Holy savings, Batman!

I've been using my debit card to acquire goods lately, though some might call it "nesting." I don't know what new clothes or dishes have to do with nesting, though, so I'm just going to blame it all on that little pest we've all been bitten by... the shopping bug.

Turns out that I've been getting these little bug bites a lot more lately, but I've found a lovely creme to help minimize the pain of the bite: SUPER SAVINGS. It's awesome! You should try it. Even though I've been buying a crap ton (yes that's a unit of measurement) of stuff, it's all been with incredible coupons, deals and/or discounts. Let me share with you what I've recently acquired...

Joann Fabrics store recently had their Friends & Family event, so if you're a subscriber to their texts or emails, you got a pretty cool 25% off coupon for your entire purchase. Since I have a few projects I want to do for Isaiah's nursery (still getting used to calling him by name instead of just "the baby"), I decided this was as good a time as any to utilize a great discount and scratch off some of those "someday" projects from my Pinterest.

The first project is to do a series of birdhouses - different shapes, different but complimentary colors - and to cluster them on his nursery wall as decoration for the woodland theme we're doing. The birdhouses were on sale for $6 each, which is already a great deal, but I had that coupon so they were only $4.50! Also, the paints I originally grabbed for them were $8 a tube, but after perusing the store a bit, I found even nicer paints (that are actually made for wood), in better colors, for only $2.50 a bottle. Take off that 25% again!

 Now this... this deal was a dream come true. Do you see those lovely, modern, bright 3-piece place settings up there? Well, my friends, they are Fiestaware. And they are ridiculously expensive. So expensive, in fact, that I formerly mocked people who owned them. Truth be told, I probably still will, especially if I hear they paid full retail price for them. The sets above retail for $42 each... for one place setting! That's one cup, one bowl, and one plate. However, Macy's had a great sale the other day and they were marked down to only $25 per setting. Sweet! On top of that, I checked into Macy's using Foursquare and was pleasantly surprised to receive a 15% off coupon for all sale-priced items. Ding ding ding!!! So what was originally $42 a setting became only $21.25. That's only 25 cents away from being a true 50% off deal!

So I bought two settings of each. 

And a butter dish.

Now here's the winner of the Awesome Deal of the Century Award. This sweater (which I purchased in ivory instead of the gray) is from Lane Bryant. That right there should tell you it would be over-priced. However, I got it off the clearance rack... gold dot sale... AND I had a 50% off coupon for my entire order. So this lovely, luxuriously soft, beautifully knit sweater with pin closure - originally $99.95 - was mine for only $3.55!!! Yes, you read that right. I didn't put the decimal in the wrong place. Only three dollars and fifty-five cents. When I wore it to my last OB/GYN appointment, my doctor complimented me on it. When I told her how much I saved/paid, she gave me a high-five and then showed me the Armani black slacks she had on that she only paid $7.99 for. She called me a patient after her own heart - haha.

The shopping trip at Lane Bryant was incredible, because I actually saved more than I spent. My total after tax was less than $150, but my savings were over $200! I even scored a pair of dark wash bootcut jeans, originally $60, on sale for $13, plus my coupon... making them only $7. Incredible! And a $70 dress... only $35. It's perfect for both Easter and the baby shower.

So what about you? Score any awesome deals lately?

| Linking Up With Five Days Five Ways // Feature Friday Free-For-All |

Baby updates galore.

The past couple of weeks have been filled with doctor appointments, baby registry stuff, research and the like - all baby related. With that comes a few updates for you all!

First, we had a growth ultrasound to see how our little man was growing. There was a fear that, because of his heart condition, other areas of his growth or development might have been affected. Thankfully he is completely healthy and ranked between the 82nd and 96th percentile in ALL areas measured - they're even predicting his weight at 4 lbs. 11 oz. already!

Second, we had another echocardiogram this afternoon with Dr. K. We are pleased to announce that the baby was much more cooperative with the ultrasound technician today so they were able to get the best and clearest pictures of his heart to date. His pulse is great, his squeeze is great, there are no leaky valves, no fluid build-up around the heart, the arteries/valves are all developing well, and... his mitral valve (previously missing) has developed! This is nothing short of a miracle. It doesn't necessarily change the series of surgeries he's having, and it technically gives him an additional CHD diagnosis (double inlet of the right ventricle), but it does mean that the pressure is being taken off of his left atrium, which means he shouldn't experience any blood back-flow or back-up into his lungs. Woot woot! We also got some excellent recommendations for pediatricians in the area, as well as the name of the surgeon who we'll likely be working with through Seattle Children's.

Lastly, an announcement. No longer do we need to call him "The Baby" or "Baby Beard" (though I will miss that). Our son has a name and Josh and I would like to share it with everyone!

The name we have chosen for our little baby boy is Isaiah Boaz. Josh and I have prayed and deliberated over this important decision since we found out we were having a baby. We both love Isaiah and Boaz from the Bible, but were having difficulty deciding the order of the names. Boaz Isaiah, or Isaiah Boaz? It wasn't until we did a little deeper research that we discovered this:

A remarkable feature of the name Isaiah is that it consists of the same two elements as the name Joshua (). The name Joshua is the Hebrew form of the Greek name Jesus, and most probably the name by which Jesus was known by His contemporaries. Jesus was fascinated by the Book of Isaiah, possibly because this Book appears to be entirely about Him, but perhaps also because the name Isaiah is almost identical to the name Joshua with the two segments reversed.

Yup, that pretty much sealed the deal. In addition to Isaiah having such a close tie to Joshua, there were other reasons why we chose this particular name. Both of us love the book of Isaiah, that he was a poet, and that when I was 18 I did something seemingly stupid... let me explain.

Shortly after my 18th birthday, I decided I needed a tattoo. I'd recently overheard my youth pastor tell another member of my church that Isaiah 61:1 was the part of the bible that spoke of the Holy Spirit descending from Heaven in the form of a dove. Having not read the bible, I took this as fact and got a tattoo of a dove on my left shoulder blade with "Isaiah 61:1" written beneath it. It wasn't until a few weeks later that my step-mother asked me to read her the verse. 

Boy was I surprised! Nothing about a dove... but I knew deep down that the scripture was more meaningful, and that the Lord had provided reasoning for my lack of study in this area. Now that we know about our son's heart condition, we've prayed and have felt the Lord speak to us that he will be just fine, but that he'll also be doing incredible things for the Kingdom with this life he's been given. I couldn't imagine a better reminder for that promise than the Word of God permanently etched on my back.

The reason we chose Boaz was because of the incredible example he was used as to kind of illustrate that relationship we have with the Lord as our Redeemer. He was a kind man, honest, and stewarded his resources well. His name literally means "strength," or "In Him (the Lord) is strength." We know our son will need strength to get through his surgeries, on top of life's trials and tribulations, and we always want him to know that his strength comes from his perfect Father.

Now, we know this could lead to criticism as it does with pretty much any baby name once it's shared. But let me present this as something for you to ponder, if you're considering "sharing" with us that you don't like the name we chose: We might not like your name either... but we wouldn't ever say so. So have some class, put on your big girl panties, and save your baby name complaints for when you have your child and are so doped up on pain meds that you end up naming them something like Fartfignugen in an attempt to spell Johnathan.

Positive, happy, respectful and supportive comments are welcome as always. :)

Date night #2.

A while back, I wrote about how Josh and I were wanting to have regular date nights. We realized that date night is something to be intentional about, cherished, and thoroughly enjoyed - all to the Glory of God. Just like our marriage.We decided that he would plan a date for us between the 1st and the 15th of each month, and I would plan one between the 16th and end of each month. It's going really well so far, and while I already posted about our first date here, I thought I'd share with you the first date that I planned for us in the latter-half of February.

When Josh took his turn planning our date, he was very thoughtful! He made sure we did things that he knew I liked - going out to a new restaurant, driving around exploring new places, and capping it off with something sweet (fro-yo!). So when it came time for me to plan a date, I wanted to honor him by planning things I knew he liked. First, we took a nice drive up north to Redmond - a beautiful city on the Eastside of Seattle, home to little mom-n-pop shops... you know, like Microsoft.

We talked while we drove, listened to the radio, and played our favorite car games. Our destination was the Redmond Town Center and our first stop was the iPic theater to watch Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds in the movie "Safe House." Josh had been wanting to see this movie for quite some time, but I think he felt guilty about asking me to go since it's an action flick. So my idea was that we'd go see it... and we'd see it in a less-than-ordinary movie theater.

The tickets were a little expensive - $20 each - but were so worth it when I saw how happy it made Josh. We purchased the premium seats in the theater which are these enormous and super comfy recliners, with electronic adjustments, a massage feature, and a tray for all of our goodies. They even offered complimentary pillows and blankets. The ticket price also included our own waiter to take our food and drink orders, as well as complimentary bags of yummy, buttery, fluffy popcorn! Like I said... not your average movie theater.

While watching the (AWESOME!) movie, we dined on some really interesting food that you wouldn't normally expect at a movie theater. Josh had the Angus beef sliders, I had the apple butter and turkey panini, and we shared an order of the truffle and parmesan French fries. We also had to try the Southwest egg rolls. Everything was delicious and cooked to perfection. Unfortunately, it was so delicious that I didn't take a picture until we'd eaten it all...

After the movie, a tour of the theater's luxurious bathrooms, and a sad farewell to the comfy seats, we went for a walk around the Town Center. There were lots of different stores, though we mostly window-shopped. We did take a quick detour into Gymboree where I bought this adorable shirt for Baby Beard. I got it in 0-3 mo. and 18-24 mo. sizes - the only sizes they had. We both had fun there looking at the little boys clothes and talking about our own little boy.

Josh and I had recently gotten into a smoothie kick, too, so we made another stop at Red Mango. He got the pineapple smoothie and I got something with mango in it. Both were wonderful and refreshing after sitting in the dark, warm movie theater for a couple hours.

Once we'd finished our drinks, we continued strolling through the town center, hand-in-hand. It was a lovely walk, I only tripped once, and though it was a little overcast out it was actually a nice day for the Seattle area. We headed back to the car and then went exploring Redmond and the surrounding areas, including Marymoor Park. The Cavalia show was just letting out as we drove through the park, so we got stuck in a bit of traffic, which was perfect because it gave us time to look around at all of the new Spring growth in the park. We even saw our first cherry blossoms of the season starting to bloom!

| Linking Up With Let's Go On a Date |

Baby registries are a (good) time-suck.

Ever since the clocks rolled forward an hour, time seems to be going by at an astronomical rate. I wake up at 8am, blink, and BOOM! It's time for dinner. That being said, I've gone into each day with a to-do list that seems somewhat manageable. For the past week, my daily goals have included blogging, laundry, general housecleaning, and the most daunting of tasks... updating our baby registries.***

Unfortunately, blogging has fallen to the wayside, as has the housecleaning and most of the laundry because I've been so consumed by the baby registries. Who knew that there were so many different kinds of (ridiculously expensive) baby socks to choose from? Or that the search for a humidifier could nearly bring me to tears?

Yesterday, I spent over an hour looking for a nursing cover. That's right. Over an hour online to find a piece of fabric, with a strap, to cover my ta-tas.

And you know what doesn't help? Pinterest. All it does is give me ideas of things I can make myself instead of registering for them, which is kind of awesome, but also kind of dangerous. If I can't remember to swap out a load of laundry that got started 4 hours ago, how am I going to remember to make closet clothes dividers, wee-wee tee-pees, and various wall decor items?

So despite all the complaining, and the hours of my life that have been poured into these two registry lists, I'm actually really excited about a few things. First of all, that we're getting closer to meeting our little Baby Beard. I can't wait to kiss him, hold him, smell him, stare at him for hours upon hours... I'm already so in love. But I also have a few great finds from the registry that I'm super excited about, and thought I'd share with y'all.

Maize Harlequin diaper bag by Tiddliwinks
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Ascot nursing cover by Bebe Au Lait
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Baby Essentials socks - they're hipster shoes! For babies!
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Leachco Prop 'R Shopper Cart Cover - Green Forest Frolics

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Bestever Lamb Baby Mat
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If you have any time-tested, mother-approved items you'd like to recommend, please do so! I'm especially interested in hearing reviews on strollers and car seats (anyone have experience with Peg-Perego?). Those suckers are going to drive me nuts with all the features, safety ratings, travel system attachments, etc.


*** Let me clarify: the task is daunting because there's a crap ton of stuff that we need for the baby, and I get very uncomfortable asking for gifts from others. I near panic-attack mode accepting them, especially in a group setting like a baby shower. But considering that filling out a baby registry means that there's a baby on the way, I'm more than happy to devote all of my time and energy to it.

New haircut + giveaway winner announced!

I'll just get right to what everyone wants to know about... who won the iTunes gift card giveaway celebrating this little blog reaching double-digit followers. Using random.org, and a list of followers in random order, the winner is... 

#3! Congrats Lyn - hope you use iTunes! Email me the address you'd like the gift card shipped to.

In other news, I decided to go get my hair cut the other day. It's been quite some time - my last cut being in July, 2011. I'd been toying with different styles and colors, not trusting my constantly fluctuating hormone levels to keep me of sound mind and judgement when actually deciding on something. 

The more I thought about it, though, I realized that I've only totally trusted 2 people with my hair (well, 2 that I've trusted and they haven't disappointed). The first is my friend, Melissa, who did my hair for my wedding. I was thrilled with the style we came up with (natural and feminine) and her level of expertise in the teasing department (not so natural but still awesome).

 The other person is a woman named Rachel. I met Rachel one day while I was on my lunch break from an awful job working in retail. I wanted to get my bangs trimmed and so I went to the salon in the food court of the mall I worked in - Rachel was available. A bang trim turned into an awesome haircut, and I've been going to see her ever since (that was in July 2006!). The only exceptions were: 1. Melissa doing my hair for the wedding, 2. An impromptu and PMS-driven trip to an overpriced salon to get a cut before I went crazy, and 3. This one time Rachel wasn't available so I tried another stylist at her salon, but the cut wasn't "me."

Because I'd been growing my hair out for the wedding, and Josh and I have just been so busy, I hadn't been in to actually see Rachel since January 2010. Let's just say, it was like coming home after a long time away when I sat down in her chair and let her do her thing - I almost always go in and just tell her to do whatever she thinks will look best. I trust her that much! And she never disappoints...

 In addition to the incredible feeling of someone else washing my hair and massaging my scalp (I love it more than manis, pedis or regular massages!), the shampoo she used smelled wonderful and the styling products made my hair feel like silk. I know it'll never look this good when I try to do it on my own, but I'm relishing that feeling of freshly cut hair while it lasts.

| Linking Up With: Rolled Up Pretty // Whatever Whenever Wednesday |

Tag... you're it!

Katherine over at The Bailey Daily tagged me in this cute blog questionnaire and came up with some very thoughtful questions to ask!  I think it's a fantastic idea, and a cute way to get to know other bloggers better. Unfortunately, it looks like I'll be breaking the "forwarding" rule because I'm self-conscious and don't know 11 other bloggers that haven't already been tagged or are little operations like me. Still, if you'd like to participate, see the rules below and feel free to use the questions I asked to post this trend on your own blog! Or, answer them in the comments. I'd love to hear people's answers!




What's the best fashion advice you've ever received?
Dress for your shape, not the trend. For example, I'm small-busted, so deep necklines and empire waisted shirts/dresses help to emphasize the right areas and minimize the more unsightly ones.

Who do you most admire?
Aside from Jesus Christ, it'd be my handsome hero of a husband - Josh (aka Beard). Every day I'm reminded of what an honor it is to be his wife, and how great a gift it is to love and serve him as he loves and serves others in all that he does. Sometimes I just lay in bed and watch him sleep (not in a creepy way, geesh...), marveling at how talented and intelligent and incredible he truly is.

Who is your favorite blogger?
Aside from the fact that she's one of the few bloggers I actually know in person, I think Jen from The Arizona Russums is fantastic. She has a great balance between discipline and joy when it comes to blogging, and I love the variety of topics she covers. I also appreciate how she shares her love for Christ with others.

Would you rather spend money on clothes or home decor?
Oooh... that's a tough one. I love having new, fresh clothes to wear, but I think I'm going to go with home decor. There are just so many fun, pretty things to surround yourself with!

What is your biggest fear?
Lately, it's been giving birth. I'm not so much worried about the pain, but more about how things will happen once our little Baby Beard is born. To learn more about the journey we've been on regarding his heart, read the Heart to Heart series I wrote starting here.

Do you have any pets?
None to call my own, but I am madly in love with Josh's little sister's cat. Seriously sweet, and so smart! I'm just not a fan when she claws at my antique chair's upholstery... grr.

What was the last thing you pinned on Pinterest?
The last pin I did was one my friend, Megan, had posted. We're both bibliophiles and lovers of old things, so I'm not surprised that I re-pinned this hauntingly beautiful photo of an abandoned library. I wish I could go there and hold those books.

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What's your best tip for fellow bloggers?
I know it's cliche, but you really should be blogging for you and no one else. That sounds silly considering I'm filling out a questionnaire, sent to me by someone else and being read by others, but it's also for me. The way I see it, sometimes it takes others asking you a question before you really know how you feel about the answer.

Beach or mountains?
I love both, but I lean more towards beaches. I was born on an island, overlooking Saratoga Passage and the Olympic Mountains, and have always lived near a large body of water.

What do you do to relieve stress?
Pray. A lot. And sometimes cry. Also, a lot.

Chocolate or vanilla?
Chocolate. 'Nuff said.


So here are the rules for the blog questionnaire...
You must post the rules.
Answer the 11 questions that the tagger posted for you and then create 11 questions to ask the people you've tagged.
Tag 11 people and link them in your post. (oops...)
Post their button on your post if they have one.
Let them know you have tagged them.

The new 11 questions:
1. Who would be the first person you'd thank in your Academy Award acceptance speech?
2. What's your favorite kitchen utensil (and, of course, why)?
3. Would you rather be able to only shop at Goodwill, and get everything for free - or - shop only at Neiman Marcus and pay 50% of the ticket price?
4. What religion or belief system do you most closely identify with?
5. How old were you, and under what circumstances, did you break your first bone?
6. Is there a holiday you don't like?
7. Describe the best kiss you've ever had:
8. When you go to your favorite restaurant, what do you usually order?
9. Why do you blog?
10. Where were you the last time you got some great news (and for Pete's sake, what was so great about it)?
11. If you could pick anyone to be the President of the United States, dead or alive, who would you pick?

Friday's Letters and a Giveaway!

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Dear Hubs,
  Thank you for being an incredible blessing in my life - always. No matter how many times I say it, "I love you" just never seems to be enough for me to offer, and yet you accept it like it's worth all the gold in the world. I love when you marvel at the movements and advances our baby makes, and how sweetly you anticipate meeting him. I do, too.

Dear Spring,
  I'm so glad to see you're finally starting to make an appearance here in the Pacific Northwest. I enjoyed two bunches of your daffodils this past week in various vases around the house, but what I'm really eager for are your tulips!

Dear Dad,
  I'm really happy to hear you've found someone who makes you happy. Even though you and mom got divorced when I was little, I'm still glad you've decided to exercise your American rights in the pursuit of happiness. That's cherry-boss-bitchin. And I love you.

Dear Grapefruit,
  I'm sorry we don't get along. I'm just not a fan of your bitter aftertaste. Nothing personal.

Dear Rude Woman at the Restaurant Last Night,
  If you don't like who you're sitting next to, and if you know in advance that the restaurant you're going to doesn't offer anything that meets your discriminating palette's taste, might I suggest you go somewhere else? Or, better yet, stay home and make your family miserable instead of the innocent people at the table next to you and the incredibly kind waiter who was unfortunate enough to have you sit in his section. Bitch.

And finally... a giveaway!

Dear Readers,
  Thank you for your encouraging comments, your ideas and inspiration. While I love writing simply because it fulfills a deep yearning inside me, I'm only human and so of course I enjoy the knowledge that others might be reading and/or admiring what I have to write.
  That being said, I noticed that I now have 10 followers on this blog through GFC! Double-digits, baby! So I've decided to host a little giveaway to celebrate. The prize is a $10 iTunes gift card (fancy, eh?), since we're celebrating 10 followers!
  If you're a follower on GFC, there's nothing more to do - you're automatically entered once. For additional entries, ask your friends to follow this blog - when they leave a comment saying they were referred by you I'll give you both an extra entry. Also, like the blog on Facebook and you can get another extra entry. Just be sure to leave an additional comment on this blog letting me know you've liked the Facebook page. If we get 10 likes on Facebook, I'll throw in a bonus prize! Entries must be in by Monday, March 12th at 9pm PST.

| Linking Up With |

Adventures of Newlyweds // Friday's Letters

Ignorance is bliss.

| Forever by Yvonne Coomber |
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I can't remember the first time I heard the line, "ignorance is bliss," but I can remember not understanding it. After all, my entire life I've been one who actively seeks knowledge - I thirst for it, I yearn for it, I pursue it - I just love learning! Essentially, Wikipedia and I are BFF's. So when I heard this concept that someone might ignore the urge to learn more about a situation, and that the alienation of the learning would bring happiness... well, by gosh, that just sounded ridiculous.

I still love learning and want to know everything there is to know about everything, but I've also recognized this habit I've developed at avoiding anything that could possibly lead to uncomfortable, unsettling, unpleasant news. For example, a couple years ago when I was living on my own and single, I actually went over 6 months without checking my mail. It didn't occur to me until I started receiving phone calls from friends, saying that the Christmas cards they'd sent me had been returned in the mail. Subconsciously, I was so afraid of opening my mailbox and finding a distressing letter that I simply didn't open the box. I may not have been blissful, but I was certainly a degree or two cooler in the stress department.

As another example, I got a phone call today from my OB's office saying they hadn't seen or heard from me since January and wanted to make sure I was ok. When I called back and spoke to my doctor's lead nurse, I nearly burst into tears - tears of shame, of fear, and also of relief that I was finally telling someone that I was just flat-out scared of getting more bad news. So I explained to her that, because I truly love the relationship I've established with my OB, I was avoiding seeing her for fear that she would want to refer me to another doctor because of Baby Beard's heart condition and I'd have to start from scratch. Bless the nurse's heart, as she explained to me that my doctor was more than comfortable continuing to work with me - she actually specializes in high-risk and complicated pregnancies! Praise God!

This is an issue that God has really placed on my heart. No matter how uncomfortable a situation may be, I need to trust the Lord in his guidance that I should not ignore the things he's asked me to do (i.e. schedule an appointment with a doctor, open a piece of mail from an unknown address, answer an email that's been put off, etc.). While putting the task on the back burner may bring temporary relief, I'm still aware of it's presence and the impending reality that the pot will soon boil over. My prayer is that I'll be filled with the Holy Spirit and his wisdom, to be shown practical ways to address this issue in my own life and maybe be able to share that wisdom with others who experience the same anxieties and fears.

Tastebuds: Potato-Ham Bake Recipe

Have I told you lately how much I adore Pinterest? One of the reasons I love Pinterest so much, is that there is an endless supply of mouth-watering recipes on there. Since I've started trying to do more meal planning, this site has come in really handy for that. I can search for casseroles (my favorite!), or certain ethnic cuisines, particular ingredients, etc. It's just fantastic. 'Nuff said.

With my pin-spiration renewed, I set out to make a potato-ham bake casserole dish that was originally featured by Better Homes and Gardens magazine. It looked simple enough, and because I already had a lot of the ingredients necessary, the cost for the entire meal was quite minimal (only $8 to serve 4 people).


Potato-Ham Bake

Ingredients 

1 lb. potatoes, peeled and sliced (Yukon Gold were recommended by BHG, but I just used what was on sale at my local produce market $1.50 for 5 lbs, y'all!)
8 oz. (or 1 tub) of chive & onion cream cheese
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh rosemary (BHG's version calls for tarragon, but I loooove me some rosemary)
8 oz. cooked boneless ham, cut in bite-sized chunks
1 lb. fresh asparagus, cut into 2-3" pieces

Start by preheating your oven to 400 F. In a medium saucepan, cook the potatoes in a small amount of boiling, lightly salted water - covered - for about 5-7 minutes, or until tender. Drain, then transfer to your 1.5-2 qt. baking dish.

For the sauce, use the same saucepan as the potatoes and combine cream cheese, milk, 2 Tbsp. Parmesan, rosemary and some pepper (to taste). Heat on medium, whisking, until cream cheese is melted smooth.

Next, layer the potatoes, ham, sauce and asparagus in your baking dish and mix well (I used my hands... in retrospect, a spatula probably would've sufficed). Then cover and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover, sprinkle with remaining Parmesan, then bake an additional 10 minutes. For garnish, feel free to sprinkle a little extra rosemary and/or pepper... but trust me, this is not a "pretty" dish to make, despite the pictures BHG posted. It's ugly as sin, but sinfully delicious!

Because the casserole was an entree, but not enough for an entire meal, I served it alongside some corn, salad, and warmed French bread. And yes, that would be a paper plate it's being served on. I wasn't in the mood to attempt an artsy food shot because it smelled so darn good. Even the old woman and little girl on my TV tray thought so, see?