Dinner Recipe of the week!

I am always on the look out for new recipes to add to my arsenal, cuz let's face it, you have to be armed with delicious healthy food to combat all the junk that's available and much more convenient to grab and go.

I try to make a new recipe 1x per week, maybe every 2 weeks. I'm not always successful. Sometimes I get stuck in my current weeks of dinners, then a month goes by and we've eaten the same thing all month and it's no wonder I'm completely sick of the food I'm eating!

These yummy friends were awesome, and fairly simple to make with a little prep.

I used this site as my inspiration, but my recipe has a few personal twists to it: http://www.danielle-may.com/#!21-day-fix-ideas/c1laa

Twice Baked Chipotle Chicken Sweet Potato Skins

Servings (3 as main dish, 6 as side)
Main dish for 21 day fix= 1Y, 1 R, 1 G, 1/2-1B, 1 tsp
Prep: 30 min
Cook: 30 min

Ingredients

• 3 medium sweet potatoes
• 1 pound (about 3-4 small) grilled chicken breast (enough to fill 3 red containers on 21 day fix)
• 1/4 cups olive oil
• 2 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 2 cloves garlic, minced or grated
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1/4-1/2 tsp chipotle chili pepper
• 2-3 tsp honey (optional to offset the spicy flavor)
• salt and pepper
• 3 cups spinach, raw
• 1 c sharp white cheddar cheese, grated (I used about 1/3 c for 2 halves of potatoes, 1 B for 21 day fix)
• chopped cilantro, for garnish
• greek yogurt, for serving

Instructions

**I had grilled chicken on hand from the night before. Instead of doing this step, I chose to simply microwave my 3 sweet potatoes for 15 min or so. While they were microwaving I did steps 2-3. So I skipped pretty much the whole of step one. It's great to grill up lots of chicken to use for the whole week!***1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Wash your sweet potatoes and prick all over with a fork. Place in the oven and bake for 50-60 minutes or until fork tender. Place your chicken in a baking dish and rub with a tablespoon of olive oil, salt and peper. Place in the oven with the potatoes and bake for 25 minutes. Allow to cool and shred the chicken with a fork or your hands. When the sweet potatoes are done cut in half and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes.

2. In a medium size bowl combine the olive oil, lime juice, garlic, chipotle spices, oregano, cumin, salt and pepper. Set aside.

3. Heat a small skillet over medium heat and wilt the spinach (this can also be done in the microwave). Toss the spinach and shredded chicken together, set aside and keep warm.

4. Turn the oven up to 400 degrees. Scrape the sweet potato out of the peel, leaving a medium size layer of flesh inside with the peel so that it can stand up on its own (I reserved the remaining flesh, for another use, so this leaves 1 y container of flesh for every 2 medium potatoes) and place in a baking dish. Brush the skins with with a little of the chipotle sauce and bake for 5-10 muntes until nice and crisp. While the skins bake mix the spinach, chicken and chipotle sauce together. Remove skins from the oven and stuff with the chicken mixture, top with shredded cheese and bake for 10 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the skins are hot and crisp. Serve with fresh chopped cilantro and greek yogurt if desired.

This recipe was SO yummy! If you want to try it, be sure to share the link for my blog with your friends and family!

I hope you enjoy trying it out this weekend! :) 

Looking in the mirror through a child's eyes...

I read this article on thebettermom.com and wanted to share it with anyone who might need to read it.

http://www.thebettermom.com/blog/2015/3/20/uzx2dnl451yf2ahboe367hdlvct2s4

This past few weeks, I've been struck by just how much Joshua loves his daddy and I. We've been trying a few new things, like nursery in church and swim lessons, where mom or dad don't get to be with him all the time and his response lately has been to be more clingy, needy, and just all around worried about us leaving him.

Just tonight, he was upset if I so much as walked into another room. Talk about really feeling the love lately!  ;)

While Joshua is obviously struggling to come to terms with the idea of being more independent, and what that really means, he's also becoming this incredibly intelligent little human being with a fun personality and all kinds of things to say, do, and show us.

I was sitting on the couch on Sunday afternoon, working on my talk for next week. Danny was upstairs taking a nap for himself. I had been contemplating taking one too.

It was only 2:33PM and Joshua had only been asleep for maybe and hour and fifteen minutes tops. Not exactly the greatest nap, and he certainly didn't sound happy as I listened to him for a few minutes.

A little irritated that he didn't sleep longer, I trudged up the stairs and did my best to put a smile on my face when I walked in the room to pick him up before he woke up his tired daddy. He was absolutely THRILLED to see me, "momma! momma!" being the main words spoken. His excitement was contagious so we smiled and played around together while I changed his stinky diaper.

We began the trip downstairs where we explored the rooms looking for, "dat!dat!" (Cat! Cat!) Both of whom were sleeping and displeased about being rudely awoken. Joshua went from one task to another, and I was hard pressed to keep up with what he wanted to do because his preference changed rapidly. Eventually, he settled down by the book case, and, thinking that he would amuse himself for a few quiet minutes so I could work more on my computer, I left him to it and moved back to sit on the couch.

Typing away at the keys, I was only at it for a few minutes when I heard a little patter of footsteps across our wood floors. The next thing I know, Joshua is  right in front of me, pushing a board book about colors and shapes onto my keyboard.

At first, I paused what I was doing, kept the computer open, and quickly read through the book. He was pleased with this first rendition of the story and pattered away to the shelf.

A few minutes passed.

The feet sounded again and a new book was placed over my attempting-to-type hands.

I was tempted to sigh, to put on baby signing time, to ignore him.

But I don't have to make that choice.

My son wants ME. He wants his Dad. He wants our presence. Our full, undivided presence and attention. He doesn't want my mere presence in the room-though that has undoubtedly been helpful in times like nursery. He wants to play WITH me, to show me all the new discoveries he's making, to make new ones with me along side him.

So I put my computer away, shut the door, and turned to give him my full and undivided attention for the period of time that he wanted it.  We played with letters, we read stories, I was a human jungle gym. And it was all so WORTH the time I spent just being down on his level and enjoying the simple activities (like opening and closing doors) that he so loves to do these days.

His lovely little red head rests on my chest nightly while we rock and sing primary songs. And when he shakes his head and says, "no! no! no!" in his funky raspy little voice, I hug him tight, lay him in bed and know that he just wants to play with me and daddy more. He's had a good day and now it's time for sleep so he can play again tomorrow.

So let's take a look in the mirror and see ourselves as our children see us shall we? Their visions of us are nothing but the best and most adoring.

Just a little something...

It cracks me up that one of the days I feel the MOST productive is a day when Joshua is sick and miserable...It's not necessarily that I have more time, because even though I woke up early, Joshua was still awake earlier than normal because he had puke all over his bed. :(

I just have gotten more done, maybe because I'm choosing to see it that way? Perspective is a funny thing....  ;)

Speaking of perspective....here's 3 things I'm grateful for:

1. health                       2. yummy smelling food                             3. computers that work well

What are YOU thankful for today? Did you know just acknowledging 3 things daily that you're thankful for is a positive thinking strategy that with consistency will change your life? It's changing mine today....

But back to why I'm here today....I'm a little spacey.

So I've been meaning to get better at actually BLOGGING and here's my plan: 3-5 times per week, I'll post something. If you would simply click the "follow" button and input your email, then I would LOVE to help populate your inbox a few times a week with some yummy recipes, fitness ideas, random mommy ramblings, and house-wivery tips and tricks.

I'm still learning, but I'd love for you to learn with me!

I've posted about this kitchen chalk board on FB, and a lot of people have asked me how I made it! It wasn't hard, but it was a little time consuming. If you're not as cheap as me, then just go to Tuesday morning and buy one that's premade:

Supplies: 

- 1 2 ft x 4 ft chalk board (Home Depot carries the boards already made!)

- 10 feet of baseboard of your choice

- dark wax to add a distressed look, or paint of your color choice

- gorilla Wood Glue

-28 screws, the smallest depth you can get (mine were like a half inch or less even)

Instructions: 

- cut each of the sides of your frame with a miter saw (I had my dad help me with this cuz you need to be able to do a 45* angle cut to make the ends of the frame meet)

- double and triple check that your frame and board match up well

- paint or wax your frame pieces! Yay!

- using gorilla wood glue and some pressure clamps, attach your frame to the board one side at a time 

- Let glue dry, and then flip frame over and using a low-speed drill, add screws to the back of the frame every 6 inches or so. Use as many screws as you need to ensure the board stays together. 

- mount and hang  your frame where you choose! (Home depot has picture mounting/mirror mounting kits that anchor to the wall--just ask their guys, they'll know best which one you need depending on the size of your board)

If you don't care about using a wall or a door, then just grab some chalk pain and go to your wall with vigor! (I wanted a moveable chalk board, but also wanted it in this specific spot in the kitchen).

So this pic below illustrates exactly WHY I needed that chalk board.

I meal plan. Every week. I change up my dinners mostly, and rotate through the foods on my lunch list. Sometimes I spruce things up a bit, but mostly this is the basic template for my daily meals. I pick a breakfast, snacks, lunch, and the dinner is planned for 2 weeks at a time.

I've also been trying to make freezer meals! Here's this week's freezer meal, taken and modified from this site: http://www.thegunnysack.com/2014/07/slow-cooker-honey-sesame-chicken.html#_a5y_p=2125348

Slow Cooker Sesame Chicken

Ingredients

•6 skinless chicken breasts

•1/2 an onion, finely chopped

•2 cloves garlic, minced

•1/2 cup honey

•1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce

•4 tbs tomato puree/paste

•2 tsp sesame oil

•3 tsp cornflour/cornstarch

•1/4 cup water

•2 cups broccoli florets, chopped into bite sized peices + 1tsp sesame oil for frying

•Rice or quinoa, to serve

•Toasted sesame seeds, to serve

Instructions

1. Place the thighs in the bowl of a slow cooker.

2. Combine the onion, garlic, honey, soy sauce, tomato puree and oil in a bowl, and pour over the chicken. Cook on low for at least four hours, preferably six, turning occasionally to ensure the chicken cooks evenly.

3. 20 mins before you want to serve, prepare the rice according to packet instructions, and remove the chicken from the slow cooker.

4. Combine the cornflour and water in a cup or small bowl to create a slurry, and add it to the remaining sauce in the slow cooker, turning the temperature up to high to allow the sauce to thicken.

5. Add the chicken back to the thickening sauce, turning the mixture occasionally.

6. with the oven at 400*, shake your broccoli around with the sesame oil and then roast the broccoli stalks until slightly crisped.

7. Lay the broccoli over the rice, and top with a good dollop of the chicken/sauce mixture, then sprinkle with sesame seeds. Couldn’t be easier.

I used lots of chicken today to make a family meal, and also made up the double batch so I could have 2 freezer meals (we don't need the whole meal for just the 3 of us). Hurray for less cooking over the summer!

Happy Wednesday everyone!

PS! Don't forget to follow me! You're my motivation to keep writing!

Setting Worthwhile Goals: "Have Courage and Be Kind"

It's a Sunday afternoon, and the first thing I did today when we got home from church was feed Joshua lunch (or attempt to, since he kept dropping food on the floor...), and make Danny and I a yummy lunch.



But despite how much I love food, my thoughts haven't been ON food most of this weekend.

This past week has been a bit of a struggle for me, since Danny was out of town for work, and of course it had to be a week when a few too many things in life seemed overwhelming for me. We made it through and this weekend has been a huge blessing.

I've been trying minimally to get into a good solid habit of developing myself and my identity through personal development. In the midst of that, I'm also trying to get my house in good order, decorate the walls, keep the sink clean, be the best wife I can over a distance, play with Joshua, be a fitness and health coach, and be a good friend to those I meet. It's a lot to feel like you "have" to do.

Lately, I've realized that my crazy to do list each week is really just my week of goals. Each week, something new crops up on the list. And usually something else disappears, either because I forgot about it or accomplished it.

One of the recent goals I've decided to act on starting TODAY is to keep a journal for each of my kids until they turn 8. That age might change...I might keep going till they're 12, or 18 even, but for now, my mind can handle eight. To give myself some credit, I think Joshua's journal so far could be attributed to a combination of his baby book, the segments of my blog I wrote about his monthly update, and of course Facebook and Instagram posts. They're all a part of the daily hubbub that is "life with a growing boy."

I'm getting off track. lol

Goals.

They're important. We all set them, every day.

But the problem is the follow-through, or at least it is for me.

I'm starting to learn the secret to having goals and actually DOING something with them--make them attainable, and make them a part of your daily life.

I have goals to keep my house clean, to be a better wife and mother, to be a stronger person and coach--I could keep going.

But my goal right now is to get those goals in order--to keep my priorities where I want them.

So back to the journal for my kids goal:

It's something that would be really neat for Joshua to have, to take on his mission, to college, to share with his kids. Somehow, that feels more personal and more of a gift to my children and future grandchildren than just a generic journal about our lives. I'll still blog once a week (that's my goal anyway), but I want to write at least once a week in a journal just to Joshua, write him a little letter, a simple note, etc.

A friend on FB shared how after seeing Cinderella yesterday (which I also watched for datenight last night and it was AMAZING), she wanted to write at the end of each journal entry for her two girls to "have courage and be kind." What a simple statement, but with a powerful impact on children and adults alike.

I want to teach my children--Joshua, and all the future kids I have the privilege of mothering--to be "strong and of good courage" and to "have charity" in all things. Standing up for our beliefs and being kind to others really are the key to happiness in any endeavor.

My thoughts felt a little rambly today. But I feel like I've reached a threshold where I need to either step over or go back and start over. I think I'm ready to take the next step.

Are you?

A little bit about my journey...

Here's a few thoughts I've been having today:

I've been consciously struggling with my depression and anxiety for nearly 8 months now. But I've been struggling with it much longer than that, I just didn't admit it to myself.

I tried multiple things to help me get back into the upswing on my depression cycles, but I was cycling: every month, for at least a week, I'd have a really negative mindset that exercise, scripture study, girl time, etc. just wouldn't fix. I'd eventually get out of it and go on with life. Chalking it up to PMS since it was only 1x per month. It wasn't.

Back in May 2014, I finally admitted I was dealing with more than just a bit of a bad day. I had something serious going on and I needed to talk to someone about it. The first person I spoke to about it was my best friend, my husband. I had an emotional breakdown after his birthday treat went wrong. (Banana cream pie, EVERYWHERE on me in the car. It was a mess...but hardly worthy of the breakdown I experienced.)

Guys, I literally hadn't cried in MONTHS. And I cried that day.

I had been feeling SO disconnected from everyone, family included. When I finally admitted what I was dealing with and reached out for help, I realized how helpful they can be.

It was in the process of reaching out to find what would help me that I discovered the beachbody program, 21 Day Fix and became a part ofNoelle Briggs first challenge group as a coach. I was HOOKED, both to the programs and Shakeology, but mostly to the atmosphere of a challenge group. I LOVE talking to people, helping people, and seeing success happen. It's part of why I chose teaching as my degree.

After doing 21 day fix, beginning to drink shakeology daily, and building a better lifestyle for myself, I began to really see a difference in my life. I'm happier, more motivated, more positive in difficult situations (don't get me wrong I still have down days), and most of all, I'm a better me. I have worked hard to get to where I am physically, but what I'm most proud of is how far I've come mentally. There were so many contributing factors to what helped me get to where I am now, but doing 21 day fix in a challenge group and really throwing myself into this has helped me immensely.

After I did challenge groups 2 times under Noelle, I knew this was something I needed to share with other people, in any way possible--big or small. So I joined as a coach. I needed to feel that I was making a difference in someone else's life and now I get to feel that EVERY DAY. It's an amazing feeling, and it does wonders for my self-esteem.

So here's my invitation to you to checkout the avenue of coaching. If you need a dose of positive uplift every day in your life and are willing to work 2-3 hours on your computer essentially talking to people and reconnecting with as many people as you can, then let me know and I'll add you to the sneak peak for coaching that is happening right now. You'll get to read the stories of coaches who've been at this for a year or more, some even less.smile emoticon

I hope this post or my blog post have been helpful to some of you today! Being happy is about more than just making it through the day! It's not bad to admit you need help to feel happy. Just start talking and you'll be amazed at the people God put in your life to help you.

BoomBoom!

"Boomboom!" a little voice cries! "Ahoomahhoom!"

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom!

A told B and B told C, "I'll meet you at the top of the coconut tree!"

Tap tap clap clap! the little hands go. 

"Boomboom!" the little voice chimes.

"Wee!" says D to E, F, G. "I'll beat you to the top of the coconut tree!"

Chicka chicka boom boom! Will there be enough room?

"Boomboom booh  (book)!" my little man says to me, a serious expression on his face. 

Eagerly, he turns the pages, pointing to each letter when he is able to pause and take a break from gulping milk from the now nearly empty cup. 

The whole alphabet, up the-----OH NO!

"Uh oh!" he tells me, hands out to express his worry. 

We turn the page. 

Chicka Chicka BOOM BOOM!

"Boomboom" he murmurs. 

Skit skat doodle dat, flip flop flee! Everybody's running to the coconut tree! Mommas and papas and uncles and aunts hug their little dears and dust their pants!

He snuggles close at the word momma and pats me on the chest. "Momma" he whispers, content. 

And the sun goes down on the coconut tree...

But...

A is out of bed and this is what he said, "Dare double dare, you can't catch me; I'll beat you to the top of the coconut tree!"

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom!

*****

We have read this book together every night, nearly every nap, for the last week. 

Such a classic alphabet book, and it fast became a favorite of Joshua's! When we finish the story, we sing the ABC's and point to the letter "J" and point it out in his room as well. (He has a big J on the wall). Tonight, when I got to the letter J, Joshua tapped it with excitement! It's so amazing to me that in just a short week of talking about letters he has already grasped the importance of his own name's first letter. :) He is incredible!

Reading this book with Joshua has become a special time for me. We still read our other favorites, "Love you Forever," "Curious George" the puppet book, "That's not my tractor," and "I know that my Savior loves me." But Chicka Chicka boom boom has reached the "kiss goodnight" status. 

Sweetest moment of every night is when my 16 month old (yes he's only 2 months away from nursery...) leans over to the book, sometimes the pictures of Jesus, sometimes the ABC book, and kisses it multiple times. He then leans over and plops a sloppy, (currently booger slimed) kiss on my face. 

This last few weeks, even though Joshua has been more difficult to handle in many ways, he has also been the sweetest and most tender boy I remember him being in his small short life so far. 

I love my role as his mother and hope I can continue to teach him as well as I can in everything he needs to learn throughout his journey in life. 

He's a boy on a journey! He sure loves visiting his Aunts and Uncles at Grandma and Grandpa's house!

Here's to the last week in February! Only one more week till the month we move to a new home!!!

The "slow" month

I was complaining to Danny the other day that I felt like this month was going by too slowly.

SO.



Slow.

But then I looked at today's date, and I realized we only have 23 DAYS till we have to be moved out of this house so we can move into the new house in 27 DAYS!

It inched up, and creeped up on me this week. I thought I had ages to go. ;)

But I don't want to talk about how stressed I've been with moving this week.

I want to talk about the things I've been trying really hard to do this last couple weeks (and failing miserably at many of them).

A wife, a mother, a primary teacher, a choir accompanist, a choir participant, a health and fitness coach, a friend, a sister, a daughter, an aunt, a cousin---it's nigh impossible to find ME in there if you didn't notice. I'm coming to realize through the help of a wonderful visiting teacher, that part of being me is being so service-oriented, so willing to put others in my life completely before myself that I forget to find the time every day, every week, every month to just be ME.

And ME is the important part, because without developing myself, without loving myself, and taking time for myself, I can't BE my best self--the self that is so able to identify with and serve so many others around me.

In the church, we always talk about how serving brings us joy. I don't disagree with this statement. Sometimes we can be far too self-centered, usually when there is a particularly stressful time in our life, and part of our "news flash" from Heavenly Father can come by way of opportunities to serve others around us. I know this has brought me joy on many occasions, even if it was the simple act of bringing someone a meal.

But there was something I realized this week, as I was stressing about moving, where to store all our stuff in the "inbetween houses" stage, how best to help the people around me in my coaching business, what to eat, when to go on a date with my husband--the list could go on! I realized, after taking some delicious homemade muffins to a friend (I'll share the recipe below), who had just had a baby and is now a mother of 3 under the age of 5, was that I needed the visit with a friend as much as she might have needed it. I needed some social contact with someone who I could just chat about random stuff with, even if it was just for 30-40 minutes of my day--and so "selfishly" perhaps, I took that service opportunity and made it as much of a special time for me as it was a service to my friend.

Sometimes, I believe making the choice to serve others is as much of a service to ourselves as it is to the people we serve. Really, most of the time. We just have to have the right mindset to see it.

So friends, family, gals, guys: If you take anything from what I'm trying to say here, it's that yes we need to serve others. But we also need to take the time to recognize that we need to serve ourselves with as much gusto as we go about serving the wonderful people who we come in contact with every day.

I'm having to learn that I can't possible DO everything I want to do as a homemaker, wife, mom, friend, and coach. I have to work on accepting that I have to trust some things to be taken care of by someone else. I'm learning to say "no" to others so I can say "yes" to myself and then more people as a result.

My takeaways:

1. Unplug from the internet as much as possible over the weekends. (Blogging is like a journal...so this doesn't count. :P)
2. Find 1-2 hours (even if it's spread out) to do SOMETHING for me (exercise, get ready for the day, read a good book, play piano for fun)
3. Be present in the moment--the future will happen whether I stress about it or not.

Highlights this week for Joshua, in case you were wondering...

This spunky one year old is learning more and more sounds and words by the minute! We love helping him try to say new words!

The new word that is fast becoming the bane of our existence as parents (and the bane of all parents alive) is the word "no." Since he gets so much attention from this word (hehem, Petersons and Johnson family!), he responds to nearly EVERY question we ask him with, "nonono!"

He thinks it's hilarious.

Also on the list of new ideas for Halloween costumes next year, courtesy of uncle Evan, is a ghost, because he can now cry, Boo! when he plays peek-a-boo or wanders into a room unannounced! The highlight of my day was when he toddled around the corned, bonked into my leg and cried, BOO! as big as he could! Love that kid!

We're so excited for the adventures of moving into a new house--one with a POOL for swim lessons!

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Here's a great and delicious recipe for some "Toddler" muffins--I eat them too much, so they're not just for toddlers!

The BEST Toddler Muffins http://www.pinterest.com/pin/194921490098136386/

Author: Maria

Recipe type: Muffin

Cuisine: Breakfast or Snack

Prep time:  15 mins

Cook time:  15 mins

Total time:  30 mins

Serves: 12-24

Shredded Zucchini would also go great in these fun and tasty muffins. Throwing a couple tbsp of wheat germ or chia seeds would also be a perfect way to add a little more healthy-ness.

Ingredients

• 1 cup brown sugar
• ⅓ cup of plain or vanilla yogurt (heaping cup)
• ⅓ cup unsweetened applesauce
• ¼ cup butter, softened
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 cup finely shredded carrots (about 2 medium carrots)
• 2-3 very ripe bananas, smashed (the riper the better)
• 1 cup quick oats
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 2½ tsp cinnamon
• ⅛ tsp nutmeg (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees
2. Cream together: sugar, yogurt, applesauce and butter
3. Add eggs, pumpkin, carrots, and bananas
4. Mix well add all dry ingredients: oats, wheat flour, all-purpose flour, salt, soda, cinnamon and nutmeg
5. Mix until combined
6. Scoop batter into greased mini or regular muffin tins. Can use cupcake liners if you prefer. Recipe can make 48 mini muffins or 20-24 regular size muffins.
7. Bake at 375 for 12-15 minutes for mini-muffins or 15-18 or until toothpick comes out clean for regular size muffins.
8. Remove from pans and cool on cooling rack.

OH!!

Almost forgot to add in my journey of making almond milk this week!

Here's my progression photos from doing that--directions on this blog site--it's really easy (would have been easier with cheesecloth instead of paper towels to separate the pulp from the milk)

 Soaking the almonds....this was kinda weird. haha

 "milking the almonds"--one day I'll get a Vitamix for Christmas...but this worked well!
















Draining the milk from the pulp! It was kinda scary with papertowels! Bounty are fantastic!

The PULP. To be used as almond flour--currently it lives in my freezer...haha

The finished product!                

For directions, go here!   http://www.doublethebatch.com/homemade-almond-milk/