Baking: Flavored Mac and Cheese

Some days you just want somethings easy. It's even better if it's easy with a twist. I was in the pasta aisle when I came upon this Betty Crocker cheese pizza flavored mac and cheese.

It seemed easy enough so I thought I would give it a try. Don't trust your mac and cheese instinct. Follow the instructions on the box. You need to put EVERTHING in the pan at once and then heat to boiling.

 The flavor of pizza wasn't over powering. I ended up adding some pizza sauce to my bowl and it was perfect.

Also this is not the finished product. I forgot to take a picture, because I was pretty hungry and couldn't wait to try it. :P
Have you tried these flavors? What did you think?

Photos: Catching Up: Christmas with Friends and a Drive through Bethlehem

 Andrew's friends do a white elephant christmas every year. Last year felt so intimidating, but I've gotten to know everyone and this year was much more fun. Some gifts are crazy like a sword that you can see Pat holding. Nerf guns are everyone's favorite. I ended up trading for a light saber and some matching light saber chop sticks. Too fun

We also went to the Denmark Baptist Church drive through Bethlehem. It is an amazing sight. You hear the story of the birth of Jesus and see it acted out. There are even live animals. It is always well put together. At the end you get cookies and hot chocolate. If you didn't make it out last year you can come with me Christmas of 2013!!

Baking: Turkey #2

You may remember my first turkey roasting expieriance. It wasn't difficult and I rather enjoyed it. I thought I would give it another go, but also try something new. First I greased my pan. I wasn't using a bag this time.

Instead I used a preseasoned turkey. I didn't know it would have this string mesh around it.

This is the turkey I bought (before I unwrapped it). The flavor is savory herb and this one is boneless.

After I adjusted the netting I sprayed it down rather than using olive oil or butter because it is easier and saves a lot of calories.

Here it is after is done roasting. MMMmmmm It colored so well! Not too crispy and plenty of flavor.

I cut the netting right off. Some of the meat stuck to it but over all it smelled and looked amazing!

How do you cook turkeys in your house? Do you choose with the bone or boneless?

Photos: Catching Up: Daily and Vincent

My mom and dad took us to see Daily and Vincent. Andrew and I both love blue grass so this was extra amazing. The Bankensters opened for them and they blew my mind. I didn't take many pictures because I was enjoying it way to much. 

Review: Costal Glasses

I originally heard about Coastal from a co-worker. She seemed to wearing a new pair of trendy glasses every day of the week. She told Coastal lets you have your first pair of frames for free. She directed me to their facebook page.

A few months later it was time for an eye exam. I looked up what information Coastal would need. I go to Sears Optical for eye exams. They handed me my prescription after my exam. I was so excited. I went home and ordered my first pair. Putting my prescription in was very simple. They also have a live chat option if you have any questions.

I happened to be unlucky enough to order my glasses around the time the FDA was changing their standards for contacts and glasses. My glasses ended up getting stuck in Tennessee for over a month. People on facebook were furious. There was no making them happy.

I posted a comment saying that it wasn't Coastal's fault that the FDA wouldn't release our glasses. Complaining on Coastal's facebook page wouldn't get your glasses out the FDA's hands any quicker.

A few days after that I received an anonomus package. It wasn't anywhere near my birthday. I was pretty confused.

It was filled with all sorts of goodies, but where did it come from.

This was from Coastal. It BLEW MY MIND!! I had paid $12 for my glasses and this box was worth twice that.

I ended up ordering another pair of glasses while I was waiting for my first pair. It got to my house within a week.

When you order glasses from Coastal they come in a case and you get a glasses cleaning kit/ repair kit as well. Sometimes ordering glasses that you can't try on can be concering. Coastal gives you 365 days to return/ exchange you glasses.

Here is what comes in the cleaning and repair kit. The small silver piece has all sorts of screw drivers and such.

I love these cat eye frames. My mom had always been agains thick frames. Until this pair all my frames had been wiry and thin. Buying thick frames made me feel a little rebellious.

I eventually received my second pair. They were perfect. They were like a cat eye version of the current hipster glasses look. I have gotten TONS of compliments on both pairs. In the end I think I paid $12 for each pair. That was just the cost of the lenses.

Even my one year old cousin was stunned with how good these glasses looked on him.

Have you ever bought from Coastal or does buying your glasses from the internet cause concern?

Photos: Catching Up: Thanksgiving

I know we have a lot of catching up to do. I thought I start with some Thanksgiving memories. This year Tyler (a college friend) joined us for Thanksgiving. Isaac was the center of attention and I bought a little Christmas tree with Rachel (and a lot of Starbucks). Rory quickly learned he could knock the tree off and play with all the shiny ornaments. I ended up tying it to some presents to stop the destruction. :P I bought almost all my presents online from black Friday to cyber Monday. One of them was Andrew's new headset for his XBOX which I gave him as soon as it arrived. 

Photos: A trip around Illinois to shop and go to a baby shower!