Happy Almost Halloween From Mini Miley

Suggested Listening: Wrecking Ball, By: Miley Cyrus

My bestie is quite possibly the coolest person ever....

Standing at 5 feet and 1 inch tall, I give you Mini-Miley!!!

The One Without A Title

Suggested Listening: In The Garden, By: Royal Wood

Today was the day that I was suppose to hold you. The day that our lives would forever change. The day that our first little girl was born. October 20, 2013. I remember thinking about the cosy little halloween costume I would put you in for your very first Halloween. I knew that we would just sit at home in our fabulous costumes but that would be okay because we had you.

Today, my little girl, I miss you so very much. Brendon was blasting his rap and R&B today while we readied the store to open. Biggie's, "Big Papa" started to play over the loud speakers and I had to laugh as tears came to my eyes. I knew in that very moment that you are still here with me and you just wanted me to know it. Your daddy was so cute trying to rap that day when we saw your little heart flickering so bright and your little body just a wiggling there on the screen.

In my heart I know that it was just not our time. That we were not ready for you. Still, my heart aches for the little girl that almost was. No little boy or girl will ever replace you in my heart, my Cora, my first baby girl.

Love, Mommy

Image credit: mayboro / 123RF Stock Photo

Taco Tuesday: Ground Beef and Cheese Double Layer Quesadilla

Ground Beef and Cheese Double Layer Quesadilla

Heat: 350 degrees

Time: 17 minutes

Calories: 1,012 for entire Quesadilla (2 Servings) 506 in half (1 serving) 

• 3 - Quesadilla wraps (I use Mission Medium / Soft Taco Super Soft Flour Tortillas)
• 6 oz - cooked ground beef seasoned with taco seasoning (I used Pantry Essentials Taco Seasoning Mix)
• 3 tbs - Ranch dressing (I use Hidden Valley Ranch Original)
• Taco Seasoning (I used Pantry Essentials Taco Seasoning Mix)
• 1/2 cup Shredded Mexican style cheese (I used Kraft Mexican Four Cheese Blend)
• Sour Cream (I used Sprouts Farmers Market Light Sour Cream)
• 1/2 cup - Shredded spinach
• Vegetable Oil (I used Trader Joe's Coconut Oil Spray)

Mix a small amount of taco seasoning with ranch dressing and set aside. I mix 3 tablespoons with an entire bottle of ranch using the ranch bottle as a container.

Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and spray with vegetable oil spray. Lay your first tortilla on the aluminum foiled cookie sheet and then lightly spray the tortilla with oil spray.

Spred 1 tbs of taco ranch on your tortilla. Add 1/4 cup cheese and 3 oz of ground beef.

Place second tortilla on top of first tortilla and toppings. Spread 1 tbs of taco ranch on top of second tortilla and add 1/4 cup cheese and 3 oz ground beef. Place third tortilla on top of second tortilla covered in toppings. Spray top of tortilla with vegetable oil spray.

Bake quesadilla at 350 degree for 10 minutes. Remove cookie sheet from oven flip quesadilla over using a spatula and return to 350 degree oven for 7 more minutes. 

Remove cookie sheet from oven and place quesadilla on a cutting board. Cut quesadilla into eight pieces using a pizza cutter. Spread 1 tbs of taco ranch to top of quesadilla.

Move quesadilla to a serving platter. Top with 1/2 cup shredded spinach and a drizzle of sour cream. Serve and enjoy!

Taco Tuesday: Chicken, Bean, and Cheese Double Layer Quesadilla

Chicken, Bean, and Cheese Double Layer Quesadilla

Heat: 350 degrees

Time: 17 minutes

Calories: 920 for entire Quesadilla (2 Servings) 460 in half (1 serving) 

Side note: 3/8 of this fills up my belly and that is a 345 calorie serving

Ingredients:

• 3 - Quesadilla wraps (I use Mission Medium / Soft Taco Super Soft Flour Tortillas)
• 4 oz - Cooked sliced or shredded chicken breast (I use Trader Joe's fully cooked chicken breast w/rib meat)
• 4 scoops of beans (I use Trader Joe's Black Beans)
• 3 tbs - Ranch dressing (I use Hidden Valley Ranch Original)
• Taco Seasoning (I used Pantry Essentials Taco Seasoning Mix)
• 1/2 cup Shredded Mexican style cheese (I used Kraft Mexican Four Cheese Blend)
• Sour Cream (I used Sprouts Farmers Market Light Sour Cream)
• 1/2 cup - Shredded Lettuce
• Vegetable Oil (I used Trader Joe's Coconut Oil Spray)

Mix a small amount of taco seasoning with ranch dressing and set aside. I mix 3 tablespoons with an entire bottle of ranch using the ranch bottle as a container.

Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and spray with vegetable oil spray. Lay your first tortilla on the aluminum foiled cookie sheet and then lightly spray the tortilla with oil spray.

Spread 1 tbs of taco ranch on your tortilla. Add 1/4 cup cheese, 2 oz of chicken and two scoops of beans.

Place second tortilla on top of first tortilla and toppings. Spread 1 tbs of taco ranch on top of second tortilla and add 1/4 cup cheese, 2 oz chicken and 2 scoops of beans. Place third tortilla on top of second tortilla covered in toppings. Spray top of tortilla with vegetable oil spray.

Bake quesadilla at 350 degree for 10 minutes. Remove cookie sheet from oven flip quesadilla over using a spatula and return to 350 degree oven for 7 more minutes. 

Remove cookie sheet from oven and place quesadilla on a cutting board. Cut quesadilla into eight pieces using a pizza cutter. Spread 1 tbs of taco ranch to top of quesadilla.

Move quesadilla to a serving plater. Top quesadilla with 1/2 cup of shredded lettuce, a sprinkling of cheese and drizzle with sour cream. Serve and enjoy!

Truth

Suggested Listening: True Colors: Cover By: Craig Cardiff

I love Kelle Hampton so very much! Especially when she is obviously irritated and trying so very hard not to flip her lid. Read this post. You will smile. And if you don't. Then you are probably one of the haters she is trying not to flip a lid on...

And because Kelle and I are in complete agreement that every post must have, at the very least, one photograph. I leave you with this little gem. You're welcome...

Chasing Dreams in The Rain

Suggested Listening: Riptide By: Vance Joy

It rained today in San Diego. That does not happen very often here. We don't even own an umbrella. I took the the puppies out to use the potty and there were several people running into their apartments like they were running for their lives. A girl was complaining that her hair was going to be ruined and a man was trying his hardest to cover himself with his briefcase. 

Me... I was dancing like a five year old; so excited just to see rain. I actually ran into the bedroom, jumped on top of Ben with both knees and yelled, "Wake up! It's RAINING in San Diego!!" Ben was laughing at me because "who else have you ever met that rain makes ecstatically happy?"

Okay, so I am completely aware that this is a total over reaction to rain but, dude, this girl loves her some rain! Some say that the suicide and depression rates are much higher in Seattle because it rains all the time. This girl says, "LET'S MOVE THERE!" Seriously, I have had an obsession with Seattle since I can remember. Never being there even once in my life does not matter. Seattle is the best city on Earth! This I am convinced of. 

After high school I almost moved there. Getting excepted to the Seattle Art Institute was my life's goal and I did get excepted but I didn't even tell anyone. I was too freaked out. Well, I did tell my best friend and we had it all worked out that we would live together in a little walk up while I became a world class photographer and he became a huge music producer. Ahh Young ambitions!! He bailed after he fell in love on a Summer trip to Germany and being too afraid to move across the country alone The Academy of Design Chicago is where I settled on for Graphic Design and Fashion Marketing... Not sure what I was thinking there but we all have our paths and mine has definitely been the long way around. I wouldn't have it any other way!

Maybe it was "Sleepless in Seattle" maybe it was something else, who knows, but Seattle is it for me. I will live there someday. Even if it is just for a short time.... Me in Seattle will happen. Rain + Dreaming of a Seattle walk up = One excited five year old version of myself. Heres to making wild dreams happen!

The puppies and I drying off on the porch after playing in the rain

Taco Tuesday: Taco Flatbread Pizza

Taco Flatbread Pizza

Heat: 450 degrees

Time: 11 minutes

Calories: 964 for entire flatbread (2 servings) 482 in half flatbread (1 serving)

Ingredients:

• Vegetable Oil (I used Trader Joe's Coconut Oil Spray)
• 1- Flatbread (I used Sprouts Farmers Market Garlic Tandoori Naan)
• Taco Seasoning (I used Pantry Essentials Taco Seasoning Mix)
• 3 tbs Ranch Dressing (I used Hidden Valley Ranch Original)
• 4 oz Extra Lean Stew Meat (I got mine at Sprouts Farmers Market)
• 1/2 cup Shredded Mexican style cheese (I used Kraft Mexican Four Cheese Blend)
• Sour Cream (I used Sprouts Farmers Market Light Sour Cream)

Mix a small amount of taco seasoning with ranch dressing and set aside. I mix 3 tablespoons with an entire bottle of ranch using the ranch bottle as a container. We use a lot of taco ranch!

Slice the stew meat very thin and lightly brown in a skillet pan on the stove top. Do not cook through; just enough to take most of the pink out. Remove from skillet and set aside.

Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and spray with vegetable oil spray. Lay your flatbread on the aluminum foiled cookie sheet and then lightly spray the flatbread with oil spray.

Top your flatbread with three tablespoons of Taco Ranch.

Top your flatbread with 1/2 cup of shredded cheese and 4 oz of stew meat.

Bake your pizza in a 450 degree oven for 11 minutes then transfer to a cutting board and cut into eight pieces. Top with a drizzling of sour cream and serve.

Enjoy! Ben and I sure did!

Is it just me...

Bangerz looks just like Cocktail

Did I just show my age??