Leaping into Something New!

Well, it comes around but once every four years - Leap Year that is, but if I'm being honest, we could just as well be talking about me cooking up something delish in the kitchen too...(Cereal for dinner anyone?)

When I was invited to be a part of Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger Program - I knew this would be a good opportunity for me to try & change that...Maybe combine the best of both worlds, convenient ingredients and a tasty dish all in one?

I stumbled upon a recipe for Beef Fajitas on the Hormel Foods Recipe Site...

And it fit the bill of my kitchen task criteria.

What's that you ask?

Basic, run of the mill, minimal ingredients...

Ingredients that a picky eater like myself doesn't mind...

Ladies and Gentleman...I bring you ~

Beef Fajitas!

I love love love that it says 'Beginner' -

And the ingredients list?  Yep! I can handle this too!

Ingredients (8 servings )

2 pounds beef flank steak
1 (16-ounce) jar CHI-CHI'S® 16 oz Thick & Chunky Salsa Medium
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 teaspoons firmly packed brown sugar
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 large onions, cut in half and halves thinly sliced
1 small green bell pepper, cut into quarters
1 small red bell pepper, cut into quarters
8 CHI-CHI'S® 6 inch Fajita Tortilla, heated

The directions (as taken from the Hormel Website) could not be easier...

How was I to know that Salsa went into marinade? I let this yummy dish sit in my fridge over night...

And then my hubs fired up the grill - we LOVE grilling year round...

Flank steak and experimental peppers off the grill - YUM!

I'm happy to say this meal choice was a HIT - with me and both of my boys (I've yet to get the 6 year old to try anything like this...) and we can't wait to make these again! If the first time was this good - I am excited for next time!

It was fun to try out a new recipe - to LEAP into something different.  This month provides us with a whole extra day to use, how often do we find ourselves wishing for that?

How are you going to spend YOUR extra day?


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*** As a member of Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger Program, I was given a gift card to off set the cost of some of the groceries to prepare a fun meal for my family. Pictures and opinions are my own. ***

For those following along at home...Progress.

Well, things are coming along...

Still not usable by any stretch of the imagination...but, coming along all the same.

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2 Birds...

2 Houses...

Two Feathered Friends...

2 feathered friends in the same shot!

One of these days...I'll capture the many Blue Jays that also visit us in the mornings!

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Happy Valentine's Day ~ 2012

If I've said it once I've said it a hundred times - one of my absolute favorite things about blogging is the ability to document life's little and big moments...and to easily look back at them all in one convenient place -

I can hardly believe looking back at Valentine's Days of years past...
It's crazy...that the adorable little boy in the 2008 Video Clip is heading into kindy in the fall!

Valentine's Day 2008 

Valentine's Day 2009 

Valentine's Day 2010

Valentine's Day 2011 - Did I not take a Valentine Video? ACK! I thought I was!! Turns out, this is all I can find! There must be one (dozen) somewhere on my computer right?

I did take one for 2012 - but only one kid was interested in being in it - I'm not sure why...as both kids love watching themselves from years past on video as much as I do! But...we'll just have to try again...St. Patty's Day is coming up...

Valentine's Day 2012

Yes, I know there are plenty of places that sell you much better tasting, better looking, heart shaped pizzas...but...we're on a pretty big budget over here...or trying to be - So...we got creative with our food we already had on hand...

Tiny Prints Valentine's Day Cards

 And be still my heart...a love letter from daughter to daddy...with no help from anyone else...

My cup runneth over...and over...and over.
I hope that you will find happiness and joy in the little things in your life as well -

Happy Valentine's Day.

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Home Time with Rob Vila ~

Well, it's been just over a month since we took on a fairly big home project...

If I had a nickel for every time someone has asked me how it's going - we'd have been able to pay for this project 10x over by now! HA!

The answer is...
It's going...albeit slowly.

As with any major project, timelines and budgets always get stretched out a little bit further than planned.
Right?
Right.

Because you're asking...
I'll share a few photos - but, be warned...

You aren't going to notice any massive differences just yet...

New canned lighting....LOOVE THIS!

Apparently, not only the shower leaked, but the toilet too. Greeeat.

This is mostly the view from here ~

But we know there is progress being made...

It just would be going a little better if our home wasn't made so crappy in the first place. 

Stay tuned...the fun is just beginning!

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Happy Valentine's Day ~

While not my most favorite holiday on the calendar ~

I will always do my best to make it special for those I love ~ Especially these two!

D got creative with our Tiny Prints Valentine's!

Notice his name in the hearts? All his idea!! ::melt my heart::

It was a little bit painstaking as he carefully addressed each and every one of these cards for his little friends at daycare, but oh my how proud he was...as am I!

Not to be outdone ~ Big Sister got in on the action when she got home from school ~ 

Carefully marking off the names on her class list ~ 

Though Valentine's are no new thing for our 6 year old heartbreaker...

Remember how I told you of her little boyfriend Markees?

Well, he's got some competition ~ 

The envelope that the above love note came in? Sealed & everything...aye aye aye.

I wish I could save every single one of these adorable created-by-six-year-olds love letters, but I can't, so...

I snap photos of them instead...and document them here.

May love always fill their hearts so easily.

Color Blind ~

We could all learn a thing or two from our kids -

'Hey Mom! I made a new friend today!'
'You did Buddy? Good for you! What was his name?'
'I don't know. But we had a great time'

One of the greatest things you can experience in life is seeing things through the eyes of a child.

I love you Derek Robert.
May your heart always be as big as the Universe in which you live.
You are one amazing little man.

xxoo, Mama