My version of a Green Monster Smoothie!!

This afternoon I was going to have some fruit as a snack.  I had mangoes, bananas & apples available.  I didn't feel like eating them seperate (aka: cut up in a bowl) so I decided to make a smoothie out of it.

There is no real recipe to this, smoothies are very versatile and you can make them as you wish with whatever ingredients you want.

I cut up a mango, added a banana and a couple splashes of orange juice.  Mixed it all up in my Magic Bullet and then added the last of the spinach we had in the refrigerator to get a dose of veggies! :)

Matt came home from work and said "What the heck is that!" I made him try it and he actually liked it. I've purchased those frozen smoothie packs from the grocery store before, but I like this because I know exactly what is in it.  No added sugars, preservatives or anything.  Just fruit & a little juice.

I definitely want to make more smoothies for breakfasts, snacks or even as desserts!

Pantry Organization!

In the last few months, we revamped our downstairs closet/pantry.  We had a nice closet area under our stairs but it wasn't really functional for hanging coats and such.  Our kitchen also lacks some functional cupboard space so I decided to make the closet work for us!  We had a bookcase in there that we were using as a pantry but it was small and unorganized.

So, I was at Target one day with my Mom and we picked up a shelving system on sale.  I'd been eyeing it up for awhile and then when it was on sale, I finally made my purchase!

Fast forward a couple of days and we've got the shelving system all set up.  I love having more storage options and we can even store our garbage bags, paper towels and some larger cooking items like our pizza oven in there.

We've now come to the point where our pantry is chock full and the organization seems to be lacking. Since I am a Thirty-One consultant, I decided to use some of our products to help me spruce things up.  So far, I only have one organized area but I plan to get many, many more so that I have a complete & fully stocked pantry!

I purchased a Square Utility Tote in Lotsa Dots and had it embroidered in purple font, style 13. I then purchased two Littles Carry-All Caddys to put inside.  The tote will actually fit four, I just need to get a couple more!

I plan to put some of my small baking items in the Littles Carry-All Caddys.  I'm thinking about putting my piping bags in one of the Littles, my cupcake wrappers & decorations in another, my food colorings in another and I'm undecided so far on the fourth.  I'll be sure to update when I figure it out!

My next purchase will be more Square Utility Totes and I plan to label one "snacks" for all those breakfast bars, granola bars etc.  I am thinking about one that says "veggies" and one that says "fruits" as well for all of those canned items.  I'll always know when I need to purchase more or when I've got plenty based on how full my tote is!

If you're unfamiliar with Thirty-One, here are a few facts!

Thirty-One is more than just a company. We are people who believe in celebrating, encouraging and rewarding others for who they are. Through God’s strength, we’ve built a family of individuals who feel women deserve to treat themselves and those around them to something special. Our commitment is to provide women with a fulfilling, enjoyable and rewarding experience one person at a time.    -Source

Thirty-One offers purses, accessories, storage organizers (like I'm using) and more!  There really is something for everyone and our products make great gifts!

Don't know a Thirty-One consultant in your area?  We can do a virtual party and you'll get free products, half price products and Host Exclusive products just for hosting.  As host, all you need to do is advertise your party to friends & family using the link I provide you.  Super easy!

ALL of the free, discounted and exclusive products you could get for having a $1,200 show!!

How cute is this outfit paired with our Cindy Tote in Black Parisian Pop?

Eggs for breakfast sandwiches

Thank you Pinterest! (Click that link to follow my boards)

I saw this floating around on Pinterest awhile back and finally decided that I needed to make some eggs for quick and easy breakfast sandwiches.  I definitely need to eat breakfast in the mornings and I need something substantial.  I can't just have a yogurt or apple or something, I'd be hungry a half hour after eating it!

This is the perfect solution.  The eggs are ready to go each morning and I just need to grab an english muffin, a slice of cheese and I'm out the door.  I usually eat at work so I bring all of my supplies to work and am able to make a hearty, tasty breakfast at work!

As you can see, I put some spinach in a few of the egg wells. It was a little tricky getting the spinach to stay under the egg, so that it would cook IN the egg and not float to the top.  It took a little maneuvering with a fork but it all worked!

Spray your muffin pan with some non-stick cooking spray. Crack one egg into each well.  Sprinkle the eggs with a little salt & pepper or whatever seasonings that you'd like.  Bake in the oven at 350 for about 15 minutes.  You could cook them for a bit less if you wanted a runny yolk.  However, I wanted to be sure that the eggs were fully cooked.

Store your cooked eggs in a tupperware container in the refrigerator for about a week.  Use your judgement though.  If they look/smell bad, I wouldn't eat them. I made a dozen of these, so that lasted my Husband and I only 6 days, which was perfect for our work week.

Taco Salads with Rice

Here's a great recipe for the upcoming Cinco de Mayo weekend or any large gathering!  You can make this to feed two people, five people or 25 people!  Make a big batch for your next tailgate party, Birthday or even those "Quick! Company is coming!" situations.

The idea is super simple and the preparation is even easier.  You can tailor this to your personal taste as well.  Don't like white rice?  Skip it.  Want spicy salsa? Use it.  Want to use Doritos instead of Fritos? Go for it.

The recipe below is what we used for the ones I made.  We made enough so that we had leftovers for the next day.

Taco Salads with Rice
AKC original recipe
Ingredients:
1 lb cooked, drained ground beef
4 servings of cooked instant white rice
Fritos chips

Your favorite toppings such as:
Shredded Lettuce
Shredded Cheese
Salsa
Sour Cream
Guacamole

Cook your ground beef and drain when cooked.  While the ground beef is browning, cook your rice. When both your ground beef and rice are cooked, assemble your plate (or bowl if you choose!)  I started with rice, added some fritos, ground beef and then my lettuce, cheese and sour cream.

Mix it all up, add some salsa and enjoy!!

It's really silly to have a recipe for this since it's SO easy.  It's really all about what you want on your taco salad and how you want to prepare it.