Treasures From the Interwebs

Here is a bit of what I've been loving this week on the internet.  I love reading other people's collections of links, so I thought I would throw my hat in the ring.

This article on Toxic Relationships


This tantalizing piece on self love 

 "Drink broth for breakfast in your skivvies and high heels. Or maybe long underwear and a wool beanie or a leopard print kimono, barefoot with black toe nail polish. Drink broth and tea and hot water with lemon." -MaryBeth Bonfiglio

Toying with the idea of purchasing these little supplements

Reading about how wormwood kills 98% of breast cancer cells in 16 hours.  Herbalism, people!

This Lemon Chicken Stew made it's way onto my list of to-makes.

2 Ingredient, Easy, Peanut Butter Fudge

Yall.  This fudge is INSANE.  If you like peanut butter, you will love this. If you don't like peanut butter, don't make this recipe.  Anyone can make it, 80% of people will devour it, and it's a super simple treat to take to holiday parties.  Try it, you'll love it.

* I have no idea who originally created this recipe, but it was not me.  It's just one of those that floats around and makes every cook look great.  ;)

Peanut Butter Fudge

• 1 jar of creamy peanut butter.  I used Skippy natural; you know, so it's healthy...
• 1 bag of white chocolate chips

Line a square casserole dish or brownie pan in aluminum foil and spray lightly with cooking spray.  In a medium sized, microwave safe bowl, mix the ingredients together.  Seriously, the hardest part of this recipe was getting all the peanut butter out of the jar.  It took me four, 30 second intervals with stirring in between to get the mixture to a pour-able liquid.  Pour into the liquid and let the fudge set up!  About 20 minutes into the setting, I took a butter knife and made pretty swirl designs on the top.  After about an hour I transferred to the fridge for an extra hour and then cut the fudge into small squares with a pizza cutter.  Small squares are key, because this stuff is straight up rich.  

The only things you need

Where You All Are From

I love stats!  Wow, over 5,000 different people in December!  It's an honor to share my life with you all.  Here's the view map from December 2013.

Holla, Russia! 

10 Random Facts About Me

10 Random/Fun Facts About Me

1. My parents accidentally named me after three saints
2. I love Crocodiles
3. I wanted to be a photographer for a long time.  I even have some professional training behind it, and a big honking DSLR camera.  The last teacher I had asked me if I was going to continue in the commercial market and when I said no, he told me that I didn't truly love photography because I wasn't choosing to do it for a living.  I disagree and I still love it, but I chose a more practical route.
4. I wish I could have picked my schnauzer's name.  I would have named her Scout, after To Kill A Mockingbird's character.
5. I don't wear much jewelry, but I do wear one ring every single day. It's an infinity symbol and my marmie has it's twin, as do several of my cousins and best friends.
6. I know how to read palms
7. Water is like a drug to me.  I go every single day I don't work to a pond nearby and when I'm stressed, it really helps me to go sit by some water.
8. I love to cook
9. I broke my foot falling down a flight of stairs in my loft when I was 21.  I had to do a semester of nursing school in a boot.
10. I speak Spanish 80% of the way.

Katie Plans: A Christmas Party!

No, I'm not having a Christmas party.  But if I was...this is how I would play it!  Light food with lots of sweet treats, rustic decorations, and a crafty ornament-making table.  Also, of course, a signature cocktail!

** Links for all that is pictured can be found on my pinterest board (HERE!).

These could be used as coasters, gift tags, or ornaments!  The possibilities are endless. 

Seems simple enough: an old crate filled with evergreen, pine cones and mason jars with candles in the jars.  Easy peasy! 

Old door with wreath: Good for photos! 

Candles on a cake stand.  You could put cinnamon sticks around them too! 

White branches with lights wrapped around them in a tall vase with some greenery and a big fat bow! 

Mason jar lid santa. 

DIY ornaments: sew or glue a triangle with a cinnamon stick inside. Simple!

DIY ornament: bottle caps and pictures

Twine wrapped around cheap balls: Big impact for little money

Cheese tree!  I bet those are pine branches but you could use celery or green bell peppers. 

Who doesn't love tortilla roll-ups?!

Cranberry jam and brie cheese in puff pastry squares: looks so hard but is so easy!

Chocolate covered pretzels dipped in crushed peppermint candies. 

Apple cider margaritas?!  Yes, please!

And of course: Christmas music! I love the mellowness of this record.  I've had it for a few years now...maybe two and I love it so much I keep it on repeat all day long. 

DJ Earworm and Some Ex-Boyfriend Story

I dated this guy for 2 and a half years once and he introduced me to these songs by DJ Earworm.  Every year, this DJ guy takes the most popular songs and mashes them up together to make one comprehensive, awesome song.

So what if I'm a dork.  I like mashups...

This is the 2013 one. Enjoy!

Southern Mac and Cheese

I've never been one to like the stove-top mac and cheese that comes with the powdered neon yellow/orange cheese.  Even as a kid, I would opt for something else.  So, I was pretty sure that I just didn't like Mac and Cheese in general.

Enter the classic pot luck.

Do you know what a pot luck is?  Growing up, one Sunday a month, after church, a bunch of families would all get together and bring food and eat together and fellowship. Those afternoons are some of my favorite memories!  Most women would bring a covered dish or casserole, and this baked type mac and cheese was a staple.  I loved it.  I had to have it.  I had to figure out how to make it.

Then I forgot about it.

Until two years ago, when I was watching Trisha Yearwood on the cooking channel.  She made an  AMAZING looking Mac and Cheese and once again, I was obsessed.  She makes her differently than mine and in a completely different method (crock-pot), but to be fair, this recipe is definitely inspired by her television show.  I hope y'all try it!

Sorry for the janky angle. I was so excited about eating it...

Southern Mac and Cheese

8 oz of cooked elbow pasta (macaroni)
1 12 oz can of evaporated milk
8 oz sour cream
1 stick of butter, melted
2 large eggs, beaten
4 cups of Colby Jack shredded cheese
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp paprika plus some to sprinkle on the top



Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and set aside a greased 9 by 13 casserole dish.  Mix everything together in a large bowl, but save some of the cheese to sprinkle on the top.  Bake for 45 minutes covered with foil, then 15 more minutes without the foil until the top is tan and bubbly.  Let the casserole rest for AT LEAST 15 minutes before you dig in.  Enjoy!