Meal Planning Monday

February 26, 2018

It's starting to feel like spring outside, the garden is growing, it's only a few more weeks until I start pulling carrots. Life couldn't be better. 

Now here's this week's meal plan. 



Monday - Breakfast - sausage, eggs, blueberries (repeat because I like it)

Tuesday - Grilled Chicken with Green Beans

Wednesday - Chicken with Cilantro Lime Rice with Snap Peas and Salsa (here's in inspo)

Thursday - leftovers

Friday - Beef and Veggie Soup 



Saturday - eating out

Sunday - leftover soup

Breakfast - protein shakes
Lunch - rotisserie chicken, roasted broccoli, and sweet potatos
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6 Cooking Hacks to Spend Less Time in the Kitchen

February 21, 2018

Back in the child free days of life I could take ages in the kitchen. This day in age, not so much. I'm constantly having my feet stepped on, being hit with some stick he thinks is a sword, or dishing out snacks for the ever hungry toddler.

No time for long recipes.


In that I've started taking more short cuts, not full Sandra Dee (I'm not making cocktails for everything dish I come up with) and not full on Paula Dean... just somewhere in between.

1. Buy a rotisserie chicken. 


I took this shortcut recently with my lunches and it saved SO MUCH TIME. I'm even adding it into dinner instead of roasting a chicken myself.

2. Those Minute rice cups are revolutionary. 


Back in the day when the rice bags came out I was obsessed. I fell off the rice wagon and started eating more riced veggies. Somehow I came across the Minute rice cups and let me tell you, it's great if only one or two people are eating rice at a meal. I can quickly make rice for Jeremy without having to go through the hassle of pulling out the rice cooker or even more fun... burning it on the stove.

3. Cook in a wide shallow pan. 


I use my big ole flat pan for everything. It cut down the time I would normally use for most sauces and brings smaller quantities of things to a boil much faster.

4. Frozen meatballs are your friend. 


I once handmade all of my meatballs, no so much anymore. Now I generally toss my meatballs in a crock-pot with whatever sauce and can save at least 30 minutes of making meatballs in the evening.


5. Buy prechopped veggies


Down here we use a lot of onion and bell pepper in recipes, I keep a bag of frozen seasoning blend on hand and skip chopping onions and peppers most of the time.

6. If you do chop, chop small. 


Small diced veggies cook up much faster.

So that's it! 6 of my personal tips for speeding up life in the kitchen.

Tell me, what are some of your personal ways to cut time down in the kitchen? 

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Meal Planning Monday

February 19, 2018


Monday - Breakfast - sausage, eggs, blueberries

Tuesday - Grilled Chicken with a premade chopped salad (gotta make like easy)

Wednesday - Beef Tips with Rice & Roasted Broccoli
I'm making this the Mississippi Roast way. Putting the beef tips in the crockpot, topping with a packed of Au Jus Gravy Mix & Ranch Mix with a stick of butter. I'll probably add about a cup or two or beef stock so there's more gravy

Thursday - leftovers

Friday - Roast Chicken with Potatoes and Green Beans (cheating and using a rotisserie from the store)

Saturday - eating out

Sunday - leftover chicken
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Finally a Home Whitening System I Love!

February 13, 2018

This post is part of the #SmileFearlessly campaign with Smile Brilliant. I was given their product in exchange for my review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #WhileIWhiten #SmileFearlessly

I'm not newbie when it comes to teeth whitening. 


In college my dentist actually told me to slow my roll if I wanted to still have enamel one day.

Thank you cheapo whitening trays from the early 2000's!

Since I'm immediately drawn to people's teeth I put a ton of stock in my own. A pretty smile makes a world of difference, the only problem is trying to figure out how to enjoy your favorites drinks (I'm talking coffee and tea over here!) and not look like you have George Washington's smile.




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Meal Planning Monday

February 12, 2018

I'm making it another simple week at our house. Which is made even better by the Mardi Gras break. 


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The Friday Before a Holiday is Always the Longest

February 9, 2018

In true Harrison fashion, he continues to keep me on my toes. Jeremy thought I was crazy when I said I was making cube steaks again this week, but low and behold Harrison swooped in and stole his Daddy's plate as I suspected. 

Mom win. 

Little Cajun baby likes anything seasoned with Tony's or served with rice and gravy. 



I've been weary of saying anything because I have friends who have gone through SO MUCH MORE to get pregnant. But, I broke down and ordered an Ava bracelet since we are on month 6 of trying to get pregnant. 

I realized after reading a few articles that I'm awful at taking my basal. I wake up a ton during the night so when I've actually had a 3 hours stretch of sleep it's the dead of night and I don't think of temping. Instead I take it at 6 AM after I've been up at 5 to go to the bathroom. 

So  I am spending too much money and solving those problems once and for all. 

Also, after I've got a bit more data and a solid review idea I'm going to be sharing my thoughts about this product and hopefully a discount code for anyone interested. 


Has anyone read The Princess and the Pea recently? I had a literal moment of "why is this dang bed so awful" only to realize it was more of a toddler mom problem. 


My grandfather recently read this book and suggested it to my mother. Hence I'm now reading it. In short summary it's a brief history of the insanity that went down in our area during the civil rights movement. You know things were bad then, but good grief the FBI labeled the area the equivalent of the Wild West and advised people to leave town. 

It's a great read.

But one that leaves you with your mouth open for much of it.

Honestly, if you've read Greg Iles Pen Cage series, this is the true story of that.

On the flip side, it's lovely to read the book and our family names aren't listed.

During that time though it's thought that my grandmother (Aida, in case you're wondering), who happened to be the Justice of the Peace at the time, left town to escape Noah Cross. The town's worst and one of the longest reigning sheriffs. She supposedly tried to go against him and his well known prostitution and gambling situation out at Deer Park and she left town afterwards. If you match the dates back up to this book, she didn't return to town until after he was put in federal prison.

It's seriously the most insane thing I've ever read. I knew many stories, but THIS takes it to a new level.
In other news, I tried a new banana bread recipe from Taste of Home. It's gluten free. It didn't rise that well. Which could partially be my fault seeing as I didn't realize it made two loaves and had to pull it out of the oven and scoop half the mixture out of the pan. 

Fun time. 

I teach reading comprehension by the way. As you can see I currently have none. 

It doesn't taste as good as my recipe though, just saying. 



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Meal Pinning Monday

February 5, 2018

It's hard to believe this is the last week before Mardi Gras break. However, what's going to be harder to believe is the stretch without a break after that. 

In other news, the virus has left the building. I couldn't have washed another thing, we had no choice but to get over it. Literally, had I washed one more load of puke junk I would have exploded and died. 

True story. 

Now, dinner plans, because if I don't write it down I'll forget it and then who knows how the groceries in the fridge will pan out. 


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