Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays to you!

 

2012 has been the year of the "NEW".

New Baby

New Business

New House

New State

New Plumbing

New Roof

New Challanges...

 

There was added new cousins to our already large family. The best blessings this year were definatley the babies.

 

Love to all my family and friends!

 

Happy New Year

 

2013 will be here soon!!

Lemon-Lime Tuna with a kick

Since Apollo arrived, I have been moving towards dinner recipes that are less time consuming. I finally realized why some families eat food from a crock pot 5 days out of the week. But, I don't have a crock pot. So.... I decided to make an easy tuna bake! 

 

Ingredients:

 

Tuna fillet

1/2- Lime

1/2- Lemon

1 Tbs - Butter or Coconut Oil

1/2 tsp - Cayenne Pepper

1/2 tsp - Red Pepper Flakes

Chipotle Grill seasoning

Salt

 

Place Tuna fillet in a oven safe baking dish.

Squeeze Lemon & Lime over top.

Sprinkle with Salt.

 

 

Add Butter or Coconut Oil. Then sprinkle with Cayenne, Red Pepper and Chipotle spices.

 

 

Cover with Tin Foil and marinade for at least 1 hour. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes or until  cooked thoroughly.

 

 

Easy, Peasy...

 

Just Arrived: Fall/Winter Nail Collection

There isn't much a mother of an 8 month old can do to feel glamorous... I still have skin desperately trying to find it's former shape. My hair hasn't seen this many pony tails since middle school. High heels are a think of the past. But of course, it's all worth it!

So, I do what little I can to feel like I'm still a woman. Nails and Toes are a must!

Motives® Fall/Winter 2012 Nail Lacquer Collection 

From left to right: Singing the Blues, Swagger, Vintage, Emerald City, Starlet, Fudge My Age

I can't wait to wear this Green (Emerald City) for the Holidays! Swagger is an unexpected neutral. Vintage is a classic color for every day wear. But, the one I was uprised by the most is Singing the Blues... it is a sophisticated blue - nothing like the garish Wet N' Wild type polish colors. I will be wearing this in January for sure!
The collection was only $29.95, but you can get them individually for $6.95.

Dessert for Breakfast: Fruit Omelet & Spiced Coffee

The Holiday Season is a time for decadent foods. The cold weather will force you to add layers of clothing on top of your body... So what's another 5 pounds on that frame? I mean, there's always the New Years resolution to take care of your November-December sins.

This recipe is a variation on an omelet I had while visiting a California restaurant. The version I ordered was during springtime. It was filled with banana, berries, melon & yogurt.

Fortunately, all things delicious don't have to be calorie loaded... Unless you prefer it that way.

Ingredients:

Blackberries - 1 handful

1 Plum, Sliced

Fresh Chopped Pecans - 1 handful

2 Eggs

Marscapone

Cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon

Nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon

Coconut Oil

Heat Coconut oil in a pan. Add Blackberries, Plums, Cinnamon & Nutmeg.  Cook for 3 minutes.

 Add Pecans. Heat until fruit becomes soft.

Scrabble Eggs and cook a thin omelet.

 Add warm fruit to the omelet.

Add Marscapone and fold over.

But wait! You can't have this delicious plate without a cup full of yum....

Ingredients:

Coffee

1/2 tsp Vanilla extract

1/2 tsp Pumpkin Pie spice

Stevia (or Sugar) to taste

Milk (or cream)

Brew Coffee

Add Sugar & Spice to cup.

Add Vanilla. Whisk with a small amount of hot coffee.

Fill cup 1/2 way with coffee. Shake up your Milk until frothy and top off cup.

Don't forget to add a dash of spice.

If you wanted it to be even more decadent top with whipped cream!

Slurp the Coffee, lick the plate! This one is worth every calorie ;)

Simple Salad

Well guys, Thanksgiving is over... I'm pretty sure I ate more carbs these last few days then I have in months! You may be wondering where my "left-over" recipe is... With two hungry men in this house - not possible. But this is a good thing for my waist line!
I decided to replenish my body with a simple salad. This was so delish, I wanted to lick the bowl!

Baby spinach

Prosciutto

Goat cheese crumbles

Apple, sliced thin

Balsamic vinegar

Olive oil

Salt & Pepper

Add all ingredients and toss. Devour!

Christmas Open House - Main Street, Union SC

Union may be a small town, but there is always something fun to do!
The Chamber of Commerce hosted a Christmas Open House. It was pretty cold outside... but who cares when there's so much to keep you distracted? There was music and dancing... Cookies, hot Apple cider and hot Chocolate! Carriage rides and a Train ride for the kids. And SANTA of course.

Here are some photos of the festivities:

 And the man of the hour, Santa!

 

We had a great family night.

Super Easy Fruit Tart/Pie Recipe

 The Howell's had a bunch of fresh apples at the Farmer's Market. I got all these apples for just $1.75! Mrs. Jackson from the Farmer's market gave us these Kiwi... Bi-Lo had a sale on pie crust - buy1, get 1. So, I decided to make a fresh fruit tart, 2 actually.

 INGREDIENTS

2 Apples

2 Kiwi

1/3 cup Blueberries

1 cup plain yogurt

1tsp vanilla

1tsp pumpkin pie spice

1 ready made pie crust

1/2 cup Stevia or Sugar

Bake pie crust as instructed on box.

In a small bowl mix yogurt, vanilla and pumpkin pie spice. Set aside.

Slice apples thin. In a separate bowl add apples and blueberries. Sprinkle with sugar to coat fruit. Slice kiwi.

Assemble tart. Spread the yogurt mix on the bottom of the pie crust. Next, layer apples, then blueberries and kiwi.

 

 

 Bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes.

 

 

Voila! Super easy.

 

I like to eat this with ice cream, yum-my!!

 

*Note about Yogurt*

I never eat fat free yogurt. I thin k it tastes funny... but more important - it's not so good for you!

Here's a link to an article... there are many more like it.

http://www.naturalnews.com/024266_fat_organic_fats.html

Here's one about fertility and low-fat dairy: http://www.naturalnews.com/022020_infertility_dairy_risk.html



Veteran's Day Parade - Union, SC

I had no idea that there was going to be a parade for Veteran's Day until I looked out my Bedroom window and saw the huge American Flag hanging up on Main Street. Then the school buses began pouring in. This is what I love about living in this small town... and so close to Main Street!
I got the baby in the stroller and off we went.
Here are some pictures from the Parade:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had a great time! Apollo enjoyed the Marching band drummers. He fell asleep on the stroller ride home. A big day out indeed!

 

 

 

 

 

Baby's First Halloween (on a Budget)

The Garbutt Addams Family

How easy is this? Just dig through the closet for a Black dress, Suit, and Striped onsie... I decided to dye my hair black - why not? Then raid your makeup collection.

Makeup

Well, the boys were easy. Just some liquid eyeliner to draw on the moustache.

Morticia Addams

These are the products I used:

 

Face:

Cover dark circles, imperfection, and highlight with Creme Concealer - Light $16.50

Cover entire face with Full Coverage Photo Finish Powder - Neutral Light $24.50

 

Eyes:

Begin with Eye Shadow Base $14.00 to make sure everything stays in place

Use the Khol Eyeliner - Onyx $14.75 on the top and bottom lid, then draw in the shape of the eye shadow boundry. Fill in the lid and outer corners with Pressed Eye Shadow - Dusk $12.50

Use Pressed Eye Shadow - Platinum $12.50 to highlight the inner eye corners and the brow bone. Blend. Finish up with Luxe Precision Eyeliner - Jet Black $14.00 and my favorite, Lustrafy High Definition Mascara - Onyx $16.95

 

Cheeks & Lips:

Dab some Rich Formula Lipstick - Plum Drama $14.95 on your finger and lightly dot accross the bottom of your chek bone. Blend beginning from your hairline towards your mouth. Stop about 1/2 inch away then bring line straight down. Continue until you get the color deep enough.

 

Line Lips with Lip Crayon - Bordeaux $14.75. Fill in with Rich Formula Lipstick - Plum Drama $14.95 

All done!

 

 

Our Pumpkin

A friend of ours bought us a big Pumpkin. It took me a while to carve because I didn't realize how deep I needed to scrape the design so the light would show through well. I broke one of the saws from the carving kit. Oops.

We cleaned and roasted the seeds. Yum!!

Chicken Soup Recipe

The cold weather has paid us a visit. Soooo, you know I had to make some Chicken Soup!!! Yep, that and it's inexpensive. Notice the sale price of a whole chicken - what? I bought the rice by the bulk because it's so much cheaper that way. And most of the veggies came from the Farmers Market across the street from my house - very convenient....

And now I present (drum roll, please) the Recipe:

INGREDIENTS:

1- Whole Fryer Chicken

2- Tomato

2- Onion

2- Green Peppers

2- cups Rice

4- cloves of Garlic

5- Carrots (yeah, it's not in the pic, because it was an after-thought)

Olive Oil

2- Bay Leaves

2-Tbs Salt

2- Tbs Pepper

4- Tbs Thyme

Cut up all the veggies into large chunks.

Add the Rice and Salt, then Sautee in Olive Oil

Add the Chicken (make sure it's guts aren't in there). Fill up with Water, then add the Thyme and Bay Leaves.





Cook for a very long time. I usually bring it to a boil then turn it down to simmer. Add the Pepper.
Remove the Chicken out and pull off all the yummy meat.
Add the meat back into the soup and serve!