Mmm D'Licious: Chicken Marsala

 Since most of my Mmm D'licious posts have been desserts [eek] and we are not making desserts right now...I'm trying to post more entrées! Here is one of my favorites and a staple around here!

Chicken Marsala

Ingredients:

3-4 half chicken breasts
1 Tbs butter
1 Tbs olive oil
Knorr Turkey Gravy packet [or Williams Sonoma Turkey Gravy Base (available during the holidays) + 1/2 milk]
Sprinkle Lawrys Seasoned salt
Sprinkle Garlic powder
3 Tbs Yoshida sauce
1/2 C Sweet Marsala Wine

Cut chicken into pieces, cook in pan with butter and olive oil until white all the way through.
Sprinkle chicken with salt and garlic powder
Cook gravy as directed
Add to cooked chicken
Add Yoshida & Marsala wine
turn on the heat for a couple minutes

*this is also good with sautéed veggies {onion, bell pepper, squash] in it or as a side*

Serve over rice or noodles [I usually do noodles] with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.

Enjoy!

The heart of {art}

Last week my sister and I took our kiddos to Ceramicafe to do a little painting.  It was so much fun to watch the kids get so excited about it.  They loved every minute of it, from picking their piece to choosing paint colors, and the of course, the actual painting of it.  Children are so creative, and so uninhibited.  They are not afraid to express themselves through art.  I love that. Somewhere along the road of my life, a little bit of a perfectionist came along for the ride.  That, combined with my indecision, has hindered my ability to be {artistic}. Or maybe that just isn't my gift? No psychoanalysis necessary! ha. I don't know, but it sure is refreshing to watch children in that sort of setting.  Children really know how to live.  The are free, they are honest, they love and they laugh- uninhibited by things we adults get hung up on.  I love seeing the world through their joyful and innocent eyes.  They still have so much to learn about life, and yet they are teaching me about it.

"He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them.  And he said: 'Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.'"

Matthew 18:2-3

Run the Race

I love exercising.  A year ago I was going to the gym 4-5 times a week.  Kickboxing is my favorite, but I also like the Strength Endurance Training (SET) and Core Central classes too.  I found out I was preggo with Claire Bear exactly a year ago, and I kept working out until I was 8 weeks and I experienced some pain during TKB.  My plans of being 9 months preggo and still doing it went out the window.  It wasn't worth the risk.  I'm sure I could have done some low impact cardio or at least walked on the treadmill...but the truth is- I didn't. So for the next 10 months I of course was not sedentary...anyone with 1-2 year old knows you don't do a lot of sitting around, but I really didn't do any exercise to speak of.

Now Claire is 4 months old and summer is basically upon us [even though the weather hasn't really gotten the memo yet] and I'm ready to be back in shape. The only problem? I've been working out for 2 months and honestly- I'm stuck.  I'm just not losing this darn weight.  So what's the deal?

I have a couple of guesses.

The past 6 months there has been a lot of stuff going on in our family, and stress is never good for the waist line {or any part of you} It is actually pretty toxic.  [It also may or may not cause you to consume copious amounts of dessert comfort food].

I also may just have a sweet tooth that doesn't quit- and a husband who loves it just as much. We eat very healthy the rest of the time, but dessert is kind of a weakness of mine [and his- and I like being a sweet wife that bakes chocolate chip cookies for my guy when they sound good to him].  We are making a concerted effort to not eat sweets for a month. I've been doing pretty well...I'm finding half the battle is fought at the grocery store.

This is also my 2nd baby and C-section - so I suppose I shouldn't have assumed it would have been as easy "getting back" as it was the first time around.

So heres what I'm doing about it (and a couple tips if you are trying to get in shape too):

I'm kickboxing. YAY. I love TKB, and it literally torches the calories! I'm trying to go 3 times a week. The days I don't kickbox, I'm doing Insanity.  Have you heard of it? Its another Beachbody production like P90X, but its mostly cardio, plyo, and core training. It is a little insane.  I'm usually tired after the first 15 minutes.  It's good though because I don't have to have a babysitter and I can do it whenever I have a spare 45 minutes :-) *update* I did Jazzercise this morning with my sister...don't laugh. It's actually a really good workout. I left there dripping sweat.  I just might add it to the rotation :-)

I'm really trying to not eat dessert. A couple of tips? Like I said- the battle is really fought in the grocery store. If you don't buy it, its not available in that moment of weakness after dinner when the kids are asleep and you are relaxing with a good book {or three- more on that later}.  If I don't have it in the house, I don't eat it. Want another tip? Go grocery shopping after you just ate.  If I'm hungry when I'm shopping, I'm more likely to buy things that aren't healthy just because they sound good.

I'm setting goals.  I like having a chart and tracking my progress. Its encouraging, and it also helps keep me motivated.  We have a family vacation planned for the end of July, so that is my goal time-frame.

Here's a bonus tip: drink water!!! I love lemon water, so I'm drinking a lot of it! Especially after dinner. Somehow the lemon kind of takes away the sweet tooth! Oh and if I'm done with my lemon water- I brush my teeth right away! That also deters me from eating anything I shouldn't.

Regarding your health & weight, and really all areas of life, it really comes down to your choices.  Life is about choices. You can make good ones; choices that ultimately please the Lord, and subsequently you are blessed because of it; or you can choose to live your life according to your own will.  That road does not lead to blessing, it leads to destruction. We are called to take care of our bodies, for they are the temple of the Lord.  I want to be healthy and feel strong, physically and spiritually, and I want to please the Lord with my life and my choices.

I can't help but think of the analogy of our spiritual lives being a race we must run- with endurance and perseverance.  Just like exercising, we have to be disciplined and work at our relationship with the Lord.  If we do nothing, nothing will happen.  We won't be growing in our faith.  If we do not take time to have silence and prayer time, we won't hear His voice. If I never exercise or purpose to eat healthy food, I won't reach my goal.  What are you doing to exercise in your spiritual life today? Are you "feeding" your spirit with things that will draw you closer to the Lord?

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

Hebrews 12:1-3

linking up with Katie here 

A Father's Love

Happy Father's Day to the best Daddy in the world. He is an incredible man because he seeks the Lord with all of his heart. He is an incredible husband because he loves the Lord first and most. He is an incredible father because he sees his children as precious treasures entrusted to his care by the Father who loves them even more.

Daddy 

In random moments between playing train table or baseball
he whispers, "I love you Jacky"
and a small voice replies,
"I love you sooo much Daddy."

I melt.

He talks to them about Jesus.
Jack says he "loves Jesus in his heart"
and then tells me
"I love Jesus in Daddy's heart too."

I do too.

He plays. He really plays.
Baseball, soccer, trains, "Jesus" (ie: little people nativity), fire fighter house.
"I want to ride on your neck, Daddy!"
A nightly event of running around the house,
two year old on top of Daddy-sized shoulders.

I smile.

He makes the little moments count.
Bedtime stories, "mini hikes"
"Just the boys!" Jack yells excitedly.
Working in the garage together,
barbecuing-real food and pretend
he feels special doing things Daddy does,
with his Daddy.

It is special.

He adores his baby girl.
Calls her little sweetheart
She coos and smiles at him
knowing he's already wrapped around her
tiny little finger.

It is so sweet.

He kisses, he cuddles, he really LOVES
his children.
He cherishes and loves their Mommy.
He leads our family with a quiet strength,
great faith,
a humble spirit fully devoted to our
Heavenly Father.

Incredible man, amazing husband, and the best Daddy in the world.

I am blessed. They are blessed.
Thank you Lord.

"Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him"

Psalm 127:3

linked up here!

Mmm D'Licious: Basil Scramble & a Must-have Kitchen Gadget

What are you eating for breakfast these days? We are in healthy-post-baby-pre-summer (but-not-pre-baby-weight-yet) mode in our house!  We are cutting out sugar [re: dessert] for a month to detox a little and kick our fitness routines up a notch! Here is our favorite new breakfast of choice {sorry Ebelskivers}. Enter my love affair with Basil. mmmm.

Basil Scramble with fresh fruit!

Ingredients:

-6 eggs scrambled {I go for just the egg whites if its just for me- the boys get the whole kit-n-kaboodle}
-basil- to taste [or lots and lots because its just that good]
-lite shredded cheese
-turkey diced- i use reduced sodium turkey from Trader Joe's
-chunky salsa- I use Trader Joe's Chunky Salsa to save time but fresh salsa would be divine!

Scramble all together and presto! Basil Scramble. Top with salsa and avocado! Serve with fresh fruit!

optional add-ins:
-bell pepper
-spinach
-avocado (on top)

There is no salt needed for this recipe...it's so tasty my two year old THANKS me for making these "yummy eggs mommy!" Success.

Psst! Want to know why my strawberries are perfectly hulled? no annoying digging with the knife necessary! I give you my new favorite kitchen gadget:

Chef’n Strawberry Huller from Williams Sonoma. I love this thing! Just pinch, twist and pull and voila! You can hull a hundred strawberries in no time! This is amazing if you're like me and hated cutting off so much of the top of your strawberry just to get rid of the leaves! It's also perfect for summer nights with Strawberry Shortcake for dessert...well sans the shortcake for a while! haha. Get one. You'll love it- I promise!


linking up with Heather here

Claire Marie: 3 months old!

My little Claire Bear is already 3 months old!! She turned over yesterday from her tummy to her back for the first time! yay! I love the little milestones! I took her to the Dr. for a check up a couple weeks ago and she was 12 lbs and 24 inches long! She is long and thin! She is also already teething.  Her two little bottom teeth are about to break through. Poor baby. But she still smiles and laughs all the time and she already adores her brother! He LOVES her too.  Always wants to kiss her and talk to her and hold her! They are the most precious treasures in the world.

{sidenote: here is where my indecision rears its ugly head. so many pics to choose from...I had a hard time here people! So instead of being decisive...Im just going to post a million pics. 

You don't mind right? }

Oh this little girl and her laugh! I. Love. It. She giggles and smiles and sticks out that little tongue! So much cuteness in one little person!

I totally realize this last frame is very brady-bunch-esque, but like I said, I take a million pictures and then have a *really* hard time editing down to a few favorites.  We all have our weaknesses I guess.  

Speaking of weaknesses, lets talk parenting for a quick second.  I have a weakness when it comes to my 2 year old wanting to come into our bed in the middle of the night.  It has only just started happening lately, and I think it is because he is having dreams that wake him up.  The other day after his nap he was convinced that his friend Reesey had fallen down the crack of his big boy bed. He made me come look for her. I of course was reassuring him that it was just a dream.  Another time he literally came *running* out of his room because the lions were in his room and were going to get him.  Isn't that sad? So now in the middle of the night he *yells* for Daddy and he cries if we don't go in right away.  He was never in the habit of sleeping with us, so for the first few days he would ask us to sleep in there with him, but when we would leave, he would wake up a little bit later and we'd start the little cycle over again. 

So out of our own need to sleep, we just brought him into our bed.

  Neither of us mind it [too much] and actually we have both commented that we actually love having him close to us, but we don't want him just waking up out of habit now expecting to come sleep with us. I would never tell him he is not allowed to come into our bed because that seems horrible- especially if he was scared or sick.  I wouldn't want him laying there being scared and feel like he couldn't call out to us.  I know this is somewhat of a hot topic, with people on both extremes of co-sleeping/family bed status and  those who never co-sleep.  We are just not either of those.  How do you help a 2 year old know they can come if they need to, but not if there is no reason? hmm. 

linking up for virtual coffee here

A little nature does a body good

My husband loves to hike. He goes out every week, before the sun rises and hikes one of the many mountain trails around here.  He plots out his trails on Google Earth, and browses REI for gear.  He often talks about his "hiking trip" he is going to take at some point [like where you carry everything from a sleeping bag to pots and pans in your backpack- and apparently you need something called a bear canister?- to that I say...no thanks].  However, I do enjoy a little outdoors hike nature walk every now and then! Last weekend we went out to Mission Trails for a walk. It was so much fun [unlike the previous weekend that we went hiking- Claire got sunburned. It was so sad. Not my finest parenting moment.] This time we were prepared! Sunscreen. check. Floppy hat. check.

It really is nice to get out of the "city" and into nature, it's therapeutic really.  I love it when you can't hear or see cars, although I kept thinking I heard rattle snakes on the trail. I may have been a little paranoid. Sean said it was some kind of bug- I'm still skeptical. A bug that sounds like a rattle snake? I don't know.  Here are a few pics from our little outing!

Jack absolutely loves our little hikes.  He loves nature, just like his Daddy and he is constantly commenting on the beauty of his surroundings. Ever since he was 1 he would tell me, "Mommy, pitty sky!" when the sky was pink at sunset. And now while we are driving he points out the "beautiful mountains" and tells me, "Jacky sees trees, bushes, trees, bushes, and flowers! I pick them for you Mommy!" It's magical to hear his admiration for these little things that we adults so often ignore. I love his heart. 

He also kept saying we were in the jungle 

[thanks to Go Diego Go].

When we let him walk- the reality is, he doesn't walk. He runs- FAST! {and trips and falls and gets a mouth full of dirt- twice} Sean assures me this is just part of being a boy.  I tell him he just better hold his hand. period.

These little family outings are my favorite. 

Precious times I tell you. 

<

We walk by Faith

and not by sight. 

Sometimes when God wants you to move, you might hear His still small voice prompting you to act. Sometimes its a nudge you feel in your heart and sometimes He, just like a loving mama bird, pushes you right out of the nest with a strong, swift 

kick in the pants. 

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We just got pushed out of the nest. Hard and fast. 

God has given Sean an incredible idea that he has been working on and developing for several months now.  We are so excited about it.  I really feel like it is what God has been preparing Sean to do.  Doing the work of the Lord and advancing the Kingdom has always been the desire of his heart and this new venture will incorporate everything he has learned in his experience in financial services and will also enable him/us to be doing "Kingdom work."   BUT- we weren't planning on officially starting this new business just yet.  However God's timing isn't always exactly what we expect it to be. 

 His timing is always better than anything we could plan for ourselves.  

He is leading us and directing our path. My job contract ended on Tuesday.   Then Sean packed up his office and his last day at his job was yesterday.  So here we are unemployed [in Greenland], falling rather abruptly out of the nest. I suppose most people would be panicking in this situation: 2 babies, lots of bills [thank you student loans..ugh], and no jobs; and yet we are so confidant that the Lord is in this that we are excited.  

We walk by faith and not by sight. 

We TRUST.

We PRAY. 

and then..

We FLY! 

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I am so thankful for a loving God who knows all of our needs and who is always faithful to provide.  I cannot wait to tell you more about our new adventure as it unfolds.  And hopefully many of you will be able to be a part of it as well! 

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the 

flowers of the field 

grow. 

They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?

 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Matthew 6:26-33

linking up with Katie here