Monday, October 8, 2012

Food gawking from novice


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So I am going admit one of my imperfections. It may not be a big deal but I am not the best cook. I was vegetarian and then vegan for most my life before I met my husband and in 7 years of being together I stopped being vegan and just ate anything my hubby would cook. He is a mans man, so when he cooks he like steak and potatoes, or chicken and rice and veggies. Both are very good meals and as long as I eat smaller portions of those meals I am okay, but because I grew up on smoothies and salads and pasta and sweet tooth's that's really all I know how to make. 


Before I met my husband I had never even cooked a chicken breast or even touched meat before. This one time, my Brian (my hubby) asked me to cook this chicken in a crock pot for him and he even emailed me directions. I did everything the directions said and I was so proud but when he came home that night he couldn't help but laugh when he cut into the delicious looking chicken. Turned out I didn't know you had to take the guts out of the chicken first. He was rolling on the floor laughing. 

Little stories like this have popped up over the years because I just never experiences much cooking. Baking, yes. My mother baked bread, and cookies and all kinds of baked goods but baking with pans and ovens and skillets and sauces and marinates are so foreign to me. 

The thing is, that I want to me the mom that knows how to cook. I want to have dinner ready to serve at 6:00pm every night. I want hardy and healthy meal and I want to be able to say, "Finish your vegetables children or no dessert". I want my husband to look forward to dinner meals and I want him to be proud of how far I have come in the kitchen. 

So, a few weeks ago I started cooking some of the dishes I know how to make like crock pots of chili which I made a ton and froze a bunch for easy dinners. I even have corn bread mixes ready for chili nights. I have been scouring Pinterests food and drink section and Foodgawkers app. I have been looking on facebook for successful dinners other moms post and asking my mother for all her recipes I loved as a kid.

I even have been making myself touch and cook with chicken and other meats to make sure that I get use to handing all types of food and now that I have been cooking dinner most every night I am so much happier with myself. I feel like I have accomplished something my husband has been secretly wishing I was better at. Who new that my kids ratatouille movie would motivate me to try cooking in the kitchen. "Any one can cook" right? Why not me? Now, if I could only have a little "helper" that hides in a chef's hat who could tell me what the hell to do in a kitchen...


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Since finding delicious recipes for every night dinner type foods I started getting ambitious and found some amazing looking fall recipes I plan on trying in the next few weeks. 

Do you have any recipes you would like to share or love to cook for your family?
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Sunday, October 7, 2012

Momma got a brand new ride!

I am so excited to share that after sharing a 2 door vehicle for about 3 years, I got to bring home a new car today! No more getting up at 5:30am to drive my husband into work before the kids toddler talk class or play dates or any errands. No more having to crouch into the backseat to strap in or get the kids out {and killing my back in  the process}. I am just so thrilled and blessed that my husband was able to hook me up with a top of the line vehicle.

{2007 Infiniti FX45}
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Uploaded from the Photobucket iPhone App

Uploaded from the Photobucket iPhone App




Friday, October 5, 2012

Fall Surprise Sale!

I am so happy that fall weather is finally here that I am having a huge Sale! I am taking 12% of anything in my store just by using code {ilovefall} when you check out!

I am also super excited to announce that I have lowered my shipping cost in half! 

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Thursday, October 4, 2012

I tried a cleaning trick on Pinterest and it worked!

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Since I started this venture on keeping a balanced lifestyle one of the things I am tacking is cleaning out my home. I already keep a pretty clean house hold, but I have been cleaning gout all things I don't use or need anymore and doing some deep cleaning. Everyday I do some sort of deep cleaning to rid of unnecessary clutter and I must say it is working because everyday I feel a little bit more relaxed and at ease. 

Mean while I read this quote about an old married couple recently. The couple was being interviewed on their anniversary and were asked how they stayed married so long. What the old man said really stuck with me and now I can't get it out of my head. He replied, "Back in my day, if something was broke we fixed it. Now a days if something is broke, people throw it away." His words, really moved me. I feel that this is a wonderful way to live. If it is broke fix it.

It can be so much easier to just buy something new or replace something, but I am beginning to understand the difference between waste and value. As I was going through my kitchen stuff while I was cooking I remembered how gross my cookie pans were and I remembered this one pinterest cleaning tip I read about. If you take a garbage bag and put in the cookie sheets and/or stove top burners and fill the bag with amonia. I kept this bag outside since Amonia is very dangerous chemical and if you try this, so should you. It is a deadly chemical. Then I left it out there for 24 hours and the next day, I literally got all of this off by running water over it.

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Now you can see I didn't get every nook and cranny, so I think I need to do it a second time, but I am more that pleased with the results!

I know that comparing a marriage tip with a cleaning tip is completely different subjects, but I have to say that if my marriage breaks I will be fixing it and now if something in my home is old and seems broke, I will be trying to fix it before I give up all hope.  

How do you feel about what the old man said? 




Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Blogging from the couch

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Yep you read right. Sunday night me and my hubby went from just sort of sick to both couch ridden with terrible flu's. We have both been just feeling awful so today I felt okay enough to type today. #damnflurshotgavemetheflu

Well sometimes you can find the best foods when you are sick because my taste buds are super heightened.


My husband stocked us up on sick food today and made me the most amazing juice mix ever!!!!

It was heaven in my mouth so I thought I would share the recipe from the couch I am living on right now.

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"Glass of heaven"

1 tall glass.
2/3 of the glass of 7up soda
1/3 the glass of 100% pineapple and orange juice
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Seriously this is the best drink for a flu bug!