Fancy Fridays: Spring Fling

Hello Everyone! 

I've decided to start a new category for my blog! Starting today... every friday will be Fancy Fridays! I love getting dressed up and finding new styles and things on pinterest! Some Fridays will feature looks I pin and some days I'll throw in some of my own outfits! :) 

So... here is the first installment of Fancy Fridays! 

Enjoy a few of my favorites for spring! Maybe let one or two inspire you for your next event! 

I love this two tone blue dress!!!
Source: Pinterest (The link on the pin goes nowhere)

Super cute white tank with floral skirt! Love that necklace as well!
Source: Where to Get

I have been loving the stripes and solid combo lately! This is an adorable combination!
Source: Hazel and Olive

Very pretty summer dress with cute accessories!
Source: Bluetique Cheap Chic

I love this floral print with gold accessories! Wicked adorable. (Yes, I'm from New England)
Source: Pinterest (Blocked Link)

Hope you've enjoyed this first post in Fancy Fridays! Can't wait for next week! 

Happy Birthday Nana!

Today is the day that my family celebrates the rock on my mom's side of the family.

My Nana is one heck of a lady, a role model... in fact. She's gone through things in her life that no one should ever have to go through, but she's come out of those things as a stronger person. She's the person I know I can go to with anything, and she will be there to listen to me. All the 21 years of my life she has showered me with unending, selfless, and unconditional love, along with my Papa for as long as he was with us. She has blessed me in a hundred different ways and supported me in absolutely everything I've done, even if she didn't agree with me. She makes me laugh every day of the week and provides so much solidity in my life. I love spending time with her. God blessed me in the most wonderful way when He made the choice to make me her oldest grandchild. I'm forever grateful to Him for allowing me to know her and call her Nana. 

Nana, thank you so much, for everything ever. Thank you isn't enough to say. I hope you've had a great day and will continue to. I love you more than words can express. 

My Birthday, 2009

Spring, 2010

October, 2010

Old Orchard Beach, 2011

Can you tell we like the beach?
Old Orchard Beach, 2011

The whole family... all her kids and grandkids.
Stowe Vermont, 2012

"I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always. As long as I'm living my Nana you'll be." 

Crispy Cheddar Chicken

One of the things I have loved most about being home again is cooking! It's great to have a real stove, good pans to cook with and not have to worry about the fire alarm going off and getting a $50 fine. 

Tonight I cooked one of my favorite meals for my family and I wanted to share it with you! This is Crispy Cheddar Chicken and it's similar to the Broccoli Cheddar Chicken that Cracker Barrel serves. It's super easy to make and tastes so good! 

The original recipe can be found here: Crispy Cheddar Chicken Recipe

*Original Recipe has measurements for ingredients, I don't use them. It's a pretty simple recipe that you just use as much as you need. Except the sauce, measurements are good for that.*

Ingredients: 

Chicken:

Chicken Breasts
Ritz Crackers
Milk
Shredded Cheddar Cheese (about 4 cups)
Salt & Pepper
Dried Parsley

Sauce:

1 Can of Cream of Chicken Soup
2 Tbs of Sour Cream
2 Tbs of Butter

How To

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and grab a 9x13 cooking pan.

2. Take two bowls, pour some milk in one and crush up some of the Ritz crackers in the other one. 

3. Cut each chicken breast into 3 sections. Dip each piece into the milk, then into the cracker crumbs. You may have to press the crumbs into it pretty good. Then place each piece into the pan.

4. Once you've done that, take the shredded cheese and pour it all over the chicken, completely covering it. Cover your pan with tin foil and put it in the oven for 35 minutes. After that 35 minutes, take the pan out and remove the tin foil and cook it for another 10 minutes or until the edges are golden brown. 

5. In a medium pot, combine the cream of chicken soup, butter, and sour cream and stir until hot. Serve over chicken.


That's it! Serve the chicken with mashed potatoes and broccoli like I did or whatever you like! 



I hope you enjoy this recipe! If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below!

Happy Cooking! 

It Is Well

As I sit and reflect on the last four months of my life... two phrases come to my head from popular worship songs, "You make all things work together for my good" and "It is Well." I've sung those songs hundreds of times in my life, but throughout this semester, I've really seen them become true in my life. This was probably the most challenging semester I've ever had, in every way possible. 

Relationally, I felt like most of the semester I was walking on eggshells around certain people in my life and I had to ask myself why. Why was I walking on eggshells letting their opinions of me matter so much? So this semester, I lost friendships and people walked out of my life. More people than I thought, and people who I never expected to. God is so faithful though, because for the friendships that were lost, new ones were born. I was talking to my friend Dane yesterday (who by the way is one of those newer friendships placed in my life) and he asked how I was doing with the friendship thing and this was my answer to him, "God is definitely being faithful to my prayers to weed out the people who shouldn't be in my life... and while sometimes it hurts... I know it's for the best." That's really the best way I could have said it. I'm so thankful that God always has a plan for us, and He puts awesome people in our lives to help us along that way, and takes out the ones who will hinder us and hold us back. 

Academically, this semester was challenging. I haven't had the best track record with grades but I've gotten myself back on track and ended the semester with the best grades I've had since I started my sophomore year. I sat in the library at the start of finals week to study for my 2 finals and felt so relieved because I didn't have any extra homework to do like I normally do. Hard work pays off, and I am never going back to the feelings of anxiety and stress I had when I wasn't applying myself in my school work. 

Physically, this semester was exhausting. I don't know that I've ever come home from a semester more exhausted than I did this semester. I had a nannying position that I loved so much but the girls certainly kept me active and busy... which was good for me. I made a pact to try and walk more on campus this semester instead of driving my car when going to the anvil, and I did that. All of my classes and my apartments were upstairs. Plus I was going to the gym a few times a week. It was a battle to wake up every day, but I did it... and it was all worth it.  

At the end of the day, I look back at this semester and I feel a sense of peace. God really did take everything that happened, that the devil meant for evil, and He used it for good. Also, I'm happy. :) 

So to you, if you've read through this whole post... please know that even though you may be going through something so ridiculous right now, God is there with you, and He is turning it for good... even if you may not see it yet. He loves you and He's with you. Walk with Him, and He will prove faithful to you and guide your steps. You are loved. 

"and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." ~Romans 8:28