Game Day Buffalo Chicken Dip

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With football season in full swing, I’m bringing back this game day favorite! This buffalo chicken dip is always a favorite and so easy to make. I love that I can just throw everything in the crockpot and it’s ready to go.

What You’ll Need

  • 8 ouces of Cream Cheese
  • 1/2 cup Ranch dressing (I use Hidden Valley)
  • 1/2 cup Hot Sauce (I use Frank’s Red Hot)
  • 2 cups Shredded Chicken (Rotisserie Chicken is great for this)*
  • 1 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese

*For frozen chicken, put chicken and 1 cup chicken broth and seasonings of choice (I normally use salt, pepper, and garlic powder) in an Instant Pot and cook for 10-12 minutes depending on how large your chicken is. I’ve also used boneless skinless breats and thighs depending on what I have.

In your crockpot, you’ll combine the cream cheese, Ranch dress, hot sauce, and shredded chicken. Top with 1/2 cup of your shredded cheese and cover with the lid. This will cook on high for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Once the cream cheese is melted through, mix until everything is well combined. Then top with the reserved 1/2 cup of shredded cheese.

Cook for 15 more minutes and give dip another stir.

Lower to your crockpot’s warm setting and enjoy! I serve mine with tortilla chips, but have also used celery sticks, carrots, and toasted slices of baguette too.

XOXO,
Leah

Chicken Tortellini Pasta Salad

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When I think summer, I think of the chicken tortellini pasta salad my mom made when I was growing up. If any of us had a busy few days or week ahead, I always looked forward to knowing this was in the fridge! Aside from the memories, what I love most about this recipe is that there really is no wrong way to make this!

Now if you’ve read any of my other recipe blogs, you know I’ll never make you read a novel to get to the recipe, so let’s get into it:

What You’ll Need

  • 1 Package (20 oz) of Cheese Tortellini
  • 2 Large Chicken Breasts
  • Dried Cherries or Cranberries (I use whichever we have in the pantry)
  • Fresh Chopped Basil (I use about 1/2 of a cup, but use more or less depending on your taste)
  • Grated Parmesan Cheese(measure with your heart)
  • Olive Oil
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Garlic Powder

First things first, decide which dish you’re going to assemble this in. I normally use a large tupperware container or baking dish with a lid to make it easier to put in the fridge and cut down on the number of dishes to clean up!

Bring a large pot of salted water to a low boil and cook your tortellini according to package instructions. I like to add a drizzle of olive oil so make sure they don’t stick together. Stir occasionally. Once cooked, drain, add to your dish with a healthy drizzle of olive oil, and stir to coat the tortellini in the oil.

While your tortellini cooks, season your chicken. I used salt, pepper, and garlic powder. I grilled my chicken until it reached an internal temperature of 165°. If you’re baking your chicken in the oven, preheat it to 425° and bake for 15-20 minutes. Once done, dice it up and add to your dish with the pasta. Stir to combine.

Next you’ll want to chop up your basil. This is really one of those times that your personal taste matters as far as how finely you want to chop. I do a rough chop since that’s how my mom always made it, and I think it helps you get a bit of basil in every bite.

I add my dried cherries (or cranberries) with the basil since all that involves is opening the container they’re in. I used almost all of an 8 oz. bag. I also like to add another drizzle of olive oil. This is the only “dressing” your pasta salad will have, but trust me when I say it’s still so good!

Say it with me now: add to your dish and stir.

This last ingredient is my boys’ favorite; the parmesan cheese! I grated probably 3/4 of a cup, but I’m a firm believer that cheese is something you measure with your heart. You can also buy the kind that’s already grated to make things easier or if you don’t have a cheese grater.

And that’s it!

To me, this is what summer tastes like. Add in some fruit and chips or pretzels for a little crunch, and you’re set! The great thing about this is that it really does get better the longer it sets. I’ve never had a batch last longer than a 2-3 days. You can also use this recipe as a starting place to make a huge batch to take to your next get together!

Where would be your ideal place to eat this this summer?

XOXO,
Leah

31 Lessons for 31 Years

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As I wake up another year older today, I’ve been reflecting on all of the things that have lead up to today. Some amazing highs along with some insanely low lows, but the thread that’s connected them all is the grace of God getting me through!

So in honor of turning 31, here are 31 things I’ve learned over the years:

  1. Love your people hard.
  2. Don’t let someone’s lack of effort change the standards you hold yourself to.
  3. You are the company you keep, so choose wisely.
  4. Some people are not meant to be in your life forever.
  5. You will never regret being kind.
  6. Two (or more) conflicting things can be true at the same time. 
  7. The best investment you’ll ever make is in yourself.
  8. Quality or quantity.
  9. Learn to be comfortable being alone.
  10. When someone shows you who they are, believe them.
  11. Your timeline and life are completely your own, so don’t compare them to anyone else’s.
  12. It’s okay if you’re not where you thought you’d be by now.
  13. Life is short, eat the dessert.
  14. Therapy is your friend.
  15. And on that note, go before things get bad.
  16. “No” is a full sentence.
  17. Time with family and friends is never time wasted.
  18. Always wear your sunscreen
  19. Courage and bravery are being scared to death but doing it anyways.
  20. Hugs from your littles is truly the best medicine on earth. 
  21. Stay hydrated.
  22. We can’t control life, but we can control how we react to it.
  23. Saying “yes” can be just as important as saying “no”.
  24. Make time for more of what brings you joy.
  25. It’s never too late to start over.
  26. It’s okay to walk away from toxic situations.
  27. Life can happen when you least expect it to.
  28. Wash your face.
  29. It’s better to be overdressed than underdressed.
  30. Baking is an amazing stress reliever.
  31. If God brings you to it, he’ll bring you through it.

Cheers to 31 years and many more to come!

XOXO,

Leah

New Year, Changing Me

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Happy 2025, y’all!

2024 was a year, and while I’m still not able to go into too many details, I’m hopeful that 2025 is the year that brings the freedom to do so. I’ve always said that I’ve felt like the last several years of my life have been such a testament to God’s goodness and grace, especially in the valleys! I can’t wait to be able to share more with y’all.

For now, I will say that 2024 was a struggle, and somedays it truly was just putting one foot in front of the other and doing the things that needed to be done; loving and caring for the boys, keeping the house up and running, making the time to take care of myself, the millions of curveballs the Army has thrown our way, and the ever changing dynamics all of this brought to my marriage. I’m not going to say it was perfect, but we made it through together and by the sheer grace of God!

We lived so much life in the midst of the hard that I’ll always be grateful for; graduations, birthdays, road trips, trying new things, holidays, quiet and cozy days, baking lots of yummy treats, and kitchen dance parties just to name a few! It’s true when they say “the days are long, but the years are short”! I feel like I blinked and the boys are almost another year older and have grown so much.

So, what does 2025 have in store for me and my little family?

While we’re looking forward to more of the joy filled moments from the last year, 2025 is already shaping up to bring about some BIG changes. Some we knew were coming and ones that we never would have even guessed would be a possibility! For now, we’re taking things one day at a time as we work through the unfolding and developing of it all. A big goal of mine is to document and share more. I love being able to look back and reflect, but I’ve always been so amazed by the power of connecting with others and how our stories can resonate.

2024, you taught me so many lessons I won’t soon forget. 2025, I can’t wait to meet you!

XOXO,
Leah

North Carolina on My Mind

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Happy Tuesday, y’all

As a North Carolina transplant, the destruction and devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in the Western part of the state has weighed heavily on my heart!

Entire cities and villages are wiped off the map, whole buildings washed away in the floods, thousands without running water, food, and electricity, families torn apart, and an incredibly long road to recovery ahead.

We’re only three hours away, but our lives have gone on as normal, all while we’re watching the aftermath unfold. We’re so fortunate to have not been affected, but the feeling of helplessness has been a recurring theme.

The want to help and give so much has weighed heavily on my heart, especially as I tuck my boys into their warm beds knowing that they’re safe. 

I’m thankful to be apart of the LTK community! It’s been a creative outlet for me over the years, and I’m grateful that my little family does not rely on it as part of our household income. And while I’ve never made much from it, for the foreseeable future, I’ll be donating 100% to the Hurricane Helene relief efforts! 

From your groceries at Walmart to Amazon, Target, and pretty much everything else in between, it’s most likely part of the LTK platform. Shopping with one of my affiliate links never costs you anything extra either!

If you’ve been wanting to donate but haven’t been able to do so, this is a great and easy way, especially with Prime Days, Target Circle Week, and holidays right around the corner!

Text, email, or DM me, and I hope the next time you shop online, you’ll think of me and Western NC.

XOXO,
Leah

Pizza Stuffed Breadsticks

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Happy Snack Sea… I mean Football Season, y’all!

My husband grew up playing and watching football, and it’s something that’s carried over into our family. Kaz loves football days and getting to watch, and while I love getting to watch too, I think I may love the snacks just a little bit more.

These cheesy and pepperoni stuffed breadsticks are so good and a perfect addition to our game day snack line up!

What You’ll Need

  • Pizza Dough (I used homemade, but store bought works just as well)
  • Mozzarella Cheese Sticks
  • Pepperoni (I used normal sized ones, but the minis would be great too)

Because I forget to do this more often than not, preheat your oven to 450 degrees.

Next you’ll roll your pizza dough out into a rectangle on a lightly floured surface. I rolled mine out to about 1/4 to 1/2 an inch thick. If you’re using a refrigerated sheet of pizza dough, you can skip this step!

On one half of the dough, lay your mozzarella sticks in a row leaving about an inch or so on each side. Add your pepperoni. I just put them on top of the mozzarella sticks, but you could put them underneath them as well!

Fold the other half of your dough over to cover. With a pizza cutter (or knife) cut each breadstick leaving room on the sides. Using a fork, crimp the cut edges to seal.

Place the breadsticks on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, and brush with melted butter. I topped mine with Italian seasoning, but you can skip this if you’re not a fan too!

Bake at 450 degrees for 10-14 minutes, or until golden brown. Cooking times can vary depending on how thick your dough is. If you used a refrigerated sheet of dough, your cook time will be closer to the 10 minute mark.

Once baked serve warm with your favorite sauce, and enjoy!

XOXO,
Leah

No Bake Energy Bites

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With school in full swing, it’s even more important that I have quick and nutritious things on hand for Kaz!

We love granola in our house and don’t discriminate on the form; bars, bites, baked, no bakes, etc. They’re recipes I can feel good about giving Kaz, and he loves the taste. If you have littles, you know how big of a balancing act this can be.

Not being one for huge long intros to get into a recipe, here’s my favorite, tired and true, one for No Bake Energy Bites (also good if you’re a nursing mama)!

What You’ll Need

  • 2 Cups of Rolled Oats
  • 1 Cup of Peanut Butter 
  • 1/2 Cup of Honey
  • 1/2 Cup of Ground Flax Seeds
  • 1/2 teaspoon of Salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon of Vanilla Extract
  • Add Ins of Choice (I typically use about 1/2 cup of chocolate chips)
  • Parchment Paper
  • A Cookie Sheet

First you’ll combine your peanut butter, honey, salt, and vanilla extract until well combined. If you’re not a a fan of peanut butter, you can substitute your favorite nut butter. Agave can be used in place of the honey. I’ve found that maple syrup doesn’t hold the bites together quite as well since it’s not quite as thick.

Add your rolled oats, ground flax seeds, and any add ins you’ve chosen. Mix until everything is well combined.

Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper.

Roll balls of your oat mixture to your desired size. Mine are normally between one and two inches. If you’re wanting something more of a one bite size, stick to keeping your bites closer to one inch.

Sometimes when I don’t want to roll them all out, I’ll press the mixture on my prepared baking sheet and cut them into granola bars.

These can be stored in an air tight container in the fridge for about two weeks. They normally don’t last past the first week here though because they’re that good!

Other variations I’ve done are adding raisins, chopped peanuts, and candy coated chocolates in place of the chocolate chips for a take on monster cookies.

XOXO,
Leah

Easy Puppy Chow

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In my small midwestern town, puppy chow was an ever present part of my childhood! It was at pot lucks, sporting events, bake sales, etc. It only requires four ingredients, and is super simple (and quick) to throw together.

I shared a picture of our first batch of the summer and immediately had messages asking how to make it, and since i’m not one for drawn out intros, lets get to what you’re actually here for; how to make it!

What You’ll Need

  • 5 Cups of Rice Chex Cereal
  • 1 Cup of Peanut Butter
  • 1 Cup of Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
  • Enough Powdered Sugar to Coat (I used about 1/2 to 3/4 of a cup)

What You’ll Do

  • In a microwave safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips and peanut butter. Microwave in 15 second intervals until melted and well combined. This took me about a minute total but will depend on your microwave!
  • Next add the Chex cereal one cup at a time and in the chocolate mixture. Repeat until all your cereal is coated.
  • Added you coated Chex to a Ziploc bag and add the powdered sugar. Shake the bag until all of your Chex is well coated. You can adjust the amount depending on your preferences! I like to make sure each piece has a good layer on it.

Eat it straight from the bag or store it in an air tight container. Enjoy!

XOXO,
Leah

Remember Them All

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It’s never felt right to say “Happy Memorial Day” when the day is meant to remember those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice, but not acknowledging the day doesn’t seem right either

As a military family, we always honor and appreciate the price others have paid. The loss of those around us has always been felt, but this year knowing and loving families that have been left to pickup the pieces, the holiday hits a little differently.

This Memorial Day I think of sweet friends that are missing their husband and daddy. He may have been gone before our paths crossed, but I just know he’s smiling down from Heaven and so incredibly proud of how they are living their lives and keeping his memory alive in all they do.

I think of the ones that said “goodbye” not knowing it’d be the last. I think of the spouses whose kids will only know their parent through stories and pictures. I think of the parents that will never hold their child again. I think of the empty chairs at kitchen tables. I think about the hearts that shattered from a knock on the door that turned their whole worlds upside down.

At our church, the guest speaker, Lieutenant General Xavier T. Brunson gave a special Memorial Day sermon and shared the following verse:

“Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.” Matthew 24:20

Hundreds and thousands of brave men and women have answered the call to service, but not all come back.

This day is so much more than the start of summer, barbecues, pool parties, and beach trips, but I also know that these are the very things so many men and women have given their lives for, so that we are able to enjoy ours.

Everyday, but especially today, I hope you take a moment to reflect on and remember them.

“Greater love have no on than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13

xoxo,
Leah

Dandelion Lion Craft

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Happy Wednesday, y’all!

With spring being fully here (and almost summer), the dandelions are out full force!

Kaz loves picking flowers, and dandelions are not exception. A friend shared this fun and easy craft, and I just knew it’d be a huge hit!

You only need four things, for a craft your kids can do over and over again!

What You’ll Need

  • Cardboard or a paper plate
  • A black marker
  • A hole puncher or screwdriver
  • Dandelions

Take your paper plate and marker and draw your lions face on; eyes, mouth, nose.

Next take your hole puncher or screwdriver to poke the holes around the outside edge. These holes are where the dandelion stems will go. This definitely took me a second to do with a screwdriver, but I have no clue where our hole puncher is.

Find lots of dandelions, and have fun!

xoxo,

Leah