Bachelorette Begins.....Dancing with the Stars ends

I AM BACK YA'LL!! 

I hate that I've been gone so long but a lot has gone on! My sister had her precious baby, we had some renovations going on in my house and my family dealt with the loss of my aunt. There has been some highs and lows but through it all, family stuck together and held on to the hope of Jesus! 

Now, I don't know if anyone watches reality TV shows but I do and I definitely get drawn into them. I have been watching this season of Dancing with the Stars and I love all the celebrities. Last night, was the Finale of DWTS and it was between Noah Galloway (soldier who lost his left arm and leg in war), Ryker Lynch (singer), and Rumer Willis (actress & daughter of Bruce Willis/Demi Moore). I was rooting for them all because they had such a great work ethic and personality. 

Noah:

Ryker:

Rumer:

Another TV show I'm obsessed with is The Bachelor/Bachelorette, last night was the end of the 2 night premiere and this season, there are TWO bachelorettes fighting to stay. It is bizarre, weird and the craziest thing ABC has done for this show. The two bachelorettes are girls that were on the last season of The Bachelor, Kaitlyn and Britt. They weren't picked by Chris Soules to be his fiance soooo now they are in the driver's seat! After both girls met all 25 men, the men got to pick which girl wanted to stay. OH. MY. GOSH. Why would they put the girls through that, is my question! You've been rejected once, so you can possibly be rejected again! I felt sorry for both girls but they chose to do this and it makes for a drama filled TV show.

Britt and Kaitlyn:

Kaitlyn won!!

Cookies make everything better so I decided to decorate some sugar cookies with DWTS and The Bachelorette decorations! Some have roses on them, the letter "K" for Kaitlyn who is the Bachelorette, the letters "R" and "N" for Ryker, Rumer and Noah, a mirrorball trophy and "DWTS"! They were fun and delicious!!

 

Now the winner of DWTS is..........................RUMER WILLIS!

Okay thats my little recap of last nights festivities on TV. Hope you enjoyed it!

XOXO necole

Chicken Pot Pie Casserole

Hey Everyone! I hope ya'll are well and warm!! It's snowy here in Arkansas but I know warmth is on it's way!! : )

I wanted to share this great recipe that I made tonight. It's super easy and delicious! I even included some pictures of my progress << I feel like a food blogger >>  This was a recipe I found on Pinterest so ya'll should check it out and start following me on there!

Ingredients for the sauce:

3 Tbsp butter

3 1/2 Tbsp flour

1 small onion

3/4 cup milk

1 cup chicken broth

salt to taste

1/2 tsp pepper

1 cup shredded cheese

Ingredients for filling:

3 lbs. potatoes, peeled and diced 

2 cups ham 

2 cups peas

1 cup shredded cheese

First, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Then over medium heat, melt butter in saucepan. Add onion, flour and cook for a few minutes. Pour in chicken broth and milk. Whisk it until it comes together and remove it from heat. Then sprinkle in cheese and put aside.

Secondly, place potatoes in a 9x13 greased pan.

Add your peas.

Add your ham or turkey lunch meat, in my case :)

Pour your onion mix on top.

Finally, add your shredded cheese!! Bake it for 45-50 minutes with foil on top.

Here's the end result && it got an A+ from the hubby! 

I hope ya'll enjoyed my blog & you try this recipe!!! 

xoxoxoxox necole <3 

The Love Month!

So I've been reading a great 7 day devotional on "The 5 Love Languages for Her" by Gary Chapman! It has opened my eyes and heart on how to bring more love and connection into my marriage. This devotional has shown me a new perspective on how to treat my husband and factors that will help us reconnect on a daily basis. I have been married almost 3 years and our marriage isn't perfect but it's great! This can pertain to any relationship on any level (boyfriend/girlfriend, engaged, newlyweds, married 3 years to 50+ years)!! I wanted to share this great devotional for all the ladies out there but I don't want the men to feel left out...there is a 5 Love Languages for Him too! This Devotional Plan is on my "Bible" app but check out the website where you can buy Gary Chapman's book and find tips, etc: www.5lovelanguages.com

Here's the first day:

"Something in our nature cries out to be loved by another. Isolation is devastating to the human psyche. That is why solitary confinement is considered the cruelest of punishments. At the heart of humankind's existence is the desire to be intimate and to be loved by another. Marriage is designed to meet that need for intimacy and love. That is why the ancient biblical writings spoke of the husband and wife becoming "one flesh." That did not mean that individuals would lose their identity; it meant that they would enter into each other's lives in a deep and intimate way.

But if love is important, it is also elusive. I have listened to many married couples share their secret pain. Some came to me because the inner ache had become unbearable. Others came because they realized that their behavior patterns or the misbehavior of their spouse was destroying the marriage. Some came simply to inform me that they no longer wanted to be married. Their dreams of"living happily ever after" had been dashed against the hard walls of reality. Again and again I have heard the words "Our love is gone, our relationship is dead. We used to feel close, but not now. We no longer enjoy being with each other. We don't meet each other's needs." Their stories bear testimony that adults as well as children have "love tanks."

Could it be that deep inside hurting couples exists an invisible "emotional love tank" with its gauge on empty? Could the misbehavior, withdrawal, harsh words, and critical spirit occur because of that empty tank?" If we could find a way to fill it, could the marriage be reborn?

With a full tank would couples be able to create an emotional climate where it is possible to discuss differences and resolve conflicts? Could that tank be the key that makes marriage work? Those questions sent me on a long journey. Along the way, I discovered the simple yet powerful insights contained in this book. The journey has taken me not only through thirty years of marriage counseling but into the hearts and minds of hundreds of couples throughout America. From Seattle to Miami, couples have invited me into the inner chamber of their marriages, and we have talked openly. The illustrations included in this book are cut from the fabric of real life. Only names and places are changed to protect the privacy of the individuals who have spoken so freely.

I am convinced that keeping the emotional love tank full is an important to a marriage as maintaining the proper oil level is to an automobile. Running your marriage on an empty "Love tank" may cost you even more than trying to drive your car without oil. What you are about to read has the potential of saving thousands of marriages and can even enhance the emotional climate of a good marriage. Whatever the quality of your marriage now, it can always be better. "

1 Peter 4:8 "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."

WOW!!!! Gary Chapman is awesome! I hope ya'll enjoy this devotional and take the 7 day journey with me!!

xoxo-necole

                          

Lynli is ALMOST one!!!

How has a year flown by so fast?! Now I know what parents (and Kenny Chesney) mean whenever they say "Don't blink!" When you have kids, life flies by and it's the best way I want to spend it! Making memories and watching Lynli experience everything!

I just can't believe my baby girl will be one in a few short weeks!! I took a little photo shoot of her eating some cupcakes in a tutu, bow and diaper! I made the tutu with left over mesh, painted some cardboard letters and made a crown out of a toilet paper roll! She had a blast consuming all the sugar and playing with the icing! Hope you enjoy these pictures and in a few short weeks, I will have pictures from her birthday party! 

XOX-necole

Apple Braid Bread

Wow! It's been awhile since I've blogged but it feels great to be back! My hubby and baby girl are sleeping and I am having ME time! FINALLY! :) As I'm eating my midnight snack and watching my recorded 20/20, I am going to share this recipe with you because it is simply AmAzInG!! This is a Pinterest recipe and I think it was a success lol here's the link==>>http://www.sugarbeecrafts.com/2011/09/apple-braid-bread.html!

As I was reading this, I thought it would be hard to braid the bread but it was SO easy! Ya'll have to try it!

okay first step is the APPLE FILLING: Preheat oven to 350. Peel your 4 apples, slice apples very thin and then cut them in half

Put the apples in a 8x8 baking dish. In a seperate bowl, mix together 3 tbsp sugar, 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon and 2 tsp lemon juice. Pour into baking dish with apples and get everything coated. Put in oven for 15 minutes.

While apples are baking, make the BREAD: Mix 2 1/2 cups bread flour, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 tbsp instant yeast, 3/4 tsp salt. Next mix 1 cup warm water and 2 1/4 tsp vegetable oil into the mix. Either use an electric mixer or a spoon and mix until its a soft dough. Knead it for a few minutes then roll it out on a surface that has been coated with cooking spray...Spray a rolling pin also. (THIS IS A GREAT TIP THAT I WILL USE FROM NOW ON!) Roll out the dough in a rectangular-ish shape LOL obviously mine isn't close to a rectangle but it works!! 

Use a pizza cutter or sharp knife to cut strips on each side, leaving enough space in the middle for the apple mix. They don't have to be perfect, mine weren't and I'm okay with that! 

Now, put the apple mix in the middle.

Braid it girl, BRAID IT! It's fun and easy and fun!! lol Let it bake in the oven for 25 min or a little bit longer till its golden on top!

I didn't take a picture of me making the GLAZE ICING but it's just 1/3 cup confectioner's sugar, 5 tsp whipping cream, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, pinch of kosher salt and pinch of nutmeg. Whisk together and pour on bread right after you take it out of the oven. Let it cool or dig in! AND DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE CALORIES! Life is too short ;)

So this was my slice.....second slice but who's counting!

Enjoy your weekend & hug your loved ones! 

xoxoxoxo necole

New Year...New Me!!

Ya'll, can you believe 2014 is over?!?!?! It flew by and I'm sure it did for ya'll too!

Last year was the best year yet! Becoming Lynli's mom was the GREATEST experience that could of ever happened to me! Staying home with her is the best job there is and I'm so grateful to my husband! I love being a mom, always have and always will......but sometimes I do need that precious hour to myself LOL! Are you with me, moms?! Now that 2015 is here; there are dreams that I want to accomplish and goals I want to meet!

1) Deepen my relationship with the Lord and become more involved in church
2) Stop comparing myself to others---its a joy killer!!
3) Love myself for who I am!
4) Stop worrying about what others think of me. Just STOP WORRYING! - God has it under control!
5) Get organized!!!
6) Eat healthier <<< THIS IS ON MY LIST EVERY YEAR >>>
7) Stop waiting and start doing...if I want something, I need to go after it!
8) Exercise at least 20 minutes a day---use my Beachbody dvd!
9) Be positive/optimistic in all situations!
10) Have a date night every month! Thankful for my amazing hardworking husband who I love so much :)
                                      **(Grandma/Glammy, get ready to babysit)**
11) Blog weekly or daily!
12) Read a book or two-------any suggestions?!?!
13) Do a couples devotional!
14) Meet new people and make new friends :)
15) Bake/Cook something new every week!

This year, I pray to be a godly role model to Lynli and others. I pray that Jesus is brought back into our schools and homes. I pray that our President looks to Jesus for guidance and knowledge to lead our country. I pray that we love everyone and judge no one. Finally, I pray that I live a life that honors the Lord and that I spread His love wherever I go!

Now that I've shared my resolutions, its time for ya'll to share yours!! Ready, Set, GO!

xoxo necole

DIY Christmas gifts

This year, I wanted to start a tradition of making a Christmas treat to give to my neighbors and mail lady. I thought banana bread would be perfect and I love making it! It's easy and the smell it puts in your kitchen while baking is fabulous!

Here's my recipe: 

Here is the before

And after

You can add some rustic Christmasy flair :)

Hope yall enjoy and let me know if you try it!! 

Merry Christmas!!

XOXO XOXO

Necole