{Good Food} Mini Chicken Pot-Pie

As you will see pretty much all I eat is chicken, I currently have 7 pounds of chicken frozen in my fridge (thank you CostCo). I have never been a fan of veggies but at age 23 have started to actually cook with them, onions and carrots especially. Here is a simple, semi-quick, meal that is a comfort-food classic...Mini Chicken Pot-Pies


Ingredients:
1/2 boneless, skinless chicken breast - cooked, cubed (I cooked mine in 1 cup chicken broth over medium heat for ~20 minutes)
1/2 onion, cooked until tender & translucent
chopped carrots
1/4 cup flour
1 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup milk
4 tablespoons butter
salt & pepper to taste
1 pre-made crescent roll


Directions:
1. Cook chicken; bring 1 cup chicken broth to boil, add chicken, allow to cook and simmer for about 20 minutes. Remove and allow to cool, cut into bit size pieces.
2. While chicken is simmering; melt 1 tablespoon butter in skillet and add onions. Allow to cook, stirring occasionally until tender and translucent.
3. In a small saucepan, melt 3 tablespoons butter. Add onions. Add flour and mix thoroughly. Season with salt and pepper. Once mixed, slowly add chicken broth and milk mixing as you pour until completely mixed and it begins to thicken. 
4. Add chicken and carrots to saucepan.
5. In a grease muffin pan, line 3-4 with crescent dough, leaving enough dough to cover each
6. Fill with chicken mixture and cover with remaining dough - be sure to pinch down the sides to keep the goodies inside
7. Cook for about 15 minutes at 350 degrees...ENJOY!!

{Fab Find} Wisco Bling

As a sorority girl, I attended tons of "Rep your Hood" socials throughout my college years and now that I live more than 2,000 miles away from my "hood" representing it seems more important to me than ever. This fabulous necklace designed by Maya Brenner seems like a great way keep Wisco close to my heart even when I'm so far away. It is my current obsession, and on my list of "needs" (this list is rather long)....

Fashionista Chef

There are outfits and accessories for every occasion- even cooking!! Aprons have been around for as long as the housewife, probably longer, but this chic new trend is making the apron less about keeping your outfit clean and more about being an outfit in itself. I ADORE these cute, fabulous "kitchen accessories" creating the ultimate fashionista chef - here are a few of my faves:

1. Anthropologie's Bountiful Bubbles apron
2. Everyday Chic Designs's Damask in Black full apron (had to throw a damask pattern in)
3. Anthropologie's Tea-And-Crumpets apron (**My personal favorite)
4. Anthropoligie's Extra Ingredient apron

{Dazzling Decor} Sunday Project - "I Believe in Pink" Sign

One of my all time favorite quotes is the famous "I believe in pink" quote by the simply fabulous Audrey Hepburn. I was ecstatic when I found a wall decal on Etsy with the quote on it!! Because I live in an apartment I knew I didn't want to put the decal directly on my wall so I came up with this simple concept and am in LOVE with the result.

A trip to Home Depot to purchase pink spray paint and a light-weight piece of wood - which the worker was kind enough to cut down to size for me - and I was ready to roll.  I already had thick black ribbon from a previous project so once my Etsy purchase came in the mail I had everything I needed to get my craft on. I painted the wood until I was satisfied with the color then applied the decal to the wood following the directions that came with my purchase, drilled 2 holes at the top of the wood and thread the ribbon through the holes to hang it. Now I get to look at my favorite quote everyday, it looks adorable in my room and adds a nice splash of pink to my stark white walls!!!

{Dazzling Decor} My Beautiful Bedroom

Pink. Black. Damask. 
Those three words are my current obsession (as you can see with my blog design) So it's only natural that my bedroom encompass all of these elements, I love coming home to this room!!!

I love the dimension that pillows add to a bed and don't feel having 8 on my bed is excessive at all. An arm chair is a wonderful piece of furniture to have in a bedroom; I eat my breakfast in my chair as I watch the Today Show, sit down on it to put on a pair of shoes or to read a book, and when things get hectic in the morning it is a great place to toss clothes (but I of course never do that, wink wink). Another special touch to a bedroom is a vase of fresh flowers, we try to go to the farmers market as often as possible and these beautiful dahlias are a personal favorite to add another splash of pink!! 

The Details

Bedding: Target : Waverly Home Collection

 Damask Armchair: T.J. Maxx

Bedside Table & Bed frame: Ikea Hemnes nightstand, Leirvik bed frame

Art: "V-J Day in Times Square"

{Fab Find} The Fabulous- Elizabeth Allen Atelier

I must give credit where credit is due, this "fab find" was discovered by my fabulous roommate Miss Marianne, but it's such a cute store I had to share!! Nestled in between the round-abouts and many amazing shops in Birdrock in La Jolla is Elizabeth Allen Atelier an adorable boutique that has shabby-chic inspired linens, beautiful jewelry, and all the fixings for the perfect baby nursery. Elizabeth Allen, the designer of all of the beautiful linens for babies to adults, can be found there and is such a sweet lady!! If you live in San Diego you must check out her store, but even if you don't her linens are available all around the country!!


My purchases this day included a beautiful necklace and these beyond fun salad serving spoons - now I just need to throw a dinner party so I can use them!!!

Motzzy Monster even got in on the action, her aunty Marianne bought her her very first purse, a "Chewy Vuitton" inspired by the one and only Louis Vuitton - This is both Motzzy and I's favorite toy for obvious reasons!!!

{Motzzy Tails} Puppy Parenting Lesson 1: Enroll in puppy school

I was debating whether or not to enroll Miss Motzzy in puppy class and after a night filled with peeing on the carpet, chewing on cable cords and general chaos I decided I was going to need a little assistance in taming this beast of mine. I looked into a few places and finally choose PetSmart, mainly because an 8 week class cost the same as a 6 week class elsewhere . I enrolled my little monster in the intro puppy class designed to teach puppies basic commands such as sit, stay, come, down, etc., provide them with a safe place to socialize with other puppies, AND provide a "support system" for new dog owners. After my night of mayhem it was the final point that got me to sign on the dotted line.


On our first day of class Motzzy was overwhelmed and thrilled to meet the other 4 puppies in her class. After peeing on the floor due to shear excitement - which of course mortified me - we were taught our first lesson....adding a Marker/Release.
We were given a clicker and every time our puppy performed a positive behavior we would "mark" that behavior with a "click" (this is equivalent to saying "good dog"). We spent the first class "loading" the clicker or "clicking and treating":


1. Pair clicker with a treat
2. Click and treat
3. Repeat several times until your puppy is responding to the clicker
4. Wait for your puppy to look away, then click
5. Continue practicing until your puppy looks for a treat when she hears the clicker sound

This is a basic tool in teaching your dog ANY new behavior - and although I was skeptical at first, it seems to work really well!