Brunch Bake

Some days I look in the refrigerator and it seems like I have no food to create a meal and then I find one ingredient that inspires me to create something. 

Warning...it's yummy but not healthy

When I pulled his out, I thought about a recipe from Pinterest

http://www.mrfood.com/Casseroles/Italian-Layer-Bake/ml/1#hcvKBvkwQO9fVzj8.32

I used the recipe and directions of the Italian Bake but decided to switch a few ingredients and create a brunch dish. 

My Version

Pilsbury Cresent Sheets (split in 2 halves)

Sliced ham

Swiss cheese 

Raspberry jam

4 eggs

Vanilla, cinnamon, powdered sugar

Final product isn't the prettiest but the result was like a Monte Cristo.

Happy New Year Planning Style

The delivery!

SURPRISE! 

I got a gift code for $25 off my next order since this was my 5th order!!

It is so nice to get rewarded for my addiction.

The HAUL!

Notecards that match my teacher planner to give thank you notes at work.

Love this interchangeable cover! So pretty.

My big purchase was this super cool address book. I know I should just have all of these contacts in my phone or on my computer but I love using an address book and this one is just so cute!!

Divider Page

Alternating colors for each entry

Quotes throughout

Back Pocket for the perpetual calendar

double-sided for stamps or whatever

Plus the zipper pouch with samples

A couple of weeks later, I ordered my first LifePlanner! I actually won a $50 gift card through a giveaway to use towards a LifePlanner.

Love these deliveries!! 

The HAUL!

Because there was a sale, I also bought my Teacher Planner for the upcoming school year. I know they change elements in the planners from year to year but felt it was a good deal!!

To save $10 on your first order follow this link-

https://erincondren.com/referral/invite/amylaney0504-0907

Hello Fresh Delivery Service

Ladies at work introduced me to a new service. Hello Fresh. 3 meals, all the ingredients, portioned, and the recipes all delivered in a box.

The service for 3 meals for 2 people costs $69. It seemed pricey until the other night we felt lazy and didn't want to go to the store and went out to dinner, which cost $45. The cost made sense.

This is what we received...

The meals are boxed separately and on ice. A book with each of the recipes is included to guide you through the process. Each recipe says that it takes between 35-45 minutes. My husband tagged teamed in the kitchen and it took just a few minutes longer than the recipe cards stated but not too long.

Meal One

Turkey Tetrazzini 

Meal Two

Soy-glazed Steak and Wasibi Mashed Potatoes

Meal Three

Tuscan Ribalotti 

Overall, I am pleased with this service for the products and the convenience. Once you sign up, you can see 3 weeks worth of menus. You get 5 options for your 3 choices. If you are busy, out of town, or just want to skip a week, you can pause the service. If it is not the right fit for you, canceling is easy as well.

Use this link below to save $40 on your first delivery.

www.hellofresh.com/raf-helloshare/?c=Z3B3NM

Christmas Gifts for Students

After 6 years of teaching, I always struggle this time of year to decide what to do for the kids. I always buy books from Scholastic Bookclubs but feel like I should do more. With so many teacher friends out there, I am looking for advice on if this is too much or if you do something different. I want the gifts to be purposeful, fun, and personal.

This is what I did this year-

Mechanical Pencils

Colorful grading pens

Holiday Pencils

Grippies 

Novelty erasers

Candy Canes

Smarties

A couple of small candies

Created these little bags-

Ordered books to encourage reading!

This year, I had a promo code for $20 towards Christmas Cards, so I made them personalized cards.

Black Friday Personal Score

Black Friday...you either love it or despise it. Usually I just avoid it all together but I needed a couple of small gifts for work and saw an email from The Body Shop offering a few sales, free shipping, plus their signature bag you can buy at a discounted rate.

This bag was totally worth the $35 because it is packed with items I actually use and in the scents I usually use on a regular basis. The big winning product is the Drops of Youth serum that is never on sale is normally $36 on its own, so it's like buying that one product and getting 8 awesome products plus a lined tote for FREE!

I just had to share!

Friends-Giving Casseroles and Movies

Living 1,200 miles from our families, we have embraced Friends-Giving for years. This year we changed it up a bit. My husband and I spent the holiday with my brother and a really good friend but made sure to save our leftovers for another celebration. 

Recently, we caught an episode of "Southern at Heart" with Damaris Phillips, entitled "Friends-Giving Leftovers." The episode was packed full of recipes using leftovers from Thanksgiving to create casseroles to share with friends while watching movies and relaxing. We loved the idea and created our own version.

I chose one recipe and our friends brought over theirs as well. We watched movies and snacked on casseroles for most of the day. Perfect for a chilly Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Inspiration

http://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/southern-at-heart/300-series/friends-giving-leftovers.html

My version

Leftovers and eggs...

Cooked and ready to enjoy!

*Super yummy, but my pan was a little too big so I know now, I should stick with the pan size in the recipe...

Enjoyed the casseroles and now for the movies!

My choice

Semi-Homemade Stuffed French Toast (fall edition)

A couple of months ago, I found Pepperidge Farm's Blueberry Swirl Bread. I used a simple french toast recipe for dipping custard that I dredged the bread in and made blueberry french toast, added cream cheese and fresh blueberries to make Blueberry Stuffed French Toast. I was instantly in love!
This is the link to the previous recipe post-
Semi-Homemade Stuffed Blueberry French Toast

I felt the need to recreate that dish but no more Pepperidge Farm Blueberry Swirl Break...instead they had PUMPKIN SPICE SWIRL BREAD!!!

Again, I used a traditional french toast recipe for the dipping custard and used a little cinnamon sugar to flavor the whipped cream cheese and made a fall version of my stuffed french toast.
It honestly tasted like pumpkin cheesecake!!