Easter!

I love Easter! I think that every year Easter takes on a new significance for me. The older I get, the more I cherish my savior and what he did for us. I have been working my way through the old testament for a few months and it is tough to read, knowing all of the trials, covenants and sacrifices that the OT bible people had to make because they didn't have a savior. It kind of makes our lives seem a little easy. All we have to do is love Jesus and accept him into our hearts. HE is alive!

So the Easter festivities started on Friday. I had my own little photo shoot with Kellen...

I love it! He is so cute, love my bunny!

On Saturday we had our annual Easter egg hunt at Observatory park. One of Callie's sweet friends from school actually came with her mom and we got to know them a little better. My little evangelist, I am one proud mama!

We had an awesome turn out with church kiddos and neighbors and visitors, it was fun!

The hunt is on....

These faces, I die!

My good lookin' boys :)

No one cried this year about the Easter bunny! Yay!

Saturday night we dyed eggs with the family, it was a success. Although I am realizing that it is darn near impossible with a family of four to get a real, life,j good picture where everyone is looking and smiling and I look skinny.

Not quite all looking, but good enough.

The annual "poop" egg. Don't ask...

Finally done!

Sunday we did Easter baskets and headed to church, bible class, worship. It was great!

After a great message at church about the prodigal son (one of my favorite stories!) We booked it up north to Brien's parents house for our Easter brunch. My parents also joined us, as they do every year. It has been our tradition and we are so blessed to have families that not only get along but like to hang out with each other!

Love our family of four!

Again not quite all looking, but hey...

sibling frustration #976 pulling long hair

After our amazing feast, the kids played outside in the glorious spring weather and we enjoyed our beautiful Easter day!

After millions of tried we finally had a winner!

That's why we have to take 5,000 pictures, smart alec!

Bestie cousins having fun!

Bubbles!

Kellen was very excited about bubbles and to be outside!

Overall a wonderful and blessed weekend! Happy Easter!

The beige sweater

I have this beige sweater. I got it last year on clearance at Target. I thought Maybe I will wear this every now and then. Nope, ALL the time. I wear it all the time. I wore it twice just this week. It seems to look nice with black. I always worried that beige would make me look super washed out, I think that's why I pair it with a dark color.

Cardigan:Target
Dress: Thrifted
Boots: Sheplers
pearl necklaces: Target

Cardigan: Target
Dress: Target
Boots: Target
Belt: Target
Tights: Very Jane
Necklace: Very Jane

spring, where are you?

Another cool week in lovely Colorado. At least things are not brown anymore. Today was a good day on the home and school front, I am however, ready for the weekend. Good Friday, our church Easter egg hunt, dying eggs with the family, Easter Sunday Church, The Wood/Wathen Easter brunch. It's going to be great!  One more day, one more day...

Ruffled top: Old Navy
Pink Cardigan: Old Navy
Grey pants: Old Navy
Necklaces: Forever 21
Shoes: Dillard's (super old)

quiche ('cause you probably have the stuff in your fridge)

This recipe is brought to you by my sheer laziness and lack of planning a meal one night last week, but alas, it turned out just fine. I frantically searched through my pantry and refrigerator and I just happened to have: A pre made pie crust (the 2nd in a 2 pack, one I used for a dessert the week before) a dozen eggs, a bag of cheddar cheese, a package of real bacon bits, a slash of skim milk.

1. preheat the oven to 400.
2. press the pie crust into a 9 inch pie pan.
3. In a large bowl mix together, eggs (I used 9) 1/2 cup of milk, whip it up real good.
4. Gently stir in 1 cup of cheese and the package of bacon bits (I think our bag was like 4 oz)
5. Pop into the oven for 40-50 minutes, until top is golden and a knife comes out pretty clean (We do not enjoy runny eggs at our house)

It is simple to throw together and I know that anything with bacon will be a hit!

"Pinned it" and did it outfit

The weather has taken yet another turn for the worse. Yesterday was amazing and warm and beautiful, like 75. We tried to make the most of it, Callie played outside, Brien did yard work, we went garage sale-ing, took Kellen for a walk, it was brilliant. Sunday not so much. We went to church and came home to hunker down. Callie and I did Easter crafts and worked on some art for the downstairs powder room. (more on that later)

So because of the chilly weather I had one more chance to wear one of my pinned cold weather outfits.

Inspiration photo: http://sprinklessequins.blogspot.com/2014/03/work-wear-wednesday.html#.U0sGD_nxrIc

My outfit was almost all thrifted!

Chambray: Target

Ruffled cardigan: thrifted

Express pinstripe pants: thrifted

Cognac heels: Target

loaded baked potato casserole

This might be one of my favorite recipes of all time! It is amazing and fairly simple to make. The only thing is you have to keep taking it out of the oven to stir it.

 And last time I made it I melted off my mascara in the hot, hot oven, yikes! It might have been worth it.

 I always bust out this dish whenever we are having people over and it is usually a hit, assuming people like good food!




Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

• 1 lb chicken breasts, cooked and cubed
• 5 lbs new potatoes, cubed
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 tablespoon fresh ground pepper
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 2 tablespoons garlic powder 
• 1/2 cup of Franks red hot sauce
• 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 cup bacon, crumbled
• 1 cup green onion, diced

Directions

1. - Preheat oven to 500 degrees.
2. - In large bowl, mix olive oil, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder and hot sauce.
3. - Add potatoes to bowl.
4. - Coat baking dish with cooking spray.
5. - Add potatoes, allow for excess sauce in the remaining bowl.
6. - Bake potatoes for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
7. - Add cubed chicken to bowl with leftover sauce and allow to marinate while potatoes bake.
8. - Mix together cheese, bacon & green onion in separate bowl.
9. - Once potatoes are done, add the chicken then layer toppings over chicken.
10. - Bake for additional 5 minutes cheese is melted.

Even Callie will eat it, yumm yumm!

my old lady dress

I wore this little polka dot number to school this week and one of my students said that it looked like an old lady dress. After she saw my face, she quickly amended her statement, " No like a cool old lady dress, like my grandma would wear."
So now I dress like a grandmother. Either way, I thought it was cute. I have decided I own quite a bit of navy and white polka dots and I just keep mixing it with red, LOVE!

Polka dot dress: thrifted
Red flats: Target
necklace: ??