Category: Cooking

Friday Favorites: A Link Up -School Lunch/Snack Ideas

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Yay!  It’s Friday…It’s Friday!!!  HOLLA!  I hope you join in on our weekly link-up.

This week I’ve just wanted to be like this…

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But unfortunately it’s been anything BUT.  Our lease is up on our apartment.  We still haven’t found a house.  They are all so expensive…like what do these people DO for a living???  They must all be trust fund babies or they live in mansions empty of furniture and only a futon. I don’t want a 5000 square foot house!  I want half the house for half the cash darn it! AND…I didn’t win Powerball yesterday. I was counting on that $191 million dollar cash payout this week.

Seriously.

I volunteered to help teach Connor’s art class today wish me luck with that.  All I know is that it involves paint.  Gulp.  (Note to self don’t wear anything of value)

SOOOOOOOOO….moving on.  This week’s link up topic is school treats and/or lunch ideas.  I need help with this so bad it’s not even funny.  Connor’s lunch revolves around peanut butter and jelly and turkey and cheese sandwiches.  That’s it.  That’s all I got.

I did this fun Halloween treat a few years ago and you can find the info and free printable HERE.

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I love doing crafty things and I’m going to try to find something to do this year for Connor’s class too.  It’s the whole lunch situation I struggle with.  After a couple of weeks of school Connor came home and said “Mom…did you know there is another way to eat lunch…it’s called TRAYS”.  I laughed so hard at that!

I asked if he wanted to try a tray and he said no because the food wasn’t what he liked.  I don’t mind packing his lunch, I actually like it.  The question is what to put in it?

This snack looks awesome, I may try this sometime it looks easy.  Recipe found HERE.

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If you have awesome lunch ideas…help a sista out.

Link up below:



Coming soon:
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My Fit Foods: Feel Good & Eat Healthy #PayFitForward #Partner

I’ve partnered with My Fit Foods to bring you this post. All opinions remain my own.

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If you all read my last post I mentioned how I struggle with meals and cooking healthy dinners for our family.  I recently discovered My Fit Foods.  It’s so easy even I can do it!  You can even order online ahead of time and pick up in the store.  I’ve actually been in the store where I live and it’s so easy to find meals that are healthy and the staff is super helpful.  My Fit Foods is like the fairy godmother of “What’s for dinner?” Everything is so simple and laid out for you that all you have left to do is EAT.  It’s healthy too, so that makes me feel even better.

During the month of September, My Fit Foods’ is encouraging people to share healthy lifestyle habits with friends, while simultaneously giving back to those in need. Purchase a meal at My Fit Foods during participating “Pay Fit Forward Fridays” and you will be offered the option to donate a FREE meal either to a friend, or to a local hunger-relief charity.

Here’s how:

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Starting and maintaining healthy habits are better with support.

Buy one of our delicious meals and your second one is free.

You chose where to give your second meal. You can give it to a friend or donate it to a local food bank.

“My Fit Foods is committed to making healthy flavorful meals convenient and accessible for everyone,” said David Goronkin, CEO of My Fit Foods.

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My Fit Foods offers fresh, nutritious portion-controlled meals that are satisfying, convenient, rich in flavor and wholesome.

As part of the “Pay Fit Forward” program My Fit Foods retail stores will guarantee a donation to each of the local charities within the respective markets.

My Fit Foods has been an active contributor to hunger-relief efforts with donations of more than 32,000 meals in Austin alone over the past year.

Donations at local My Fit Foods retail locations will benefit the following charities:

Arizona: Waste Not, a non-profit that collects excess perishable foods from local establishments and delivers the food to more than 100 agencies that feed the hungry.

California: Second Harvest Food Bank, one of the largest food banks dedicated to ending local hunger in the state of California.

Illinois: Lakeview Pantry, one of Chicago’s largest and longest-operating food pantries.

Oklahoma: Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, a private, hunger-relief organization dedicated to feeding the hungry in eastern Oklahoma.

Texas: Keep Austin Fed, a non-profit organization that gathers wholesome and nutritious surplus food and distributes to local charities that feed those in need; North Texas Food Bank, the largest North Texas charity focused on feeding the local hungry; Nourishment for the Needy, a faith-based food pantry in the Texas area “For many Americans battling food insecurity, high-quality and nutritious meals are often out of the question,” said Susan Hensarling Nahkunst, Executive Director of Keep Austin Fed. “Through their donations, My Fit Foods is making healthy eating attainable and convenient for everyone in our community. We are thankful to be part of their ‘Pay Fit Forward’ campaign.”

For more information on the “Pay Fit Forward” campaign or to find the My Fit Foods location nearest you, visit HERE.

Follow My Fit Foods on Twitter, Instagram, & Facebook for the latest and greatest!

Let’s make a date for Friday at My Fit Foods shall we???

 

 

 

The Tooth Fairy is Visiting Texas! #LoneStarEggs

This post is sponsored by Lonestar Eggs.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Guess what happened today…

Connor lost his first tooth!

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He’s so excited for the tooth-fairy to visit tonight.  This week has certainly been a week of firsts.  First day of Kindergarten and now his first lost tooth.  The TIME fairy needs to slow down!

It’s been craziness getting into our new routine.  We get up extra early and shower, get dressed, and then try to get all our stuff together for the day.  The one thing I never want Connor to go without is a good breakfast in the morning.  Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It affects everything from memory to creativity in the classroom. Children who go hungry become more distracted from learning at school, or give up more easily when faced with challenges.

Healthy breakfasts are best for your child and important to make a priority every day.  Here in Texas I know we have some pride, believe me when we first moved here I definitely noticed it.  This morning we had breakfast including Lone Star Eggs.  I try to make breakfast fun and I love to support local food sources.

The hens that lay these eggs are Texans themselves & available in Texas Walmart stores.  Find your local Walmart HERE.

BBP_6424Have and EGG-CELLENT week friends & don’t forget to eat BREAKFAST!

 

Gevalia Ice Coffee with Almond Milk #GevaliaIcedCoffee #IC #ad

“I participated in an Ambassador Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Gevalia Iced Coffee with Almond Milk. I received product samples to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.”

We started school today!!!  My baby started Kindergarten…and these early mornings call for COFFEE!!!  I’ve shared with you all before about my love for Gevalia Iced Coffee with Almond Milk.  We love it so much, my husband who usually is a whole milk person, loves them too.

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Gevalia Iced Coffee with Almond Milk is so easy to grab and go in the morning.  Instead of waiting for my coffee it’s already cold and ready to go.  I just grab it and put in my purse.  I don’t always remember everything on my list or my head is in a fog, thankfully it’s so easy to remember my coffee.  It’s already made, blended, and it tastes sooooo good!  Believe me… I am the biggest coffee snob.  I was very skeptical when trying Gevalia Iced Coffee with Almond Milk, and now I keep going back to the store for more.

Gevalia Iced Coffee with Almond Milk comes in three great flavors:  Vanilla, Caramel, and Mocha.

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Creamy almond milk mixed with 100% Arabica coffee beans combine for a rich, refreshing glass of iced coffee that’s never bitter and lactose free!  Each single serve container also contains 9 grams of protein.  You can also use the Gevalia Auto Delivery option when you order to receive regular shipments of iced coffee cartons delivered to your doorstep all summer.  Get free shipping on any order over $35 dollars at anytime.

Sign up for Gevalia emails and save 15% off your first order, PLUS get free shipping when you spend $30 or more.  You’ll also be among the first to know about exclusive offers, sales, new products and more!

I can’t believe summer is coming to an end already.  Thankfully I’ll be caffeinated and ready to go for the rest of the school year 🙂

Keep up with the latest and greatest from Gevalia on Facebook & Twitter.

Chipotle Sandwich @SmithfieldFoods #SummerSizzling #weavemade and #ad

“This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Weave Made Media®, Smithfield®, but all my opinions are my own. #weavemade #SummerSizzling http://my-disclosur.es/RgFrEH”

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We like to spice things up in the summer time.  We live in Texas after all?  I have a great recipe to share with y’all today using Smithfield® Marinated Fresh Pork.  Smithfield’s 100% fresh pork cuts are slow-marinated and perfectly seasoned. Simply grill them up and you’ve got a delicious dinner ready in minutes.  I’m no Martha Stewart and I’m always looking for easy dinners for our family.  Anything that helps me save a step or prep work while cooking is right up my alley.

We are in an apartment this summer (since our house sold in 2 days and we sure do miss grilling outside) but I use this pan ALL.THE.TIME. to grill meat in.  It’s perfect for getting a sear on the outside of the meat and cooks thoroughly. Meat just tastes better grilled in my opinion.  Just because we are inside doesn’t mean we still can’t have fun grilling 🙂

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We love to make all different sandwiches, my husband is the sandwich connoisseur, so today I’m sharing a recipe for chipotle sandwiches.

The Sauce:

Chipotle Mayonnaise

1 cup mayonnaise
2 tbsp. chipotle sauce (found in the Mexican aisle)
1/2 lime juice

Mix together until thoroughly combined.

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Toasty buns:

These are just regular hoagie buns found in the bakery section.

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Cook Smithfield® Marinated Fresh Pork.  Directions are on the back of every package.  Easy and FAST!  I cut mine really thin into shaved pieces to place on sandwiches.

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Spread Chipotle Mayonnaise on bread, add Smithfield® Marinated Fresh Pork, and serve.

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This was so easy to make and took less than 30 minutes.  We are so busy right now and have a ton going on.   Easy meals speak to me on so many levels.  I don’t have time to slice and dice everything, let alone wait hours for my meat to marinate.  With Smithfield® Marinated Fresh Pork everything is seasoned and ready to go right out of the package.  There are so many different flavors to choose from too, including Memphis BBQ, Garlic & Herb, Teriyaki, Mesquite, Rosemary & Olive Oil, Portabello Mushroom, and many more.  Check out all the different selections HERE.

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Save $2.00 on any ONE (1) Smithfield® Marinated Fresh Pork Product” through Smithfield® Marinated Fresh Pork offer.(While Supplies Last) 

I used my coupon while shopping at Walmart.  Follow @SmithfieldFoods for great recipes and share yours on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

 

Gevalia Iced Coffee #GevaliaIcedCoffee #IC #Ad

“I participated in an Ambassador Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Gevalia Iced Coffee with Almond Milk. I received product samples to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.”

I am SOOOOO excited about these new Gevalia Iced Coffeed with Almond Milk y’all.  I think everyone that reads my blog knows I LOVE my coffee and I know good coffee when I taste it.

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It’s so hot right now in Texas I’m on a big iced coffee kick.  This Gevalia Iced Coffee with Almond Milk hits my coffee radar in every way.  It’s made with 100% Arabica Gevalia coffee, almond milk, and 9 grams of protein per single serve carton, as well as “just enough sweetness”.

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I’m always in the car.  Our mornings are go…go…go!!!  Getting Connor ready for school & then I’m out the door for work.  Gevalia Iced Coffee with Almond Milk is easy to grab from the fridge and just throw in your bag for the day when you need a little pick me up.

I’m a big fan of Almond milk.  It’s sweet and good for you and tastes wonderful in coffee.
Gevalia Iced Coffee with Almond Milk is the first ready-to-drink offering from Gevalia and is now available in grocery stores across the U.S. in three flavors: Mocha, Vanilla and Caramel.

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Terence tried it one morning when he was running late and he said “Wow, this is actually really good!”  Sometimes I think my husband is a bigger “coffee snob” than I am 😉
With nine grams of protein per single serve carton & 170 calories this is a great option, especially for families on the go.   I’m a big caramel fan, so I absolutely LOVED the caramel flavor.  The Mocha was delicious and creamy as well.  All flavors were so good it was hard to choose a favorite.  Even if I hadn’t been sent sample to try I would definitely recommend these coffee drinks…no lie!!!  They are so good and I’ll definitely be filling my fridge with Gevalia Iced Coffee with Almond Milk this summer.

Follow Gevalia: Website, Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram

Share a Coke this Summer & Start the Summer off with an Ice Cold Coke Float!

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ShareSmiles #CollectiveBias

It’s summer…summer time y’all!  I can’t wait to get outside and enjoy the sunshine and have some place else to gather.  This summer has been crazy busy for us and I told y’all in my last post we are moving!  Well, we FOUND A HOUSE!!!  Yay!  It has a gorgeous back yard and I can’t wait to have friends and family over for barbecues and gatherings.

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This summer is all about making memories, especially in our new home.  I’m sure you’ve been to the grocery store lately and seen all the fun Coke products out.  I went to Brookshire’s this weekend and picked up some Coke with fun sayings like “Mom”, “Grad”, “Dad”, “Superstar”, “Bro”, and you can even find your own name on some Coke bottles.  I have yet to find Becky though…ha…ha..!!!  It has to be out there somewhere because I saw the name “Griselda” the other day and I thought to myself if Coke is making that name they have a Becky out there in the universe!

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Last year’s Share a Coke campaign was such a success, Coke has brought it back bigger and better! This year Coke will have 1000 names featured on 20 ounce bottles along with other unique products.  The special Coke cans come in all varieties, including Coke classic, diet, and zero.

As I shop at Brookshire’s this summer & I see the name of someone I know I’ll pick up a Coke for them.  I’m excited to share it with them because it’s almost like it was made ESPECIALLY for that person.  I think I’m going to get Terence one that says “Better Half”.  Ha ha!  Well, he can give it to me maybe?

When I got home from work yesterday I made a delicious Coke float. What is better during the summer than an ice-cold Coke float?

I mean…..

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So, who are you planning on sharing a Coke with this summer?  Have you found your name yet?

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The “Grad” Coke drinks would be so cute if you know of someone graduating this year.  Also, don’t forget Father’s day is coming up and they have “Dad” Cokes too.

Cheers to a wonderful summer friends and don’t forget to SHARE A COKE!

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Keep an eye on Brookshire’s Facebook page for a chances to win YourPoints, offers, fun and conversation.

Twitter: @CocaCola @DietCoke @CokeZero @Brookshires_

Instagram: @CocaCola @DietCoke @CokeZero @Brookshires_

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