Chicken Broccoli Garlic Alfredo

Anyone who lives alone with a boyfriend knows that there will be moments when... wait... I mean 'everyday" when the man's going to ask "What are we having for dinner tonight?" I don't know if every man has this issue or if only mine does. He's constantly hungry. I used to get my nails done but I really think I'm going to have to do it more often. My hands have "HAD IT". He's lucky I'm such a good girlfriend :)

With that said there's much to be done this weekend. Let's see what I can get done today:

• Clean house
• Come up with a plan for curtains (make them or buy them)
• Blog
• Create a new budget
• Finish Harvesting the Heart

I had a dentist appointment yesterday and found that not only do I need to have one wisdom tooth out but the other one and both molars :( I'm getting it done next Saturday so I'm going to have to deal with it all week. Oh well. As long as I have Tylenol I should be fine. Extra Strength, that is. So I've been indulging in yogurts for breakfast (without granola, wahhh!) and soups and salads for lunch.

Last night I made Chicken Broccoli Alfredo in a Bertolli garlic sauce. At first I was kind of "ehh" about it but it only took about 10 minutes to prep and about another 5 to keep warm while the sauce sat with the broccoli and chicken.

I started off by chopping the chicken before starting the pasta. I like everything to be done at the same time. Is it just me or are you the same way? Lol.

I didn't want to break this pasta, so I let the bottoms get a little soft for about 30 seconds then curled the rest in. A larger pot is on my grocery list but since getting back from Denver and celebrating my birthday last weekend there hasn't been time for anything. More on that later ;)

I bought fresh broccoli. Originally I was going to keep it on the side but M was screaming for it to be included. "It's not 'chicken broccoli alfredo' then!" Lol. Wah. I've never tried Bertolli brand before. I usually just get the plain Ragu alfredo sauces but I decided to mix it up and I'm glad that I did. This one had garlic and parmesan cheese. I told myself that next time I would make my own sauce but did I have time after a day at the dentist and work then rushing to the store and home to let Maia out? Nope. Maybe next weekend we'll try this again but differently? ;)

Thank God for leftovers... he won't be getting any, muhahaha *wicked laugh*.

This was M's. Not mine, just so you know! I tossed some chili powder on top of his since we didn't have any red pepper flakes. This worked out well and he did lick the plate (it's one of his things...)

Ahhh I love my stemless glasses. I knew I'd be in all weekend cleaning, doing laundry, reading, and doing laundry as well as creating a budget so I stocked up on Dos Aquis (Amber), Bare Foot's Cabernet and Moscato. M is in love with Moscato. I think it's the idea of being a guy and drinking yummy wine that tastes like juice.... possibly.

Suzie Orman, beer, and blogging. I'm getting used to the Mac. When they asked me what I wanted at work I suggested a Mac because well I have a Dell and I wanted to try something different, and I'm glad I did! I actually love it. The only problem is the "no Windows Live Writer" part :( Any suggestions on which desktop apps are best for blogging?

Oh and the whole magazine thing... The good part about a magazine is that it's like having "girl-time" without having to really listen to anyone... you can close it when you're done listening ;)

I gotta go finish watching "The Proposal". I can never get enough of this movie, and Ryan Reynolds is always delish, of course!

 

- Q

Seriously, Snow?!

So long beautiful Denver weather... hello snow!! New England, I missed you! But not this much!



Snow today, snow tonight and even more snow tomorrow night :( Why?!!! Why me?! Wait... I guess this is what I get for not ever wanting to move. I'm a New Englander, damnit!

Reasons why I love New England:

#1- Boston Celtics
#2- Boston Bruins
#3- New England Patriots
#4- Boston Red Sox
#5- I get 4 seasons, fall foliage being one of the best things that's ever happened to me. If you don't live in NE I can send ya some foliage. No?

Hello?!! And really that's about it. Many people were stuck in traffic this morning. 95 is currently a parking lot and well... I take all back roads here and my commute is 15 minutes... in traffic :D Hey, I deserve it! I'm happy to say that I'm no longer a commuter :)

So this is my first week at my new company. There's so much to learn and so much to do so I'm going to keep this short.

Last Monday I was in Denver, CO for a week of insanity. Everyone is so smart and so passionate about what they do, and the company. Who wouldn't want to work here!? I'll share some pics of the city next time, but for now, this girl is out.

Later gatahs!!

I’m Leaving On a Jet Plane…

What a wild wild weekend. The fam came to visit and bring Maia back home, and you know what happens when they come by… the madness breaks out! Everybody talking loud, Maia throwing her toys and chasing them, M and my dad talking over eachother about sports, my mom telling me how to scrapbook even though I know how. HOT-MESS! Hahaha.

And this is what I woke up to ^. Those 6 months when my parents had her and I was pimping all over he world and moving to the new place.. I didn’t realize how much sleep I was getting in. Not anymore! She literally jumps on my chest and pounces down and starts making semi-growling noises.

My beef stew in the crock pot was a success. We were too greedy to take pics while we ate, but I do have some before shots.

I went a little overboard on veggies, but is that ever a problem?! I added onion, green pepper, carrots, celery, and potatoes. M was asking me last night if we should have some as leftovers while we watched some movies. I declined and so he made us salad… and I’m glad because I finally watched this-

Honestly I was scared to even watch it because everyone I asked about it said that I’d never look at meat the same. I always considered going vegan due to the fact that my body is sensitive to cheese and some other milk products, but giving up meat is a huge thing for me. I grew up in the south where you have meat with every meal. After seeing what really goes on, like adding filler that’s been cleaned in ammonia to hamburger meat (aka McDonald’s and other fast food joints that purchase this meat), I was done. I’ve eaten filler without even knowing it?! That’s so disgusting!

I saw the way they treated animals such as chickens who were engineered to grow quicker than they were supposed to. They could only take a few steps, and they they’d fall. Some were laying on the ground dying. Baby chickens were dropped down a chute and picked out one by one and held down onto a machine that basically shot their head and killed them. They just kept grabbing them one by one and it sounded like someone was popping a gun repeatedly. I watched it to the end and it was insane.. but I’m glad I finally did.

With that said, M will have some leftovers while I’m gone this week because… my friends, I’ve decided to leave the staffing industry. After being mistreated by multiple managers, my #1 goal for this year will be to put myself first. I’ve treated myself with the minimum respect this year just to get through things, thinking that it would just make me stronger. But I realized… I’m already strong. I just need to surround myself with family and friends and people who will help me be a better person.

So with that said… an old friend/co-worker that I worked in ‘hell’ with back in 2008 (working for our boss was like watching Devil Wear’s Prada x2 ) made me an offer that I couldn’t refuse and asked me to work for her. Thank God we moved and this opportunity came along because now I feel like things are falling into place. This is proof that everything happens for a reason. So now it’s off to Colorado for a week of getting to know my new co-workers and my new company

M and I finally moved out together, got a place closer to the city, and Maia is coming home! Since I didn’t notice my itinerary said that I’d be back on Friday my parents had to take her back home because M has a crazy week as well It’s alright because I will get to pick her up this weekend when I return. That’s my baby!

Before I pack I’ve got to finish up my light breakfast and coffee then get my paperwork together. I’ll be checking in from Denver, friends!

 

- Q

Happy New Year, Happy New Life?.. I Sure Hope So!

So... my New Year's was spent packing and moving. All this time of living with the future in-laws, roomates and then the in-laws again, I'm happy to announce that M and I have finally moved out on our own, and just outside of Boston so I no longer have a crazy commute :) Comcast didn't come until last night and today we get our couches.
...and I'm blogging via BlogPress for iPhone in bed :) I did however find some sweet stuff...

My newfound Hoover love, I named her Regina.

Do you know how long I've wanted a crock pot?!! And it came with a cookbook with a ton of awesome recipes in it. Also there's a timer so I can "set it and forget it"! The spicy beef may be the first thing on the menu.

Our "to-do" list is a mile long and we still have a million things in storage. I just want curtains up in the livingroom, kitchen and bathroom then I'll feel comfy.

Eating some quick chicken soup for lunch before I get to more cleaning and organizing. Once we get fully organized I'll have a house tour and my baby Maia will be home this weekend so we'll have to celebrate.
Happy New Year!
- Quisha