Canean has always told me that I live in a fairytale world, the one where the good guys always win and the prince always finds the princess. For the most part he is right, I am definitely a glass half full kind of person, and try to find the positives in every situation. I am not naïve though and I do realize that life happens, and the fairytale doesn't always go as planned.

And for that reason Canean and I have somewhere along the way created a bubble for our little family that consists of the two of us, our two dogs and our little pink house. Here, the world seems to be an okay place where we can avoid most objects that try to pop our little bubble together.

PostedAugust 25, 2014

AuthorLeigh Ann Chatagnier

CategoriesLife

TagsLife, Trust, The Bubble, Family

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Caprese Macaroni and Cheese: My Diary of Us

It's Friday and all I want to do tonight is watch a movie in my pj's with Canean. We haven't really seen each other very much this week and I have been looking forward to the weekend since Monday for that very reason. But of course we also have to eat and what I'm really craving is some comfort food to eat while I have my stretchy pants on. Sexy I know. My caprese macaroni and cheese is maybe my new favorite comfort food and way to eat mac n cheese. It has pesto and roasted tomatoes in it and I have somehow convinced myself that it is kind of healthy...

I mean, it's basically grown up mac n cheese (but your kids will love it too) and you are probably going to want to make it this weekend at some point. I am secretly hoping for a thunderstorm to roll in just about the time we settle in for the night while we stuff our faces with cheesy pasta and drink red wine.

Sometimes a girl wants to get dressed up and go out on the town, and other nights we just want our pajamas, some snuggly pups, our best guy, and a big bowl of cheesy pasta.

Tonight I'm feeling option two. But even if you are making up for my lack of a Friday night, which I hope you are, you will still need this mac n cheese to be part of your life sooner rather than later.

I promise you will want to eat ALL of it. (Hence the need for stretchy pants.)

PostedAugust 22, 2014

AuthorLeigh Ann Chatagnier

CategoriesPasta

TagsMacaroni and Cheese Recipe, Caprese Mac n Cheese, Homemade mac n cheese, Friday night plans, Cheese Lovers, Pesto, Whole Wheat Pasta, Side Dishes, Casserole

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Cucumber Mint Cocktail with Honeysuckle Vodka: My Diary of Us

Summer is coming to a close, and while I'm beyond ready for a touch of fall weather, I am not ready to give up refreshing cocktails on a hot day. And I might not. This week has been strange because I started my week on Tuesday after getting back in town on Monday and my whole week has been thrown. A great cocktail is always needed on weeks like these and this cucumber mint cocktail with honeysuckle vodka is going to get me through to the weekend.

I have a new obsession with Cathead Vodka's Honeysuckle Vodka. It's perfect to make a light and tasty drink and can be mixed with as few or many ingredients as you like. It's also really good with just club soda and lime. Nothing wrong with that at all.

Sometimes I like to be fancy though.

I am a cucumber in my cocktail kind of girl and thought that the flavor combination would pair nicely with the honeysuckle notes of the vodka. I was right. I also added some fresh mint and lemon juice and the result was a super refreshing drink that I think you are going to love!

I hope you aren't tired of Thirsty Thursdays around here. I love starting my weekend a day early with a yummy cocktail, and I'm pretty sure if we are friends, you do too.

Cucumber. Mint. Lemon. Honeysuckle. Booze. Yes. I'll take two.

PostedAugust 21, 2014

AuthorLeigh Ann Chatagnier

CategoriesCocktails

TagsCucumber Cocktails, Cathead Vodka, Cathead Honeysuckle Vodka, Honeysuckle Cocktails, Cocktails, Cheers, Drink Recipes, Cocktail Recipes, Gluten Free, Thirsty Thursdays

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A Girl's Weekend in Arizona: My Diary of Us

Somewhere between college and now, my best friends have sprinkled themselves across the country. We all got older, each moved to a different state, and don't get to see each other nearly enough for my liking. We get to see each other about once a year if that, but when it does happen it's amazing. We revert to our 20 year old selves, or in some cases our 15 year old selves. Things pick right back up where we left off and it feeds my soul in the best way possible. Last weekend I headed to Arizona to see my friend Teresa, a friend from college who from the moment we had the same class together we became inseparable. A girl's weekend in Arizona was totally necessary for both of us.

We hiked gorgeous routes Saturday and Sunday, got pedicures, laid by the pool, ate Italian food and cooked some serious meals for her to freeze.

It was a quick trip and neither of us were ready for it to end, but I'll take what I can get! I'm already ready to go back and it's only been two days.

We started out Friday by shopping (of course) and then ended the day with chips and guacamole, a margarita for me, water with lemon for her, and then grabbed yogurt on the way home, because I'll use any excuse to get yogurt. Excuses like my friend is pregnant and she NEEDS me to eat yogurt with her.

PostedAugust 20, 2014

AuthorLeigh Ann Chatagnier

CategoriesTravel

TagsArizona, friendship, travel, hiking, Italian food, Scottsdale best eats, Cooking, meal prep, girl time, Girl's Weekend

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Zucchini Noodle "Pasta" and Pork Meatballs: My Diary of Us

I just got back from Arizona yesterday afternoon and I am having a hard time not thinking that today is Monday. But it's not...thank goodness, it's Tuesday. After a weekend of being out of town, I always need a healthy meal to get me back on track for the week. Lately I've been loving zucchini noodles as a way to get my pasta without the carbs and fewer calories for an easy and quick weeknight meal that is super satisfying. Zucchini noodle "pasta" and pork meatballs will satisfy even the burliest of men (Canean loves it, and he's kinda burly) and will also be kind to the waistline, which I know all of you ladies will appreciate.

If you have never had zucchini noodles, you might be hesitant...as I was being the huge pasta lover that I am. And believe me, I have no intention on giving up my pasta completely, but zucchini noodles allow me to make versions of my pasta dishes more often!

Hello, more pasta? Can that ever be a bad thing? Not by my standards.

The zoodles are coated in a white wine and garlic sauce and the meatballs are tender and full of flavor and just so happen to be one of my favorite comfort foods. Topped with fresh basil to bring it all home, this meal will make your belly very happy and you won't even miss the pasta.

Pinky Promise.

PostedAugust 19, 2014

AuthorLeigh Ann Chatagnier

CategoriesPasta

TagsZoodles, Zucchini Noodles, Low Carb, Gluten Free, Clean Eating, Meatballs, Homemade Meatballs, Pork Meatballs, healthy, Healthy Eating, Healthy Recipes, Pasta Alternatives, Spiralize

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I love traveling, but I hate packing...like literally, hate it and I'm horrible at it. I always pack more than I should and always test the fifty pound weight limit on checked bags. It's pretty much guaranteed that when we go somewhere and I am checking a bag, I always teeter on about fifty-two pounds or so, just over the limit (I think I just have heavy luggage). Inevitably I end up having to put my hair dryer or toiletries in Canean's bag which he absolutely can't stand. I still haven't figured out what the big deal is. I just have a few packing issues.

If by chance I happen to come under the fifty pound mark, his face lights up like Christmas. It's the little things in life in moments like these. I guess I should really try harder because when my suitcase weighs under fifty, it really starts our trip off with a bang. And seeing him that excited about my luggage being under weight is pretty cute too. You would think it would be some serious motivation to pack smarter...you would think.

PostedAugust 15, 2014

AuthorLeigh Ann Chatagnier

CategoriesTravel

TagsPacking, Travel, Arizona, Packing Issues, Life, Friendship

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