Veggie Packed Chili

One of my favorite things to do when I cook is to adapt the recipe and make it a little healthier.  My kids are becoming pickier and pickier  eaters by the day (should be the opposite right!?) so I do whatever I can to sneak nutritious foods into their diets.     

So I thought I'd share this chili recipe I changed up. 

It was good before, but it's now veggie packed, lean, and delicious.

Ingredients:

2 cups spinach

1 cup bell peppers

1/2 cup carrots

1/2 cup broccoli 

1 cup white corn

1 yellow onion

1 can kidney beans

1 can black beans

1 can stewed tomatoes

1 can tomato sauce

1/8 cup olive oil

1 lb ground turkey

2 tsp. chili powder

1/2 tsp. basil leaves

salt & pepper to taste

Optional toppings:

plain greek yogurt

cheddar cheese

1.  In a large saucepan brown ground turkey.

2.  Add chopped onion and saute.  (Or just use dry onions if you're a baby like me and refuse to chop fresh onions.)

3.  Next I combine spinach, bell peppers, carrots, and broccoli and puree them all together in my blender.  This hides the veggies in the chili (or else my kids wouldn't eat it!) and creates a yummy veggie base.

4.  Throw all of the ingredients (yep, the turkey, the puree and everything else) into a crock pot or a large saucepan and stir it up.

5.  Simmer that tastiness for 3-5 hours on low.  This is key.  The colors and flavors get all acquainted and after simmering you can't even see the green of the spinach or anything anymore.

6.  Serve with a dollop of greek yogurt (tastes just like sour cream but much healthier) and a sprinkle of cheese.

7.  While looking at your precious picky eaters yell (in your head) FOOLED YA SUCKAS.  Because they just got a delicious meal packed with nutrients and they didn't even know it.



*This method also works really well when I make spaghetti sauce.  I puree whatever vegetables are in my fridge or freezer and throw it into the mix.  Can't even taste a difference after it has simmered for a while.  Victory!

T.G.I.F.

Ya'll need stop whatever you're doing, put on your dancing pants, and 

bust. a. move.  

because its FRIDAYYY!

Actually its Monday but who says you can't act like its not!?

This video is from like a year ago but its my fav!  

It's the perfect little peak into a typical day at our silly, dancey, dorky home.  

Love these fools!!!

Enough Is Enough. Or Is It?

Does anyone else ever feel like what you do is just not enough? 

 I seem to have a constant battle in my mind.  A battle between loving myself the way I am, and feeling like I'll never live up to my full potential. 

This state of mind has gotten harder to navigate since I became a mom.  There is no way to measure success.  I don't get a paycheck.  I don't get raises.  I don't have stimulating goals to accomplish.  Days are so full of busyness, never ending busyness, and yet there isn't a lot I can say I've achieved when the day is over.  

I know I'm a great mom.  That I don't doubt.  I do my best and love my babies with all my heart.  Taking them on adventures, and helping them discover what makes them happy, and hearing the funny things they say are what I live for.  

Well that and diet coke, and spontaneous vacations with my family.  

I'm not even sure what I'm getting at exactly.
But there is so much celebration for a mom who "does it all".  The mom who balances work, and motherhood, and being tiny skinny, and having super cute clothes and being an amazing cook to top it all off.  

There is so much pressure to be EVERYTHING that I often feel like I am NOTHING.  

Maybe it's okay to not own a cool business. 

Maybe it's okay to not have thousands of fans on Instagram admiring my
 outfit of the day.

Maybe it's okay to to not be going back to school to earn a masters degree.  

OR...

MAYBE IT'S NOT OKAY.

Ugghhh....you see what I'm dealing with here?  haha  

I don't know the answer.  

Push myself harder to be more successful as an individual while raising my girls or keep dedicating my days to my sweet little ladies and accept that that is good enough?  

How do you find balance?  How do you measure success?  

Sienna Bo Benna

Little Miss Sienna has become quite the little dramatic toddler. 

 She will do something so over the top that Addie and I will give each other a little questioning look and then fall over laughing.  

One second she's giggling and the next second (literally) she's calling somebody "tupid" (stupid) or "menace" and collapsing into tears.  

But what makes her most happy is putting on a little costume, calling the family upstairs to the loft, assigning us seats and letting us know "I do show now!". 

This here is one of her more dramatic pieces.  I have no idea where she got the idea for this number, but its her go-to.  

Cracks me up every time.  

It is title "My Whole Life" because, uh, well, because that's all she says over and over again.

I guess when you get to the ripe old age of 2 you start thinking about the times of past, and reevaluating  your priorities and such.

Five Things

In case we aren't instagram friends here are some super crucial things you'll want to know about me, like, right now. Wink, wink.

And if we aren't following each other on insta, why the bleep not!?

Find me. Username: lolo_elle.

I got tagged by a few friends to share five random facts about myself, and here they are.

《1》When I was 15 and my parents were out of town I let some cute guys from school take my moms car for a joyride. We drove all over orange county. My cousin thought for sure I was being raped and called the police and I got in a lot of trouble.

《2》I almost drowned at the beach once and had to be rescued by the lifeguard. My life literally flashed before my eyes.

《3》I love cheese. So what.

《4》I used to tape my nose down every night in hopes it would become less piggy.

《5》I always wanted to be an actress when I grew up.

I tag whoever wants to play to share some fun facts on their blog.  Be sure to let me know if you do!

Skinny Cobbler

Alrighty kids, I have to tell you something.  I can eat nutritious, healthy, light meals all day long and when evening rolls around I love to eat, eat and eat some more.

Give me some Mindy Project, a big bowl of buttery popcorn, and diet coke and I'm a happy girl.  

Well tonight I was craving something sweet but I didn't want to undo all the good I did all day, so I whipped up this nutritious little recipe.  

It was SO delicious that I had to share.  

This is a single serving recipe.  

Ingredients:

1/2 cup berries 

1/4 cup oatmeal

1/2 Tablespoon coconut oil-melted

5 raw almonds-chopped

1 tsp. flaxseed

1/8 tsp. cinnamon

dash of salt

1 tsp. agave nectar

This is so simple.  

My berries were frozen so I threw them in the microwave until they were warm. (about 60 seconds) 

In another bowl I mixed all the other ingredients with a fork to make the topping.

I poured the topping over the berries and microwaved again until warm. 

SO easy.

SO Delicious.

SO many nutrients.

My huz loved it so much that I made him seconds.  

No Rule Day- Best Day Ever

A few months ago my girls and I were running our usual routine.  The usual, usually means we got up, went to the gym, cleaned, and set off on any adventures or errands that I felt like going on during the day.  

Addie, being the cute little preschooler that she was started crying.  She was frustrated and tired of following my rules all day.  I tried to take a step back and look at it from her tiny person, 5 year old point of view and I realized it would be pretty annoying having someone tell you what to do all.  Day.  Long.  

"Let's go to the gym.  Put on your shoes.  Eat another bite of broccoli.  Flush the toilet." Etc. Etc.  Yeah I'm already annoyed for her just thinking about it.  

So as I was talking to her I explained that I understood her frustration and that I had the perfect solution.  The next day there would be no rules.  We would do whatever she wanted all day.  

I didn't have any ulterior motives.  I wasn't hoping everything would go all wrong so at the end of the day she'd have a greater appreciation for my rules.  I was simply hoping she'd feel understood, and respected enough that I would allow her to take over for the day.  And also I love changing things up so I just thought it sounded like it would be tons of fun for all of us.  

So here is how the morning went.  

It started out with chocolate for breakfast, no trip to the gym, and she wore a cozy mismatched outfit.

Next up was her most creative idea of the day.  

We took the 3 dozen eggs I just bought at Costco, lined the bathtub with garbage bags, threw some swimsuits on and they smashed, stomped, and threw those eggs to their hearts content.  

They made a huge mess but it it was so worth it. They had so much fun.

Addie kept yelling "Best day ever!!!".  

Later that day she really let the power go to her head got into the spirit of the day, talking in the 3rd person and everything.  haha.  When I started doing laundry I believe she said something like "No, no, no.  It's Addie's rules and Addie says no laundry!"  Then she proceeded to throw it everywhere and jump on my bed.  My instinct was to say no, but I had to just laugh about how much of a thrill she was getting out of it.  Who am I to care about tossed laundry in a moment of pure joy!?  

Especially on "Addie's day"!?

While Sienna was napping she thought it would be fun to have a little bake off.  So of course, that's just what we did.  She got out every ingredient you could possibly use to bake cupcakes.  She got flour, sugar, and various spices all over the floor and everywhere else, and made up her own little creation.

For lunch she decided we'd go get candy at Walmart.  She grabbed a Reese's then thought the candy at Smiths sounded delicious too, so we went there, and after that it was time for some frozen yogurt for dessert. (because what would a candy lunch be without dessert!?) The rest of the day included a trip to Del taco, a playdate with her friend, watching Curious George, jumping on her bed, dress ups, and anything else her sweet little heart desired.

The day was a complete success.  She loved the freedom and had so much fun doing all the things she wouldn't normally get to do.  In fact her biggest thrills came from doing all the little things I usually remind her to do like flush the toilet.  And changing into her pajamas to go play outside was her biggest thrill.

There were so many reasons that it was good for me too.  The house was a freaking disaster at the end of the day but, ya know what, who cares!?  I had no idea how often I would normally tell her no.  Throughout the day she kept reminding me of just how creative she can be.  So often she'll come up with the most random thing to do but I'll say no because I don't want to clean up a giant mess.  I resolved to let her creativity shine a little more often and to be more flexible.

After all she'll only be a kid once and she deserved to have the BEST DAY EVER!

Mellowdramama

Twitter's a bore (wuh wuhh), I have pneumonia (just a cold), and I think I'm going off the grid for a while (never).

Also why are there so many burnt out lights in this house? I mean, how hard is it to change a lightbulb!? (Then why don't you do it yourself, you ask?  Exactly...)

Just let me pout for just a minute.

Twitterpated

Some of you well informed folks may have heard of a cute little website called Twitter,  although most of you probably have not.

Well first of all I want to put this out there in writing...I think it's gonna be huge some day. And second, I have discovered that it's a really great place to gather and share my thoughts on all kinds of hot button topics and important issues. You might say it's my new passion. (But I'm not sure why you'd say that because I'm just now telling you about it. So you don't actually know do you?)

I'm kidding...I'm kidding. Everything I put out there is a bunch of garbage but I think it's fun garbage so for your viewing pleasure (or maybe dis) feast your eyes on my tweets... (why does that sound so dirty?)

Oh and if you're on Twitter look for me (loloelle) and we can admire each others thoughts. (For cute!)

Pizza Hopes and Sidewalk Dreams

So I'm gonna let you guys in a little secret.  

I'm a wife, I'm a mom, I do super cool things, yeah it's true but I haven't REALLY fulfilled my life's passion yet.  

Deep, deep, way deep down inside I long to throw my headphones on, blast a little Salt N Pepa all up in my ears, slip into my sexiest sweatpants, and dance my heart out like this...

Okay so these guys don't the big bucks, but so what.  Think of the calories they burn whilst dancing.  Think of the freedom they feeling just letting it all hang out. (Hopefully just figuratively, right!?  *nudge nudge*)  Not a care in the world but getting the fine folks, the passersby if you will, to enjoy a 5 BUCK PIZZA!  

But don't get me wrong you guys, I'm not doing this job unless I have a full body costume a la this guy...

  

I mean come on, have a little dignity you non costume wearing dancers.  Hideyoself.

Do you really want everyone knowing this is what you do for a living!?  Put on a clever coverup and hit those streets.  

One of these days I'll make my dream come true.  But for now...uh who wants a job!? 

 Not me, you sillies.