favorite combinations

Those who know me well will not be surprised when I say that movie popcorn and a trip to the local movie theater is a favorite combination of mine.  I swear there is something added to that popcorn that creates a chemical addiction.....but, that is not the reason for this post.  :)

I was watching the Rachael Ray talk show the other day and she made a quick and easy "snack" (although I had it as a meal) called bacon cheeseburger quesadillas.   The brilliance of combining two delicious comfort foods was not lost on me.

So I tried my own version of it at home the other day......and it was delicious.  And easy. 
And just so you don't think I'm the only one with this opinion, my sister was over for dinner and it won her approval before I even asked if she liked it.  ;)

Here are the ingredients I used inside the quesadillas-- although you could add any favorite toppings you fancy!  RR used bacon in hers....but I didn't have any on hand, or you know I would have.
Bacon is up there with movie popcorn for me in its crack-like-addictiveness. 

 

The first step was making the meat-- which I did the other night so I don't have pictures of that process.  But really, it's browning meat.  No rocket science there.

 

I added some seasonings that I would add to a hamburger (grill seasoning and "garlic garlic" from

Tastefully Simple).  I also added a large squirt (maybe a few tablespoons) of mustard and ketchup (a little more ketchup than mustard).  That's the "meat sauce" for the quesadillas.  

I think next time I'm going to add some chopped onions to the meat while it's browning. 

I'm not a huge raw onion lover, but I looove me some cooked onions.

 

 

Heat up a tortilla in a skillet.  Medium to Medium High Heat.

 Flip it once.

I just wanted it to be a little warm before adding the ingredients.

 

Add a sprinkling of your favorite shredded cheese to be the "glue" for the other ingredients. 

I used a blend of different cheddars.

Do this only on half of the tortilla since you're going to fold over the other half.

Then add the meat, and a little more cheese.

Or a lot more.

 

 

Pile on the toppings- I used chopped lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles.

And I kind of went a little crazy on the toppings, which made for a very thick quesadilla.

 

Fold over the other half. 

Get a little forceful with it if you are overzealous with the toppings like I was.

 

Then take out your aggressions and press/smack down on the top of it until it starts to melt together. 

And yes, you're going to have a little mess as the toppings try to escape.

But you can show them who's boss. 

(I'm really not an agressive person, but I like to pretend I am while I cook.  Sorry.)

 

Flip it over a few times until the tortilla is golden brown on both sides and the cheese seem to be completely melted.

Or until you can't wait any longer.

Whichever comes first.

 

I like to use a pizza cutter to slice my quesadilla into wedges.

 

 

And here is the best part.....ready to eat!

It really does taste like a cheeseburger and a quesadilla all in one.

A lovely combination.

 

This might be the perfect snack/meal for you tonight if you're like me and going to be glued to the TV for a few hours to watch the Academy Awards.

 

What's your favorite combination-- food or otherwise?

confessions, part II

 

Everyone sticks a kitchen spoon into the snowbank on their deck to check the depth, right?  :)

It's been a while since my last post....I blame winter.


Just to clarify, I'm not complaining.  I've lived in Michigan my whole life, so I know winter very well.   I accept that there are months of rollercoaster weeks where we can go from sunny days with temps in the 20's one day, to the 60's the next day with nonstop rain, to a drop back to temps in the teens and lake effect snow the next day. 
I don't particularly like it, but I accept it.

So....back to why I blame winter for my lack of blogging.....
Whenever winter hits, I experience a serious drop in motivation.  I know there are studies out there about the effects that lack of sunshine causes.  So true for me.

This brings today's post.....Confessions, Part II 

1.  That goal I set for January....to only eat at home?  I (pretty much) followed it the whole month.  Two exceptions:  staff party and a birthday dinner.  But other than that, I was Miss Self-Control.  And a pro at eating and remaking leftovers.

You would think that would carry over to February......but, not so much.  

I did set a new goal for February.  Actually, it's for Lent, so it's a little longer than February. 
No apps on my phone.  No facebook, instagram, pinterest, email, games, photo editing apps, music apps.....if it's on my iPhone and not necessary (phone calls/texts), it's going to be seriously neglected for a while.  Not to say I can't check things on my computer, but I've gotten way too attached to my phone, so it was time for a little break.

2.  Speaking of technology, I do not understand the need people have with always getting the "next big thing".  Like when the iPhone 5 came out, I was asked numerous times if I was going to upgrade and get it.  Seriously?  Because it's sooooo much better than my 4s....which I just got in April, and works perfectly.  I don't get it.  Maybe because I've never been someone who feels comfortable spending large amounts of money on material things (because I've never had large amounts of money), but I just don't get it.

3.  Going back to the drop in motivation....I have probably spent a majority of my days off (snow days and weekends) over the past couple months doing more unproductive than productive things.  And I don't apologize for it.  And I'm not ashamed of it.  Because if I can spend a day watching Lifetime Movie Network, shows on my DVR, and three seasons of Psych that I borrowed from my 14 year old nephew.....and I stay in my pajamas the whole day....I'm totally cool with that.

4.  I've seen all but one of the best picture Academy Award nominees.  For those of you who don't know.....that would be eight out of nine.  Hoping to see Life of Pi before Sunday's award ceremony to make it nine for nine.  Yep, I'm totally a movie addict.

5.  Someday, I might need to get a new front door with a peephole.   Because when someone comes knocking on my door without notice, I don't answer it.  If you know me, you'd call me.  If you don't know me, I'm not answering my door.  Because I don't know you.  And I have a slight fear of crazies. 

Now that I've broken the streak of no blogging for a while, I'm hoping that my next post will be a little more productive.  Because.....I could definitely use a little more productiveness in my life.  :)

baby steps

I've never been one to make New Years Resolutions.
Probably for the same reason that most people don't-- I probably would fail at keeping them, or get busy and forget, or just try to make them "too big".

However, I'm really good at short-term goals.  Small ones.  Baby steps.

Last year, I started trying this idea out with my goals of no technology (cell phone, computer) within an hour of bedtime. Then, I started forcing myself to go to bed earlier. 
I made a goal to do each of these for 30 days, and I was pretty successful.

But then.....the holidays hit.
And I slacked off.
A lot.
In fact, I've been on my phone or computer before bed....and I've been staying up WAY too late.

That doesn't mean I'm throwing in the towel and saying it's over.
I just needed to recognize that my bad habits were creeping back (for lack of a better reason-- because I was busy and stressed and felt like I "needed" it) and decide that I'm going to hop back on the healthy train.

So, here's my plan.
You could call it a "resolution"....but I'm calling it a plan.  

Every month this year, I'm going to focus on a new healthy habit.  If I feel like I can keep going with that habit without being Mrs. Crabby Pants, I'll stick with it and add a new one.  If not, I'll just start the new habit of the month.

January's goal is to only eat food from home. 

First of all, this means no going out to lunch with my co-workers (for those who know me well, this is going to be tough!) and no ordering Jimmy Johns to deliver my lunch either.  All of my lunches need to come from home.   Sure....I can stock up the Lean Cuisine meals, but it will still be healthier than what I would get at Panera or Wendy's or Noodles.  And-- it will be much cheaper.

For dinner, this means planning ahead, grocery shopping on a regular basis, and cooking healthy meals for myself instead of stopping at a drive thru or getting take out on the way home from work.  If I get really good, I could even make the dinner leftovers become my lunch the next day. 

I haven't planned out the rest of my goals for each month of the year yet, so if you have any ideas for me I'd love to hear them.  Anything related to becoming a healthier person is what I'm looking for-- eating habits, exercise, decreasing stress, improving my immune system, sleep habits, etc.

Oh Wendy's....I will miss you.

thankful

I promise this will be my last list of 25 things for a while.....but when I get an idea stuck in my head, I just have to go with it.  It came to me on Thanksgiving and I started making a mental list since then.

This list is 25 things I'm thankful for. 

Not the big things.....like my family, my friends, my job, my house, my health....those are givens. 

And those are the most important things which deserve much more credit than to just be put on some list along with some things which are much less deserving.

No, this is a very light, easy-breezy, somewhat shallow list.
Because every once in a while, I just want to write a post that is completely ridiculous.  In a good way.

Also....because I'm completely addicted to instagram and my iPhone (literally all of my IG pics have been taken on my beloved iPhone), each of the things on the list have made an appearance on my instagram posts.
(plug alert) 
Follow me on instagram (mlehan) to continue to learn about my favorite things!  :)

25 Things I'm Thankful For....

1. Of course...I had to start with this.  Best purchase ever. 

(okay, maybe a close second to my house)

2.  Games. 

We are a crazy game-obsessed family.

3. Killer Brownies.

So. good.

4. And what better to have after a killer brownie?

Coldstone.

Okay, I literally didn't have this right after the brownie....these were taken weeks apart....honest!

5. Concerts.

Especially cheap ones with awesome performances.

Christina Perri = amazing!

6. Purses and jewelry.

Especially cheap ones that I get for almost free.

7. Sangria.

Happy hour.

Enough said.

8. Saving over a hundred bucks at the grocery store.

I might not be ready for Extreme Couponing, but I'm a pretty smart shopper. 

9. Nail polish.

As you can see, I have an OPI obsession.

10. Party bus fun.

Being a loyal fan, even when surrounded by "the enemies"-a.k.a. my friends.  :)

*I went with 20 plus Tigers fans on a bus to see the Sox play them in Detroit.  I was the only Sox fan....but I still had the best time!

11. A family tradition of making fun cupcakes- both adults and kids.

Loved these fish ones!

12. Sudoku.

Fountain Coke.

 

13. Makeup in the morning.

Shopping at night.

Could I be more of a cliche girl....really?

14. Sitting on the beach.

Doing nothing but listening to the waves, soaking in the sun, and drinking a bottle of Towne Club. 

15. Target.

Tar-jay.

Whatever you call it.....it's my own little piece of heaven.

16. My snooze button.

One of three that I love to abuse on a daily basis.

17. Cute jewelry ordered online.  One of many that I've bought this year.

I may need an intervention.

18. Old framed pictures of my family.  Like this wedding photo of my mom and dad. 

Love.

19. Good books.

And reading them at night before bed.

20. My headache-remedy kit.

Caffeine + Excedrin Migraine + chocolate!

21. Art.  And living in a town that promotes it.

 

22. Watching football.

Especially when it's with my BFF who I don't see nearly enough!

23. Reality TV shows.

One of my guilty pleasures.

24. Ah....another guilty pleasure.  (or two)

Iced capps and donuts from Tim Hortons.

 

25.  Freedom.

 

I know...I kind of snuck in that last one even though I said this would be a pretty "shallow" post. 

But, if I wasn't sappy, I wouldn't be me.  :)

 

25....things i don't do.

Here's the companion piece to yesterday's post.....and more insight into my little quirks.


25 Things I Don't Do....

1. Drink coffee. Love the smell of it, actually enjoy the taste of it, but my stomach can not handle it. Yet, I can down cans and cans of pop with no problems. Crazy.

2. Use eyeliner, contacts, or eye drops.  Putting things into my eyes is not good. They water enough as it is!

3. Leave home without makeup on my face. Like, not even to walk to the mailbox.

4. Sew, crochet, or knit.   Someday, I might....seeing all the cute things my friends (and Mom) can make, I think it may be a summer project to learn!

5. Eat fast.....unless it's ice cream. I hate melting ice cream.

6. Like blow-drying my hair. I have thick hair, so it takes forever. Now you know why I fall back to the ponytail so often!

7. Go to bed without washing my face and brushing my teeth. It doesn't matter how tired I am, or how sick I am....I honestly can't remember the last time that I didn't.

8. Wake up without an alarm....actually, two or three alarms.   Except for this morning when I slept through all three of them.  I may have had a mini-heart attack.

Two of my three alarms...the other is on my cell phone!

9. Vacuum enough. Or sweep, mop, or wash my floors enough. Just not my favorite chore. Please just ignore my floors if you're ever at my house. It will make me feel much better.

Evidence that I own a vacuum....but how often I use it is the issue!

10. Understand how running "clears your mind". Maybe I don't give it enough time, but all I can think of was how hard it is...how long have I been doing this....how much longer can I make it.....wow, my lungs hurt.....geez, I'm on the verge of hyperventilating...yeah, not fun or relaxing.

11. Like throwing stuff away. I'm an "organized packrat"....but I also like to give away and donate things I don't want or need anymore. So don't worry, I'm not going to be on hoarders.

Before the garage sale this summer.....piles and piles of stuff!

12. Leave work without my desk/counter/tables being cleared and organized. Yes, I'm an organization freak. You should see my binder collection. Scary.

13. Ever desire getting a pedicure. Or full body massage. I know, all you ladies are probably thinking I'm insane right now, but I'm way too ticklish. And I think feet are kind of gross.

14. Like being barefoot. I just love socks. And see #13.

15. Say goodbye to my mom without telling her I love her.

Love you, Mimzy!

16. Wear leather watches, bracelets, sandals, or shoes without socks. Unless I want to break out into an uncontrollably itchy rash. So annoying to have this skin allergy because there are a lot of cute shoes I just can't wear...and leather bracelets....and watches.  (I know...poor me.)

17. Understand the allure of watching race car driving. Or golf.

18. Iron. I own a small iron and ironing board, but I think I've used them once. Either I don't have anything that needs to be ironed, or I just don't care enough.

19. Smoke. Never have, never will.

20. Enjoy talking on the phone for long periods of time. I love talking to people in person, and could do that for hours, but for some reason on the phone is not fun to me.

21. Have any piercings. The ones in my ears closed up, and I've never gotten around to getting them pierced again. With my obsession over accessories, you would think I'd get on that!   My first experience with getting my ears pierced was not a good one...just ask my mom about that.

22. Like to use my air conditioning. I hate the stale, cold air. I do give in on those 95 degree-and-humid days in the summer, but otherwise I open all the windows, set the fans, and deal with it.

Yeah, I "caved" and used the A/C during this heat wave!

23.  Make it through most movies without shedding a tear.  Seriously....even the action movies get me at some point.  And when I see an actually "tear jerker" movie.....well, that's just a scary sight when I leave the theater.

24. Wash my car. I've brought it to a car wash place a couple times, but other than that it's just neglected. I don't keep trash in the car though.....just lots of dirt and dust!  I did take my car in for its yearly cleaning this week.....and took an instagram picture to commemorate this occasion.  :)

25. Take anything for granted. I realize we all feel like there's "more" for us, but I know I'm lucky to have the family, friends, job, and life that I have been given.

(I know.....but I had to end on a sappy note.  That's just how awesome I am.)

25 Things I Do.

Last year around this time I wrote a couple Facebook "notes" which looking back were really like pseudo-blog posts.  They were inspired by another blog I follow that had two "list" posts, and I couldn't help but join in on the list making. 

If you haven't figured it out already....I love making lists. 

So, I'm going to repost those two lists. 

Because this is my 25th post since starting my blog.
And each the lists have 25 items.
And I have another list brewing in my head but don't have the time to finish it tonight.  :)

I did make a few tweaks to the list, because the writing teacher in me knows the importance of revising and editing....and I like to practice what I preach.

25 Things I Do....

1. Make my bed every morning. Even when I'm running late.

2.  Go through more Kleenex every day than a normal person.  Allergies + my dad's genes= I'm cursed with a runny nose. 

3. Self-diagnose. So far, I think I have/had seasonal allergies, psoriasis, plantar fasciitis, and a pinched nerve. And none of these have been told to me by an actual medical professional. I just love google and web md. And avoiding the doctor.

4. Collect purses....and wallets.....and necklaces....and rings....and watches....and hats....and scarves. I'm accessory-obsessed. If my ears were still pierced, I'm sure that would be on my list.

5. Change my clothes almost immediately after I get home from work. I'm just like Mr. Rogers, only slightly more fashionable. And for those of you who have no clue who Mr. Rogers is, don't tell me. I'll just feel extremely old.

6. Always need some chapstick on me or nearby. I just hate having dry or chapped lips.

7. Use smiley faces in emails, facebook posts, and when I sign my name on things at school. And I'm not ashamed of it.  :)

8.  Drink a lot of caffeine everyday.  I'm trying to get better, and I've definitely cut down on the regular pop, but Cherry Coke Zero is my weakness.  And I still treat myself to a fountain Coke once in a while. 

9. Notice spelling and grammar mistakes almost right away, and get embarrassed when they're mine. But don't worry....I don't judge you if they're yours. I just want to fix them for you!

10. Stay up way too late, and always regret it a little in the morning. But obviously not enough to change it!

11. Love to chop, dice, slice.....basically any cooking prep. Plus, I love to cook. I love creating a meal, going off recipes but changing them up a little, and being creative. I just don't like the clean-up afterward.

 

12. Do a crossword, Sudoku, or other brainteasers before bed. When I actually get ready for bed at a decent time, I try to read....but I have a hard time stopping once I start, so usually a quick puzzle is what I'll end up doing.

13. Think thunderstorms are relaxing. I love falling to sleep to the sound of a good storm....

14. Try to do things myself whenever I can instead of hiring someone to do it. Or I just ask my mom to help me.   In fact, I've written a few posts about these DIY projects.

15.  Started a collection of retro and antique kitchen items.  Pyrex bowls are my weakness, but I also found an adorable spice rack this summer that fit perfectly into my redecorated kitchen!

16. Love being outdoors on vacation, but not unless I can sleep indoors. On a bed.

17. Own way more cookbooks, recipes, and cooking magazines than a normal person should want or need. I've also had a "summer project" to go through them, organize them, weed through them, etc....but that hasn't happened yet. And I still buy more.

18. Calculate everything in my checkbook in my head first.....then I go back and check it with a calculator. Really, do I need to do both? No, but I still do.

19. Have a slight obsession with fonts. (not really slight...it's borderline crazy)

20. Write myself reminder notes that I ignore.

21. Go to the movies A LOT. Hence, I have been given the "Celebrity Status" with the theater's rewards program.

22. Eat movie popcorn almost every time I go....but I do show self-control and only eat during the previews.

23. Read (obsess over) book series written for kids/tweens/teens.....yes, I'm talking about Harry Potter, Twilight, and the Hunger Games. And I've been to those crazy movie marathons for them...nerd alert!

24. Will wear the same outfit on Saturdays that Michigan plays football. If they keep winning. If they lose, that outfit is out for the season. I'm just a tad superstitious.

25. Love the feel of cool sheets when you first get into bed, and move my feet around to find those cool spots if I can't fall asleep. Yet, I hate being cold. Go figure.

Tomorrow, I'll post my "25 Things I Don't Do" list. 
Until then.....here's one last smiley for good measure.   :)