WE EAT | Meal Planning Monday

Hello, Monday!

This weekend was amazing.  I still cannot believe it has come and gone..

..and in case you didn't catch all the crazy of the gender reveal party over on Instagram..

We are having a girl!

photo : bfaith photography

Much much more of that and a full recap on the blog t o m o r r o w about this overwhelming evening (I bawled before we even popped the confetti bombs.. really.)

But for today -- lets meal plan!  I've taken some help from a few store bought options, and we've been having a lot of leftovers lately, so next day meals are planned around reusing the main meal from the night before.

I have been eating refrigerator oats almost every morning - and having the best time making up recipes for a new version of these oats every morning! 

A definite favorite has been Strawberry Oats with Almond Butter. 

The girls love it, too!  Get your grocery lists ready:)

red pepper hummus: sabra 

veggie burgers: morning star 

almond butter: justin's nut butter

greek yogurt: chobani

wild rice: uncle ben's 

yogurt pouch: stonyfield farms

waffles: kashi

mexican rice: uncle ben's 

Recipe Links

Slow Cooker Mexican Quinoa

Grilled Red Pepper Hummus Burgers

Avocado Quesadillas

Sausage Corn Chowder

Broccoli Corn Bread

Black Bean Tacos

Guacamole

Recipes

Refrigerator Oats
1/3 cup whole oats
1/3 cup skim milk
1/3 cup strawberry greek yogurt
1 tablespoon almond butter
--
Combine all ingredients in a mason jar with a lid and give a hard shake.  Place in the refrigerator and allow to sit overnight.

Vinegar Slaw
1 cabbage sliced thin
1 onion sliced very thin
Sprinkle 3/4 cup sugar over cabbage and onion
Heat together the following:
3/4  cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup distilled vinegar
2 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon celery seed
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon salt
--
Pour heated mixture over cabbage and onions -  stir and refrigerate for at least 24 hours.

Smokey Tilapia

4 tilapia fillets
McCormick's Sweet & Smokey Dry Rub (in the spice aisle)
The juice of one lemon
--
Warm olive oil in a large sauce pan.  Coat the tilapia in the dry rub.  Add to the warmed pan and cook until fish is opaque - about 5 minutes per side.
Squeeze lemon juice just before serving.

Steamed Brussels Sprouts
15 brussels sprouts, trimmed and cut in half
2/3 cup water
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon salt
--
Place sprouts in a saute pan with 2/3 cup water.  Bring to a boil, add salt and pepper and reduce heat to medium low (simmer).  Simmer/steam for 15 minutes.  Remove from heat.  Add butter and serve!

Maple Brown Sugar Oats
1/4 cup oats
2 teaspoons dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon maple syrup
1/2 cup milk

Tomato Salsa
1 medium onion (yellow or white), quartered
1-2 jalapeno peppers, seeds and ribs removed

1 hot yellow pepper, seeds and ribs removed

3 cloves garlic

1 (28oz) can whole peeled tomatoes, UNdrained

1 (15oz) can diced tomatoes with garlic and onion, drained

1 (15oz) can stewed tomatoes, Mexican style, drained

1 (10oz) can diced tomatoes and green chilis, drained

1 medium bunch cilantro

2 teaspoons salt

1/4 teaspoon cumin (optional)

The juice of 2 large limes

2 avocados, diced (optional)

--

Place onions, garlic, peppers, tomatoes, salt and cumin (if desired) in a food processor (or blender). Pulse until combined. Add cilantro, stems removed, and pulse until just broken down to desired consistency. Add lime juice and pulse 2-3 times to incorporate. Pour salsa into serving dish, add the chopped avocado.

Quinoa Veggie Salad
1 cup cooked quinoa
1 cup grape tomatoes, sliced in half
1 avocado, cubed
1/4 cup diced purple onion
1/4 cup feta cheese
lemon vinaigrette dressing
 --
Comine all ingredients and allow to rest in the fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight.  I make this at least once a week - everyone loves it!

Parmesan Asparagus

1 bunch asparagus (about 1 pound)
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
--
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.  On a foil lined baking tray, toss the asparagus in the oil, salt, and pepper.  Bake the asparagus for 10-12 minutes.  Remove from the oven and sprinkle cheese evenly over the asparagus.  Place back into the oven for 3-5 minutes, until the cheese is melted and golden brown.   

Friday Favorites

Friday is here again - and I'm working away like a busy bee to get the last minute details covered for our party this weekend (do a little dance!)

Are you as excited as I am?  Probably not - but that's okay.

A few favorite moments from this last week

I am LOVING making the grocery store a fun environment for my toddlers.  I 100% appreciate the fact that there are little carts for Parker and Jolie to push around - and let me just tell you, they rock it. I have about 8,000 snaps in my camera roll of them pushing the carts.. I could write an entire blog post about their mobility through Market Street, but I will spare you.

For now, anyway.

Since changing it up a little the girls' sleep arrangement - we removed a few bars of f the front of their cribs (we don't plan to reuse) so that they can easily climb in and out (because Miss Independent >> that would be Jo Grace >> has been climbing out).  We left the rails up completely because Jolie is afraid of the dark and it completely terrifies her to not have the 'safety' of her crib around her - we learned that after several sleepless nights.  They sleep well through the night, and stay in their beds about 80% of the time.. but wake up by 6:30am e v e r y single morning.  While I wish they would go back to their normal 8:00-8:30am wake up time, I do enjoy having time with them in the morning before I leave for work.

The weather has been surprisingly warm this week - we sat out on the patio and watched Tangled and Frozen before dinner a couple times this week. 

The rodeo is in town, and if you live or have been to Fort Worth, we.are.cowtown.  My employer takes us all out to the show every year a couple times, and this week was opening week for the FW Stock Show Rodeo, and with the first week of the rodeo comes the annual Bull's Night Out.. or read extreme bull riding.  Yep.  If that ain't Texas, ya'll.

These lovebugs got their first haircut this week.  More on that later, but until then, hop on over to instagram for the cutest video of your life.

t o m o r r o w

Happy Friday!

15 Weeks

banner / little dovie 

tunic/dress/ (non-maternity) white plum

  cords / (non-maternity) loft

How far along? 15 weeks 

Total weight gain: I did not get on the scale this week (again..?  Maybe I should..) - but these boobs have got to weigh something.  They may not be much to (most) of you..but they are all up in my space at the moment.

Maternity clothes?  Gap Body tees and tanks are a favorite (as I mentioned HERE).  Wearing some maternity pants, but working with the belly band (Target brand) for as long as I can squeeze myself in my pre-pre pregnancy pants. 

Sleep: Amazing.  I could sleep for days, I feel like.  I need just ONE day to sleep until like one o'clock in the afternoon.  Just one.  Who wants to babysit? 

Best moment this week:  THE best moment  of this week hasn't occurred yet..

Worst Moment this week: Exhaustion has been really hard- trying to chase around the girls from day to day & still manage the house/blog/work. TIRED is an understatement.  Thankful for a super, duper helpful husband.

Miss Anything? I absolutely hate these random food aversions.  Cooking has become a burden - toast or dry cereal sounds better than anything in my exploding pantry- my poor family.  Jordan is a great cook, so we/they are surviving.

Cravings: Eating my weight in fruit.  No matter what kind it is.  Greek yogurt and oatmeal are regular (and EASY) favorites.

Symptoms:  So, so, so, soooooo sleepy.  First trimester symptoms have not subsided.  I am THANKFUL I am not sick at all.

Looking forward to:  The Gender Reveal Party is THIS weekend!!  Gender was determined a couple weeks ago..and we have been patiently waiting for this Saturday to arrive. Will Jordan remain a 'girl dad 4 life' or will we be welcoming a sweet baby boy into the mix??  Cannot wait!

15 weeks / twins

Pregnancy Favorites | 1st Trimester

Being pregnant this go round hasn't been much different than when I was pregnant with Parker and Jolie.  You would think that a single pregnancy and a twin pregnancy would be SO different, right?  Not for me - not yet, anyway.  I know that this belly wont be NEAR as heavy at 26 weeks than the one I carried around before.. so that's a plus, right? 

I'm sharing my first trimester basics/favorites for the first 14 weeks with this growing belly.

1 // Leggings (favorite options HERE & HERE)
I've not always been on the leggings train - even pregnancy the first time around for me I didn't wear them a ton.  But it was AFTER I had the twins that I decided leggings were most definitely for me.  I LOVE them all, and have found the wide waistband HUE leggings at Nordstrom to be a favorite all year round, and for these color months, White Plum's fleece lined leggings are to die for.  Super cozy, and just enough room to house my teeny bump comfortably.  Leggings=pants.  Legit.  Just saying. 
2 // Victoria's Secret PINK! Seamless Bralette
I wore VS's yoga bralettes during my first pregnancy, and happened across these while looking for some new.  I only bought one just to try it out - and went back the next weekend to grab a couple more.  I've been living in them (work/lounge/sleep) - so comfortable!  My regular bras are not really comfortable to wear right now - nearly too small - and this bralette keeps my growing ladies under control and I'm still able to wear some of my non-maternity tops without feeling like I have to apologize to the people around me for near misses of exposure.  I have a rather small chest to begin with (usually a B cup) so when I'm sitting pretty in a DD, I am at a loss with what to do with them!  Thank you VS.
3 // Gap Pure Body
Never came out of these.  Almost 3 years later they are my most favorite layer tanks and tees I own. Talk about comfort and feeling confident in a form fitting tee - something postpartum I never thought I would be saying. Getting great use out of them already - and I know this will be a favorite to last me through this entire pregnancy.
4 // eos Lip Balm
I'm not sure if its the cooler weather and dry air, or what, but my lips have been chapped since I became pregnant.  Loving this stuff (and so is Jolie - she follows me around asking).  I put it on before I go to bed at night (and every hour before that it feels like), and I my lips are still soft (and not burning) in the morning. 
5 // Honest Prenatal Complete One-A-Day
Every day.  For whatever reason, I absolutely HATE taking my prenatal vitamins.  So much so that after my last miscarriage in October I stopped all together to allow myself a 'break'.  I was so tried of taking anything.  But these are easy on my tummy, and are delivered right on my door step.  I brought them with me the first time I saw my OB since becoming pregnant to have her give it a once-over and she approved! Easy on my tummy (I can take it on am empty stomach without problem).  I have also taken their Whole Food Prenatal and love it just the same, but you take three over just one. 
6 // Honest DHA/Omega-3
Little tiny soft gel pill to compliment my prenatal.  Easy on the tummy, too!
7 // Special K Hot Cereal
I have been SO loving this stuff!  Oatmeal is a favorite of mine, but when I spotted these in my grocery store, I knew I had to try them!  Loads of fiber (FIVE grams) and protein (7 grams) in that little container.  I eat it for breakfast, snack, and occasionally dinner if I'm totally over what I've made, ha!  That has happened more than once, I tell you.
8 // Zoe Organics
I was so pleased to have the opportunity to try Zoe Organics.  I have used coconut oil, and also the Honest belly butter- and loved both, but Zoe is great.  I never got stretch marks with the twin belly, and don't plan for it this go round.. but my belly itches like mad ALL the time.  The belly butter and belly oil is amazing.  Super soft, and doesn't have a smell at all (I prefer that).  The thing about coconut oil right out of the jar is that it is a complete mess most of my clumsy time.. BUT, Zoe Organics' belly oil has a little spout top allowing me to squirt it right into my hand for easy and non-messy application.  Refresh Oil has been a super simple answer to my waves of tummy issues or anxiety.  I don't have nausea on a regular basis, but if ever I do, a little roll behind my ears seems to do the try. I'm no oil expert, but I have really liked this stuff.

What about you mommas-to-be or already have been?  Have any first trimester favs??

Photo Every Hour | Saturday

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WE EAT | Meal Planning Monday: What's for Dinner

Today marks the start of a week of busy.  Busy that puts us having dinner as a family just once (Tuesday).. and therefore my meal plan is rather boring and full of repeat offenders.  Breakfasts mostly consisting of frozen waffles, quick cook oats, cereal with cartoon characters on the box, and yogurt.  Lunch is whatever I can throw together in just a second - and may or may not look a whole lot like chicken nuggets and boxed macaroni and cheese.  I do have a farmer's season worth of strawberries and grapes in my fridge, but they will not make it though the end of the week.

We have a couple of frozen steaks I picked up at Costco last week thawing in the fridge, so Tuesday's dinner will be a hearty steak and potato kinda meal - for the hubby.  I'll personally be throwing my filet on a pile of salad greens and tossing it with extra salsa verde and salty crushed remains left at the bottle of the tortilla chip bag and calling it a Mexican Salad.  What the belly wants, the belly gets, yo.  Parker and Jolie will most likely follow suite of their mother, because for the love I cannot get them to eat and enjoy a single bite of mashed potatoes.  Weirdos. 

Who are these kids?

Whats for dinner this week?  I've got SEVEN easy peasy meal options your entire family will love.

Mushroom and Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto 

don't be scared of the stirring! I promise you'll impress yourself.

Spinach, Cheddar & Ham Stuffed Potato 

OR any of the stuffed spuds from that post.  all of them are amazing and super cheap to make

Lemon Pesto Pasta

BBQ Meatloaf Sliders

my favorite meal of all time

Pesto Turkey Meatballs with Polenta 

another meatball favorite!

Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad 

duh

BBQ White Cheddar Pizza  

I could eat this every.single.day. of my pregnant life.

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Hop, skip, jump over to Sydney's blog, Raising Southern Grace, where I'm sharing our story of heartache, struggle, and success:)  Happy Monday, sweet friends!

Friday Favorites | Black & White

This week was very uneventful, yet incredibility busy all at once.  I felt like I was chasing my tail - between being a momma to toddlers, work, church, playing wifey, and of course the cherry on top.. being all kinds of pregnant tired.  There were a few moments that make up my favorites.. but they all happened to be in the same 5 minutes.

Jordan was 24 hours away at the fire station, and in attempts to NOT fall asleep mid-afternoon, I bundled the girls up for a movie and popcorn on the patio.

These girls make my life full.. and are always my favorites.

bow / shelby chic boutique

sweater / kid + kind