Menu Monday

Monday: Simple Stuffed Shells, green salad and garlic bread

Tuesday: Chicken Taco Salad

Wednesday: Tilapia, steamed broccoli and wild rice

Thursday: 10 Minute Navajo Tacos

Friday:

Saturday: Taco Chili and cornbread

Sunday: 10 Minute Enchiladas and spanish rice

 

What are YOU having this week!? Have you tried any of these recipes? Did you like them?

Whole Wheat Pizza Dough

This is a bread machine recipe, but I'm sure you could adapt it and do it by hand... but I'm not the one to ask about that haha!

We LOOVE pizza at our house! In fact, pizza crust is one of the few foods that my picky little guy will eat! I tired this crust recipe and I loved it! I made a BBQ Chicken Pizza with it, and it really went well with the taste of the wheat crust! I will definetly make this again!

 

Whole Wheat Pizza Crust
1 1/4 cups of warm water
2 T. + 1 t. olive oil
1 1/2 cups of Whole wheat flour

2 cups AP flour
1 T. of sugar
1/2 T. of salt
2 1/4 t. of yeast (or one packet)
1 T. Garlic bread seasoning (mix of garlic powder, onion flake, parsley and lots of other seasonings)

Put the wet ingredients in the bread maker
Put the dry ingredients into the bread maker EXCEPT for the yeast and garlic seasoning.
Make a small valley in the center of the dry ingredients and fill with the yeast making sure it does not touch the wet ingredients
Set the bread maker to the dough setting. Let the machine run until it has formed a ball. Add the garlic seasoning and let it run until the seasoning is incorporated and the dough ball is smooth. Stop the bread maker, and place the dough ball into an oiled bowl. cover with plastic wrap and let rise for a little while, until it has about doubled in size. sprinkle the ball with a little flour, pull it out and place on a floured board. Roll into whatever form you want (pizza, bread sticks, calzones) and let the dough rest and rise again for a few minutes before using. Bake at 425 until done (It just depends on what your cooking, anywhere form 15-25 min)

What are your favorite pizza toppings!? I'm always looking for new ideas!

Foto Friday

 These pictures were from Mothers Day! I had a fabulous day! It was actually also my birthday! AND my brother, who is on an LDS mission in the Dominican Republic, got to call home! So it was a great day!

I love my kids more than I could ever express in words! They are my whole world and I absolutely adore being their mother! Sure, days are hard, and I get frusturated (a lot), but I love those sweet (messy) faces

this is my Mom with the kids! I cant even tell you how much I love my mom! She is so amazing! She is my best friend and a fantastic grandma! My kids just adore her and so do I!

My sweet husband took me to vegas for my birthday and let me shop to my hearts content! :) Love that man!

Did you all have a wonderful Mother's Day!?

Crypton Throver {Product Review}

 I think it's safe to say that summer has officially decended upon Southern Utah! In fact, I saw 101 on my cars thermometer the other day! Whew! And summer, for us, means playdates, park trips and picnics! I am always looking for a durable, cute blanket to toss in the car, and this one is wonderful for just that!

Crypton's site describes their product like this...

"The Crypton Throver. Our versatile, reversible, machine-washable, go-anywhere throw blanket protects and prettifies wherever you put it. Turn the patterned side over to reveal a solid suede side. From the sofa to the automobile to the speedboat, it's a beach blanket, a yoga mat and even an impromptu baby-changing station!"

And it truly is all that! We've spilled all over this thing and a quick mashine wash is all it needs! I also left it out one night and it got a visit from the sprinkler fairy! All my other blankets were soaked and took forever to dry, this one actually repelled the water! I was amazed! In fact, I made my husband come out and see! Haha! He was impressed too! 

These really are amazing, along with all of Crypton's other products! It will definetly be a staple for our summer outings!

Find the Crypton Throvers HERE!

HAPPY SUMMER!!

{Updated} Free Printable Menu!

Awhile back, I made up a printable menu for my family! Well, times have changed, and so have I! So a new menu was made! this time though, I laminated it, and so I can use a dry erase maker and just reuse it every week! You'll also notice I added a line for lunch! I use my menu to plan my grocery list, and when I was just planning dinners, I never had anything to eat for lunch... so wah-lah! Problem solved!

 

CLICK HER FOR DOWNLOAD

please excuse my thick marker! I promise I plan on buying a skinny dry erase marker!

How do you remember your menu for the week!?

Menu Monday

Thanks for all your comments on my birthday post and the Foto Friday post! I'll definetly keep those up!

It's a pretty routine week for us! Other than a few play dates and family pictures this weekend, we will mostly be home! So the menu this week is a must!

Monday: Grilled Pork chops, roasted brussel sprouts and fresh bread

Tuesday: Sweet corn and chicken enchiladas with spanish rice

Wednesday: Salmon and pasta salad

Thursday: 10 minute Navajo Tacos

Friday: Beef and Bean Tostadas

Saturday: Date Night/ Family Pictures

Sunday: Mexican Stuffed Shells

 

Lunch Ideas:

Leftover Pizza (from my bday)

Taco Salad

Oven Nachos

Chicken Bacon Ranch Wrap

potstickers

Happy #24!

Guess what? It's 'ma birthday :)

And to celebrate, I thought I'd share 24 things you may not know about me!

(you know... all in my pursuit to make the blog more personal!)

#1. I have never ever wanted a career. Gasp. I know. In high school my answer to the 'What do you want to be?' was always, a Mom. No hesitation. For like 3 seconds in 11th grade I thought I wanted to be a CPA. You know do people's taxes. Then I took the class and realized I sucked at that. I did actually go to school to be a nail tech before I got married. Just to have a fall back, just in case! But Luckily, my sweet husband has a wonderful job than

more than provides for us, allowing me to stay home with my sweet babies!

#2. I am CHEAP. And I mean C-H-E-A-P! I hate spending money, and rarely ever buy things for full price. TJMaxx and Ross are by far my favorite places to shop. And most of my decor comes from yard sales and clearance racks! My sister in law makes fun of me sometimes, but my philosophy is, why buy 1 shirt for $50 when I can go somewhere else and buy 5 for that price!? But don't get me wrong... I shop ALOT. (more on that later)

#3. Date night is SO important to me! We honestly hardly ever miss a week. I'm so grateful that my husband is willing to take me out so often! And that both of our moms are so close and love to watch our kids! Most weeks it's just doing to dinner and target, but just that time together is so beneficial to our marriage! And my sanity! My husband is always telling me that I deserve a break, and that he'll take me out anytime!

#4. I'm not a good housekeeper. 75% of the time, at least 1 room in my house is a disaster. My hubby is a way better cleaner than I am.

#5. I love room temperature water.

#6. The smell of toothpaste and gum makes me gag. Don't chew gum around me. Just don't.

#7. I hate my handwriting and I'm always trying to change it!

#8. Lemon is my favorite scent of all time!

#9. I love to shop. For clothes, for decor, for kids clothes, for office supplies. Pretty much everything except food! (which I used to love, until I had to start doing it every week) I go to town at least 2-3 times a week to shop. My usual stops are Joannes, Target, Ross, Kid to Kid and Old Navy.

#10. I've really never been happy with my body. Especially after I've had kids. I've just never been skinny. But I'm going to try really hard after this baby to get fit.

#11. I do not enjoy singing. In the car, in the shower, in church... or anywhere. But I will bust a move if no one is watching!

#12. I'm a little too addicted to my iPhone. I don't think I could ever switch back.

#13. I would rather have chips than a candy bar. Doritos to be exact, or Ruffles with ranch.

#14. My husband can get me to try/like almost anything. I hated chinese food, ribs, potstickers, buffalo sauce, and a few other things before we met... now, they are all my favorite! the only thing I still can't stand is Mountain Dew. Gag.

#15. I pretty much live in flip flops. Even in snow, which ,thankfully, we don't get much of in So. Utah!

#16. My favorite weather is summer rain.

 

#17. My husband and I dated for  3 1/2 years before we got married. That's pretty much unheard out in Utah! we met in 2005.

#18. My favorite chore is dusting... least fav... bathrooms.

 

#19. I love anything vintage.

 

#20. All bugs disgust me close up. Ladybugs, butterflies, potato bugs... up close they are all nasty!

 

#21. Smells and music are my biggest memory triggers. I make my husband wear the same cologne he did when we started dating because it reminds me of when we met.

 

#22. I hate paying for hotels. I would much rather stay with family/friends. Because I'm cheap.

 

#23. I talk. A LOT.

#24. I am a control freak. But it didn't start until I had kids. Now, I always need to know the 'plan' for the day, or the week. And I have list after list after list all over my house! In notebooks, on my phone, on the whiteboard, on the mirror everywhere!

 

So hopefully that let you get to know me a little better! Do any of you relate with anything I shared?!

{NEW} Foto Friday!

For awhile now, I've wanted to make this blog a little more personal. I love hearing from all of you, and that happens most when I post about my family... and really, what's more important than my family!?

  So I decided to start...

Haha, clever, I know! ;)

So hopefully this will give you a little more insight into my daily life!

 

 Our sweet baby girl was given a blessing in our ward on Sunday! And I have to brag a little about her dress! It is totally handmade by my sweet Mother in Law! With the lace from my Mom's wedding dress! Can you get anymore sentimental? She also wore my baby shoes, and I made her bracelet and headband! 

This chunky monkey is 7 weeks!

 New dining table!

 Me and my sweet little man

He loves his baby sister! (she wasnt crying until I pulled out the camera... go figure!)

 

So tell me... is this something to continue?



Menu Monday

YAY! I'm at it again! I really do love having my family's menu planned for the week! It helps with my grocery list, our health, my weight loss... and my SANITY!! :)

 So I'm going to hop back on the horse and get with it again!

This week...

Monday: Leftover night with cousins.

Tuesday: Steak and Asparagus Rotini

Wednesday: BBQ Chicken Pizza

Thursday: Parmesan Baked Chicken with Pasta and creamy pesto

Friday: Beef and Broccoli with rice

Saturday: Date night-- Out to dinner for my birthday!

Sunday: Happy Mothers Day! AND Happy Birthday to ME! :) Were buying Papa Murphy's Pizza so none of the moms have to cook!

 

What are YOU having this week?

 What are some of your favorite dishes to help drop my unwanted baby poundage!?

Black Bean Confetti Tacos

Thank you for all the sweet comments! We are loving life with our chunky baby girl!

And speaking of... ahem... chunky... :)

I am still trying to drop this stubborn 10 lbs of 'chunk' to get down to my pre-baby weight!

So heres a very filling, healthy recipe from me to you!

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 can sweet corn

2-3 TBS salsa

1 TBS taco seasoning

1 TBS chopped cilantro (optional)

8 fajita size flour tortillas

garnishes: cheese, lettuce, salsa, avacado, sour cream, etc.

 

In a saucepan combine blackbeans, corn, salsa, cilantro and taco seasoning, simmer until heated through. Warm tortillas and prepare contiments. Assemble tacos and enjoy!!

 



I'm back! {What I love Wednesday}

 

Thank you for all the sweet messages on facebook regarding our sweet baby girl! We are SO glad she is here! It was a rough surgery, but an AMAZING recovery! SO much easier than my first! I wont bore you with details, but I'll share some of my favorite photos!

 

I also wanted to share a few things I am LOVING as of lately!

EOS Lip Balm: LOVE this stuff! actually, I've loved it for a few years now! The chapstick is amazing, and the scents are all to die for! Plus, how cute is the container!? I've seen them at Walgreens, Walmart, Target... pretty much everywhere! I may or may not have EVERY scent! they run around $3.

 

Chiobani Greek Yogurt tubes: I was really excited when I saw these at walmart! My little boy loves gogurt, and these are the exact same thing, only more protein and less sugar! and around the same price! ($250 for 8) Plus, they are wonderful frozen!!

Huggies new case: I have no idea what this is called, but when I saw it at Target, I HAD to have one! I love the hard, refillable case to throw in the diaper bag! I know they have those small cases, but I always forget to refill those! This holds the same amount as the plastic bags, but doesn't get ripped or smashed! I got mine for $2.18 I think.

Freezer Meal Round-up {Prepping for baby}

With this little one due to arrive in just over 2 weeks, I've been trying to fill our freezer with meals to make things easier on myself (and my husband) when the neighbor meals die down, and fast food just wont do! Mostly I just plan a meal for dinner that I can make double of and freeze the extra, so it isnt much work to make these!

Here's what my freezer will be filled with....

Stuffed Shells -- I have one of these in the freezer, and I plan on making 2 more pans.

Mexican Lasagna -- One of these in the freezer so far.

 

Wild Rice and Sausage Casserole -- 3 of these in the freezer

 

 

Freezer Breakfast Burritos -- none of these yet, hopefully I'll make around 20 this week.

 

Get the Dating Divas 'Ultimate Date Night Book' for 50% off!!

So I know you've heard of the Dating Diva's! Right!? And if you do, you've probably heard a few, if not a lot of their great date night ideas! Well did you know they have a book DEDICATED to date nights!??!

 Can you say amazing!? So many date night ideas to choose from and they all have one purpose, to bring you and your significant other closer!

I personally have this book, and have used it many times and it is well worth the money!

BUT.... they are having a SPECIAL! On Valentines day ONLY.... they are offering this amazing book for HALF OFF!

Just go to THIS link and use the coupon code VALENTINE to get 50% off!

It's the perfect gift for you and your loved one for LOVE day!

But HURRY! This offer is only good for February 14th and it goes from midnight to midnight MST. So don't wait!

Buckeye Biscuits and Gravy

We've had a few warm days here in good ol' southern Utah, which has gotten me plenty excited for spring to be on it's way! So I'm getting all the yummy stick-to-your-ribs cold-weather kind of meals made now before we switch to salads and sandwiches to avoid turning on the stove!

This meal has been a favorite of mine for year and years! My mom has made it for as long as I can remember and it never gets old! It reminds me of home!

 

serves 4 (with leftovers)

 

4 English muffins

4 TBS butter or margarine

3 TBS flour

3 cups milk

1 cup frozen sweet corn

1 5oz can of ham (or 1 cup chopped ham)

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

 

In a large skillet melt butter and add flour. Cook together for a few minutes to cook out the flour taste. Slowly, while whisking, add milk. Whisk until all the lumps are gone, and cook on Medium until sauce becomes thick. Add corn and ham and simmer until heated through. Toast your english muffins (you can also just use bread) and top with gravy and cheese.

DIY Felt Heart Garland

I've had my Valentines decor up for some time now actually! In fact, the day after I took down Christmas I pulled it all out!

If you are on Pinterest, chances are, you've seen this garland (or one like it) all over the place! They've become quite popular! And for a good reason, they are very easy to make!

Step 1. Choose your felt. Now, lets talk felt for a second... if you were to ask me which felt to buy a month ago, I would of told you to just go pick up the cheap stuff from walmart and you'd be fine. I will not tell you that now however. Wool felt people. WOOL. Yes, its a tad more pricey, but if you can find it, it's softer, its not so puffy, it cuts a million times easier and it doesn't fray. I got mine at Joannes next to the regular bulk felt. I think I payed like $1 for 1/8 yard.

Anyways, so as you can see, I chose red, grey and white.

Pin your fabric over about an inch and a half (NOT exact, just guessing) and go ahead and cut hearts to your hearts content!  (pun intended)

I think I cut like 25 in all or something.

 Once you have all your hearts cut, bust out your sewing machine. Or, if you are like me and have been doing countless baby girl projects, it will already be set up on your kitchen table :)

 

 Take your first heart, and sew a straight line down the center, then, when you are almost to the edge, grab your next heart and start feeding it through immediately behind it. It take a little pushing, and once in awhile I had to lift the machine foot to get it under there, but it's really quite simple after you get the hang of it!

Then just repeat with all your hearts!

Menu Monday

Oooh. Yikes. 2 Menu Mondays in a row. I need to get on the blogging ball.

I promise, this week! And not just recipes! I have some fun baby projects to share as well!

Monday: Leftovers from Sunday- Baked Ham, Potato casserole and jello salad

Tuesday: Spaghetti and Chili

Wednesday: Ham Fried Rice

Thursday: Teryiaki Chicken Pizza

Friday: Date Night

Saturday: Bacon and Artichoke Chicken with steamed veggies

Sunday: Roast beef, red potatoes and rolls.

Menu Monday

Whew! the holidays totally threw me off for menus! But now they are over and I am back on track! I know this week is 1/2 way over, but I figured I'd let you in on my menu anyways!

Monday: We had Burger King (Healthy I know!)

Tuesday: Homemade frozen pizza.

Wednesday: Baked Sausage Rotini and garlic bread

Thursday:  Linguini with chicken and asparagus

Friday: Fajitas and chips & salsa 

Saturday: Date night

Sunday: Roast beef and baby red potatoes