New Year's Eve,The Movie Sing, & What I Wore

Unfortunately over the New Year's holiday weekend my family was hit with a nasty stomach bug, I won't go into detail, but it hit every one of us hard, no fun! We call it Nicole's Revenge! The good news is we are all feeling better but we kind of took it really easy over New Years since it knocked each of us out!

 Here we are celebrating a new year, hell0 2017!!

 We also enjoyed some pork, black eyed peas, cornbread and green beans. Hubby had some collard greens...not for me!

 Hubby watched Nicole say Taylor and I could go see the new movie Sing!!

 Here we are before it starts, so much fun!!

Popcorn and drink is a must, right?! But bring a fat wallet cause it will cost you, goodness!

 I totally get how this overworked Mom feels!

Did you know Reese Witherspoon did her voice?!

All smiles after the movie, we had a blast and loved the music, so much fun to watch!

My girl Taylor is super smart! And she loves a good puzzle, she pretty much put this together all by herself!

That super feeling when you get the missing piece!!

 I think this black dress is one of my most versatile pieces, it's a summer dress from Walmart but I am able to pair with with so much! I pulled out this old corduroy jacket with my brown boots for this look.

This raspberry colored sweater from Walmart has been on of my favorites this season along with the silver tassel necklace. I paired it with my over the knee boots and leggings.

I got this super cute navy and white stripped dress at Walmart for $12...SCORE!! I paired it with this bright yellow scarf to stay warm and Charming Charlie yellow necklace.

Here is GA we are preparing for a snow storm coming our way, should be beautiful! I hope where ever you are you have a safe and happy weekend!!

Crescent Roll Lasagna and Simple Joys

After my family left Christmas afternoon we enjoyed a day relaxing playing with our new toys. I had made a little Holiday Menu Planner a week before and found a new recipe for lasagna I wanted to try, its with no noodles! It came out delicious so I thought you would enjoy too! Its from Jennifer at Dimples and Tangles:

 Crescent Roll Lasagna

Ingredients: 2 cans crescent rolls 1 pound cooked, drained hamburger meat

1 jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce
1 16 oz. container cottage cheese
2 cups Mozzarella or Italian Style shredded cheese
Sliced mushrooms (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and spray a 9x13" casserole dish with non-stick spray.
2. Unroll 1 can of crescent rolls, and lay the whole can out on the bottom of the dish.  Flatten and pinch together seams if necessary to spread across entire bottom of the dish.
3. Combine cooked hamburger meat and jar of spaghetti sauce.  Layer 1/2 of mixture on top of crescent rolls in dish.  Add a layer of mushrooms if desired.
4. Layer cottage cheese over meat and sauce mixture.
5. Layer the rest of the meat and sauce mixture over cottage cheese.
If your family doesn't object, you could add some sliced mushrooms in with the meat layer as well.
6. Sprinkle cheese over meat mixture.
7. Unroll 2nd can of crescent rolls and spread over cheese to form a top crust.  Flatten out pieces a bit before laying them down if desired, but rolls don't need to completely cover the top.
8. Bake for about 25 minutes until top is golden brown.
9.  Let sit about 5 minutes before serving. 

 Here is it and boy is it good!! Very easy, yummy, and taste's great the next day! If you don't like ricotta cheese, cottage cheese is a great alternative!

 You know I love a good side by side, since its pretty cold know I am pulling out Taylor's old sweater dresses. This is one of my favorite's with the Disney princesses on it!

Every December my family does a bowl pick them, I've done pretty well in the past, not too great this year but you know I love Coach Richt and gave Miami my 3rd highest confidence points and they won, GO CMR!! So happy for him!!

 Love some Slope's BBQ for lunch!! I ordered a pulled chicken sandwich, baked beans and yummy green beans, and of course a sweet tea, perfect lunch break!

 Another side by side! Look at my sweet girls big morning smiles :-)

 I've been listening to the George Michael Pandora station non stop, its so great. You know I cranked it up when Freedom came on, love it!! Did you also know this song was sampled from the Aretha Franklin song Freedom?

 During our long New Year weekend I took the girls to Monkey Joe's to jump some energy out, they loved it!

If you are a fan of Trader Joe's cookie butter but don't have one near you like me, I suggest picking up some of this Sam's Choice Cookie Butter ice cream at Walmart, its SO good and half the price!

 Daddy and Taylor playing Jenga!

Love me some Toaster Strudell's!!

 Since we didn't have an alarm clock to wake up to, last Friday night we had a couch camp out by the Christmas tree lights before we had to take them down, it was fun!! Here is Nicole snoozing away XOXO

Bath time is hit or miss with Coco, but here is a time she was loving it, look at that big smile!

With the New Year many of us have new goals, I love this CS Lewis quote about NEVER being too old!

We are keeping an eye on the weather here in GA, we should be getting some snow so to all those who are traveling, be extra careful and enjoy the snow!

 

Fabulous Gifts

I wanted to share some of the fabulous gifts I received for Christmas today! I don't want this to come off as I am bragging, just wanted to share some of the things I love!! I always receive way more then I deserve at Christmas from my family.

 Mom & Dad gifted Hubby, Brother and me with new pillow sets from My Pillow and monogrammed pillow ceases. The pillows are super comfy, we love them!

 Mom surprised me with a Birchbox subscription, so far I love it. Every month I get some upscale beauty samples, this month my favorite has been the blowout spray and face lotion. This set also came with some smell good perfume, but I accidentally dropped it on the tile and it shattered everywhere, I was so upset, but it did smell really good. I will share my thoughts on the products in more detail later.

 Hubby gifted me with a new Lilly P dress, gift card, calendar and hair ties. I was so happy there was some Lilly P under my tree!!

 Here is the dress I got with my gift card, its the Oh Shucks print, notice the oysters? I love anything with an oyster print, its so beachy!

 Here is the Devon print dress Hubby got for me, its so bright and comfy!

 My brother really surprised me with this North GA print he made and framed for me. I graduated from NGCSU so it holds a special place in my heart! I hung it under the GA wood cut out he got us last year, both look so good!! Thanks G!

 My mother in law ordered me this lovely Snow White sweater from the Lauren Conrad Disney line at Kohl's, its fantastic!!

Here is the sweater I paired with some old brown pants and a tank top under, I wish I could have got a picture of the back, it has a beautiful bow at the top, very feminine!

One of the yummiest stocking stuffers every, Godiva dark chocolate with sea salt, lets just say this didn't last too long and I ate Hubby's!

 Omma gifted me with the Coton Colors Happy Everything plate I have been eyeing for over a year, its so cute and has a seasonal attachment. I purchased this snowman, isn't he cute?! I can't wait to add to my collection!!

As you can see I got a lot of great items for Christmas and I am so thankful for it all!! Here is a picture of my greatest gifts tucked in bed (our bed) for the night, how blessed am I?

Happy Portmas!!

 Happy 2017 Everyone!!

It's back to work for me today, Hubby is still enjoying his Christmas break, Taylor is now the 3rd victim of what I am calling Nicole's revenge, AKA a stomach bug that started with Coco, got me, and now got Taylor. Hoping a sweet girl starts to feel better, I know its rough. But I am grateful she can stay home with Hubby today. I am also grateful for the time off work I have enjoyed the past two weeks, it was nice getting a break from the traffic and every day rush. I am slowly packing up Christmas decorations and putting my winter decor on display but I will never pack away the memories! Here are some pics of Christmas with my in-laws and my MIL's beautiful Christmas home, enjoy!

  One of the many perks Hubby enjoys as a teacher is awesome gift cards his students bring him, Starbucks is always my favorite, I was able to use one and purchase this yummy peppermint mocha frappacino on our way to Omma's, it was so good and full of chocolate.

 It was very warm Christmas weekend here in GA, like flip flop weather warm. So I wore my short sleeve Rudolph tee with my buffalo check vest. Notice the new bag Mom gifted me, love it!! Here is a better view:

 Its from Barrington gifts, she saw it from Instagram under Cassie at Sugar Plum's feed, I follow her to, lots of great idea outfits, especially if you love jeans!

 It was raining the day we went over there, but here is a picture Omma's beautiful home, she puts out her deer, hangs some beautiful garland around the entry way and candles in every window. Their home is so welcoming and charming, just like my in laws! It reminds me so much of the home I grew up in, love it!

 Here is the white ornament tree Omma's displays in her living room, you can see Ryder smiling big cause we were about to open gifts!

 Poppie helping the Grands rip into a BIG gift!

 Nicole got a new riding toy!! Taylor loves it too!

 This cute little tree is in Omma's foyer and is hanging with beautiful shell ornaments.

 One of Taylor's favorite things at Omma's is her Christmas train around the tree, she LOVES this thing and Omma has the patience to sit there with her and keep re-attaching it :-)

 Uncle G's favorite ornament, this one sits center of the tree, its little Hubby!

 Big smiles playing with the train!

 A cute new pink bike to ride around on! Watch out for Coco!

 In Omma's kitchen she has a little tree with cookie cutter ornaments and Angel Ryder at the top. Check out the cute gingerbread house they made too!

 Also in the kitchen Omma's displays all the kids and grand kids Santa pictures, this is my favorite!!

 Yup, this is what you think it is, Rudy on the wall!

 Uncle Ropo with Avery and Taylor

 Omma kept a lot of the kids stuffed animals growing up and put them on this colorful wreath, so sweet!

Taylor playing with Avery's new Barbie camper!

 Every celebration Omma puts together a beautiful tablescape, here is Avery lighting the candle. And we had a lovely meal to go along with it!!

 RyRy & CoCo

 Omma and Poppie surprised the grandkids with a trip to the circus this spring, YEAH!!!

 Omma has a beautiful collection of golden reindeer displayed in her guest bath

 For dessert I used my great new crock pot to make this super easy dessert, its called Cherry Dump Cake! And you can use any type of pie filling. Grab on box of yellow cake mix, 2 cans cherry pie filling and one stick of butter. Pour in filling, top with cake mix then melted butter, cook on high for 2 hours and you will LOVE it, just like a cobbler!!

 Enjoy with some vanilla ice cream!

We had a lovely time celebrating Portmas, my in laws go out of their way spoiling us and the grandkids, they are so sweet and a huge blessing in my life!!