Monday Mealtime Motivation: Easy-Peasy Chicken Spinach Stew

If you're anything like me then you are always looking for a really good, simple meal to add into your line-up of usual meals. This is one of my favorites! And sometimes all we need in life is a little extra motivation... either to step out of our comfort zone or to be convinced we can make a simple meal at home instead of picking up something from the drive-thru. So here is a little Monday Mealtime Motivation for you! I hope you enjoy this stew as much as I do!

Easy-Peasy Chicken Spinach Stew

Meat

• 12 oz. Beef Smoked Sausage 
• Cooked shredded chicken (either taken from a store bought rotessiere chicken OR a portion I've made ahead in the crock pot & grabbed from the freezer. I can totally share that recipe another Monday if anybody is interested!)

Produce

• 1 (10 oz.) bag of baby spinach 
• 1 tsp. minced garlic
• 1 large onion
• 2 large sweet potatoes

Canned Goods

• 1 box of chicken broth
• 2 cans of petite diced tomatoes

Baking & Spices

• salt, pepper, and whatever seasoning you like, to taste 

Instructions:

1. Grab your sweet potatoes and onion -- peel, cut, chop, dice them to your preference.  For the potatoes I usually do somewhere between a quarter or a dice when I chop them and I cut the onion into julienne strips... really just up to your preference.

2. Place the sweet potatoes, onions, garlic, and whatever seasoning you'd like in a 4-to 6-quart slow cooker. (Note on seasoning: I use what I have on hand. In the past some of the seasoning blends I've used and liked is either the 21 Seasoning Salute from Trader Joes, McCormick's Montreal Chicken blend, or Herbs de Provence. Use what you have and like!)

3. Cut the sausage to your preference. (This time I'm using Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage.)
4.Add the chicken and sausage over produce; toss in tomatoes and broth.

5. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours.

6. Stir in spinach and let it sit a few minutes before serving. You don't have to use every bit of the 10 oz. of spinach... again just put in as much or as little as you prefer.

This is just what I use and how I make it. You can adapt it as you need or as you'd like. For example, if you'd like to adapt this to a stovetop recipe - you could easily do that! If you'd like to add different ingredients or take any away - you go Glen Coco! (Mean Girls reference for anyone wondering what the hell I'm talking about.)

We love Aidells sausage and have used several different kinds of their chicken sausage in place of the beef smoked sausage before. I've added canned green beans (drained and rinsed) many times in the past, too. I almost never make recipes the same twice. Mostly because I'm the type of person who eyeballs everything and just make things up as I go along.

 Here are photos of some of the things I referenced in this post and what they look like just for frame of reference:

Let me know if you make it and how you liked it or modified it!! This concludes our first Monday Mealtime Motivation... thanks for visiting! 

If you have any tried-and-true favorite recipes to submit or would be interested in guest blogging or sponsoring in the future shoot me an e-mail at aduggan520@gmail.com

Baby 3.0: 37 Weeks & Nesting

37 weeks pregnant & 3 weeks to go until my due date!

I'm feeling: I've been feeling pretty great lately - all things considered, that is. I don't have a whole ton of energy these days but the modified schedule we have works great. I can tell my nesting has kicked into overdrive... I've been stocking the shelves of our pantry with multiples of everything we use the most, making meals for the freezer, and we currently have plenty of leftovers in the fridge. I made some bread tonight and just have felt the need to cook a whole bunch! Today it was potato soup and Swedish meatballs and egg noodles! I've been tiding up little corners of our house one by one and it just feels really great. 

Part of me feels super ready to just get the ball rolling - to go into labor and to have Crosby. But then of course there is a more rational part of me that realizes I don't have all my ducks in a row yet so maybe right this second wouldn't be the best time to begin labor. Saturday was the day that I hit the official 37 week mark and I celebrated by making labor inducing cookies and eating eggplant parmesan - which is also supposed to kickstart labor. But here we are, Sunday night, and nothing is different. I'm not sad about that either. He'll come when he's ready!

Cookie time!

Next up - eggplant parmesan!

Got home and realized I had flour all over my shirt from the cookie making!

Cravings: Last night it was eggplant parmesan (thank you, Olive Garden!) and today it was Swedish meatballs. Once I get it in my mind that I want a specific dish then we are definitely finding a way to make it happen. I'm very grateful for Tony's sweet encouragement along the way. Also, Taco Bell is still a thing that happens every so often around here. We'll see if this hangs around after Crosby comes.

Baby's size: This week Crosby is the size of a honeydew melon... about 6 pounds & 19 inches. He's considered "near term" at this point! Woo-hoo!!

{L to R} 37 weeks pregnant with Presley, Molly, & Crosby

High of the week: This is totally gonna sound bad - but I am a little bit happy that I got to keep Presley home all week! She's been real sick from this cold she can't seem to kick - Tuesday morning she woke up with ZERO voice and then on Thursday her cough/congestion was still way too awful to send her. I do wish she had been well enough to go to school and hate that she's been missing out on things there but I did enjoy the extra time with her. 

I'm also SO HAPPY that the NFL games are BACK!!!!! The Cowboys looked awesome today and were SO close to a win. I just love watching all the games again! And how awesome was Larry Fitzgerald and the Arizona Cardinals tonight?! 

Low of the week: This week was a rocky one. I made scrambled eggs for the girls one day and made a bowl for myself plus a little bit of salsa... I sat down to eat them and immediately knocked them on the floor. The following day Molly spilled my coffee all over the living room while I was in the bathroom. 

Salsa eggs... on the floor...

Both girls have been sick (common cold) for a week now and it has REALLY put a damper on their moods and on Molly's behavior especially. SO, this week has been a hard one. Tony's first day back to work after the 3 day weekend was Tuesday and I'd have to say that was the worst day of the week. I've lost my temper WAY too much - more than normal - and it's 90% of the time directed towards Molly. We're both such hot heads! And dealing with a two-year-old hot head is not easy. I'm trying all different ways of dealing with it to see what works. It could also be teething and being on the cusp of a huge life change that is making it so hard for us right now!

What I'm looking forward to: My doctor's appointment on Wednesday!!! I love going every week now. My doctor had a crazy day last week which included him being gone to perform emergency surgery on another patient - so I'm looking forward to a more normal visit this week. And hopefully he'll check my cervix to see if things have progressed at all! I'm ready for Presley to get back in the swing of things for school this week, too! Looking forward to Tony's weekend off and some more family time... winding down our time as a family of FOUR!

Cream-of-Whatever Substitute

So I mentioned the other day that I refuse to buy cream-of-whatever soups anymore. For one, the consistency (including color) just grosses me out. Why does it look like that? Plus, why would I buy the soup when I could easily make a substitute myself for super cheap and easy?

Good observation by Dave Ramsey

Something I like about this recipe is every ingredient is something most folks have on hand at all times. Which makes the cost of the recipe low low low.

Cream of Chicken Substitute (yields one can cream of chicken)

Ingredients:

• 1 Tablespoon flour
• 3 Tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 cup milk
• Salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Melt butter in saucepan over medium-high heat.
2. Whisk in flour until smooth & bubbly.
3. Remove from heat & add broth/milk.
4. Return to heat & gentle boil - whisking constantly until soup thickens.

One of my favorite ever side dishes is green bean casserole and when I made the casserole with this substitute instead of the canned soup it tasted SO amazing! I use it all the time and at first it seemed to add so much time to every recipe but it's not bad at all. And like I said before, it is definitely worth it.

And when you've got to wrangle kids, carts, and groceries while shopping one less thing to have to bring home makes a difference.

I swear this isn't becoming a cooking blog but it seems like that's the only thing I've felt motivated to share lately and I'm clutching onto it like crazy and hoping to use it on a bridge back to writing and sharing! Now you: What are your favorite substitutions to make in the kitchen? Have any good recipes to share? I'd love to hear from those of you reading this on what you think!

Not-From-Scratch Chicken Pot Pie

In our house, I am the chef. (And 9 times out of 10 it's just so I can retreat to the kitchen while Tony plays with the kids. #mommyconfession) I really do love to cook! I'm not always GREAT at it... mostly because I like to stray from directions - which is why I'm an awful baker. And of course I'm just still learning in general. Last night we had chicken pot pie and it was the first time I've ever made it. It was a huge hit!!!

Ingredients:

• Refrigerated Pie Crusts - they come in a 2 pack at our Kroger & are right next to all the canned biscuits
• Chicken - I used right around a pound
• Veggies - I never measure... so somewhere around 2 cups of vegetables should be appropriate
• One can Cream-of-Whatever Soup - your preference
• 1 cup of milk
• 1/4 teaspoon of Herbs de Provence
• Salt & Pepper to taste

For last night's dinner I used some canned corn, canned green beans, and broccoli for the vegetable portion and instead of using a can of cream of whatever, I used a homemade substitute recipe that is not difficult but just an extra step and definitely worth it.

And here is a photo of the pie crusts if you are like me and it is your first time using (and finding) these just so you know what you're looking for while shopping!

Directions:

1. If your pie crust is similar to mine, you'll need to take the rolls of dough out of the fridge and keep them at room temperature for 15 minutes before getting started.
2. While you're waiting on the dough, you can cook your chicken. I threw mine in the oven. Some people use shredded rotisserie chicken (which is SO tasty). 
3. Now that your pie crusts are ready, you'll fit one pie crust into a 9 inch pie pan. Combine your chicken, veggies, soup, milk, and seasoning in bowl and then pour on top of the pie crust. I added some cheese, too. Fit the second crust on top and crimp the edges together and cut several slits into the top of the pie. Bake at 400 degrees for 45 minutes. Halfway through cover the edges of the pie with foil if they're getting too brown.

The thing I like about chicken pot pie is you can really make it however you want! If you have frozen vegetables - you can use those without having to thaw them or precook them. If you have leftover meats or veggies, this is a great recipe to use those. It'll be delicious no matter what you throw in there!

I'm going to start meal planning at home and have been thinking about also posting at the beginning of every week what our dinner plans are - including recipes and the accompanying grocery list. Let me know if that's something you have interest in OR if you have any favorite recipes you'd like to share. I'd also love to hear how the chicken pot pie worked out for you and what you did differently!

Five on Friday.

Baker.
Proud owner of a breadmaker.  Now that I have one, I'm a little intimidated to get started.  I think I'll just have to find a simple recipe and start from there.  If you have any favorite bread recipes that are tried and true - make sure to share it!

Book Hangover.
When will I learn?!  I swear, this is the 3rd or 4th time I've read through the Hunger Games books and I am just an emotional mess.  I'm not ready to let go of those characters or the story and I think the worst of it is the ending of the series.  It just feels so unfinished.  Like I am waiting to hear the rest or have a better explanation of how the characters got from point A to point B.  I have been wanting to read the Divergent series ever since getting them for Christmas - but now I don't want to start it because I feel like I will resent the book and characters for not being the Hunger Games.  I almost just want to reread all the Twilight books because I had such a strong connection to that story/characters.  Or maybe the answer is reading a regular, stand-alone book before reading another series and getting so attached.  Maybe I should do that.  Anyways, I definitely didn't foresee finishing the books another time around having this much of an impact on me.  Again.  Only 210 more days until the first Mockingjay movie hits theaters!

Bad, iPhone!
Back up your iPhone before agreeing to any updates!  I made the mistake of not doing so and lost some of my photos, videos, and had to re-download all my apps, etc because it went into restore mode or something.  Also, take a screen shot of your home screen before updating, too.  Mine feels so disjointed because I'm getting used to where everything is now that I can't remember exactly how everything was situated before.  I know... not a very substantial problem to complain about - all I'm saying it be prepared in case it happens to you.

Barbacoa.
I made a Chipotle-inspiried dinner at home last night and it was a huge success!!!  Let me start by saying I got a big top round roast marked down from Target and I honestly had no idea what I was going to do with it.  First instinct in finding a recipe proved to be a good one (aka Pinterest) and I found this instantly drool-worthy recipe for the meat.  Thanks to this fantastic blog I also found a recipe for a Cilantro-Corn Salsa and also Cilantro-Lime Rice (both similar to what Chipotle offers).  It was super delicious!!!  I'm excited to heat up leftovers and see how they taste the second time around.  It all turned out something like this.  Amazing!

Bathetic.
I love our life - but I miss having more moments like this.

Granted, it's not everyday that you get to celebrate some of your best friends getting married, but I just look back to so many of our adventures pre-kids and wonder if our life will ever resemble that again... even slightly.  I think it would be easier if we lived near our friends with kids (my sisters, my cousin, friends back in Illinois with kids/nieces or nephews...), because then we would have common interests that would draw the families together more often... but I tell you, it gets lonely being a stay-at-home mom.  It's a great life, but I wish there were more opportunities to share with others.  Not to mention, I have a hard time branching out.  But I suppose that is necessary when moving.  I know I've said it so much lately... but I am really kicking myself for all the moments I took for granted living so close to the family and friends in the Quad Cities.  I haven't missed our old rental home or the weather since we moved - but I have severely missed living in Moline, being 5-10 minutes from anywhere I needed to go, living 4 miles away from the nearest relative, our old routines and the places we frequented, and just the community there in general.  It really was home.  I always felt stuck living in the Midwest (mostly because it was frigid half of the year) and knew I'd like to get back to Tennessee, so I feel somewhat ludicrous for having this reaction.  But it turns out, I am having a hard time letting go.

Happies & Crappies.

Today is so not my day.  The beginning of today was so not my day.  Thankfully, it all turned around and ended on a sweet note.

CRAPPIES:

•  Drove over an hour round trip to Memphis Lights Gas & Water downtown to pick up some paperwork that MLGW sent to our new home but never ended up making it to us somehow... they told me I had to visit their office as they couldn't send it back out (awesome).  Of course it is in the 30s-40s today and VERY windy + Presley has a cold and a very runny nose.  Great combo!  The trip ended up being a WASTE of time (don't even want to get into that fact).
• To top of the morning's trip - while Presley and I were crossing the street, we hit the trolley tracks just right wrong and the stroller flipped over to where Presley landed face down on the pavement and I landed belly first right into the handlebars.  iPod, iPhone, and keys go flying everywhere... all in the middle of the street!!!!  AHHH!  I just wanted to give up.  Poor Presley was SO upset because I'm sure that did not feel good.  I gave Presley the option of getting back in the stroller or walking the rest of the way and needless to say the stroller became obsolete after that accident.
  

  

  This is pretty much EXACTLY where we bit the dust in the road.

• Once we were home, Presley somehow rolled off the couch while she was laying there.  This girl cannot catch a break today!
• I'm not sure what caused it to be exact, but now that Presley is in her room for a nap, I have got a splitting headache.
• Seems like no matter when we try to plan a trip to visit Amanda, John, Anne Marie, Sammy & new baby Matthew - something comes up and makes it a little more difficult to execute. 
• Just been missing my QC friends a whole heck of a lot lately.  It sucks that so many of them were just becoming mommies as I was leaving and now not only am I missing out on their sweet friendship but also missing out on the mommy/kiddo moments we could have had.  I know life goes on and our friendships will, too, but it's just been bumming me the heck out lately.
• I've had Disney on the brain lately and just constantly find myself dreaming of going back on my honeymoon with Tony again.  I know that we would probably be homesick the moment we got there for our Presley girl and wish she were with us... but a toddler at WDW sounds like less of a vacation to me then if it were just the two of us.  Not to mention, financially, that kinda trip just won't be happening anytime soon!  But for some reason I just can't tell my brain to drop it!!! 
  
  
  

HAPPIES:

• Tony & I got to go on our first date in a long long time and it was so nice!  My mother-in-law came over to spend the night on Saturday and watched Presley while Tony & I went out to dinner at Chipotle!  We just watched the Chipotle special on Netflix and it really made us want to go there.  And it was DELICIOUS.  Seriously awesome, fresh, good food!
• When we wiped out in the middle of the road downtown, this nice guy ran over to us from way down the street to make sure we were okay.  He told me I was doing a really good job taking care of my baby and that she was a tough little girl.  He offered her a cough drop - which was sooo nice but I had to decline because sometimes the crazy people ARE the nice ones!  Even with the minor creepy factor, it was really touching that he would come all that way to check on us.
• My OB/GYN office called me today to give me the information for our referral to the maternal fetal medicine doctor for Molly's kidneys.  My appointment is about two weeks away and thankfully on a Monday so hopefully Tony will be able to take off that day and go with me.
• Speaking of kidneys... I get frequent e-mails from WebMD on various topics and yesterday I randomly got an e-mail on the function of kidneys!  I thought that was a nice little refresher and a funny coincidence.
  
• Thankfully, Matthew's baptism is coming up in a few weeks.  So, even if we can't coordinate a trip, we will definitely be meeting him then.  (Which hopefully we can just do both - go visit them and then see them again on baptism weekend!)  That weekend should definitely be a good one - a bunch of family in town PLUS we're having our housewarming party the day before his baptism!  Can't wait!!!
• I took a short, glorious nap while Presley napped.  Didn't plan on it, but definitely must have needed it. 
• For the second day in a row, I was able to run errands sans Presley after Tony got home from work.  He's such a good man/husband/daddy/lover! :)
• Since the weather turned cold today (and tonight), Tony had the great idea to use our fireplace for the first time!  HEAVENLY.  And he suggested chicken tortilla soup for dinner - another huge hit.  (I used the recipe above plus lime juice, salsa in place of rotel, black beans, cumin, chili powder, minced garlic... and topped it with shredded cheese, avocado, & tortilla strips! YUM.)  Ended the evening with some of our leftover peach cobbler.  YUM!

Five on Friday!

 *One*
Finally at my first prenatal appointment since the beginning of December and it was a pretty equal balance of horrible and awesome.  I come from a very busy, efficient OBGYN practice and never waited an unrealistic amount of time for an appointment.  The new place seems extremely busy and unfortunately I waited over an hour before seeing my doctor.  (From start to finish we were there just over 3 hours.)  To me, that is crazy talk.  And what made it seriously awful was that Presley was with me.  Another awful part?  I went in expecting a quick check up (because that's what I was told it would be) and it turned into a seriously drawn out appointment with an ultrasound, blood draw, pee-in-a-cup... those kind of things.  Granted, I was in need of all those things, BUT I purposely made sure beforehand to find out what to expect so I would know whether or not I needed to find someone to watch Presley girl.  I don't like subjecting her to these things unless I absolutely have to.  (Waiting around and being told "No!" all morning long is not fun for a 2 year old or her mom.)  Another not-so-fun part was being talked to like I was an irresponsible parent who neglected to come in from December until now for prenatal care.  I tried my best to explain that it was an unfortunate delay that I didn't want because of waiting for healthcare coverage PLUS not being able to be seen until now by this practice.  The doctor and ultrasonographer still treated me like I was an idiot.  Oh well.

An awesome part of the appointment today?  I ran into a really great friend I haven't seen since highschool at the tail end of my appointment today!  She seriously walked up at the perfect time - Presley was absolutely getting bent out of shape and I was literally JUST about to have my blood drawn.  Not only did Presley settle down, but I had someone to talk to and didn't have to think about the needle/blood/etc.  And she is one of those people you run into and leave feeling lighter and better than before - seriously just perfect to see her today.

Another awesome part is that all of these procedures/tests were done and I feel a HUGE weight lifted from my shoulders as a result.  Though I didn't appreciate the way I was talked to by the personnel, I can already tell that they take their jobs seriously and were very thorough with their duties and that they took my specific pregnancy with utmost care and seriousness.  That was VERY much appreciated as well. 

 *Two*
It became apparent that my new doctor took my care seriously when I received a phone call from the office two hours after I left - which I thought was odd.  Turns out, the doctor reviewed the ultrasound scans and found that it showed a mild dilation of Molly's right and left kidney.  The nurse let me know that they were putting in a referral to a maternal-fetal medicine specialist and that they would be in touch with me once they scheduled an appointment to do further research on her kidneys.

From the preliminary research Tony & I have both done so far - it seems like it's nothing to worry about, especially not at this point when we still don't have anything to go on for sure.  Like I said before, I really do appreciate the diligence of the staff at my new OBGYN office and feel cared for already and for that I am very thankful!   

 *Three*
 If you haven't tried Chicken Enchilada Pasta, seriously... give it a shot.  This is a staple in our household and my husband crave it all the time!  Every single time I make it, I swear it tastes a little different that before.  It's a super easy recipe and you can personalize it as you want (we add corn to ours plus fresh tomatoes... YUM) and the flavor is just amazing.  I made it last night and I already want to make it again tonight!

 *Four*
We are planning on taking Presley to see the Easter Bunny this weekend!  She is currently in stranger danger mode... so I fear I may do some emotional damage... but I am hoping for the best.  Plus, a free 4x6 photo from Bass Pro Shop with the bunny?  How can you turn that down?

 *Five*
Presley's sleep has been off the wall lately.  She has started to throw what I call micro-fits before bed or nap time and has gone from a kid who falls asleep right away to a kiddo who sits in her crib and plays/jumps/talks for at least an hour before tuckering out.  It's been a little exhausting, only because I don't know how to amend the situation, but for the most part it seems to get a little better everyday.  Or maybe I'm just becoming a little more immune to it everyday.  I take solace in knowing I am not the only parent who deals with sleep problems from their kids and the stress that comes along with that.

To balance it out - three things Presley LOVES doing lately is taking a bath in our huge bathtub, running like a wild woman throughout our bathroom (is it weird that our bathroom is carpeted?), and taking selfies.

Linking up for Five on Friday with Carolina Charm and the gang.

Currently {link up} x10!

This weeks prompts are {craving, waiting, remembering, liking, cooking}

Well, this past week I have found myself CRAVING some authentic Mexican food!  (Specifically Los Agaves for you Quad City locals.)  Since our income has been downsized we haven't been out to eat - with the exception of our Chick-fil-A spicy night special once every few weeks - and I have been dreaming of delicious tacos, salsa, bean dip, and chips.  Yes... I can make ALL of those things from the comfort of my own home and TRUST ME... I have!!!  But, as my bestie Betsy and I just recently talked about - it's just not the same as the real deal.  And I need to stop talking about these damn tacos before I lose it!  I just ate dinner and I'm starving for tacos already!!

I am patiently waiting for December!  As much as I LOVE November.... I cannot wait for the Christmas season to begin!  I'm excited for Christmas cards and decking the halls and my favorite Christmas albums!  I am looking forward to Presley visiting Santa Claus this year and hoping it goes better than last year!

Definitely remembering how much Presley detested being on Santa's lap last year so we're thinking of taking a family picture with Santa instead this year.  I would hate to scar Presley for life when it comes to Santa Claus so as much as I would love an adorable picture of just Presley and Santa... I think we will pass on that this year UNLESS she seems ultra comfortable with him beforehand.

I am really liking loving my giant Tervis and my new reusable Tervis straws from Bed Bath & Beyond!  I take it everywhere with me and it is always full of water.  It's also very important to me to cut down on waste and I think having a reusable cup that you really like and that will stand up to the test of time will help you stop buying bottles of water!!!

Tonight I cooked up some steak, eggs, and biscuits and it was just alright... I'm not a huge fan of that meal but my husband likes it!  Earlier in the week we made the ALWAYS delicious chicken enchilada pasta (yum! yum! yum!), shepherd's pie, and potato soup.  Those are three of my favorite recipes and they are staples in this house so feel free to add them to your rotation if they aren't there already!  Come back and let me know how you like them, too.

You can link up with Harvesting Kale with your "Currently" posts... the more the merrier!

6 Word Saturday {link-up}

just us three: teething, tired & tasty

My hubby made these for us to snack on today - recipe

Why do we even bother taking the stroller into the mall these days?

Happies & Crappies! {link-up}

Totally have been forgetting about this fun link-up!  Well, it's officially summer and the days have definitely been blurring together just like they do every year around this time... so hopefully I can keep things straight!  So, without keeping you in suspense, here are this weeks high & low moments...

•  The biggest happy of the week is definitely having my big sister & niece in town!  Yes, they just got in town today, but I'm obviously already enjoying them being here.
• The weather!  Goodness gracious, I think we had the most perfect weather today.  The sun was out yet it never felt as if it were beating down on us.  It was warm enough outside to wear a tank top but there was a beautiful breeze all day.  
• Having more CLEAN laundry throughout the house than dirty.
• PROP8 being overturned in California.  One love, baby!  A childhood friend of mine said it best:
  

  "Let's get a few things straight... 1. We as CHRISTIANS are called to love one another. PERIOD. It doesn't say love your neighbor unless their gay, black, purple, ugly, etc! It says LOVE your neighbor as yourself. 2. We are called to love everyone not hate. Do you think acting like an ignorant, pompous jerk is going to win anyone to Christ?! NO! If Jesus would have acted like some of you, there is no way He would have had people come to Him. 3. AND ANOTHER THING, you CAN be a CHRISTIAN and be GAY! Believe it or not! The Bible tells us no sin is greater than another, so for people to say you can't be a Christian and be gay is just stupid, out of context and just plain ignorant. I know this will probably piss a lot of you off, but let's be honest, Should it? You don't have to agree with marriage equality. I'm not telling you to. But don't think for one second God doesn't love them less than any of you other sinners (myself included) Praise Jesus for His continuing grace and mercy on us daily. That is all. Have a great day!"

• Finding this song by the Civil Wars:
  
  Just amazing.  Their talent absolutely knocks my socks off.
• Speaking of talent... Tony & I have been watching "Marley" over the past few nights and let me just tell you... AMAZING documentary on that fabulous and talented Bob Marley's life.  If I wasn't a fan before watching, I sure as hell am one now.  Not only are his accomplishments grand but he overcame so much to get where he got.  Beyond that, though, his voice is so pure and so remarkable.  I consider it a complete tragedy to lose such a star so young!  Like I told my husband, it would have been such a joy to hear his voice age over time.
• Southwestern Sweet Potato Salad - YES.  It is even better than it looks and sounds.
• My husband remembering to take the extra car seat out of his car this morning before work so that we had it for my niece this afternoon!  Yes, sounds like such a little thing, right?  But to me, following through with even the littlest tasks like that means so much to me!!! 

•  Missing my little sister!
• We weren't able to get in a bike ride at all this week!  I really miss those.  Hopefully that just means we will be able to make up for it and ride twice as much next week.
• The scary weather we had earlier this week.  No bueno.
•  Hearing of the absolutely awful and just downright disgusting man criminal who was caught on nanny-cam absolutely annihilating the unarmed mother in her own home.  When Tony told me about the story and that he was watching the video, my first response was, "Don't watch stuff like that!"  And I knew I wouldn't watch the beating that was caught on camera.  The more I heard about it, the more sick I felt about it but also the more I felt like I should try to watch it.  I just didn't want to feel like a coward, like I was ignoring it because I couldn't handle watching it when this mother handled so. much. worse.  It just makes me want to curl up in a ball and cry just thinking about what I just watched from that video.  Hearing she suffered a concussion, bruises, chipped teeth, and needed stitches... she took over 16 hits from this guy before being thrown down the stairs.  Having to stay silent during the beating as her 3-year-old daughter looked on so she could ensure her daughter's safety.  The whole terrible, awful situation just kills my spirit.  Absolutely leaves me feeling so saddened and desperate in our current world.  Not only that, but I just feel so unsafe.  Where can we live and take care of ourselves, our children, our families that we are protected from things of this nature?  And why do I have the overwhelming feeling like owning a handgun is NECESSARY at this point in my life when that is the very thing that took my dad's life?  Would he be here today if he had had one for protection?  I just feel very confused on so many things after hearing about this story.  I know that is was an absolutely senseless act and to try to make sense of it is futile, but I can't help it.  There is solace knowing that the accused man has BEEN ARRESTED and that this woman is alive and so are her children.  Even still, I just literally can't imagine going through it.  I wish I could wrap my arms around that mother and her children and tell them it will be okay... even though I'm not sure that it ever will.

I absolutely dislike ending this entry with something so awful.  So here is a video that moved me to tears in a wonderful, beautiful, encouraging way.  There ARE great people out there who do so much to just to bring joy to others.  I am going to do all I can to be one of these people to everyone as we all have so many crappies going on in our lives on a daily basis.  Here's one last happy:

Friday's Letters {Link Up}

If you believe I have gone a little crazy with linking up lately... you would be correct.  I totally get in ruts when it comes to blogging and while I don't feel like I have too many unique things to say, I find myself drawn to writing anyways.  Thus the amount of prompts recently!

Dear week, You absolutely flew by!  Unfortunately, this wasn't because of the old saying "time flies when you're having fun!" - it was more along the lines of sleeping this week away.  Presley has been taking long afternoon naps lately and for whatever reason, I have been napping when she does!  As much as I love the sleep at the moment (and I have such a lack of energy during the day from staying up so late), I really regret it afterward.  I have it in my brain that Presley sleeps longer when I'm sleeping too (I don't know how true this theory is...) but I am really crossing my fingers and praying for a more productive week ahead.   

Dear taxes, Get ready for me to absolutely HANDLE you this weekend.  That's right, I'm doing my our taxes for the first time since... 2008?  Our amazing (and amazingly inexpensive) tax guy retired and we were so lucky to have his assistance over the last few years.  So since we are tight on money anyways, the best option right now is for me to do it.  Here's hoping I do an excellent job!

Dear Tony, You really amaze me and continue to do so over and over again.  You have just been such a rock-solid partner; I really feel extremely undeserving.  More than anything, thank you for the little things... to me they are so meaningful. You are my biggest cheerleader and I love you for it.  Namely, thanks for believing you married a good cook.  I know it may sound silly, but it means so much to me.

Dear Presley, I cannot wait for Spring, Summer, and Fall!!!  Winter has lasted long enough TOO LONG.  Your daddy and I put together a "Nice Weather Bucket List" and we cannot wait to get started!  Most of all, I cannot wait to see you crawling (and possibly walking and running) in the grass this summer.  You were so little last year that I don't think you even touched grass to be honest with you.  It will be so awesome to watch your little mind at work as you experience so many new things this year.  I love you so much!  Also, please stop bumping your head on everything.  It makes mama so nervous and so sad to see you cry.

Dear fellow bloggers, You are really rocking lately.  There have been a plethora of great reads lately and I consider myself VERY lucky to have found such great people to connect with.  Here have been some of my favorite posts lately:  Catlin over at Catholic Cookie Jar (I know, I'm always talking about her blogs!) just wrote on "Getting Out of a Spiritual Slump" and it's as if some of my biggest concerns were answered for me - almost step by step.  If that isn't God at work, I don't know what is!  And His timing is really amazing.  Now, it's just about finding the courage and will to get out of this slump..!  Next is Allie at Table for MORE.  She wrote a post of some really thoughtful "Mommyisms" of hers - whether they are opinions, tips, advice, etc... she shared some really great thoughts on motherhood and what works for her.  I am absolutely considering implementing some of these!

Dear Nicholas Sparks, While I wouldn't say "True Believer" is at the top of my list of my favorites of your works... you DID surprise me!  What stared off as a very slow read, I ended up flying through it and thoroughly enjoyed the book overall.  Next up is the follow-up book "At First Sight" and guess what?  Just as slow of a start as the last. *sigh*  Hopefully I can stick with this one...

Dear readers, Will someone please tell me what all this hooplah is about the Google Reader issue?  I've tried to read about it and find that I don't understand what this means or who this effects.  Thanks in advance!  Though I still don't understand it (fully) - I am getting the idea that everyone is switching from Google Reader to Bloglovin... so if you'd like to keep up with our happenings here on Chasing Moonlight & Roses - please Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Dear Mexican chocolate cake, You better be worth all the dirty dishes... here is the recipe for the cake (I did not go with the mascarpone frosting - but this frosting recipe instead).

A few pictures from this week:

That's all for now - hope everyone enjoys their weekend!

Currently {link-up}

Wondering what we've been up to lately?  Well, you're in luck because it's time to tell you what we've currently been up to here in the Duggan household!

The prompts are {eating, drinking, listening, reading, thinking}

PRESLEY is currently:

Eating... spinach!  Okay, well not literally at this moment eating it... but lately, that is something she really seems to enjoy!

Drinking... water and breastmilk, only!  Some people might think that's boring for her - but she doesn't complain.  :) 

Reading... She's been loving this Snow White book I picked up on clearance (for 10 cents!) a few weeks ago.  She loves flipping it open and shut and looking at the pictures.  It's also one of the only books she'll sit still for these days.  Disney Princess in the making?

TONY is currently:

Eating... Leftovers!  I made a huge batch of Baked Ziti (I add spicy sausage to this recipe) so he's been taking that for lunch this week.  It is so delicious.

Drinking... Coffee - every morning - with peppermint mocha creamer!  Though, he just ran out and I've been contemplating making it to save some money... this is the recipe I am going to use, I'll let you know how it turns out.

Listening... Bruno Mars new album "Unorthodox Jukebox" much to my urging.  Seriously guys, if you like this kinda music, CHECK IT OUT.

Reading... ESPN magazine.  I got him a subscription for Christmas and so far it seems like it's been a gift he's liked. 

I am currently:

Eating...  the leftover Baked Ziti!  It's hard to resist.

Drinking... sweet tea - my absolute weakness!

Listening... the Grey's Anatomy Volume 4 Soundtrack.  Since the very beginning they've had such great music.  I can hardly believe season NINE is almost over.

Specifically LOVING "Worried About" by Lissie - check her out! She's from Rock Island, IL - also known as the "Quad Cities" which is the area we currently live.  It's pretty spectacular how amazing she is and the great things she's doing.

Reading... "True Believer" - it's a Nicholas Sparks book I've attempted to read over and over again over the past few years but I haven't made it passed the first 30-or-so pages.  I am determined to read it this time around but it starts off SO SLOW.  I'm reading this after his book "Safe Haven" which only took me a few days to read and I couldn't put it down!  Talk about night and day.  Do any of you guys read Nicholas Sparks books?

Thinking... of reading "The Vow" next.  I had no idea how happy reading again would make me!  So thankful Tony suggested it... no idea why I stopped in the first place.  I set the goal for a book a month and it's shaping up to be more like a book a week!  I really enjoy doing something solely for myself and to relax.



Congratulations if you made it to the bottom of this... I'm sure this wasn't the most enthralling post, but I sure enjoyed writing it.

That's all, folks!

Vote daily for "Chasing Moonlight & Roses" on TBB!

Dear this past week,

You rocked.  Thank you for rocking so hard.  Not only did you fly by, but you also treated me to Breaking Dawn part 2 with my bff last night.  In addition to that wonderful gem, all the new recipes I tried for dinners this week were a huge hit!  This included an extremely easy and delicious Baked Cheese Ravioli recipe that we just finished eating tonight.  Other awesome things this week included....

Presley adding "da-da" to her vocab! 
And Tony could not be happier... he was starting to take it personal!

Our weekly Ali, Presley, Megan, Alli, & Molly play date!
The twins will be ONE year old in about three weeks.  Where in the world has time gone?  They start going to day care around the same time!  Megan and I still talk about having our play dates and I hope we can turn that into a reality!

Could these girls be ANY sweeter?
L to R: Alli, Presley, Molly :)

Buy one get one free Starbucks holiday drinks!
(Mmm... peppermint mocha with half the pumps.)

Another awesome care package from my awesome mother-in-law!

The package she sent included these delicious dipping oils!
So excited to buy some french bread and go to town on these! ;)

Our Christmas cards from Cardstore.com!
And as bad as I want to post them on here... I am not going to spoil the surprise before I even send them out.  I highly, HIGHLY recommend using Cardstore.com - if you haven't done so already, check their website out!

Presley's first visit to see Santa Claus! 
She started crying as soon as Santa walked over to us.  So instead of resisting it, we just kinda went with it and picked out the picture that she looked most upset in.  Go big or go home!

Presley learning to wave for bye-bye!
(She learned waving for "hi" a few weeks back.)  Here she is waving in our birthday (which was Wednesday) video for my sister's fiance, Jonathan!



A visit to the doctor for Presley's 9 month check-up and shots!
She weighed in at 16 pounds 13.5 ounces and was 27 inches tall!  Her head (75%) and height (between the 50-75%) have followed the same curve as always but her weight has started to drop off her curve (25%).  We will go back in a month to weigh her to make sure everything is okay.



We found a stray dog
...and then less than 24 hours later we found her owners with large thanks to social media!  Facebook is so very powerful and useful at connecting folks.

Her name is "Wrigley"

Had one of the best days ever with Presley today.
I don't know what it was about today - if it was Presley's mood or mine or a combination - but I smiled and laughed and enjoyed myself so very much and look forward to so many days like today.




And last weekend, it was my birthday!  I am officially a quarter of a century old and I love where I am at in life.  I don't feel panicky about my age or negative about it at all - especially considering friends and classmates of mine that didn't make it to see these birthdays.  So everybody try your best to remember... birthdays and aging is nothing to complain or be bitter about!  On that note, I hope everybody can take a few moments and reflect on the awesome things that you encountered throughout the week... I will leave you with a few pictures from my birthday celebration at my favorite restaurant - RED ROBIN!

Never a dull day!

So, the other day, I was having one of those "I need to eat healthier" moments... in particularly when it comes to snacks around the house.  I just feel like I've been eating more Halloween candy and chips more than anything else.  To make myself feel better, I searched for healthy pregnancy snacks and went shopping to fill the pantry with more than just junk food.  At the top of my list was this delicious recipe:


No-Bake Almond-Butter Granola Balls Recipe

• 1/3 c. honey
• 1/3 c. almond butter
• 1 c. rolled oats
• 1 c. rice cereal
• 1/2 c. raisins 

 Forgot the honey in this picture!

In a small saucepan, combine the honey & almond butter.  Cook over low heat until smooth.  Combine the other ingredients in a large mixing bowl.  Pour the warm mixture over dry ingredients & stir.  Let it cool for 5 minutes then roll into bite size balls.

Well, let me just tell you, this recipe did not allow me to roll into bite size balls - so I decided to forgo those directions and put the mixture in a few small Tupperware bowls to take to work throughout the week.  And it really is easy and delicious!  Tony is taking some to work in the morning, so I really hope he likes it, too. 

We got holiday pictures taken this week and that went insanely well!  Portrait Innovations is the place we've gone for the past two years because of their $14.95 great deal.  Plus, we had a coupon, so the package was only $9.95 (get the coupon here!) and you get a ton of pictures.  The picture this year looked more like a maternity picture than it looked like a Christmas picture, but we're just so dang excited about little Miss Presley being on the way and so was the photographer.  Sooner or later I'll scan a copy of the picture onto here to show you... even though I'm sure that's all kinds of illegal.

That's about it for this entry, but before I go, I will share with you another picture of the ever-growing belly

24 weeks, already!

It's definitely getting there!  One of my co-workers loves to point out how big "I'M" getting (rather than my stomach), especially compared to another co-worker of ours who was the cutest and tiniest pregnant lady ever.  Although I know she means nothing by it - sometimes it gets to me.  I've also gotten the comment, "You sure it's not twins?" and stuff like that recently.  (No... it's not twins, but it COULD be the three ice cream sandwiches I ate earlier!)  Again, people don't realize how those kinda things can be hurtful, so I just need to let it roll off my shoulder and remember that my husband loves my tummy and that I am carrying a beautiful little girl in there!  I've really got to start thinking of witty comments to make back after rude comments... so if you have any good ideas, you just let me know!

Other than that, things are going well and I'm a happy girl.  So until next time, remember to be considerate of others and that your words are powerful!  Goodnight :)