Oh Heaven Help Me, I Love Everything About Fall...Including the Fashion!

With each terribly hot day that we've had I get even more excited for Autumn to finally show us her beautiful colors.

There is nothing about fall that I don't love, but if there is one thing I am really looking forward to is the  clothes!  I love clothes, I am a girl and therefore predisposed to spend a ridiculous amount of time in the morning getting ready.  I stand in my closet and finger through everything I have and what is worse is that I have discovered ModCloth for what it really is.

Oh help me...

I never used to really care for dresses but recently its my thing.  As is polyvore.  And all the outfits people put together and post on pinterest.  Oh heavens...

Come on ladies, I know you know what I am talking about.  Find me on pinterest and see all the cute outfits I am bound and determined to put together this fall thanks to Goodwill.

As much as I love ModCloth and Target they just aren't in my price range.  But who doesn't love a good thrift find?!

But until fall rolls around, I am A/C bound!

In Gods Love,

Kenz

New York...In Pictures

Sitting here, listening to Sigur Ros, and watching the storm clouds roll in I think about where the Hubs and I are now, and where we were just a year ago.  New York City?!  Wow...now that I sit and think about the things I am missing about the city, I am just now realizing how incredible it was that we actually LIVED there.  Had I appreciated it then as I do now, I feel I would have really embraced Manhattan and the surrounding boroughs.  I would have dug deep and really taken in everything I could about the city.  But sadly, we often realize how incredibly awesome an opportunity was only after it has passed and we only have pictures to look back on fondly and think how we would have done things differently.  If only I would have really appreciated it for what it was, we'll never have that again, but it was an awesome ride...

And because I am feeling nostalgic today; and because I am missing Central Park, the musicians on the subway trains and in the stations, the smell of the most amazing gyros I have ever had in my entire life, the buildings shrouded in fog on an early Manhattan morning, and just the energy and romance of that way too over populated island, I thought I'd share some of my favorite pictures with you all.

I hope I do that magic place a bit of justice.  I took about 1,206 pictures over the course of our residence on 84th Road Briarwood NY and as much as I'd love to share them all with you, there are some that really make me miss that incredible place.

boarding the train in Omaha

our first view of one of the bridges into Manhattan

our brother and sister taking us to our new apartment in Queens

my very first view of Manhattan

Brooklyn

our first NY pizza (not too good)

the cart Beau took off the curb for me

our first subway ride into Manhattan

Radio City...need I say more...

first time in Times Square

the subway station/stop near our home

when my brother came to visit, he fit in so well there

just a building

just a park

just a rainy spring day in Manhattan

one of my favorites, it was so great to have him with us

just a random group of guys singing Motown tunes outside the Met

Beau and I listening to the music and having a hot dog before going into the Met

just the back of a building

Beau and his very best friend from childhood, these guys are true brothers

just a guy trying to paint in peace

hot dog stand in Central Park

my amazing husband

abandoned building at Coney Island

first time in Little Italy and as happy as could be

taking on a pastromi on rye at Katz Deli

a true hero (9/11 Memorial Museum at Ground Zero)

my sister came to visit, her first time in NY

our dear friend from college who was living in Brooklyn at the time

old friends, the best kind...

first try...

second try...

THERE we go!

baking Patty a cake for his birthday because he couldn't make it home to Iowa...

one of our last pictures in NY, kissing in 2012

New York wasn't anything to me then, but it means a lot to me now.  New York to me is free concerts and movies in the park (which I wish I would have taken advantage of), great music and food, culture galore, finding old friends, making new ones, learning to depend on one another because you are an awful long way from home, growing closer to siblings and really appreciating them.  New York to me is a fond memory, an amazing year in my life.  Its an amazing experience, its taking 9/11 extremely personal because even though we lived there only a year, we were New Yorkers and it was our home. Maybe someday Beau and I will walk down familiar streets again and see the city for what it really is, look back on what our life was there and smile.

Very Belated Pictures!

Hey everyone!  Sorry I haven't been posting pictures as often as I'd like!  Sometimes computers just aren't my best friend.

So here is the first recipe I have been meaning to share with you all.  Its called "Chicken Kiev" (or my version anyway...)

Kenz's Chicken Kiev

Here's What You Need...

4 chicken breasts 

chopped onion

1 clove of minced garlic

1/2 stick of butter

1 beaten egg

1 Tbs water

1/4 cup of all purpose flour

1 pkt of Onion Soup Mix

String Cheese

Shredded Cheddar

Alright...

1) pound the crap out of the chicken breasts

2) mix together the chopped onion, garlic, and cheddar cheese

3) add a 1/2 of a string cheese in the middle

4) fold the chicken in thirds over itself

5) top with onion soup mix and water

6) throw it in the oven at 400 degrees for 15-18 minutes and it should look like this...

I added some mozzarella to the top.  NUM!

Ok, so I have to be completely and totally honest when I say that this is merely me trying to remember how I made it.  Its not even an exact recipe, AND, as you can tell I didn't use all the ingredients.  I got the idea from here  So feel free to check it out, you won't hurt my feelings, I swear!

I also tried the Tomato, Cheddar, Basil soup just recently.  It was very good!

Tomato, Cheddar, Basil Soup

Here's What You Need...

2 28oz cans of petite diced tomatoes

1 chopped yellow onion

2 cloves of garlic, chopped

1 tsp of olive oil

2 cups of vegetable broth

1 cup of plain Greek yogurt

1 cup of grated cheddar cheese

1/2 cup of chopped basil

2 tsp of oregano

1 tsp sugar

salt and pepper to taste

1) put a pot on medium heat and add olive oil and onion.  Allow the onions to soften.

2) add chopped garlic and allow to soften

3) pour in the vegetable broth and tomatoes, juice and all

4) stir in basil, oregano, sugar, salt and pepper

5) cover and simmer 10 minutes

6) stir in yogurt and cheese until well blended

It said in the directions to blend the soup with immersion blender.  I wish I had one because the soup was chunkier than I would have liked.  If you do have an immersion blender though, make sure that it is deep within the soup so as not to splash all over and make a mess.  Add more cheese and basil to garnish!  After making this I will never buy canned soup again!

And NOW for my favorite recipe so far...Philly Cheesesteak Green Peppers!

Philly Cheesesteak Green Peppers

Here's What You Need...
8 oz of thinly sliced roast beef
8 slices of provolone
shredded mozzarella
2 large green peppers
1 medium sweet onion
6 oz baby bella mushrooms
2 Tbs. butter
2 Tbs. olive oil
1 Tbs. minced garlic
Salt and Pepper

1) in a pan throw in olive oil (I never measure...) onions, and garlic and let them cook through
2) when onions are clear add mushrooms
3) cut up the roast beef and add to mushrooms, onions, and garlic
4) while the mixture is warming through cut the peppers in half and clean them out
5) fill them with the shredded mozzarella
6) add meat mixture from the pan
7) top with provolone
8) throw in a 400 degree oven for 15-20 minutes

This is seriously one of the most tasty things I have made in a long time.  There is so much flavor and what is even better is that its only 6 grams of carbs!  Hubs and I are trying to cut back on the carbs, so I am going to be checking out this website a LOT more.  I can't wait to see all the goodies she has posted!

I also tried to cut back the carbs a wee bit by trying a recipe for Spaghetti Squash Au Gratin.  Let me just say that the world is full of trial and error and we learn as we go.  Well, I have learned a few things in the kitchen since I started cooking and because of this, I can safely say that there are recipes I like, and there are some that I don't.  I wasn't a fan of this recipe but I do want to share it just in case some of you may like spaghetti squash.  This is the first time I have ever made it so that's maybe why I didn't like it.  Try it out though!  You may like it!

Spaghetti Squash Au Gratin

Here's What You Need...
1 medium spaghetti squash
2 Tbs butter
1 small yellow onion, very thinly sliced
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp fresh thyme
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup shredder cheddar cheese

1) cut the squash in half and remove the seeds
2) put it in a deep casserole dish and add some water
3) throw it in the microwave for 10-12 minutes -OR- if you have a tiny microwave like we do, throw it in a 400 degree oven for 30 minutes.  Keep poking at it though because it may be tender before then
3) over medium heat, add butter, onions, thyme, and red pepper and cook til onions are soft and slightly caramelized
4) scrape out the softened squash into a mixing bowl and add onions, sour cream, and cheddar cheese
5) pour the mixture into a greased casserole dish and top with cheese
6) cook at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes

Sunday I got a wee bit bored and a little stir crazy hiding from the intense heat so I decided to do a craft!  I had seen this sweet little wreath on pinterest and wanted to make one of our own in celebration of the 4th of July. SO, I made a trip to Joann's and purchased the following...

The colors are: burgundy, navy, and aran (creamy) to go with our "old country" look

You will also need a foam wreath thingy...

It was extremely easy to do.  I just decided on the thickness of the "stripe" with the first color and alternated between red and white until I had just enough room for the blue!  EASY!  And here is the finished project...

Price breakdown...

foam wreath- $8.99

yarn- $2.99/each

buttons- $5.99 

(believe it or not, buttons are PRICEY and getting the jar was much more cost effective)

the ribbon I had bought a while ago to make my niece some things but I would guess it was around $3.00

*any time you want to make something cute with some awesome fabrics I recommend going to a thrift store and checking out old clothes.  You don't have to wear them, but you can certainly use the buttons off it, and even the fabric itself!

And finally, my pride and joy and most definitely my most favorite piece of furniture we own.  Beau bought me this little gem as a Mother's Day gift at Goodwill for $14...

Before...

After...

The color is called "Guacamole" in a flat finish.  It was missing a couple pulls so I picked some cute ones out and just put them on the top drawer!  I adore this little dresser and remind the Hubs of that every day.  All together I'd say it was about $25 tops with the paint and paint brushes.  It will go GREAT in a nursery when the time comes ;)

Well, its getting about that time to get a shopping list put together for dinner tonight and the pot luck breakfast/lunch/dinner at work tomorrow.

I hope you all have a memorable and SAFE 4th of July!  Embrace your loved ones and thank our Veterans.  They've done so much for you and me...

In Gods Love,

Kenz