Black Bean and Salsa Soup

Courtesy of some friends and thanks to the Happy Herbivore... I came across this great and EASY recipe for a quick Black Bean and Salsa Soup

Took me a total of about 10 minutes to mix it up, will warm it up tonight and test it out!!

Yummy, Healthy and Easy-- can't beat it!

Perfect for a cold night!

Ingredients: Black Beans, Vegetable Broth, Ground Cumin, Salsa, Frozen Corn and Tortillas on the top!

 

For the exact recipe: CLICK HERE

Socks.. such simplicity

Does anyone else hate doing laundry as much as I do? I LOVE to put it in and turn it on, but the task of folding and putting away just gives me anxiety on so many levels.

However, through this mundane task, I was given a gentle reminder today.

I was reminded that I have beautiful and healthy children. I should realize that I have the absolute PLEASURE of being able to fold their tiny socks and remind myself of the simplicity of life, especially that of children...
Children who wear tiny socks and who have started to leave their footprint (or "sock print", if you will) on this world!

The simple socks of Abigail and Adelyn

A time for thanks...

I have come across many people who have been doing the "30 days of Thanksgiving" this past month or those that have listed things that they are thankful for as the season approaches and reminds us of those things that make us who we are and why we should be thankful.

You often see things like family, friends, husband, wife, children, job (if you are so lucky), material belongings, good health, God and so much more. It is often a reflection of the life of the person sharing and offers a great insight into their everyday joys as well as sometimes even their struggles.

Now, I do realize that this might cause a bit of a stir or even confusion. During this holiday season, I have been often reminded that I am TRULY thankful for one thing: ME

Sounds quite vain, do you say? Now don't get me wrong, I am thankful for many things and people in my life and I am often reminded that I am not always deserving of all that I have been blessed with on a daily basis.

However, I challenge you to try and follow me as I work through this thought of being thankful for MYSELF...

I am thankful that I am a mother to two beautiful girls. I am thankful that I am the type of mother that will put my own goals and ego aside to make sure that my girls are provided for and loved upon in a way that they will never feel from any other human being, being that I am the only mother that they have.

I am thankful that I am a stepmother to two boys who have been some of the most challenging aspects of my life. I am thankful that I have learned to be more patient and have put in the time and effort often times needed for a relationship between myself and them to even be possible.

I am thankful that I am a loving wife. Without my ability to love him, my husband would have never known the idea or feeling of non negotiable love that two people can feel for one another.  I believe this leads him to be a better man in many ways.

I am thankful that I am a person that pays attention to detail as well as has overall ideas of the big picture. I am thankful that I have learned ways to better budget for our family, so that we may continue to enjoy a beautiful home and other things in life that we may not otherwise be able to afford.

I am thankful that I have had the strength to face many obstacles and to help educate people in what it means to be a strong woman, even though that may not always fit into the "mold" that they have formulated in their minds.

I am thankful that I am a hardworking and driven individual, so that many have felt the impact of my determination and passion for all things in my community.

I am thankful that I am a person that constantly seeks the desire to have a relationship with my Creator, so that many can see the wonderful things that can come from having a spiritual life, although not always perfect.  Which goes along with the fact that I am thankful that I am a person willing to be honest and open with others, so as to make a positive impacts in lives that I may touch in some way.

Most of all, I am thankful that I am ME. I am thankful that I can recognize the good during the bad, that I can constantly learn ways to love myself and be open to the idea that I am here for a greater purpose than just that which I feel to be true.

I am ME and just that is enough to be thankful for...

Acid Reflux=Cranky Baby=Stressed out Mom!

My apologies for not posting for a bit, but my entire day yesterday was set aside to try and figure out what is going on with my almost 2 month old daughter and her acid reflux.

We were given Prevacid to administer to her over 2 weeks ago and I just don't feel like it make a huge difference, especially with all of the side effects that come along with it. Don't get me wrong, if it solves the problem and helps alleviate her pain, I am willing to take the risk of some side effects. However, when it isn't working and I am still just giving my baby a drug that is not necessarily appropriate for her, then I start to look elsewhere.
(to research the side effects of drugs such as Prevacid, just "Google" any of the words and come up with your own conclusions)

So with that said, while my daughter was in my arms screaming... I decided to do some research on my own.  Over and over again, I came across a product called "Nat Phos No. 10". (click to learn more)  There were numerous people talking about reflux and babies and wanting to do something that wasn't so harmful but would help. 

Yes, it is a "homeopathic" remedy and I am usually a person that is all about getting what drugs might be needed to help solve the problem, but I am tired of nothing getting better and risking the health of my family. 

So off I went to our local Natural Food Store (Kankakee Natural Foods) and asked about the product. Sure enough, it was on the shelves and came in a small bottle.  Is this the miracle product that I have been looking for?? We will soon find out. Can't hurt to try, right?? Can't get any worse than it is already!

So here goes nothing...

Have you tried Nat Phos 10 or do you practice homeopathy??  What are your thoughts about this sometimes controversial way of practicing medicine?

Give Santa a Call!

Came across an awesome thing that parents can do for their kids...

You just call the number and Santa comes on, gives kids a message about being good and listening to their parents and that he will see them soon. He also lets them leave a message on what they would like for Christmas, which is then delivered to the North Pole.

I just tried it with my 3 year old and of course, her response was "Mom, that's silly. There are too many words" LOL

However, she started to name off everything that she wants for Christmas.... priceless!

Show me the money!!

Does anyone else get annoyed when you are sitting in a doctor's office for what feels like hours... waiting for someone to come in and at least tell you that everyone, in fact, did NOT leave for the day and go home!

Have you taken advantage of the fact that they often conveniently provide some modern magazines for your reading pleasure?  Granted, I know that some are very old, but you never know what information could be in there!

Now, I am new to this whole world of "technology" and was recently handed down my hubby's iPhone for my use (granted he did get the nice new one for his use, but he is definitely more of a "tech geek" than I)

I was delighted to pick up a September 2013 issue of Better Homes and Gardens magazine with information regarding cool iPhone apps that you can download... some cooler than others.
(I wonder how much "space" is actually on my iPhone for apps... I mean is it seriously possible to "max" out?  Hope not!)

In this issue was an app called "Shopkick". It said that I can earn credits (otherwise known as "kicks") just for walking into nearby stores. I can also earn credits (ie gift cards, etc) for just picking up an item and scanning it with my phone and do NOT even have to buy this product! Seriously??? I already shop enough as it is, why not be rewarded for it??

So is anyone else thinking this just sounds too good to be true? Of course, right??

Well, in researching it, I came across another great blog: The Krazy Koupon Lady and it goes through the app and even has a video for those of us that are visual in nature. To learn how these ladies use the app,  CLICK HERE

So do you think that I will be able to convince my hubby to let me go shopping tonight for several hours, without him or the kids????

Really it's for my sanity... not my hubby's nutrition!

You know what they say... breakfast is the most important meal of the day!  So why do we make it so hard to find something to eat every morning and start our day off on the wrong foot?? For example...

Every morning, my husband wakes up and has his coffee. He will watch the morning news or the  and NBC Today Show then before you know it, it is time to get ready for work. It is at THIS point that he thinks about having breakfast and then realizes that he barely has time to iron his clothes, let alone think about making something to eat.

http://toonclips.com/design/11376

I guess I could help by ironing his clothes.. but that ain't happening, so I came across some easy to make and make ahead breakfast ideas instead! ;)

Of course, as always, Pinterest has some great ideas for such a task.... actually, quite a few ways to make sure that your mornings aren't so hectic and that you are at least getting some sort of nutrition to at least carry you to lunchtime.

Here are some great ideas: http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=make%20ahead%20breakfast

If you happen to not have a Pinterest account, what is wrong with you???? Only kidding (sort of)
But if this is the case, feel free to share links or ideas on your favorite make ahead breakfast ideas on here for all to enjoy! 

One of my absolute favorites, as I have a 3 year old that LOVES to eat smoothies and it's always annoying when I don't have the right fruit or any at all for that matter!

Smoothie Freezer Bags: Cut up combinations of 2 cups of berries, bananas, and/or peaches and freeze in a quart size bag. Label the bag with the amount of milk (almond, soy, dairy) and ice that is needed to make a smoothie. Kids can grab a bag and make up smoothies for breakfast (or a snack). I think this is a great way to take advantage of fruit when it goes on sale!

 

http://www.thecelebratedfamily.com/2012/08/make-ahead-breakfast-ideas.html?m=1

 

Great idea from another blogger... why couldn't I think of this????

 

 

A great space to begin our morning

I was inspired by my aunt to put a coffee and tea station in our kitchen. This is a great space for us to go each morning to not only enjoy a nice cup of Java but to see pictures of our family and to start the day off right!

Thank you to Steve and Susie for the adorable magnetic board.   

Next to it is just a painted piece of canvas from a local craft store with chalkboard paint and then the words "Live Laugh Love" written on it with my 3 year old's sidewalk chalk. I love this idea as I can change the quote whenever I feel like doing so!

Where is the place that you start off your morning each day?

The dreaded "Junk" Drawer.. yikes!

I'm sure a lot of folks have that one space in their kitchen where you have absolutely NO idea how items got in there... whether it be a cabinet, a drawer or some other space, it is amazing how things just appear and you don't even remember acquiring it at any point in your life!

We often call this space the "Junk" drawer. But nothing says that it actually has to look like a bunch of JUNK...

I decided to take on the challenge of moving items to the proper spots in the house (ie garage, bedroom, bathroom... yes, I did say that bathroom! The fact that there is anything in a drawer in my kitchen that actually belongs in the bathroom is a bit disturbing to me!

Our "junk" drawer before...

What in the world is half of this crap? 

Actually, I had already started to bag items before taking the picture,

so you were spared the actual terror of this drawer!

 

I absolutely swear this is the same exact drawer, just organized!! See, it IS possible!

 

Items Included in our junk drawer:

Screwdriver

Small flashlight

Candle Lighter

Hooks

Tape Measure

Screws/Nails/Picture Hangers

(located in their own little neat organizer box)

Glue

Batteries

Other random stuff... :)

 

I have decided that you can put just about anything that you might like in a "junk" drawer, so long as it is organized and things that will actually come in handy.  I do need to add a small hammer to the drawer (for small projects that I don't need my husband for) as well as I'm sure that I will come up with other things in the following days. 

 

 

 

 

Challenge 1: Bill/Mail Drawer and Media Center

First Challenge: Bill/Mail Drawer and Media Center

This is a picture of my Bill/Mail/Junk Drawer BEFORE

It became a place that collected paper clips, scissors, random toys from my 3 year old

 and whatever else might have fit in there!

 

I made the decision to turn this drawer into a "Bill/Mail" center where I can easily find everything needed to pay all of the bills, as well as take care of any mail that needs attention.

 

 

Items included: Scissors, Calculator, Stamps, Stickers, Envelopes, Pens, Pencils, Etc and most importantly... my file system for all of our bills. We are currently on the BASIC Dave Ramsey (daveramsey.com) budget plan, so I have found this to work for me for the time being.

This drawer also happens to be located right beneath what I decided to use as my "Mail/Media" Center. 

This was before...

Just gives you a headache looking at it, doesn't it???

 

Isn't it BEAUTIFUL??? 

This allows for us to put the mail in one spot (well, as soon as I "train" my hubby to do so) and keep it from laying all over the counter. 

I also included a spot for plugins needed for our iPhones and iPads, which are a necessity!

 

Items Included:

Brown Wicker File Sorter

Spot for Incoming Mail

Spot for Outgoing Mail

Spot for Mail or anything that "Needs Attention"

Binder for Coupons

Envelope to collect coupons

(if you are like me, you don't always have time to file coupons when they are cut/received,

 so put them in here until you can do just that)

 

 

 

 

** Word of Advice: Our outside garbage can just happens to be located in a space that I have to walk past after checking our mail. I try to take a few seconds to walk over to the can and put any "junk" mail in there before even walking into the house--

keeps it from piling up and driving me crazy!

 

 

So here we go...

With the holidays upon us, I have come to reflect on my goals for the new and upcoming year and what it means for my entire family.  Nowadays, I spend ALOT of time at home due to having our second child a little over a month ago.
With that... I have found that I am responsible for how our house functions and for ways to simplify and organize our lives.
To be honest, I get great joy and energy from organizing, cleaning and sorting... weird, isn't it?? 

With that said, I have come upon some awesome inspiration from a website/blog named "A Bowl Full of Lemons".  I happened upon the website within the past day and was completely motivated to organize, clean and rearrange my home.

Because of this, I have decided to restart my blog and to share my "projects" with others, or at least whoever might decide to take a look at any given time. I will be posting before and after pictures, as well as giving some insight as to how I went about the project and what I have found to be most helpful.

To take a peek at my motivation: http://www.abowlfulloflemons.net/

Her challenge takes place over 14 weeks, but call it perfect timing... I have just 7 weeks until the end of the year and the beginning of a new one. Therefore, I am going to "double up" and try to accomplish as much as possible for the remainder of the year. One thing you will come to know about me is that when I do something, I like to do it BIG and fast and hardcore! :)

So here we go....