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Friday, June 9, 2017

Red Pepper Chicken Pasta


Red Pepper Pasta!

Its June, the summer is heating up which means I am constantly looking for ways to keep the house cool. We have 980sqft house and the stove really heats it up!  I also have a diabetic kid, so we are always trying to unique ways to eat. This was surprisingly yummy! Original recipe called for Kraft Sun Dried Tomato Vinaigrette Dressing, I live in a small town with a grocery store that takes months to get in new products. I did find this Roasted Red Pepper Vinaigrette that was cheaper and in my opinion...AWESOME!! I don't think I will try with the Kraft product when it comes in, we are really loving this generic kind.

Printable PDF Click HERE

Red Pepper Pasta

1 Box Veggie Pasta of your choice

1 Bottle Kroger’s Red Pepper Vingerette Dressing
( you will not use the entire bottle, just enough to coat and flavor)

Grilled Chicken Strips (I used the frozen kind) – You can omit this

1 Small can of sliced black olives

10- Green Olives Sliced

1 Red Bell Pepper cut into strips (Not pictured)

10-15 Small Cherry Tomato’s (optional)



Boil Pasta until done, drain and rince
Heat Chicken until down following instructions on bag or get real creative and use left over grilled
chicken
Place Pasta into bowl with, Chicken, Olives (both), Bell Peppers and toss
Add enough Dressing to coat & flavor

*Ronzoni Healthy Harvest or Garden Delight is a great alternative to the Regular Pasta

Calories : 390

Fat: 13

Carbs: 45

Sugars: 6

Protein: 31

Weight Watchers Points: 13



(sorry for the bad pic, was the only one I got. They all ate it so fast!!!)
 

Homemade Apple Sauce

My Middle child is a diabetic, so we are always looking for great alternatives to traditional comfort foods.  My youngest Mothers Day Out teacher posted on facebook about apple sauce and I thought..I can do that!


I made two batches, one just as recipe is written and one with out sugar by using other fruits.


This is not by far a diabetic friendly recipe BUT its a great alternative to store bought. She can have in moderation just not all the time.


Printable PDF Copy Click HERE


Homemade Apple Sauce


10-12 Honey Crips Apples – Peeled, Cored and Sliced


½ Cup Brown Sugar (you can substitute with Stevia Brown Sugar, Use ¼ cup. Or omit all together)

½ Tsp Vanilla Extract

¾ Tsp Cinnamon

1 tsp Lemon Juice

1 Cup Water





Place your apples in crock pot, add Brown Sugar, Vanilla, Lemon Juice and stir.
Add Water, Stir again


Low – 8 Hrs or High – 4 Hrs

Once apples have cooked, grab your blender and put contents of crock pot into blender.

Blend until desired thickness or Chunkyness (is that a word?? Lol) is reached. Emmerson blender can be used. (do this when apples are still hot)

Store in containers, Last two weeks in Fridge.


*1 Bag of frozen Strawberries or Peaches can be added frozen when you put apples in crockpot. Frozen  seem to have the best taste over fresh and they do better than fresh through cooking process. It gives a nice sweetness if you omit the sugar and unique flavor. If you chose to add these, reduce the amount of cinnamon.

This Recipe makes 4-5 Cups (depending on size of apples) This below pictures just shows over 3 cups - my little one demanded some so my picture shows a little less than recipe makes.





Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Last Time for Everything

There will come a time with everything you do that you will do it for the last time.

Play high school football, show a market pig for FFA, hold your grandmothers hand....there is a last time for everything.  Most of us don't get to realize it until its upon us or too late, for us it was our last stock show.

I grew up in FFA/4H and showing livestock to say I have a passion for it is an understatement. My children grew up showing as well, but last Saturday my middle child walked into the ring one last time.

Honestly the decision to quit showing was hers and one we should have made a year ago. I couldn't let her just let it all go so quickly, I mean why don't she love this as much as I do?

She has moved on to bigger and better things, so one thing had to go. Livestock

This past weekend made me realize that we should have made that decision a year ago.

Sigh...so for now I must sell the trailer, show supplies, put away memories/ribbons/trophies and move on.

LOL Guess my 4H Mom sticker needs to be replaced too

Monday, December 26, 2016

Kids / Family Ultimate Pack


A New Year is almost upon us, and with that come the resolutions. Instead of losing weight or saving money why don't we use this opportunity to make resolutions for our home and salvations.

Whats in our home and our salvation is the only two things that matter in this life. Our home/kids are the next generation we MUST raise them in the Lord and give them the best home life possible. 

I found this family pack from Not Consumed (lets give her all the thanks and credit) attached is my FAV parts of it....lets organize our home, our kids and our hearts this new year. Lets point them to the Lord in everything we do.

Click on the below to see the talented Kim S. show us how to serve Him and raise our kids right.

Laundry

Random Acts of Kindness

Laundry Room Signs

Time with God Kids Journal

Sermon Notes  Sermon Notes Jr.

Restaurant Scavenger Hunts

10 Things we need to know

Ask your Self

Family Chore Chart

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Printable Advent Reading Plan


A few years ago I downloaded this as a free Printable from Not Consumed and while I have tried I simply cannot find this any ware any more. She has another similar advent reading plan with different design but not this one.

Since I loved this one so much I am sharing it with you, I do have express permission to make copies and share this plan as per her original page of this down load.

All credit goes to Not Consumed blog and seriously you need to stop by there. So many free printable for  home, school, holiday ALL bible based and serving our Lord.

You can download the Free Christmas/ Advent Reading Plan HERE

Daily, Monthly, Weekly Yearly Bible Reading Plans




For the past year I have been posting monthly scripture reading plans by Sweet Blessings.  They have been quite popular, I get the feeling that you are searching for more. Needing something to fill you every day and maybe your like me, with out a plan to follow I do not know where to start or what to read.

So to Pinterest I went, I found several bible plans that required a membership or payment. I also found several other bloggers who created, listed or paid for plans to share with others. (I have permission to share these!)

Since no two people are created the same neither is a bible study plan, below are several different types of plans. Some run through the bible from Genesis to Revelations while others hop around, follow the bible Story, do a daily light reading, concentrate on specific topics.  Some are daily, monthly, weekly  but they are all yearly bible plans.


Sweet Blessing Month/Week  (Visit her blog HERE)
Free Printable that has a monthly/daily reading plan...Print here 
(this printable is of Sweet Blessings creation, all credit goes to her, its hers and hers alone)


52 Week Bible Reading Plan
Done by the week but provides a daily reading that skips around the Bible
Can be downloaded, saved or printed HERE

Bible Story Reading Plan - By Quarter
Set up by Yearly Quarters but have Daily reading that seems to hop around but mainly is Gen-Rev.
All four quarters can be downloaded, saved or printed HERE

Daily Light Reading Plan
New Testament with Psalms & Proverbs , done by the day.
Can be downloaded, saved or printed HERE

Old and New Testament Daily Bible Reading Plan
Daily Reading plan with Old AND New Testament Reading plan, some days have quite a bit of reading so this plan is not a light reading
Can be downloaded, Saved or printed HERE

Daily Reading Plan with Varied Topics
This plan is to read the Bible by years end, it is daily and the reading does not follow a particular path or chapter. Each day is something different with varied topics daily.
Can be downloaded, saved or printed HERE

Season Reading
This plan is done by the Seasons & Month
Can be downloaded, saved or printed HERE










Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Friendship Breakup

When I say break up the movie "The Breakup" comes to mind because no matter how civil you are it still hurts.

Some people in our lives are only meant for a season not life, and while those seasons are fun and we are not ready to give them up we must.

Today I am calling Breakup.

For years I had my kids, husband, livestock and friends. Things were idyllic, fun and I rarely sat at home with no invites.

In 2014 life changed for the better, I got pregnant with my 2nd child after 11years of trying. While all my friends were mothers I didn't expect to have the loneliness' that is felt by new moms because they are the first in their group to have a baby. 

So when a few friends became distant I figure it was because of my difficult pregnancy and all the time I was focusing on just getting my baby here. 

Then my son was born and those friends that I thought were just being polite and giving me my time to grow my son...didn't show up at the hospital or even after I got home, I was shocked.

Yes they all had some life changes too during that time, I was there for them each and every step of the way, I expected the same from them but I was met with nothingness.

Since the birth I have watched them move on with out a word to new friendships....all the while leaving me behind.

Yes it hurt, yes it still hurts, Yes I am lonely and yes I was even left out of being invited to a wedding. Which hurt most of all.

Over the course of the last 18 months my phone often stays silent, facebook don't have any notifications for me from them and in person conversations have become uncomfortable.

So I am making a decision for me.  I want to break up with you.
Yes you already broke up with me, by not saying a word and moving on but I am doing this for me.

Today I did something for me, I hit the delete button on social media in regards to you. I no longer follow you, you are restricted from my post and well I did the same for any mutual friends we may share that have become distant as well.

I honestly feel that having face book cuts out the "how are you" text and phone calls because well they can see how you are! They follow your post/pictures/rants/shares and there isn't anything that needs to be caught up on.

For some of them that were in this group of deletions, they had life changes that took them away from where they should be and now are surrounded by friends who support the lifestyle they wish to live. I guess me being close with our Heavenly Father has made you not want to be my friend?

So much I could say, so much hurt I could put into this post but if I did it would never end.  So here it is...I break up with you.

While we may be on a break up, I am still praying for you. 

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Dealing with Difficult Coworkers

** I AM NOT saying I have the issues now but What I am saying is that I have dealt with this in the past. Apparently a coworker read this and either felt guilty (about something I didn't know about) or presumed it was about them. It was not. This has nothing to do with my current employer /coworkers. This deals with past jobs and employer's & coworkers**

How to deal with Difficult coworkers, a boss you don't like and mean girls in the office.

Yes as adults you would think we have evolved above High School dramatics and bullies but sadly enough we have not.

There are different dynamics, personalities and work ethics in every office, and for some of us its hard not to get feelings hurt in dealing with them all.

I am a God Fearing woman so my strength comes from the Lord, I spent a lot of time in prayer over my coworkers and asking for help, forgiveness. He has provided and some days the devil likes to come in and make me doubt it. I wear my heart on my sleeve and my feelings get hurt often.

A coworker once told me "People don't think of you as often as you think or at all"

Wow, that was the response I got to my question of "Hey did I do something to upset XXX as she seems mad at me"

Types of Coworkers you WILL have at work
 
 Grumpy / Everything is going wrong Coworker
    They are never happy, everything is wrong and nothing ever goes right
 
Know It All
I honestly think I fall into this category some in areas I know really well
    Title explains its self LOL
 
 Tattletale / Butt Kisser/ Boss's Favorite
     The one coworker who has the bosses ear, all their suggestions get herd and the boss likes them above all others. This type of person can also be the office martyr. Signs up for every bosses project, stays up late and gloats to the boss about all the hard work they did. This person is also most likely to be a socialite in the office but only for tattle tale reasons.  
 
Lazy Coworker
Gets paid well, works the least, steals ideas and is great at assigning work off to others
 
Control Freak / OCD/ Neat Freak
This person likes a clean desk, gripes when people leave messes in the lunch room and on a project they tend to take over. I will admit this is me. I like to be in charge and seen things done my way.
 
Hot Mess / Everybody's friend / Socialite
This guy is hard to hate, everyone likes him, he knows all the office gossip and hes the first to show compassion (even if its fake) or organize office parties. Hes also late every day, lazy and a little bit of the bosses pet. Hes kinda like the Quarter back in high school.



Now that we have identified with almost all types of personalites in an office setting lets see how to deal with them.

Way's to handle Coworkers
 
You cannot change them, but you can work better with them, first you need to look at your self and ask "Have I done anything or fallen into these categories my self?"
The answer is yes, yes you have. You will fall into one of these types of coworkes and to some you fall into many. If one employee is your bully, you could be the bully to someone else. So its always best to look at your self first.
 
Make Amends
I personally fall into this category. When a new employee was hired I was to train her, I was 6 months pregnant, throwing up every day and grouchy. I wasn't kind. I have spent the last 18 months trying to make it up to her. I will always be the bully to her, no matter how much I try not to be.
 
What's done is done
You cant change the past or how someone treated you. Ask the Lord for forgiveness, a softer heart to those who hurt you and protection against those who seek to hurt you.
 
Don't take it Personally
Ya right. that's harder than you think! Ask the Lord to give you a deaf ear to the meanness. There was once a employee at my kids school she was mean, a bully and likes to throw her weight around. While griping to a friend she said "Stop right there. She gets abused at home, verbally, mentally and sometimes I think physically. She has no power at home, but at work she does."
Not an excuse but it did help me understand that its not me. How I worked with her after that got much better. You never know the battles someone is facing!
 
Always be Kind
Don't let them walk all over you, but kill them with Kindness and Prayer. Treat them how you want to be treated, even when you want to throat punch them.  You will never change them, and you may never change the way they see you but you can change how you respond to them.
 
Don't Lose your Cool/Temper and Ignore the bad
Once a bully stops getting the response they expect they move on. So don't lose you cool or your temper. If you do it will never go well for you. Instead ignore the bad comments and only respond to the others.
 
Email/Text/Conversations
Always treat every email, text or conversations with coworkers as if its a group meeting/email. Because lets face it at some point it may be. Some people do not evolve above high school so while they may be your friend now, given the opportunity to fix their situation or move up in the company they will share what you said. Grip to those out side your office and no connections to your office.
Once will I sent a very innocent email to a coworker, she shared it with others making fun of me. To this day I do not understand why BUT she found my signature in my email funny and decided to make fun of me. This particular coworker I expect it from, what I didn't expect was for everyone to laugh and make fun of me. Apparently I am "over professional" and that's bad. Or so they say
 
Prayer
All days need to begin and end with Prayer. The Lord wants you to rely on Him, he can handle this.
This is what I pray
Lord, I pay that my head not think any bad thoughts or over think the situation, I pray for my heart to be filled with Love and Joy, I pray that my hands are busy with work, I pray that my ears are deaf to things that are meant to hurt me, I pray that my eyes will only see good in people. I pray that my mouth only has good things to say. I pray that you heal what's been broken, and those who don't know you will find you. I also pray that your holy sprit will fill the walls of this office so that when the press of evil may find no entrance. I pray for my boss, my coworkers and the prosperity of the office.
Amen,
 
 
I hope that in some small way I have helped you today, and that things get better.


Monday, March 14, 2016

Dump & Dine 2016

****2018 UPDATE***
I added FREE Printable / Fill able Calendars to help you plan. Its easier to plan if you can see weeks/months laid out before you. Some of you hate your handwriting (ME!!!) so I made them fillable.

I have added two additional Meal Plans from $5 Dinner Mom , and lots a fun Extras
(See Below)






I know the title sounds a little weird but its what we call it at our house because we do dump it in a bag to freeze then we dump it again to eat.  How simple is that?
 
 
I like most people have been on Pinterest finding easy peasy ways to save money, have the time for home cooked meals, and of course that save time.
 
 
I wondered into the wilderness of "Once a Month Cooking", "Freezer Meals" and finally my favorite "Dump" meals....ALONE.
 
My poor family has suffered via trail and error over the past several months but we have come out to the other side! So I am sharing my wisdom with you in hopes you wont have to suffer the freezer cooking wilderness alone.
 
 
I must note that I had originally made the first menu/shopping list with 10 meals in mind. I executed 10 meals into perfectly labeled vacuumed sealed bags and stored in my freezer. Sadly two of them did not make it to final production. Some of the papers will say 10 meals but I have tried my best to mark it out and put 8.  I had the infinite wisdom (sarcasm implied)  to create an uneditable PDF document on my first set so I couldn't change the paperwork to read 8. Sorry in advance.  
 
 
A couple of notes...these do not have to be crockpot meals. They can be thawed and cooked into a 9x13 pan. On more than one occasion I had left the house with out putting it into the crock pot and forgetting that tid bit until I came home and realized I didn't smell something delicious.  You also don't have to vacuum seal them, I just happened to have a hand one with bag. Any gallon freezer baggie or glass 9x13 with a lid will work.
 
Most of the recipes are in original form, if I did make a change it was for the better or two my taste. If it was for the better I changed the recipe if it was for my taste I put it on the recipe in (   ) beside the original .
 
Oh last golden nugget of advice......Buy the groceries one night and get up early the next morning and dump them. TRUST ME by the time you fight your way through a grocery store, get it in the car, into the house and on to the counter you will be simply too tired to do it. Unless you wonder woman and if so power on girlfriend! Since I work full time I found it easier to do the shopping on a Thursday night and dump on Friday morning (I don't work Fridays).
 
 
 
So here we go!


Lunch and Dinner Printable and Fillable Calendar HERE
Breakfast and Snack Printable and Fillable Calendar HERE
 
 
Both List, Recipes  can be found all in this one little nifty spot HERE
 
1st Shopping List Can be Downloaded HERE
1st Recipe List Can be Downloaded HERE
 
 
2nd Shopping List Can be Downloaded HERE
2nd Recipe List Can be Downloaded HERE

***2017 Added Recipes***


20 Meal Breakfast Lunch & Dinner for $150  Here
20 Slow Cooker Freezer Meals HERE (This plan has a separate shopping list)
Shopping List for Slow Cooker Meals HERE


Just for Extra
Grab and Go Muffin Mix HERE
Homemade Seasoning Mix HERE
Monthly Meal Planner Blank HERE
Weekly Meal Planner Blank HERE
Shopping List Blank HERE





Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Learning to Love / Quieting your Heart 30 day Bible Study





I Bible journal...well I try I'm not very good at it but its my heart that matters. I follow a few Facebook Bible Journal groups and over the holidays they were doing this Bible Study by the Time Warp Wife and for what ever reason I was not meant to look into this bible study until now.

For 17yrs I have worked in the same industry and gone into an office every day. Now that's changing, and while I embrace the change and feel a peace only God can give about it...I am nervous. I need to quite my heart and learn to love.

Spend the next 4 weeks with me Learning to Love and Quieting our Hearts for the Lord. I need this and I know you do to.

Download the Study Guide/Bible Study HERE
Download Weekly Bible Verses HERE
Download Weekly Study Questions HERE
Download Weekly Bible Study Verse Cards HERE
Alternative to the Quieting your heart journal below, Download weekly coloring pages HERE


The Quieting your heart 30 day Prayer journal is not mandatory to do the Bible Study. 
If you wish to purchase, Amazon has it on sale for 8.09 Click HERE




I am not talented enough to come up with not only a Bible study but Prayer Journal. All Credit and thanks need to go to Time Warp Wife and

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