Spinach Artichoke Dip {Recipe}

Spinach and artichoke dip is possibly one of my favorite dips/appetizers.  Who wouldn't like melted cheesy yumminess?!  I have found that the best spinach artichoke dips are homemade so I thought I would share my go-to recipe.  Brett and I actually had this for dinner the other night as neither of us were motivated to make something else (and I forgot to thaw some meat, oops!). Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 1 block (8 oz) cream cheese, softened (by sitting out or microwave)
• 1/4 cup mayo
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup Romano cheese (I didn't have this so I just added more Parmesan)
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt (I don't have this so I used garlic powder and a dash of salt)
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon chili powder (more or less depending on how you like this flavor...it doesn't add much spice because of all the dairy, but it adds a nice flavor)
• Salt & Pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup spinach (I just took about half of a frozen bag of spinach and thawed it so I'm not sure exactly how much I had, but 1/2 to 3/4 cup is good)
• 14 oz can artichoke hearts, drained (cut into smaller pieces if you so choose)
• 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella (I didn't have this and it was fine with out, but would be extra yum with!)

How to Make:

1. Preheat oven to 350.  Lightly grease a small baking dish.
2. In a bowl mix cream cheese, mayo, sour cream, Parmesan & Romano cheeses, garlic, basil, garlic salt, chili powder, and salt & pepper.  
3. Gently stir in artichokes and spinach.
4. Transfer mixture to baking dish and top with mozzarella cheese.  
5. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until bubbly and slightly browned on top. 
6. Serve warm with tortilla chips, pita chips, slices of bread, veggies, etc!

Linking up to these parties: (go check 'em out!)
Craft-O-Maniac
Tatertots & Jello
The Home Stories of A to Z
33 Shades of Green
Remodelaholic 

November Birchbox

Have you all have heard of Birchbox?  I hadn't until I read about it on The Small Things Blog.  For $10 a month you get a box of 4-5 beauty product samples.  It's a great way to try different products and have someone else do the shopping for you!  I just got my first box the other day, yay!  Here's what was inside.

The blue one on the left is chocolate...with chipotle, salt and popping candy!  Crazy!

As soon as I opened the box I was excited...it smelled so good! ha!  In my opinion the best part is that the products are personalized!  When you sign up you take a beauty survey and they base what they send you on that!  As you can see from Kate's November Birchbox, hers is different than mine.  Very cool!  And a fun way to spend some of my monthly "allowance"! 

If you want to sign up for your own, go to this link.  I've only tried the body butter so far (because it was what smelled so good) and it's already worth the $10!!  They also offer gift subscriptions in 3, 6 or 12 months.  Perfect if you need a last minute gift for the holidays!!

*Birchbox is not paying me or sponsoring this post...I just wanted to share!*

My To-Do List

Image Source

Although I'm not posting every day I am usually working on a project every day (I promise I haven't forgotten about you all!).  So I thought I would share what is on my to-do list for the next few months (probably until Peyton comes).  It is ever changing, but here it goes!

1. Finish purse into camera bag transformation
2. Make iPad case
3. Make countdown board (and tutorial to share!)
4. Refinish thrifted bedside table for guest room
5. Make potholder clutch(es)
6. Make baby blankets for Peyton
7. Make boppy covers
8. Make Christmas gifts
9. Plan Peyton's nursery (lots more projects with this!)
10. Make diaper bag and changing pad
11. Make items to sell in my etsy shop (that is to be opened...soon!)

Next week I will be putting out our Christmas decorations (woo hoo!)  Since I will not be back to Alabama after Christmas (we are spending 2 weeks in KY for Christmas/New Year's and I will be staying since travel after then wouldn't be the best for me) I would rather take the decorations down myself before Christmas than have the movers pack them up with the rest of our stuff.  And we will be in KY for Thanksgiving so hubby agreed to let me decorate before we leave!  I love this time of year!

Baby Bump

I haven't talked much about my pregnancy yet, so I thought I would share how our little girl Peyton has grown so far!  I am 24 weeks, 3 days today and feeling pretty good.  Nothing really to complain about, just some heartburn with anything I eat (I got it after eating oatmeal this morning!).  My most favorite part so far is feeling her move.  I love it!  It is the best feeling in the world!

8 weeks

12 Weeks

16 weeks

20 weeks

24 weeks

The bump grew a lot from weeks 20-24...hence the shock on the scale at the doctor's today! (But I blame it on a post-lunch appointment time and full bladder :)  haha  Time to pop in my prenatal exercise DVD!