Fashion Friday: Dress Obsession

Posted in Fashion Friday, obsessions by mydaughterandiblog

My so-called Dress Obsession became very real to me a couple of days ago when I cleaned out my closet and counted my dresses. I have 25.

Seriously, I had no idea that I owned that many- I mean, really? 25? What does a 16 year old girl do with 25 dresses? Apparently I should wear them considering that I have almost enough dresses to wear one of them everyday for a month.

In honor of this obsession, I decided that this week’s Fashion Friday theme would be all about dresses with some jewelry thrown in for good measure. When I was searching for some great dresses to feature on this post, my mom informed me “that you have a problem”. I agree wholeheartedly- I’m obsessed with dresses. But that’s okay, because there’s worse things that I could be obsessed with 🙂

French Connection Women’s Orange Chevron Pattern Long Sundress

Oh my gosh. This dress.

Not only is it waaaay out of my price range, it’s also out of stock, but that’s beside the point ’cause look how darn cute it is.

Brookings Harbor Floral Dress

I love these colors.

Love is All Around Hoop Earrings

So pretty.

Arcadia Printed Maxi Dress

It’s a little hard to tell from this picture, but apparently this dress is peach and royal blue, instead of cream and royal blue as I originally thought. I still think it would be super cute though, and I really like the top.

Marnie Embellished Lace Shift Dress

Adorable! Need I say more?

Cobalt Cap Sleeve Dress

This dress looks like it might be a little short, but that could just be how it looks on the model. I really like how the tail is a little longer in the back, which is nice if you lean over or anything.

I love the color, and the neckline is so unusual and beautiful. It looks really comfortable too.

Desert Sun Maxi Dress

This dress isn’t something that I’d normally pick out, but I really like the top.

On The Coast Bangle Set

Ellsworth Polka Dot Chambray Dress

I’ve tried on a ton of chambray dresses recently and I always end up looking like I just stepped off a farm. And surprisingly that’s not normally a look I go for.

But I feel like the polka dots and eyelet at the bottom of this dress might help.

Green Spaghetti Strap Split Bandeau Chiffon Dress

Okay, so I have a confession to make. Between writing and publishing this post, I bought another dress. Bringing my count to 26. I know, I know, I have issues. All I ask is that you don’t unfairly judge me because I have a strange and absurd obsession with a piece of clothing. Thanks 🙂

26Jun2013

Chicken Pot Pie

Posted in main dishes, things we like to eat by mydaughterandiblog

Chicken pot pie doesn’t really seem like a food you would make during the summer, but Alex was coming home for a few days and I am always trying to fatten him up. So this seemed like the perfect dinner to serve my poor, skinny college boy.

I started making this recipe, or a form of this recipe many, many years ago. When I started making it, the recipe called for all canned stuff. Canned chicken, cream of potato soup, frozen veggies and store-bought pot pie crust. I switched a few of the things around to make it a bit heartier and maybe a bit healthier. The other day when I made it, we had some home grown potatoes, so that made it extra yummy!

While this recipe has a lot of steps, it really comes together quite quickly and you can clean everything up and pull together the rest of the meal while the pot pie is baking.

Preheat oven to 350* Unroll the bottom piecrust and place into an ungreased pie plate, forming to the edge of the pie plate as needed.

Pour frozen peas into strainer.

In a large pot of boiling water, boil potatoes until just beginning to soften,

and then add the carrots and cook for about 10 minutes, but not quite fully cooked, because they will finish cooking in the oven. Pour potatoes and carrots into the strainer with the frozen peas and drain.

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a saucepan. Once heated, add the chicken, season with pepper, and cook until no longer pink in the middle. I sometimes have leftover chicken to use, or I just cook some up for the recipe. I love using the frozen boneless, skinless chicken breast pieces. They defrost and cook up in no time and I always stock up when they are on sale.

Remove chicken from pan…

and cook minced garlic, celery and onion until soft and fragrant.

In a large bowl, mix cooked chicken, potatoes, carrots, peas, celery and onion.

Then add cream of chicken soup and mix well. You can also use your own gravy if you have it available rather than the cream of whatever soup. Pour everything into pie shell…

and cover with second pie crust, crimping edges. Cut air vents.

Place in oven (if pie is really full, cook on cookie sheet so it doesn’t bubble over into your oven), and cook at 350* for 45 minutes, or until crust is golden brown.

Let cool for about 5 minutes before cutting and serving.

Chicken Pot Pie

2 roll-out piecrusts

2 cups cubed potatoes

1 cup diced carrots

1 Tablespoons oil

2 cups cubed chicken

pepper to taste

1 tsp. minced garlic

1 cup chopped celery

1 cup finely chopped onion

1 can cream of chicken soup (or potato, celery etc.)

1- 1 1/2 cups frozen peas

Preheat oven to 350*

Unroll the bottom piecrust and place into an ungreased pie plate, forming to the edge of the pie plate as needed.

Pour frozen peas into strainer. In a large pot of boiling water, boil potatoes until just beginning to soften, and then add the carrots and cook for about 10 minutes, but not quite fully cooked yet, because they will finish cooking in the oven. Pour potatoes and carrots into the strainer with the frozen peas and drain.

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a saucepan. Once heated, add the chicken, season with pepper, and cook until no longer pink in the middle. Remove chicken from pan and cook minced garlic, celery and onion until soft and fragrant.

In a large bowl, mix cooked chicken, potatoes, carrots, peas, celery and onion. Then add cream of chicken soup and mix well.

Pour everything into pie shell, and cover with second pie crust, crimping edges. Cut air vents.

Place in oven (if pie is really full, cook on cookie sheet so it doesn’t bubble over into your oven), and cook at 350* for 45 minutes, or until crust is golden brown.

Let cool for about 5 minutes before cutting and serving.

25Jun2013

Summer Reading – Day 8

Posted in the important stuff by mydaughterandiblog

Hey there,
Well, I just completed Day 8 of my summer reading and I am so thrilled that I started this. Wow! The Psalms are so awesome and encouraging. Today I read Psalm 36 – 40. There’s still plenty of days left in summer, why don’t you join me?

Since I hurt my back almost two weeks ago, I haven’t been able to work out, so instead I have been sleeping in and then doing my Bible reading later in the morning. Not a bad plan. Today was my first day back at boot camp so I have to mix things up a bit. I decided to do my Bible reading after workout, breakfast, etc. It is so pretty outside and nice to enjoy the sunshine while doing my reading. I guess that is the nice thing about summer – you can mix up your routine.

A few Psalms to encourage you today.

Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep. O Lord, you preserve both man and beast. Psalm 36:5 – 6

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

Do not withhold your mercy from me, O Lord; may your love and your truth always protect me. Psalm 40:11

Have a great day!

24Jun2013

Two Ingredient Banana Peanut Butter Ice Cream

Posted in sweets, things we like to eat by mydaughterandiblog

This Banana Peanut Butter Ice Cream is absolutely delicious! When I found the recipe on Pinterest, I was a little hesitant at first- I mean, how much can frozen bananas and peanut butter blended until smooth really taste like real ice cream? Boy, was I surprised! Even using our lousy blender that is on it’s last legs, the ice cream turned out surprisingly creamy and smooth.

We ate some soft-serve style right out of the blender, and froze the rest for a more typical ice cream consistency. When we ate it, we threw in a handful of mini chocolate chips and that, of course, made it even better.

Another benefit of this recipe (aside from the obvious, which is being a healthy alternative to regular ice cream), is that it calls for very ripe bananas, which are normally in abundance at our house, unless of course, we’ve just made Banana Bread.

Because our blender is not super powerful, we added about 2 Tablespoons of milk to help it to puree the frozen bananas, so that’s an option if your blender seems to be having a hard time.

Peel bananas and slice into 1/2 inch discs. Freeze for 1-2 hours. Place the frozen bananas into a blender or food processor.

Puree banana slices, until the mixture is creamy and smooth.

Add the peanut butter and puree to combine.

Two Ingredient Banana Peanut Butter Ice Cream

Ingredients:

4 very ripe bananas

2 Tablespoons peanut butter

1-2 Tablespoons of milk (optional)

Directions:

Peel bananas and slice into 1/2 inch discs. Freeze for 1-2 hours.

Place the frozen bananas into a blender or food processor. Puree banana slices, until the mixture is creamy and smooth. Add the peanut butter and puree to combine.

Serve immediately for soft-serve ice cream consistency. If you prefer harder ice cream, place in the freezer for a few hours and then serve.

Jordan

recipe by: Two Peas and Their Pod.

tags: ice cream, healthy, bananas, blender, peanut butter, dessert, sweets

22Jun2013

It’s Fashion Friday!

Posted in Fashion Friday, obsessions by mydaughterandiblog

It’s Fashion Friday! (just had to say that again, cause you couldn’t infer that from the title ;))

And in honor of the first day of summer, I picked out some super cute summery things.

Hope you enjoy my very first Fashion Friday post!

Petite Vivid Fern Print Romper

I saw this while we were drooling at Loft the other day. The print is even cuter in person too.

Black Bow Bucket Hat

I tried this hat on at World Market and it began my hunt for the perfect straw beach hat- I ended up finding a really cute one at Charming Charlie that’s very similar to the one above, just without the ribbon bow. I’ve never been much of a hat person, but I love this one for the beach.

TOMS Blue Ikat Women’s Classics

I adore my TOMS, so when I saw these…well, saying that I love them is an understatement.

Ariella Collection Midi Ring

So unusual and dainty.

Harper Lace Trim Shorts

I’ve been on the lookout for the perfect pair of shorts- not because I need another pair, but just because I love shorts so much. I really like the wash and the lace on these ones.

Old Navy Side-Mesh Running Shorts

I just bought these in this exact color the other day, and I love them. They are so amazingly comfy, and they are a good length for running. And my mom loves that they were on sale. I’m considering buying like 16 more pairs.

LC Lauren Conrad Flip-Flops

These come in a multitude of cute bright colors.

Edmonton Embellished Dress

So cute! The detailing around the neck is really pretty.

Xhilaration Juniors Sleeveless Top

My mom is always trying to get me to buy orange clothes, because I can wear bright colors. Unfortunately for her, I’m not really into bright colors, but this coral-y orange seems like a good compromise 🙂 And I really like the lace.

Mad Love Oversized Tote Bag

The long handles on this bag seem nice- I thought it could be a really cute beach bag.

Jordan

M	T	W	T	F	S	S
					1	2
3	4	5	6	7	8	9
10	11	12	13	14	15	16
17	18	19	20	21	22	23
24	25	26	27	28	29	30

My Daughter and I

coffee, dessert & chickens- one mother and daughter's musings on the important stuff…

Monthly Archives: June 2013