New goals are good to have, but don’t ever forget that life is meant to be enjoyed! Don’t stress over the little things. If you get off track, acknowledge it, but get right back on and continue moving forward toward your destination. If it’s worth it to you, you’ll get there.
My husband got back from working in Cabo this weekend (tough life!) and I wanted to make a good, hearty chicken dinner for us. This meal utilizes the Crockpot (YAY! I’m always looking for new recipes for the Crockpot) and is rich without being too heavy or unhealthy. You need a little extra time to prepare the chicken rub, but other than that, it’s another easy breezy.
CLASSIC SLOW-COOKED CHICKEN DINNER
adapted from The Nest
All-Purpose Chicken Rub Ingredients
Chicken Ingredients
Directions
1. Boil potatoes in several quarts of lightly salted water for around 5 minutes; drain and place in the bottom of the slow cooker. Meanwhile, mix all ingredients for chicken rub together in a medium bowl. Turn chicken in flour mixture until thoroughly coated; pat off excess flour and reserve flour mixture.
2. Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Brown chicken on both sides, about 4 minutes per side, and transfer to a plate; set aside.
3. Add remaining vegetable oil to skillet. Add onion, carrots and celery and sauté until lightly browned, about 5 minutes; then add reserved seasoned flour and stir until vegetables are coated. Add wine and bring to a boil. Add chicken broth and simmer until slightly thickened; pour into the slow cooker on top of the potatoes. Arrange drumsticks and thighs over the vegetables; set breast halves on top of dark meat. Cover cooker and cook for 3 to 4 hours on high (I cooked mine for about 3.5 hours on high), or 5 to 6 hours on low.
4. Remove chicken to a serving platter and surround with potatoes, carrots and celery; keep warm.
Ain’t that the truth! There are always going to be people who don’t “believe” you can do it, people who like to stomp on your dreams when they’re in only in the infant stages, but what those people don’t know is that only pushes me to strive harder. Try harder. Push the limits. And you know what I’ve learned? It’s ALWAYS possible. Always. In some way, shape, or form, you can always achieve your dreams.
A few things that are happening here in Los Angeles:
Now, on to planning my next few “impossibles” to make them “possible”…
If I could play the piano like this, I would be a very happy woman. It’s hard not to feel inspired after listening to any ThePianoGuys music. Please enjoy Waterfall:
I love cards. I love buying or making the perfect cards for my friends on special occasions, or just because. I love receiving cards. I adore them in all their shapes and sizes and colors and glitter and jewels and simplicity. And we have a HUGE stack of wedding cards that I have been trying to think of what to do with. Well, I got inspired the other day and have started on my next crafting project. I actually don’t think it’ll take me too long to complete, so here I will share some pictures of the beginnings of our booklet of wedding cards:
I still have to decorate the front, but you get the idea 🙂 Front & back are 5×8 pieces of grungeboard, and I’m cutting all the cards down so that they will fit. The toughest part of this project is making everything fit nicely & efficiently so this booklet isn’t super huge. Although, I think I’m going to have to swap out those binder rings for bigger ones.
A work in progress: cutting everything down to fit and making sure we don’t cut out a crucial part of the card or message.
One of my favorite cards from my mom & dad: “Two wonderful people…one sweet life.”
I can’t tell you how excited I am about our wedding card booklet! Now I won’t have a box full of these beautiful cards from the beautiful people in our lives that I rarely ever look at. This booklet can sit on our bookshelf next to our photo albums and can be browsed regularly. YAY!
Holy crap, I’m married! I thought maybe I would feel older. Wiser? More sophisticated? (well maybe I do feel a bit more sophisticated…) More mature? But pretty much I feel just like myself, except more awesome. I’ll take it!!!
I’ve been totally MIA, I know, but for good reason! I have been planning a wedding ceremony, then a month later a wedding reception. My husband and I like doing things OUR way, so this wasn’t the standard “glorious little girl’s dream pink + white wedding”. Not that I have anything against that! Just wasn’t for us…
So now I’m back to blogging, because I love this blog! It’s a fun outlet for things I like and recipes I’ve tried and workouts I recommend, and I like all the friends I’ve made on here and seeing what they’re up to. I’ve also tried to keep this blog pretty anonymous, but I think I’m going to have to share on here something I’m SO proud of – our WEDDING CEREMONY VIDEO. Maybe then I can regain those blog-friends I’ve neglected in the past 2 months?!
Please enjoy our love video…we showed this at our reception in September.
xoxo
Who else thinks this is hilarious?! I know I’m a little late here, but just heard this song the other day and am currently obsessed. I love Jimmy Fallon!
Idiot Boyfriend Lyrics
Ooooooo
Ahhhhhh
I know what you want, and I know what you need
But I’m goin’ screw it up, yeah
Cause I’m an idiot, and I’m your boyfriend, yes I am
I’m goin’ take you out, and leave my wallet home
Then I use your cell phone, baby
Long distance, and I’m your boyfriend
Baby I know I’m a man who’s made mistakes
I still got some learning to do
I made out with your best friend the other day, and
Now we’re best friends too
Yeah Yeah
And I know what you want, and I know what you need
But I’m goin’ screw it up, yeah
Cause I’m an idiot, and I’m your boyfriend, yes I am
And I’m goin’ get you a gift, Hey! But its something I like too
Hope you like this Norelco Beard Trimmer with my name on it,
And I’m your boyfriend
Hey Deh Deh Deh Deh Deh
Yeah deh deh deh deh deh deh
deh deh deh deh deh deh deh deh deh deh
Goin’ Get real drunk,
And call my baby up at four o’clock in the morning
Wake you up
I’m an idiot!
Pick up the phone, come on
Now Look
Lets get in my dad’s SUV,
And we’ll go over to my house, my crib, my pad
I’ll tell my mom to go to sleep
Then we’ll have the living room all to ourselves, you see
We’ll put on some great DVD’s I picked up
How bout like, something like the Matrix
Ooooo
Ahhhhh
I can turn my boom box up, and make the bass
Smack the side of my moms couch
Yeah!
Hey baby you like fine cooking? Cause you know what?
I got a swanson’s dinner in the freezer with your name on it
Check it out
Yeah!
I got a permanent wave, yeah!
I got an ogilvie home perm, baby
Uh! I Honk the horn can you honk the horn?
Can you honk the horn?
Let me hear you honk it! Come on!
Let me hear you say uh uh!
Let me hear you say uh uh uh!
Let me see you say uh uh!
Let me hear you say uh uh uh uh uh uh uh oh yeah!
Let me hear you say uh uh uh uh uh uh uh oh yeah!
July 1st was officially summer! We always experience “June Gloom” in Los Angeles, and I have to say, today was beautiful. For lunch, we walked over to Typhoon – an asian fusion restaurant at the Santa Monica Airport, then cruised through the airport swap meet on the way home. It’s been a lovely Sunday, and now I have a semi-shortened week before my bachelorette party in VEGAS! Can’t tell you how excited I am 🙂
LEMON ASPARAGUS PASTA SALAD
adapted from created by diane
Ingredients
Directions
1. Cook pasta according to package directions, then put pasta in an ice bath.
2. Cut and roast asparagus in a hot skillet until al dente. Sprinkle with sea salt and pepper.
3. Drain pasta. Mix olive oil with the lemon juice and pressed garlic. Heat in the microwave for 30 seconds, remove and whisk. Continue whisking while adding in the oregano, salt, and pepper. Pour the roasted asparagus, feta cheese, and oil mixture over the pasta. Toss until combined, then add sea salt and pepper to taste. Tear the basil over the pasta and mix. Serve chilled!
I adore this quote…it couldn’t be more true!
quote tag can be purchased at the paper boat press shop
sweatlikemambo 