Taco Tuesday

 One of my weekly traditions is to get fish tacos at Hole Mole on Tuesdays because all of the tacos are 1/2 price!    

It's the little things that bring so much joy and for any reason, if the kids are off on a Tuesday, they join me on the tradition.  We are all fans of a good taco Tuesday!

egg salad recipes

In college, our caffeteria served egg salad on squaw bread, and it was such a favorite of ours!  Every time we hard boil eggs, we think about those sandwiches, so of course, the topic came up again with easter eggs. Since dying eggs, we have over two dozen eggs in our refrigerator right now that are waiting to be made into something tasty.  I have researched a couple of recipes that I am thinking of trying and thought I would share them with you!

These I found on all recipes.com and they had the highest ratings:

You can try this one with paprika, or this one with lemon and dijon mustard. 

Or you could try this one from foodnetwork.com.

Either way, we are excited to try some of these out.

ps, The one thing that Ryder does not want to eat are eggs.  The kid eats things like stuffed green olives, curry chicken, and spicy chili but he is not fond of eggs.  We keep trying♥.  

getting ready (AKA odds and ends...)

We have been running lots of errands getting ready for next week.

Things like Costco and Trader Joes for household staples and favorite foods.  Our freezer is stocked and that always feel so good, especially when its with our favorites!

I have been scrapbooking things like Valentines day and our family photo shoot:

And journaling to the kids when Ryder naps. 

I have been making little trips to Target for things to stock my hospital bag with: 

I have been telling people who ask, "When is your baby coming?"

I can say "Next week!  Holy Smokes!  

I am just going off my lists and trying to stay as organized as possible...

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On a completely different topic:

I have been craving fruit and juice and popsicles etc...

So in all the errands that we have been running, Kit came across these Jamba juice packets at Costco and we really liked them!

The three of us shared one packet and it was really tasty!  I KNOW that you can do it cheaper, but it was really easy and they tasted awesome! We used orange juice and milk, though they recommend apple juice.

I hope you are having a great week!

meal planning

Good morning!  How was your weekend?

It's monday and that means that I am getting all organized for the week.

I have never been the quickest  when it comes  to meal planning and food budgets.  However, over the last month, I have been planning the week's meals on monday and grocery shopping for those meals and I have been spending way less, and we have been throwing  SO MUCH less food out, and we have been eating much healthier!  I know, some of you have been doing this kind of planning for a long time, and what can I say, I'm a little slow.   So we are off to the grocery store to get our week of food organized...

ps:I use this day of the week mouse pad and it really helps with making the list of meals as well as making the grocery lists that go with them.
Here are some recipes we are trying this week:
(Thanks to Real Simple Magazine)
Creamy spinach enchiladas
Slow-cooker chicken tikka masala
Slow cooker spaghetti bolognese
and these turkey sloppy joes:
Brown 1  pound of ground turkey in canola oil with 1 chopped onion and 1 chopped clove of garlic in a large skillet.  Mix in 1 8-ounce can of tomato sauce, 1/4 cup each of dark brown sugar and barbecue sauce, and 1 tablespoon of worcestershire sauce; season with salt and pepper.  Simmer until thickened.  Serve on hamburger buns with coleslaw.  

A little weekend recap...

We had a WONDERFUL weekend as a family.  We went garage saleing on saturday and spent 2 dollars on a magna doodle, books and small plastic dinosaurs for Ryder,  all of which he is ECSTATIC about.  We (mostly Kit) organized the garage to make an outdoor play area for Ryder and to purge things that we really didn't need anymore.  That always feels so good.  

Then on Saturday night we went with our neighbors to our local high school's annual fund raiser where all types of food trucks come to the campus and there is live music and families and LOTS of raging hormones.   (And not just my pregnant ones...man, high ) But seriously, what these people can create in a tiny truck completely blows my mind!

Then on Sunday we went to church and Ryder stayed in his class the ENTIRE time.  Let me think of the last time that happened... I got nothing... So Kit and I were able to go to an ENTIRE service together.  It was so special for us.  We have really been having a hard time with separation anxiety with our little man. We leave him with our family and close friends but I really don't have to leave him very often so, if I was being honest, it's as hard for me as it is for Ryder.  We are both doing better though.  This was a huge step for us!

Then we headed with some of our close friends for a progressive dinner that took us from Balboa Island, to Irvine, to Laguna Beach.  It was a wonderful time sharing good food with some of our close friends...
I have to say that Ryder did not get the memo about how great time change is.  I also think that he is growth spurting and that has been super fun.  Clothes all of the sudden don't fit and he is eating a TON, plus he has been running into walls or falling a little easier than before.
All things that our pediatrician thinks points to a growing boy!

Have a very happy Monday!

A new favorite

My mom got me turned on to using Nutella as a snack and it has become a favorite in our house. I put just a thin layer on wheat bread and it makes such a tasty snack. In the mornings I will have a glass of milk or orange juice with it and it tides me over for several hours. It's a great snack on the go. Had my mom not mentioned it, I wouldn't have even thought to get it.

Thanks mom!

eating out...

One of my favorite summer treats is home grown tomatoes. I am so excited, we just planted three of them yesterday. Making caprese salads, and sandwiches and all the good things we put tomatoes in... I can't wait!

I always go back and forth. Fall seems to be my favorite time of year, but then as spring and summer approach with it's longer days and eating outside, I realize this time of year so wonderful too.

A little shout out to Fullerton...

We went on a double date with our friends Keri and Tommy last night and had the best time! Not only did we have so much fun talking and catching up and connecting outside of church and work, but it was amazing food and atmosphere. We love you guys!!! We went to Heroes Bar and Grill for dinner and then went to Frati Gelato Cafe for dessert.

Heroes has 100 beers on tap and has huge portions that you can share and we have never gotten anything that we don't like. We love the chicken wings and nachos and artichokes for appetizers (not all together, dear Lord, you would have to roll us out) and then we love their burgers and sandwiches and we really like their fish and chips too.

To go:

125 W. Santa Fe Ave.

Fullerton, Ca. 92832

714-738-4356

NOTE: if you are allergic to PEANUTS, this is NOT the place for you. Every table gets complimentary bags of peanuts and then you throw the shells on the floor. If you're allergic, you probably wouldn't make it through the door before you had to use an epi pen on yourself.

After Heroes, we walked over to Frati Gelato and had dessert. It's a smaller restaurant but they have a 3 inch ring binder at their counter with pretty much any flavor you can think of and you can put your email address in there under the flavor(s) that you want and they will contact you when they make that specific flavor(s). You can't go wrong with anything they have on hand though. We love the peanut butter and then mixing chocolate with raspberry.

To go:

www.fratigelatocafe.com

We have lived in Fullerton now for almost 6 years and have really grown to love our little town. So anytime you can throw out some props to small businesses that work so hard, I say do it! So next time you are in the area, check these spots out... and if you need company, we are there for you!