream, stir in cheese and 1/2 of poppy seeds, pour over chicken. Mix remaining poppy seeds and crushed ritz crackers with butter. Sprinkle over chicken. Bake 30 minutes at 350*F. Sauce will thicken upon standing.
Serves 6-8

I halved the recipe for Drew and I, this meal is so tasty I'm sure you'll love it!

What is your favorite comfort food to make?

Things I'm Loving Lately

Pinterest, the new wife/mom thing...and I'm hooked! There are so many things that I have found and liked, I think I may spend a little too much time there. I can't wait to get started on many of the DIY projects I have seen there. My house will soon turn into a kitchy little boutique. Check it out at pinterest.com...your life will be changed :)

What sites are you loving lately?

If you like pinterest, who do you follow, or what type of pictures are you usually pinning?

Chinese Chicken Salad

Last week I made this Chinese chicken salad when my friend Megan came over. I just had to share it with you, because it was delicious!

Ingredients:
3-4 Chicken breast (or rotisserie chicken) bake or boil, cool and shred.
1 package of romen noodle soup

Chop and toss:
1/2 head of cabbage
1 pk of 3 heads of romaine lettuce
1/2 bunch of cilantro
6 green unions

Dressing:
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp. sesame oil
1 tbsp soy sauce
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper

Mix all greens and chicken and add 1 package of crumbled ramen noodles (just the noodles not the flavoring).

Hanging with Friends

We have been blessed with good friends and we have had several opportunities recently to get together with friends. Since moving from College Station, we have felt like we haven't made as many connections, and subsequently we have had as much to do on the weekends. Well all that has changed my friends...we have joined a life group at our church and have quickly made some good friends, we have awesome neighbors, and we have even gotten together with old friends from college and high school.

In the last two weeks, we have had the opportunity to get together with our neighbors Bryan and Meghan...they are expecting a little boy next month!

After that we had my parents and their good friends over...we went boating and then came back and grilled out on the BBQ (unfortunately no pictures we taken).

On Tuesday we had my good friend from high school over, Megan...It was supposed to be a girls night, but Drew surprised me by coming back in town early (and I was ok with that)!

We made this Chinese chicken Salad...delicious

and then we headed off to find a shaved ice place...we found scallywags...a big pirate ship on the side of the road. It was good, but it did not live up to our favorite place we went to in high school. We have made it our mission to find a shaved ice place equally as good!I was really bad about getting pictures with our friends...

We also had a great time getting to see our friends the Lovelace's it has been a while...their little boy is so big now and they are expecting a little girl in the next few months.

We had dinner on Friday with Drew's co-worker Mike and his wife Christy, we met their little boy Eli who is two months old...he is just precious.

We are so thankful for great friends!

Meal Planning Monday

Monday: Putting something together from the pantry...(Drew will be out for dinner)
Tuesday: Chinese Chicken Salad with Megan
Wednesday: Pulled pork BBQ sandwiches with potato salad and baked beans
Thursday: Dinner with the Lovelace's
Friday: Poppy seed chicken, rice, and veggies
Saturday: Shredded chicken taco salad with black bean and corn salsa
Sunday: Out with family