Three Years

I can't believe it's already been three years since this cutie asked me to spend forever with him.  Easiest "yes" ever!

xoxo,

stephanie marie

ps - taking tomorrow off for something fun! see ya back here next week

Easy Chicken Tacos

I know we don't really need a recipe for chicken tacos, but I knew I had to try the marinade on this NYT recipe and it certainly did not disappoint.  The hot sauce gives it great flavor and using chicken thighs keep the meat juicy and not dried out.  This is great for a quick and easy weeknight meal, and if you have time to mix the marinade over the chicken in the morning and let it sit in the fridge all day, that's even better!

Easy Chicken Tacos

Ingredients

4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs {about 1.5 lbs}

3 garlic cloves, minced or grated

1 lime, juiced

1 Tblsp vinegar based hot sauce {I used Cholula}

1 tsp onion powder

4 Tblsp vegetable oil

Salt & Pepper

Tortillas & favorite taco toppings, for serving

Instructions

1. Mix chicken, garlic, lime juice, hot sauce, onion powder, 2 Tblsp oil, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper in a bowl and toss to combine.  Set in fridge if you have time to marinate.

2. When ready to cook, heat remaining 2 Tblsp oil in cast iron skillet.  Add chicken in single layer and cook until browned and edges crisp, about 8 minutes per side.  Remove to cutting board and cut into bite sized pieces.

3. On medium low, add about 1/2 cup water to pan and scrape up browned bits.  Keep skillet warm and add back in chicken, stirring frequently for 3 minutes.

4. Serve with favorite taco toppings.

Serves 4

adapted from nyt cooking

xoxo,

stephanie marie

The Weekend {In Pictures}

{afternoon walks}

{trying out a new neighborhood pizza}

{facetiming with the birthday boy}

{and his siblings!}

{the bouncy house looked like lots of fun}

{repping my team at the grocery store}

{feelin' like fall}

{not impressed with the game}

{waiting for christian to come home}

{bbq helper}

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Happy Birthday Jack!

Happy Birthday {Saturday} to this awesome SIX year old!  Jack - you are the kindest, sweetest, coolest young dude and I love watching you become such a curious, smart, and confident kiddo. I love being your Auntie and I’m so proud of you. Go conquer Kindergarten just like I know you will! I love you buddy!

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday from this clingy {but cute} psychopath who found that if she sleeps at the bottom of the stairs she can keep tabs on any movement from both of our home offices.  It's been an adjustment having a dog in the house again {especially one that follows us everywhere} but we're getting used to it and reminding ourselves we're doing a good thing by dog-sitting this crazy cutie!  Cheers to a slow weekend!

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Afternoon at the M's

Mom & Dad stayed over after the Steven Martin & Martin Short show so that we could all go to the Mariner game on Sunday as a belated birthday present for Mom.  We got tickets in the Terrace Club {I'm not sure C will ever sit anywhere else now} and while it was HOT in the sun, our tickets were luckily shady by the end of the 1st inning.  We picked a great game to go to, as Big Dumper got not one but TWO home runs, first tying then surpassing the record for most home runs by a catcher in the major leagues.  It was an electric atmosphere in the Park and a great day for an M's win!

xoxo,

stephanie marie

Steve Martin & Martin Short {The Dukes of Funnytown}

A while back I saw that Steve Martin & Martin Short were bringing their show, The Dukes of Funnytown, to the Paramount theater and I knew that we had to get tickets.  Since Mom & Dad are huge fans of them too, we decided to make it a double date and a few weekends back we finally headed downtown to see the show.  We've seen a lot of shows this summer but this one is up there with my favorites - the rapport between the two longtime friends and colleagues was just as nutty, chaotic, and endearing as you would imagine and we spent the entire two hours laughing hysterically at the stories and anecdotes the two shared {along with a fabulous band that played midway thru the show}.  It was such a fun and special night getting to see these two comedic legends and I'm so glad we could all enjoy it together!

xoxo,

stephanie marie

The Weekend {In Pictures}

{go rams!}

{already starting to look like fall at uvillage}

{a foggy holiday weekend}

{peach + strawberry crisp}

{bbqing}

{helping pick tomatoes}

{eating up all the peaches}

{being couch potatoes}

{labor day bbq}

{sunset walk to end the weekend}

xoxo,

stephanie marie