Izzie's first teeth

Here is a good view to see Izzie's first teeth.


My rays of sunshine - getting so big!

Kenna's Bday Party

Who can top a Build-A-Bear Birthday Party?! Crazy Fun! Matthew thought it was so fun - Happy Birthday Kenna - you are soooo cute!

February

We have had the February Blues. We have all taken turns being sick. It started with Matthew, with a bad cold and goopie eye to Izzie with double ear infection and a bad cold mix. Poor kids. I have been taking my Immune Blocker and it has helped some. I have been dealing (on and off) with just a little cold and low energy. I still do everything, just not feeling 100%. All well what do us moms do? No sick days for us!

We also had John's sister and Husband (and Colby too) visit us from Logan. We had a great time of eating a lot, getting little sleep and running together. What can I say-I miss them already! Once a year is too little.

Savers

You all know that I love a great deal and Savers is one of my favorite stores to buy toys, books, kids clothes and tons more. Well, they are having their HALF OFF sale this Monday!! Everything is half off and they restock all day. And usually at 7pm they do the 75% off everything. (They do that once in awhile so don't go and be mad at me)

MONDAY, FEB. 16 8am-9pm

I go to the Stephanie and Warm Springs store behind Sunset Station. That is one of the best! The one on Tropicana is a good one too.

Happy Shopping!

Free!!!

I hope you don't mind Jenny but I stole this off your blog to share with my blogger friends! Amazing Deals!!!

Free BareMinerals & Free 1 night stay at the Palms

Sephora (store locator) in-store is giving away a Free 10-day supply of Bare Escentuals bareMinerals SPF15 Foundation with a free baby kabuki brush. If ordering online, you may get the same offer with any other purchase using coupon code FREELOVE and 3 free samples with any order. Shipping is free on $50+ orders otherwise it's $6. If you haven't tried BareMinerals, you really should with this offer, you'll absolutely love it!


For you locals: Free One Night Stay at the Palms Casino Feb 8-12 Promo includes:- Free one night stay between Feb. 8 - 12. You only need to pay $1 surcharge.- Free VIP Nightlife Pass (access to all nightclubs at the casino).- The room is standard and comes w/either 1 king or 2 double size beds, shower/tub combo, and 32" TV.- Cancellation must be made 72 hrs in advance, otherwise the fee is $69 + taxCall 866.725.6773 and mention Promo code: OPER361

Quinoa the SUPERGRAIN

Okay, so my blog is turning into a cookbook - but I love to cook and we have to eat (something else I love to do) so I try things and then want to share with all my friends.

Our First SUPER GRAIN! Quinoa

Quinoa (Keen-Wah) comes in three colors, white, red and black. You've probably heard that you should eat whole grains, but try the gluten free grain-like seed called "quinoa" instead of wheat. "Quin-WHAT?" is not a grain; it is actually a seed and related to the spinach family. When cooked, quinoa is light, fluffy, slightly crunchy and subtly flavored. It actually cooks and tastes like a grain, making it an excellent replacement for grains that are difficult to digest. But its flavor is only part of why quinoa is such an amazing "supergrain."


Some of the nutrients in quinoa include:

Complete protein. Quinoa contains all 9 essential amino acids that are required by the body as building blocks for muscles.

Magnesium helps relax your muscles and blood vessels and effects blood pressure. Quinoa contains high levels of this vital nutrient.

Fiber. Quinoa is a wonderful way to ensure that you consume valuable fiber that eases elimination and tones your colon.

Manganese and copper. Quinoa is a good source of these minerals that act as antioxidants in your body to get rid of dangerous cancer and disease-causing substances.

Compared to other grains, quinoa is higher in calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, iron, copper, manganese, and zinc than wheat, barley, or corn.

Quinoa is close to one of the most complete foods in nature because it contains amino acids, enzymes, vitamins and minerals, fiber, antioxidants, and phytonutrients.

Quinoa in the Kitchen
Quinoa is especially easy to cook and can be enjoyed year-round because it's versatile and light. You can use it in warming winter soups or refreshing summer salads.

Make sure you rinse your quinoa and then soak for at least 8 hours to remove the phytic acid that can prevent proper digestion.

Quinoa is prepared by simmering in water 1 part quinoa to 2 parts water (1 cup of quinoa to 2 cups of water) until water is absorbed about 15 minutes. The texture of quinoa is much like that of al dente pasta or of brown rice. Added to brown rice, ground meat/turkey and it was hard to tell. The flavor is a little 'nutty' and quite pleasant.

Here are some ideas for your next quinoa meal:

• Saute garlic, onions, and spinach with coconut oil to top your quinoa.
• Make a summery salad by chopping raw carrots, zucchini, cultured vegetables, and onions over quinoa.
• Use quinoa with vegetable broth and your choice of vegetables for a nutritious soup.
• I cooked up a cup of quinoa and used some of it tonight and put the rest into snack sized ziplocs and stuck it in the freezer where it's supposed to be good for 6 months. To anything with ground beef I'm adding 1/2 cup of Quinoa. I've done this to Taco Salad and Sloppy Joes, Meatloaf, and Spaghetti. Spaghetti sauce is a great place to hide grains and veggies. Even to bottled sauce you can add zucchini, carrots, quinoa, - just simmer and then throw in the blender when everything is soft.
• It is also recommend eating quinoa in the evening. It is the ideal easy-to-digest food to eat in the evening because it encourages a good night's sleep.
  

Quinoa can be your superfood: regulating your blood sugar, enhancing elimination, and keeping your heart healthy. Add this "mother grain" to your diet and enjoy the health benefits of quinoa.

Fiesta Lasagna

Fiesta Lasagna

1 lb ground beef or turkey
¼ cup chopped onion
1 (16 oz) can refried beans
1 (15 oz) can mild chili beans
1 (14 oz) can Mexican stewed tomatoes
1 cup salsa
1 (4 oz) can chopped green chilies
1 envelope taco seasoning
1 t. oregano
1 t. cumin
¼ t. garlic powder
1 ¼ cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 ¼ cup shredded mozzarella
¾ cup cottage cheese
1 ¼ cup sour cream
9 lasagna noodles, cooked (I used no-cook noodles)

Brown meat and onion. Stir in beans, tomatoes, salsa, chilies and seasonings. In a bowl, combine cheeses (not cottage cheese); set aside 1 ½ cup. Stir cottage cheese and ¾ cup sour cream into remaining cheese mixture. Layer noodles, meat and cheese. Cover and Bake at 350 for 1 hour. Uncover spread with remaining sour cream. Sprinkle with reserved cheeses and bake 10-12 minutes or until cheese is melted.

I halved this recipe and it was the perfect size. Full recipe will make a HUGE lasagna! It was so good! It looks like a lot of ingredients - but I bet you have most of them in your pantry and fridge already!

Enjoy!