Italian Creamy Cheese Chicken

A quick crockpot meal. Just combine and heat on low for four hours.

2 chicken breasts
2 cans cream of chicken
1 packet of dry Italian seasoning
8 oz of cream cheese
Water to correct consistency

Serve over rice.

Uplifting music

There are days when my life as a SAHM is hard. There are days I am not sure I am going to make it until my husband gets home and I can tap out of being on call constantly. Some are gospel themed, some are not. They all bring a smile to my face and help zap me out of my funk for a couple of minutes and give me the power to keep going.

These songs help:

Menu Plan Ideas

I recently saw a menu planning idea on Pinterest where you write a list of all the meals you make and number them. (I can't find the pin. Anyone know where I saw this awesome idea?)  You then plug those numbers into your calendar.  It's easy to move things around, and you have a great list to choose from depending on what you have on hand and what is on sale that week.  This is the start of my list.

1. Broccoli Beef
2. Burgers
3. Crockpot Lasagna
4. French Dip
5. Grandma's Chili
6. Pot Roast
7. Shepards Pie
8. Spaghetti with Marinara Sauce
9. Taco Pasta
10. Taco Rice
11. Tri Tip
12. Baked Italian Lemon Chicken
13. Chicken and Avocado Salad
14. Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
15. Chicken Cordon Bleu
16. Chicken and Dumplings
17. Chicken Pot Pie
18. Chicken Satay
19. Chicken Taco Meat
20. Coconut Chicken Curry
21. Creamy Chicken Noodle Skillet
22. Enchiladas
23. Fajitas
24. Fettuccine Alfredo
25. Honey Sesame Crockpot Chicken
26. Japanese Curry
27. Orange Chicken
28. Rotisserie Chicken
29. Stir Fry
30. Yellow Curry
31. BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches
32. Fried Rice
33. Ginga Rosu
34. Gyoza
35. Italian Pulled Pork Sandwiches
36. Mabo Tofu
37. Parmesan and Panko Pork chops
38. Pork chops, apple sauce, and cheese
39. Snitzel and Spetzla
40. Tonkatsu
41. Cheese Loaded Meatloaf
42. Lettuce Wraps
43. Polska Kielbasa and Mac N Cheese
44. Calzones
45. Pizza Sauce
46. Vegan Mexican Bowl
47. Broccoli Cheddar Soup
48. Lionhouse Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup
49. Easy Chicken Noodle Soup
50. Mom's Potato Corn Chowder
51. Tomato Soup So Good, You Will Never Go Back
52. White Bean Chicken Chili
53. Crockpot Zupa Toscana
54. Aebleskivers
55. Crepes
56. Eggs in a Basket
57. German Pancakes
58. Liege Waffles
59. Pancakes
60. Waffles
61. Quiche

Sides:

1. Parmesan Baked Tomatoes
2. Spinach Pesto
3. Spaghetti Squash
4. Parmesan Baked Tomatoes
5. Roasted Red Salsa
6. Italian Herb and Cheese Bread

Dessert:

1. Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
2. Cheater Cake Mix Cookies
3. Pineapple Orange Cake
4. Pretty Pistachio Pie
5. Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies
6. Strawberries and Cream Poke Cake
7. Sugar Cookies
8. Taiyaki

Goals in Review

A long time ago I decided to make a list of 99 goals. At the time I was newly married, had a six month old and was a SAHM. My life has changed quite a bit since then.  I now have two beautiful children with another on the way.  They keep me busy.  And while it may not seem like I am accomplishing a lot, I feel like I am making a difference.  Some of these goals were fun, others unattainable, and the rest were a challenge.  I didn't get all 99, but honestly this was more about my progress as an individual. I always have a list of goals going, but I think 99 might be a bit much.

Here is my account of what I did and didn't accomplish:

The Big Idea: Set 99 goals to accomplish in the next 999 days. Each time you accomplish a goal you set aside a dollar for the charity of your choice. 

June 1, 2013 - February 25, 2016

I finished this goal 45/99
I attempted this goal and did not finish 21/99

1.     Learn to French braid (I bought a straightner and am learning to use it. Does that count?)

2.    Learn to design a website

3.    Learn stick shift

4.    Play 5 children's songs on the piano (0/5) (We don't own a piano and probably won't for a while. But I'm ok with that.)

5.    Be CPR certified

6.    Identify 10 types of plant life (5/10) Poison oak, tomato, ivy, dandelion, and magnolia. 

7.    Attend one Japanese Class 

8.     Finish intermediate typing course

9.    Memorize the Articles of Faith (2/12)

10.  Learn how to shoot

11.   Take an archery course (PE 20AX)

12.  Learn to bake bread (I'm still practicing. I made an Italian cheese bread that was pretty good.) 10/2013

13.  Identify 10 constellations (2/10)

14.  Make 3 great pies (2/3)

15.  Cook a moist chicken (Why cook one when Costco sells them for $5?)

16.  Practice the art of meditation 11/14

17.  Begin basic scuba certification (Turns out I have panic attacks every time I attempt this goal. Maybe it is not meant to be.)

18.  Purchase a gun (My kids get into everything. Nothing is safe. I decided this was something I shouldn't do.)

19.  Purchase a running stroller  (double stroller)

20.  Purchase and use space bags

21.  Purchase nice make-up and learn how to use it (I have the brushes. It's a step in the right direction.)

22.  Purchase a va-va-voom dress

23.  Purchase a safe for important documents

24.  Avoid Facebook for one week 2/2014

25.  Don’t watch TV for one week 10/2013

26.  Avoid processed foods for four weeks (2/4) (The whole 30 nearly killed my family. We decided a whole family was better.)

27.  Avoid negative language one week (It's a constant struggle. Especially with the voice I speak to myself with.)

28.  Make own fruit leather 7/2014

29.  Can spaghetti sauce (This works better when you have space to can something. I did can applesauce and apple pie filling. That should count.)

30.  Make taiyaki 8/2014

31.  Letter each week (70/142) (I write my BIL on his mission almost every week. That should count. Even if it is an email.)

32.  Day of service

33.  Declutter email inbox 5/2013

34.  Cook for Anna Maria 10/2013

35.  Condense teaching boxes  9/2013

36.  Menu plan for 5 months (5/5)

37.  Give blood (I hate needles and you can't give blood when you are pregnant or nursing.... Which kind of eliminates me.)

38.  Wear perfume everyday for a month 7/2014

39.  Dress to shoes every morning for a month 2/2014

40.  Save each month (33/33)

41.  Blog every week (40/142) (Turns out I am a terrible blogger, but still a great person and wonderful mom. Oh well.)

42.  Seventy new recipes (70/70)

43.  Volunteer/serve weekly (142/142)

44.  Christmas cards

45.  Contact an extended family member every month (33/33)

46.  Index 1000 names  (5/100) (This is something I need to get better at, but I'd much rather do something fun. Like read.)

47.  100 names in the temple (13/100) (I need to attend the temple more, it is very hard when you live so far away and have small children. I know. Excuses, excuses.)

48.  3 Family names in the temple (1/3) 

49.  Write a letter of gratitude to 30 people (30/30) Watch This

50.  Read standard works (1/5) (If preparing primary lessons counted toward this I would be a lot further along. Turns out I like to read for fun.)

51.  Read ten classics (9/10) (Catcher in the Rye, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Around the World in 80 days, Great Gatsby, Railroad Children, A Room of One's Own, The Diary of Adam and Eve, Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, The Crucible)

52.  Read 100 books a year (324/300) (2013 - 74) (2014 - 150) (2015 - 100)

53.  Read aloud to K 15 minutes 5x a week for 3 months (3/3) 1/2014

54.  Share a good book with a friend four times (4/4) 10/2013

55.  Host a themed party six times (6/6) 

56.  One social event each week (132/142) (I'm pretty sure I did this and just lost count.)

57.  Skydiving (One day when I am not nursing or pregnant and have a will, I will do this.)

58.  Finish Starcraft (I go through phases where I really like a certain game. Recently that game has been Minecraft or Mario.)

59.  Date night idea jar 7/2014

60.  Book of games (This sounds like a great idea. It is really hard to find time to put in all down in writing.)

61.  Record ratings/reviews of games

62.  Decorate Kaden's 1st cake (My family likes cookies more than cake. So weird.)

63.  Win a game of Catan (I hate this game and we don't own it.)

64.  Concert/Show with S  1/2015 

65.  Complete an eight week running challenge  2/2014

66.  Run a 9 minute mile (One day!)

67.  Run a 5 k (Feb 22, 2014)

68.  Run a half marathon (After baby 3)

69.  Go up 2 Nike + levels (525/621 miles) (I'm getting closer. Some day soon.)

70.  Do 50 push-ups without stopping (3/50)

71.  1 month of ab exercises daily (LOL)

72.  Ride bike up hill without stopping  2/2014

73.  40 mile bike ride (11/40) (This might work better when we are not in a 3rd floor walk up.)

74.  5 new foods (0/5) (Mango, Rabbit, Parsnip, Acorn Squash, Butternut Squash) 10/2013

75.  Exercise 4x a week for 30 minutes for 3 months (3/3) 

76.  In bed by 10:30, 12 on weekends for one month (0/1) (My husband is a chronic night owl. He has broken me forever.)

77.  Spend 30 minutes outside daily for a month 

78.  Focus on improving my posture  for a month (Do pregnancy stretches count toward this...)

79.  Grandma's Blanket finished (Need to get the pieces from my mother.)

80.  Quillo for S (Need to unbox the sewing maching.)

81.  Family Tree (Slow progress.)

82.  Family Cookbook of favorite recipes (46/40)

83.  Garden with more than 5 plants (3/5) (I'm going to get a backyard one day.

84.  Start K’s journal (Blogging counts and so do weekly emails. We also have an awesome photo stream for friends and family.)

85.  Record family experiences when we met, the proposal, K's birth, blessing, etc. (Need to do this.)

86.  Complete 72 hour kit (Sigh)

87.  Create a jaw dropping cake 

88.  Make a big mess while making memories  8/2013

89.  Create and market 9 new resources (Maybe one day.)

90.  Start a mothers group 10/2013

91.  Write a new 99 list (Nope. Never again.)

92.  Visit Washington, DC

93.  Visit Japan with K

94.  Go on a cruise  7/2014

95.  Visit Hawaii 3 times (3/3)

96.  Visit 20 temples (5/20) (Sacramento,  LA, Oakland, Fresno, Payson, Salt Lake) (I'd love to expand this list.)

97.  Take two weekend trips without kids (0/2) (Soon.)

98.  Take S to Six Flags 

99.  Visit 4 national parks (3/4) Glacier Bay, AK 7/2014, Redwood National 2x (Yosemite here I come!)
Days left 0

Taiyaki

Since living in Japan for a couple of years I have been craving taiyaki.  It's also been on my 99 goal list.  If you have no idea what I'm talking about I'm going to let you in on a simple secret.  Taiyaki are fish shaped waffles with delicious fillings.  My favorite is an (a sweet bean paste.)  But my husband's new favorite is Nutella and banana.

We got a great recipe online here. You can get your own pan online here. 

Look at how delicious they turned out:

We will definitely be making these again. Some of our favorite fillings are chocolate pudding, Nutella and banana, an, and cookie butter. Mmm. We need to make them again soon.