Tasty Tuesday!

Monday

Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza

Whole wheat tortillas or Pitas
Light ranch
2 cups grilled chicken diced
fresh tomatoes
Spinach
Onions
Already cooked bacon pieces
Reduced fat cheese


Take the tortilla and spread a thin layer of ranch on it. Top with Chicken, tomatoes, spinach, onions, and a SPRINKLE of bacon pieces. Top with cheese and bake in the oven on a cookie sheet with a wire rack on it at 350 until cheese is browned.

Tuesday

Chef Salad Sandwiches

Got these from Sherelle Christensen's blog

Sherelle's Chef Salad Sandwiches
-1 pkg. pita bread (these also taste yummy on croissants)
-2-3 cups coleslaw mix
-1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
-1 sm. can sliced olives, drained1 cup diced cucumber
-1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
-1 cup thinly sliced deli ham, sliced into small strips(nitrate free)
Ranch Dressing

Combine all veggies, meat and cheese. Pour Ranch over salad mix and toss well. Serve in pita pockets.

Wednesday

Ginger Chicken Stirfry


12 oz boneless skinless chicken breast halves
2 tbsp sesame oil
2 cups frozen vegetables (preference to Chinese or Asian vegetable mix)
1/2 tbsp ground ginger (or to taste)
2 turns of the pan of soy sauce
2 cups cooked brown rice.


Cut chicken into 1" strips. Cook in sesame or olive oil until no longer pink. Let cool and place in freezer bag. Place the rice into a separate baggie and freeze. When ready to use, let the chicken and rice defrost in the fridge.
When you are ready to make this add the veggies to a pan with 2 tbsp of sesame oil and when the veggies are tender add chicken to reheat and then add the other spices. Serve on top of hot rice.

Thursday
Pasta with Tomatoes, Zucchini, and Feta
1 package Bowtie Pasta
2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 whole Lemons (more To Taste)
Salt
Freshly Ground Black Pepper
2 whole Zucchini Diced
1 package Grape Tomatoes, Halved Lengthwise
⅓ cups Minced Fresh Parsley
6 ounces, weight Crumbled Feta Cheese

Cook pasta until done. Drain and rinse in cold water until completely cool. Add olive oil and lemon juice, then add salt and pepper to taste (do not undersalt). Toss to combine. Add zucchini, tomatoes, parsley, and feta, and toss to combine. Add more of what you think it needs; I like to go heavy on the feta! Squeeze in a little more lemon juice/drizzle more olive oil if it needs more moisture.

Friday

Crispy Chicken Burritos and Watermelon
4 chicken breasts

1 can diced green chilies
Container of fat free or reduced fat cream cheese. ( I like the whipped)
1 cup reduced fat cheddar cheese
1/2 cup diced onion
Salt and Pepper
1 tbsp Olive oil.
Whole Wheat Tortillas
Olive Oil cooking spray

In a pan saute onions and chicken until chicken is cooked through. Season with salt and pepper. Add cream cheese, chilies, cheese, and Chicken to a bowl and mix together. Place a spoon full or two in the middle of a tortilla and roll. Place on cookie sheet. When all the mixture is gone and the burritos are all rolled spray the burritos with olive oil spray and place seam down on cookie sheet. Cook for 15-20 minutes at 350 or until ends turn golden brown.

Serve with Fat free Sour cream, Homemade salsa and Guac and sliced watermelon.

Tips on Thursday!

Summer Hair Care! I am a hairstylist so I am going to share some tips with you for Healthy Summer Hair.

1. ALWAYS get your hair wet and SPRAY it with leave in conditioner BEFORE getting into the pool.

2. Wash with a stripping shampoo once a week during heavy swim times.

3. Do a deep conditioner 1-2 times per month during the summer.

4. If you or your girls have long hair, put a cream leave in conditioner in your hair and then TIGHTLY braid it before you get in the pool. It will create a barrier against chlorine.

5. Keep it trimmed. Damaged hair is more likely to suck in the chlorine.

6. Try to let it air dry as much as possible since it will already be getting damaged from the SUN, HEAT, and CHLORINE.

7. Make sure you apply sunscreen to parts and tops of ears.

8. Rock the beachy waves. Let your natural hair out to play this summer.

9. Try one of these fun ways of wearing it up and out of your face.

10. Have FUN!!!

Tips on Thursday

I really LOVE being a mother. It brings me great happiness and joy. I always dreamed of being a mother! I daydreamed much of my teenage years about it. I made up job charts, names, planned home layouts, cut out pictures of decor and furniture, imagined schedules, fun family things to do. Then I became a mother and I forgot ALL THAT in the Chaos! I am starting to remember all that and it is so fun. Here are a few tips for being a present Mother.

1. VALIDATE your children. They are asking us Do you see me? Do You Hear ME? Does What I have to say matter? Am I important? My mother did an amazing job at this. I always felt like I was amazing, wanted, and important. When they show you a bug, rock, scab, say watch me, or tell a funny story, validate them. Don't brush it off with that's great, nice job, etc. Get in there with them and enjoy that little interaction. Ask questions about the bug, the picture, the story whatever. Have a little place in your home to display great things they have done. Have a little journal to record funny things they say or sweet things they do. VALIDATE THEM!

2. Have one on one time. Take them to the store alone, read with them, take them on a date, have them help make dinner, play a game with them. Anything to make them feel like they are special.

3. Play with them. Take time each day to Play. Play tag, go to a park and swing, put a puzzle together, play hide-n-seek, build a fort.

4. Be in the moment. Don't think about your to do's, your cleaning, your appointments. BE THERE.

5. Be deliberate and have a plan. Each week plan out a goal for the week. Daily do things to reach that goal. Think of something each day you can do for them, for yourself, and for others.

6. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF! If you don't take care of you first you are worth-less to them. NOT worthless, just worth LESS then if you show up as your best self. Put on clothes that make you feel confident. DO your hair and make-up. SHOW UP! Be your best self and they will be their best selves.

Tips on Thursday

Here are some GREAT ideas for your summer! You could do these with just your family, friends, extended family, or neighbors.

1. Have a dress-up photo-shoot/fashion show. Dig out the old clothes, dress-ups, or go to the thrift store and put funny outfits together and have a photo-shoot or fashion show!

2. Have an Art contest with Side walk chalk. Have all your kids and the neighbors make art on the driveway and give prizes (Dollar Store or toys you wanted to give away.)

3. Have a camp out- Set up tents in the front yards of your neighborhood and have a pot-luck dinner. Play games, have smores, and tell ghost stories. Then in the morning have a big breakfast.

4. Make a Club. Science, Art, Book club, Sewing etc. Hold weekly meetings and have FUN!

5. Movie Night or Morning - If you have a sheet and projector great! If not many cities and movie theatres have free or cheap movies. Everyone can make a treat or bring popcorn and have FUN!

6. Water Party- Slip and slides, blow-up pools, Splash Parks or go to the local pool together. Blow up water balloons or turn on the sprinklers. Serve Popsicles or snow cones.

7. Have an Ice Cream Party- Get ice cream and all the fixing's and have a banana split party!

8. Park Day- Take a sack lunch and play together at the park. What is better then that? You could do this weekly and meet at a different park each week.

9. Take Trax, the bus, or other alternate transportation to the Gateway or other mall. Play in the water at the Gateway if you go there. Take a lunch and make it an adventure.

10. Go on a Picture or regular scavenger hunt. Have a list of things to find and either take a picture of it.

11. Make a meal on $5. Either go to the store, dollar store, or dollar menu and see how far you can make your dollar go.

12. Make a music video. Do your hair and make-up, make up a dance and rock out to your favorite song!

13. Interview a grandparent, parent, or neighbor. Film it or record it and learn about the past.

14. Live like a Pioneer for a day. Turn off the lights, cook over a flame, play pioneer games and do laundry by hand.

15. Have an afternoon Reading time where you read a chapter book together aloud. Older readers and mom could take turns.

16. Play tag in the dark with a flashlight.

17. Go Star-gazing, Enjoy a sunset, or take a hike and enjoy the blessing of nature.

18. Keep a Journal of summer activities and take lots of pictures. Make a scrapbook of the fun summer you had.

19.Have a beauty day. Give facials, pedicures, or curl hair.

20. Play Volleyball, Croquet, Tag, Kickball, Foursquare, or Hopscotch together.

21. Go on a family walk or bike ride on Jordan Parkway or around the neighborhood.

22.Have an art day. Color, Draw, make a craft, or Paint.

23.Have a cooking day. Find a new recipe and make it together.

24. Find someone you can serve. Mow their lawn, clean their house, walk their dog, visit someone lonely, take a meal to a family.

25. Do service for each other in your home. Make someone's bed, take their shoes to their room, DO a chore for them, write them a kind letter.

26.Make a list of goals for the summer. Things you want to accomplish or improve over the summer.

27.Find a Pen Pal. Someone you can write to and send fun things to.

28. Hold Lessons each morning so you don't forget what you have learned. Review all you know.

29. Get a little summer job. Babysitting, Mow Lawns, sell things you don't need or use, Make hair bows or greeting cards and sell them door to door.

30. Have an End of summer party and send off balloons with well wishes for the new school year.

Tips on Thursday

So on Thursdays I am going to share some ideas to make life easier!!! We can all use a little less stress right??? Here are a few things pertaining to LAUNDRY the never ending story! I used to be one who was SUPER picky about how my kids looked. I still like them to look nice and put together, but for heavens sake, they are 3 and 2 and kids get dirty! So I save their really nice things for special occasions (birthday's, Parties, Family Functions, Family Fun day, Holidays etc.) The rest of the time as long as its clean, matches, and their hair is combed I am happy. I used to change them every time they spilled, took a bath, ate a meal etc. That is a LOT OF CLOTHES!!

So now, We put on Tomorrow's Clothes as "Jammies" right out of the bath. Most of their clothes are soft enough and who made the rule we wear "Jammies" to bed anyway? They are clean and ready to go in the mornings and one less thing to wash. I know sometimes that isn't practical like they are wearing a dress or jeans the next day. In that case I would just put on a shirt and leggings or a pair of Jammie pants and change them the next day. It has helped a ton!

The other thing I do is treat the stain as soon as possible. I know it sounds dumb but it really helps. I use Simple Green as a stain treater it works like a charm. It is found in the automotive section.

Lastly, I fold and put away clothes as soon as they come out of the dryer. I used to dread the MOUNTAINS of clothing waiting for me at the end of every week. If you do it as it happens it is much easier and usually takes less than 10 minutes. And who doesn't love folding and smelling warm laundry???

Good Luck!