Rachael Ray's Open Faced Turkey Burger with Pot Pie Gravy

This meal was absolutely positively delish! I admit I heart Rachael Ray... so I am a fan of anything she makes or shows "me" how to make and I am putting my cookbooks to use a lot more often. I have Rachael's Look and Cook recipe book and the recipe's are in heavy rotation...not just because of my love for the kitchen in general, but because the price of gas is enough to stop you from wanting to go out anywhere for a meal (that is double spending and my wallet cannot tolerate it LOL!). This is really an easy meal to prepare, I paired the burgers with my "famous" roasted garlic asparagus that my family swears I slave over and I always laugh because it is literally a 8 minute side dish. I would encourage all of you to try this burger out! To see the recipe and follow along with Rachael, simply click here.

Please let me know if you try them out!

An Accidental Score

I just had to show the pictures of what this post is all about first, I am so totally excited about this find!

and

I decided to go into the JCPenney outlet on March 1st, mainly because I was very determined to let someone in management know that I was totally dissatisfied with the way my phone call was handled early that morning. I called to inquire about a bed, not just any bed but a linen oatmeal fabric upholstered headboard, demi footboard and side boards. I will admit my anxiety may have the better of me right about now with the whole bed search because Ikea discontinued my bed I had been drooling over for one year plus literally the DAY BEFORE I decided to hop in my car and buy one... I could have driven over two hours to purchase one... but with gas at 4.40 per gallon here in my neck of the woods, I just surrendered to loss with the bed. I was sick to my stomach... wait, I am getting off track here! 

Ok - rant over LOL! So I go in to JCPenney furniture outlet with a purpose... to make some stink about the terrible service I received on the phone. Keep in mind, I am only going on a friends opinion of the bed after I had mentioned to her what it was I was looking for (and cried a little about the bed from Ikea - do you know they STILL show a commercial with the bed in it??? Like why are you taunting me... ok! I am getting off track again - deep sigh) a friend (the same friend who told me about the KitchenAid) sent me a photo of the bed on my phone and told me the price, but I could make out the word Addison on the tag; can you believe the person on the other end of the phone STILL pretended she had absolutely no idea what I was talking about... even after I gave her the name of the product???

(I know right??? so frustrating)

Well I waited all day until I was ready to head west for travels to pick my daughter up and casually walked right in to the store, right to the bed display and guess what was looking me straight in the face- You've got it ...  THE ADDISON BED! I was irritated and relieved all at the same time. The bed is lovely, I really love it. 

(Image courtesy of wayfair.com)

I am torn between this style for my bedroom and this lovely style I found on o.co

As I was walking out... I saw a display with two different types of dresser mirrors being sold for 20.00 each and let me tell you, these are large mirrors! I thought to myself, "you need a mirror for the master bedroom, and at 20.00 - you could pretty much do whatever you wanted to the frame and not feel bad about it!  


Today turned out to be a really good day - I scored a beautiful mirror, purchased the fabric for my curtain panels and I have decided on the bed that I will put in my bedroom very soon since I have the fabric, I have decided the mirror will be painted cornflower blue. I mentioned in a post some time back that the state of my master bedroom is just offensive, no spice, sparkle or sassy anywhere in the bedroom but shortly ... this will change. If any of you are able to stop in a JCPenney outlet, do you normally walk away pleased? 


by the way - I went with the second mirror ... you will see the room starting to come together very soon!

KitchenAid Stand Mixers x's 2

After lusting for a KitchenAid stand mixer for what has to have been 6 years now, I finally decided I would take the plunge and purchase a mixer... I had a very simple mixer (a wedding gift) and I have used the poor thing so much that it literally rocks when I mix anything. Since it was time for a new mixer, I poked my nose around quite a bit, I checked all the local retailers, online and even tried to find one used but there was one problem... I had been infatuated with three particular colors... 

Tangerine (images found on target.com)

Knowing my appliances are black in the kitchen, I never wanted a black mixer... I knew I was never going to buy white, so I needed some color and Tangerine had my heart racing until I saw...

Persimmon


and then just in case I wasn't sure on bold color a beautiful vision appeared in the shade of Almond.


Now here is where it gets tricky...
I finally decided on a 325 watt 4.5 quart KitchenAid tilt head mixer in Tangerine with a glass bowl, I went with QVC because I could make the payments on the mixer, which helped me feel not so guilty about making such a major purchase. I called my order in on a Thursday evening. 


Happily confident in my purchase, my family and I headed to Las Vegas for a getaway Friday evening (the very next day), and then it happened... before we could leave for home on Sunday, I get a call from a friend of mine "QVC has KitchenAid mixers on sale for the Special Value of the Day today, and they are 259.90"...  I couldn't believe it, and from there... it gets worse. I asked what type and I almost fell out of the bed in the hotel room. A 450 watt, 5 quart bowl lift mixer. I could not believe my ears. Long story short, I now have two stand mixers (I will be returning one) I went ahead and ordered the second mixer because I only had to make the first payment, and not only was this mixer cheaper, they were doing 5 payments for this mixer vs. 3 payments for the Tangerine mixer!
 I decided on Almond!

I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of the second mixer (which should be today), I have to send one back. I am really confused as to which one to keep, and it is really just going to come down to the better looking mixer- that glass bowl is soo very nice. The difference in price between the two is about 48.00 so with a lifetime investment like this, I guess the difference in cost is a very minor point.


Stay tuned for the "big reveal" I will let you all see which KitchenAid won the crown. Which would you choose? The Tangerine (first mixer) or the last mixer, which is Almond finish?

Favorite Things Gift Exchange ~ Link Party

About a month ago, my friend Katrina (click Katrina''s name to see what she received from me) asked if I would like to participate in a little gift exchange, the concept came from Brandi who's blog we both follow ~ Don't Disturb This Groove. The idea was sweet and simple, spend 20 bucks on a couple items that are fav's of ours and send them to our exchange partner. I was all in, I had all these thoughts about what I could send and I was also eager to find out what Katrina would be sending me.  

Today I received a lovely note and these items from Katrina! I was soo excited. I know I talk to Katrina literally everyday, but she actually pays attention to small things I mention and I am so pleased to know she thinks that much of me. Check out my items from Katrina...

Here is the explanation of the favorite things Katrina sent!

Summer,

I’m super excited to share a few of my favorite things with you. I hope they make you smile and you have a chance to use them often.

1.    I really love this cookbook, and I know how much you love baking and I thought this would be perfect in addition in your kitchen. Let’s pick out a recipe to do together. Bake and Chat! J

2.   I love using my small berry colander, so when I saw the bright orange one, I knew this would be a perfect addition to your kitchen! I hope you love using it, and it puts a smile on your face.

3.    I just recently found these pretty flower candle holders and bought one for my home, and thought one would make a pretty addition in yours.

Enjoy!

Love

Katrina

I am super excited about my newest cookbook! I think Jai may just be a little more excited than I... she asked right away if I could find a few pies to make for her birthday. Katrina- I definitely plan to bake and chat with you very soon! 

My colander is not only the perfect size, but matches my kitchen very well and compliments my Rachael Ray cookware and stone/serving ware. 

I adore the candle holder, I am in the process of redecorating my bedroom (finally) and I am soo excited to have my first piece to go on my dresser.

I certainly hope you enjoyed the peak into the favorite things box I received, I had a wonderful time not only looking at the items I had in mind to get Katrina, but getting out there and sharing a bit of myself with someone else. I even had an item break and I was determined to get something else before I sent Katrina her box. To check out what Katrina received, click here.