Certified Organizer

Thats right I have recently decided to re-organize my kitchen cabinets...
The way they were organized before just wasn't making sense... Im sure many of you knowhow it is to hate how your cabinets are organized... well I hired a certified organizer to help me with my problem and she has been hard at work all morning...
Here is a glimpse at what she has accomplished thus far...





In all seriousness though it does get hard when this is all she wants to do all day!
So here is my solution... (or at least trial run) I emptied all of the breakable/ and non baby safe stuff out of this cabinet... and loaded it with stuff she loves to play with and wont beak... along with a few surprises... like juice and snacks, and a tupperware with candies in it to make noise!

Lets hope this helps so my kitchen can stay in the order I leave it!!!!




Let also hope her organizing skills get better so when shes older her room doesnt look like this lol

Have a great Thursday

If its not one thing... then there has to be another...

Well as all of you read last week.. my sweet girl was sick...

She was placed on a Nebulizer and had a double ear infection.

Just as she seemed to being doing better this week... BAM... CHICKEN POX strikes

She woke u from her morning nap this morning with red pimple like bumps all down her back... sweet girl...

She cant catch a break!

Whats Hot during this cold season...

As the weather turns cold and the holidays roll in from around the corner... here are a few of my favorite things this winter for you or as a gift for someone else!

1. As my love for photography grows... I sometimes find it hard to lug around all of the equipment and keep it safe and clean at the same time. It wasn't until I found these bags on Etsy that I fell in love. The store is called Gypsy Rose and she makes all sizes of bags to carry all sizes and varieties of equipment designed specifically to keep your electronics and camera equipment safe and sound.
If you are a professional photographer check out "The Ultimate" and "The Boss" bags, if you are a mom who takes her camera everywhere check out the "Mini" or the Small Hobo bags (complete with sippy cup pockets and slots for your wallets keys ect.) You can pick and choose your fabrics and design the bag that is right for you! This product is on my Christmas list!


2. Sitting by a fire and reading a good book is one of my favorite things to do during the winter. (when the rare opportunity arises that I might have time for this lol) May I suggest the new George Bush book Decision Points?! Now whether you are a fan of George Bush or not I think this book is going to be interesting. He had a front row seat to some of our country's most historical events and I am excited to read about what it may or may not have been like to have to make the decisions for over 300 million people during some of the most catastrophic events in United States History! Politics not your thing? Pick up any book and enjoy the quiet time!


3. Start a family tradition! Many do not know that the classic book The Polar Express comes to life in many cities across the country. I myself have never been but cant wait to try it out! Children and their parents dress up in their PJs and hop on board the Polar Express where the story comes to life!! How cool is this???
Check out the schedules and participating cities Here! Don't see your city on the schedule? Google it in your city ... some local organizations sometimes create a similar experience.

4. Support an up and coming business this Christmas... Many out there are putting themselves out there and starting some a business. I love these little boutique shops for things for my kiddos. I love that their items are alway handmade and unique. I know my kids are the only one wearing that item since it was made specially for them! Most are great items and are super cheap!!!So instead of going to Gap, Old Navy or Gymboree for gifts this year... give them a unique gift that you know only they will have! Here are some of my favorites for the kids:
Bebe Designs
Mother Goose Collections
Tammy's Funky Flowers
(I know I have mentioned these shops before but they are my favs after all)

5. Get crafty!!! Money is tight these days... so grab the kids and put them to work! lol I'm kidding... well only a little bit... This year give handmade gifts. Parents.com has some great craft ideas... so make some decorations this year or make some gifts, either way you get to spend some quality time with the kids and get everyone in your home in the holiday mood! grandparents love handmade gifts by the way and homemade decorations are always adorable and great memories and conversation pieces ;0)

6. Throw a cookie party! Our family has started (or brought back) a family tradition. An annual cookie party! How it works... Everyone brings an assigned ingredient and their fav recipe. There are lots of women baking... kids decorating and everyone eating and enjoying the time together! Last year we had literally hundreds of cookies... everyone took some home... and brought canisters and baggies and handed them out as gifts to the neighbors, teachers, co workers etc.

7. Laugh!!! JibJab.com always has hilarious videos online... so make one about you and your family and send it around and spread some holiday laughter!!!!

8. Give a little. There are many out there who will spend the holidays alone, cold, or hungry. So find a local food pantry organization of a local giving tree and give a little something. Its important to look at how great we have it especially around the holidays and teach our kids to always lend a helping hand. Let them pick out the gift or donate the food. They will always remember it!

No matter how you choose to spend your holidays or winter season i hope its a great one for you and your family. Here is to a great holiday season and a great winter!

Its that time of year....

Yep its that time of year... and no i'm not talking about turkey, Christmas shopping, baking and carols, I'm talking about the unfortunate time of the year when all of the flus, colds and other sicknesses start circling around. It is official they have hit our house. It seems they have hit my 13 month old so bad she can hardly catch a break! She picked up a cold this week along with a double ear infection on top of eczima and cutting 3 new top teeth! Needless to say we are pulling a whole lot of all nighters over here. She was weezing pretty bad yesterday so we went to the pediatrician's office and they put her on a nebulizer (which she hates).

My poor angel has to be on it for 30 minutes every 4 hours! She has been in great spirits despite all of these awful circumstances. She has been playing and talking and running around like a mad women! With all of this going on it looks like my week is going to look a little something like this:

6am Nebulizer and Meds
630 Pack lunches
645 Get big brother out the door and on the bus
7 breakfast for Maddie
730 Clean up after breakfast
800 Give Maddie a bath
930 Maddie morning nap
10am Nebulizer and meds
Luandry, dishes etc. while she sleeps
12 Maddie lunch
1230 clean up after lunch
2 Maddie afternoon nap
230 nebulizer and meds
230pm get big brother from bus
3 homework, snack, clean up
4 start dinner
5 dinner
6 clean up after dinner
630-730 baths bed nebulizer meds
11pm nebulizer meds
3am nebulizer meds

Repeat

hmm some things im missing from there... my shower? lol

Anyways I hope you have a wonderful Tuesday everyone!!!! Stay warm and healthy!!!

Easy Cheesy Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas

Now I typically never do recipe posts, but... given that it was just green chile season here in New Mexico... we have a ton of it on hand and green chile chicken enchiladas are one of our favorite green chile dishes... Now because my kiddos aren't huge green chile fans... I'm including the recipe for their version as well....

What You will need:

Approx. 15-20 Corn tortillas

1 Can of cream of mushroom soup

1 Can or Cream of chicken soup

1/4 Cup of milk

1lb of Chicken Breasts

Chopped Green chile (however much your family wants...the more you add... the hotter it will be)

1/4 Cup chopped onions (optional)

Shredded Cheddar cheese (Amount up to you as well)

Garlic Salt and pepper to taste

What to do:

(I've included handy pictures to help you along the way ;0))

1. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees

2. Boil the chicken breasts until cook through and set aside to cool.

3. Rip up the corn tortillas and layer the bottom of the both pans (adult and children's pans).

4. Shred chicken and put a layer of chicken on top of the tortillas.

5. Combine cream of chicken, Cream of mushroom, garlic salt and pepper to taste, and milk in a large mixing bowl.(you may need to add more milk if you run low on the mixture for both casseroles.)

(do not add chile yet.)

5. Pour a thin layer of the mixture over the chicken in the children's pan.

6. Add chopped green chile to the remaining mixture.

Mix well.

7. Pour a thin layer of the green chile mixture over the shredded chicken and tortilla layers in the adult pan.

(If you wish to add onions add a thin layer of diced onions after the mixture.)

8. Cover both pans with a layer of shredded cheese.

9. Bake the children's dish uncovered for approx. 15-20 min or until cheese is golden brown.

10. Add an additional layer of corn tortillas on the adult's dish and follow with a layer of shredded chicken, remaining mixture, onions and cheese.

11. Bake adult dish covered for approx. 45 min. or until mixture is bubbling and cheese is golden brown.

12. Let cool for about 15 minutes to help with cutting. If casserole has not firmed enough to cut through let stand for a bit longer.

Some people like to top their piece with lettuce tomato and sour cream...

I hope you enjoy!!!!

Some exciting news....

I was recently approached by a national web site GalTime and was asked to consider being an Ambassador for their web site representing the city of Albuquerque and contributing a regular article on their website. I would also get the opportunity to attend local events and visit local businesses and interview local business owners, artists and other interesting people! I am super excited and feel very blessed that they found me. I also feel very honored they found me through my blog and thought it was good enough for me to represent them and contribute regularly to their amazing website. GalTime is a great web site for women of all ages and mothers and anyone else. They have great experts that write in on a regular basis about everyday topics. I am so very excited and cannot wait to start my project as a serious writer!!! EEEEEEK wish me luck!

Good Bye October... Hello November

WOW! What a month. October was very very busy for us, we had many school events, family come into town, a family trip, and of course the kids favorite holiday Halloween. Here are the 5 things I am going to miss about October and the top 5 reasons why I am looking forward to November.

1. Our family trip. We took a great trip to Lubbock TX to take the kids to see their first college football game. We had a blast and the kids really enjoyed all of the hype and saw that there are other crazy Tech fans out there other then us :) I am hoping we can make this an annual tradition!




2. We were lucky enough to have 5 generations of family stay with us. Thats right 5! My great Grandma, my grandma, my father, me and my sister, and then my kids. It is such a blessing to get the opportunity to have these memories for my babies. My great grandma is one of my favorite memories and is still in great health. I walked into my son's room and smiled at the sight of her sitting on the floor playing hot wheels and Legos with him.


3. The many mile stones my daughter had this month. In one month she turned one, cut a new tooth (with many more on the way), started learning commands like Clap hands, Arms up, and shaking her head No. She also learned how to say "Arms up", "Bubbles", "Hi Daddy" and sign "More" and rub her tummy when her food is Yummy and last but not least Walk!!!! She is so smart and beautiful and all of these milestones happened so fast and I cannot believe how big she is getting!



4. The kids and all the things they love about Halloween. I love seeing their faces as they pick out their costumes, carve their pumpkins and of course head out to Trick-or-Treat. My daughter had a great Halloween, she followed her brother from house to house and had a blast walking behind him.






5. The beautiful changing leaves of New Mexico and the beautiful Fall season we have here. In New Mexico we have the most beautiful fall season I have ever seen. (I havent been many other places during the fall) but I do believe we have to have one one he most beautiful fall seasons out there. In October our Hot weather drops down to a manageable 60-70 degrees. We all break out our light sweaters, boots and head outside. We have the beautiful leaves that change to the most vibrant yellows and oranges, we have the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, we have a number of Wine Festivals and other great festivities outside. It is my favorite time of the year and I love when it comes and am sad when it goes every year.

Hello November...I cant wait for...

1. All of the vacation time my honey gets in November! They always get some much needed time off this month and I cant wait to have him home more.

2. Turkey Day!!!! Who isn't excited about Thanksgiving? I love this holiday...and I cant wait to eat with the family and eat way way too much!

3. Shopping... more specifically Black Friday... Most people hide away on this crazy day but I am one of those crazy women who gear up, get my list, get my adds and am out the door by 5am ready to push shove and get a toaster for $10.00!!! lol I love the excitement and the overall excuse to get out and go shopping.

4. Fall/ Winter clothes. I am so excited to break out the boots, jeans, scarves, long sleeves and sweaters. The fall season is my favorite fashion season of the year.

5. Peppermint Lattes from Starbucks. I love the pumpkin spice latte that comes every September, and the same is true with the peppermint late that comes every November. I cannot wait to swing by and pick up my first one of the season.

What are you going to miss?

What are you looking forward too?

I hope every had a wonderful Halloween and every one has a wonderful month of November!