Cupcake Carnival

I am looking forward to this Sunday's cupcake carnival! I will be linking up with The Larson Lingo and her Cupcake Carnival. Like Mel I love cupcakes and I'm always ready for a new and exciting recipe. I'd love if you join in the fun as well.

This Sunday, May 1st, I will put up a blog post with a new cupcake recipe that I am making this week. There will also be a link so you can link up your favorite cupcake recipe!

It can be a cupcake recipe you have already blogged about, or you can post a new recipe.
I can't wait to see what kind of cupcakes everyone has to share!

Be sure to head over to Larsons Lingo on Sunday to link up (or to just check out everyone's recipes!)

The linky open the whole week!

I hope you will join me....It's time to make some cupcakes!

Enchiladas tultecas

With Cinco de Mayo just around the corner what a better way to celebrate than with a yummy family dinner! The color is amazing when placed on your dinner plate and its something that your sure to love!



What You Need
4 guajillo chiles, stemmed, seeded and hydrated
2 Tbsp. water
12 corn tortillas (6 inch)
4 tsp. oil
1 pkg. (15 oz.) chorizo
2 lb. red potatoes (about 6), cut into 1/4-inch cubes, cooked and drained
1 lb. carrots, peeled, cut into 1/4-inch cubes and cooked
2 cloves garlic, chopped
3/4 cup ATHENOS Traditional Crumbled Feta Cheese
1 cup shredded lettuce
2 plum tomatoes, seeded, chopped
1 small avocado, cut into 12 slices

Make It:

BLEND chiles and water in blender until smooth; strain. Brush onto one side of tortillas.

HEAT 1 tsp. oil in large skillet on medium heat. Add 3 tortillas; cook 3 min. or just until tortillas start to turn crisp, turning occasionally. Repeat with remaining oil and tortillas; set aside.
COOK chorizo in large skillet on medium heat 8 min. or until lightly browned, stirring occasionally; drain. Add potatoes, carrots and garlic; cook 5 min. or until heated through, stirring frequently.

PLACE tortillas, guajillo-sides up, on platter; top with chorizo mixture and remaining ingredients.

Enjoy!!

Today I'm linking up with:

a href="http://adventuresofthemichelenafamily.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">

It's Time to Shine!

Every now and then
someone comes into your life
who makes you want to be a better version of yourself.

And sometimes that person is a stranger,
someone you have never met in person,
but have observed and admired from afar.

And then sometimes you get the nerve to shoot her an email
to tell her just how special you think she is,
and how the work she is doing MATTERS.

For me, that person is Ashley LeMieux,
the author of Shine and creator of The Shine Project...
A project dedicated to finding the light within ourselves,
and then spreading that light to others
through random acts of kindess.

Every week,
she gives us new challenges.

Now, meet Ashley.
She'll insire you.
Join her challenge.
Make a difference.
Be better.
And Shine.



Just so we're a little more aquainted, my name is Ashley,
and I want to inspire the WORLD.



Raise your hand if you've ever had a dream,
and you didn't reach it.
Don't be shy, no one can actually see you raising your hand at your computer,
unless you're in your work cubicle or something,
then this might be awkward.

Why do all of us have a goal that has been left unfulfilled?
Why do we sell ourselves short of our potential?

Now, think about the last time you went out of your way,
to help someone.
The Shine Project is also a source of motivation to push us
to give light to those around us who are in need.
Think of what the world would be like,
if everyone did one thoughtful thing for someone else every day.
I want The Shine Project to change the world.



This is why I created The Shine Project.
To give daily motivation,
and weekly challenges,
that push us out of our comfort zone to stop making excuses
to do HARD THINGS!

Come join The Shine Project team.
Motivate yourself, motivate eachother,
feel good about what you can accomplish,
and lift the burdens of those around you.

I have created SHINE necklaces
so we all can have a daily reminder of our purpose.



$1 for each necklace sold goes into The Shine Project Scholarship Fund,
which will be rewarded to an inner city highschool student to help them pay for college.


This week's Shine Challenge is to give a compliment a day.
Are you up for it?

I will be revealing a big project I've been working on this month,
that will spread The Shine Project to more people.
Come join me at http://www.ashlemieux.blogspot.com/
And go ahead,
let the world see you SHINE.

I know I am super excited to begin to SHINE!!

Cajun Chicken Melt~ Tasty Tuesday

These are one of the hubby's favorites!



What You Need:

2 Slices
Italian bread
1-1/2 tsp.KRAFT Real Mayo Mayonnaise
6 slices OSCAR MAYER Deli Fresh Shaved Cajun Seasoned Chicken Breast
3 stripsroasted red peppers
1 small pepperoncini peppers, stemmed, sliced
1 KRAFT Singles
2 tsp.KRAFT Tuscan House Italian Dressing and Marinade

Make It:

Spread 1 bread slice with mayo. Fill bread slices with all remaining ingredients except dressing.

Brush outside of sandwich with dressing.

Cook in skillet on medium heat 3 min. on each side or until golden brown on both sides.

These are great for a nice spring dinner without all the fuss!!

Today I am linking up with these great blogs:

Just a little something

Just a little something that I made while enjoying my week long spring break!

My little Peanut has worn both and she looked adorable in each!

Today I am linking up with these great blogs:

Brair Claire Giveaway!!

I have a super EXCITING giveaway, that I know all of you will love! Fireflies and Jellybeans is giving away some adorable hair accessories by brair.claire. They specialize in fun, fresh and fabulous hair accessories. brair.claire is the #1 seller of handmade children's items on etsy! And there is a good reason for that... their items are AMAZING! Baby Hats

Hair Clips Headbands {Classic}

Headbands {Elastic}

Headbands {Nylon}

brair.claire is offering F&J readers 20% off with the code: Jellybean20! This giveaway Giveaway will be open until Thursday April 21st at midnight. Winner will be announce Friday April 22nd. So Click here and enter to win!!

I Spy~ Neighborhood Edition

I am playing along with Ashley at Little Miss Momma, she has started a series called

Each I Spy post will have a different theme.
And there will be pictures.
Lots of pictures,
taken by muah.

Maybe y'all can play along next week.
Yes?

This weeks theme is Around the Neighborhood, so take a look and enjoy!

Our Barn

Our Freshly planted Tomatoes

The sunrise over the walnut orchard from our backyard

A view from our front porch

Just a peek at a few of my blooming flowers

our tire swing

Next week's theme:
Favorite things in your home.

Mini Cheesecake Baskets~ Tasty Tuesday

With Easter just around the corner its time to start making those fun Easter desserts for everyone to enjoy! My little peanut loves helping me make these easy three step cheesecake baskets to have as a special treat for Easter!

What You Need:

2 pkg.(8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
12 NILLA Wafers
1-1/2 cups BAKER'S ANGEL FLAKE Coconut, tinted green
36 small jelly beans
12 pieces shoestring licorice (4 inch each)

Make It:

HEAT oven to 350°F.

BEAT cream cheese, sugar and vanilla with mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add eggs; beat just until blended.

PLACE wafer on bottom of each of 12 paper-lined muffin cups. Spoon cream cheese mixture evenly over wafers.

BAKE 20 min. or until centers are almost set. Cool. Refrigerate at least 2 hours. Top evenly with coconut and jelly beans just before serving. Bend each licorice piece, then insert both ends into each cheesecake to resemble the handle of a basket. Keep refrigerated


How to Tint Coconut:

Place coconut and a few drops green food coloring in small resealable plastic bag. Seal bag. Shake bag gently until coconut is evenly tinted.

Hope you enjoy this fun and easy little dessert!

Today I am linking up with these great blogs:

My Blooming Wheelbarrow!

The weather was wonderful this weekend and of course I made sure I was outside enjoying it!! I didn't get a lot of crafting done inside but I did get the chance to complete a few out door projects.

As you can see we have a huge tree in our front yard and since moving into our new house last August we are just getting to work on the outside. I wanted something cute to go in front of this tree. I found an old red wheelbarrow and filled it with flowers. Next, I plan to paint our address on the front.



What do you think? I love it I think it adds a little country charm!

Have a great Monday!!

Shabby Apple Giveaway!!

Have you ever seen the Audrey Hepburn classic Roman Holiday?
Hepburn plays the sheltered Princess Ann who falls in love with an American reporter (Gregory Peck) while in Rome.
I love Hepburn's wardrobe for this film. Lots of flowing skirts cinched at the waist, collared shirts and chic flats.
Everything in that film is so classy, much like Ms. Hepburn herself. I had too much fun interpreting her Roman Holiday look!





So, what would you wear to capture the lush carefree beauty of Roman Holiday?

Shabby Apple has a fabulous collection of women's dresses, swimmers and accessories.
Their Roamin' Holiday collection captures the vibrancy of Italy and the classic sophistication of Audrey Hepburn.

Here are a few of my favorites from the Roamin' Holiday collection:









Now, on to the best part.
Shabby Apple is giving one winner this delightful dress:





It's called Spanish Steps (where Gregory Peck "accidentally" runs into Audry Hepburn in the film) and it is my personal favorite from the collection!

Now, the winner will get the dress, but everyone else will still get 10% off their Shabby Apple purchase by entering the coupon code nomodellady10off .

So, how do you make this beauty part of your summer wardrobe?

Head over to No Model Lady and enter to win this great dress!