Savory Bacon Chicken Crockpot Recipe!

I am linking up with another blog for Crock-tober. I love Crock Pot recipes because they are easy and so convenient when you have a busy day.  I love to smell the food cook ALL day too! Here is one recipe that I really enjoy! 

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 8 hours

Total Time: 8 hours, 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• 8 bacon slices( to be more healthier you can use turkey bacon)
• 8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 2 (10 oz) cans roasted garlic cream of mushroom soup
• 1 cup sour cream(I like to use light sour cream for everythiing)
• 1/2 cup flour

Preparation:

You can prepare this one of two ways. Place the bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-low heat until some of the fat is rendered. Be sure that the bacon is still pliable and not crisp. Drain on paper towels. If you use this method, reduce the flour to 1/4 cup. Or don't cook the bacon and proceed with the recipe. Then wrap one slice of bacon around each boneless chicken breast and place in a 4-5 quart crockpot. In medium bowl, combine condensed soups, sour cream, and flour and mix with wire whisk to blend. Pour over chicken. Cover crockpot and cook on low for 6-8 hours until chicken and bacon are thoroughly cooked. You may want to remove the chicken and beat the sauce with a wire whisk so it is very well blended. Pour sauce over chicken. Serves 8
* I like to eat with rice and veggies

Loosing weight after Pregnancy

Before I begin this blog I would like to say Happy 5 months to my sweet Baby Girl! Carrying this sweet Baby Girl I gained 30lbs in my last pregnancy. I read that on average it takes celebrities 3 months to loose their baby weight and non-celebrities(people like me) 9 months. Well, I thought I would challenge myself and have the goal of loosing my pregnancy weight at the 5 month mark. Today the 5 month weigh in was conducted.  Drum-roll please................... I am still 3 pounds away from my goal. At first glance at the scale I was a bit bitter. Nevertheless, I am choosing to stay focus. Now the new goal is to loose it ALL by the holidays. I will continue with my same regimen.  Here are some acknowledgments to what has helped me get this far on the scale:

These running shoes feels so good and light. They motivate to run and walk. With two kids I only run about once a week.

Since I can't run consistently I walk 3-4 times a week with the kids. This App allows me to calculate how far I have walked and how many calories I have burned.

Studies show that you burn 20 calories for every ounce of breast milk that is produced. This pump is allowing me to have a successful nursing experience. I use it 2-3 a week to keep my milk production flowing while at work.

This is by far my favorite non-fat Greek Yogurt. I believe non-fat yogurt helped me take away all my tummy fat with my first born and is helping me shed away after this pregnancy too. I read about a study conducted with two groups. Group A was Yogurt Eaters on a weight loss plan and Group B was Non Yogurt Eaters on the same weight loss plan. Group A(Yogurt Eaters) loss 81% more belly fat than Group B(Non Yogurt Eaters)!

This is my Great Double Stroller. Without  it I would not be able to walk with both kids. With my weight loss app I take a 1 mile route to the park(we stop and play) and the same route back . The goal at hand is to walk 2 miles 3-4 times a week.

When the weather is not great and I can't get out the house this Treadmill is my work-out saver. It's parked in the garage. I have learned that you burn more calories when on incline status. I walk 2 miles on a complete incline when I workout.  I jump on it when the kid(s) are sleep and/or JoJo is watching me. I try to always remember to stretch!

A well balanced diet has been a good key. I always buy lean meats and try to add fish to the menu. I have to make sure I do not cheat myself on any calories because I am nursing. I just make sure they are healthy calories the majority of the time.

An encouraging Husband also motivates me. He tells me that I can do it and even if I don't loose my pregnancy weight he will still love me the same. His active life-style of working out also challenges me.

Things I love love love about Fall!

I love how the trees and leaves change color this time of the year!

I love seeing pumpkins around the house, stores, and hope to take the kids to a pumpkin patch this year!

I love how I have a justifiable reason to turn on the fireplace!

I love good soups in the Fall! My husband makes a good Zuppa Toscana Soup(Olive Garden Style)!

I love drinking Coffee, Latte's, and Tea's so much more this time of the year!

I love the sound of Football on Saturday Mornings and Sunday Afternoons. I have also learned how to enjoy it with the hubby, despite not completely understanding it!

I love these boots I Wore last Fall and could not wait to bring them out of their box! Did it today:)

I love dressing the kids in warm clothes, like the boots My Sister got JoJo.  Now we get to see Miss Thang work the boots!

I loved putting hats on JJ when he was baby. Now he will not let me get close to him with one of these things. Now I can put JoJo's hats to use!

I love Date Nights in the Fall and Winter. They seem more romantic and intimate to me. I love getting all bundled up to go out in the cold with my Love!

Parenthood changes aspects of your friendships

Over the last week we were able to hook up with two couples or I should say families that are dear and near to our heart. We have known these individuals even before they were married.

While hanging out with both couples I realized how are relationship dynamics have changed. When getting together with these couples we use to meet up and watch a movie, play board games, and other fun things. Now are hangouts are centered around watching, playing, and loving on the kids. One other major thing that has changed is our conversation topics. Here are some examples of our conversations that I remembered from the past and observed now in the present :

Past conversation topics(as Non-Parents)

• Dynamics of marriage life
• Extended family
• Movies we seen lately
• Where we want to go on our next vacation
• World Events
• Dreams and Goals
• God
• Work

Present Conversation Topics(as Parents)

• Babies daily routines
• Feeding schedules
• Sleep deprivation
• Babies weight patterns
• Immunizations
• Breast Feeding
• Marriage dynamics with the kids
• Passing along gently used baby clothes
• Believing God for provision for a growing family 

I am glad I can still call these wonderful couples friends, despite life changes. And I feel blessed to be adventuring through Parenthood with great friends.

We met the Stoke's Family for Coffee and Dessert. The Fellowship and Dessert was so good and refreshing!!!

We were invited to the Osborne's Annual Barbeque!!! We took a plate home and smiling hearts after spending time with them.

Grandparents Day 2011!

I have never heard of Grandparents Day until this year. One day last month I walked into Target and seen Grandparents Day Cards on display with the date 9-11-11 under it. At first I thought it was Hallmarks way to make more money. But after thorough research I realized that I was wrong.....

National Grandparents Day originated with Marian McQuade, a housewife in Fayette County, West Virginia. Her primary motivation was to champion the cause of lonely elderly in nursing homes. She also hoped to persuade grandchildren to tap the wisdom and heritage their grandparents could provide. President Jimmy Carter, in 1978, proclaimed that National Grandparents Day would be celebrated every year on the first Sunday after Labor Day. 

I am a firm believer that you are accountable for what you know. With that being said my husband and I decided to show recognition to our kids Grandparents this year( since my kiddos are too young to do it themselves). We blessed the Grandparents by taking them out to eat and spending quality time....exactly what they wanted and enjoyed.My In-laws and my Parents have been there to support, encourage, and help from the very beginning. Beginning, being when we found out we were pregnant with our first. I think that it is great that Grandparents get their own day because they deserve it!!

The Kiddo's and I took Mama to MiMi's for Lunch.

The Bells had a great time over Pavlo's Pizza!

If only my Dad and Mama-Frances was in the same state..... we would of treated them too!

Oh how he loves him some PB&J!

As you can see from the pictures above PB&J(Peanut Butter& Jelly) is a favorite for my kid. PB&J sandwich is delicious, but not necessarily always healthy. When PB&J sandwiches are made, they usually contain peanut butter that has a lot of salt and sugar, jelly that has a lot of sugar, and white bread that’s very low in fiber. There’s a way to make this sandwich healthier, while also keeping it delicious!

Here are 3 ways I am attempting to make a healthier PB&J Sandwich...

Because just adjusting the three main ingredients in a peanut butter and jelly sandwich can greatly decrease the amount of sugar intake, while also increasing the amount of fiber in the sandwich. Which is all good for my boys growing body!!!

• 1. Looking for a high fiber whole grain bread that comes with 3-4 grams of fiber per slice.
• 2. When choosing peanut butter, get natural peanut butter. You’ll know it’s natural, because it will have oil that’s floated to the top of the container.
• 3. When choosing jellies, get a jelly that is made with all fruit, and don’t have any added sweeteners.

Changing my focus and thinking!!!

I had a rough night at work last night. While driving home I replayed everything that I felt went wrong with the night. I felt horrible. Then I heard God say I had a choice to dwell and focus on the night or to choose to move on. I chose to move on after sharing it with my husband. I realized that I learned a lot at work despite it being rough. I decided not to talk about it any longer and that it was in the past. I chose to live in the now and enjoy the rest of my day.

I am so glad I did this and I ended up not missing one of the best moments with my kids. I took them to the park in the late afternoon. We swung on the swings, went down the slide, and had a fruit picnic as we watched a kids soccer practice. Both kids were great, the weather was great, the fruit was great, and I then remembered that life is great!