What in the World We've Been Up To!

So I didn’t leave the blog forever I know that all of you were hanging on by a thread! HA! But I did decide to make a conscious effort this year during my TWO WEEK vacation over the holidays to live more in the moment. I didn’t take a ton of pictures the ones on here are pretty much all I have of Christmas. I really just wanted to take it all in and enjoy the time off with the hubs and Charlot. It was kind of nice to unplug and not be connected every minute of the day.

Daddy reading the "The Night Before Christmas"

Oh Christopher she loves you!

Our Christmas started off on the 22^nd and didn’t conclude until late Christmas night. But we had a ball at each and every celebration. Charlot loved playing with her cousins and Christopher well he probably topped the list of Christmas faves for her. Here are some shots of what Santa left for her!

Showing pap how to skate

Uncle Zach and Lauren hit the ball out of the park
with the books they gave her!

Who knows about these two

She forced Zach to hold her baby and crib!

The Monday after Christmas we headed out with my parents to spend a few days at a condo in Branson. It was so much fun to just get away and relax with little to no schedule. Charlot told me the best part of the trip was me making the couch into a bed; apparently sofa beds are popular among the three year old crowd. We all enjoyed the pool, some shopping, and of course the Dixie Stampede. Thanks again Mom and Dad for taking us!

Ready to go!

When we returned home the hubs and I started some DIY home projects! Please pray for us and our marriage as we make these changes over the coming weeks. I will keep you up to date as we go! That’s all for now Happy Monday!

Random Acts of Kindness Christmas Countdown...Week 3 Recap

It’s Friday!!! My last day of work for 2 count them 2 whole weeks!!! But it also means that it is time for a recap of Miss Charlot’s Random Acts of kindness for the week. I can’t even explain to you the joy this little project has brought to my life. I worried that I would mess it up or that we wouldn’t have the time but I will always make the time for this. And you can’t really mess up a RAOK, can you? Plus trust me if I forget to get things together or I haven’t helped her do the act she is reminding me!

This week has been especially fun because we have left treats for many people and that means we got to bake cookies!!! Yummy. Again I encourage you to try this with your kiddos. I know that Christmas is only a few days away but it RAOK can be done any time anywhere. Just think how awesome it is just to make one person’s day better!

So here’s our recap from last Saturday to today!

12/13/14- We rang bells for the Salvation Army. Oh the people of Walmart got quite a treat from my little one singing Jingle Bells for an hour. This is a tradition that momma Linda started with me long ago. 

12/14/14- Charlot had a little random acts kindness card that she gave to a lady and told her she could go in front of us in line at Michaels. The lady was so sweet and thanked her so much and told me that she thought I was an awesome lesson. It was good for momma’s heart.

12/15/14- Charlot passed out candy canes at our local nursing home. It was so much fun to see the smiles on their faces. There was a door there decorated with Minions (Despicable ME) so Charlot hung two candy canes on that door for “the people that live behind that cool door!”

12/16/14- We left treats for our mail lady. And our mail lady left us a sweet note in return!

12/17/14-We left treats for the trash men, they kind of have a thankless job and deserve a pick me up! Just think if they stopped doing their job, YUCK!

12/18/14-Our local grocery store is AMAZING and we are so blessed to have an awesome meat department there. The meat cutters are always willing to help and go the extra mile. So yesterday they got a plate full of Charlot homemade cookies! (I forgot to take a picture)

12/19/14- Today goodie bags were packed and delivered to my co-workers.

Hope you all enjoy these stories and that maybe it will inspire you! 

Crockpot Beef Tips with Mushroom Sauce

Do you find yourself during the holidays struggling to get a decent meal on the table because of all the other things going on? Oh no you guys don’t oh well I guess it is just me! HA! This time of the year I find quick and easy meals that go in the crockpot in the AM and are ready when I come home in the PM make the most sense for us and today’s recipe does just that!

This rich, hearty and waistline friendly meal is perfect for those cold busy winter nights. Plus you can keep it really waistline friendly depending on what you serve it over! I served mine over a potato, parsnip, and turnip mash! Yummy! Give this guy a try and let me know what you think!

Crockpot Beef Tips with Mushroom Sauce

2 lbs beef chuck roast (cubed)

1 Large Onion Sliced Thin

1 Package Mushrooms Sliced

1 Can 98% Fat Free Cream Mushroom Soup

1 Packet Onion Soup Mix

1 Can Diet 7-Up

12 oz Beef Broth

Salt and Pepper to taste

2 Tbsp Cornstarch (for thickening)

On the bottom of your crockpot place a layer of onions, then your beef season your beef, layer on remaining onions and mushrooms. In a small bowl mix mushroom soup, onion soup, 7-up and beef broth pour over you meat onions and mushrooms. Set your slow cooker on low and cook all day. When you get home mix cornstarch with a splash of water and stir to smooth, add in to the crockpot, and allow mixture to cook for additional 30 minutes to allow for thickening. Serve over mashed potatoes, noodles or whatever soot’s your fancy! Just enjoy this hearty flavorful dish! 

Random Acts of kindness week #2

It's Friday so that means....RAOK recap! This little project is just getting better each day. Charlot gets so excited each day to open her envelope. And plus ok this is a proud mom moment, but her sitter told me that she asked the kids the other day what happens in December? My kiddo answers "Jesus's  Birthday!" Hooray! Then she proceeded to tell her Grandpa last night that Christmas is Jesus's Birthday and Jesus is so nice he lets us get the presents now on Christmas. 

I hope this project continues to bring her and others joy throughout the season! But mostly I hope this teaches Charlot how to lead her life the rest of the year. So here is our recap for the week starting last Saturday! Please feel free to join us in this project and share your stories with me!

Week #2-

This is her telling the lady at the window she wanted to pay for the car behind us

12/06- Paying for the person behind us at the drive-thru

12/07- Handing out candy canes at church and wish people a Merry Christmas (sorry no pictures) 

12/08- Calling someone just to say "I love you", she chose three people, grandma Linda, Mer Mer, and RaRa.

12/09- Picking out one of her toys to donate to the Holiday Project. She decided on two!

12/10- Taking a special treat to the pigs. Four legged friends need kindness as well.

12/11- Ding dong ditch someone and leave them a box of Ding Dongs!

12/12- Pack a homeless person snack kit, to keep in the car for when we see someone in need.charlot thought princess fruties were necessary. 

Have a great weekend everyone!

Salted Caramel Cooked Apples

The above picture is the result of the below picture. Blue Bunny just knew when they put out a cinnamon ice cream I couldn't resist, and then Wal-Mart strategically placed it directly in my path to much healthier options so basically it just fell into my cart. Oh how I love cinnamon ice cream and the very first time I ever had it was served on an apple dumpling. The memories…

When I bought this over the weekend I knew that I didn't want to eat it all by itself and making apple dumplings seemed excessive delicious but excessive. Just a normal caramel sauce was considered but I needed to make it somewhat healthy right? That is where these apples were born! Enjoy!

Salted Caramel Cooked Apples

4 Gala Apples peeled and sliced

4 TBSP Butter

¼ Cup Brown Sugar

1 TSP Kosher Salt

Melt butter, sugar and salt in a skillet over low heat , add apples and simmer on low until apples are tender.