Update..

Story of my life, I'm behind on everything ... blogging, instagrams monthly challenge, what I'm thankful for today's, blah blah blah! I've been busy. I have really have been bad at taking pictures lately, which I'm bummed about!

I have made some yummy new recipes & will blog about eventually. I'm really looking forward to trying some new Christmas goodies... thank you Pinterest. Speaking of Christmas I am SOOOO ready!! Hard to believe I will be able to start decorating this time next week :eeek: and our elf friend Buddy will be back destroying my house. I decided to be a little bit more organized with his shenanigans this year, so I printed a calendar for December and wrote what would happen each day. Last year I just kinda winged it. Do you have any favorite traditions? We do a few different things...

• Thanksgiving morning we eat stuffing for breakfast while we watch the parade ... I make good stuffing with sausage and everything in it. This tradition started with my step mom and will continue forever!
• Buddy of course, will show up in the mail next week & stay until Christmas.
• We bake cookies and give them to well, anyone I can, I just love making them. This year I'm going to make cinnamon sugar almonds in the crock pot too.
• Christmas Eve buddy will bring PJ's for the entire family and a Christmas movie to watch, this year I'm thinking Arthur Christmas. I also ordered The Pajama Elves Book this year!

I saw this cute little elf door that you put up against your base board buuut I'm pretty sure I can make a cuter one, so that will come next year.

Enough about Christmas ..... I haven't hosted a HouseParty in a LONG time but I signed up and ACTUALLY got picked to host one for SodaStream. I'm not at all a soda drinker {maybe 1 soda a month but that's pushing it} but I'm excited about this little machine! It gives you recipes for sparkling tea and grown up drinks too!

I also just signed up for BzzAgent & I'm so addicted to filling out all the surveys! How did I not know about this??

Family update.... we are all doing great!! I start a part-time bartending job tonight & I'm really looking forward to it, I miss the bar atmosphere a lot. C is doing great in school and learning so much, amazes me everyday. M just brought home straight A's AGAIN, the kid has never brought home anything else. J is doing well too- he is in the process of job hunting, he has done auto body work his entire life and I think it's really wearing on him.

Thankful Thursdays

I am linking up with Julia at black tag diaries for Thankful Thursdays, why because I have a lot to be thankful for!

I am so thankful for for the way my family & friends have come together to help my brother in law.

 I haven't blogged about him in a while but although we were hoping to hear he was cancer free earlier this month, it didn't quite workout that way. His lymph nodes are swollen so he has to have rplnd surgery, which is a very major and complicated surgery. Leaving him with a lovely scar like this {thank you google}

Not many surgeons in the US perform this surgery so next week is headed to Indiana University! His surgeon is actually the same guy who did Lance Armstrong's surgery {which I think is awesome}.

My sister in law has set up a fundraising site since Trey has no medical insurance, if you're reading this please take a look ... read his story, if you have the money all donations are greatly appreciated every $1 helps, you can also leave a "hug" with kind and uplifting words. If nothing else please share it on your blog, twitter, facebook, whatever just to get more attention drawn to testicular cancer, it is no where near publicized the way it should be.

http://www.giveforward.com/fightlikehell

30 Things, Day 17

What is the thing you most wish you were great at?

SAVING!! I am horrible with money, I swear I have it spent before my direct deposit hits.

30 Things, Day 16

 

What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?

1. Being a mom- by far the best accomplishment ever!!
2. Being a homeowner! It's tough in the real world & with the hubs job things have been so up & down.
3. Getting married to my best friend, not many people can say that.
4. Getting my insurance licence. I complain at times and the $ sucks but I do love my job.
5. Did I mention being a mom?? AMAZING :)

Chicken Ranch Enchiladas (Crock-Pot)

D*E*L*I*C*I*O*U*S

Ingredients

• 1 Packet of Taco Seasoning
• 1 Packet of Ranch Dressing
• 1 Can of Low Sodium Chicken Broth
• 1 lb of Chicken Breast
• Whole Wheat Tortillas
• 2 Cups of Shredded Pepper Jack Cheese
• 1/2 Cup of Light Ranch Dressing
• 1/2 Cup of Salsa

{The next time I think I will also add a chopped onion, chopped bell pepper and a can of chopped chilis to the crock pot}

Directions

• Put chicken, taco seasoning, ranch mix & chicken broth in crock-pot & cook for about 6 hours on low. I shred the chicken after about 4 hours.
• Divide the chicken and cheese between the tortillas, roll them up & place in a greased 9X13 baking dish.
• Bake on 350 for about 20 minutes
• In a small bowl combine ranch and salsa. Pour over the enchiladas before serving.
• Enjoy!

I have been horrible at taking pictures lately!! I served ours with mexican rice and refried beans.

Chicken Pesto Stuffed Shells

This was one of those recipes that I was iffy about but OMGEE they were good!!!They were also a good pick-up & go food that could be good for a party.

 Ingredients

{all are rough estimates}

• Jumbo Pasta Shells {cooked aldente, they finish cooking in the oven}
• 4-5oz of  Cream Cheese
• 2 Cups Shredded Chicken
• 1.25 Cups Shredded Parmesan Cheese
• 3TBSP Pesto Sauce
• 1/2 TBSP Minced Garlic
• Salt/Pepper to Taste

Directions

• In a large bowl combine all ingredients except 1/4 cup of cheese and shells.
• Fill the shells with the mixture and place into a baking dish.
• Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of parmesan on top of the shells.
• Bake on 350 for around 30 minutes.
• Enjoy!

So Effing What It's Not Wednesday!

  I'm going to change the title to SO EFFING WHAT! because that's how feel today :x  

• that it is AGAIN Thursday & I am just getting around to doing this
• that I have blogged in dayssss but I have thought about it if that counts for anything
• that I have had 3.5 cups of coffee and I think I may start on an energy drink soon, wtf?!
• that I'm debating getting a hotel room near home for a night alone ...or maybe invite some girlfriends and have an good ole' hotel party like the old days