It has been so hot here for the past week or so. Much to our surprise, it was foggy and freezing when we got to LB. The beach is only about 10 minutes from home, but there was a 12 degree difference. Irelyn didn't care and ran around in the waves for over and hour. Then we walked over and got some ice cream. $5.50 for a very small sundae...obviously we were paying for the experience.
Yay it is Friday. I hope everyone had a great week. I'm really looking forward to this weekend. We don't have too much planned but George invited Irelyn and I to go on a dinner date tomorrow night- she is so excited! She loves when things have a special title- "dinner date" is so much better than "mom doesn't want to cook" LOL Her favorite place is Souplantation so I think that is where we are going. Irelyn doesn't see George before she goes to sleep on Tuesdays and Thursdays so all day today she has been telling everyone that Tuesdays and Thursdays are "really hard days." Daddy's little girl :)
Taco salad yum! Everyone seems to have their own recipe, so here is mine :)
Taco Salad (this recipe makes a large bowl, probably 8 servings depending on how much lettuce you use)
iceberg and romaine lettuce
1 can red kidney beans, drained
1 lb. turkey or ground beef
green onions
1 bottle Thousand Island dressing
1 jar Ortega salsa (or any kind you choose)
sliced avocado
shredded cheese
1 can black olives, drained
1 bag tortilla chips
Brown meat, add kidney beans and cook for 2-3 minutes, drain meat mixture. Place meat in fridge to cool. Combine lettuce and green onions in a large bowl. When meat in cool, add to lettuce. Mix half a jar of salsa with half a bottle of thousand island. Keep everything in the fridge, put last 4 ingredients into individual serving bowls so that people can customize their salad. Enjoy this delicious, cool salad. Yummy served with cornbread too. This is so easy and delicious.
I drive by the intersection of Pacific Park and Wood Canyon every day. Each year though on this day Alexandra Flores' family places flowers and a picture of her on the corner. I can't help but get teary eyed when I drive by and see her face. The pink ribbon from her funeral is still in the sunshade in my car. Alexandra was in my preschool class the year I was pregnant with Irelyn. She died about 3 months after Irelyn was born. I remember going to her funeral and seeing pictures of her as a baby. I can't even explain the pain I felt for her family... You know that special love you have for your kids? It just breaks my heart that they lost their sweet little 4 year old girl...
Rest in Peace sweet angel Alexandra
George and I actually got to go out for a date last night! I can't even tell you when we went out last (prob a few months). I took Irelyn to my parents and met George at Flamingos since he was coming from a game. Flamingos is this great little mexican restaurant in Laguna Hills near Claim Jumper. We have been going there since before we were married- partly because of the food and partly because of the happy hour. There were some weeks when we would go here 2 or 3 times a week... we love it that much. We had such a great time just talking without being interrupted. Ahhhh
After dinner, we walked over to Claim Jumper to get some dessert to bring home. *Some background*-Claim Jumper overlooks MV High School where we both went to school...Claim Jumper was a hot spot in high school for everyone, and even more after we all turned 21. It is also the happy hour place for every teacher, coach, adult in MV and LH. So, every time we go to Claim Jumper I expect to see the bar full of friends like it used to be. As we walked into the crowded restaurant, I noticed the bar full of people, the family playing checkers and the "How hot are you" arcade game in the restaurant. I told George how much I always wanted to play that game when I was little. So he gave me a quarter to play :)
I looked over at the bar and I said "I guarantee you there is one person in there we know." George just laughed and we both started looking...and of course there was Summer! I played soccer with her and George coached her. We both just started laughing...
Hopefully our next date night will be soon :)
Irelyn doing the kickoff
Haha the bows!
Gelato because Sprinkles was tooooo crowded
Here is another recipe from my box. I've had many Chicken Curry recipes- but this is by far the tastiest. I like to use this when guests come over or for a special meal. It is really great left over too and it has a really good comforting taste.
Chicken Curry
2 lb. chicken breasts, cut into 1-2 inch pieces
1 1/2 T. butter
1 tsp. curry powder
1 apple, diced into bite sized pieces
1 med. onion, diced
1 can cream mushroom soup
3/4 c. cream
white or brown minute rice, as much as you like
Melt 1 T. butter, add curry, chopped apple, onion, soup and cream. Place chicken into 9X13 pan. Pour mixture over chicken and bake uncovered 1 hour 15 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through, at 350 degrees.
Cook rice. Saute onion, slivered almonds, raisins in 1/2 T. butter. After sauteed, mix with the rice in a large bowl. Use sauce from chicken as a gravy over rice.
This is seriously good!
1. Irelyn pretending to be Dora- dressing up like her, doing the little dance, and making me be Boots.
2. The cool mornings, walking out early to see the morning dew
3. My crockpot!
4. The new 90210
5. Nighttime foot rubs and back rubs.
6. Irelyn's bed head when she walks in our room in the morning.
7. My new job, the kids in my class, my co-workers
8. Having a cleaner house (not clean, just cleaner)
9. The new Nordstrom Rack- although it has been way too crowded
10. My family! :)
As we were sitting at the soccer fields today, I was watching Irelyn play at the park and George's U15 boys team play a game. My happy little daughter was so excited to be going up the stairs and down the slide 30+ times...the soccer game a whole different story. Boys punching each other, yelling profanities, just being down right nasty. I've been in this "little kid be nice world" for while now and it just dawned on me how mean kids can get and how hard sports can be. I saw the parents getting angry, the boys angry and then my sweet daughter just laughing and playing. Oh to be young again :)
Another thing, Sunday(rest day, Holy Day whatever you may call it.) I remember playing soccer and when we had a game on Sunday some of my teammates didn't go. Sunday was family/church day and they didn't let sports get in the way of that. Now- if you play club soccer and so many other sports, you for sure have games on Sunday. It didn't used to be like that...and in our fast paced world some people are forgetting what is really important.
Hmm not sure where I was going with this...
Oh man! Forgot Recipe Wednesday again...maybe I will change to Recipe Friday. With the weather starting to cool off I'm already busting out the crockpot! I love it and I would make soup/chowder every day if I could because of the simpleness of it.
This is one of my favorite recipes. It is very different and yummy.
Chili Chowder
2 T. olive oil
1-2 med. sized onions diced (depends how much you like onion)
2 lbs. ground turkey breast
2 cans (28 oz each) diced tomatoes
2 cans (15 1/2 oz each) red kidney beans, drained rinsed
1 can (28 oz) baked beans
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
4 cups frozen corn, thawed
1/4 c.(or less) chili powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
tortilla chips
Heat olive oil in large skillet over med high heat. Cook onions for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until nicely browned. Crumble in turkey; cook for 8 to 10 minutes, until turkey cooks through.
Place turkey mixture in a 6 qt crock pot. Stir in diced tomatoes, kidney beans, baked beans, tomato sauce, corn, chili powder, salt and pepper. Cook 4 hours on high or 7 hours on low. Serve with tortilla chips.
It doesn't get easier than this. It makes a ton and is so good as leftovers or covered tightly and frozen for next week.
I don't think this picture actually does the mess justice. It looked way worse in person. And you can see Irelyn waving out the window to the neighbors...
Give your loved ones, family and friends an extra hug today. Or an extra phone call. Remember how you felt on this day 7 years ago.... I sure do.
We will never forget...
I was watching TV on the couch and Irelyn was hugging me, sitting with me, and rubbing my arm.
Me- "Why are you so full of love?"
Irelyn- "Because I have you. You put a bunch of love in my heart."
A little later.
Me- "Why are you so sweet?"
Irelyn- "Because I have you- a special Mommy."
I wonder how much longer she will say these things? Probably not much longer.
To celebrate their 45th anniversary, The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf is offering some specials on Tuesdays. Starting today...
Here’s a rundown of the special birthday promotions:
Sept. 9th: 63-cent brewed coffee (small size)
Sept.16th: 63-cent hot tea
Sept. 23rd: 20 % off one pound of house blend coffee
Sept. 30th: 20 % off any 20-count tea bag tin
Oct. 7th: Add a FREE espresso shot to any drink
Today was Irelyn's first day of school. Last Friday was orientation but today was the first real day. She did so great! She came early with me and then I walked her over to her class at 9am. Mrs. May, her teacher, said she had an excellent day. For her job today she chose the prayer helper and when she saw me on the playground she came over for a hug but then was off to play. This year, she has her friend Aidan in her class which made her really happy. She was also excited to see some of her friends from last year on the playground today. This is going to be a great year!
Check out this blog for giveaways, great cozy living ideas and a link to her new Etsy shop. Enjoy!
http://cozyliving.typepad.com/cozyliving/
My plan was to post recipes on Wednesdays, but I forgot this week. It has been a pretty busy week, much busier than usual. Today was Preschool Orientation day and it went really well. Irelyn teared up a bit at first, but then she was fine. George took her since I had to be in my class this AM too. So, I'm posting a recipe 2 days late :)
Blueberry Mango Smoothie one of our faves
1 1/2 c. frozen blueberries
1c. mango (fresh or refrigerated Del Monte brand)
1c. silken tofu
1c. orange juice
3T. honey
blend up and yum-o
use less or more depending on how much you want to make. Enjoy!
