Freezer Meals and a Bit Under the Weather

I have so many things on my To-Do list with the Holidays around the corner and instead I find myself not feeling too hot, which puts a major damper on my plans.  Who has time for sick days?!?!  I must apologize for my lack of posts recently I promise I haven't forgotten you, I am a just bit behind.  

You may remember back in January I shared a few of my resolutions and one of those included NOT DIETING, but learning how to eat HEALTHY and making it a LIFESTYLE!  (full post here)

I do have to say it was a lot harder than I realized to get started.  I was embarrassed to realize how little I really knew about my body and what damage I was doing.  For Example: Dr Pepper and Peanut Butter M&M's are not a great Lunch choice??!!  Who would have thought?  I set out to learn how my body worked and what it really needed to function.  I read a few books and started going to a great gym with a trainer on duty at all times to push me and track my weight loss as well as eating.  I am not perfect at this yet, as I am sure it will be a life long pursuit to truly learn how to eat heathy.  But it is getting easier and I am so happy with the results so far.  Not to mention I have so much more energy!  However, the best results are my family is eating better too, my daughters like their vegetables and my 4 year old often asks, "Mom is this healthy for me?"  Sometimes she even asks, "Mom, how many calories have you eaten today?" (maybe I talk about that too much?!)  I am happy at such a young age she is learning how important eating healthy is!!

I have always loved having freezer meals for those busy days or in my case sick days.  I revamped a few of my freezer meals so they are much healthier I thought I would share a few with you today.  

These are my 2 favorites:

Teriyaki Chicken

1/2 Cup Soy Sauce Low Sodium

1/2 Cup Sugar

1 1/2 t Red Wine Vinegar

2 T Olive Oil

1 Small crushed Garlic Clove

3/4 t Crushed Ginger

2 pounds Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts

To freeze put everything in a ziplock bag, release the air and stick it in the freezer

To cook: I pull mine out in the morning, as it thaws through out the day it is also marinating. 

(if you are short on time you can defrost it in my microwave as well)

Bake for 90 minutes @ 375 Degrees or I often cook mine in a frying pan (it is much faster this way)

I serve the Teriyaki Chicken over brown rice and we have steamed broccoli with it!

Chicken Fajita's

1/4 cup Olive Oil

2 T red Wine Vinegar

1/4 cup Worcheshire sauce (low Sodium)

1/4 Cup Soy Sauce (Low Sodium)

1/8 t Oregano

1 Garlic Clove

2 Pounds Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts

To freeze put everything in a ziplock bag, release the air and stick it in the freezer

To cook: I pull mine out in the morning, as it thaws through out the day it is also marinating. 

(if you are short on time you can defrost it in my microwave as well)

I cook mine in a frying pan with Onions and Green Peppers

Serve in whole wheat tortillas with brown rice and black beans

TTFN

Brooke

Furniture and Paint Party #22

Yahoo it is time for another party!!  I hope everyone has had great week and hasn't eaten too much Halloween candy, I am slightly guilty of eating WAY too much of my kids candy, I like to call it the Mom Tax!

Here is my Paint Project for the week....a FUN NAVY DESK!!!  This was my first go at Navy and I love how it turned out!

Read the full post here

Now on to the fun features........

I am loving Navy and Gold these days and this entry way by Something is Gone is no exception.  Who wouldn't love to come home to that!!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE old vanities, I really want one and every time I think I have found one it somehow slips through my fingers.  This vanity by Attic Angel makes me want one even more!  Look at the design underneath!  STUNNING!

These nesting tables by The Interior Frugalista are so elegant and I love the deign on top she hand painted.

I love how clean Daffodils at Home made this piece.  I love the wood stained top and the glossy white!  Beautiful!!

And Last but not least ANOTHER amazing vanity by The Shabby Cottage Home!  There is an entire bedroom set that goes with this beauty on their blog, and it is all as beautiful!!

 Here is my Furniture and Paint Party Pinterest board, Check out all the Features from the Furniture & Paint Party!!

Please follow the rules for the link party, I promise to keep it short

1) Only Furniture and Paint Please!!

2) Link straight to your post not your blogs home page

3) Follow me somehow, I am not picky!

      

4) Link back to this party using my address or my button on the sidebar.  

                               If you don't link back I wont feature you.

5) I love to Feature your awesome work, I will pin all featured projects, and I also share a few on  my Facebook page each week!

6)Visit others, make new friends!!

7) Have fun, and THANK YOU for joining!

Tuesday's Tip: Using a Stripper

For today's tip we are going to talk about stripping paint or a clear coat off a piece of furniture!

When is stripping a piece a better idea than sanding it?  

1. I use a stripper on a piece when I want it to go all the way down the the wood especially if you have a piece with a veneer on top.  Veneers can be very thin, if you accidentally sand through the veneer there is no fixing it without replacing the top.  
2. I will also use a stripper if the piece has many coats of paint. 
3.  If you are dealing with lead base paint it is a good idea to use a chemical stripper instead of sanding it, to reduce the lead being put into the air.

This is my go to stripper, it works fast! However use caution this stripper is very TOXIC, it will eat anything it touches make sure you follow the labeling on the product. 

 I bought this from Home Depot and it ran me about $25.  

I painted the top of this desk a few years ago and I used bleach on it...BAD idea as I bubbled the paint and ruined the finish.   OOPS...not a great idea...sometimes we have to learn the hard way right?

To strip this desk I painted on the stripper generously, you want it to be on there pretty thick.  After  the stripper has been applied allow it to sit for about 15 minutes, your paint will start to bubble and look like this. Some areas will bubble more than others that is normal.  

After about 15 minutes take your putty knife and start scrapping your paint off, make sure you scrap in the direction of your wood grain as to minimize any scratching to the wood.  I like to scrap my paint on to a paper plate so I can dispose of it all.

After you have scrapped all the loose paint and stripper off you may need to apply another coat of stripper.  Follow the same steps until all your paint is off.  After your paint is off you will still need to sand it as stripper doesn't always strip everything evenly!

TTFN

Brooke

Navy Blue Desk!

Hello, I feel like I have been gone forever.  I hope everyone had a fun safe Halloween.  I am a lover of  Halloween, having kids makes it even more fun.  My oldest daughter LOVES Holidays as much as I do so we make sure we celebrate to the fullest, which means we celebrate for a whole week!  Which includes early trick or treating at a local grocery store, dipping apples, decorating sugar cookies, making mummies and I am sure we squeezed a few more things in.  

No wonder I am so tired after holidays!  

My oldest daughter was a Peacock, my youngest was Sofia the First, and of course I had to wear my witch hat!! 

On to this fun desk I just finished!  This is my first attempt with Navy and I have to say I am loving it!  I loved seeing furniture in Navy but I have been a bit hesitant to do it myself.  I even bought a gallon of Symphony Blue by Benjamin Moore awhile back and it has sat in my garage until now.  

Here is a little peek at the before…not much a of show stopper huh??  

He was a little boring when I first got him but I loved the size, it is a cute little desk.  After I painted him all Navy it was still a bit too dull for my likings…...

And so I added some fun white stripes and turned my vintage faucet knobs into new drawer hardware.  I love the detail it added to the desk!! 

The insides of the drawers were a little gross so I added some chevron fabric to line the drawers.

I used the same fabric to cover this magnet board and added some Faucet knobs to hang things on!!

 This desk and Magnet board are for sale!  See the Furniture for Sale Tab for more details!

Happy Monday!!

Brooke

Furniture and Paint Party #21

A HUGE thank you to everyone who Linked up last week!!  We had RECORD numbers!!  THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Let's get another party started shall we??!!

Here is my Paint project for the week!  I am in love with this soft pink desk and if she doesn't sell I may just have to try again to find a spot for her!!

YOu can read the

Full Post here

I was so impressed by everyone's projects I had a really hard time narrowing features down this week.

I love this chair The Interior Frugalista reupholstered.  I bet you would never guess there used to be straw under there! 

I love The Weathered Door's furniture.  Reeves always refinishes with such a clean elegant feel!  Not to mention the beautiful blue color!

What is there not to love about Exquisitely Unremarkable's kitchen.  I love the red, and look at those beautiful chairs around the table!

I love grain sack lines and this dresser from Just a Girl and Her Blog is no exception, the stripes are even orange!

And last but NOT least this beautiful Vanity by {CreateInspire} I don't even have words for this piece except….BEAUTIFUL!!! 

 Here is my Paint Party Pinterest board, Check out all the Features from the Furniture & Paint Party!!

Please follow the rules for the link party, I promise to keep it short

1) Only Furniture and Paint Please!!

2) Link straight to your post not your blogs home page

3) Follow me somehow, I am not picky!

      

4) Link back to this party using my address or my button on the sidebar.  

                               If you don't link back I wont feature you.

5) I love to Feature your awesome work, I will pin all featured projects, and I also share a few on  my Facebook page each week!

6)Visit others, make new friends!!

7) Have fun, and THANK YOU for joining!

Easy Halloween Craft for All Ages….Mummy Tin Can

I can't believe tomorrow is Halloween! 

 I thought I would share with you this fun craft my daughter and I did together.  

This is a great craft for all ages it is quick and easy.

Tuesday's Tip: Painted Drawers

Old furniture often has it's own imperfections, some things are considered character and others well are kind of gross. For Example the inside of a drawer that has had who knows what in it?!  

I have an easy solution for you!

Paint your drawers, and if you want to go a bit further add a little character to them, like stripes!  Instead of an ugly disgusting drawer you now have a new drawer full of character!