leftover turkey tacos

we used our leftover turkey to make these DELICIOUS tacos that, might I add, are pretty darn healthy too!

Turkey Tacos with Avocado-Corn Salsa

1 pkg corn taco shells
1 1/2 cups chopped avocado
1 cup sweet corn kernels
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 Tbs lime juice
1 pkg reduced-sodium taco seasoning mix
12 oz cooked boneless, skinnless turkey breast cut into strips (yummy when you use chicken too)
3/4 cup water

1. Preheat oven to 250'. Place taco shells on baking sheet
2. make salsa; mix avocado, corn tomatoes, and lime juice in medium bowl. Set aside
3. combine taco seasoning, turkey and water in medium skillet. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally
4. heat shells in oven 5 minutes or until warm.
5. Spoon turkey mixture into shells and divide salsa evenly among tacos

The following is the way I did it using leftover turkey rather than having to fully cook the meat, therefor taking some shortcuts.

Make salsa by following direction #2 above. I just cooked the frozen corn in the bowl before adding the remaining ingredients. Set aside.


Put desired amount of meat in a microwaveable bowl, shredding more if needed as you do so. Sprinkle desired amount of taco seasoning, add a sprinkle of water, to keep moist, and stir. Heat in microwave to desired temperature. I believe I did 2 minutes for mine.


I skipped heating the taco shells and went straight to dishing. We did use soft corn tortillas for the girls...I do recommend you lay a wet papertowel over each and warm in the microwave. Feel free to bring on the hot sauce or any other toppings if you desire, although its not needed. They're scrumptious on their own!

yummy fall breakfast

this is a perfect breakfast to have on a cold fall morning! bring on the holiday season!!!!!
(this makes more than one batch worth so you'll want a one-quart jar to store it in)

Cinnamon Pankcakes w/Cider Syrup

pancakes:
3 c. all-purpose flour 4 1/2 t. cinnamon
3 T. sugar 1 t. salt
2 T. baking powder

gently toss all ingredients together; spoon into a one-quart jar. (attach following instructions on some cute fall paper and its a great gift to give to a friend or teacher!)

instructions:
whisk 3/4 cup milk, one egg and 2 T. oil together in a medium mixing bowl; add 1 1/3 cups mix, stirring until just moistened. Pour by 1/4 cupfuls onto a hot, greased skillet; heat until bubbles form along the edge. Flip and heat until both sides are golden. Makes 10.


cider syrup:
1 c. sugar 2 c. apple cider
2 T. cornstarch 2 T. lemon juice
1/2 t. pumpkin pie spice 1/3 c. butter

Place first 3 ingredients in a saucepan; stir in apple cider and lemon juice. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture thickens and boils; boil for one minute. Remove from heat; stir in butter. Makes about 2 cups.

a good laugh

everyone could use a good laugh...one of these ought to do the trick.

ENJOY!

Training

The training is seriously the hardest part for me which is rather lame but true. Although raising the money is slow and takes a lot of work, I do work on it everyday in one way or another where as its really hard for me to find the time to do the training everyday. I do go to the gym everyday (just about), so I'm staying in shape at least, but it's hard to take my time to really "train" because I'm usually having to cut my workout shorter than I would like to get home in time for Ty to leave for work. My goal is to walk at least a half marathon straight at least once this upcoming week...hopefully twice. I did run for 2 miles yesterday which may seem pathetic to some of you but it was a big deal for me! :)

On a side note, during THE walk they have us walking a full circle which I find very symbolic...I love stuff like that! I'm SO excited to do this walk....I couldn't sleep last night thinking about it which for those of you who don't know me well, that's a BIG deal. I usually can always sleep, anywhere, anytime. I can't wait to meet new people and experience something completely new and foreign to me, I just pray I can raise enough money to get there! I keep getting tempted to lower my goal for fundraising but I just can't bring myself to do it. I have to give it EVERYTHING I can, and if I don't meet it I'll be REALLY bummed but I'll know that I did everything I could to raise as much as I could and I'll have learned a lot of lessons along the way to apply for next year.

For those of you who have donated and are continuing to support me by keeping updated....THANK YOU!!!! For those of you who are just supporting me by keeping updated and giving moral support...THANK YOU! BUT, if you would like to now donate....here's the site again. :) Loves to you all. GO PINK! :)

www.JensPinkWalk.com DONATE HERE!!!!

Enduring Rose

My thoughtful brother-in-law and sister were brainstorming ways they could help raise more money and they came up with an excellent alternative to donating. Bryson, my brother-in-law, and his family own a fabulous company called Enduring Rose and they are going to donate a portion of their proceeds on ANY rose purchase to help me raise money for Breast Cancer Research. They are BEAUTIFUL real roses dipped in gold. A rose that never dies! They have a variety of colored roses, as well as gold and white roses. They are the perfect gift for any occasion - anniversary, birthday, Valentines Day, Mothers Day, holidays, etc. So help a cause and get your loved one a timeless gift at the same time. Please visit their site at www.enduringrose.com and don't forget to SPREAD THE WORD!!! :)

Thank you again Bryson, Katie, and the entire Fish family. Your generosity is touching!

Fix It

A number was performed on So You Think You Can Dance awhile ago and it has been on my mind a lot lately. Not just the dance but what it represents, or who it represents I guess.

Throughout preparing for this walk I have been focusing more so on those directly effected by breast cancer or who will be effected. Today, I can't help but focus more on those who have watched, are watching, or will have to watch their loved one go through the battle of breast cancer. I can only imagine how badly they must wish they could remove their pain, their cancer, their heartache. Instead, they are left to watch and offer as much moral support as they can, meanwhile, inside I'm sure they are feeling they are not doing enough. LIttle do they know their presence in that persons life at that time is probably enough for the fighter. The patient must know that this is their battle to fight but just to have someone by their side while they do this probably means more to them then any of us will ever fully know or understand.

So to those of you fighting with all your strength, know that there are many people out there wishing they could do more to help you...more to "fix you". And to those of you trying to be the fixer, know that your support is probably more of a help then you think.

Here is the video that touched me so much.

Jens Pink Walk

Years ago I saw a commercial for the Avon Breast Cancer Walk and I felt impressed to participate. Unfortunately I pushed it off having way too many reasons why I didn't have time for it. Well I have thought about it A LOT in the last few years and finally this year I stop coming up with excuses and actually do it! So on September 11-12th I will be walking with a large community in the Avon Walk Santa Barbara. Walking a marathon and a half! Crazy, I know, but I'm SO excited!!

I figured maybe there were other walks out there I would be equally interested in but the more research I did the more I was impressed with the Avon Walk. To find out more about why, you can visit their website...you'll see why.

To be completely honest, I'm not exactly sure why I felt so inspired to want to participate. Ty's grandmother passed away from breast cancer, this was the first thing I thought of when I saw the commercial for the first time and I have to admit it got me choked up. Sad she had to go through that, that her family had to go through that and that I didn't get to meet her in this life. So I guess that was my first inspiration but I was also impressed with the camaraderie Avon showed and that I've already felt since registering. You really feel like you are apart of something great, something that really means something, something that will make a difference. Maybe, in all honesty, that is what has really kept me so motivated to follow through with this. I will admit that I am also attracted to the idea of doing my part now, before it hits someone I know well. That may be selfish but I just feel like if there is an opportunity to take one step closer to finding a cure, maybe one will be here before I am effected or someone I know all too well, that I should take it...now. For those of you who have already been effected, or watched (or are watching) someone be effected, by breast cancer, my condolences go out to you. I can not relate to you in anyway so I don't even know exactly what to say other then our prayers are with you and I admire your courage and strength.

The thing I look forward to most about this experience is the learning/growing process I know is inevitable to take place. I don't want to do the walk with ear plugs in my ears the whole time...I want to talk to other people, hear their story, learn how they had/have the strength to be faced with such a trial and gracefully make it through. I will definitely be leaving my comfort zone, but I'm eager to take up that challenge and know that my faith, confidence, knowledge, compassion, respect and so much more will grow as a result!

As for the training, I wonder if I'm taking it as seriously as I should. I mean, I go to the gym just about everyday. Do I run (or even walk) anything CLOSE to a marathon? NO WAY! I keep just figuring I'm in pretty decent shape and I am just walking after all, no jogging or running required, so surely I'll be fine, yet I know if I don't practice walking longer distances being in shape isn't going to matter much....my feet will be so blistered and my legs so sore from walking non-stop I'll probably wish I had broke in my shoes a little more. :) So that is my new goal...focus more on the "training" and less on the fundraising. The fundraising, although important and necessary, will all fall into place, I know it will, but the training is completely up to me. No one can really help me with that one.

I'm going to continue to update this blog on a regular basis with my progress along with my thoughts and feelings on this whole process. I hope you'll continue to check in and hold me to all my goals!

Thank you in advance for all of your support!

If you are interested in donating (I have a minimum of $1800 I have to raise but have made a personal goal of $2500) you can visit this site. Thanks again in advance!


loves <3

jenny

Krud Kutter. Again.

it has come to my rescue once again. pen mark has never come off walls so easily. can NOT promote this enough

Addiction

Loved this article I read this afternoon in Meridian Magazine. Thought I would share.

eyebrows

* your eyebrow should start directly above the inner corner of your eye, peak at the outer corner of your iris, and curve down toward the end

* you should never pluck above your eyebrow when shaping your eyebrow...just some stray hairs here and there

* always use slant edge tweezers for better precision

* try to pluck right after your shower. The heat from the shower helps loosen hair follicles by opening your pores, making plucking easier and less painful

* always comb your eyebrows upward and outward

(I'll go over trimming eyebrows another time when I can take some good pictures to help demonstrate proper eyebrow trimming technique)

Being a Mom

I read this article in American Baby and thought others might enjoy it too!

12 Reasons to Love Being a Mom
Babyhood goes by fast. Stop and appreciate the lovely, funny, or just plain crazy little moments that happen every day.
By Jen Singer

1. You receive a reception worthy of the next American Idol even though you'd only left the room for a minute to get more wipes
2. There's no better exercise program than chasing a toddler through a good-size mall ~ except maybe chasing two of them
3. When was the last time a grown-up hugged you simply for buying cookies?
4. You can't very well put videos of your husband dancing to Beyonce's "Single Ladies" on YouTube. But the baby? Upload away.
5. Babies don't accidentally butt-call your cell phone and they never hog the remote
6. Nothing's sexier than a man holding a baby ~ except for a man changing a diaper.
7. The 100th reading of Goodnight Moon is every bit as good as the first.
8. You no longer look quite as silly dressing up for Halloween. In fact, not dressing up might make you odd mom out.
9. You've got a built-in excuse for RSVP'ing "no" whenever you feel like it
10. Somebody loves you no matter what you're wearing (strained peas on your shirt), what you're doing (prepping yet another birthday party), or how long it's been since you showered (uh, Tuesday? Nah, Monday!)
11. Naptime
12. Alarm clocks are more appealing when they're wearing foot pajamas.

chicken marinade

1/2 cup soy sauce
2 Tbsp brown sugar
2 Tbsp canola oil
2 Tbsp lemon juice (I actually used lime)
2 tsp red pepper flakes
3 garlic cloves, minced

Marinate chicken in fridge for at least 3 hours before grilling/cooking

Enjoy! {yum yum!}

another Krud Kutter miracle

Krud Kutter does it again!!! It got licorice out of our carpet without leaving a trace. AMAZING!!! Cam got some black licorice (whole other story) and left traces of it all over our carpet then proceeded to step on it. It was in there good....until Krud Kutter came to the rescue! Only wish I had taken before and after photos!

bathroom cleaning

(If only this was my bathroom!) :)

Here are some cleaning tips I have used and have found helpful and productive. Hope they help you too!

First and foremost always keep disinfectant wipes in the bathroom for quick, easy cleaning.

Sink:
For light stains, rub w/fresh cut lemon
For dark stains (like rust) scrub with a paste of borax and lemon juice
To freshen drain, pour 1/4-1/2 box of baking soda down the drain, add 1/2 cup of white vinegar. Pull up drain plug and let sit for a fee minutes. Flush with cold water

Toilet bowl:
Keep toilet bowl ring-free by pouring a half-gallon of white vinegar in it once a month. Let it soak overnight before flushing
Pour 1/4 cup bleach in toilet before leaving. Let sit while you're gone (don't forget to NOT use bleach when cleaning if you have a tank-held cleaner that's released when flushed. The two may react chemically)
To help w/odors, pour one cup of baking soda down the bowl weekly

Smell/odors:
Place fabric softener sheet in the trash can or a dab of fragrance on a light bulb for immediate fragrance boost

Shower curtain:
Before hanging shower curtain, soak in salt water solution to prevent mildew
For plastic curtains, spray with pre-wash spray at the top & let drip/run down to cover curtain. Allow to sit for a few minutes, then rinse it off.

Orzo w/Feta & Tomatoes

3 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved (I just chopped up Roma tomatoes)
1/2 cup chopped dill (this would be yummy but I left it out because I didn't have it on hand)
1 tsp grated lemon zest (I used lemon juice instead)
1 cup orzo (I used angel hair)
1 1/2 cups crumbled feta (6oz)

Toss together oil, tomatoes, dill, zest and 1/2 tsp of salt & pepper each in a large serving bowl. Let stand at least ten minutes.

Meanwhile, cook orzo in a pasta pot of boiling salted water (1 1/2 Tbs salt for 4 quarts water) until al dente.

Drain orzo and toss with tomato mixture. Add feta and toss again.

The tomatoes in this photo are from this recipe.

Hair Straightener + ironing =

Making my life simpler!

Some smaller items such as childrens' clothes can be more difficult to iron. Yes, I iron my girls clothes. Not all of them but there are a couple dresses that I prefer the ties to be flat or the front flips up which drives me crazy. I have recently discovered a great way to get the job done without having to break out the ironing board and iron every time. Use a hair straightener! This has made my ironing SO much more simple and fast!

I still use the big iron for the few shirts and skirts that need ironing between Ty and I but I break out the straightener for the girls clothes and use it to get in-between the buttons on any button up shirt.

Hope this helps some of you obsessive ironers the same way it helped me!

H.E.Y!!!!

A "HEY" snack or meal is a Healthy, Easy, Yummy snack/meal....everyones favorite combination! :)


Broiled Tomatoes w/feta cheese

Cut desired number of roma tomatoes in half lengthwise. Season each half with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning and crumbled Feta cheese. Drizzle with Fat Free Catalina Dressing. Last, top it with dried or fresh basil. Broil it 3 in from the bottom for 3 minutes or until cheese starts to brown. Remove and let stand for 1-2 minutes and ENJOY!!!!!

Other items you can use to top tomatoes: bacon bits, diced cucumber, black olives, fresh cilantro, whatever your heart desires!!!!

i am a mother. i am me.

i just finished watching Julie & Julia. i cried at the end. ok, truth be told i got choked up several times throughout the movie, although the few glistening tears weren't shed until the end.

so many thoughts are going through my head, some that contradict the next, that i can hardly keep them straight.

i love being a mother. the book "i am a mother" is a favorite of mine. i read it often and it always helps remind me how blessed i am. i wouldn't trade it for the world....but there are moments when i wish i was more than just a mother. i wish when the girls were tucked away in their beds that i could turn into someone else for a bit. a wonderful writer, a phenomenal cook, an excellent blogger, a brilliant seamstress, etc. what is stopping me really? i certainly have the support from my AMAZING husband. i have the ability to learn a talent and begin to perfect it but i suppose it is the determination i lack. or the fear of failure. yes, i think that is it more than anything else. why is it that fear can be so paralyzing? stopping you in your tracks from accomplishing something worth your while?

i like to blame not accomplishing things on lack of time, that seems to be my choice of excuse, but in all actuality i suppose it is fear far more than time. i could make the time. i will make the time.

first, i must organize myself. there is nothing i hate more than feeling unorganized. i have a hard time working or enjoying myself in a messy environment. (this may come as a shock to some who have seen my house, but none the less, it is true) :)

yes, i will focus on organization for awhile. and continue to blog. whether people are reading or not is not relevant, what is important is that i feel accomplished. i have an escape from reality for a bit. and that i feel i am not ONLY a mother. but oh so much more. i'm still....me.

Quote

You can tell more about a person by what he says about others
than you can by what others say about him.
~Leo Aikman

a kind act

send a text message to 3 people complimenting them. enjoy the gratification it gives you knowing you just brightened someone's day!

Modest Bathing Suits

this will be my first summer in THREE years that I will have "my body" back. The last three years I have either been pregnant or recently had a baby. Ty said I could get a new bathing suit or two since my body has changed in the last three years. (boy is that an understatement!) :) anyway, i started doing my research so i could make sure i found a modest swim suit that i loved rather than settle for and i came across this website....

these are THE CUTEST modest bathing suits!!!! <3 i'm in love <3

i picked two. and i couldn't be happier!

i dare you to not want to buy one. :) enjoy!

nail polish in carpet

i was painting Cam's nails the other day when the red nail polish I was using tipped over. I tried using Krud Kutter to get it out but this is the first time it didn't work. Well it got some of it out but left the carpet a little pink. So I looked up what could get it out and the two that had the best reviews were vinegar and windex. The winner? WINDEX!!! Took it the remainder out without ANY problems. There were a couple different spots and I tried a couple combinations and this is my recommendation to you if you ever need to get nail polish out of your carpet:

use vinegar or krud kutter FIRST to try to lift as much as possible. then use windex to get the rest out. if you don't have vinegar or another stain remover product to use first, windex will work all on its own, it just takes a little bit more dabbing/scrubbing.

Brown Sugar Meatloaf

tried this for dinner on Valentines Day...YUM YUM! SO easy and delicious...not dried out like most meatloaf I've had.

1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup ketchup
1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef
3/4 cup milk
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 small onion, chopped
1/4 tsp ground ginger
3/4 cup finely crushed saltine cracker crumbs (about 10)

1. preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a 5x9 loaf pan
2. press the brown sugar into the bottom of pan and spread with ketchup
3. in a mixing bowl thoroughly mix all remaining ingredients and shape into a loaf
4. place loaf on top of ketchup
5. bake in a preheated oven for 1 hour or until juices run clear
6. serve with mashed potatoes, buttered corn and brown-n-serve dinner rolls.

Dusting

A dryer sheet makes a wonderful dust cloth. Using one will not only pick up dust, it will also eliminate static making it harder for dust particles to adhere to the surface in the future.

Don't forget to dust the ceiling, especially the corners and blinds. Attach a cloth or sock over a broom stick and use it to reach high places.

Baseboards collect a lot of dust and are often forgotten during the dusting process. Take an extra couple minutes in each room and wipe those baseboards down today. You'll just might be surprised at the difference it makes!

hiding vegetables

sometimes its hard to get your kids to eat their veggies so we are always told to "hide" them in other foods or come up with creative names for them that make them seem fun. i'm guessing the "fun names" game doesn't work on all kids, but if you are like me you don't know where to hide the veggies. here is one idea. awhile ago i posted a recipe for some homemade meatballs. add to that ingredients list finely chopped celery and shredded carrots. make sure you mix them in real good before forming the balls!

Chili Coke Roast

1 beef roast, 3-4 lbs
1 can of coca cola
1 package onion soup mix
1 bottle chili sauce

1. place all ingredients in crock-pot and cook for 7-10 hours depending on size of roast
2. the beat will flake apart when done
3. serve over mashed potatoes

Frugalicious Giveaway!!!

Click here to sign up for a free giveaway of a $5 gift card to Quiznos. YUM YUM!!!

Easy Chicken & Cheese Enchiladas

1 can (10 3/4 oz) cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup Pace Picante sauce
2 tsp chili powder
2 cups shredded chicken
1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
6 flour tortillas (6in), warmed
1 small tomato, chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1 green onion, sliced (about 2 Tbs)

1. Heat the oven to 350'F Stir the soup, sour cream, picante sauce & chili powder in a medium bowl
2. Stir 1 cup soup mixture, chicken & cheese in a large bowl
3. Divide the chicken mixture among the tortillas. Roll up the tortillas and place seam side up in a 2 qt shallow baking dish. Pour remaining mixture over filled tortillas. Cover the baking dish
4. Bake for 40 minutes or until the enchiladas are hot and bubbling. Top w/tomato & onion

yum yum! enjoy!

tip: if you want your enchiladas slightly more spicy add a can of diced tomatoes with green chilies to your meat mixture or on top