tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49925182291973284142024-02-23T21:02:19.983-05:00Dear El + EmStephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03933311040542595030noreply@blogger.comBlogger1061125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992518229197328414.post-63654407058935233502019-07-07T12:13:00.001-05:002019-07-07T15:21:45.662-05:00My FASTer Way to Fat Loss Experience #LevelUp - Part TWO<div style="text-align: center;">
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I sort of left ya hanging there, but I really felt like this recap deserved two separate posts! Now where was I? Okay, okay, okay (Emmy says that all the time, so it's my new thing now).... let's just cut to the before and after picture...</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYw_4nQqHLhSEqCAV1IhBP_kShsKwUVSq9YjFvUXfHlsK5gfXJT2262oxk88u7j5pvhmoDtIMzkHSfuE4vRduVc7kOi8YW8BnKKq8BTttbIXgoJ32BToYNDFK4zfNwc-7dHsWzKkfDoXz/s1600/E32538B8-3F8E-439E-B74D-7E52DEC17B04.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYw_4nQqHLhSEqCAV1IhBP_kShsKwUVSq9YjFvUXfHlsK5gfXJT2262oxk88u7j5pvhmoDtIMzkHSfuE4vRduVc7kOi8YW8BnKKq8BTttbIXgoJ32BToYNDFK4zfNwc-7dHsWzKkfDoXz/s640/E32538B8-3F8E-439E-B74D-7E52DEC17B04.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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YES, I definitely saw results and I'm SO mad at myself for not taking measurements once again. I feel like that information would really have come into play this time around because it seems like the entire composition of my body changed. Honestly, I'm not sure how well this before and after picture even captures any of that. I can tell of course by the way my clothes fit and I see more definition than I've seen in a long time, possibly ever. </div>
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So real quick, just a little bit about the program. It is pretty extensive, there are a lot of ins and outs. I learned the basics right away and then expanded from there and I still feel like I have a lot of room for more growth and learning. FASTer Way to Fat Loss is very science based...which is part of what drew me to it. It was totally different from anything I've tried before and I was just SO fascinated with the concepts, and excited to see how my body would respond to the combination of intermittent fasting, carb cycling and counting macros. Especially after seeing Anna's results, I was PUMPED.</div>
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<b>Intermittent Fasting</b></div>
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I had been unintentionally doing this for a LONG time and I knew this would be the easy part. I wasn't doing it EVERY single day, but my thought process was that if I could do it most days, then surely I could do it all the time, right?! An 8 hour eating window and a 16 hour fast. It sounds harder than it is but you're sleeping for most of it anyway. Basically I stick to eating between the hours of 11:30 AM and 7:30 PM. Is breakfast the most important meal of the day?! Turns out there's a lot of debate on that, and since I typically would force myself to eat an egg or a banana around 9:30, and most days I would forget anyway...it's not something that I missed! </div>
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<b>Carb cycling</b></div>
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Two low carb days followed by a pattern of high carb days (some higher than others) apparently turns your body into a "fat burning machine". There's much more to it than that but after reading up on it...that was my main takeaway. Since I had never done anything like that before I was all about trying it. PLUS, the idea that you're "allowed to eat carbs on such a high scale on some days was very intriguing. Talk about a major shift in the way you think about carbs! </div>
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<b>Counting Macros</b></div>
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I had been hearing about "macros" for a while and legit had no idea what it actually was. Turns out I did...it's just protein, carbohydrates and fats. Basically, you use the My Fitness Pal app to track the proportion of your intake of macros for each day. Depending on the day of the week, you're supposed to meet certain numbers for each. Again, this is just a very basic overview...but this is another thing I've never tried before and I was interested to give it a whirl. I also knew this might be the most challenging for me as I HATE measuring and I wasn't too keen on logging my food!</div>
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<b>Workouts, Recipes & Support</b></div>
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When you sign up for the program you get access to a portal with workouts for every day of the 6 week program. They are broken up into either gym or home workouts which is nice. The type of workout is based on how you're eating for the day so it changes constantly. You also have access to some recipes, an online coach, and an online community with support so you're not doing this alone! I'm not a coach, but my friend Anna hooked me up with her coach Heather who was great (info linked below)! </div>
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Okay, okay, okay...so that was a little bit about the program. Now here are my thoughts....</div>
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<b>Pros</b></div>
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I LOVED the fact that there is a very clear set of rules! There is so much conflicting information, it's nice when you pick a program to stick with...you then have your guidelines, a staring point and you could just narrow your focus and get into it! I need structure, otherwise I'm all over the place. I was at a crossroad between paleo and plant-based...so you could see my overwhelm/confusion. </div>
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Even though the rules are very specific, there is still a lot of wiggle room. If it fits into the macros for the day, you could technically eat it so you're not totally locked into a specific list of foods you can and can not eat (although there are recommendations). Anna described it as "you can eat everything...just not all at the same time". It's true. NOW, knowing this you obviously need to know which choices are optimal for reaching your goals and make your choices based on that. I'll talk a little more about this in the "cons" but my point is that you have the freedom to still eat whatever...there are no real "no-no's". Do with that what you will! </div>
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Another major "pro" for me is that I NEVER got bored! I loved the fact that some days I was allowed to fill up on high fat foods like avocados and olives, then a few days later I was able to eat bread without feeling guilty! Even the workouts were constantly changing I never felt like I was doing the same thing. Of course there was some repetition but it cycled through the week in such a way that it felt like something new and interesting. Some days were high intensity intervals, there was some interval sprints, lots of strength training, and my fave...leg day! </div>
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The support system and online group is fabulous especially when you're first starting out and learning the basics. Personally, I've done a lot of groups very similar to this (and even used to run them myself) and it wasn't the main reason why I signed up...BUT there's no denying that it is helpful and if you've never set out to do anything like this ever before then I highly recommend all the support you can get. </div>
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<b>Cons</b></div>
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I can not stand measuring. Helloooo, this blog used to be "Never The Same Spice Twice" for that very reason. In order to properly log your macros in the app, you need to measure, of course. I'm an "eye-baller" but I got over it pretty quickly. Still, it's not my favorite. </div>
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Logging every little thing in the app is also a little annoying. I'm already on my phone quite a bit (workingggg on that)...and then throw this into the mix, I feel like it's constantly in my hand more than EVER. Everyone is sitting down for dinner, and you're over there plugging in all your food. It's not just annoying, at times it downright stresses me out, I've learned to be better about this by either planning ahead or just discreetly logging it when you don't feel like you're being rude. Sometimes you can't help it, and honestly it gives me slight anxiety! </div>
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There is obviously room for error. It's not going to be 100% accurate, no matter how much you measure. At the end of the day if you're not scanning actual barcodes...things are going to get skewed a bit. As a bit of a perfectionist, I found myself getting hung up on precision. Eventually, I worked through this, but it's tough because you obviously want to meet your numbers and be as accurate as possible. I think when you become invested in something like this and you start seeing results you need to be careful not to become too obsessive. You just gotta do your best and not stress over it. </div>
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Truth time....sometimes it's not the healthiest - at least for me I didn't ALWAYS make the best choices. This is what I was talking about before. I had days when I ate garbage food because I was either in a situation when I didn't have another option (poor planning on my part), allowing myself to be naughty on purpose because technically "it fit" for the day, OR just eating whatever I could get my hands on to reach the numbers I needed. I drank wine at certain times (prob in excess) or had spoonfuls of honey because I "needed more carbs". I also (more times than I'd like to admit) had spoonfuls of straight butter because I "needed more fats". Now, we could debate these things...I'm not getting into all of that...the point is that I found myself doing weird things and sometimes eating certain foods I may not have ordinarily eaten just to reach the daily quota. </div>
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Okay this is going to sounds really bad, but I think I need to mention it. In the beginning I almost felt like I lost the joy for eating. I was truly eating for fuel and on the high carb days I felt SO stuffed that I didn't even enjoy it. This was in the very beginning and I eventually overcame this by being more aware on the high carb days to eat throughout the day so that I'm not cramming everything in at the end. </div>
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<b>Overall Thoughts</b></div>
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Even though it seems like I listed more cons than pros, I still HIGHLY recommend trying this program. It really works, and it didn't take long for me to notice changes! It was so bizarre because i was literally NEVER hungry. I honestly felt like it was too much food, and often questioned why on Earth was I eating so much!?!?! I was constantly being reassured..."yes, I know it's weird but stick with it, it works!!!" Many of the negatives I listed were part of the learning curve for me and as I went along, I've worked out some of the kinks and figured out how to better plan ahead. </div>
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Soooo, what now?! I'm actually going to stick with it just a little bit longer. Eventually I'd like to shift to a new normal where I don't feel like I need to log my food and measure anymore but I probably will continue intermittent fasting and carb cycling. I'm also going to keep up the consistent workouts because...I'm kinda loving the fact that I'm starting to look as strong as a feel! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie-QzYdRECH9YPu3fe8eVXtqlFc_oRZ9JCbv2J1X9Brp_WrX1JniaE0Bp_776WZvOtBgHtNkzRqVbnCF7phiK27Elx9bVDDWPSnUC2XnxpU-25p8j1zwF-YN6HYlLQrUYLddiZ6dM53SVx/s1600/IMG_2759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie-QzYdRECH9YPu3fe8eVXtqlFc_oRZ9JCbv2J1X9Brp_WrX1JniaE0Bp_776WZvOtBgHtNkzRqVbnCF7phiK27Elx9bVDDWPSnUC2XnxpU-25p8j1zwF-YN6HYlLQrUYLddiZ6dM53SVx/s640/IMG_2759.JPG" width="356" /></a></div>
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Since January I've lost a total of 22 pounds. I swear I did not set out to lose any specific amount of weight. For me, it's just as much about feeling good and not all about weight loss. I'll probably do another post about WHY I'm up to all of this beyond the obvious. I've got some goals that extend beyond what I've done so far but in the meantime I'm just going to keep sharing what I'm learning. Stick around for more and if you don't already follow me on Instagram....click <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dearelandem/">HERE</a>! </div>
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If you're interested in trying this program for yourself and need a coach...hit up my girl <a href="https://www.instagram.com/akfarner/">Anna</a> on Instagram and she will get you all set up....OR, just click <a href="https://www.fasterwaycoach.com/#Annafarner">HERE</a> to get started!<br />
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This post got a little long...I may have to do a part THREE...or just a follow up in a few weeks to talk more about how I feel, what I've learned, and give some tips for anyone starting out. Hmmmm. This is it for now, but let me know if you have questions!!!</div>
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03933311040542595030noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992518229197328414.post-27116802817273557252019-07-06T09:40:00.000-05:002019-07-06T10:21:07.256-05:00My FASTer Way to Fat Loss Experience #LevelUp - Part ONE <div style="text-align: center;">
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Dear El + Em, </div>
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In April 2019, Mama decided to try another new program. This explains the increase of lunges around the house and it especially explains why I was shoveling food in my face before 7:30 most nights. Thank you for playing nicely (some days) so that I could squeeze my kitchen workouts in. My hope is that you both grow up to value the importance of taking care of yourself AND that you're fortunate enough to have a squad of people supporting you too! </div>
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XO, Mom</div>
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<a href="http://www.dearelandem.com/2019/02/my-whole30-experience-levelup.html">My Whole30 experience</a> in January truly did set the tone for the year and kick start healthier habits. Or I should say, more CONSISTENT healthy habits especially in the nutrition department. I did reintroduce foods a little faster than recommended, however I was confident that I had no sensitivities. From that point on I was definitely more conscious about what I was fueling my body with and had a much better mindset when it came to sugar intake! I gained a little bit of weight back (which was expected) but I kept reminding myself that's not what it was all about. </div>
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The truth is that I KNEW (we all "know", right) that if I wanted to continue on this path...it wasn't just about the nutrition...but I needed to be more consistent with my workouts. Exercise was always part of my routine but I had no set "plan". Since the start of they year I had been working out with friends every Thursday after school, but that was my only set workout day. I would do yoga and the occasional random workouts in between but there was no structure. By March though, I noticed I wasn't feeling as sore after the Thursday workouts which typically would cripple me until Monday - I had reached a plateau. </div>
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Over spring break, I decided to hit the workouts HARD....at home and at my community gym. I promised myself to incorporate some type of exercise into my routine EVERY day. That sounds extreme, but if there's anything I learned from my Beachbody coaching days - it's that there are no excuses, and you can make time for ANYTHING. About a month in, it was going well, but it was time for some structure, I didn't want to just "wing it" anymore . But what?! I had a few ideas but I was ALLLLLL over the map. And then in April, this beauty popped up in my insta-feed....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOksNR3jEybNWfQugZpsFTJXm7NhLG_y66YyC6UwYYdKyvp40liBhmQAShCUBX8Zd_Y9RcK7ingpTizkUxtLWO41E2AXzEkMgPuGbOiObQzm2FsyrzVGx_RyzsOKPNlsQ41SqcGIDaZQ7m/s1600/IMG_3919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOksNR3jEybNWfQugZpsFTJXm7NhLG_y66YyC6UwYYdKyvp40liBhmQAShCUBX8Zd_Y9RcK7ingpTizkUxtLWO41E2AXzEkMgPuGbOiObQzm2FsyrzVGx_RyzsOKPNlsQ41SqcGIDaZQ7m/s400/IMG_3919.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is my friend Anna, she's one serious hot Mama! She was part of the Thursday workout crew and I knew she was doing the <a href="https://www.fasterwaytofatloss.com/">FASTer Way to Fat Loss</a> program. She was trying to convince the rest of us to join her, but from the basics that I knew (or thought I knew) about the program....it seemed a little too drastic. Also, I was more into the idea of toning up and not loving the whole "weight loss" mindset. Honestly, it turned me off a bit. But then THIS! This photo and my incredibly toned friend had my attention, as did her results from her first 6 weeks. It was time.... "FINEEEEE, tell me more"! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNF2axiDGXmYPegbHtaiYJSE8oiZp8puaVzJoI4CeKGXFbn-Zr7RStZ_sXXoxjdVnjbph6aA4CaGkyOk91BPsah6KtaS4numTbJPR20O3_XAGtEQa0v342zlnknSMOxQ8I0P137ymN30s/s1600/876E37DF-E035-4E38-ABF6-1037272C9699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNF2axiDGXmYPegbHtaiYJSE8oiZp8puaVzJoI4CeKGXFbn-Zr7RStZ_sXXoxjdVnjbph6aA4CaGkyOk91BPsah6KtaS4numTbJPR20O3_XAGtEQa0v342zlnknSMOxQ8I0P137ymN30s/s400/876E37DF-E035-4E38-ABF6-1037272C9699.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I had been following Amanda Tress on Instagram for years, but turns out I really didn't know much about FWTFL at all. What is a "macro" anyway!?!?! The program is pretty extensive and I knew there would be a lot to learn but it was JUST what I needed. I needed structure and RULES! Intermittent fasting, carb cycling and counting macros...along with very specific workouts depending on how you're eating for that particular day - it doesn't get more structured than that. Two of my close friends decided to start along with me... support is always a good ingredient for success! </div>
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At the start of the 6 week program (really 7 because the first week was "practice") I was SO excited to see how my body was going to respond. I had that pre-program high that I had at the start of the year. LET'S DO THIS! Time to level UP! Part two, coming soon! </div>
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03933311040542595030noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992518229197328414.post-76265368896934733572019-06-24T15:26:00.000-05:002019-06-24T15:37:15.905-05:00Cajun Chicken Pasta<div style="text-align: center;">
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Jumping back in like I've been here all along! Sharing recipes has always brought me joy. Even if no one reads my posts, and even if no one cooks my recipes, it's worth it! I like to come back to this sweet little space of mine and reflect on the yummy meals I've cooked as well as find dinner inspiration when I'm feeling uninspired. Inspiration from my SELF...how cool is that?!</div>
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Here's a delicious and very experimental pasta dish that I made last week. Along with being out of touch with blogging for a bit also comes totally SUCKING at documenting this exact recipe. I tried my best. Honestly, I'm going to make this again in another few weeks and if needed, maybe make a few tweaks by testing it out with regular flour. Seriously though, this was delicious AS IS and I'm going to share it because it deserves a chance to shine! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTIGyM9Z7A18MPPcg-mzxA93mGMLHjr-MBz6vkgAIlYTM-kLnHKN0lZ6VZklkj770TkykFLzcFTtkr3UcNpfh2t-Z7PtyHmMfqQFmzPgY-xIOUcAFb2KhTFIePJjVP5PDpQ5BpwWjKIkr/s1600/IMG_0072.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1319" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTIGyM9Z7A18MPPcg-mzxA93mGMLHjr-MBz6vkgAIlYTM-kLnHKN0lZ6VZklkj770TkykFLzcFTtkr3UcNpfh2t-Z7PtyHmMfqQFmzPgY-xIOUcAFb2KhTFIePJjVP5PDpQ5BpwWjKIkr/s640/IMG_0072.PNG" width="526" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Ingredients:</span></b></div>
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2 boneless/skinless chicken breasts - sliced into bite size pieces</div>
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2 bell peppers - sliced - I used 1 red and 1 orange</div>
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1/2 red onion - sliced</div>
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1 small zucchini - diced</div>
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1 cup of sliced button mushrooms </div>
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1 box of pasta - I used gluten free brown rice quinoa rotini - but just use whatevs you want</div>
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2 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil (separated)</div>
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2- maybe even 3 tbsp of cajun seasoning (depending on how spicy you want it)</div>
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2-3 tbsp of arrowroot powder (or regular flour)</div>
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3/4 cup chicken stock</div>
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1.5 cup of unsweetened/unflavored almond milk</div>
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Salt & pepper to taste</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Directions:</span></b></div>
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1. Heat 1 tbsp of olive oil over medium heat and cook chicken, season with salt, pepper and 1 tbsp of cajun seasoning - set aside when it's cooked .</div>
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2. Cook the pasta.</div>
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3. Heat 1 tbsp of olive oil over medium heat, cook veggies....stir often (lower heat if needed). When they are cooked down (I like to leave the peppers with a slight crunch) set veggies aside and use the same pan to prepare the sauce.</div>
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4. Whisk 2 tbsp of arrowroot powder with the chicken stock and then heat in the pan over medium heat. When it starts to bubble and thicken, season with salt, pepper and 1 tbsp of cajun seasoning. Add that last tbsp of arrowroot powder if you feel like it needs to be thicker - I did. </div>
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5. Add chicken and veggies back in and lower heat to a simmer for 10 minutes...taste it! Add more cajun seasoning if you're feeling adventurous.</div>
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6. Combine chicken/veggie/saucy mixture with the pasta.</div>
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YUM! EnJoY!!!!! </div>
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03933311040542595030noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992518229197328414.post-16156625395221949432019-02-18T14:25:00.001-05:002019-02-18T14:25:47.024-05:00Sheet Pan Chicken with Brussels and Sweet Potatoes<div style="text-align: center;">
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Here's that recipe (finally) that I've been meaning to share! Another positive takeaway from completing a round of Whole30 in January, was renewing my love for simple sheet pan dinners! This meal wasn't Whole 30 because of the addition of honey, but you could easily leave that out and I bet it would still be delicious!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88ftuLJbEXnT3q3jEOZh0_FTDOdl_YY7YUebBSNsAIz198Ow_Ppx1snkvioC0RR41KoH8WuWCE9hjS7-ZIdi28oEF-J6N1WdWTbRCQuQAXWhTSpEM-VZbNted8fkgAAd447QDfHVis_W3/s1600/IMG_4387.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1311" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88ftuLJbEXnT3q3jEOZh0_FTDOdl_YY7YUebBSNsAIz198Ow_Ppx1snkvioC0RR41KoH8WuWCE9hjS7-ZIdi28oEF-J6N1WdWTbRCQuQAXWhTSpEM-VZbNted8fkgAAd447QDfHVis_W3/s640/IMG_4387.PNG" width="524" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Ingredients</span></b></div>
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3 boneless skinless chicken breasts - cut into large chunks</div>
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2 large sweet potatoes - cut into cubes</div>
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Brussels Sprouts - halved</div>
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Onions - cut into thick slices ( I used yellow onions because that's what I had, but I bet purple onions would be even better)</div>
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EVOO - 1/3 cup</div>
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Spicy Mustard - 1 tbsp</div>
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Balsamic - 1 tbsp</div>
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Honey - 1 tsp</div>
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Oregano - 1 tsp</div>
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21 Season Salute (from Trader Joe's...but any seasoning blend that you love would be great) - 1 tsp</div>
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Salt and Pepper to taste</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Directions</span></b><br />
1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.<br />
2. In a large bowl, combine chicken, sweet potatoes, brussels sprouts and onions.<br />
3. Whisk together the EVOO, mustard, balsamic, honey and all the spices and then pour it over the chicken and veggies - mix together to make sure it's all coated.<br />
4. Spread the chicken and veggies out evenly on a large baking sheet.</div>
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5. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes....it really depends on how large you cut your chicken and sweet potatoes. After 20 minutes I flipped the chicken and veggies, and then put it back in for 5 more minutes. Since I like to eat everything crispy I actually cranked my oven up to 425 for the last bit!</div>
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*Remember, this recipe can be Whole30 compliant just by leaving out the honey!<br />
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Enjoy!!!</div>
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03933311040542595030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992518229197328414.post-19641261969959379242019-02-05T15:44:00.000-05:002019-02-05T16:05:54.125-05:00My Whole30 Experience #LevelUp<div style="text-align: center;">
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Dear El + Em,</div>
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In January 2019, Mama gave up eating your leftovers for the entire month. It was a very eye-opening experience. Lots of wasted crusts and half eaten chicken nuggets. It's no way to live, but the lesson is that anyone can do anything....especially for 30 days!</div>
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XO, Mom<br />
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My decision to start Whole30 on January 1st was somewhat spontaneous. I had considered it, but didn't actually commit until a few days before. I try not to hop on the "New Year, New Me" bandwagon, because I do believe you can make the decision to make positive changes whenever. Like clockwork though, the indulgences from the holiday season were weighing on me in more ways than one...a change had to come, and what better way than to do something drastic, that had rules, and LOTS of support! </div>
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I thought back to my Beachbody days and the fact that I had started 21 Day Fix in January of 2015. After Ella and before Emmy was the most fit I'd ever been in my life. I considered taking that route because "if it ain't broke"... but I LOVE trying new things and my friend Mal had peaked my interest in Whole30 during most of 2018. She was also prepping to do another round this January so I knew she was the one to ask! When she spoke about it being a way to set up for success in 2019... it was all I needed to hear!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNt3mBbw95XcjUxYfK3dfKLgs25_Z4ydstPf7FTpgjSp5X5UfltXFMlX-bPO5KZA9PS6WAPZhTBJoa83N6jM133184XcQldM27QILJtas1KCWWJ0kDfC0n-WcSV5dXHgjM_T1xPUltztXH/s1600/IMG_3199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="750" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNt3mBbw95XcjUxYfK3dfKLgs25_Z4ydstPf7FTpgjSp5X5UfltXFMlX-bPO5KZA9PS6WAPZhTBJoa83N6jM133184XcQldM27QILJtas1KCWWJ0kDfC0n-WcSV5dXHgjM_T1xPUltztXH/s320/IMG_3199.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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From my research it was clear that this was not intended to be some "crash diet". Honestly, if my only goal was weight loss then this is not the route I would go. I'm careful to fully explain that it's also more than just a way to clean out your system and eliminate anything that may disrupt your digestion. It's also about your relationship with food, your dependencies on certain food groups, and your emotional ties to eating. </div>
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The more I learned about the ideology behind Whole30, the more it peaked my interest. I never really suspected that I had any sensitivities to certain foods, but after spending most of December feeling awful...it was worth exploring the possibility. PLUS...no counting calories and no measuring (sign me up)!!!! All of these reasons made it obvious that this was the way to go. My only concern was my birthday being SMACK in the middle. I put it in my head from the start that it would suck, but I'd just have to power through and have a part 2 celebration in February. Dragging my birthday into a second month kind of appealed to me on a whole different level. </div>
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I had a little bit of knowledge on the rules but still there was a lot to learn! I decided to spend Sunday prior to NYE soaking it all in. I had grabbed the book and cookbook from the library, and went Pinterest crazy. My meals were planned, I stocked up on the basics, joined a Facebook group, and discovered a bunch of new Instagram accounts that quickly became favorites. This was happening, I was prepared for Monday to be the last "hurrah". A few peeps thought this was a little crazy, but not in an un-supportive kinda of way. Maybe just because they know how much I love food!? It was about the get interesting....<br />
-No Sugar<br />
-No Dairy<br />
-No Grains<br />
-No Legumes<br />
-No Alcohol</div>
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Before I get into my actual experience though, let me just address one major thing....ALCOHOL. Soooooo, to me, this was the hardest part to commit to. I realize that may sound like I have a problem, but I l do love my wine! In fact, I probably loved it a little too hard in December especially. When I stopped and really thought about it potentially being a dealbreaker....it was obvious that maybe giving up alcohol for a month would be on the list of reasons why I <u>should</u> do Whole30 after all! Plus the whole concept of "Tiger Blood" had me wondering....how good is good? How good could my body possibly feel? Is it worth the hype? </div>
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Okay, now let's get into it!</div>
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This timeline is actually VERY accurate! The book also goes into more detail on what to expect day by day. Here's a recap of my experience....</div>
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<b>Week 1:</b> The first two days were easy-peasy! I looked forward to sharing my meals on my instastory. My apologies for making you all endure a higher than average amount of food pics via my social media! By day three though, my stomach was not very happy and the cravings were INSANE! I don't even know what I wanted, but I kept going to the fridge and standing in front of all the non-compliant food that I couldn't eat. After a few days of this I knew that I'd have to plan even more ahead and make sure I had more options in those moments of desperation. My friend Lisa reminded me about Tazo Glazed Lemon Loaf tea. YES! This is just what I needed for when I thought I needed something sweet. Weird considering, I do not have a sweet tooth at all, but it helped A LOT! Another crazy thing I learned early on...the amount of times that I eat my girls food in just one day is SCARY. I was catching myself constantly! This was made even more noticeable because of the fact that I was home all week with them. It is very unnatural to make a cheese sandwich and not eat a slice of cheese! </div>
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<b>Week 2:</b> Back to work! In a way this was great timing because it kept my mind off of the fact that the excitement of trying something new has totally worn off. By this point I'm totally noticing the absence of cheese in my diet. Breakfast was usually one or two hard boiled eggs with "Everything But The Bagel" seasoning from Trader Joe's and some sort of fruit. Lunch was always leftovers and then whatever snack I maybe needed to get me through to dinner. I tried to keep raw veggies on hand but it didn't always do it for me. You're not really supposed to snack, and even though I'm not a "snacker" to begin with I did make sure that everyday I had some emergency foods on hand if I needed. I had bags of raw almonds and dates. I also had some RXBars. I tried to space these things out and only have them as a last resort. By the end of this week I noticed that my pants were noticeably looser and I had lost about 4 lbs! You're not supposed to weigh yourself, but I did just to check in from time to time. I felt the changes happening and just HAD to know!</div>
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My birthday was GREAT! Everyone around me was totally supportive and was very careful to make sure they weren't tempting me with non-compliant food. My fruit bowl "cakes" really were delicious! If there was anything I was missing throughout all the celebrating, it was WINE and definitely not cake! </div>
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<b>Week 3: </b>Tiger Blood is definitely a thing! By week three I was feeling pretty awesome. My energy levels were way up. Despite the increased energy it was at the end of this week that I really started to get a little bored! This is the point when I was definitely looking forward to this little adventure of mine to come to an end. It's not that I was being tempted by anything in particular, I was just over eating the same few things over and over. When prepping the meals and grocery list for week 4, I was VERY careful to make sure that the things I was planning included all of the things that I loved. It's possible that I spent too much time planning and was really over-thinking these things but at this point it was the home-stretch. </div>
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<b>Week 4:</b> Something REALLY weird happened this week that I'm not sure how to explain. I just totally stopped caring about food. I realize that sounds pathetic, but I don't really mean it negatively. It just seriously stopped being the HIGHLIGHT of the day. In a way this is very freeing. I can now say that the term "food as fuel" makes total sense. The cravings were gone, even the little ones that were still creeping up from time to time. I also started to realize that I no longer felt hunger. My "snacks" weren't a temptation, in fact I sort of had to remind myself at times... "hey, you should probably eat something". If you're rolling your eyes at this point, believe me I would be too. It sounds crazy, I know. By the end of this week I did experience hunger for the first time in a while on Saturday when I was at a friends daughter's birthday party picking on raw veggies all day. Even though I was hungry it wasn't anything major which still struck me as odd. I did cheat that weekend and had some wine. I was perfect the whole time...it was almost over, what would be the harm if I had just a tiny bit. I did feel guilty, but still I have no regrets....the fact that I even made it this far was crazy to me. </div>
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<b>Last few days:</b> I stepped on the scale again and realized I had officially lost TEN pounds! That's definitely more than I expected. I spent the last couple of days freaking out a bit about "what comes next". I had read up on techniques for food re-introduction but still was unsure about which foods I really couldn't live without. Beyond the re-introduction stage though, I was worrying about what my diet will look like post-Whole30. The truth is that I'll learn as I go. There's no set plan anymore...there are no set rules. What I need to do, is focus on all the "take-aways" from the program. </div>
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-I can do anything for 30 days</div>
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-Food DOES affect my mood....increased energy is a game-changer</div>
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-Not feeling bloated is kind of awesome</div>
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-For the month of January I felt more mindful, present and just overall clear-headed</div>
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-There are so many wonderful clean recipes I've tried that I'll now include in <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/SaSkoma/w30-rotation/">the rotation</a>, and I've also learned many ways to "clean up" a recipe to make it more Whole30 friendly</div>
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-READ LABELS</div>
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-Sugar is really in everything - it's horrifying</div>
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-There are so many Whole30 compliant foods that are already faves of mine (example...avocados, pickles & olives)</div>
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-Frank's Red Hot on all the things</div>
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-Ghee, almond flour, and coconut aminos...all new staple items that I'll continue to use</div>
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-I don't NEED a glass of wine to decompress after a tough day at work </div>
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-Eating the kids leftovers and picking on food as I'm cooking, reallyyyy adds up...so STOP mindless eating</div>
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-My KICK-ASS meal planning skills were KEY in my success</div>
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These are a few things I've learned throughout the month. I'm sure I'll have more "take-aways" as I continue to introduce foods back into my diet. At this point I've re-introduced everything except for legumes. I'll save those for next week. So far, I'm not noticing any sensitivities. After the Super Bowl, I felt a little crummy - but I also loaded up on alcohol and cheese, so there's no shocker there! I'm back on the Whole30 train this week as I try to figure out what the new normal will be. Seems like an 80/20 lifestyle is definitely more in my range. Paleo intrigues me, but I'm not much of a meat-eater. Maybe I should go more plant-based?! See...I'm ALL over the map!!!!! I'll figure it out. I do want to keep up with a lot of the Whole30 principles as much as possible, and then not feel guilty when I do choose to indulge! We'll see how that goes! Here's the dreaded before and after...thought it was worth sharing! </div>
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If anyone asks me if I recommend Whole30...first I'd say YES...and then I'd probably ask what their intentions/goals are just to make sure they have a solid understanding of the program and whether or not it's a good fit for them at the time. It's a commitment, but I definitely think it's worth it just to see how good your body is able to feel!</div>
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As cheesy as it sounds, I also have to mention how this experience also helped me realize how truly amazing my whole TRIBE is! Thankful for you all! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1-IRQ9w4t-AKe6kivVrznYhd31B1roJcdrVaW_uavvU7GLd8PXcDepYUgbTJY2rLNe-ghg73mpmQFieKZ58PXoFTWm1GLFjWk16fcjbEY2CnrD6dXGUNB4V0CpX55GzSMgunX9NN0D4U/s1600/IMG_3369.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1-IRQ9w4t-AKe6kivVrznYhd31B1roJcdrVaW_uavvU7GLd8PXcDepYUgbTJY2rLNe-ghg73mpmQFieKZ58PXoFTWm1GLFjWk16fcjbEY2CnrD6dXGUNB4V0CpX55GzSMgunX9NN0D4U/s400/IMG_3369.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks for the inspiration, Mal!!! You're the best! :)</td></tr>
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03933311040542595030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992518229197328414.post-69725379421819070312018-12-16T08:54:00.003-05:002018-12-16T08:54:59.370-05:00What's cooking this week?<div style="text-align: center;">
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Dear El + Em,</div>
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Things are getting real "Christmasy" and real exciting around here! We saw Santa TWICE this past week....once at Grandma's job and a second time at an awesome model train show that we went to. Last night we went to Chloe and Corinne's house to make gingerbread houses, and today I plan to start our first batch of <a href="http://www.dearelandem.com/2012/12/grandmas-jelly-buttons.html">Jelly Buttons</a> for the year! Exciting!</div>
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XO, Mom<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU8B9tsvwQ6pDm9D0_6lr2KzGc7E7Z7yVeeAWg8YJsqg8C6CsjVy-s1fmtm66jiaNyYR2AAKZWth-0g4WljvlRg8FAnl6glus4Mk7A6EW9Q2hqwjx0oTbXXwuWrJhiwA4sJ2NPssEdPw9h/s1600/48355262_10103401297115274_8351206771951403008_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="825" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU8B9tsvwQ6pDm9D0_6lr2KzGc7E7Z7yVeeAWg8YJsqg8C6CsjVy-s1fmtm66jiaNyYR2AAKZWth-0g4WljvlRg8FAnl6glus4Mk7A6EW9Q2hqwjx0oTbXXwuWrJhiwA4sJ2NPssEdPw9h/s640/48355262_10103401297115274_8351206771951403008_n.jpg" width="550" /></a></div>
There is still so much to be done....mostly gifts to be bought and wrapped. YIKES! I'm not one of those people who have that done early. I've never been, yet this year I feel more behind than usual. Oh well, it always comes together in the end, but this week is going to be a super easy week of dinners. It's a pretty unimpressive lineup of meals, but I'll share anyway...<br />
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<b>Sunday:</b> <a href="https://www.feastingathome.com/instant-pot-chicken-tortilla-soup/">Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup</a></div>
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<b>Monday: </b>Hummus Pizza (it's been too long)</div>
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<b>Tuesday:</b> Tacos!!!<br />
<b>Wednesday: </b>Turkey Bacon BLT's on pretzel buns (Ella and I are going to a Christmas concert)</div>
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<b>Thursday: </b>Steak for Hubs and Mac n' Cheese for the girls (I have a Christmas dinner thing with some work peeps)<br />
<b>Friday: </b>White Pizza (IF I get out of work at a decent time we may shape it into a snowman....just maybe)<br />
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Happy Sunday!</div>
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03933311040542595030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992518229197328414.post-83760846143950102302018-12-09T09:00:00.000-05:002018-12-09T09:00:02.261-05:00What's cooking this week?<div style="text-align: center;">
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Dear El + Em,</div>
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This weekend has been quite eventful and it's not even over! It started with a visit to the horse farm with pony rides AND hayrides. Then, we took a trip to get late night donuts and hot chocolate in our jammies, followed by driving around and looking at Christmas lights. Now it's Sunday, and we've got a cozy home day planned. Let's get the Christmas movie marathon started!</div>
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XO, Mom<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlHqQ__bdyDAgHsz6tREGyZGY3qcbIiUGH_5WX5gZE59HeZuCUpgEXcZAVTQWWzkRbIxa872agisJk2J71QaDphhmQ49oUxbFknJzTSewLfrDocLyssGwTIZN_bcnS9NyKUPq1eVMHIWn/s1600/47681518_10103396191177614_2413080882236620800_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlHqQ__bdyDAgHsz6tREGyZGY3qcbIiUGH_5WX5gZE59HeZuCUpgEXcZAVTQWWzkRbIxa872agisJk2J71QaDphhmQ49oUxbFknJzTSewLfrDocLyssGwTIZN_bcnS9NyKUPq1eVMHIWn/s640/47681518_10103396191177614_2413080882236620800_n.jpg" width="512" /></a></div>
I'm still learning how to use my instant pot. Tonight I'll be stepping up my game and making a pot roast for the whole fam. Hopefully it's good! Pot roast isn't usually my "jam", but the video for the recipe makes it look really yummy. Turns out, I'll be "instant potting" for most of the day in order to better prepare for the week ahead.<br />
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<b>Sunday:</b> <a href="https://tasty.co/recipe/pot-roast-with-mashed-cauliflower">Instant Pot - Pot Roast with Cauliflower Mash</a></div>
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<b>Monday: </b><b> </b><a href="https://www.yummymummykitchen.com/2018/10/vegan-lentil-soup.html">Vegan Lentil Soup </a>(never had a chance to make this last week)</div>
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<b>Tuesday:</b> <a href="https://www.healthnutnutrition.ca/2018/10/01/chicken-black-bean-enchiladas/">Chicken Black Bean Enchiladas</a><br />
<b>Wednesday: </b><a href="https://www.tastemade.com/videos/easy-skillet-lasagna">Easy Skillet Lasagna</a></div>
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<b>Thursday: </b><a href="https://greenhealthycooking.com/instant-pot-chicken-and-rice/">Instant Pot Cilantro Chicken and Rice</a></div>
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Things went a bit off-course last week for a lot of reasons, mostly falling wayyyyy behind at work. Luckily I'm a pro at improvising and figuring out how to switch things up at the last minute. This week I've got to do a little bit of prep beforehand in hopes that I'm able to still get dinner together on the late nights. The black beans and shreddy chicken will be ready to go for Tuesday and I also plan to make Monday's dinner today. Looks like I'll have that instant pot fired up for most of the day, but I know it will be worth it!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7gKf5RiIXRHobFu1oBhJpqVFqX9BLJvh2n2agaQW1hOvNFDIRF2wc9d-3fa8cDZxtzhAuQJOwOdzjnr0neyk4EiYfuDuYyUcbVUHLnln7bMqfO88hnAeXZXDxdDOoxVtg7nOhs_sNzBwG/s1600/47579248_10103396452868184_2631235907721625600_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="960" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7gKf5RiIXRHobFu1oBhJpqVFqX9BLJvh2n2agaQW1hOvNFDIRF2wc9d-3fa8cDZxtzhAuQJOwOdzjnr0neyk4EiYfuDuYyUcbVUHLnln7bMqfO88hnAeXZXDxdDOoxVtg7nOhs_sNzBwG/s640/47579248_10103396452868184_2631235907721625600_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Have a Happy Sunday!</div>
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03933311040542595030noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992518229197328414.post-60021137022799408452018-12-02T10:00:00.001-05:002018-12-02T10:00:39.228-05:00What's cooking this week?<div style="text-align: center;">
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Dear El + Em,</div>
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We are back to our normal routine and in full-blown holiday mode over here! Today was our first day home to really decompress after our trip and a long week of work and school. What a day! I know you love each other very much but it would be super helpful for ALL of us if you got out of each others personal space! Just a lil' tip from Mom...but what do I know?!</div>
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XO, Mom<br />
<i>*Side-note....even if it ends terribly, I do appreciate the chance to get a sweet photo like the one below before things go downhill!</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6wH-aU_eaagic3ccfeAOxbXKEnaHeB8iua3QG1-oq3TQI1anzWhefP3n2sreb_Hydxtj4xsf6d8Qm0rToh5EUDc7BK4GDHC23IupWXlqam7dBuXKewC3jZKq28bPG4e2CnK39J7Eth7u/s1600/IMG_7594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6wH-aU_eaagic3ccfeAOxbXKEnaHeB8iua3QG1-oq3TQI1anzWhefP3n2sreb_Hydxtj4xsf6d8Qm0rToh5EUDc7BK4GDHC23IupWXlqam7dBuXKewC3jZKq28bPG4e2CnK39J7Eth7u/s640/IMG_7594.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
UPDATE: The instant pot is phenomenal! So far, I'm really impressed. I went with the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FLYWNYQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1">6 quart Duo</a> and LOVE it. I used it for 3 different dinners last week and I'm looking forward to using it more this week. The other day I literally raided our library and checked out every book they had pertaining to instant pots or pressure cookers. Obsessed. Here's what I've got planned...<br />
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<b>Sunday:</b> <a href="http://www.dearelandem.com/2013/01/sunday-sauce.html">Sunday Sauce </a>with ravioli </div>
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<b>Monday: </b>Pastina soup with carrots for the girls and a veggie burger for me (Ella requested that I put hummus pizzas on hold for a little bit)</div>
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<b>Tuesday:</b> Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos<br />
<b>Wednesday: </b><a href="https://www.yummymummykitchen.com/2018/10/vegan-lentil-soup.html">Vegan Lentil Soup </a>and Steak for Hubs</div>
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<b>Thursday: </b>Taco Pasta (Hoping the girls love this)</div>
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<b>Friday:</b> Skinny Crack Chicken (a recipe from <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lose-Weight-Your-Instant-Pot/dp/0062874551/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1543761707&sr=8-3">THIS </a>boo<b>k)</b><br />
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I'm trying to keep the week somewhat light again...also I'm thinking there should be lots of leftovers to have for lunch through the week too. BONUS!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcv3QWXfXl1UOc_sVe5MizOH5dqvKUm0PqC55l-CfJlwIZelyfeN7-M9P2Q0edtLKaaC7ibjxmuFeZD3dkoHu56-R0faBowIg6BpyCgCkGJrTWHKk-WFll3kj6H77poYDx9jE0fDPW0JWL/s1600/IMG_7568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcv3QWXfXl1UOc_sVe5MizOH5dqvKUm0PqC55l-CfJlwIZelyfeN7-M9P2Q0edtLKaaC7ibjxmuFeZD3dkoHu56-R0faBowIg6BpyCgCkGJrTWHKk-WFll3kj6H77poYDx9jE0fDPW0JWL/s640/IMG_7568.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying the view AND my fave movie! </td></tr>
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Have a wonderful Sunday!</div>
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03933311040542595030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992518229197328414.post-71178230793926706642018-11-27T20:33:00.001-05:002018-11-27T20:51:57.425-05:00"Antipast" Repost<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's been SIX years since I posted <a href="http://www.dearelandem.com/2012/11/antipastaio.html">my Mom's yummy recipe </a>and I still don't know how to say it. I'm realizing that the correct way is probably "antipasto", yet I swear I've hear Giada say "antipasti" (maybe I imagined this). ALL throughout my life....Mom (and the rest of the fam for that matter) has called it either "antipasta" or just "antipast" for short. I'm pulling an executive decision and going with that! Since we're in the midst of the holiday season, I thought it was time for a repost. Absolutely nothing has changed as far as the secret formula for this deliciousness....BUT this year I opted to hold out on the romaine lettuce for two reasons....</div>
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1. I feel like it ends up getting soggy when it comes to leftovers</div>
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2. It's apparently contaminated again</div>
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Sooooo....I decided to pass. I also seasoned the dressing a little differently, but otherwise I didn't mess with what works. It is VERY tried and true! I promise it will be a big hit AND it is just as good for breakfast the next day! #traditions</div>
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<i>(*Sidenote - if anyone has one of those GIANT old school, light green tupperwares they would like to pass on to me that would be super. The aluminum tin is not the classic Rose Scoma way to make this!!!)</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdVvB851D6XaJfKXEIxgdtRn6PoXepd7RvXKbeIJjY5L6ZTXhTdW7udB7O2BG4NCcU3Au6dZPEuGZ42iJ0ulwNAfF75O0REuQNNn-ObIs4zRoQKVSbWENWG3pXimrcRjDJ_tsltz7xsvSr/s1600/IMG_7457.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdVvB851D6XaJfKXEIxgdtRn6PoXepd7RvXKbeIJjY5L6ZTXhTdW7udB7O2BG4NCcU3Au6dZPEuGZ42iJ0ulwNAfF75O0REuQNNn-ObIs4zRoQKVSbWENWG3pXimrcRjDJ_tsltz7xsvSr/s640/IMG_7457.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>
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This fed a crowd of over 20 people the other day - with leftovers to spare!!!</div>
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<b>You will need:</b></div>
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<i>Meat...</i></div>
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<i>*chop into half inch cubes</i></div>
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(get salami from the deli counter....ask them to cut it in one or two large chunks)</div>
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-1/2 lb. of genoa salami</div>
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-1/2 lb. of hard salami </div>
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-1 large link of pepperoni (<u><b>or</b></u> 2 small links of pepperoni) ***Make sure you peel off the casing</div>
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<i>Cheese...</i></div>
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<i>*chop into half inch cubes</i></div>
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-Wedge of sharp provolone</div>
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-Wedge of soft/mild provolone</div>
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-Large block of mozzarella (part skim)</div>
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-Large block of cheddar</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>Produce...</i></div>
<div>
-4-6 stalks of celery (slice in half then chop)</div>
<div>
-2 carrots (slice in half then chop)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>Cans/jars....</i></div>
<div>
-3 cans of extra large black olives (drain....slice in 3)</div>
<div>
-2 jars of small green olives (no pits...drain...slice in half)</div>
<div>
-2 jars of marinated artichoke hearts (slice them if they aren't already quartered) ***USE THE JUICE</div>
<div>
-2 cans of regular artichoke hearts (quartered) - DRAINED</div>
<div>
-2 small jars of sliced marinated mushrooms ***USE THE JUICE</div>
<div>
-2 cans of regular (non-marinated) mushrooms (sliced) - DRAINED</div>
<div>
-2 jars of DRAINED sliced pimentos</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>Also...</i></div>
<div>
-olive oil</div>
<div>
-red wine vinegar<br />
-balsamic vinegar (this is my addition)<br />
-Italian seasoning - oregano, garlic powder....whatever you like (also my addition)</div>
<div>
-Italian bread</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
*Sorry to get all "shouty" about the draining, and non-draining of liquids - but this is VERY important! (There I go again.)</div>
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<div>
SO....you put everything together, meats, cheeses, veggies...and very carefully the canned/jarred ingredients (paying close attention to what gets drained, and what doesn't). </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
The dressing is obviously made up of the juices from the marinated artichoke hearts and mushrooms + olive oil and red wine vinegar (to taste). My mom doesn't add any extra seasoning...she keeps the dressing simple...but I threw in a little oregano and garlic powder because I'm an animal. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Toss it all together, let it sit in the fridge for about 30 minutes before serving with bread....and enjoy (even though I know you will have already been picking on it during the whole prep process)!!!!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGKk7mcycnY_VC9I5clZkxqT1oB9cFLk1rJA1eIJU4iJgG-FW2-qy3KnsYCJw-kXd_Mes9E0EM4JP_bpOeiHf69vOiAyNSVsSzKrcghn5VKKKfAS4iXX1gyLlvgyk3griMe9eUYTi9ijrn/s1600/IMG_6554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGKk7mcycnY_VC9I5clZkxqT1oB9cFLk1rJA1eIJU4iJgG-FW2-qy3KnsYCJw-kXd_Mes9E0EM4JP_bpOeiHf69vOiAyNSVsSzKrcghn5VKKKfAS4iXX1gyLlvgyk3griMe9eUYTi9ijrn/s640/IMG_6554.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chop up the meat and cheese the night before to help with assembly on the day of! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJbSQBh3DnsX4tYBluWBcjcwUc_KcmGzcVHjcJuuwai1940IPBwmhK6rP2aDqyUwzDk_16RCl6jJI8Vs24erWx-bhApXHJMOCu7CQ5uV0_jKVgHXJXaJLxrU51kzmdyctnLRwbkxEcrw7x/s1600/IMG_6789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJbSQBh3DnsX4tYBluWBcjcwUc_KcmGzcVHjcJuuwai1940IPBwmhK6rP2aDqyUwzDk_16RCl6jJI8Vs24erWx-bhApXHJMOCu7CQ5uV0_jKVgHXJXaJLxrU51kzmdyctnLRwbkxEcrw7x/s640/IMG_6789.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watch out for olive snatchers!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTCK2LVXfza_mXdsgMKvOYFpcPU141cqlfS4rj1TGOO5am0_ZOe0WYgmp5gQzQ8JSaCAQSgvtuCbOOXXQQ0WLHsHUbdKwO_C40jLXpQcXO5O7vCyZrSQUGU7h5UJb1S1ETkKXAirgIgBEq/s1600/IMG_6788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTCK2LVXfza_mXdsgMKvOYFpcPU141cqlfS4rj1TGOO5am0_ZOe0WYgmp5gQzQ8JSaCAQSgvtuCbOOXXQQ0WLHsHUbdKwO_C40jLXpQcXO5O7vCyZrSQUGU7h5UJb1S1ETkKXAirgIgBEq/s640/IMG_6788.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Okay, I lied...I threw on a little parmesan cheese too....but this isn't necessary!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</div>
</div>
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03933311040542595030noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992518229197328414.post-54447217182149002182018-11-25T00:56:00.000-05:002018-11-25T00:56:26.751-05:00What's cooking this week?<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Dear El + Em,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Our Thanksgiving trip to NY was amazing! You both had an incredible time visiting with friends and family. You loved the leaves, climbing all the stairs, playing in all the basements/playrooms and spending time with so many people who love you both so very much! We just got home tonight after a long day of traveling, and you're both tucked into bed and sound asleep. I'm over here trying to figure out how to plan healthy meals that we ALL will enjoy this week. After that...I'll be joining you in dreamland! Thank you both for being the sweetest little travelers there ever were.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
XO, Mom<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwSwO5A9yJpZ29BXXOKPp3BvZCWz71P8v9Uh0qRd8KILFCpHa9nV2FneQjzjtn1CzFfPSRPMbgKtuVUPckUxhWT1s97SA65yO-tUKooNu2ahjrEYOD6vs5NhLioc5oFuHC8KOcrT-oGbn9/s1600/46523974_10103378934430274_1014853106497748992_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="773" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwSwO5A9yJpZ29BXXOKPp3BvZCWz71P8v9Uh0qRd8KILFCpHa9nV2FneQjzjtn1CzFfPSRPMbgKtuVUPckUxhWT1s97SA65yO-tUKooNu2ahjrEYOD6vs5NhLioc5oFuHC8KOcrT-oGbn9/s640/46523974_10103378934430274_1014853106497748992_n.jpg" width="514" /></a></div>
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What's cooking? Wait! Do I really have to cook? What I really mean is.....do I really have to eat?! I'm SO full. Full from Thanksgiving dinner and then the subsequent delicious leftovers....but also just full overall from...eating New York. Yup. I ate New York. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Looks like I'm cooking LIGHT this week! I'll at least try to keep it light for myself, and bulk it up for the rest of the fam. This week also kicks off a TOTAL game-changer! My Instant Pot arrives on Monday (at least it better), and I plan to put it to use right away! </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here's what I'm thinking...</div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Sunday: </b>Red Lentil Pasta w/ <a href="http://blog.fablunch.com/homemade-pasta-sauce-3-ways/">Homemade Spicy Tomato Sauce </a>and Spinach (the girls will have with butter/EVOO and some broccoli)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Monday: </b>Hummus Pizza</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Tuesday:</b> <a href="https://www.skinnytaste.com/refried-beans/">Instant Pot Refried Beans</a> (I'll have over cauliflower rice....prob make burritos for the rest of the crew)<br />
<b>Wednesday: </b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-bMuZgWsF0">Instant Pot Ramen</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Thursday: </b>Greek Chicken Bowls (I'm going to attempt my first creation in the instant pot)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Friday: </b>Veggie Pizza for me and steak for Hubs<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
Besides attempting to make up for a week of indulging, we will be over here getting our lives back on track and of course decorating the house for Christmas! Yay!<br />
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I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that today you have a festive and restful Sunday!</div>
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03933311040542595030noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992518229197328414.post-78893770600743983472018-11-11T14:49:00.005-05:002018-11-11T14:49:57.691-05:00What's cooking this week?<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Dear El + Em,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We took some family photos this weekend. We also put up the Christmas tree so that all we need to do is decorate it when we get back from NY. Ella, you keep asking if we could put the "organments" on. I think we'll wait so we could have the whole festive experience...with Christmas movies and hot cocoa! The rest of the weekend will be spent getting ready for our big trip. I know that's not too fun for you both, but luckily you're entertaining each other by destroying the family room with Teenie Genies and Shopkins. Just a typical Sunday!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
XO, Mom<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcOIlaek4HZlefCuEgKuYlB0O8hWFnj7cGSqt8kHDkYX-aBXBIstcFlsWZ2Hmx7cBkRmfC037mFLrvL3g1ZUBq9Qas0-EwaFxEu13CqEwY5gpQqu43IedcSVa-q12QHOUutSaTIUglszk/s1600/45834395_10103364089983664_196355549606969344_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="960" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcOIlaek4HZlefCuEgKuYlB0O8hWFnj7cGSqt8kHDkYX-aBXBIstcFlsWZ2Hmx7cBkRmfC037mFLrvL3g1ZUBq9Qas0-EwaFxEu13CqEwY5gpQqu43IedcSVa-q12QHOUutSaTIUglszk/s640/45834395_10103364089983664_196355549606969344_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
What's cooking?</div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Sunday: </b><a href="http://www.dearelandem.com/2013/01/sunday-sauce.html">Sunday Sauce</a> and <a href="https://www.skinnytaste.com/tomato-mozzarella-and-arugula-tower/">Tomato Mozzarella Arugula Towers</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Monday: </b>Hummus Pizza (Yes, again.)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Tuesday:</b> Roasted Broccoli and Chick Pea Tacos (Sounds weird, but I promise it's good...inspired by t<a href="https://www.thugkitchen.com/rcbburrito">his Thug Kitchen recipe</a>.)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Wednesday: </b>Veggie Pizza for me and Steak for Hubs<br />
<b>Thursday: </b>Black bean and sweet potato veggie bowls</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Friday: </b>Buffalo cauliflower wraps<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
Although I do cook veggie/plant based meals ALL the time, it's usually not every day of the week. I try to break it up a little more, however I'm going heavy this week in order to balance out all the food I'll be consuming while we're on vacation. That's how it works, right?<br />
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Hoping you all have a fantastic Sunday!</div>
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03933311040542595030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992518229197328414.post-35278568757635478422018-11-05T20:40:00.000-05:002018-11-05T20:40:14.876-05:00Black Beans "1905"<div style="text-align: center;">
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Dear Em, </div>
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You were in my tummy when I went to the Columbia restaurant in St. Augustine and had this fantastic dish! Daddy and I had JUST found out that you were in there just a day or two prior! The whole experience was very memorable, especially the part where I just couldn't stand the idea of eating meat (blehhh)! Maybe this is why you love beans so much?! I've tried my best to recreate this very special meal, for my very special little girl...and Big Sis loves it too! BONUS!</div>
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XO, Mom</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Ingredients:</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1 lb. dried black beans</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1 small onion - diced</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1 clove of garlic - crushed</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
3 cups of low sodium chicken broth</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
3 - 4 cups of water</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
2 tbsp. cumin</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1 tbsp. sweet paprika</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
2 bay leaves</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
salt and pepper to taste</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>For the "1905" Dressing</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
2 garlic cloves - crushed</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
2 -3 tbsp of white wine vinegar</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1 tbsp. oregano<br />
salt and pepper to taste<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>To Finish it off:</b><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
diced tomatoes</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
sliced red onion<br />
cooked brown rice</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
shredded cheddar</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
sliced avocado</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
crumbled up tortilla chips - the kids LOVE this</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Directions</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
1. Rinse the beans well, pick out any yucky stuff. Soak the beans overnight in a large bowl with water. I cover the beans with water and then some, to allow room for expansion. Usually I make sure the water comes up to about an inch or two above the beans. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
2. In the morning, strain the beans and give them another good rinse. Put the beans, diced onion, garlic, chicken broth, water, cumin, paprika, bay leaves, salt and pepper into a crock pot and let it cook for 8 hours on low.<br />
<i>When it's about that time to eat....</i><br />
3. Whisk together all of the ingredients for the dressing.<br />
4. I added the dressing to the diced tomatoes and red onion and let it marinate for about 20 minutes...but you could skip this if you're short on time and didn't read this recipe through beforehand like I normally forget to do.<br />
5. Assemble! I topped the brown rice with the beans, then added cheese, and avocado, a generous amount of dressing with the tomato/onion mixture and sprinkled some tortilla chips on top for some crunch! (I picked the red onions out for the girlies...the grown up version is pictured below.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhluZWzrcYVDW_OOfhhq0SDIxOZrNeUwrwTZ5MLWcIqj-CpEe1X3SSzH-K4kUyd4HUKlPfIy4YiYRDaQrHikysMXAOnW_eiUjBnZMbsREXEc5hDjBs7nCDrDGUAUZDviiKWRQ1dD_y6zfS7/s1600/0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhluZWzrcYVDW_OOfhhq0SDIxOZrNeUwrwTZ5MLWcIqj-CpEe1X3SSzH-K4kUyd4HUKlPfIy4YiYRDaQrHikysMXAOnW_eiUjBnZMbsREXEc5hDjBs7nCDrDGUAUZDviiKWRQ1dD_y6zfS7/s640/0.jpg" width="476" /></a></div>
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El + Em are decent eaters...sometimes. The onions that cook with the black beans in the crock pot are fine since they can't see those. Mama isn't pushing her luck with raw onions though. We are not quite there yet!<br />
I hope you enjoy this meal like we all do!<br />
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03933311040542595030noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992518229197328414.post-8312833568391851372018-10-21T09:53:00.000-05:002018-10-21T09:53:11.617-05:00What's cooking this week?<div style="text-align: center;">
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Dear El + Em,</div>
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We went to the pumpkin patch yesterday for some "Fall fun". It was somewhere around 150 degrees but felt "Halloweeny" nonetheless. Today, the temps have finally dropped ...Mommy is making chili and I'm pretty sure we will all be bundled up under a blanket watching movies for a good part of the day! </div>
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XO, Mom<br />
<i>(Side note - the temperature is currently 71 and the high is going to be 79, but I'll take it!)</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbQyyQgp0uk1GeoFC-aqQ3T71b9YkVwL7OGYhyphenhyphenXROnkMIjO8PzS3GwKS-wa8_m8Ev2SO-xC4hj2XrQWx0QlgFIa8U5-1dl271ZSsknCjX8emvhL7iJ54jZ_SqwjM9MRMIoHmBaU3wjp6P/s1600/44532995_10103339993627954_776588713420390400_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="868" data-original-width="960" height="578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbQyyQgp0uk1GeoFC-aqQ3T71b9YkVwL7OGYhyphenhyphenXROnkMIjO8PzS3GwKS-wa8_m8Ev2SO-xC4hj2XrQWx0QlgFIa8U5-1dl271ZSsknCjX8emvhL7iJ54jZ_SqwjM9MRMIoHmBaU3wjp6P/s640/44532995_10103339993627954_776588713420390400_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Here's what's cooking!</div>
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<b>Sunday: </b>I went into the archives for this <a href="http://www.dearelandem.com/2012/10/crock-pot-turkey-veggie-chili.html">Turkey Veggie Chili</a> (I think I need a do-over on this recipe, the pic is sooooo unappetizing)</div>
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<b>Monday: </b>Hummus Pizza (pretty sure this is officially a "thing" now)</div>
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<b>Tuesday:</b> "Tostada Tuesday"</div>
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<b>Wednesday: </b><a href="https://www.watchwhatueat.com/creamy-dreamy-healthy-broccoli-soup/">Healthy Cream of Broccoli Soup</a> and Steak for Hubs<br />
<b>Thursday: </b><a href="https://www.budgetbytes.com/pasta-creamy-pumpkin-sauce/">Fettuccini with Creamy Pumpkin Sauce </a>(Spaghetti Squash for Mommy) </div>
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<b>Friday:</b> <a href="https://www.skinnytaste.com/french-bread-pizza-mummies/">French Bread Pizza Mummies</a><br />
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I'm hoping that the girls eat the pumpkin pasta on Thursday. You just NEVER know with them....they are so inconsistent. If one eats it then usually the other will too, but it's a guessing game. This morning we made these yummy <a href="https://www.veggieinspired.com/banana-pumpkin-spice-pancakes/">Pumpkin Banana Pancakes</a>, and I've got a bunch of pumpkin puree leftover so I figured it was worth trying.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxBAvPW_bD8pUGrnKBlkkvMlRRgVA1fY9rSglqj_VpP9KdVwaiZsG1Ejuh_5nMTpz9shvjOtBbOtNUAESaXmrkYoaV5yR05Wfs0dhMz3-luz_qH3EI3KN3VJzNWP5zpDu5eHMXhggMz_1/s1600/44553844_10103340863923874_3649295529428385792_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="960" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxBAvPW_bD8pUGrnKBlkkvMlRRgVA1fY9rSglqj_VpP9KdVwaiZsG1Ejuh_5nMTpz9shvjOtBbOtNUAESaXmrkYoaV5yR05Wfs0dhMz3-luz_qH3EI3KN3VJzNWP5zpDu5eHMXhggMz_1/s640/44553844_10103340863923874_3649295529428385792_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Wishing you all a very sweet Sunday!</div>
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<a href="http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac236/sascoma/1807776276395000151013_zps29b0d7fd.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;" target="_blank"><img alt="Signature photo 1807776276395000151013_zps29b0d7fd.png" border="0" src="http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac236/sascoma/1807776276395000151013_zps29b0d7fd.png" /></a></div>
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03933311040542595030noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992518229197328414.post-41716922182104232312018-10-14T09:07:00.000-05:002018-10-14T09:07:40.461-05:00What's cooking this week?<div style="text-align: center;">
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Dear El + Em,</div>
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This weekend you got a big box of Halloween goodies from Grandma and Grandpa in New York. These crowns, tiaras and bracelets were picked out by Gramps! You loved them so much that you wore them to the craft stores yesterday. It was a fun family outing picking out Halloween decorations for outside....until....the sun was in Emmy's eyes on the way home and she screamed the entire way.<br />
<i>"All that screaming "noises" me". -Ell</i>a<br />
You two sure know how to keep things interesting. </div>
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XO, Mom<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQmB1u682zpE64p4VY07WoSDESUwAJom60wdY4GuHAtMdFfU-Ts9drk_NH0oI8O-ThAq5fJxiXKRgR4C_xPxOZSkVnWS7k9bDSPQywjGR8kFvsXjkMhls804WZ1tbIzeoAVMGTChuiy4D/s1600/43950025_10103332645917824_7426184225004453888_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="864" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQmB1u682zpE64p4VY07WoSDESUwAJom60wdY4GuHAtMdFfU-Ts9drk_NH0oI8O-ThAq5fJxiXKRgR4C_xPxOZSkVnWS7k9bDSPQywjGR8kFvsXjkMhls804WZ1tbIzeoAVMGTChuiy4D/s640/43950025_10103332645917824_7426184225004453888_o.jpg" width="576" /></a></div>
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Yay for community yard sales! We participated in one on Saturday, and it felt good to get rid of a ton of stuff. Whatever didn't sell, Hubby brought straight to Goodwill. There's so much room for activities in our garage now. Just kidding, we still have enough stuff that we could pull together for another yard sale in OUR community in 2 weeks...which we just might do! </div>
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Anyway, let's get to the point...what's cooking?</div>
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<b>Sunday: </b><a href="https://www.skinnytaste.com/butternut-squash-and-spinach-lasagna/">Butternut Squash & Spinach Lasagna Rolls</a> and <a href="https://www.howsweeteats.com/2014/09/honeycrisp-salad-with-crispy-sage-and-maple-vinaigrette/">this incredible looking Fall salad</a> AGAIN</div>
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<b>Monday: </b><a href="https://www.skinnytaste.com/crock-pot-creamy-tomato-soup/">Crock Pot Creamy Tomato Soup</a> and Cheesy Bread</div>
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<b>Tuesday:</b> Fiesta Chicken Cutlets & Black Beans</div>
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<b>Wednesday: </b>Baked Spaghetti<br />
<b>Thursday: </b>Broccoli Pizza w/ fresh mozz!</div>
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<b>Friday:</b> <a href="https://www.thefreshmarket.com/specials/meals/little-big-meals/burgers">Fresh Market Little Big Meal - Burgers!</a><br />
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Last week I went slightly off course due to a late night at work. The only thing I didn't get to make was the buffalo cauliflower flatbread and then my cauliflower went bad (worst smell everrrrrr)! Oh well, it happens. That's why this is just a <u>plan</u>. Sometimes we need to improvise! Hopefully this week I'll be able to stay on track. Luckily, I don't have 14 meetings to prep paperwork for! </div>
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Have a wonderful Sunday, friends!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE9HEloJXIPEdpS0Eitqv-7xWOvNQXRj2wpmyVrXEwWKsxwluR6g525-ALE6oy4CYwzBXLgwNfxAOorRomxVhjtqKJmK0Ny1QIluJDLC1WlCqBMExx3lTlwriQs2P0qU_3CQVrPemNmycw/s1600/43951874_10103332948641164_6153324693504917504_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE9HEloJXIPEdpS0Eitqv-7xWOvNQXRj2wpmyVrXEwWKsxwluR6g525-ALE6oy4CYwzBXLgwNfxAOorRomxVhjtqKJmK0Ny1QIluJDLC1WlCqBMExx3lTlwriQs2P0qU_3CQVrPemNmycw/s400/43951874_10103332948641164_6153324693504917504_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emmy's face after the sun pissed her off. </td></tr>
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<a href="http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac236/sascoma/1807776276395000151013_zps29b0d7fd.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Signature photo 1807776276395000151013_zps29b0d7fd.png" border="0" src="http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac236/sascoma/1807776276395000151013_zps29b0d7fd.png" /></a>
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03933311040542595030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992518229197328414.post-47584072658301611932018-10-07T09:05:00.000-05:002018-10-07T09:05:37.251-05:00What's cooking this week?<div style="text-align: center;">
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Dear El + Em,</div>
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There's an endless list of the things each of you do and say that make me proud! High on that list is your love for tacos! I must be doing something right!</div>
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XO, Mom<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIwziAS9r-m2XFQe3BaYRkxsFCUr26n57rvaAwyKid4QhFIZfS_eg7G8PjyRHf-SwaCuoYJvy4srDjuA5wdiqJHm0lmmPk1MFYe_Rq671jXYfL1fjUFlxCT2qTwEwQNDY1AypgnAIOj2p/s1600/43106670_10103322579166674_6894909943153950720_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIwziAS9r-m2XFQe3BaYRkxsFCUr26n57rvaAwyKid4QhFIZfS_eg7G8PjyRHf-SwaCuoYJvy4srDjuA5wdiqJHm0lmmPk1MFYe_Rq671jXYfL1fjUFlxCT2qTwEwQNDY1AypgnAIOj2p/s640/43106670_10103322579166674_6894909943153950720_n.jpg" width="512" /></a></div>
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On Friday night (Saturday morning?) Emmy woke up with a yucky tummy bug which led us into another lazy weekend. I don't want to jinx it, but we seem to be in the clear. Besides a little sleep deprivation, we're all good. This morning I woke up to Emmy screaming "Daddyyyyy....are you coming? Mommy....I make good choices". She's a character. El and Em had a rough start after Ella slammed the bathroom door in Emmy's face shouting "I need privacy"! It's been touch and go ever since but we are moving past it. It's probably for the best that we're getting out of the house this afternoon and heading over to my parent's house for some yummy dinner. Ella and I might even sneak over to the pool at some point....not very "Fallish" but I could use a little sun so why not!?</div>
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<b>Sunday:</b> Mom & Dad's house.....Baked Ziti....but I'm bringing <a href="https://www.howsweeteats.com/2014/09/honeycrisp-salad-with-crispy-sage-and-maple-vinaigrette/">this incredible looking Fall salad</a></div>
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<b>Monday: </b>Probably hummus pizza again - it's just so easy and they both eat it</div>
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<b>Tuesday:</b> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_1055237123"></span>Veggie Fajita Sheet Pan Nachos<span id="goog_1055237124"></span></a></div>
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<b>Wednesday: </b>Buffalo Cauliflower Flatbread<b> </b>and Steak for Hubs<br />
<b>Thursday: </b><a href="https://www.skinnytaste.com/turkey-meatball-stroganoff-instant-pot-slow-cooker-or-stove-top/">Turkey Meatball Stroganoff</a></div>
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<b>Friday:</b> Pretzel Bun TBLTAC (Turkey Bacon Lettuce Tomato Avocado and Cheese)</div>
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All set for another week! Hope you all have a great one! </div>
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03933311040542595030noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992518229197328414.post-70581059139779547952018-09-30T09:22:00.001-05:002018-09-30T09:22:37.032-05:00What's cooking this week?<div style="text-align: center;">
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Dear El + Em,</div>
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Don't be fooled by the loving looks you're giving one another in this photo. Of course you love each other, but this picture perfect moment is not exactly how things are on the regular! My camera roll is full of several "duds" before I get the right shot! A good part of the day is usually spent ripping toys out of each others hands, chasing your sister around and screaming "it's MINE" and sitting or standing on each other. Honestly, either of you could be guilty in any of these scenarios despite the three year age gap. This is what having a sister is all about (or so I'm told), and it sure keeps things interesting. This weekend has certainly been VERY interesting...and of course I wouldn't change a thing! </div>
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XO, Mom</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapCWnURg5eZQVYCCx2bHR2W8oH51gxj87e1mSrfj5GJzSX1Ngwyrt7_0zdcTrimBpXIoBi_NkDbtxt0bh9EVbZpueDiQbP30I0j-O0khA8J_6vIuxtTuYTtA49Lvr1xT1Pz7olCk7LeUW/s1600/42547290_10103313072982144_7776822468831870976_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapCWnURg5eZQVYCCx2bHR2W8oH51gxj87e1mSrfj5GJzSX1Ngwyrt7_0zdcTrimBpXIoBi_NkDbtxt0bh9EVbZpueDiQbP30I0j-O0khA8J_6vIuxtTuYTtA49Lvr1xT1Pz7olCk7LeUW/s640/42547290_10103313072982144_7776822468831870976_n.jpg" width="512" /></a></div>
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Another brewing ear infection for Little E = a pretty low-key weekend for the rest of us. It's nice and early, the meal plan is set, the list is made and I'm ready to enjoy this sweet little Sunday, especially after I get a little work out of the way. Here's the plan...</div>
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<b>Sunday:</b> Grilled Chicken and this crazy, amazing-looking <a href="https://www.howsweeteats.com/2017/09/fall-kale-salad-harvest-honeycrisp-apple/">Honeycrisp Kale Salad</a></div>
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<b>Monday: </b>Flatbread Pizza</div>
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<b>Tuesday:</b> <a href="https://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/roasted-cauliflower-and-chickpea-tacos/">Roasted Cauliflower and Chickpea Tacos</a></div>
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<b>Wednesday: </b><a href="https://www.melskitchencafe.com/turkey-swiss-sloppy-joes/">Turkey Swiss Sloppy Joes</a></div>
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<b>Thursday: </b><a href="https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/thick-and-creamy-vegan-corn-chowder/">Vegan Corn Chowder </a>and Steak for Hubs (Ha, that seems like an oxymoron)</div>
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<b>Friday:</b> <a href="https://www.thefreshmarket.com/specials/meals/little-big-meals/crab-cake-and-chicken-sandwiches">Little Big Meal from The Fresh Market Meal - Chicken Sandwiches </a></div>
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It seems simple enough! Well, that's the hope. This upcoming week is VERY busy...but as usual, having the meals planned out SHOULD help. Fingers crossed! Have a wonderful Sunday! </div>
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03933311040542595030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992518229197328414.post-31745769093596403662018-09-09T09:10:00.002-05:002018-09-09T09:10:57.242-05:00What's cooking this week?<div style="text-align: center;">
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I haven't done one of these in FOREVER....haven't done much of anything in forever as far as this place goes. In honor of the fact that I very ambitiously planned a week full of yumminess...I thought this was in order. Also, the girls are painting nicely and I thought I'd take advantage of the next four minutes to myself! </div>
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There's paint on Emmy's elbows...so let me make this snappy....</div>
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<b>Sunday:</b> <a href="http://www.dearelandem.com/2012/06/grandpas-marinara.html">Grandpa's Marinara</a> and salad</div>
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<b>Monday: </b>Hummus Pizza</div>
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<b>Tuesday:</b> Crock Pot Black Beans and rice</div>
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<b>Wednesday: </b><a href="https://bellyfull.net/2016/02/08/lemon-orzo-meatball-soup/">Lemon Orzo Meatball Soup</a></div>
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<b>Thursday: </b><a href="https://www.melskitchencafe.com/skillet-honey-garlic-chicken/">Skillet Honey Garlic Chicken</a></div>
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<b>Friday: </b><a href="https://www.melskitchencafe.com/zucchini-topped-pizza/">Piled High Zucchini and Cheese Topped Pizza</a></div>
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We'll see if I actually follow this plan. The past two months have been so hectic, I would plan and then make changes along the way. That's normal but week by week, it was all so unpredictable that when planning, I gave up on trying anything new. I guess the good news is that there's still a "plan". If there wasn't, I'd definitely be rotating tacos and hot dogs....which isn't too far off from how we've been living since this school year started! </div>
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For today, we are having a home day. We're still in recovery mode since last week and all of the birthday celebrations. Emmy is fighting a NASTY cough, the girls are still tearing into all of their new toys and I'm running into work for a few hours....so a simple marinara will have to do! </div>
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Soooo....there is now paint on Emmy's face....I'm gonna go....it's been fun Blogland! (Is this thing even still on?)</div>
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03933311040542595030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992518229197328414.post-2738532916718081342018-07-08T21:31:00.000-05:002018-07-08T21:36:45.450-05:00Cheesy Peach Pizza<div style="text-align: center;">
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Dear El + Em, </div>
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For some reason, in which I do NOT understand....neither of you were digging this incredibly delicious pizza tonight. You both like when I make plain white pizza. You both love peaches. I'm confused, but then again you were both ganging up on Daddy and I today in an effort to drive us nuts. Congrats, you both succeeded in doing so. The rest of us gobbled this pizza up (of course)!!! I will be making this again, and something tells me that you both will have a change of heart as long as you aren't wearing your cranky pants!</div>
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<b>Ingredients:</b></div>
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Pizza Dough (I buy mine from the bakery section at Publix)</div>
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Extra Virgin Olive Oil - 1 tbsp.</div>
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Ricotta - 1 1/2 cups </div>
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Parmesan Cheese - 3 tbsp (grated)</div>
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1 Clove of garlic - crushed</div>
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Fresh Mozzarella - Sliced </div>
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1 Peach - Sliced</div>
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Salt and Pepper </div>
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Fresh (or dried) Herbs - basil, thyme, oregano - whatever you have on hand</div>
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1 peach - sliced</div>
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<b>Directions:</b></div>
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1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.</div>
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2. Roll out the dough. I usually like to make my pizza pretty thin so there's more surface area for cheese!</div>
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3. Brush the dough with extra virgin olive oil.</div>
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4. In a bowl, combine ricotta, grated parmesan cheese, crushed garlic, salt and pepper to taste, and whatever herbs you have on hand (I save some herbs for garnish when the pizza is done. </div>
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5. Generously put dollops of ricotta mixture on pizza dough.</div>
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6. Top with sliced fresh mozzarella and sliced peaches. </div>
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7. Cook for 18-25 minutes. I use a pampered chef pizza stone, and in about 23 minutes my thin pizza crust was nice and crunchy!</div>
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8. Sprinkle with additional herbs for garnish and ENJOY!<br />
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***Side note - this would probably be amazing with a drizzle of reduced balsamic vinegar! I didn't have any for tonight...but next time! (Ooooooh maybe that's what the girls were missing!!!)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFw38HvgAoTVIpkHGMHlTxAxNwi1_3wrzEgdLdSs6QVd9CBS_qXv1HeTfk6gN0hmICxhyphenhyphen9a73Uywo_SbT1RnSE8B6byNJGrb0Y26yAzqSA554564gcX19qnVQLDoGvGszFIyFenmhfpRJ/s1600/36747151_10103218393560464_9008911550827724800_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFw38HvgAoTVIpkHGMHlTxAxNwi1_3wrzEgdLdSs6QVd9CBS_qXv1HeTfk6gN0hmICxhyphenhyphen9a73Uywo_SbT1RnSE8B6byNJGrb0Y26yAzqSA554564gcX19qnVQLDoGvGszFIyFenmhfpRJ/s400/36747151_10103218393560464_9008911550827724800_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seeeeee! Ella was VERY excited about these peaches a little more than 24 hours prior! She literally begged to take them home!</td></tr>
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03933311040542595030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992518229197328414.post-35285844076471078672018-04-16T21:04:00.001-05:002018-04-16T21:04:42.612-05:00Rainbow Quinoa Salad<div style="text-align: center;">
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Give me all the quinoa! I love this one because you could make a giant batch and just eat it all week long. Coming from a girl that's not a huge fan of leftovers, that's saying a lot! Maybe it was the microwaved leftover spaghetti every Tuesday that scarred me for life? Sorry Mom! It was incredible the first time around I swear! This bowl of colorful goodness gets better by the day....and no need to heat it up, it's served cold. It's super easy to throw together too! </div>
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<b>Rainbow Quinoa Salad</b></div>
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3 cups of cooked quinoa (I found it best to cook the quinoa the night before and refrigerate it so it was nice and cold before adding the rest of the ingredients.)</div>
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As much of the following as you'd like....</div>
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Shelled edamame</div>
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Halved grape tomatoes</div>
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Diced red bell pepper (in retrospect, yellow would have made this more colorful!)</div>
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Diced cucumber (seeded)</div>
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Sliced red cabbage</div>
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Grated carrot</div>
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Sliced Almonds</div>
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Craisins</div>
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Green onion - thinly sliced</div>
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*Toasted sesame seeds - for topping when serving.</div>
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<b>Dressing </b></div>
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1/4 cup of extra-virgin olive oil</div>
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1/2 tsp. of sesame seed oil</div>
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1 tbsp. of red wine vinegar </div>
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1 tbsp. of rice vinegar</div>
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1 tsp. of tahini</div>
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1 tsp. of agave</div>
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Juice of 1/2 lemon</div>
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Salt and pepper to taste</div>
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<b>Directions</b></div>
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1. Combine all of the ingredients for the quinoa salad in a large bowl and mix well. </div>
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2. Whisk together the ingredients for the dressing and then pour over the quinoa salad.</div>
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3. Mix, mix, mix.</div>
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4. Serve cold, and top with toasted sesame seeds.</div>
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Enjoy!!!</div>
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#EllaApproved</div>
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03933311040542595030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992518229197328414.post-75200212575040348822018-03-24T22:16:00.001-05:002018-03-24T22:19:55.931-05:00Black Bean Quinoa Burger Salad<div style="text-align: center;">
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OMG, a recipe! I'm a little rusty, friends...so let's ease into this. I'm tired of feeling guilty every time a new recipe of mine goes unposted! Yes, I've been cooking and not sharing. My bad. Super selfish, I know! Don't get me wrong....most of our weekly menus have consisted of taco nights, pizza nights...the usual. My creative touch has been thrown in there from time to time, but maybeeeee not as much as it used to. Turns out that trying to mom, wife and school counselor (all verbs in this case) at the same time is very time consuming. Time consuming. Energy draining. Rewarding (duh). Did I say anything that indicates I'm tired yet? Oh hey there, I'm tired. Yes, all of these things. </div>
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I'm nowhere near being on my "A-Game"....living moment to moment has been a means of survival around here for a while now. Hubby and I are nailing it (in my opinion) but it's a mess. An all over the place, mess. Love it, but mamma is tired. Hubs is too....but I couldn't do it without my other half! He rocks...and this is the time of year that he is seriously carrying the team! Okay, you feel me. Turns out the struggle IS real, but we've got this. I'll be over here enjoying the journey, and sharing when possible! </div>
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Soooooooo, here it is! You might be thinking...."where is the meat at, Steph?" Lately we've been doing A LOT of meatless meals for a lot of reasons:</div>
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1. It's easier to not have to deal with that part of the meal - it's just a whole thing and frankly my meatless meals take much less time to prepare. </div>
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2. I was trying to do some more budget friendly meals, and while working lots of beans and grains into the rotation it just sort of happened. </div>
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3. I love the idea of a plant based diet. I see us fading meat out more and more...maybe not completely...but it has been happening for a while now. </div>
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There's a new restaurant that opened up in my town, and "YAY" is all I could say. So fresh, so yummy and SO up my alley. They have a salad that is my absolute fave, and inspired this fun little dinner right here. </div>
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I literally have NO measurements so this is a total estimate but you can't mess this up, at least I don't think you can. </div>
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<i>(*Just because I changed the name of my blog, doesn't mean that I changed....it's still going to always be - Never The Same Spice Twice).</i></div>
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<b>Black Bean Burgers</b></div>
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2 cans of Black Beans drained and rinsed (I used a can and about 2-ish cups of black beans that I made in the crock pot which I'd say probably equals about 2 cans)</div>
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1.5 cups of cooked quinoa</div>
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1 cup of whole wheat panko bread crumbs</div>
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1/2 tsp. cumin</div>
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1/2 tsp. chili powder</div>
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salt & pepper to taste</div>
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*Mix all of the ingredients together until the beans are slightly mushed up - but still about 40% whole (how is that for precision?) - add more bread crumbs if you feel like you need it to stick together better. Make burger patties and then grill them in some olive oil on medium heat until slightly browned. </div>
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<b>Salad</b></div>
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Greens (I used romaine lettuce and baby kale that I had on hand but use whatevs)</div>
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Diced Avocado</div>
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Diced Tomato</div>
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Diced Cucumber</div>
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Red Onion<br />
Sliced Red Bell Pepper</div>
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*Assemble in the typical way one would put together a salad. You've got this. </div>
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<b>Dressing</b></div>
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Red Wine Vinegar</div>
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Extra Virgin Olive Oil (I usually do more olive oil than red wine vinegar)</div>
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Oregano</div>
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Salt and Pepper to taste</div>
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*Whisk it all together and mix it in with the salad. </div>
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**Throw that yummy "burger" on top and you're done! But wait.......</div>
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<b>Sriracha Mayo</b></div>
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BONUS - not pictured, but it definitely happened when I went back inside to join the family after taking food photos. Mayo mixed with as much sriracha as you could handle! OMGGGG, drizzle it over the burger....crazy good!</div>
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Can you still call this a recipe? I'm going to say "yes" and still pat myself on the back for this one. It's good, it's easy and you can't really mess it up - I promise! Enjoy! </div>
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03933311040542595030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992518229197328414.post-70111132453763480422017-12-09T15:42:00.001-05:002017-12-09T15:44:31.839-05:00DIY Minty Scrub<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2TpGnZW65ApHLFUruRzxlPMHf867ejsm8WLlFPA5IVBk2qzX-1PqAPz9OixJMD8ef8FhUGgLlHaypktcDn4R8JefGgUp1gtOHyZgsJUoJFBNOEkEIqS1NPF8ZQmkCBVO_G4H4mx95fK8b/s1600/24910071_10102953293108894_533170461984912343_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="826" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2TpGnZW65ApHLFUruRzxlPMHf867ejsm8WLlFPA5IVBk2qzX-1PqAPz9OixJMD8ef8FhUGgLlHaypktcDn4R8JefGgUp1gtOHyZgsJUoJFBNOEkEIqS1NPF8ZQmkCBVO_G4H4mx95fK8b/s640/24910071_10102953293108894_533170461984912343_n.jpg" width="548" /></a></div>
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The other night, my mom mentioned that she wanted to have a "little something" to give out to her friends at the end of her neighborhood Christmas party. I was thinking of making a holiday themed body scrub and figured this would be the perfect opportunity. Mom's NOT one for crafts, but this is simple enough, and I had most of these ingredients already on hand. Thanks to Amazon Prime, just two days later I had the jars and some extra coconut oil. On Thursday night, she came over and we made these lovely little scrubs while watching Christmas Vacation. (LOVE having mom live nearby...the novelty hasn't worn off!)</div>
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<b>All you need is.....</b></div>
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-Cute 4 oz. glass jars. I LOVE and have ordered <a href="https://www.amazon.com/4-Ounce-Hexagon-12-Pack-Favors-Samples/dp/B0171YP2H8">these</a> a few times (I made 12)</div>
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-2 cups of granulated sugar</div>
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-1 cup of pink himalayan salt </div>
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-Fractionated coconut oil - 1 1/2 cups (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PEUVPZU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1">my fave</a>)</div>
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-12 drops of lavender oil</div>
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-5 drops of peppermint oil</div>
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-Red food coloring (optional)</div>
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Mix all of the ingredients together. Add more sugar or coconut oil if the consistency isn't to your liking. Depending on how you tweak the recipe you should be able to fill about 10-12 jars. If you would like to add a little color, then you could add a few drops of food coloring. Usually I skip this step, but mom wanted it a little more red than pink. Now that the messy part is done...time to decorate. What do you have laying around the house? Labels, some stickers, and festive ribbon...these came out just too stinkin' cute! </div>
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You could certainly adjust the scent to your liking too! I was afraid to make these too minty! I'm BIG into Young Living essential oils, and being that these are therapeutic grade, high quality oils...they are potent! In my opinion, adding the lavender helped tone down the mint so that it doesn't leave your skin feeling too tingly! Also, it smells FANTASTIC!</div>
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( If you're interested in Young Living oils, just drop me a line! )</div>
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<i>*Disclaimer - This product was tested on husbands. </i></div>
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03933311040542595030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992518229197328414.post-58661907797746315102017-12-06T20:53:00.000-05:002017-12-06T20:53:24.845-05:00A letter to Santa, From Ella Rose<div style="text-align: center;">
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It sure has been a while, but tonight's letter to Santa that Ella had me draft for her....was, in my "mom-opinion"....totally blog-worthy!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Dear Santa, </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Can I please have a Shimmer and Shine dollhouse and a snack and a vacation to the North Pole where you live, Santa? Thank you for bringing me toys. I want to be a genie...a REAL genie! I've been good, not bad..."nuffin" else. My name is Ella. I live in Florida. My dad is the best boy in the whole wide world ever and I like Mommy's kitchen. Emmy is the best baby sister, but she keeps following me into my room. I want...hatchimals, stickers and a car. I'll be 16, okay...I'll just pretend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Love, Ella</span></div>
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03933311040542595030noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992518229197328414.post-76894851487393232092017-09-08T21:51:00.001-05:002017-09-08T22:05:34.873-05:00Our Pre-Irma Update<div style="text-align: center;">
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Hurricane Irma is heading our way....we live in Central Florida about an hour north of Orlando, so YES we are in the path. As you know, the projected path changes with each update, but at this point we do know for certain that we are going to be experiencing the effects in one way or another. Here are some of the specifics on our plan at the moment.....<br />
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<b>1.</b> Yes, we are "sticking it out"....there are no mandatory evacuations in our area, we live inland and we're about 96 feet (Boy Scout Hubs checked into this) above sea level. </div>
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<b>2. </b>We have LOTS of water, and food and we have followed many of the guidelines for hurricane preparedness....did I mention Hubs was a Boy Scout...Eagle Scout actually!</div>
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<b>3.</b> Our family from South Florida drove up here so we're ALL going to be together. They left at 11 last night and arrived at 11 this morning. Ordinarily this trip shouldn't take more than 3.5 - 4 hours. </div>
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<b>4. </b>Stephen's job announced earlier this week that they would be closed Friday (today) and Monday. My job initially closed for Monday but then Gov. Rick Scott closed all K-12 public schools and late last night I found out that the charter school I work for (and that the girls go to) was closed for today. At first this was a bummer because I have so much work to take care of in case we are out more than one day next week and we needed the girls to be in school while Hubby prepped the house. Luckily my cousin Nikki was here so she helped take care of the girls and Hubby got to do his thing! He even topped my car off with gas! WIN! I had to go to work to prep paperwork for a TON of meetings I have scheduled for next week. It was so eerie, hiding my computers and important files in my offices (yes, I have two...story for another post), and all of my favorite office supplies "just in case"!</div>
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<b>5.</b> My house is a wood frame home, and Mom and Dad's is a concrete block home so we just feel like it's smarter to be with everyone over there. </div>
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<b>6. </b>There are FIFTEEN OF US....plus 2 dogs that will ride out the storm at my parent's house. Outside of that (before and after Irma) we also have a house we rented out nearby for spare bedrooms and showers for the So-Flo crew. We aren't sure really how long it will be before they are able to make the journey back home, so at least there's a plan in place for a possible longer-term stay. (Thanks Mal-Smiles for having a super cool family!)</div>
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<b>7.</b> Even with all the changes in the forecast, we feel comfortable all being together! Using the term hurricane "party" in this situation feels a little strange, being that we aren't sure what to expect...especially the family from down south is unsure of what they will be going home to....and when! However, we will certainly try to make the best of it. Tonight we kicked off our gathering with 3 rotisserie chickens and two fried chickens. It's always about the food. Starting off on a good note before we resort to eating peanut butter and crackers.<br />
<b>8. </b>Dear El, you know there's a big storm coming and you're so excited about a BIG sleepover with so many people! Dear Em, you will surely be the life of the hurricane "gathering"!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emmy braved the crowds at Publix, and she is all set for the storm! Bring it on, Irma! </td></tr>
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So far, it seems like the worst in our area will be Sunday night to Monday-ish. Things are changing constantly though so who knows what the impact will actually be. Waiting on the 11:00 update....hoping this turns out to be not as bad as expected. Praying for everyone in Irma's path!<br />
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03933311040542595030noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992518229197328414.post-63758972988982324992017-08-14T21:29:00.000-05:002017-08-14T21:46:16.611-05:00Summer Me<div style="text-align: center;">
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The summer version of me is WAY more fun and creative. Every year, over summer vacation I like to pretend I'm crafty. It's very fulfilling. It's not like I'm sitting around being bored...there is plenty in this home to keep me busy. It's just that during the school year, I find very few opportunities to branch out and learn new things. Yes, I know that if you want to do something bad enough, you can make time. The reality is that crafting is very low on my list of extracurricular activities. Obviously you've got the very important stuff at the top of the priority list...trying to nail the work/home blend consumes it all. This encompasses all things family, and a very demanding work schedule. I do enjoy cooking, at least I try not to make it a chore. Scrapbooking used to be a HUGE hobby of mine (one of the reasons I originally started blogging forever ago). I found a way to incorporate scrapbooking into my regular day to day work and home planning by going all in with the planner community. Perhaps that's a post for another day. Moral of the story....when it comes to crafting....it's just not something I make much time for unless I'm home for an extended period of time and have a stress level of at least 90% less of what it is during the school year. It's just the reality right now...no complaints. </div>
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Why am I blogging about this? Because.... 1. I want to share some awesomeness from over this past summer break, and 2. I don't want to forget where I left off, so I can pick it back up next year! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gZ6E568fcDwU0A0DeBxTYcrtwtjm87lvJSGFGGeWoZjWaYg5ve4UwdZ64VVpnkhW6HJfUlFZ6pVwjV-gXeDXNJnW3p772EB-q0b13mu2my3iylsZfx03QUqzAW7qRRs0MXT5uoylIeXH/s1600/20280308_10102752418632954_4594794232177713235_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gZ6E568fcDwU0A0DeBxTYcrtwtjm87lvJSGFGGeWoZjWaYg5ve4UwdZ64VVpnkhW6HJfUlFZ6pVwjV-gXeDXNJnW3p772EB-q0b13mu2my3iylsZfx03QUqzAW7qRRs0MXT5uoylIeXH/s640/20280308_10102752418632954_4594794232177713235_o.jpg" width="512" /></a></div>
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This is a cozy baby blanket that I made for a friend. It was ridiculously simple, and since the yarn is so chunky and the hook was so fat....I finished it in about 4 days! <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Or8kn2hQOUs">THIS</a> is the tutorial I followed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_02jk7MVHG7OpHEAHvB9E66ehevkh4XGcl2FxI6W3P22BluaEB3n4OV1Jjc80VSVYg-t4Vxr21zjBECEq8qSsOy88hnfKcDI5XS-usj9zAs8ymJcE-e2YIweixWCclREdCkYZeg-Zwtv/s1600/19780480_10102718266374354_8936922461151984546_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="809" data-original-width="1080" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_02jk7MVHG7OpHEAHvB9E66ehevkh4XGcl2FxI6W3P22BluaEB3n4OV1Jjc80VSVYg-t4Vxr21zjBECEq8qSsOy88hnfKcDI5XS-usj9zAs8ymJcE-e2YIweixWCclREdCkYZeg-Zwtv/s640/19780480_10102718266374354_8936922461151984546_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
I also made these adorable donuts for a sweet little two year old's birthday. At first I was unrealistically ambitious and thought I was going to make a dozen....in reality it ended up being only four. They are pretty easy but slightly time consuming for as small as they are. After I cranked out the first four for the birthday gift, I ended up attempting more for my girlies. So far I have 1 and a few random tops and bottoms that still need to be stitched and stuffed. That is a project for another time. I don't want to forget the exact tutorial I followed for these. It's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-N0vzAGlMY&t=194s">THIS</a> one, and <a href="https://helloyellowyarn.com/2016/01/11/how-to-crochet-donuts-free-pattern/">HERE</a> is the link to the actual pattern. I'm going to make more of these....some day. #tobecontinued<br />
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It blows my mind how you can learn pretty much anything on YouTube. A while back, a co-worker taught me a few crochet basics, and I relied on YouTube to take it from there. I'm <u>nowhere</u> near pro status, but if it's basic and the tutorial is clear enough...I can figure it out (and so can you, I promise). </div>
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03933311040542595030noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4992518229197328414.post-2713063632372088162017-08-01T21:36:00.001-05:002017-08-01T21:36:48.796-05:00Life is short....take the trip<div style="text-align: center;">
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For a little over 8 years, I've been living in Florida. Stephen and I took a risk by leaving New York, in order to start our careers...and ultimately our life together. As exciting as all of that was, it was never easy to just leave....and I'm saying this for a lot of reasons. For me, a big reason was my little brother. We were ALWAYS close, even while growing up with just three years between us. To this day I consider him my best friend in the whole wide world, and literally I think the world of him. Of course we don't talk as much as we would like but it's understandable as we are both incredibly busy people in two totally different ways. We see each other but not as often as we would like. It also seems that when we do see each other it is for either holidays or special events. Don't get me wrong, it's nice to see him under those circumstances but I always figured it would be nice to spend time with him "just because". Pete (that's his name, FYI) is a musician and all summer long I was hoping to plan a trip to see one of his shows. </div>
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There always seemed to be a reason to put it off until the next one...legitimate reasons too....the girls, timing, taking off of work, flight expenses....life, ya know. After returning back to work after summer vacation and talking to a co-worker and friend of mine I decided life is just WAY too short, and I was so over putting the trip off. My sweet hubs understood and just one week out - I "spontaneously-ish" booked a trip for a visit to see Pete in Boston at one of his shows. BEST decision ever! It was a blast! My cousin Jen went too, and we had the best time...mostly eating, and drinking, and being silly like we've always been. In those moments it's like time is standing still...we don't seem like grown ups, it's like we're kids again. Here are some of the highlights from my very quick but wonderfully jam-packed trip to Boston.... I definitely hope to be able to spend more quality time with him JUST like this, JUST like old times. </div>
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We wandered the city, and did what our family does best....eat! When we aren't eating, we are usually planning out our next meal. This is normal for most families, right?! Pete's show was incredible, the crowd was insane, I don't have any pics because I was a very proud sister....and I Facebook-lived, almost the entire show for my parents. Good times, I hope it isn't long before I get to experience another bro-sis trip, even if it's something a little more local. Love you Bro!! </div>
<a href="http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac236/sascoma/1807776276395000151013_zps29b0d7fd.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Signature photo 1807776276395000151013_zps29b0d7fd.png" border="0" src="http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac236/sascoma/1807776276395000151013_zps29b0d7fd.png" /></a><br />
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<i>*Dear El + Em, </i></div>
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<i>I hope you girls have a bond as strong with one another as I do with your very cool, Uncle Peter. There's nothing like it! </i></div>
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<i>Love, </i></div>
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<i>Mom</i></div>
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Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03933311040542595030noreply@blogger.com1