Healthy Corny Bean Guacamole

Oh my..... let me just say, I'm so sorry for being MIA recently!  I have been crazy busy starting 2 new jobs..... that's right, not 1 but 2 new jobs! I'm a busy busy girl these days.

But don't you worry, I won't keep neglecting you! I'm gunna get back on a schedule and make sure
I stay current on The Freebird.

Today I wanted to share a healthy recipe that's as delicious as it is yummy, Corny Bean Guacamole. I have to admit, I LOVE avocado and could eat it all day everyday. Guacamole, yes please! Add avo to a burger, sign me up! And the best part is, avos are healthy fat so you can eat lots of it and not feel guilty. I mean come on, how does it get better than that!?

You will need:

~ Avocado, diced
~ Peppers (I used red and yellow), diced
~ Red onion, diced
~ Black beans, rinsed and drained
~ Corn
~ Lime
~ Salt/Pepper

The amounts are up to you. Play around with it and see what you like best. Maybe even add some cilantro or jalapeno peppers to kick up the spice.

 Lime, of course!

And there you go.... a tasty, healthy snack to enjoy! 

Easy right!? Yea I thought so too :)

XO,

K

Super Bowl Champs: Seahawks!!

Girls, girls girls!

Beast Mode cupcakes with Skittles, of course!

 And cute football strawberries!

Let me start off by saying, SEAHAWKS BABY!!! (Sorry to any Bronco fans that are reading this)

Clearly yesterday was a big day for my husband and I with his Seahawks playing in the Super Bowl..... AND WINNING! We went to our friends house for a fun party complete with a taco guy and all! It was so great, lots of fun food, drinks, and best of all, friends :) (aww cheesy, I know!)

Evan and I got all decked out in our Seahawks gear. I even made cupcakes with blue and green frosting, topped with Skittles in honor of Marshawn "Beast Mode" Lynch. We were totally stoked that the Seahawks killed it, but I have to say, I was hoping for a bit more of a game.... instead of such a blow out. One of my fav status updates I saw on Facebook, "So, the Broncos knew the Super Bowl was today right!?" Haha sorry but that's pretty funny given that game!

Oh and get this, my husband is on such a high from the win that he made a game time decision this morning to buy flights for us to go back home to Seattle tomorrow just so we can be there for the big parade in the city on Wednesday! I love him, haha..... can't wait to be there to celebrate with family and the whole crazy city! 

Hope everyone had a wonderful Super Bowl Sunday!

XO,

K

Pike Place Market

+GIANT crab legs!!+

+Making my contribution to the famous Seattle Gum Wall!+

+White Peach Moscow Mules with my mother-in-law!+

DE-LISH!!

Choies Sheath Boot (remember these beauties from this post!?)

Lulus Envelope Skort

H&M Jeweled Tiger Sweater (old)

Ok, so lets take it back to Seattle, WA for this post, which has now become my second home (since its where my husband is from).

Pike Place Market..... I'm obsessed! Probably one of my fav spots in Seattle. Its the coolest market with tons of amazing fresh flowers, fruits/veggies and of course, seafood..... all locally sourced. It really is a spot you MUST check out if you go to Seattle. 

And bonus, Rachel's Ginger Beer (previous post here) is right next to the market! Score, I mean whats better than shopping around the market, maybe grabbing a bread bowl of chowder and then stopping for a delicious cocktail after!? NOTHING! :)

XO,

K

Randomness!!

Cozy movie night with Spiced Cider

Santa was being a bit naughty ;)

Starting our Santa pic tradition.... complete with ugly sweaters and all!

Moscow Mule (with hibiscus!) and a Mango Dark 'n Stormy from Rachels Ginger Beer in Seattle. They make the most amazing flavored ginger beers AND they ship nationwide!!!! :) Can't wait to order some when we get home.

Sharing some randomness from my camera roll with you all today. We are off to do some shopping and take a brewery tour of my husbands favorite beer, Mac & Jacks. Happy saturday everyone!

XO,
K

Fiesta Engagement Party

It's not a fiesta without mini sombrero hats!!

Yum!! (Thanks Krista for making these tasty treats!)

Niki <3 Ross

My amazing family!!

** Photography by The Wonderland Group's Evan Burgher (aka my hubby!)**

This past weekend, my dad and step-mom hosted an engagement bash for my sister and her fiancé. Being the party decoration lover that I am (plus thinking I'm part Martha Stewart), I volunteered to help with decorations and planning. It was a fiesta theme, so I went to town making lots of fiesta inspired props. We made tons of tissue flowers that we hung from the lights in the backyard and also used as part of the centerpieces. 

I also made colorful, painted corona bottles to place on the tables and throughout the house. To make the bottles I started by putting my dad to work; I had him collect empty bottle for me (he is a corona lover!). Once I had enough, I put them in the dishwasher to give them a good cleaning. While they were drying, I mixed each paint color with a tiny bit of water to make it easier to roll in the bottle. Next, I poured some paint into the bottle and slowly rolled and tapped the bottle around to coat the entire inside. When it was completely coated, I poured the extra paint out and left them out to dry overnight. They turned out great! We placed them around the tables, and even put some of the tissue flowers in them. 

The entry table was my masterpiece! :) I had so much fun designing this, it was crazy. I bought mini margarita glasses, filled them with salsa and topped them off with a chip to dip. I lined them up on the table for guests to grab as they walked into the party. Next to the chips 'n dip, I placed a framed photo (I put photos of the couple around all the tables in the centerpieces and at the food buffet/bar tables too) of the happy couple, along with "N" and "R" letters. For the backdrop of the table, I made colorful pinwheels and polka dots to hang on the wall. Tissue tassels were strung along the edge of the table to complete the look. I was thrilled with the final product! So cute and fun :)

The party was a blast and I couldn't be happier for the beautiful couple! It was a great night to celebrate the love they have and to kick off the next year of wedding activities. Plus, I got asked to be a bridesmaid!!!! YAY! Soooo excited.

XO,

K

NYC

Taking the ferry under the Brooklyn Bridge

I was really excited for my pizza!

9/11 Memorial site

I loved this comfy, casual outfit I wore for our first day of exploring the city. It was easy yet stylish and on trend (with the plaid and booties). New York is on another level with fashion.... Everyone is dressed to the nines ALL the time!

Birthday dinner with my love!

Sweater: Leith from Nordstrom

Skirt: June & Hudson from Nordstrom

Amazing mix of friends..... from CA to NY.

Grand Central

 

My handsome hubby at the Top of the Rock!

(Sorry for the picture overload :)!!) For my birthday this year, my husband decided to take me to New York. It was such an amazing trip filled with great food, even better friends, and lots of exploring. 

We stayed at our friends place in Williamsburg, so one of the days we took the East River Ferry to the city, going under the Brooklyn bridge. Once in the city, I had a craving for some good 'ole New York pizza. While looking for a place to eat, we stumbled upon this cobblestone street that was all blocked off with picnic benches covering the whole thing. It looked like a beer garden type thing but it was all restaurants.... like a big food festival where you could sit at the benches outside each place and order your food. We found a pizza place and decided to try it and I'm so glad we did cause it was AMAZING! Its actually kinda gross how much of that big pizza my husband and I ate, but we couldn't help ourselves....It was just too delicious to stop!

After we stuffed ourselves, we walked to the 9/11 memorial site. We went through the museum, a very emotional experience! Then after, we walked across the street to the new memorial site where the old buildings used to stand. The giant "freedom tower" is incredible! It is such a massive, beautiful building! And the pools were so amazing to see as well. There are 2 of them that sit in the exact spots where the World Trade Center building previously stood. The whole area is so beautiful! It was an amazing and very moving site to see.

One of the nights, we had a big group of friends get together and go to a birthday dinner with us. It was such a random mix of people but it was so much fun! We had friends from NY and CA.... from high school and Oakley (where Evan and I both used to work). We started the night with drinks at this really cool speak easy type place called Beauty and Essex. The place was so cool....and for any ladies that make their way there, you have to make a stop in the bathrooms! Sounds weird, but totally worth it.... They serve you pink champagne! Plus its just a really cool looking bathroom, no surprise when you see the whole place though. Then we made our way to dinner at yet another really cool place, Freeman's. Its totally off the beaten path, down this ally but once you step inside, its this amazing place with great drinks and awesome food!

On our last day, Evan and I took to the city for some more exploring. We went to Grand Central, watched some of the big Columbus day parade, and walked around Central Park. We stopped by Magnolias to get a birthday cupcake (OMG! they are soooo delicious!!) and ate them at Rockefeller Center. After, we went to the "Top of the Rock" to see the stunning views in all directions. It was truly an amazing place to see the entire city from above. 

NYC is such an amazing city with way too many delicious places to get food. I cant even begin to tell you all about the many places we went to eat and get drinks. Our friends definitely know the hot spots and where to go! I cant wait to go back and see even more of this amazing city.

 XO,
K