Top 10

1. Don't judge for my absence. I have a job that keeps me working all day and all night. And 2 small children. And a no good computer. And a wireless router that is on the blitz. There. All done with excuses.

2. I am slowly becoming obsessed with coconut oil. I have cooked with it and used it as a hair treatment so far. Who knows what I will use it for next...

3. I keep seeing ads for magic wraps that melt fat in your sleep. And then I saw a cheap DIY version with supplies I already had. (Ok, I made Ryan go buy an ACE bandage.) So will be trying that this week...wish me luck. And wish my fat good riddance.

4. Rookie Blue is back on. I really wish other people loved this show as much as I do. And I wish that Sam would quit being a colossal idiot and go after Andy.

5. We have started watching Naked and Afraid. I feel so uncomfortable during the whole show. These people are naked!!! With parts blurred out, but still...naked! We are kinda hooked now. There are some pretty entertaining moments with the naked strangers surviving in wilderness...

6. Got one of my birthday presents early...I believe it will get its own post. Because I love it that much. And it is that amazing. What is it? A Kelly Moore bag...

7. Hayes got his hair cut off for the summer. I miss his little boy haircut, but he looks pretty cute with his new look. He looks so much older...and acts older too. He comes up with some pretty hilarious things to say these days.

8. Keller is on the go all the time. He even moves all over the bed while he is sleeping. He seems to know where all the cords are in the house and is always making his way towards them. And he has a knack for finding my flip flops.

9. Doing a 30 day squat challenge. Luckily, I have lots of friends doing it with me. Hot legs, here I come!

10. Pray for a special friend of mine who has been working so hard to overcome a major injury for a long time. He still has some work ahead of him, but he has come so far and I am so proud of him.

Shrimp Salad

I keep seeing these delicious Lobster Salad Rolls in magazines and restaurants and decided to make my own version. Such a perfect dish for a light lunch!

1 lb raw, frozen shrimp
1/3 cup mayo
green onions, chopped
2 tsp olive oil
2 tsp lemon juice
Old Bay seasoning

Thaw your shrimp, season with lemon juice and Old Bay, and cook. I prefer to chop my shrimp once they are done. Mix cooked shrimp with mayo, green onions, olive oil, lemon juice, and Old Bay. Serve on a roll, over lettuce, or with crackers and a small bowl of soup. Super quick and super easy and super yummy!

Asparagus, Quinoa Salad, and Toasted Turkey Sausage

This is a meal that is delicious and healthy! I love those kind of meals:)

I found inspiration for this meal from this beautiful blog and made a few tweaks for our family.

Asparagus
1.5 cups dry quinoa
1 red bell pepper
1 jar sundried tomatoes
feta cheese
1 lb turkey sausage
4 tbsp olive oil + more for cooking
2 tsp liquid aminos
lemon juice
cumin
coconut oil
kosher salt

Start this meal with quinoa salad prep. Slice your red bell pepper, toss in olive oil, and roast at 450 for 30 minutes. While your bell pepper is roasting, start cooking your quinoa per package directions. Mix your dressing for the quinoa salad. Combine 4 tbsp olive oil, liquid aminos, a dash of lemon juice, and cumin. Set aside. You can also get your asparagus washed and trimmed at this point.

Slice your turkey sausage at an angle. Heat some olive oil or coconut oil in a skillet. Place the turkey sausage in the hot oil in a single layer. Cook until browned and flip, cooking until other side is browned. Set aside.

You can cook your asparagus however you wish. I cooked mine on a stove top griddle pan with some cooking spray and kosher salt until nice and toasty.

Once your quinoa and red bell peppers are done, it is time to assemble the quinoa salad. Stir in the dressing to the cooked quinoa and mix well. Add in the red bell pepper, sundried tomatoes, and feta cheese.

Place a layer of asparagus on your plate. Add quinoa salad and top with toasted turkey sausage. Yum!!

Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Corn

I mean...I think the name says it all, right?

I have recently discovered that I adore Brussels sprouts. So weird. I never thought I would say that. Bet my mom didn't see that one coming, either.

Nonetheless, I love those little green veggies and this way of cooking them is a winner for us! I found this idea from this blog.

1 lb brussels sprouts
1 can corn
olive oil
1 tbsp lemon juice
cayenne pepper
garlic powder
onion powder
salt & pepper

Heat oil in a large pan over medium high heat. Cut the tips off the brussels then cut in half. Toss into the hot oil with lemon juice and seasonings. Cook, stirring occasionally, until they start to get a little brown and crispy. Add more oil if needed.

Once the brussels are done, add the corn and a little more oil. Cook while stirring until everything is nice and warm and crispy-ish and delicious. Enjoy!

Crispy Edamame

Ryan and I have loved edamame and we recently discovered that Hayes loves it too! Of course I didn't really enjoy shelling beans for him to eat, so I decided to hunt for pre-shelled beans and came up with this tasty way of cooking them. Enjoy!

Frozen shelled edamame
olive oil
seasonings
parmesan cheese

Thaw your edamame in a colander submerged in cold water. Once thawed, dry on paper towels. And then take a picture of your beans because they are so pretty and green.

Heat some oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add beans and season with whatever floats your boat. I chose garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Cook while stirring frequently until beans are slightly browned. I actually covered the skillet for a few minutes at the end to ensure the beans were tender enough for my liking.  Once they are done, top with parmesan cheese and serve as a side...perhaps with some baked chicken topped with fresh bruschetta. Enjoy!