An honest effort!

HA what was I thinking..seriously, my life is Facebook! I was gone for a whole 24 hours....I felt good to tell myself I was "pulling the plug" however I think a more realistic approach was to take a day of the week off, therefor I have decided on NO Facebook Friday. I get ahead of myself a lot of the time, and speak too soon...I think I will just have to work harder on finding more appropriate times to sign in, and try to be totally present in the moments with my kids.

It was an honest effort to think I could just quit cold turkey...I was forgetting about a lot of the friendships that were built on Facebook. I had an amazing conversation with a friend the night before I "deactivated" my account...I forgot how much of a power house Facebook is, especially for us mommas to connect with one another, share stories, triumphs, disappointments...

I have realized how much social media can suck you down the crap hole...but it is also very powerful in a positive way. It is my job as a mom to show my kids that it is not the only means of communication, I will have to work hard to show them the power of face to face connection, even though it is much easier to express feelings through email, text or Facebook...

I am so honored to have the friends I do, and like I said, our connections only being made stronger on Facebook. It doesn't mean we are awkward when we see each other in real, the conversations still flow like water....Facebook has given me to courage to set coffee dates up with friends I have not seen in years! Chat with friends from way back when! It has almost made those run in's at the grocery store easier, when you see someone you haven't seen in a very long time...

Sometimes, I am a huge contradiction...ok, a lot of the time I am a huge contradiction, I failed miserably on this one...but its ok...I can admit a mistake. Even that 24 hours put some things into perspective.

Plus, it really bothered me to know that I was the one that wasn't included in something that was happening!

K

pulling the plug

Last night, while reading my book, 10 Mindful Minutes by Goldie Hawn, I decided to make a mindful decision and cancel my Facebook account...lately I have felt completely consumed, my own fault, yes, but I obviously have no control over myself when it comes to checking posts, looking at pictures, and updating my status. It has become a part of my morning routine...I get up, make my coffee, make breakfast for the kids, sit down and log in to Facebook...its terrible, along with the numerous times throughout the day I sign in to see what's new, and what's happening. I love the information that I get off of it, its a powerful source, but I just feel consumed....for me, its embarrassing to see how much it has become such a part of my life. I need to take the time I spend online interacting with my kids...I want them to know how important it is to communicate, something I still am learning about....

"Mindfulness is a state of active, open attention on the present. When you're mindful, you observe your thoughts and feelings from a distance, without judging them good or bad. Instead of letting your life pass you by, mindfulness means living in the moment and awakening to experience."

Today will be the last day of my active account, it has been a pleasure being a part of all your virtual lives. This doesn't mean I can't be reached. Give me a call, 604-209-7776, send me an email, kristenvalente@shaw.ca or lovelylittles@shaw.ca.....I will continue to do my blog, so check me out :-)

I am pulling the plug, its been a slice.

xoxo

K

Pulled Chicken Tacos

This has to have been the easiest recipe ever! The hard part was all the goodies to put on them! I must say that I prefer a soft taco over a hard one, they seem more authentic, does that make sense? And I do prefer flour tortillas over corn ones....the corn ones seem too dry...but that is just my preference.

This is another slow cooker recipe, and takes about 6 hours, the recipe calls for 6 pieces of chicken, I used 3, and cooked it for 4 hours, but if you use all 6 breasts, cook for the full 6 hours.

Pulled Chicken Tacos

6 chicken breasts

1 pkg taco seasoning

1 jar of salsa (16 oz)

Put chicken in slow cooker, add taco seasoning and salsa, toss together, cook for 6 hours. When the time is up, use a fork and pull all the chicken apart. I used 3 chicken breasts, but still the same amount of seasoning and salsa, it was just a bit juicier, 6 breasts is a lot of chicken! I would make sure you had company for dinner!

I used the small flour tortillas, but you can use the yellow or white corn ones. I also topped them with fresh guacamole, sour cream, cheese tomatoes and a bit of tangy coleslaw.

Tangy Coleslaw

1/2 cup vegetable oil

3 tbsp white vinegar

2 tbsp white sugar

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

2-3 chopped green onions

1 green cabbage thinly sliced and chopped

(cut the recipe in half if only using half the cabbage)

Whisk all the ingredients together, and add to cabbage and green onions

This is definitely staying in my recipe book! They were delicious! And they were even better paired with a cold beer!

K

Rainy Day Potato Soup

This morning, while being drenched by the rain, I got excited for tonight's dinner...it was going to be cozy, and quick, soccer night, its always a rush...soup seemed like the right answer...the kids can catch swimming goldfish crackers in it...always a hit!

I found this recipe on Pinterest, from a website called The Tidy Nest. Its called slow cooker potato soup, but it also gives the option of stovetop...tonight, I did the stovetop, it didn't take long at all.

I served it with some nice grainy bread, smeared with butter, and cut into hearts and stars for the kids, after every dip, all I heard was Anabelle saying "mmmmm...mm"

Potato Soup

6 cups cubed peeled potatoes

3 cans chicken broth

2 cups chopped onion

1 cup chopped celery

1 cup thinly sliced carrots

1/4 cup of butter

2 tsp salt

1 tsp cracked pepper

1 12 oz can of evaporated milk

3 tsp dried parsley (I omitted this, Noah doesn't do well with green things in his food)

Melt the butter in a large pot on medium heat, add the chopped onion, celery, carrot and potatoes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook until onion is soft. Add the broth, bring to a boil. Simmer until vegetables are tender, 20-30 minutes. Add evaporated milk, simmer for another 10 minutes or so, until heated through. Garnish with parsley if you are using it.

Inexpensive, tasty, and takes care of a few food groups, if served with a whole grain bread, and apple or pear slices!

Enjoy!

K

first attempt at dinner with a slow cooker...

Last night was my first attempt at dinner using a slow cooker. I threw it together before I went to work, put the rice on before I left for my appointment later in the afternoon, and voila, just like that it was all hot and ready! I knew it would be simple, I just always brushed the idea of a slow cooker off to the side...why did I need another huge appliance to take up counter space!? I realized that the Krups rice cooker that I got as a wedding gift, was also a steamer and a slow cooker!! SO I already had a home for it in the cupboard! It's not a huge capacity, but big enough for my family.

My girlfriend sent me a recipe she had tried. It was delicious!! I knew my husband would appreciate not having to make dinner, instead just open the lid and serve! This sounds good especially for the nights the kids have swimming, or soccer!

If you have a slow cooker, this is a must try...or, there is a good Hamilton Beach one on sale at Canadian Tire starting today for $29.99, regularly $59.99....

TEX MEX CHICKEN

1 lb chicken breasts cut into strips

2 tbsp taco seasoning mix

2 tbsp flour

1 red pepper cut into strips

1 yellow pepper cut into strips

1 cup of frozen corn (I used one can of niblets)

1 1/2 cups chunky salsa

1 cup shredded cheese

Coat your strips of chicken in the combined taco seasoning and flour, put in slow cooker. Stir in all the other ingredients except the cheese. Close the lid, set slow cooker for 6 hours. Get on with your day....serve over rice when ready (this you have to cook separately), and sprinkle with cheese.

Sorry, no pic, it got eaten up.....but take my word, DELISH!

K

Happy 1st Birthday Everett!!

Happy 1st Birthday to my nephew Everett!! I can't believe a year has flown by!! What a story you will have to tell your buddies about being born at home! I wish you were here so we could hug and kiss you, and celebrate with you on mastering your first year of life!

I remember feeling so sad and happy as a received all the messages from your Auntie Megan, updating me on the progress. She was there through it all, I would be flying out the day after, I was disappointed to miss your birth, but was excited to spend all my days watching your sweet face, and being witness to your first days in this crazy world!

Enjoy your day today, and your party with all your friends! I hope your mom lets you eat some cake, dig right in!! Enjoy having your Nana and Papa there, we all love you so much!!! Sending you lots of love, hugs and kisses all the way from Vancouver

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EVERETT!!!

xoxoxoxoxo

Auntie Kristen, Uncle Alfredo, Noah and Anabelle

What was I so nervous about!?

Today I went about my day, like any other...however there was something hanging over my head..I knew that at 7:55 tonight I had my first Zumba class.....I was truly nervous, I even thought about not even going..I don't know why I let these things consume me, why can't I be like a kid, who just lets go, has a good time, laughs all the way through...

I survived! It was a blast! The music was great, I messed up, I laughed, nervously, I checked out how the others were doing, they were messing up too..we all kept going, this certainly was not an audition. The whole time I kept thinking "man, I could never be a dancer!!" As good as I think my body can move in my mind, is certainly not how it goes in real life! I think I have rhythm, um, not so much....

I think what I liked best was that our instructor was not skin and bones, she wasn't overly fit, she was shapely, her body looked amazing when it moved to the music! Her boobs bounced like mine, and her bum shook, like mine! She looked so beautiful, and sexy.

I signed Noah up for Zumbatomic, its a Zumba class aimed at ages 4-7 (which I was informed they will cancel if they don't get 7 people registered) so sign your kids up!! Go to WebReg with the City of Burnaby, the class number is 268197. I think Noah will have a BLAST!!

I always come home feeling so great after a class, like I want to sign up for all these others. I am glad that this class was a workout, it got my heart pumping, my body sweating. I will tell you that I am looking forward to next week!!

K