Friday, October 14, 2011

...

It has been way too long and I need to get back on the blog train!
Last week I had some visitors!! And we had a blast!!!
Shane has been gone for about 2 weeks prior to them coming and I was soo ready to see some familiar faces!
Soo thankful that my mom was able to come spend 10 days with me! Then Valerie and her mom came for about 7 days! It was amazing!!
We had dinner one night downtown at Kansas City bbq and got stuck (in the rain)at the cross walk, waiting for a train to pass...Photoshoot...haha

We had delicious cupcakes by the shore!!

Hanging out at the beach in Coronado!

Love you Val and I'm soo glad I got to show yall around our new town!
Cannot wait for you to come back out!!!

I have more pics and will upload them soon. Just had to blog while I had the time!
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!! :)
1 more week til I see my honey!!


Friday, September 16, 2011

fill.in.the.____.friday.

Geez it's been FOREVER!!!! I've missed blogging!!! anyways, I'M BACK! :)

Happy Friday!
It's time to fill in the blanks!




1. You should always take time to Enjoy life!! Relax and be with the people you love!!!

1. Love make(s) the world a happier place to be.

3. I can hardly wait for my mom to come visit me in CA!!!! :) only 2 more weeks!!

4. Friday - Sunday... is my favorite day of the week.

5. Something totally dumb and ridiculous that I love is Reality tv...I know it's stupid and my husband thinks I'm crazy!

6. If I could, I would hide my husband and keep him from going on deployments or just simply going out to sea!!
He is about to leave for 1 month then turn around and leave again for a few weeks....then leaves for a 5 month deployment! I hate it and wish he didn't have to leave me! :(
7. I'd rather stay at home and not have to work....

Have a great weekend!!

Friday, August 26, 2011

Chocolate Delight Truffles!

These are the easiest things to make! As long as you have a little time!

Ingredients:
1 Box of Brownie mix
2 cups semisweet choc chips
1/2 cup + Peanut Butter
and Parchment paper or wax paper

Follow directions on brownie mix and bake as instructed. I added 1/2 cup of choc chips to the mix to make the brownies even more chocolately!
You want the Brownies cooked but not completely! Still slightly gooey if that makes any sense.

After cooking brownies let them cool until they are a good temp to touch.
(About 20 minutes)
Ready to get yo hands dirty??...
Use a medium size scoop or your tablespoon measuring cup to scoop out brownie mix. Then roll brownie into a ball and place on cookie pan lined with parchment paper.
(I avoided the edges of the brownies so you wouldn't randomly have a crunchy texture in your ball. Plus it's one of the best parts of the brownie! Save it and eat while you wait on the truffles! ha!)
Continue to roll the brownies until you have none left.

Place your cookie pan in freezer and allow them to freeze at least 2 hours or overnight.

Once frozen, melt your Peanut butter and choc chips in microwave or a double burner.
I used the microwave and heated in 30 sec increments just to make sure I didn't burn the chocolate.
Let it cool just slightly so it doesn't burn you.

I said 1/2 +  cups of PB bc you can add as much PB as you like! I like the slight hint of the PB. It's not overwhelming.

Then take your brownie balls..ha! and place in melted chocolate.
I used a plastic fork to drag the balls out and drain some of the chocolate off. You can def. use your fingers or any method you can think of!
Then place back on your parchment/wax paper.
Continue dipping....
You will have some chocolate left over and you could use it to dip a frozen banana into! YUM! That's a whole nother recipe in itself!

I had some crushed Pecans so I placed some on top of about half the truffles, just to make them even more yummy!!
Now you can either chill them in the fridge for about an hour and let them harden...or dig in now!!
I personally like them chilled but test one out and see what you think!
i hope you enjoy them!
Let me know how it goes! :)




Thursday, August 11, 2011

Ready for the weekend!!

...which starts tonight!!
YAY!! This afternoon, Shane and I are heading up to LA to pick up his parents from the airport. Then, spending the weekend, eating cupcakes, delicious food, siteseeing, star stalking 8), shopping and...you get the point!
I cannot wait!
His parents are spending the next 10 days with us!...Yes, I'm excited but just nervous about all of us staying in our teeny tiney one bedroom apartment!
Oh yea, and I have my work interview on Monday!!


I hope you guys have had a wonderful week and upcoming weekend!!
Will post soon with our trip to LA!
Hope I see some celebrities!!!! AHHH


Friday, August 5, 2011

Kool Aid pie!

I'm sure most of you have had this or probably made this...but for those of you have not eaten this...Please make this ASAP! lol So simple and CHEAP!!
Ingredients:
Graham Cracker pie crust
1- 8oz tub of fat free whipped cream
1 can of low fat/fat free eagle brand milk
3/4 package Kool aid of your choice.
(Unsweetened kind...Lime, Lemonade, Pink Lemonade and Orange are delicious!)
Mix Whip cream, eagle brand milk together in large mixing bowl. Slowly add in Kool aid powder...I say use 3/4 the package bc if you add the whole pack it makes it too tart! So slowly add the kool aid and use as much as you like for your tasting.
Pour into pie crust and let it sit in refrigerator at least for an hour.
If you are able to get fat free or low fat...this can be a great low fat dessert!!
Now cut and ENJOY the deliciousness!!
Great for Showers, Potlucks or just to have in the fridge for dessert! :)

fill.in.the.____.friday.



1. My go to outfit for a dress-up occasion like a wedding is.... simple cute dress!

2. This week has been...pretty good! I had one interview on Wednesday and I will have another one on Monday!! soooo YAY!! I cannot wait to get a job and start making money!!

3. When it's dinner time and I'm feeling lazy I'll usually eat...a frozen dinner....Or get Shane to cook! lol

4. My favorite pair of shoes are... my flip flops or Toms

5. A random item that I own that is completely unnecessary, but that I could never part with is...random tshirts! I know that I will probably never wear them again but those high school homecoming tshirts have memories...right!?

6. My favorite person is...My husband! I love him soo much!! He is my best friend and I do not know what I would do without him!! Love you baby!! :)


7. If I were going to write my own blank it would say..."If you could go on a shopping spree in any store, which one would it be?" IKEA! I just got the new catalog in and I would love to be able to decorate my house with everything from there!!

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

One more....WILW!!


One more thing that I'm loving is my new app.
It's called Pocketbooth!!
It is awesome!!
Shane and I had a Photobooth at our wedding so of course, I just had to get this app! It's soo cute and you can edit the photos to B&W, 1975, Antique, Color and Sepia. You can also change the border, use your flash, change the strip size...so many options!! :)
So fun and so cute!!

what.I'm.loving.wednesday.

Shane and I both Love Love these english muffins! They are high in fiber and deliciousness! Plus they only have about 120 calories per serving! I add a little butter and homemade strawberry jelly! :)


 
I love this mac n cheese!! SO easy and delicious! You can always add chicken and a little hot sauce and there ya go. You got your Buffalo Chicken Mac N Cheese!


 
Crystal Light
Sunrise Tangerine Strawberry....Sooo good! Plus you can make a delicious Smoothie with this mix! Recipe here


In the Fields Dress
I'm Loving this dress!! After I get the job...I will be buying this dress!! This website has the cutest dresses!!!

Olive the Dream Dress
Love this one too!! Plus....it has POCKETS! love it!

What are you loving these days???

Remember to keep me in your thoughts and prayers....Going in for an interview today at an optometrist office and Monday at a Dental Office! :)

Monday, August 1, 2011

Trust

"Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your path" Proverbs 3:5-6

Please pray that I will find a job soon!
I am going crazy in this little apartment! Plus I need some money to help the honey with the bills...
Thank you!!



Friday, July 29, 2011

fill.in.the.____.friday.


1. My favorite color is: At this moment...navy and grey....a little yellow and purples...I just don't really care for pink.

2. My travel destination of choice is: A week at the beach...doing absolutely nothing but laying out all day, going out to eat, grilling out, swimming...you get the idea.

3. My favorite food is: Salsa and salads

4. My happy place is: Anywhere with my husband!! This man really completes me and makes me so happy!!


5. My favorite saying is:
...Very appropriate for me...
:)


6. My dirty little secret is: I doubled a cookie dough recipe and keep it in the freezer so I can have something sweet when I want it! I eat entirely wayyy too much!! I also can't survive without caffiene....I have to have it! I cannot go a week without visiting Target...Ok...Now you know too much!

7. Something friends might say about me is that I am always ready to do something! Once a friend, always a friend! I will always have their backs!! :)
I love my friends and family!

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Muffin Monkey Bread

Yes, the pan looks crazy...but believe me it's delicious!!
I have been craving these jokers for a while now, so I decided I'd go ahead and take care of that craving. I did not have a bundt pan so I had to use a muffin pan which reallly worked out great!
Not only are they delicious, they are sooo sooo EASY!!
Ingredients:
1 can (10) buttermilk biscuits
1 cup cinnamon/sugar mix
1/2 stick of butter
1/4 c  brown sugar
1/4 c Crushed pecans (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees.
Melt your butter in microwave, just slightly and add a pinch of brown sugar to melted butter. Let butter cool.
Quarter your uncooked biscuits.
Pour your cinn/sugar mix in sandwich zip lock bag.
Spray muffin pan with non stick cooking spray. Add a pinch of brown sugar to the bottom of each cup.
Dip uncooked biscuits into butter.
Let butter drip off of biscuits.
Throw biscuits (quarters) into Cinn/sugar bag and shake.
Dip.Shake.Repeat.
Arrange biscuits into the muffin pan. (1 biscuit/ 4 pieces to each cup)
Add crushed Pecans on top of each.
Cook for 5-7 minutes and ENJOY!!!
Pair it up with coffee and some bacon and WooHOO. Sooo good!! :)


Friday, July 22, 2011

fill.in.the.____.friday.


1. One of my happiest moments ever was: My wedding day!  June 18. ♥

2. Summer is wedding season and weddings are: AWESOME!! I love weddings! Even tho mine has come and gone, I still LOVE to look at the cute ideas and pictures from other peoples weddings!

3. This summer: Has been GREAT! Even though we are 2,000 miles from our family and friends, we have made the best of it and are having a great time in California!

4. My summer food of choice has been: Salsa!!! I can't seem to get enough! I have it with just about every meal! On my eggs in the morning, with a sandwich for lunch and an appetizer before dinner! Once my buddy Val posted a recipe for homemade salsa, we have kept some in our fridge ever since!

5. My summer uniform has been: Blue jean shorts, my hat, v-neck tee or tank and flip flops...sometimes a dress.

6. If I could spend the entire summer in one location I would choose: Tennesee or Mississippi! We love it in California but would do anything to be back home!! Even for just a summer!

7. My summer anthem is: anything by Jimmy Buffett!

Whole Wheat Pizza!


Homemade Whole Wheat Pizza
Ingredients for Pizza dough:
1 packet (1/4 oz) active dry yeast
3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp granulated sugar
1 1/2 c warm water
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt

*If you haven't tried whole wheat just yet and are not ready to jump in. Try mixing up the whole wheat and all purpose flour to ease into it. Instead of using 3 cups whole wheat flour, use 2 cups Whole Wheat with 1 1/2 cups All purpose flour.

1. In a large bowl, dissolve sugar in warm water. Pour yeast over mix and let sit for 10 minutes. (or until foamy)
2. Stir the olive oil and salt into the yeast mixture, then mix in the whole wheat flour. (You would add the 1 cup of the all-purpose flour now if you choose to do so.)Mix until dough starts to come together. Tip dough out onto a surface floured with the remaining flour, and knead until all of the flour has been absorbed, and the ball of dough becomes smooth, about 10 minutes.
Place dough in an oiled bowl, and turn to coat the surface. Cover loosely with a towel, and let stand in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

                  3. When the dough is doubled, tip the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and divide into 2 pieces. Form into a tight ball. Let rise for another hour, until doubled. 

4. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. Roll a ball of dough with a rolling pin until it will not stretch any further. Then, drape it over both of your fists, and gently pull the edges outward, while rotating the crust. When the circle has reached the desired size, place on a well oiled pizza pan and precook crust for 4-5 minutes.
Then add your sauce and toppings. You can use, fresh spinach, mozzarella, mushrooms, fresh cherry tomatoes, and more mozzarella and you have one DIVINE pizza! 
5. Reduce heat to 425 degrees F and continue to cook pizza for 10-14 minutes depending on thickness of crust.

Cut and ENJOY!!
This was a major hit in the McKay household! We did a create your own pizza night and had a blast! I also made the sauce with 1 can of tomato paste, 1 can of tomato sauce - (tomato and basil is great!), minced garlic, salt, sugar and pepper. The more the merrier! Esp if you have breadsticks! 

        


Thursday, July 21, 2011

Thankful.Thursdays.

Today I am thankful for: 

My sweet, sweet husband. He gets sweeter and sweeter everyday! He has always tried to be the tough guy and pretend he doesn't care but man, Oh man! has that changed in the past couple years!
He deals with my moments when I get upset and miss home and have my breakdowns. He is right there comforting me and encouraging me! I have no idea what I would do without this boy!
I love you Shane McKay and I am so thankful for you! I am so happy to call you my best friend and husband! Thank you for dealing with my terrible moments and having patience with me!
I LOVE YOU!







Wednesday, July 20, 2011

I.love.this.dress!



I hardly ever wear dresses, but I love this!! They also come in solids and those would go GREAT as a bathing suit cover up! And it's only $30!! Check out more here!

what.I'm.loving.wednesday.


If you love coffee and need something quick...
Try this!! It's delicious and soo much cheaper than hitting up starbucks and paying $4 for a 12oz coffee! Plus it only has 80 calories! Soo tasty!

I love beer from the New Belgium Brewery in Colorado. They always have light, tasty beers and they have come out with one of my favorites...a Blonde Ale! (They always have the coolest pictures on the labels too!)
It's called Somersault Ale. It's so good!
So if you are looking for a new beer to try, try this!
I love this lotion!! Everyday after I shower I put this lotion on, I have been since April and my skin is soo much smoother and healthier than it's ever been! It doesn't have to loud of a scent so you can definately wear your perfume along with the lotion! Just a nice clean scent! Love this stuff!  

Today is the opening day of the DEL MAR Race track!! We LOVED going to the track the few times we were able to last year and cannot wait for this year!! As you can see the track is right on the coast! It's just beautiful here!!
(Military is FREE!!)
Every Friday after the race they have concerts in the inner ring. So we are pumped to see Ben Harper, Weezer and Jimmy eat world!
Not only do they have concerts but celebrities from all over come out for the races, so OF COURSE, Mackenzie loves to see the celebrities here!! haha!

I love seeing the photos of past celebrities like Lucille Ball, Desi Arnez,
Lucy & Desi in the 50's at Del Mar
A familiar sight at Del Mar in the early years was Bing Crosby, pipe in place and typically casual, on horseback.
Bing Crosby, and even the famous Seabiscuit raced here!!
South American import Ligaroti went head-to-head with Seabiscuit in their 1938 match race at Del Mar.
Now I better go and get me a new hat and dress to wear this weekend to the races!!!

(If you ever decide to come to San Diego, come anytime from July to September!)
Let us know and we will take you to the races!!

I hope you are having a great week! What are you loving this Wednesday??

Friday, July 15, 2011

WoWoW What an awesome dinner! :)

While being unemployeed, I have decided to try new recipes for dinner at least three times a week!
As I told you Wednesday, I got the Hungry Girl 300 under 300 cookbook. And I love it! Especially after last nights results!

We hadn't had an Asian meal in a while, so I decided to try one out.
We had Kung Pao Chicken and (Ramen) Lo Mein.

I hate that I didn't take pictures but man OH man, was this good! Shane and I both love Kung Pao chicken and spicy stuff in general!
Not only was is delicious, it was EASY too!!

Kung Pao Chicken
HG's WOW Kung Pao





Ingredients you will need:
2 tbsp reduced-sodium/lite soy sauce
1 1/2 tbsp rice vinegar
2 tsp granulated sugar
1/2 tbsp cornstarch OR flour if you don't have cornstarch
1 tsp red chili sauce, or more to taste (i added 1 tbsp and it was GREAT!)
8 oz. raw boneless skinless lean chicken breast, cubed
1/8 tsp salt, or more to taste
1/8 tsp black pepper, or more to taste
3/4 cup roughly chopped mushrooms
3/4 cup roughly chopped bell peppers
1/2 cup celery
1/2 cup onion
1 tsp minced garlic
1/4 canned sliced water chestnuts, drained and halved
1 tbsp chopped dry-roasted unsalted peanuts
I did not add the peanuts, I used sesame seeds instead.
Optional: crushed red pepper

Directions:
To make the sauce, in a small bowl, combine 2 tbsp cold water with soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, cornstarch, and chili sauce. Stir until all ingredients have dissolved. Set aside.
(I did not have cornstarch, instead I used all purpose flour)

Spray a large skillet or wok with nonstick spray, and bring to medium-high heat on the stove. Season chicken with salt and black pepper and add to the skillet or wok. Add mushrooms, bell peppers, celery, onion, garlic, and 2 tbsp water. Stirring occasionally, cook for about 5 minutes, until chicken is fully cooked but still tender.

Add water chestnuts and peanuts to the skillet/wok. Raise heat to high, give sauce a stir, and add it to the skillet/wok as well.

Mix until sauce has thickened and coated chicken-veggie mixture. If you like, season to taste with salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper. If you add more chili sauce, be sure to taste to see how spicy it already is before you add the crushed red pepper!
This is when I added the sesame seeds. And now ENJOY!
Makes 2 servings. 245 Calories per serving (1 1/2 cups)

Ramen Lo Mein.

(You can make this recipe your own by adding any of your favorite vegetables or even adding chicken, beef or pork!)

2 packages Ramen noodles (any flavor, you won't use the sauce)
1/4 c Peanut oil + 1 tbsp
1/4 c Rice Vinegar
1/4 c Lite Soy Sauce/ Low Sodium + to season to taste
1 c Sugar snap peas (frozen)
1 c shredded cabbage mix (cabbage, carrots...Prepackage mix)

Follow directions on Ramen noodles packet to cook noodles. DO NOT ADD FLAVOR PACKS.
Heat 1 tbsp Peanut oil in skillet/wok to med heat. Once heated cook frozen sugar snap peas for about 2 minutes or until slightly tender.
Add Noodles, vinegar, soy sauce, peanut oil, and cabbage to skillet with sugar snap peas. Mix well.
Let simmer and cook for about 3 minutes. Continue mixing.
Bring temp down to Low for 2 minutes and ENJOY!!

Add a Spring or Egg Roll and you have one tasty Healthy meal!!

Wednesday, July 13, 2011


I am absolutely loving this store on Etsy.com.
Yes Ma'am Proper Southern Slang Sign
They have the cutest handmade signs and Oversized Deco Letters!
Oversize Large Capitol Letters Display Alphabet
I love this and have the perfect spot for it in our apartment! :)
There is a giveaway for this shop on a blog that I follow. Plus this lady has the cutest things too on etsy!!
And she has the coolest name! KIKI Creates! Check out her giveaway and become a follower!!

If you love Smoothies...you will love...
This smoothie is absolutely delicious!!! I love it! And have had 2 this week so far!!
They do have about 220 calories but it is loaded with Vit A, Vit C, Calcium and Iron.

While Shane is at work for his watch shift (30+ hours at work). I do my weekly cleaning and today I tried out a new Scent for my 3 scentsy warmers.
White Tea & Cactus!! It smells so clean and refreshing!
I just love it!! :)

I hope you are having a great week so far!
Only 2 days until the weekend!



Monday, July 11, 2011

Because...I got an awesome package from my mom today!! YAY!!!
Included in the package was our HotShots photobooth coffee book!!
It is awesome! I love it!!

Front cover...
haha! Back cover!
I'm so glad that we have these memories in this book!!

She also sent me this cool cookbook!!

Everything in this book is made with Ramen noodles!
I'm not soo sure about the Smore's on the front cover but it won't hurt to try it! lol.

Amy Nix mentioned this cookbook a little while ago on her blog and I have wanted to get it since...and well I picked this bad boy up today at Target and it was 20% off!!
I cannot wait to get to cooking!!
I really just want Shane and I to become healthier together and I believe this will help us!!

I will def. share recipes from both cookbooks!! So stay tuned!!

I hope you have a marvelous week!!