PW - Shredded Pork

I told the husband that we were going to use our crock pot this week. I am trying to make things a bit easier at dinner time. He found this recipe for Spicy Shredded Pork and jalapeno slaw on PW's website.  If you're ever needing to buy a pork butt (shoulder is the same thing) - go to Costco. The price per pound is great and you normally get 2 within the package. This allows us to freezer seal the extra and put it away for next time. Which the hubs will probably get out the smoker this Spring and cook it up.

This recipe was super easy - we put everything together like PW recommends in her recipe. We set the crock pot at 630 this morning and by 530 we were ready to eat. Yes we eat that early :). 

I also whipped up her jalapeno cilantro slaw but ended up not adding the jalapeno or the cilantro. I wasn't feeling it.This meal is great for a crowd and is super easy! Get out those crock pots people and put them to use!  the picture below is from PW's website - yes i stole the picture because  I failed to take pictures of my own. I hope she doesn't sue me. Yes, mine did look like this!

PW - Spicy Shredded Pork (really isn't that spicy but the chipotle peppers in adobo sauce do turn it up a notch). 

PW Cilantro Jalapeno Slaw - really good even without the C&J. Here you can see how she put the slaw on the sandwich. We didn't do it - we used it as a side item. 

fresh start

The  older I get the more and more I remind myself of my mom. Some people would not admit to that about their own mothers. But for me, I have no issues :). Growing up my mom would always change the furniture around in our living room. There are about 3 different ways to have the furniture placed - they have a great long living room and lots of space to work with. If I remember right she did this at least 3 times per year.  As a kid I would change my bedroom furniture around. Luckily my parents didn't care because normally the task would include a thorough cleaning of my room.

Today was one of those days. I woke up on the wrong side of the bed. I was out of sorts, the husband was driving me bonkers (he was doing nothing really). But everything was getting on my nerves. After a few errands and lunch, I decided I needed a change.

I rearranged our bedroom furniture. I must have had tons of energy to burn off because once I got to moving the furniture and  cleaning out drawers, I felt a ton better. I think I understand now that my mom changed the furniture to gain a new perspective and to make a fresh start. Even the hubs said the room feels better and he liked the arrangement.

I think I might tackle the living room next weekend to keep the momentum going.

** cooking update - several slow cooker recipes are being tested this week - hopefully I'll get to blog about them. check back.

H & H - Pillow

For Christmas my mom and dad got me a personalized pillow from Pottery Barn. They had it monogrammed after my two kiddos - H & H. Love it.

sweet pecan breakfast rolls!

before the holidays i found this pretty great sweet pecan roll recipe. they are super simple and would be great to make for breakfast or brunch. i happened to make the on christmas eve.  they were a hit! you can find the ingredients and directions here. seriously it could not be an easier recipe!

put the yummy sugary goodness and pecans in the bottom of the muffin tin. roll up the puff pastry with butter, brown sugar, craisins and yellow raisins and cut into chunks like you're making cinnamon rolls. put them upright in the muffin tins.

bake until they're bubbily and light brown

flip the muffin tin over onto a baking sheet lined with parchment! watch out for hot bubbily sugar...it can burn you. let them rest a bit. if the sugary pecan goodness spills over just scoop it up with a spoon and put it on top of the roll. they will set as they cool off.

behold. the babysitter

we are just entering the winter season here in kansas. in fact i think the first day of winter may be today or tomorrow.  which means - we have about 2 - 3 months left of cold, icy, snowy weather and the occasional  random 60 degree day that is comes out of no where. my pups are missing the nice weather - i know they dream of going on walks when we get home from work. they follow me to my room where i change out of my work clothes, hoping that the workout clothes i put on really means they can go on a walk. i think winter literally takes over their mind and they get ants in their pants. they will wrestle with each other at night, run up and down the staircase practically ripping the carpet up. they chase the daylights out of each other.

but behold - the babysitter. the trick that calms the ants.

the fireplace. one flip of the switch and they are set.  there is no begging to throw the green ball across the living room. no bones being chewed.  just peace and relaxation. they cuddle, put their feet up and chill.

by no means would i trade them for anything.  i love hurley and harper and i would throw the green ball till my arm fell off. one of my dearest friends is a vet and she happened to come over for dinner tonight. and well i happened to ask her after dinner to examine their teeth...and look at their tails that are losing hair and ask her about dog food.  but hey - anything for my hurl and harp.  love you dr. weeks.

Christmas Decor!

I love decorating at Christmas time.

This year I changed it up a bit and tried a few new things. 

Many thanks to Martha Stewart and pinterest.

The mantle - (past: garland with lights) Today: red, white and silver and throw in some cute glass holders from C&B.

The Tree- same as last year ++ a few new ornaments! 

The Entryway - garland and lights - love. I would normally line this table with holiday cards and it would just get too cluttered.

Now I put the Christmas cards here! I love it!!! I used a piece of ribbon and attached it to the back of the wreath, then I pulled the tail down under the basement door and taped it. I used clothes pins to hang the cards off of the ribbon!

Last but not least the kitchen window. I added two strapping reindeer with matching ribbon scarves (leftover from other projects) and a tall cranberry christmas tree.

tic * tac * toe

I have been crafting it up this holiday season. I got the following idea from a coworker. She made hers out of denim as well. This little gift is going to my 4 year old nephew. I figured it would be a good game for him to learn how to win and lose and also develop different strategies for winning. I love all things educational - thanks to all my teacher friends.

I used 2 pairs of my dad's denim overalls. Cut the legs into 7 inch squares. I even figured out how to thread my new sewing machine. I have not sewn anything for quite some time so this was a big deal. I am very pleased how they turned out. Each bean bag has a X and an O. I ran out of beans so I have 2 left to make.