The Redheaded Princess

Working on a Green Thumb!

2013-05-30T00:43:00.001-04:00

So, I've been slowing learning all about plants and gardening for the past 5 years. It's slow going, but I add a few plants each year to my repertoire of gardening knowledge. I've made lots of mistakes along the way AND had lots of good results. Well, some of you may remember last month when I posted How to Create an Edging for Your Garden. Well, I figured it's about time I posted an update. I didn't get mulch right away because I planted a bunch of bulbs from Michigan Bulb Company and was nervous they'd not get enough sun. HOWEVER, little did I know that it was going to be pouring rain and I'd have a terrible mudslide! Aaahhh!! Yeah, my little (not so little) hillside garden washed away and I had to dig, dig, dig and bring some of the dirt back UP the hill! I lost 3 freesia bulbs in the process :(. SOOO Prince Charming had to pick up the mulch and we spent a couple hours getting it all in. And guess what?? The next time it rained everything stayed put!! Score!

BEFORE

AFTER

So anyway...luckily my awesome sister-in-law gave me a TON of beautiful hostas, which is great because while I'm ~~patiently~~ impatiently waiting for my baby plants to grow (seriously, the waiting is killing me!!) I at least have some lovely greenery.

Alright, so onto the plants...here is my pitiful little Fernleaf Bleeding Heart. Next year it'll probably be triple the size if not more. When I ordered a garden from Michigan Bulb Co. several years ago at our old home the first year all the plants were fairly tiny. However each subsequent year they grew like crazy! I have to keep reminding myself "patience is a virtue...patience is a virtue....patience is a virtue..." sigh....I'm so NOT patient!

YES!! Finally my Lilies are coming through!!! I think I would have done a backflip today when I saw this if I was even capable of doing so....

I cannot WAIT for these to grow and bloom....Shasta Daisies!! One of my favorite flowers!

My Lily of the Valley plants.

Lily of the Valley up close and personal.

Widow's tears.

My 12" lilac.

My primrose plant.

My raspberry bush transplanted from a neighbor's yard last June. It's more than double in size!

These fronds are my 2nd year asparagus plants planted in my Step Garden. Next year I get to harvest all of them babies! Can't wait! They're blocking the sunlight!

More updates to come...I just planted some veggies but forgot to take the rest of the pics...oops!

So there you have it! Hopefully I don't kill any plants especially since the mudslide already took some of them out. I am patiently waiting for my Ferns and Begonias but they are TAKING FOREVER! And believe me...when I said I'm impatient...yeah...I already dug down to the bulbs twice to see if there was any progress! Hopefully I didn't kill them in the process....can we say OCD???

How to Make a Slow-Cooker Pot Roast

2013-05-15T00:31:00.001-04:00

How to Make a Slow-Cooker Pot Roast

I don't know about y'all but my life is CRAZY busy! So when I get SICK of eating crappy fast food it's nice to have a way to make dinner with minimal effort. Especially when it's waiting for me....all finished....when I get home from work! This recipe is adapted from Paula Deen's recipe for a traditional pot roast. It's simple and delicious!

Ingredients:

3 lb bottom round roast (can use a chuck roast if you want. It's cheaper:) )

salt, pepper and garlic powder, to taste

2 Tablespoons vegetable oil

1 onion, sliced

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 (10 3/4 oz) can cream of mushroom soup

1/2 cup red wine

1/4 cup water

2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1 Tablespoon beef bouillon granules

2 bay leaves

6 carrots, peeled and quartered

For Gravy:

2 Tablespoons butter

1 Tablespoon

1 1/2 cups reserved liquid from pot roast (after it's cooked)

1. First preheat a heavy bottomed skillet over medium-high heat. Add vegetable oil. While the pan is heating, season roast with salt pepper and garlic powder.

2. Sear meat on all sides. You're not trying to cook it, just brown the outside.

3. Add onion and garlic to pan and add more vegetable oil if needed. Saute the onion and garlic trying to soak up the flavor from the beef.

4. Place roast onions and carrots in a slow cooker.

5. Mix mushroom soup, Worcestershire, red wine, bay leaves, water, and beef bouillon together. Pour over the roast. Cook on low 6-8 hours.

6. Remove roast and carrots.

7. Strain out onions and carrots. I leave some of the onions in because I like them in my gravy but you don't have to if you like your smooth.

8. While roast is resting melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a medium sauce pan and add 1 tablespoon of flour. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

9. Whisk together and cook 1-2 minutes...you are making a roux which is a thickening agent.

10. Slowly pour in 1 1/2 cups of reserved liquid from the slow-cooker. Boil until sauce thickens into a gravy thickness. Pour over roast and enjoy!

To Print the Recipe ONLY Click Here

Braces Then, Braces Now {Sponsored Post}

2013-05-06T15:31:00.000-04:00

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Things sure do change over time. Some for the better and some not. Do you remember when we used to use pagers? I thought they were the coolest thing...until your sister pages you with 911 in the middle of a movie at the movie theater just to borrow a shirt! Not cool! :) Well, I must say that braces have been one of those things that HAS changed for the better! Especially if you are using Invisalign! For me, I was one of those weird kids that was excited to get braces. I hated my teeth and when I found out I was actually getting them I was thrilled! Now when it came down to it though I didn't enjoy the actual process. Who loves to have a mouth full of metal? No chewing gum, no popcorn, nothing sticky at all. And forget about corn on the cob!

Well, my husband and I both were *blessed* to have to endure braces and we pretty much are guaranteed to have to put all three of our princess in them as well. So when Invisalign told me about Invisalign Teen I was pretty excited! We have a few years yet till we will have to get them started but I'm glad to know there is an affordable more aesthetically pleasing option for braces now!

Check me out in my teenage metal mouth 'hotness'! Ha Ha! No longer do kids have to have braces that are bonded to their teeth like I did. They can take them out to eat any food they want! The cost is about the same as traditional braces, and the system usually requires fewer visits to the orthodontist. You don't have to worry about "emergency" visits for broken wires or brackets. I remember kids with metal wires and brackets getting hurt in sports because of their braces. No more with Invisalign!

Even the process of getting braces is more streamlined! NOW, Invisalign's technology makes it easier than ever using a high tech camera the aligners are created digitally! So the orthodontist is able to receive precise 3D imagery through the use of an iTero wand to create a teeth straightening treatment plan with Invisalign. Hmm...I think I may need to think about Invisalign for myself...(since I was one of those kids who lost their retainer).

So what are you waiting for?

"Adults and teens now have a modern choice for straightening their teeth. No more wires and brackets required – Invisalign is the clear alternative to metal braces that uses a series of virtually invisible and removable aligners that gradually move teeth over time. The benefits include no food restrictions, ability to easily maintain healthy dental brushing habits, minimal interference with sports or other activities, and teeth get straightened without most people knowing you are in

treatment. Visit the Invisalign website for more information about the clear alternative to braces."

Check out Invisalign in all these great places!

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Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Books to Read Before You Die (2013)

2013-04-26T22:21:00.000-04:00

Last year I posted this list of Books to Read before you die and I wanted to update it for 2013. I read 11 books in 2012 including the Twilight Series and Hunger Games series. I loved both! However, I must say that my favorite of all of the books of 2012 was Jane Eyre. The Classics are "Classics" for a reason and I am discovering that the more and more that I read them.

Okay, here's the intro from before explaining where I got my list:

The BBC created a list of 100 books that everyone should read (from user submissions) They believe that most people will have read only 6 of the 100! What?! Well, I decided to create my own list. I actually read 21 of the BBC list but felt there were some books not listed that should be on it. Here's my comprehensive list I created from google searches and Barnes and Noble's Classics. The list contains books that I have read and think everyone should read OR books that I want to read at some point. If you have any books that you think should be on here, let me know and I may add it.

P.S. This list is mostly fiction and does not include personal growth books or straight non-fiction. I'd have way too many listed here if it did. :) Also, they are in NO PARTICULAR ORDER (from my perspective, if they were, the Bible would be Numero Uno!) Check back periodically for updates :) It'll take me a while to read all of these. If I read 10 a year then it'll take me a DECADE to finish this list! And I don't anticipate 10 a year :) But you never know...

How many have you read?

I read 64!! :)

~~Strikethrough~~- those books I've read in their entirety,

Italics- the ones I started but didn't finish or read an excerpt. (most likely I just read and excerpt, I generally don't start a book and not finish it)

* Asterisk- I have seen the movie (I know, it doesn't count but at least I know about the story for pop culture references)

What Am I Currently Reading???

The Hobbit

Books I Read in 2013 so far...

Uncle Tom's Cabin (AMAZING!)

The Great Gatsby ( can't wait to see Leonardo DiCaprio's new movie!)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Books I Read in 2012

Wuthering Heights- Emily Bronte

The Hunger Games Trilogy:
Hunger Games
Mockingjay
Catching Fire

The Twilight Series (4 books):
Twilight
Eclipse
New Moon
Breaking Dawn
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte

1 ~~The Bible~~

The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
2       Fellowship of the Ring*
3      The Two Towers*
4      Return of the King*

~~5 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte~~

~~6 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone~~*
7 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets*
8 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*
9 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire*
10 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix*
11 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince*
12 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

~~13 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee~~

14 ~~Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen~~ *

~~15 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte~~

~~16 1984 - George Orwel~~

17 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens*

~~18 Great Expectations- Charles Dickens~~

19 ~~A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens~~

20 Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy *

21 ~~Little Women - Louisa M Alcott~~ *

22 Complete Works of Shakespeare:
~~Romeo and Juliet~~
~~Hamlet~~
Much Ado About Nothing
A Mid Summer Night's Dream

23 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier

24 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien

25 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulk

26 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger

27 The Time Traveler’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger

28 Middlemarch - George Eliot

29 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell*

~~30 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald*~~

31 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy

32 The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams

33Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky

~~34 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck~~*

35 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll*

36The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame

37Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy

38 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman

Chronicles of Narnia - - CS Lewis
39        Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe*
40         Prince Caspian*
41         The Voyage of the Dawn Treader*
~~42        The Silver Chair~~
~~43         The Horse and His Boy~~
~~44         The Magician's Nephew~~
~~45         The Last Battle~~

46 Emma -Jane Austen*

47 Persuasion - Jane Austen

~~48 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini~~

49 Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres

50 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden

~~51Animal Farm - George Orwell~~

52 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown

53 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

54 A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving

55 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins

56 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery*

57 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy

58 The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood

~~59 Lord of the Flies - William Golding~~*

60 Atonement - Ian McEwan*

61 Life of Pi - Yann Martel

62 Dune - Frank Herbert

63 Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons

~~64 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen~~*

65 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth

66 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon

67 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller

68 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley

69 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon

70 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

71 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck

72 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov

73 The Secret History - Donna Tartt

74 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold

75 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas

76 On The Road - Jack Kerouac

77 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy

78 Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding*

79 Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie

80 Moby Dick - Herman Melville

81 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens

82 Dracula - Bram Stoker

83 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett*

84 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson

85 Ulysses - James Joyce

86 The Inferno - Dante

87 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome

88 Germinal - Emile Zola

89 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray

90 Possession - AS Byatt

91 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens*

92 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell

93 The Color Purple - Alice Walker*

94 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro

95 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert

96 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry

97 Charlotte’s Web - E.B. White*

98 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom

99 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

100 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton

101 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad

102 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery

103 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks

104 Watership Down - Richard Adams

105 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole

106 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute

107 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas *

108 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl

~~109 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo~~

~~110 The Odyssey- Homer~~

~~111 The Iliad- Homer~~

112 Common Sense- Thomas Paine

113 Beowulf

~~114 Uncle Tom's Cabin - Harriet Beecher Stowe~~

115 Treasure Island- Robert Louis Stevenson

116 Bleak House- Charles Dickens

117 Grimm's Fairy Tales

~~118 Republic - Plato~~

119 The Federalist- Alexander Hamilton

120 The Jungle- Upton Sinclair~~121 A Thousand and One Arabian Nights- Anonymous~~

122 The Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne

123 Farewell to Arms Ernest Hemingway
124 The Old Man and the Sea Ernest Hemingway

~~125 Cyrano de Bergerac - Edmond Rosmon~~d

126 The Simarillion - J.R.R. Tolkein

127 The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn- Mark Twain

~~128 The Adventures of Tom Sawyer - Mark Twain~~

~~129 Where the Red Fern Grows - Wilson Rawls~~

~~130 The Crucible~~ ~~Arthur Miller~~

~~131 Quo Vadis Henry Seinkewicz~~*

132 Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

133 Crime and Punishment- Fyodor Dostoevsky

134 Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea- Jules Verne*

~~135 Don Quixote - Miguel de Cervantes~~

Twilight Series by Stephanie
136 Twilight*

137 New Moon*

138 Eclipse*

139 Breaking Dawn*

The Hunger Games Series:

140 The Hunger Games*

~~141 Catching Fire~~

~~142 Mockingjay~~

143 The Notebook - Nicholas Sparks*

The Left Behind Series: by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins
~~144 Left Behind~~
~~145 Tribulation Force~~
~~146 Nicolae~~
~~147 Soul Harvest~~
~~148 Appollyon~~
~~149 Assassins~~
~~150 The Indwelling~~
~~151The Mark~~
~~152 Desecration~~
~~153 The Remnant~~
~~154 Armageddon~~
155 Glorious Appearing

~~156 Rachel Did It - By E.L. Bailey~~

157 Tin Walls - By E.L. Bailey

158 Reunion: Ties of Blood- by Fianna Leighton

159 Utopia- Thomas More

~~160. One Thousand and One Nights~~

How to Create an Edging for Your Garden

2013-04-20T10:45:00.003-04:00

Hey Y'all!

This image isn't mine, it's
the pin I found.

So last year my spring project (which my Prince Charming executed so wonderfully) was my step garden which I wanted in the hill in my back yard since it's the only spot that sun hits the majority of the day. If you haven't seen that yet then check it out by clicking this link STEP GARDEN . I LOVE it! Last year I planted asparagus and a bunch of herbs which are coming out quite nicely. I was able to use the rosemary all winter (which was awesome! especially when I make rosemary roasted potatoes). So this year, I decided I wanted to create a new flower bed in one spot in my yard but since there were no plants in my yard at all we had to start from scratch. Well, of course, I went online to do some research. Last year, my husband and his brother took out an EP Henry type stone wall on a job and kept the blocks so I knew I had them as an option. Then I found THIS PIN on pinterest and the wheels started turning.
Finally, I found a great video from This Old House (Love that magazine/show) which made it all sort of come together. They said to use an edger but because I'm one of the most impatient people ever and I didn't have one yet I used a flat shovel instead. :)

First I laid out my hose in the shape I wanted the garden to be.

Then, taking the shovel I put the edge straight down and loosened then removed the soil. You can't tell from my picture, but I did go STRAIGHT into the soil. I'm actually on a hill. I would definitely encourage you to watch the video that I watched. It was very helpful.

Voila! Here's my newly edged garden outline! Now, since all of the soil in my backyard is actually clay we removed 4-6 inches deep and dumped it behind our shed...yeah, I'll have to clean up that mess later. Oh, and when I say 'we' I mean, I only loaded 5 half full wheel barrows and dumped it because that hill in my back yard is a BEAST! I was grunting and panting and realized I am so not strong! So my Prince Charming being the amazing husband that he is surprised me by paying a couple guys from work to dig and remove all the dirt while I was at work. It took them more than 5 hours and they were exhausted. I'm such a lucky girl! :)

I placed the stones along the edge. I didn't use gravel underneath, which is what the pin on pinterest did, because again, I'm impatient. I may end up putting something underneath in the future to prevent weeds, but since my yard is the FARTHEST thing from level, I had to adjust each one. My goal is to have most of them level with the ground so when I mow (or should I say when Prince Charming mows) then we can just put the wheels on the blocks and get the grass all the way to the edge.

Here's it is with all the stones in place and dug out. You can see along the house the dirt is darker. We ended up getting about 2 1/2 yards of good topsoil to fill in the new garden. Now I just have to wait for all the plants I ordered on MichiganBulb.com to arrive....I can't wait!!

More updates to come....

We Love Our Shamzee!

2013-04-08T23:06:00.003-04:00

So a few weeks ago, we received this Shamzee pillow cover and let me just say...my 3 year old was immediately IN LOVE! She actually said "Mommy, I LOVE THIS! I LOVE THIS SO MUCH!" There are 6 unique Shamzees and we happened to get the Lady Bug (it's PINK of course). The Shamzee "gobbles up a pillow to make a super cozy comfy friend." That's not all it gobbles up in my house. One morning I woke up to find my daughter's Shamzee had eaten 3 books, a doll, play jewelry, some polly pockets and Strawberry Shortcakes and about 3 other of her toys. AND she SLEPT on it! Ow! I don't know how she did it, but she slept all night on all that and didn't miss a wink! It's machine washable and fits any standard pillow. We've had it for a month now and she still loves it! Now Princess6 wants one...

To order YOUR OWN go to the Shamzee website: www.shamzee.com

Shamzee is also on Facebook and Twitter.

*Disclaimer: I received this product as compensation for a review but all opinions are my own [and my kids':) ]

You Want to See This!!

2013-04-06T21:22:00.000-04:00

Okay..so really...I think you'll LOVE this small Etsy shop! One of my best friend's mom just opened an etsy shop where she sells the most adorable primitve items that she MADE BY HAND! If you love that style, then you'll love these! I helped her get set up and one of the items she listed even has vintage lace which was handmade by her aunt..Seriously! How cool is that?? So what are you waiting for! Go Check it out please! She's super sweet and extremely crafty! So head on over to:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/sewprimitivebyjanet

Garlic & Lemon Hummus with toasted pita chips

2013-04-04T20:39:00.002-04:00

For Easter last weekend, I decided to make some appetizers to bring over to my in-laws' house for Easter dinner. And since I love hummus, but not everyone loves my spicy Chipotle Pepper Hummus, I decided to make a garlicky batch. Now, keep in mind, you can cut the garlic WAAYY back if you are not a huge fan and then you'll have regular hummus and it'll be delicious too...but I LOVE garlic so, yeah, there are 6 cloves in this bad boy. Not for the faint of heart..or smell... so if you're sweetie doesn't like that, you may need some mints...or a bath...because it'll be coming out of your pores...lol.

(Disclaimer: I just regurgitated the pics from my Chipotle Pepper Hummus because you make it the same way except you add more garlic and lemon juice and don't add the peppers)

Ingredients

1 can chickpeas (garbanzo beans) drained and liquid reserved

1/4 cup reserved liquid

1/4 cup lemon juice

3 Tablespoon Olive oil

6 cloves garlic minced

2 Tablespoons Tahini paste

salt and pepper (to taste)

For Pita Chips:

1 bag of pita bread (whole)

olive oil

salt, to taste

1. Drain the chickpeas, reserving the liquid.

2. In a food processor, add all of the ingredients except the garlic.

3. Use a garlic press for the garlic, this way you wont have big chunks of garlic and it will be distributed more evenly. If you don't love garlic, then only put 2 cloves in.

4. Process for a few minutes until smooth. I let it run for several minutes because I didn't like it too grainy so I made sure it was nice and smooth.

5. If it's too thick, add a little more of the reserved liquid till it reaches your desired consistency.

6. Serve with pita bread, pita chips, veggies or whatever you desire.

For Toasted Pita Chips:

(Sorry, I didn't take pics of this..will update it next time I make them)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degree Fahrenheit.

2. Cut all the slices of pita bread in half.

3. Then cut each half into triangular quarters.

4. Carefully peel each triangle apart. (will make two chips)

5. Layer in a single layer onto 3 baking sheets smooth side down. (Can do one at a time but will take three times as long:) )

6. Brush each chip with olive oil and sprinkle lightly with salt.

7. Bake in preheated oven 10 minutes or until toasted.

SERVE WITH THE HUMMUS....Look at those chips!! They were absolutely delicious!

For Printable Directions CLICK HERE

Chimichangas

2013-03-26T07:00:00.000-04:00

Okay, so I'm definitely noticing a trend in my house...HA! Mexican is apparently my favorite food type so yet again...here's another recipe. One of my good friends (who is a Latina) used to come over for dinner often and it always seemed that I was making something Mexican ..I think she though I was being racist or something..lol. Not really. It's just one of those things that I can whip up quick and decide last minute to make. They're usually fairly quick, easy and delicious! What's not to love about that?? So the other day I saw a picture of chimichangas pass over my Pinterest feed and my mouth was watering. Does that happen to anyone else when they're on Pinterest?? I have hundreds of recipes in my Food To Try board and I don't even know if I'll ever get to all of them. So when I saw how easy it was to make them I figured I would just use my typical recipe for tacos and adapt them to make these babies. So here ya go! They turned out amazing!

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef

1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
2 T. chili powder
1 1/2 tsp. cumin
salt and pepper to taste
vegetable oil

burritos sized flour tortillas

1 can Old El Paso refried beans with green chilies (You can use original if you want)

Mexican blend cheese

Toppings: (Optional)

shredded or diced lettuce

diced tomatoes (fresh not canned)

salsa

sour cream

1. First, brown ground beef and onion in a large skillet. Add the salt, pepper, chili powder, cumin, and garlic. Brown over medium to medium-high heat till browned.

Princess9...my little assistant...

2. Drain...ignore the messy sink! In another large skillet or saute pan pour in the vegetable oil so it is about 1/2 inch deep and preheat.

3. While waiting for the oil to heat up get the chimichangas prepped. Spread the refried beans in the center of the flour tortillas leaving space on the ends to fold them up.

4. Add some of the seasoned beef and then some Mexican blend cheese.

5. Now fold the ends in.

6. Now turn and roll up.

They should look like this.

7. The oil should be ready by now. Insert the handle of a wooden spoon in the hot oil. If it bubbles around the handle then the oil should be hot enough. Place two burritos in the hot oil seam side down and fry until golden brown. Then using tongs flip and cook the other side.

mmm....these look delicious! Top with some salsa, tomatoes, lettuce and sour cream. Grab a fork and knife and dig in!! So yummy!!

To Print the Recipe Only Click Here

Walk and Roll for Spina Bifida!

2013-03-25T21:44:00.000-04:00

Hey Y'all! What a 'lovely' spring day it is with all the white snow outside...*yeah right* Well, today I wanted to talk to you about something that is VERY close to my heart...Spina Bifida. About three years ago two of our best friends were expecting their second child and everything seemed to be going as planned. However, I will never forget the phone call I got when he told me that the baby had spina bifida. I mean, I knew OF spina bifida and that I was supposed to take folic acid when I was pregnant in order to prevent it. But other than that? Nada. Was it something that could be cured? Would the baby be able to walk? What would they do? So many questions....Over the past two years we have certainly gotten a crash course in the condition...as outsiders of course, because honestly, no one truly understands what it is to be a parent of a child with a disability unless you ARE one. In a world where 90 percent of children with disabilities are aborted, (Insert huge frownie face with tears and heartache) I have nothing but admiration and respect for my two friends because they CHOSE LIFE when the 'easy' way out ,according to society, would be to use their "CHOICE" and pretend like the whole thing never happened. Luckily they trusted God, and still trust Him, to get through the tough times. Then came their little blessing, Ciarlo. (Prounounced Char-loh, Think of the Italian word 'ciao') What a sweet little boy! Though there were complications and he doesn't have feeling in his legs..he is most likely going to be a 'gifted' child intellectually. He's off the charts cognitively and verbally and has the most amazing little personality! Oh if I could squeeze him and hug him every day I certainly would! Our family absolutely adores him! The hardest part for me, and I'm sure for his parents, is the inability to make anything better. Even though Ciarlo doesn't know anything different than his condition, sometimes you just wish he didn't have to 'not know anything different'. As a friend my heart breaks for them because though they are two tough people and have handled this amazingly well, I KNOW it's not always easy despite the joy they have being Ciarlo's parents. He lights up a room when he enters with his big smile and silly sense of humor. He FLIES in his walker and his zip-zac chair (a bumbo on wheels...which is pretty cool!) and chases my girls around trying to tag them just like any other little boy. Yet I know, for them, sometimes it's not always easy.

So, since I can't do anything specifically for my little man, then I can help his mother (who is the President of the Spina Bifida Association of the Delaware Valley) and father raise money to bring awareness and assistance to those locally affected in the Delaware Valley by this birth defect. People do not realize the complications that a family deals with when caring for these sweet innocent children that are born with spina bifida and that's not including medical bills. Luckily Ciarlo's mom is very active as an advocate for her son and she pushes him to the best of his ability (which is well beyond average btw). He is a pretty lucky little boy to have the parents God gave him. They chose LIFE and now he will live a full life surrounded by many people who love him.

SOO...if you would be so kind as to support me in this endeavor. We will be Walking and Rolling on June 2 in Doylestown, PA at Kids Castle.

I have a widget in my sidebar and at the end of this post that you can donate directly to my page. No money goes to me personally but I get the credit. A little bit goes a long way, no donation is too small.

Thank you and may God bless you for your contribution!

Here's me holding Ciarlo with his mommy and my oldest Princess

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Monday Morning Bloglovin' Bloghop {AND GIVEAWAY} #2

2013-03-25T08:00:00.000-04:00

Good Mornin', Y'all!

So I am sure many of you know by now that Google Friend Connect has dissappeared into the oblivion that is the internet. Sucks, I know. Sigh..I finally made it to 100 followers! What-the-H-E-double hockey sticks?? Seriously? Okay...after my little tantrum was over...thankfully no shoes were thrown for this one (KL that's for you;) ) lol...My buddy over at The Importance of Being Reese contacted me about hosting this Monday Morning Bloghop where we are hoping to grow our followers through Bloglovin' (and any other forms of social media which you may choose, because that'd be AWESOME too!) So if you're ready to meet some great bloggers and get back in the ring with me and Reese, then come join the fun. This party will be kicking off every Monday morning starting today. Be sure to tweet it. Facebook it. Share it. Spread the love. The more the merrier. After all, we're all in this together.

As a special treat this week all Monday Morning Bloglovin' Bloghop participants will be have the chance to win a $5.00 Starbucks Gift Card. A name will be picked at random using Random.org. In order to have your name entered into the drawing, be sure to add your link to the widget and follow the bloghop rules.

The Rules??

Please follow the hostess of this lovely gathering, Reese, via Bloglovin'. She will be the first person on the widget labeled accordingly. Leave a comment below and love will be returned :).

Be sure to follow the lovely ladies labeled as co-hosts. (That's me!) You will find them at the top of the list. They're great so you won't be disappointed.

Make sure that you spend a bit of time mingling with the other people. You can't just put your name in the linky and expect people to magically come to you. Get out there and work for it :)

Make sure that your Bloglovin' widget is in a visible place so people don't have to go on a hunt to find it.

Finally, if you could, just spread the word. Grab a button, tweet, or facebook share. It's not a requirement, but the more people who know about this hop, the better for you. If you're interested in co-hosting, shoot Reese an email at tasutton22@gmail.com

We're looking forward to getting to know you guys! Don't be shy :) Now, grab a nice hot cup of coffee, get comfy, and prepare to go meet some new friends.

Creamy Chicken and Gnocchi Soup

2013-03-09T15:44:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you but I love soups this time of year! Not really one to eat an entire pot by myself especially since my family doesn't really eat soup. Which is why I love to make my soups and freeze them in individual servings! They last me several months and if I have a few different options to choose from then I'm set! My freezer currently consists of Chicken Noodle Soup, Roasted Butternut squash Soup, She-Crab Soup, Tomato Basil Soup and NOW Creamy Chicken and Gnocchi Soup! Next I need to make my Chicken Tortilla soup and Minestrone but for now...I think I'm off to a good start. I found the base for this recipe through Pinterest but changed a few things. Since I'm not a coffee drinker I don't ever have half and half on hand. However....I always have milk and heavy cream so I switched that a bit. also a little more spinach wouldn't hurt anybody! When I tasted the results.....OH MY.... it was incredible! At that moment I was wishing I didn't already have dinner made because what I really wanted to do was eat the entire potful! It was that good! Watch out...may cause you to lick your bowl in a very unladylike (or ungentlemanly) manner! Enjoy!

Ingredients
4 Tablespoons olive oil
4 Tablespoons butter, unsalted
1 large sweet onion diced
3 stalks celery diced small
1 cup carrots, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup already cooked chicken breast, shredded (you can use leftovers)
1/4 flour
3 cups milk
1 cup heavy cream
2 cups chicken stock
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 cups fresh spinach
1 17.5 oz package gnocchi (it doesn't matter if it's not exactly 17.5 oz..a little more or less won't hurt a thing)

1. Dice up the onion, carrots, celery and garlic. This is the base for most soups. Sometimes I can't believe I didn't use to like celery.

2. Heat olive oil and melt butter in a large pot.

3. Saute carrots, onion, celery and garlic in the olive oil/butter.

4. Here's the gnocchi I used. Go ahead and get a pot of salted water heating up. Don't forget the lid, it'll quicken the boiling time. Cook gnocchi according to package directions.

5. Whisk flour into veggie mixture. This will create a roux (a thickening agent).

6. Now add the milk and heavy cream and stir with a whisk. Stir frequently until thickens up a little.

7. Now add the chicken stock, cooked chicken, thyme, salt and pepper.

8. Add the chopped spinach and stir.

9. Once the gnocchi water begins to boil, drop the gnocchi in. It should only take a couple minutes for the gnocchi to be done. When you see the gnocchi begin to float to the top, you know it's ready.

10. Drain gnocchi and add the the soup. Taste and adjust seasonings adding more salt and pepper if needed.

To Print RECIPE ONLY CLICK HERE

**STORAGE TIP**

To freeze, ladle the thoroughly cooled soup into plastic cups like these and place in the freezer. Once the soup is frozen cut three slits in the rim of the cup and peel the cup away. Place in a gallon size freezer bag. Now you have individual serving of delicious homemade soup you can grab in a hurry and take to work with you! Who needs canned soup?!

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Melt-In-Your-Mouth Bolognese Sauce

2013-03-04T21:41:00.001-05:00

So the first time I ever had this type of sauce was at my sister-in-law's house a few months ago and it was delicious! It's a sauce that rather than depending upon tomatoes as the main act with the meat as the supporting role, the meat is the main ingredient with the tomatoes an added addition. Yesterday I was thinking about the bolognese sauce and decided that I wanted to attempt to make it myself. I quickly looked up some recipes on allrecipes.com and then went out and bought my ingredients. Often I just use other recipes as a place to start. After changing a few of the ingredients and adjusting some of the steps in the preparation I was ready to begin. Then when I was about to start making it this afternoon I remembered... I have an Italian cookbook! I looked up their recipe and followed some of their directions too. SO, this is a recipe collaboration from my cookbook, Allrecipes, and my head. I must say, I thought it turned out amazing! I'm sitting here contemplating whether I should go get a midnight snack of just the sauce...but I won't, because I need to have that as one of our dinners this week. Leftovers are lifesavers on busy week nights! However we must note that the wine made all the difference! My Italian cookbook said they tried several different versions using chicken stock, white wine and red wine and that the white wine was their favorite for a basic bolognese sauce. This time around I used white but I may have to try the red at some point when I'm feeling a little adventurous...after all 3 hours is a long time to take a chance on something...lol..but if you try this recipe you won't be disappointed!

Ingredients

4 slices bacon chopped

1 lb. meatloaf mix (beef, veal, pork)

1 T butter

1 sweet onion diced

1 stalk celery, finely chopped

2 large carrots, peeled and finely chopped

1 package button mushrooms, finely chopped

1 cup milk

1 cup white wine (I used Riesling)

2 cans stewed tomatoes

1/2 tsp oregano

1/2 tsp basil

1 tsp salt

In a large pot cook the chopped bacon till crisp.

Remove from pot to drain. Set aside.

Add the butter, onion, celery, and carrots and sauté until soft but don't let them turn brown.

Add the meatloaf mixture, salt, oregano, and basil.I found this in the grocery store premixed. Otherwise it's a combination of ground veal, pork and beef.

Once the meat is nearly cooked add the milk and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer 15 minutes. Next add the wine and simmer another 15 minutes.

Finally, add the tomatoes, bacon, and mushrooms making sure to break up the tomatoes in the pot. Simmer on low for 3 hours. Serve over pasta and top with grated Parmesan cheese enjoy!

To Print the RECIPE ONLY CLICK HERE

*Tip*

If I have leftover pasta I usually will store it in a Ziploc bag in the fridge. When you are ready to eat it then put in a pot of boiling water for 10 seconds.

Southern Green Beans

2013-02-28T06:00:00.000-05:00

Growing up in North Carolina, we've had our fair share of foods cooked with bacon...Who am I kidding...living in Philly I STILL have my fair share of things cooked with bacon or bacon drippings! I go so far as to save that heavenly goodness in a mason jar. Yep! I kid you not! It adds a depth of flavor to my dumplins and soups that is hard to replace. Sure, you can do without, find a substitute, and still have a good recipe, but why not have a great one?? It's not like you're gonna eat the entire batch of whatever-it-is single-handedly in one sitting. Well, this recipe is one of those things that bacon just 'makes' the dish. It's kinda like a good outfit. Sure, you may look great in the cute dress you just bought...BUT when you add the accessories..the jewelry and some cute shoes...they make the outfit great! Now, don't get me wrong...I love some fresh green beans with a little olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic powder...but once in awhile it's okay to indulge in something a little more...divine....lol...okay...I'm getting a little corny here....So anyway, my mom has been making these green beans for years and for me, there's nothin like them! Definitely a Thanksgiving staple in our house! I hope y'all enjoy these as much as I do!

Ingredients

3 strips of bacon

2 lbs. of green beans, trimmed and washed

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

1 onion diced

1 clove garlic, minced

salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. In a large pot, melt the butter. Add the bacon and fry until it is cooked crisp.

Next, add the diced onions and saute until translucent.

Add green beans and 1 clove of minced garlic and stir together. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

5. Add 1 cup water then turn heat down to low and cover with a lid. Cook on low until tender, about 30 minutes unless you prefer al dente, then cook for only 15 minutes.

6. Serve and Enjoy!

To Print the RECIPE ONLY Click HERE

Quick Chicken Broccoli and Rice

2013-02-25T19:52:00.001-05:00

I don't know about you, but my life is one crazy whirlwind! Between dropping the kids at school, getting to work, gymnastics practice, mid-week church groups, birthday parties picking the kids UP from school and the day-to-day chores sometimes I just need a quick meal to feed my busy family. Fast-food is often our go-to meal when we have no time (or energy for that matter). However, we're not big fans of the greasy who-knows-what-it's-even-made-with-food so when I find something we can make that is quick and somewhat healthy...it's definitely a plus in my book! So, I decided to try out the new Minute® Ready to Serve Rice and what I came up with was Quick Chicken, Broccoli and Rice and I was a very happy mom. PLUS it only took 20 minutes start to finish, and that included PREP time! The recipe contains simple ingredients and with the 98% fat-free cream of chicken soup...it's even on the healthy side! Also, you can't beat it if the kids actually eat a meal I make for the first time. Quick, simple AND healthy! Score!

Ingredients

2 Tablespoons olive oil

1 lb. chicken breasts (or tenders) cut up into one inch pieces

2 cups frozen broccoli

1 can cream of chicken soup (98% fat-free)

1 can water (use the empty soup can)

2 packages of Minute® Ready to Serve White Rice (4 individual servings)

salt and pepper, to taste

garlic powder, to taste

paprika, to taste

dash of cayenne (optional)

1. Season the chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika and cayenne pepper.

2. In a preheated skillet, drizzle olive oil and add the seasoned chicken. Cook over medium to medium-high heat until nearly cooked through.

3. Add the can of cream of chicken soup. Fill the can with water and stir the water in the pan. Check seasoning and add more if needed.

4. Next, add the frozen broccoli and stir to combine.

5. Add the Minute® Ready to Serve White Rice and stir to combine.

6. Cover with a lid and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for ten minutes.

Serve it hot! Enjoy!

Minute® Ready to Serve Rice is an ideal portable solution for lunch or breakfast because you can eat it on the go, straight from the cup. In just 60 seconds, you have fully cooked rice for any meal or snack. You’ll never get bored with your lunch since there are 10 flavorful and wholesome varieties. If you’re looking for a healthy option, Minute® Ready to Serve Rice provides easy portion control since it’s conveniently packaged in two individual single-serve cups.
Visit http://www.minuterice.com/ for recipes, including Minute® Ready to Serve Stir it Up recipe ideas and more information about the Minute® Rice family of products.
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Minute® Ready to Serve Rice.

To Print the RECIPE ONLY Click HERE

What My Momma Did...

2013-02-23T06:00:00.000-05:00

I'm linking up with Lisa-Jo with a 5-Minute Friday prompt...here's the task:

In just five minutes. Tell me all about what your mama did that made her yours….{and don’t forget to spend some time commenting on the post of the person who linked up just before you}

Wow. Well, my Momma showed me what is was to be a lady and to love her husband. I never saw her anything less than graceful no matter the circumstances. (Well, other than the 3 cigarettes she smoked during my teen years when my sister and I pushed her to her limit... :/ lol...we knew we were in for it then since she wasn't a smoker!) We didn't have a lot growing up but she always tried to look her best and take care of herself and she rarely swore unless it was under her breath and never in front of other people. She carried herself with grace and femininity but was strong and independent. She made my dad feel needed but she knew she could take care of herself. She put my dad first and always showed her undying love for him (which he reciprocated, probably a bi-product of her love:)) She served him meals first instead of last and never disrespected him in front of others, even if she disagreed which I'd never knew. She kissed him publicly (which still grosses me out..lol and holds his hands even to this day) She carried herself with poise and treated others and herself with dignity. I wish I had been a better daughter when I was a teenager...I guess we all go through that sassy, bratty stage. I just pray that I can be as graceful as she is and my daughters don't take after me in that respect....I think I'm like her in many ways, though I take after my dad in a lot of ways too. But if I could inherit her grace and ability to act like a lady...then I think I've learned a lot, especially in today's society. Though I am speaking in the past tense because the question was asked that way, she still does these things today! Love you mom! You're one classy lady!

What You've Been Dying to Know....

2013-02-22T16:59:00.001-05:00

Or not....

I was tagged by the sweetheart over at My Life, as Mommy and Wife, Holly, to share a little about myself....So in case you wanted to know some randomness about The Redheaded Princess....then today is your day!

Okay...so here ya go....

1. Where were you born? Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Broward County aka home of the hanging chad)

2. Were you named after someone? My first name, no, but my middle name is my mother's name and grandmother's middle name

3. If you have children, how many do you have? I have three beautiful daughters ages 3,6 and 9. Couldn't be more blessed and proud!

4. How many pets do I have? I have one 90% sweet 10% psychotic tabby Siamese mix cat...she is female...so that may be all the explanation needed.....

5. What was your worst injury? Well, I've been pretty lucky...probably when we first moved into our apartment in the city I was carrying some couch cushions into our walk out basement and there were some little punk kids that I was worried were gonna steal the cushions, and rather than make two trips I tried to carry all of them at once but fell down the steps and put my elbow through the glass storm door. I got about 12 stitches.

6. Do I have a special talent? I'm creative but I never really developed any specific talent either artistically or musically. Wish I would've learned to play an instrument :(

7. What's your favorite thing to bake? My mom's Christmas cookies with frosting but I can only do it once a year because I have no self-control when it comes to eating them

8. What's your favorite fast-food? Chipotle or Qdoba

9. Would you bungee jump? There was a time when I would have said yes to that and even to sky diving BUT I have a lot more to lose now and I don't think I'm immortal anymore...so...No I wouldn't

10. What is the first thing you notice about people? If they smile...if they don't smile I usually stay back.

11. When was the last time you cried? At a funeral today..not boo-hoo crying..because I don't do that in front of people...but ya know..I needed some tissues...I'll miss that lady...

12. Any current worries? That I'm not a good example of a godly woman to my girls...it's a daily process that I fail often...I pray they see the good in me and my love for God...and them...

13. Name three drinks you drink regularly. Coke zero, sweet tea, Starbucks mocha frappuccino

14. What is your favorite book? Wow...that's a tough one! Currently...Uncle Tom's Cabin...aMAZing...I LOVE LOVE LOVE Wuthering Heights! Pride and Prejudice or any of Jane Austen's other books...also the Chronicles of Narnia series and Quo Vadis...I'm sorry I can't narrow it down....just check out my Books to Read Before You Die post...

15. Would you like to be a pirate? It'd be cool..especially if I was on Captain Hook's ship;-) (from Once Upon a Time) ( Dear God, don't let my Prince Charming read this) lol

16. What are your favorite smells? Food smells...I can't stand candles scented with lavender or any floral type scents...they have to be food like vanilla, coconut, apple, etc.

17. Why do you blog? To share my knowledge with others because I wished I had some help for a lot of things when I first got married, for myself, and to meet new people.

18. What song do you want played at your funeral? I Will Rise by Chris Tomlin

19. What is your least favorite thing about yourself? I'm shy and quiet and hard to get to know at first...I don't always trust people with my feelings at first so it makes making friends tough..I definitely wish I had more girlfriends but its tough at this stage in life...and I wish I was more outgoing in a group setting...I do better one on one...

20. What is your favorite hobby? Cooking, decorating..making something new from something old, crocheting...it's hard to find the time though when you have three kids, a husband and work

21. What do you look for in a friend? someone who is friendly, someone who actually calls to see how I'm doing or returns calls, someone who cares about me as much as I do about them and tries to show it...(I don't have many of those, so the few I do have, I cherish :))

22. Name something you have done you never thought you would do. Start a blog, go back to school after I started a family

23. What are your favorite things to do? Roller coasters, skiing, whitewater rafting, camping, read, running

24. Any pet peeves? When people don't try to do something first before asking for help OR half-assing (pardon the expression) something just to get it done..either do it right or don't do it at all...that's my philosophy...I think I got that from my dad, bc it's his philosophy too...

25. What's the last thing that made you laugh? I watched Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake do the History of Rap oh, and my friend's funny stories at the funeral today...

Alright! Done! That wasn't so bad, now was it? So here's what ya do...go check out the ladies I'm tagging below and be sure and check out Holly too! She's great!

Reese @ The Importance of Being Reese
Laura @ Pruning Princesses
Mandy @ Messy Wife, Blessed Life
Whitney @ Sippy Cups and Pearls
Jean @ What Jean Likes

Happy Friday!!

Cat On A Hot Tin Roof {on Broadway}

2013-02-21T10:56:00.001-05:00

One of my all-time favorite movies is Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman. So when I saw that it was coming back to Broadway I was thrilled! Immediately I emailed my husband the Broadway message I had received about it and then figured I'd wait and see what happened. Well he was pretty amazing because for Christmas that's what I got...two tickets see the beloved play on Broadway...in New York City! Needless to say I was beyond excited!

So this past weekend was the date of the show and Prince Charming and I spent the day together in the Big Apple. It was a much needed day without kids. What a novel idea to be able to have an uninterrupted conversation with my husband! We saw the World Trade Center Memorial, went ice skating in Central Park, had dinner and took in the show. Plus we had two nights at home without the girls...it was wonderful! (Don't get me wrong..I love my babies more than anything...but you moms and dads out there know what I mean)

Well, after I got home, I decided I should share my experience with y'all...so...here are my thoughts on the play turned movie turned play again....spoiler alert...

Okay so lets's start with a short history lesson on Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. The play was written by Tennessee Williams in 1955 and was adapted to the big screen in 1958. The play has been redone several times as well as had a TV version. In the original play the issue of homosexuality is addressed and plays a big part in the main character, Brick's, drinking. However when the play was adapted for the big screen Williams was not happy because they changed that aspect of the play according to the Hays Code (the movies' list of dos and don'ts at the time) . It was during a time when such things were not discussed through the media. However having now seen both the play and the film I can see why he was upset because the issue had deep rooted meaning for the character. The film did allude to the idea without ever actually addressing it but the forthrightness of the issue is certainly more prevalent in the play.

Alright now for the synopsis...watching Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is almost like stepping into the life of a dysfunctional (to say the least) family where you have no background knowledge on anyone but as the day progresses you discover the dynamics between the family members and the issues they all have with each other are unfolded before your eyes.

The story takes place in Mississippi on a cotton plantation owned by Big Daddy Pollitt and occurs through the course of a single day. Right away we begin by finding out that everyone thinks Big Daddy has cancer. Maggie "the cat" and Brick are married and living together but the marriage is on the rocks, for what reasons which are yet unknown to the audience. She is determined though to not let Gooper (Brick's brother) and his wife Mae inherit Big Daddy's plantation while Brick is not so cooperative with her intentions. He is uninterested in Big Daddy's fortune and could care less what happens should he die. Maggie loves her husband and for some past discretion, which is unknown to the viewer for the first part of the show/movie, Brick is punishing her with his coldness. What I love about the movie is that you can see the longing and desperation in Maggie to have her husband love her again while Brick has nothing but utter disgust for his southern belle of a wife. All the while, she pretends that everything between she and Brick is fine and ignores his disgust and has that ever longing hope that his love for her will resurface. Mae and Gooper are nosey and tattle to Big Momma telling her that Maggie and Brick sleep in separate beds and he won't sleep with her which is while she is childless. Mae and Gooper on the other hand have 5 children with one on the way, a fact which they along with their children gloat over. Big Daddy however can't stand Gooper, Mae OR their five "no-neck monsters" as Maggie so eloquently calls them. Maggie is just like a female with all their catty-ness and has that feminine quality in a typical southern belle with soft gentility; however if you cross them they'll scratch your eyes out. In the words of Bruno Mars "you'll smile in my face then rip the brakes out my car". She knows how to used her femininity to her advantage. So Big daddy arrives and the doctor has told them that he's going to be alright but tells Gooper and Brick the truth. Throughout the course of the evening Brick's drinking increases and Big Daddy and he have it out...apparently something they don't do too often. Just like with many families they skirt over the real issues in their lives and make nice with one another but tonight, for the Pollits it's another story. All the issues are brought to light between each family member and while the play leaves little to be truly resolved, the movie brings about a somewhat happier ending with reconciliation between Brick and Maggie and Brick and Big Daddy.

Okay, so what's the big deal with this dysfunctional family drama? Why do I love it so much? I asked myself that question the other night when I was on the way home from New York. Prince Charming and I were talking about it and I think it's because Big Daddy and his family seemed to have everything that would make a person happy. But did it? No. They were just like every other family out there will all their dysfunctional glory and they deal with issues the way most of us do....they don't. You find that most of the time with family and extended family people try and get along while often times holding things in and living by the "golden rule" (if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all) mentality. What I love about the story is that all the issues are brought to light. The truth is told and they can finally deal with the skeletons in the closets.
One of my favorite quotes was when Maggie tells Brick, "I'm more determined than you think. I'll win alright."
To which Brick replies sarcastically, "What's the victory of a cat on a hot tin roof?"
"Just stayin' on it I guess...as long a she can..." Isn't that like life? Sometimes life gets tough and you want to quit but you just keep hanging on waiting for it to get better? I love that about Maggie. She believes in herself and in their relationship. It's like that quote in my sidebar by Layne Beachley, "There are so many people who out there who will tell you that you can't. What you've got to do is turn around and say 'Watch me'". I am reminded of myself in a lot of ways when I see Maggie. Especially in this respect. I can't stand when someone tells me I can't do something. I will climb mountains to prove them wrong. I love how she is quiet but so determined. She was raised to be a lady but when pushed she won't back down. I admire her strength and commitment and relate to the passive-aggressive ways she tries to motivate Brick. Okay, okay, I know I'm getting a little carried away..she is after all just a character in a story. But isn't that was moves people to watch them? Their relatability? Cat on a Hot Tin Roof embodies the essence of American dysfunction...to which I can relate. There is love, jealousy, passion, longing, guilt, arrogance, pride, ego, tenderness, and reconciliation. It's the American way...unless you're lucky enough to live the Leave It to Beaver life...which let me tell you is truly rare.

Alright, now I will let you know what I thought about the play. First, what I love about the movie is the acting. You can hear the pain and desperation in Maggie's voice. You see that she truly loves her husband and that he is fighting those feelings because of his anger and disgust. Scarlett Johannson in my opinion was not able to communicate this in her performance. Maggie is supposed to be feminine yet strong and catty. However Scarlett's voice was too deep and she didn't seem to try and be feminine in any way. Southern girls went to finishing school and were taught to be ladies but Johannson's "Maggie" did not pull that aspect of the character off and to be honest, it was difficult to hear her and "get" that she really loved Brick. I do realize that theater productions must be done differently because you cannot catch every look or expression the way you can on a movie screen. Thus said, the acting compared to Elizabeth Taylor was not even comparable. To be honest, I've never been a Scarlett Johannson fan even though I think she's adorable...I haven't like many of her recent performances. And to be fair, I DID go into the play with an open mind thinking I just didn't like the characters she had played in the past. This time around though, it wasn't the character I didn't like, it was her portrayal of her.
Okay, so let's get down to the crux of the issue...what y'all really want to know....would I recommend the play or go see it again? YES! I love the story and though the acting was somewhat to be desired the play was amazing! I am biased because I LOVE the movie version and I love Liz Taylor and Paul Newman as actors (anyone see Cool Hand Luke?) (plus he's gorgeous with those blue eyes so that doesn't hurt). lol

So all I can say is this...watch the show. Watch the play. I think you'll love them!

Cajun Chicken Pasta

2013-02-18T22:42:00.000-05:00

Has anyone ever eaten at The Cheesecake Factory? Is that a dumb question? Well anyway...I have only eaten there a few times and loved the food every time. The first time I ever went there I ordered their Cajun Pasta with chicken and shrimp and *sigh it was sooooo delicious! Well, of course I had to figure out how to make it at home because it seemed to have such simple ingredients. Here's what I ended up with after coming across several recipes. I don't put in the shrimp however you certainly could. I may have to just try it some time like that too! Love this recipe! Oh and to reheat, just heat it up on the stove in a pot or in the microwave but make sure to add either a little cream or milk to bring back that creaminess since the pasta will absorb the liquid. I hate to admit it but I've even added those little half and half creamers for coffee when I was desperate..lol..

Ingredients:
12oz box Bowie pasta (farfalle)
4 skinless boneless chicken breasts
4 tsp. Cajun seasonings
4 T butter, unsalted
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 green pepper, sliced
1 small sweet onion, diced
1 small package button mushrooms, sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp lemon pepper seasoning
2 c. Heavy cream
2/3 c grated Parmesan cheese

1. Bring a pot of water for the the pasta to a boil. Make sure to add salt and put a lid on it and the boiling time will be quicker.

2. While waiting for the water to boil, cut up the chicken into 1 inch strips.

3. Add the butter to a preheated skillet and melt over medium heat. In a large gallon freezer bag add the chicken and the Cajun seasonings.

4. Add the seasoned chicken to the skillet and saute until cooked through.

5. Add the farfalle (bowtie) pasta to the boiling water and give it a stir so the pasta doesn't clump together or stick to the bottom of the pot. Stir occasionally.

I decided that I wanted to try a trick I learned from Pinterest and I must say it works pretty well. I laid the wooden spoon across the top of the past pot and it kept the water from boiling over! Pretty awesome!

6. Remove the cooked chicken to a plate to drain, keep warm and set aside.

7. Next, add the onions, peppers, (I forgot to buy the green pepper...oops!) garlic and mushrooms and saute until tender.

8. Add the chicken back to the pot and pour in the cream, salt, pepper, basil, and lemon pepper seasoning. Toss to combine.

Drain the cooked pasta and add it to the skillet tossing to coat.

Finally, add the Parmesan cheese and toss. Remove from heat and serve immediately! So delicious!

To Print the RECIPE ONLY CLICK HERE

How Well Does My Hubby Know Me? (Link-Up)

2013-02-14T22:03:00.002-05:00

I'm linking up with The Life of a Not So Ordinary Wife to see how well my Prince Charming knows me...

How long have you been married?

He said: 12 1/2 years, exactly

I said: Going on 13 years

Where was your first date?

He said: seeing our friend Devin and his band performing

I said: Applebees and Putt-Putt golfing (I am right because the first time wasn't actually a date)

Where was your first kiss?

He said: the beach,

I said: On the beach in South Nags Head, NC

Who first said, "I love you"?

He said: idk..probably you did

I said: Me

What were your wedding colors?

He said: idk..blue? I have a memory block..

I said: Yellow and white

What is her most commonly used phrase?

He said: I don't think you even know

I said: hmm..this is a hard one for me maybe "Whatever"

Who is her celebrity crush?

He said: Bradley Cooper, Bruno Mars or Magic Mike

I said: Bruno Mars & Bradley Cooper

If she was ordering drinks for both of you what would you each get?

He said: you would get that wine you like, Sangria or Coke Zero or Diet Coke

I said: Coke Zero or Diet Coke/Pepsi for both of us and/or Sangria for me

What is the best meal she has ever cooked you?

He said: Well, they're all good so I don't have a favorite. That's not a fair question bc I could give you five..I like your Nachos and Quesadillas

I said: Everything she cooks is great but if I have to narrow it down...Nachos or Chicken Fingers

What is the worst meal she has ever cooked you?

He said: That stuff with the onions in it..that nasty stuff (It was Risotto)

I said: Risotto

What would she say is your most annoying habit?

He said: probably throwing everything away or putting everything on the dining room table

I said: cleaning the kitchen and putting all the mess into the dining room.

What is the last thing she does before she goes to bed?

He said: Takes a shower, or read, or watch King of Queens

I said: Showers

If you could throw out one item of her clothing what would it be?

He said: your panties bc I'd rather get you new better ones (aahh TMI!)

I said: None, I really don't care because she looks good in anything

What would you say is your favorite thing about her?

He said: That you don't let me cop out and be a guy and say I don't feel like it. Like if I'm doing a job and I wanna
do it 2/3 you make me do it 100%

I said: She says whatever she thinks when we're alone and makes me laugh

What's her go-to drink at Starbucks?

He said: Mocha Frappuccino;

I said: Mocha Frappuccino

What's her blog's name?!

He said: The Redheaded Princess

I said: The Redheaded Princess

Well, I must say I am proud of my Prince Charming...he did a pretty great job!

I've Been Shot by Cupid! So Pinteresting!

2013-02-11T21:15:00.001-05:00

So Valentine's Day is only a few days away and my Princess9 and I were on the search for what to do for valentine's cards for her classmates. We loved last year's pinterest inspired cards so she was really excited when we came across this PIN on Pinterest. So we headed out back to create our picture...

Next, I headed over to Picmonkey.com and did my free editing...love that site!

We paired it with our A.C. Moore Animal Print Pops that we made and...

Voila! .... One of the cutest Valentine's Cards EVER! ( I only wish I would've made the words a little smaller bc when printed at Target the "I" got cut off...oh well...L.L. (lesson learned))

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

A.C. Moore Giveaway and Valentine's Day Craft!

2013-02-09T20:33:00.001-05:00

My good friends at A.C. Moore were so kind as to offer one of you lovely people a $20 gift card! Aren't y'all excited?? C'mon! It's A.C. Moore! If you love crafting (when you can find the time) like I do then this is for you!

With Valentine's Day approaching the princesses and I were on the lookout for something to make for their classmates...and A.C. Moore had several options for me...or should I say TONS of options. We settled on Animal Print Pops and I picked up the needed supplies....

Princess3 waiting oh so patiently for the candy to melt in the microwave. She was so excited.

Filling the molds. I got her a simple one because the details would have been too tough for her.

Now's the fun part! Following the directions to get the cool animal prints. You've gotta work quick because the candy hardens in the tip of the bottle so I was rotating cleaning out the lids in warm water..

Ta-Dah! Aren't they adorable???

For DIRECTIONS on how to make this project

then CLICK HERE.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here are some PRINTABLE COUPONS to use in the MEAN TIME. They Expire Saturday February 16 so Print Away! And get to shopping!

**Disclaimer: I was provided with materials to complete this project as well as provided with the gift card for the giveaway.

Hearty Chili

2013-02-05T20:06:00.003-05:00

Brr....it's sooo cold outside! Seriously! I just visited my parents in sunny Florida and almost wanted to cry when I left the 67 degree weather and came back to 18 degrees and SNOW! Yuck! So in honor of this nasty cold weather I decided it was time for a batch of my homemade chili. I like mine to have a little kick but with the kiddos we have to be a little more tame...What's great is that this can be adapted to your tastes and even put in a slow-cooker. A plus if you want it to be ready when you get home from work :)

Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
1 large onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 large can crushed tomatoes
2 can diced tomatoes
1 can tomato paste
1 large can dark red kidney beans,drained and rinsed
Salt and pepper to taste
3 Tablespoons chili powder
Garlic powder, to taste
1/4 tsp. Crushed red pepper flakes
2 Tablespoons juice from can of pickled jalapeño slices
1 Tablespoon pickled jalapeño slices, chopped (optional)

For Serving: (optional)
Cooked white rice
Cheddar cheese, shredded
Sour cream
Corn bread

Okay so first you want to brown the beef and sauté the onions in a large heavy bottomed pot. Once the beef is mostly browned add the garlic.

When the beef is all the way browned drain the oil. Next add the chili powder , salt, pepper, red pepper flakes and garlic powder (for good measure.:) )mix thoroughly.

At this point all of the ingredients can be combined in a slower cooker and cooked on low for 6-8 hours. Otherwise add the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, and tomato paste.

Add the rinsed and drained kidney beans and stir.

Next add the chopped jalapeños and jalapeño juice and bring it all to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes to an hour.

Serve over some rice or homemade cornbread. Add some cheese or sour cream or both and enjoy!

To PRINT the RECIPE ONLY Click HERE

Homemade Chicken Pot Pie

2013-01-28T13:38:00.000-05:00

This time of year, there's nothing like a warm hearty meal to fill your belly when it's chilly outside and you want to curl up on the sofa with a blanket and your special someone. I love chicken pot pie but I really try to avoid the recipes using canned soups, sorry Paula Deen. I do use canned soups in some recipes but I wanted to learn how to make this the 'right' way. Here's my adaptation of several recipes and a few years of tweaking. I sometimes will make my own crust or use Pillsbury's refrigerated crust that you can roll out. It just depends on how much time I have and how much motivation. I will post the crust recipe at a later date. One tip though...if you use a refrigerated pie crust, sprinkle some flour and roll it out with a rolling pin. It keeps the crust from being too thick and is more like a homemade crust. It makes it a little more flaky..not as flaky as a crust from scratch, but definitely an improvement. One caveat here...I made this on a whim and didn't have all the fresh veggies on hand...so I had to resort to using some canned. (Definitely not as delicious, but still good).

Ingredients

1 1/2 lb. chicken breast OR 1 lb. already cooked chicken breast

1 cup sliced carrots

1 c frozen peas

2 T. butter plus 2 T. bacon drippings OR 4 T. butter

1 small onion, diced (1/2 cup)

2 stalks celery, diced (1/4 cup)

1 clove garlic, minced

1/4 c. flour

1 1/2 cups chicken stock

1 1/2 c milk

1/4 tsp. thyme

1/4 tsp. rosemary

salt and pepper to taste

1 tsp. Better Than Bouillon or 1/2 tsp. chicken bouillon

**Note** May substitute 2 cups of your favorite veggies for the carrots and peas: fresh, frozen, or canned (i.e. carrots, peas, potatoes, green beans, mushrooms, etc.) I don't like to use canned unless I'm in a pinch. They're definitely not as good.

1. First, if you don't already have cooked chicken, salt and pepper the cut up chicken breasts and saute in vegetable oil. Cook on both sides until cooked through. Remove to cool slightly and cut up into bite-sized pieces. If you have leftover chicken, then skip this step.

2. Meanwhile, prepare the veggies if they need to be cooked. You can boil them or steam them. Whichever method you prefer. I sometimes get the steam in bag peas. Today, I just used canned because it's all I had at the time.

2. Over medium- medium/high heat saute onion and celery in 2 T. butter and 2 T. bacon drippings until translucent. I save my bacon drippings in a mason jar and use it in several recipes like my Chicken n Dumplins. Just refrigerate. Add the garlic now so it doesn't burn.

3. Add flour to onions and celery and cook for a few minutes stirring so the flour doesn't burn.

4. Slowly add chicken stock and milk and stir with a whisk. Add the better than bouillon and seasonings. Cook over medium heat until sauce begins to thicken.

5. Roll out the pie crust and place bottom crust in pie plate.

6. In a large bowl combine chicken and any other veggies you may be adding. You can add frozen veggies here, or canned, or fresh depending on what you are cooking. I would recommend potatoes to be slightly cooked before.

7. Pour chicken and vegetables in the pie crust in a mound. It will settle as the pie cooks. Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken.

8. Carefully place top pie crust on the pot pie. Cut a few slits in the top to let steam escape during cooking. Crimp the edges fancy like this :)...that's some pretty crimping...lol or press with a fork to seal the edges.

9. Bake in a preheated oven 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 30-35 minutes.

That looks so pretty...and delicious!

CLICK HERE to Print the RECIPE ONLY

Welcome! It's My Sits Day!

2013-01-18T07:40:00.002-05:00

Wow! I can't believe it's here! Today is my SITS Day! What a wonderful thing to wake up to! For those of you who don't know what SITS is it's a group of 40,000 women bloggers who support and encourage each other. SITS is great because you get to meet so many new bloggers and learn great tips for blogging, photography, social media and so much more. So let me tell ya, this is an exciting day!

If you're new here then check out my Meet the Princess page. Also, wondering why I named my blog the Redheaded Princess check out Why the Princess?

Also, for some laughs don't forget to read my I {Heart} Snakes in my Minivan... when a snake set up camp for several weeks in there...

If you love recipes...check out my In the Kitchen page. I have over 50 recipes there waiting for ya!

Thanks so much for visiting! I hope you follow along with my adventure and can't wait to meet everyone! Have a great weekend!