Peanut butter krispies protein bars

Quick recipe for y'all that I got from Katie on www.dashingdish.com

Peanut butter krispies protein bars
(I made some variations)

Ingredients:
4 cups rice krispies cereal
1/3 cup honey
1/2 cup peanut butter
1.5 scoops Carnivor chocolate protein
Pinch of salt

Directions:
1. Pour all ingredients into a big mixing bowl.
2. Spray a spatula with cooking spray so the ingredients don't stick to it.
3. Get ready for an arm workout...mix all together. (takes a bit to get it all mixed!)
4. Press mixture into a 9x9 OR 9x13 dish. (depending on how think you want them)
5. Cover and Put into freezer to harden. (I left mine overnight)
6. Cut into bars and keep in the freezer or fridge. (some of my edges ended up being like "granola". I put it in a bowl for Ava this morning and she ate it up!) success!


4

Fantastic weekend and new challenge

Happy Monday, y'all!  I hope your weekend was great!  Mine surely was.  Friday, after Clint got home from work, we did a little shopping.  Our sweet and hilarious, Ava, found this hat at JCPenney's and it was on sale for $3 so we HAD to get it for her!  I know I am biased, but she looks so darn cute!!  Her daddy is pretty good looking too!!




Saturday morning was a 5k in our town.  My bosses sponsored it and us, so we were able to do a family 5k!  It makes me SO happy to be able to do this stuff together!  Clint does not love to run, so having him do this with me was the best thing!  Yes that is my "jogging" stroller.  It cost me $10 at Walmart and it runs super smooth!  Way better than the $150 jogging stroller that is in our garage!!



Saturday afternoon, was the 1st shower for my brother and my future sister in law's wedding. This one was for her grandmother's church.



Ava said "no pics, please."  My sister took it anyway, haha!



The table for the shower.  It was from 1-3 and I thought there would be real food.  Sadly there was only nuts, mints, and cake.  I was starved!!  I did have some nuts to tide me over, but sheesh I was hungry for REAL food when we got home!



Sampling the nuts!


Saturday night, we went to the Nashville Sounds Triple A baseball game! It was perfect weather and we had such a great time!!  Love these two!!


I did get some great runs in the past few days!

I also started a new challenge for myself.  Starting yesterday, I am going to do a Bodyrock.tv workout.  Put the "sexual" focus out of it and these are some pretty brutal workouts. 12 minutes of hardcore exercises with very little rests and sweating buckets!  Yes, please.  I was up and able to get one in this morning before work! 

Sunday's workout was this one.
Today's was this one.

Oh and 120ounces of water today is in full swing and bathroom breaks!!

Do you have any goals today??

Errand day

Yesterday, Clint didn't have to go in to work until 1pm so we had the whole morning to spend with him! We all went down to the garage and worked out. I did back and chest. This is what we have in our garage and we got a super great deal on it!
Plus it is something that Clint uses! We also have free weights too! After that we went up and I ran and we watched "Acts of Valor".  My adrenaline was surely going watching that movie!  I did a great 8 mile run!


Tuesday is Ava and my errand day.  After Clint left, we headed out.  We went to Goodwill, Save-a-lot, Kroger and Aldi's. 

I'm doing pretty well with having $50-$75 a week budget on groceries.  Yesterday's trip was $64.17 and I got all of this! 

The key to my "master plan" is planning!!  I sit down over the weekend and look at sales papers and my coupons. I pick out 4 suppers and 2 homemade breakfasts (banana bread or pumpkin coffee cake) that Clint can take to work or Ava can eat on the way to my parent's house.  I then see what Clint needs for his lunches for the week and what I need for my ginormous salads. From that I take my clipboard and notebook paper and make a list.  I also try to put what I typically know things will cost.  This helps me get a basis on if I am on target to meet my goal.

Now I only take cash when I shop.  I "try" not to use my debit card.  That is where I run in to trouble.  There is something "restricting" to having ONLY cash that makes those frivolous purchases not so important.  I try to stick to my list 98% of the time.  If I see a great deal on something that was not advertised I might either take something off my list and get it OR I will get it and make up the difference for the next week. 

 I am NOT a pro by any means and I do have to use my debit card at times. (like yesterday) But I use my cash first and try to use only what I have. 

When we got home, I took the picture and put everything away.  I was going through an old cookbook that my church put together some years back and I decided to try a Banana Blueberry Bread.

  

Ingredients:

2 cups Bisquick(or off-brand Bisquick)

3/4 cup quick cooking oats

2/3 cup sugar

1 cup mashed ripe bananas(about 2)

1/4 cup milk (I used skim)

2 eggs

1tsp vanilla

1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries(can used strawberries or raspberries as well)

3/4 cup pecans or walnuts(optional, I did not use them this time)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350'.

2. Spray bread pan or bundt pan with cooking spray.

3. Stir all ingredients EXCEPT the blueberries in a mixing bowl.  Make sure all of the ingredients are mixed well.

4. GENTLY fold in the blueberries, trying not to smash them.

5. Bake for 45-50minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean.

6. Let cool and enjoy!

Any recipes to share that you have made recently??

Another day down

Yesterday mine and Ava's day consisted of taking our 4 month old puppy for a walk before it got hot.  He is getting big.  I think he weighs about 45lbs right now.  I'll tell you, he just about broke my hand though!  I had his leash wrapped around my hand while I was pushing Ava in her stroller and he saw a bird.  He was raring to go after that tweeter! 

We came back and we played outside a bit before it was time for me to go run inside on the treadmill.  I got 5 miles in and called it a day.  We had a few errands to run and Ava finally took a wee little nap on the way.

Clint and my dad are smoking pork shoulders on their smokers for Ava's party and I was the lucky one to get to pick these up.  It looked like someone whacked off a pig shoulder!  I know that is what really happens, but geez.  I much rather prefer it cooked.  Although, I just learned that because pigs are scavengers, their bodies don't metabolize things well and they are more inclined for parasites!  Um, yuck!

Clint got home and he went to work out in the garage while Ava and I did a little house decorating....



In her house that is.  Yep, I am in the house.  It is an awkward thing to get in to, but we fit quite nicely.  Although, if she decides she wants daddy in there too we are going to have to up the square footage!

On the weekly menu for supper was Chicken Enchiladas.

My healthy version....

Ingredients:

2 cooked chicken breasts chopped

1 cup salsa, divided

1/4 to 1/2 light sour cream

1 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided(can use mozzarella, but cheddar was what we had)

4 large torillas

Directions:

Put a little salsa in the bottom of a baking dish.

Preheat oven to 350.

Mix chopped chicken, salsa, sour cream and about 3/4 shredded cheese in a mixing bowl.

Take about 1/4 cup of the mixture and put down the center of the tortilla.  Roll it up and put the seam side down in the baking dish. 

Repeat process for remaining 3 tortillas.

Add 1/2 cup or so of salsa on top of rolled tortillas.

Sprinkle remaining cheese on top of salsa.

Bake in the oven for 25 minutes or until cheese is melted.

*Clint approved these!!

After supper, I had on my menu to make muffins for the next couple of morning meals.  Brown sugar muffins were on the list.

Recipe is at The Happy Housewife's blog.

Get ready for party pictures!!  Ava's birthday party is Saturday afternoon!  Have to get party-ready!!!

2 on Tuesday

Tuesday, Yesterday was this girl's 2nd Birthday!!  Everyone needs a birthday hat right?!

Ava and I ran errands for her party this week and groceries for us.  I have a begun for the past few weeks of having a $50 budget a week for groceries.  How do I do this??  Well, on the weekends I look at sale ads and look at recipes and I make a menu.  I usually pick 4 suppers and 2 breakfast ideas.  I check what we need in our pantry and I make a LIST.  I do have the luxury of having time to go to different stores to get the best deals.  Oh and I ONLY use the cash I have on hand.  Throughout the store, I add up our purchases on my calculator and if I am getting close to going over budget(tax included) I analyze the NEEDS and the WANTS.

Today, Ava and I went "shopping, shopping, shopping" at Kroger, Dollar Tree, Aldi's, and Walmart.

My budget was a little higher this week because of the party we are having for Ava on Saturday.  I still on spent $80.38!  I was pretty excited because look at all of this stuff!

When Clint got home, I went and wrapped Ava's presents and she got to unwrapping them.  We love our daughter but we do NOT go overboard on her with gifts monetarily.

I traded some books I had for some brand new books for Ava.  (FREE)

I got her some sandals on sale at Children's Place with free shipping for like $3 and change.

I upcycled a bench that I got at a yard sale.  

That is some strong tape!

We found this house, a refrigerator/kitchen, ironing board, and play food for $75 on Craigslist.  This all retailed for about $250.  Look at her, already taking groceries in the house!

Peek a boo!

I got the Bread maker out and made homemade dough and pizza!

I used the Breadmachine Diva's recipe and it did not disappoint.  Even my pizza experts loved it.

 

 Ava wanted cookies over cake, so I got Eat. Laugh. Run's recipe off of Pinterest and tried it out.

 We won't buy Chips Ahoy anymore!!!!  So good!

Oh yea, I did run 6 miles yesterday(haha)!

It was such a great day.  We are so blessed to have Ava!