Honey barbecue crock pot chicken salad!

This is one of my favorite salads to prepare for lunch(and dinner!).  The barbecue sauce, cheese and tomato provide enough flavor to allow you to skip the dressing, but it is heavenly with ranch! I always use this scrumptious recipe from stick a forkinit.blogspot to make my barbecue chicken in my crock pot.

It is the best BBQ chicken recipe I have ever used. I make it often and my boys love it which solidifies it as a staple meal in our home!(They are some finicky children if I may add)

You will need:

For the chicken

One bottle sweet baby ray's Honey BBQ sauce

4-6 boneless chicken breasts

1/4 C vinegar

1 tsp red pepper flakes

1/4 C brown sugar

1 tsp garlic powder

Whisk the sauce ingredients together. Place your chicken in your crock pot coat with sauce and cook on low for 4-6 hours.

For the salad I used a combination of romaine lettuce, shredded sharp cheddar cheese, chopped fresh tomato, sliced sweet onion and topped it off with chopped up honey barbecue chicken.  

I prefer to serve the chicken over the salad while it is warm.

It is delish with ranch dressing, so make sure you try it that way!

What are some of your family's favorite meals?

Kid friendly meal suggestions are always welcome around here. : )

Buffalo chicken dip!

           This dip is delectable. I love the flavor of buffalo chicken, but am not fond of wings, so this dip is perfection in my book.  If you bring this to a party I recommend jotting down the recipe on a few index cards, because I guarantee the recipe will be requested!  (I made this for New Year's eve and everyone loved it!) Here is the recipe!

Ingredients
2, 8 ounce packages of cream cheese
1 cup of Hidden valley ranch dressing
3/4 cup of Frank's red hot sauce
One package of Perdue short cuts oven roasted chicken
2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
Tostitos multi grain tortilla chips
A baking dish (I used a round 9 inch)
chopped scallions optional

1.First get out a chopping board and chop up your chicken into tiny pieces.

2. Place your cream cheese, ranch dressing and hot sauce in a mixing bowl.

3.Use a mixer to whip the three ingredients together.

4. Pour in one cup of cheddar cheese and mix in by hand with a rubber spatula.
5. Spray a baking dish with non stick spray.

6 Spread your dip mixture evenly in your dish.

8. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

7. Top with 1/2 to a cup of cheddar cheese and chopped scallions if desired and bake for 15 more minutes.

I recommend serving with tostitos multi grain chips.  They compliment the flavor of the dip very well.

Enjoy!

A little fitness inspiration!

                                           

 Here are a few of my favorite get fit links!

flaviliciousfitness.com

This move is a very effective way to burn calories.  They are not easy to do though.  I'm not currently at a place where I could keep it up for 15 minutes either lol.  

Check out the website for fab exercise tips, recipes and more!

Shape .com

The NFL cheerleader work out

This article has some really good moves!

Greatist.com

I firmly believe every woman should own a medicine ball.

(Especially moms!) A medicine ball is the best way to regain your pre-baby figure.

(That I have found at least)

Trust me on this one.  ♥

If you need a little more inspiration to start a fitness routine..
Victoria's Secret Swim 2014 is here!

Order a cute suit to keep yourself motivated! 

Motivational Monday!

To become closer in reaching your goals, one small change daily. 

♥

                                                                       
                                                                         Know this!

Jack Daniels chicken salad!

                                                              

  One of my favorite ways to lighten up a meal is to serve the main dish as a salad. That way I can still make a yummy side dish for the rest of the family, such as Mac and cheese or mashed potatoes, but I am still able to lighten up my own portion while avoiding preparing two separate meals.  This salad is scrumptious.  Trust me you won't even be missing your mashed potatoes...ok maybe that's not completely accurate so if you must sneak a tiny portion go right ahead. lol  This is a also a good option for lunch to make with your leftover Jack Daniel's chicken. 

To make this salad I combined chopped romaine lettuce, thinly sliced sweet onion, bits of pineapple, and popcorn chicken glazed with Jack Daniel's sauce. I also drizzled some JD sauce over the entire salad to give it more flavor.

Next time I plan to add grilled pineapple, as well as add some matchstick carrots.

Here is the link to the recipe for the JD sauce.(TGI Friday's inspired)

Enjoy!

Improved - Pretty printable cleaning schedule! & How to become a Krazy coupon lady(if your interested in that haha)

I've redone my cleaning schedule to include time for menu planning and coupon organization. 

This schedule works well for me.  I food shop on Thursdays after work and I find it easiest to plan my meals in advance on Sunday evenings while I file my coupons.(Otherwise I'll let it go until Wednesday night....which does not typically make for a successful shopping trip!)  I base our menu around what is on sale in my grocery ad and set aside my coupons in an envelope.   I typically buy our meats in bulk at Sam's Club(as well as a few other items) and freeze it in individual bags. All of these steps really help us save money. I use the The Krazy Coupon lady's method for storing my coupons. Check out her site to learn how to start your own coupon storage system.  Here is the link to the free printables to start your own coupon binder. (It's a little tough to locate on the website.) 

I'm currently working on a binder with a list of main & side dishes with recipes to aid in making meal selections for the week a bit quicker. If I am able to perfect it I will go ahead and post it one day in the future. I accomplish an immense amount more with lists, otherwise I'm just at a loss of where to begin. Does anyone else feel this way? lol I am also working on a new DIY Menu board and a framed chalkboard I can hang somewhere to jot down a daily to do list. 

Happy Friday ♥!

Click the image above for the full-sized version. Simply right click on the full sized image save and print.  I suggest laminating it and hanging it on your refrigerator.(Stick magnets on the back)

Check out my post on how to get a *Sparkling* clean bathroom!

Good list to help reduce clutter!

If you have any links to good organizational articles let me know.  I am always looking for ways to keep clutter to a minimum.  Being a family of 5 (three being young children), it is not an easy task! 

Any tips would be appreciated! ♥

  

Motivational Monday!

Focus on the good things.  People are happy with less than you have. Be appreciative!

Work hard and great things will happen!

Go Team Kate! Autism Sibling Love!

Love this  ♥

 Autism siblings tend to share one common and wonderful trait, which is that they are incredibly compassionate.  This is something I have observed with my own children, as well as stories I've read.  My middle son Cole has always had an unspoken understanding with Luke.  Maybe it has to do with the birth order and him being born after Luke, but I think there is more to it.  I absolutely envision advocacy in his future. Luke's baby sister Emily adores him. You can see it in her eyes. It doesn't hurt that Luke has a certain charm about him.(Plus an irresistible smile!) If you've ever met him you'll agree.  People that know Luke all seem to have a special place in their heart for him.  We are lucky to have so many people in Luke's life that genuinely want the best for him. This includes family as well as people that we've met throughout this journey. Everyone truly loves to see him progress and succeed. It seems that so many family members have gone out of their way to do what they can to ensure Luke continues to progress, as well as learn what they can about autism.  We are truly blessed.

The image above is from GoTeamKate.com

If you haven't yet read her story click the article below!

Dear Daddy in Seat 16C Flight 1850 From Philly:' Stranger's Act of Kindness Toward 3-Year-Old Autistic Girl Goes Viral

This story proves that there really are kind, patient and accepting people in the world.

You will probably fall in love with Kate and her entire family while your at it.

(There are!)

Hey girl, Can I get you another cupcake?

You had me at cupcake.

 This was completely made for me.

Is it sad that I relate more to this Hey Girl than any other I've come across? lol

In all honesty, I do really love cupcakes.(and decorating cupcakes)

Here are some super cute inspirations below

Cheesecake cupcakes!

Having access to this recipe would be dangerous

Love the colors

When Emily is old enough to fully appreciate a mermaid themed birthday party these will without a doubt be present.

Edible glitter

Red velvet topped with hearts

Does anyone else picture a cupcake exactly like this when they think of the word birthday?(or is it just me?)

Rose cupcakes!

Love how simple and pretty these look

My cupcakes ♥

Consider it done.

I'm dreaming of a white...Kitchen!

When I finally have my dream kitchen(Which won't be for quite a while!).  I know that I want it to be mainly white, with girly, glam details.  I love the combination above with the white and the intensely dark floors.  The contrast in colors make the space look so clean and pretty.  

  ♥

Crisp, clean Ikea kitchen makeover at Little House Blog.

Check out her site. I promise you will be inspired!

I love the cookbook storage.

White subway tile makes for a perfect back splash.

Love blush pink peonies

Does anyone know of a place that sells faux peonies that are good quality?

I have a tendency to kill fail to keep plants well cared for...lol

I have a jar like this from amazon that I typically fill with cookies, but this is a cute alternative.

Fancy frames for your fridge.

I'm assuming they used magnets to hang them?

You could jot down your grocery list, etc.

Ombre Spoons ♥

A much needed Fab To Do list!

Menu board inspiration

Click here for a similar frame 

Note to self: Start an adorable vintage dish collection

Swan measuring cups

I don't think I would even use these out of fear of breaking one!

They would be nice displayed on a shelf though.

Tea tins re-purposed as mini vases

        I could definitely use a spot like this in my home.

The built in storage is perfection.

Small but functional kitchen, plus a sparkle back splash. (Yes Please!)

Check out my pinterest board for more inspiration!

Dream white Kitchen ♥

Don't forget to check out my Kitchen deep cleaning tutorial.

Has anyone ever attempted painting their own kitchen cabinets?

How did it go, any tips would be greatly appreciated.