Shrimp & Sausage with Vodka Sauce

When all else fails, make pasta! Shrimp & Sausage pasta with Vodka Sauce tonight was a hit! Ok, ok, so I take a hit for not making the sauce from scratch, but I was desperate for a helping hand tonight. Regardless, it was awesome, here are the deets: 

SHRIMP & SAUSAGE PASTA with VODKA SAUCE

Ingredients: 

• 4 Uncooked Italian Sausages
• 1/2 lb. Shrimp, de-shelled, tails on or off (I used 26-30/lb Market Pantry/ Target brand) 
• Fettuccine Noodles
• Fresh Basil (about 1/3cup)
• 1 Jar Simply Balanced Organic Vodka Sauce (found at Target)
• 1/2 small onion, diced
• 1 Tbsp minced garlic 
• Olive Oil
• Salt and Pepper

Make it happen: 

1. In a large sauce pan, pour in the vodka sauce and bring to a boil. Once at a boil reduce heat to a low. 
2. Over medium-high heat, warm some olive oil, in a separate pan. Cut sausages into 1 inch pieces, and brown them. Add onion and garlic. Cook until onion is translucent. Once onion is clear, add contents of the pan into the vodka sauce and let simmer for 10 minutes while stirring occasionally. Set pan aside for later use, don't wash it! Once the sauce has simmered for 10 mins, turn on low to let the sausage and sauce merry while cooking pasta and shrimp.
3. Boil water and prepare fettuccine noodles according to directions on the packet. Don't forget to add Tsp of olive oil to prevent sticking.
4. Once the pasta is cooked halfway through, take browning pan used earlier and add heat Tsp of olive oil over medium heat. Season your shrimp with salt and pepper and add to pan. Once pink, remove shrimp from heat immediately. 
5. After shrimp is cooked, chop basil and reserve 1/4 of it to garnish on top.  
6. Build your dish by mixing the fettuccine noodles, shrimp, sauce/sausage, and basil into a large serving bowl. 
7. Mix well so that shrimp are covered in sauce and basil is incorporated. Garnish with more basil on top and eat your heart away. 

Serve with favorite wine or VODKA! :) 

Cupcake

Nothing is better than a yummy cupcake, expect a baby wearing a cupcake dress! Addie got this adorable outfit from some friends of ours and I just had to share. Our little cupcake is quite the looker! I could just eat her up! Her dad is quite the looker as well! We got a good looking bunch over here!

No Ice Cream, No Groceries- But We are Whole

We are whole. Big Sis is finally in town for Summer break. Our home becomes so much more lively with her around. Even the most frustrating situations become an afterthought when she is here... I loaded up all three kids into a hot car with a promise of ice cream upon good behavior at the grocery store and after countless efforts to start my car we headed back inside, defeated.

As soon as we get in the house Tatum has the idea to just pray really hard and God wills start the car. Oh how I love her so much. I hope her Philippians 4:13 mentality never fades. There are times when I wonder if I fail her as a mom because we are blended family and I miss so much when she is not here, but moments like today make me realize I am doing just fine.

Thank you God for a daughter who loves you, trust you and loves learning about you. I pray that she grows to be everything you want her to be. At this age I don't know if she truly understands everything you are, but after what she said today, I realize perhaps it is I who does not truly know you like she does.

Addison is 5 Months Old!

She's 5 Months Old! I can't say anymore because the water works will flow- just too big, too fast! A lot of people asked me about the outfit she is wearing, it was a hand-me-down from a friend, and the tags are unreadable at this point, so I don't have the deets on where to find it.  The bow? That's all me! I found the band part from a local dollar store and the flowers are from Michael's!

I love this age! She is filling out a lot and the clothes we have for her are really starting to fit well. Every time I am in Target or a clothing store, I can't help but gush over all the adorable baby girl clothes.  It's my husband's worse nightmare... not just one Mrs. Ashley shopping, but a Mrs. and a Miss Ashley shopping together! Dressing a little girl is way more fun the dressing a little boy. I definitely suggest finding you a little girl to dress up if you don't have one,  and if you can't find one, you can always borrow mine- granted we keep the clothes! :)

Blah- this was supposed to be about Addie being 5 Months! Give me a chance to talk about shopping and a tangent will ensue! The past 5 months have been the most tiring, and patience testing times in my life. Two littles under the age of two is crazy, but good crazy. At least I think it's good crazy, but that might be the crazy talking. Regardless, crazy or not, I love it and I wouldn't trade it for anything else.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day Shannon! You definitely did not pass your good looks on to our children because you still have them!!! We are so blessed to have your love, kindness, intelligence and humor. No one takes out the trash, pumps the gas, and eats the big piece of chicken like you. You are such a hard worker and we could never thank you enough for what you do. Today we will all walk around the house with no pants so you don't feel left out. Happy Father's Day!!!!

Bikini Business

So I got a few questions about the bikinis I wore from my last post. So here's the scoop:

 

This one is a Juicy Couture suit and I love it because the bottoms actually cover! As much as I would love to fit into an itsy bitsy bikini, I don't think I could, nor would it be appropriate, especially on base at the beach. I found this suit to give me the most coverage on the bottom without looking grandma-ish. They are made to fit like a booty/ boy short, and the rope lacing on the back gives it some fun detail. They are so comfortable! The top is just a typical triangle top but the laces are also the rope detail and an anchor hangs in the front to top off the nautical look. I got this suit at Marshall's and it was definitely a rare find. If you are bottom heavy or just want a little more coverage on the tush, I suggest going with a boy short look. 

  

Like the last bikini, I got this one from Marshall's. (I love me a deal!) This on is Kenneth Cole Reaction and I love this one for the top. This halter top offers some more coverage with the  ruffles and tie front. Again I need the coverage but don't want to look like an old lady. The bottoms are just a regular bikini bottom but the waist is fold down so it offers a thicker band for some extra coverage too. I like this one better than the Juicy Couture one because of the top coverage. I'm always afraid of falling out of my top and this one seemed to give me the most support out of the two. Plus the color makes me look tanner than the other one! :) 

All in all, they are both great bikinis, because I bought them at Marshall's I don't have product information but I'll do at little more digging and see if I can find it. Until then I would suggest browsing like stores, for bathing suits. They have some great finds for a fraction of the price! 

Summer 2014

Ok I finally have a minute to actually sit down and post pictures from Grammy's visit and some thing we've been up to. Summer is officially in full swing here in California and we've kicked it off with lots of time in the sand and sun. 

  

My friend introduced me to this sling called the Sakura Bloom and I am infatuated! It's a simple idea and its so comfortable. I have been through every sling and baby carrier out there, and so far, this one is my favorite for everyday use. It is made out of linen, so it is sturdy yet breathable. Addie loves that she can sit close to mommy but can still move her head to look around at what's going on. You can get the Sakura Bloom here. I highly recommend it if you are looking for an easy, lightweight baby carrier. 

One of my favorite things about Summer are the warm nights. Bonfires surrounded by great friends and family are the perfect way to end a Socal Summer night. Addie was mesmerized by the blazes. 

During the day it was all about fun in the sun. Jo loves digging and I love soaking up the rays. So happy Shannon was able to snag up a beach cottage on base for his mom again. Although he was working during the days, he was still able to come home at a decent hour to have dinner and enjoy the sunset over the water. 

  

Jo loved following Uncle Jared around. We are sure going to miss his company when he leaves. 

 

I really hope the whole Summer last like this. This is definitely a great way to kick it off. I can't wait to make more memories with my littles at the beach. We are so fortunate to be able to live so close to the ocean and I don't take them enough. 

  

Addison is 4 Months Old!

We've been having so much fun with Grammy here from Indiana that I am a little late on this, but Addie is 4 Months old! Peanut weighs in at 13lbs, 24in.  She can roll from stomach to back, she's lost all her hair, and she loves to blow spit bubbles.

Duck Face Level: Expert

Addie has found out that she can blow bubbles. In the process we found out that her Duck Face Level is Expert:

Indiana Came to Town

So since I was last in, we were battling fires.... since then things have settled yet stirred up. Shannon's mom was in town from Indiana and we had a great 10 days with her. We spent a lot of our time at the beach and just relaxing. Shannon was on-cycle so his days were quite busy, but the kids and I enjoyed the time with family and were sad to see her go. We did get a few kid free nights in and we spent those going to dinner with his mom and brother. 

We enjoyed great food and music at Coyote Bar and Grill in Carlsbad, and we had to frequent Shannon's favorite, Benihana. I forgot how nice it is to enjoy a dinner without screaming kids throwing vegetables in your face... This was a much needed mini vacay for mommy! 

Fire!

Oh my goodness, this past week has been CRAZY! We've been battling wildfires in the area for days and we were even voluntary evacuated. Not having rain here in California is great, but when it gets dry and hot, it gets dangerous when we haven't had a single drop all year. That, coupled with the Santa Ana winds is just disastrous. Half of Camp Pendleton has been ablaze a week and Shannon had to evacuate his 300 Marines from their barracks. WE ARE ALL FINE, and the firefighters are starting to contain the fires to areas that don't threaten any more homes, but the smoke, ash, and chaos of it all is giving me headache. The picture on the right is of the fire behind the fence of neighborhood. Compared to others around base and throughout San Diego's North County, we got it easy. Regardless, we need a vacation, anyone else with me? I'm thinking somewhere tropical. 

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms, single dads, grandmothers, and all those who mother! Mine was fulfilled with the love, joy, and laughter. Thank you to my amazing children and husband who give me purpose in life. 

Military Spouse Appreciation Day

Cheers to all my fellow military spouses out there! Loving a service member is not easy, and today America salutes you. Trying to keep our sanity while, maintaing the home front is a tough battle and without you America would not be what it is. The support you give your service member and the sacrifices you make is a lifeblood to the morale of those on the front lines. Your constant sacrifices do not go unnoticed and America appreciates you. Heaven knows we don't do it for the glory, because this is not a glorious life at all. The pay leaves a lot to be desired, the ever-changing "schedules" will test your flexibility and patience to the boiling point, and the misunderstandings of living this military life will never fully be comprehended to outsiders, but somehow we manage to find the good in it all. We live for the moment he steps off the bus, and the loneliness of the nights before that day all seem to fade as soon as he does. Teaching our children that Daddy is a part of something so important that he can't be home for months at a time is one of the hardest things we will endure, but the pride we feel when they finally get it, is so joyous. Here's to you fellow Milspo, I couldn't do this without you and you mean the world to me. God holds a special place in heaven for us, I imagine it to have unlimited pedicures, mimosas, and no blue service star flags. Happy Military Spouse Appreciation Day! 

Addie's Sunday's Best

Just had to share how adorable Addie is in her new dress that Nana Pat sent from Chicago. I believe the dress is from Target and it comes with the headband. She's wearing a size 3mo and it fits perfect, but she is a little on the small side, so I would say this dress runs small. I went to Target the other day and didn't see this exact one, but there are similar ones and they're flying off the shelves, so go get yours soon!