Wordless Wednesday : Winter Wonderland

We finally got our first decent snow fall of the winter!

I am glad I took him out when I did because it is already melted.  We are approaching the end of January and we have had one fluke crazy snowfall in October...3 days before McKenna was born and this one we just had.  This is very rare for the Poconos.  Usually we have snow on the ground the whole month of January and February.  I enjoy being warm, but I want to build a snowman before the winter is over!  :) 

Linking up with

jenni from the blog , and baby baby lemon

for Wordless Wednesday

Tasty Tuesdays : Vegetarian Chili

I absolutely love this chili.

Ingredients

2 teaspoons canola oil
1 large onion

2 stalks celery

2 carrots

2 cloves garlic

1 bell pepper

2 tablespoons dark chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 (29-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
3 cans red kidney or black beans

3 cups of butternut squash
1/2 cup vegetable stock

Directions

Slice a large onion
After I sliced mine I choose to put it in the mini chopper thingy.
I don't like large pieces of onion

Take 2 stalks of celery and slice those guys up too.
I also like to chop those in the chopping machine!  :)

Set a bowl to the side and start collecting all veggies that you chop/dice/pulse in there.
Cut up 2 carrots... I only had baby carrots so I chopped up 6 baby carrots.  it works!  :)

Heat large pan and add 2 teaspoons of canola oil

After pan is headed add your veggies that you just chopped.  stirring every so often. In the meantime- move to the next step.

slice 2 garlic cloves (horrible picture... what was I focusing on? lol)

chop 1 bell pepper.  Combine garlic and bell pepper to mixture on stove.  Stir and saute for an

additional 2 minutes.

Add 2 tablespoons of chili powder.

 

Add 2 teaspoons of ground cumin

 Add 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes

Stir well.

Remove from pan and place in crock pot.

Peel, remove seeds, and chop 3 cups of butternut squash

(I never tried squash---I enjoyed it a lot)

Add to crock pot.

Add 3 cans of drained and rinsed red kidney beans or black beans to crock pot

I used 1 can of red kidney beans and 2 cans of black beans.

Use any combination you would like! :)

Add 1-29 oz can of crushed tomatoes to crock pot

Add 1/2 cup of vegetable stock

(another horrible picture-sorry)

Mix very well.  Put lid on. Set the crock pot on 

High for 3 hours

or 

Low for 6 hours

ENJOY!

1 cup= 265 calories

new years resolution status

At the start of the new year, I made a couple of resolutions.  1 of them was to go on a diet change my eating habits.  I feel like a diet is something that you do for a short period of time to get a quick result,  only to pack the pounds back on.

I am counting calories, I am learning about food.  What makes me full, what makes me sluggish, what makes me fell energized. 

I have decided I am not going to forbid myself of any foods but instead limit myself.  For instance I use to drink soda daily, now I may have 1 glass a week.

 

I have been doing this since January 1st and have lost 11 pounds!  :)  Slowly but surely I will get rid of the weight.  I am not looking for a quick solution... after all a new years resolution is something that you want to accomplish within the year.  According to my calendar I still have a little over 340 days to accomplish my goal weight.  

I am also hoping to start working out.  I wanted to start working out and eating healthy together, but being a mother of 2 young ones does make that difficult.... and I like crafting more then working out!  LOL  I have to work on time management!  

 

I found this while pinning on pinterest this week and I LOVE IT!

Did you make a New Years resolution? 

Are you still sticking to it?

 Do you have any tips to stay motivated?

photo a day dilemma

I realized I have been slacking on posting a photo a day.  I do not want to give up taking a photo a day.  I like the idea of photo a day, it makes me put the camera in my hand everyday which I love to do.  I just don't enjoy posting a new photo everyday.  I feel like the post is boring with one photo, and many times I would like to post about other things... and I only want to post once a day.

So here is my conclusion= I will take a photo everyday corresponding to that day's topic and I will post my photo a day photos on Fridays. 

So here they all are!  :)  Hope you enjoy.

Head on over to fatmumslim to participate in the challenge

Day 14- something your reading

Parents Magazine

Day 15- happiness

I was overwhelmed with happiness the day my son was born.  We were so blessed to be surrounded with love and support from our family.  

I love this picture frame, you can find it here at babies r us.  The background color flips to be either pink or blue!  :)  I need to get one of these for the newest addition.

Day 16- Morning

She is one of the 1st things I see in the morning.  I am not gonna kid you and say I don't look forward to putting the kids down to sleep because I do.  I enjoy the night time routine, I enjoy putting on the night light, I enjoy good night kisses, I enjoy my time to relax after they go to bed and the house is quite.  Most of all I enjoy waking up to beautiful happy children.

p.s. check out that folded over elf ear!  lol

Day 17- Water

Look at that grumpy face!  You would think she doesn't like baths or water.  That's a big old fat lie.  She loves sitting in the water.  Both my kids love water.  I have a feeling I am going to have to drag them out of the pool in the summer when they get older.  Let's take some time out to look at her chubby face, chunky chick looks like she lost her neck!  

LOVE HER!

Day 18- Something you bought

I didn't buy this Santa made this!  :)  We got this beautiful ID bracelet for McKenna for Christmas.  I racked my brain trying to think of something to get her for Christmas.  What girl doesn't like jewelry?!?!  I would like to get her a little piece of jewelry ever Christmas and make it a tradition.  

The back is also engraved with the "2011".

Day 19- Sweet

I accidentally let the bananas go bad :(  BUT I remembered my friend Mallory at Mallory's Musings posted a recipe for banana bread a while back so I made it!

check out her recipe here

I made one like she did with chocolate chips and another one with walnuts.  

Day 20-  Someone you love

I love me some Logan!  I am completely obsessed with his eyelashes.  Its always the boys that have the long gorgeous lashes!  I am also obsessed with his eyebrow... yes i say eyebrow because its not plural!  LOL   I really would like to get them waxed.... but I know its a form of child abuse.  Either way he is way cute and I love him! 


Happy Friday Everyone! Have a great weekend!

Wordless Wednesday : Indoor play center

This past weekend we attended a party for the best man at our weddings daughter.  I can't believe she is 4 already!  She had her party at an indoor play center.  Logan is finally at the age where he can enjoy it.  I can not wait to bring him back during the weekday when its less crowded. 

and we're off!

3 levels up. climb. climb. climb

sorry all these pictures are blurry... he was on the move.  clearly too fast for his mama.

crazy driver.

linking up with

jenni from the blog, baby baby lemon
for Wordless Wednesday

Tasty Tuesdays : Breakfast Cupcake

I call this my breakfast cupcake.  Let's face it, it sounds better then egg white muffin.  This is great for anyone that is busy and would like something healthy.  Each "Cupcake" as prepared is 75 calories.

what you will need:

cupcake tin

cooking spray

mushrooms

bell pepper

onion

egg whites ( i use 100% egg whites from a carton)

salsa

cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Lightly spray cupcake tin with cooking spray

pour 1/4 cup (4 tbsp) of egg whites into each cupcake cup

chop mushrooms

place 1 tbsp in each cup

repeat with bell peppers

1 tbsp in each cup

 dice onion
place 1 tsp in each cup

stir

when oven is done being preheated.  place in oven for 40 minutes.

Pop out of cupcake tin.  

 Looks ugly... but we will cover it up  :)

 Ice your "cupcake" with 2 teaspoons of salsa

no cupcake is complete without sprinkles!

Top with 1 tablespoon of shredded cheddar cheese.

ENJOY

I make a couple at once to last me a week.  refrigerate the left overs.  To reheat, wrap a damp paper towel around cupcake and pop it in the microwave for about a minute.

Music Monday

 I love this song!  :)

I choose this song today because of this....

Logan got this adorable guitar from Santa this year, every time he plays on it he reminds me of John Mayer.