Honey Garlic Porkchops

Honey Garlic Porkchops..    YES PLEASE!

This recipe is FANTASTIC.   The ingredients are a little out there and make you hesitate, but it works so well together!

If you know me, you know I absolutley LOVE to grill and I LOVE my Food Saver.    Seriously dont think I could live without either of those!

1 cup of ketchup
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup Lite Soy Sauce
2 cloves garlic, minced
6 4oz pork boneless porkchops


Salt and Pepper

So, pretty easy peasy...  mix everything together to use as a marinade.

I of course poured mine into a Food Saver bag with my porkchops and threw them back in the freezer.   

You can double or split the recipe and even throw in as much garlic as you want..  IMO, the more garlic the better.. I used about six cloves.. minced.

Marinate for a minimum of two hours, overnight or even longer is best!

DONT THROW THE MARINADE AWAY.

When ready to prepare, oil your grill to avoid the chops from sticking.      You can use a George Foreman grill or an outdoor grill.  

The extra marinade can be used as a dipping sauce.. BUT you MUST bring it to a boil in a sauce pan before it is safe to eat.      Don't want to mix raw meat and you belly or else you'll be spending an awful night in the loo!

Meatball Minestrone Stoup

Meatball Minestrone Stoup

Yes, a "Stoup".   It's not a stew.. not a soup.   Stoup.

This is another favorite in our house.   Plus, it makes such a big batch that I of course portion, freeze and seal portions with my Food Saver.    Pop a bag in the microwave and in 5 minutes you have a great, home-made meal!

I make this dish in the Crock Pot..  LOVE Crock-pot meals!

6 cups hot water
2 cans Kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 pkg of fozen mixed vegetables
2 beef bouillon cubes
1 TB dried minced onion
1 Bay Leaf
1 tsp dried Basil
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp Pepper
1 pkg fully frozen Homestyle meatballs  (or 16oz of home-made)
1 can stewed tomatos
Pasta of your choice


Pasta: I use Rigatoni.   The original recipe calls for Spaghetti noodles but since I modified this for the crock-pot, Rigatoni holds up a lot better and wont turn to sloppy mush like the thin noodles will.

anyways..

Combine the 6 cups of hot water and the beef bouillon cubes in the crock pot.  Stir til cubes are disolved.   

Add all the other ingeredients (except pasta) to crock pot, turn to High and let cook.    Stir after 4 hours, continue to cook.    If you're not home to stir, it's okay.   Just stir well before you add the pasta.

If you're using a hardy pasta like mine it'll take about 20 min to cook through.   Make sure the pasta is submerged and stir so they ALL get in the party.  :)

Voila!   Dinner is ready!

Stock picture of course..

And to freeze, I portion it out into Tupperwear and freeze FIRST then vacuum seal.      Sometimes, I seal soups when theyre still hot but when it's late, this is the easiest way to go.

WOW.. this picture is AWFUL!   lol  But the food is so good.   And, if you have a Vacuum Sealer like me, You've got a meal handy for up to a year.   A YEAR!      this would be GREAT for a sick friend to family member or a quick meal on the go!

The perfect night light..

So, today I spent the evening cleaning our bedrooms.   I feel like I can never keep-up with the kids, my household responsibilities and trying to make some income..

But I feel accomplished.    Mallory is as addicted to Scentsy as I am.    *high five me!*  lol

She has the Dotty Full Size Premium warmer in her bedroom and currently has Sticky Cinnamon Bun warming.. So strong, but one cube does it's job.

It's so pretty at night and is THE BEST night light..  looks pretty AND smells great.   I'm just glad Maleah is as smart as she is.   She knows better than to mess with the warmer/wax.   
Love my girls!
   Anyways, look how pretty it is!

It's sitting kind of twards the end of her dresser, right next to her fish tank.

And it sends a really pretty flare through the middle of her tank lighting it up just a little bit.. 

Maleah loves to see her "feeshees" right before bed and tell them "Night Night"  

Maleah is a big girl now!

So, Sunday night Maleah got to spend her first night in her 'new' Big Girl Bed..  and I'm so damn proud.    Ellie wasn't feeling so well so while I was putting her to bed, Brittany put the big girls down.

She went right to sleep... without a peep.   Funny, because I was honestly terrified that she was going to be running around the house in the middle of the night getting into EVERYTHING.    

Second night, she woke around midnight calling for me.. only because she twisted too much in her covers and got tucked in too tightly.  So, a quick un-tuck and kissing her forehead and she was out like a light.

Third night, tonight...  she went down like a sweet angel at 9pm and was out cold again.


She's so sweet too.. she'll wake up in the morning get out of bed and comes to snuggle with me and Ellie for a little bit  <3  

My babies sleeping in their big girl room together..

They're so adorable.. even when they're sleeping.  <3   I love my girls!

My Big Girl surrounded by her babies.

Next, weaning her from milk at night and then potty training.. woohoo...  let's get rid of these diapers.. well, for atleast one of these kiddos!

Creamy Chicken Sandwiches

Creamy Chicken Sandwiches

So today, I made Creamy Chicken Sandwiches for dinner.   Always a hit in this house and so easy to make.

I however didnt take any photos before we all stuffed out faces..  so Here's my recipe.


3lbs boneless skinless chicken breast (you could use thigh also, but I love white meat)
2 cans Cream of Chicken soup
1 can water
1/4 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Pepper

I throw everything in the crockpot on high for 6 hours.
Shred the chicken breast and throw it back in the crock pot.

I usually let it merry for another two hours and about 30 min before serving, take the lid off and let the sauce thicken a little bit.

I prefer mine served on an extra soft white hamburger bun..  MMM oh, and salt and pepper to taste!

Ellie UPDATE!

My baby is getting SO BIG.
She's 11 months as off 11/12/12..   trying to walk, but really not sure of herself yet.

AND, tonight I noticed her 7th tooth popped through today.  

I can't believe she turns ONE in a month.. this seems insane.  I wish she would stay a baby forever.

She's still BREASTFEEDING.   and although I feel like a creeper when I say this, i LOVE BFing my little girl.   I can't even imagine weaning her anytime soon and think I'll keep nursing until shes ready to quit.   It's a bond stronger than I can even explain..  it's amazing.   I love my little princesses.  <3

Feeling pretty good..

So, I finally did my hair the way I've wanted to for a while.    Top half is bleached out, bottom half is black.  IN LOVE with my hair.
Too bad that since all my hair was blonde, the bottom half I dyed black is fading awfully quick..  guess I need to get some more black and stain stain stain my hair away.

It's mehhhh Birfday!

Well, the 31st was my birthday.

Took the kids trick-or-treating  but sadly didnt get any pics of the kiddos in their costumes.
Mallory was a pirate, with make-up and all.   Maleah was Cinderella, in a super cute pink ball gown... and Ellie wasa fuzzy adorable pink three eyed monster   <3

Mallory's is on the left..  she drew a face on hers with a pen and I gladly carved it out the best that i could.   Can you guess which one was Ellie? lol      and Maleah's was a standard jack-o-lantern face.   Sadly, I was the only one who seemed interested in carving pumpkins this year..   Kids didnt really care after the first few minutes of gutting them...


and...

Guess who found the Hallowen candy!   LOL

Halloween Birthdays!

It's literally been a month since I wrote last.. i've tried hard to stop doing this.. going so long between posts but I get so caught up on life that it just gets difficult.

Mallory's birthday was October 12th.   We made a chocolate cake with Lime Green frosting with pink royal frosting hearts.    She had a blast and got some pretty good gifts from family.  I just cant believe that my baby is FIVE!  She recieved LOTS of barbie stuff and Maleah got a new baby (of course)

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday, October 13th was the girls' joint birthday party at my Mom's apartment clubhouse.  Lots of family and friends came, the kiddos both made out like bandits. 


Saturday October 27th was Baby Jack's Birthday.     For any of you reading that I dont personally know, Baby Jack is my younger sister's son.   He is 6 weeks older than Ellie and turned one.   Soooo many kids and mexican families are HUGE and sooooo overwhelming!    But it was a great time.  :)

 

 

Maleah turned TWO on the 28th which was the Sunday following Baby Jack's birthday.    She had a Sesame Street party, Elmo everywhere and even made a special cake..   an ADORABLE Cookie Monster cake!

 

 

Last 2 weeks in a NUTSHELL!

UGH...  life has been so damn hectic lately.

Well, it happened sooner than i thought it would... my Dad moved his girlfriend and her kids in.   I spent the better part of last week moving all of my boxes and items out of the spare room and into the shed and super-cleaning and packing more things that just didnt really need to be out and in the way.

I've been in cleaning mode lately also..   cleaning like a psycho everyday and making real meals and since its FINALLY cooling down outside, I've been taking the kids outside to play, ride bikes and water all the plants.


Mallory and Maleah are having their birthday party this coming Saturday and I am so excited for them.   We're having it at the Clubhouse of my Mom's apartment complex and fingers crossed the pool is warm enough to swim in!   it's either one extreme or the other in October..  100 degrees or sleeting.   Let's hope for 100!      I made about 6 dzn sugar cookies from scratch and instead of a "Happy Birthday" Banner, I made cutouts that spell "Happy Birthday Mallory" and "Happy Birthday Maleah"     That way they each have their own special thing and in different colors, one pink and one purple.   We're also doing pretty cupcakes for the party too.    Hopefully having pizza and Velata Chocolate!

and yes, I'm going to try and make a sale and bring my Scentsy testers also.  :)   lol..  always working!


Not so awesome happenings..  my phone burnt up  :(    I had  Galaxy Nexus and LOVED it..   but randomly over the last two months it's been really wonky.   Sometimes it works great, others it will only charge while powered off and other times it wouldnt charge at all.    Well it went through a fit like that two weeks ago..   It wouldnt charge then died and wouldnt do ANYTHING.   Well, for some reason after i tried all of the chargers in this house (10+ of them!) Jeremy took it outside and plugged it in in the car and Halleluja!  It charged so slow but got up to 40%...   brought it back inside and as soon as it turned on it did a system update to Jelly Bean.. i was SO excited because after this, it worked great..  UNTIL IT HAPPENED.   ughhh..   Sunday night i was using my phone, the damn things starts getting crazy..  wouldnt send messages.. battery life wasnt reading correctly.  Well, it got really low then it would say it was charging- only it wasnt plugged in.   then it would "charge" only to re-boot..   after maybe 6 times of this, it died completley.
I plug it in not knowing what was going to happen..  after about 5 min plugged in i check it to see if theres any power going into it.. and it BURNS MY HAND when I pick it up.     There was absolutley no power getting to the battery.   All that power flowing into it was i guess bunched up in the bottom of the phone where the charger connected.    It's smoking so I quickly unplug it..  the tip of the charger is back and the plastic around it it getting soft from the heat..   my phone is all ashy and looks like it has soot on it..   but it doesnt smell like an Electical fire.. it smells like my phone smoked a carton of cigarettes and then DIED.     

We havent even dealt with Verizon yet since Jeremy has to do it.. seeing how it's in his name but i am PISSED.       Now, I'm home all day without a phone.   I have wifi, but no home phone or alternate cell phone that I can call out on in case of an emergency.   I can't be reached by customers because I cant answer my phone and idiot me can't remember the password to my email account since it stays signed in on my phone 24/7 and now i'm locked out of it til midnight TOMORROW.  UGHH


So, thats been my life in a nutshell..  ;)

Did someone say La La Loopsy?

So after all the planning I had started for an amazing Elmo party for Maleah and a kick-ass Spongebob party for Mallory..  the plans have changed.


Because we don't have our move date yet and when we do find out will probably be leaving in a matter of weeks..   we wanted to throw both the girls a party, not just Mallory and too bad for Maleah because we'll be in a hotel.   That wouldn't be fair.


Soooooo   their party will be October 13th at the Clubhouse of the apartment complex where my mom lives.    Hopefully it'll be freakishy warm again so we can swim too.  :)

and of course because I couldnt combine the spongebob and elmo themes, we're doing La La Loopsy!   Plus on the girls' actual birthdays we'll be doing cupcakes with the little sugar candy characters on top.   

Google has so many cute ideas for La La Loopsy parties..   for example:

this adorable wreath made from bows and mini La La Loopsy figurines.

These adorable BUTTON cookies!      These would also be super adorable made out of fondant and neatly layed on top of mini or regular size cupcakes.

although this is a Cupcake-Cake a this is a GREAT La La Loopsy cake!

This cake pop is AMAZING.. i however do not have the patience to create something so labor intensive and beautiful that will literally be gone with ONE bite.    Nor, would I pay to have these made.. unless I won the lottery of course.




There are sooo many more ideas out there..  the cute milk bottles, Loopsy dolls sitting about and os many cute items on Etsy   If only money wasn't an issue.      Next year, we will be buying Halloween decor all year long and will be goig crazy doing a Halloween/Costume party for the girls.   It'll be a blast!

So this year, we'll be doing swimming, pizza, cake and fun games with cutesy La La Loopsy deocrations with my monkeys and all their friends and family   <3   I can't wait!

Divorce...happens?

Well it's been a few weeks again.. I swear I keep slacking... I'll write a few entires and then disappear for a bit again.

Between my household duties, the girls and packing etc. i am seriously so busy.

I dont even know if I've written about this before because it's really personal but in July my parents who had been together close to 30 years split up.    My Mom moved into an apartment in town and my Dad is still living in the house they bought together.  My Dad already has a girlfriend.. a woman he works with and she has two kids.    They're not living together..yet.    Since myself and my kids are still living here until it's time for us to PCS, they're living in separate homes.

I like the woman and her kids..  yes kids.   She has a 15yr old daughter and a 20 yr old daughter.     They're nice kids and dont know their real father.   It's kind of like my dad is stepping in as their step-father already.    Hell, he already speaks of moving her and her kids in after we're on our way out the door and how he's excited for us to leave so he can  "live his life" like he's 16.


My Mom took splitting up really hard.. mostly because she stuck in through him not being divorced to his first wife and being illegally married to her..  through an affair with my little sister's best friend's mother.  She feels like she wasted 30 years with someone who didn't give a shit about her..   Jeremy and I helped her move into her apartment in July and she's finally seeing someone.. trying to move on with her life.  

I couldn't imagine trying to move on after 30 year with the same person... after losing someone you thought was your best friend just because he didn't want you anymore.   Very sad...


Anyways..   I feel like I'm the middle person here.  i NEVER though my parents would be getting a divorce and because I still live here with my Dad, it's like im obligated to be in the damn middle. I want them both to be happy because everyone deserves to be happy but I'm still angry because even though he wont admit it..  i KNOW he was cheating on my Mom again.    and im PISSED that he's going to moving her kids into mine and my sister's bedrooms.  

Say myself, Jeremy and the kids come home for holidays..  can't stay with my Mom in her 1bd apartment.. Can't stay here because well..   it'll be weird.   Wouldn't want to intrude on his "new" family.  

*sigh*   I'm just at a loss...

Endless Possibilities aka Velata!

Well..  I figured I needed to give a review on my blog for Velata since i've finally had a chance to try all four flavors.


I'm telling you.. the Dark Chocolate is BY FAR my favorite flavor.   I love a little bit of bitterness to my chocolate and Velata's Belgian Dark Chocolate with 60% cacao is AMAZING.      Dark Chocolate is GREAT with sweets like strawberries, banana chunks, apples... anything naturally sweet.   Heck, I even cut open a bag and spent a few days snacking on the delicious chocolate discs.

And how much easier can it be?   You pull your warmer out of the box and remove all the packaging, wash the dish up with a little warm soapy water also the fondue forks and pat dry with a paper towel.
Turn on your warmer to a medium setting and then...  *drumroll*   select your chocolate!     There's white, dark, milk and caramel milk.      

Take the bag you chose, pop it into the microwave for 1 minute.   Remove the bag, knead it caution it WILL be hot!  Knead until all of the lumps are gone.. if there are anymore, pop it back in for 15seconds and then knead again.

Twist open the spout and seal and pour directly into your warmer dish.    This is honestly the most difficult part of the process because you dont want to scald your hands, but you absolutley want to make sure you get every delicious drop of oozy chocolate out of your Velata melting bag.    Tada!  grab your dippables and go to town.


Some people may say.. oh this is just chocolate..  but it has ENDLESS possibilities.

Baby showers, Birthday Parties, BBQs, Work Parties, Wedding Gifts, Holiday Gatherings..   Romantic night with your Someone Special or just have fun with the kids!   

Yeah, the warmers may be a tad expensive at $40, but they have a dimmer switch to change the temp for your chocolate, come with the bulb and four fondue forks.   This is awesome.     Be a smart shopper and get your warmer and several Velata bags of chocolate at a discounted price!


The Velata Chocolate come in 6oz bags..   I'm sure 6oz doesnt seem like a whole lot, but imagine this..  3 kids and 3 adults sat and gorged ourselved on chocolate covered yum yums and there was STILL a little chocolate left over in the dish...   Trust me, a little chocolate goes a LONG way!

Marshmallows, Pretzels, Nilla Wafers, Bacon, Potato Chips, Strawberries, Pineapple, Watermelon, Apple Slices, Raspberries and Blueberries, Shortbread Cookies, Coconut Macaroons..   EVERYTHING tastes amazing in Velata Chocolate.

If you want to give the perfect gift or by one for yourself, buy one here!

Elmo's Worlddddd!

So my friend Jessica did this AMAZING  Elmo party for her son for his 2nd birthday last October and I will soooo be stealing her ideas!

The thing that I love, she took simple primary colored papers and streamers and turned them into fantastic decorations!

Miss Maleah will be two this october and she is IN LOVE with Elmo aka No-Mo.     She'll be getting a whole Elmo bedroom make-over either for her birthday or from Santa and I cant wait.   Red curtains, Elmo bedding, Elmo toybox, Elmo toy organizer along with a new dresser, and a twin bed and bed frame.    I cant wait to see her in an adorable big girl room!

So, here are some cute ideas for the Elmo party I want to give out middle Princess...

Treat bags..  buy red bags, cut out the face shapes from construction paper, a little glue and time and ADORABLE bags for her guests!

More Onederland Ideas!

More adorable ideas...

So much pink and white and GLITTER needed!

YUMMMMMMM!!!!

and who doesnt want white snowflake sprinkles on their pink cupcakes?

Winter Onderland

I've so many ideas and want to do the usual cutesy themed party...    But this year, for Ellie's 1st birthday I want to do a Winter Onderland birthday.

Yes, you read that right, ONEderland.    :) 
Everything snowy, white and Christmas related.

Hopefully by then we'll have a white Christmas tree to hand all our bright crazy colored decorations on..    Make snowballs with the kids..


Have anything even related to cold weather and snow.. something we hardly ever see in Tucson AZ

Hostess snowballs..  because they're PINK Snowballs..

Adorable pink rock candy!



And these, i especially love..   PLUS the fact that I get to drink a trillion Frappucinnos to get the empty bottles  WIN WIN

Get to drink the contents, peel the labels off and paint the lids..   fill with milk and put the pretty new caps on..  Serve in ice and a cute decorated bucket.    :D


Hot Chocolate Bar...  
YUMMM  all the yummy topping..   whipped cream, mints, chocolate chips, sprinkles, marshmallows..  
and put them in cute little jars like this

Plus a decorated jar of Hot Chocolate mix all served in cute decorated styrofoam cups.  


Everything will be white, glittery and light pink, perfect for my perfect little princess.   I am so excited!