Yoga Baby!!!!!

Guess what I did tonight?????  YOGA !!!  can I saw it is diffidently harder than it looks? My body hurts in places I thought it would never hurt.  My really good friend Michelle texted me yesterday asking if I wanted to go to Yoga with her.  My first thought was heck no I’m the least flexible person, I have no upper body strength, I am the most uncoordinated person alive.  The more I thought about it, I was thinking I don’t do much for my self, I need to step away from the house/work and the kids.  I need to have alone time.  I texted her back and told her yes I would go.  Ill be honest with you I was so excited to go until about 5:00 and I was fighting with myself on going, I wanted to text her and say I decided not to go, Work was a long and stressful today so I really wanted to sit on the couch and do nothing tonight, But I decided not to text her and go, I am so thankful I went, it was so much fun and so relaxing, except for the part where I was stretching my body and hurting at the same time.  I have to be honest with you I was more worried about passing gas than anything…. I know TMI TMI but seriously some of those moves were a little crazy and I was so worried about passing gas but Thankfully I did not. HA! HA! HA!  I am a little worried if I will be sore tomorrow…..  I had such a great time I am looking forward to the next time I go. My two older girls went swimming with Michelle daughter and Brook Michelle husband watched Ellie for me, I was a little worried on how she was going to be with him but when we got back she was having the best time, she did not even want me, she kept sitting on Brook lap and watching a movie.  About 15 min after we were there Brook pulls out the Nerf guns and Ellie thought that was so cool she can sit and shoot us.  Thanks Brook for your help with Ellie so Michelle and I could go to Yoga!!!!

Guess who has cooked at home everyday this week so far? including breakfast, lunch and dinner.. YEP YOU GUESSED IT!!!! MEEEEEEEEE!!!! It’s been so nice staying home in my nice warm house and not going out in this bitter cold.  Can you believe it School is cancelled again tomorrow for my girls.  They only went to school all day on Tuesday and was at school for 30 min on Wednesday and sent them home.  Tomorrow morning it is suppose to be -13 at 7:00 am. FREEZING!!!!  I am glad they have our kids best interest and keeping them home. 

Today Menu

Breakfast- You guessed it, Protein Shake and String cheese

Lunch- I was so busy with work today that I forgot to each lunch until around 2:00 so I made me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, I use one slice of Wheat bread and fold it in half, and String Cheese

Dinner-  I made Beef Pepper Swiss Steak with Vegetables- It was a big hit with my family tonight, my girls loved it, I was going to make Riced Cauliflower but we ran out of time so I just barley cooked the Cauliflower so it was tender enough to eat, and we also had cottage cheese.  It was really good, this is one that I will make again.

We are working on getting the house organized and dejunking.  I am so sick of having so much stuff in the house, so the girls and helping me and going through all their clothes and Ellie toys to take to the DI.  It feels so good to let go of stuff.  Stuff that we don’t need anymore, stuff that takes up space.  

I am so grateful to have a nice warm house to live in, I am so grateful for my job and for such an amazing boss who cares so much about me and my family, I am so grateful for my husband who wakes up every morning puts that badge on, that serves and protects his community, I am beyond grateful to be a mom to my 3 beautiful girls whom I love with all my heart.  I thank my heavenly father every day for everything he has given me.  I am one blessed women.  

A New Day, Fresh Start

It still is so strange to type 2017,  how on earth have I been out of school for almost 20 years? how is it that I have been married to the love of my life for 16 years?  How can I have a 15 year old?  Wow, I am starting to sound old!!!!!  I had a really hard time sleeping last night, so much on my mind. It would not shut off and let me just relax, Finally at 4:30 this morning, I climbed out of bed and decided to go into my office and start working.  That is one bad thing about working from home I can’t get away from it, it’s in the room across from my bedroom, I was in the hallway and see it.  I had to get caught up on a couple of things.  

~ Today Menu ~

Breakfast- Protein Shake, String Cheese

Lunch- Chicken Lettuce Wrap with Peanut Sauce

Dinner- Carne Asada Taco with Onions, tomatoes, sour cream, and cilantro on a corn tortilla with a couple of chunks of watermelon

I ate my breakfast,  I worked for a couple of hours and than got the girls up for school,  the girls were at school for about an hour and all of a sudden I got a message from the School District saying they are closing the schools for the day, due to the horrible snow storm, VERY cold weather, bad wind that was causing the snow to drift, it was just not safe for our buses and kids.  Luckily Eric was still at the Gym that he left and went and picked the girls up from school for me.  It’s always fun to have the girls home because they help me out os much with Ellie, but boy oh boy do they fight.  Especially when I ask the to help clean up or do their chores. It’s crazy how they start fighting and yell at each other,  Please tell me I am not the only one that their kids do that?  I found a recipe on Facebook that we Love so much we make it at least 1 time a week.  We love Chicken Lettuce Wrap with Peanut Sauce.  BOY OH BOY they are amazing!!! They are so easy to make and so much flavor they are amazing!!!!!!  Kamree helped me this afternoon by making lunch, she makes it as good as I do.  She is such a great cook/baker.  I ate one lettuce wrap for lunch, it was so dang good I even licked my plate and had to do everything to not lick the pot that we made the Peanut Sauce in, it’s that good.  

Here is the recipe for the Chicken Lettuce Wrap with Peanut Sauce:

INGREDIENTS:

For the Peanut Sauce:

1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth

3 tbsp PB2 (or 2 tbsp peanut butter)

1/2 tablespoon Sriracha chili sauce

1 tbsp honey

1 tbsp soy sauce (use Tamari for gluten free)

1/2 tbsp freshly grated ginger

1 clove garlic, crushed

For the Chicken:

cooking spray

16 oz ground chicken

1 tbsp Sriracha chili sauce (more or less to taste)

4 cloves garlic, crushed

1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated

1 tbsp soy sauce (use Tamari for gluten free)

3/4 cups shredded carrots

2/3 cup scallions, chopped

3/4 cup shredded red cabbage

2 tbsp chopped peanuts

cilantro leaves, for garnish

4 lime wedges

8 iceberg lettuces outer leaves

DIRECTIONS:

Make the peanut sauce; in a small saucepan combine chicken broth, PB2, 1/2 tablespoon sriracha, honey, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1/2 tablespoon fresh ginger, and 1 clove crushed garlic and simmer over medium-low heat stirring occasionally until sauce becomes smooth and thickens, about 6 to 8 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat a large non-stick skillet or wok over high medium until hot.

When hot, spray with oil and sauté the chicken until cooked through and browned, breaking it up as it cooks; add the sriracha, remaining garlic and ginger and saute 1 minute. Add the tablespoon of soy sauce, cook 1 minute.

Add the shredded carrots, and 1/2 cup of the scallions and sauté until tender crisp, about 1-2 minutes. Set aside.

Divide the chicken equally between 8 lettuce leaves, top each with shredded cabbage, remaining scallions, drizzle with peanut sauce, chopped peanuts and cilantro, for garnish and serve with lime wedges.

Read more at http://www.skinnytaste.com/thai-chicken-peanut-lettuce-tacos/#u4Gsf4kRSMMmzAj8.99

I worked all day, nothing too exciting happened today, Just have been thinking a lot about some things in my life, knowing I need to work on my self and be a better person.  It’s been a rough couple of days but the one thing I know is I am doing the very best and trying everyday to be better person, better friend, better mom, and better wife.  

I started cooking dinner around 5:30,  The one nice thing about my husband being a police officer is when he has down time and it’s around dinner time, he can stop by for a min and have dinner.  Most of the time we have already ate dinner before he gets home but at least we can see him for a few min.  He and his partner ( he has to drive with another officer until he graduates from Post) which is in 10 weeks.  He leaves Saturday for Post- Policy Academy :(, anyway Eric and his police partner ran over for dinner for about 15-20 min.  I love every time he walks through the door, Ellie runs up to him and gives him the biggest hugs, and says “I love you daddy”. or daddy your a cop, she say’s the funniest things to him.  Tonight for our dinner prayer my Two year old said it and she can say about half by her self, it’s so awesome hearing her say her prayers.  This kid brings so much joy to our family.  she is truly our miracle baby.  ( that is a whole another post). For dinner I made Carne Asada Tacos.  They are so dang good and so easy.  A local grocery store sells Carne Asada so all you have to do is cook it,  I was going to smoke it on our smoker but we are in a horrible snow storm and it’s 5 Degrees, and so much snow you can not even move so that was not going to work, so I just did it in my pan on the stove it was still amazing, it almost melts in your mouth when it’s cooked.  I sliced it up, cut up onions ( i like raw onions on my tacos). you can cook them with the Carne Asada if you want but I just had it raw, cut up a couple of tomatoes and cilantro.  Warmed up corn tortillas and there you have an easy dinner ready in 15 min.  My girls love it, this dinner never has left overs, which I am sad because I love left overs for lunch the next day.  

We found out this afternoon that the girls school is cancelled tomorrow also, so here is to another day of fighting, yelling at each other and playing on their phones all day!!!!  

What a Crazy Hard Day!!!

Tuesday January 3rd 2017

What a hard crazy day today has been with a lot of ups and downs, already I have failed one of my New Years Resolution. I am trying really hard to have a positive attitude but when things are said or things are pointed out about you that is hard to hear, it’s hard to have a positive attitude. I am going to pick my self back up and make tomorrow be better because today was a little rough. 

Going to back to work today was harder than I thought, I loved having the last two Mondays off from work.  It has been so good to spend so much time with my husband and kids.  I am so grateful for my job and being able to work from home and be home with my children.  

Here is the low down on what I have ate today.

For breakfast I had a protein shake and string cheese, I made sure I took my meds & Vitamins (which I forget all the time).  Work was so crazy I forgot to each lunch, which I know is not good but time sure flew today.  

I got done with work around 5:30 and started dinner.  I made homemade Chicken Tenders, Broccoli Slaw Salad, and steamed veggies.  

It’s crazy to think how much I saved tonight by not eating out for lunch or dinner.  

I also did accomplish another New Years Resolution, I made my bed, it was later in the after noon but I made it!!!!!

Here is to a better tomorrow.  

Well Hello 2017!!!!

Hello 2017!!!!  I have been thinking a lot about 2017 and what I want to accomplish this year.  I think like everyone else they set goals and have great intentions to accomplish them all.  I know I am one of those people. I am a list person, every year I get my note book out and I write down all my goals for the year.  Sometimes there are 20+ goals.  Really, who can accomplish 20+ goals in the year?  This year I am doing goals but going to make them somewhat accomplishable.  I am going to blog everyday, I am going to tell you all how they are going so I am held accountable for each one of them.  As most of you already know I “LOVE” to cook, but I hate to clean up the mess so after working all day the last thing I want to do is cook and clean.  I would always get the kids in the car and go out to eat or go through the drive through and eat out.  We spend so much money eating out, plus it is no unhealthy for us.  I am not doing any favors for my kids, what kind of example am I to my girls.  With Eric being gone a lot at night for work, it’s so easy to have the attitude lets just go grab something to eat.  If I make dinner every night and he has some down time he can come home and eat with us.  Eric biggest concern is being a police officer and being in a drive thru and get that call that he has to go to and be stuck in the drive thru and can’t get out or be in the line waiting for his food and have to leave plus it’s not healthy for Eric to eat out all the time.  As the wife I need to be better at cooking dinner for my family. With that being said that is my First New Years Resolution making a Menu for 5 days a week and eating dinner as a family at home at our kitchen table. Here is my menu for this week. 

~MENU~

Monday Jan 2nd-  Kamree Birthday Dinner-  We did eat out today for my daughters 15th birthday 

Tuesday- Chicken Tenders, Steamed Veggies, & Broccoli Salad

Wednesday- Carne Asda Tacos with Black Beans

Thursday- Crockpot Pepper Steak with Caulflower Rice

Friday- Breakfast Pizza & Hashbrowns

Saturday- Creamy Chicken Pillows, Steamed Veggies, Rice -A-Roni

Sunday-  We usually eat dinner at my mom’s on Sunday so we all bring something to eat

Second New Years Resolution:  

I have been saying for the past 3 months that I was going to start going to the gym and work my butt off and get some body parts toned up.  It is hard to get to the Gym but I have made excuses one too many times.  I am not going to promise you that I will make it to the Gym 4 days a week but I will promise you that I will do something 30 min a day,  I have an amazing spinner bike, a really good peddle stepper that kick’s your butt all at home, so I can’t make it to the gym which I am going to try really hard, I need my alone time, I need to take care of my self first than I will do something at home.  

Third New Years Resolution:

Get out of Debt…..  I love my purses, shoes, clothes and home decor.  I buy a new purse every couple of weeks.  I have put a stop to that (for now) LOL. Every time I want to buy a purse or shoes or something that I really don’t need I am going to put that money towards a credit card or car loan or something instead of waisting my money.  We are going to go straight cash on some things,  we are giving our self an allowance so we still can buy items for us but when the money is gone it’s gone.  I still can get my hair done, my nails done but it all comes out of my allowance.  Than at the end of the month what is left in our account we are going to put that towards a debt.  We have lowered our cable bill, we cut that bill in half.  We are going to work as hard as we can and get out of debt.

Fourth New Years Resolution:

Have a positive attitude about everything, be thankful for everything I have, be grateful for my job, my cute small older home, for the amazing life, husband and children I have.  I am going to be a better mom & wife.  I am going to work really hard on not yelling at my kids, or getting frustrated with them for the smallest things.  I get frustrated really easy which is not fair to my kids.  If I am happy and have a positive attitude than hopefully everything else works out.  I suffer from depression and have been for many many years, my goal this year it to fight the depression, fight the demons, and hopefully with my Dr approval and my self approval get off the medicine,  This is something I may not be able to get off my meds but this is something I would love to accomplish.

Fifth New Years Resolution:

Go to church every Sunday, and not break the Sabbath. Working 5 days a week and having Saturday be the only day that I have to get everything done, There will be times that I have to run to the store and grab something, or we do something as a family.  I know what we are suppose to do, I know what the lord wants us to do but it’s really easy to just make an excuse dad say next week I promise I won’t break the sabbath.  I am not setting a good example to my girls.  I need them to know that we need to follow the commandments and do what we are suppose to be doing.  This is going to be a really hard one for me but I will do my very best and make this goal a priority.  

Sixth New Year Resolution:

Have Family Home Evening and Family Prayer.  We don’t really do Family Home Evening but this is something that I want to start doing with my girls every Monday, I need to spend as much time as possible with my girls one day they are going to be married and have their own family and than what???? I am all a lone and have no one there.  I need to cherish these moments and be with them as much as possible.  I know if we pray together every morning and every night it will bring us so much closer to each other.  

Seventh New Year Resolution:

Have a clean house-  I don’t know about you but when I have a clean house my life seems to be better, I am happier, I am happy to be home, I want to be home.  I love having a clean house but I am so tired by the end of the day that I don’t want to clean, same thing with cooking, I love to cook but hate to clean, but as a family we can work together and make it all happen.  I have such amazing kids.  They help me out so much and do so much for me.  I love each one of them, I know having a clean house will make me feel better. Part of a clean house is making our beds every day, I love climbing in bed when it was made makes me sleep better, I love being in a tight bed. I sleep better.

Eighth New Year Resolution & FINAL ONE!!!!

Get my Photography and Vinyl Business up and running again.  I have loved doing pictures for so many clients and I took a break from it but I am ready to start again.  I am going to start a vinyl home decor, re finish furniture business.  This is something that I have a great passion for and what I love doing.

I am going to make 2017 the best year possible.  I am giving this 150%, I am going to work hard to accomplish all my goals.  There will be some ups and downs, there will be mistakes made along the way.  I am not perfect but the one thing I will know that you only have one life to live and why waste it, why not make it the very best you can.  I am so beyond grateful for my amazing husband, my beautiful girls, I am thankful for my job, my house, my cars, my life.  

Starting tomorrow I am going to Journal my day, including all the food I put in my mouth, all the dinner I cook, all the cleaning I do, all the exercise I do.  This was I am held accountable for everything.  

I am looking forward to 2017!!!!!!