Meal Planning Monday

Hey! Happy Monday! I hope it is a happy beginning of the week for you. We have a big week ahead. Austin has surgery Thursday morning for correcting his eyes and removing tonsils/adenoids. I am ready for this to come and go - ready to put it behind us! Unfortunately, the poor kid has a head cold and cough. I took him into our pediatrician to be sure it wasn't anything more- and its not! BUT he can't have the surgery if he is congested. Please be praying for fast healing. We will be laying low, pumping him with fluids and soaking in the oils! 

Having said that…we have some amazing friends and family bringing meals following his surgery [assuming it happens]. So I am doing this week a little different and sharing some new & old to us recipes for dinners and lunches. 

Healthy Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Peppers
Ok guys…Hubs wanted buffalo chicken but didn't want the after affects of eating it. So I did some searching and found this recipe. It was super yummy and filling. I forgot to take pictures because I am a bad blogger! Delicious and will be made again!  

Cilantro Lime Chicken with Avocado Salsa
Holy smokes - the picture just speaks to me & makes my mouth water. You make your own marinade which is just SO much better then the bottle store bought. I haven't made this yet…but plan to this week and will report back! 

Compressing the lunch ideas into some links. Hope you can find something that sparks your interest. I do a lot of egg, tuna or chicken salads- so I can either throw together a sandwich or in a wrap or over some lettuce. 

- Healthy Avocado Egg Salad

- Quinoa Taco Salad

- Cranberry Chicken Salad Wrap


Let me know if you try any of these!!! 

This is one of my new favorite pictures…probably because I didn't know it was taken and it so much sums up my life. All in our pajamas, sitting squished on the recliner and reading books. My kids love to read and I hope that never ever changes! 

Happenings

Happy Thursday! Hope your week is going well. It's almost the weekend! 

So want to see into my reality?…

How embarrassing! But so typical lately. McKenna likes to take dishes out of the dishwasher and/or stand on the open door. I can't do dishes when she is awake. Thus…my sink!

Austin started Awana this past week! It is exciting for us to have him learning more about God and developing his own relationship. It's also fun to see him in that learning environment with his cousin and some friends! 

First night…

I am wondering what happened to Fall? I was really enjoying having my windows open and airing out the house. It shouldn't be this hot without the pool as an option! 

Wednesday Confessions #4

Do you have a hard time finding time for yourself? Are you a new mom or experienced mom? Does your day revolve around feeding baby every 2 hours? Do you have toddlers demanding every second of your attention? Do you work a full time job and then head home to parent littles without a break? Do you struggle to remember a time when a kid didn't interrupt your shower? 

Me time! Alone time!

Finding time for me…this has been my personal struggle for 3+ years. Truthfully, I LOVE being with my kids, I miss them when I am away from them. I would rather be with them…then away from them. I am blessed by a hard working husband who makes it possible (and we've made huge sacrifices) for me to be there for every laugh, smile, cry, bump, scrape and bruise. 

BUT…
I need me time. I LOVE working out. I love cooking healthy. I love laughing with girlfriends. I love lacrosse. If you've know me for a long time you know I love being active.
So changes have been made slowly as the kids have gotten older.
 We found a fabulous gym, with fabulous childcare (my kids LOVE their teachers) and this makes me getting my time so much more possible. I have found that prioritizing myself has helped me be a more patient, kind, loving mom. I have so much more to give. If I can't get to the gym, I try to get myself moving. Going for walks, a quick work out video during naps, abdominal routine/push ups…I've adopted the attitude that something is better then nothing. It helps. 

When I was teaching Health and Physical Education and while I was coaching, I would tell students and players…"If you don't use it, you lose it!" 

Now I tell myself. 

And you.

It's never too late. I am just getting back into my health and wellness journey. I am reigniting my passion for it again.

Life Lately and some meals!

I've been quiet around these parts. Not because there is nothing to say but because we just lead very simple daily lives. Sometimes lazy mornings turn into lazy afternoons or we are out the door and running before 8am. Either way, my days consist of making and cleaning up three meals and many snacks, getting to the gym for my "me time", reading all the stories my kids can find and bring to me and playing legos…oh, so many legos. 

We have had a trip to the local orchards with Papa and Kiki and some fun park days. We are sad that our pool days are over.

We have also been dealing with a 3 year old who doesn't like to listen until you've said something 300 times and a 15 month old who is almost running and loves to test her limits. Between the 2 of them, by days end, I fall into bed. 

Here are some of my meals for this week! It's short and sweet as daddy is working nights.

Tuesday: Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad

I use this link as a base but have made it so many times that I tweak a few things here and there. It is yummy as a sandwich or over lettuce as a salad. 

Wednesday: Breakfast for Dinner

Going to be a quick dinner so we can get Austin to his fist meeting of Awana. 

Thursday: Meatballs, Pasta and Broccoli

Friday: Grilled Chicken and Smashed Potatoes

So we tried these smash potatoes and loved them. Unfortunately, they are not the most healthy thing but assuming you don't over indulge…it is okay!

Saturday: Turkey Burgers & Roasted Veggies

We LOVE roasted or grilled veggies! Zuchinni, cauliflower, peppers, broccoli, carrots, and/or whatever you want to add. Some EVOO, salt and pepper. Delicious. 

Sunday: Homemade Pizza and Salad

I make my own pizza dough and have been working and working to perfect it. I will share when I have it figured out.

Sharing whats on my heart

Why is it so hard sometimes to sit down and spend quality time with the Lord? I mean for crying out loud, everything I've been blessed with came and comes from Him. And I can't carve out 10 minutes to read His word or have some prayer time. Shame on me. This may be my struggle, not yours. I don't think I am alone in this though. 

I sat down during nap time a few days ago and on my left was my bible & devotional book and on my right was the TV remote. I paused. This pause was like the Lord speaking to me. He was longing, for me to choose him over the Blue Bloods reruns I like to watch after I have done all my house crap while my children nap. 

Is that even a choice?

Blue Bloods or God?  I mean really! 

It shouldn't be. 

So you know what, I opened my devotional and read. It spoke directly to my life and current decisions my husband and I have been having to make. It was the Lord speaking through His word…to me. To me…the one who forgets to open her bible, who prays daily- but sometimes it is more of a conversation then quiet time and who is constantly sinning and asking for forgiveness. He continually forgives and then teaches me more. 

I write this because I don't think I am alone in this. The devil is a clever fella. He knows that as a tired mom, who always has little hands touching her, zero alone time, always has dishes to do, or laundry to fold, bathrooms to clean and meals to make…that nap time is sacred. He knows that he can tempt me away from my time with God. 

Don't let the devil win your time. I am no longer letting him win mine. Sitting down and spending minutes with God- feeling loved, learning, and challenging myself to grow is so much more important. 

If we spend time with Him he will hear us. He will see us. He will bless that time.