Catch up blog, full of goodies!

Wow, I am way behind in the blog world. Reading, writing, posting, everything! Today, I'm playing catch up. Gonna be a big 'un! {Who says that?}


So...in my DIY world a friend and I made a scarf! It. is. so. cute. And the other great thing about it, is...as long as you have a good pair of scissors it's super easy!

I followed this tutorial.

Used an old t-shirt in my bottomless t-shirt drawer and here it is!

Wah-lah!

Here it is on, so cute. I love it! Not really the, 'Hi, I need to stay warm scarf...' more like a 'Seriously?! Look at this super cute scarf I made!'

In other news...we FINALLY went and saw ...

AHH! It was AMAZING! Well, beyond amazing. Omg. Incredible. I didn't know what to expect because I didn't read the book. Book 2 was so depressing I just couldn't pick up the third one. Now I am dying to find some spare time {yeah right} to read the entire Breaking Dawn book. Maybe I can get it on audio and run to it? Hmm...check into that. It seemed like we waited forever to go see it, but it was only a week after it came out. Had to wait for all the teeny boppers to get out of the way.

So I packed us some german gummies all to share, popped a mini bag of 100 cal popcorn and headed to the movies!

Don't want to spoil to movie for anyone who hasn't seen it yet {UM, go meow!} but the ending was the best and had me saying, 'MAN!' {Cause it's only part 1.}

On to recipes!

You might have seen this pin floating around...

Well last night after the gym, we cooked it! It was so yummy & healthy!

Lemon and Dill Chicken

Ingredients:
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Ground pepper, to taste
3 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, or canola oil, divided
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 teaspoons flour
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill, divided
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Directions:
1. Season chicken breasts on both sides with salt and pepper.
2. Heat 1 1/2 teaspoons oil in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat.
3. Add the chicken and sear until well browned on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to a plate and tent with foil.
4. Reduce heat to medium. Add the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons oil to the pan.
5. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Whisk broth, flour, 1 tablespoon dill and lemon juice in a measuring cup and add to pan. Cook, whisking, until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes.
5. Return the chicken and any accumulated juices to the pan; reduce heat to low and simmer until the chicken is cooked through, about 4 minutes.
6. Transfer the chicken to a warmed platter. Season sauce with salt and pepper and spoon over the chicken.
7. Garnish with the remaining 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill.


So, last Friday night Brandon and I had date night and went to eat dinner at Old Chicago! Well, while I was working on curling the last few curls in my hair with my black chi...my hair all of a sudden went limp. I was like, 'What? Come on, curl...' so I tried it again and nothing. Beginning to get frustrated, on top of being starving and ready to go, I called Brandon in and complained to him :) He checked it out and said that only one side of the iron was hot. 'SAY WHAT?! I just bought this $130 black Chi like 6 months ago...' So...extremely irritated, mad at my Chi, starving, and ready to go but a few curls...I reached under the counter and pulled out my old flower Chi. Now...this flower Chi lasted me over a year and a 1/2 but it had started to go out on me a little bit. I could tell that it was struggling to keep up and damaging my hair which is why I bought the black Chi. Since it still had a little power to it, I kept it for back up. THANK GOODNESS! So, I've been using that...gritting my teeth not wanting to spend the amount that a new one costs. Considering we just bought a new dinning room table and Christmas is right around the corner it isn't exactly the best timing for this to happen. I told Brandon a few days ago that I would totally understand if it was apart of my Christmas present, but if so...I would like it sooner then later ;)

Well, after that nothing has been said about the Chi. I've just went on with my days using the 'ol Chi. Last night while prepped everything for dinner Brandon said, 'Ok soooo this guy I work with, his wife works at Trade Secret and she had a gift card for a one of these...close your eyes and stick out your hands...' and then he handed me 'Pink-ing of you' OPI! AH! I was so excited! I haven't gotten a new OPI in a whiiiile! Isn't he the best?

So, then he was like, 'While I was there, I know you mentioned you made an appointment to get your hair colored again, so I got you this..' and he made me close my eyes and stick out my hands and he handed me the Biloage Color Care Shampoo and Conditioner system. Ah! I was so excited! I went on and on about how I haven't used Biloage since I became a big girl and moved out because mom would always buy it for me. And how I wanted to get it so bad to help my hair for color, but I'm so cheap I couldn't bring myself to spend the money on it. He is so the best!

So then he was like, 'Ok, so I got you one more little thing, it's nothing crazy stick out your hands...' and so, I stuck out my arms held my hands palm up and shut my eyes. When I opened them...there laid a brand new Frosted White Ionic Single Pass Ceramic Chi. There is a quick and easy link for you girls to email to your moms, boyfriends, husbands-whoever your Santa is. My hair has never felt so amazing. It truly is a single pass. This morning while styling my hair I was in heaven. Especially after using that Biloage. Oh the simple things in life. I love being a girl!


So, because he spent a fortune on the Chi, he got two free gifts. He did a great job, that's for sure! ;) Don't know how many men can survive Trade Secret and make it out like he did!

This was a funny site in our bathroom last night...
The black one is now in the trash. It wouldn't even heat up.
The flower one is in the cabinet, ready for back up.
But hopefully I won't need it for a long time!

This week I'm taking Friday off and we were supposed to be going to Gatlinburg to spend the weekend together in a cabin and enjoying all the sights and Christmas Festivities! Brandon wasn't here last Christmas and with his job who knows if he will be here for next year, so this year we're doing it big! But unfortunately...life gets in the way. This year we are doing our Christmas Eve celebration at our house. I am sooooo excited! But, all we had was a pub table. We had been holding off on getting a dinning room table, since we moved in. But the time finally came and we spent the money and bought one. So...after buying a dinning room table and Christmas right around the corner, Gatlinburg will have to wait. {Sigh, if only money grew on trees...}

Well, no frowns here because we have planned to make the best of it! We are going to go see a play at the Roxy Friday night followed with dinner at one of the best spots downtown Clarksville, The Black Horse! I could go there everyday and never get tired of there food.

The play we're going to see is

We also have plans to go see the Christmas Parade downtown Nashville! I can't wait! I really am a little kid when it comes to Christmas, but I think everyone is. Hopefully I can talk my sweet husband into some PF Changs after the parade... or I'll settle with TGIFriday's. ;) {Hint, hint}


So excited for our three day weekend! Gonna get some Christmas Shopping done, do a little baking, maybe a little gymin-if so it'll have to be swimming laps thanks to my foot! Boo.