Spicy Mustard Roasted Potatoes

I have a confession...side dishes are not always my strong suit. Normally, I get about 5 minutes from serving dinner when I haphazardly throw something together, usually a green salad or stuffing. So when I placed these babies on the table next to my Pan Seared Lemon Chicken my sweet husband was over the moon! These are yummy and crisp and of course... spicy! Just how I like 'em!

 

All you need is...

5-6 large red potatoes (scrubbed clean)

2 TB vegetable oil

1/4 cup Spicy Brown Mustard

1/2 tsp crushed red pepper

 

Cut your potatoes into 4ths (or 6ths if they are really big). In a bowl, mix oil and mustard with the pepper flakes. Combine everything in a large Ziploc bag and toss together.

Bake at 375 for about 30 minutes, until potatoes are tender.



DIY Chevron Hair Ties

Have you noticed these hair ties ALL over lately!? And I mean A-L-L over! Last night I was even at Old Navy, and they had them! You got 3 there for around $4. FOUR DOLLARS!? I was shocked, because they are SO easy and inexpensive to make! If you know where to go! 

The Etsy shop Hairbow Supplies Etc. is literally your one stop shop for all things hair bow! And that's where this super cute elastic came from! Isn't the chevron print to die for!? They don't just have chevron though, they have glitter and polka dot too! (coming up in another post!) 

These hair ties are so easy to make... here's how you do it!

You need two things...

Elastic & Scissors.

You can handle that... right? ;)

Here's the hard part... ;) 

Cut your elastic into 8 inch strips, fold in half, and tie ends in a knot.

THATS IT!

You can get 9 hair ties out of a yard, so suppose you bought THIS pack of elastic... you could make FOURTY FIVE hair ties!! for $3! 

That will make you think twice about paying $4 for 3 elastics! Now, won't it! ;)

**Elastic for this post was provided by the Etsy shop Hairbow Supplies Etc.

All opinions are my own, however.**

Menu Monday... on a Tuesday!

Better late than never... right?

Monday: We had yummy Lasagna!

Tuesday: Chicken Pot Pie

Wednesday: Sweet Corn and Chicken Enchiladas

Thursday: Chicken Noodle Soup and Rolls

Friday: Date Night

Saturday: 10 minute Navajo Tacos

Sunday: Salmon and steamed veggies

Skinny Chicken Parmesan

2 Chicken breasts
1 extra large egg
1tsp water
1 cup italtian bread crumbs
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp parsley
2 TBS parmesan cheese
Thin Spaghetti
spaghetti sauce (Bertolli's is my favorite)
Preheat oven to 400.
Mix egg and water in a shallow bowl, and in a separate bowl, mix bread crumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, parsley and parmesan cheese.
 Dip chicken into the egg mixture, and then into the breadcrumb mixture and coat evenly.
Place on greased cooling rack OVER a baking sheet and bake at 4000 for 20min-30 min or until the chicken if FULLY cooked. While chicken is baking, cook spaghetti noodles. When noodles are done, mix with enough spaghetti sauce to coat the noodles. Place cooked chicken on top on of spaghetti and top with sauce.
Serve with salad and breadsticks.

Side note... a friend mentioned to me something about my plated always being 'staged'... haha well, one plate does get staged... the other one looks like this. ;)

Foto Friday

Miss Quinn at 4 months! Except... she turned 5 months a few days ago!? Haha I'm just a tad behind!

She's getting SO big!

 And curious! (don't worry... this was totally supervised!)

 Curious as to why I don't have many photos of Blake....

 Any tips on taking pictures of 3 year olds!?

But every once in awhile.... I'll capture a moment like this... and it's all worth it!

 

Italian Roasted Chicken

You ready for he EASIEST marinade EVER!?

Take 8-10 drumsticks...

Dump 1/2 a bottle of Zesty Italian dressing over the top.

Let it sit (covered) for 3-5 hours.

Place on a baking sheet and bake at 350 for 1 hour.

THATS IT! How stinkin' easy!?

And it's AAAHHH-MAZING! 

Menu Monday

Monday: Grilled Chicken and veggies

Tuesday: Chicken Tacos

Wednesday: Mexican Lasagna

Thursday: Grilled Salmon and Broccoli

Friday: Smothered Burritos

Saturday: Date Night

Sunday: Roast Beef and Potatoes

Fold Over Elastic Flower Headband Tutorial

If you haven't noticed by now, I am a little beyond obsessed with making headbands for my Quinn. They are such a fun way to change up her outfits, and if you know a few key Etsy shops, they can also be a VERY affordable, and dare I say cheap, way to add to your little lady's wardrobe!

When I found out I was having a baby girl last year, I immediately went into to headband mode, and with the help of my Sister in Law, learned about lots of Etsy shops to help me keep my cost under control! Elastic by the Yard quickly came to be one of my very favorite shops! I love the quality and colors of the elastic they have, and their packaging is so cute an convenient! They are wrapped neatly around spools, instead of just floating around in my box! It does wonders for my OCD! ;)

You need:
Colored FOE (Fold Over Elastic) about 20 in.
White FOE
2 -- 2" felt circles
A medium button
Scissors and a glue gun

1. cut 12 1" strips of elastic, and hot glue the ends together, making the petals.

2. glue 6 petals around the felt circle.

3. on the OTHER side of the felt, glue the remaining petals in the open spaces.

4. attach your headband.

5. Glue the other felt circle over the elastic.

6. Glue your button to the top.

SUPER CUTE! Right!? That's what I thought and REALLY easy! 

Happy headband making!!

All elastic was provided by the Etsy Shop Elastic By The Yard. However, all opinions and ideas are 100% my own.

Baked Chicken Nuggets with 'The Sauce'

These chicken nuggets take me back to my childhood faster than watching an episode of My Little Pony. I loved these nuggets as a kid, and I love them even more now! She used to tell us we were eating out at 'McCarlson's' for dinner! It's still one of my favorite dinner memories! My mom pan fried them, but I like to bake them (less mess and of course, a little healthier!) And I love that my little guy actually EATS them! He is the pickiest eater, and any meat is immediately tuned down from him. But he gobbles these up like they were straight from the happy meal bucket! Can't complain with that!

 

Baked Chicken Nuggets

*2 large chicken breasts sliced into "discs"

1 egg

2 TBS water

2 cups Italian breadcrumbs

garlic powder

onion powder

salt and pepper

* to make slicing chicken a little easier, place it in the freezer for 20ish minutes so its firm, but not frozen.

Preheat oven to 400.

In a shallow bowl, mix egg, water and a sprinkle of each, onion and garlic powder.

In a separate shallow bowl, mix breadcrumbs and  a sprinkle of each, onion and garlic powder.

Season sliced chicken with salt and pepper, and dip them, one by one, into the egg mixture, and then the breadcrumbs. Place on a cookie sheet, sprayed with cooking spray.

Bake for 20-30 minutes, depending on the size of your nuggets.

PLEASE make sure the chicken is fully cooked, especially before serving this to your little ones!

And here's the best part about homemade chicken nuggets... The Sauce! I don't really even think it has a name, we just always came to expect it when we had chicken! Funny story, the day I made these nuggets, I was watching The Pioneer Woman, and she made this sauce as a sandwich spread! But my mom was making it LOOONG before that ;) Haha, but really, if your going to make the nuggets... make the sauce.

Here's how it works...

Mix equal parts miracle whip (or mayo) and yellow mustard.

Easy! right!? And SOO yummy!

 



Menu Monday

Monday: Dinner with friends

Tuesday: Lasagna and breadsticks

Wednesday: Chicken Pot Pie

Thursday: Grilled Chicken and steamed veggies

Friday: Asian Lettuce Wraps

Saturday: Date Night

Sunday: Chicken Tacos and spanish rice

Jalapeno Chili Melts :: 2 minute meal

To be quite honest, I'm not even sure if I should be calling this a recipe!? It's really more of a really quick meal idea, and by quick, I mean... QUICK! I have this a lot when it's just me at home and I really don't feel like cooking. And it only ha 3 ingredients! Can't beat that!

 

Hamburger buns -- the cheap, squishy kind.

Nalley Jalapeno Chili

Shredded cheese

 

Layer and heat in the microwave for 30-45 seconds.

Buying and Organizing Kids Clothes :: with free printables

Awhile back I posted about stocking up on kids clothes. I've done it for Blake every since before he was born, so you can bet your bottom dollar that when I found out we were having a girl, I jumped right on into it for her!

Organizing her clothes was a bit more of a challenge, considering that I have an AMAZING sister in law that kindly handed down clothes from her 1 year old!

This was just one of the times we brought stuff home from her house! here's been more! Can you say Jackpot!?

I was SO incredibly excited to bring home all these clothes, but as I got sorting, I began to realize that I needed some sort of system, or this was going to get out of control really fast!

This is what I came up with...

Quinn's closet is big enough to hold the size she is currently in, as well as most of the next size up. So currently I have her 3-6 month within easy reach, and then the 6-9 month clothes (or most of them) at the very right side (behind the wall) Keep in mind, pants/skirts/bloomers are in a dresser on the other side of the room.

Then, you'll notice the 3 totes, there are actually 4, but one is behind the wall on the right. Those totes are divided into 3 categories 6-9 mo. (the stuff that wont fit in the closet) 12-18 mo and 2T and up.

Pretty simple, right? That's what I thought.

It's pretty obvious, but as she reaches the next size, I pack up the old clothes into a tote, and pull the next size forward or out of a tote and hang them up.

Naturally, the closer she gets to 2T and 3T and up clothes, I'll move those into separate bins, but for now, they all fit in one.

Here are a few printables that I used. You can also use these for clothes that are in storage after your child outgrows them!

 

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Now, I wanted to share a few tips that I've learned about buying children's clothes!

This pile is a culmination of a couple different shopping trips! For example... I hit a killer sale at Osh Kosh not too long ago! 

1. Look for the signs. No, not 'signs from above'. Clearance signs. Those Big yellow clearance signs at target are my best friend. Stickers are another buddy of mine. Most are red, so watch for them!

2. But don't be tricked. Always make sure it's really a good deal. There may be a sign, but if it's only like 10% off, it's usually not worth stocking up on. I usually watch for 50-75% off to stock up. Now I'm not saying don't buy things that are 10% off, but that's just not a great stock up sale. Most likely you will be able to find a better deal later on.

3. Track the sales. This one takes time, but it's usually worth it. When you find an AMAZING sale, write it down somewhere you wont lose it, that way next year you will know when to start watching. Stores usually Clearance their items towards the end of the season, like right now most places have  summer clothes on clearance because school is starting, and most people are looking for fall-ish clothes.

4. When in doubt... buy it. If it's a super super SUPER great deal, I say get it. I've noticed that the bigger Blake gets, the longer he is in his clothes. So I feel pretty safe now, buying clothes that are 2T and above. I can pretty much count on getting my use out of them! 

5. Make sure you have room. I am lucky enough to have a spare room and an extra dresser for just such things, but really, if you don't have room for 50 extra items of clothing... don't buy it. This is where your labels come in handy. I used to have a dresser devoted to clothes for Blake in the future... but now that dresser is being used, so I had to switch to bins. The labels make them so much easier to navigate.

 

What are YOUR favorite ways to save on kids clothes? And how do YOU organize them!?

Menu Monday

 

Monday: Leftover Night

Tuesday: Hamburger Casserole and green salad

Wednesday: Brown Sugar Salmon and rice a roni

Thursday: The Fair is here! Navajo tacos and snow cones!

Friday: Spicy Breakfast Tacos

Saturday: Date Night

Sunday: Chicken & Artichoke Alfredo and breadsticks

Taco Salad :: 101

I have a thing for Taco Salad. It's one of those go-to meals for me, that I can make just for me, or for the whole family! I know that every family makes Taco Salad in a different way, so I thought I'd share mine!

1. A layer of crushed tortilla chips.

2. lettuce, lots and lots of lettuce. I like chopped romaine the best.

3. Shredded Chicken.

4. Cheese. Colby Jack to be exact.

5. A drizzle of ranch dressing.

6. A few spoonfulls of salsa. I like Walmart's corn and blackbean salsa.

7. Veggies/Toppings. Today was carrots and red bell pepper, but I also like any combination of kidney beans, black beans, onion, tomato, broccoli, etc.

8. Avacado. This one is not optional. ;)

9. A big ol' dollop of sour cream.

 

Not too hard, right?

How do YOU make your taco salad? Am I missing anything that would be amazing!?

Spicy Cajun Mac and Cheese

I have a confession.

Very, and I mean veeery rarely, do I ever follow a recipe.

Gasp. I know.

I got it from my mom to be quite honest. I've said it before that she could go to the pantry at any given time and whip up something amazing. She has talent, and I like to think she passed a little of it on to me! ;)

Anyways, moral of the story, this is how I came up with this delicious bowl of scrumptiousness. It's spicy, and cheesy and FILLED with veggies! What's not to love!?

 

1/2 box of pasta (I used penne)

1 C chicken ( I used leftover)

3 large carrots, cut into matchsticks

1 large red bell pepper, cut into matchsticks

1/2 a yellow onion sliced thinly

1 cup of frozen peas

6 TBS of butter

2 T flour

1 t Cajun seasoning

1/2 tsp crushed red pepper

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

2 C Milk (+ a little more at the end)

1 TB Franks Hot Sauce

1 C Mozzarella Cheese

 

Cook pasta according to package. And chicken if you aren't using pre-cooked.

In a large skillet, melt 1 TB of the butter, and the add carrots, bell pepper, and onion. Sauté until the veggies are tender. Once veggies are tender, add the rest of the butter, and melt it down. Then sprinkle in the flour and mix well, cook for 1-2 minutes. Add milk and stir until sauce is smooth. Add hot sauce, Cajun seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper, mix well. Add peas  and allow to heat through. Add cheese at the very end, and allow it to melt, stirring well.

Serve with breadsticks.



Menu Monday

 

Sorry I missed last week! We were at my Sisterinlaw's funeral, so the day was pretty busy.

But I'll tell you what, I never did sit down and actually make a menu for the week, and it was CHAOS every single night for dinner! I never realized how much I depend on these menus! So NO more skipping weeks! ;)

Monday: Meatloaf, roasted red potatoes and broccoli

Tuesday: Tilapia and roasted butternut squash

Wednesday: Mushroom & Onion Cheeseburgers and sweet potato fries

Thursday: I'm hosting a Lia Sophia Party so we'll have pizza I'm guessing!

Friday: Date Night

Saturday: Asian Lettuce Wraps

Sunday: Sweet Chile Pork Roast, carrots and rolls.

Smothered Beef and Bean Burritos

We are all home sick today. Boo. I seriously hate it when my family doesn't feel good! Anyways, I needed something fast, and filling for lunch, and burritos sounded absolutely amazing! So I raided he freezer and pantry, and these babies came to be! It's a combination of a few recipes I've come across on pinterest, but I didn't follow a recipe at all... so you don't have to either! Just take this as an idea and run with it!

1/2 yellow onion

1 lb. ground beef

1 can pinto beans

2-3 TBS taco seasoning

1 can enchilada sauce

4 large burrito size tortillas

shredded cheese

sour cream

In a skillet, sauté onions until translucent. Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink. Drain pinto beans of about 1/2 of the canning liquid, and then in a shallow dish, mash beans and liquid until almost completely mashed, leaving a few chunks of beans. Once the meat is done, add taco seasoning, stir, and then add beans. Heat through. 

 

No too glamorous... but OH SO yummy!

Microwave your tortillas for 20 seconds to soften, and fill with about 2/3 cups of filling. Add cheese and roll. Top with enchilada sauce and cheese, microwave to melt cheese and top with sour cream.

Foto Friday

It was Pioneer Day here in Utah! On the 24th to be exact! We ventured out to the park early that morning to watch the parade, where Elder Holland was the Grand Marshall! Pretty exciting, if I do say so myself!

Here's a few from an afternoon of swimming we had. Quinn was not thrilled about the heat, and only lasted a few minutes outside before I took her in for a nice cool nap. ;)

 And one of my handsome hubby with our babies.

 

DIY Minky Tag Blanket

 



Quinn is finally getting to the 'toy' age! It's so fun to watch her discover new things and play with anything and everything she can get into those chubby little fingers!

I've had the supplies to make this taggy blanket for quite awhile now, as in, I bought it all when she was like 5 days old! But it's taken me this long to get around to it! ;) I don't know why either? Maybe because until now, I knew she wouldn't have much interest in it!

Oh and just a warning... this was my very first time sewing with Minky fabric... so don't judge me too harshly! ;)

You'll need...
2- 13x13 squares of Minky fabric* ( I think I got 1/3 yd and had lots leftover)
Around 40 strips of ribbon, 4 inches long. I used 36 strips, but some of mine were the 1 inch ribbon, so those took up more room.
Pins and a sewing machine.

1.After you cut your fabric and all your ribbon, fold each piece of ribbon in half, and pin it to the right side of one of the minky squares, facing IN.

 2. Sew all the way around the minky, attaching the ribbon strips to one of the minky squares.

 3. Pin the other square of minky on top, right sides together, and pin pin pin!! Leaving about 2 inches so you can turn it around. Then, sew all the way around, sewing both squares together, with the ribbon in the middle.

4. Then, flip the blanket rightside out, through the 2 inch hole that you left open.

5. Sew around the edge. (This is the part where you don't judge me)

 

AAAAND... you're done! ;)

This really was an easy project! It's not PERFECT... but, it's for a 3 month old ;) I don't think she'll mind one bit. 

*Side note: I think looking back, I wouldn't of done both sides minky... I would of done one side with flannel, or even cotton. I'm pretty sure it would of been easier to sew.