- toddler busy board

TODDLER BUSY BOARD

Pop (Bruce) made a Toddler Busy Board and Rowen loves it 

(and it certainly did keep him BUSY!)

never sits this still LOLOL :O)

Pop Pop <3

some swinging.....

Now a little dancing......

top ten + pin it tuesday: layered rugs

So, I'm really loving how everyone is doing the rug layering with their door mats...I am currently working on mine! I'll share a pic when I get it done, but in the meantime, here a few of my favorite looks!

all photo credits: Pinterest

Balsamic Garlic Grilled Mushrooms

Balsamic Marinated Grilled Mushrooms

• 2 pounds mushrooms, sliced 1/4 inch thick
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce 
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon thyme, chopped
• salt and pepper to taste

Mix marinade and add to mushrooms in a ziploc bag. 

Let marinate for 30 minutes then put on skewers. 

Grill 2-3 minutes per side. DELISH!

Pinterest photo

{day book - july 2018}

Saturday

07.21.18

{outside my window}

rain.....wind.....humidity......more rain.....oh, and high tides

While we don't see a lot of tide outside our windows, this was a picture taken on West Ridge!

WOW! 

[its actually pretty beautiful]

photo credit: Facebook 

{on my to-do list}

- work

- catch up on blog posts

- do our August budget

{in the kitchen}

[in between the rains] 

Peter grilled steaks and I fixed sauted onions, baked potatoes, sweet corn, and tomatoes in vinegar. 

I had put the steaks in a marinade earlier that morning. {recipe below}

Grilling and fresh produce is a top love of summer for me!

{from the Pinterest board}

Here's the one I made, but click on the links below for more!

[link]

[link]

[link]

MY CALENDAR 

-AUGUST-

8/01 - Stitch Fix + Blue Apron 

8/08 - crew change P=HOME

8/15 - cut, hilites, & pedi

8/17 & 8/18 - Homecoming

8/22 - crew change P=BACK

-SEPTEMBER-

9/01-9/03 - Labor Day Weekend

9/03 - Logan's 30th Birthday

9/04 - Back to School

9/05 - crew change P=HOME

9/19 - crew change P=BACK

9/29 - Rowen's 1st Birthday!!

9/30 - last night at b&b 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Iced Coffee Protein Shake

single digits!!!!!!!!

Orange-Creamsicle Smoothie

If you are an Orange Julius fan....you are gonna love this smoothie!!

Orange Creamsicle Smoothie

1 cup OJ

1 vanilla yogurt (single serving size)

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1-1/2 T honey

ice

{whipped cream}

--blend together in your nutribullet or blender--that's it! Enjoy!

YUMMMMM!!!

Instant Pot Recipe: Pressure Cooked Pork & Potatoes

~Instant Pot Pressure Cooked Pork, Potatoes, & Carrots~

INGREDIENTS

6 - 8 pork chops

1 cup water

1 onion

4 - 6 medium potatoes - quartered

4 carrots 

3 T steak sauce

1/4 cup butter

salt & pepper

Brown chops using the saute option in half the butter (salt & pepper).

Have potatoes, onion, and carrots ready and after browning chops remove with tongs and set aside.

Add remaining butter, onion, carrots, potatoes, then pork. Pour water and steak sauce on top.

Put the lid on, close steam valve, and set pressure option to 15 minutes.

Use the regular steam release method when done.

top ten + pin it tuesday: instant pot recipes

10 [Pinterest] Instant Pot Recipes that are on my to- try list!
( Click on blog links below for each recipe)

(1) Chicken Fettucini Alfredo from Heather Likes Food

(2) Turkey Breast from Crunchy, Creamy Sweet

(3) Glazed Carrots  from Eating On A Dime 

(4) Teriyaki Chicken from Chelsea's Choices



(5) Hamburger Stroganoff from Julie's Eats & Treats 



(6) Mississippi Roast from Simply Happy Foodie



(7) Cubed Steak & Gravy from Adventures of a Nurse



(8) Honey Ham from Adventures of a Nurse



(9) Salsa Chicken Tacos from Cooking Classy 



(10) Baby Back Ribs from I Wash You Dry

Cheesy Bacon Potato Rounds

These cheesy bacon potato rounds are an easy-to-make version of the classic baked potato skins.

A delicious, quick side or the perfect party food, these yummy potato rounds are DELISH topped with bacon, cheese, and a little sour cream. I never met a potato I didn't like!

Here's how to make them....

Cheesy Bacon Potato Rounds

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Scrub 3 - 4 potatoes and slice into 1/2" thick rounds.

[Russet or Yukon gold are best, but any will do]

Put on a foil lined and sprayed baking sheet. 

Melt 3 T butter and brush over potatoes.

Sprinkle with kosher salt.

Bake for 30 minutes, turning half way.

When done, sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese 

and

bacon bits 

[2 slices - fried, drained, and chopped]

ENJOY!!!

Instant Pot Recipe: Spicy Honey Chicken

This sweet and spicy chicken comes out moist and full of flavor and only takes 4 minutes in an Instant Pot using the pressure cook option. This was recipe number 2 in mine and I'm just as impressed with this meal as I was the first one. It was super easy, super quick, and very tasty! I didn't get a photo so I'm using this one from Pinterest. Mine turned out exactly the same. :O) YUM!!!

source:Pinterest

Spicy Honey Chicken

[over rice]

2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts

1 T brown sugar

3 T honey

1 T minced ginger [I substituted 2 tsp ginger powder]

1-1/2 T minced garlic

1/4 cup soy sauce

1 T Sriracha [more if you like it spicier]

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1 onion - chopped

2 T corn starch

1 T sesame seeds - to put on top when serving

[I didn't have but will add next time]

Cut chicken into large bite size pieces and onion into chunks.

Put chicken and onion into Instant Pot.

Mix all ingredients except corn starch and sesame seeds.

Close lid and the steam valve.

Set pot to manual--->pressure--->4 minutes.

When done, do a quick release to get rid of steam and carefully lift lid.

Whisk together in a bowl: corn starch, a little Sriracha & a little water.

Add to chicken, set Instant Pot to saute, mix together and heat until sauce is desired thickness.

Serve Spicy Honey Chicken over rice. 

ENJOY!!

Instant Pot Recipe - White Bean Chicken Chili

I tried out the Instant Pot I got for Christmas starting with a Pinterest recipe for White Bean Chicken Chili. I'm in love with this thing already!! Dinner was ready in 12 minutes (+prep time) and was absolutely delish! 

[Instant Pot Recipe]

White Bean Chicken Chili

INGREDIENTS

2 T olive oil

1 medium white onion - chopped

1 jalapeno - deseeded and chopped

4 cloves garlic - minced

2 tsp. dried oregano

1 tsp. cumin

1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

4 cups chicken broth 

2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts 

2 cans (15 oz.) cannellini beans (drained and rinsed)

1/2 tsp. pepper

1 tsp. salt

INSTRUCTIONS

- Add olive oil to the Instant Pot and press the saute button. Once the oil is hot, add the onion and jalapeño. Use a wooden spoon to stir and cook until fragrant and soft, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and stir for another minute.

- Add the remaining ingredients to the pot and stir. Press the keep warm/cancel button to stop the saute function. Secure the lid and set the steam valve to closed. Press "manual" or "pressure cook" and set the timer for 12 minutes.

- After the time is up the Instant Pot will automatically switch to keep warm. Let it keep warm for 10 minutes before releasing steam valve.

- Once the steam has been fully released, remove the lid of the Instant Pot. Shred the chicken and return to the pot. 

- Top with your favorites: cheddar cheese, sour cream which I used and/or avocado, tortilla chips. 

ENJOY!!

Here's a link to the Instant Pot. 

{LINK}

{Christmas Eve Boxes}

Last year, I started doing Christmas Eve boxes , and they really liked them (and I really LOVED filling them!). 

I could hardly wait to do them again this year AND add another box! 

After Christmas last year, I gathered up everyone's boxes and stored them away. I had to find Rowen one to fill, and ended up getting this one at Hobby Lobby last minute for 50% off. I skipped jammies for the grown-ups this year because they each got matching family jams! O:)

Rowen's Box

- Rudolph DVD 

- My First Christmas bib & Santa hat 

- plaid fleece sleeper

 - wrist rattles

 - apple juice

- board books: 

My First Christmas

The Story of Jesus

The Night Before Christmas

Biscuit's Snowy Day

The Itsy Bitsy Reindeer

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nathan & Kayla's Box

- Elf DVD

- wire basket/ milk bottles filled w/

Peppermint Cocoa/Mini-Marshmallows/Candy Canes

- socks for both

- chocolate spoons

- macarons

- sea salt caramel popcorn

- chocolate filled wafers

- peppermint/chocolate stirrers

- ornament

Some little stinker slept through it all! :O)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kamry's Box

- FROSTY DVD

- jammies {Dreaming of a Frosty Christmas}

- Peppa socks

- toy "cell phone"

- kitchen utensils 

- ritz bits crackers

- musical Frosty ornament

- books (from the book fair)

George's New Dinosaur 

Thelma the Unicorn

Good Night Owl

Here reaction was priceless!!! 

WOW!!!!! :O)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Logan & Lindsey's Box

- Elf DVD

- socks for both

- chocolate spoons

- sea salt caramel popcorn

- chocolate filled wafers

- hot cocoa mix

- peppermint/chocolate stirrers

- ornament

- Rae Dunn Mr & Mrs Claus mugs

side note: I had gone all over Marshall's store several times and found a couple of pieces of Rae Dunn, but nothing that I really wanted. I decided to make one more round and go back to the packaged stuff that was displayed on tables in the back of the store. I literally felt like I'd discovered Elf on the Shelf himself---sitting randomly in the midst of of the stuff were 2 sets of the Mr & Mrs Claus mugs!!!!!! They WERE NOT there before, but they magically appeared somehow!! LOL 

I looked around and then quickly put them in my cart!!!! I felt like I had just found a hidden treasure! (I know, too much excitement over mugs! LOL) I added a set to L & L's box but did the cocoa set for N & K since their RD collection isn't quite as big as Kayla's! LOL 

{I kept the other set for me! }

:O) :O) :O)