Pinterest Challenge: February

Happy Leap Day!!!

This month's installment of my Pinterest self challenge is a recipe!

Rustic Tomato Tart

photo via lick the bowl

The original recipe can be found on Lick The Bowl Good's blog.  I've never made a tart before but I found this recipe easy to follow along.  We were having friends over for dinner this past Friday and I needed to make something meatless for dinner.  So while the kids played, the husbands shot pool, and the wives chatted, I whipped this up.  The only thing I would change next time would be to add a little less mustard.  But that is just my personal taste.

I also made and served horseradish cheddar beer soup via [grill, interrupted]* before the tomato tart.  Unfortunately, I did not take a picture before serving it up to my hungry guests.  This recipe made a large quantity and it was scarfed down pretty quickly.  What little leftover was eaten the next day for lunch by my husband.

                                                                                    photo via [grill, interrupted]*

My neighbor made a strawberry cream cheese tart for dessert.

Source: foodsnots.com via Monica @ Creative Gator on Pinterest

Our version which was delicious:

So there you have it, an entire vegetarian dinner inspired by Pinterest!

Photo Challenge: Black and White

Theme for this week is: black and white.

Wordless Wednesday: Relaxing

I'm just hanging around and enjoying my quiet house today.  I think it would be a great day to start a new painting.  We went to the zoo on Monday and I took many inspirational pics.  Maybe a painting of a giraffe?  A flamingo?  I hope you enjoy a happy Hump Day too!

High Five For Friday/Little Things

                           

        

I'm linking up with Lauren and Lindsay this week.  Happy Friday!!

1.  We celebrated a big milestone this past Sunday: my daughter's 5th birthday!  We had so much fun bowling with our family and friends.

2.  My BFF and her daughters stayed the day to hang out on Monday.  The girls played and then we did a little shopping and had lunch.

3.  Making bacon hearts (Thanks Chelsey!) for breakfast.

4.  Wings for Valentine's Day dinner with friends.

5.  New wood floors! Enough said...

Hello Kitty Birthday Bowling Party

This past Saturday, we celebrated my daughter Taylor's 5th birthday. When I asked her what she wanted to do for her birthday, her reply was "I wanna roll balls."  So bowling it was.  I decided to keep it simple by ordering pizzas and drinks from the bowling alley.  I was able to bring in my own decorations, cupcakes, juice boxes, and snacks.  Taylor loves Hello Kitty at the moment and the color pink.  All of the children had lots of fun.  If you are looking for a fun party idea with little to no clean up, check out your local bowling alley.

Happy 5th Birthday to my Valentine!!

Best Valentine's Day gift EVER!

Wordless Wednesday: Waves

Q&A Monday

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Shasta and Megan are hosting a Monday Q&A session via vlog.  I was able to make a video but thought I'd answer the questions for the week anyway.


1.  favorite place you've traveled:  That would be Maui, Hawaii.  My husband and I went in Dec 2005 for our 4th Anniversary.  We had never taken an official honeymoon after we married so this was it!  I can't wait to go back someday.  I might just stay.

2. where would you want to go if you could have a paid ticket and hotel:  Maui, duh.

3. if you have a trip planned, where are you going?  We have nothing planned at the moment.  I'd like to take a weekend to go shelling and bike riding over on Sanibel Island.  We'll probably go visit the West coast of FL soon to visit with friends.

4.Were you an honor roll student in school?  Sometimes.  I made straight A's some grading periods and average to better than average most of the time.  I did graduate from one of my college programs with a 4.0.

5.  what was your major in college: Microbiology and Cell Science (University of Florida)

6. Ever go to camp?  A weekend here and there at Girl Scout camp in elementary school.

7. favorite tv show of all time:  Friends

8. What was the last thing you ever got grounded for?  Missing curfew by a few minutes.  I lost the privilege of driving my car the next day.

9.  What was your childhood nickname? Mon

10. what would your dream job be?  Making a modest living from art, crafting, photography, and photo editing.  I'm already a mama and that is one of the best jobs in the world!

February Photo A Day 1-5

1. Your view today

2. Words

3. Hands

4. A stranger

5. 10 am (Although I forgot and my photo is from 10 pm)

High Five For Friday!

Happy Friday!!!  Here are my top five highlights from the past week:

1.  Our Sheltie, Summer had her annual vet check-up.  Yay for a healthy pet!!!  Also, pets lounging out in the sun on a warm January afternoon in Florida.  Summer, Chloe, Kobe

2.  Playtime in the backyard after school with my daughter

3.  A Sephora box landing on my doorstep.  I ordered some new lipgloss, Philosophy face wash, and nail polish.  I also got my free birthday gift, Fresh Sugar Kisses Mini Lip Duo.  I have to say they are awesome but I am really loving the Sugar Lip Treatment from the set.  It has a pleasant lemon scent and makes your lips smooth like butter.

4.  My birthday!!!  It was a great day spent with hubby, daughter, and friends.  Family celebration commences this weekend.

5.  New wood flooring!!  We finally chose a hardwood to replace the almost 10 year old carpet in our master bedroom.  It will be installed next Friday.  Sooooo excited!

What are your top 5 happy things from the week?  Do you have anything exciting planned for the weekend?  Super Bowl party?

Birthday

Happy Groundhog's Day!!

Today is my birthday.

Source: stacey-lane.tumblr.com via Monica @ Creative Gator on Pinterest

It has been mostly a casual day for me, business as usual.  After the kid was dropped off at Pre-K, my hubby and I ran to Chick-Fil-A for their free Groundhog's Day breakfast promotion.  They are also making their biscuits into the shape of a heart through Valentine's Day.  So cute! Hubby had to go into work for a bit for a meeting so I lazed around the house.  Once he got home, we ran out for some lunch before it was time to get the kid.

Next on the agenda, was a stop by a local flooring store.  We've been wanting to replace the carpet in our master bedroom for years now.  The carpet is almost 10 years old and has seen better days. We were able to pick out a beautiful hardwood floor and get the installation set for next week.  I am so excited.  Happy Birthday to me!  Well, it is really a belated anniversary gift to ourselves.

We met up with several friends and their children for dinner at a local Asian bistro.  I enjoyed my favorite shrimp tempura roll and lo mein.

My sweet friend Denise asked my husband what kind of cake I would like and surprised me with a cake.  It even had princess candles on it picked out by her two year old daughter.

All in all, it was a wonderful day.

February Photo A Day

I'm going to join up with Fat Mum Slim's February photo a day challenge.  Here is a list of themes for each day to loosely base your photo around.  Please share either on Facebook, Instagram, or your blog and tag your photo #FEBphotoaday to share with others.  I will be sharing on Instagram and will probably post a collage of weekly photos each week.

Source: fatmumslim.com.au via Monica @ Creative Gator on Pinterest