blog - Simply Happenstance

Chicken Avocado Salad

February 20, 2014

:: Chicken Avocado Salad ::

This healthful Chicken Avocado Salad comes together quickly making it an instant favorite! Have you been running around too much lately? Not thinking logically on what you are consuming because the kids are busy and you haven’t had time to think? Well, that describes my family to the T lately. We have been anticipating some minor changes to our house. We just revamped our flooring throughout the downstairs. It’s funny because it was a choice or an elective situation that we had been planning to do since we moved to our home three years ago. In that time frame we had some water damage, minor repairs, and life in general so it got put on the back burner. But just like having a baby, we forgot the labor pains, and thus are trying to catch up from the mess.

That mess caused a ripple effect like life does, and we have been eating quick thoughtless meals, or dining out. It’s time to get back to the basics, and that means eating mindfully and enjoying it as well. This Chicken Avocado Salad is rustic and fresh. Oh and by the way….. it’s healthy so that is a plus!

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Woodland Decor Inspiration

February 18, 2014

:: Woodland Decor Inspiration ::

Have you been noticing sweet little foxes, rabbits, deer, squirrels, and owls everywhere you look? I certainly have… and I LOVE it! I thought I’d share with you my top ten favorite Woodland Decor pieces for kids’ rooms!

Perhaps it’s our life in the mountains that has me enamored by these darling little forest creatures… or maybe it’s that they are all so cheery and whimsical! Whatever it is… I simply can’t get enough of all the fun decor possibilities! I am not a huge fan of themed rooms, but I think a sprinkling of what you currently love, is always a good thing when it comes to decorating! These ten would be super cute in a nursery, young child’s room, or even in a playroom!

1. Woodland Friends Print // 2. Owl Branches Coat Tree // 3. Fable Foret Owl Clock // 4. Gold Owl Bookends // 5. Canvas Fox Wall Art // 6. Teepee // 7. Cardboard Deer Trophy // 8. Luxe Faux Fur Animal Hoods // 9. Forest Fox Trio // 10. Modern Woodland Wallpaper [Read more…]

Weekend Lovelies {favorite things}

February 15, 2014

:: Weekend Lovelies {favorite things} ::

How was your LOVE day?! Perfectly romantic and exciting, I hope! My husby is currently working a 72-hr. shift, so the kids and I had fun crafting the day away! I stayed up entirely too late the night before, making heart garland, and preparing a festive table for them to wake up to. {I’m sure lots of us mamas were up late decorating for our sweet little ones!}

So… this weekend, Nicole and I have a fun list of favorites for you to enjoy! Some beauty, design, recipes, style… and even a darling video to share with you! If you are a blogger or have an Etsy shop, we’d be thrilled if you’d link-up to our favorite things! Enjoy the weekend, friends… and feel free to say “hello” by leaving a comment below! {xo} [Read more…]

Date Day in Old Towne Orange

February 13, 2014

:: Date Day in Old Towne Orange ::

Last week, this super cute guy and I had a daytime date. We dropped the kids off at his mom’s house… and spent some time meandering around Old Towne Orange. It’s not a place we normally go to, when we have time away from the kids {maybe because it’s so familiar}, but for some reason… I had wanted to walk around our old stomping grounds. Perhaps it was the thought of Valentine’s Day being in the near future that had me hoping to revisit where we started… the place where our relationship began, and our love bloomed… more than sixteen years ago.

We spent the afternoon wandering around the circle, taking our time sifting through the old antique stores, and dawdling in the quaint boutiques. [Read more…]

Creamy Tomato Soup

February 11, 2014

:: Creamy Tomato Soup ::

There is nothing like Creamy Tomato Soup on a cold winter’s day. It truly can warm the soul. I myself love soup and I look forward to cold days when I can make a batch. I often like to double my soup recipes, and save half for later. It’s best enjoyed when I can’t think of what to make myself for dinner… when the kids are covered, and my husband is away for work. When I have a plan, like homemade soup in the freezer, it makes life that much more enjoyable!

I know at this point in your lives, you have tasted a million Creamy Tomato Soups. You have your favorite go-to place that you like to buy a bowl with lunch or dinner. Hey my favorites are Sundried Tomato and Paradise Bakery! This Creamy Tomato Soup tastes much like one of my favorites, and that is why I love it so! I had a severe addiction to Tomato soup during my pregnancies.

It only takes a few key ingredients and a little bit of love and you’ll have yourself a steamy bowl of Creamy Tomato Soup in the comfort of your cozy kitchen! A perfect start to any meal {such as Valentine’s Day}, or add a salad and some crusty sourdough, and you have a simple yet delicious meal on a Tuesday night.

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Weekend Lovelies {favorite things}

February 8, 2014

:: Weekend Lovelies {favorite things} ::

Oh my Valentine’s Day is next week! Remember those days as a kid waiting and hoping your secret crush would ask you to be their Valentine? This cute saying from Etsy shop Genevieve Santos brings me back to my childhood Valentines cards. Now that we have lived that part of our life, it is fun seeing this holiday through our children’s eyes. Thankfully, we are not quite at that place where they have secret crushes, but this card speaks volumes in its cuteness in how as little girls, you may or may not have sent a boy or two a note asking if they liked you?

Speaking of which, did you have a chance to check out our easy Printable Minecraft Valentine? One less thing you have to do next week. If you are behind a bit {Sara and I are…sigh}, we are happily sharing in this edition of Weekend Lovelies {favorite things}, some of our special finds for Valentine’s Day. We hope you find them useful.

Don’t forget… if you are a blogger or Etsy Shop owner, you can now link-up to our Lovelies post Saturday-Sunday! We hope that you’ll join us in the fun, and spread the word! Enjoy the weekend! {xo} [Read more…]

Printable Minecraft Valentines

February 6, 2014

:: Printable Minecraft Valentines ::

Do you know a Minecraft fan? Has Valentine’s Day “creeped” up on you? Well look no further; these simple Printable Minecraft Valentines are sure to be a hit with the biggest and littlest Mindcraft sweethearts.

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Vegan Chocolate Pudding with Coconut Whipped Cream

February 5, 2014

:: Vegan Chocolate Pudding with Coconut Whipped Cream ::

So… about a month ago, I embarked on a wheat-free lifestyle. So far, all is going well. I’ve tried to also cut back on sweets… but sometimes you just have to cave and give into your cravings! Am I right?! Over the weekend {while my husby was away at the fire station}, the kids and I indulged in this rich, decadent… Vegan Chocolate Pudding with Coconut Whipped Cream! It’s made using unsweetened coconut milk, good quality cocoa powder, pure vanilla, and heavenly chocolate chips! This is the perfect Valentine’s Day dessert… especially if you’re planning a date night at home!

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Gluten-Free Zucchini Muffins {grain-free, dairy-free, and paleo}

February 4, 2014

:: Gluten-Free Zucchini Muffins ::

These perfectly healthy Zucchini Muffins make for a great breakfast, afternoon snack, or side dish in your packed lunch! They are grain-free {gluten-free}, dairy-free, and paleo! They are easy to whip up, using only a food processor or powerful blender, such as a Vitamix. {I even made my own almond flour by throwing a handful of raw almonds into my food processor, before getting started with the rest of the recipe!} These healthy muffins are packed full of fresh shredded zucchini, providing you with a good source of vitamin C and phytonutrients. The eggs and almond flour give you a good dose of protein, while the coconut flour provides you with much needed fiber. These marvelous muffins are ever-so-slightly sweetened with use of a single banana and honey. I know that you will love them! The batch that I whipped up was gone within minutes! Even my child who won’t eat anything green, gobbled these up, and came back for more! Enjoy, my friends! [Read more…]

Weekend Lovelies {favorite things}

February 1, 2014

:: Weekend Lovelies {favorite things} ::

Happy Super Bowl Weekend, friends! We can’t wait to share some our Weekend Lovelies {favorite things} with you! We have some fun Super Bowl foodie finds that may make it to your Super Bowl Sunday. Do you all have plans? And of course the big question, whom are you cheering for? I have a feeling the Broncos might take this one, and I am only being a little biased, as they are the only team I have seen play live {so that’s my logic and it sounds like a pretty good one}. Let’s see if they win!

This week’s inspiration is a play on words, as well as, words we all can learn to live by. Have you all seen Disney’s Frozen? My kids are addicted to listening to “Let It Go” on repeat in the car. It’s not driving me crazy as of yet, but what I love is it’s meaning of truly letting go of the past, some of present, and the future. Things will happen as they are meant to be. One reason I am feeling these words {besides from hearing the song}, is the week we have had at school. When I say “we” I not only mean myself, but a few of us mom’s who are having a hard time with our boys behaving in class. You know the usual boy stuff… but as women, sometimes it’s hard to relate as we see our lives from when we were little girls. {Not a good comparison as it is apples to oranges.} So my mantra is to “let it go” when it comes to worrying about the school day. They are little boys growing and learning, and to remember this time will pass, and we will miss it. They also make for exciting stories to one day tell to our daughter-in-laws, because believe me… my husband has a long list of his moments!

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