Easy Italian Chicken (Crockpot)

Serves 4 (I cut in half for just Sophie and I)

4 Chicken breasts
1 packet of dry Italian dressing (your choice)
1/3 c. of water
8oz cream cheese (I bought the fat free kind)
1 can cream of chicken

Mix salad dressing and water, pour over chicken breasts in crockpot. Cook on low for 3 hours.
Mix cream cheese (soften in micro for a few seconds) and cream of chicken until blended. Pour over chicken after 3 hours. It should start to have a gravy consistency. Cook chicken 2-3 more hours on low.
Service over rice or noodles.

This recipe is super easy and heats up well.

3 years.

Three years ago today, I began this blog! It was right before we first arrived here in the NOVA area. Can't believe how fast three years goes by! Taylor and I will be celebrating our 6 year wedding anniversary next month, crazy!! A lot has happened just this year, it's hard to even think back over 3 years! Of course the most memorable event since starting this blog, was the birth of our precious daughter. She is growing so fast, before we know it another three years will have gone by! Taylor has gone through a lot of changes career wise. Next week, he will be done with school/training and we will be starting another chapter of his military career! This one is taking us to Coronado (San Diego) California! I'm a little anxious about the initial move, but very excited to be headed for the West coast. I'm ready for a change. I leave you with this quote...

Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind.  ~Seneca

So hears to more travels and change! God bless!

C. 

D.C. - Day 2

Hailey and I have both been to D.C. countless times! So finding something new to do was a bit of a challenge. Don't get me wrong, there are endless things to do in D.C., but when you have a time limit and a 1 1/2 year old, it's a little bit harder! We decided to check out the new MLK Jr. Memorial, Ford Theatre, Archives, & Library of Congress.

MLK Jr. Memorial

 I know it's not the best picture but there were a TON of press and I had to snap a quick picture! The memorial is not open yet so we weren't allowed to walk up to it. But it's beautiful in person.

Ford Theatre

 Ford Theatre was really cool. Neither one of us had been and I'm glad we got the chance to go. It's off on it's own in more of the business district of D.C., so it took a bit to find it! There was a really neat museum in the lower level and of course the theatre part was amazing to see!

 Right across from the theatre is where they took Lincoln after being shot, he died here.

 The booth.

 Hailey and Sophie looking around theatre.

 Soph and I w/ booth in the background.

Mobile McDonalds anyone??

The mobile McDonalds were a Quarter Pounder was $7!!

U.S. Capitol

I've walked by the Capitol building numerous times, but never right up to it. We did today, it really is a pretty building. 

Children's Museum of Richmond

Hailey is visiting Sophie and I for a few days and today we drove down to Richmond to the Children's Museum, it's been voted best museum for families! Sophie had a blast once she realized the place was just for her!

Hailey and Sophie

Working puzzles...

Add caption

Sophie the Sun!

Add caption

"Picking" apples.

Is that cooler weather??

Why yes, yes it is!! It was a beautiful day for playing in the park. I don't even think it was 80 degrees out today, Fall is definitely just around the corner!

Sophie swinging!

Brody swinging, we met Carlie and the boys at the park.

Carlie and 2/3rds of our kids!

Snack time!

"I got this mom."

Such a big girl!

Amazing Seasoning!

I'm posting about another "product" I love. This one was introduced to me by a good friend whose meat dishes always taste incredible!! She uses this seasoning on everything, even in spaghetti! 

I use the one w/ the red cap!

I use the Goya Adobo w/ pepper (red cap). It's basically garlic, oregano, salt & pepper. I just lightly, very lightly sprinkle on chicken breast, throw them on the George Foreman for 7-8 minutes and that's it! The easiest, tastiest meal. Pair it with some brown rice and spinach and you have a tasty and healthy meal!! This is one of my go to meals after a good workout! Sophie loves it all too!

Check out Goya products here.

Coloring!

I bought Sophie Crayola markers that are specifically made for toddlers .  

Everything is going great...

Having fun!

The beginnings of a meltdown, she tried to eat the markers then the paper.

Why you so mean Mommy??

Full blown meltdown!

Half-Ironman

With the support of my husband and family, I'm really hoping to complete a Half-Ironman triathlon in early Spring next year, the end of March! I've loosely started training this week, mostly just adding swim time to my training. The hardest part about being on a "training schedule" is working it around Sophie. I'm so thankful for the gym I go to, because w/o their understanding, this would all be impossible!! Even training for my half-marathon! As many know, Taylor has been gone for 7 months now (we are on the home stretch though!!!) and doing any sort of fitness has been extremely hard w/o him here. But I want more than ever my daughter to learn that if she works hard enough for something, she can achieve anything in life! I think that is what pushes me and gives me this drive to be healthier and to be the best me I can be. It absolutely melts my heart when I'm doing core or weights workouts and she walks up and wants to join in! In just a few short weeks, I should have a real road bike and can seriously start training. But we have to get moved to the West Coast first!! So much is happening, it's hard to wrap my mind around it all. So here is a look in to my training this past week:

Monday -

45 Minute swim, only 450 meters, but I have to start somewhere!

25 minute run 

Stair master workout (I only add this in because I've found that it really has helped strengthen my calf and feet muscles)

Tuesday - 

20 minute easy run

1 hour spin class

(how funny that the training schedule I'm using actually includes spin classes)

P90X Legs - 1 hour

Wednesday - 

1 hour run

10 miles on Stationary bike

30 minutes on arms/shoulders

Thursday - 

1 hour spin class

30 minutes weights

Friday - Rest Day

Saturday -

1 hour spin

25 minute run

15 minutes on Core

Sunday - 

1 hour spin

30 minute run

This week will technically look the same, minus the pool time, because I will be in TN for a few days! I always hate when traveling interferes with training. I also kept a food journal this week, gonna have to buckle down on taking in a better source of carbs. I'm fine while spinning, but when it comes to running, I deflate so fast! Only problem is, eating also messes with my stomach. It seems like it's a lot of trial and error. Oh well, part of the game I guess! Hope everyone has a wonderful week! Do something active!!

Something I Love...

Burt's Bees Therapeutic bath crystals are the real deal!! I put about 1 tbsp in a HOT bath and soak for 15 minutes, it really cuts down on the muscle soreness the next day! So if you workout a lot or have aches/pains, this might help you! Just wanted to share!

Girly fun!

How us girls spend our Saturday nights!

My top 10 workout tips!

I saw an article about this on Yahoo! recently and it got me thinking about what my top 10 tips would be for working out. Now, please remember, I am in NO way a professional athlete or personal trainer. But I have managed to lose 60lbs through diet and exercise (after baby) and complete a half-marathon. I've also had tons of people ask what my "secret" is. Now my tips may not work for you, every person is different...but here is what's helped me along this journey.

1. Calories in, calories out! - I believe personally that the biggest step to weight lose is what we consume! In my case, I had let myself get to a place where drinking 3 Mtn. Dew's a day was "normal" and fast food was almost daily. I had to re-train myself how to eat, portion control, and ultimately that eating calories then burning those calories was the only way I'd see results! 
2. Time! - Weight lose and a more healthy lifestyle doesn't happen overnight, no matter HOW determined and committed you are to the decision. Deciding you want to lose weight is just the very first baby step! I was 8 weeks post-partum when I started on this journey in May 2010. It took a year for me to lose those 60lbs. Everyday you have to wake up and make the choice to eat right and work out. I still struggle with it almost daily.
3. Cut sugar! - I saw the biggest drop in weight when I almost completely cut sugar out of my diet. My downfall has always been soda, when I cut soda from my diet, it felt like I dropped 20lbs like that! I was absolutely amazed! Now I hate to admit, I do drink soda now...but I also burn on average 1100-1300 calories a day. And I've learned they make these great 90 calorie soda cans...so if I absolutely need a fix...I grab one of those! Start with little changes, when eating out, order water - it's cheaper too! I try not to be radical about my diet...but honestly diet and exercise go hand in hand, it's truth!
4. Journal - Write down what you eat every day! Seeing those calories, carbs, fat, sugar, & protein on paper really gives you perspective! 
5. Eat breakfast! - What you eat for breakfast fuels your day! I can always tell by early afternoon if I've had a good breakfast or if I ate pop tarts! An example of one of my breakfasts is 1 slice of peanut butter toast, banana, small glass of milk. Or oatmeal w/ apples and almonds.
6. Exercise (these next 5 will be about exercising) - Get moving! It's that simple. With all the ways you can exercise now...you have no excuse! But until you are uncomfortable, you aren't going to see those results!
7. Cardio - The best way to burn mega calories fast is obviously cardio! My favorite form is running and spinning (cycle class). Just between those two I usually burn around 1000 calories, I usually do them back to back at the gym. It's just easier for me that way. I also love to hit the pavement when I have the chance, running outside is WAY better than a treadmill! Other great forms of cardio are elliptical, walking, & Zumba! Find what you "love" and start sweating!!
8. Get Uncomfortable! - Exercise isn't "easy". Your mind quits way before your body does...so see how far/long you can push yourself! 
9. Set goals - Having goals gives you motivation! When I signed up for my half-marathon I could run about 5 miles, I thought I was crazy! There were days I was pretty certain I was going to die running...but I stuck with it because that half-marathon was happening. Plus I'd already paid the entrance fee for it! ;)
10. Hydrate!! - Ok, I know I said the next 5 were going to be about exercising...but let's face it, hydration and exercise go hand-in-hand! 

Like I said before, I'm not a personal trainer, but those 10 tips above have really helped me get to where I am today! I hope by June 2012 to have run my first full marathon. 

Cousins are your first friends!

 He loves her!

 They read books together!

My sweet nephew, Alden and Sophie! 

5x7 Folded Card

Bold Floral Birthday Birthday 5x7 folded card

Shutterfly has hundreds of birthday party invitation designs.

View the entire collection of cards.