CHALKBOARDS, CHINESE FOOD, CARROT CAKES, RAWR.

HI STRANGERS! :) Okay, maybe it's only been 8 days, but I'm already getting complaints over my brief hiatus. I know it's been a bummer not being able to read about what color dishwashing detergent I'm using, what I'm cooking, or what Cash is eating. Please sense the sarcasm.. because I'm FAR from entertaining, but I apologize for the zillionth M.I.A blog streak. If you're wondering what we've been up to in the Ng-Chee + 1 household.. WE MOVED INTO OUR NEW HOUSE!!!!! It is lovely & quaint & cozy & delicious & everything I could've imagined in a "Starter Home." I'm sure one day I'll look back 20 years from now, (I'll be in my 40's. Feels good to be a youngin ;) & see this little cozy house as a tiny piece of Ng-Chee + 1 history (although, if I'm still the "plus one" in 20 years, I'm auditioning for Survivor with plans to never leave the island, and I'll live alone and bathe in the sun all day, eating coconuts. Or just sell Avon.) Back to to present time though.. The house is the cutest, but I'm still having trouble getting everything unpacked. You know that stage in moving where you're able to "live" but you have to travel to another room to search through a box each time you need a common household item? We're at that stage. We OWN that stage. I'd give it a week and we'll be completely unpacked and I'll be able to have visitors, without needing them to sign a waiver first. I've got a ton of projects to tackle & nothing is fully in its proper place, but I did manage to complete a little simple craft for the kitchen. The kitchen is fairly small, and there's not much room for decor. I like things minimal but functional, and I knew I needed some way to jot down quick notes in the kitchen. I considered a magnet dry erase board for the fridge, but I couldn't find one that fit my taste or budget. I came across a can of Chalkboard Paint at Walmart and it immediately started triggering ideas in my head. I'm no "self proclaimed crafter" by any means.. I enjoy it, but I'm no veteran, and I usually am "O-VER" the project halfway through it. I like my crafts to be four things: Easy. Cute. Fast. Cheap. This was all four. I found the most awful framed picture of flowers in the entire world at my favorite resale shop for $3. The frame was gold, and the picture was hids, but I loved the frame design, and did I mention it was THREEDOLLAHOLLA? I hid my face in shame, bought the picture, and headed home. With a little sanding, primer, chalkboard paint, and spray paint.. here's the before and after!

BEFORE:

AFTER:
 

Pardon the blur of chalk erasing.. we tend to get a little carried away in this household :) I can see many grocery lists, nightly menus, schedules & "man tasks" being written on this bad boy in the near future..

Today, Cable Guy came.. which is why I'm able to write this here blog tonight.. I'm not the biggest fan of installation men coming to the house without the Baby Daddy here; not because they creep me out, but because I can't always stand their "technical lingo" and I find myself in a bit of a frantic. Today was no exception. It doesn't help that God gets his daily laugh by placing me in the most ridiculous scenarios with the oddest people in the world. The kind of scenarios that probably deserve a tv show. Or at least a blog, hence this one. The minute I opened the door, Cable Guy plopped in completely out of breath, and huffing/puffing dramatically. "You alright there buddy? It gets hard clicking buttons on a television.." After his 2 1/2 hr visit was over, I could finally breath. Aaah, equilibrium. And CABLE! The last two days, Cash & I have watched Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (THE ORIGINAL!) 3 times from beginning to end, and The Lion King twice. I knew it was time for Cable Guy to get his ace here when I walked in Cash's room this morning, and he jumped out of his bed and yelled "RAWWWWRRR!" Oh, my little Simba. And yes, I just said "jumped out of his bed.." WE MOVED HIM UP TO A TODDLER BED! He's in love with it, and wakes me up every morning with big lipped kisses, which is 100x better than breakfast in bed. Even if he yells "RAWR" afterwards.

 

Cable Guy is also Internet Guy! Oh, that out-of-breath multitasker.. After the connection was made, I started browsing my computer and came across the sweetest pictures. I know EVERYONE thinks this about their child (although some probably shouldn't. Just kidding.. a little ;)) but I think my baby is the most perfect child to ever grace the Earth! Please take a walk down memory lane with me, and don't you dare tell me it's not true..

 

Eyes! Nose! Lips! Head! Eyebrows! Forehead! Skintone! Lashes! FLAWLESS! Okay, there's my Proud Mama Rant.. I can't promise it's the last, but it definitely won't be frequent.

 

On a Spring-y note, has anyone checked out all the gorgeous flowers?!!? OH. EMM. GEE. Love it! I know taking a picture in the bluebonnets is a "classic tradition" in Texas, but 1) I think it's totally unacceptable if you're over the age of 10 and 2) I just found out by J aka "The Master of All Things Manly Toddler" that it's very "fruity" (yes, fruity..) for boys to take pictures in bluebonnets. Especially Cash. "He's not a little punk." I guess I'll savor my one bluebonnet shoot that I got of him at 5 months old, and hope for a Mini-Stormi one day in the very distant future.

 

Enough about my life, and ON TO THE GOOD STUFF! The Neely's have done it once again.. Can ya'll please move next door to me, like now? Although the hubster is 1/2 Chinese, and I may be bearing a Chinese last name one day, I never post any Asian-inspired recipes. I'll give you my reason: I'M NOT A FAN OF MANY ASIAN FOODS! Japanese Hibachi.. LOVE. Chinese food.. not so much. The Neely's hit it out of the park with this Chicken & Brocolli Stir Fry. Please, if you're not a big fan of Asian cuisine either, please do not be turned off by the thought of it tasting like "regular takeout." I've tweaked this recipe to be a little more "Stormi friendly" and it is THE BOMB! It's also a perfect way to force your kids to eat vegetables. Try it out & tell me if you love it! P.S, I served mine with sticky, white rice!

CHICKEN & BROCOLLI STIR FRY:

 
NEED: 
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon orange juice
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1/2 tablespoon sesame oil
1/2 tablespoon red pepper flakes, plus more to taste, if desired
1/2 tablespoon cornstarch

1 tablespoon peanut oil, plus more as needed

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons peeled and chopped ginger
4 green onions, sliced
2 cups broccoli florets, blanched


STEPS:
1. In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, orange juice, rice wine vinegar, worcestershire sauce, light brown sugar, sesame oil, red pepper flakes and cornstarch. Reserve.

2. Set a wok over medium-high heat and coat with 1 tablespoon of peanut oil. When the oil simmers, add about half of the chicken thigh pieces. Stir-fry until the chicken is fully cooked through, about 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate and repeat the process with the remaining chicken thighs.

3. Add enough peanut oil to the hot wok to coat the bottom. Add the garlic, ginger, green onions, and red pepper flakes, to taste, and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add chicken back to the pan along with the broccoli florets and stir to warm through. Pour in the reserved sauce and stir until the sauce is thickened and bubbly, about 45 seconds. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve.

Easter is almost here! Isn't it late this year, or is it just me? Since Cash isn't even two yet, I decided NOT to fill him an Easter Basket of useless trinkets that he'll never use, and opted for a more personal approach. My FAVORITE book during Easter as a child was "The Velveteen Rabbit." YOU CAN'T GET MUCH MORE CLASSIC THAN THAT! So after much searching, Cash has a copy, and I've read him a page each night before bed. If you're searching for the perfect, timeless children's book. THIS. IS. IT. Take my word!

 

WARNING: WARNING: WARNING: I really can't believe I'm sharing this recipe, but I feel like it's totally necessary during Easter... WARNING! Bunnies. Carrots. Carrot Cake. Duh. This is my Nana's dear recipe. It is titled NANA'S CARROT CAKE. If you share it, it came from Nana. If you post it on Facebook, it came from Nana. If you try to tweak it, shame on you. Introducing..

 

THE GREATEST CARROT CAKE IN ALL THE LAND,

 BY NANA:

NEED:

- 1 1/2 cup Vegetable Oil

- 2 cups sugar

- 4 eggs

- 2 cups flour

- 1 tsp. salt

- 2 tsp. cinnamon

- 2 tsp. baking soda

- 2 tsp. baking powder

- 2 cups pecans

- 3 cups grated carrots

 

STEPS:

- Mix oil and sugar. Beat well..

- Add eggs.

- Sift dry ingredients.

- Add nuts, mix with sugar.

- Add carrots.

- Bake at 350 degrees for about one hour.

ICING:

- 1 stick margarine

- 1 8 oz. pkg cream cheese

- 1 box powdered sugar

- 2 tsp. vanilla

- 1 cup pecans

 

If you're not a fan of Carrot Cake, shame on you, again. ;) But if that's the case, I saw the cutest & easiest Easter Egg Rice Krispie idea on the Kellogs website. Hellllloooooooo? ADORABLE!

 

I've never been one to hop on the "Celebrity Clothing Line" bandwagon. I think most of them are extremely tacky, and I would never use them as every day wear. (My ONE acception is a curling iron I used to own when I was 13 from the Mary Kate & Ashley line. They were my age, totally hip, and it was the best curling iron I've ever had. Literally. As in, if I still had it I'd use it today.) There is ONE celebrity who tops the charts with their shoe line, in my book.. and that is JESSICA SIMPSON! You can't sing, you can't act, you can't pick men.. but boy can you design some shoes, girlfriend! I'm in AWE over her Spring line, and I'm snagging two pairs online tonight. I felt like a kid in a freakin' candy store..

 

Wanted them all. NEEDED two. Before I go, I wanted to higlight a quick product. Spring/Summer is quickly approaching, and we all know the type of damage that Chlorine/Sun can do to your hair. They are two of the most UNHEALTHY factors when it comes to haircare. I think I may have found a secret weapon.. Aveda Sun Care Hair and Body Cleanser.

It removes all chlorine build up, without stripping your hair. It's extremely refreshing, 100% organic and can be used as a body cleanser as well. Talk about light Summer packing!? One bottle, two purposes..YEOOOWWWW! Ta-ta for now!