I've always been a little intimidated about making pizza -- mainly the thought of making pizza dough from scratch.  I mean, they make it look so fun and easy on TV, but I'm still not convinced about the dough part. One day I will try my hand at it, but until then, thankfully, there are these pre-packaged crusts that I found at Target. I usually get grossed out about the thought of pre-packaged pizza crusts, but these actually looked good. The best part is that they are ultra thin and crispy -- my fave! So, I decided to try them out for the first time, and I am so glad I did! These are amazingly good and crispy, and they are so much better than take-out. I wanted to do a chicken and ranch style pizza, but I realized it needed some pizzaz (in the form of veggies), so I decided to add some asparagus. Perfect -- I already had some sitting in my refrigerator! What resulted was this delicious, gourmet-looking pizza that reminded me of pizza from California Pizza Kitchen. I can't wait to make this again and try other toppings. Turns out, making pizza this way was fun and easy!

---

Chicken and Asparagus Ranch Thin Crust Pizza

Author: Hello Lovely Living

Published March 8, 2015

Servings: 3

Prep: 10 mins

Cook: 20 mins

Total time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 2 ultra thin and crispy pizza crusts (pre-packaged)
• 2 chicken breasts, chopped into 1" pieces 
• 2 cups asparagus, chopped into 1" pieces
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
• Ranch dressing
• 1 oz cream cheese
• 1 Tbsp butter
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 Tsp dried basil
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400°.
2. Season chicken with salt and pepper, then sauté in olive oil until browned on the edges.
3. Add butter into the pan and let melt, then add garlic. Sauté for 2 minutes, then add in cream cheese. Stir until chicken is completely coated. Add basil and stir well. Set aside.
4. Take 1 pizza crust and evenly sprinkle 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese, 1/2 of the cooked chicken, then 1 cup of asparagus. Drizzle ranch dressing on top -- once horizontally, then once vertically to evenly coat the pizza. Repeat the same steps with the other pizza crust. 
5. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until crisp along the edges.
6. Enjoy!

Notes

• If you want to be even more fancy, try grilling your chicken instead! I wanted to grill mine, but doing so in the dead of winter was just not an option for me. Haha!

---

With how easy and simple this was to make, I am inspired to make pizza a regular part of my household menu. Pizza is so versatile. Create any type of flavor combination and never get bored again. Plus, homemade is always healthier. Happy Eating! 

Follow @hellolovelyliving on Instagram and see what else is cooking in my kitchen! 

Have you tried making pizza from scratch or semi-homeamde before? Let me know in the comments!

xo, stina

I have always loved a great mani and pedi, and so when I discovered that it was possible to do my own gel manicure at home, I was in. However, I was always skeptical. Did it really work? Was it worth the initial investment? I did like the idea that I could maintain a fresh-looking manicure for two weeks or more, be able to do it myself, save money, all the while getting professional results. So, after researching the many gel kits available, I found that Sensationail was actually one of the better ones out there in terms of price, performance, and ease of use. So, I decided to give it a try. This mommy bear was ready for a new set of paws!

purchased at: target

price: gel kit $49.99 | gel color $9.99-$11.99

Rating:  4.5/5 on Amazon.com and sensationail.com

Set Includes:

• Pro 3060 LED Lamp

• Gel Cleanser

• Gel Primer

• Gel Base & Top Coat

• Gel Polish 

• Lint-free Wipes

• Double-sided Nail Buffer

• Manicure Stick 

• Detailed instruction sheet

The kit comes with everything you need to get started and is supposed to last you 10 manicures. After that, simply purchase the Essentials Kit and gel color, and you're set to go for more! Although there are many steps involved, the process was simple and quick. Being that it was my first time, it did take a little longer for me to complete, but that was because I kept referring back to the instructions to make sure I was doing it properly. Generally, it should only take 15 minutes to complete. The gel color looked amazingly pigmented and everything in the kit looked very high quality. 

The gel color that I used was rose gold glitter, and when applied, it was a little blotchy and uneven, so I had to go over it several times to make it as evenly distributed as possible. Maybe this was due to the glitter content, so I will have to see if the solid colors apply better. The brush was a bit small and stiff too, so that could also have contributed to it being hard to evenly coat the nails. I also did experience some slight burning on my nails when I put my nails under the LED light during curing. This scared me at first, but since it didn't last too long--only the first few seconds of each round of curing--I didn't mind it. Other than that, I found the process to be fast and fool-proof. 

Rose Gold Glitter

Taken in direct sunlight.

Sensationail gel polish starter kit - raspberry wine

$39.29

Buy on Amazon

MY RATING: 4.5/5 (.5 off due to the brush being stiff)

PROS

• Professional, salon quality results

• Lasts for up to two weeks or more, low maintenance

• Glossy, long-lasting color and mirror-like shine

• Damage-proof and does not chip

• Save hundreds compared to salon visits

• Safer than UV nails and cures faster

• Easy to use

• Fast application, zero dry time

CONS

• May be damaging to nails

• Nails burn slightly under LED light

• Time consuming removal process

• Gel color was a bit thick when applied

• Stiff brushes

Taken in the shade. Shiny, glossy...everything!

Tip: I do recommend taking breaks in between manicures to let your nails breathe and recover, because constant use can cause nails to become weak and brittle.

This gel kit lived up to my expectations, and I am so pleased with the results. My nails turned out glossy, shiny, and sparkly. I was immediately able to do things and not worry about damaging my nails. It's perfect for anyone who doesn't have the time to do their nails every 3-5 days (did I mention the dreaded drying time), who hates having to deal with chipped nails and smudges, and the frugal mama who loves to do-it-herself and save money. This kit is so worth it; I can finally enjoy fresh, salon-quality nails at home, and you can too!

So sparklaaay!

THE VERDICT: ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!

I highly recommend this product and can't wait to try out more colors. Have fun mamas! If you try it out, tag me on instagram using #hellolovelyliving with a photo of your gel mani. I'd love to see it and hear about your experience.

xo, stina

I first experienced the most out-of-this-world chicken wings at a Japanese restaurant on Guam, which immediately became one of my favorite restaurants for authentic Japanese cuisine. Tucked away in the heart of Tumon, but not as well-known as other Japanese restaurants, Wara was like a hidden gem and a mini Japan getaway. My husband and I enjoyed many date nights there -- watching Japanese game shows and admiring the walls decorated with Japanese keepsakes. I just HAD to have these every time I ate there! After all, who can resist something so crispy with a coating of salty, sweet glaze and topped with crunchy sesame seeds!? These wings are addicting, so proceed with caution! 

---

Japanese Nagoya Fried Chicken Wings

Author: Hello Lovely Living

Published February 16, 2015

Servings: 3-4

Prep: 10 mins

Cook: 40 mins

Total time: 50 mins

Ingredients

• 2 lbs chicken wings
• Potato starch
• Oil for deep frying
• White sesame seeds
• Salt and black Pepper

Glaze Ingredients

• 1/3 cup mirin
• 1 1/2 Tbsp sake (sub. white wine)
• 2 Tbsp soy sauce
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp ginger powder
• Pinch of salt

Instructions

1. In a small saucepan, bring the ingredients for the glaze to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 15 minutes, or until sauce has thickened to form a glaze. Set aside when done.
2. Pat chicken wings dry with paper towels to remove any excess moisture. Coat evenly with potato starch and sprinkle with a dash of salt.
3. Deep fry wings in oil until they are crispy and golden brown - about 7-8 minutes. Drain well and let cool.
4. Place wings in a container and drizzle evenly with glaze, then cover and shake until well coated. Sprinkle evenly with sesame seeds and sprinkle with black pepper.

Notes

• Serve with steamed, white rice.

---

Enjoy!

Itadakimasu いただきます ! (Let's eat!)