life between sisters

Beef Tacos with Pineapple Salsa and Crema

2018-05-03T19:17:00.000-05:00

It's taco time! Here we are to add a little bit of the tropics to your tacos this week. A little pineapple goes a long way in this recipe. It adds a nice sweet kick to dinner that's not too sweet but adds a nice flavor.

Beef Tacos with Pineapple Salsa and Crema

Generously Serves a Family of Four (4)

Total Time: 40 Minutes

Ingredients

1 Red Onion
2 Poblano Peppers
4 Roma Tomatoes
3 Tbsp Cilantro
2 Limes
2 Snack Cups of Chopped Pineapple
1/4 cup of Sour Cream
2 Tbsp Taco Seasoning
1.5 lbs of Ground Beef
12 Flour Tortillas
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper

Directions

Halve, peel, and dice the onion. Core and seed poblano peppers, then cut into small squares. Core and seed the tomatoes and cut into cubes. Roughly chop the cilantro. Halve one lime and cut the other lime into wedges. Drain the pineapple and roughly chop, save the juice.
Combine 2 Tbsp of onion, 1/2 cup of poblano peppers, tomatoes, half of the cilantro, pineapple, and the juice of half of one lime in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper. In a separate small bowl add the sour cream with the juice of the other half of the lime. Season with salt and pepper.
Health a drizzle of olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the remaining onion and poblanos. Season with salt and pepper and 1 tbsp of taco seasoning. Cook, tossing until softened- about 2 minutes.
Add the beef to the pan, break up into pieces and season with salt, pepper, and 1 tbsp of taco seasoning. Cook until browned- 5 minutes. Drain any access grease and return to pan. Stir in pineapple juice and remove from heat.
While the beef cooks, warm up the tortillas by wrapping them in a damp paper towel and microwave for 30 seconds or until warm.
Divide the beef mixture between the tortillas and spoon on the salsa and crema. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve with the lime wedges.

Enjoy!

Turkey Burgers with Cranberry Mayo

2018-04-06T18:19:00.000-05:00

Switching up the traditional burger is something that everyone should try. It's nice to change things up from time to time and trying out a turkey burger is a great choice!

Here we have a recipe for a turkey burger, but there is a little spin on it and it tastes like a Thanksgiving dinner on a bun! Yum!

Turkey Burger with Cranberry Mayo and a side of Greens

Generously serves a family of 4

Total time: 50-60 minutes

Ingredients

2 Tbsp Fresh Sage
1 Shallot
1.5 lbs. of Ground Turkey
1 Tsp Dried Thyme
1/2c Panko Bread Crumbs
1/3c of Mayo
4 Tbsp of Cranberry Jam
4 Potato Buns
5oz Bag of Spring Mix Salad
2 Tbsp of Dried Cranberries
2 Tbsp Pecans
1 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Pick sage leaves from stems and mince. Peel the shallot and then mince. Place the minced shallot into a medium bowl.
Add ground turkey, minced sage, thyme, and breadcrumbs to the medium bowl with the shallot. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Use your hands to mix and combine. Once combined, shape into four (4) patties.
Heat a large drizzle of olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the turkey patties and cook for 6 minutes a side or until no longer pink in the center.
While the turkey patties cook, stir mayo and cranberry jam in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Cut the buns in half and toast on a baking sheet, cut side down, in the oven until golden- about 4 minutes.
Toss the salad, dried cranberries, pecans, balsamic vinegar and a large drizzle of olive oil in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
Spread the cranberry mayo on the buns, add the turkey patty and a small handful of the prepared salad onto the bun. Serve with any remaining salad.

Enjoy!

Cheese and Pesto Crusted Chicken with Potato Cubes and Salad

2018-03-27T09:16:00.000-05:00

When it comes to chicken you have a lot of options! One easy thing to do with chicken is to make a nice crunchy and cheesy crust on top - we're going to show you how right now.

Cheese and Pesto Crusted Chicken with Potato Cubes and Salad
Total Time: 40-50 mintues
Generously serves a family of 4

Ingredients:

12 small Yukon Gold Potatoes
1 cup Panko Bread Crumbs
1 cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
4 Chicken Breasts
4 Tbsp Pesto
1 Lemon
1 - 5oz bag of Spring Salad Mix
Olive Oil

Directions

Wash and dry the potatoes. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Cut the potatoes into 1/2in cubes.
Place the cubed potatoes on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Roast in the oven until golden and crispy, about 25 minutes. Toss halfway through.
In a small bowl start making the crust. Mix the panko bread crumbs, mozzarella cheese, a drizzle of olive oil, and salt and pepper until combined. Set aside.
Place the chicken breasts on a lightly oiled baking sheet (you can use another drizzle of olive oil or just spray it with cooking spray). Brush 1 tbsp of pesto on the top of the chicken breast. Repeat with the others. Grab the panko and mozzarella crust mixture and cover the top of the chicken breasts. Make sure to press down on the crust so it adheres to the chicken. Roast in the oven until the chicken is no longer pink, about 20-22 minutes.
Meanwhile, cut the lemon in half. In a large bowl, add the salad. Squeeze the lemon and add a drizzle of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and toss the salad until evenly coated.
Once the chicken and potatoes are done, divide the potatoes and chicken between four plates and serve with the salad on the side.

Enjoy!

Meatloaf with Mashed Sweet Potatoes and Almond Topped Green Beans

2018-03-12T17:15:00.000-05:00

Meatloaf is one of those dinners we think of when we were kids. Something that our parents made as a comfort food. We remember it as a huge loaf of ground beef with a fancy ketchup glaze. We would each get a slice- yum! Well, let's change up that giant loaf of beef and instead make individual loaves for each of us. No need to slice it up and share. It's all yours!

Meatloaf with Mashed Sweet Potatoes and Almond Topped Green Beans
Total Time: 1 Hour
Generously serves a family of four (4)

Ingredients:

5 Tsp Balsamic Vinegar
4 Tbsp Ketchup
2 Cloves of Garlic
2 Fresh Sprigs of Parsley (about 3-4 tbsp)
1 Yellow Onion
1 Cup Panko Bread Crumbs
1 1/2 lbs of Ground Beef
2 Eggs
4 Sweet Potatoes
12oz of Fresh or Frozen Garden Green Beans
2 Tbsp Honey
2 Tbsp of Sliced Almonds
Olive Oil
2 Tbsp Butter

Directions:

Wash and dry all produce. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In a small bowl, mix the balsamic vinegar and ketchup together and set aside.
Mince the garlic and chop the parsley. Halve and peel the onion, then use the large holes of a cheese grater and grate the onion (this helps the ground beef absorb the onion flavor and prevents you from getting large pieces of onion in the meatloaf).
Add the ground beef, garlic, parsley, onion, panko bread crumbs, and both eggs to a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper, then mix with your hands until combined. Shape into 4 loaves, then place on a lightly oiled baking sheet. Brush the top of each loaf with the vinegar and ketchup mixture - about 1 tbsp per loaf.
Roast the meatloaves in the oven until cooked through, about 25 minutes.
Meanwhile, peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into 1/2in cubes (this takes forever). Place them in a medium pot covered with water. Season with salt and bring to a boil. Boil for 10 minutes.
After the meatloaves have baked for 10 minutes, remove them from the oven and add the green beans to the pan and drizzle the green beans with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Put the meatloaves and green beans back in the oven until the meatloaves are finished, about 15 minutes.
Drain the sweet potatoes and return them to the pot. Mash with a fork, potato masher, or a whisk until smooth. Add butter and honey. Continue to mash until everything is combined. Season with salt and pepper.
Once the meatloaves and green beans are done, sprinkle the green beans with the sliced almonds and toss. Divide the meatloaves between four plates and serve with the mashed sweet potatoes and green beans.

Enjoy!

Pulled Pork Tacos with Black Bean Salsa

2018-03-10T11:54:00.000-06:00

We're feeling like it's time for tacos. We haven't posted any recipes for tacos yet, so it's obviously time. We decided to go with something a little less traditional by making tacos with pulled pork instead of ground beef. We also had to have a good side so beans were a perfect option. Let's dive in!

Pulled Pork Tacos with Black Bean Salsa
Total Time: 30 minutes
Generously serves a family of 4

Ingredients:

2 Limes
1 Red Onion
1 Jalapeno
2 Roma Tomatoes
3 Tbsp Southwest Spice Blend
1 1/2 lbs of Fully Cooked Pulled Pork
2- 15oz cans of Black Beans
12 Small Flour Tortillas
4 oz of Sour Cream (about 8 tbsp)
1 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Olive Oil

Directions

Wash and dry all of the produce. Cut one lime in half and cut the other lime into wedges. Dice the onion. Mince the jalapeno (toss the ribs and seeds). Dice the tomatoes.
Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add half of your diced onion and half of the jalapeno. Toss until they are slightly soft, about 2 minutes.
Add the pulled pork to the pan with the onions and jalapenos. Break up the meat and add 1-2 tbsp of southwest spice blend and 1/4c - 1/2c of water. Cook and stir until everything is combined and warmed up. This will take about 3-5 minutes.
Drain and rinse the black beans and place in a medium bowl with the tomatoes and the last of the onion and jalapeno. Squeeze in juice from both lime halves. Season generously with salt and pepper. Mix well.
In a small bowl add the sour cream and 1 tbsp of the Southwest Spice blend and mix well.
Warm up the tortillas.
Divide the pulled pork between the tortillas and sprinkle with the shredded cheddar cheese. Add three (3) tacos to each plate and serve with the black bean salsa on the side. Add a dollop of sour cream and a lime wedge to each plate.

Enjoy!

Balsamic Drizzled Steak with Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Steamed Green Beans

2018-03-04T12:15:00.000-06:00

It's dinnertime! Well, it will be at some point. When you get stuck in a rut and you can't decide what to make, try this recipe. You will love it! There is SO much flavor packed into this that you will be blown away and amazed at how delicious it is.

Now, I'm not a huge fan of balsamic vinegar, but I've found that if used correctly it tastes amazing!! I still don't like the smell of it, but I just can't get enough of the deliciously tangy sauce that comes out of it in this recipe. It is definitely a new favorite.

Let's get started!
Generously serves a family of 4

Ingredients

4 Sweet Potatoes
4 Cloves of Garlic
4 Ranch-cut steaks, 5oz each (about 1-inch thick )
3 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
Fresh Rosemary
8oz Container of Grape Tomatoes
12oz Green Beans (fresh or frozen)
2 Tsp Beef Stock Concentrate
3 Tbsp Butter
1/2 Tsp Sugar
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper

Directions

Make sure wash and dry the sweet potatoes, grape tomatoes, and green beans (if fresh). Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Cut the sweet potatoes into wedges. Pick/pull off the Rosemary leaves and roughly chop until you have about 2tsp. Discard the stems. Smash 2 cloves of garlic with the back of the knife and mince or grate the other two cloves. Cut the tomatoes in half, lengthwise.
Grab a baking sheet and toss the sweet potato wedges, the smashed garlic, 1tsp of the chopped Rosemary, and a drizzle of olive oil. Once evenly coated season with salt and pepper. Roast in the oven for 22 minutes or until tender and slightly golden in color. Mix/toss halfway through.
In a large pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil over medium-high heat. Season the steaks with salt and pepper, on both sides and cook until seared on the surface- about 3 mins per side. Then, add to another baking sheet and cook in the oven for 7 minutes or until desired doneness. Remove from oven and let it rest for 5 minutes.
If using fresh green beans, add them to a medium sized microwave safe bowl with a splash of water, cover with plastic wrap (poke a few holes in the top) and cook for 5 minutes. Drain the green beans, return them to the bowl and add 1/2 tbsp of butter. Toss until evenly coated.

If using frozen green beans, follow the directions on the package to steam them or cook them on the stove. When cooking is complete, add 1/2 tbsp of butter.

Heat a drizzle of olive oil over medium-high heat in the used steak pan. Add the grape tomatoes and minced garlic. Cook for 1-2 minutes or until slightly softened and fragrant. Stir in the 3tbsp of balsamic vinegar, ½ tsp sugar, remaining rosemary, and 2tsp of beef stock concentrate. Let it simmer for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove pan from heat and stir in 1tbsp of butter and season with salt and pepper.
Thinly slice the steak against the grain, then divide between plates along with green beans and sweet potato wedges. Drizzle the tomato vinaigrette over the steak and serve.

Enjoy!

Sweet and Savory Pork Chops with Sugar Snap Peas and Jasmine Rice

2018-03-01T19:46:00.000-06:00

Welcome back! Here is another delicious dinner recipe. We were thinking of doing something with a 'Thai' flare to it and we came up with this. It doesn't have any heavy sauces or tricky spices to it. It actually doesn't even really taste like traditional Thai cuisine. Instead, it's a simple pork chop with sugar snap peas and jasmine rice. If you're not a fan of the snappy peas go for just regular sweet peas. I do insist that you use jasmine rice over any other rice though. It has such a great flavor and texture. It's my all-time favorite rice!

Let's get started!
Generously serves a family of 4

Ingredients

2 Pineapple Cups (it was so much easier to use these instead of cutting up a fresh pineapple and I usually have them on hand because the kids really like them as an after-school snack)
12oz Sugar Snap Peas (fresh or frozen)
1 cup Jasmine Rice
1/4c Cilantro
4 Boneless Pork Chops
1 Shallot
2 Limes
4 Tsp Honey
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper

Directions

If using fresh sugar snap peas, make sure to wash and dry them and cut off any tough ends. Bring 1c of water to a boil in a small pan. Add a large pinch of salt to the water.
Peel, halve and mince the shallot. Cut the limes in half and finely chop the cilantro.
Open the pineapple cups and strain. Save the juice for later and roughly chop the pineapple chunks into smaller pieces.
Add the jasmine rice to the pot once the water starts boiling. Cover and reduce to a simmer. Cook until the rice becomes tender, about 15-20mins. Then, remove from heat and keep covered until ready to serve.

Add more water to the rice as it cooks, if necessary, to avoid burning to the bottom of the pan.

Grab a medium bowl and mix the pineapple pieces, 2tsp of shallot, 1/8c of cilantro (about half of what you have), and juice from one whole lime. Once mixed, season with salt and pepper and set aside.
Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat and season the pork chops with salt and pepper, on both sides. Cook the pork chops for about 5mins per side- so they are close to being done but not all the way.
Add the remaining shallots to the pan with the pork chops, as well as, 4 tsp of honey, the pineapple juice, and 2 tbsp of water. Cook for another 1-2 minutes or until the pork is cooked thoroughly. Add a squeeze of lime juice and remove from the heat.
Add the pork chops and the glaze to a plate and cover it with aluminum foil to keep warm.
Wipe clean the same pan you used for the pork chops, and heat a drizzle of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the fresh or frozen sugar snap peas and toss until evenly coated with olive oil. Cook for 4-5 minutes and season with salt and pepper.
Add the last of the cilantro and the juice from your remaining lime halves to the rice and stir.
Add the rice to each plate and top with the sugar snap peas. Then add a pork chop drizzled in glaze. Finish with the pineapple salsa on top of each pork chop.

Enjoy!

Saucy Chicken with Green Beans and Roasted Potatoes

2018-02-22T11:22:00.000-06:00

Hi friends! I've been testing out a couple of different recipes this week and wanted to share them with you; one at a time of course. Each meal has been extremely delicious and will be a huge crowd-pleaser, for sure! Let’s start off with a recipe for this Saucy Chicken with Green Beans and Roasted Potatoes.

This dish features one of the finest, most crowd-pleasing aspects of dinner: sauce! I don’t know about you but I LOVE sauce. It really gives you the opportunity to add so many flavors to your meal without having to put in much effort. The sauce used in today’s dish is packed with flavor from Dill and Dijon Mustard. Tie that in with delicious chicken, green beans, and roasted potatoes and you have yourself a delightful combination of flavors that your taste buds will not refuse.

Let’s get started!

Generously serves a family of 4

Ingredients

Small Bundle of Fresh Dill
4 Chicken Breasts
12 Small Yukon Gold Potatoes
12oz Fresh Green Beans
4 Tbsp Sour Cream
2 Tsp Chicken Stock Concentrate
2 Tsp Dijon Mustard
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper

Directions

Wash and dry the green beans and potatoes and preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
Pick the fronds from the fresh dill and discard the stems. Finely chop the fronds and set aside.
Cut the potatoes into 1/2 in cubes and place on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place in the oven for 23 minutes or until the potatoes are tender and golden in color. Make sure to stir them around halfway through to avoid burning.
While the potatoes are cooking in the oven, heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Season the chicken breasts, on both sides, with salt and pepper. Add to the large pan and cook for about 5 minutes per side, or until the chicken is no longer pink on the inside. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside to rest on a cutting board when cooking is complete.
While the chicken is cooking, add the green beans to another baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Toss the green beans in the olive oil until evenly coated and roast in the oven for 11 minutes or until tender.
Using the same pan you cooked the chicken in (make sure it is off the burner), add 1 tsp of dill, 4 tbsp of sour cream, 2 tsp of chicken stock concentrate, 2 tsp Dijon mustard, and 2 tbsp of water. Stir until combined, making sure to scrape any browned chicken bits from the pan. Season the sauce with salt and pepper to complete.

If the sauce seems too thick, you can add more water to it- 1 tsp at a time. You want it to be thin and light. Similar to a drizzle consistency.

By now, the potatoes and green beans should be done and the chicken has had time to rest. Begin thinly slicing the chicken.
Add the chicken, green beans, and roasted potatoes to each dish and drizzle the creamy sauce over the chicken. Add a little bit of extra dill on top of the sauce as a garnish.

You're all done.
Enjoy!

White Pants with a Navy Top and Red Cardigan

2018-02-21T17:05:00.004-06:00

Hi friends! It's been a busy week, but I didn't want to miss showing you this new outfit- white pants with a red cardigan that has navy polka dots. I always feel like I'm making a risky decision when I decide to wear white pants. Am I going to get these dirty in 5 minutes? What if I sit on something and I don't realize it got on my pants? Am I walking around with something on them and I just don't know it? The list of worries go on... but sometimes you just have to do it because it looks so good!
So, this week I just did it. I tossed on those white pants and rocked it with a beautiful color combination of red and navy.

I LOVE these red flats. I really, really love them. I received them in the mail with this monthly clothing subscription that I signed up for months ago, so they can't be found anywhere. However, I encourage you to find something similar because the red flats are gorgeous with this outfit. They are a nice orangey-red color that just pops!

The white pants are very comfortable and have a nice fit. I rolled up the bottoms just a tad so they had more of a cuffed look. It helped show off my red flats too.

The navy top is a silky sheer material that I purchased from Gordmans a while back. It's a camisole with a strappy back. It's dressier than it appears but I liked that the front was basic and had a scoop neck so it felt more reserved covered up by the cardigan but still classy.

The cardigan is so lovely. I purchased it at my local TJ Maxx. Apparently, it's not available online and is a special in-store only purchase. Lucky me!! I'm so glad I stumbled into that store when I did. Check out your local TJ Maxx too and see if you can find it. The best thing, it was only $19.99. Yay!

Keep up with your wardrobe and never stop trying to get more ideas.

xoxo
Nicole

Decorated Paper Mache Letters

2018-02-14T13:46:00.000-06:00

Hey there! Let's bust out our crafty side again this week. I have a great DIY project you will want to try. This project is extremely easy and you can do so many different things with it. Here, take a peek at what I did in my little girl's nursery. Talk about a great wall of ABCs, huh? Let me show you how to do the same thing.

Keep in mind, once you know how to make these letters, you can do whatever you'd like. You can get letters and put your child's name above their bed or make the alphabet like I did. You could even do something completely different- like add gems or glitter. The idea here is to show you how to get started and what you need to do to decorate the letters, and then you can let your imagination run wild.

Supplies:

Paper Mache Letters {use your craft store coupons to get a deal!}
Foam Brushes for painting and gluing
Paint - in your selected color (I used gray, coral, and seafoam green)
Scrapbook Paper (1 sheet per letter)
Pencil
X-acto Knife
Scissors
Scrapbook Glue
Poster Putty/Mounting Putty

Here's What To Do:

Take the unpainted paper mache letters and trace them onto your craft paper. Make sure that you trace it facedown on the back of the scrapbook paper so once it is cut out it will lay properly on top of the paper mache letter.
Cut out the traced letter with scissors or the X-acto knife, and set aside for later. I found that using the X-acto knife was much easier.
Take your paper mache letters and set them on newspaper or cardboard and paint the sides of the letters. You don't need to paint the back of the letters because you won't see the back once it's on the wall and you don't need to paint the front of the letters because they will be covered up by the scrapbook paper. Make sure to paint the edges well too.
Once the paint is dry, apply another coat of paint if needed.
After the paint has dried completely, find the scrapbook paper letter you cut out and set aside. You will want the letter quickly available after applying the glue. Use one of the foam brushes to apply the scrapbook glue to the front of one of your letters. The glue dries quickly so work on only one letter at a time. I suggest putting the glue on the paper mache letter and using the foam brush to evenly spread it around.
Once the glue is on the letter, place the scrapbook paper letter on top and gently rub it onto the paper mache letter to ensure that it is stuck together. Set aside to let it dry.
Complete steps 5 and 6 until all paper mache letters have a scrapbook paper letter glued to the front.
Once everything is dry you are ready to put them on the wall. I used poster putty/mounting putty. All you need to do is put a small amount on the back of the paper mache letters and stick the letters on the wall.

I chose to use poster putty/mounting putty because the paper mache letters are very lightweight, so they can be held up easily without having to nail them to the wall. However, you can add string, ribbons, etc. to the back if you want a different kind of look.

Here is how our nursery turned out. I just love how the staggered look of the letters bring a unique feel to the room.

Ps- I'll be posting a DIY soon on how to do those hanging fabric balls. Stay tuned.

Have fun! I can't wait to hear about what you've done. Please let me know if you have any questions.

xoxo

Nicole

Chocolate Chip French Toast

2018-02-11T17:25:00.005-06:00

Who wants a delicious breakfast recipe? We have one to share. How about Chocolate Chip French Toast for breakfast? Yum! Are you one of those people who have a sweet tooth when it comes to breakfast? Well, I am. This recipe is very simple and it's easy enough for you to make and enjoy with the family before it gets cold.

Doesn't this look yummy? I'm drooling again just thinking about it. :) Follow the recipe below to try out this scrumptious breakfast!
Serves: 4

Ingredients:

6 eggs
3/4 c milk
1 tsp cinnamon
8 slices of Chocolate Chip Brioche Bread
topping of choice: bananas and syrup

Recipe:

Get a large bowl to add in your ingredients. Start with the eggs, milk, and cinnamon.
Whisk together until completely mixed.
Warm up your griddle to 350 degrees and spray with a non-stick cooking spray.
While the griddle is warming up, place one slice of Chocolate Chip Brioche Bread into the bowl with the eggs, milk, and cinnamon.
Leave the bread in the wet mixture for about 10 seconds and then flip over to coat the other side for another 10 seconds.
Once both sides are coated, place the bread onto the hot griddle.
Continue to coat the remaining slices of bread and add them to the griddle.
Keep an eye on the slices that are on the griddle as you are coating the remaining slices. It should only take a few minutes to cook before you have to flip them over -about 2-3 minutes a side.
Once both sides are cooked (the bread should be golden brown in color) add the french toast to plates and top with your favorite toppings. We decided to go with bananas and syrup.

Who can resist chocolate chips and bananas!? Yummy! If you really want a dessert for breakfast add chocolate syrup instead of maple syrup- you'll be in heaven.
Enjoy and let me know how it turns out.

xoxo
Nicole

Teal Pants with Floral Top & Gray Blazer

2018-02-08T16:55:00.001-06:00

We have a new outfit for you! Since we last talked about colored pants, I had to dig through the closet and find another pair to show you guys. What do you think of this outfit? Definitely business casual, but also very sophisticated.

I am always up for business casual outfits. I think this style adds a nice touch of class. It's great for work and it's great for a weekend gathering.

Recreate this style:
Let me help you get this same look!

The pants I am wearing are from Maurices. You can find them here. Right now, Maurices doesn't sell the teal color that I have anymore, or maybe they are just out of stock, but these black ones are the same style. Here is another option that would look just as good too!
The shirt I got from Stitch Fix, a monthly online clothing subscription. Of course, I can never find their clothing available for purchase, but I did stumble across this beauty that would be a close alternative. It's off the shoulder so you could wear it with the pants and skip the blazer or just toss on the blazer too.
Speaking of the blazer, I just grabbed a gray blazer from my closet. I think mine is from H&M but here is one from Charlotte Russe that is just as cute. Roll up the sleeves a little bit to pull in that casual look and finish off with a black pair of boots like mine here.

Give it a whirl! Pull this together and strut your stuff.

Let me know what you think.

xoxo
Nicole

DIY - Furniture Project

2018-02-05T17:50:00.001-06:00

Welcome back from the weekend everyone! Did you have good time? I did. I was busy painting and staining my coffee table and one of my end tables. Take a peek!

What do you think? Here let me show you the before pictures too.

Surprised? Me too! I can't believe how great these turned out. I got the coffee table from a local auction and I purchased the end table years ago. I thought they both could use a new look.
Let me tell what I did and try it out! I'm sure you'll be just as amazed at the finished product.

Supplies:
Rustoleum Chalked - White Linen
Rustoleum Chalked Protective Top Coat - Matte Clear
Varathane Premium Fast Dry Stain - Weathered Gray
Varathane Triple Thick Polyurethane
Microfiber Cloth
Paint Brushes
Sanding Block - optional

Steps:

I painted the base of the table with Rustoleum Chalked - White Linen. I allowed time to dry and reapplied to obtain the coverage I wanted.
Then I applied the Rustoleum Chalked Protective Top Coat - Matte Clear.
Next I started working on the top of the coffee table. I wanted the farmhouse feel for this time so I decided to stain the top with Varathane Premium Fast Dry - Weathered Gray. I applied a coat and allowed it to sit about 3 minutes.
At the 3 minute mark I wiped away the stain with a microfiber cloth and applied a layer of Varathane Triple Thick Polyurethane.

**Be sure to take note on the back of the cans to plan for the required dry time needed.

BEFORE: AFTER:

BEFORE: AFTER:

That's it! You're done. Take pride in the what you just accomplished. Oh, and if you really want to get the farmhouse look, get a sander and gently sand the painted areas of the table. This will give you that extra rustic flare.

Try it out and let me know what you think. Let me know if you have any questions.

xo, Ashylee

Valentine Paper Heart Door Decorations

2018-01-30T14:50:00.001-06:00

Here is a great way to show love to your children for the month of February. I started doing this last year for my son and he enjoyed every minute of it. He liked it so much that every day he would be excited to see what I had written down. What am I talking about? Well, let me tell you...

Valentine's Paper Heart Door Decorations!
All I did was cut out these cute red, pink, white, etc. paper hearts and wrote down one thing that I love about my son. Then each day I would tape one paper heart to his bedroom door for him to see. By Valentine's Day, he had 14 of these awesome hearts on his door showing him some of the things that I love about him.
Since my daughter is a little bit older this year, she's only one- haha, I thought about doing this for her as well. This way, both of them can be excited about seeing some of the things I love about them the most.

All you need to do is find colored construction paper and cut out 14 hearts- one heart for each day of February until Valentine's Day. Get a marker and think of some of the best things about your kid(s) and write them down.

Here are a few ideas:
You are my best friend
I love you
You are a great brother (sister)
You are smart
You are kind
You give the best hugs
You are a great baseball player
You are funny
I love your smile

Once you write these down on the paper hearts, just store the hearts somewhere where your kids won't see them and pick the best time of the day (before they wake-up, after school, before bed, etc.) to put it on their door. Enjoy their response and watch how excited they get knowing how awesome you think they are. They will feel so special.

Make this your Valentine's tradition too. Your kids will be so thrilled, they will probably leave their paper hearts on their doors for months- mine did!

If you're really adventurous, make a heart for the entire month of February or save all of the hearts you made and put as many as you want on their door Valentine's morning so they wake up Valentine's Day with a surprise!

Happy Valentine's Day!

xoxo
Nicole

Cricut Project - Decal for your Front Door

2018-01-29T08:50:00.000-06:00

We have a cool project for you. How about a decal for your front door? Sounds a little strange right? Well, it's not. Believe us! This is a simple project that will make your front door POP!

Follow the steps below to make a "hello" decal.

Items Needed:
Cricut
Laptop or Computer
Vinyl (in this case black)
Cricut Trimmer
Cricut Weeding Tool
Regular Grip Transfer Tape
Cricut Scraper

Here we go!

Make sure the Cricut is connected to your computer and make sure you have all of your supplies.
Open Cricut Design Space and open a New Project.
Click the Text button on the left side of your screen.
Type the text for the decal- we did the word "hello".
Choose your font- we used Unicorn Calligraphy (this font was downloaded here).
Enlarge the image and click the Ungroup button.
Move the letters close together if you want it to look like cursive text or keep some space in between, whichever you like.
Highlight all of the letters and click the Align button from the toolbar and align appropriately. Aligning the letters will make sure each letter is in the correct position.
Highlight all of the letters and click theWeld in the bottom right corner of the screen.
Size to the appropriate size that is needed. **Remember to size 0.5 down from your original size. (For example: we wanted our decal to be 11 x 4 so we sized it to be 10.5 x 3.5)**
Cut the transfer tape and the vinyl to the right size (11x4).
Click the Make It button, then move the word, on your screen, to where you want the vinyl to be cut.
Put the vinyl on the mat and then load the mat in the machine.
Click the Cut button on the Cricut machine and wait for it to finish cutting. After it is done cutting, click the Load button to unload the machine.
Take away all of the excess vinyl and weed out the letters.
Take the backing off of the transfer tape and put it over the top of the vinyl word/words.
Use the scraper and rub the transfer tape to avoid any bubbles. It is okay to have a few bubbles. You just don't want very many.
Stick the decal onto whatever you'd like. We put ours on the front door.

When placing the decal, make sure to peel the transfer tape off and the word/words (vinyl) should come with it. Then place the decal where you want it and rub it on the area with the Scraper.

Once the decal is stuck in place, peel back the transfer tape slowly. Try to keep the decal flat against the surface to avoid pulling it off with the transfer tape.

This machine is so amazing! Ta da!! What do you think?

~Destynie

Coral Pants with Neutral Top and White Cardigan

2018-01-26T16:15:00.001-06:00

Should you wear colored pants or no? Do you ever get into an argument with yourself over this? Well, don't worry about it anymore. Colored pants are super cute and very trendy. Don't be afraid to add that extra splash of color to your outfit in other ways than the typical bold t-shirt. Here is an outfit with just enough color in it to make you fall in love with colored pants!

Don't you love it? I love neutral tones and pastels, so these colors are my favorite! Not too bold and not too simple. Let me tell you where to find it all, so you can have fun putting an outfit like this together!

The boots- I LOVE these boots and I get compliments on them all of the time. I'm not joking! Find them at H&M here.They are super soft and comfy. I got mine in the light brown/tan color and guess what? They are even lined with faux fur-yes! They are my favorite.

The pants- it's what this post is all about. They are such a pretty color and they are nice and stretchy so they fit comfortably. Find a similar pair here at Maurices.

The shirt- a nice loose shirt in a neutral tone will look perfect with these pants. My shirt is a light tan color and sometimes it has been mistaken for a blushy pink too. Either color, tan or pink, would look really nice with these pants. You can find a similar shirt to mine, here.

The cardigan- it adds a nice casual look to this outfit and any other outfit your pair it with. I got the cardigan through Stitch Fix, which is a monthly clothing subscription. The brand is Honey Punch, but I can't seem to find it anywhere to purchase. It may be just available through Stitch Fix. However, any white cardigan will do the trick so find something similar and I'm sure it'll look just as amazing!

xoxo

Nicole

Cutest Toddler Ever - Chicken Halloween Costume

2018-01-22T16:16:00.000-06:00

I know it's too early for Halloween stuff, but I had to share this amazing costume my mom made my daughter. It's a chicken costume! And it is the best costume I have ever seen!

Is this not the best little kid costume ever?! I can't get enough! Believe it or not, grandma made the whole costume by hand.

Here's her secret:

Supplies

A lot of white feather boas (she used 20+ thin ones from the Dollar Store. You would likely need less if you purchased a better quality boa.)
Two white long sleeve onsies
Batting (this is stuffed between the two onsies for added plumpness)
Yellow rubber kitchen gloves
Crochet chicken hat
Yellow leg warmers

Steps:

For the feathered bodysuit, place one onsie inside the other; stuff batting between them, and sew together at the necklines and leg holes so the batting doesn't come out. With your child wearing the bodysuit, drape boas across and around the body; and safety-pin in place as many boas as you want. The more boas, the fluffier it is and the less empty space in between. Remove the costume from your child, and hand-stitch the boas in place every 4 inches.

The reason your child needs to wear the onsies while you pin the boas in place is so you do not pin it too tight. The boas are not flexible so where they are stitched is where it stays. There is not much room to stretch. It would be terrible if you stitched the boas on and they were stitched too tight and you had to start over. Make sure the onsie is on your little one.

Find an awesome person, or a grandma in my case, and have them crochet a chicken/rooster hat and stuff it with batting at the top so it's nice and full.
For the feet, stuff the fingers of the gloves with batting and tie closed. You can trim the excess material from the gloves with scissors and tuck under the fingers. Grab the thumb and pinkie of the glove and pull taut so fingers arch up (to prevent tripping); and tie in a knot behind the ankle.

Once it's made just slip on the feathered bodysuit, grab some leggings to keep their little legs warm, put on the hat, and tie on the chicken feet. Go have fun!
Oh, and make sure to dress up as a farmer so that little chicken is not left waddling the streets alone.

Check out Grandma's Facebook Page to see a bunch of cool things that she does besides making this awesome costume! She takes orders so do not hesitate to ask her for a chicken hat, or anything else!

Ps- Enjoy this awesome video of her waddling around.

xoxo

Nicole

Physicians Formula Nude Wear Touch of Glow Foundation

2018-01-22T15:00:00.001-06:00

I cannot tell you how much I love Physicians Formula Nude Wear Foundation. I bought it at my local Walmart the other day because it was on sale for 50% off, so I thought I'd give it a try. I use other Physicians Formula brand makeup so I assumed this one would be good too. Guess what? It is!
I like Physicians Formula brand makeup because it doesn't have all of those harsh chemicals or skin irritants that most makeup has and it works great on sensitive skin. Even though I don't really have sensitive skin the thought of makeup without a bunch of skin irritants is a plus for me. Now that my skin is aging more quickly I like to think that the better the product the better my skin will be in the future.

I purchased the foundation in the Natural Beige shade and it matches my skin tone perfectly. It even gives me the look of a natural tan- yay! It goes on super smooth, and it looks invisible on my skin. I understand why it's called Nude Wear. You can't even tell you're wearing foundation. I love it! It is now my go-to foundation. Normally the cost is around $14 and it comes with that cute little brush. The foundation and the brush are both wrapped in a pretty pink leather with a rose gold accent. Oh, and let me tell you, the brush has the softest bristles ever! After I put the foundation on, I just kept brushing my face because I couldn't get over how soft it was. Crazy I know, but I couldn't resist!

Anyway, go to Walmart and get this for 50% off before they are gone or back to full price! You will fall in love with it too. Trust me! Honestly, I will gladly pay full price for a new bottle when this one runs out. I'm in love.

Try it out and let me know what you think. I know I can't be the only person obsessed with it!

xoxo
Nicole

About Us

2018-01-21T11:30:00.004-06:00

Welcome! We are the sisters behind the Life Between Sisters blog. Let us tell you a little bit about ourselves because you will find fun stuff from all of us on the blog.

Hi, I am sister #1, Ashylee. I am the craftiest sister of us all. I don't want to toot my own horn, but I come up with some pretty awesome ideas and I can't wait to share everything with you. This blog keeps my mind growing, but my kids, Carlos and Yaritza, and my husband, Diego, keep my brain more distracted. We are a busy family that keeps getting busier.

Hey there! I am sister #2, Nicole. I am obsessed with all things food, fashion, beauty, and DIY so you will find tons of inspiration from this girl! I am a mom of two fantastic kids: Emmett and Charlotte and I am the fiance to my other half, Jorge. We love our family time and sports take up a large part of our life. Between hockey, baseball, and football Emmett keeps us the busiest and our little lady Charlotte, she's our precious little gem that is naturally full of spunk.

Hey, I am sister #3, Kattie. I enjoy amazing food. You cannot beat a delicious meal; my brother-in-law makes the best tacos! My kids, Keyona and Willie are the pickiest eaters, so finding something they enjoy is a challenge. However, we are here to share some of the easiest recipes so me and your family can have a less stressful dinner plan.

Hello! I am sister #4, Destynie. I recently purchased a Cricut and creating new things with that machine, especially in a country-girl style, has opened up so many possibilities and ideas for me. I am a little addicted but in a good way! I always talk my fiance's ear off about how awesome my Cricut is, so it will be a pleasure to share these things with you- he will be thankful for you to hear more about it.

Well, here we are! We hope you find inspiration from what we share. Cheers to you for doin'-it-yourself, finding new ideas, creating wonderful food, and enjoying life with us.

Ashylee, Nicole, Kattie & Destynie

Gray Shirt with Black Leggings

2018-01-21T09:58:00.001-06:00

There is nothing more comfortable than wearing a loose shirt with leggings. Am I right? I always struggle deciding if I want to wear something casual or a little more dressed up. Yes, it's easier to wear more casual outfits than outfits that are dressy, but I love comfy clothes more. Who doesn't? Now, don't get me wrong, I love experimenting with dressy outfits too. You'll see some of those soon enough. This week, however, I'm going with an outfit that is easy, but SO cute.

So here it is, my Sunday Comfy Casual Outfit.

I just got this gray shirt from Kohls last weekend and I love it! It has a loose fit so it is very comfortable. You can find it here.

The black leggings are one of my favorites. They are the softest leggings I've ever purchased! I highly recommend getting a pair. You will LOVE them too! You can find them at Maurices here.

The gray boots are a gift from my sister Destynie; she's such a sweetheart! Unfortunately, I cannot find them anywhere now but here is a close second. They are not the same boots, but they are almost identical to the ones I'm wearing, just shorter. The shorter boots would still look super cute with this outfit!

I also slipped on an old pair of gray and black leg warmers and loosely curled my hair to help pull the whole outfit together.

What do you think? Would you wear this? I am obsessed with it!

xoxo

Nicole

White Velvet Cupcakes w/ Cream Cheese Frosting

2018-01-12T16:39:00.002-06:00

Here we go, another dessert. It's just too hard to resist! Our sweet tooth is extra sweet this week. This is our take on the Red Velvet Cupcake minus the red. Instead, it's a White Velvet Cupcake. Still just as decadent as the red velvet cupcake but a little more reserved and not so bold.

This recipe doesn't take too much effort- because it can't be difficult for us.

White Velvet Cupcakes
Makes 28 cupcakes

Dry Ingredients

3 cups of flour, sifted
1 1/2 tablespoons of cocoa powder
2 cups of sugar
1 teaspoon of baking powder
2 teaspoons of baking soda
1 teaspoon of salt

Wet Ingredients

2 eggs, make sure they are room temperature
1 cup of full fat buttermilk, also at room temperature
1/2 cup of canola oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup of sour cream
2 teaspoons of white vinegar
1/2 cup of hot water

Directions
Let's get started! Preheat your oven to 325 degrees and line your cupcake trays with liners and set aside.

Begin to sift the flour over a large mixing bowl.

Add the remaining dry ingredients to the bowl: cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

Begin mixing on low speed until all ingredients are combined.

Grab a medium mixing bowl and combine all of the wet ingredients: eggs, buttermilk, canola oil, vanilla extract, water, sour cream, and white vinegar. Lightly whisk the wet ingredients together, then dump into the large mixing bowl with the dry ingredients.

Mix on low speed and work your way up gradually to medium speed and then mix for 1-2 minutes. Remember to scrape the sides of the bowl as needed (maybe 2 times) to get any clinging flour off of the sides of the bowl.

Now that everything is mixed together, pour the batter into a large measuring cup that has a spout so you can pour the batter much easier to avoid spilling. Pour into the cupcake liners about 2/3 full.

Bake for 23-26 minutes. Insert a toothpick into the center of a cupcake and once it comes out clean, the cupcakes are ready to come out.

Let the cupcakes cool on a wire rack and begin making the cream cheese frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

Frosts up to 28 cupcakes

Ingredients

1 cup of unsalted butter at room temperature
8 oz of cream cheese at room temperature
4 cups of powdered sugar
2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

Directions

Add the unsalted butter and the cream cheese to a mixing bowl. Make sure both the cream cheese and butter are at room temperature or you will have a harder time trying to mix them together. Mix on medium speed until mixed thoroughly. Turn the mixer off, or you will have a powdered face, and add the powdered sugar slowly, about 1 cup at a time. Once all of the powdered sugar is added and mixed well, add the vanilla extract and mix again until combined.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Let's get to frosting these delicious cupcakes!

Your cupcakes should be completely cool.

Fill up a pastry bag, with the tip of your choice, about halfway and twist the pastry bag closed. Avoid putting too much frosting in the pastry bag because you can make a really big mess if you do- just fill it up halfway, this is always best.

To begin frosting, start in the middle of your cupcake and work your way out. Decorate with sprinkles or just keep them simple.

Eat them up right away. They are delicious! We hope you enjoy.

Let us know how they turn out.

Nicole & Ashylee

Easy Vanilla Frosting

2018-01-11T18:11:00.001-06:00

Have you ever wanted a simple, basic frosting that you can use over and over again? Maybe change it up a little every once in a while without having to get a whole new recipe? Wouldn't it be nice to have one recipe that tastes delicious, is easy, and doesn't take a lot of work to make? Well, we have what you are looking for. We love this recipe so much because it's simple and it tastes delicious!

This frosting is very versatile. Once you're done making it you can toss in an ingredient of your choice to it to jazz it up and turn it into something special. You can add anything from fruit purees or jellies to melted caramel or even chocolate. Bam! A whole new frosting to use!
Enjoy!

This recipe will generously frost about 12 cupcakes, maybe a few more, or a small 6-inch cake.

Ingredients

2 cups of unsalted butter, make sure it is at room temperature so it mixes well
4 cups of powdered sugar
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1-2 teaspoons of vanilla bean paste (this adds amazing flavor and gives the frosting just a little bit of those natural vanilla bean flecks)

Directions
Pull out your best mixer and toss in the 2 cups of unsalted butter. Beat on medium speed until it becomes smooth and creamy in texture- this will take about 30 seconds or so.
Stop your mixer (or you will have a powdered face) and add all 4 cups of the powdered sugar. Mix the butter and powdered sugar on low speed until mixed well.
Add the vanilla extract as well as the vanilla bean paste and turn up the mixer to medium speed and mix for about 2 minutes and 30 seconds until the mixture becomes light and fluffy.
Stop the mixer occasionally to scrape down the sides of the bowl so you do not have any unmixed ingredients.

Fill up a pastry bag, with the tip of your choice, about halfway with the frosting. Twist the pastry bag to close it and begin frosting your cupcakes or use an offset spatula to frost your cake.

We hope you enjoy! Let us know how it turns out.

Nicole & Ashylee

Welcome!

2018-01-10T19:03:00.000-06:00

Hello there! Welcome to our blog. We are so excited you are checking us out! Take a peek around and see if you can find something that interests you. You will find some of our favorite recipes, crafty DIY items, and posts about fashion and beauty. If there is something you don't see and you would like us to try out. Let us know! We are happy to try new things. We hope you enjoy!

Nicole & Ashylee