SPRINKLES!!!!

My mom and I went to Sprinkles during her last week of her visit.  Why we didn't take a picture of her with her cupcake I have NO clue.  These photos were taken with our phone, so the quality isn't that great. We forgot the camera at home too.  We were a hot mess on this day.

Wholly Guacamole!!!

I found the best snack! Wholly Guacamole 100 calorie snack packs.  They are perfect to throw in a lunch box and enjoy as a snack.  You can find them at Target for around $5.  Watch for coupons!  I bought 2 packets for $6 by using $2 coupons.  I love them!

Happy Anniversary to my Parents!!!!

Today my parents are celebrating their 32nd wedding anniversary! 

Chipotle Chicken Tacos

My friend Krystal tried the Chipotle Chicken Tacos from the Belly Fat Cure book and recommended I try them.  We are both doing the BFC together.  She has been doing it for 2.5 weeks and lost 3.5 pounds.  WAY TO GO!!!!  Chipotle Chicken Tacos are super easy to make and DELISH!!!!  You don't even know you are missing any sugar/carbs. 

I do most of my cooking on Sunday for the week.  I marinated the chicken while I was cooking breakfast and other meals for the week.  Later in the day I cooked the chicken, let it cool, put it in the fridge for later on in the week.  I love cooking for about 2-3 hours on Sunday for the entire week.  I cook breakfast, lunch and dinner.  We grab out food out of the fridge during the week.  When it comes time to dinner it's easy to heat up the items and have dinner within 15-20 minutes.  We normally leave the house around 6:30am and get home around 6/6:30pm.  In order to avoid eating out I cook ahead. 

Chipotle Chicken Tacos

Adapted from Belly Fat Cure

Tacos:

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1 tsp. cumin

juice of 1 lime, plus zest

4 chicken breasts

8 (6 inch) Mission Yellow Corn Tortillas

1 cup Queso Fresco, crumbled

1/4 cup cilantro, chopped

1 cup mixed greens

Chipotle crema:

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup sour cream

1 Tablespoon, minced garlic

1 lime, juiced

1 Tablespoon chipotle peppers in adobo sauce

Preparation:
Prepare the tacos; mix together the olive oil, cumin, lime, and zest together in a large ziploc bag. Add chicken breasts and let marinate for at least 20 minutes.

Preheat a large skillet preferably with grill marks to medium-high heat. Remove the chicken from the marinade and discard the marinade. Place the chicken breasts on the skillet and cook for 5 to 7 minutes on each side or until done. Remove and dice into 1 inch pieces and place in a serving platter.


Prepare the chipotle crema; Combine all the ingredients in a small food processor and mix thoroughly.

Day 12 - Organize Spices

A Bowl Full of Lemon's mentioned in her blog to check all the dates on your spices.  Why didn't I ever think I needed to check the dates?  I threw out about 5-6 bottles that were way over their date.  Yuck!!!! 

I pulled everything out and looked at the dates.  Then I wiped the cupboard clean and started to put things back in the cupboard by the order in how they will be used.  Larger containers in the back, easier to spot, and smaller containers in the front.

BEFORE

 Cleaning

AFTER



Giveaway

House of Smith's is giving away a Silhouette Cutter.  I would LOVE one of these.  Go HERE to enter.

Day 11 - Organize your FREEZER!!!!

Boy was this a chilling job!  lol   I had a MESS in my freezer.  My mom had cooked up a freezer full of food for us before she left.  She stacked everything very nicely in the freezer, but then other food was crammed into the freezer.

I had popsicle in the freezer since last year.  Threw them away along with the empty carton of ice cream.  I even had paint brushes in the freezer from when my sister & I made her "love" subway art.  The black bag in the freezer is my flour.  I keep my flour in the freezer to try to keep it fresh.  I use 5 pounds of flour maybe every 6 months if I am lucky.

I think my fingers got frost bitten while pulling everything out and putting it all back in.  I should have used my gloves. lol

BEFORE

AFTER

 

Top shelf has tortilla's, frozen refried beans, and turkey sausage. Second shelf has all the premade food mom made for us. Third shelf veggies and the bottom drawer is full of meat.  Chicken, fish, shrimp, pork and beef...I think we have enough meat for awhile!

Cowboy Subway Art

Lacey & my dad both wanted to make subway art while they were visiting.  I posted Lacey's subway art earlier.  Here is my dads cowboy subway art.  We made his on NYE, so it could dry before they left in the morning.

Dad gave us a list of words to use.  Here are about half of the words.

Day 10 - Organizing Laundry Area

Oh how I wish I had a laundry room!!!!  A pantry & a laundry room are on my wish list for a future house.  Currently my laundry area is in the garage.  The washer is on the right hand side and the drier on the left hand side.  They are clear across the room from each other.  I have NO idea why you wouldn't put them next to each other.  If I was to start on why things were done the way in our house by the previous owners we would be here for days.  Slowly but surely we will redo things the way we want them.

I have a cupboard above the washing machine.  We laundry soap, rags, light bulbs, candles and various other little stuff. 

BEFORE

AFTER



Day 9 - Organize Toys

Well I don't really have toys that currently need to be organized other than Sam's. Unfortunately he just won't get the hang up putting away all his toys that he drags out. I have to keep increasing the size of the toy basket too! We have gone through about 4-5 toys over the holidays.  Sam likes to pull all the stuffing out of the cloth toys and he does NOT like plastic toys! 

BEFORE



AFTER

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

My mom made homemade spaghetti sauce while she was here.  OMG there is NOTHING as good as Grandma Degrace homemade sauce!!!!  Nice thick, creamy sauce!!!!  Mom froze some for us too!!!!  The recipe is a family secret.  I don't even know what it is as this time, so don't try to torture me to get it!  I need to have my mom write it down, so I can add it to the family recipe book!

Soldier Subway Art

I found a soldier subway art at Home Good's last weekend.  I bought it for Art's man cave to include with his military awards.  I <3 this!  Without soldiers there would be no freedom!

I need your help!!!!

I now interrupt my scheduled organizing broadcast for a favor from all my blog readers.  My cousin Ryan is getting married in July to a wonderful girl named Emily.  They are currently in a contest to win wedding photography for their special day.  It would mean a ton to all of us if you would vote for them.  You need a Facebook account. 

Here are the steps on what to do.

I am not sure if this link will work for you without being logged in.  http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/aphotobyashley
Or you can search for A Photo By Ashley.  The correct blog will have the picture below.  You first have to like A Photo by Ashley's page. Under her photos an album called 2011 Wedding Giveaway Contest-Send in YOUR Picture!.  This is where you will find Ryan & Emily picture. 

 Here is the picture of Ryan & Emily (aren't they so cute) that needs your votes!!!!  You must go to their picture and click on LIKE.  Each like counts as a vote.