This post brought to you by ALPO® Brand Dog Food. All opinions are 100% mine.

Pee Wee love, love, loves ALPO's® Chop House Chunks food. We decided to feed him the T-Bone steak variety (you can view all the varities/flavors over on ALPO'S HOMEPAGE). Pee Wee loves steak. Whenever we grill steak, he is simply desperate to get a piece. 

So here's a pictorial guide to Pee Wee's adventure with ALPO® Chop House Chunks!

First, we have to get his attention.

Then, we open up the food. He's immediately like, "OH MY GOSH!! STEAK!!! YAY!!! BEST DAY EVER!!!"

He starts digging in:

He inhales the food; chewing is totally optional. Silly dog. I don't understand how he doesn't stop to take a breath while eating!

And when he's all done, he looks around for us to serve him some more. An empty bowl means an unhappy Pee Wee. He will lick that bowl clean, no joke. He can't bear to spare a single morsel of gravy. 

And this whole process only takes about 1 minute. Don't believe me? Here's a video showing Pee Wee totally enamored with the ALPO® Chop House Chunks. Afterwards, he took a nap on the couch as my husband yelled at the TV. Just a typical Sunday around here, folks.

I really love to see Pee Wee excited about having a special Sunday treat, and his fave is definitely ALPO's® Chop House Chunks. We have another can for him as a special treat during the work week, and Daniel and I love that ALPO® Chop House Chunks are affordable, easy to find in stores, and come in tasty gourmet flavors that are Pee Wee approved. If your dog loves gravy (and which dog doesn't), then you have to pick up a can or 2 of ALPO® wet food. 

I also wrote about ALPO® a few weeks ago, and I shared an adorable dog video that you MUST watch it you're an animal/dog lover. You can check that out right here. You can also find more dog lovers over on  ALPO’s Facebook Page. 

Does your pup/pooch love wet food as much as Pee Wee? I'd love to hear about it in the comments section!

Breakfast is my most favorite meal of the day, especially on weekends. As with all my cooking, I hate making anything that takes a long time and/or requires 5 different pots or pans.

No thank you.

This dish is the anti-thesis to all of that. It’s all made in one cast iron skillet…and a small saucepan if you opt for gravy. It’s simple, delicious, filling and QUICK. You can have this from kitchen to table in under half an hour. I made this for Sunday breakfast, and then we ate the leftovers for Sunday lunch. This dish is perfect for brunch or breakfast, or heck, why not dinner? You likely have most of the ingredients on hand.

I use a cast iron skillet for this recipe because I am obsessed with the great crust and flavors that develop when cooking with cast iron. If you don’t have one, and don’t want to buy one, a 9x13 Pyrex dish will work, too.

Rustic Cast Iron Breakfast
MonicaWantsIt.com
Servings: 4-6

Ingredients:

• 1 can of jumbo buttermilk biscuits (8 count)
• 4 large eggs
• 1/3 cup of milk
• Salt/Pepper
• 6 strips of cooked bacon
• 1 tsbp butter

Gravy Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp flour
• 1 1/4 cup of milk
• 1/2 cup shredded gruyere cheese
• Salt/Pepper to taste

Pizza Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Cook up 6 strips of bacon and drain excess fat onto paper towel. In a bowl, whisk together salt, pepper, milk and eggs until well mixed. Crumble the 6 strips of bacon into bite sized pieces and toss into egg mixture.

Open can of biscuits and form a crust on bottom of greased cast iron pan. Pour egg/bacon mixture over the biscuits and bake for about 15-17 minutes.

Cut into 4-6 servings using a pizza cutter and enjoy!

Gravy Directions:

Melt butter in small saucepan, add in flour to make a roux, then mix in milk. Bring up to a boil, whisking constantly. Reduce heat, add in cheese until melted, and add in salt and pepper to taste. I like my country gravy with a lot of pepper—I probably used 2 tbsp worth. The gruyere cheese adds a smoky flavor, but feel free to omit it or add in your fave cheese.

The gravy adds a salty, decadent touch. Plus, who doesn’t like biscuits and gravy…WITH BACON?!

It’s kind of funny how this totally does look like a pizza! The biscuits puff up and form a crust that is reminiscent of a pan pizza crust. Nom nom nom.

You can really get creative with this recipe and use turkey bacon, or use pepperoni, or add in veggies like spinach and tomatoes. The possibilities are endless. This recipe is sure to please even the pickiest eaters, and I think it’d be fun for kiddos to eat.

What are your favorite Sunday morning foods?

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Kraft. All opinions are 100% mine.

When I am counting calories, trying to save money, or a combination of both, I turn to sandwiches. Now sandwiches don't have to be boring or plain- they can be pretty darn tasty and gourmet. Some of my favorite products to get gourmet flavor without paying gourmet prices are Kraft® Singles and OSCAR MAYER® Premium Deli Meat. Plus, you can get great deals on both of those products at Sam's Club.

Here's my go to sandwich recipe that is tasty, comforting, and way less calories than eating a fast food burger. It's super quick to whip up, too!

Ingredients:

• Kraft® Singles (I love the sharp cheddar variety)
• OSCAR MAYER® Premium Deli Meat (My fave is the Shaved Smoked Turkey Breast)
• OSCAR MAYER® Fully Cooked Bacon
• Sliced/pickled jalapenos
• 2 slices of wheat bread
• Butter spray/butter

Step 1: Spray/spread butter onto both sides of the bread. Heat a pan/skillet to medium/high heat.

Step 2: Put a Kraft® Singles slice of cheese onto each slice of bread. Place turkey, bacon, and jalapenos between the 2 slices of bread. Place onto heated pan, and gently press down with a spatula. You should hear some light sizzling because of the butter.

Step 3: After about 1-2 minutes, or when golden brown, flip the sandwich over to cook the other side. Place sandwich on plate and cut in half with a knife.

I love to eat my grilled jalapeno turkey club with a side salad or chips. This is also a great sandwich to dip into some ranch-- it helps cool off your mouth due to the jalapenos. And oddly enough, the flavor profiles also work well with BBQ sauce. With sandwiches, I love to get super creative and try unexpected combinations.

What are your favorite quick, easy sandwich ideas using Kraft® Singles and OSCAR MAYER® Premium Deli Meat?

If you need ideas, make sure to visit the sandwich solutions website for simple recipes that can be made with items from your local Sam's Club.

Today’s Friday Lust post is all about dining tables and chairs. Ooh la la.

In my post earlier this week, I told you all about how much I hate our dining set. It was absolutely perfect for our apartment that we lived in from 2007-2010, but now it’s just not what I envision for my home. It’s also hard to scoot the stools/benches in once you sit down, and it’s just…not me.

It’s got 2 stools + 2 benches (and a wedge we’re not using that connects the 2 benches to form a L shape), so it sits about 6 people. It’s counter height and nearly impossible to find a table cover for. Sad face.

Here’s what I’d rather have:

Traditional Dining Room by Burnsville Design-Build Firms Highmark Builders

Contemporary Dining Room by Lewis Center Interior Designers & Decorators Instyle Interiors

Traditional Dining Room by Centreville Photographers Buchanan Photography

Traditional Dining Room by Vancouver Architects & Designers Kerrisdale Design Inc

I want a gorgeous, weathered pedestal or trestle table with really beautiful chairs that have tufting or nailhead accents. The overall vibe I am wanting is sort of like if Restoration Hardware and ZGallerie hooked up for a one-night stand and had a baby. I WANT THAT BABY. Rustic, glamorous, classy and timeless. I also love the weathered, hand scraped table look because if a friend slams a glass on the table, or I drop a fork onto it, it just adds to the character. I don’t want a normal, super smooth finish, cherry or espresso dining set.

And that may be why I can’t find anything I can friggin afford. Here’s what I have found so far. In a perfect world, I’d buy this table:

$1295 from Restoration Hardware

And then I’d buy 6 of these chairs:

$449 each from Restoration Hardware

And then I’d move on with my life. But unfortunately, I don’t have thousands to spend on this endeavor, so onto the copycat versions of these pieces. This table from World Market is a strong contender, but the finish is too dark…

On sale for $499 through 9/30/13 @ World Market.

Then there’s the Cane Dining Table from Home Decorator’s Collection- I called to get the specs, and it seems like it will only seat 4 because the overhang at the edges is only 9 inches. Although, in a pinch, I don’t think it’s awful…but then again I wouldn’t be the one sitting at the edge. I’m also iffy on the color since it looks gray washed in one photo and really dark in another. On sale through 9/30/13- $599.

And another potential table from Home Decorator’s, but I wonder if the 48” size would be too small for my space? I’d like to be able to fit 6 people, so this may not work. I’m also not 100% on board with a circular table.

On sale through 9/30/19 for $359.

 

However, I’m about to contradict myself because I LOVE this round table from Ballard Designs:

$1199 at BD.

 

Chairs are easy enough to find, and although they’re cheaper than RH’s version, they’re not that cheap, KWIM?

 

$301 for a pair at Overstock.

 

Sigh. I don’t know what to do. I want what I want, and I know this is not a project I’d ever want to DIY, so do I just save up for my dream dining set? I’ve thought about freshening up my current set with some slipcovers or something, but finding slipcovers for the 2 benches is proving to be quite a task.

 

Advice, thoughts? If anyone cares to sponsor my entire dining set, please let me know. (Hey, it never hurts to ask) :)

This post is sponsored by Latina Mom Bloggers and Orgullosa. All opinions and excitement are my own, as always!

Join us for an exclusive Orgullosa Facebook Chat with Adrienne Bailon!

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage and the Spirit of the Nueva Latina

The Orgullosa community already celebrates, empowers and fuels Latinas' accomplishments and dreams everyday as “mujeres con la falda bien puesta”. We celebrate where we come from and where we are going. During Hispanic Heritage Month, Orgullosa wants to join together to recognize our Latina culture and passion to inspire each other because that’s who we are!

Join us to discuss how our bicultural community represents strong, independent women who celebrate having the best of two worlds: one being rooted in their Hispanic culture and the other seizing their limitless potential in the U.S. The Nueva Latina!

Celebrity Guest Adrienne Bailon will chat with us LIVE on Facebook to discuss her experience and point of view as a fashionista, television host, actress, musician and more. Growing up as a bicultural Latina, she’ll share how her culture has shaped her today, and provide her personal advice for Latinas trying to reach their dreams and aspirations – all exclusive to the Orgullosa community!

And as always, we’ll have some amazing prizes to give out along the way!

Party Details:

What: Orgullosa ‘Celebrating our Hispanic Heritage Everyday: Being the Nueva Latina Generation’ LIVE Facebook Chat

When: Wednesday, September 25th at 9 PM EST

Where: https://www.facebook.com/orgullosa

Hashtag: #OrgullosaHeritage

Special Guest: Adrienne Bailon, Nueva Latina

Moderators: Latina Mom Blogs (http://www.facebook.com/latinamomblogs)

Brand: https://www.facebook.com/orgullosa

Website: http://www.orgullosa.com/

Prizes: Three (3) gift baskets with your favorite Procter & Gamble home and beauty products, Orgullosa goodies, mini-ipod, and gift certificate, valued at $250 each.

RSVP: To be eligible to win prizes, you must RSVP at Latina Mom Bloggers.

I will be there, and I look forward to seeing you!

This post is going to have a ton of pictures, so I totally apologize in advance if I cause you to go over your data plan for you mobile users.

My dining room has kind of stayed as is, plus or minus seasonal décor, ever since I did this reveal post last year. Well, the hubster and I have been lusting after a new dining table, so we rearranged the space a bit to see what it’d feel like in a different configuration. Ok, and I sort of lied…I’ve been lusting after a new dining table while my husband is 100% OK with the set we have.

It is the bane of my existence. But more about that in a post later this week.

We flip flopped the layout and now it looks like this when you walk in:

Now the dining table is what greets you when you walk in (before it was the sofa), and I’ll admit I despised the layout the first few days…Now I LOVE IT! It flows nicely, the room feels more spacious—which is a challenge since the room is about 10 feet wide and 30 feet long. Yeah, seriously narrow and long.

The chandelier is centered beautifully over the table, and mercury and jewel tone accents add drama to the space.

The candlesticks and mercury glass pumpkin are from one of my top 5 favorite stores: ZGallerie. The blue and magenta pumpkins are from Hobby Lobby, and the flocked damask runner is a wedding leftover from Kohl’s holiday collection back in 2008. Silver chargers are 98-cents each at Walmart.

Past the dining table, is a comfy, luxe seating area perfect for cocktails with the gals. Plus, there’s a doorway that leads straight to the kitchen, so that it’s easy to get refills on drinks or check on the puffed pastry in the oven.

And if you haven’t noticed, I finally splurged on some curtains with COLOR. My other ones were 5 different shades of beige, and these are STUNNING. They are a gorgeous peacock blue color, but when the light hits them, they can morph into having more green or blue. I am in love! The price is oh so right—these gorgeous SIlkana Teal Curtains are only $52 for a pair, and they are worth every penny. They do not totally block out the light, but they do filter it so it just softly embraces a room. Highly recommend!

And now onto more pictures and less of me talking…

 

Pee Wee always comes into my blog photo shoots to give his approval.

Or to lounge.

That mirrored table off to the left developed a HUGE crack out of nowhere. Ugh. So now a nice serving tray from World Market covers that sucker up.

I’m still obsessed with my ghost chair. I’m writing this very sentence right now while sitting in my ghost chair from Overstock. It’s so comfy. I think my circa 2008 Dell PC is an eyesore. Maybe Santa will bring me a new all in one PC this year…or maybe a Mac? Hhmm.

This frame is one of those fugly gold frames you can find at garage sales. While the gold may be old/ugly, a coat of spray paint can work wonders! Plus, look at those gorgeous, ornate elements on the frame.

These flocked damask pillows were a great score at JCP a few years back. I got 4 of them for $6 each.

The mirrors are from Kirkland’s and were about $10 each. They always have sales and coupons (plus you can use coupons from your phone), so I always go to Kirkland’s for affordable home décor such as mirrors, vase filler, and pumpkins for fall.

There you have it! Again, the primary “makeover” aspect of this simply involved moving around furniture, and bringing in accents from other rooms, but in the interest of full disclosure, I did splurge on the following:

• New Silkana Teal Window Panels (4 panels, $100 total)
• New trellis patterned pillow ($15 at Ross)
• New magenta pumpkin ($4 at Hobby Lobby)
• New black lamp shade ($10 at Ross)
• New bright white bulbs ($12 at Walmart)

Total: About $150 for a whole new look!

I have this obsession for pumpkins, so I love being able to scatter them throughout my home. The dining room won’t get to enjoy the fall décor too much since I have been selected for a super awesome opportunity that I’ll tell you about later this week. IT IS EXCITING!! I am so over the moon about it and can’t wait to gush all the details to you lovely people.

There are a few things I want to change about the space, in addition to getting rid of the dining table. I’d love a luxe throw with a fun geometric or damask print, a bar cart, wine fridge, recessed lights, a tufted storage ottoman, more wall décor, mirrored/acrylic serving tray, metallic pillows, and a less “beige” wall color. Oh and a gorgeous arm chair! I’ll be working on those during the next phase of my dining room facelift. :)

What do you think of my “new” dining room? Like? Love? Want to come over and have drinks with me?

If you have any questions about anything in my dining/office/living room area, please feel free to leave a comment and I’ll reply to you in the comments as soon as I can.

But here are some questions I am anticipating and will just answer now:

• Where is the sofa from? Macy’s: Chloe Sofa in Granite
• What is the wall color? Sahara Desert Sand by Glidden
• Where are the chandeliers from? Home Depot: Maria Theresa Chandelier
• Where is the “C” table from? Pier 1’s Hayworth Collection