Veggie/Chicken Casserole

Last night I was craving veggies, but I was also craving cheese. To fulfill both of these desires I knew a casserole was in my near future. I also knew I was tired and it was getting late, so it had to be super easy. This is what I came up with and it turned out super yummy.

What you need:
1 stick butter (I use unsalted)
1 cup 2% milk
1 can cream of chicken
2 cups cooked and drained penne pasta
3 cooked chicken breasts diced (I cooked them with greek seasoning)
1 yellow bell pepper chopped
1 red bell pepper chopped
1 zucchini chopped
1 head of broccoli chopped
pinch of white ground pepper
16 oz shredded mild cheddar (you can use less, remember I was craving cheese)
1/2 cup bread crumbs

What you do:
1: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Combine butter, milk, cream of chicken, penne, chicken and veggies into a casserole dish and add the pinch of pepper.
2: Cover it with cheese and bread crumbs.
3: Bake until heated through and bread crumbs are toasted (about 30 minutes).

That was is it!! I forgot to take a picture, but dang was it good! I will be making it again soon!

Night 1 of Nashville Fashion Week 2013

I was thrilled to see that The Pinnacle at Symphony Place was being used again for a night of fashion! There is nothing like the skyline of our great city to highlight the beautiful fashions we would be seeing.

The evening got started with Plenty by Tracy Reese! A nice collection of hip, cool ready to wear looks. Then Looks by Tracy Reese strutted out on the catwalk.

I was really looking forward to the Kal Rieman collection and I was not disappointed. I love Cally's knack of turning "menswear" into something feminine and beautiful. I was for sure thinking of a friend when these looks hit the runway. 

Red Doll produced a beautiful, frilly and sexy line this year. I had trouble taking it all in. I wanted the show to just keep going. The real show stopper though was the gray "puffball" gown in the center below, from the barely covered breasts to the plunging-to-the-waist neckline. There was a gasp as she hit the runway. 

Then for the show we were all waiting on! Misha Nonoo's Nonoo line. It was stunning in every way, from the large ushanka hats to the splendid gowns. The center gown was absolutely regal and beautiful as were all of the looks in this show! The fit, styling and all around feel of this collection had me smiling all night. 

I hope you are all attending or at least following all the coverage of Nashville Fashion Week! It is just a splendid time and the art you get to see in these designs is breathtaking. Looking forward to the rest of the week!

Photos by: Steven S Harman/The Tennessean

Nashville Fashion Week begins Tomorrow!

All the fun, beauty and artistry begins tomorrow night at The Pinnacle at Symphony Place! Nashville Fashion Week is always one of my favorite weeks of the year! Kal Rieman, Red Doll, Nonoo, Plenty by Tracy Reese, and Tracy Reese are part of the first night of runway shows. I know I am beyond excited! Here is a little rundown of the first night of shows, with information from the Fashion Week website.

The Kal Rieman line combines a toughness with beauty. Her clothes can be found from Atlanta to New York. From the Fashion week site:

“Cally” Rieman began working in fashion as an apprentice for Jean Charles de Castelbajac in Paris. She moved to New York in 2002 where she mastered her knowledge in men’s tailoring as a designer for Hilfiger’s H men’s line. Having admired the strength and simplicity of menswear, Cally wanted to create a collection that achieved that same sophisticated, effortless dressing for women. Her collection is marked by the breadth of her experience, “tough and chic, austerity without pretense; clothing for women that embodies the grace and ease that makes menswear so powerful.

The Red Doll collection:

Red Doll designs are classic styles with a modern twist. The line is inspired by elegant, fun and timeless women, that are found everywhere from the streets of New York City to family, friends, movies and much more. Tatyana lives in New York City, pursuing her dream of being a designer and creating beautiful clothing.

The Nonoo Collection has been seen on several celebrities and is rising fast in the design world:

Misha Nonoo’s vision has always been to design collections with a timeless allure that encompass a couture sensibility for everyday life. Her eyes have been trained by a life of rich cultural experiences which she has woven together to create a truly innovative design vision. Nonoo encompasses traditional Savile Row tailoring with European couture sewing techniques. Misha has been named one of the top new designers to watch by publications such as W, Elle and T Magazine, the New York Times style magazine. Celebrity ambassadors include Gwyneth Paltrow, Sarah Jessica Parker and Pippa Middleton to name a few.

Plenty by Tracy Reese is a fun ready-wear collection, you wanna check out:

While referencing its bohemian roots, plenty by Tracy Reese is modern, contemporary, and effortlessly sexy. The brand has a distinctive mix of color, print, and playful details.

Tracy Reese takes it up a notch. Even The First Lady Michelle Obama strutted out in one of her designs at the DNC:

Tracy Reese is a modern take on classic silhouettes rich with art inspired prints, beautiful color palettes, attention to details and novelty and embellishment.

I suggest you get your tickets right away! Also, check out the Nashville Fashion Week website and follow them on twitter at @nashfashweek. I hope to see you all there!




Photos via designer's websites and not used for personal gain.