Taco Stuffed Shells

These shells are a great twist on the normal stuffed shells. 

If you're looking for a Mexican option, try these out!

The preparation doesn't take too long, and it makes enough for a family of 4 plus leftovers!

Items You Need:

1 lb. Ground Beef
1 Packet Taco Seasoning
1-8 oz. Cream Cheese
About 15 Jumbo Shells
1 Jar Taco Sauce
1 Jar Salsa Salsa
2 C. Taco Blend Cheese
1 C. Sour Cream

What To Do:

Cook Meat, Drain Fat, Add Taco Seasoning and follow directions on the packet.

Add cream cheer, cover and simmer until cheese is melted. 

I like to break up the cream cheese to make it easier to melt. Melt. Mix. Set aside and allow to cool. 

While beef is cooking, cook the pasta shells per the directions on the box. 

Drain and toss with olive oil.

Pour salsa in the bottom of 9x13 pan. 

Stuff each shell with the meat mixture. 

Place shells in baking dish on top of salsa. 

Pour taco sauce over shells. 

Cover. Back at 350 for 30 minutes. 

Uncover, sprinkle with cheese. 

Bake 15 more minutes. 

Serve with sour cream and salsa!

Salsa in the bottom of the pan.

Cook meat. 

Add cream cheese in. 

Stuffed shells in pan. 

Taco sauce added. 

Enjoy!

Friday Favorites: End of February!

Happy Happy Friday!

Today, as every Friday, I'm sharing some of my favorites from the week!

I'm linking up with Erika, Narci and Andrea. 

Grab their graphic and linkup with your favorites from the week.

Crazy Weather

Well, this is totally unlike any Ohio winter I remember.
We have flowers blooming, and it's not even March.
Yesterday it was 70 when I was driving home from work!!
Today it's supposed to get to 75 degrees!!
Whoa!

I'm really worried about how we might get another snow and everything will freeze.
For the good of all of the plants, I'm hoping the warm weather stays around, but it's Ohio, so that probably won't happen.
We are known to have every weather condition in one week, and sometimes even in one day.

Last weekend I washed windows and picked up the yard.
Then, I came inside propped myself up on a chair by one of our front windows and read magazines.
The light was gleaming so brightly through the front windows that you could barely even see!

Spring Booties

On Monday I posted about some spring booties that are catching my eyes. 

If you didn't have a chance to check them out, click here. 

I really want your opinion on which ones I should order and in which color!

Valentine's Poem

My sweet grandma made us this cute poem. 

I had been talking about how we didn't have a grapefruit spoon or knife, so she made us this poem for Valentine's Day and bought us grapefruit spoons and a knife!

Bless her heart!

Spring Decor

I took down all of my snowmen, pine sprigs and gltizy decorations.
I'm still sucking up glitter and finding it nearly everywhere in my house.
It takes a good few months before the sparkles totally disappear.
As much as I love winter and am missing it.
Yes, I did say I miss it.
I'm excited for spring and the warm weather.

I put out my yellows, greens, flowers and greenery decorations last weekend.
It's good for a change in scenery around the house.

Plant Update

My geraniums are growing great!
See them on the left all green and full of life!
Let's hope they stay that way.

A few nights ago I planted impatiens and am awaiting their sprouting!


Tonight I'm judging cheerleading tryouts and chaperoning our junior high dance.
If you've ever been to a junior high dance, you know that it's more like inside recess than a dance.
Most times students are running around playing tag or standing alongside the wall than they are dancing.
I hope your Friday night is as fun as mine!

What's Up Wednesday: February Edition

It's my first WUW of 2017!



Today I'm linking up with Mel, Shay and Sheaffer to share 

What's Up Wednesday!!!
Today we're answering the following questions plus
What's your favorite beauty product?

What we're eating this week:

This week we're eating a lot of ground beef.
I think it's supposed to be bad for you, but let's go with it.  

Lasagna
If you're looking for an awesome lasagna recipe head over to Life As The Coats. 
I got this awesome recipe there and have made it for ourselves, along with friends and co-workers. 
They all love it!
I only wish I had taken a picture of how delicious it is!

Taco Stuffed Shells

Yum! 

My co-worker made these a year or so ago and everyone loves them.

I got out too much ground beef last week, so I made regular tacos and these. 

I hope to share the great recipe soon!

Stuffed Peppers

This recipe is on repeat at our house. 

It's super simple and delicious and includes a vegetable, meat and some cheese!

Chicken Tetrazzini

My great uncle makes the best turkey or chicken tetrazzini.
I didn't have turkey breasts on hand, so I made chicken instead.
I need to share this recipe as well!

Poorman Steak 

I shared my recipe on how to make Poorman's Steak here.

Semi-Homemade Apple Pie

In addition, it's great to have a yummy dessert with every meal.
Check out my semi-homemade apple pie here. 

What I'm reminiscing about:

I've been reminiscing a lot about what I was doing last year around this time. 

I was full force wedding planning. 

It's amazing that we've been married for 8 months. 

Time sure does fly the older that I get.

These are the pictures I was getting...

and what it looked like outside my window...

What I'm loving:

Spring Weather!

I really don't feel like we even got a winter this year. 

On Saturday I washed windows and picked up the yard. 

It was almost 70 degrees, and I was actually starting to sweat. 

What we've been up to:

We've been home bodies!

I took down all of my final winter decorations and put up my spring decor. 

I thought I was a bit early since it's still February, but the warm weather is calling for flowers instead of snowmen, snow balls and pine. 

What I'm dreading:

Two dreadful things this March...

1. We start standardized testing on the 20. 

Language Arts has two days, and then the other subjects have two days in May. 

March is so early to start testing.

I really hope that I've prepared my students as best as I could for the test. 

2. I have a periodontist check-up. 

Unfortunately, my gums keep recessing.

They really can't pinpoint why, but I've had gum graft surgery the past two years. 

It's painful and not fun being able to eat much for a few days. 

I feel like I have more teeth recessing, so I'm praying for a good check-up!

What I'm working on:

At school we're working on an informational presidential essay. 

The history teacher and language arts teachers are collaborating on teaching students about researching, paraphrasing, creating a works cited page and writing the actual essay.
I love having great co-workers to do cross-curricular lessons with!

In addition, we are currently reading The Giver.
It's so neat to see the students put all of the clues together to figure out the neat society that Jonas lives in. 

At home, I've been cleaning and planting seeds. 

Can't wait to see my flowers bloom!

What I'm excited about:

One of my friend's is having a baby very very soon!

I can't wait to see the first little one of our friend's group!!

What I'm watching/reading:

My husband got me into How I Met Your Mother.
It started out that I needed to see one episode, then led to three, and now 9 seasons!!!
What on earth have I got myself into?!
I'm really enjoying the show for the most part...when I don't fall asleep at night while watching it.

I'm just not a TV person.
Set me down to watch TV at night and you might as well tuck me into bed.
My body thinks that when it sits, it should sleep!!

What I'm listening to:

Kelsea Ballerini  has been on repeat on my commute for a couple weeks. I downloaded it on Apple music and connect it in my car when I can't find anything great on XM.

What I'm wearing:

 Loving me some Stella and Dot jewelry in both outfits. 

Can I just take a minute to mention how much I love the above necklace. 

I ordered the more budget friendly of it from Nordstrom, and it's just not the same. 

The chain is much thinner and always gets tangled. 

I really love the quality of Stella and Dot.

What I'm doing this weekend:

Judging cheerleading tryouts and chaperoning a junior high dance!

In addition, my co-workers and I are getting together to see Fist Fight.

What I'm looking forward to next month:

More warm weather! and the arrival of a sweet baby!

What else is new:

Nothing much is new.
I, unfortunately, got a head cold.
I'm working hard on kicking it off, but it got me down for a day or so.

What' the beauty product that you can't live without:

Mascara!
I think mascara is the finishing touch to any look.
If I don't have time to do all of my make-up I will still add a dab of mascara.

Spring Booties

Let's take a look at some spring footwear!

This winter has been crazy mild. 

I typically don't pull out flats until almost April, but I've been wearing them in February!

That got me to thinking about some spring footwear...

I'm in need of a tan or black pair of booties, and I'm loving what I'm seeing. 

I just can't make a choice. 

Dolca Vita Sonya Bootie

This bootie comes in two other colors. 

Originally $139.95   Now $89.90

I love the perforated look! 

These just speak spring to me for some reason. 

They also have a lighter, more whiter color if you are looking for something super light.

Vince Camuto Celena Bootie

These come in two other colors. 

Originally $138.95  Now $99.90

I love the perforated look of these booties as well. 

I just think the color may be a tad bit too dark.

Lucky Bartalino Bootie

 

This bootie comes in 9 different colors!

I love the black the most because of the texture on the side near the heel. 

Originally $99.95   Now $79.90

I really think these are super cute, but I'm not certain I would wear them a ton in the spring. 

 Lucky Bashina Bootie

This bootie comes in 4 sizes.

Originally $138.85  Now $96.90

I saw this bootie at the Anniversary sale, but I passed it up. 

Kicking myself now as my size is out. 

BCBG Dorien Bootie

Scrolling through the different booties I saw these on super sale!!

They come in one other color.

Originally $128.95   Now $49.98

Even though these weren't quite what I was looking for, I love the angled zip.

So, what do you think would work best for this spring? 

Do you have any other contenders that I should see? If so, please comment and post. 

I chose to solely look through Nordstrom because they tend to carry the most comfortable booties for me. 

I can't wear super tall or uncomfortable booties. 

It's just not going to work. 

I feel like the past two pairs that I've bought from Nordstrom have really earned me great, comfortable pairs!

Friday Favorites: Valentine's Day Again?!

It's Valentine's Weekend!

Wait, that was last weekend or is it this weekend?

We celebrated last weekend but maybe you are celebrating this weekend.

I'm back today to share some of my favorites!

I'm linking up with Erika, Narci and Andrea. 

Grab their graphic and linkup with your favorites from the week.

Paint and Sip

Last weekend we had a night out with some friends. 

We enjoyed a scrumptious meal together at Carrabba's (hello Fettuccine Carrabba) and then did a paint and sip. 

Now, I'm not artistic and have horrible hand eye coordination, so I go to have fun. 

I don't expect my painting to be the best!

Our finished product!

Super Simple Supper

On Wednesday I blogged about Poorman Steak and Semi-Homemade Apple Pie. 

If you're looking for an easy meal for this weekend, check out my post here. 

January Book Review

On Monday I shared five books I read in January. 

Check them out here. 

One was on budgeting, one was on overcoming real life, one was on overcoming a snow storm and two were science fiction. 

Plant Update

 Two weeks in and my violet geraniums look like this!

I plan to plant the rest of my flowers from seed this weekend.
On my list are lots of impatiens and calibrochoa. 

Tulips for Thought

I grabbed these pretty little tulips as I was heading to the checkout counter at the grocery store earlier this weekend. 

They haven't opened, but I love a little bit of color and happiness on my table.

Today we have an in-service today and Monday we are off.
In addition, it's supposed to be 60 here this weekend. Unheard of!
Have a great day!