As you know, I am not an expert in the kitchen. It’s rare that I cook and even more rare when I try out new recipes.

I do absolutely love Pioneer Woman’s recipes! Why? Because she literally spells out each step with pictures. How can you possibly mess it up with her step-by-step picture tutorial.

You can’t.

One of my favorite all time recipes on her site…“Penne a la Betsy”.

I’m not sure if you will believe this or not, but I actually added my own little tweak to this recipe and it’s even BETTER!

*Go ahead and fall out of your chair in disbelief….N  O  W.*

Ingredient List:

Directions:

Rinse shrimp. Cut up chicken breasts in to cubes.

Heat 2 Tbsp butter and 1 Tbsp olive oil in a medium skillet. Add the chicken and cook on medium (approximately 7-10 minutes). Add in shrimp and cook (5-7 minutes on medium).

While your chicken and shrimp is cooking you can start boiling your water for your penne.

In a large skillet heat 2 Tbsp butter and 2 Tbsp olive oil. Add 3 cloves of minced garlic and 1/2 of a finely diced onion and saute’. Stir occasionally.

Once your chicken and shrimp look about like this…

…set them aside on a cutting board.

Chop the chicken and shrimp in to small bite-sized pieces and set aside.

After the garlic and onions have cooked some then add your white wine. Let the wine evaporate for a few minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add 8 oz can of plain tomato sauce. Stir until it is mixed in well. Add 1 cup of heavy cream and stir. You can turn the heat down to low and let it simmer while you chop the fresh basil.

Add a sprinkle of fresh basil and a sprinkle of parsley (I don’t use fresh parsley, but you can).

Now add your chopped chicken and shrimp into the cream sauce mixture and stir. Add a pinch of salt and pepper.

Drain your penne and add in to the cream sauce.

I top it with a little bit of parmesan cheese.

If you don’t like shrimp, I have also made this with just chicken (or vice versa). It is one of the best pasta dishes I have tried!

Enjoy!

This is a guest post from one of my favorite bloggers, Nina at Peace, Love, & Good Food. Thank you, Nina, for sharing your top 11 kitchen must-have items! I need to take notes!

Hello, House of Rose Readers! My name is Nina, and I blog over at my little corner of the internet, also known as Peace, Love & Good Food.

I’m a twenty-something newly(ish)-wed Southern girl who was transplanted to the Midwest about a year and a half ago. My handsome husband and I met at the gym. We are crazy in love and have made the best team together ever since.

The love of good food was something ingrained in me since I was a tiny Italian as my family sat down at the table together every single night. I can’t wait to create the same kind of warm, loving sense of family when the Mini Moores arrive someday. I’m the oldest of three girls, and I could eat Caprese Salad (tomato, basil, and mozzarella) every day. My sisters tried to honor my 8th grade request and hire NSYNC to sing at our wedding, but sadly, they were booked. I hope you’ll stop by to say hello!

Since I have a love for all things kitchen related I thought it would be fun to do a “What are your favorite things in your kitchen?” post. GAH! I love all of it. Really, I do. My kitchen is my happy place. There are few things I love more than pouring a glass of wine, cranking up my Lionel Richie Pandora station and making dinner for Mark and myself. It’s therapeutic for me. And sitting down to eat together is my FAVORITE part of the day.

I started paying attention to what items in my kitchen I am constantly using to prep and cook with. These are the things that I could not imagine myself living without in a kitchen. A well stocked kitchen is a must for anyone that enjoys cooking and entertaining as much as I do, but for me on most days, it boils down to a list of undeniable favorites.

Some are the invest in once and have forever type of deal. Others may seem so small and funny, but seriously get used every single day. So, here, in no particular order, are my top 11 kitchen must-haves…

2. LeCreusetGrillPan. My Godmother is a phenomenal cook and insisted I register for it, only so that she could purchase it for us. I had no clue how much I would use this but this is another one that’s constantly on the stove. It’s great for grilling meats when it’s not warm enough to fire the one up outside. We also love grilling our vegetables on it!

3. EmileHenrySaltPig. Probably the funniest thing on this list, no? I’m obsessed with this little guy. I keep it by my stove filled with coarse kosher salt, the only salt I use for cooking. My parents got me hooked on this and my dad surprised me with my own. It’s a good conversation piece. “What’s that?” “Oh, hey, meet my salt pig”.

4. SurLaTableSiliconeSlottedSpoon. This is by far my favorite kitchen utensil. I barely use anything else because this one works so well. Scrambling eggs, sauteing garlic, stirring sauces. This thing does it all.

5. WusthofClassicChef’sKnife. We are stocked with a full set of Wusthof Classics but if I could only pick one, the Chef’s Knife would be it. You can never go wrong with a good chef’s knife. It makes a huge difference. Period.

6. AnthropologieIzmirMeasuringCups. How cute are these measuring cups? I mostly use them as prep bowls. Sometimes I even use the smaller one to set out my vitamins for the next day next to the coffee pot. I’m an old lady like that. These are an excellent gift idea for any of your foodie friends!

7. CitrusJuicer. Cooking with fresh citrus is a way of life around here. It often makes its way into marinades, dips, and dressings. This juicer is the best I’ve used yet and it was only $10 at Target!

8. Microplane. Another tool for my love of citrus! This is great for zesting lemon and lime rind, which really gives the best flavor of all. It also works well for cheese and fresh ginger. And chocolate.

9. CuisinartSmartStickImmersionHandBlender. This gadget does it all! It’s an immersion blender, electric whisk, and food processor in one. I have a mini food processor and I think this tool works just as well. It’s like three appliances for the price of one.

10. KitchenAidStandMixer. 6 Qt. Pro. I think the angel choirs sang when I finally got my kitchen aid for a Wedding Gift. Although most everything that gets made in this thing is virtually unhealthy, I can’t imagine how lonely my kitchen countertop would be without it. Our Friday nights wouldn’t be the same either. If you read my blog, you know that Friday is pizza night at the Moore house and I use my mixer to make my homemade dough. Heaven, I tell you.

11.  Williams-SonomaPizzaStone. If you are into the homemade pizza thing, do yourself a favor and invest in one of these. Actually, I think this is tied with #10. Means to make the pizza dough plus the stone. It should be considered a package deal.

This list could have been much longer but alas, these items are the ones that make my heart beat the fastest.

So what are your favorite items for the kitchen? Am I missing anything good?

Welcome to…

This week we are celebrating SJ! It is his FIRST birthday TODAY!

Yes, that is correct…my baby boy is ONE.

I am also linking up with Shannon from Life After I Dew (because I love her so) for So What Wednesday and I am saying SO WHAT! If…

• I haven’t planned a single thing for SJ’s birthday party
• We just plan to have ice cream and cake as a family instead of invite 75 people here whom I would have to entertain as I try to chase around 3 boys
• I am not buying SJ a single toy. Nope. None. His birthday gift is coming in the form of a big deposit in to his college fund
• He will be in bed by 6:00 pm tonight so we will have to have ice cream and cake on Saturday

So let’s hear it! What is making you SMILE this week?

I posted some pics last night of SJ’s finished room…gray and white elephant nursery!

Go link up with Shannon for So What Wednesday too!

 If you need more details and would like to join us (PLEASE), check out my vlogging page.

 Subscribe to my YouTube Channel below! Let me know if I haven’t subscribed to yours yet and I will!

Join us by linking up!

I’ve posted pics of SJ’s nursery before, but not since it’s been completely finished. And not since I”ve learned how to use my Canon T3i better.

When you have 3 boys…trying to come up with another “boy themed” room is not easy.

I’ve done blue. I’ve done green. So I knew I wanted to do something more modern and light for SJ!

Who doesn’t love gray and white stripes? And elephants?

Gray Stripe Color: Benjamin Moore Gray Owl (OC-52)

Thanks to Tonya from Love of Family and Home I now have this lovely personalized birth announcement sign to match his room!

Most of the furniture in SJ’s room was hand-me-down. That’s what happens when you become baby #3.

This changing table has been through all three of the boys and it’s still going strong! I found those adorable wall elephants on clearance at Hobby Lobby!

This lovely piece of furniture…use to be mine in college. We did a quick little paint job on it and a hardware switch and voila…it’s like new!

All of the bedding was custom made from a family friend. I picked out my fabric on Fabric.com. It is a Michael Miller fabric and I just love the pop of teal!

Again, staying on the “hand-me-down” theme…we have the refurbished bookcase that almost went in the trash. I talked the hubby in to letting me keep it and paint it white. His trash is my treasure.

The chair is my FAVORITE piece in my entire house. Literally.

It’s from PoshTots…and it’s such a statement piece. Not to mention, comfy!

Another sweet sign made by Love of Family and Home!

THIS IS THE START OF YOUR SWEET LITTLE STORY WHERE YOUR PAGE MEETS MINE NO MATTER WHERE YOUR TALE TAKES YOU OUR STORY WILL ALWAY READ LOVE

Ahhhhh! My heart melts when I read it!

Here is a view from the entrance of his room.

This mirror actually came on a dresser that I found on Craigslist and I had it stored for awhile. I really thought I would never find a use for it.

I added the custom monogram and I think it totally makes the entrance very elegant and welcoming. I can’t remember where exactly I ordered the monogram from, but it was somewhere on etsy.

Do you love or hate the curtains? It was the one piece in the room that my husband was like, “HUH??” He felt like he was being hypnotized. Hehe! I kinda like the extra funky fabric personally.

More elephant love…

…the boys actually like to pretend he’s a horse and ride him.

I also ordered these elephant vinyl prints for $5 on etsy and then put them on picture frames. The background is just wrapping paper!

I will be sad when SJ grows up and wants a “big boy” room. I want to keep this room forever!

Linking up here:

Up until this point…I haven’t done a whole lot of direct advertising here on House of Rose. Mainly because I have been helping my husband focus on his websites: managing his sponsors, affiliates, advertisers, etc.

And in “my mind”…this lil ole blog…was just that. A lil ole blog.

I never felt good enough to offer ad space. #personalproblems

You know what I mean? Do you ever just constantly compare yourself to other bloggers and think “I will never be as good as so-and-so (fill in the blank).”

Ahhhhh. I use to do it WAY too often (and sometimes still do). But thanks to Blissdom and Jon Acuff I learned something that has stuck with me for the last few months…

Never compare someone else’s middle to your beginning. Pretty smart Jon Acuff. Pretty smart.

THIS blog…has been a “just for fun” blog for the most part (since 2008). It’s only been more recently (since I joined the BlogHer network last year) that I have decided to make it more than just a “hobby”.

I have such a loyal group of readers (you all – thank you thank you) and I have been receiving numerous emails about ad space so I wanted to let you guys know that I am…

I know, right? Thanks for the dramatic announcement Mandy.

I’m trying to feel good enough so excuse me for the need to dedicate an entire post just to tell you this boring amazing news.

It’s almost as good as our adoption story huh?!

Ahem.

Ok, ok. Anyway, on to the details.

If you are interested in promoting your fabulous blog so that you can get more traffic…or you want me to help promote your awesome etsy shop then please shoot me an email:  mandy(at)houseofroseblog(dot)com.

Here is what I am offering you:

150×150 badge ad – placed on my sidebar

Rates are as follows (subject to change)

$20.00/per month or $45.00/for 3 months

This rate also includes a one time blog post to introduce your shop/blog/business to my readers with a giveaway opportunity if you are interested (not mandatory.)

*All payments will be accepted through Paypal.

I welcome product review and giveaway requests; however, I only promote products that I would actually use myself.

Personally I love when I see other websites featuring their sponsors because it gives me a chance to meet new bloggers and be introduced to new blogs/shops.

If you would like more information on my blog stats please email me directly and I would be happy to share.

Thanks so much for reading and supporting House of Rose! I truly appreciate all of YOU more than you know!

Check out my post on Dollars and Roses today:  3 Mistakes That Hurt Your Facebook Fan Page and How You Can Fix Them.

I also wanted to say THANK YOU to Get Rich Slowly for choosing my personal finance tip video on Turning Junk Mail Into Scrap Paper.

On Wednesday we will be celebrating SJ’s FIRST birthday (I bet you can guess what my Stop and Smell the Roses vlog will be about)!

I can’t even wrap my brain around it. Honestly.

ONE. Really?

How is it possible that my baby boy is ONE?

I thought it would be fun to do a little comparison of all the boys at age 1.

Almost every day I hear…“All your boys look exactly alike.”

And while I absolutely love that they do all look very similar…I think these pictures will show you that they each have their own individual look as well.

We shall start with P MAN…

Shirtless. Of course. The nakedness started young with him. When I went back through my photos of him…I realized that over 50% of them were pictures of him not wearing clothes.  Funny how things never change.

I would say that P and SJ look the most alike. They have VERY similar features.

And then there is Bents…

I, personally, think that Bents looks the most like his daddy. He has his very own little look.

More Philippino style. The slanted eyes, flatter nose, and the coarse hair.

 His facial expressions and J’s facial expressions…identical.

Let’s not forget SJ…

He is a good toss up of the two, but definitely favors P’s features. 

He is actually the smallest of the three. I call him my “little peanut”, but he is finally getting some chunk on him and I love it!

I think it is safe to say that they all look like daddy in some way. I really don’t take offense to that. I actually think my hubby is rather hot. Not to mention that he has amazing skin (jealous). I feel blessed to have three little mini Jeff’s in my life.

So what do you think?

Do you think they all look alike or different?

I’m curious!

A few of my favorite responses when we have told people we are adopting…

1. Your adopting a what? Like a dog? What shelter are you getting it from?

2. Oh, so your going to be sponsoring a child in another country.

3. What on earth are you thinking? Don’t you already have enough children!

4. Oh. Are you just committing to like pay for their school and college and stuff?

heheheheheh!

Ugh, no. Not quite peeps.

We are “like” adopting a child {not a dog} whom we will be sponsoring for LIFE via inviting them into our family {yes, the family where we already have 3 boys} and we will most definitely be paying for their college {and everything in between}.

I like this question too…

“How can you ever love an adopted child as much as your biological children?”

Because the heart just grows bigger that way. Because the same God who adopted us into His family loves us just as much as the natural kids. Because love grows from the heart, not from the uterus.

And I may hurt someone if they ever ask me this, “So which ones are yours?”

Entrusted to me by God.

That is just a small reflection of my heart. A heart that God is preparing for big things.

Welcome to…

I’m really loving that I get to actually see the faces behind the blogs with this link up! It’s taken “blog friend” to a whole new level. I hope that you all feel like you are getting to know me a little better too.

If you haven’t joined us for the vlog party…PLEASE…step out from behind the screen and introduce yourself and your blog. I promise that you won’t be sorry. And matter of fact, you’ll probably gain a few new readers. If you need more details, check out my vlogging page.

 Things I’m loving:

Pandora

Pandora Praise & Worship

Pandora UB40

Lip Smackers (giant size) – Strawberry

 Subscribe to my YouTube Channel below! Let me know if I haven’t subscribed to yours yet and I will!

Join us by linking up!

I’m back  for another edition of What I Wore Wednesday. Except, if I’m being honest, this is more like “What I Wore 2 Weeks Ago”.

The weather has been weird here…one day it was 90 and the next day it was 60.  That’s kinda a problem when you have already changed out your kids wardrobe from winter to summer.

Luckily, I think we are in full summer mode now so I won’t have to worry about the weather fluctuating 30 degrees. And I won’t have to dig out the kids sweat pants again. Phew.

I was mildly extremely obsessed with boot socks this winter.

In a bad bad way.

I think my husband thought I was a bit coo-coo.

He’s probably right. But, I LOVED wearing my boot socks OVER my leggings.

Weird? Maybe. But totally comfortable and stylish (in my weird fashion mind).

P Man is joining us this week (he insisted).

Fake smile

I tried to get Bents to show off his lovely fleece pullover, but that was a no-go. He doesn’t stand still long enough for pictures these days.

I told him all the ladies would be disappointed if he didn’t stand by his brother, but somehow that didn’t seem to phase him. I’m shocked because usually he’s all about pleasing the ladies.

Hmmmm.

Did you all have boot socks this winter? Am I kinda ridiculous for still wearing mine in May?

I purchased MULTIPLE pairs, but my favorite pair (the ones I am wearing in this post) came from American Eagle.

I feel like I could possibly be misleading you all to believe that I shop at AE regularly. You know, since that is where I got my colored denim AND my boot socks. I honestly NEVER shop there (because I feel like I am too old for AE)…it just so happens that the TWO items that I have featured in my What I Wore Wednesday posts have BOTH been from there.

Strange.

Since the boot socks will be put in the drawer until next winter I am really needing to go shopping for a swimsuit.

Anyone have any suggestions on the best places to buy swimsuits?

Linking up here:

The Pleated Poppy for What I Wore Wednesday

Holy cow this weekend was amazing. I literally almost forgot how much I have missed summer…and being able to spend time by the pool.

I’m kinda wondering what the heck we did all winter to stay entertained?

Geez.

My kids LOVE to be outside. Maybe this is a boy thing? They don’t want to be outside for a few minutes or an hour…they would probably sleep out there if I would let them.

*I’m learning that my life is becoming one big “boy thing” these days*

T-ball. Bike riding. Water guns. Basketball. John Deere tractors. Choo-choo underwear.

I kinda like it.

That says a lot coming from a girly-sassy-lovemesomeshopping-decorating-pom pom kinda momma like me.

Don’t ya think?

Maybe God is changing my heart.

Who knew I would ever like Spiderman and Thomas the Train. But, I do.

I have to post this picture of Bents because honestly…he just makes me giggle.

Wearing his Gigi’s sunglasses and his superhero undies. Ready to swim, hey?!

I’ve been sticking to my Crossfit routine of 3 days a week and it still feels so GOOD. Luckily I have a few other girls who are doing it with me and I can not tell you how much that has really helped me.

Accountability. Encouragement. Motivation. 

It truly helps to have a team of woman supporting you. I probably would have given up by now if it weren’t for them.

J snapped this shot of P-Man at Crossfit last week.

He likes to come and watch every once in awhile.

They just started doing Crossfit Kids and I was going to take him…but with a pretty demanding t-ball schedule (even at age 4)…I decided we would wait until winter time.

You know…when we have nothing to do and we are all pulling our hair out.

Bents was passing out hugs this weekend.

Be glad if you weren’t offered one. It was more like a choke hold than a hug. I had to jump in and regulate.

I’m pretty sure that since SJ has a personality like this…

…he didn’t even notice that he was getting the tightest hug around the neck that he’s ever got.

I’m really thankful to have met a new friend in my neighborhood. We’ve been spending tons of time together because P and her little boy, Alex, are only 3 days apart in age.

She even brought me a brownie (hand delivered to my door) the other night.

Talk about awesomeness?

It might possibly have been the best brownie I have ever had. I had to fight the boys for it. I ended up giving them about half. I thought about calling her up and asking if I could come steal more, but I thought they may be a little much. No?

But dang…it was THAT good.

I decided to add towel hooks on our back patio at the end of last summer. I’m pretty sure this is NOT what I had in mind when I pictured things hanging from them.

But hey, a boys gotta dry is undies somehow right?

Last week I was able to do some work poolside.

It was pretty much heavenly. And distracting.

But I’m not gonna lie…I plan to do more of it in the weeks to come. Do you blame me?

How was your weekend? How will you be spending your summer days?