Fire Starter

To begin this blog I'd like you all to know that I am an amazing cook and I have no idea how this happened considering I followed direction so don't laugh!!!

So every day at noon The Chew comes on http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/the-chew...if you've never watched the show you're missing out. They make some amazing foods, always have a great guest on the show, and can make me laugh, things I like in a cooking show :) Anyhow so Monday they had this amazing dish and just in watching the previews C said he wanted me to make it http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/the-chew/recipes/Ginger-Orange-Chicken-Coconut-Rice-Clinton-Kelly I finally picked up everything on Wednesday and told him I'd make it. So last night, after having to adjust because I don't own a dutch oven and didn't have white wine on hand (i used chicken broth), I got this baby in the oven and cooking. When all that was done I had to toast my coconut for the rice...TOAST my coconut, not scorch or fry, or start a fire with my coconut, TOAST!!!

Here's what happened. First I spread a thin layer of coconut on a small baking pan, turned the oven on broil, and popped it in there. The directions said for 3-5 minutes so I went about rinsing my rice with cold water like I should, when I turned around i could smell the burning, when I opened the stove flames evolved. Ya...flames. So many flames that the alarm on the oven went off notifying me of the said fire that I already knew was going on in my stove. I wish my phone hadn't died or I'd have at least gotten some pictures of the catastrophe. Josh ended up smothering it with another baking pan after a few minutes debating what to do since we may be the only family without an extinguisher, and all was well, but I avoided trying to toast it again and just threw the darn coconut into my rice as it was....sigh

In the end it was still pretty good. I would use wine next time because the broth ended up making it taste too chicken-y and I probably wont use the coconut milk again, the kids didn't like how sweet the rice was, actually I didn't either.

So there you have it, my first ever kitchen fire.

Loaded Meatloaf

We'll say this, I LOATHE meatloaf. But more than that I LOATHE onions. And seeing as my mother thought onions belonged in such food, along with tomato sauce which I've sense come to like, I vowed to never make it for my kids...well why would I if I'm not gonna eat it myself?

Well being the pinterest freak that I am and since Josh and I are half assing a paleo diet I went through the beloved Pinterest for recipes. I found this recipe over here http://fedandfit.com/2013/02/07/paleo-meatloaf/
and it inspired me to create my own similar veggie filled meatloaf with veggies my children and I would actually enjoy.  And I tell you what, the pickiest of my eaters ate it, ate his ENTIRE serving with absolutely no complaints whatsoever and told me about 15 times how much he liked it. If I accomplish anything in my life getting him to eat is at the top of my list.

Anyhow, here's said recipe that I created:

1lb ground hamburger
1whole shredded carrot
1 whole shredded zucchini
1/2 cup of bread crumbs
2 eggs
and some Mrs. Dash (season as you'd like)

sauce:
1 can of tomato paste
1 small can of tomato sauce
1/8 tsp of parsley
tbsp of Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp of minced garlic
and pepper to taste.
oh and if you'd like to add a kick to it, I added some red pepper flakes I may add Tabasco sauce the next time.


Preheat oven to 350.

Mix all loaf ingredients in a small bowl with your hands and then put into a loaf pan (I sprayed cooking spray on the sides)

Heat in oven for 45 minutes and drain when finished. I just held a spatula over it so it wouldn't fall out of the pan.

Raise oven temp to 450. Smother sauce mixture all over the top and down around the sides of your loaf, it will be a thick layer. Put loaf back in the oven for another 10 minutes. If you want it to be more like a crust leave in the oven for another 5-10 minutes.

Let cool and enjoy.

Like I said, my kids loved it, I loved it. And considering there's pretty much a serving of veggies in every slice I'll be making it more often.

Yay! goodies

Last month's freebie spree has finally started to roll in!! I really need to do this more often, I love free stuff. I think hubby is annoyed by it all though because it's slowly piling up in a corner on the counter until I do something with it all.
Today however I was slightly annoyed because I opened a package from P&G which I'm pretty sure I signed up for a Tide Pods sample and got warning stickers to put over the top of the containers.  I don't have A container, let alone many containers to necessitate multiple warning stickers to keep kids out....I'll get a container when I get that sample and like the results of the darn soap!

On another note, earlier this week I received 2 types of safety latches from P&G which hubby rolled his eyes out saying I'd never install them. Watch what happens tomorrow dude!! WATCH!!

I also receive Centrum Flavor Burst samples and a $2 off coupon for more. I havent tried them yet though...fail me!! I'm a horrible vitamin taker, maybe these will change my mind?! maybe? (bsavings I think is where this one came from)

A couple weeks ago I believe is when I received 2 stay free pads, which I threw in my purse because lord knows trouble starts while you're out and about! and the same day I receive 2 samples of L'oreal Paris Color Vibrancy shampoo that went to my "soap drawer" (I'll have another post on that some other day) since I haven't colored my hair in awhile I thought it'd be a waste if I used it up. I'm trying to grow out the color some so I can lighten it up without it pulling too much red. I got these from liking their facebook page and clicking on one of the apps below the timeline photo.

And the most awesomely needed this month was the coupon for a free (up to $13.49) Shick Hydro Silk disposable razor!! I wish I could remember where I signed up for this one at because it's a heck of a deal, those razors are pricey!! So excited to use it! (and then tell ya all about it of course).

and that's it..for now. I'll list more as they come in and do little reviews on these that I have now once I get around to using them!

Eat out...Eat cheap!!

First I'll start by saying we are probably the worse about eating out...I mean we eat at home most of the time but once it comes to the weekend we don't want to deal with the kitchen so we go out. It's bad, I know, but I'm stuck at home most of the time anyway and that hour or two out for dinner frees me a little and I'm not adding to my schedule by making another meal.

With that said, we eat as cheap as we can. It's rare that we spend over $35 even at a sit down restaurant. If it's fast food we keep it between $15-20. Here's a few rules/tips I follow.

1. go where you have coupons to. many many places have coupons off 2 entrees, or bogo's off cheeseburgers, etc. Use them! they come in the mail for a reason.

2. Got kids? find out who has free or .99 kids meals. Here Carlos O'Kelly's is Tuesday night ($1.99 mugaritas!!) and Applebee's is Wednesday night. 

3. Get the most amount of food you can for the cheapest price. Use that dollar menu. You don't need a big mac, a cheeseburger will satisfy you just fine! We buy a 20piece nugget and split it between kids, then they have applesauce or something as a side when we get home. 

4. Share adult meals. In reality 1 meal should feed 2 adults. The proportions at restaurants are generally blown out of proportion (hahaha I made a funny!!) We actually usually buy 3 meals and share between the 6 of us, get the kids a milk and usually get a water for ourselves. 

Using a few of these tips we actually had the cheapest bill a table of 6 has probably ever had at Red Lobster (endless shrimp days don't count) the other night. We bought one appetizer of mozzarella sticks, 2 adult meals, 4 milks, a soda, and water...$43!!! We had a $4 off coupon so that helped. And we had leftovers!!!...of course we forgot them on the table and I didn't realize it till hours later.  

But seriously, if we can make our RED LOBSTER bill that cheap with our big family, anyone can. There's no reason not to spoil yourself once in awhile with a pricey dinner, find the savings and use them.

Happy EATING :)

Open for Business

Last night after lots of debating, learning new tricks and tips to add to the arsenal of mental notes I already have in my "photography" brain folder, I decided to post an add on Craigslist advertising my photography business. I'm by no means a professional, I'm definitely still considering myself and amateur and just wanting to put my name out there. In less than 12 hours I got a phone call from a local golf course looking to use my work as an advertisement on their score cards. After a few phone calls to check out the legitimacy Josh and I decided this was a smart move. I will be placed as their featured photographer!! I'm pretty stoked and maybe they picked me because I'm new and they knew I'd jump on the opportunity to get my name out there...I dont know. But for $400 I kind of held back for a few hours. I wasn't sure this was worth the money, and still am not 100% sure, but they are currently advertising 40,000 golfers a year, 40,000x5 hours of golf=200,000 of advertising, I can deal with it. Best part is I can pay in payments!! I'm ecstatic and over joyed by the opportunity and the possibility that soon I'll have a decent amount of income coming in to my house. It'll be a lot of hard work, I realize this, but I'm ok with it. A job isn't supposed to be easy.
I've opened up a facebook page for my followers (the whole 6 of you right now) to follow if you'd like https://www.facebook.com/pages/Navillus-Photography/504492819596887?bookmark_t=page

I'm currently offering $50 mini sessions to start building a bigger portfolio. So its a great time to get a few new family portraits at a great price. You also get a cd with edited pics and copyright! Check it out, bring your friends!!

Below are some pictures I took using umbrella's and flash this weekend, courtesy of my mother and sister in laws who have been amazing in helping me with my journey into the photography world. I'm debating whether its worth buying them or just umbrella lights or a few soft boxes....oh decisions.

Peanut Butter chocolate Slimfast bars

I love Slimfast. It may be old school weightloss, but it's yummy IMO. However I get tired of drinking shakes and hate to spend money on the bars all the time. So after looking at a few recipes I came up with my own bars. Here's your super easy, 2 minute recipe.

2cups whole oats
4scoops Chocolate Slimfast (use any flavor of chocolate you want)
1/3 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1/2 cup of natural peanut butter


Mix ingredients in large bowl (I used my hands, it was much easier). Line an 8x8 pan with parchment paper and press mixture into bottoms of pan. Sit in fridge for 45 min and cut into 8 pieces. Great for a quick snack or have two for a meal.

Crochet 4 leaf clover

Excuse the rough draft and tell me if you need a better explanation. I just made this up after searching for a perfect clover that wasn't too big for what I want it for. These will make cute embellishments or you could connect multiple clovers for a cute St. Patty's Day garland.


Need a size h hook and worsted weight yarn.

Magic loop, ch.1 5hdc in loop join with slst.

Row2: chain 4, slst all in first hdc. Slst in next st, ch 4, slst in same stitch(repeat 2x), slst in next stitch,( ch8. 2sc in second chain from hook, 2sc in next chain, 1sc in next 5 chains), slst. Do not join.

Row 3: in loop formed by ch4 (2sc, hdc, 2dc,hdc,sc,hdc, 2dc,hdc, 2sc) repeat3x. slst to first sc in this row.

Finish off. Leave a tail if you plan to use as an embellishment.