{Guest Blogger- Leslie Daniels}

Hello friends! My name is Leslie and I’ve known Bobbi for about 3 years now. Surprisingly we met through the Internet! With both of our husbands away for work (mine military) we found something to bond over. We share a passion of food (especially desserts), crafts, friends, and family. I’m so glad to be part of her life!

When Bobbi asked me to do a guest blog, about a million ideas ran through my head; my immediate themes focused around cakes…my major weakness. Eventually I decided on something different. While my husband and I are still in school (and childless), I found something that we can all bond over…Food!

I’ve recently become caught up in watching Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution. I’ve always been a fan of the Naked Chef. My husband recently turned 30 and we attended a not so exciting physical around that time, it was very eye opening for both of us. We realized it’s time to do something to get healthier.

The second episode of FR had Jamie showing exactly how chicken nuggets are made, btw…chicken nuggets are my fast food weakness… and it was completely disgusting! How can we put this kind of stuff in our bodies?

Well, I found an amazing recipe for healthy, yes HEALTHY chicken nuggets! Besides, as my dad always points out…chickens don’t have nuggets…or fingers for that matter. I made a few adjustments to suit our taste buds in the Daniels’s family.

Total prep time took about 15 minutes (minus marinade time).

We started with 2 large chicken breasts, cut up into nuggets size pieces.

I placed the nuggets into a Ziploc bag and added enough dill pickle juice to completely submerge the chicken.

Next, I added 1tbs Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp garlic powder, and pepper.

I allowed the chicken to marinate for about 3 hours (while we went and saw How to Train Your Dragon.)

Using dill pickle juice may sound odd, but a foodie friend of mine told me it’s the secret marinade for ChickFilA…and we love our ChickFilA!

After the marinating marathon is complete, begin prepping the “crust.”

And preheat the oven to 450F.

Line a cookie sheet with foil and place a cooling rack on top of it; spray the cooling rack with cooking spray to prevent sticking.

In a handy food processor combine the following ingredients until finely chopped and combined:

½ cup sliced almonds

¼ cup whole-wheat flour

2 tsp paprika

1 tsp garlic powder

½ tsp dry mustard

½ tsp ground pepper

After combined, drizzle in 1 ½ tsp EVOO.

I intentionally left out the extra salt because of the added sodium in our marinade.

Pour concoction into a shallow dish or bowl. In a second bowl, whip 4 egg whites into submission with a fork (about 1 minute)…at least we’re burning calories here!

Dip each piece of chicken into the egg whites and then completely cover with the almond crust mixture. Spread the chicken pieces out evenly on the cooling rack.

Cook chicken until done. Mine took about 15 minutes, but it all depends on the size of your nuggets.

Serve with your choice of healthy side. I was originally going to make baked fries, but decided on carrot stick upon discovering squishy potatoes. The possibilities are endless!

Enjoy!
Leslie

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Thank you so much for that recipe Leslie. I know my family will enjoy it. I really appreciate the Guest Post and the Chicken Nugget thing was disgusting.

I am on the same type of food adventure right now within my family. It's not about being on this organic kick that alot of people are on.... it's about educating ourselves about what is going into our foods and our families bodies. How is it made? How are the animals being raised? If a product has a gazillion ingredients, chances are....it's not that good for us.

If you have any "delicious" healthy recipes you would like to send my way, feel free.
{Here is the Food Revolution website, please check it out.}

Easter {Basket}

The kids' Easter Basket is finished except for one goody that I have to make the night before.

We opted for 1 Basket for all of them this year. Each year they get a basket from us and always baskets from other church and family members......we have like 30 or more baskets in the garage for Easter. They take up alot of room.

So, if you haven't noticed by now....I'm a little weird {er, different.} Just a little off my rocker...!

For their Easter Basket Theme we decided to go with a Twilight Theme. I know, sounds weird. We are all into the Twilight Series.

 We bought the New Moon movie, some plates and napkins to have snacks on, Easter candies that didn't match the color scheme so I wrapped them up and wrote little movie quotes, old school Popcorn {they've never seen one like that before so I thought it would be a new fun treat}, Vampire Fangs {Oriental Trading Co.}, Vampire Kisses {glitter chapstick; regular for Noah.}

 The stores have all types of Twilight things. I wanted to get them bracelets but I didn't think what they said was appropriate for the little ones. The shirts are pretty cool, but some pricey {especially when buying 4 of them.}

My original idea instead of Vampire Kisses was Body Glitter. I couldn't find any at Target or Walmart and I didn't feel like venturing to the mall this week {Spring Break week!}

The last thing to put inside are these Caramel Apples. This recipe is so delish. I'm going to make them the night before while the kids are asleep.

Have a wonderful Spring Break my Vampire and Werewolf Friends!

Look {WHO's} 3....!

My BABY turned 3 today...!
Goodness, Gracious where does the time go? One minute I have this tiny little baby in my arms...now this little person....growing up.

Carmendee's Birthday Announcements read "Look Who's 3" which is why I picked an owl shirt for her to wear on her special day.

This was a super simple shirt. Just fabric scraps and Heat'N'Bond {yep no sew!}
Her brother made her a card and drew all her favorite things onto it and glued a picture of Carm on the front. Maelyn made her a "light saber" out of a wrapping paper roll. Patience made her a book. It's so cute when the kids are so considerate of each other.
Before Daddy left for the week {sniff, me alone with the kids all Spring Break} he made Carmendee these Owl Pancakes. I loved them!
We didn't have a party, but we invited some of her close friends over for a playdate.
I found these Owl Cookies at Walmart in the Easter section when searching for candy the other day {Score!}

I put up this Re-Usable Banner I made awhile ago to "reuse" time and time again.

Perfect for today!{My Precious}

We made all our friends sack lunches.

And they played....

And they played...

And they played with the Bubble Machine....

The kids decorated their own cupcakes.
{Happy Birthday to you!}

Make a wish Carmendee!
I hope you had a fun and special birthday Carmendee Hope.

We love you...!

A Day With {Grandma}

Monday my little Carmendee is turning 3. For her birthday gift my Mom wanted to take her out by herself for the day. Carm was talking about this the whole entire week! It was the only way to get her to bed the night before {You have to get rest for your big day with Grandma.} She wanted to wear a "Beautiful Dress."

 "I want to take pictures by the door!"

Umm...ok sweetie. By the door.

 A few quiet hours later {the kids were still at school} she came home.

And this was how she looked...!

Grandma took her to lunch and then to the mall. Guess where they headed to?

Build-A-Bear!

My Mom said she had to pee everywhere they went. Yep, sounds about right! hehe

Carmendee walked right into Build-A-Bear and went straight for this Dog. Her mind was made up from the second she saw her. She named her Doggie.

A fun day with Grandma that I know she won't forget for a long time.

Sigh* sometimes I can't wait to be a Grandma. It seems like a fun job!

Magazine Holder Re-do....!

This is my magazine holder that I've had for years....!
I love it because it is so simple to clean and holds a good amount of magazines. I decided that it wasn't working in our new, freshly painted living room.
 A Re-Do had to be done!

I took some burlap {I got at Walmart...it isn't as tightly woven as other burlap such as at Lowe's but super affordable} and hot glued it all {make sure you have a ton of glue sticks before you start} around the metal holder.

I did it piece by piece. I took a straight side of the material and hot glued it inch by inch to the top of the holder. Along the bottom, I used a sharp X-Acto knife and cut along. Sometimes burlap unravels, you can use sharp scissors if you want to as well.

As I cut along the bottom, I started hot gluing the material all around. Just take it inch by inch. You'll get your flow. The excess material, I thought would look cute as little pleats in the front of the magazine holder.

Cut your handles out with the X-Acto knife.

Of course, ribbon along the top and bottom always hides unraveling and imperfections!

On to my favorite part of any project.....Embellishing...!

I added 3 fabric flowers to the front.

Finished..!

Awe....sitting back, kicking my feet up and looking at this gorgeousness.

Much better....!

{Easter} Collage

I love Collages. They give kids the creative freedom to do whatever they wish. I get rid of any supplies that I have lingering for years {those last 2 stickers that nobody seems to use.}

The kids made an Easter Collage using some Die Cuts, stickers, glue and crayons.

There is nothing like a project where the kids are free to do whatever they wish!

FlOweR RiNgS...!

Noe and I were watching Martha one day during Valentines week and she had a segment on Pipecleaner Rings. So, we ran to grab a bag of pipecleaners and made some cute Valentine Jewelry for the girls.

I thought those flower rings would be {adorable} for the Spring Season and for Easter!

The link I found for the rings is here and she actually has some Spring looking Rings on her site...! The directions are on the site. If you need any help, just let me know.

I used 3 pipecleaners and hot glued a pom pom in the middle.

They turned out really Springy.

I made one for my ToE to wear at home....for funsies...the girls are loving it....!

{Bunny Tangrams}

A couple of years ago Family Fun posted this Bunny Tangram article.

To avoid collecting years of magazines, I tear out my favorite ideas and file them away so I can have them on hand each year.

This is a hoppening activity for your kids. There are 3 examples of different bunnies at the bottom of this picture.

Download my Tangram printout here {I've used this same one for 5 years. I must have gotten it off Crayola.com because it recommends Crayola markers.}

Print, color, and cut the Tangrams out.

Have your hoppers make the bunny shapes using those pieces, like a puzzle.

I love how they glued them onto cards. Beautiful!

Saint Patty's Day.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day....or at least the end of it.

My day went pretty much like so.....

Woke up around this time above, well 10 minutes earlier. I had to put my contacts on otherwise I would have bumped into the wall.

The Leprechaun visited again last night. He messed up our home and put our guinea pig in the girls room. They were so surprised and happy to see her in there when they woke. The little ones asked how he carried the cage and Maelyn said "Magic!" He also went to the bathroom in the toliet and didn't flush {green pee.}

Noe woke up and heard him.

He shot the Leprechaun with a Nerf gun. He left this before he disappeared!

The kids had a Magically Delicious breakfast.

{Meltdown #1 for Carmendee that day}

The kids got a special St. Patrick's Day lunch: shamrock sandwich, green cucumbers, green Tree Top apple juice and chocolate covered popcorn with shamrock sprinkles.

We walked together to school in the morning. Maelyn's teacher let me drive her car to the field trip. The girls had fun in the new car.

We just arrived at CALM {it's a little local zoo; stands for California Living Museum.}

{This is where my camera battery said exhausted and had to switch over to camera phone.}

My group of girls enjoying the ducks {don't want to show to much of the girls on here for privacy.}

The Bears eating peanuts.

Afterwards, we went to the park and ate our lunch.

{Meltdown #2 for Carmendee}

We walked home from school and came home to clean the house.

I'm not used to the house not being cleaned by lunch time. So, I scrambled to get it together.

I threw our St. Patty's dinner in the Crockpot: corned beef, cabbage and red potatoes.

We read our St. Patrick's Day book and did some projects.

{This was a messy craft}
Noah was tutoring kids after school pretty late; he does this on Wednesdays.

My Mom called me and told us to go eat dinner over there. She made the same exact thing. {Great minds think alike} So we headed to Grandma's to visit for the rest of the evening.
{Meltdown #3 for Carm. She had a bad day from early morn.}

I made these Playdough Cookies when we got home. I started the dough last night because it had to refrigerate. It just needed to be rolled out and baked.

{I hope you all wore green and didn't get pinched!}