Fundraiser & Giveaway! For Victims of Hurricane Sandy

 

 

If you read my post a few weeks ago, you know that I recently became a consultant for The Pampered Chef. Well, here's what I love about them: THEY ARE SUPER GENEROUS!!

 

The Pampered Chef has vowed to match all funds raised through fundraising shows for Hurricane Sandy.

 

So I am hosting a fundraiser and giveaway to support this cause!!!

 

 

Here's how it works:

 

1. You log onto my Personal Pampered Chef Website, and find the American Red Cross fundraising show. (instuctions below)

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. You purchase all kinds of cool things for yourself or those extra lucky people on your Christmas list.

 

3. Once the show closes (On Saturday November 17th), The Pampered Chef will send a check for

20-30% of the show totals to the American Red Cross to support aide for Sandy.

 

(Your items will not be shipped and you will not be charged until the show closes on the 17th.)

(That means if you win the giveaway, $25 can be taken off your order.. or you can add to it!)

 

 

 

So what about that Giveaway??

 

Check out my website and find your favorite things!

 

You have a chance to win $25.00 to The Pampered Chef, with me!

 

This giveaway will end two days prior to the show closing so that you will have time to shop on the fundraiser, if you wish!

 

Please Share & Shop Away!

Support Sandy Relief!

 



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"Greece"

 

This “trip” is part of our adventure around the world. If you would like to see how it all started or where else we’ve been, start here.

 

Okay, so when I was planning this trip arond the world, it was much more organized. I guess I forgot to factor in the possibilty of typhoons and babies (although I knew he was coming). This dadte was scheduled for September, and then postponed due to a typhoon and then again for Ronin's birth.

It has also taken me a couple weeks to finally write about it.

 

Our trip to Greece consisted of a night in with a two week old baby and a two year old. It wasn't any sort of thrill seeker, but it was certainly some quality time that was much needed.

 

We started the night with some of these Grilled Chicken Pita Sandwiches.

A recipe I found on Pinterest.

 

 

I followed the recipe to a T and as you can see mine do not look nearly as delicious as the professional photo. They didn't taste very delicious either, but that's okay.. at least they were "Greek!"

 

 

We also indulged in some Stacy's pita chips, because pita chips are Greek right??

 

 

And then we topped it off with some delicious Greek yogurt. By far my favorite part of the night.

 

P.S. This brand of GY is delicious.. the only brand I like =)

And lastly, We all snuggled on the couch and popped in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, which neither of us had seen before. Good Movie!

 



 

 

So yes, Greece was a little lame, but I had fun hanging out with my little family and Mikael had fun laughing atmy lame attempts to create a Greek theme. All in all, it was worth it.

 

October's date is planned for this weekend and takes us to Germany. So cross your fingers that it actually happens and stay tuned for all the details!

 

 



 

 

 

Chicken Parmesan Soup.. YUM!!

I tend to get really bored, really fast. And so even though I have the boys to keep me busy, these past few weeks of maternity leave have me staring at the wall. So when I went to a Pampered Chef party last week, I just jumped in with two feet and signed up to be a consultant... I'm always good for making rash decisions.

I have my first show coming up this weekend. My goal is $1250 in sales, if you'd like to help me out you can shop my online website. Make sure to sign in, it only takes a minute, and then in the top left corner click where is say "Shows you're invited to or hosting" in the drop down, click on my name (the only one there) and shop away.

I will be closing this show on Monday October 22nd.

Please let me know if you shop, I'd love to say thank you.

Also, If you're interested in hosting an online party and earning free and discounted products, please shoot me an email!

Anywho, I'm super excited about it now and I wanted to share the recipe that had me totally sold!

I did it all in the microwave.. in under 20 minutes, say whaaat?

Husband and child approved.

The Pampered Chef ®

Chicken Parmesan Soup

Recipe

1/4 of a 16-oz (450-g) loaf French bread

      2 tbsp (30 mL) olive oil

3 tbsp (45 mL) Garlic & Herb Rub, divided

      1 1/2 cups (375 mL) unsalted chicken stock

      2 cups (500 mL) marinara sauce

       1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with garlic and onion (about 1 3/4 cups/425 mL), undrained

2 1/2 cups (625 mL) diced cooked chicken breasts

      3 garlic cloves

        1 oz (30 g) fresh Parmesan cheese

      3/4 cup (175 mL) shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

1. Cut bread into 3/4-in. (2-cm) cubes using Color Coated Bread Knife. (You should have about 2 cups/500 mL.)
2. Toss bread cubes, oil and 1 tbsp (15 mL) of the rub in Deep Covered Baker.
3. Microwave bread cubes, uncovered, on HIGH 3–4 minutes or until they begin to brown, stirring every minute. Spread croutons over a piece of Parchment Paper to cool.
4. Stir stock, remaining 2 tbsp (30 mL) rub, marinara sauce, tomatoes, chicken and garlic pressed with Garlic Press into baker.
5. Microwave, covered, on HIGH 11–13 minutes or until soup is hot.
6. Grate Parmesan using Microplane® Adjustable Fine Grater.
7. Carefully remove baker from microwave and stir in Parmesan.
8. Top soup with half of the mozzarella and sprinkle with half of the croutons. Top with remaining mozzarella.
9. Let stand, covered, 2–3 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve soup with remaining croutons.

Yield: 6 servings

This recipe is obviously from Pampered Chef, so if you don't have all the utensils mentioned above you can use what you have. I do not recommend trying this without the Covered Baker.

My Tip: I have a tendency to forget to take out meat before I want to cook it...

Using the Deep Covered Baker, I cooked the frozen chicken for 7 minutes in the microwave before adding the soup ingredients. It came out perfect and fully cooked.

My Deep Covered Baker hasn't come in yet, so I used the Round Covered Baker and cut the recipe in half.

We made this at the party and I've made it twice already since then... it's only been a week.

Yes, it is that delicious. And sooo easy to make.

The Deep Covered Baker is amazing!

Besides this, I've made 3 other meals this week, all in the microwave and I swear they've all been top chef status. No one would ever believe that I made them.. in the microwave.

If you make it, let me know what you think!



Getting back to Healthy

 

I think every new momma has one of the same goals: to lose the baby weight! I'm no different, that is certainly on the top of my to-do list. Thankfully I only gained 20 lbs during this pregnancy (and almost 10 of it was all baby!!) but I would like to lose the the baby weight and then some considering I never lost all of the baby weight the first time.

 

I've always been active, so getting back into the groove of working out will not be the problem. I've already started walking and pre-planning all the awesome workouts I want to try once the doctor says "go for it" at my 6-week checkup. My husband recently became a certified crossfit instructor, so once I do get the okay, I'm going to test those waters... I think I'm really going to need my weekly yoga class to recover from those workouts.. they can be pretty intense. That's good though right?

 

Anyway, here's the real problem. My eating. I love food, and I really love junk food. As much as I try to eat healthy, I can never deny a cupcake or piece of candy. It's awful, I know. And I know some pretty good bakers, plus I love to bake myself, making things twice as hard.

 

But, I am on a mission!

 

I will eat healthy!

...99% of the time. Hey a girl's gotta cheat once in a while, right?

 

I will stick to my workouts.

 

I will feel good about myself.

 

Doing all of the above will make me a better mother/wife/person.

 

 

 

Here are some of my healthy eats this week!! All delicious and super easy to make!

 

 

Chicken Stir-Fry Breakfast

 

People have been bringing us dinner all week to welcome Baby Ronin and this was a great way to use the leftover chicken from dinner the night before!

 

 

Cheesy Quinoa Bites

 

These make for such a good snack, only 130 calories in four bites!

I liked them better when they were cold.

 

 

 

I'd love to swap some healthy recipes!

What are some of your faves?

 

 

 

Zukeran Egg shop and Mini Zoo

Okay, So I'm not even sure this qualifies as a "mini zoo," but we'll go with that. Keegan and I headed to the Zukeran egg shop and mini zoo this week with our playgroup friends. It's small and pretty much a hole in the wall with animals, but the kids loved it and they burned quite a bit of energy running around to see everything.

If you're in Okinawa, the egg shop is located on the 16, just off the 329.

Here are some of the animals held here...

...I'm pretty sure none of them should be living in sub-tropical Japan.

Yes, that is a Kangaroo..

This sign was posted outside of a monkey cage, I'm pretty sure he bites!

The Japanese are famous for the way they just throw things together. This is the playground, which has obviously suffered a few typhoons, though is surprisingly still standing. The kids happened to find it, as much as we tried to stay out of sight, we didn't let them play here very long.

And here's the real reason anyone should ever go to this place...

No, no I was not talking about the eggs.. those.. down there!

CREAM PUFFS!

They are seriously so delicious and only 150 yen!!! Plus they box them up nice and pretty and send them home with an ice pack. I love all the little touches the Japanese add, it always makes my day.

Okay so I also bought some eggs. I had to try them, fresh and local!

And they were only 320 yen for the bucket!

Keegan scored some custard/pudding/flan type dish. Also delish!

It was a fun day, I'm really loving all the group adventures we've been going on lately!