Overnight Pumpkin Oats

Before you scrape the sides of the peanut butter jar, afraid of being wasteful, STOP! Go ahead and open the next jar you have waiting in the pantry, and make these overnight oats.

They will be waiting on you in the morning, and you will be so glad you did. 

Here's what I used. 

1/2 cup almond milk, 1/2 cup oats, 1/2 very ripe banana, and a tsp of pumpkin spice.

Plus this jar.

Slice up the banana. Mix it all together. Place it in the fridge until tomorrow morning. 

When the alarm clock goes off or your three year old begins yelling "mooommmmyyyy" at 6:30 am, brew a cup of coffee, and quiet those stomach rumbles in a matter of seconds. Three cheers for simple! 

I topped mine with chia seeds and a little granola and wasn't hungry until noon. Which is saying a lot for an 8 month pregnant gal. :) 

Spinach and Chicken Bake

I'm loving this weather!  The windows are open, my UGG boots are on, and I'm sipping on an afternoon cup of decaf coffee, putting together this new recipe I tweaked from Pinterest.

It's the perfect healthy, comfort food for cool nights, curled up on the couch with your favorites, watching the first few episodes of The Voice. At least that's what we are planning on over here.

It makes plenty for leftovers or to share with company.

Here's what I used.  I totally cheated and bought already cooked and pulled rotisserie chicken.  This may be my new favorite find.

Wills occupied himself coloring inside of a box.  Excuse me, I mean a garage for his rescue trucks and cars.  Geez, Mom.

The recipe is super simple.  Mix together chicken, Italian diced tomatoes, mushrooms, onions (I sauted those in garlic olive oil, first,) thawed and drained frozen chopped spinach, salt and pepper.

I cooked half of the box of rigotoni and then added in 6 oz of light chive and onion cream cheese.  Add it while the pasta is hot, so it melts easily into the noodles.

Mix it all together and place in a baking dish.  Sprinkle with mozzarella, cover and bake on 375 degrees for 30 minutes.  Then uncover and bake for an additional 15 minutes.

Here's a close up of what was left after we enjoyed our dinner. 

Happy fall!

See Ya, Summer

Happy Monday morning! 

Aren't Mondays just so much brighter when they begin like this? 

Somehow coffee, my devotion and a 10 minute yoga session happened before either of my boys woke up.

I must admit, my mind is on all things fall, cozy fires, and holidays. Today marks the end of summer, so it's justified, right?

I have three fall-ish easy peasy recipes to share with you this week. I can't wait!

For now, I'm snuggled up with my computer, grading papers, in the drizzling rain, daydreaming of this...

Celebrating 30

For as long as I can remember, my best girlfriends and I have been planning a 30th birthday trip.  We had lofty dreams of wine country and promised we would make it happen. 

Instead, life happened.  There are babies and pregnancies and job interviews, etc. that brought us back to reality.  At least for this year. 

Regardless, we were still determined to be together, for a few nights, celebrating our 20s, our life-long friendships, and toasting to our 30s.  So that's just what we did. 

Bags were packed, reservations were made, and we headed to Athens.  We may not have been sipping wine in Sonoma, but I wouldn't change a second of our trip...other than a UGA win. :( 

After quite a few recommendations, we chose The National for dinner on Friday night.  I was thrilled to see many of the wine lists offering a half glass.  So I settled on a 3 oz Cabernet Friday night and saved my second 3 oz glass for Saturday night.  Win - win situation.

We had after dinner drinks and dessert at the infamous Last Resort.  Decaf coffee for me.  Irish cream coffee for Sam and Jennifer. 

We spent Saturday morning, strolling the streets of downtown Athens, picking up a surprise or two for our kiddos (my how times have changed,) and ended with relaxing pedicures.

Lunch took us off the beaten path to White Tiger.  We all loved the eccentric decor and atmosphere of this little spot.  Plus, the food was delish!

After showers, changing into our red and black, and a weather game delay, we found ourselves at Hershel's Kitchen for a prime viewing spot for the UGA vs. South Carolina game.

Cheney joined us for the afternoon and Saturday night.

Not our best looks of the weekend, after walking through the drizzling rain, but I wanted to include one.

At halftime, we moved to Trapeze for a change of scenery...and I was ready for my 3 oz glass of wine.  We shared a delicious cheese plate and hummus for a snack.

After a sad ending to the game, we walked over to Teds Most Best for pizza and salad.  We sat outside, under the lights and trees, and enjoyed a quick and delicious dinner.

The night ended with cupcakes followed by a Sunday brunch at Big City Bread.  To say we indulged is an understatement.  :)

I can't say enough about these girls and what they mean to me.  I adore my boys, my growing family, and this season of life, but it is such a blessing to have a close group of girlfriends to also share this journey with.  For one weekend, I wasn't Mom... playing with firetrucks, practicing letters, and making dinner.  All things I love.  Instead, I got to be the girl who loves to sip a glass of wine, laugh with her girlfriends, enjoy some college football, and soak up a town I love.  I believe in the importance of taking time for ourselves; it definitely makes me a better mom and wife.

Don't get me wrong, I was so happy to be home to my boys on Sunday; I missed them!

After a weekend away, Monday looks like this.  Laundry didn't make the weekend agenda for those two. They had a fun weekend, as well, and I'm so glad they did!

Unpacking, catching up on laundry, and sneaking in a few extra snuggles and kisses from both, meant dinner needed to be simple.

I tried a tweaked version of a "Sunday chicken" recipe.  It's called Sunday chicken based on the idea that you put it in the oven before you leave for church on Sunday, and you have a hot lunch ready when you get home.

I mixed one box of wild rice, fresh mushrooms, cream of celery and cream of mushroom and placed in a greased baking dish.

Topped with two boneless seasoned chicken breasts. Covered with tinfoil and baked on 325 degrees for a little under two hours.  Easy and delicious with a side of green beans. 



See you from Napa at 40!

Lately...

Dear Sweet Blog of mine, as we've been soaking up the last busy weeks of summer, although your space isn't filled with pictures, new recipes, and memories, I want you to know, throughout it all, I was thinking of you...

Here's what we've been up to:

Enjoying Beaufort's annual water festival. 

Sweating at the park.

Cooling off in the pool.

Relaxing with pedicures.

Celebrating Maddi's baptism. 

Spending a few days with one of my closest friends, Christy, and her family.

Building sand castles. 

Cooking shrimp.

Gearing up for the Dawgs!

Starting back to school...aka Mother's Day Out.

And preparing for baby Drennan Elizabeth to arrive! 

Our summer travels are coming to an end (other than one last trip with the girls to celebrate the best of friendships and turning 30) and then I hope to share more stories with you, my sweet, patient blog. 

If it means anything...I miss you, too.