these girls were a total blast!
they all mixed so well from all over the US.
they laughed LOUD.
they crafted their little hearts out.
they stayed up laaaaaate.
chicago jenny was here too.
she flew home early this morning.
i have been talking and laughing and eating way too naughty of foods and staying up super late for a week.
i have got to get some sleep.
i will be back tomorrow with a full CW post.
it was another AWESOME weekend.
can't wait for the next one....
you know that i love my kids.
and my husband.
more than anything...
but sometimes a mama needs a girls' night out!
my running buddies and i hit the town for a movie and dinner.
we were so excited to be out and off the clock.
for dinner we chose Olive Garden.
we drove to this brand new one, looked around, and there were only a few cars.
we found out they opened the NEXT DAY.
we got a great laugh out of our luck.
we drove to the next one, and it was time to relax, unwind and catch up with each other.
it was one mama's birthday.
CHEERS!
when eating at Olive Garden, i look forward to the salad.
and the hot breadsticks...YUM.
the flavors are the same as they always have been.
i love that.
we ordered appetizers.
this was the first time i have had the Caprese Flatbread. it was so good!
Mozzarella cheese, tomatoes and basil on a flatbread crust.
it could be a meal on its own.
you can never go wrong with lasagna.
it's always good.
always.
it makes me feel like i am enjoying a home cooked meal.
one friend ordered Capellini Pomodoro.
Roma tomatoes, garlic, fresh basil, extra-virgin olive oil and marinara sauce tossed with capellini.
i was debating on ordering it myself.
it is one of my favorite meals.
our waitress was very helpful and highly recommended the Stuffed Chicken Marsala.
doesn't it look tasty?
it was chicken breast stuffed with cheeses and sun-dried tomatoes with mushrooms and a creamy marsala sauce on top. it was served with mashed potatoes.
i ordered the Five Cheese Baked Ziti.
it was perfect.
i love that Olive Garden has big portions.
i was able to bring home half my meal and enjoy leftovers the next day!
that is a real treat when getting to go out.
or i get to share with my husband when i get home as a "thank you" for giving me some time away.
we decided to try several desserts...just to be safe.
you can tell which was the table favorite.
we ordered a Toasted Marshmallow Martini.
wow.
i think i found my new special going out drink.
seriously delicious.
we passed it around till it was gone to the last drop.
a clean plate is the sign of a good dinner.
spending time laughing and talking with my friends is necessary for me to be a better mom and wife.
everyone needs some down time.
i love sharing it with these friends.
when you get away from the chaos of everyday life to reconnect with people, you are blessed.
and having a fabulous meal while enjoying all that is even better.
Olive Garden is offering a new dinner special.
a 3 Course Italian Dinner for $12.95...the 1st course is soup or salad...the 2nd course is one of five new entrees, and the 3rd course is one of five Dolcini desserts. check out all of the options at Olivegarden.com/specials.
would YOU like to spend time with special people at Olive Garden?
to be entered to win a $100 gift card to Olive Garden from BlogHer just leave a comment telling me who you'd love to take to dinner.
Also, visit the Olive Garden page on BlogHer.com to check out the other blogger reviews and more chances to win!
the craft girls all arrived....everybody flew in. :)
we ate a yummy dinner.
and cheesecake.
we have made one craft so far....much more to come.
and the bathroom was finished at noon friday afternoon.
the ladies came at 4.
ha ha ha .....nothing like a DEADLINE to get stuff D O N E.
our contractor and craig worked so hard to get that accomplished.....awesome.
it's hard to get a picture with my lens....but i am in love in here.
ok....it's 2:44 so i think i better go to sleep.
CRAFT WEEKEND is too much fun.
and i have 11 new friends!!!!
goodnight!
i think this is fabulous....isn't it???
amy jupin opened an etsy shop....i bought these pillowcases.
so happy.
monday morning 6:15 am.
tuesday morning 9 am on my way to shop for every last detail of CW.
wednesday morning 7:45 (walmart parking lot....ate my breakfast and checked email on my phone... dork!!!)
we have tile on the walls and floor.
grout today....half done already.
uh-oh!
BAD DOG!! (but what a handsome haircut he has....)
do you like my way of fixing their broken cage?
polka dot packing tape is not just for the post office!
waffle really wants to eat talby and annie's hamster.
so badly.
some more fabric is ready for crafty ladies to cut into.
i like my pajamas to match my lampshades....
and my cardis to match my shower curtains.
ha ha ha
i don't need a mop refill...i don't even use this kind of mop....but i wanted to buy it because of the polka dots!
i controlled myself though...
kind of.
happiest. cart. ever.
oh....and just a little more fun fabric.
i have ordered from fabric.com & hawthorne threads and bought at hobby lobby, joann's and walmart.
i didn't tell you i went to the Brad Paisley concert last weekend!
check out my (not) awesome picture!
it was a really great show....i was so happy there.
this song was just on in my car and i cranked it and sang LOUD!
like jerry maguire kind of loud!
ok....now one last thing for you to do....
GO TO THE CRAFT WEEKEND BLOG to read about our last few sponsors from craft weekend 2010.
I was asked by Chef Boyardee to participate in a recipe program!
Chef Boyardee has a website full of recipes using their product.
I was encouraged to review those recipes, and then my family and I could make up a recipe of our own.
We chose to try to make Ravioli Soup!
Start by browning 1.5 - 2 pounds of ground beef in a skillet.
After your ground beef is completely browned, you should drain the grease from your pan.
Then add in 2 TBSP of minced onion and 1 TBSP of minced garlic and 2 t. oregano.
You could use fresh ingredients for this part, but i didn't have them.
And honestly...the smaller the better when it comes to things like onions with my kids.
Mix it in and cover the meat with the spices.
Cook that for a few minutes until the onions are soft.
In a soup pot begin heating up the chicken broth.
Add in a 28 ounce can of petite diced tomatoes.
This next step isn't important, but it makes the cooking more fun.
Put on a cute apron.
Because you will feel cute if you have one on!
And your husband will come home and say, "Look at how cute you are!" making him dinner.
Next I added the meat mixture to the soup.
Bring the soup to a boil and then turn down the heat, letting it simmer for about twenty minutes.
THEN you will add 3 cans of Chef Boyardee Ravioli into the soup.
Kids like the taste of Chef Boyardee but I like that I can use it as an ingredient in other quick meals.
After it cooks a few minutes it's ready to serve.
Chef Boyardee ravioli just needs to be warmed up, and it's ready to eat.
I dished out bowls for my family and added a handful of shredded cheese to each bowl.
Then I got really wild.
I took our pizza maker kit, and instead I made breadsticks with cheese,
and we dipped the breadsticks in the pizza sauce that came in the box!
My family really enjoyed this meal.
The breadsticks were devoured.
Sean said, "What did you put in the noodles?! IT's DeLiCioUs!!"
that guy cracks me up every day.
Here is my recipe:
1.5 - 2 lbs ground beef
2 T. minced onion
1 T. minced garlic
2 t. oregano
6 c. chicken broth
1 large can of diced tomatoes (28 oz)
3 cans of Chef Boyardee Ravioli
shredded cheese for topping
salt and pepper to taste
Brown hamburger, drain the grease. Add onion, garlic, and oregano. Simmer for a few minutes.
In a soup bowl add chicken broth and tomatoes. Combine meat mixture with soup mixture.
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and let simmer for about 20 minutes.
Just before you are ready to serve, add the ravioli.
Let it cook a few minutes and then it's ready to eat!
Serve with breadsticks.
.................................................................................................................................
So here's the deal....
YOU can make up your own recipes and enter Chef Boyardeeís Make It Boyardeelicious Recipe Contest from December 29, 2011 through March 11, 2012 for your chance to win free groceries for a year as well as one of ten $500 weekly cash prizes. Then visit Chef Boyardeeís Facebook page from March 26, 2012 through April 8, 2012 to vote for your favorite recipes from the ìMake It Boyardeelicious Recipe Contest.î Each day, one voter will be selected to win a $100 cash prize.
Be sure to visit the Chef Boyardee Roundup page on BlogHer.com to check out other bloggersí recipes!
