"Mother's.....Even when they're wrong, They're right"

Readers, meet my Mom

• She's the middle child of three (with an older brother and a younger sister).

• I am her middle child of three (with an older brother and a younger sister).

• She's famous in the family for her baked beans, chicken enchilada dip, and party potatoes recipes.

• She's worked at a gas & electric company for 15+ years.

• She has her Mother's kind heart & she's opinionated like her Father.

• She likes colors like Navy Blue, Hunter Green, or Burgundy.

• She likes her carrots cooked, but not raw.

• She's an active member of The Order of Eastern Star. 

• She prefers Hazelnut coffee creamer over Vanilla.

• She loves Janet Evanovich Books

• She doesn't like for people to know what her middle name is. (It's Louise) Sorry, Mom ♥

• She used to work at Pamada when we were little. 

• She's amazing at making flower arrangements & catering (She should totally go into a business!)

• She's a sucker for Reality TV Shows. 

• She has a handful of really good honest friendships, and I admire that about her. 

• She's always up for playing a board game when the family is together.

• She always worked her ass off to make sure we got everything we wanted for birthdays and Christmas

• She knows when to be professional and serious, just as much as she knows how to party and have a good time. 

• She's creative and good at anything crafty

• When traveling, I've never met anyone in all my life that packs like she does. She is completely prepared and equipped with everything from a needle and thread if you need something mended to a backup vehicle in case your transportation breaks down. Yet, she manages to get it all into a carry-on bag and still has room for souvenirs. {mind blown}.
• She's not afraid to voice what she wants out of life or from others, yet she's willing to do without so others can have. 
• She once won a champion ribbon at the county fair for making cupcakes that looked like Spaghetti and Meatballs. 
• She's stubborn (and I have a can of Diet Pepsi from the 90's to prove it!)
• She always has good ideas.
• She absolutely hates it when peoples' socks don't match their outfit. 
• She loves to go camping and prepares the best campfire meals I've ever had. (We once went to a girls camp for church and all the groups were making salad or hot dogs on a stick, etc and our group had homemade chicken and dumplings. Boo ya!)
• She's a leader and could plan/organize and event in just a few hours. 
• Her nicknames are "Mama Ronda" and "Ronda Roo"
• She's independent & strong

Happy Mother's Day Mom!
You're the best and I hope you know today, and everyday, how much you're loved and appreciated!

xoxo
Nikki

Real Life is...

What's happening in your life today?

Spaghetti Sauce

Part of dieting & counting calories is giving up foods you love to eat, kind of. I really try to find ways to take the foods I love and make them healthier. Not always easy, but sometime I get lucky.
I came across this spaghetti sauce recipe on pinterest, made it, and had to share. It was delicious, super easy, and it had alot less sodium and sugar that the guys you buy in the jar/can.

Ingredients
1 T Dried Basil
2 28oz cans crushed tomato
2 tsp salt
2 tsp pepper
2 tsp vinegar
1 T tomato paste
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 T minced Garlic
1/2 onion, diced
1 T Olive Oil

Directions
Saute garlic and onion in olive oil. Season with Salt and Pepper. When onions start to softened slightly add remaining ingredients. Simmer 30-45 minutes.

Makes 8 Servings
86 Calories per seriving

Now, if I can just find a pasta that has about half of the amount of calories, I will be happy!

"Yours & Mine" - Keys

Finding items for this "Yours & Mine" post is surprisingly not that easy. We share alot of stuff  :-)

However, the other day I saw our keys laying together! The same thing happened with the last yours and mine post, I always stumble upon these items by accident. 

Kevin's keys are total 'man keys'. Other than the American Flag key (which I have no clue what it goes to), it's just a basic set of keys with no fun key chains or anything. I should get him a cute little key chain that reminds him of me and he won't even get made fun of. 

My keys are a little more personalized, but disorganized. I know, even my keys need a spring cleaning! Although I just took off some spare keys not that long ago, I still have a little photo card of only one of my two children (I don't play favorites, I swear) and a YMCA gym membership card that I'm no longer even a member of anymore. But I do use that gym card to hold my keys in my mouth when my arms are full of groceries or whatever, so that should count for something right? 

Beauty comes from within, but it also comes from the store

1. John Frieda Root Awakening Shampoo & Conditioner: I love John Frieda products! This just happens to be the current shampoo/conditioner that I'm using. I love the way their products make my hair feel and look, plus they smell super awesome. 
2. Avon's Advance Techniques Winter Restore Moisturizing Anti-Static Spray: I've had this bottle of stuff for a LONG time, and I still use it almost every day!  I love it because my hair does get really static all year long and this products completely eliminates that problem for me. A couple of sprays in my hand then I run it through my hair, and it calms my fuzzies/fly away hairs and gets rid of the static all day long. I think they discontinued this product, so when I run out I'm going to have to go back to rubbing my hair down with dyer sheets. 
3. Water: In the last month I have been drinking more H20 than I usually do and I've noticed I really do feel better, my skin is less dry, etc. It honestly took me a couple of weeks to get used to drinking the recommended 6-8 glasses per day. The first few days I felt like I was swimming in my own body. I also started doing 25 squats every time I go pee, and now that I'm drinking more water I'm doing more squats. I'm not going to lie, that fact kind of pisses me off. Who knew that drinking more water would give you a tighter ass?
4. Jergen's Ultra Healing hand moisturizer: I keep a little travel size bottle of this in my purse. I like it because it works good without leaving my hands feeling greasy. I've been using more hand sanitizer at work and it dries my  hands out, so I have found myself using this lotion more. 
5. Britney Spears Curious Body Mist: I just got this about a week ago and I'm loving it. Before this, I was using something I had never heard of and wasn't crazy about it, but it was sitting on my bathroom sink and so I used it, even though it didn't smell right on me. I always think that perfume smells different on your body that it does in the bottle, and this new stuff is smelling pretty sexy on me! 
6. John Frieda Luxurious Volume Hair Spray: Another John Frieda product I love. I've never really been a huge fan of hair spray. I guess because as a child from the 80's, I associate hair spray with White Rain and hair that looks like this. So, it's taken me many years to overcome the traumatic result in which being a child with hair like that has caused. I also love that this hair spray doesn't smell horrible or leave fumes so bad that it practically rapes the back of my throat when I try to breath in a foggy bathroom. 
7. Aveeno Clear Complexion Daily Moisturizer: I have been using this product for a few weeks and I LOOOOOOOVE it. Love love love it. Finding a moisturizer that works well for my face is something I have been struggling to find for awhile now. And I finally found it!! This stuff is not greasy at all, it clears up any breakouts I'm having, evens out my skin tone, and it helps with the little dry patches of skin I get on my nose and cheeks. I can't say enough good things about this stuff!
8. Aveeno Active Naturals Clear Complexion BB Cream: A friend of mine recently recommended this product to me, and I absolutely love this stuff as well. After I wash my face I use product #7 followed by this product. It looks like foundation but moisturizes, medicates, and has SPF. It's light weight but gives you enough coverage that you don't feel like you need to add additional foundation. Since using #7 and #8, my face is looking better than it has in awhile! 
9. Nivea A Kiss of Moisture Hydrating Lip Care: I just ran out of my favorite lip stuff, Carmex, last week so I have been using this and I really like it. It stays on longer than most lip balms I use and it feels silky. It kind of reminds me of Soft Lips lip balm. 
10. Pumice Stone and Foot Brush: The heels of my feet always get really rough and I would use a foot file on them but it didn't seem to be helping. It looked bad and I was self conscious about them when I would wear flip-flops, so I decided to try something different. I used to be a nail technician and never really used a pumice stone until now, and I'm still trying to figure out why that is?! I have only used my pumice stone 2 times and my feet look the best that have in a LONG time. 
11. Icebreakers Sugar Free Wintergreen mints: I normally would go for gum, but I didn't want to be chomping gum at work all day while I'm talking to customers/etc so I went for the mints instead. These are minty without being overpowering, and they keep my breath from smelling like caca. 
12. Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion: We keep this on hand because my youngest son suffers from extremely dry skin and eczema, so now we all kind of use it. It's pretty pricey, but for good reason because this stuff rocks!!! I can put this on before bed and wake up with new skin. 

I spoke too soon....

Well, this morning we woke up to an unexpected snow fall (I mean, come on....it's May!). Even us Iowans were surprised by this springtime Christmas morning! Just as we were all settling in with the fact that spring is finally here and only warm weather, sunshine, and BBQ's were in our near future, Mother Nature pulls a 180 on us. I think I speak for alot of people when I say she lost some cool points with her Southern Iowa fans this morning. 

On a lighter note.....it is Friday, and this weekend while the kids are visiting their Dad's I plan on doing no more than I have to, especially if this is how the weather is going to be. Maybe I'll catch up on some reading or bring my DVR recordings from 86% full to less than 50%. Maybe I'll just watch Lifetime movies instead.....or work on my "to do list" and clean house.....or just sit on the sofa and listen to the quiet house (it's a beautiful sound, really.).....or get some extra sleep and hibernate in my room until the snow melts....

Whatever I do this weekend, it won't involve snow. 

But, I could bring some snow in and make myself a snow cone. That actually sounds awesome.

Oooo, I even have strawberry snow cone juice....Yay! 

Score

Mother Nature - 1

Nicole - 0 

(crap.)

yesterday morning

Yesterday morning, after I dropped the kids off at school & before I had to go to work, I went outside with Bella and we just sat in the front yard, soaking up the morning sun. It felt amazing to just sit for a little bit and do nothing except be in the moment. Too often I spend my free time doing stuff around the house or stress just because I'm stressed. It's a vicious cycle and I need to take more time like this for myself, and just breath. 

I feel like I have so much going on at once and I can't wrap my head around it. My want to be in control of everything going on in my life and for things to be on schedule and organized is getting the best of me. I spend so much time trying to make everything around me perfect, that I'm failing to focus on things that really matter. I know I have been talking lately about finding balance with everything that I need to get done, but maybe part of finding that balance is looking at that "to do" list and asking myself "Is that something that really needs done now?" or "Is this something that I can give Kevin or the boys to do?". I need to learn to let go of my need to control & make everything perfect and stop trying to do everything myself. 

We're going to have nights where we don't get to eat supper until 8pm, a day when someone unexpectedly stops by and my kitchen sink is full of dirty dishes, a Pampered Chef party that I organize the night before because I put it off until the last minute, floors that haven't seen a vacuum in over a week, workout clothes that get worn to do everything but workout, dog hair on clothes and furniture because I have a Husky that sheds like she's getting paid by the minute to do it, and who knows what else. Instead of seeing these moments as examples of me not doing a good job or needing to work harder, I need to accept the fact that our life is messy just like everyone else's and it's something to cherish while it's still happening. 

The supper dishes can wait until tomorrow...let's watch a movie. 

Finding Balance

It has been over a month since my last post, and that fact is totally raining on my parade, it's like a big fat, glaring cat sitting on top of your pile of crap work as you try and look over him at your computer screen (*see real life version pictured above). I am really trying to settle in to this new schedule I've got goin' on, but it's been tough. Since my last post, alot has been going on and requires my attention more than my blog here. Sad, I know.....but true. I have to remind myself that my blog is something I do for fun and leisure and not because I have an obligation to post so many times a week. 

In the last month, I have continued to work on getting my Pampered Chef business underway and into a 'system'. Just as I was starting to get into a comfortable groove on that, I really started get some job interviews line up, then started working outside of the home again. Not going to lie, I was dreading going back to work, but have been pleasantly surprised how much I am enjoying it. Now the only  things I'm struggling with is just trying to get my family and I, my job, my pampered chef, my blog, daily chores, etc all into a schedule so I don't feel so overwhelmed and feeling like there is not enough hours in the day for everything.

My blog is not the only things that have lost my attention and taken a back seat lately. Since going back to work I have really been struggling with my diet/exercise again. I'm staying under calories (for the most part), but I'm not making healthy choices. But, I know that I haven't given up and that things will get back to how they were, just like everything else.

I've also been making more of an effort to spend more quality time with the boys, keeping the house clean, and getting everything on my day-to-day 'To Do' lists crossed off (which let's face it, is a slam dunk all by its self). 

I find myself stressing too much over all these things and how I'm going to manage my time and get everything done. Then on days that I work, I am running around from sun up to sun down and on my days off I only get up to go to the bathroom and feel like a lazy turd.  

Finding balance for everything is #1 on the "To Do" list. 

"That's the best gravy I've ever had"

Photo Credit (forgot to get a good photo before we ate!)

I was randomly craving some Salisbury Steaks, so I decided to treat myself to them. I feel like I say "so I decided to treat myself to it/them" too often! And like most of the stuff I cook, I like to share these delicious recipes with you all !!

STEAKS

1lb ground hamburger

1 egg, beaten

1/2 cup breadcrumbs

1 tsp dry mustard

1 tsp garlic powder

1 T dry parsley

2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

A few squirts of hot sauce (to suite your taste)

Salt & Pepper to Taste

*(If mixture seems dry, add a splash of milk. If seems too moist, add more breadcrumbs)

Combine all ingredients for into a large mixing bowl using clean hands and set aside. Heat 2 T olive oil in skillet over medium-high heat. 

Form hamburger into 4 equal sized patties. Place patties into hot skillet and cook for a few minutes. When seared, flip patties and cook for a few more minutes to sear the other side. You don't want to cook them through, just searing the sides so they will hold together. 

Once both sides are seared, remove patties and place on a paper towel. 

GRAVY

All the oil & drippings from the pan

2-3 T flour

2 T butter

1/2 onion, diced

1 cup mushrooms, sliced (optional) 

2 cups stock (Beef, chicken, or vegetable stock. Any kind is fine. If you don't have any, use water)

2 packets of "Brown Gravy Mix"

1/2 cup half & half

1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup

Salt & Pepper to taste

*(This made a lot of gravy, which is awesome, but if you don't want alot of gravy, just cut the gravy measurements in half). 

While pan is still hot after removing steaks, add butter to pan, when melted add flour. Slowly whisk until mixture starts to thicken and will darken a little (This is called making a roux. See, spending all my free time watching The Food Network isn't a complete waste). Add the diced onion and mushrooms and let cook until they start to release some of their liquids. Add the stock and the gravy packets, while continually whisking to thoroughly combine with the roux. Add the cream of mushroom soup and the half and half. 

*(If gravy seems too thick, add more half and half or stock.)

Once the gravy is all combined, return steaks to skillet completely submerging them in the gravy and simmer over medium heat for 25-30 minutes, or until steaks are no longer pink in center. 

Serve over mashed potatoes, because there really is no other way. 

Makes 4 Servings

Calories per serving 439 (Hey, I never said this was figure friendly!)

Feeling Pampered

If you can't tell by my too frequent food & recipe posts I have up on this blog, I love to cook. I love learning about new foods, cooking techniques, recipes, trying new foods, learning new ways to cook quick and easy meals that my family loves, just everything about it. Not to mention my unconditional love for about 90% of the shows on The Food Network. 

With that being said, what I use in my kitchen matters. Yes, I am like every other woman on the planet and have a complete variety of mix matched items throughout my kitchen. But, the majority of my stuff is from The Pampered Chef. I have always loved their stuff, ever since watching my Mom start to go to parties and purchase some of their products. So we actually always had some Pampered Chef stuff in the kitchen growing up.

The opportunity to become an independent Pampered Chef® consultant has been given to me numerous times, and although I always wanted to, I never went for it. Well, a few weeks ago I got to thinking about more and more and decided to stop putting it off and go for it now. It's something I've wanted to do and it will bring in some extra money, so why not??

I have been very very excited about this new journey I have started, but this last week or so I have been REALLY busy trying to get myself organized, finding a system that works for me, meeting other consultants, learning about the business & products, networking, booking shows, etc!! Overwhelming, but very exciting! I am having so much fun with it and met a lot of wonderful people already! Not only am I excited about getting started, but I also get excited to make goals and come up with ideas for the future! 

So basically in all this rambling, I wanted you to know why I have been absent from blog land this week and assure you that I will be back in no time! I just have this new thing that is requiring some extra attention! And the blog drafts/ideas that have piled up in my week of absence is overflowing, so I will have plenty to blog about when I get back to normal!

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