"what do you mean chick peas are beans?" martha monday

I suppose that it a legitimate question. 

I mean, they are called chick peas. 

My poor meat-atarian boyfriend....

He claims to not like beans of any sort. How can I torture him so? 

Poor man had no idea he was eating beans...

What was this meal that has caused such mystery in our home this evening? Well, it was Martha's Pasta with Chickpea-Tomato Sauce, and it was delish! 

I didn't vary at all from the recipe (a first for me!) other than using linguine instead of shells. Just wasn't feeling that kind of pasta tonight. Oh, I also added a sprinkling of panko to the top just to give it a little extra texture. So...I guess I did vary a tid bit...but I didn't change the recipe itself at all.

It was very tasty! The sauce was light and fresh with the red pepper flakes and fresh torn basil adding just the right amount of zip. It wasn't as good as the pasta with chickpeas I had in Bermuda, but I would definitely make it again. 

p.s. mmb really liked it! though in the interest of full disclosure, I did add some crisped bacon to his. 

I have to get back to grad school work and getting ready to scrap the weekend away at Croptopia with three of my favorite ladies. Can't wait!! Three days of scrapbooking 'round the clock, hot tubbing, swimming, what promises to be an awesome photo editing class with the super talented Sarah Kristiansen  and perhaps a spa treatment....ahhhh heaven!

words to live by

 

To live content with small means; 
to seek elegance rather than luxury, 
and refinement rather than fashion;
to be worthy, not respectable; and 
wealthy, not rich; to study hard, 
think quietly, talk gently, act frankly...to
listen to stars and buds, to babes, and 
sages, with open heart; await occasions, 
hurry never...this is my symphony. 
William Henry Channing

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quote

  

Do you have a favorite quote?

welcome to the world, miss ella mai!

This past Wednesday my very lovely and very brave friend Lindsey gave birth to her first baby. 

Meet Ella Mai.

Isn't she gorgeous?

She is just too cute for words! 

SO proud of you Linds. 

 You are already such a wonderful mom. 

And it is not a slight thing when they, who so fresh from God, love us. 

Charles Dickens

(layout made using Paislee Press products)

a little etsy love

Being holed up with this nasty cold all week has kind of been a drag. 

The positives?

It was vacation week and I didn't have to take any time off of work. 

I have had an excuse to drink copious amounts of tea. 

I could peruse etsy for little treasures at my leisure.

I guess having a cold isn't so bad after all ;-) 

What do you think of these little beauties I found?

 

here  

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here 

 

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How about you? Find any etsy treasure lately?

getting sketchy

What is one of the benefits of being snowed in with a yucky cold on vacation? You get plenty of time to peruse the interweb for creative and inspiring blogs.

Blogs like Sketchy Thursdays.

Do you play along with the sketches they put out every Thursday? I am fairly new to using sketches, but let me tell you...if you want to give it a shot, this is the site to try. Their sketches are great and they have amazing prizes for the winner of the challenges.

I found this fun sketch which also called for using hot pink, black and white as well as an 80's element. How fun!

 

and this is what I made...

the music in me

I am thoroughly and undoubtedly inspired by music. Due to this love, and because different songs evoke different emotions and memories, my itunes is about as eclectic as they come.
Seriously...I have everything from classical to pop to country to "religion rock" on there. 

Just think about how you can be driving and a song comes on the radio that instantly transport you back to a different time in your life. (Does hearing No Scrubs by TLC make anyone else out there think of driving through the back roads of a small town in a minivan with side door open? I know there is at least one of you out there....;) )

Think about your favorite movie, I bet you can name at least one song that when you hear it, you can instantly pinpoint the part of the movie it corresponds to. What would Titanic be without the violins playing as the ship sank?

Music can put you at peace, energize you, make you feel a range of emotions.

Music is powerful.
And I love it. 

So you can imagine my excitement when I stumbled across Scrapping the Music, a fabulous blog that gives weekly scrapbooking challenges based upon... a song!

And I am playing along! What's that you say? Why yes, I do have a ton of work to catch up with other things, but I cannot resist a challenge that incorporates music! 

This week's challenge is based on Sara Evans' I Could Not Ask for More, here is my take...

 

Moments like these feel like Heaven. 

So are you up for playing along? Pop on over to Scrapping the Music and join in the fun!

martha's cashew chicken (or not)

Oh my, Martha. You hit the nail on the head with this one. 

Have you ever had a craving for chinese food, but could do without the famous "chinese food hangover"? You know...that icky sluggish feeling you get after eating food far too laden with msg and whatever else it is that contributes to that feeling that makes you swear you will never eat chinese food again?

Well, if you have ever suffered from this phenomenon and would like an easy and delicious recipe to satisfy that chinese food craving, I would highly recommend Martha's Cashew Chicken. 

To adjust this to my liking I added chopped red pepper, celery and pea pods. I also left the chicken out of mine, and although the cashews packed plenty of protein, I think next time I would add some tofu (to my dish only, relax mmb). 

Serve this over some jasmine rice with some chopsticks and, viola! A delicious dinner that leaves you with no regrets immediately following your last bite. 

Now, I must get back to this disaster...

Dear God, what have I gotten myself into? Yes..I have literally torn my scrap space apart in order to get some more organization going 'round here. 

Say a prayer for me ;-)