Friday Favorites

Whew. We made it! I don't know about you, but I was even MORE excited for Friday this week (if that's even possible), so I am so glad it is finally here! Today I'm linking up with Narci, Andrea and Erika to share our Friday Favorites! 

I am a sucker for Fall and Winter Fashion, and when I say sucker, I mean I pretty much buy anything that Shaeffer highlights on her blog. Whoopsie. Hey, a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do to stay warm and look cute doing it. Amiright?

So my new Fall and Winter staples are definitely my favorite.

Scarf // Shirt // Jacket // Booties

Tunic // Booties // Necklace 

This next favorite deserves its own spotlight…Friends, I give to you…the Baby Blardigan…I'll give you a second to let that soak in…Yes, if you told me it was at all possible to come out with an article of clothing that this chica loves more than the original blardigan, I would have told you that you've had one too many pumpkin spice lattes…But alas, IT'S TRUE! 

Nordstrom has truly outdone themselves. They have created a sweater that is just as cozy, just as comfy as the original, but is even more functional because it is a bit shorter, and get this…wait for it…IT HAS POCKETS. So if you haven't invested in this yet, go, run, shop online like you've never shopped before!! This is one Winter staple that is a must for your closet! And I know that some of you might die a little inside when you see the price, but trust me, if you are going to spoil yourself at all this holiday season, let it be with the blardigan. #yourhusbandwillunderstand

See the pockets?! I die

So yes, I will admit that I am a tad obsessed with this cozy sweater of wonderfulness, but trust me, once you have this wrapped around your body, you will be too. I mean, who has ever turned down an opportunity to pretty much wear a blanket out in public and have it be socially acceptable? #notthisgirl

Mike usually falls asleep before me, I'm a night owl, what can I say. So as I was getting ready to put down my book for the night, I looked over and saw this: 

I mean, is that not the cutest thing you've ever seen? Yep, that is my hubby and my puppy, cozily cuddled up in bed with each other. And yes, we let our Bubs sleep in bed with us…and I am not ashamed! He was a rescue, is super tiny, and is just the best cuddler, so it is almost impossible for me to deny that little nugget of snuggle time. I'm in trouble once we have kids…

What's Up Wednesday with Mel, Shay and Sheaffer was my first Link Up ever, and it was an absolute BLAST!! I loved being able to really connect with other bloggers out there, and chatting with some of them honestly made my day! Everyone has been so supportive and sweet, and it was really so much fun for me to chat with some super fun ladies! So Linking Up with such awesome ladies this week was my favorite, and I'm so excited to continue to do it in the future!

In the spirit of Halloween, I'm sharing my very favorite Halloween Movie ever. I mean, it's a classic. It needs no introduction.

This movie brings me back to my childhood, and I have no doubt that I will be showing it to my kids in future Octobers to come. 

So with that my friends, I bid you  farewell. I hope you have a FANTASTIC Halloween with your families, stay safe and have some fun! Can't wait to see all those adorable photos next week!! 

Happy Friday Friends!

Boy Meets Girl

So I just realized something. I realize I talk about my hubby all of the time, but I haven't told the story of how we met. So because this is the season where our relationship began to grow into something serious, I thought it would be the perfect time to tell it! (Plus, who doesn't love a good love story on a dreary Fall day?!) So with that, I give you the tale on how the Petrellese's came to be…

It was the 4th of July and the smell of BBQ hot dogs filled the air. My dad and I were driving to the Delta to meet up with our old family friends that we hadn't seen in 10 years. 

*Side-note: Growing up, my family use to go camping multiple times a summer. We usually took a weeklong trip with a bunch of weekend trips sprinkled in, and we always went with the Roque Family. They had two boys, one who is a year older than me, and one a year younger than me and a year older than my brother, so we were all very close in age. There isn't one camping trip I have taken that doesn't involve them*

So my Dad and I show up and it is like those 10 years of not seeing each other never happened, we fell right into where things left off which was pretty cool. It was going to be a great day on the water with old friends! (Matt, the youngest brother brought along his girlfriend, and Justin, the older brother brought along his best friend…can you see where this is going to go?) So we spent the day bbqing, wake boarding, and just enjoying each others company. But that was it, no sparks flew, it was just a perfect day spent on the water.

Fast forward a month and that's where the real story starts. We had all decided to take a camping trip, so after packing up the trucks with tents and firewood, we were off! There is something so refreshing about being out in the wilderness, unplugged from the cell phones and distractions of every day life, it really gives you the chance to spend quality time with the people you're with, and that is such a beautiful thing. So there we were, up in the forest for 4 days, no cell phones, no computers, just boats, bbqs, and campfires. 

Over the course of the next couple days, we really got to know each other deep down in our cores. Despite me being sunburned, my hair a hot frizzy mess, and not an ounce of makeup on, Mike really got to know me for who I was on the inside, no questions asked. 

The turning point really came on our second night there. There was a meteor shower going on that night, so our group decided to go down to the docks by the lake and watch it. The rest of our group wanted to drive the truck down, but Mike and I opted to walk as it was warm enough to head down in shorts and tank tops. On that walk down to the lake, we went straight for the deep stuff, relationships, career, family. There were no questions, no topic off limits, and even though I had just met him, I felt as if I had known him for years. I felt incredibly safe around him, that I could tell him anything, and he just made me feel completely like myself, which is something I had been missing with the other guys I had been dating. 

Once we got down to the docks, we laid down on our backs, and looked up at the sky, and it was full of stars and meteors that looked like shooting stars. I mean, come on, how can you not fall in love with a setting like that?! That moment in time made me feel as if this was the start of something much greater than myself, and it was such a comforting feeling. 

He's the hunk in the black with no hat :)

After that camping trip ended, we went back to the craziness of our busy lives (I was working at a hotel as an event planner and he was heading up a huge shut down at his refinery) and didn't talk for a few days. Then I got a text from him asking me on a date…And while I was really excited, I was also a bit skeptical…You see….He had been in a long term relationship that had just recently ended. And while I knew in my heart how strong our connection was, I really didn't want to turn out to be that rebound girl. So I kept giving him the brush off, telling him he needed time to himself to really make sure I was what he wanted…basically was trying to ignore him so I wouldn't get hurt, because of how deep my feelings were, I knew how easily that could happen. 

But folks, this man was relentless. And when I say relentless, that is really a nice way of saying HE WOULDN'T LEAVE ME ALONE! It finally got to the point that he wore me down so much, I said yes just so he would get off my back about it. And friends, it was the best thing I've ever said yes to (apart from his marriage proposal). We went on one date, (which was amazing and is definitely worthy of its own post), and the rest is history. 

One camping trip changed my life. And I am so grateful for the way we met. I know in my heart of hearts that he fell for who I was on the inside, no gimmicks of my hair, or outfits, or makeup, he got to know the real me, and that created such a solid foundation that I don't think we would have had otherwise. 

Petrellese Established August 22, 2015

So that's it!! And now we're MARRIED!!! 

I would LOVE to hear about how you and your significant other met! I do love me a good love story :)

What's Up Wednesday: October 2015

Hello Friends! It's the last Wednesday of the month, and do you know what that means?! It's What's Up Wednesday! For my first link up EVER!, I am linking up with Mel, Shay, and Sheaffer to learn about What's Up with THEM!

Here we go!

What We're Eating This Week:
Because the weather is FINALLY starting to cool off, this chica is embracing that in the kitchen! I'm making hearty meals all week long, starting with the dish that is the epitome of my childhood! Yummy chicken, creamy sauce and stuffing?! I think yes! This dinner is soooo simple to make and is the perfect fall dish! Check out the recipe here.

What I'm Reminiscing About:

In the spirit of Halloween, I'm reminiscing about Halloween last year! Last year we volunteered with our church and it was such a great night! Our church puts on an event called Trunk or Treat, which has become such a huge event in our town over the years! In hopes to create a safe trick or treating environment for our local kids, church volunteers set up cars in a parking lot, decorate their cars and dress up, and the kids trick or treat from trunk to trunk for candy! They have music playing and fun games for the kids, and it was such a fun night!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!

What I'm Loving:
My new scarf!!! I mean, does this scarf not scream Fall to you?? It is the perfect accessory to throw on in the morning that not only completes my look, but it is so cozy! And friends, it is UNDER $20!!!! Now if that isn't a steal, I don't know what is.

Jeans: Nordstrom Top: Nordstrom Booties: Cathy Jean Scarf: Nordstrom Military Jacket: Nordstrom

What We've Been Up To:
We've honestly just been getting back into the swing of our routine since the wedding, which has been so nice. Mike has gone back to his normal work schedule after working night shift for a couple weeks, and I have been subbing consistently on all of my days off from student teaching. So we have been keeping very busy! 

What I'm Dreading:
Christmas shopping. Ugh. It is just around the corner, and now that we have two sets of families to buy for, I have to get creative. And I really want to try to give thoughtful gifts this year, so I have my work cut out for me! 

What I'm Working On:
I always feel like I have a bunch of things on my plate-in a good way!, but there are 2 things I'm working really hard on right now. 

First: 

I'm currently working on my teaching credential, and I am on the home stretch!! I have about 1 more month of this term, then 4 more months and I will be fully credentialed-holy cow! So I am really buckling down these next couple of months to study for my last test as well as making sure I have all of my student teaching hours up to date!

Second: 

I am really working hard to grow my Jewelry Business and so far I feel it is going really well! I have a few shows lined up for November and am hoping to get a couple more on the calendar for December so I can shower some ladies with some Holiday Love! Interested in how you can earn free jewelry, check out how HERE!

What I'm Excited About:
My first link up! I am fairly new to the blogging world and am slowly learning the ropes! So I am super stoked to be linking up with all you fabulous women today! Thanks so much for all of your support and for stopping by :) 

What I'm Watching/Reading:

I have a few shows that I watch religiously, (hello Survivor, Dancing with the Stars, and Nashville) but I quickly fell in love with John Stamos Grandfathered on Fox. It's a really cute concept, and I really like the cast (the mom is adorable!). It has been a great pick me up on Tuesday Nights, and let's be real, who doesn't love an excuse to stare at John Stamos?

Working with 4th graders has really brought out my inner child. So after a few weeks of spending library time with my kids, I kept wandering back to the Harry Potter section. I was in 5th grade when my teacher read us Harry Potter when it first came out, and introducing some of my kids who are ready to immerse themselves into the Hogwarts World has been so fun for me. So I decided that I wanted to reread the series and bring me back to my roots! Starting with Book 1, I'm gonna make my way to Book 7, any bets on how long it will take me??

What I'm Listening To:

So I'm 1 week shy of when I start listening to Christmas music (don't judge), so Today's Country Hits is still the star on my Pandora.

What I'm Wearing:
I am loooooving that the Fall weather has finally made its way to California!! So I am taking full advantage of that! 

I am loving my new tunic from Nordstrom, thanks Shaeffer!) It is the perfect cozy tee to wear on a Fall day! You can wear it with jeans like me or rock it with some leggings! PS I'm wearing a Medium so it covers my bum when I wear it with leggings.

Tunic: Nordstrom Jeans: Nordstrom Booties: Nordstrom Bling: Premier Designs

What I'm Doing This Weekend:

This weekend is going to be so fun! Saturday night (Halloween), Mike and I are going to head over to my friend Luciana's house for the night! Her and her fiancé are so graciously having us over for dinner and a scary movie (I think I need to make an exception to my scaredy cat ways) and to pass out candy to trick or treaters! And then on Sunday, my friend Meagan is hosting a jewelry show for me at her house, so I get to hook some of my girls up with some fabulous bling!

What I'm Looking Forward To Next Month:

These next couple months are my favorite. I am looking forward to colder weather and RAIN (fingers crossed!!!), and just spending time with the family. 

What Else Is New:
Not too much around here! I am wanting to start my *GASP* Christmas shopping, but things keep popping up that is taking precedence. But I am telling myself I will for sure start next month-which is next weeks-YIKES!!

Bonus Question! What is my Favorite Thanksgiving Recipe:
So I don't know if you would call this a typical Thanksgiving Recipe, but this recipe holds a special place in my heart. When I was little, before everyone was growing up and getting married, we used to have huge family holidays, so naturally we needed some appetizers. So my Papa would always make his famous ham rolls, and I was known to hammer down on more than my fair share of them. So now that he has passed away, every time I eat them, I think of him, so I wanted to share the recipe with all of you because they come from so much love! 

Check out that recipe here.

Thank you so much for stopping by and Linking Up with me! Looking forward to linking up together next month! Happy Hump Day!

Papa's Famous Ham Rolls

This recipe holds a special place in my heart. When I was little, before everyone was growing up and getting married, we used to have huge family holidays, so naturally we needed lots of appetizers. So my Papa would always make his famous ham rolls, and I was known to hammer down on more than my fair share. So now that he has passed away, every time I eat them, I think of him, so I wanted to share this recipe with all of you because they come from so much love! 

Shopping List: 

1 jar dill pickle spears

1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened at room temperature

3 (1/2 lb) package thinly sliced ham

Spread a thin layer of cream cheese on a slice of meat

Put one pickle on the ham slice and roll up

Continue to do this to make as many ham rolls as you desire

See!! So easy! These are perfect if you are wanting to bring an appetizer to a party, and trust me, they are always a crowd favorite! 

Mama Sears' Cozy Chicken and Stuffing

Hellooo! I wanted to share this recipe with ya'll because it is one of my absolute favorites! Every year when we were younger, my mom would always cook us our favorite meal for our Birthday Dinner, and friends, this was my pick every.single.year. 

It is the epitome of comfy, cozy and is seriously yummy! And super simple too!

Shopping List:

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1/3 cup sour cream

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 box chicken stuffing mix

EVOO

Salt and Pepper to taste

Salt and pepper the chicken, then brown the breasts on both sides in the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet

While the chicken is browning, mix the soup and sour cream together in a small bowl. Make the stovetop stuffing as directed on the package

Once the chicken is browned on both sides, pour the soup and sour cream mixture on top of the chicken and top with the stuffing

Cover and simmer until done (probably around 30 minutes depending on how thick the breasts are)

That's it! You're done! Happy Cooking!

Trust me, it's yummy in your tummy

Spooky Saturday

Helloo my friends! And Happy Monday! I hope ya'll had a great weekend! I know we did over here at the Petrellese household! This was the first and last weekend (for the short future), that we had absolutely nothing to do. And ya'll, that is a glorious thing! 

After waking up to no alarm (honestly, is there anything more wonderful than that?, we decided to go out to breakfast and walk around downtown. After we enjoyed Saturday morning, we went to the elementary school I work at, where we were hosting a Harvest Festival. And friends, those kids looooooove the Harvest Festival. It's seriously all my kids have been talking about all week, so I knew I absolutely had to make an appearance! Some kids were in full costume, and some were so immersed in all the different games, it was a sight to see. 

They had a bunch of different activities for the kids, but the main attraction of the day was The Cake Walk. (Disclaimer, when I asked other teachers this week what a cake walk was, they all looked at me like I was crazy, and one woman asked me, and I quote: "Were you deprived as a child?") So for those of you that don't know what a Cake Walk is, let me tell ya. It's when there is a bunch of hay bales set up in a circle with numbers set on top of them. Once the music starts, everyone walks around in a circle and once it stops, you pick a hay bale to sit on-a musical chairs of sorts. After everyone has a hay bale, they will pick a number out of a hat, and the winner gets their choice of any dessert offered. And friends, I'm not talkin a single cookie, I'm talking, huge, elaborate sheet cakes! Yes, I said sheet cakes. What one child needs with an entire sheet cake, I will never know (God Bless their parents when they bring it home), but these kids were loooooovin it! One boy got so excited when he was able to choose a 2 tier cake, that when he ran over holding it to show his mom, I saw this poor boy tripping and smashing the cake in slow motion. Thankfully, that didn't happen. But it was so fun to hang out with the kids and see them so excited to support their school.

The Infamous Cake Walk

Life Size Angry Birds

Kiddos Got to Shoot a Nerf Gun to Knock Down the Monsters

Some of the Fun Activities

After we got home from the Harvest Festival, Mike and I decided to have a cozy night at home. So we made some grilled cheese and butternut squash soup for our date night. When we were flipping the channels, we discovered that there was a Paranormal Activity movie marathon night. Now, Mike and I are NOT scary movie people. At all. The last time we watched a scary movie was over a year ago, and that night there was a major earthquake that happened, (read about that awful night here), so we decided that it was a sign to swear off scary movies. But since it's Halloween Week, we deiced to embrace the season and go with it. So while it was a really fun night, Mike likes to grab me at really inopportune times to scare me, I had nightmares and didn't get much sleep, so we decided to stick with Christmas movies from here on out ;)

Perfect Saturday Night

 So that was our Spooky Saturday! What were you up to this weekend? Did you partake in any Halloween shenanigans or did you take it easy? Have a great week friends!!

What's in a Name?

Picture this: The night air is crisp and dark. You are bundled up and kicking back in a collapsable chair when you listen to the sounds around you. In the close vicinity, you hear the crackling of a campfire and the humming of crickets musically to their own rhythm, and in the faint distance, you hear the laughing and chatter of other campers. As your eyes adjust to the darkness around you, you take in the scene that envelopes you. You are surrounded by some of your closest family and friends who are roasting marshmallows over the open flame that is in front of you, all the while laughing and telling stories about life. 

You with me?? Awesome. Some of my most treasured memories involve sitting around a campfire in the almost-complete darkness. Completely unplugged from the outside world we left behind, with nothing in front of me but a cozy campfire and my family and friends. With no other distractions, sitting by the campfire has allowed my relationships to grow deeper in one night than a month full of distractions. Some of the funniest stories from my childhood were born from the time spent around a campfire, but I will save some of those for another time.

Which brings me to today. And my blog. A couple people have asked me why I decided to name my blog Kendra's Kampfire. Well. Let me tell you. I started this blog as a way to document my memories and to hopefully build relationships with others through this blog. Which made me instantly think of the one place that both these things happen, which is of course, the campfire. When I think of a campfire, I think of people coming together and learning new things about each other, and a safe place where we can talk about anything that comes to mind. And that is the hope that I have for my blog. Hence, Kendra's Kampfire was born. (Of course, I changed the "c" to a "k", because alliteration always makes things a little bit cooler.) 

So, on the days that you read my blog, I hope you can feel comfortable to comment about anything, start a conversation, ask me any question, feel free to be yourself! I hope that my blog can be a place that brings people together and a place where a positive memory will be created! 

A Family Affair

This weekend was filled with lots of family, and it was awesome. I think it has been so easy to forget how important it is to spend time with family and friends. As we get older, life has been getting busier and busier, and that precious time spent with loved ones has began to dwindle. But this weekend we made it a point to spend time with those important to us, and it was a much needed recharge. 

On Friday, Nicole, Meagan and her husband Bernie made the trek over to Benicia to spend their Friday night with us, and it was so great! I could sit here and list all of the different jobs they work, school they go to, teams they coach, but we would be here forever. Needless to say, they are extremely busy. Apart from the bridal showers and weddings, we have found it really difficult to spend time with each other just for the heck of it. I honestly can't remember the last time we were able to sit on the couch, relax and catch up, all of us. Usually I am lucky enough to get one twin here, and the other twin there, so having them both together was a special treat! And since Bernie came into Meagan's life 8 years ago, he has been part of the family, so it was so special to have them over. It was a much needed veg night; we carved pumpkins, ate some snacks, caught up on life, ate some pumpkin pie, and were able to just relax. I'd chalk that up to a pretty fantastic Friday night! 

PS I learned something new about my husband-he had never carved a pumpkin before!! 

Say what?!?!

Before the crazy carving sesh started

Mike is taking this pumpkin carving thing seriously

Artists from l to r: The Juarez's, Nicole, Kendra, Michael 

Had to get a pic with the whole gang!

Saturday night was filled with more family! We haven't really seen my parents for an extended amount of time since the wedding, so we made the drive to Castro Valley to see them. It was pretty dreary out, so we wore our sweats (or in my case, the blardigan), hung out on the couch, pigged out on food and watched some awesome baseball. It was so nice to get to just spend some quality time, which seemed to be the theme of the weekend! 

Not a flattering pic of me, but love how my new little fam is all snuggled on one couch together

We picked up Bubs' Halloween costume, run for your lives!

Gosh I love that pups

Typical...

We have a running joke in my family about my brother. He is always sooo busy, whether it be work, school, or rehearsing for a show, he is never home. And when he is, he is always sleeping. Kid you not, each time we are over there, he is sleeping, anywhere, whether it be the chair, the couch, the stairs…yes, the stairs…So Mike and I have begun this prank that each time he falls asleep, one of us jumps in a photo with him…Nick is not a fan of this joke...

And on Sunday, we rounded out our weekend with family with a birthday lunch for my father in law! We met my sister in law, her husband, and their 2 adorable kiddos at BJ's, and pigged out on mozzarella sticks, pizza, and pizzookies-doesn't get much better than that!   

The whole gang

 So all in all, it was a fantastic weekend spent with family, and it was just what we needed! What were you up to this weekend? Would love to hear! I hope it was as filled with love and joy as I was so blessed to have :)

Friday Favorites

Well friends, we made it! I am very happy to see Friday make its way back around! Let's check out some of my Friday Favorites this week!



It was a beautiful week here in Benicia, and my 4th graders had an amazing few days, so we decided it was time to explore the new playground equipment! One of my students was swinging alone on the swings, so I decided to join him for a couple trips up and down. This was my view for a minute…

Swings, blue skies, and my sweet sweet 4th graders, life doesn't get better than that

I am a happy girl and just received a couple new jewelry pieces (ladies, you know how this small little thing can make one oh so happy)! Since October is Breast Cancer Month, I decided to pair my classic black and white top with some of my pink jewelry! 

Blouse: Loft Jeans: Nordstrom Booties: Nordstrom Bling: Premier Designs

My husband is my favorite. Since I get out of school at 3:00 every day, I cook dinner for us every night. Mike knows how much I hate to do dishes (seriously, I would do 5 loads of laundry over doing one night's dishes), so after he's done eating, he always heads straight to the sink and tackles the dishes for us. Even after working a long, 10 hour day, he still does this small, selfless gesture that means the world to me. I am one lucky lady. 

Paparazzi Shot!

One more style shot! Thursday was the first day in soooo long that it FINALLY started to feel like Fall! So I was stoked to bust out my sweater and booties this week! I am so looking forward to when it cools off a little bit more so I can live in my boots and scarves. Ladies, I know I am not alone in this! So, yes, being able to wear my fall clothes is my favorite. 

Sweater: Buckle Jeans: Nordstrom Bling: Premier Designs Booties: Cathy Jean

Baking on weekends is my favorite! Check out my recipe for these tasty mini apple turnovers!

Happy Friday Friends!! What are you up to this weekend? We have dates with both sides of the family, gonna be busy! I hope ya'll have a great weekend!!!