Happy Fall!

One of my favorite things about Fall is going to the pumpkin patch with the kids!  This year, we went to Tanaka Farms in Irvine.  They have a "U-Pick Pumpkin Patch" and the kids absolutely loved it!  We were joined by our friends the Lozano Family, GG & Mimi...


The Jacoby Family

My silly boys

Noah running through the pumpkins

Niko sitting on a big pumpkin

Ethan (isn't he adorable?)

Noah with GG and Mimi

 

 

The boys

The Jacobys & The Lozanos

Niko & Ethan

4 Hour Body {Slow Carb Diet}

I heard about The 4-Hour Body from a friend at work and after hearing about her success, I ran out and bought the book.

Adam is supporting me on this venture and today is day 1 on the Slow-Carb Diet.  The rules are simple:

#1 ~ Avoid white carbs (or anything that can be white)
#2 ~ Eat the same few meals over and over (keep it simple)
#3 ~ Don't drink calories (i.e. fruit juices, milk, soda)
#4 ~ Don't eat fruit
#5 ~ Take one day off per week and go nuts

Breakfast this morning consisted of scrambled eggs with spinach, bell pepper, tomatoes and black beans (you eat a lot of legumes on this diet) and a side of cottage cheese... it was delicious!  I tried drinking my coffee how the book suggests (with cinnamon) ... that was not delicious (I need to find a way I can still get my morning caffeine fix).

Happy 2nd Birthday Noah!

I never imagained how much this precious little man would change my life.  Noah makes me smile and truly amazes me everyday.  I have enjoyed every moment of watching him grow and learn ~ from his first breath... to first giggles... to full sentences... time really does fly when you're having fun!  He brings us so much joy and is such a blessing to our family.

Happy 2nd birthday to my little monkey, I love you with all of my heart and am so proud to be your  Mommy!

Newborn



6 Months



1 Year



14 Months



18 Months

2 Years

Terrible two's, here we come!

Chicken Salsa Casserole

Since I recently finished my recipe book, I wanted to share a yummy (and very simple) recipe.  I found this online a few months ago and it has since become a "go to"  recipe when I don't know what else to make for dinner (and my very picky husband loves it)!

Ingredients

• 1 1/3 cups uncooked white rice
• 2 2/3 cups water
• 4 boneless, skinless, chicken breasts
• 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1 (10.75 oz) can condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1 (10.75 oz) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
• 1 1/2 cups mild salsa

Directions

1.  Place rice and water in a saucepan, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.

2.  Cut chciken breasts in half, place into a large saucepan and fill the pan with water. Bring to a boil, and cook for 20 minutes, or until done. Remove chicken from water. When cool enough to handle, cut meat into bite-size pieces.

3.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.

4.  In a medium bowl, combine Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheeses. In a separate bowl, mix together cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup and salsa. Layer 1/2 of the rice, 1/2 of the chicken, 1/2 of the soup and salsa mixture, and 1/2 of the cheese mixture in prepared dish. Repeat layers, ending with cheese.

5.  Bake in preheated oven for about 40 minutes or until bubbly.

** Serve with sour cream and salsa on top

Family Photos

Anyone else that has tried taking family photos with 2 cranky toddlers knows our pain!  Thank you to our wonderful and talented friends Dwyne Smith of Smith Productions (and his lovely wife Jenny) for their patience!

My dad has been saying for about 10 years now that he wanted family photos done, so that's what we got him for Christmas!  Here are a few of our favorites from the day...







Recipe Book {My first mini project}

I'm always cutting out recipes from mazagines and shoving them in a kitchen drawer.  I needed to organize my favorite recipes as well as new recipes I want to try.  I got this cute idea for creating your own recipe book from The Crafting Chicks.

 

I bought everything I needed at Target for about $10: a cute 3-ring binder, clear sheet protectors & dividers.  Then, I printed some of thse adorable menu/shopping lists from A Feathered Nest.

I put these in the front of the binder along with a clear sheet protector to keep any receipes I'm trying out that week.

 

I divided my recipe book into 5 sections:

• Appetizers
• Soups & Salads
• Main Courses
• Side Dishes
• Desserts

Then I finally started organizing... I put away the recipes I had laying around and went through all my Food Network and Everyday with Rachel Ray Magazines and clipped new recipes I want to try.

I feel pretty good having completed my first little project!  Now, which recipe should I try first?  =)

The Queen of Good Intentions

I have come to realize that I am the Queen of Good Intentions.  I can't tell you how many cards I've bought and never mailed, how many empty picture frames I have around the house or how many receipes I've clipped from magazines and never cooked.  Maybe its my hectic life with 2 crazy kids or maybe I'm just lazy, but whatever the reason is, I have vowed to follow through with my good intentions.  I will send more cards, I will mail hand-written thank you notes, I will print more pictures and not let photos of my beautiful family and friends get lost in the digital world, I will not only look up class times at the gym, but I will actually workout and I will de-clutter and organize!  Wish me luck!