Not Domestic? Not A Problem!

Hey guys & dolls!  I have a little secret to divulge.  I know it's hard to guess, but I am actually far from domesticated as far as cooking goes!  I know, put on your WOW faces because that is a shocker.

But, I love to share little tips and tricks with those who, like myself, struggle in the battlefield of life that I believe someone once told me was called a kitten chin.  I mean, a keet chen.  Wait, maybe it was called a "kitchen."  I can't be sure, but it sounds like any of those.  :)

One struggle I have in the typical hub of the house is that I have to follow a recipe to a tee.  I have to look back at the recipe at least 24 times, and I have to measure and remeasure.  Basically, what I'm admitting to all of you in the interwebs is that I severely lack confidence in my abilities.  Top Chef, I am not.  But, I try hard, so you've got to love me.

Another struggle I have is that when I'm actually in the mood to make something stupendous, I rarely have all the ingredients I need to make the meal happen.  I know that one could say, "Get off your lazy arse and go to the grocery store," but that would make too much sense.  So, I happen to be most proud of myself when I am a) in the mood to make something and b) I can make something great with things I already have.  Not only did I not have to go to the grocery store to make it happen, but I'm also eating things that are already on-hand, which means I'm not wasting said things.

So, here it is, Peeps - the bread and butter of this post (pun only halfway intended. Because we're talking about food.  Get it?).

Here is one of the EASIEST meals that you can possibly make, according to moi.  It has always been a crowd pleaser (and by crowd pleaser, I mean that Little Sister Chicken Wing doesn't complain when I whip it up), and it takes literally three (3) ingredients. 

I call it Miss Chicken Wing's "What-You-Already-Got Casserole."

Ingredient List:

1.  Whatever pasta you have in the pantry.  For this batch, I had elbow macaroni.

2.  Whatever pasta sauce you already have.  For this batch, I chose Ragu Garlic & Onion.

3.  Whatever cheese you already have, but I hope you have mozzerella and parmesan.

What's Next:

1.  Boil said pasta, then drain.  Return to pot.
2.  While letting pasta boil, set oven to 350 degrees.

3.  Stir in pasta sauce, making sure all pasta is coated.
4.  Transfer mixture of pasta and sauce to a 13x9" casserole dish.
5.  Add in cheese.  I like to layer, so I add a bottom layer of pasta/sauce and then layer of cheese.  Top layer of pasta/sauce and then layer of cheese on very top.  I like cheese.  A lot.  Really, who doesn't?
6.  Place in oven for 15 minutes, then remove from oven, turn oven off, and serve.

See, six easy steps!  You are welcome!

Oh, whoops, I forgot an important one.  ADD ADDITIONAL PARMESAN CHEESE!!!!

SHAKY CHEESE!!!!!!!!!  Oh, how I adore thee!

This has been Miss Chicken Wing's edition of "Not Domestic?  Not A Problem."

Until next time,

Happy Blogday To Me!

Source

Happy Blogday to me,
Happy Blogday to me,
Happy Blogday to the Chicken Wing,
Happy Blogday to meeeeee!

It's so hard to believe, but I started this here wee blog two fine years ago, on September 25, 2008!  It's crazy to me looking back at some of the old posts.  I can see how much I've grown and I can definitely notice changes in my writing tone of voice.  I can see where I've become more confident, and that is all due to the incredible love and support I've received from each and every one of you, Peeps!  That is one of the coolest and most therapeutic aspects of this blog - at any point, I can look back through my posts and smile, laugh, cry, and experience my memories all over again!

Source

Thank you for following along on this journey called life, and thank you for checking in on me!  Thank you for commenting!  Thank you for passing my posts along!  Thank you for topic suggestions, the conversations, and memories that continually give me fantastic content to share with the world!  Thank you for holding my wings as I toddle through learning more about blogging!  Thank you for allowing me to discover and explore something that I've grown very passionate about! 

Thank you for making this the "little blog that could."  I genuinely could not be happier about where this is going, and I hope to keep bring you tales of the Chicken Wing for years to come!

Until next time,

MAJOR Irritation

I pride myself on being nice to people.  I would say I have a lot of friends, and that I'm generally well-liked.  I hope my pals would tell you that if they ever needed me, they could count on me to be there for them.  But, I do have another side that doesn't normally make its way into the light.

This alter-ego is Scrappy, as some of my coworkers hilariously dubbed me.  Scrappy is not one to be crossed.  Scrappy will put you in your place and put fear in your heart.  It takes a lot to bring Scrappy out, but I would like to introduce you to one of my worst enemies in the world, someone I have a MAJOR irritation with:

Source

Would it help if I put it in a "her" form?

You know girls are catty. Source

Pardon my french, but Ivy, as we'll call her, is a major cuss word.  She's the meanest of the mean, and she doesn't care if you were having a perfectly good day.  If she wants to take you down, she will.  Granted, you might be one of the few lucky ones who are immune to her, but rest assured, I.am.not.one.of.the.lucky.ones.

Let's just say that I got into a tangle with Ivy and while I am not going to say she won, I will say that she is busy telling all her friends, "Yeah, I look like this but you should see Chicken Wing."  Cuss word, like I said. 

She gets bragging rights.  As for me, I got a 12-day Prednisone schedule, coupled with Claritin twice a day.  Oh, and the skin irritation and agonizing itching that pretty much makes you want to go up to an impressionable friend and convince them to just put you down.

I am happy to report that I finally achieved two nights of continuous sleep where I was not awakened with that dreadful itch at 2am.  Or 4am.  Let's hope we can make it three nights tonight.  Pray for me, Peeps.

Hopefully, this will be the last run-in I have with Ivy for awhile.  I haven't gotten into a fight this bad with her in years, and I hope we can put a few more years in between now and the next time we throw down. 

But, just in case I haven't made myself crystal clear with where I stand in this ongoing fued, let me toss this careful warning out there:

Watch your back, Ivy.  If you have a choice between taking a dark alley or a road with a streetlamp on at night, choose the streetlamp.  You better start using the buddy system.  You are making the Wing very angry...and you wouldn't like me when I'm angry.

Until next time,

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things...Fall Edition

Peeps, I have a confession to make -

I woke up fairly early several times this past week and it actually made me smile.

Trust me, I just heard the screeching of your minds and the falling of your jaws when you read that line.  It was almost just as hard for me to write, and there was a momentary thought of whether or not I had used any illegal substances that would cause me to say such a blasphemous thing.

(I am happy to report that I have never, nor will I ever, use illegal substances.)  Back to the reason for this post.  Let me set the scene.

I woke up at 4:00am on Saturday morning as I had a HUGE event to work and needed to be there by 5:30am.  This is normally IMPOSSIBLE for me, so it was a major accomplishment in its own right that I was even awake.  But, I was awake.  I threw on my adorable rain boots to protect my tootsies from the early morning dew and took the furry monsters outside.  While standing on the concrete slab patio, a crisp breeze - so light that it was almost immediately a memory - blew by and I got a shiver all the way down my back.  I smiled.  This was a tell-tale sign that fall is almost upon us!

So, that little breeze started my wheels turning about the things I always get excited about that only come with fall, and I decided that this was a post worthy of being written.  Could it be that this little post of mine could start a fall revolution, where everyone who reads it starts to anticipate this fantastic season?  That could be a touch dramatic, but what am I if not dramatic, so I knew I had to try!  Here goes...

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Fall Things -
A Chicken Wing Remix
Light, crisp fall breezes and puppies and kittens,
Tell-tale cool temperatures that make you want mittens,
Pumpkin-spice lattes that coffee shops bring,
These are a few of my favorite fall things!

Big, comfy sweatshirts and warm apple pies,
Watching the leaves change with anticipating eyes,
Feeling childlike joy only a pumpkin patch can bring,
These are a few of my favorite fall things!

When the summer's heat burns,
When the winter's cold stings,
When I'm feeling sad...
I simply remember my favorite fall things,
And then I don't feel so bad!

Watching my Redskins and those UNC Tar Heels,
Being reminded of how a bonfire with friends feels,
Cuddling up to someone on your front-porch swing,
These are a few of my favorite fall things.

Fall-scented Yankee Candles and fall home decor,
Preparing for fall sales at your favorite stores,
Making fall memories that don't cost a thing,
These are a few of my favorite fall things.

When the summer's heat burns,
When the winter's cold stings,
When I'm feeling sad...
I simply remember my favorite fall things,
And then I don't feel so bad!

I hope that each of you have given some thought to your favorite fall things, and I would love to hear what makes you look forward to this fabulous time of year!  Leave me a comment, pretty please!

Until next time,

Daily Thought

This one rings true for everyone, I would have to imagine.  Thank you, Real Simple, and Happy Monday, Peeps!

Until next time,

Wedding Day Birthday Sneak Peek!

I wrote two posts about my amazing friends who recently tied the knot here and here.

I've had lots of requests for photos of the day, and I am happy to oblige!  Check out a Sneak Peek at Nay and DK's Big Day!

A good bridesmaid is always there for her bride.
Photo Credit:  Bella Pictures 2010

My sorority sister/fellow bridesmaid K did my hair.  When she first started styling, she asked how I was liking it so far.  I replied, "BIGGER!  I gotta represent the South!"  :)  Photo Credit:  Bella Pictures 2010

Here's me with the handsome groom, DK!  He made me cry by wearing the tie I gave him on his wedding day.  How sweet is he?  Photo Credit:  The AMAZING Michelle Vaz Bange

Sorority Love!  Nay, me, K, and J on our darling's big day!
Photo Credit:  Bella Pictures 2010

I genuinely had one of the best days of my life on this year's birthday.  It was a great way to ring in turning 26 and it was so fulfilling to see some of my best friends so incandescently happy.  There is truly nothing more satisfying than that!  I hope you enjoyed these photos as much as I did!

Until next time,

Another Chicken Song!!!!

I always love to share things with my Peeps that will hopefully make them smile, or maybe even make them laugh.  (I apologize for the delay in posting, but I just got back from Beach Blast 2010, which is a friends-only beach trip that began back in 2008.  As I've mentioned numerous times before, I seriously have the best friends in the world, and I love the fact that we all make the time to take a vacation together to end the summer on a high note!)

On said Beach Blast, I was introduced to this video and song by my incredible friend CR.  She is hilarious, and has a sense of humor very close to mine, so she couldn't wait to show me this clip on her iPhone (not that I was insanely jealous that she has an iPhone or anything.  I mean, what kind of friend would I be?). 

On the one hand, this video is hilarious just because of the content, this kid's facial expressions, and the man that walks/dances through the background.  On the other hand, I sincerely hope this kid gets a record deal because I actually happen to adore his voice and I think he is super talented.  Enjoy, Peeps, and pass this link along to all your friends - make someone's day today!

Source

Until next time,

Adorable Song By An Adorable Singer

Check out this deeply adorable song by Tje Austin, entitled 'Sunshine.'  I mean, really, how cute is that?


Source

Until next time,

Happy Labor Day!

Holy Hiatus, Peeps!  I apologize for the delay in posting, but I have been a very busy girl!  Busy with what, you ask?  Busy with lots, I say! 

I have a home improvement project in the works, and I can't wait to share that with you (it's been a process, so I will hopefully have that post up in the next week or so).  I have been SLAMMED busy at work, trying to get things ready for three huge projects that are all going on at the same time!  I've been preparing for Beach Blast 2K10, which is a friends-only beach trip that will commence in T minus two days (we depart tomorrow)!  I've been transitioning my clothes to introduce my fall attire back into the mix.  And, I've been.....wait for it......wait for it.......dating.  I know, put your shocked faces on!

That brings me to the actual topic of this post.  Dating is an interesting concept, especially to someone who hasn't done it since she was 19.  Yeah, that would be me.  After the dissolution of the last major relationship of my life, I took some time to reflect - on both relationships and myself.  I observed other couples I admire, took time to let myself think, and jotted down what I'd discovered was important to me, and also the things that my last relationship brought to light about myself.  I discovered the qualities and habits I need to work on that will make me better able to deserve the next person I invest time and love in. 

So, here are some interesting findings that I came up with that kind of surprised me. 

1)  Respect is a big deal to me - much bigger than I originally thought.  Not only is it important to me that I be respected, but it's important for me to continually be respectful of the other person. I also want to meet someone that I genuinely do respect for whatever reason - I think it helps lay the foundation for an entire journey together.

2)  Effort is key.  Here's a fact, kids.  Love takes work.  Lots of work.  Anyone who doesn't agree is honestly very naive or crazy.  Not to be harsh, but that is one thing I know for sure.  I always put forth effort in my relationships, whether it be with friends, family, colleagues, or romantic situations, and I would love to meet someone who operates the same way and is willing to do the work.  The work isn't always pretty, but it makes everything worth it in the end.

3)  I want someone who is as focused on the experience as me.  During my self-reflection, I came to realize that what really speaks to me can't be labeled as a "thing."  What really makes me happy is the experiences - the journeys from here to there, or the memories that you make.  Gifts are nice and all, but I want someone to go on adventures with me.  I want someone to discover new things with.  I want someone who is willing to listen to what I want to do, be open to it, and then find a way to want to do that too.  And I can do the same for them.  I want to be out of my comfort zone, and I want to really live.

4)  Giving back is HUGE.  I have always made it a personal policy to donate my time and even money to causes that speak to me, and I never really realized how important that quality of service is to me.  I don't do it because I want recognition.  I've always had the fundamental desire to help people, and giving back has also been the perfect way to give thanks for all I have in this world.  I am so lucky, and so blessed, and if I can do anything to make someone's life better, I want to do it.  I'd love to meet someone with that same mentality.  It's an exceptionally humbling and worthy experience, and it shows a degree of selflessness that is very appealing to me.  It's enough to melt your heart when you see someone who really gets it.

5)  Appreciation and gratitude go a long way.  I feel like we all know someone who truly complains all the time about what's going wrong in their lives.  If someone buys them dinner, they complain about the way the steak was prepared.  If they get a promotion at work, they express their discontent for the longer hours and additional responsibilities. There are very few things that completely turn me off to a person more than lacking appreciation.  I was raised to say 'please' and I was also raised to say 'thank you,' and I feel that is extremely important.  Life is too short to wish for what others have or to waste your time away with complaints or resentment.  I often get overwhelmed when I think of all the things that have been done for me throughout my life.  As I stated before, I am so lucky and so blessed - and I am so happy!  My heart could burst for the amount of blessings that have been bestowed upon me, and I am so grateful - it would be nice to meet someone who feels the same way.

So, this is the interesting and exciting thing about dating - you get to meet new people, and ask them questions, and learn things about them.  You get to see the different ways they handle high-pressure situations, and you can see how they react to the things you say and do.  For the first time in a long time, I'm completely out of my comfort zone and I am nervous!  And, in all honesty, I think that's a good thing.  I feel cautious, and maybe even a bit cynical, but moreso than that, I am very excited about the experiences I'm having and the memories I'm making!  I'm finding it fun to walk down a path that I'm not used to, and the control freak in me is being forced to keep quiet and I'd have to say that I'm finding that refreshing.  On the one hand, I'm used to planning everything and taking care of everything (it's just my nature), and dating has really slapped that hand.  I'm not in control but, for the most part, I actually don't mind - how crazy is that?  (I know it's scary - pray for me.)

So, here's to new experiences!  Here's to making memories!  Here's to meeting people, and being brought back to square 1!  Here's to being uncomfortable, and stumbling, and most of all - learning to be okay with that!  What can I say?  It's a fabulous place to be!

Until next time,