Southern Lemonaid!

AHHHHHHH! I cannot believe how HOT NorthCarolina is right now...I would expect this kind of heat back home in Alabama but sheesh, these temperatures here, takes a little bit of my breath away when I walk outside. I saw a post of fb saying: "Who turned the thermostat setting to 'HELL'????" lol. We finally got our pool cleaned out & intend on spending lots of time in it! But something seems to be missing...........

Floats...CHECK!...Tanning lotion...CHECK!...Drinks?!?!...oh yeah, Paula Deen's Southern Lemonaid....CHECK! CHECK! CHECKITTY-CHECK!!!!! (:

Have I mentioned my obsession with Paula Deen?! Her cooking is AMAZING & she is inspiring! This recipe is simple quick & reminds me of HOME...cannot wait to sip this by the pool! It makes me want to say this while pouring: 
"Drink up this cool smooth classic summertime glass of YUM ya'll!" (:

Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup hot water
• 2 cups fresh lemon juice
• 1 gallon cold water
• 1 lemon, sliced
• Mint sprigs, for garnish

Directions

In a 1 gallon container, place sugar and hot water, and stir until sugar dissolves. Add lemon juice and cold water to render 1 gallon. Stir until well mixed. Pour lemonade over glasses of ice, squeeze slice of lemon on top of each, and garnish with a sprig of mint.

Baked Chicken Parm Cheat

I had to re-do this post due to some kind of complications or glitches blogger was having atm...so, I will keep this one short & sweet! (: I've been SUPER lazy, so on my menu plan the other day, I had down my aunt's baked spaghetti pie...SO, that takes time & everything is home-made...yeah, about that, lazy means LAZY! haha! So I went with my laziness & what I had on hand to cut corners & I came up with this recipe! Me being part italian, I ALWAYS have pasta & sauce on hand, so with chicken tenders in the freezer..I started whipping up this concoction that turned out pretty darn YUMMY & it was SIMPLE & QUICK! 

Baked Chicken Parm Pie Cheat!

1 pk. breaded chicken tenders

2 cans spaghetti sauce(I used garlic & herb by Hunts)

1 pk. wheat spaghetti noodles

1 pk. mozzarella cheese

1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese

1 egg, beaten

1 Tbsp. garlic salt

1 Tbsp. italian seasoning

• Preheat oven as instructed for your chicken tenders, mean while cook noodles as directed.
• Cook chicken tenders time instructed...cut into bite size pieces & set aside.
• After draining pasta, place back into pot & mix with egg & parm cheese, toss lightly then press into a large non-stick sprayed baking dish.
• Mix sauce with chicken tenders...(I also cooked a medium chopped onion with chopped mushrooms & added to the sauce) with seasonings, then pour over noodles. Top with mozzarella cheese.
• Bake @ 350' for 30mins of until cheese melted & bubbly.

Guest Crafter...Meet my new crafty friend Britt!

Recently I have been ADDICTED to craigslist & I cannot tell you what great deals I have been getting! I've been SUPER STOKED & Mr. Hooah says he's stoked too because I am "Saving him money!" Upon all my browsing, I ran across one talented lil' lady that had linked back to her etsy-shop & I just LOVE her creatively fresh wreaths, the patriotic ones most, of course! (: Just by the first email I thought her southern upbeat personality was truly charming & sweet, so I wanted you to get to know her too! I think her wreaths are just totally ADORB & I love the fact that she too, is a HUGE supporter of our military & I hope you stop by to check out her craftiness & show your support as well! HOOAH! (:

Meet Miss Britt

Hello fellow addicts, my name is Brittany and my addiction of choice is crafting. I have a shop on Etsy (BrittBrattsCrafts) where I show off and sell my creations from overseas. The nickname comes from my other half and his Army buddies due to my nasty habit of always getting my way. I'm currently in Afghanistan, but as a civilian. Well... let's just start from the beginning. I'm from Tennessee and had never left the south until 2009 when I paid a visit to my folks in Germany, where I met the love of my life and my soon-to-be husband, Daryl. He is Army and all that that implies. In the Summer of 2009, my Sergeant told me he'd be deploying in October. So, naturally, I said I'd stay home and wait for him.... NOT.I deployed as well, only a month sooner, as a civilian contractor. However, I was unable to go to Afghanistan where he was heading. Instead, I went to Iraq for 12 months. After another 6 months in Germany after deployment, he was able to PCS to Ft. Campbell, only 20 minutes from my home town. We bought a house, a dog and all the 'fix-ins'. Again, 6 months later after we had moved back to the States, he found out he'd be deploying again to Afghanistan in October of 2011. So, again, we packed our bags together and left for another 12 month tour. This time, we ended up in the same country and even the same region. As a matter of fact, he surprised me yesterday and walked through my door with the news his unit was moving to my FOB. :) We both couldn't be happier. Oh, and earlier I mentioned he's my soon-to-be-husband; we're trying the knot December 29th of this year and it just so happens to be Mrs. Hooah & her hubby's birthdays. :) We're planning a country themed reception, complete with cowboy boots, wagon wheel chandeliers and wine barrel tables. 

My family has always been very pro-American and patriotic, but recently I started creating cute Americana items with less of a rusty antique look. I'm honored Mrs. Hooah has asked me to address her readers and tell my story. Please feel free to visit my shop and take a gander! Also, I've added a coupon code for Mrs. Hooah's subscribers for 15% off! Use 'SUMMER15' at checkout!
Check Out BRITTSBRATTSCRAFTS Here!

God Bless & Support Our Troops!

Cajun Chicken & Rice

This is an easy recipe that I found when going through all of my VERY unorganized recipe clippings...I was trying to find something new that I have never cooked before & THIS was the recipe! I was iffy about the spinach because Mr. Hooah isn't exactly a 'green' type of man, but surprisingly, he too, loved this one! To me, it didn't have enough heat to it (no offense Zatarain's), so I added crushed red pepper, some additional cajun seasoning, & also a Tbsp. garlic salt! And of course Mr. Hooah & I drowned it in Frank's RedHot Sauce(: This was deeeeelish, HEALTHY, & I will definitely be making this one again!

Cajun Chicken & Rice1 medium onion, chopped.1 box Zatarain's Red Beans & Rice1 green pepper, diced(I used a cup of mushrooms because I didn't have the green pepper on hand) 2 c. cooked chicken cubed or shredded6oz. bag of fresh baby spinach 1) Heat a little oil in a large nonstick skillet. Add onion & pepper, saute until tender.2) Stir in rice mix & the amount of water instructed on the box, bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover & simmer 7 minutes or until rice is tender.3) Stir in chicken & spinach. Cook, stirring, just until spinach wilts. --Serve with hot sauce.  

   

A few more REWARDS I have received & am passing on!

More Blog Awards!

I am VERY happy to start with my first award, The Versatile Blogger Award, from Jersey Girl

 over @ hairspray&highheels! She is SUPER & I just LOVE her feed! Thanks again doll! 

Rules:

1. Nominate 15 bloggers who are relatively new to blogging.

2. Let them know that you have nominated them.

3. Share 7 random facts about yourself.

4. Thank the bloggers that have nominated you.

5. Add the Versatile Blogger Award picture to your blog post.

 

Bloggers I Awarded:

Amy@ http://www.whilewearingheels.blogspot.com/

 Hope@ http://hopefuloneblog.blogspot.com 

 Rebekah@ http://accidentallywonderful.blogspot.com/2012/05/triple-threat.html Heather@ http://www.stringtownhome.blogspot.com/ 

http://mygrammashouse.blogspot.com/

 http://www.cupcakesandcorndogs.com/

http://pamspartyplanning.blogspot.com/

(those were my few picks that are my favorites!)

 

7 RANDOM FACTS 

1. I am a 'hoarder' of stilettos!

2.My newest addiction is my iheart-radio app & new fav. station: ClubPhusion! on my iphone that is NEVER more than 10ft away from me lol.

3. I'm stuck in a MAJOR old Hollywood Glamour style phase right now.

4. I secretly want to go blonde but I'm too nervous to actually do it lol.

5.I spontaneity, variety, & laughter are the spices of life.

6.I love the color PINK.

7.I drive like I was born to drive in crazy ATL traffic...& yes, my husband hates it! haha (:

And NEXT are these:

 

 

There are a few questions that accompany these awards and also a few guidelines for passing them on.  After answering the questions, nominate a few blogs you think are deserving or that you'd like to encourage!

Questions:

Favorite Color - Definite PINK lover, however  when it comes to wardrobe: I wear mostly BLACK. 

Favorite Animal -  My chi-weenie Kizzie, shes my little wookie(:
Favorite Number - a series, 1229, mine & my husbands birthdays...yes, it sounds kool sharing the same birthdays, but on the gift end, its not LOL joking!

Favorite Drink - mixed drink: Skittle Vodka & soda: Ginerale!

Facebook or Twitter - I use BOTH often...

My Passion - Radiology, cant wait to finally get my degree!

Giving or Getting Presents -  both. i LOVE to surprise & be surprised! lol
Favorite Day - FRIDAY! because its the ending to the work week & I KNOW my husband will be home for the weekend unless he's out in the field playing soldier!

Favorite Flowers - White roses, I'm just a sucker for them.

 

Now to pass this on to some amazing blogs!

BECAUSE YOU GUYS ALL DESERVE IT FOR UR WONDERFUL BLOGS, IDEAS, & JUST FOR BEING Y.O.U!!!

Amy@ http://www.whilewearingheels.blogspot.com/

 Hope@ http://hopefuloneblog.blogspot.com 

Heather@ http://www.stringtownhome.blogspot.com/ 

http://hairsprayandhighheels.blogspot.com/2012/06/i-was-so-fortunate-to-receive-two-blog.html

http://mygrammashouse.blogspot.com/

 http://www.cupcakesandcorndogs.com/

http://pamspartyplanning.blogspot.com/