Random thoughts

I'm bored and my brain isn't functioning enough to formulate a real post so here are my thoughts in bullets:

• We got a light dusting of snow last night. Glad that's all it was- I'm over winter.
• I'm kind of obsessed with The Office right now. Mike and I have been watching it instant on Netflix every night. Love it.
• I saw bathing suits out at Target yesterday...yikes!
• Speaking of bathing suits, I've been doing a lot of ab exercises and my stomach has been soo sore! Clearly out.of.shape.
• We have friends coming to stay with us this weekend and I'm super excited! However, the switch on our vacuum is broken and I can't vacuum before they come! [and I'm sure they couldn't care less, but I care]
• I made a few Valentine's decorations and they took way more work that I anticipated, but I'll take some pics and post later.
• Girls Night next week- really excited! It's been awhile.
• I turn 25 in ten days... yuck.
• I love my husband. A lot. He keeps me laughing a majority of the time.

That is all, have a great Thursday!

Meal Planning [3]

I'm such a slacker in the posting department, but I did meal plan on Sunday for this week.

Monday: Fajitas and rice

Tuesday: Meatball Subs, tots, and carrots

Wednesday: Chicken Tacos

Thursday: Leftovers

Friday: Calzones

Saturday: On the Border - yumm

Sunday: ?

I didn't plan for this weekend because we have friends coming in town, but we already decided we're eating at On the Border, ha!

Meal Planning [2]

Second week of meal planning!

Monday: PW's Cajun Chicken Pasta

Tuesday: Mexican Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, salad

Wednesday: Grilled Chicken Salad

Thursday: Leftovers

Friday: Thai Coconut Chicken Soup [ we had this at a wedding this weekend and it was soo good!]

Saturday: Leftovers

Sunday: We usually eat out for lunch after church, which usually takes care of dinner as well

While at the Grand Canyon at the beginning of the month, we stopped in one of the little stores and I found a rack of cook books that were all Southwest cooking. Yum! So my souvenir was this one:

I've been trying a recipe from the book each week. Last weeks was Spicy Chicken Joes and they turned out pretty darn good, so I thought I'd share the recipe.

Spicy Chicken Joes:

2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

2 Yellow onions, chopped

4-5 cloves of garlic, chopped

olive oil

1- 8oz can tomato paste

1- 16oz can tomato sauce

2- chipotles in adobo sauce, seeded and chopped [not nearly spicey enough for us- if you're not into spicy start with one pepper]

1 tablespoon worchestershire sauce

1 tablespoon ground cumin

1/2 cup packed brown sugar [ I would take this down to 1/4 cup, it was a little too sweet]

1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt

Rolls

Cilantro for garnish if you like

Heat oil in pan. Brown chicken, onions and garlic [I drained off the water that the onions and chicken produced]. In separate bowl mix next 7 ingredients. Place chicken/onion/garlic mixture in crock pot and pour the sauce mixture over it. Cook on low for 5-6 hours or until chicken is cooked through. Shred chicken with forks and serve on rolls of your choice. Garnish with cilantro [Mike had cheese on his] and PLEASE serve with tator tots :)

I heart clearance

Especially Old Navy clearance. Not because I'm obsessed with their clothes (it's usually hit or miss for me), but because their clearance racks are insanely cheap. The other day I got an email saying their clearance was marked down even more so during lunch I headed over to the store. Yeah, the clearance was an extra 50% off. Score! And it was the first day of the sale so they had a lot and in every size. So here is what I picked up.

Dress = $4

 Dress = $4 (looked a little frumpy on so I added a belt, adorable)

Tank = $1.99

Tank = $.98

I also got a pair of dark skinny jeans for $7!

My total was $20. I figured there was no way the husband could be mad for me spending money on clothes when I got such a great deal :) I was right.

Now I'm ready for Spring so I can wear everything haha! But it is going to be in the 60s this weekend! Praise the Lord! [I.hate.winter.]

Score any good deals lately?

Bruschetta Salad

While we were in Arizona we ate like kings [and queens]. Leah is a great cook and we probably gained 5lbs that week, but that's what vacation is for right? One night she made this salad and it's delish! It's all her, so I can't take credit. I didn't take pictures and this recipe isn't exact because really you just throw it all together. I just grabbed pictures from google for people who are visual learners :)

Bruschetta Salad:

Grape tomatoes cut in half - about a cup

Fresh Mozzerella cubed, about the same size as the tomatoes - 1/2 cup or more if you really like cheese :)

Fresh basil chopped - about 4 or 5 leaves

One or two cloves of garlic chopped - depending on how much you like garlic

Half cup or so of croutons - I used texas toast croutons

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

Mix all ingredients together and let sit for a few minutes to let all the flavors mix, but not too long so that the croutons get soggy, blech! There ya go- it's super easy and so good!

Sisters

This past weekend my sister Heather and her husband Dustin were in town from California. We haven't since them since May so it was really fun to have them around. I have another sister, Ashley who is the oldest, then Heather and I'm the baby. My sisters are the best! We get along so well and always have the best time acting crazy together while our husbands stand off to the side and give us weird looks. Holidays are always a little crazy when we're all together and I think we make our Mama nervous haha! At least my poor Dad now has some guys around to escape the madness with. I love having sisters!

Ashley's wedding 2006

 My wedding 2008

Heather's wedding 2009 [with my mom]

[my poor parents paid for 3 weddings in 3 years]

Ash gave us this necklace this weekend and I love it, so true!

Meal Planning [1]

Keeping with my goals for 2011, I figured I'd just post my meal plan for the week on here to keep myself accountable and so I can remember what I cook from week to week.

Monday: Burgers and bruschetta salad [so good and easy! I'll post the recipe soon]
Tuesday:Spicy Chicken Joes [from my new slow cooker cookbook] and tator tots. "Give me some of your tots!"
Wednesday: Tilapia, balsamic thyme roasted tomatoes and mushrooms, and brown rice
Thursday: We're going out to dinner with our small group
Friday: leftovers
Saturday: We have a wedding to go to
Sunday: leftovers or something random we have

My grocery list was so short this week, it was nice. I try to meal plan around food we already have so I didn't need to buy a lot this week. Happy eating :)