I'm Alive!

Due to a lot of personal and family issues, I have flown under the radar for a while.

But now, I am back, and prepared to be better than ever!

I hope you're still reading and if you aren't, then hopefully I will be able to gain a few of you back with some new ideas.

I will be back tomorrow with my first post, so be sure to come back!!

Love,

Erika

Margauxbonnie Winner!

Good Monday Afternoon! Sorry for the delay, I have been having internet troubles this morning.
I am happy to announce a winner has been chosen via random.org for a beautiful studded phone case.
The winner is Victoria Polak!

 

 

Here is what Victoria posted about the phone cases:

 

 

Victoria, please contact me with your contact information at domestictopia@gmail.com   so I can pass the information along to the beautiful Calee!

 

Thanks so much everyone for participating and please stay tuned for more giveaways coming your way soon.

Just Slow Down

 

Dear Xander,

I remember the day pictured above so clearly. After a long struggle with high blood pressure all summer and being forced to be on bed rest the last month you were growing, I was just ready to meet you. I was so curious as to what your features were going to be, if you would be even-tempered or a little wild spark.

Your entrance via emergency c-section could not have been more opposite of your sweet disposition. I remember freaking out that something was wrong because I did not hear a cry when you came out. Then, I saw you in your daddy's arms. You were so content just being. You didn't cry and in fact, we thought something was wrong with you because we didn't hear a real cry for almost a month! And now, here you are my sweet, sweet child. You are even sweeter than that first day and just get even better day by day.

 

 

 

 

I constantly find myself taking pictures of you sleeping, taking in your sweet baby scent, and rocking you a little longer each time. I want to remember you just how you are, peaceful and sweet. You will be five months old in just a few short days and it makes me want to cry  that we are almost halfway to your first birthday. You are my baby, why can't you stay my baby forever?

 



Inevitably, I know you must grow. All I am asking is please, just slow down.

Love,

Momma

Margauxbonnie Giveaway

What better way to make the week a little better than the chance to win a studded phone case courtesy of Margauxbonnie!

Margauxbonnie was the first Etsy store to begin making studded phone cases. What started out as a hobby for friends and family developed into much, much more.

My dear internet friend Calee, is co-owner with her boyfriend Mark of this great company. Not only does she make these fabulous iPhone cases, she also chases around her two adorable children, Aubrey and Dylan.

They offer very stylish cases for iPhone 4/4s, iPhone 5, and even Samsung Galaxy S3. They have a few varieties, but I personally love the floral cases and ones with designs such as crosses and hearts.

What started out as just a small hobby has developed into something much, much more. In fact, Margauxbonnie was featured in Self magazine's January 2013 issue. Talk about great success!

Calee has been so kind as to give away one of these great phone cases to a lucky reader! So, to enter, simply do the following:

• Comment below stating which case you would like (and what type of phone) and why you love the Margauxbonnie phone cases.

Want additional entries? Here's how!

• Like Domestictopia on Facebook
• If you already like the page, send a friend to like it and tell them to give you credit! (1 friend limit)
• Favorite Margauxbonnie's shop on Etsy.
• Like Margauxbonnie on Facebook.
• Tweet about this article and link it: http://bit.ly/SK6D9s - Just use the hashtag #domestictopia

All of these will count as one additional entry.

You have until Friday at 5 p.m. cst. A winner will be chosen at random and announced Monday.

Good luck!

Also, Calee, thank you so much for participating in Domestictopia's FIRST giveaway!!

Cooking With Ashley: Chicken Parmesan

My friend Ashley and I have nights where she comes over and we cook dinner. We've only done it a couple of times, but we are planning to make this a continual thing. It helps me feel like I've got some sort of human interaction, and, let's face it, it is also a great excuse to taste Ashley's awesome cooking. Plus, what girl wouldn't love the promise of Italian food and wine?!

The other week we got together and made Italian food. Ashley made an amazing Chicken Parmesan and it was a somewhat time consuming, but fairly easy dish.

This is a great meal to make on the nights that you want something gourmet without the gourmet price.

She simply followed this video and in about an hour, we had this as a result:

These are both Instagram photos, with no filter. They really turned out that amazing and taste just as good as they look.

Don't have time to watch the video? Here's the recipe and instructions:

Chicken Parmesan

• 2-3 small chicken breasts
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cup flour
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley
• 1/3 cup grated parmesean
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 cup Panko
• Olive Oil
• Jar of your favorite Tomato Sauce
• Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

1. Separate all ingredients. Combine Garlic Powder and Dried Basil in a dish. Combine Breadcrumbs and Panko in a separate dish. 
2. Cut chicken breasts in half and trim the fat. Salt and pepper both sides of chicken.
3. Combine eggs in a bowl and beat. Add garlic powder and dried basil mixture to eggs.
4. Put in order, flour, egg mix, and bread crumb/panko mix. Then, put a handful of bread crumbs onto a plate. 
5. Add fresh parsley and 1/2 parmesan with the breadcrumbs.
6. Dredge in flour until evenly coated. Then, through egg mixture. Grab a handful of bread crumbs and then place chicken in bread crumb mix and pour handful of crumbs over chicken.
7. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
8. In a pan, put about 1/4 inch depth of Olive Oil and heat. Gently fry until golden brown on both sides.
9. After cooling, transfer chicken breasts into a baking pan. Slowly spoon a small amount of sauce onto each breast and spread. 
10. Add Italian or Mozzarella cheese blend to each chicken breast generously.
11. Bake chicken for 7 minutes in oven or until cheese is melted.
12. Sprinkle the remainining parmesan and a little parsley onto the chicken fresh out of the oven.
13. Place back in oven and cook for an additional 10 minutes.

The perfect side dishes for this meal are spaghetti noodles and a side salad. 

It may seem like a lot of work, but I promise you it is so worth it for the finished product.