Enchilada Lasagna

Let me start by saying the top picture is not mine.  The hubs and I scarfed this meal down so fast we forgot to even take a picture.  It was just that good.  I made this casserole for a friend who had surgery and made enough for us to have one as well. It was so super easy to make and off the charts good.  If you discriminate against casseroles and using cream of anything soups then this recipe is not for you.  But if you are like me and love a casserole and Mexican food,  this will be right up your alley.  It was so creamy and delish.  Serve with a side of black or pinto beans and you have an easy weeknight dinner.  It also reheats just as well the next day!  Next time I may try it with beef and for any vegetarians you could definitely sub beans or sauteed veggies for the chicken. Enjoy you will want to add this tasty meal into your weekly dinner rotations!

{Enchilada Lasagna}

adapted from Mogwai Soup

Ingredients:

2 tbsp of vegetable oil

1 lbs chicken breast, chopped to bite pieces

5 cups of Mexican blend cheese

1 can of cream of celery

1 can of cream of chicken

1 1/2 cups sour cream

1/4 cup canned and chopped green chillies (drained)

small corn tortillas

1 tsp cumin

2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

Directions:

Brown chicken in a pan on 2 tbsp of oil. Season with salt and pepper.  (For this step I used a Rotisserie Chicken)  I shredded it and then tossed it with salt and pepper and cumin.  Then I added some of our homemade taco seasoning. just a few sprinkles of it for more flavor.

In a bowl combine cream of celery, cream of chicken, sour cream and green chillies.

Prepare a bowl of water that you will dip your corn tortillas in (dipping them in water keeps them from getting dried out in the casserole) and the dish you will assemble the lasagna in.

Put 1/2 cup of cream mix on the bottom of the baking dish and spread. Layer a row of tortillas followed with cream mix, chicken and cheese. You should be able to make 3 layers like this. Last layer doesn't need chicken, just a ton of cheese.  

We served ours with sour cream, fresh diced jalapenos, and taco sauce.

Bake at 350 degrees about 30-40 minutes.   

-Photo via Mogwai Soup-

Blog Sale: Women and Kids

It's your lucky day because I am in a cleaning out mode again- here is what I am looking to unload:)  Email me at nataliemason24@yahoo.com if you are interested.  I will invoice thru paypal.  Shipping is $5 and I will combine if you order multiplies.  Stay tuned because there may be more to come:)

TIBI SHIFT DRESS

size- 4

worn once- its just a touch too short on me.  Great dress though

Retailed for $325

$150

J.CREW ANCHORS AWEIGH SILK BLOUSE
SOLD

Size= 4

New with Tags, Sold Out

Retailed for $135

$75

ENVI ONE SHOULDER OMBRE DRESS

SIZE= small

worn twice, mint condition

96% Rayon, 4% Spandex

Retailed for $198

$70

FANTAISIE KIDS SMOCKED SHORT SLEEVE LONG JON

 SOLD

Size= 24 months

New with tags

$25

RAGSLAND SEERSUCKER JON-JON

SOLD

Size= 2T

New without Tags

$25

RAGSLAND SEERSUCKER JON-JON

SOLD

Size= 2T

New with Tags

$25

Obsessions

{CLUB MONACO DIAMOND SHIRT}

Awhile ago I saw this image on Pinterest and I loved it.  Loved the girls hair, but I especially loved her shirt.  Well I found it online and it is just lovely.  Dying to add this to my blouse collection!

 {BB DAKOTA JETTA VEST}

BB Dakota is quickly becoming one of my new favorite brands because everything is so affordable. 

I love vests for the fall.  They can really spice up an outfit.  You could throw on this vest over anything and it would look cute.  I picture if with a blouse and skinny jeans or for an edgier look with liquid leggings and a tee shirt.

{FRONT PORCH}

This front porch is simple yet chic.  I would love to do something similar for our screened in porch.

{OLD NAVY STRIPPED DRESSES}

Ladies you need to get to Old Navy STAT.  They had some really cute stripped dresses for only $19.94.  They are light weight and perfect for this time of the year.  I think they will also be great when it gets cooler with boots.

I didn't see this version in our store but found it online.  Love the neon yellow stripe dress.  You could buy 4 of these for less than $100! A real steal.  Such versatile dresses and great for layering pieces.

{Old Navy Stripped Jersey Dress}

{BLACK BEAN BURGERS}

This has become one of my favorite meals.  I have been eating Black Beans burgers like crazy whenever we eat out.  Anyone have a good recipe to make them at home?  The burger below is from Triangle Grill here in Charleston and it remains one of my favorite Black Bean Burgers.  Served with a side of Collards= best meal ever!

{REESES WHOPPERS}

This is so random but I picked these up the other day at the Grocery store while I was checking out- dang you grocery store and your food displays near the register, they suck me and Sterling in everytime.  These are so bad for you but so good.  I allow myself 5 a day to have a sweet snack and they are so delish I always want to shovel the whole box in my mouth.

Scenes From Our Weekend

Monday is always here way too soon.  We had such a nice weekend.  Matt and I even got a solo night to ourselves because his parents kept Sterling over night Saturday and we got to sleep in til 8:30- such a treat I tell you!  I can't remember the last time I laid in bed past 7!  After a kid its the little things!

Friday I was inspired by Cassie's F21 post so I popped in there to browse.  Found this great blouse- the color is even better in person.  Such a steal at $19.00
{Sheer Smocked Tie-Neck Blouse}

Friday night we cooked out at my sister in law and brother in laws house.  They are staying in one of his family's houses downtown on The Battery and it is fabulous.  I didn't get any family pictures of course but I did snap a picture of this vintage wallpaper in one of the bathrooms.  How great is it for kids?

Saturday we started off our anniversary with a family bike ride to the park.

We then cooled off with some beers and pizza.  I am so not a beer drinker- like I probably have not had a beer in months but for some reason it sounded good yesterday and it was tasty as well!

I busted out my Parker Dress, from last year to wear for our Anniversary Date Night.  I love that the weather here is not quite so humid and it is cooler in the evening,  so I can wear some fall clothes!

 Before our Anniversary Dinner we stopped by a party at our Yacht Club to celebrate our neighbor Pete, who was  being inducted to President.  It was the perfect evening to be out on the water!

We ate at one of our favorite restaurants for dinner.  I had Salmon over arugula with heirloom tomatoes and fresh goat cheese and Matt had Flounder- like literally a whole flounder!  They were both incredible!

We of course had to snap the obligatory self portraits!  Cheers to 5 years.

Sunday we relaxed.  Poor Sterling has a touch of a cold.  I took him on an afternoon jog with me and he passed out cold.  Look at that sweet face!   I have started calling him Mr.  Scrumptious because I just can't get enough of him!  This is such a fun and loving age!

Thoughts For Friday

Happy Friday my sweet friends.   I am so glad it is the weekend because guess what?  The hubs and I are celebrating our 5 year Wedding Anniversary tomorrow!  Feels like just yesterday we got married, time seriously flies by!  5 years married, 11 years together and one sweet baby boy later.  We are a very blessed couple.  I love you Matt!

Sterling's Big Boy room is coming along quite nicely.  I am headed to Charlotte next week to get the rest of the bed so soon it will be completely finished and I will share some pictures.  For now here is a little sneak peek.

Told you the 3 Sprouts Baskets were adorable! 

I am so ready for fall.  Last night I busted out my Chanel Vamp and painted my nails.  This remains one of my all time favorite nail polishes.

I am embarrassed to admit it, but I have been watching Married to Jonas and I kind of like it.  What is wrong with me- why do I always get sucked into these Reality TV shows?  Kevin Jonas seems like a sweet guy or at least they portray him to be sweet:)  It is my guilty pleasure.

I just finished Reading Bringing up Bebe, and I highly recommend for any of you moms out there.  It had some great advice on the differences between French and American parenting.  It was super interesting.  The premise is that French children are better behaved, sleep earlier through the night, and are better eaters than American children.  I could relate to alot of what the Pamela wrote and plan to try and implement some of the ideas into our daily life.

Confession, I have been majorly into the Library lately.  Call me a nerd but I love it.   I take Sterling there at least once a week.  He picks out books and movies and then I always find something for myself- I am so over buying books.  They clutter up my house after I read them and this is much cheaper and easier!  

This week I picked up Born to be Brad.  I know there are alot of Brad haters out there but I still love him and can't wait to read his book.  

I also put my name on the waiting list for Carol Radziwill's book What Remains.  I guess the Real Housewives has helped her book out because I was 13th on the waiting list!

Did you all know Nate Berkus is coming out with a line for Target?  I am so excited.  I think I might pick up a set of the sheets for Sterling's room.  How fabulous are they?  And just perfect for my suave little man!

Just saw this dress on Pinterest yesterday and now I am convinced I need it.  I used to be so into BCBG but probably have not bought anything from there in years.  This makes me want to stop in and browse.  Love this dress it would be just perfect for Fall.

{BCBG OLIANA PANEL DRESS}

Speaking of dresses I have been obsessed with my Madewell Tunic Dress.  I wore this baby three times last week.  And it's on sale right now in the Poppy Color.  Such a great casual dress.  I love it so much I am seriously contemplating getting the Poppy color too.  Highly recommend it for you ladies!

{Madewell Tunic Dress}

Enjoy your weekends.  In honor of my anniversary, this Ecard made me laugh out loud.  Here's to hoping Matt doesn't feel like our love is forced:)

xoxo!

DIY Neon Stripe Clutch, Yep I attempted this!

OK, call me crazy but yesterday at nap time I decided I was going to tackle a DIY.   I am usually so not a DIY person,  but you see I was inspired.   I saw the adorable Emily of "Cupcakes and Cashmere" on the Today Show this week, and she was talking about painting purses.  And then I remembered this Claire Vivier Stripped Clutch that I love.

It was enough to get my wheels spinning and believe I could recreate this.  I have a ton of old clutches from my grandmother and from an eBay phase where I went a little vintage clutch crazy.  I chose this clutch because I don't carry it often and figured if I did ruin it, oh well.  You could totally go to Goodwill or look on EBay and find a similar clutch for cheap.

My only piece of advice is if you buy Clutch look for a smooth one, mine proved to be a little more difficult to paint because of the gathered leather.  It was hard to get the stripe super straight.

The next part is easy, pick a color and go to town painting.  This was a no brainer for me, I knew I wanted to do Hot Pink.   Use painters tape and tape off how wide you want your stripe.

I am not sure the best type of paint to use on leather.  I used acrylic paint, because I had it on hand and it worked just fine.   I started this project during nap time and finished by dinner,  super easy.  I took me about 4 coats of paint to get an even look.  I let each layer of paint dry completely before I painted another layer.  This way you don't get clumps of paint.  Mine dried quickly, I would say I waited about 30 minutes between each layer.

I am pretty darn pleased with the end result.  Might just have to carry my new beauty this weekend!

Next, I  plan to get crazy and attempt to do three stripes + a monogram.  Wish me luck!