Who doesn’t love the comfort of a New Orlean’s Po’Boy? This has meatball sub twist with it and really was a simple dinner with few ingredients (my go-to)! My tots loved this one too!
Ingredients:
5 Kielbasa or other sausage links
2 bell peppers
1/2 of a white onion
2 cups of marinara
2 tablespoons olive oil
Shredded Swiss cheese (to top with)
6 hoagie buns or soft French bread sliced
Slice bell peppers and onions and begin sautéing with olive oil. It takes slightly longer for the peppers and onions to cook than the Kielbasa, so I start that first.
2. While the peppers and onions cook, slice the Kielbasa about 3/4 of an inch wide and add to the peppers and onions.
3. Brown all three: Kielbasa, bell peppers, and onions then add 2 cups of marinara. Heat for approximately 5 more minutes.
4. Distribute mixture on buns and top with cheese – this batch had quite a bit of left overs and would have made 6 total sandwiches. We keep the leftovers in separate parts and heat up when we are ready to eat.
5. Broil in oven or toaster oven until the top of the cheese and bun are slightly brown.
6. Enjoy! I prep my boys’ sandwich with far less mixture, so they are more manageable for them to eat, but I pile my husband and mine high!
Once the springtime temperatures came this year, I put away the red wine and began experimenting with different cocktails and beer. I am a complete novice at making cocktails and hope to try out some more complicated ones, but these two on the list are 2-3 ingredient cocktails.
For a Refreshing Fruity Taste: Blood Orange Fizz – From the moment that Girl & Tonic posted this on Instagram, I knew this would become my summer go-to cocktail. And once I made, I was reassured even more. I was apprehensive about including anything but the 2 main ingredients (tequila and blood orange Italian soda), but I am so glad I took the cocktail further with lemon and chili pepper. I will be buying blood orange Italian soda in bulk this summer!
For a Distinct Flavor: Classic Campari Cocktail – This Americano Cocktail is another fromGirl & Tonic(clearly, I am a begin fan of Corrie) and was an adventurous one for me as I begin to explore cocktails. The taste is acquired, and it certainly is a sipping drink, but I truly enjoyed exploring the distinct bitter taste of Campari and will try this one again and other recipes with Campari in it.
Traditional Moscow Mule
For a Traditional Vibe: As noted above, I am just starting to experiment with cocktails, but this is always an easy cocktail that I love in the warmer ones. I hope to be able to make different versions of this one this summer because it is so easy and refreshing. I have no specific recipe and just pour 1 1/2 ounces of vodka (whatever is at our house, which is a lot for some reason) and ginger beer over a full glass of ice and squeeze in 2-3 slices of lime. I also feel super fancy using one of my only designated cocktail cups!
And Meatballs (I use the extra stuffing for meatballs based on how many peppers I have)
One of my husband and my favorite meals! My kids absolutely love red, orange, and yellow peppers (thanks to Costco for offering them at such a deal), but we always have a few left over. Most of the times I have made this dinner, I didn’t plan enough time for almost an hour of cooking, and they ate something else for dinner, so I can’t claim this is kid approve.
Ingredients:
2-4 green, red, orange, or yellow peppers(I make this according to what peppers I have left over but this recipe will make enough for 4 large peppers cut in half)
1 pound of ground sausage
1 cup shredded cheese(I use Monterey jack but anything you have available will be good)
½ cup dry quinoa
1 can of Rotel (original or spicy)
2 eggs
1 t-spoon minced garlic
Salt and pepper to season
Preheat oven to 375 degrees and use olive oil to coat glass pan to prepare for cooking.
Slice peppers in half and devein and deseed (pictured above).
3. Mix sausage, quinoa, cheese, Rotel, eggs, garlic, salt, and pepper in a small bowl – I use my hand to knead it to make sure that it is completely mixed together.
4. Fill peppers with stuffing mixture (pictured above).
5. Use any extra stuffing to make meatballs in a separate pan or if you have room in the pepper pan.
6. Bake in the oven for 55 minutes.
7. Optional:Top stuffed peppers with shredded cheese and return to oven for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.
8. Enjoy! We love to pair ours with our go to balsamic and feta salad.
As an avid bibliophile, it is no surprise that I love audio books so that I can squeeze as much text into my day as possible. I have my AirPods in as I wander around the house cleaning, gardening, folding laundry, or organizing toys, but my favorite time to listen to an audiobook is on a long walk where I can completely disappear into the book. I have listened to quite a few fiction books, but my real love is for non-fiction, especially when the author is reading the book themselves. The following three nonfiction audiobooks (read by the author) are my top three (in no order) I have listened to over the past few years.
For Motivation: This was the catalyst of my obsession with audio books. I am sure most of you are familiar with Rachel Hollis and her ability to motivate women’s drive towards their dreams. This is her first of two books, and I loved both, but they are very similar in message. She has an incredibly soothing voice that makes listeners become self-reflective and motivated to become the people they want to become. I have such fond memories of listening to this books as I gardened while I was pregnant with my first. If you haven’t already read or listened to it, I would highly jumping on the bandwagon.
For Celebrity Fans: I was part of the magical audience that Jessica and other pop princesses waved wands at, so of course I am still entranced by Jessica and Newly Weds. Regardless if you are a huge fan or not, this is a very engaging story about Jessica’s life and how family, faith, media, love, marriage, and so many other elements play out. She dives into her rejection from Mickey Mouse Club, divorcing Nick, to her alcoholism in a candid way that makes you feel as if you are sipping coffee on a couch with her. There are so many parts of this story that show Jessica’s struggles are similar to our own. I laughed and cried listening as you can hear Jessica’s own raw emotions in her narration.
For Introspective Thoughts on Big Ideas: I listened to this one primarily because I had seen it numerous times on Instagram and needed in on the hype. I was not familiar with Glennon or her story (she has two other books), but I think if you asked her, she would prefer that you read this one first (you’ll find out why). She touches on such a broad range of topics that I was asking my mind so many questions and really diving into my beliefs. Although I don’t believe everything she politically advocates for, I believe her message is clear, motivating, applicable, and resonating with anyone. I specifically was moved by her conversation about bravery and how it is viewed as well as her own evolving beliefs about raising a boy as a feminist. I was honestly sad when I could no longer listen to her engaging voice walk me through so many areas of thought.
I generally am motivated to exercise and run, but there is always a day where motivation doesn’t come as easy. Here are tips that I use to go on that run that I know will make me happier after.
Stop Making Excuses
I know this is much easier said than done. Here are my excuses and my go to internal response:
“I am too tired” – Yes, you are. Taking a nap with not make you feel as good as running will.
“I have too much to do” – Yes, you do. Taking care of yourself is most important; you will be a better mother, wife, neighbor, and teacher if you take care of yourself.
“I don’t have time to shower and get ready again after” – Yes, you do. You will look much happier and refreshed after a run and that will look better than any makeup.
“I drank too much wine last night” – Yes, you did. That is exactly why you should run and you will feel better after.
Set Low Goals
Once I have convinced myself that I should just do it, I set my daily run goal low. By telling myself that I only have to do 2 miles, my shoes will lace up for me and to be honest, I usually do a few more miles than expected.
It is usually when my expectations are the lowest that I have my best runs. Like today, totally motivated to do 6 miles, I pooped out at 5 miles and didn’t feel as good as if I would have set that goal at the 3-4 mile range (my typical).
Reward Yourself
If you can’t stop making excuses and even a 10 minute run can’t get you out the door, find a reward that will! Sometimes it is a halfhour long walk after listening to a Podcast away from my busy toddlers and other days it is a glass of wine and other days it is a long stretch. Find something you want to reward yourself with! Those are my two go-to rewards!
Toddler Quarantine Activities – Part II (18 months)
I hesitated to write this post because I honestly feel like I have failed at working with my 18 month old on much, but I am going to give my self grace because I know he is learning tons by following his brother around and switching activities every 5 minutes. I forget how quick they lose their attention span at this age. Here are the three activities/toys that have kept G busy while he works on fine motor skills.
Spinning or Stacking Toy
Amazon
For Those Who Can Shop: I finally found the parts and pieces to this spinning toy I received as a gift for my oldest son’s 1st (or 2nd birthday), and G has been loving it. We usually get it out when F is not around (or the toy turns into swords and pucks), but in a quiet moment, G and I can practice colors and his hand eye coordination. We have also been using the stacking rings, which are easier for him to manipulate, but he is learning the pattern of how they go on. These have been two gems I have found around the house.
Stacking Peg Board
Amazon
For Those Who Can supervise: This is another stacking toy I found most of the pieces to for G. Him and F can actually play with it together, but when G is alone, he spends some time pushing the pegs through the board more than he does sticking them in his mouth. It is important I am very close by with this one or they end up all over the living room or in his mouth. We practice colors with these too. If you don’t like toys with lots of pieces (ME!) this might not be for you (glad I have it though).
For Those Whose Kids Like Trash More Than Toys: Hand raise here! I seriously can bring all the toys out and both my boys have enjoyed boxes, trash, and who knows what else better. This particular activity I saw on Bread and Kale Enthusiast, and it worked wonders with G. My husband keeps asking if he can recycle it, and my constant response is NO! I am not sure if we will ever be done with it because it is the most popular activity for G right now. It is hard to see, but on the other side I poked holes for him to work on putting the Q-Tips in too.
Toddler Quarantine Activities – Part I (3 1/2 year old)
As a teacher, I have some experience entertaining my boys for days at a time in the summer. This quarantine though has tested my skills at entertaining. F is 3 1/2 and G is 18 months; these activities are more suited for F. I find if I can keep him entertained for a longer period of time, I can focus on the shorter attention span of G. It certainly has been a blast but challenging too. Here are our three favorite activities that take up some of our days at home.
Painter’s Tape Track
For Morning Movement: On chiller mornings when it is impossible to get outside to move, I have found that having F tape a track down in on the hardwood tests his planning skills but also his fine motor skills. This particular track is still in place around our living room and kitchen. After he spends 30-45 minutes building the track, F and G spend time tracing their cars around it. The track is always changing with a new “short cut “here or there.
Cookie Decorating
For the Afternoon Lull: I would have never guessed that F would be occupied for so long with this activity. Tonight, he spent over an hour decorating cookies. I have tried it where he puts the icing on but that was somewhat frustrating for him, so this time, I iced and he decorated with different sizes of sprinkles. Of course, there is a few more calories consumed during this activity than maybe another, but he takes lots of pride as we.eat the cookies after dinner. G helped us out for about 10 minutes but did far more eating and smooshing the icing than decorating!
For a Unique Education Experience: This one was recommended by Live Life Larson, and it was a hit! We watched the caterpillars grow and then build their cocoons. I unfortunately did not read the instructions in time about moving the instructions to the butterfly case, and they actually emerged as butterflies in the caterpillar canister. We released them in time, but didn’t get to watch them move around as much. I almost want to order another one and do it right, but it was engaging for F and he asked about them every day and learned about caterpillar and butterfly transformations.
Full of anti-oxidants and omega-3s and lots more! These are a weekly prep for me. My husband eats a smaller one for breakfast every day, and I eat the larger size for lunch every day. I usually just make as many as I have clean dishes for!
Ingredients(all from Costco):
Frozen Berry Fruit Blend (Kirkland 3 Berry Blend – blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries)
2% Original Greek Yogurt (Fage Total – never skimp on the fat in greek yogurt for the sake of taste)
Chia Seed (Nature’s Intent)
Honey to sweeten
Preparation:
Lay out containers – I always have to check to make sure I have enough ingredients and bowls and lids before I completely get started. I like to make as many as I can because they will last at least a week in the fridge (maybe longer but I’ve never had the option to test that because they disappear so quick in my house).
Add Greek yogurt – for the small container, I use about 3/4 cup and for the larger container, I use 1 cup of yogurt.
Cover in frozen berries – I just cover the yogurt with the frozen berries. I usually put in about 1 cup of the frozen fruit.
Cover in chia seeds – I also don’t measure these out because I find my gut likes the roughage and moves things more consistently in my body (to much information, I know!) but I probably use 1/4 of cup per container.
Top off with honey – sweeten to your liking – some like the bitter taste of plain Greek yogurt but my husband and I prefer it pretty sweet.
Refrigerate overnight – Usually by morning, the berries are softer and easier to eat than when they are frozen. By lunch time, these bowls are such a refreshing treat!
I am so apprehensive to post about this topic because I usually plan for holidays with excitement, and I am just not ready for Easter. I have tried to find joy in each day, but it is still difficult to know that I had to throw together some last minute things since I was so limited resources and time. Hopefully, these three can make your Easter a bit more hop-i-ty under not so desirable circumstances. A quick trip to Costco or a drug store could make these all possible
Easter Basket Books
For the Kids: Costco for the save! When I was at Costco earlier this week, I picked up some books to put in each boy’s Easter basket because I literally had nothing and my go to last minute shopping on Amazon isn’t possible at the moment. I realized that it didn’t need to be perfect this year, and I didn’t need to have specific Easter books for them. They love books and any books are fine!
Easter Egg Coloring Sheets
For the Kids: This idea stemmed from a virtual Easter egg hunt that Kansas City Mom Collective is organizing through Kansas City. They had egg printables for kids to color and post on the front door for other kids to hunt for and of course, we don’t have a printer, so I just quickly drew two eggs for each boy. This entertained F for about 30 minutes (3 1/2) and entertained G (18 months) for less than a minute; G is very selective about when (rarely) and where he wants to color (generally on the carpet or walls). This was a festive activity that we will participate in and will head out to look for other eggs this afternoon.
For the Kids: Gma (my mom) to the rescue! I really am not prepared for Easter at all! My mom dropped these off last week for the boys. At first I was somewhat confused of how to make ice cubes festive, but then my mom came over and forced a tray into my freezer (my over loaded freezer, might I add), and I realized these can be fun outside to watch melt or in drinks this weekend. I wish I would have thought to dye the water first to make colored cubes for the weekend and brunch on Sunday. Don’t have time to buy the forms? Just make colored cubes watch the kids have fun!
I certainly am not an expert on running, but I have found over the past couple years that running with my toddlers is easier than trying to find a time to run without them. It is definitely physically harder, but I have found confidence in my strength after every run pushing a giant stroller (aka “the bus”). Here are just a few tips and tricks that I have found to work based on many mistakes and some successes.
1. Start Slow
Before kids, I have dabbled in distance running here and there but consistently ran a few miles a week, but running post kids with a stroller was a new game. About three months ago, I started running with the double stroller, which at first seemed an impossible task. My first few runs (which were not frequent because of the winter months) were only 1 – 2 miles at a rate that was 1 minute slower than I usually run. I embraced this change because I realized I was pushing 50 pounds of kids plus 33 pounds of a stroller and that was a completely different workout within it self.
After many runs over the past month, I was able to increase my stamina and can run 3 – 4 miles close to the same rate I run without the double stroller. This took a mile increase over the course of 1-2 two weeks. I realized that this slow progress actually helped me increase my time on my individual runs that are infrequent. It takes time to adjust mentally and physically that running with either a single or double stroller is not the same, and the distance and pace will not be the same.
2. Be Prepared
My preparation for a run takes what I feel as long as the run. I have at least 3 snack options for each kid and plan it right after nap, so they are hungry. I rarely use all the snack options but a three year old and 18 month old change their minds all the time. One go-to snack that I always have a few pack in the stroller is trail mix; my 3 year old spends most of the run categorizing all the different nuts after he has eaten all the M&Ms and giving his brother the only nuts I allow him to eat. Sometimes F helps me prep the snacks while we wait for G to wake up. Yesterday, he wanted a bag of sliced bell pepper instead of apple slices.
I am not against bribes for running either; it is my sanity, and I need my kids to comply for me to be a good mother. My goal for yesterday’s run (pictured above) was 4 miles, but F was insistent on jelly beans (which I bribe him with to take a nap), and I had no jelly beans with me (he only wanted three). Since I was out of trail mix, peppers, and a packet, I was at a loss and realized my run was over. I will definitely be packing jelly beans for all future runs.
I have yet to bring along a tablet or Ipad but think that can be a good idea too. We have been watching enough shows that I hate to start that habit yet, but when nothing else works, I think this is a feasible next best step.
3. Be Flexible
This is hard for a planner like me. When I put this much prep into a run, I want it to be the best run I am going to have. Unfortunately, those with toddlers know this is just like anything in our lives these days. I generally set out on a run with a shorter distance goal (3 miles right now) and a slower pace (10:30 a mile). For yesterday’s run, that was my goal (but I really wanted to get 4 miles in), and I was blindsided by a ravenous jelly bean toddler (story above) and only ran 3.3 miles at an almost 11 minute mile. I had to tell myself that this is about flexibility in my goals, and at least I got a run in!
4. Enjoy Those Solo Runs
This seems obvious, but on the weekends when my husband is around to help, I can barely tie my shoes before I race out the door!
truemojo.home.blog 