Cheesy Chicken & Broccoli Macaroni

I love macaroni. As a kid, when I did not like what we had for dinner, it was always Velveeta Shells & Cheese for me (I never liked Kraft, still don't!).  We had leftover Velveeta (you know the lovely, long block of it) from another recipe that we needed to use and chicken. So I took to the Velveeta website and found this recipe for Cheesy Chicken & Broccoli Macaroni. It was really good! In fact, I am having leftovers for lunch today!

Not the prettiest meal or photograpy, but hey instagram (ebase83) makes it look a little better...

Here is the easy recipe:

2 chicken breasts, cute into bite size pieces (salt and peppered)

1 can (14.5 oz) chicken broth

2 cups noodles (I used whole wheat shells.)

1/2 lb (8 oz) Velveeta, cut into 1/2 inch cubes (I used 2%)

1 package (16 oz) frozen chopped broccoli, thawed

Cook the chicken in a large nonstick skillet on medium high heat 5 to 7 minutes until done, stirring occasionally.

Stir in broth and bring to boil. Stir in noodles and cover. Simmer on medium-low heat for 8 to 10 minutes or until the noodles are tender.

Add Velveeta and broccoli and cook 4 to 5 minutes or until Velveeta is melted and broccoli is heated through, stirring frequently.

It makes a lot, so if you like leftovers, this is a good meal for you! I feel slightly better eating macaroni when it has broccoli in it, right??



I had a Stella & Dot trunk show last night and wore one of my favorite statement necklaces, The Marchesa. I love the turquoise and multiple strands. Definitely dressed up my plain black tank!

Did you read about how I am raising money for Autism Speaks with Stella & Dot? Read about it here. I would love to take a preorder for the Shine bracelet for you!

Also until the end of March, all shipping (no matter the order) is $5.95. Now is a great time to grab a pair of spring earrings to add to your wardrobe like the Serenity Drops or Capris! You can check out the full line at www.stelladot.com/emilybase!

Join Stella & Dot in Supporting Autism Speaks with the SHINE Bracelet!

Hello!! I am so EXCITED about our upcoming SHINE Bracelet from Stella & Dot debuting on April 1st! I hope you take the time to read this blog post because it is a cause very near and dear to me.

April is Autism Awareness month!  Many of you may not know that I have an Austic foster brother named Jackson. Jackson is a very special boy who has been in my family's life for over 10 years. In 2003, Jackson needed a home and my parents opened theirs up to him. Since then Jackson has become a part of our family and we have grown to love him as our own. He loves trains, airplanes, cars, Goldfish crackers, and riding the DART rail. Jackson is now 17 and has recently moved into a group home with four other boys. Thanks to my mom and his teachers and therapists, he is doing awesome. I truly admire all the people, including my selfless parents, who take their time to work with children with Autism. It has been amazing to see Jackson grown and turn into the young man that he is today. You can see a picture of him below with another one of his favorite things, balloons!

Our purchase for a cause bracelets go super fast - we gave over $250,000 to Breast Cancer Awareness last October!  So.... I will be taking pre-orders for the SHINE Bracelet to be placed on April 1st when they arrive.  All you need to do is to email me at emilybase83@gmail.com with how many bracelets and your best contact number to reserve yours.

In the month of April, Stella & Dot will be donating 20% of the proceeds from the SHINE Bracelet to Autism Speaks and I will be donating 100% of my commissions from the sale of this bracelet to Autism Speaks, too!

The SHINE Bracelet features dark grey braided cord featuring a single pave bead with Czech stones in red, amethyst (my fave), black diamond and topaz!  It has brass casting and 100% nylon woven cord which is adjustable to fit just about every wrist!  This beauty is steal, retailing for only $39. Stella & Dot is also giving you another option, the SOLE bracelet. Both of these bracelets will have their proceeds donated to Autism Speaks.

Also, if your life or someone you know has been touched my Autism, please contact me about partnering up to do a Autism Speaks Fundraiser Trunk Show.  Commissions from all Fundraiser Trunk Shows in the month of April will be donated to Autism Speaks as well.  I have a few dates left, so email me at emilybase83@gmail.com to reserve your date!

My goal is to take 50 SHINE Bracelet pre-orders before April 1st to kick off Autism Awareness Month with a BANG!  They would make a great addition to the Easter Basket, Mother's Day gift or a little sparkle for yourself!  Thanks again for your continued support of my Stella & Dot Business and helping raise awareness for this powerful disease!

xo, Emily

What do YOU want for Valentine's Day??

Hey girls!! Valentine's Day is right around the corner and if you are like me, I don't get anything unless I tell my husband what to buy!! Actually it is a joke that I get rugs for Valentine's Day!! Two years ago, we bought a rug on Valentine's Day and called it my gift (those things are not cheap!) and again this year, I bought a rug this past weekend for our dining room, so I once again, will probably not be getting a gift.

What do y'all think? I am working on making this room more put together!! Don't mind the bare table!

Well, if you want something pretty for yourself this year, I would love to help be your husband or boyfriend's "secret cupid"! As many of you know, I sell a line of jewelry called Stella & Dot. It is gorgeous, high fashion jewelry that has been featured in dozens of fashion magazines.

You can check out my personal website at:

www.stelladot.com/emilybase

If there is something you love, I would be more than happy to email your significant other and give them a little hint! Just email me or leave me a comment! In addition, I wanted to let you guys know that through tomorrow, February 9th, if you spend $125, you get the Renegade Layering Necklace FOR FREE!!! That is a $69 value!

How to apply the discount:
1.  Place $125+ worth of product into your shopping bag
2.  Then, add the Renegade Layering Necklace to your shopping bag*
3.  Double check that the Renegade Layering Necklace is added to bag. The Home Office will not send out the necklace separately if necklace is not added to your order. No exceptions.
*Shopping bag must total $125+ before the necklace is added, discount of the Renegade Layering
Necklace will automatically apply when necklace is added to bag. No promo code necessary.
Quantities are limited. Limit one offer per customer.

Check out my website and let me know what your favorite piece is!! If you have any questions, feel free to email me at emilybase83 @ gmail.com.

Happy shopping!!!!

Stella & Dot Spring 2012 Collection!!

The Spring 2012 collection of Stella & Dot launched last night and I could not be more excited about every single one of these pieces. I spent hours last night pouring over each and every one of these. I absolutely love them and cannot wait to get my jewelry!

In case you are new around here, or just don't know, I am a Stella & Dot stylist. I love what I do and this new collection makes me even more thrilled to be a part of such an awesome and fashion forward company! I have picked many of my favorites and showed them below. I know it is a lot but I could not edit! I want each one of these! You can shop the collection and see more on my personal website:

www.stelladot.com/emilybase

Stella & Dot is sold directly through my personal website or through in home trunk shows. With the new collection debut, I am looking for hostesses to be the first to show it! Hostesses receive on average $250 in free jewelry, but this month is hostess bonus days and Stella & Dot is giving away an extra $50, so that is $300 in free and more at half off!  If you are in the Dallas/Fort Worth area or even somewhere in Texas or Oklahoma that is a reasonable driving distance and are interested in hosting a show and earning this amazing jewelry for FREE, please let me know! I would love to chat more!

Stay tuned because I am going to do a Stella & Dot giveaway soon! What piece is your favorite? Let me know in the comments! I would love to know!

 

  

 

Isn't it all gorgeous??! Now GO, tell me what piece you love!!!

Fabulous Holiday Blog Challenge - Day 5!

I am a day behind on the Fabulous Holiday Blog Challenge! I had no time to sit yesterday! I had a Stella & Dot trunk show with some wonderfully fun ladies during the day, had to run downtown to pick up my race packet for the White Rock Half Marathon I am running on Sunday, drop Casey's off to her (and ended up hanging out with her and Amy and having a glass of wine), and then Eric and I went to dinner at our neighborhood favorite Franki's, where we ran into an old coworker of his and his fiance so we had a nice time catching up and chatting with them. When we got home, I started The Hunger Games and got two chapters in before I was ready for bed!


was the "Ideal Outfit for Christmas/NYE Festivities" and of course, I feel like I need to show case some gorgeous Stella & Dot jewelry that can help spice up an outfit! Our talented style editors put together these beautiful outfits that would make anyone stand out in a crowd!

Here is a look that would be great for an office party. We are pairing a simple, but festive colored dress with some beautiful accessories. Who doesn't have a plain dress like this that you always wish looked more exciting?

Sofia Pearl Bib Necklace 

Grace Pearl Earrings - Gold/Ivory 

Devi Bangles - Gold

Next look - Cocktail Party! This look pairs a simple blouse with a fun printed skirt. This would be great for a NYE party!

 

Madeline Pearl Necklace

Nouvelle Ring

Harlow Bangle

Vintage Twist Bracelet

You can check out my personal Stella & Dot website for all of these pieces and more! If you have any questions, please feel free to comment or email me! I would love to help you style your look for your holiday events this season. We are having our Stella & Dot team holiday social event this Tuesday, so I will be sure to take a picture of my outfit and jewels and all the other girls super stylish outfits and share those as well! Can't wait for the holiday festivities to start!!