Oscar Party Ideas!

We are going to an Oscar Party tomorrow to watch with a bunch of friends. We've seen a few of the nominated pics (Flight, Silver Linings Playbook, Zero Dark Thirty...) and want to see who will win!

Here are some cute Oscar Party ideas for you!

This is a cute spread from Brian Worley:

And you could play Red Carpet Bingo!

I think no matter what you need champagne cocktails!

I usually cheat this with Prosecco and Pom!

I call it the Pom Pom!

Who do you think will win?

Slow It Down....

I have taken on way too much this year. Chairing my Junior League fundraiser (for 700 people), chairing the underwriting committee for the fundraiser at Coco's school, working, and of course Landons ongoing arm issues.

I used to think I liked to be busy. Now I'm not so sure. I feel like things are speeding by.

We will soon be out of a cast, and back to normal. The fundraisers will be all done at the end of April. Work is always hectic but you can't change that....

I just want to slow it down.....

I want to savor moments like when Coco sees me at pick up and screams "Mama!"

Or when I drop Landon off at school and he says "Mommy I want to be with you"

Friends of mine just adopted a baby, things have slowed down in that house. The quiet of just hanging out and staring at baby Oliver was delicious.

 More than anything, it's the warm weather and Summer that slows me down. Time spent at the beach, watching the kids play, being with friends. I cannot wait for that.

In the meantime I will read blogs like "A Little Loveliness" and "A Time For Everything". They seem to really understand how to slow it down and savor every quiet moment!

What about you? Do you try to slow it down? Are you good at it?

Valentines Day Inspiration!

Valentines Day is around the corner. For some of you crazy crafters I am sure you have a gorgeous mantle going! I am a little BEHIND. Found some inspiration on Pinterest for those of us who need it!

Valentines Day is about showing LOVE. 

Love for your kids:

 

Such a cute lunch idea by: The Third Boob!

Love for your your mate:

Love these Red Velvet Whoopie Pies from Annies Eats!


 Love for yourself:

Do something nice for yourself. Spoil yourself.

And last, always remember someone may be really sad on this Valentines Day. Someone may be lonely. Reach out, buy them a card, tell them you appreciate them. You're making their day!

Downton Abbey- Okay I'm Into It

It takes me a while to get into things....if I do at ALL.

I never did watch LOST.

Don't really feel like I lost anything....

I have never seen a full episode of Modern Family...Shocking!

But since I have friends with the DVD's of seasons 1 and 2 of Downton Abbey....I decided to give it a roll. I have to admit from the first episode I was not hooked. I was not entirely sure I wanted to commit. By the second episode I was in.

Now I'm on to season two, war is messing everything up. You see I am watching this for drama and fancy parties. I really do not need the reality of war! Now there's peril, perjury and paralyzation. DANG. I wanted silverware, silliness and snide remarks. Okay I'm still getting that. After all they are English.

I have to say it's wonderful to see Maggie Smith, the matriarch. She is so funny and adds so much life to the show. I love Brendan Coyle (Mr. Bates...Mr. BAaaaaaaaates) and Michelle Dockery (Lady Mary) is a genius actress. One minute I loathe her the next I feel sorry for her and the next I feel proud of her. Good times.

Are you watching? Don't tell me anything beyond season two! Bad enough I hear things on the news!

Superbowl Recipes! Chicken Nachos!

I could care less about football except for the EATING that is involved. I have been very good after my juicing and eating right, so now I'm going to be BAD.

I found these on Pinterest and am excited to give them a whirl!

 

First Slow Cooker Chicken Nachos from Bev Cooks! 

Slow Cooker Chicken Nachos:

* 2 chicken breasts
* 1 jarred roasted red pepper
* 1/2 cup favorite salsa
* 1 tsp ground cumin
* 1 tsp chili powder
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 1 large pinch coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
* 1 (14.5 oz) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
* 1/2 cup chopped cilantro leaves
* 1 scallion, finely sliced
* 1/2 avocado, diced (or the whole thing if you want!)
* 1 lime, for the juice
* 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
* 1/2 bag favorite tortilla chips
In a slow cooker, place the chicken, roasted red pepper, salsa, cumin, chili powder, garlic, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook on high for three hours. (Or low for six.)
After three hours, take two forks and shred the chicken right in the cooker. Add the pinto beans, toss to combine and cook an additional hour. *if at this time you feel it needs to be a little more liquidy, by all means, add a leetle more salsa.
Arrange the chips on a large platter. Spoon the chicken and bean mixture over the chips. Sprinkle the cheese over the chicken. Pop the platter under the broiler for a couple of minutes to the get the cheese all browned and bubbly.
Remove the platter from the oven with your bare hands (kidding!) and top with chopped cilantro, scallions and diced avocado. Give a good squeeze of lime juice over the whole dang thing.

Then I found this recipe so we had to make BOTH!

 

Buffalo Chicken Nachos from The Girl Who Ate Everything!

Ingredients

• 8 cups Ranch flavored tortilla chips (I used Cool Ranch Doritos)
• 4 cups cooked chicken shredded
• 1 1/2 cups Frank's Buffalo Wing sauce
• water
• 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 4 ounces blue cheese crumbles
• 1 cup chopped celery

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 475 degrees. Spread tortilla chips on a rimmed baking sheet or in a shallow dish.
2. Bring wing sauce and 1/2 cup water to a simmer. Add shredded cooked chicken; heat through. Strain the chicken (reserving the sauce) and spread over ranch-flavored tortilla chips. Top with shredded cheddar.
3. Bake in the upper third portion of the oven until cheese is melted for about 5-7 minutes. After nachos are baked top with blue cheese, chopped celery and the reserved wing sauce.

Let me know if you give them a whirl too! What do you cook for Superbowl parties?

Valentines Day Crafts!

I have been reading some of my friends blogs and have been reminded to get on this Valentines Day thing! EAS posted about some cute crafty finds and things to do. I love this bird feeder Valentine that Nantucket Daffodil posted about.

So cute and USEFUL!

Read more about it here: Hellobee seems so cute! Have to check it out even more now!

I ordered a few monkeys from Oriental Trading Company.

I'm going to give them out to Coco's class with a little heart card from her!

For Landon I am thinking of attempting this craft I found on Pinterest:

 

Isn't this so cute!  You can read more about it here.

What are you crafting for Valentines Day?

Finding Strength In Tough Times

We all go through seasons of really tough times and change. I find more and more I am looking to God for answers. This book is really helping me put it into perspective!

Ron Wagley is the type of person you want with you in a crisis! Sympathetic but offers expert advice, exercises and practices to weather the storm. He gives us Gods perspective, which at times I forget!

Here's one review:

If you unexpectedly found yourself lying in a hospital bed with medical personnel busily working all about you, Ron Wagley is the person you would want to see walking through the door. He brings a profound sense of peace, wisdom, and unshakeable trust in God wherever he goes. After he visited with you, you would know everything was going to be OK. If you were in that hospital bed, you probably wouldn't be able to write down all the wisdom that he shared with you. Thankfully, you wouldn't have to. This book is a gift to everyone who has endured a difficult time in their life. Wagley's grasp of Scripture, common sense wisdom, and breadth of thought, makes this a go-to book whenever storm clouds begin gathering overhead. --Richard Blackaby

I think this book is for anyone going through a tough time, or has been through one...so everyone!!!

Get it here.

Miracles All Around

(Don't let this picture fool you, he was smiling a few seconds later but had just gotten home!)


I was not happy or ready to be back at another hospital for surgery on Landons arm. I had already did a 10 day tour of duty with Coco at Childrens Hospital in December, and even though Landon's arm surgeries were scheduled long before, I didn't want to do it.

I hate that Landon has to have two surgeries a year on his arm. Last year when we told him it was happening again he threw up. I was dreading telling him. This time was different.

I think because Coco had been in the hospital, it had normalized the process for him a bit. I told him we were having surgery and getting a cast and he took it well. He was happy he wouldn't have to stay in the hospital like Coco did. I already had some presents lined up, special things planned (like a visit from Mimi and Pop), and he was okay with it.

Then on the actual morning we took him in, he was in great spirits and not scared at all. Even when we walked into the prep area, he was brave. nervous bu brave.  We had read "Franklin Goes To The Hospital" which details out everything from the ID bracelet to X-rays and makes it less scary. This book is amazing for any kid who has to go into the hospital, planned or not! 

And when he ran out of courage and it was time to leave us and go into surgery, the most precious thing happened. His doctor, who he's had since he was a baby, carried him into surgery. Landon dried his tears and draped himself over his shoulder.

I keep waiting for him to ask "why me?" but he doesn't. This is the only arm he's ever known. This is normal to him. I now see Coco's hospital stay was even part of the miracle of Landon's story and that even though you might not think so, miracles are all around.

The Myths Of Juicing And Why It's All The Rage! A coupon code for the REAL JUICE!

Believe me when I tell you I am the LAST person to try a juice. I barely ate fruit or veggies unless they were as part of my Chinese take out. After no longer fitting in any of my PANTS....I was willing to try anything!

There are several companies who offer juicing or cleansing. I chose "The Real Juice" and think they were the best.

Before juicing I thought:

1) My insides would fall out and I would be in the bathroom all day.
2) The juices would taste awful.
3) I wouldn't make it past the first day because I would be starving.
4) It wouldn't have lasting results.
5) It was for freaky health nuts and people obsessed with their weight!

Bottom line I was SCARED to try it. But, I did and I am so glad. Here's the real truth:

1) My insides DID NOT fall out and I WAS NOT in the bathroom all day. By doing the three days of curbing my diet beforehand ( I did all fruits and veggies, they provided a 3 day step down diet just as good!) this allowed my body to transition nicely.

2) The juices taste amazing. They alternate sweet and savory and even have one for dessert!

3) The first day of my three day diet before was hard. I stuck with it. The first day of juicing takes commitment too. So does the first day at the gym. You push through and when you make it to the other side you are thrilled!! I was not starving AT ALL. There are 6 juices a day and I could barely get through them all!

4) Lasting results? Not only did I lose 8 pounds, I got BACK IN CONTROL OF MYSELF. I fit in my pants. I don't feel tired. I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER. This has changed the way I look at food! More on that later!

5) Juicing is for everyone. You can use a juice as a meal replacement or do a 3 or 5 day cleanse. The key is cutting back on things before you start to prep your body and being on a reduced diet after. I am back on all fruits and veggies with a little protein. Yes I miss my carbs, but I feel THIN so WHO CARES!

Give it a try!

Use coupon code: FabMom

Its good for 20% off any cleanse order from today through Sunday the 20th!! If you are outside their local delivery area then they you can email or call and they can quote an exact shipping cost to your zip code.

I Was Scared Of Juicing Too! Until The Real Juice!

Oh my goodness I sound like I am doing an infomercial, but when I find something works and I like it, I want to shout it from the rooftops!

The Real Juice is the REAL DEAL. I have lost 8 pounds! Woooooooo!!!!

Once you decide to order and go forward you get this amazing email!


Ok, you’ve committed to doing a juice cleanse! You’re excited to get going and heck, you wish you could just jump in today, but preparing properly is incredibly important. We’ve provided a guide detailing which foods to eliminate and when, and which foods to work into your daily diet. In order to yield the best results, stick to this list of dos and don’t as closely as possible.
 
3 Days Before
Completely eliminate the following:
Alcohol, red meat, poultry, dairy, and eggs.
Increase items listed in the ‘1 day before’ section below.

2 Days Before
At this point you should also phase out the following:
Cigarettes, caffeine, sugar, salt, artificial sweeteners, bread, pasta, over the counter medicines, bottled sauces or condiments that contain additives and colorings (ex. ketchup, hot sauces, bottled dressings), and fish.
Increase items listed in the ‘1 day before’ section below.

1 Day Before
Diet should consist of only water, caffeine-free teas, raw fruit and vegetable juices, fruits, raw or lightly steamed vegetables, salads, veggie broths and soups (read labels thoroughly and avoid brands that pack their soups with additives), olive oil, herbs and spices. Recommended salad dressings would be fresh lemon juice, or olive oil and vinegar.
Pre- Cleanse Sample Menu
Breakfast:
Banana smoothie.
Lunch:
Salad with a light vinaigrette dressing. Add avocado for protein.
Snack:
Fruit/vegetable juice.
Dinner:
Veggie broth soup, and a salad with lemon juice dressing. Frozen banana for dessert.

 
Having three days before to prepare really helps. Still not convinced? Tomorrow I will dispel some juice rumors! You know which one in particular!