never forget.

10 years ago I was a freshman in high school. I was sitting in algebra 1B and the principal came over the intercom and announced what happened. The TV was turned on and a bunch of freshman watched in silence. We watched the 2nd plane fly into the tower. We watched people jump to their death. We watched the towers crumble. It was tragic.

Honestly, being only 14 years old I didn’t understand...even if I thought I did. When I was 14, New York seems a million miles away from the small town in South Carolina where I grew up.

10 years. A lot changes in 10 years. I’m no longer a 14 year girl who is unaffected by the events from that day in New York. Bradley’s best friend is in the army and I am very close with this wife. He has been deployed 2 times now and even the first year of their marriage he was overseas at war. It’s heart breaking to hear the stories of the war.

Watching the footage of 911 is so different today than watching 10 years ago. A different perception I suppose considering I’m now an adult.

Today is a day to honor and remember all those who were affected that sad, sad day. I am thankful for our freedom and I am thankful for the men and women that protect our freedom.

Never Forget.

FUNNY FRiDAY!

for fun friday shannon and i decided to play a little office prank on a coworker..nandi. usually shannon can execute such pranks with ease. but as you will see today shannon couldn't control her laughter. but in the end...nandi was still pranked! :)



happy friday!

xoxo
manda

skinny baby red potato salad

we make sliders often in our house. we have a small george foreman so it's just easy. plus, bradley makes a pretty fab burger. :)

so last night we had...you guessed it...sliders. we had some red potatoes that needed to be used and i saw this potato salad the other day on skinny taste (a website that i now LOVE!) i had everything needed expect the scallions. i figured i could leave out the scallions...i did and it was fine!

this potato salad is pretty delish! give it a try!

baby red potato salad
source: skinnytaste.com


4 cups baby red potatoes, cut in small pieces
1/2 cup green bell pepper, finely diced
1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
3 scallions, diced
1 tsp dijon mustard
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tbsp reduced fat mayonnaise
salt and fresh pepper

Boil potatoes in salted water until soft, approx 10 minutes. Drain and let cool.

While the potatoes are boiling, combine red onion, green pepper, mustard, olive oil, vinegar and mayonnaise and season with salt and pepper. Mix well and let the flavors marinade while the potatoes cook.

Once the potatoes are done and cool, mix into the bowl and add scallions and additional salt and pepper to taste. Serve room temperature or refrigerate until ready to serve.

xoxo.
manda

food football stadium

it's september! september means it's time for FOOTBALL!! i like football but i get more excited about making game day food...always a fun time!

our good friends, tim and spencer, were in town this past weekend. on saturday USC was playing ECU and spencer is a huge USC fan (bradley and i are clemson fans) so we had to watch the game! we decided for our dinner we were just going to have different apps since the game started at 7...and i remembered seeing a football stadium made of food once so that's what we did!

we also had chicken nuggets and pigs in a blanket but the snacks were all in the stadium!

rice krispy treats around the outside and lime chips and apple straws on the inside. the field was made of cheese dip, spicy guacamole, and salsa. the goal posts were a slim jim and an apple straw :)

we had so much fun making it!

xoxo
manda

latest creation! skating cupcake "cake"

our boss asked shannon and i to make his daughters birthday cake. the party is a skating theme so we made the cupcake "cake" to match the invite :)

the cupcakes are chocolate. my go to chocolate cake/cupcake recipe if from hersheys. it's pretty fail proof! :)

what you need:
• 2 cups sugar
• 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup boiling water
what you do:

Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour batter into prepared pans or cupcake pans.

Baking a one-pan cake: bake 35 to 40 minutes at 350° F

Baking cupcakes: line with baking cups. Fill 2/3 full with batter. Bake 22-25 minutes at 350° F