Our Language of Love

4:45 PM ByFiled UnderNathan, Sponsored

 

I wrote a post a few years ago about my amazing husband and how he expresses his love with his own language – when I comment about not having enough storage space in my pantry, he goes out to the garage and builds me new shelves; when he knows I’ve had a long day – he surprises me with a fountain Diet Dr. Pepper from the convenience store with the best syrup to soda mix (oh yes.. there is a difference) and sometimes – my man with the huge heart and chocolate brown eyes who shows his love through actions and caresses instead of words, surprises me like he did with a poem in an email 3 years ago.  A poem and action that I cherish to this day and can still brings tears to my eyes.

I bet if you asked my husband which one of us was better at expressing our feelings – showing our love – using our love language to make the other one and our children feel special, he’d say me.

I beg to differ.

 

Knowing I’m not a fan of roses, and as much as I love stargazer lilies (and I do. I LOVE) they are almost impossible to find right now and I’m not home enough to enjoy them, anyway… my amazing husband found a man who makes roses from wood shavings and he bought a bouquet for me and a bouquet for Princess, just because he loves us.

This man is teaching my daughter through his actions what it is to have a wonderful husband and an amazing father.  He’s showing her through his own very special love language,  many of the qualities that she herself should look for someday.  He is setting the example, and it’s a truly wonderful one.

He’s teaching my son how to be a man.  How to love, how to be a friend, that real men DO hug and hold hands and that they cherish their wives and family.  That no amount of material wealth or goods can compare to stars in the night sky on family camping trip, to laughing around a fire with friends until the early morning, that early morning tickles and snuggles are priceless.   He is teaching him that to love, appreciate, and respect your family is a gift to them and yourself.

ready to camp under the stars

My love language may be more verbally expressive or visually so with notes all over the house, blog posts, texts and saying I love you and appreciate you more often – but my husband’s actions are lasting, powerful and moving.

So, while he may think I’m the heart of the family…

I know better.

 

 

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I’m so excited to be partnering with Hallmark this year for its “Life Is A Special Occasion” campaign. Getting to work with Hallmark and share my family’s special moments and lives with y’all is a complete thrill and honor! I received that blooming expressions rose from Hallmark, and am compensated for my ambassadorship with them, however I am not paid to review it or provide positive comments.  The words on the rose just so reminded me of my husband that it prompted me to write about him and give it to him (hi honey!)

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Easy Cheesy Santa Fe Skillet

12:05 AM ByFiled UnderMain Dishes, Sponsored

Mac n Cheese.

It’s one of the ultimate comfort foods – rich, warm, creamy, cheesy – it’s one of those foods that can take you back in time, make you feel happy and safe all in one delicious dish.

Nathan, at 36, still loves few things as much as a good bowl of Mac n Cheese.

I, however, like a little bit more zing and zip in my dishes.

 

Give me some green chilies, cilantro, lime and even a little bit of cumin – and my Southern heart starts to go pitter pat.

For this month’s VELVEETA® and Ro*Tel® Weeknight WOW! post – I was given the recipe for their Easy Santa Fe Skillet to test and try and write about.

As is par for the course, I made a few tweaks, but the base recipe is solid.

It really is an adult Southwestern version of the ultimate comfort food.

 

We subbed ground Turkey for the ground beef – upped the onion factor – used Mexican Ro*Tel® with Lime and Cilantro and Mexican VELVEETA®

Ro*Tel Cilantro

and it’s a slight possibility that I may have upped the Cumin factor, too.

are y’all done with my chattering about the deliciousness of this revved up adult version of your childhood comfort food fav?

How about I just share the recipe with y’all?

Print
Easy Cheesy Santa Fe Skillet

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Approximate Time: 1 hour, 1 minute

Ingredients

    The Original Easy Santa Fe Skillet Recipe is Here
  • 1 Tbsp butter
  • 1 lb ground turkey
  • 3/4 C diced yellow onion
  • 2 C water
  • 1 (10 oz) Ro*Tel® Mexican with Lime and Cilantro
  • 2 tsp ground cumin (divided 1 and 1)
  • 3 C uncooked Rotini
  • 1 C chopped bell peppers (I used red and yellow)
  • 1/2 lb (8 oz) VELVEETA® Mexican, cubed

Instructions

  1. In a medium (cast-iron) skillet, melt the butter
  2. Saute the onions for a few minutes until just softened, add in ground turkey and 1 tsp cumin, cook the turkey until done (165° F) - if needed, drain the skillet contents and return to the skillet
  3. Add water, Ro*Tel® and 1 tsp cumin; mix well. Bring to a boil.
  4. Once boiling, add in rotini and peppers; cover.
  5. Simmer over medium low heat for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the pasta is tender and the majority of the water is absorbed.
  6. Add VELVEETA®; cook 3 to 5 minutes, or until melted. Stir frequently.

Rachel Says

Top with chopped green onions or fresh cilantro for a color and flavor boost. This would be delish with ground beef or sliced chicken, too.

http://asouthernfairytale.com/2012/02/15/easy-cheesy-santa-fe-skillet/

Now y’all don’t forget about the Weeknight WOW! Sweepstakes! $1000 is being given away each week and a grand prize winner will win $15K! (so – why haven’t you entered yet? it’s easy peasy lemon squeezy) Just go

VELVEETA® and RO*TEL® are hosting an amazing sweepstakes to encourage simple, easy weeknight family meals and entertainment ideas. Winners will be picked each week, and the more points you collect the more chances you have of winning! Grand prize winner will receive $15,000!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of VELVEETA/RO*TEL. The opinions and text are all mine.

 

Weekly Winners: The Tonguegasms of New Orleans Edition

9:57 AM ByFiled Underfood, Sponsored, Weekly Winners

I’m at the New Orleans airport right now, waiting on a flight home from one of the most wonderful, food filled weekends I’ve had in a long time.   Laura, Stephanie, Kristen, Jim and I were treated to some serious amazingness this weekend.

We were whisked around New Orleans by some truly lovely people from Weber Shandwick and Zatarain’s.  There were multiple tonguegasms and I’m just going to share a few of them with you today.

Enjoy, y’all – and sorry to make y’all jealous ;-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I cannot wait to tell y’all more about this weekend and share the pictures and stories and laughter — right now, I’m on airport wi-fi and my it’s slow as molasses and I think my first flight is fixin’ to board.  Hugs and Kisses and Deliciousness, y’all!

linking with Lotus’ Weekly Winners

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