Tag: blog

Breakfast Zucchini Bread

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This bread is easy to make and super tasty. A yummy quick breakfast treat, but hey, if you want to have this for lunch or dinner I won’t judge!

Is best served warmed up with unsalted butter! Enjoy!

Breakfast Zucchini Bread

(This is called ‘Breakfast Zucchini Bread’ because it’s best to make in the evening and allow to sit overnight.)

Makes one small 8 x 4 loaf

Bake at 350 for 50 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

What You Need:

1 large zucchini or 2 small ones finely shredded

1 beaten egg

1 1/2 cups of flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon plus a sprinkle of nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup of sugar

1/4 cup of vegetable oil

Steps:

1. In one small bowl whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and baking soda.

2. In a separate medium/large size bowl mix the beaten egg, sugar, vegetable oil, and shredded zucchini with an electric mixer.

3. Begin adding the dry ingredients (the flour and spices) to the wet ingredients (the egg and oil) slowly till batter is consistent.

4. Generously butter up the loaf pan and pour batter into pan. Bake at 350 for 50 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

5. When bread is complete, allow to cool completely. Cover and let it sit overnight.

And then, enjoy for breakfast!

Mix all the dry ingredients in separate bowl.
Then, mix your wet ingredients.
Combine flour mixture and zucchini mixture together and bake at 350.

Barbecue Meatloaf

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Servings: 4 – 6 servings

Bake at 350 for 1 hour. Temperate should read 165 when complete.

What You Need:

1 lb ground beef

1 cup bread crumbs

1 diced onion OR 1 tablespoon of onion powder

1 cup of your favorite barbecue sauce

1 teaspoon of salt

1/2 teaspoon of pepper

1 egg beaten

Steps:

1. Combine all ingredients into a large mixing bowl. Reserving 1/2 cup of the barbecue sauce.

2. Mix well with hand, form loaf shape and place in loaf pan. Pour remaining barbecue sauce over loaf.

3. Bake at 350 for 1 hour. Allow meatloaf to rest for about ten minutes. Check meatloaf temperature, it should read 165.

Enjoy with fresh veggies and roasted potatoes.

Chicken Fajitas Under The Broiler

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The Lime is essential, don’t forget it!

Chicken Fajitas Under The Broiler

Makes: 4-6 servings Time: 25 mins in oven (oven time can vary)

What You Need:

1 lb to 1 1/2 lbs of thin chicken breasts cut into 1/4 inch strips

1 lb of baby bell peppers cut in half and seeded

1 large yellow onion sliced

2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil

1 Tablespoon of Chili Powder

2 teaspoons of salt

1 teaspoon of pepper

1 teaspoon of paprika

1 teaspoon of garlic powder

1 large lime

8 to 10 warmed tortillas

Steps:

1. In a small bowl mix together the chili powder, salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder.

2. Line a sheet pan with foil. Arrange baby bell peppers on the sheet pan. Drizzle a tablespoon of olive oil onto the peppers and apply half of the seasoning from the bowl to the peppers.

3. Place the sheet of peppers under the broiler for about 15 to 20 mins until peppers begin to blacken a little and char. (If your broiler has a setting for low or high, set it to high)

4. In a medium bowl combine the chicken strips, tablespoon of olive oil, and the rest of the seasoning.

5. Pull out sheet pan and place chicken strips onto the peppers. Broil for an additional 5 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.

6. Squeeze lime over entire sheet of peppers and chicken.

Serve with warmed tortillas, sour cream, cheese, guacamole, or salsa! So easy and delish!

Enjoy!

Note: This is all made with the broiler setting on your oven. You are NOT baking these. Broilers can be tricky, it’s okay to keep opening your oven to check with the peppers. With the chicken though, 5 mins is the magic number! Don’t open the oven!

Before olive oil and seasoning is added.
Add seasoning to chicken strips in a medium bowl
It’s amazing what the BROILER can do! YUM! Again, don’t forget the lime!

4 Ingredient Baked Pop-Tarts

The Wild Gems

Easy, yummy, and quick!

Once you figure out how easy this is the possibilities are endless!

I’m so excited to try more flavors and to really get creative!

Let’s just get to it shall we.

All You Need Is (for this specific pop-tart)

• premade pie crust

• smuckers natural strawberry fruit spread

• The egg white of ONE egg (all you do is brush this over the pastry before popping into the oven)

• Cookie Icing

(Sprinkles optional)

Maybe one of these days I’ll try making these with homemade dough and icing but I don’t have time! Do you!? This method of using store bought and pre-made makes this super easy, especially with your kids!

This is something fun then can make by themselves too! With adult supervision with the oven of course.

4 Ingredient Baked Pop-Tarts with pictures

Steps:

Step 1. Follow steps on the pre-made dough, on the box of dough I bought it said to roll out and let rise for 20 mins.)

– once dough is ready, cut out the size of rectangles you want and as many as you want (doesn’t need to be perfect).

– in this picture there are 6 rectangles which will make 3 pop -tarts.

Step 2:

Put a dollop amount of strawberry spread onto the rectangles. However many you are making you want to make sure each rectangle has a plain one to go on top.

Step 3.

Place a plain rectangle of dough onto each rectangle with strawberry spread. And seal each pastry with a fork. Poke some holes on top with a toothpick.

Brush egg white wash all over the pastries. (whisk egg white a little before brushing)

(I made these with my girls so they aren’t the prettiest but I’m sure if you have time you can do a nicer job!)

Step 5.

Bake at 400 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes (oven time may vary) allow to cool

Step 6.

Add cookie icing and sprinkles!

Enjoy! See, simple!

Now go get creative and Wild with this!!!

To The Wildest Dreamers – Keep This In Mind

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Whatever you want in this life, I hope what I have to say can motivate or encourage you in some way.

Don’t ever stop being a dreamer.

“Set impossible goals”. I actually heard that quote on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. It was one of her greatest holiday giveaway ones.

A man had been swimming in the ocean, he did a flip, and broke his neck. Just like that, his life changed in an instant.

Life as we know is full of those kind of moments.

He was told that he may never walk again. A nurse told him something that gave him strength and determination. “Set impossible goals.”

Over time, he did learn how to walk again, he is one of the lucky few. He didn’t allow being told that he wouldn’t be able to walk again stop him or hold him back. He dreamed that impossible dream. The beautiful part of this story is he walked his wife down the aisle. And I’m willing to bet they danced too. All because he didn’t give up. All the frustration, the tears, the try after try were absolutely worth it.

(This isn’t them btw, I’m just providing a visual so you can truly try to empathize with this couple and to gain perspective. Hope it works.)

Now……

Everyone has something that they desire. What is your dream? I know you have one.

I’m willing to bet some of you reading this have never really been asked that question. Or you haven’t shared it with anyone.

I want this post to get you thinking about what you want in your life. To take a moment to identify what you seek.

When I was younger the only dream I truly desired so much was to become a mom. I’m not even kidding, that was my dream. It was a dream and it felt like a calling, I can’t really explain it. I wanted to be a mom so bad and my greatest fear was that I wouldn’t be able to have children.

When I became a mother my dream literally came true. Words cannot describe how much joy motherhood gives me. However, what’s crazy though, when I became a mom I also lost myself a bit.

Losing a bit of myself was very bizarre to me. I became something that I wanted so badly, yet, here was I not feeling completely fulfilled.

I went on a serious soul searching journey. And 3 kids later I feel the most confident, courageous, that I have ever been. And I have grown so much.

Motherhood has been the best thing to ever happen to me, because I found a different part of myself. New dreams are being born and new goals are being formed because of my first dream. My daughters inspire me. I have started dreaming ‘impossible dreams’ because of them.

I share this because I don’t ever want you to feel discouraged. The feeling of reaching something but not quite feeling the way you thought you would will happen sometimes.

I saw an interview with Tom Hanks on The Today Show and he said something along the lines of, “The good things you feel from an accomplishment don’t last, and the same goes for the things that bring you down.”

I’m grateful for my dream of motherhood coming true. Greatest, hardest thing ever! This blog exist because of my girls! I have no idea where this blog will take me, but so far it’s probably helped me more then it’s helped any of you.

Trust the Timing of things. And trust your path. Each path provides some type of lesson to get you where you need to go next.

It can take time trying to figure out what you really want.

The point is, don’t give up. Keep trying, keep experiencing, keep doing! And stop being so concerned with what others think. Otherwise you’ll just become stuck and you will settle. If you only knew that just a few feet more you’d see that something greater was waiting for you.

If you’re afraid to fail in front of others, you’re going to have to suck it up. I say that in the nicest way possible.

I personally would rather keep trying new things and experiencing failure to find what really lights my spirit up, then to just settle because I’m in a content position.

You can’t be afraid of dead ends, u-turns, or any paths that lead you into a roundabout.

The pitfalls, the mistakes, the redos are going to happen and they have to happen in order for you to learn and grow and to get where you want to be.

4 THINGS TO CLOSE THIS UP

(Thanks if you read this whole thing!)

Be patient.

Don‘t forget the reason why you’re doing what you are doing.

Write your goals down and work towards it everyday.

Stop limiting yourself, set yourself to be free and to express who you really are and who you want to become.

Enjoy the crazy maze of life!

DIY Ripped Jeans – All You Need is Scissors, A Steak Knife, And Tweezers

The Wild Gems

First, I just want to say this is a super easy DIY. And I don’t know why but I felt it to be kind of soothing pulling out the jean threads.

I’m weird.

Anyways, I had a pair of black jeans with a little bit of white paint on them and because of that white paint they just became dormant in my drawer.

I have no idea what prompted me to pull them out and to decide to do something with them but here we are.

(I can be very impulsive. Sometimes I’ll decide I want bangs so I grab scissors and cut.)

I cut a big hole in the blacks jeans and thought, well, this looks stupid. I better YouTube this.

And I learned how to make your own ripped jeans! Honestly, it makes sense why they charge an arm and leg for ripped jeans when you buy them. It’s really easy but it’s a bit tedious.

Let this be your craft for the month!

DIY RIPPED JEANS – All YOU NEED IS SCISSORS, A STEAK KNIFE, AND TWEEZERS

Step 1: Identify where on your jeans you want to place holes or distressed marks.

(Tip: Try on yours pants, and mark with chalk if needed.)

Step 2: (for just a distressed look) Take your steak knife and run the steak knife side to side on parts of the waste, tops of the pockets, and a few random spots on your jeans.

Step 3: To achieve the “ripped look” take your scissors and cut horizontal lines where you want the holes to be. One horizontal line on top of another.

Step 4: (this is the soothing yet tedious part. Turn on some Netflix) take your tweezers and begin pulling the vertical jean threads out, so eventually all that will be left are the white threads in the middle.

THERE IS NO WRONG WAY TO DO THIS, GET CREATIVE AND HAVE FUN WITH IT.

It’s going to look cute!

Work it girl

Fall Wines And The Perfect Pairings That Go With Them

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“Every empty bottle is filled with a great story”

-unknown

Fall is here!

Time to start planning those Fall social events and family/friend gatherings! A time to reminisce, laugh, story tell, and mingle!

Who’s excited for the season!!

If you enjoy hosting parties and enjoy wine this is the post for you. Take a look at these perfect Fall Wines and these tasty foods that compliment them perfectly!

Below are 4 Fall wines and the perfect pairings for them to make it easier for your planning.

Fall Wines And The Perfect Pairings That Go With Them

Merlot

  • Slow Cooker Beef Stew
  • Grilled Steak
  • Roasted chicken
  • Grilled Lamb Chops
  • Caprese Salad
  • Caesar Salad
  • Mushrooms (add to a salad, a sauce, or a side)
  • Mashed potatoes
  • Macaroni and cheese
  • Brussels sprouts with bacon
  • Pasta
  • Gouda and cheddar cheese

Pinot Noir

  • Salmon
  • Tuna
  • Glazed Ham
  • Grilled asparagus
  • Pulled pork
  • Pasta
  • Roasted chicken
  • Casseroles
  • Stews
  • Pizza
  • Cheeseburgers
  • Duck

Sparkling Wine

  • Shrimp
  • Fried calamari
  • Buttered popcorn
  • Stuffed mushrooms
  • Fruit based desserts
  • Smoked salmon
  • Oysters
  • Sushi
  • Asparagus
  • Almonds

Unoaked Chardonnay

  • Pasta in a creamy sauce
  • Creamy vegetable soups
  • Chicken
  • Crab
  • Grilled fish
  • Butternut squash
  • Pumpkin
  • Corn
  • Crab Cakes
  • Fried Chicken
  • Turkey

 

If you really LOVE Fall check out this list FALL MUST DO’S list! Click on the link below.

15 MUST DO’S For A Memorable FALL – The Best Season

We Can Live In A Better World With A Simple Act

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I think something we all think about from time to time is our purpose in life.

Not just our purpose, but we wonder how we are contributing to this world. We ask ourselves what impact am I making, or how can I make an impact? I have an answer.

Kindness.

We reciprocate kindness. It’s something so simple yet extremely powerful.

Can you imagine a world where people were just more kind. Kind as in soft hearted, thoughtful, helpful, loving, full of compassionate and sincerity.

You hear about acts of kindness, you hear how contagious it is but what is an act of kindness really.

An act of kindness is a selfless act you do for someone or something for the mere fact of making them feel good and expecting nothing in exchange. That’s a very simple explanation.

In result of these actions, these acts of kindness, you feel good. You feel really good, you feel positive, you feel and you know you are making an impact in someway. If you are unaware of this, YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE with every kind thing that you do.

You don’t need to know the results of whatever good acts of kindness you are doing because in your heart you know these good deeds are impactful and will go further then you can possibly imagine.

Kindness is extremely contagious. Which is why we need to be more kind to one another.

Even just witnessing an act of kindness makes you feel good! Have you ever noticed that?

In performing more acts of kindness you are spreading magic.

When someone does something nice for YOU, don’t you feel a need and a desire to reciprocate it. You want to return the gesture because you keep in mind how good it made you feel and you want to pay it forward.

All this kindness feels so good because it releases that love hormone you’ve heard about, oxytocin.

A hormone that is released through intimacy, hugging, childbirth, and that’s just to name a few! Overall I think we all can agree it’s a pretty good feeling.

I feel like often we are reminded how cruel this world can be. Whether it be something we watch on the news or see on social media, or hear maybe on the radio.

It’s crucial to not let these bad things that exist harden your heart and to stay strong with your ‘kindness armor’.

Being a Mother I worry a lot about my children and this world they are growing up in. But I know if we are all just more kind this world really can be a better place.

I challenge you to do more acts of kindness. Empathize with one another and choose to love. We are all in this together. We are one.

No matter how big or small you think you are, you play a huge part in this life and world and plan. Lift those who are weak, continue to strengthen yourself to help others, and never give up on the vision that you have for a better place.

What kind thing will you do today?

Start Off Everyday With These 5 Simple Morning Habits

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Our mornings are what set the day for success, they set the pace for positive results, and they set our mood for optimism. Have you ever heard the quote, “Win the morning, win the day.” By Entrepreneur Tim Ferriss.

It makes a difference when things are running smoothly versus getting a late start and then constantly feeling rushed.

When we can win the morning we are setting ourselves up for productivity. You are more likely to feel a sense of accomplishment through out your day when you have a great morning.

Think for a quick moment, what do your mornings look like? How are you shaping them daily.

Would you describe the start of your day as relatively consistent or a tad sporadic? I guess it kind of depends if you went out for margaritas the prior the night before or not. But on a daily basis what’s your routine look like?

If you don’t have a morning routine I highly encourage you to develop a morning routine. Don’t feel bad if you have difficulty sticking to your routine, the important thing is to have one in place and to work towards the good habits daily.

It can be super easy to get distracted but don’t let that stop you from getting these morning rituals done.

To be honest sometimes I have difficulty sticking to this routine because my children are my huge distraction but if I can cross off at least 3 of these things every morning I typically feel pretty good!

Now if you feel your morning is consistent, what is it that you do every morning and do you feel like it’s helping with your personal growth in some way?

And who doesn’t want to start their day with a positive attitude and in a positive mood every day!

It took me some time to develop a morning routine. But I’ve found when I’m consistent in all 5 of these habits my mornings are better then ever! A great kick start to the day and feeling motivated to get stuff done.

Here is what I do just about every morning!

Start Off Everyday With These 5 Simple Morning Habits

1. Stretch

One of the first things to do is the morning is stretch. (It’s usually after I’ve had my coffee) You don’t need to perform any crazy yoga stretches first thing in the morning just stand up and move your body.

Reach for the sky, reach for your toes, move your head side to side, you get the idea. Get the blood circulating and get your energy levels back up. While stretching to a few deep breathes. This is the perfect way to wake the body and get it ready for the day!

2. Wash Your Face/Take A Shower

I feel like a good, cold, splash to the face is rejuvenating and refreshing. I feel like my puffy eyes instantly go down and I become more awake in an instant.

A cold shower is another quick way to get those energy levels up and a great way to kick start any day! I usually shower at night but if I need an extra pep in my step I put on this watermelon shower cap and take a cold body shower. I’m more alert then ever, and I just feel good.

3. Drink A Glass Of Water

One of the first things I do every morning and put into my body every morning is I drink a glass of lukewarm water. Not cold, water needs to be warm or I would say room temperature. I have been doing this forever now. The best reason to do this is to cleanse your digestive track and to help eliminate toxins from your body.

4. Read A Devotional/Watch Or Listen To Something Motivating

This is one of the best things to do every morning to get your mind right. Reading a devotional, listening to an uplifting podcast, or watching a motivational video is a great way to gain some perspective and to motivate you. There’s nothing like feeling inspired every morning. I can’t even begin to describe the impact of doing this every morning!

5. Make A To-Do List

Making a to-do list is a great way to hold yourself a accountable on tasks you want to accomplish. Creating a to do list every morning increases productivity and did you know it even relieves stress!

With life being so chaotic at times this is a great way to have some control and to remain organized.

Share your morning routine! What is it that you do every morning that gets you going?

Time to implement these habits into your life!

Brown Sugar And Butter Baked Peaches

The Wild Gems

I received the grocery store ad the other day and as I’m looking it over making my grocery store list it said it was national peach month! Say what! Who knew. So of course they had peaches for sale.

(Tips for grocery store shopping in link below)

9 Grocery Shopping Tips, For A Stress-Free Trip Every time

Without knowing it was national peach month the grocery store ad reminded me that I already had peaches!

I wouldn’t mind getting more peaches on my next trip but I needed to do something with these ones that were now sitting on my counter. So I decided to make baked peaches!

If you have peaches on hand and want a quick easy dessert let this be your go to!

It’s very simple to make and very delicious. Especially when served with vanilla ice cream. Yum!

Brown Sugar And Butter Baked Peaches

Servings 8

What you need:

4 ripe peaches

8 Tablespoons of salted butter (NOT room temperature butter)

8 tablespoons of brown sugar

1/2 tsp on cinnamon

1/4 tsp of nutmeg

Steps:

Cut peaches in half and removes pits

Place a tablespoon of butter onto each peach half

Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of brown sugar onto each peach half

Combine nutmeg and cinnamon and sprinkle onto peaches

Bake in the oven at 350 for 15 to 20 mins or until peaches are soft (oven times may vary)

Serve with vanilla ice cream

Enjoy with loved ones!