Oh How Pinteresting

I am addicted to Pinterest.

There I said it.

I absolutely love finding new DIY projects, mouth-watering recipes, gorgeous fall outfits and inspiration for my house.  Because of Pinterest I have a longggg list of things to do around my house, gifts and crafts to make and recipes to test out.  This is one list that I am truly excited about.

There is so much inspiration out there and thankfully Pinterest gives you a place to keep track of it all.

Today I am linking up with Michelle at The Vintage Apple for her weekly installment of:

I'm not sure how to link these up or embed them (sorry!), a little help?

Do you pin?  If so, find me here and if not, let me know and I'll send you an invite.  It's a great way to get ideas for everything from meals, to home decor, fashion, birthday parties, gifts and much, much more!

Healthy Recipe Link Up - Turkey Chili Taco Soup

Pam from Our Love Nest is hosting a new link up party and it's for health recipes.  Most people are quite conscious about what they eat and I am definitely one of those people.  I am always looking for fun, new and healthy recipes to try, so you can bet that I'll be linking up every week.

I am in a fierce soup mood these days, partially to the Fall weather we are experiencing and due to it's ability to fill me up and keep the calories to a minimum.  Pam has read my mind with her amazing sounding recipe for Authentic Maryland Crab Soup.  I have already e-mailed this to my home address to try out very shortly and I know both of my boys will love it.

I haven't yet tried this recipe out, but I know it will not disappoint on our menu tonight.  Gina's recipes are ALWAYS amazing and skinny.

Without further adieu, here is what I'll be cooking tonight:

Turkey Chili Taco Soup
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 9 • Size: 1-1/4 cups • Old Points: 3 pts • Points+: 5 ptsCalories: 198.8 • Fat: 1.4 g • Carb: 29.7 g • Fiber: 7.0 g  • Protein: 19.5 g
 

·         1.3 lbs 99% lean ground turkey

·         1 medium onion, chopped

·         1 bell pepper, chopped

·         10 oz can rotel tomatoes with green chilies

·         15 oz canned or frozen corn, drained

·         15 oz kidney beans, drained

·         8 oz tomato sauce

·         16 oz fat free refried beans

·         1 packet taco seasoning (you can use 40% less sodium)

·         2 1/2 cups fat free low sodium chicken broth

In a large pot, brown turkey on medium heat, breaking up with a wooden spoon as it cooks. When cooked through, add onions and pepper and cook 2-3 minutes. Add tomatoes, corn, beans, tomato sauce, refried beans, taco seasoning and chicken broth. Bring to a boil and simmer about 10-15 minutes.

Serve with a few baked tortilla chips and your favorite toppings such as low fat sour cream, jalapeños, reduced fat cheese, chopped scallions,  onions, or chopped fresh cilantro. Freeze leftovers in individual portions for future meals.

Head on over to Pam's and link up to share your healthy recipes.

Teacher Appreciation

Cole and I went to meet his teacher and see his classroom one morning about a week before school started. While we waited in the hallway for everyone to get there, my little boy held my hand tight and I had tears in my eyes while thinking that the past 3.5 years had gone by much too quickly.

I kept reminding myself that he would be fine, he is a friendly little guy and he showed no signs of fear or anxiousness when it came to starting school.

Thankfully, we weren't kept waiting long and my mind was set at ease when the two teachers introduced themselves to us. They gave each student a little plastic bag with a note and some special items inside it.

As soon as I started to read this, I got tears in my eyes again (emotional much?). The note was so sweet and each item was a perfect addition to the little package. While Cole showed interest in all of the little items in the bag, I truly appreciated the note that came with it all. It is such a sweet gesture and it helps to reassure me that Cole is in great hands each and every day.

Sunday Smile

I'm sure these aren't new to everyone, but they made me smile.

 all {via}

Saturday Morning Scene

Good morning all and happy weekend!

My sweet (and silly) boy and I are up and at it early today.

We are heading to visit my parents for the night.

Yay to a weekend full of family fun.

What are your plans for today?

Linking up with Katie at Loves of Life for Saturday Morning Scene.

A Side of Love

I love to cook, but sometimes I find it difficult to come up with a different side dish.  Something other than the everyday potatoes or rice and plain old veggies.  I have searched high and low and am pleased to report that I have come across some delicious recipes.

 Baked Asparagus with Balsamic Butter Sauce (All Recipes)

Ingredients
1 bunch fresh asparagus, trimmed
cooking spray
salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
Arrange the asparagus on a baking sheet. Coat with cooking spray, and season with salt and pepper.
Bake asparagus 12 minutes in the preheated oven, or until tender.
While cooking asparagus, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat until browned.
Remove from heat, and stir in soy sauce and balsamic vinegar.
Pour over the baked asparagus to serve.

Pesto Spaghetti Squash with Mozzarella (FabulousFoods.com)

Ingredients
1 spaghetti squash, cooked by your favorite method and separated into strands
1 tablespoon olive oil
3/4 cup pesto
4 ounces smoked or plain mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat, add spaghetti squash.
Using a couple of forks to lift, mix in pesto.
Cook just long enough to heat through, mix in cheeses, heat until everything is well mixed and cheese is beginning to melt.
Serve immediately.

Baked Squash Casserole (Kraft)

 

Ingredients

3 cups chopped butternut squash

1 onion, chopped

2/3 cup Cheddar Shredded Cheese

15 Ritz Crackers, crushed (about 1/2 cup)

1 egg, beaten

2 Tbsp. Miracle Whip Dressing (yuck!)

2 Tbsp. Mayo

Directions

HEAT oven to 350°F.
COOK squash in boiling water in covered saucepan 15 min. or until tender. Rinse under cold water; drain.
MIX squash and remaining ingredients; spoon into 8-inch square baking dish.
BAKE 1 hour or until heated through.

Butternut Squash Fries (Weight Watchers)

Ingredients

3 spray(s) olive oil cooking spray    
1 pound(s) butternut squash, peeled, seeded, long “neck” cut into sixteen 3/4-inch-thick sticks*    
1 tsp table salt, or to taste    
1/2 tsp chili powder, or to taste (optional)    

Directions

Preheat oven to 450ºF. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.
Arrange squash fries on prepared baking sheet and sprinkle with salt and chili powder; liberally coat with cooking spray.
Roast, turning once, until desired crispness, about 14 to 18 minutes. Yields 4 fries per serving.

These are just a few of my go to recipes to change it up a bit and keep supper interesting.  Of course, substitutions can be made to make them healthier and still keep the same great taste!

Do you have any great side-dish recipes to share?

Addiction

In my most recent blogging absence I have been busy with some new addictions.  Whenever people mention something on their blogs, I feel the need to try it out almost immediately.  From DIY projects to makeup to recipes and everything in between, I have been making a list of goodies I want to try.

The latest...meet Lindsey.  This girl introduced me (and I'm sure many, many others) to e.l.f. products and after reading several comments, reviews and her all out love for these products, I had to try them.  Funny enough, I was waiting in line to pay for something one day and there in front of me at the cash was a rack FULL of e.l.f. products.  I of course added them to my order and almost ran home to see what the fuss was all about. 

I have to say that I am seriously obsessed with the e.l.f. eye shadows.  They actually stay on all day long just like MAC products do for a FRACTION of the price.

I also tried the mascara which although I do like, although so far I haven't been able to find a mascara that I LOVE (open to suggestions).

Loving this eye shadow brush and the eyeliner.  Both products are great and the eyeliner lasts all day!

My e.l.f. addiction is just one of many (thanks Lindsay!) and thankfully it's affordable too.  Head on over to their website and take a look around, they are offering free shipping on orders over $25.00 right now.

What are you currently obsessed with?

Have blogger friends introduced you to anything new?

All of the opinions in this post are mine, I did not receive any compensation.

ABCs of ME!

I'm jumping on the bandwagon with Lena and Jen...

A. Age: 28

B. Bed size: Queen
C. Chore that you hate:  scrubbing the floors, ugh!

D. Dogs: None

E. Essential start to your day: shower and kisses from my sweet little guy
F. Favorite color: gray
G. Gold or Silver: Gold - white or yellow
H. Height: 5’7ish
I. Instruments you play: nothing, I used to take piano lessons when I was younger, but I don't think I'd remember a thing

J. Job title: Group and Marketing Assistant
K. Kids: Cole 3.5 and a sweet angel Lauryn
L. Live: Ontario, Canada
M. Mother’s name: Laurel
N. Nicknames: Ash, AJ, Flash
O. Overnight hospital stays: 5 nights when I had Cole
P. Pet peeves: rude people, when people clip their nails in public, dirty, long finger/toe nails (vomit!), slow drivers, long and drawn out talkers...I could go on.
Q. Quote from a movie: not from a movie, but a TV show...

I'm still mad at you. And I don't know if I trust you. I wanna trust you but I don't know if I do, so I'm just gonna try. I'm gonna try and trust you because I believe that we can be extraordinary together rather than ordinary apart.

R. Right or left handed: Righty

S. Siblings: 2 older sisters and 1 older brother
U. Underwear: I'm a bikini girl just so y'all know!
V. Vegetable you hate: Mushrooms
W. What makes you run late:  just me...I could say Cole but I was never on time before I had him!
X. X-Rays you’ve had: teeth, ankle, chest

Y. Yummy food that you make: homemade burgers and butternut squash fries
Z. Zoo animal: giraffes and baby monkeys

 

Join in the fun, everyone loves a little random information.

Big Boy School

My little boy is all grown up!  Last Tuesday, September 6th, Cole went to his first day at his new school.  It's so crazy to think that my little guy is actually going to school, even though he has been in day care 4 days a week for the past 2.5 years.   He used to go to the town daycare and it was very much like a school in the structure aspect, so realistically this change shouldn't be too difficult.  It wasn't difficult for Cole in the least.  He was excited to go to the big brown school (as he calls it) and meet his teachers and play with all the new toys and since his first day he hasn't had any complaints at all.

Of course Cole did well, but as for me...I may have shed a few tears.  I think I hid them well so thankfully it didn't upset Cole, but I couldn't help myself.  It felt like leaving him all over again at his first day of daycare so long ago.  If only I could keep him at home with me forever, I'd be one happy momma.

As mentioned above, Cole loves school, therefore, I can't complain.  My only concerns now are what he manages to eat out of his lunch (not a whole lot due to being too busy chatting...must get that from his father) and if he is playing well with others and making friends.  Every night when I ask him about what he did that day he says nothing, and then I ask him who he played with and he says no one.  I know for a fact that he is making friends and having fun, but of course I can't help but worrying about him.  I'm assuming this is normal, but it just breaks my heart thinking of him keeping to himself all day long, although I can't see that being the case as he is a very outgoing and chatty boy.

How was your little one's first day of school?

How do you get your child to share his or her stories of the day?