A day in the life.....

Thursday temps in the midwest reached 100℉

 SO in addition to errands we stopped in Target....I tried all these things on....too big, too small....

Went to the dentist....was able to kick my feet up and catch up with Marie Claire!

FAB Mural on the wall of a Chicago apartment building...

Delish treats at Cafe Selmarie in Lincoln Square....

We got a piece of the red velvet WITH chocolate glaze - YUM-O!!

I had the chilaquiles (an mexican egg casserole with tortillas and shredded chicken in a red sauce)

Frozen yogurt....

While the kids loaded theirs with chocolate chips, cookies, whip cream and chocolate syrup, this is mine...Ginger Limonette with fresh berries and mango - SO REFRESHING!!

and some arm swag....

Foodie Friday Pizza Pops

While at The 3 French Hens Market I got a "pizza pop" which was SO FAB! It was a full size italian sausage, cheese,  onions and green pepper encased in a "dough"....SO GOOD!! SO I KNEW I had to try and re-create it at home...

SO I started with these ingredients (I already pre-cooked my italian sausage)....

I omitted the onion and green pepper because I knew my kids wouldn't like them....I used a roll of Pillsbury Italian Loaf ready to bake roll....

Which I proceeded to snip into sections with my kitchen scissors....

Flattened out the dough....cut the italian sausage in half (so it was more manageable sizes for the kids)

Added shredded mozzarella cheese and the sausage and rolled.....

I baked at 375℉ for 25-35 minutes or until golden brown....

Here is the finished product!! The kids RAVED about them!! They were easy to make, fun and different! Next time I might make a few with onion and green pepper AND some pasta sauce would be delish for dipping (the kids didn't want the sauce so I was cool with not fussing with it this time)

Try it Thursday HOT ROCKS

Thanks y'all for your sweet comments on WIWW - I LOVED reading every one of them!! Thank you for taking the time!!

It's Try it Thursday...and today I am featuring Hot Rocks...now I KNOW I am not the first to do this....in fact, its been on my to-do list for two years (I originally found it here http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/2010/05/summer-craft-ideas-part-two.html )

We started out with a box of crayons....and some "HOT ROCKS"  (after we swiped them from our local grocery store's parking lot island, I washed them and baked them in the toaster over at 350 for 20 minutes)

We made these outside so as not to place the hot rocks on the wooden table and ruin it....I also found it helpful to place aluminum foil UNDER the rocks to catch the hot crayon run-off....

These are mine (obviously)....skull and cross bones, my name, a sugar skull, a flag and a leopard rock - I LOVE how they all came out...

These are Maya's....if you have a tweenie girl, you know 1D is for One Direction, A Peace Sign, Maya's name, a dinosaur egg and a flag....

Last but not least are Miguel's....I think this pic looks like it could be on a map or globe...he chose all jagged rocks...oddly enough the first rock is the states, he wanted his name in gold - which was über pale, so I semi-outlined in black crayon, the orange one is a "rare lego" the white one was a "dinosaur tooth fossil" and the last is a "lego alien"

Give these a try! It was fast and easy (I was able to squeeze this craft in before dinner and before I left for work) and F U N !! We can't wait to make some more!

WIWW and How to Dress For YOUR Shape

Linking up with Lindsey for WIWW http://thepleatedpoppy.com/2012/06/what-i-wore-wednesday-73/. This week I did something I haven't done before....I took pictures in various combinations of outfits (accessories, jackets, etc) to see what looked best BECAUSE what seemingly looks great in the mirror doesn't always translate to great in reality....taking a picture helps! 

Friday - Work....If you guys check out Allison's casual Friday you already saw this! 

 What I am wearing:
Turquoise Collar Necklace - Chico's
Black T-Shirt
Jean Capris - Chico's So Slimming (These ARE SO FAB)
Wedges - Walmart 2008

Saturday - Work (and this is a prime example of taking a photo to see what looks best which is why I put both pics up). Here I thought the belt would look best outside of the jacket....

BUT after trying the belt UNDER the jacket I thought it looked best this way....

 What I am wearing:
Brown Jacket - Macy's
Pink Tank - Macy's
Belt - Chico's
Zebra Pants - Chico's
Gold Braided Cuff - Vintage
Gold Ball Necklace - Talbots via the Thrift

Sunday was Work day # 3 for me....I had to dress for comfort AND style....and here is another example of photo trial....Sleeveless jacket belted over tank....

No jacket and JUST a belt....

OR the Classic Denim jacket OVER belted tank...THIS is the option I chose - I want YOU to weigh in and tell me WHICH style YOU liked best.....

What I am wearing:
Denim Jacket - Kohls - 2007
White Tank - Macy's
White Skirt - Macy's
Belt - Chico's
Boots - had FOREVER since 1999
Wooden Bead Necklace - Old - Target I think
Assorted Wooden Bracelets (from L to R) : Target via the thrift, thrifted, theSassyPearl

Monday morning had me at work at 7 am so again I went for comfort and style (and lacked time to wash my hair hence the scarf)

 What I am wearing:
Scarf - Thrifted
Vest - Chicos (remember I tried pairing this with the white tank above?)
Belt - Chicos
Boots - Old 1999
Assorted Bangles - here, there and everywhere!!

Tuesday - work (this again was another example of taking pics to see what looks best)

Belted....

NOT belted (THIS was the look I chose)

What I am wearing:
Sheer Tunic - Chico's
Jean Capris - So Slimming - Chicos
Layered Necklaces - Consignment and Target via the thrift

Can't wait to see what YOU wore - always looking for new inspiration!! I LOVe hearing from you, so leave me a comment!!

Mani Monday

I am linking up with Heather http://www.glitterandglossblog.com/2012/06/mani-monday_25.html for Mani Monday

Last night I changed my melon mandarin mani to this.....

 In the pics the color looks grey BUT it actually an army green color ( which is actually "Green Up Your Act" by Nicole by OPI) that I accented with Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in "Lacey Lilac" (I LOVE this color!!).

A day in the life.....

I am adjusting to being back at work (even though it's just part time it IS an adjustment!! But don't get me wrong - I am LOVING the challenge and self sufficiency!! Here are a few snapshots from the week...

Reading the book "Double Fudge" with my lil guy....

Summer Mani / Pedi in a FAB watermelon pink (with orange french tips on the toes)

Used these to make a project .....

Made Chicken Pot Pie for my babies who have been begging for it all week....

My breakfast Saturday morning (one egg and one egg white with red onions, green pepper and shredded cheese)...I LOVE a "brown crust" on my eggs...

Cilantro, Cauliflower and tomato....

That I made into Pico de gallo...I stored it in these "recycled" spaghetti jars...perfect for transport and look so cute when you open the fridge...

Our cute lil kitty being the "quintessential" cat playing with yarn...

Hope y'all had a GREAT week!!

Casual Friday

Hi!! I am linking up (a day late) with Allison at Two Thirty Five Designs http://twothirtyfivedesigns.blogspot.com/2012/06/casual-friday-link-up-giveaway.html for Casual Friday

What I am Wearing:

FAB turquoise Bib Necklace - Chico's
Black T-Shirt - Chico's
Jean Capris (Folded once) - Chico's
Wedges - Wal-mart 2008

Can you guess where I was headed?!?! This was my casual Friday work ensemble. I LOVE the necklace - it can take any plain t-shirt from blah to ba-da- BING!!

Off to see what you girls wore!!

Foodie Friday Taco in A Bag

This meal is EXACTLY what it sounds like! 

Cook a pound of ground beef with a packet of taco seasoning according to the package directions....

Get a snack size bag of Doritos or Fritos or whatever makes your heart content and crunch them up...

Add a few spoonfuls of slightly cooled taco meat (let meat cool for about 10 minutes so it doesn't melt the bag)

Add shredded cheese...

and some tomatoes....

and shredded lettuce....

I also added a few diced avocado squares (even though I do not like avocado they are good for you and I didn't even taste them!!)

The idea is to eat the mixture straight from the bag - which the kids LOVED (including my lil guy who HATES tacos). I wanted to dump mine out on a plate....

Buen Provecho!