Hello Mr. Wu

Don't you just love the rotating designer collection at target?  Well, in all honesty I have never actually bought anything, but I am pretty pumped about their next designer... Jason Wu.  Mr. Wu has dressed the likes of Emma Stone, Blake Lively, Lea Michele, and Michelle Williams. His style is so classic and chic.  I am actually hoping to snag a few of his designs for the affordable prices of $19.99-49.99.  The collection will be in stores and online from Feb 5-Mar 6 and if its anything like the Missoni collection, you better get there early!

Take a look at a few of my favorites:

Loving this skirt!!

I'm sensing that spring will have a nautical theme this year

This one is a must have... it screams Kate Middleton!

Off to watch Downton....Have a great week y'all!

Aussie Aussie Aussie

Let's talk about the Australian Open! For those blog readers who do not personally know me, I am a tennis fanatic of sorts. I played competitvely from the time I was 12 all the way through college. I have taken a hiatus of sorts from playing, but I coached for a couple of years and I think the desire to play is slowly coming back. It always seems to happen when a major tournament rolls around... maybe it's wishful thinking that I can play like them?


Naturally my bets are on the most amazing man (besides Mr. Pennington of course!) in the world! Roger Federer. Fed stole my heart years ago and besides my mother I am his most devoted fan. He plays with such ease and finesse that it's like watching moving art. He has cruisedthrough to the quarterfinales, but Nadal is lurking in the shadows and they are on a semifinal showdown collision course. But let's just remember that regardless of Roger's success in the tournament he will look amazing and play with class and style.

On the women's side I am struggling a little more. No one in the last few years has really knocked my socks off. My favorite player, Justine Henin retired a few years back and it's been hard to replace her. I like Sharapova, because the amount of determination and focus that she shows is unreal. That screeching of her's has to go though. Serena Williams may win the tournament, but you will never see a stamp of approval from this lady for her. I respect her as a phenomenal athlete, but as a person and sportsman she is seriously lacking in class and manners. I think I will go with Kim Clijsters for the tournament if her ankle holds up. She has the experience and confidence needed to take her to the finals.

(I really hope none of my picks lose during the night, since I wrote this blog last night!)

The major tennis tournaments are on my bucket list and I hope to hit up the US Open soon, since it's certainly the closest! My mom and I are hoping to goto a small tournament in the spring this year and I like to think that they can be even better, because the atmosphere is more intimate and you can get so close to the players. Back in high school I was able to stand five feet from Martina Navratilova and that is something I will always remember!

*Update... Serena is out

Farmhouse Muffins

Today's recipe is a favorite in the Chase house.  My mom has been making Farmhouse Muffins for as long as I can remember.  My brother and I use to forget what they were called and then we would ask her if she could make some "Barnyard Muffins."  Years later we realized how gross the thought of "Barnyard Muffins" sounded!

The actual recipe is a little different than how I made them tonight.  The chili filling that I make for my recipe is the same that I use to make my homemade spaghetti sauce.  I made it, because I knew I would have some leftover and I could use it to make some Baked Spaghetti the next night.  I'll be back later this week with my Baked Spaghetti recipes, so you will have both chili recipes to choose from!

Farmhouse Muffins


what you need
1 can (10 count) refrigerated biscuits
1 lb. hamburger
1/2 cup ketchup
3 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 Tbsp. vinegar
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

how to make it
Brown hamburger and then add the remaining ingredients once it is brown.
Drain the grease if necessary.

Spray muffin pan with nonstick spray and flatten out biscuits and place one in each cup.

Cover each biscuit with approximately 2-3 tsp. of chili mixture.

Top with cheese and bake at 350 degree for 13-15 minutes or until biscuits are done.

This is also a great way to make mini deep dish pizzas.  Just substitute the chili mixture with pizza sauce and add some toppings.  They would be great to have for a party, but they are so simple to make!

In other news... I got the most amazing hat this weekend.  I scored this beauty for around $2.  I might be the cutest bear cub in town now.  It was my mom's idea, because she thought it was hilarious.  Once I put it on my head though, I realized it was like wearing a mini heater and I was sold!

Happy Tuesday!

Downton Abbey

If you thought Pinterest was an obsession, you haven't seen anything yet!
Let me introduce you to a little semi-well known British drama called... Downton Abbey.
Aka the best television show I have ever seen in my entire life... seriously!

I have to admit, I stumbled upon this greatness through unusual methods... Prince William and Kate Middleton recommended it to me.  Okay, maybe not directly to me, but I read an article last year that they were really into the show.  After much persuasion, Daniel agreed to watch it with me, because we had found the first season on Netflix.  Much to his surprise we LOVED IT!


Well flash forward to January 2012 and we have anxiously been awaiting the second season.  Unfortunately, we were forced to wait much longer than British audience who got to see the show back in September.  I tried to reroute our IP addresses on our computer to make them British IP addresses so I could get the videos online.  I failed.  Nevertheless its here now and we are two episodes into the season and it is absolutely fabulous!

I want you all to watch it.  Its rare that you find a show that has an amazing story line, witty humor, brilliant costuming, and its a historical period piece!  Lets look at some of the reasons why you should tune into PBS Masterpiece Classic on UNC-TV at 9 p.m. on Sundays:

1. The Costumes- The success of a period piece is reliant on many factors, with the costuming being the primary element.  The men and women of Downton not only exude the era with their acting and speech, but their clothing is absolutely fabulous and true to form of the early 1900's. 


2. Lady Mary- Love her or hate her, you have to give it to the woman- she speaks her mind.  I love Mary's seeming obsession for the standards of tradition, yet she assumes a air of independence that is completely out of character for the women of the time.  She knows that she must secure a position for herself in society, but admirably refused to marry for nothing less than true love.  I just wish she would act on her feelings a little more!

3. Professor McGonagall- What? Now I'm pretty sure your all confused and no I am not getting this show confused with Harry Potter.  It just so happens that the two best things in the entertainment world share a common thread- Maggie Smith aka Professor McGonagall aka Dowager Countess of Grantham.

I could go on and on, but I only want you to be intrigued enough to check it out on your own!
I promise you will NOT be disappointed.

Oh The Places You'll Go

I, like the rest of the world, have become slightly addicted to Pinterest.

One of my favorite borads recently has been one that I entitled "Oh The Places You'll Go"

Dr. Seuss' much beloved book has been my inspiration for researching all the places in the world that I want to travel to one day.  

Daniel and I have great dreams of being world travelers before we become parents.

Some of my favorite places:

London- I traveled there in January of 2009 and it was the most amazing city.  I always tell people that its the best place to start in Europe, because your introduced to the European culture, without the task of a new language. 

The Maldives- If its good enough for William and Kate, then its good enough for me!  The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge spent their honeymoon in this amazing island nation surrounded by the Indian Ocean.  When I have the spending allowance they have, then it will be first on my list!

Paris- Who doesn't love Paris?  I must say that the brief glimpse I got in 2009 though was certainly not enough to fulfill my desire for Paris in the springtime. Daniel and I strolling down the Champs-Elysees and eating the fresh Parisan bread fills my daydreams often!

The Lighthouses of North Carolina- While on our honeymoon, Daniel and I unintentionally began a quest to see all the lighthouses of North Carolina.  We stayed at an amazing B&B near Cape Hatteras and climbed all the way to the top- its the tallest lighthouse in North America!  On the way home we stopped at the Bodie Island Lighthouse and back in October we went to see Old Baldy on Bald Head Island.  

Only a few left!

Mont St. Michel, France- This enchanting castle is often compared to Hogwarts by Harry Potter fans, but this abbey is located on the tidal island that experiences extreme high and low tides throughout the day.  I stayed in a hotel in France that offered a free shuttle to the island, but time did not permit, so I cannot wait to go back and actually see it!

Ireland- While in Disney World we were stranded in a gift shop in the "United Kingdom" and had the privilege of talking with a young girl named Lindsey from North Ireland.  In the short time we spent with her, our curiosity and desire for Ireland grew and now it is on the top of the travel list for the Penningtons. 

So where are your favorite places to travel or what's your dream vacation?

Chicken & Biscuits

i'm getting a little boring on here i think.
your starting to think my life only revolves around the few recipes i share.
your probably right, since my internship started up this week! yikes!
5:30 a.m. i have NOT missed you!!!!

well today went off without a hitch, but the exam testing schedule is kicking my butt!
i am ready for the normal classroom again, but i'm enjoying my planning days.
tonight is a rarity in the pennington house... daniel and i are both home.... crazy i know!
anyway, chicken & biscuits is on the menu and its going to be amazing.
check it out!

Chicken & Biscuits

Recipe courtesy of Food & Family magazine 

what you need

1 can (10-3/4 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup

3/4 cup sour cream, divided

2 cups chopped, cooked chicken

1 pkg. (16 oz) frozen mixed vegetables (green beans, carrots, corn, and garden peas), thawed

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup all-purpose baking mix

3 Tbsp. milk

how to make it

preheat oven to 375 degrees

combine soup and 1/2 cup sour cream in baking dish.  stir in chicken, veggies, and cheese.

mix baking mix, milk, and remaining sour cream until mixture forms soft dough

spoon into mounds over chicken mixture and bake 35 minutes.

Notes: I use fresh veggies sometimes and they taste even better!  Also, if you make a little extra dough then you can spread the mixture across the top and make a chicken pot pie.  It's so easy and delicious! You have to try it!

The timer just went off, so i'm gonna go make myself a huge bowl full!

Mom's Potato Soup

Last night I tried out a new recipe... new to cooking, but not tasting.

My mom's amazing potato soup.  

Its not only amazingly good, but easy as pie!

I hope y'all enjoy it!

what you need

4lbs of potatos, peeled and diced into cubes

water, enough to cover the potatoes

1 small onion, diced

1 can evaporated milk

1 can chicken broth

1 stick of butter

salt to taste

how to make it

Cover diced potatoes with water and add salt to taste.  

Bring to a boil and then let simmer until potatoes are fork tender. 

Ideally, your suppose to cook your diced onion with the potatoes, but I forgot them, so lets skip to the next step.

If you forgot to boil the onion, saute it in canola oil until the onions are soft and transparent.

Once potatoes and onions are finished cooking, combine them together.  

If you have a lot of water left in your pot you may want to pour some of it out.  

I left enough so that my potatoes were almost covered, but not quite. 

Then you need to add the chicken broth, evaporated milk, and butter to the onions and potatoes.  

Bring the contents to a boil and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes until everything is well combined and creamy.

Add your choice of toppings, such as bacon, cheese, or sour cream.  

I like to add a little ranch to my bowl!

Enjoy!

This was absolutely perfect last night for dinner, because with the high temps hanging in the 30's this week it was a bone chilling kind of day.  I have not tried this recipe in the crockpot, but its simple enough that I am sure it would work, you just want to make sure to add enough water so that the potatoes are well cooked.

Before I go, I just want to give a shout out to my father-in-law who's birthday is today!  

Happy Birthday Mr. Rex!!

Grad School Barbie

With school quickly approaching I'm starting to feel the pressure of being back in school. I was surfing Pinterest the other day and I found this link to an oddly assumsing story about Grad School Barbie... Enjoy!

A new gift idea for your loved ones: Graduate School Barbie (TM).

Graduate School Barbie comes in two forms: 

Delusional Master's Barbie (TM) 

and 

Ph.D. Masochist Barbie (TM).

Every Graduate School Barbie comes with these fun filled features guaranteed to delight and entertain for hours: Grad School Barbie comes out of the box with a big grin on her face that turns into a frown after 2 weeks or her first advisor meeting (whichever comes first). She also has adorable black circles under her delightfully bloodshot eyes.

Comes with two outfits: a grubby pair of blue jeans and 5 year old gap T-shirt, and a floppy pair of gray sweatpants with a matching "I hate my life" T-shirt. Grad School Barbie talks! Just press the button on her left hand and hear her say such upbeat grad school phrases like, "Yes, Professor, It'll be done by tomorrow", "I'd love to rewrite" and "Why didn't I just get a job, I could have been making $40,000 a year by now if I had just started working with a Bachelor's. But noooooo, I chose to further my education, I wish somebody would drop a bomb on the school so that I'd have an excuse to stop working on my degree that's sucking every last drop of life force out of my withered and degraded excuse for a soul..." (9V lithium batteries sold separately)

Grad School Barbie is anatomically correct to teach kids about the exciting changes that come with pursuing a higher education. Removable panels on Barbie's head and torso allow you to watch as her cerebellum fries to a crispy brown, her heart race 150 beats per minute, and her stomach lining gradually dissolve into nothing. Deluxe Barbie comes with specially designed eye ducts. Just add a little water, and watch Grad School Barbie burst into tears at random intervals. Fun for the whole family!

Other accessories include:

Grad School Barbie's Fun Fridge (TM) Well stocked with microwave popcorn, Coca-Cola, Healthy Choice Bologna (99% fat free!),and a small bottle of Mattel Brand Rum (tm).

Grad School Barbie's Medicine Cabinet comes in Fabulous (pepto-bismal) pink and contains Barbie sized bottles of Advil, St. Johns Wort, Zantac, and your choice of three fun anti-anxiety drugs! (Barbie Medicine Cabinet not available without a prescription).

Grad School Barbie's Computer Workstation. Comes with miniature obsolete PC (in pink of course), rickety desk, and over a dozen miniature Mountain Dew cans to decorate your workstation with (Mountain Dew deposit not included in price. Tech support sold separately).

And Grad School Barbie is not alone! Order now and you'll get two of Barbie's great friends! GRADUATE ADVISOR KEN, Barbie's mentor and advisor in her quest for knowledge, higher education and decreased self esteem.

Grad Advisor Ken (tm) comes with a supply of red pens and a permanent frown. Press the button to hear Grad Advisor Ken deliver such wisdom to Barbie as "I need an update on your progress," "I don't think you're ready to defend yet", and "This is no where near ready for publication."

Buy 3 or more dolls, and you can have Barbie's Thesis Committee! (Palm Pilot and tenure sold separately.)

REAL JOB SKIPPER, When Barbie needs to talk, she knows that she can always count on her good friend Real Job Skipper (tm), who got a job after getting her bachelor degree. Press the button to hear Real Job Skipper say, "Sometimes I wish I went for my masters degree" and "Work is so hard! I had to work a half an hour of overtime!" Real Job Skipper's Work Wardrobe and Savings account sold separately.

WARNING: Do not place Grad Student Barbie and Real Job Skipper too close to each other, as there have been several cases of children leaving the room and coming back to find Barbie's hands mysteriously fused to Skipper's throat.

Just a little fun grad school humor... Hope you liked it ;)

Christmas, New Years, and all the things we need to catch up on

I took a little blogcation... i'll blame it on the holidays.

Christmas was amazing!  Daniel and I got to spend a lot of time with our families and we were reminded of how blessed we are to have such a great support system.  He spoiled me again like he always does with some amazing gifts and we really just had an awesome first Married Christmas!

We started our own traditions this year for our new family.  We were booked solid throughout the weekend of Christmas, so we woke up really early on the morning of Christmas Eve to celebrate our Christmas together.  The morning consisted of breakfast casserole and monkey bread, watching Christmas movies and opening gifts.  It was a wonderful and relaxing way to spend Christmas together.

We spent Christmas Eve with my mom's side of the family and then spent the night with my parents... I wanted to make sure Santa could still find me... he did!  My brother forced me to contain my excitement and I wasn't allowed to get up until 8 am Christmas morning for presents.  After a fun filled morning of gifts and family time we headed to my dad's parents house for lunch and then on to Daniel's parents house for dinner.  If we didn't do anything else over Christmas we definitely ate well!  It was really the nicest Christmas, but I say that every year since it keeps getting better and better!

Betsy wanted to say "Merry Christmas"

Many of my presents this year were "teacher" themed and my mom got me this amazing bag!

New Years was not quite as busy.  My brother-in-law and his wife are moving into their house this week, so we spent the afternoon helping them out and I think everyone was pretty pooped by 10 pm that night.  We all perked up in time to see the ball drop, but no pictures resulted from our quiet evening.

2011 was a year to remember... lets recap all the adventures in pictures

Top 11 of 2011

1. Got married!

2. Went to Disney World

3. Quit my job and started graduate school

4. Moved out of my childhood home and into my first apartment with Daniel

5. Watched my little brother graduate from high school and start college

6. Ran my very first 5k!

7. Went to the Outer Banks for our honeymoon!

8. Started this blog

9. Taught my very first high school classes and loved it!

10. Went on an amazing family vacation to see the Atlanta Braves vs. the Texas Rangers

11. Became the proud own of an IPad 2!

Thanks to everyone who reads my little blog.  My new years blog resolution is to spend a little more time on my blog and build it up.  I hope you all had an amazing holiday season and are super rested as you return to the real world! When's the next holiday break?