Recipe: Pico Cauli Rice and Chicken

During my kids birthday party weekend, we had a lot of family in town and had to find a way to feed 20+ people. My Aunt, who is a rockstar clean eater, offered to make mexican "cauli" rice for our fajita dinner. I wasn't going to object because 1. I'm a super-fan and clean eating and 2. a lot of our family members are gluten free and 3. did I mention there were more than 20 of us!? 

I finally got around to making this and turned it into a one-pot-wonder. We had grilled chicken two days before that was either going to go bad or going to bad and I needed to think of something to pair it with STAT. Insert "new year, new you" references for healthy and clean eating. 

This was ready in like 15 minutes, tops. Super easy!

• Store prepared pico de gallo from my beloved HEB
• 1-2 bags frozen cauliflower rice 
• Couple slices of butter
• Salt
• Pepper
• Cubed left over grilled chicken breast (we had the preseasoned kind from HEB)
• Avocado (optional)
• Lime (optional)

Heat the butter and saute the pico for a few minutes and until it becomes fragrant and the onions are almost translucent (they will continue to heat). Add the frozen cauliflower rice - I used two bags of birds eye brand. I liked my aunt's better - she riced an actual head of cauliflower and it cooked down better. The frozen bags are a little coarse for my taste but again - super fast and super easy! Cook to your preference, stiring occasionally. You can even add a cover to "steam" everything, too. While this was cooking I chopped the chicken that was left over. Add the chicken and salt and pepper to taste - heat until chicken is warmed. I topped ours with a little squeeze of lime and avocado! We ate it with Siete almond flour chips - so good! 

Thanks to my Aunt for the super easy recipe - healthy doesn't have to be hard or laborious! Enjoy!!! 

I'm a Pinterest Mom: Perfect Playroom Office Combo

Disclaimer: All posts beginning with "I'm a Pinterest Mom" are not meant to be snarky. I legitimately enjoy being that mom. I don't own a vinyl or sewing machine, but darn it if Etsy isn't my next best friend. Crafting and creating and designing are things that relieve stress and give me joy. Don't knock Pinterest moms until you get to know them! From home design to birthday parties and recipes - I am a Pinterest Mom... and proud of it.

Perfect Playroom Office Combo

When we moved into our new house, I was determined to have a space for myself. Back up...When we decided to move, one of the must haves was an area for the kids to play and some office/personal space for myself (whatever that looked like), and of course another room for baby #3 on the way. My husband is obsessed with the front and back yard and, lets be real, the kids get the entire rest of the house, so why not a space for mom that doesn't include a stove or washing machine?

Fast forward, low and behold in the house we bought, there WAS a desk nook in the kitchen that would have been perfect...but then we remodeled and out went the desk. We thought of ways to salvage the material and recreate the built in look in our "bonus" room but it wasn't worth the effort. Also, once we actually got to taking the cabinets out and down and removing the granite, it was basically ruined in the process. No further comments there.

The bonus room we scored in our new house is rectangular, so dividing the space was luckily pretty easy. Using large rooms for different purposes is always challenging! You will probably rearrange the placement of furniture a few times until it works, because your idea probably can work! I kept in mind what I wanted people to see when they walked in the front door, since this particular space is the first thing you see when you walk in. We thought a TV and kids space on that end, first, but quickly realized keeping it "tidy" would be a challenge since there is a lack of wall space for storage. Storage galore for all things toys and arts and crafts and dinosaurs and trucks and dress up stuff and blocks and eek - the list continues.

We flipped the script and ended up with mom/office area on the end you see when you enter the house, and kid/play area on the opposite end of the space. We settled on a beautiful, dreamy and modern desk and some wall mounted shelving (uh, yes, those are from IKEA! WHAT?!) for my end of the space. It's actually better (and more feng shui if I'm getting technical) that way because the view from my desk is spectacular, the view from the entryway is beautiful and inviting, and plus, there is more wall space for toy storage and a small table/chair set for the kids on the other end of the room. We debated on keeping our 'click clack' couch because of the space it consumes but while the kids are little, it makes sense to have a space for parents or babysitters to sit and play or supervise.

Keep in mind, for any space you're trying to make work - think about what the space will be used for and your lifestyle and personality. We chose the set up we did because 1. I wanted it to be aesthetically pleasing and an inviting space to get work done 2. My kids do more arts, crafts and floor play right now so they needed more of the room than I did 3. I use my desk a few hours a week, nothing crazy, but it's nice to be able to work and watch the kids at the same time (plus a view out the window doesn't hurt). Make your space work for you - even in your design. Making a space functional and practical doesn't mean it has to be ugly, either. Space planning is hard and usually takes a lot of arranging and rearranging. Get advice or input - or call me!

• Desk - CB2
• Shelving Unit - Ikea
• Round Storage (Large) - Target
• Round Storage (small) - Target
• Rectangular Storage - Target
• Kids table and chairs - Target 
• Couch - Urban Outfitters
• Office/Playroom Light - Amazon
• Dining Room Table - West Elm
• Dining Room Light - West Elm

Dream Big. Start Small.

Do you know how many times I hear "How do you do so much?" or "You do so many things!" or something along those lines?

I'm not complaining. I know I "do all the things". I'm also not complaining about doing those things.

I'm here more or less to encourage you.

How appropriate for the beginning of a new year is this? It may sound cheesy but there is so much truth in this one little statement. I saw this little quote by a TED Talk Speaker, Simon Sinek (I'm sure he is famous for other reasons but, he has several really great keynotes that you can listen to here).



Whatever dream you have - whether it be to stay home with your kids or work less hours, lose weight, work your way towards your dream job, buy a car or a house or a boat (I know a guy!), travel more, to make it from paycheck to paycheck, whatever it is... START!

I also saw something, that actually threw me off, that basically encouraged people not to do a dern thing but  stated that "God would make it so". I really, highly doubt God is looking down at us wanting us to simply sit and wait. Yes, His will be done and all those glorious and wonderful truths, but, laziness and complacency don't sit well with Him - guaranteed.

I may look like I have my hands in so. many. different. pots. And there are definitely days, sometimes weeks, where I'm like, "What in the actual F am I doing?" but if I am true to myself, I started and continue all my 'things' because I enjoy them. I have some lofty dreams tied to some. I am currently able to live some dreams tied to others. All in all, there is a reason for the madness and I really believe that a lot of 'starting,' no matter how hard it was, is tied to glorifying God and His plan for my life.

I'm not saying, "be like me!"

If there is something pulling at you, just start. No one got anywhere via complacency, moaning and groaning, or envying others.

Spaghetti Squash BBQ Chicken Casserole

So, I made this bomb paleo casserole (that isn’t 100% paleo because I added cheese to the top). Events leading up to it were not so fun. It’s spaghetti squash BBQ chicken casserole and here is the story behind the goodness (and thank God it was good or I would have really been ticked)! 

I bought the ingredients a few days before to be prepared and one of the main ones was a spaghetti squash (hence, the name). Well, I went to start cooking the spaghetti squash but it was nowhere to be found!!! Seriously, who loses a spaghetti squash?! They aren’t small! Luckily, my husband was just leaving work so he stopped for one. 

He got home, cut it in half (the width way, not length wise), I salted it, set it on a pan lined with parchment paper (cut side down) and cooked it for 35 minutes at 425F. 

Next, I got to work on the chicken. I cut two pounds of raw chicken breast  into bite size pieces. I honestly love doing that because it makes serving the meal to two littles a lot easier and faster! I digress. Into the pan with the chicken, I added garlic and Italian seasoning and some EVOO. I let the chicken cook while I diced a whole red onion. I added the red onion and two pouches of turkey bacon bits (yes, I cheated and used turkey bacon bits instead of cooking turkey bacon and cutting it) and let the chicken finish cooking. 

At this point, my youngest kept asking “Foooood, mommy? Fooood? Eat it?” Yes, dear, going as fast as I can! 

While the chicken and onions and cheater turkey bacon bits cooked, I whipped up some homemade bbq sauce! A small can of tomato paste, garlic, some shakes of liquid smoke, paprika, pepper, some maple syrup, then I used the tomato paste can to measure out 3/4 of a can of apple cider vinegar and 1/4 Worcestershire sauce. I whisked it all together, then tweaked what I put in and had my husband taste test it. He approved! Sorry, we don’t measure much around here. Who has time for that? 

I spaghettified the spaghetti squash, added in the chicken/bacon mix and the homemade bbq sauce then whisked up three eggs and added those. This all went into a parchment lined 13x9 pan. 

The kicker- since dinner was already severely delayed because of the case of the missing spaghetti squash, I threw in the casserole at 400F, set the timer for 30 minutes and tried to distract my hungry kids. I went to the oven with about 5 minutes left, to check on it and add the cheese .... and the oven was OFF! Say what?!? 

Ugh. Needless to say, I restarted the oven but my husband went to grab pizza because none of us could wait. 

The missing spoonful in the picture was tasty and kid approved - even after eating pizza. 

Can’t win them all, my friends. Half glass full: we now have dinner for tomorrow. 

6 Things I Do During Pregnancy...And Need To Do After

So, round 3 of pregnancy and I've been wondering this a lot lately. Probably because I've noticed my own behavior! We read articles and talk to friends and get input on what to do during pregnancy, to ensure a healthy and happy baby and momma. But, my question is, why don't we do this all the time? And not just women but, men too.

Here are a few things I've made mental note of recently that I pay much more attention to during pregnancy than during normal life (I say that because at this point in my life, I feel like I am pregnant more often than I am not!).

1. Establishing a good skin care routine.

Our skin does CRAY CRAY things while pregnant. Some of us break out like mad, some of us get pregnancy mask or melasma and some of us clear up like we haven't even hit puberty yet. Regardless, I notice that I pay much closer attention to my skin while pregnant. This is great, yes, but I need to keep it up after pregnancy too because, Lord knows the skin goes bonkers a few times trying to regulate those pesky hormones. 

2. Watching what goes on and in our body

Point #2 goes hand in hand with the above. I don't use products with retinol while pregnant or super harsh chemicals. I do make sure my skin is hydrated (I use this stuff and it's bomb: Active Hydration Body Cream) because with each pregnancy and while nursing, I feel like these babies literally suck me dry (and stretch marks are the devil but are inevitable sometimes). Also, I am not a naturalist by any means but essential oils are amazing for all life seasons and ages and ailments. I tend to run my diffuser into the garbage and douse kids with EO's while pregnant and I should be doing that all. the. time. 

I've also been watching what I eat. Besides the fact that this pregnancy has been full of cravings, I have been super mindful of what's going in my body. Mainly from a weight gaining standpoint but I need to be more consistent during the "off pregnancy" times. Lots of leafy greans, lean proteins, minimal carbs and dairy. But always ice cream. 

3. Working out and/or staying active

No one tells you how your shoulders will ache from carrying a 7 pound baby for 20 minutes. Or how your back will feel like it's going to spasm into oblivion after they've finally latched to nurse and there's no way in hell you're moving to get that boppy. Or how physically demanding labor and c-section recovery can be. But, you figure it out pretty dern fast. I won't say it's too late, but be careful trying to catch up when trying to get those weighted exercises in. Get clearance from your doctor and even still, take it easy. Working out and staying active before and during pregnancy make the transition to newbornhood/motherhood so much easier. You feel yourself faster and don't fatigue as quickly. Your stamina for those 2am parties will astound you. 

Don't stop there - keep up the activity after baby is born. He or she will need you even more outside of the womb. Your physical ability to keep up with mommy duties is overwhelming mentally, but it doesn't have to be overwhelming physically. 

4. Taking vitamins - and lots of them

Kind of like what I am putting into my body, I need to keep in mind the benefits of vitamins and probiotics! Probiotics are so good for baby (I wrote some notes on reflux and it mentions probiotics as a helpful aid) and mommy's gut health. Also, a prenatal may not be enough for you. Consider your food intake - do you need to supplement iron, calcium, DHA, vitamin D and the B's, or did you not get enough fruits and veggies (because all day sickness is REAL) that a food based vitamin could help? I absolutely love all the gummy vitamins - I take several - one with a probiotic, juice plus gummies to help get all those essential fruits and vegetables in, and a prenatal with DHA - I also take an iron supplement. I do all of this while nursing too but then I eventually leave a few off and end up only taking them here and there - bad girl! 

5. Getting enough sleep

Easier said than done while pregnant, I get this. However, I have made it a priority while pregnant - which is weird for me because I am usually one who can operate on little sleep. If you're not getting enough sleep pregnant or not, maybe evaluate what is really keeping you up - do you need to do meditation/prayer before bed to unwind, do you need a new mattress, do you need to politely ask your husband to go in the other room because he snores or wear some ear plugs? Sleep is so important for everyone. It improves brain function in EVERYONE. We encourage our littles to sleep so they can grow big and strong.

Why don't we take it more seriously when we aren't pregnant?

6. Watching my demeanor and tone of voice with my spouse and kids

Oh man, for the sake of all things holy why must hormones make us lose our ever living minds? I would love to go more than a week without wigging out on someone in my house. It is really, really hard and has gotten progressively worse with each pregnancy. I know better. So I need to be better. Grace is tossed around like pixie dust in my house, thankfully! This is a reminder for myself during and after this baby comes! They don't deserve it and I hate how it makes me feel. Keeping calm, generally keeps everyone calm. Apparently that is a harder lesson to learn than it really should be.

The list may sound obvious but point me to one person who is consistent with ALL of these things, ALL the time, so that I may shake their hand.