family – Page 2 – forEVR and always

chicken pasta

March 19, 2013Leave a comment

My Mom is an amazing cook…but much to her annoyance, all of our favorite meals she makes take her 20 minutes. She can spend hours and hours making a meal, and we will all love it just about the same as the simple things. Having been cooking on my own for a while now, I understand why this makes her nuts. To spend hours on a cake when everyone would rather eat the Shop Rite cookies…ugh!

Anyway, she gave me this recipe for chicken pasta and it has become a staple in our apartment. Jay’s #1 request…so I thought I would share since, at the end of the work day, who has 4 hours to make the food network version of recipes with 984 ingredients, when everyone loves the simple recipe just as much, if not more!

CHICKEN PASTA

WHAT YOU NEED:

1 lb chicken breast
2 cans cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup (i use one of each)
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup parm
1 box ziti
Frozen broccoli (or frozen mix)
1/2 cup shredded cheddar

DIRECTIONS:

1. Brown and dice the chicken in a deep pan (that has a lid)with a little oil & butter. I put some red pepper flakes on mine in the pan, let it brown, then dice in the pan.

2. While the chicken is browning, bring a pot of water to a boil for the ziti.

3. Once the chicken is browned, add the milk, parm, and soup. Stir it up, bring to a boil, then turn down to a simmer.

4. Cover the chicken mix and let it simmer for 10 minutes stirring occasionally.

5. Cook the pasta for the recommended time on the box (normally 10 minutes). The last 3 minutes of the pasta cooking, add your frozen broc or frozen mix to the boiling pasta.

(so if it is 10 minute pasta time, after 7 minutes add the broc, return to boil for the remaining 3 minutes)

6. Drain the pasta/veg mix, and add to the simmering chicken/soup mix that has been cooking for 10 minutes (it’s ok if it has been longer)…

7. Now stir it alllllll up!

8. Top with the cheddar. The recipe says 1/2 cup…both my Mom and I are cheese liberal, I use at least a cup…probably more. Then cover so it melts on top (about 1 minute) and you are done! Look how delicious!!

That is it! Easy, delicious, happy. In an effort to be healthy I served ours with a little salad that I made (arugula, strawberries, parm, and homemade dressing)…

Beware, making this recipe will result in you making this recipe thousands of times because everyone loves it! Thanks Mom!

xo-j

tub

March 13, 2013March 17, 20132 Comments

Thank God for Jay…last night I brought Rondo back from daycare and didn’t notice anything weird on the walk home. But as soon as he ran in the door Jay immediately stopped him before he could jump all over our bed. Rondo rolled in I don’t even want to know what at daycare yesterday and he stunk! Before my jacket was even off we had him in the tub for a bath…look at the face…

If that isn’t the face of a dog who knows he did something wrong, I don’t know what is.

Rondo & The Mouse (video)

February 27, 20131 Comment

Yesterday I was home with a sore throat and Jay had his work from home day…the video below was by far the best part of the day (though dinner was a close second)…

Not sure who was more amused here…probably us. The end is the best, notice what has happened to the computer haha…

Man, does he crack us up.

xo-j

Valentine

February 14, 2013Leave a comment

Since we just had an extended vacation we are going to forgo a big valentine’s…we’re planning on a nice night of take out and relaxing. I wish Rondo was home though for his first valentine’s day with us, but I will see that little man tomorrow night!

(valentines card for jay)

(my valentines breakfast at work…i had too many)

(i put jays gifts on the pillow while he was in the shower / vday braids)

Wishing everyone a happy valentine’s day!

(MDN – love you 3 more than you could imagine…well, maybe you can imagine, but you know what i mean!)

Pictures of vacation to come later today!

xo-j

Lately…

January 31, 20131 Comment

We have had a wild week. Between getting everything done at work, packed at home, Rondo dropped off (and sick last weekend), and I haven’t been feeling all that well, it has been really stressful…but tomorrow we are off to paradise for a week of nothing but sunshine and fun!

Here are some pics from the last week…

(growing orchid and rondo stalking our sushi)

(jay nursing baby rondo back to health and my ridiculous work sign)

(making my packing list and pounding this delicious breakfast)

(lychee martini from republic and spicy coconut chicken soup…whoa)

(sweet babe asleep on the car ride to my parents’ yesterday)

Now one more night here and we are off in the morning. Be prepared for an absurd amount of vacation pics when we get back in a week!

(m&d&n – thank you for taking care of our babe. i hope he isn’t any trouble. and thanks for always loving me even when i’m a total, utter, complete nutcase)

xo-j

one week

January 24, 2013Leave a comment

One week left until we leave for vacation! YAY! All we have to do is get through 5 more days of work and we are done. I have a countless number of things to do before we leave…I need to make around 476 lists (maybe more) of things we need for the hotel, beach, flight, not to mention packing up our little babe for a week-long stay at his 3 wonderful aunts house (thank you girls). I know, I know, he’s a dog…but…

…how do I say goodbye to that face?!

I have a feeling once we look like these people again ↓↓↓

…all sunny, happy, not being pushed by strangers on the subway, or obsessively checking our iphones, we will find a way to get through it!

xo-j

Lately…

January 9, 2013January 17, 20131 Comment

(our orchid is thriving…i have no idea how)

The past couple days have been busy with work for both of us. But here are some pictures of life lately…

(weirdo is obsessed with the butterfly chair. it’s his new hangout)

(he is way too loved)

(erin and i exploring at lunch found a beautiful church and indoor garden to eat our lunch)

(can’t stop eating brussel sprouts…i thought i was going to die i ate so many the other day!)

(it may not be beautiful, but those chicken tacos and beans were so delicious)

(3 more weeks…all we have to do is make it 3 more weeks until we are here ^)

xo-j

Back to Business

January 2, 2013January 2, 20132 Comments

I can’t believe vacation is already over and it is 2013! Christmas and New Years Eve were both wonderful…couldn’t have been better (with the exception of a trip to the dr on christmas day)! Here are some pictures of friends visiting, family, and the great time we had closing up 2012. We’re ready for our upcoming year of big changes…bring it on 2013!!

(present time!)

(rondo had a special christmas treat)

(nicks adorable kitty, visiting family in ma!)

(best friends from nc came to visit)

(the siblings on nye)

(my brother came to bk for nye!)

(can’t wait to enjoy 2013 with this guy)

I hope everyone had wonderful holidays and a happy happy new year!

xo-j

Home For Good Dogs/Looking Down On Us

December 14, 2012Leave a comment

I think you all know, not only by the name of the blog, we are kind of (ok totally) obsessed with our little Rondo. I thought today I would share the story of how we brought home this guy and the amazing work Home For Good Dogs is doing!

We had been looking for a puppy for a while….we used Pet Finder, looked through tons of sites, and sent countless emails to both shelters and breeders. Then one day Jay found Rondo (who was listed as a girl!) and we fell in love with his picture.

003 (the picture on pet finder of rondo)

Then life took a turn, as it does, and I lost my cousin. It couldn’t have been more tragic and is something I still can’t comprehend…the day after as we were making plans to travel home to be with my family, HFGD called and told me we were approved for Rondo (who at that time we thought was a girl and we were going to name Cholula). I told them I wouldn’t be able to come get him as we had a horrible loss in the family, but thank you so much…

As I was talking to Toni from HFGD (amazing woman!) it turned out HFGD is located in the town where my cousin lived. Again, I told her how I would love to meet the puppies, but I wouldn’t be able to. She understood, but as we were about to hang up she asked where I lived in NJ (about 45 minutes away from my cousins house and HFGD) and she said “no problem! we will just bring the dogs to that petsmart for you on Sunday”. And quick as that everything changed.

That weekend I went to meet up with Toni and the puppies. She picked them both up and that’s when we realized that though they were both listed as girls, one was most definitely a boy! I held them both and didn’t know how I could possibly decide who to bring home…then Rondo licked my face and I was sold.

I like to think my cousin was looking down (and even though she wasn’t a pet person) she sent us Rondo. I’m always calling Rondo my little heaven angel…

(rondo’s first day home sleepy in his bed)

I can’t say enough about the amazing work Home For Good Dogs does. They are non-profit full of loving, helpful, warm volunteers who only want the best for their adoptable dogs. Look at some of these cuties who need homes now…

Please take some time and like their Facebook to continue support for this wonderful place! If you know of anyone in the area looking for a loving pet to bring home please look to them! They have adoption events in Milburn throughout December.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and this story brings a little bit of light to your day, as Rondo does with us.

xo-j

ABC

December 10, 20122 Comments

This weekend we had our Anniversary, celebrated 2 Birthdays, and my Mom had her Concert!

Friday we had our friend’s (also called Justine!) birthday at Stand4. It was so yummy! Boozy shakes…mmm…

Saturday was our anniversary! I got Jay a bunch of game of thrones glasses for our apartment since he loves the books/show and I keep breaking all our glasses…whoops!