ROCKING NEW YEARS COCKTAIL

   Its New Year’s Eve and you have some party or festivities to attend or host, OR you’re at home hanging with your hubby.  Either way you need a rocking drink to ring in the new year! 

   I had this as my first drink to celebrate my 21^st birthday. Now if you don’t really like champagne that’s okay because I’m not a huge fan either but the Chambord makes it great. Raspberries add a nice garnish for the drink as well as a tasty treat when you get to the end of your glass.

Champagne with Chambord

1 oz Chambord

Champagne

Frozen Raspberries 

source

Married Monday: 2015 Goals

   Well 2014 is just about over, which seems insane because that means we’ve been married for close to 6 months. I remember last new year being so excited it was finally the year we were going to be married. I graduated college since then and moved 3 hours away from home, life has changed a lot and I would not trade it for the world. 

Tips to Reset Your Body After Holiday Parties

   A great thing about Christmas is all the parties and all the delicious food. It now being the weekend after Christmas you may be feeling a bit sluggish from the overload of sweets and rich foods.  Your body needs a reset button and you can help it along.

There are some foods and ways you can eat to help cleanse your body.

Reason for the Season

   

   Today being just a few days before Christmas I wanted to take some time to talk about why we even have it. It seems like people are focused only on the material things that are involved. Having to have the best gifts, the best decorations to be liked on facebook, or the best looking food is what people worry about but that doesn’t even matter. What matters is that our Savior was born for us and that is why we celebrate.

   I know most people know this and have heard it many times but I want to share it for that person that may be reading and has not yet.

Roasted Chicken and What to do With Leftovers

There are a lot of different things to do with a whole chicken, it can serve as multiple meals for two people.  

I start with roasting the whole bird. There is something so comforting about the smell of it cooking and eating a fresh leg.

Make sure your bird is thawed. Rinse with water and make sure there isn’t anything in the cavity. I like to cut off the fat and skin that cover the cavities so that it doesn’t make a nasty fat layer.  Pat the chicken and make sure it is very dry.

DIY Ornament Garland

   I had been wanting to make something like this for a while now but hadn’t had the time. Well I made time last week to go to the dollar tree and make it happen.  Yes that’s right this is another Dollar Tree craft (mostly).   Remember I told you our decorations are red and silver this year so this is not any different and is nice and red.

Mistletoe Monday: 10 Gift Ideas for Women

Last week I wrote some ideas for men this week I am sharing my favorite (last minute) gift ideas for women.

Gift card for a spa treatment, nails or hair appointment- we love going and getting pampered but usually won’t spend the money on a regular basis

Handwritten note- a sweet love note is always appreciated

Gourmet Spices- if you are shopping for a girl who loves to cook or likes to experiment with new flavors. A spice set would be great this website has lots of different kinds. I love the gourmet salt set. http://www.spicesinc.com/p-814-gourmet-salt-sampler-spice-set.aspx

Ornament Exchange

   Arkansas Women Bloggers is such a great community of bloggers and as I have started the journey of blogging I am so glad to have them. I have enjoyed meeting them in person and online, and even stalking a few of their blogs. Every year they do a handmade ornament swap, I was so excited to get to be a part of it this year. So excited that when I saw it mentioned back in August I was already trying to think of something fun to do. Fun crafty projects are right up my alley and I loved making mine, and have a few similar ones hanging on my tree now.  You can see my mine and how to make it here.

Pan Seared Steak

Last night was our 5 month anniversary so we decided to celebrate with a steak dinner a Big Bang Theory marathon. We tried a new way to cook, following Alton Brown's method which you can see here.

We love the show!!

Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies

Recipe over on If Spoons Could Talk

   This year I joined in on the FoodBlogger Cookie Swap, this swap is so neat it connects people from across the country and even other countries joined in, and they swap homemade cookies. The best part you receive 3 different peoples cookies!! All of mine were so delicious! I received a Chocolate Chip Nut and Coconut cookie, Lemon Bars, and Chocolate Chocolate Chip Nut cookies!!! 

Art on the Green and a Giveaway

   Last week myself and three other Arkansas Woman Bloggers had a chance to go check out Art on the Green in Conway and meet a few of their artist. Museums were a big part of my childhood, anytime we went anywhere we would go to museums and art galleries. So naturally I loved the idea to go check out some local art. Now I am not really arty, I do like to think I’m crafty, but arty no I can barely draw a straight line, or have the patience to finish a full painting. These people though, they have so much talent and it was so cool to meet the person behind the painting.

There was of course delicious food. The little petifores are from Julia’s Bake Shop in Conway and they were delicious!!

Mistletoe Monday: Top 10 Gift Ideas for Men

  This month I wanted to do some Christmasy post for my Monday’s. So I am going to start out with Top 10 Gift ideas for men. These are ideas collected from around the internet, and asking my friends on facebook and Hubby. Most of these people are all gamers and techy people. (click pictures to go to link)

Birchfield's 1st Christmas: Decorations

   Christmas season is here and we are decorated and ready for it. I’ve always enjoyed Christmas time but the last few years have seemed to be more important to me, I’m not sure why maybe it was because I knew they would be the last at home with my parents or maybe it was because I was realizing that family is much more important than anything else. Well this year it is my first not at my parent’s house, first in Conway, and first with Hubby being married. 

Dinner with the Doc: Dr. Traci Natural State Health Center

   A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of joining a few blogger girls for a dinner that one of them had won at a running event, we called it Dinner with the Doc. We got to eat her recipes, hang out with, and learn from Dr. Traci Bishop of Natural State Health Center in Little Rock. She is a chiropractor and wellness physician that helps people achieve Mazimized Living.  Raw and unprocessed foods, and grains can be very beneficial to your health and can help relieve pains as well has help your body fight disease.

That's Dr. Traci she is awesome, and
her husband is a great cook!!

No Kid Hungry: Giving Tuesday 2014

   Alright guys today I want to talk about a subject that is very near to my heart and is a serious issue in the country and in the world. Everyone knows about all the deals and shopping that is to be had Thanksgiving weekend, well after that is all over there is Giving Tuesday, a day where you can give back to the community and help a charity or organization that matters to you. If you don’t have one in mind then I would like you to consider this great cause.

Thanksgiving Recap

   Hey guys I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and are in the holiday spirit. I got to spend a week at home with family and friends so it was great. There was delicious food and great times hanging out with friends who I don’t get to see as regularly any more.