Dog

Hayes has two loves in this world...his two stuffed dogs. Up until recently, both were named "Dog." Now we have "Charwie" and "Dog." Of course Dog was originally a gift for Keller from Memaw, but good luck convincing Hayes of that.

The other night after Hayes had gone to bed, I heard him wailing. This is so unlike him, so I went running, worried he had hurt himself. I burst into his room and Hayes was holding Dog in one hand, and Dog's ear in the other. Big fat tears were running down his cheeks as his told me Dog's ear had fallen off. I was trying so hard not to smile in front of him...is it weird that his heartbreak was adorable? He nearly killed me when he said "Mommy I need a tissue" and began wiping his sweet little cheeks.

Thank goodness for our adopted family in town. Mrs. Sharon came to our rescue and we cannot thank her enough!!

Hayes and Dog's reunion made me tear up. Hayes kept whispering "I missed you so much! I wove you Doggie!" Hayes was also elated that Dog now has his own dog bone! Most of these pictures are blurry because he kept jumping up and down with excitement.

So glad this boy and his dog have been reunited.

Meat-za!

Love pizza? Yeah, we do too. Here is a version I love that is grain free!! Thanks to paleOMG for the idea!

Ryan declared this his favorite paleo recipe so far...

{Meat-za}

2 lbs ground meat (I used lean beef)
2 eggs
garlic powder, onion, powder, oregano, paprika
pizza sauce (can be pre-made or homemade)
black olives
mushrooms
bell pepper
banana peppers
red onion
fresh basil

Combine meat, eggs, and spices into a bowl and mix well. Spread on the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.

Top with pizza sauce and veggies. Bake for an additional 5 minutes, the put under the broiler for 5-7 minutes. Enjoy!!

Spaghetti Boats

I found a super cute blog today, Busy Paleo Mom, with some easy Paleo recipes! This meal was really good and easy to assemble! Enjoy!

{Spaghetti Boats}

1 medium spaghetti squash
1/2 cup water
olive oil, salt, and pepper
meatballs
Spaghetti sauce

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Slice spaghetti squash in half and remove seeds. Drizzle olive oil and lightly season with salt and pepper. Place cut side down in a baking dish or sheet with a lip. Put water in the bottom of the dish, just enough to create a thin layer of water. Bake for 30 minutes of until tender.

Once spaghetti squash is done, use a fork to shred the inside of the squash until it resembles a bowl of spaghetti. Top with meatballs and your favorite sauce! I used pre-made turkey meatballs and pre-made organic, sugar free spaghetti sauce for sake of convenience. Yum!!

Happy Halloween!

Here are the McCormick cuties in their Halloween costumes. I might be biased, but I happen to think they make the cutest Cowboy and Indian!

Thanks to some super talented people who helped this busy mommy put these costumes together!!! I used clothes Hayes already had and made Keller's top and head band from a brown tshirt I picked up at Hobby Lobby. Keller's moccasins were perfect with this outfit AND will be wonderful for keeping his feet warm this winter and I love love love the precious leggings! Hayes loved having a cowboy "best" just like Sheriff Woody from Toy Story.

Keller's Indian Moccasins: Totmocs
Keller's Arrow Leggings: Precious Goodes Designs
Hayes' Cowboy Vest: Carolina Wildflowers

Garbage Stir Fry

I saw inspiration for this recipe somewhere...but for the life of me I can't find the blog it came from!! Sorry, person I don't know who gave me this great idea!!

So, I love Chinese food. Especially fried rice. This dish does not taste exactly like fried rice, but I really love the flavors and lightness of it! It's so easy to throw together and is great for emptying the produce drawer in your fridge. Enjoy!

{Garbage Stir Fry}

1 package chicken thighs/breasts, chopped
teriyaki sauce
onion, chopped
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1 bag frozen peas and carrots
2 packages broccoli slaw
1 lb mushrooms, sliced
liquid aminos or soy sauce
sesame oil for cooking

I like to chop my chicken the night before. I season with garlic powder and pepper and pour some teriyaki sauce on top so it can marinate over night. This also cuts down on prep work later.

Heat some sesame oil in a large skillet. Add the onion and garlic and cook for a few minutes until the onions are translucent. Add garlic, mushroom, and peas and carrots. Continue cooking. Add broccoli slaw last. Mix together with other veggies and add liquid aminos. At this point, I will heat some more sesame oil in a smaller skillet and start cooking my chicken. I like my veggies tender, but I'm ok with the broccoli slaw having a little crunch left. Once the veggies and chicken are done, it's assembly time!!

Place a layer of veggies in a large bowl. Top with chicken. I like to add fresh green onions and a few cashews on top. Eat up!!

*A few side notes: the veggie mixture is enough for 2 meals. Go crazy with your veggies, use whatever you have or whatever you like!!