The Most Underestimated Flower

Carnations! They're beautiful! They have so much texture and can be found in a variety of colors. The rich dark red flowers, mixed with the golden wheat, really make me feel like fall is here. I love this time of year!

Carnation centerpiece

I Love Pizza!

After dining out with friends in Jacksonville, Florida, I was very inspired by a pizza on the menu. I had to make it for myself at home!

Gorgonzola and pear pizza

For the crust, I used a pita out of the bag from the grocery store. I covered the pita with Gorgonzola cheese crumbles, slices of a canned pear, and mozzarella cheese. I baked it in the oven at 400 degrees for about 10 minutes. YUM! This was so easy and quick to make and the pita makes a perfect sized pizza for me to eat by myself. With no leftovers and hardly any cleanup, I will definitely be making a pita pizza again soon!

Chicken, It's What's For Dinner

For me, chicken can be very bland and I am always looking for recipes to make a healthy chicken meal exciting. I managed to find a great recipe in my Better Homes and Gardens Cook Book!

Chicken Parmigiana with Vegetables

For the vegetables (zucchini and broccoli), I put them on an oven sheet, glazed them in olive oil, put a steak seasoning on top, and sprinkled Parmesan cheese on the zucchini. I baked them at 415 degrees for ten minutes.

For the chicken, I dipped the chicken breast in a mixture of one whipped egg and a bit of milk, then rolled it in a mixture of breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and ground oregano. I cooked it in olive oil on the stove until it was cooked through. For the tomato sauce on top of the chicken, I mixed diced tomatoes, a bit of butter, salt, sugar, and minced garlic (can also add onions). I brought the sauce to a boil, then lowered the heat to let it simmer for about ten minutes. After it was all finished I put mozzarella cheese on top and enjoyed my meal!


I did not include any exact measurements because I rarely use them when I cook! I find it more fun to become my own chef and add the ingredients with my own measurements, using the recipe as a guideline. Enjoy your Chicken Parmigiana!

The Nature Inspired Guest Room

I have been fortunate enough to take many trips to the west. My favorite sight was the Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park. The colors of the spring are just amazing, and I had to have a room that reminded me of it!

Grand Prismatic Spring

Guest Bedroom

I used to the orange color from the spring on the wall, the pillowcases and sheets are a beautiful light blue, and the chocolate comforter comes from the wet sand next to the spring. For the walls, I found a plain white picture frame at Pier 1 and painted it.

I am going to put in pictures from my favorite places in the west including Monument Valley (Utah), the Badlands (South Dakota), and the Grand Canyon (Arizona). I love the end result!