Seven on Sunday ~ Week 36

Day 1: Sunday ~ Sunday Funday! I am truly, truly blessed to have such amazing neighbors and friends in our 'hood!! And our kids all get all get along!!!

Day 2: Monday ~ Labor Day! Very little "laboring" went on today...Brooke actually worked on homework a little and I think I got a nap in.....and the kids got in some Snaps :)

Day 3: Tuesday ~ This was SUCH a busy day all around! Work was crazy and the whole day just flew by!!! I did check my email after work and these two pics popped up--2016 soccer pics!  They both truly love soccer....picture day, though...not so much :(

Day 4: Wednesday ~ My "free" day with no kids! "Free" --yeah right! I have an entire room to paint at home but instead this day consisted of working, car washing, laundry, grocery shopping, errand running...and OF COURSE a Target run....they have the CUTEST girls workout gear now!! I love this #goals shirt for Brookey! Needless to say, that room STILL isn't painted!

Day 5: Thursday ~ Just some Thursday night sparring with Supergirl and some dude who wears one sock with shorts...no need to worry...everything is normal here.

Day 6: Friday ~ Happiness is new Play Doh and the weekend with Grandma and Grandpa!

Oh, and this is what happens when your amazing friend drops off Sift cupcakes at your doorstep...

Day 7: Saturday ~ Fresno Fun! It was HOT...and always fun :)

 Me and my bestie...we've been friends for 33++ years...no matter how much time passes, it's always the same...good times, we always have each other's back. Love this girl!!!

 Class of 1995 at Edison High was the BEST! I am proud to call all of these awesome people my friends!!!

Besties and the hubbys.....we don't get together nearly enough!! We need to change that STAT!

Crazy week and now it's Sunday and we are getting everything ready to send Brookey off to Science Camp all week!!! See ya'll next week!!!


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Chicken Parmesan Soup

Chicken Parmesan Soup

Ingredients:

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 green bell pepper, chopped

1 can (14.5 ounces) crushed tomatoes

2 -3 (raw) boneless, skinless chicken breasts

3 cups chicken broth, plus additional if needed

1/2 cup chopped white onion

1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, plus extra for garnish

1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil, chopped

2 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano

1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or more if you like it spicy!)

½ cup (uncooked) small pasta (whole wheat is best)

Chopped fresh basil or parsley, for garnish

Instructions:

1. In slow cooker, stir together garlic, bell pepper, crushed tomatoes, chicken, broth, onion, 1/3 cup cheese, basil, oregano and red pepper flakes. Cook on high 3 1/ 2 hours or on low 5-6 hours.

2. Transfer chicken breasts to cutting board and coarsely shred; return to slow cooker. Stir in pasta. Cook on high 30 minutes longer or until pasta is cooked al dente. If soup becomes too thick after pasta is cooked, stir in additional broth until desired consistency is reached, and warm through.

3. Serve garnished with extra Parmesan cheese and chopped basil or parsley.

21 Day Fix Lasagna Soup

Turkey Lasagna Soup

Ingredients:
1 pound lean ground turkey (or ground beef)

1 (24 ounce) jar of your favorite tomato basil marinara, Rao’s is awesome!
4 cups chicken stock, low­ sodium (more or less depending on consistency desired)
1/2 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, to taste
1⁄2 teaspoon dried oregano
8 whole wheat lasagna noodles, broken into fourths
1 cup (part skim) mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup ricotta cheese, reduced fat
Fresh basil for garnish, optional

Instructions:

1. In a skillet over medium heat, cook ground turkey, breaking up with a fork.2. Add turkey to slow cooker, along with marinara, chicken broth, parsley sprigs, salt, and pepper. Cover and cook on low 4­-6 hours.
3. The last 30 minutes of cooking time, add broken lasagna noodles, mozzarella. and basil.
4. Check noodles to make sure they are tender, but not mushy.
5. Serve in bowls with a dollop of ricotta cheese and garnish with fresh basil

Seven on Sunday ~ Week 35

Day 1: Sunday ~ On Sunday, Will and I sold candy ($1) in our neighborhood, then it was off to a swim party for one of Will's friends....and Sarah crashed it :)

I told him no one was going to buy candy from that face!!!

She love being around Will's friends...you can imagine how Will feels about that!

Day 2: Monday ~ Got ready for my FREE Clean Eating Crockpot Challenge that's coming up this week! I am posting the shopping list TUESDAY 9/6! Email me if you want in! alittlebitofcheer01@gmail.com. :) You'll get 5 days of delicious crockpot recipes, a shopping list and a fun 5 day Facebook group with fitness and motivation, health tips and more!

Day 3: Tuesday ~ Sarah and her pre school friends. So happy she's made friends quickly and loves going to school now! PS--she's the tallest kid in her class!

Day 4: Wednesday ~ Back to School Night! Scott and I split it up so I only got to go to Will's class. I just love his teacher SO MUCH! Here's his back to school paragraph--hilarious! "We sing a poem when somebody lost a tooth. I will move on." !!!???? I had to ask him what "I will move on" meant!! He said it meant in 2nd grade he will move on to learn more things than he did in first grade. Glad we got that clarified!! LOL!

Day 5: Thursday ~ This was on Wednesday, but whatever :) Coffee with great friends. We don't see each other nearly enough!

Day 6: Friday ~ Sarah's first "school" playdate! These two were so stinking CUTE!!

Sarah passed out COLD on the floor the night after the playdate! I think she had fun! :)

Brookey also felt awful today (her allergies are SO BAD right now), so we stayed home from school and rested all day...of course she had to document it with Snapchat:

Day 7: Saturday ~ It was my attempt to "do nothing" today. And I succeeded!! I didn't do anything work related on chore related (except go grocery shopping). I got my nails done, read, went for a jog and took a nap! Best day ever!!

 I am STILL SORE from this "jog." I don't run!!!! Ugh!!

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Healthy Snack ~ Something Sweet

I am typically a salty-type snack girl but sometimes I get a sweet tooth!!! I try to find something to feed my craving that isn't tooo horrible and this is one of my faves! Apples a little PB, drizzle of honey and a few chocolate chips!! YUM!

Are you a sweet or salty-type snacker??!

Healthy Pumpkin Spice Frappicino

Do you know there are 70 grams of sugar in a Grande Pumpkin Spice Frappicino??!!

Do me a favor and try this recipe one of these cool fall days! It's AWESOME!! You get to enjoy whip, too! And only 2.2 grams of sugar! #boom! #winning#thankmelater

Ingredients (makes two servings)

* 1½ cups coffee
* 2 Tbsp. pumpkin, canned
* ½ tsp. vanilla extract
* ¼ tsp. pumpkin spice, ground
* 1 tsp. stevia
* ½ cup unsweetened coconut milk (from a carton, not canned)
* 2 tbsp. whip cream, fat free
* 1 dash cinnamon, ground
* ice

Instructions

1. In a blender add coffee, pumpkin, vanilla, pumpkin spice, stevia, coconut milk and ice. Blend until smooth.
2. Pour into a glass and top with whip cream and sprinkle of cinnamon.

Crockpot Canjun Beef

Happiness is a crockpot full of Canjun Beef that I barely lifted a finger to make ! Thanks to my friend Melanie for this recipe ! It's always a winner !!

And I don't have to think about lunch tomorrow, either !! #winning

(i doubled this for leftovers!)

Cajun Beef

Ingredients:
1 lb. boneless beef round (or “top round”) steak, cut into 1 inch thick slices
1 medium onion, sliced and separated into rings
1 tablespoon (or more) Cajun seasoning or MAKE YOUR OWN (see below recipe) 1 (14oz.) can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 (6 oz.) can tomato paste plus 1 can water
2 small green or red peppers, cut into strips
Brown rice for serving
Sea Salt/Black pepper

Instructions:
1) Trim fat from meat, season lightly with salt and black pepper and a little Cajun seasoning.
2) Place onion and peppers in slow cooker. Sprinkle with Cajun seasoning mix and 1 teaspoon salt.
3) Pour undrained tomatoes and tomato paste/water over onion. Top with meat.
4) Cover and cook on low heat for 7­ to 8 hours (high heat 4-5 hours).
5) Serve over cooked hot rice.

Cajun Seasoning:
1/2 tsp. onion powder
12 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. ground pepper
1/2 tsp. cayenne or red pepper 2 tsp. dried thyme
1/2 tsp. paprika